US3683781A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic processor
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-02-26
•
Granted: 1972-08-15
•
Expires: 1989-02-26
Abstract
Abstract A photographic apparatus for automatic photography, combined with an automatic processor for receiving an exposed film strip from the photographic apparatus and processing the strip step by step through a series of treating tanks for delivery to a customer. The strip is received in a carrier slidable along a horizontal track by two lead screws extending along the track and alternately engaged with the carrier as an incident to rotation thereof between film-raised and film-lowered positions at the ends of each tank by an oscillating operator. One screw has sections of differing pitch for feeding the carrier at differing rates for differing treating intervals constituting multiples of the cycle of the operator, and the other has sections for traversing the carrier between tanks. Transfer devices at the ends of the track shift carriers between the track and an overlying return bar which is associated with a conveyor for full loop movement of carriers, several being stored on the return bar. An alternate form has a second processing track.
Inventors
- 👤 Wilbus G Allen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 18:52
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03D; G03D13/00; G03D13/003; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/48; G03B17/50; G03B17/53; G03D3/00; G03D3/02; G03D3/06; G03D3/08; G03D3/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 57
Claim 1
Independent Claim
509 words
An automatic film processor having, in combination: a box-like frame having spaced upright end walls and a bottom wall; a cylindrical track bar extending horizontally between said end walls above said bottom wall and having reduced diameter end portions adjacent said end walls forming an entry end for said track bar adjacent one end wall and an exit end for the track bar adjacent the other end wall; a series of tanks disposed side by side in a row along said bottom wall and having open upper ends spaced apart longitudinally of said track bar; a return bar spaced above said track bar and having free ends spaced from said end walls to leave gaps overlying said reduced-diameter portions; means supporting said return bar on said frame, including a rib narrower than the return bar connected to the underside thereof; a plurality of carriers having bodies formed with openings shaped to fit around said bars and support the carriers slidably on the bars, arms projecting outwardly from said bodies to overhang said tanks, and holders on said arms for film strips to be processed through said tanks; said bodies being rotatable about said track bar between spaced angular positions to lower said holders into said tanks in one angular position and to raise the holders above the tanks in the other angular position, said carriers normally being stored in a row on said return bar; first and second transfer arms pivoted on said end walls to swing about axes parallel to, and equidistant from, said bars, said transfer arms having means thereon for transferring carriers from said return bar to said track bar at said entry end for processing of a film strip along the track bar, and for transferring carriers back to said return bar at said exit end after such processing; an elongated feed screw extending along one side of said track bar and having a series of axially spaced feed screw sections thereon of differing pitches, each of said sections being positioned to feed carriers past one of said tanks; an elongated traversing screw extending along the other side of said track bar and having axially spaced traversing screw sections thereon spanning the spaces between the adjacent ends of said feed screw sections and between said tanks; follower means on said carrier bodies for engaging said feed screw when said bodies are in said one angular position and engaging said traVersing screw when said bodies are in said other position; means operating on a timed sequence to shift each carrier on said track bar to said one angular position at the leading end of each of said feed screw sections to feed said holders through said tanks, and to said other angular position at the trailing end of each feed screw section for traversing of said holders between tanks, thereby cooperating with said screws to advance each carrier along said track bar and move the holder of the carrier through successive tanks along said path; and means for returning carriers along said return bar for reuse.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
509 words
An automatic film processor having, in combination: a box-like frame having spaced upright end walls and a bottom wall; a cylindrical track bar extending horizontally between said end walls above said bottom wall and having reduced diameter end portions adjacent said end walls forming an entry end for said track bar adjacent one end wall and an exit end for the track bar adjacent the other end wall; a series of tanks disposed side by side in a row along said bottom wall and having open upper ends spaced apart longitudinally of said track bar; a return bar spaced above said track bar and having free ends spaced from said end walls to leave gaps overlying said reduced-diameter portions; means supporting said return bar on said frame, including a rib narrower than the return bar connected to the underside thereof; a plurality of carriers having bodies formed with openings shaped to fit around said bars and support the carriers slidably on the bars, arms projecting outwardly from said bodies to overhang said tanks, and holders on said arms for film strips to be processed through said tanks; said bodies being rotatable about said track bar between spaced angular positions to lower said holders into said tanks in one angular position and to raise the holders above the tanks in the other angular position, said carriers normally being stored in a row on said return bar; first and second transfer arms pivoted on said end walls to swing about axes parallel to, and equidistant from, said bars, said transfer arms having means thereon for transferring carriers from said return bar to said track bar at said entry end for processing of a film strip along the track bar, and for transferring carriers back to said return bar at said exit end after such processing; an elongated feed screw extending along one side of said track bar and having a series of axially spaced feed screw sections thereon of differing pitches, each of said sections being positioned to feed carriers past one of said tanks; an elongated traversing screw extending along the other side of said track bar and having axially spaced traversing screw sections thereon spanning the spaces between the adjacent ends of said feed screw sections and between said tanks; follower means on said carrier bodies for engaging said feed screw when said bodies are in said one angular position and engaging said traVersing screw when said bodies are in said other position; means operating on a timed sequence to shift each carrier on said track bar to said one angular position at the leading end of each of said feed screw sections to feed said holders through said tanks, and to said other angular position at the trailing end of each feed screw section for traversing of said holders between tanks, thereby cooperating with said screws to advance each carrier along said track bar and move the holder of the carrier through successive tanks along said path; and means for returning carriers along said return bar for reuse.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
An automatic film processor as defined in claim 1 in which said transfer arms have saddles of arcuate cross-section projecting laterally from their free end portions and movable onto said reduced-diameter portions for transfers to and from said track bar, said saddles being movable into said gaps in axial alinement with said return bar for transfers to and from the latter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
An automatic film processor as defined in claim 2 in which said transfer arms and said carriers have opposed surfaces for holding the carriers in a preselected angular position during the transfers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
An automatic film processor as defined in claim 3 in which one of said screws has end sections for feeding carriers off one saddle and onto said track bar at said entry end, and off said track bar and onto the other saddle at said exit end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
An automatic film processor as defined in claim 4 in which said carriers are transferred to and from said track bar with said bodies in said other angular position, and said traversing screw has said end sections for feeding the carriers to and from said saddles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
84 words
An automatic film processor as defined in claim 2 including a fluid-activated operator for moving said first transfer arm back and forth between said bars at said entry end, and further including a gate mechanism for mechanically blocking movement of said first arm from a raised position adjacent said return bar and actuated with said operator to release the first arm for movement toward said entry end, whereby said gate mechanism maintains said first arm in said raised position when said operator is deactivated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
87 words
An automatic film processor as defined in claim 2 in which said second transfer arm is movable between said exit end and the overlying end of said return bar, and has means thereon for holding said carrier against downward rotation during the transfer motion, and further including a discharge device disposed above the position of the holders adjacent the upper end of said transfer motion to receive the upper ends of film strips prior to movement of the carriers off the saddle and onto said return bar.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
An automatic film processor as defined in claim 7 further including a stop engageable with each carrier adjacent the upper end of said transfer motion and operable to rotate the carriers to swing the holders upwardly as the transfer motion is completed, thereby to raise each film strip into said discharge device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
An automatic film processor as defined in claim 1 in which said feed screw comprises a central shaft journaled on said frame for rotation alongside said track bar, a plurality of tubular sleeves telescoped onto said shaft in end-to-end relation with said feed screw sections on said sleeves, and means holding said sleeves on said shaft for rotation therewith.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
An automatic film processor as defined in claim 9 further including an annular shoulder between each pair of adjacent sleeves forming a stop for limiting movement of said follower means at the end of each feed screw section, the latter terminating short of the shoulder to permit the carriers to dwell relative to said feed screw.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
87 words
An automatic film processor as defined in claim 1 in which said follower means include a lug on each carrier body radially spaced from said track bar and riding against said feed screw when the body is in said one angular position on the track bar with the holder in one of said tanks, said feed screw being arranged to shift said follower lug radially in and out thereby to agitate the holder up and down in the tank as the holder is fed through the tank.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
An automatic film processor as defined in claim 11 in which said feed screw is eccentrically journaled on said frame to act through said follower lug in agitating said holder up and down during each revolution of the feed screw.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
160 words
An automatic film processor as defined in claim 1 in which said operating means include a plurality of operating abutments spaced apart longitudinally of said track bar on one side thereof and supported for back and forth movement in unison in planes generally perpendicular to the track bar, one of said abutments being provided for each space between two adjacent tanks, power-operated means for moving said abutments periodically back and forth through active and return strokes between two spaced positions, and a coupling abutment on each of said carriers positioned to be engaged by one of said operating abutments during said active strokes when the carrier is at the end of one of said feed screw sections and to be moved about said track bar in a manner to shift the carrier body to said other angular position, said coupling abutments being disposed between adjacent operating abutments when said follower means are engaged with one of said feed screw sections.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
102 words
An automatic film processor as defined in claim 13 in which said abutments are supported on an elongated operating bar mounted for oscillation about the longitudinal axis of said track bar in parallel therewith between raised and lowered positions on the side of said track bar remote from said holders, and said coupling abutments are spaced outwardly from said track bar to be disposed under successive abutments when the operating bar is in said raised position, thereby to be lowered and to raise the holder on the carrier as said operating bar is moved through said active stroke to said lowered position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
99 words
An automatic film processor as defined in claim 13 in which each of said carriers has a plunger projecting outwardly from one side thereof to move into the paths of successive operating abutments as the carrier moves along said track bar, the outer end portion of said plunger carrying the coupling abutment on one side of the plunger and being spring-urged outwardly, said plunger and said operating abutments having coacting cam surfaces causing said plungers to yield inwardly to permit the operating abutments to pass the plungers in moving in one direction into position to engage the coupling abutments.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
80 words
An automatic film processor as defined in claim 13 in which said power-operated means include a power actuator, means controlling the actuator to cause said operating abutments to dwell for a first preselected time interval in one of said spaced positions before being moved through said active stroke, and also controlling the actuator to cause said operating abutments to dwell for a second preselected time interval in the other of said spaced positions before being moved through said return stroke.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
66 words
An automatic film processor as defined in claim 16 further including means controlling the active strokes of said operating abutments to cause the latter to pause momentarily with the holder of a carrier above a tank before completing said active stroke, thereby to permit drainage of liquid back into a tank before engaging said traversing screw and advancing the holder into alinement with the next tank.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
An automatic film processer as defined in claim 17 in which said means for controlling said active strokes also cause the actuator to complete the active strokes with a snap action after the momentary dwell, thereby to shake the holders to separate any drops of liquid clinging thereto.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
101 words
An automatic film processor as defined in claim 1 in which said tanks are joined together to form at least one tank unit comprising a plurality of tanks, and further including: means supporting said tank unit for movement on said frame between a treating position generally beneath said track bar and a servicing position spaced laterally from said treating position, a cover adapted to be placed over said tank unit and having a lifting handle thereon, and means for releasably securing said cover to said unit in order to lift the latter out of said frame during servicing of said processor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
An automatic film processor as defined in claim 19 in which said tank-supporting means include a slide movable between said treating and servicing positions, and a temperature-controlling jacket on said slide having an open upper side for receiving said tank unit into said jacket.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
84 words
An automatic film processor as defined in claim 1 further including a cam track extending along said return bar in spaced relation therewith, and a follower roller on each of said carriers engageable with said cam track to hold the carrier in a preselected angular position about said return bar during movement thereon, said cam track extending at least partially across said gaps to maintain said carriers in said preselected angular position as the carriers are moved onto and off of said transfer arms.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
87 words
An automatic film processor as defined in claim 1 in which said means for returning carriers along said return bar includes a conveyor movable along said return bar, an abutment on said conveyor engageable with each carrier moved to said return bar by said second transfer arm and operable to slide the carrier along said bar toward said first transfer arm, and means for driving said conveyor to feed successive carriers off said second transfer arm in response to the transfers of carriers to said return bar.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
67 words
An automatic film processor as defined in claim 22 in which said conveyor is of the endless type having a run extending along said return bar to move said abutment along the return bar, from an out-of-the-way position spaced from the end of said return bar overlying said exit end, to the other end of the return bar, and including a reversible motor for driving said conveyor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
50 words
An automatic film processor as defined in claim 23 further including means responsive to the transfer of a carrier to said return bar to activate said motor and shift the carrier onto the return bar, and then to reverse the motor to move said abutment back to said out-of-the-way position.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
56 words
An automatic film processor as defined in claim 24 further including means operable on demand to activate said motor to shift all carriers along said return bar until a carrier is fed off the return bar onto said first transfer arm, and then to reverse the motor to return said abutment back to said out-of-the-way position.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
104 words
An automatic film processor as defined in claim 1 further including a third bar disposed between said track bar and said return bar and supported on said frame with its ends free and alined with the ends of said return bar, a second series of tanks in a row along said third bar, second feed and traversing screws extending along said third bar, second operating means for shifting carriers between said angular positions on said third bar, and means for transferring carriers between said third bar and the other two bars, whereby the carriers are processed along two levels through two rows of tanks.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
47 words
An automatic film processor as defined in claim 26 in which the axes of said transfer arms are equidistant from all three bars, whereby the arms are swingable into alinement with each bar to serve as said means for transferring carriers to and from said third bar.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
80 words
An automatic film processor as defined in claim 1 in which at least one of said tanks has means partially covering the open upper end of the tank, said covering means defining a limited open area for admitting the film holders downwardly into the tank, a limited open area for removal of the holders from the tank, and a connecting open area for movement of the holders betwEen said open areas during feeding of the carriers by said feed screw.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
An automatic film processor as defined in claim 28 in which said covering means comprise insets attached to the upper end portion of said one tank.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
335 words
An automatic film processor having, in combination: a frame including spaced, upright end walls; a plurality of film carriers; an elongated, substantially straight, track bar supported on said frame and defining a predetermined path for said carriers; each of said carriers having a body movable along said bar and also rotatable relative thereto, an arm projecting outwardly from said body to move between film-raised and film-lowered positions during rotation of said body between first and second angular positions about said bar, and means on said arm for holding film to be processed; a series of tanks supported on said frame between said end walls for treating film on one of said carriers when the arm thereof is in said film-lowered position; an elongated feed screw extending along said bar and having feed sections engageable with a carrier thereon when the feed screw body of the carrier is in said first position, said feed screw acting, when engaged, to advance carriers along each of said feed sections at a preselected feed rate; an elongated traversing screw extending along said bar and engageable with a carrier thereon when the body of the carrier is in said second position, said traversing screw acting, when engaged, to advance carriers along said bar at a preselected traversing rate; means for rotating the body of each carrier on said bar back and forth between said first and second positions in accordance with a timed sequence, thereby alternately engaging said feed screw while disengaging said traversing screw for movement of a carrier at a feed rate in said film-lowered position, and then disengaging said feed screw while engaging said traversing screw for movement of said carrier at said traversing rate in said raised position; and mechanism for delivering carriers one by one and upon demand to one end of said bar for processing of a film along the bar, removing each carrier adjacent the other end of the bar after such processing, and storing said carriers off the bar preparatory to re-use.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
335 words
An automatic film processor having, in combination: a frame including spaced, upright end walls; a plurality of film carriers; an elongated, substantially straight, track bar supported on said frame and defining a predetermined path for said carriers; each of said carriers having a body movable along said bar and also rotatable relative thereto, an arm projecting outwardly from said body to move between film-raised and film-lowered positions during rotation of said body between first and second angular positions about said bar, and means on said arm for holding film to be processed; a series of tanks supported on said frame between said end walls for treating film on one of said carriers when the arm thereof is in said film-lowered position; an elongated feed screw extending along said bar and having feed sections engageable with a carrier thereon when the feed screw body of the carrier is in said first position, said feed screw acting, when engaged, to advance carriers along each of said feed sections at a preselected feed rate; an elongated traversing screw extending along said bar and engageable with a carrier thereon when the body of the carrier is in said second position, said traversing screw acting, when engaged, to advance carriers along said bar at a preselected traversing rate; means for rotating the body of each carrier on said bar back and forth between said first and second positions in accordance with a timed sequence, thereby alternately engaging said feed screw while disengaging said traversing screw for movement of a carrier at a feed rate in said film-lowered position, and then disengaging said feed screw while engaging said traversing screw for movement of said carrier at said traversing rate in said raised position; and mechanism for delivering carriers one by one and upon demand to one end of said bar for processing of a film along the bar, removing each carrier adjacent the other end of the bar after such processing, and storing said carriers off the bar preparatory to re-use.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
