US3701526A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Film turnabout system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-12-14
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Granted: 1972-10-31
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Expires: 1990-12-14
Abstract
Abstract A film turnabout system for conveying X-ray or other film through a processing tank which incorporates a rack assembly having pairs of rollers and discretely positioned film guides which cooperate to drive the film through the processing tank at constant speed without scratching the surface of the film. The device further includes a bottom positioned soft roller which functions at increased rotative speed to direct the film across the bottom of the rack assembly in a minimum of required width and then upwardly through the tank without scratching or other injury.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry F Hope
- 👤 Stephen F Hope
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 05:36
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03D; G03D3/00; G03D3/08; G03D3/13; G03D3/132
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
363 words
In a film turnabout system for carrying film through a processing tank wherein the film has a leading edge, an unsensitized surface and a photosensitive surface, the combination of A. a film transport, rack assembly including a pair of spaced side plates; B. rear roller means including at least one pair of cooperating driving and driven rollers rotatively journalled within the said plates, 1. said rear roller means leading the film downwardly through the rack assembly, 2. said rear roller means driving and driven rollers rotating at a first speed, 3. said rear roller means driving and driven rollers each being of a first diameter in cross sectional size, 4. said driving roller being fabricated of relatively hard material, 5. said driven rollers being fabricated of soft material, the said photosensitive film surface contacting the driven rollers; C. bottom turning means receiving the film from the rear roller means and turning the film upwardly, 1. said bottom turning means including a large driving roller and a cooperating driven roller in tangential contact to define a film driving nip therebetween, a. said large driving roller being fabricated of relatively hard material and said driven roller being fabricated of soft material, b. said large driving roller having a diameter larger than the said first diameter of the rear roller means, c. the said film being carried downwardly through the processing tank by the rear roller means, d. the said film turning upwardly through the processing tank by turning about the large driving roller, 2. said bottom turning means including a turnaround roller rotating at a rotative speed greater than the said first speed, a. said turnaround roller being positioned forwardly of the large driving roller to receive the leading edge of the film to turn the leading edge upwardly, b. said turnaround roller being fabricated of relatively soft material and having a central axis, 1. the said central axis being positioned lower in the processing tank than the said film driving nip; and D aforward roller means receiving the film from the bottom turning means and directing the film upwardly through the rack assembly, 1. said forward roller means rotating at the said first speed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
363 words
In a film turnabout system for carrying film through a processing tank wherein the film has a leading edge, an unsensitized surface and a photosensitive surface, the combination of A. a film transport, rack assembly including a pair of spaced side plates; B. rear roller means including at least one pair of cooperating driving and driven rollers rotatively journalled within the said plates, 1. said rear roller means leading the film downwardly through the rack assembly, 2. said rear roller means driving and driven rollers rotating at a first speed, 3. said rear roller means driving and driven rollers each being of a first diameter in cross sectional size, 4. said driving roller being fabricated of relatively hard material, 5. said driven rollers being fabricated of soft material, the said photosensitive film surface contacting the driven rollers; C. bottom turning means receiving the film from the rear roller means and turning the film upwardly, 1. said bottom turning means including a large driving roller and a cooperating driven roller in tangential contact to define a film driving nip therebetween, a. said large driving roller being fabricated of relatively hard material and said driven roller being fabricated of soft material, b. said large driving roller having a diameter larger than the said first diameter of the rear roller means, c. the said film being carried downwardly through the processing tank by the rear roller means, d. the said film turning upwardly through the processing tank by turning about the large driving roller, 2. said bottom turning means including a turnaround roller rotating at a rotative speed greater than the said first speed, a. said turnaround roller being positioned forwardly of the large driving roller to receive the leading edge of the film to turn the leading edge upwardly, b. said turnaround roller being fabricated of relatively soft material and having a central axis, 1. the said central axis being positioned lower in the processing tank than the said film driving nip; and D aforward roller means receiving the film from the bottom turning means and directing the film upwardly through the rack assembly, 1. said forward roller means rotating at the said first speed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
said rear roller means driving and driven rollers rotating at a first speed,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
said rear roller means driving and driven rollers rotating at a first speed,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the bottom turning means include a generally horizontally disposed first turning vane positioned rearwardly of the large driving roller, said first turning vane being contacted by the leading edge of the film and being positioned to have no contact with the said photosensitive surface, said first turning vane directing the leading edge of the film to the film driving nip.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
said bottom turning means including a turnaround roller rotating at a rotative speed greater than the said first speed, a. said turnaround roller being positioned forwardly of the large driving roller to receive the leading edge of the film to turn the leading edge upwardly, b. said turnaround roller being fabricated of relatively soft material and having a central axis,
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
said bottom turning means including a turnaround roller rotating at a rotative speed greater than the said first speed, a. said turnaround roller being positioned forwardly of the large driving roller to receive the leading edge of the film to turn the leading edge upwardly, b. said turnaround roller being fabricated of relatively soft material and having a central axis,
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
The invention of claim 2 in a generally vertically disposed second turning vane which is positioned forwardly of the large driving roller, said second turning vane being contacted by the leading edge of the film and being positioned to have no contact with the said photosensitive surface, said second turning vane directing the leading edge of the film upwardly to the forward roller means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
said rear roller means driving and driven rollers each being of a first diameter in cross sectional size,
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
said rear roller means driving and driven rollers each being of a first diameter in cross sectional size,
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
9 words
said driving roller being fabricated of relatively hard material,
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
9 words
said driving roller being fabricated of relatively hard material,
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
said driven rollers being fabricated of soft material, the said photosensitive film surface contacting the driven rollers; C. bottom turning means receiving the film from the rear roller means and turning the film upwardly,
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
said driven rollers being fabricated of soft material, the said photosensitive film surface contacting the driven rollers; C. bottom turning means receiving the film from the rear roller means and turning the film upwardly,
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) | 1975-10-31 | 1976-05-01 | 1976-10-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-31 | 1980-05-01 | 1980-10-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-31 | 1984-05-01 | 1984-10-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |