Photographic processing apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for use in a camera of the self-developing type in distributing a processing liquid in a layer between two sheets of photographic material, the liquid being dispensed in a measured quantity and spread between the sheets, said apparatus comprising: a pair of substantially rigid spreader members having adjacent portions predeterminedly spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through which said sheet material is movable; means for supporting said members in juxtaposed relation so that said gap is formed between them so that as the photographic sheets are moved through said gap the processing liquid is spread in a layer between said sheets, said members and said supporting means comprising an integral self-supporting assembly adapted to be inserted into and removed from said camera as a unit; and turbulence reducing means releasably mounted on at least one of said spreader members for engaging one of said photographic sheets to prevent undue turbulence in the processing liquid as the liquid is released between the sheets during the spreading operation.

Claim 3

Apparatus for use in a camera of the self-developing type in distributing a processing liquid in a layer between two sheets of photographic material, the liquid being dispensed in a measured quantity and spread between the sheets, said apparatus comprising: a pair of substantially rigid nonrolling spreader members having adjacent portions predeterminedly spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through which said sheet material is movable; means for supporting and aligning said members in juxtaposed relation to one another so that said gap is formed between them and for urging said members toward one another so that as the photographic sheets are moved through said gap the processing liquid is spread in a layer between said sheets, said members and said Supporting and aligning means comprising an integral self-supporting assembly adapted to be inserted into and removed from said camera as a unit; and turbulence reducing means releasably mounted on at least one of said spreader members for engaging one of said photographic sheets to prevent undue turbulence in the processing liquid as the liquid is released between the sheets during the spreading operation.

Claim 4

Apparatus for use in a camera of the self-developing type in distributing a processing liquid in a layer between two sheets of photographic material, the liquid being dispensed in a measured quantity and spread between the sheets, said apparatus comprising: a pair of substantially rigid nonrolling spreader members having adjacent portions predeterminedly spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through which said sheet material is movable; means for supporting and aligning said members in juxtaposed relation to one another so that said gap is formed between them and for urging said members toward one another so that as the photographic sheets are moved through said gap the processing liquid is spread in a layer between said sheets, said members and said Supporting and aligning means comprising an integral self-supporting assembly adapted to be inserted into and removed from said camera as a unit; and turbulence reducing means releasably mounted on at least one of said spreader members for engaging one of said photographic sheets to prevent undue turbulence in the processing liquid as the liquid is released between the sheets during the spreading operation.

Claim 5

Apparatus for use in a camera of the self-developing type in distributing a processing liquid in a layer between two sheets of photographic material, one of said sheets carrying a processing liquid containing pod adapted to be ruptured by said apparatus and the liquid spread between the sheets, said apparatus comprising: a pair of substantially rigid nonrolling spreader members having adjacent portions predeterminedly spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through which said sheet material is movable; means for supporting and aligning said spreader members in juxtaposed relation to one another so that said gap is formed between them and for urging said members toward one another so that as the photographic sheets are moved through said gap the processing liquid is spread in a layer between said sheets, said members and said supporting and aligning means comprising an integral self-supporting assembly adapted to be inserted into and removed from such camera as a unit; and turbulence reducing means releasably mounted on one of said spreader members adjacent said narrow gap for engaging at least one of said photographic sheets to prevent undue turbulence in the processing liquid as the liquid is released from the pod during the spreading operation.

Claim 6

Apparatus for use in a camera of the self-developing type in distributing a processing liquid in a layer between two sheets of photographic material, one of said sheets carrying a processing liquid containing pod adapted to be ruptured by said apparatus and the liquid spread between the sheets, said apparatus comprising: a pair of substantially rigid nonrolling spreader members having adjacent portions predeterminedly spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through which said sheet material is movable; means for supporting and aligning said spreader members in juxtaposed relation to one another so that said gap is formed between them and for urging said members toward one another so that as the photographic sheets are moved through said gap the processing liquid is spread in a layer between said sheets, said members and said supporting and aligning means comprising an integral self-supporting assembly adapted to be inserted into and removed from such camera as a unit; and turbulence reducing means releasably mounted on one of said spreader members adjacent said narrow gap for engaging at least one of said photographic sheets to prevent undue turbulence in the processing liquid as the liquid is released from the pod during the spreading operation.

Claim 7

Apparatus for distributing a processing liquid in a layer between two sheets of photographic film material, one of said film sheets carrying a processing liquid containing pod adapted to be ruptured by said apparatus and the liquid spread between the sheets, said apparatus comprising: a pair of substantially rigid spreader members having adjacent portions predeterminedly spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through which said sheet material is movable; means for supporting and aligning said spreader members in juxtaposed relation to one another so that said gap is formed between them and for urging said members toward one another so that as the photographic sheets are moved through said gap the processing liquid is spread in a layer between said sheets; and turbulence reducing means mounted on at least one of said spreader members for engaging one of said photographic sheets to prevent undue turbulence in the processing liquid as the liquid is released from the pod during the spreading operation, said turbulence reducing means comprising an element having a film-engaging spring portion extending into the path of movement of the film sheets through the narrow gap between the spreader members and which engages one of said film sheets during at least a portion of the spreading operation.

Claim 8

Apparatus for distributing a processing liquid in a layer between two sheets of photographic film material, one of said film sheets carrying a processing liquid containing pod adapted to be ruptured by said apparatus and the liquid spread between the sheets, said apparatus comprising: a pair of substantially rigid spreader members having adjacent portions predeterminedly spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through which said sheet material is movable; means for supporting and aligning said spreader members in juxtaposed relation to one another so that said gap is formed between them and for urging said members toward one another so that as the photographic sheets are moved through said gap the processing liquid is spread in a layer between said sheets; and turbulence reducing means mounted on at least one of said spreader members for engaging one of said photographic sheets to prevent undue turbulence in the processing liquid as the liquid is released from the pod during the spreading operation, said turbulence reducing means comprising an element having a film-engaging spring portion extending into the path of movement of the film sheets through the narrow gap between the spreader members and which engages one of said film sheets during at least a portion of the spreading operation.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said film-engaging spring portion engages said one photographic sheet with a force sufficient to cause said spring portion to act as a proper liquid velocity reducing means but insufficient to reduce the force exerted on said pod by said rigid spreader members below that effective to rupture said pod as said pod moves through said gap.

Claim 10

Apparatus for distributing a processing liquid in a layer between two sheets of photographic material, one of said sheets carrying a processing liquid containing pod adapted to be ruptured by said apparatus and the liquid spread between the sheets, said apparatus comprising: a pair of substantially rigid members having adjacent portions predeterminately spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through which said sheet material is movable and a pair of facing surfaces on said members converging angularly toward each other to define a narrow throat tO guide said sheet material toward said narrow gap; means for supporting and aligning said members in juxtaposed relation to one another so that said gap is formed between them and for urging said members toward one another so that as the photographic sheets are moved through said gap the processing liquid is spread in a layer between said sheets and turbulence reducing means mounted on at least one of said facing surfaces for engaging one of said photographic sheets to prevent undue turbulence in the processing liquid as the liquid is released from the pod during the spreading operation.

Claim 11

Apparatus for distributing a processing liquid in a layer between two sheets of photographic material, one of said sheets carrying a processing liquid containing pod adapted to be ruptured by said apparatus and the liquid spread between the sheets, said apparatus comprising: a pair of substantially rigid members having adjacent portions predeterminately spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through which said sheet material is movable and a pair of facing surfaces on said members converging angularly toward each other to define a narrow throat tO guide said sheet material toward said narrow gap; means for supporting and aligning said members in juxtaposed relation to one another so that said gap is formed between them and for urging said members toward one another so that as the photographic sheets are moved through said gap the processing liquid is spread in a layer between said sheets and turbulence reducing means mounted on at least one of said facing surfaces for engaging one of said photographic sheets to prevent undue turbulence in the processing liquid as the liquid is released from the pod during the spreading operation.

Claim 12

Apparatus for distributing a processing liquid in a layer between two sheets of photographic material, one of said sheets carrying a processing liquid containing pod adapted to be ruptured by said apparatus and the liquid spread between the sheets, said apparatus comprising: a pair of substantially rigid members having adjacent portions predeterminedly spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through which said sheet material is movable and a pair of facing surfaces on said members converging angularly toward each other to define a narrow throat to guide said sheet material toward said narrow gap; means for supporting and aligning said members in juxtaposed relation to one another so that said gap is formed between them and for urging said members toward one another so that as the photographic sheets are moved through said gap the processing liquid is spread in a layer between said sheets; and turbulence reducing means mounted on at least one of said facing surfaces and comprising an element having a film-engaging spring portion positioned closely adjacent the narrow gap between the spreader members so that as the pod is distended as it begins to pass through the narrow gap and the pressure of the processing liquid within finally ruptures the pod seal releasing the liquid, the spring portion bears on a portion of one of said photographic sheets in the vicinity of said pod and acting through said sheet acts as a weir to reduce the velocity of the processing liquid as it passes thereover thereby reducing the overall turbulence in the processing liquid as it beings to be spread between the film sheets.

Claim 13

Apparatus for distributing a processing liquid in a layer between two sheets of photographic material, one of said sheets carrying a processing liquid containing pod adapted to be ruptured by said apparatus and the liquid spread between the sheets, said apparatus comprising: a pair of substantially rigid members having adjacent portions predeterminedly spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through which said sheet material is movable and a pair of facing surfaces on said members converging angularly toward each other to define a narrow throat to guide said sheet material toward said narrow gap; means for supporting and aligning said members in juxtaposed relation to one another so that said gap is formed between them and for urging said members toward one another so that as the photographic sheets are moved through said gap the processing liquid is spread in a layer between said sheets; and turbulence reducing means mounted on at least one of said facing surfaces and comprising an element having a film-engaging spring portion positioned closely adjacent the narrow gap between the spreader members so that as the pod is distended as it begins to pass through the narrow gap and the pressure of the processing liquid within finally ruptures the pod seal releasing the liquid, the spring portion bears on a portion of one of said photographic sheets in the vicinity of said pod and acting through said sheet acts as a weir to reduce the velocity of the processing liquid as it passes thereover thereby reducing the overall turbulence in the processing liquid as it beings to be spread between the film sheets.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said film-engaging spring portion engages said one photographic sheets with a force sufficient to cause said spring portion to act as a proper weir but insufficient to reduce the force exerted on said pod by said rigid members below that effective to rupture said pod as said pod moves through said gap.

Claim 15

Apparatus for distributing a processing liquid in a layer between two sheets of photographic material, one of said sheets carrying a processing liquid containing pod adapted to be ruptured by said apparatus and the liquid spread between the sheets, said apparatus comprising: a pair of substantially rigid members having adjacent portions predeterminedly spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through which said sheet material is movable and a pair of facing surfaces on said members converging angularly toward each other to define a narrow throat to guide said sheet material toward said narrow gap, a first one of said facing surfaces having a relief formed therein by partially cutting out and bending away a part of said surface from the rest leaving an elongated edge portion on said first facing surface outlining said relief; means for supporting and aligning said members in juxtaposed relation to one another so that said gap is formed between them and for urging said members toward one another so that as the photographic sheets are moved through said gap, the processing liquid is spread in a layer between said sheets; and turbulence reducing means mounted on a second one of said facing surfaces opposed to said first facing surface and comprising an element having a film-engaging spring portion positioned closely adjacent the narrow gap between the spreader Members and directly opposite said elongated edge portion on said first facing surface outlining said relief so that as the pod is distended as it begins to pass through the narrow gap and the pressure of the processing liquid within finally ruptures the pod seal releasing the liquid, the spring portion bears on a portion of one of said photographic sheets in the vicinity of said pod and acting through said sheet and against said edge portion acts as a weir to reduce the velocity of the processing liquid as it passes thereover, thereby reducing the overall turbulence in the processing liquid as it begins to be spread between the film sheets. l0. Apparatus for distributing a processing liquid in a layer two sheets of photographic material, the liquid being dispensed in a measured quantity and spread between the sheets, said apparatus comprising: a pair of substantially rigid members having adjacent portions predeterminedly spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through which said sheet material is movable; means for supporting and aligning said members in juxtaposed relation to one another so that said gap is formed between them and for urging said members toward one another so that as the photographic sheets are moved through said gap the processing liquid is spread in a layer between said sheets; and turbulence reducing means including a unitary integral molded plastic element having a releasable connecting portion engageable with one of said spreader members to facilitate its mounting thereon for engaging one of said photographic sheets to prevent undue turbulence in the processing liquid as the liquid is released between the sheets during the spreading operation. ll. Apparatus for distributing a processing liquid in a layer between two sheets of photographic film material, one of said film sheets carrying a processing liquid containing pod adapted to be ruptured by said apparatus and the liquid spread between the sheets, said apparatus comprising: a pair of substantially rigid spreader members having adjacent portions predeterminedly spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through which said sheet material is movable; means for supporting and aligning said spreader members in juxtaposed relation to one another so that said gap is formed between them and for urging said members toward one another so that as the photographic sheets are moved through said gap the processing liquid is spread in a layer between said sheets; and turbulence reducing means mounted on at least one of said spreader members for engaging one of said photographic sheets to prevent undue turbulence in the processing liquid as the liquid is released from the pod during the spreading operation, said turbulence reducing means comprising a unitary integral molded plastic element having a releasably connecting portion engageable with one of said spreader members to facilitate its mounting thereon and having a film-engaging spring portion extending into the path of movement of the film sheets through the narrow gap between the spreader members and which engages one of said film sheets during at least a portion of the spreading operation.

Claim 16

Apparatus for distributing a processing liquid in a layer between two sheets of photographic material, one of said sheets carrying a processing liquid containing pod adapted to be ruptured by said apparatus and the liquid spread between the sheets, said apparatus comprising: a pair of substantially rigid members having adjacent portions predeterminedly spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through which said sheet material is movable and a pair of facing surfaces on said members converging angularly toward each other to define a narrow throat to guide said sheet material toward said narrow gap, a first one of said facing surfaces having a relief formed therein by partially cutting out and bending away a part of said surface from the rest leaving an elongated edge portion on said first facing surface outlining said relief; means for supporting and aligning said members in juxtaposed relation to one another so that said gap is formed between them and for urging said members toward one another so that as the photographic sheets are moved through said gap, the processing liquid is spread in a layer between said sheets; and turbulence reducing means mounted on a second one of said facing surfaces opposed to said first facing surface and comprising an element having a film-engaging spring portion positioned closely adjacent the narrow gap between the spreader Members and directly opposite said elongated edge portion on said first facing surface outlining said relief so that as the pod is distended as it begins to pass through the narrow gap and the pressure of the processing liquid within finally ruptures the pod seal releasing the liquid, the spring portion bears on a portion of one of said photographic sheets in the vicinity of said pod and acting through said sheet and against said edge portion acts as a weir to reduce the velocity of the processing liquid as it passes thereover, thereby reducing the overall turbulence in the processing liquid as it begins to be spread between the film sheets. l0. Apparatus for distributing a processing liquid in a layer two sheets of photographic material, the liquid being dispensed in a measured quantity and spread between the sheets, said apparatus comprising: a pair of substantially rigid members having adjacent portions predeterminedly spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through which said sheet material is movable; means for supporting and aligning said members in juxtaposed relation to one another so that said gap is formed between them and for urging said members toward one another so that as the photographic sheets are moved through said gap the processing liquid is spread in a layer between said sheets; and turbulence reducing means including a unitary integral molded plastic element having a releasable connecting portion engageable with one of said spreader members to facilitate its mounting thereon for engaging one of said photographic sheets to prevent undue turbulence in the processing liquid as the liquid is released between the sheets during the spreading operation. ll. Apparatus for distributing a processing liquid in a layer between two sheets of photographic film material, one of said film sheets carrying a processing liquid containing pod adapted to be ruptured by said apparatus and the liquid spread between the sheets, said apparatus comprising: a pair of substantially rigid spreader members having adjacent portions predeterminedly spaced apart to form therebetween a narrow pressure-generating gap through which said sheet material is movable; means for supporting and aligning said spreader members in juxtaposed relation to one another so that said gap is formed between them and for urging said members toward one another so that as the photographic sheets are moved through said gap the processing liquid is spread in a layer between said sheets; and turbulence reducing means mounted on at least one of said spreader members for engaging one of said photographic sheets to prevent undue turbulence in the processing liquid as the liquid is released from the pod during the spreading operation, said turbulence reducing means comprising a unitary integral molded plastic element having a releasably connecting portion engageable with one of said spreader members to facilitate its mounting thereon and having a film-engaging spring portion extending into the path of movement of the film sheets through the narrow gap between the spreader members and which engages one of said film sheets during at least a portion of the spreading operation.