43 words
A film processor as defined in claim 30 in which said feed screw has a plurality of first screw sections thereon having screw threads of differing pitches to advance said carriers along the various sections at rates differing in accordance with said pitches.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
46 words
A film processor as defined in claim 31 in which the screw threads of said sections are axially separated whereby said carrier is advanced along each section to the end thereof, and then dwells at the end until said body is rotated to said second position.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
55 words
A film processor as defined in claim 32 in which said traversing screw has screw threads spanning the separations between said sections to become engaged as said body is rotated to said second position and thereby to traverse each carrier from the end of each first section to the beginning of the next first section.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
63 words
A film processor as defined in claim 32 in which the screw threads of said traversing screw are axially separated second screw sections extending between the adjacent ends of adjacent first sections whereby said carrier is traversed across the separations in said first screw and then dwells at the end of a second section until said body is rotated to said first position.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
169 words
A film processor as defined in claim 34 in which said rotating means comprise: a coupling abutment on each carrier spaced radially from said bar and angularly movable between third and fourth positions as said body turns between said first and second positions; an operator movable from a pick-up position to a traversing position and engageable with said abutments during such movement, when the abutments are at the ends of said first sections, to shift the same from said foUrth position to said third position thereby to turn said body from said second position to said first position in order to raise said arm and engage the carrier with said traversing screw; said operator acting upon movement back to said pick-up position to shift said abutments from said third position back to said fourth position when the abutments are at the end of said second sections; and means for moving said operator back and forth between said pick-up position and said traversing position in accordance with said timed sequence.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
83 words
A film processor as defined in claim 35 in which said operator comprises a plurality of axially spaced operating abutments axially alined with said second screw sections to span the separations between said first screw sections and remain in engagement with said coupling abutments during traversing of said carrier and during movement of one of said bodies from said second position to said first position, said operating abutments being supported for back and forth movement in unison between said pick-up and traversing positions.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
61 words
A film processor as defined in claim 36 in which the coupling abutments are supported on said bodies to yield around said operating abutments as said operator moves to said pick-up position and to move the bodies to said second position and back to said first position as said operator moves from said pick-up position to said traversing position and back.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
73 words
A film processor as defined in claim 36 in which said coupling abutments are surfaces on plungers slidably mounted on said bodies and spring-urged outwardly to extended positions, said plungers and said operator having coacting cam surfaces for shifting said plungers inwardly to permit the operator to pass the plungers to said pick-up position in order to engage said coupling abutments and move the latter from said fourth position to said third position.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
69 words
A film processor as defined in claim 30 in which said mechanism includes a return bar spaced above and generally parallel to said track bar with ends generally overlying the ends of said track bar, and automatic transfer devices adjacent the ends of said bars for transferring carriers to said track bar upon demand and to said return bar upon completion of processing of a film along said path.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
52 words
A film processor as defined in claim 39 in which said return bar is supported on said frame between its ends by means of an element engaging one side of the bar, said carrier bodies being generally horseshoe-shaped in cross-section so as to slide along said return bar and said supporting element.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
71 words
A film processor as defined in claim 40 in which said track bar has a portion of reduced thickness at each end for receiving said bodies, and said transfer devices include members movable vertically between said bars between positions on top of said reduced-thickness portions to positions alined with the ends of said return bar thereby to receive a carrier from one bar and deliver the carrier to the other bar.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
45 words
A film processor as defined in claim 41 in which one of said screws has end sections for sliding carriers from one transfer device onto said track bar at one end and off the track bar to the other transfer device at the other end.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
41 words
A film processor as defined in claim 41 in which said members are supported on arms having free end portions swingable about axes equidistant from corresponding ends of the bars thereby to swing each member back and forth between the bars.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
53 words
A film processor as defined in claim 39 in which said mechanism includes a conveyor extending along said return bar and operable in response to delivery of carriers to the return bar from said track bar to shift the carriers onto the return bar and then slide the carriers along the return bar.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
220 words
An automatic processor having, in combination: a frame; at least one carrier for holding an article to be processed; means on said frame forming a plurality of upwardly opening treatIng compartments for said article, said compartments being arranged side by side in a row; an elongated track supported on said frame to extend along said row, said carrier being movable along said track and also swingable relative thereto between raised and lowered positions, said carrier supporting said article within said compartments in said lowered position and above the compartments in said raised position; first and second drive members extending along said track and alternately engageable with said carrier, said first member engaging said carrier in said lowered position to feed the article within a compartment, and said second member engaging said carrier in said raised position to traverse said carrier between compartments; said first member having means thereon for moving said article through different compartments at different rates; means responsive to the arrival of said carrier at the end of each compartment to shift the carrier to said raised position and into engagement with said second member; and means responsive to movement of the carrier by said second member into alinement with each successive compartment to shift the carrier into said lowered position and into engagement with said first member.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
220 words
An automatic processor having, in combination: a frame; at least one carrier for holding an article to be processed; means on said frame forming a plurality of upwardly opening treatIng compartments for said article, said compartments being arranged side by side in a row; an elongated track supported on said frame to extend along said row, said carrier being movable along said track and also swingable relative thereto between raised and lowered positions, said carrier supporting said article within said compartments in said lowered position and above the compartments in said raised position; first and second drive members extending along said track and alternately engageable with said carrier, said first member engaging said carrier in said lowered position to feed the article within a compartment, and said second member engaging said carrier in said raised position to traverse said carrier between compartments; said first member having means thereon for moving said article through different compartments at different rates; means responsive to the arrival of said carrier at the end of each compartment to shift the carrier to said raised position and into engagement with said second member; and means responsive to movement of the carrier by said second member into alinement with each successive compartment to shift the carrier into said lowered position and into engagement with said first member.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
225 words
An automatic film processor having, in combination: a frame; a plurality of carriers; means forming an elongated, generally horizontal first slide track defining a path for said carriers and having entrance and exit ends; means on said frame forming a plurality of treatment stations along said path; means spaced vertically from said first track and forming an elongated second slide track defining a return path for said carriers from said exit and back to said entrance end; said carriers being slidable forwardly along said first track and reversely along said second slide track and being storable on said second slide track; first transfer means adjacent said entrance end for moving carriers one-by-one from said second slide track to said entrance end; second transfer means adjacent said exit end for moving said carriers one-by-one from said first slide track to said second slide track; loading means for placing film to be processed on said carriers adjacent said entrance end; means operable to move each carrier independently along said first slide track through a plurality of film processing stations in accordance with a prearranged sequence of motions thereby to process the film on each carrier; unloading means for removing processed film from said carriers adjacent said exit end; and means for moving said carriers reversely along said second slide track toward said entrance end preparatory to re-use.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
225 words
An automatic film processor having, in combination: a frame; a plurality of carriers; means forming an elongated, generally horizontal first slide track defining a path for said carriers and having entrance and exit ends; means on said frame forming a plurality of treatment stations along said path; means spaced vertically from said first track and forming an elongated second slide track defining a return path for said carriers from said exit and back to said entrance end; said carriers being slidable forwardly along said first track and reversely along said second slide track and being storable on said second slide track; first transfer means adjacent said entrance end for moving carriers one-by-one from said second slide track to said entrance end; second transfer means adjacent said exit end for moving said carriers one-by-one from said first slide track to said second slide track; loading means for placing film to be processed on said carriers adjacent said entrance end; means operable to move each carrier independently along said first slide track through a plurality of film processing stations in accordance with a prearranged sequence of motions thereby to process the film on each carrier; unloading means for removing processed film from said carriers adjacent said exit end; and means for moving said carriers reversely along said second slide track toward said entrance end preparatory to re-use.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
223 words
An automatic processor for advancing a film strip through successive tanks containing processing liquids, said processor having, in combination: a frame; at least one carrier having means thereon for holding a film strip to be processed; means on said frame forming a track for movement of said carrier past said tanks and also supporting said carrier for rotation about said track between first and second angular positions, said holding means moving from a lowered position to a raised position as the carrier is rotated from said first position to said second position thereby to raise the film strip out of a tank; drive means for advancing said carrier along said track in said first angular position and traversing the carrier between successive tanks in said second angular position; and means for rotating the carrier in a timed sequence back and forth between said angular positions, said rotating means including an operator engageable with said carrier while the latter is in said first angular position and operable to rotate the carrier to said second angular position preparatory to traversing to another tank, and means controlling said operator during such rotation first to delay movement of the carrier momentarily through an intermediate position to aLlow time for draining of liquids, and then to snap the carrier into said second position to shake remaining liquid therefrom.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
223 words
An automatic processor for advancing a film strip through successive tanks containing processing liquids, said processor having, in combination: a frame; at least one carrier having means thereon for holding a film strip to be processed; means on said frame forming a track for movement of said carrier past said tanks and also supporting said carrier for rotation about said track between first and second angular positions, said holding means moving from a lowered position to a raised position as the carrier is rotated from said first position to said second position thereby to raise the film strip out of a tank; drive means for advancing said carrier along said track in said first angular position and traversing the carrier between successive tanks in said second angular position; and means for rotating the carrier in a timed sequence back and forth between said angular positions, said rotating means including an operator engageable with said carrier while the latter is in said first angular position and operable to rotate the carrier to said second angular position preparatory to traversing to another tank, and means controlling said operator during such rotation first to delay movement of the carrier momentarily through an intermediate position to aLlow time for draining of liquids, and then to snap the carrier into said second position to shake remaining liquid therefrom.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
65 words
An automatic processor as defined in claim 47 in which said carrier is disengaged from said drive means in said intermediate position for draining of liquid into the tank from which the holding means have been raised, and is engaged with said drive means after being snapped to said second position whereby liquid shaken from the holding means also falls back to the same tank.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
40 words
An automatic processor as defined in claim 48 in which said drive means include separate drive members for advancing said carrier in said first and second angular positions, said drive members being disengaged while said carrier is between said positions.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
43 words
An automatic processor as defined in claim 49 in which said operator is moved periodically back and forth through active and return strokes, said rotating means also including means for holding said operator at the ends of said strokes for preselected, timed intervals.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
96 words
An automatic processor as defined in claim 50 in which said operator is an elongated bar movable back and forth through active and return strokes, in parallel with said track, by a reciprocating fluid actuator, and said control means include a valve variably regulating the fluid flow for said actuator in accordance with the position of said operator along said active stroke, restricting said flow momentarily as said operator moves through said intermediate position for delayed motion, and releasing the restriction for the remainder of said active stroke to snap the carrier to said second position.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
66 words
An automatic processor as defined in claim 51 in which said operator is formed with spaced abutments thereon engageable with said carrier after the latter has been driven to the end of each of said tanks by said drive means, said valve having a flow regulator moved by said operator during said active stroke to control said flow as an incident to movement of said operator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-15 | 1976-02-14 | 1976-08-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-15 | 1980-02-14 | 1980-08-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-15 | 1984-02-14 | 1984-08-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |