US3680463A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic film processing device
Assignee: CURTIS C ATTRIDGE
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Filing: 1967-03-10
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Granted: 1972-08-01
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Expires: 1987-03-10
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for selectively processing silver halide photographic film or the like by partially developing the latent image on the film in a standard developing solution, scanning the film with infrared radiation, sensing the density of discrete areas of the film by sensing the amount of infrared radiation reflected or transmitted through the partially exposed film by utilizing a photoelectric sensing device, and automatically controlling the temperature of processing of discrete areas of the film in response to signals developed by the photoelectric sensing device and thereafter finishing the developing process in a conventional developing bath.
Inventors
- 👤 Curtis C Attridge
- 👤 Donald S Ross
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 02:28
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03D; G03D13/00; G01; G01J; G01J1/00; G01J1/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
Apparatus for controlling the processing of a photosensitive medium to achieve a desired density of the developed medium including: a. means for partially developing the medium; b. means for measuring the degree of partial development of the medium; c. means, responsive to said measuring means, for rendering a signal proportional to the extent to which further development of the medium should be altered to yield the desired density in the developed medium, said signal having differing values depending upon the degree of partial development of the medium; and d. means for developing the medium to completion, including utilization means responsive to said signal for altering the extent of further development during the development to completion to achieve a desired density in the developed medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
Apparatus for controlling the processing of a photosensitive medium to achieve a desired density of the developed medium including: a. means for partially developing the medium; b. means for measuring the degree of partial development of the medium; c. means, responsive to said measuring means, for rendering a signal proportional to the extent to which further development of the medium should be altered to yield the desired density in the developed medium, said signal having differing values depending upon the degree of partial development of the medium; and d. means for developing the medium to completion, including utilization means responsive to said signal for altering the extent of further development during the development to completion to achieve a desired density in the developed medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. said measuring means includes means for making a plurality of measurements at a plurality of areas of the photosensitive medium; b. said means to develop a signal develops separate signals for each of said areas; and c. said utilization means is responsive to said signals to alter the extent of further development at each of said areas of the photosensitive medium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said utilization means includes means for varying the temperature of the developmental activity at each of said areas of the photosensitive medium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the photosensitive medium is a strip of film and said measuring means includes scanning means for scanning across the width of the film strip.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said scanning means includes a scanning arm and means to move the scanning arm across The width of the film strip, and said utilization means includes a heating means attached to said scanning arm to simultaneously apply heat to the photosensitive medium according to the instantaneous output of said scanning means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
107 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means to develop the medium to completion includes a drum which is mounted for rotation, and the film strip rotates on said drum while being processed, and said heating means includes a coil and means to apply an alternating electric current to said coil in accordance with the output of said measuring means, whereby electromagnetic radiation produced by said coil is directed against a particular area of the drum to heat that area of the drum and thereby alter the extent of further development of the area of the film strip located on said area of the drum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the photosensitive medium is a film strip, and the apparatus is part of a continuous flow processor wherein film is moved continuously through the processor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
89 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein: a. said measuring means including means for making a plurality of measurements at a plurality of areas of the film strip as the film strip moves continuously through the processor; b. said means to develop a signal develops separate signals for each of said areas; and c. said utilization means is responsive to said signals to separately alter the extent of further development at each of said areas of the film strip as the film strip moves continuously through the processor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said utilization means includes means for varying the temperature of the developmental activity at each of said areas of the photosensitive medium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said measuring means includes scanning means which scans across the width of the film strip as the film strip moves continuously through the processor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
68 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said scanning means includes a scanning arm, and means to move the scanning arm across the width of the film strip as the film strip moves continuously through the processor, and said utilization means includes a heating means attached to said scanning arm to simultaneously apply heat to the photosensitive medium according to the instantaneous output of said scanning means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
107 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said means to develop the medium to completion includes a drum which is mounted for rotation, and the film strip rotates on said drum while being processed, and said heating means includes a coil and means to apply an alternating electric current to said coil in accordance with the output of said measuring means, whereby electromagnetic radiation produced by said coil is directed against a particular area of the drum to heat that area of the drum and thereby alter the extent of further development of the area of the film strip located on said area of the drum.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1895760A
Cited
US2631511A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-01 | 1976-01-31 | 1976-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-01 | 1980-01-31 | 1980-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-01 | 1984-01-31 | 1984-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |