Photographic film processing apparatus

Claim 2

Photographic apparatus for spreading a processing fluid in a layer between a pair of elements of a given width, at least one of such pair of elements forming part of a film unit and such pair of elements, at least when disposed in superposition, having means associated therewith for increasing the thickness of the superposed arrangement of said elements along respective longitudinal edges thereof, said apparatus comprising: a spreader element having an elongated sheet-contacting facing surface; a hollow spreader roller having an elongated sheet-contacting facing surface; means for rotatably mounting said hollow spreader roller with its said elongated sheet-contacting facing surface juxtaposed with respect to said elongated sheet-contacting facing surface of said spreader element, said rotatably mounting means comprising an elongated shaft extending through said hollow spreader roller and a pair of bearing assemblies mounted between said shaft and said hollow spreader roller internally of said hollow spreader roller, said bearing assemblies being spaced apart a predetermined distance to be respectively disposed in alignment with such longitudinal edges of such superposed elements when such pair of elements are advanced lengthwise between said sheet-contacting facing surfaces; and means acting against said shaft for yieldably urging said hollow spreader roller towards said spreader element so that said sheet-contacting facing surfaces serve to spread such fluid between such pair of elements as such pair of elements advance between said sheet-contacting facing surfaces and at least a substantial portion of the force of said urging means is transferred from said hollow spreader roller to said spreader element through such longitudinal edge portions at such times.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said urging means causes said shaft and said spreader element to be deflected as such pair of elements advancE between said sheet-contacting facing surfaces and said elongated facing surfaces are configured to provide a layer of such fluid between such pair of elements having a substantially uniform thickness widthwise of such pair of elements as such pair of elements are being advanced therebetween.

Claim 4

Photographic apparatus for spreading a processing fluid in a layer between a pair of elements of a given width, at least one of which forms part of a film unit, and such pair of elements, at least when disposed in superposition, having means associated therewith for increasing the thickness of the superposed arrangement of said elements along respective longitudinal edges thereof, said apparatus comprising: a spreader roller having an elongated sheet-contacting facing surface; a hollow spreader roller having an elongated sheet-contacting facing surface; an elongated shaft extending through said hollow spreader roller; first means for rotatably mounting said hollow spreader roller on said shaft, said first means including a pair of spaced apart bearing assemblies mounted internally of said hollow spreader roller to be respectively disposed in alignment with such longitudinal edges of such superposed elements when such pair of elements are advanced between said sheet-contacting facing surfaces; second means for rotatably mounting said first-mentioned spreader roller in juxtaposed relationship with respect to said hollow spreader roller and for mounting said shaft and said hollow spreader roller for translatory displacement with respect to said first-mentioned roller, said second means comprising a bracket having spaced apart substantially parallel ears between which said first-mentioned spreader roller and said hollow spreader roller are disposed; and third means for yieldably urging said shaft and said hollow spreader roller mounted thereon towards said first-mentioned spreader roller so that such fluid is spread between such pair of elements as incremental portions of such pair of elements progressively advance in superposition lenghtwise between said sheet-contacting facing surfaces responsive to relative motion being effected between such pair of elements and said first-mentioned spreader roller and hollow spreader roller, at least a substantial portion of the force of said urging means being transferred from said hollow spreader roller to said first-mentioned spreader roller through such longitudinal edge portions of such superposed elements at such times.

Claim 5

Photographic apparatus for spreading a processing fluid in a layer between a pair of elements of a given width, at least one of which forms part of a film unit, and such pair of elements, at least when disposed in superposition, having means associated therewith for increasing the thickness of the superposed arrangement of said elements along respective longitudinal edges thereof, said apparatus comprising: a spreader roller having an elongated sheet-contacting facing surface; a hollow spreader roller having an elongated sheet-contacting facing surface; an elongated shaft extending through said hollow spreader roller; first means for rotatably mounting said hollow spreader roller on said shaft, said first means including a pair of spaced apart bearing assemblies mounted internally of said hollow spreader roller to be respectively disposed in alignment with such longitudinal edges of such superposed elements when such pair of elements are advanced between said sheet-contacting facing surfaces; second means for rotatably mounting said first-mentioned spreader roller in juxtaposed relationship with respect to said hollow spreader roller and for mounting said shaft and said hollow spreader roller for translatory displacement with respect to said first-mentioned roller, said second means comprising a bracket having spaced apart substantially parallel ears between which said first-mentioned spreader roller and said hollow spreader roller are disposed; and third means for yieldably urging said shaft and said hollow spreader roller mounted thereon towards said first-mentioned spreader roller so that such fluid is spread between such pair of elements as incremental portions of such pair of elements progressively advance in superposition lenghtwise between said sheet-contacting facing surfaces responsive to relative motion being effected between such pair of elements and said first-mentioned spreader roller and hollow spreader roller, at least a substantial portion of the force of said urging means being transferred from said hollow spreader roller to said first-mentioned spreader roller through such longitudinal edge portions of such superposed elements at such times.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said third means comprise spring means acting against said shaft intermediate each end of said hollow spreader roller and said adjacent bracket ear.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said third means causes said shaft and said first-mentioned spreader roller to be deflected as such pair of elements advance between said sheet-contacting facing surfaces and said elongated facing surfaces are configured to provide a layer of such fluid between such pair of elements having a substantially uniform thickness widthwise of such pair of elements as such pair of elements are being advanced therebetween.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said elongated sheet-contacting facing surface of said first-mentioned spreader roller is initially substantially straight and said elongated sheet-contacting facing surface of said hollow spreader roller is initially substantially convex.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each said bracket ear comprises means for rotatably mounting one end of said first-mentioned spreader roller and an elongated slot in which one end of said shaft is slideably disposed.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first-mentioned spreader roller is solid in cross-section and additionally including means for driving said first-mentioned spreader roller so that it serves to progressively advance such pair of elements between said rollers and means for imparting a rotary motion to said hollow spreader member responsive to the rotation of said firSt-mentioned spreader roller prior to the introduction therebetween of such pair of elements.

Claim 11

A photographic system comprising: a film unit of a given width including: a pair of elements; means for securing said pair of elements in superposed relationship comprising spaced apart longitudinal edge bindings which respectively extend inwardly of said longitudinal edges on both sides of said superposed elements to define longitudinal margin portions of said film unit having a thickness greater than the portions thereof intermediate said edge bindings; and an elongated pod of processing fluid extending laterally across said film unit adjacent one end of said elements; and fluid spreading apparatus including: a spreader element having an elongated sheet-contacting facing surface; a hollow spreader roller having an elongated sheet-contacting facing surface; means for rotatably mounting said hollow spreader roller with its said elongated sheet-contacting facing surface juxtaposed with respect to said elongated sheet-contacting facing surface of said spreader element, said rotatably mounting means comprising an elongated shaft extending through said hollow spreader roller and a pair of bearing assemblies mounted between said shaft and said hollow spreader roller internally of said hollow spreader roller, said bearing assemblies being spaced apart a predetermined distance to be respectively disposed in alignment with said edge bindings of said film unit when said film unit is advanced lengthwise between said sheet-contacting facing surfaces; and means acting against said shaft for yieldably urging said hollow spreader roller towards said spreader element so that said sheet-contacting facing surfaces serve to spread said fluid between said pair of elements as said pair of elements advance between said sheet-contacting facing surfaces and at least a substantial portion of the force of said urging means is transferred from said hollow spreader roller to said spreader element through said edge bindings at such times, the thickness of said layer of said fluid spread between said pair of elements being a function of the thickness of said edge bindings.

Claim 12

A photographic system comprising: a film unit of a given width including: a pair of elements; means for securing said pair of elements in superposed relationship comprising spaced apart longitudinal edge bindings which respectively extend inwardly of said longitudinal edges on both sides of said superposed elements to define longitudinal margin portions of said film unit having a thickness greater than the portions thereof intermediate said edge bindings; and an elongated pod of processing fluid extending laterally across said film unit adjacent one end of said elements; and fluid spreading apparatus including: a spreader element having an elongated sheet-contacting facing surface; a hollow spreader roller having an elongated sheet-contacting facing surface; means for rotatably mounting said hollow spreader roller with its said elongated sheet-contacting facing surface juxtaposed with respect to said elongated sheet-contacting facing surface of said spreader element, said rotatably mounting means comprising an elongated shaft extending through said hollow spreader roller and a pair of bearing assemblies mounted between said shaft and said hollow spreader roller internally of said hollow spreader roller, said bearing assemblies being spaced apart a predetermined distance to be respectively disposed in alignment with said edge bindings of said film unit when said film unit is advanced lengthwise between said sheet-contacting facing surfaces; and means acting against said shaft for yieldably urging said hollow spreader roller towards said spreader element so that said sheet-contacting facing surfaces serve to spread said fluid between said pair of elements as said pair of elements advance between said sheet-contacting facing surfaces and at least a substantial portion of the force of said urging means is transferred from said hollow spreader roller to said spreader element through said edge bindings at such times, the thickness of said layer of said fluid spread between said pair of elements being a function of the thickness of said edge bindings.