US3735689A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Roller tray photographic processing apparatus
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1971-12-27
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Granted: 1973-05-29
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Expires: 1991-12-27
Abstract
Abstract A straight-through processing apparatus in which film in sheet or web form is fed through a processing solution in a shallow tray by a set of three rollers at the inlet of the tray and a set of three rollers at the outlet of the tray. The inlet set of rollers comprises a pair of opposed, interengaging drive or transport rollers positioned outside of the tray, and a driven guide roller positioned within the tray at the entrance end thereof, and partially immersed in the processing solution. The outlet set of rollers also comprises a pair of opposed, interengaging transport rollers positioned outside of the tray and a driven guide roller positioned within the tray at the exit end thereof, and partially immersed in the processing solution. The film transport distance between the nips or line of contact of the inlet and outlet transport rollers is preferably less than the length of a film being processed, and the nips are positioned above the periphery of the tray at each of its ends. The nip of the inlet transport rollers is arranged below the axis of the guide rollers.
Inventors
- 👤 F Smola
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 07:08
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03D; G03D13/00; G03D13/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
259 words
In a processing device, the combination comprising: a shallow tray containing a processing solution and having a bottom wall, an inlet end and an outlet end; inlet roller means at said inlet end of said tray comprising a first guide roller partially immersed in the processing solution and rotatable in a counterclockwise direction for guiding a sheet into the processing solution, and a first pair of interengaged transport rollers positioned outside of the inlet end of said tray and arranged to form a nip vertically positioned below the axis of said first guide roller and above said inlet end of said tray, and driven for transporting a sheet introduced into the nip toward and into engagement with the periphery of said first guide roller along a contact line that is substantially the same for each sheet; and outlet roller means at said outlet end of said tray, said outlet roller means comprising a second guide roller partially immersed in the processing solution and rotatable in a counterclockwise direction, and a second pair of interengaged transport rollers positioned outside of the outlet end of said tray and arranged to form a nip into which the leading end of a sheet is pushed between said second guide roller and said bottom wall by said first transport rollers, and driven for transporting the sheet oUt of said tray, said second guide roller being engaged by the upper surface of the sheet and causing the trailing end of the sheet to leave the solution along precisely the same departure line for each sheet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
259 words
In a processing device, the combination comprising: a shallow tray containing a processing solution and having a bottom wall, an inlet end and an outlet end; inlet roller means at said inlet end of said tray comprising a first guide roller partially immersed in the processing solution and rotatable in a counterclockwise direction for guiding a sheet into the processing solution, and a first pair of interengaged transport rollers positioned outside of the inlet end of said tray and arranged to form a nip vertically positioned below the axis of said first guide roller and above said inlet end of said tray, and driven for transporting a sheet introduced into the nip toward and into engagement with the periphery of said first guide roller along a contact line that is substantially the same for each sheet; and outlet roller means at said outlet end of said tray, said outlet roller means comprising a second guide roller partially immersed in the processing solution and rotatable in a counterclockwise direction, and a second pair of interengaged transport rollers positioned outside of the outlet end of said tray and arranged to form a nip into which the leading end of a sheet is pushed between said second guide roller and said bottom wall by said first transport rollers, and driven for transporting the sheet oUt of said tray, said second guide roller being engaged by the upper surface of the sheet and causing the trailing end of the sheet to leave the solution along precisely the same departure line for each sheet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said rollers are smooth surfaced.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein the nip of said first transport rollers is spaced from the nip of said second transport rollers a distance less than the length of a sheet to be processed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein each of said first and second guide rollers are rotatably driven.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said inlet end of said tray has a vertically extending lip.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said contact line on said first guide roller is beneath the surface of the processing solution.
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) | 1976-05-28 | 1976-11-27 | 1977-05-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-28 | 1980-11-27 | 1981-05-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-28 | 1984-11-27 | 1985-05-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |