Photographic apparatus to spread processing fluid in uniform layer

Claim 2

Apparatus for rupturing a pod of processing fluid and for spreading such processing fluid as a layer between two sheets of material responsive to relative motion being effected between said apparatus and such sheets lengthwise of such sheets, at least one of such sheets including a component adapted to have a visible image formed in a section thereof having a given width, said apparatus comprising: a pair of spreader elements each having a sheet contacting surface extending a distance at least equal in length to such section of such component; means for mounting said spreader elements with their said sheet contacting surfaces in juxtaposition and disposed to exert a compressive force on such sheets over such section of such component as they are progressively drawn lengthwise therebetween in superposed relationship to first effect the rupture of such pod of processing fluid and then to effect the spreading of such fluid in a layer between such sheets; and means on at least one of said spreader elements for increasing the thickness of such layer of fluid spread between such sheets by said spreader elements along at least one longitudinal portion of such section of such component spaced from the longitudinal centerline of such component section and adjacent one longitudinal edge thereof, said last mentioned means including a recess in, and constituting a discontinuity of, said surface of said one spreader element adjacent such one longitudinal portion of such component section.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein said recess comprises a concavity.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 1 wherein said last mentioned means includes a pair of recesses provided in, and constituting discontinuities of, said surface of said one spreader element respectively formed on said one spreader element spaced from the longitudinal centerline of such section of sUch component and positioned adjacent the longitudinal edges of such section of such component as such sheets are moved relative to said spreader elements.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 1 wherein such one sheet is relatively flexible with respect to the other of such sheets and said recess is formed in said surface of said spreader element adapted to engage said one sheet.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 1 wherein said spreader elements are of the substantially rigid non-rolling type.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 1 wherein at least one of said spreader elements comprises a roller.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 1 wherein said juxtaposed surfaces are substantially parallel except for the portions thereof adjacent said fluid thickness increasing means.

Claim 9

Apparatus for rupturing a pod of processing fluid and for spreading such processing fluid as a layer between two sheets of material responsive to relative motion being effected between said apparatus and such sheets lengthwise of such sheets, at least one of such sheets including a component adapted to have a visible image formed in a section thereof having a given width, said apparatus comprising: a pair of spreader elements each having opposed ends and a sheet contacting surface extending a distance at least equal in length to such section of such component; means for mounting said spreader elements with their said sheet contacting surfaces in juxtaposition and disposed to exert a compressive force on such sheets over such section of such component as they are progressively drawn lengthwise therebetween in superposed relationship to first effect the rupture of such pod of processing fluid and then to effect the spreading of such fluid in a layer between such sheets; and means on at least one of said spreader elements for increasing the thickness of such layer of fluid spread between such sheets by said spreader elements along at least one longitudinal portion of such section of such component, said last mentioned means including a recess in, and constituting a discontinuity of, said surface of said one spreader element adjacent such one longitudinal portion of such component section and entirely positioned between the ends of the portion of said surface of said one spreader element adapted to extend across such section of such one sheet as such sheets pass between said spreader elements.

Claim 10

Apparatus for rupturing a pod of processing fluid and for spreading such processing fluid as a layer between two sheets of material responsive to relative motion being effected between said apparatus and such sheets lengthwise of such sheets, at least one of such sheets including a component adapted to have a visible image formed in a section thereof having a given width, said apparatus comprising: a pair of spreader elements each having opposed ends and a sheet contacting surface extending a distance at least equal in length to such section of such component; means for mounting said spreader elements with their said sheet contacting surfaces in juxtaposition and disposed to exert a compressive force on such sheets over such section of such component as they are progressively drawn lengthwise therebetween in superposed relationship to first effect the rupture of such pod of processing fluid and then to effect the spreading of such fluid in a layer between such sheets; and means on at least one of said spreader elements for increasing the thickness of such layer of fluid spread between such sheets by said spreader elements along at least one longitudinal portion of such section of such component, said last mentioned means including a recess in, and constituting a discontinuity of, said surface of said one spreader element adjacent such one longitudinal portion of such component section and entirely positioned between the ends of the portion of said surface of said one spreader element adapted to extend across such section of such one sheet as such sheets pass between said spreader elements.

Claim 11

Apparatus for rupturing a pod of processing fluid and for spreading such processing fluid as a layer between two sheets of material, at least one of such sheets including a component of a given width adapted to have a visible image formed therein, said apparatus comprising: a pair of spreader elements each having opposed ends and each of which has a surface at least equal in length to such given width of such component; and means for pivotally connecting said elements together for movement between a first position wherein said surfaces are disposed in juxtaposition and a second position wherein said surfaces are removed from juxtaposition and for resiliently urging said elements towards one another when in their said first position to form a pressure-generating gap between said surfaces thereof through which such sheets are movable to first effect the rupture of such pod of processing fluid and then to effect the spreading of such fluid in a layer therebetween, said surface of at least one of said spreader elements being configured to present, at least when said elements are disposed in their said first position, a relatively small recessed portion constituting a discontinuity of said surface of said one spreader element adjacent each end thereof, whereby the thickness of such layer of fluid as initially spread by said elements adjacent said relatively small recessed portions is greater than that of the remaining portions of such layer of fluid as initially spread by said elements.

Claim 12

Apparatus for rupturing a pod of processing fluid and for spreading such processing fluid as a layer between two sheets of material, at least one of such sheets including a component of a given width adapted to have a visible image formed therein, said apparatus comprising: a pair of spreader elements each having opposed ends and each of which has a surface at least equal in length to such given width of such component; and means for pivotally connecting said elements together for movement between a first position wherein said surfaces are disposed in juxtaposition and a second position wherein said surfaces are removed from juxtaposition and for resiliently urging said elements towards one another when in their said first position to form a pressure-generating gap between said surfaces thereof through which such sheets are movable to first effect the rupture of such pod of processing fluid and then to effect the spreading of such fluid in a layer therebetween, said surface of at least one of said spreader elements being configured to present, at least when said elements are disposed in their said first position, a relatively small recessed portion constituting a discontinuity of said surface of said one spreader element adjacent each end thereof, whereby the thickness of such layer of fluid as initially spread by said elements adjacent said relatively small recessed portions is greater than that of the remaining portions of such layer of fluid as initially spread by said elements.

Claim 13

The invention of claim 9 wherein said surfaces are substantially parallel, when said elements are disposed in their said first position, except for those sections thereof adjacent said relatively small recessed portions.

Claim 14

Apparatus for rupturing a pod of processing fluid and for spreading such processing fluid as a layer between two sheets of material, at least one of such sheets including a component of a given width adapted to have a visible image formed therein, said apparatus comprising: a pair of spreader elements each having opposed ends and each of which has a surface at least equal in length to such given width of such component, at least one of said elements being formed of a substantially resiliently flexible material; and means for pivotally connecting said elements together for movement between a first position wherein said surfaces are disposed in juxtaposition and a second position wherein said surfaces are removed from juxtaposition and for resiliently urging said elements towards one another when in their said first position to form a pressure-generating gap between said surfaces thereof through which such sheets are movable to first effect the rupture of such pod of processing fluid and then to effect the spreading of such fluid in a layer therebetween, said surface of said resiliently flexible element being configured to present a recessed portion extending substantially thereacross when said elements are in their said second position, said pivotal connecting means including means for exerting a force against said resiliently flexible element intermediate the ends of its said surface urging said resiliently flexible element towards the other of said elements when said elements are in their said first position causing said surface of said resiliently flexible element to deform at such times to provide one relatively small recessed portion adjacent each said end thereof whereby the thickness of such layer of fluid spread by said elements adjacent said relatively small recessed portion is greater than that of the remaining portions of such layer of fluid spread by said elements.

Claim 15

Apparatus for rupturing a pod of processing fluid and for spreading such processing fluid as a layer between two sheets of material, at least one of such sheets including a component of a given width adapted to have a visible image formed therein, said apparatus comprising: a pair of spreader elements each having opposed ends and each of which has a surface at least equal in length to such given width of such component, at least one of said elements being formed of a substantially resiliently flexible material; and means for pivotally connecting said elements together for movement between a first position wherein said surfaces are disposed in juxtaposition and a second position wherein said surfaces are removed from juxtaposition and for resiliently urging said elements towards one another when in their said first position to form a pressure-generating gap between said surfaces thereof through which such sheets are movable to first effect the rupture of such pod of processing fluid and then to effect the spreading of such fluid in a layer therebetween, said surface of said resiliently flexible element being configured to present a recessed portion extending substantially thereacross when said elements are in their said second position, said pivotal connecting means including means for exerting a force against said resiliently flexible element intermediate the ends of its said surface urging said resiliently flexible element towards the other of said elements when said elements are in their said first position causing said surface of said resiliently flexible element to deform at such times to provide one relatively small recessed portion adjacent each said end thereof whereby the thickness of such layer of fluid spread by said elements adjacent said relatively small recessed portion is greater than that of the remaining portions of such layer of fluid spread by said elements.

Claim 16

Apparatus for rupturing a pod of processing fluid and for spreading such processing fluid as a layer between two sheets of material, at least one of such sheets including a component of a given width adapted to have a visible image formed therein, said apparatus comprising: a pair of spreader elements each having opposed ends and each of which has a surface at least equal in length to such given width of such component, at least one of said elements being formed of a substantially resiliently flexible material; and means for pivotally connecting said elements together for movement between a first position wherein said surfaces are disposed in juxtaposition and a second position wherein said surfaces are removed from juxtaposition and for resiliently urging said elements towards one another when in their said first position to form a pressure-generating gap between said surfaces thereof through which such sheets are movable to first effect the rupture of such pod of processing fluid and then to effect the spreading of such fluid in a layer therebetween, said surface of said resiliently flexible element being configured to present a recessed portion extending substantially thereacross when said elements are in their said second position, said pivotal connecting means including means for transferring a force to said resiliently flexible element intermediate the ends of its said surface and a resiliently flexible member acting against said force transferring means at least when said elements are disposed in their said first position causing said surface of said resiliently flexible element to deform at such times to provide one relatively small recessed portion adjacent each said end thereof, whereby the thickness of such layer of fluid spread by said elements adjacent said relatively small recessed portions is greater than that of the remaining portions of such layer of fluid spread by said elements.

Claim 17

Apparatus for rupturing a pod of processing fluid and for spreading such processing fluid as a layer between two sheets of material, at least one of such sheets including a component of a given width adapted to have a visible image formed therein, said apparatus comprising: a pair of spreader elements each having opposed ends and each of which has a surface at least equal in length to such given width of such component, at least one of said elements being formed of a substantially resiliently flexible material; and means for pivotally connecting said elements together for movement between a first position wherein said surfaces are disposed in juxtaposition and a second position wherein said surfaces are removed from juxtaposition and for resiliently urging said elements towards one another when in their said first position to form a pressure-generating gap between said surfaces thereof through which such sheets are movable to first effect the rupture of such pod of processing fluid and then to effect the spreading of such fluid in a layer therebetween, said surface of said resiliently flexible element being configured to present a recessed portion extending substantially thereacross when said elements are in their said second position, said pivotal connecting means including means for transferring a force to said resiliently flexible element intermediate the ends of its said surface and a resiliently flexible member acting against said force transferring means at least when said elements are disposed in their said first position causing said surface of said resiliently flexible element to deform at such times to provide one relatively small recessed portion adjacent each said end thereof, whereby the thickness of such layer of fluid spread by said elements adjacent said relatively small recessed portions is greater than that of the remaining portions of such layer of fluid spread by said elements.

Claim 18

The invention of claim 12 wherein said resiliently flexible member compriSes a rod adjacent the ends of which said elements are pivotally mounted.