Abstract: An object is to provide a semiconductor device including a thin film transistor with excellent electrical characteristics and high reliability and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device with high mass productivity. A main point is to form a low-resistance oxide semiconductor layer as a source or drain region after forming a drain or source electrode layer over a gate insulating layer and to form an oxide semiconductor film thereover as a semiconductor layer. It is preferable that an oxygen-excess oxide semiconductor layer be used as a semiconductor layer and an oxygen-deficient oxide semiconductor layer be used as a source region and a drain region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to hydrogen surface-treated graphene, a formation method thereof, and an electronic device including the same. The graphene according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be useful in preparing hydrogen surface-treated graphene having a band gap using simple methods through indirect hydrogen plasma treatment. Also, the graphene according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be useful in forming two regions having different band gaps through the indirect hydrogen plasma treatment, and thus can be useful in reducing the processing time and the processing cost since the graphene is directly applicable to electronic devices such as transistors, and touch panels.

Abstract: Disclosed is a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material comprising at least one silver halide emulsion layer and at least one hydrophilic colloid layer on a support, wherein silver halide in the silver halide emulsion layer has a silver bromide content of 40 to 90 mol %, and the silver halide emulsion layer is spectrally sensitized with a specific dye.

Abstract: The invention relates to an illuminating station for the production of partially designed areas in one or more layers of a web of sheeting and to optically variable elements produced with such an illuminating station and possessing partially designed areas showing different optical properties. The illuminating station has one or more radiation sources for illuminating the sheeting. The illuminating station has, further, a masking tape having partially designed areas showing different optical properties, which masking tape is guided through an illuminating zone in the path of radiation between said one or more radiation sources and the web of sheeting. The illuminating station further has two or more guide means for guiding the masking tape and/or for guiding the web of sheeting, which guide means are arranged such that the masking tape is guided in the illuminating zone in parallel relationship relative to the sheeting.

Abstract: A template, stamp or mold is fabricated by using a low-k material. The structure of the low-k material is transformed when it is baked in a novel heating process. Thus, the template is fabricated to obtain a high hardness and a high aspect-ratio with a low dose of electron beam lithography and an optimized baking process. Consequently, the residual; layer at photoresist bottom is reduced and the time for reactive ion etching is saved. In the end, the stability and the integrity is improved. Hence, the present invention is a solution for fabricating a template, stamp or mold with the feature size from sub-micrometer down to nanometer level.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an imaging member comprising an imaging layer and at least one stiffening layer comprising a blend of polyolefin polymer and amorphous hydrocarbon resin. The invention further describes a method for making the imaging member, comprising extruding a foam polymer sheet, orienting the foam polymer sheet, bringing a stiffening layer comprising a blend of polyolefin polymer and amorphous hydrocarbon resin into contact with the oriented foam polymer sheet, and applying an imaging layer above the stiffening layer. A second method of forming an imaging member comprises extruding a foam polymer sheet, bringing at least one stiffening layer comprising a blend of polyolefin polymer and amorphous hydrocarbon resin into contact with the foam polymer sheet, orienting said foam polymer sheet and said stiffening layer and applying an imaging layer above said stiffening layer.

Abstract: An image formation process is disclosed, comprising overlapping an imagewise exposed silver halide photographic material onto a processing element with an aqueous medium being present between the photographic material and the processing element to perform development, thereby forming an image in the photographic material, wherein the aqueous medium contains at least a color developing agent or a precursor thereof, and the aqueous medium having a viscosity of 10.0 to 15000 cp at 25° C.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing liquid crystal display devices comprising a step for forming a transparent electrode and a circuit element of semiconductor on the surface of a pair of transparent substrates, and various steps for applying a photoresist, exposing to the light, etching, releasing the photoresist, inspecting the electrodes and circuit elements of semiconductor, forming an insulating film, forming an alignment film, rubbing the alignment film, spreading spacers, applying a sealing agent, fabricating a cell, filling a liquid crystal, pasting a polarizing plate, and connecting a driver IC characterized in that a soft X-ray is irradiated to the substrate in at least one step prior to the rubbing of the alignment films to produce liquid crystal display devices, at a high yield, in which devices number of pixel defect is small.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a color filter by coloring a color filter substrate includes a partitioning unit for partitioning the substrate into portions that are to be colored and portions that are not to be colored, a coloring unit for coloring the portions to be colored by discharging an ink onto these portions from an inkjet head, and a drying unit for drying the ink discharged by the coloring unit. All of the above units are arranged in succession as a single manufacturing line.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing liquid crystal display devices comprising a step for forming a transparent electrode and a circuit element of semiconductor on the surface of a pair of transparent substrates, and various steps for applying a photoresist, exposing to the light, etching, releasing the photoresist, inspecting the electrodes and circuit elements of semiconductor, forming an insulating film, forming an alignment film, rubbing the alignment film, spreading spacers, applying a sealing agent, fabricating a cell, filling a liquid crystal, pasting a polarizing plate, and connecting a driver IC characterized in that a soft X-ray is irradiated to the substrate in at least one step prior to the rubbing of the alignment films to produce liquid crystal display devices, at a high yield, in which devices number of pixel defect is small.

Abstract: A collimator, in combination with a source of curing radiation, for use in a process for curing a photosensitive resin disposed on a working surface and having a machine direction and a cross-machine direction perpendicular to said machine direction, is disclosed. The preferred collimator comprises a plurality of mutually parallel collimating elements spaced from one another in the machine direction between the source of radiation and the resin. Each of the collimating elements is substantially perpendicular to the working surface, and every two of the mutually adjacent collimating elements have a machine-directional clearance and a cross-machine-directional clearance therebetween. The collimating elements and the machine direction form an acute angle therebetween such that the machine-directional clearance is greater than the cross-machine directional clearance. This allows to provide a greater collimation of the curing radiation in the cross-machine direction relative to the machine direction.

Abstract: An improved ink suitable for ink jet printing comprising, a mixture of a colorant, an arylketoalkene stabilizing compound or a photoreactor, and a liquid vehicle, wherein the colorant is light-stable. When the photoreactor is combined with a wavelength-selective sensitizer to form a radiation transorber, the colorant is mutable upon exposure of the radiation transorber to specific, narrow bandwidth radiation. The colored composition may also contain a molecular includant having a chemical structure which defines at least one cavity wherein each of the colorant and photoreactor or radiation transorber is associated with the molecular includant. The invention also includes ink jet print cartridges containing the improved ink, ink jet printers containing the improved ink and methods of printing using the improved ink.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of improving raw stock keeping of silver containing imaging material comprising providing a package of said material and providing in said package a fiber board containing zeolite.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an optical disc and a method of manufacturing thereof wherein defects and deterioration in the optical disc are minimized at the time of manufacture, during operation and storage thereof as well. The invention conceives an optical disc suitable for accomplishing the above object through specifications such as providing a cross-sectional structure thereof comprising a pair of transparent substrates each provided with at least one layer of a recording film formed on the surface of information patterns thereof, with the pair being bonded and laminated with an adhesive, and further providing an instantaneous axial acceleration<2 G measured at room temperatures, a skew angle<5 mrad measured at room temperatures, and a skew angle <5 mrad measured after being left for one hour as heated to 80.degree. C. (otherwise, a shear mass<20 .mu.m measured after being left for one hour as heated to 80.degree. C.

Abstract: Applications of photoerasable colorant composition include photoerasable price markings for pricing goods, documents such as gaming tickets for securely communicating concealed information, photoerasable paint for temporary markings on terrain and structures such as signs, roadways, trees, and buildings, marking instruments such as pens, and wick or felt markers, ultraviolet light exposure indicators, and dry printing. The photoerasable or mutable colorant composition comprises a mutable colorant and an ultraviolet radiation transorber which, upon irradiation with ultraviolet radiation, interacts with the colorant to irreversibly mutate the colorant and thereby render the colorant substantially colorless. The mutable colorant composition may also include a molecular includant.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus and a thermal processing apparatus are capable of creating a pattern with an excellent line width uniformity. An ACU conditions air to a temperature and a humidity which are suitable to processing which uses a resist of chemical thickening type, while an ammonia removing filter removes an ammonia component from the air and the air is supplied to an air supply pipe which branches off. A pump, a flow meter and a pressure regulator are disposed to an air supply pipe, so that the air from the ACU, as it is conditioned to flow at a constant flow rate and with a pressure, is supplied to a PEB bake unit. Since the temperature and the humidity of an atmosphere within the PEB bake unit stabilize at values which are suitable to processing which uses a resist of chemical thickening type, it is possible to form a pattern with an excellent line width uniformity.

Abstract: An improved ink suitable for ink jet printing comprising, a mixture of a colorant, an arylketoalkene stabilizing compound or a photoreactor, and a liquid vehicle, wherein the colorant is light-stable. When the photoreactor is combined with a wavelength-selective sensitizer to form a radiation transorber, the colorant is mutable upon exposure of the radiation transorber to specific, narrow bandwidth radiation. The colored composition may also contain a molecular includant having a chemical structure which defines at least one cavity wherein each of the colorant and photoreactor or radiation transorber is associated with the molecular includant. The invention also includes ink jet print cartridges containing the improved ink, ink jet printers containing the improved ink and methods of printing using the improved ink.

Abstract: Compositions for making structured color images comprising (a) a soluble pigment precursor which can be transformed to an insoluble pigment by means of chemical, thermal, photolytic or radiation-induced method, and (b) a binder polymer or prepolymer, or a positive or negative resist-type resin which can be structured by crosslinking, polymerization or depolymerization by applying heat or electromagnetic irradiation. The compositions can be applied to optical and thermal recording, printing, and the production of color filters for Liquid Crystal Displays, with high accuracy, high transparency and high stability.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for improving the keeping of photographic elements comprising placing said elements in a container and placing a material comprising a blend of polymer and molecular sieve particles in said container with said element.

Abstract: An injection molded article for photographic photosensitive materials is disclosed, which is formed of a noncrystalline resin composition containing 50 wt % or more of a noncrystalline resin having a melt flow rate of from 1 to 60 g/10 min, a flexural modulus of elasticity of 20,000 kg/cm.sup.2 or more and a thermal deformation temperature of 70.degree. C. or higher, from 0.1 to 45 wt % of one or more of a rubbery material, a thermoplastic elastomer and an ethylene copolymer resin, from 0.01 to 49.9 wt % of one or more of a light-shielding material and a fibrous filler and from 0.001 to 20 wt % of one or more of an antioxidant, an age resistor, an ultraviolet absorbent, a fatty acid metal salt, a radical scavenger, a hydrate double salt compound and an oxidation inhibitory synergistic effect-providing agent. Also disclosed are a method for forming the injection molded article for photographic photosensitive materials and a package using the injection molded article for photographic photosensitive materials.

Abstract: A photographic material comprising a polyester support and an undercoat and/or backcoat layer applied thereto is treated with an alkaline aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide and/or potassium hydroxide. The polyester support can be recovered for reuse without quality degradation like foreign matter contamination and transmittance losses.

Abstract: Elements having a support with lubricant on both sides can be treated to remove substantially all of the lubricant from one side only. Various chemical, mechanical and electrical treatments are contemplated, but glow discharge treatment is particularly useful. Photographic film supports having one or more layers applied thereto can be treated in this manner before or after annealing so that lubricant present on the treated side does not reduce adhesion of later applied silver halide emulsion layers.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an optical disc, a method of manufacturing thereof and an optical reproduction apparatus including the same wherein defects and deterioration in the optical disc are minimized at the time of manufacture, during operation and storage thereof as well. The invention conceives an optical disc suitable for accomplishing the above object through specifications such as providing a cross-sectional structure thereof comprising a pair of transparent substrates each provided with at least one layer of a recording film formed on the surface of information patterns thereof, with the pair being bonded and laminated with an adhesive, and further providing an instantaneous axial acceleration <2G measured at room temperatures, a skew angle <5 mrad measured at room temperatures, and a skew angle <5 mrad measured after being left for one hour as heated to 80.degree. C. (otherwise, a shear mass <20 .mu.m measured after being left for one hour as heated to 80.degree.

Abstract: An improved ink suitable for ink jet printing comprising, a mixture of a colorant, an arylketoalkene stabilizing compound or a photoreactor, and a liquid vehicle, wherein the colorant is light-stable. When the photoreactor is combined with a wavelength-selective sensitizer to form a radiation transorber, the colorant is mutable upon exposure of the radiation transorber to specific, narrow bandwidth radiation. The colored composition may also contain a molecular includant having a chemical structure which defines at least one cavity wherein each of the colorant and photoreactor or radiation transorber is associated with the molecular includant. The invention also includes ink jet print cartridges containing the improved ink, ink jet printers containing the improved ink and methods of printing using the improved ink.

Abstract: In a method of and an apparatus for regenerating an image support from a used image-bearing support which bears thereon hydrophobic images formed of thermofusible or heat-softening ink, a plurality of image releasing members are used for removing the hydrophobic images from the used image-bearing support. Specifically, at least one of the image releasing members has a first portion which is able to adhere to the hydrophobic images and a second portion which is unable to adhere to the hydrophobic images, and the image releasing members are arranged in series in order of size of the first portion from small to large along a feeding direction of the used image support. Accordingly, the image releasing members are allowed to adhere to the hydrophobic images in order of size of the first portion from small to large so that the hydrophobic images are removed from the used image support effectively.

Abstract: Trans-dichloroethylene is used in a pure or in a blended state as a cleaning agent for all acetate-based photographic films. In manual cleaning procedures of still-photography and motion-picture films, a soft, lint-free material is moistened with trans-dichloroethylene, or a blend containing trans-dichloroethylene, and then used to buff the film. The most favorable blend discovered contains 50% trans-dichloroethylene, 50% perchloroethylene. In mechanized cleaning procedures of motion-picture films, it is anticipated that trans-dichloroethylene, or a blend containing trans-dichloroethylene, can be used as the cleaning agent with little or no modification to the existing machines. Trans-dichloroethylene can serve as an effective, non-ozone depleting replacement for 1,1,1-trichloroethane in all film-cleaning applications.

Abstract: An improved ink suitable for ink jet printing comprising, a mixture of a colorant, an arylketoalkene stabilizing compound or a photoreactor, and a liquid vehicle, wherein the colorant is light-stable. When the photoreactor is combined with a wavelength-selective sensitizer to form a radiation transorber, the colorant is mutable upon exposure of the radiation transorber to specific, narrow bandwidth radiation. The colored composition may also contain a molecular includant having a chemical structure which defines at least one cavity wherein each of the colorant and photoreactor or radiation transorber is associated with the molecular includant. The invention also includes ink jet print cartridges containing the improved ink, ink jet printers containing the improved ink and methods of printing using the improved ink.

Abstract: A system for prolonging the useful life of a mask while ablating a pattern into a workpiece. The system includes a workpiece, a debris-blocking layer thereon, a laser directed toward the workpiece, and a mask provided between the laser and debris-blocking layer. The workpiece may be a data storage disk comprising a substrate and a magnetic coating thereon. The laser may be an ultraviolet laser and the debris-blocking layer should be transparent to the light emitted by the laser. The pattern may include concentric or spiral optical servo tracks in the magnetic coating. The debris-blocking layer minimizes degradation of the mask, thereby minimizing the need to clean the mask and prolonging the useful life of the mask.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating an optical disk mother or stamper wherein the number of processing steps is greatly reduced from the prior art methods. In particular, the present invention involves directly forming a mother or stamper by direct laser ablation of a conductive metal substrate. More specifically, a stream of coded digital information (for example, representing the content of an encyclopedia in the case of CD ROM or a classical music collection in the case of CD audio) is converted into a corresponding plurality of pits and lands in the conductive metal substrate by electronically switching the beam of a first laser on and off via an electro or acusto-optic modulator (EOM/AOM) in response to the digital information. As a result, selective portions of the conductive substrate are either ablated (in the case where the laser is on) thereby directly creating the pits, or the substrate is left unaltered (in the case where the laser is off) thereby creating lands.

Abstract: A process of removing trace metal impurities from an impure resist component solution comprising the steps of:(1) forming an impure resist component solution containing trace amounts of dissolved metallic impurities, the resist component solvent selected from the group consisting of ethyl lactate, ethyl 3-ethoxypropionate, methyl 3-methoxypropionate, propylene glycol methyl ethyl acetate, or mixtures thereof;(2) contacting said impure resist component solution with a mixture of cyclohexane and isopropyl acetate and with an aqueous acidic solution for a sufficient amount of time to form a first two-phase reaction mixture comprising a first aqueous phase containing metallic impurities extracted from said impure resist component solution and a first organic phase containing said resist component solution with a reduced amount of trace metal impurities;(3) separating said first aqueous phase from said first organic phase;(4) contacting said first organic phase with a mixture of water and resist component solvent

Abstract: A rhodopsin family protein is inserted into an etalon type cavity having partially reflecting mirrors as principal components having a reflectivity of 50% to less than 100% for light having a wavelength in the 650-800 nm region and a transmissivity of 30% or more for light having a wavelength in the 400-600 nm region to form a photo-controlled spatial modulator. By utilizing a change in the refractive index by light of the photo-sensitive protein, near infrared light of a stronger intensity can be controlled by weaker visible light, and the information contained in the light signal on a two-dimension plane can be rapidly controlled by a light signal of weaker intensity of another two-dimension plane by using an optical switch of a simple construction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing on to a photosensitive material. The apparatus includes a light source for producing light composed of at least two colors, a collimator for collimating the light produced by the light source so as form a beam of light, a modulator for modulating the beam of light in accordance with one of the predetermined color components, a filter for filtering out the color component which has been modulated, and a beam directing device for directing the modulated colored filter beam of light, onto a photosensitive material.

Abstract: A method for storing nanoparticulate suspensions of photographically useful compounds is disclosed that comprises the steps of:providing a suspension of nanoparticulate photographically useful chemical substance in the form of a solid particle dispersion;providing a hydrodynamically optimized container for storing nanoparticulate suspensions comprising a base portion and a body portion unitary with said base portion, said portions defining an interior storage chamber hydrodynamically optimized for the resuspension of sedimented nanoparticulate suspensions, said body portion further comprising a body wall with interior and exterior surfaces;placing said solid particle dispersion in said container;sealing said container and storage chamber against the ambient atmosphere to form a sealed container;storing said sealed container;opening said sealed container; andusing a portion of said solid particle dispersion stored in said container to form a coating composition for a light-sensitive element.

Abstract: An element for cleaning processing solutions contained in a radiographic film processor is disclosed. The element is comprised of a transparent film support and hydrophilic colloid layers coated on opposite sides of the film support. An infrared opacifying dye is contained within the element capable of reducing specular transmission through the element before, during and after processing to less than 50 percent, measured at a wavelength within the spectral region of from 850 to 1100 nm. A processing solution soluble colorant can be contained in one or more of the hydrophilic colloid layers.

Abstract: This invention is a photographic film proposed to facilitate a cutting operation of the photographic film by accurately cutting a longitudinal central position of perforations and to facilitate an editing operation of cut stereo photographs, and has a constitution which has perforations provided along the vicinities of both upper and lower side edges of the photographic film, cutting marks described as latent images by preexposure at a longitudinal center of a periphery of each perforation. Further, frame numbers for a stereo photograph are described as latent images by preexposure at a lower edge of each photographic picture plane of the film.

Abstract: Images comprised of silver such as X-rays and electrophoresis gel bands, wherein the size and darkness of the image provides useful information, are quantitated utilizing a spectrophotometer to quantify the silver which comprises the image. An image is isolated from X-ray film or an electrophoresis gel followed by removal therefrom of any silver which is present. The removed silver is complexed to cause an optical change. A spectrophotomer is then used to measure the absorbance and the absorbance measurement is compared with a calibrated reference standard.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an optical disc and a method of manufacturing thereof wherein defects and deterioration in the optical disc are minimized at the time of manufacture, during operation and storage thereof as well. The invention conceives an optical disc suitable for accomplishing the above object through specifications such as providing a cross-sectional structure thereof comprising a pair of transparent substrates each provided with at least one layer of a recording film formed on the surface of information patterns thereof, with the pair being bonded and laminated with an adhesive, and further providing an instantaneous axial acceleration <2 G measured at room temperatures, a skew angle <5 mrad measured at room temperatures, and a skew angle <5 mrad measured after being left for one hour as heated to 80.degree. C. (otherwise, a shear mass <20 .mu.m measured after being left for one hour as heated to 80.degree. C.

Abstract: A photographic film which makes it easy to recognize the positions for cutting the photographic film into frames and which can be used for both stereoscopic cameras and general cameras. The photographic film 1 is perforated as designated at 2 along near both the upper and lower side edges thereof maintaining a pitch which is one-half the pitch P of the pair of right and left exposure surfaces of a stereoscopic camera. The perforated holes 2 are located in a gap among the frames irrespective of whether pictures are taken by using a stereoscopic camera having a film-feeding mechanism that corresponds to the perforated holes 2 of the photographic film 1 or by using a one-frame shooting camera. The photographic film 1 can be cut maintaining a correct frame size when it is cut relying upon the upper and lower holes 2 as marks.

Abstract: A molded article for a photographic photosensitive material formed of a resin composition comprising of (a) 50 wt. % or more of a rubber-containing aromatic monovinyl resin having a melt flow index of 3 to 40 g/10 minutes, a bending elastic modulus of 20,000 kg/cm.sup.2 or more and a Vicat softening point of 78.degree. C. or more and containing 1 to 12 wt. % of a rubber material, (b) 0.1 to 10 wt. % of a light-shielding material, and (c) 0.01 to 20 wt. % of at least one of a lubricant and an antistatic agent. The molded article is excellent in physical strength, photographic properties, injection moldability and the like.

Abstract: In a first processing step, whether a first photosensitive material is a particular photosensitive material is detected. If it is detected at least that the first photosensitive material is the particular photosensitive material, processing conditions in the first processing step are recorded in a predetermined position on the first photosensitive material. Exposure conditions in the exposure step are set in accordance with one of the result of the detection and the processing conditions recorded on the first photosensitive material. The second photosensitive material is exposed under the set exposure conditions. If the first photosensitive material is detected to be a particular photosensitive material, the setting of the exposure conditions is changed in the exposure step, and the exposure conditions are set in such a manner as to compensate the difference in the characteristic occurring in the image of the particular first photosensitive material depending on standard processing and particular processing.

Abstract: A process is described for recovering cellulose triacetate from scrap photographic film, using aqueous solutions free of organic solvents, by the steps of:a) reducing the film to segments of handlable size;b) oxidizing the film with an oxidizing agent comprising an alkali metal permanganate and a strong acid;c) oxidizing the product of step b) with an alkali metal hypochlorite to remove stain from iron compound and yellow dye;d) bleaching the product of step c) with an alkali metal metabisulfite in an acidic environment; ande) recovering cellulose triacetate.The recovered cellulose triacetate prepared in accordance with this invention has essentially the same spectral absorption at 400 nm as virgin cellulose triacetate and can be used to prepare photographic film base of acceptable color purity.

