US3554109A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image monitoring and control system
Assignee: AFP ACQUISITION Corp
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Filing: 1969-09-17
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Granted: 1971-01-12
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Expires: 1989-09-17
Abstract
Abstract An automatic replenishment system for a film processor comprises an optical sensor and associated circuit for monitoring and integrating the optical densities developed in sheets of image bearing photosensitive material, to control the feeding of replenishment chemicals to the film processor. An improved sensor is employed wherein scanning occurs at constant speed to permit use of an integrator having a fixed integration time; and the integrator is activated as a function of the distance that an image-bearing photosensitive sheet has been transported past the sensor. A rebalancing zeroing circuit automatically adjusting the monitoring system for each scan is added to improve overall accuracy without requiring regulated power supplies.
Inventors
- 👤 John N Street
- 👤 William I Brady
- 👤 Walter L Mcintosh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 17:39
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03D; G03D3/00; G03D3/02; G03D3/06; G03D3/065; G03D2203/00; G03D2203/02; G03D2203/06; G03D2203/0608
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A chemical replenishment system for a film processor, comprising sensor means adjacent said processor for monitoring the image density in sheets of image-bearing material developed in said processor, means for transporting each such developed developed sheet past said sensor means, said sensor means including means for optically scanning each sheet repetitively and at a fixed speed, accumulating means coupled to said sensor means for accumulating information related to the image density of each such sheet and to the aggregate densities of a plurality of such sheets, said accumulating means including means for periodically sampling the output of said sensor means as a function of the distance each such sheet is transported past said sensor means, and control means responsive to said accumulated information for selectively controlling the feeding of replenishment chemical to said processor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A chemical replenishment system for a film processor, comprising sensor means adjacent said processor for monitoring the image density in sheets of image-bearing material developed in said processor, means for transporting each such developed developed sheet past said sensor means, said sensor means including means for optically scanning each sheet repetitively and at a fixed speed, accumulating means coupled to said sensor means for accumulating information related to the image density of each such sheet and to the aggregate densities of a plurality of such sheets, said accumulating means including means for periodically sampling the output of said sensor means as a function of the distance each such sheet is transported past said sensor means, and control means responsive to said accumulated information for selectively controlling the feeding of replenishment chemical to said processor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor includes a photomultiplier tube, and means for automatically adjusting the output of said tube during each of said repetitive scans.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said accumulating means includes a normally inoperative electronic integrator circuit, said sampling means including triggering means for rendering said circuit operative to store information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
The system of claim 3 wherein said integrator circuit includes capacitor means, a normally conductive transistor shunting said capacitor means for rendering said integrator circuit inoperative, said triggering means including pulse generator means controlled by said transporting means for producing a triggering pulse upon occurrence of a preselected increment of travel of said sheet past said sensor means, and means responsive to occurrence of each such triggering pulse for rendering said transistor non-conductive for a predetermined time interval.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said last-named means comprises a monostable multivibrator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
140 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor means comprises a light source, a first plurality of bundles of optical fibers having one end of each such first bundle disposed adjacent said light source, scanning means for directing said light source in sequence and at a constant speed onto said one ends of said first bundles, the other ends of said first bundles being disposed adjacent one side of the path of travel of each such sheet past said sensor, a second plurality of bundles of optical fibers having one end of each such second bundle disposed adjacent the other side of said path of travel of said sheet, the other ends of said second plurality of bundles being disposed adjacent a photosensitive element, and means coupling the output of said photosensitive element to the input of said accumulating means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
The system of claim 6 including a further bundle of optical fibers positioned outside the path of travel of said sheet and extending between said light source and said photosensitive element for periodically exposing said photosensitive element to reference light from said light source, and control means operative during the time interval of said reference light exposure for adjusting the output current of said photosensitive element to a preselected value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 7 wherein said photosensitive element comprises a photomultiplier tube, said control means including means for varying the dynode voltage of said photomultiplier tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system of claim 7 wherein said one ends of said first bundles and one end of said further bundle are regularly spaced from one another in a circular array about said light source, said scanning means comprising a rotary motor-driven, apertured shutter disposed between said array and said light source.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-11 | 1974-07-13 | 1975-01-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-11 | 1978-07-13 | 1979-01-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-11 | 1982-07-13 | 1983-01-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |