US3640198A — Control apparatus and method for a photographic d…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 243 words

Apparatus for exposing and developing successive portions of a web of sensitized material, said apparatus comprising: a. supply means for providing the web of sensitized material, b. an exposure station, c. shutter means for exposing that portion of the web disposed at said exposure station, d. first feed means for moving a measured portion of the web from said supply means to said exposure station, e. a developing station for receiving and developing the exposed portion of the sensitized material, f. a drive shaft, g. second feed means coupled to said drive shaft for moving the exposed portion of the sensitized material through said developing station, h. means for rotating said drive shaft at a first speed and at a second speed greater than said first speed, i. a selective clutch means for coupling said drive shaft to said first feed means, and j. control means for energizing said shutter means to expose a portion of the web, for energizing said selective clutch means for a given length of time to move the exposed portion of the web from said exposure station and to advance a measured length of the web from said supply means into said exposure station, for operating said means for rotating at said second speed to advance the exposed portion rapidly to said developing station, and for operating said means for rotating at said first speed to direct the exposed portion through said developing station at a slower speed.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 243 words

Apparatus for exposing and developing successive portions of a web of sensitized material, said apparatus comprising: a. supply means for providing the web of sensitized material, b. an exposure station, c. shutter means for exposing that portion of the web disposed at said exposure station, d. first feed means for moving a measured portion of the web from said supply means to said exposure station, e. a developing station for receiving and developing the exposed portion of the sensitized material, f. a drive shaft, g. second feed means coupled to said drive shaft for moving the exposed portion of the sensitized material through said developing station, h. means for rotating said drive shaft at a first speed and at a second speed greater than said first speed, i. a selective clutch means for coupling said drive shaft to said first feed means, and j. control means for energizing said shutter means to expose a portion of the web, for energizing said selective clutch means for a given length of time to move the exposed portion of the web from said exposure station and to advance a measured length of the web from said supply means into said exposure station, for operating said means for rotating at said second speed to advance the exposed portion rapidly to said developing station, and for operating said means for rotating at said first speed to direct the exposed portion through said developing station at a slower speed.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 46 words

Apparatus as claimed in claIm 1, wherein there is included cutting means for severing the exposed portion from the remainder of the web of sensitized material, and second selective clutch means for coupling said drive shaft to said cutting means to thereby activate said cutting means.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 43 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said developing station includes heating means for generating and directing thermal energy onto the exposed portion of the sensitized material, and radiation means for generating and directing radiation onto the exposed portion of the sensitized material.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 126 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said control means operates sequentially said means for rotating to advance at said second speed the exposed portion of the web of sensitized material rapidly to said means for heating, for rotating said drive shaft at said first speed to direct the exposed portion of the web of sensitized material at a slower speed through said heating means, for rotating said drive shaft at said second speed to move the exposed portion of the web of sensitized material from said heating means to said radiation means at a faster speed, and for rotating said drive shaft at said first speed to direct the exposed portion of the web of sensitized material through said radiation means at the slower speed.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 60 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said heating means includes a drum rotatively coupled to said drive shaft, said control means including timing means for energizing said means for rotating for a given period of time to facilitate the rotation of said drum before the advancement of an exposed portion of the sensitized material to said means for heating.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 147 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control means includes a timing shaft, second clutch means for selectively coupling said drive shaft to said timing shaft, first switch means responsive to the rotation of said timing shaft to be disposed from a first condition to a second condition, second switch means being actuatable from a first condition to a second condition, timing means responsive to the second condition of said second switch means for initiating a timing operation and for energizing after a preselected delay said second clutch means, and third switch means responsive to the repetitive disposition of said second switch means to its second condition and the disposition of said first switch means to its second condition to energize said shutter means, said third switch means responsive to disposition of said first switch means in its first condition to energize said second clutch means.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 27 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is included a timing shaft and second clutch means for selectively coupling said drive shaft to said timing shaft.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 29 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein there is included a plurality of switch means disposed to be operated as said timing shaft is rotated by said drive shaft.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 76 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said control means includes first switch means disposed to be activated as said timing shaft is rotated by said drive shaft, first and second conductive paths, timing means for providing a predetermined delay before the energization of said second clutch means along said first path, said first switch means responsive to the movement of said timing shaft to energize said second selective clutch means along said second conductive path.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 103 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein there is included cutting means for severing the exposed portion from the remainder of the web of sensitized material, third clutch means for selectively coupling said drive shaft to said cutting means to thereby activate said cutting means to sever the exposed portion of the web of sensitized material, said control means including timing means for energizing said shutter means for a given length of time and thereafter energizing said second clutch means, and switch means disposed to be operated in response to movement of said timing shaft to thereby deenergize said third selective Clutch means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 71 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said control means includes first and second switch means disposed to be activated by the rotation of said timing shaft, said first switching means responsive to the motion of said timing shaft to operate said means for rotating at said first speed, said second switching means responsive to the motion of said driving shaft to operate said means for rotating at said second speed.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 118 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control means includes first and second conductive paths, timer means for energizing said shutter means for a predetermined length of time, first switch means for initiating the timing operation of said timing means, second switch means responsive to said timer means to deenergize said shutter means and to energize said first selective clutch means along said first conductive path, and third switch means responsive to a repetitive actuation of said first switch means to be disposed from a first state in which said third switch means energizes said first selective clutch along said first conductive path to a second state to deenergize said shutter means along said second conductive path.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 184 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control means includes first and second conductive paths; a timing shaft; second clutch means for selectively coupling said drive shaft to said timing shaft; first switch means responsive to the motion of said timing shaft to be disposed from a first position to energize said first clutch means along said first conductive path, to a second state to deenergize said first mentioned clutch means; second and third switch means disposable in first and second states; timing means responsive to the actuation of said second switch means to operate after a predetermined delay said third switch means from a first state in which said shutter means is actuated to expose a first portion of the web, to said second state to energize said second clutch means; and fourth switch means responsive to the concurrent actuation of said first switch means and said second switch means to be disposed from a first state in which said first clutch means is energized, to a second state to prevent the energization of said shutter means along said first conductive path.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 229 words

A method for exposing and developing a web of sensitized material in apparatus including a supply of the sensitized material, an exposure station, a shutter, and a developing station including a heating station and a photolyzing station, said method comprising the steps of: a. advancing a portion of the sensitized material into the exposure station; b. exposing the advanced portion of the sensitized material by operating the shutter; c. advancing the exposed portion of the sensitized material at a first speed from the exposure station; d. severing the exposed portion of the sensitized material from the web as it is advanced at said first speed from the exposure station; e. subjecting the severed portion of the sensitized material to thermal energy at the heating station, advancing the severed portion of the sensitized material therethrough at a second speed, said second speed being relatively slower than said first speed; f. advancing the severed portion of the sensitized material from the heating station to the photolyzing station at said first speed; g. subjecting the severed portion of the sensitized material to radiation of a preselected wavelength at the photolyzing station, advancing the severed portion of the sensitized material therethrough at said second speed; and thereafter h. increasing the speed of the severed portion of the sensitized material to said first speed as the leading edge thereof emerges from the photolyzing station.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 229 words

A method for exposing and developing a web of sensitized material in apparatus including a supply of the sensitized material, an exposure station, a shutter, and a developing station including a heating station and a photolyzing station, said method comprising the steps of: a. advancing a portion of the sensitized material into the exposure station; b. exposing the advanced portion of the sensitized material by operating the shutter; c. advancing the exposed portion of the sensitized material at a first speed from the exposure station; d. severing the exposed portion of the sensitized material from the web as it is advanced at said first speed from the exposure station; e. subjecting the severed portion of the sensitized material to thermal energy at the heating station, advancing the severed portion of the sensitized material therethrough at a second speed, said second speed being relatively slower than said first speed; f. advancing the severed portion of the sensitized material from the heating station to the photolyzing station at said first speed; g. subjecting the severed portion of the sensitized material to radiation of a preselected wavelength at the photolyzing station, advancing the severed portion of the sensitized material therethrough at said second speed; and thereafter h. increasing the speed of the severed portion of the sensitized material to said first speed as the leading edge thereof emerges from the photolyzing station.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method according to claim 14 wherein a second portion of the web of sensitized material is exposed at the exposure station while the first-mentioned severed portion of the sensitized material is being developed at thE developing station.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method according to claim 15 which comprises the additional step of cooling the severed portion of the sensitized material as it is advanced between the heating and photolyzing stations.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method according to claim 14 which comprises the additional step of cooling the severed portion of the sensitized material as it is advanced between the heating and photolyzing stations.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1975-02-07	1975-08-09	1976-02-08	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1979-02-07	1979-08-09	1980-02-08	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1983-02-07	1983-08-09	1984-02-08	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Control apparatus and method for a photographic device

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