Having Film Support Or Handling Means Patents (Class 396/598)
  • Patent number: 6908237
    Abstract: An automatic x-ray film feed uses a timer and relay system to automatically develop a multiplicity of film slides one-by-one in an x-ray processor without requiring a user to manually advance the slides after each slides in developed. The timer activates a motor through a relay system and the film feed advances a single slide into the processor with a motor and roller assembly. After the film leaves the magazine, a trip switch is triggered, shutting off the motor and halting advancement of the next slide in the magazine. The timer than reactivates the motor based on a pre-selected interval set on the timer, facilitating movement of the next undeveloped film slide in the magazine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Inventor: Gregory J. Bennett
  • Patent number: 6243160
    Abstract: An exposure device in which a strip-like workpiece is transported by a grip feeding method, is to be able to expose the strip-like workpiece without being tensile stressed is achieved as follows: A feed grip part holds a strip-like workpiece. The workpiece is transported downstream in the transport direction. During transport of the workpiece, the serpentine of the workpiece is determined and corrected. After stopping the motion of the workpiece, it is attached by a workpiece holding device which is located upstream of an exposure part. Then, the feed gripper part is moved according to the amount of stretching of the workpiece upstream in the transport direction, while the workpiece remains clamped by the feed grip part. In this way, the tensile force exerted on the workpiece is eliminated. Next, the workpiece is attached by a second workpiece holding device. The workpiece is attached by suction by a workpiece carrier. The mask is moved, alignment is performed and the workpiece is exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Ushiodenki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Itaru Takano
  • Patent number: 5984538
    Abstract: Black-and-white elements, such as radiographic films, can be processed in roomlight because they include certain light absorbing dyes and desensitizers. Processing of such elements can be achieved using a processing kit and a two-stage process carried out in the same light- and fluid-tight processing apparatus. In the first stage, development is initiated with a developing composition having a pH of from about 10 to about 12.5, and comprising an appropriate black-and-white developing agent and a sulfite. After an appropriate time, a non-sulfite fixing agent is introduced into the processing apparatus or container to provide a combined developing/fixing composition, and development and fixing are carried out simultaneously. The processing method is carried out quickly, usually within about 90 seconds. The presence of sulfite and high pH in both stages decolorizes or deactivates the particulate dyes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: David G. Sherburne, Ronald J. Perry, William Bergstresser, Jeffrey C. Robertson
  • Patent number: 5975773
    Abstract: A compact integrated system for film and print processing has chemical processing trays, sink, water filter and faucet, chemical storage, and drying screens integrated into a single multi-purpose unit. The processing trays are vertically stacked and rolled or slid in tray paths traversing the length of the sink. A print under development is directly transferred vertically between chemical processing trays across a print sponge with a print gripper. Each print is uniformly processed in a chemical processing tray by rolling or sliding the tray, ensuring uniform distribution of the processing chemical without manually agitating the print. The water rinse step of the print development process is accomplished in an oscillating wash bath wherein the water is continuously circulated over and between the prints being rinsed. Each of the processing chemical trays may be angled downward for emptying into a basin which can also provide a sink as well as safe recycling/disposal following print processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Inventor: Shlomo Ben-Yaacov
  • Patent number: 5943523
    Abstract: Manually controlled semi-automatic apparatus for desplicing film strips particularly as part of a photofinishing process includes a desplicing station mounted on a rocking arm for automatically positioning the desplicing station at first and second splice regions of the splice tape for separation of successive film strips from the splice tape in successive desplicing cycles. A tensioning mechanism, including actuator operated tensioning rollers, is mounted entirely on one side of the desplicing mechanism and operates automatically to tension the splice film during the first desplicing cycle in which one film strip is removed from the splice tape and to tension a splice tape pickup web and remaining film strip during the second desplicing cycle, the tensioning mechanism minimizing operator handling of the film during the desplicing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas C. Merle, Dale W. Ryan
  • Patent number: 5879003
    Abstract: A sheet feed apparatus for an imaging device. The apparatus includes a drive roller, plurality of sheets of photosensitive material, a photographically inert liner having upper and lower surfaces and a container for storing the sheets of photosensitive material. Proper feeding of the sheets of material and a stable location of the liner are ensured by appropriate coefficients of friction between the respective components. The top surface (19b) of the liner (19) to the bottom surface (18B) of the sheets (18) has a first coefficient of friction and the bottom of one sheet (18) to the top of another sheet (18) has a second coefficient of friction, the second coefficient friction being less than the first coefficient of friction, whereby multiple feeds of the sheets are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Melinda Kaye Kovach, Leigh Allen Mazion, Eric Julius Donaldson, Jon Edward Holmes, Shawn Lee Allen
