US3680803A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Turbine drive for photographic film processing machines
Assignee: Artisan Industries Inc
•
Filing: 1970-08-04
•
Granted: 1972-08-01
•
Expires: 1990-08-04
Abstract
Abstract A drive for photographic film spools and film spool shafts includes a turbine wheel for rotating a shaft carrying a plurality of spools on that shaft with the speed of the shaft and spools modulated in response to changes in tension of the film carried on the spools. In another embodiment the shaft is driven by a turbine at an established speed with at least some of the film spools on the shaft being individually turbine driven to an overspeed of the shaft modulated in accordance with changes in film tension. In yet other embodiments there are turbine drives for individual spools rotatably mounted on stationary shafts, again with spool speeds being modulated according to changes in film tension. Drive modulation controls may be for a greater or smaller number of spools, and signals for modulation may originate in changes in tension either in film immediately passing over the spools whose speed is to be modulated or in film at a removed location. Fluid for energizing the turbine wheels associated with film spools or spool shafts may be either fluid used in the course of film processing or fluid from an independent source kept isolated from any processing fluid or fluids.
Inventors
- 👤 Victor Takata
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 22:20
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03D; G03D3/00; G03D3/08; G03D3/13; G03D3/135; G03D3/137
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
In an apparatus for transporting photographic film wherein said film is wound helically from shaft to shaft Over spools carried on a plurality of shafts in spaced relation one to another, a drive system comprising (1) a fluid-actuated turbine connected in driving relation to at least one of said spools, (2) means for sensing changes in tension in said film and adapted to generate signals responsive to such changes, and (3) means for receiving signals from said tension change sensing means and adapted to modulate the flow of actuating fluid to said turbine according to such signals and thereby regulate the driven speed of said one spool.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
In an apparatus for transporting photographic film wherein said film is wound helically from shaft to shaft Over spools carried on a plurality of shafts in spaced relation one to another, a drive system comprising (1) a fluid-actuated turbine connected in driving relation to at least one of said spools, (2) means for sensing changes in tension in said film and adapted to generate signals responsive to such changes, and (3) means for receiving signals from said tension change sensing means and adapted to modulate the flow of actuating fluid to said turbine according to such signals and thereby regulate the driven speed of said one spool.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus for transporting photographic film according to claim 1 in which said turbine comprises a turbine wheel configured to have actuating fluid therefor impinge upon the outer periphery thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus for transporting photographic film according to claim 2 in which said turbine wheel is freely rotatably mounted on one of said shafts, and in which at least one of said spools is attached to said turbine wheel to turn with the same on said one shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus for transporting photographic film according to claim 2 in which said turbine wheel is fixedly mounted on a rotatable one of said shafts, and in which at least one of said spools is fixedly mounted on said one shaft to turn with the same and said turbine wheel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus for transporting photographic film according to claim 1 in which said turbine comprises a turbine wheel configured to have actuating fluid therefor flow radially outwardly therethrough.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus for transporting photographic film according to claim 5 in which said turbine wheel is freely rotatably mounted on one of said shafts and receives actuating fluid through said one shaft, and in which at least one of said spools is attached to said turbine wheel to turn with the same on said one shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus for transporting photographic film according to claim 5 in which said turbine wheel is fixedly mounted on a rotatable one of said shafts and receives actuating fluid through said one shaft, and in which at least one of said spools is fixedly mounted on said one shaft to turn with the same and said turbine wheel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus for transporting photographic film according to claim 1 in which said turbine comprises a turbine wheel configured to have actuating fluid therefor flow axially therethrough.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus for transporting photographic film according to claim 8 in which said turbine wheel is freely rotatably mounted on one of said shafts, and in which at least one of said spools is attached to said turbine wheel to turn with the same on said one shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus for transporting photographic film according to claim 9 in which said one spool encloses said turbine wheel circumferentially.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus for transporting photographic film according to claim 1 in which said turbine comprises a turbine wheel configured to have actuating fluid therefor flow radially inwardly therethrough.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus for transporting photographic film according to claim 11 in which at least one of said spools is freely rotatably mounted on one of said shafts, and in which said turbine wheel is attached to said one spool to turn with the same on said one shaft.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
107 words
In an apparatus for transporting photographic film wherein said film is wound helically from shaft to shaft over spools carried on a plurality of shafts in spaced relation one to another with at least one of said shafts being movable in space in response to changes in tension in said film, a drive system comprising (1) a fluid-actuated turbine connected in driving relation to at least one of said spools, and (2) means connected in motion-sensing relation to said movable shaft and adapted to modulate the flow of actuating fluid to said turbine according to shaft movement and thereby regulate the driven speed of said one spool.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
107 words
In an apparatus for transporting photographic film wherein said film is wound helically from shaft to shaft over spools carried on a plurality of shafts in spaced relation one to another with at least one of said shafts being movable in space in response to changes in tension in said film, a drive system comprising (1) a fluid-actuated turbine connected in driving relation to at least one of said spools, and (2) means connected in motion-sensing relation to said movable shaft and adapted to modulate the flow of actuating fluid to said turbine according to shaft movement and thereby regulate the driven speed of said one spool.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus for transporting photographic film according to claim 13 in which said turbine comprises a turbine wheel configured to have Actuating fluid therefor impinge upon the outer periphery thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus for transporting photographic film according to claim 13 in which said turbine comprises a turbine wheel configured to have actuating fluid therefor flow radially outwardly therethrough.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus for transporting photographic film according to claim 13 in which said turbine comprises a turbine wheel configured to have actuating fluid therefor flow axially therethrough.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus for transporting photographic film according to claim 13 in which said turbine comprises a turbine wheel configured to have actuating fluid therefor flow radially inwardly therethrough.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
112 words
An apparatus for transporting photographic film according to claim 13 in which said means connected in motion-sensing relation to said movable shaft and adapted to modulate the flow of actuating fluid to said turbine according to shaft movement comprises (i) a conduit connected to said turbine wherethrough actuating fluid may flow to said turbine from a source of fluid under relatively elevated pressure, (ii) a fluid flow control valve in said conduit between said turbine and said source of fluid under relatively elevated pressure, and (iii) means connecting said movable shaft with said fluid flow control valve whereby the opening of said valve is determined according to the position of said shaft.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
68 words
An apparatus for transporting photographic film according to claim 18 in which said means connecting said movable shaft with said fluid flow control valve is so disposed that the opening of said valve and the flow of actuating fluid therethrough are increased when said shaft moves in accordance with increasing tension in said film and decreased when said shaft moves in accordance with decreasing tension in said film.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus for transporting photographic film according to claim 18 in which said movable shaft is a dancer roll shaft.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
215 words
In an apparatus for transporting photographic film wherein said film is wound helically from shaft to shaft over spools carried on a plurality of shafts in spaced relation one to another with at least one of said shafts being movable in space in response to changes in tension in said film, a drive system comprising (1) a fluid-actuated turbine comprising a turbine wheel connected in driving relation to at least one of said spools, (2) a hollow arm whereon said turbine wheel and said one spool are together mounted for rotation on a common shaft and wherethrough actuating fluid may be supplied to said turbine wheel, and (3) a fluid conductor extending generally parallel to the shaft axis of rotation of said turbine wheel and said one spool and with which said arm is movably connected, there being a throttling interface between the interior regions of said fluid conductor and said hollow arm whereby the flow of actuating fluid to said turbine through said conductor and said arm is modulated according to the movement of said arm with respect to said conductor, and thus according to the movement of the shaft of said turbine wheel and said one spool with respect to said fluid conductor, to thereby regulate the driven speed of said one spool.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
215 words
In an apparatus for transporting photographic film wherein said film is wound helically from shaft to shaft over spools carried on a plurality of shafts in spaced relation one to another with at least one of said shafts being movable in space in response to changes in tension in said film, a drive system comprising (1) a fluid-actuated turbine comprising a turbine wheel connected in driving relation to at least one of said spools, (2) a hollow arm whereon said turbine wheel and said one spool are together mounted for rotation on a common shaft and wherethrough actuating fluid may be supplied to said turbine wheel, and (3) a fluid conductor extending generally parallel to the shaft axis of rotation of said turbine wheel and said one spool and with which said arm is movably connected, there being a throttling interface between the interior regions of said fluid conductor and said hollow arm whereby the flow of actuating fluid to said turbine through said conductor and said arm is modulated according to the movement of said arm with respect to said conductor, and thus according to the movement of the shaft of said turbine wheel and said one spool with respect to said fluid conductor, to thereby regulate the driven speed of said one spool.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus for transporting photographic film according to claim 21 in which said turbine wheel is configured to have actuating fluid therefor impinge upon the outer periphery thereof.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus for transporting photographic film according to claim 21 in which said turbine wheel is configured to have actuating fluid therefor flow radially outwardly therethrough.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus for transporting photographic film according to claim 21 in which said hollow arm is disposed to perform reciprocating linear motion substantially transversely to the axis of said fluid conductor.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus for transporting photographic film according to claim 21 in which said hollow arm is disposed to perform oscillatory angular motion around the axis of said fluid conductor.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
73 words
An apparatus for trAnsporting photographic film according to claim 21 in which said hollow arm is disposed to move with respect to said fluid conductor in a manner enlarging said throttling interface and thereby increasing flow of actuating fluid to said turbine in response to increasing tension in said film and diminishing said throttling interface and thereby decreasing flow of actuating fluid to said turbine in response to decreasing tension in said film.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
137 words
In an apparatus 3) transporting photographic film wherein said film is wound helically from shaft to shaft over spools carried on a plurality of shafts in spaced relation one to another with at least one of said shafts being movable in space in response to changes in tension in said film, a drive system comprising (1) a prime mover connected in driving relation to a given shaft, (2) at least one spool rotatably mounted on said given shaft (3) a fluid-actuated turbine connected in driving relation to said one spool, and (4) means connected in motion-sensing relation to said movable shaft and adapted to modulate the flow of actuating fluid to said turbine according to shaft movement and thereby regulate the driven speed of said one spool with respect to the driven speed of said given shaft.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
137 words
In an apparatus 3) transporting photographic film wherein said film is wound helically from shaft to shaft over spools carried on a plurality of shafts in spaced relation one to another with at least one of said shafts being movable in space in response to changes in tension in said film, a drive system comprising (1) a prime mover connected in driving relation to a given shaft, (2) at least one spool rotatably mounted on said given shaft (3) a fluid-actuated turbine connected in driving relation to said one spool, and (4) means connected in motion-sensing relation to said movable shaft and adapted to modulate the flow of actuating fluid to said turbine according to shaft movement and thereby regulate the driven speed of said one spool with respect to the driven speed of said given shaft.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus for transporting photographic film according to claim 27 in which said prime mover is a fluid-actuated turbine.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus for transporting photographic film according to claim 27 in which said turbine comprises a turbine wheel configured to have actuating fluid therefor flow radially inwardly therethrough.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus for transporting photographic film according to claim 29 in which said turbine wheel is attached to said one spool to turn with the same on said given shaft.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1890490A
Cited
US2096231A
Cited
US2584293A
Cited
US2939700A
Cited
US3089658A
Cited
US3261278A
Cited
US3532282A
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 |