Abstract: A photographic film-incorporated camera which comprises a supply room in which an unexposed photographic film drawn from a cylindrical cartridge has been wound up and a wind-up room with which the cylindrical cartridge is enclosed, and which is designed to feed one exposure of the photographic film drawn from the supply room per a shooting to wind up in the cylindrical cartridge. The photographic film comprises a photographic layer on a composite of a support and a subbing layer. The composite is obtained by subjecting the support which comprises an aromatic polyester having a glass transition temperature of 50.degree. to 200.degree. C. to heat treatment at a temperature of 40.degree. C. to the glass transition temperature for 0.1 to 1,500 hours before or after forming the subbing layer on the support.

Abstract: A process for removing tin from seasoned photographic color developers containing tin as stannous or stannate complex ions, comprising the steps of:(a) collecting seasoned photographic color developer containing tin;(b) treating the collected developer with a resin having a chelating group selected from the group consisting of diphosphonic acid, amidoxime and thiol, thereby removing tin from the composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to cameras designed for single or limited use. It more particularly relates to cameras that are intended for one use, after which they are recycled, subsequent to removal of the film for development and printing or scanning. The camera and film combinations provide exceptionally sharp images.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image plate (1) for intra-oral dental X-ray photography, the plate being placed in a shield (3) enveloping it for the duration of photography. According to the invention the shield has been made pervious to X-rays but impervious to visible light, and it comprises a closed shielding bag of plastic membrane. The shield may be made up of an inner shielding bag (3) impervious to light and a surrounding closed outer shielding bag which may be of transparent plastic membrane. After photography, the possible outer bag is first removed, the patient's saliva being removed along with it. Thereafter the image plate (1) and the surrounding shielding bag (3), one end (6) of which has been opened or, if an outer bag is used, is possibly already open, are introduced into the read-out apparatus, in which a pulling device grips the end of the plate in the bag, whereafter the bag can be pulled out while the plate remains in the read-out apparatus for the reading out of the image.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for cleaning and preparing photographic manufacturing equipment surfaces. An aqueous solution of potassium iodide and ferric ethylenediamine tetraacetate is prepared. The solution is flushed over the surfaces of the photographic manufacturing equipment removing deposited silver halide and silver. A high purity water flush is then performed.

Abstract: Materials, films, methods, and systems are described which relate to infrared imaging using a polymeric semiconductor compound having an infrared absorption band crosslinked with a spiroypran capable of producing a visible absorption band. These materials, films, methods, and systems are adapted to produce a visible image when exposed to infrared radiation during use.

Abstract: A method for temporarily marking a surface whose distance from a light beam source can substantially vary, without requiring focusing or refocusing of the light beam, commences with the step of coating a portion of the surface with a light reactant, color-forming chemical solution. The solution is soluble in a liquid solvent that is nonreactive with the surface. The coated portion of the surface is exposed to a collimated, non-focused laser beam exhibiting an airy disk pattern having central bright spot, the exposure occurring for a period of time that enables the central bright spot to expose the coating and to manifest a color change at points of incidence. The bright spot exhibits a diameter that does not exceed a predetermined diameter within an expected distance variations between the source of the laser beam and the surface.

Abstract: Acid can be generated by exposing a superacid precursor to actinic radiation effective to generate superacid from the superacid precursor and heating the superacid in admixture with a secondary acid generator capable of undergoing thermal decomposition to produce a secondary acid. The superacid catalyzes decomposition of the secondary acid generator, thus increasing the quantity of strong acid present in the medium. The resultant secondary acid can be used to effect a color change in an acid-sensitive material, so providing an imaging process.

Abstract: According to the present invention we provide a method for the preparation of a liquid for supplying to one or more pieces of apparatus using such a liquid characterized in that one or a plurality of vessels visit one or more preparation stations until the liquid is prepared, and the liquid when prepared is continually supplied to the apparatus in batches by at least one vessel, the rate of liquid preparation and the vessel movements being matched to the requirements of each preparation station and/or each piece of apparatus. Preferably a plurality of vessels visit the preparation stations.