  • Patent number: 5835811
    Abstract: A photosensitive material processing apparatus including a processing tank and a rack disposed within the processing tank so as to transport a photosensitive material. A pair of rack parts, such as a rack plate and a back plate, which form a side surface of the rack, are joined together to form a duct. Another pair of rack parts, such as a turn guide and a turn cover, which form the bottom portion of the rack, are joined together to form another duct. Slits for jetting a processing solution are provided in a rack part which forms a transport path as well as the duct. Also, a solution exit is provided so as to allow the processing solution to flow out from the transport path to the outside of the rack. The processing tank is provided with a pump and a subtank. Also, a port is provided in the bottom wall of the processing tank to supply the processing solution into the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazunori Tsumura
  • Patent number: 5778273
    Abstract: A compact integrated system for film and print processing has chemical processing trays, sink, water filter and faucet, chemical storage, and drying screens integrated into a single multi-purpose unit. The wheeled chemical processing trays are vertically stacked and rolled in horizontal corrugations traversing the length of the sink. A print under development is directly transferred vertically between chemical processing trays across a print sponge with a print gripper. Each print is uniformly processed in a chemical processing tray by rolling the tray, ensuring uniform distribution of the processing chemical without manually agitating the print. The water rinse step of the print development process is accomplished in an oscillating wash bath wherein the water is continuously circulated over and between the prints being rinsed. Each of the processing chemical trays may be angled downward for emptying into a basin which can also provide a sink as well as safe recycling/disposal following print processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Inventor: Shlomo Ben-Yaacov
  • Patent number: 5708905
    Abstract: A device for automatic removal of a photographic film from a cartridge, in which the film is rolled up on a spool. The feed channel for the cartridge is disposed so that the cartridge moves through the channel by its own weight in the direction of its spool axis. The channel has a cross section that permits admission of the cartridge in only one direction. The device includes a mechanism to turn the cartridge into a position in which the spool axis is aligned horizontally. The devices also includes a mechanism for unwinding and separating the film from the spool in a light-impervious housing. A mechanism turns the empty cartridge so that its spool axis is vertical, with a prescribed orientation. A replaceable magazine sequentially collects and orders a plurality of empty cartridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: AGFA-Gevaert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Helmut Zangenfeind, Reinhart Wuerfel, H. Peter Mihm, Vasile Gherasoiu, Juergen Brunner
  • Patent number: 5695262
    Abstract: A liquid processing and sorting system for sequential chemical processes such as electroplating. Several trays are mounted in a stacked relationship in a housing, at least all but the lowest tray being individually movable between a use position and a storage position. Each tray is configured to hold a livid and includes a drain tube extending from a lower position of the tray and extending out of the housing through a slot running parallel to the line of tray movement so that each tray can be drained in either the use or storage position. The movable trays preferably slide along edge rails extending under tray edges parallel to the line of movement. The lowermost tray can be either fixed in the use position or may be movable as are the other trays. Preferably, an automatic system, such as hydraulic cylinders controlled by a switch, is provided to move a selected movable tray between the use and storage position as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Inventor: William R. Wachtler
  • Patent number: 5579073
    Abstract: A compact integrated system for film and print processing has chemical processing trays, sink, water filter and faucet, chemical storage, and drying screens integrated into a single multi-purpose unit. The wheeled chemical processing trays are vertically stacked and rolled in horizontal corrugations traversing the length of the sink. A print under development is directly transferred vertically between chemical processing trays across a print sponge with a print gripper. Each print is uniformly processed in a chemical processing tray by rolling the tray, ensuring uniform distribution of the processing chemical without manually agitating the print. The water rinse step of the print development process is accomplished in an oscillating wash bath wherein the water is continuously circulated over and between the prints being rinsed. Each of the processing chemical trays may be angled downward for emptying into a basin which can also provide a sink as well as safe recycling/disposal following print processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Inventor: Shlomo Ben-Yaacov