US3700335A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Process and apparatus for sensitometrically testing a liquid,photosensitive emulsion
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1971-01-21
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Granted: 1972-10-24
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Expires: 1991-01-21
Abstract
Abstract A continuous process and system for measuring and relating the densities of a liquid photographic emulsion to determine its sensitivity. A test sample of the emulsion is diluted with a fixed amount of water before being moved and circulated in a predetermined flow path. A densitometer and sensitometer are arranged in the flow path, and the unexposed emulsion is first introduced into the densitometer so as to measure the density thereof, before processing, and then into the sensitometer in which the emulsion is exposed to radiation of continually varying intensity and of selected spectral quality. After being exposed, the emulsion is mixed with a suitable processing solution; and the processed emulsion is then returned to the densitometer wherein the density is again measured. A recorder plots a graph representative of the density measurements so that the sensitivity of the emulsion can be determined. The process and apparatus is continuous in its operation and sequence of operation through the medium of a program-control medium. Such a medium and its associated electronic circuitry provides the necessary control for actuating the various valves, pumps and other elements of the system in proper time and sequence to effect a complete and fully automatic emulsion testing device.
Inventors
- 👤 David C Seelbinder
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 01:40
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03C; G03C5/00; G03C5/02; G01; G01J; G01J1/00; G01J1/42; G01J1/02; G01J1/04; G01J1/0407; G01J1/0418; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/11; Y10T436/117497
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A continuous process for determining the sensitivity of a liquid, photosensitive emulsion, which comprises the steps of: exposing a flowing test sample of said emulsion to radiation, the intensity of which varies logarithmically with time; processing the test sample after exposure; measuring the optical density of the test sample prior to processing thereof; measuring the optical density of the test sample subsequent to processing thereof; and relating the measured optical densities of the test sample to each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
78 words
A continuous process for determining the sensitivity of a liquid, photosensitive emulsion, which comprises the steps of: exposing a flowing test sample of said emulsion to radiation, the intensity of which varies logarithmically with time; processing the test sample after exposure; measuring the optical density of the test sample prior to processing thereof; measuring the optical density of the test sample subsequent to processing thereof; and relating the measured optical densities of the test sample to each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A continuous process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the optical density of the test sample prior to processing is measured prior to said exposing step.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A continuous process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the optical density of the test sample prior to processing is measured immediately after said exposing step and before said processing step.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A continuous process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the optical density of the test sample is measured by the transmittance of radiation having a predetermined frequency range.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A continuous process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said emulsion is a silver halide emulsion and the optical density of the test sample is measured, after processing, by the transmittance of infrared radiation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A continuous process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said emulsion is a color-forming emulsion and the optical density of the test sample is measured, after processing, by the transmittance of radiation of a selected colOr.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A continuous process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the optical density of the test sample is measured periodically with respect to time in each measuring step.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
113 words
A continuous process for determining the sensitivity of a liquid, photosensitive emulsion, which comprises the steps of: moving a test sample of said emulsion continuously through a predetermined flow path; exposing the test sample to radiation of varying intensity and of a preselected spectral quality; processing the exposed test sample; measuring periodically the optical density of the test sample at a first point in said flow path that is upstream relative to said processing step; measuring periodically the optical density of the test sample at a second point in said flow path that is downstream relative to said processing step; and relating the measured optical densities of the test sample to each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
113 words
A continuous process for determining the sensitivity of a liquid, photosensitive emulsion, which comprises the steps of: moving a test sample of said emulsion continuously through a predetermined flow path; exposing the test sample to radiation of varying intensity and of a preselected spectral quality; processing the exposed test sample; measuring periodically the optical density of the test sample at a first point in said flow path that is upstream relative to said processing step; measuring periodically the optical density of the test sample at a second point in said flow path that is downstream relative to said processing step; and relating the measured optical densities of the test sample to each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A continuous process in accordance with claim 8 including the step of mixing and dispersing the test sample in a diluent prior to introducing the test sample into said flow path.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A continuous process in accordance with claim 8 wherein the optical density of the test sample is measured in each measuring step by the transmittance of radiation having a predetermined frequency range.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
A continuous process in accordance with claim 8 wherein said emulsion is a silver halide emulsion and the optical density of the test sample is measured in each measuring step by the transmittance of radiation having a predetermined frequency range.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A continuous process in accordance with claim 11 wherein the optical density of the test sample is measured by the transmittance of infrared radiation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
A continuous process in accordance with claim 8 wherein said emulsion is a color-forming emulsion and the optical density of the test sample is measured, after the processing step, by the transmittance of selective spectral radiation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
A continuous process in accordance with claim 8 wherein the step of relating comprises graphically recording the measured optical densities of the test sample in each measuring step.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
A continuous process in accordance with claim 13 wherein the optical density of the test sample is measured, after the processing step, by he transmittance of radiation of a color complementary to that of the emulsion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A continuous process in accordance with claim 13 wherein the processing step comprises color processing of the exposed test sample.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
A continuous process in accordance with claim 8 wherein the exposing step comprises continually varying the intensity of the radiation such that the logarithmic intensity of the radiation varies linearly with time.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
158 words
A continuous system for determining the sensitivity of a liquid, photosensitive emulsion, comprising: means for continuously moving a test sample of said emulsion through a predetermined flow path; means arranged in said flow path for exposing the test sample to radiation of continually varying intensity and of a selected spectral quality; means arranged in said flow path for introducing and mixing a solution with the exposed test sample for processing the same; first means arranged in said flow path for measuring the optical density of the test sample prior to processing thereof; second means arranged in said flow path for measuring the optical density of the test sample subsequent to processing thereof; means responsive to a predetermined program for controlling the timing and sequence of operation of the aforementioned means to provide a cycle of operation; and means responsive to each of said measuring means for relating the measured optical densities of the test sample to each other.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
158 words
A continuous system for determining the sensitivity of a liquid, photosensitive emulsion, comprising: means for continuously moving a test sample of said emulsion through a predetermined flow path; means arranged in said flow path for exposing the test sample to radiation of continually varying intensity and of a selected spectral quality; means arranged in said flow path for introducing and mixing a solution with the exposed test sample for processing the same; first means arranged in said flow path for measuring the optical density of the test sample prior to processing thereof; second means arranged in said flow path for measuring the optical density of the test sample subsequent to processing thereof; means responsive to a predetermined program for controlling the timing and sequence of operation of the aforementioned means to provide a cycle of operation; and means responsive to each of said measuring means for relating the measured optical densities of the test sample to each other.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
A continuous system in accordance with claim 18 including means for introducing and mixing a diluent in the test sample prior to movement of the test sample into said flow path.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
113 words
A continuous system in accordance witH claim 18 wherein said first measuring means comprises a photosensitive detector arranged relative to one side of and in spaced relation to a first transparent cell through which the unprocessed test sample flows, and said second measuring means comprises said same photosensitive detector arranged relative to one side of and in spaced relation to a second transparent cell through which the processed test sample flows, the other side of each of said first and second cells having a respective source of radiation of predetermined wavelength range incident thereon, and including a discrete source of reference radiation of said predetermined wavelength range arranged relative to said photosensitive detector.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
48 words
A continuous system in accordance with claim 20 wherein said controlling means includes switching means for cyclically energizing each source of radiation, whereby said detector generates a repetitive series of electrical signals from said reference source and from the radiation transmitted by the test sample in each cell.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
34 words
A continuous system in accordance with claim 21 including means responsive to the series of signals generated by said detector for recording the measured optical densities of the test sample as continuous graphic representations.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
57 words
A continuous system in accordance with claim 18 wherein said exposing means comprises a source of radiation aligned with a portion of the flow path of the test sample and means arranged between said portion of the flow path and said source of radiation for continually varying the intensity of the radiation incident on the test sample.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
36 words
A continuous system in accordance with claim 23 wherein said intensity varying means comprises a rotatable, spectrally neutral filter, the radiation transmittance factor of which varies with rotation so the logarithmic intensity varies linearly with time.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
56 words
A continuous system in accordance with claim 24 wherein said intensity varying means includes a plurality of filters, each of a different spectral quality and selectively alignable with said source of radiation, and a plurality of radiation attenuators, each of which has a different radiation transmittance factor and is selectively alignable with said source of radiation.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
53 words
A continuous system in accordance with claim 18 wherein said emulsion is a silver halide emulsion, said processing solution chemically reduces the exposed test sample to metallic silver, and said system including means for irradiating the test sample both before and after processing thereof with infrared radiation for measuring the optical density thereof.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
61 words
A continuous system in accordance with claim 18 wherein said emulsion is a color-forming emulsion, said processing solution reacts the exposed test sample to form a dye and said system including means for subjecting the exposed test sample, after processing, to visible light complementary in color to said dye for measuring the optical density of the exposed and processed test sample.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-24 | 1976-04-24 | 1976-10-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-24 | 1980-04-24 | 1980-10-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-24 | 1984-04-24 | 1984-10-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |