Patent US3656676A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3656676A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Film transport roller system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-12-03
•
Granted: 1972-04-18
•
Expires: 1990-12-03
Abstract
Abstract A film transport roller system for conveying an elongate web of film through processing tanks including a plurality of juxtaposed rack assemblies, each having a plurality of pairs of rollers and film guides which cooperate to drive the film through the processing tanks without tensioning or otherwise stressing the film. The medial section of one roller of each pair of cooperating rollers is fabricated to a reduced diameter to form an annular film receiving area, wherein the film may be guided through the various processing tanks without stress. The transverse ends of the pairs of cooperating rollers tangentially co-act to automatically thread the film through rack assemblies.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry E Hope
- 👤 Stephen F Hope
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:33
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03D; G03D3/00; G03D3/08; G03D3/13; G03D3/132
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
In a film transport roller system for directing elongate film webs by the leading edge through processing equipment, the combination of A. a rack assembly including a pair of spaced, side plates; B. a plurality of first rollers journalled within the said side plates, 1. said rollers being vertically spaced; C. a plurality of vertically spaced second rollers respectively cooperating with the the said first rollers and journalled within the said side plates, 1. said second rollers being segmented to form cylindrical sections which define an annular space, 2. said cylindrical sections respectively rotatively contacting portions of the said first rollers to form rotative drive areas; D. a mule of thin, strong material driven by the said first and second rollers, 1. said mule being sufficiently wide to be driven by the said rotative drive areas, 2. said mule pulling the leading edge of the film web through the apparatus, a. said mule positioning the web within the said annular space.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
In a film transport roller system for directing elongate film webs by the leading edge through processing equipment, the combination of A. a rack assembly including a pair of spaced, side plates; B. a plurality of first rollers journalled within the said side plates, 1. said rollers being vertically spaced; C. a plurality of vertically spaced second rollers respectively cooperating with the the said first rollers and journalled within the said side plates, 1. said second rollers being segmented to form cylindrical sections which define an annular space, 2. said cylindrical sections respectively rotatively contacting portions of the said first rollers to form rotative drive areas; D. a mule of thin, strong material driven by the said first and second rollers, 1. said mule being sufficiently wide to be driven by the said rotative drive areas, 2. said mule pulling the leading edge of the film web through the apparatus, a. said mule positioning the web within the said annular space.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
said cylindrical sections respectively rotatively contacting portions of the said first rollers to form rotative drive areas; D. a mule of thin, strong material driven by the said first and second rollers,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
said cylindrical sections respectively rotatively contacting portions of the said first rollers to form rotative drive areas; D. a mule of thin, strong material driven by the said first and second rollers,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
said mule pulling the leading edge of the film web through the apparatus, a. said mule positioning the web within the said annular space.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
said mule pulling the leading edge of the film web through the apparatus, a. said mule positioning the web within the said annular space.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the said rotative drive areas transversely nip the lateral edges of the mule to drive the mule through the rack assembly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention of claim 2 wherein the cylindrical sections are laterally spaced a distance greater than the width of the film web.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
The invention of claim 1 and a plurality of third rollers, each of said third rollers including a shaft journalled within the said side plates and a pair of laterally spaced, cylindrical sections affixed to the said shaft, the said third rollers further including a medially positioned central section of cylindrical configuration positioned between the cylindrical sections, the said central section being free to rotate about its said shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention of claim 3 and a plurality of film guides projecting transversely inwardly from the said side plates, said film guides projecting inwardly a distance not greater than the width of the said cylinDrical sections.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention of claim 5 wherein some of the said guides are curved to turn the mule approximately 90 degrees from its initial plane of travel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention of claim 6 wherein the remainder of said guides are generally rectangular in configuration and direct the mule in the same plane of its travel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention of claim 7 wherein some of said rectangular guides direct the mule vertically downwardly and some of said guides direct the mule vertically upwardly.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention of claim 8 wherein some of said rectangular guides serve to direct the mule both vertically downwardly and vertically upwardly within the rack assembly.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention of claim 3 wherein the said cylindrical sections are laterally spaced a distance greater than the width of two film webs and wherein the said mule is provided with means to simultaneously pull two film webs through the system.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-18 | 1975-10-18 | 1976-04-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-18 | 1979-10-18 | 1980-04-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-18 | 1983-10-18 | 1984-04-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |