Photographic film processing apparatus and camera system employing same

Claim 2

Photographic apparatus for spreading a processing fluid in a layer between a pair of elements, at least one of which forms part of a film unit, said apparatus comprising: a mounting bracket formed of relatively thin sheet metal including a pair of substantially parallel ears connected together by an elongated support; a first spreader element, including an elongated sheetcontaining facing surface, mounted between said bracket ears; a second spreader element, including an elongated sheetcontacting facing surface, mounted between said bracket ears for translatory displacement towards and away from said first spreader element, said sheet-contacting facing surfaces being disposed in juxtaposition; means for yieldably urging said spreader elements towards one another; means for limiting the movement of said spreader elements towards one another under the influence of said urging means to define a minimum gap between their juxtaposed sheet-contacting facing surfaces to facilitate the introduction therebetween of the superposed leading edges of such pair of elements; and an elongated rigid support member formed of a material substantially lighter in weight than said metal connected to said bracket support to provide a relatively compact light weight assembly comprising said bracket and said elongated rigid support member having sufficient rigidity to substantially preclude deflection thereof during film processing operations wherein said spreader elements serve to spread a layer of such processing fluid between such pair of elements as such pair of elements are advanced between said spreader elements.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said elongated support member is formed of a polymeric material.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bracket and said elongated rigid support member in combination comprise means for retaining said urging means.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said urging means comprises a torsion spring and said retaining means comprises a track on said elongated rigid support member to receive a portion of said torsion spring and a projection of said bracket overlying said spring portion.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said urging means comprises an elongated torsion spring extending across said elongated rigid support member having offset ends adapted to exert a force to said second spreader element urging it towards said first spreader element and a central portion configured to seat against a supporting surface of said elongated rigid support member to preclude its rotary movement thereby facilitating the establishment of said force.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said urging means comprises a torsion spring supported by said elongated rigid support member.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said urging means comprises spring means having force applying ends acting intermediate each end of said sheet-contacting facing surface of said second spreader element and the adjacent said bracket ear.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said spring means comprises a torsion spring supported by said elongated rigid support member.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said torsion spring ends are flattened to facilitate the compactness of said apparatus lengthwise of said spreader elements.

Claim 11

Photographic apparatus for spreading a processing fluid in a layer between a pair of elements, at least one of which forms part of a film unit, said apparatus comprising: a mounting bracket including a pair of substantially parallel ears connected together by an elongated support; a first spreader element, including an elongated sheet-contacting facing surface, mounted between said bracket ears; a second spreader element, including an elongated sheet-contacting facing surface, mounted between said bracket ears for translatory displacement towards and away from said first spreader element, said sheet-contacting facing surfaces being disposed in juxtaposition; an elongated torsion spring having offset ends and an offset central portion; means for mounting said torsion spring with its said offset ends adapted to exert a force to said second spreader element while precluding rotary movement of its said central portion thereby facilitating the establishment of said force so that said second spreader element is yieldably urged toward said first spreader element; and means for limiting the movement of said second spreader element towards said first spreader element under the influence of said torsion spring to define a minimum gap between their juxtaposed sheet-contacting facing surfaces to facilitate the introduction therebetween of the superposed leading edges of such pair of elements, whereby said spreader elements serve to spread a layer of such processing fluid between such pair of elements as such pair of elements are advanced between said spreader elements.

Claim 12

Photographic apparatus for spreading a processing fluid in a layer between a pair of elements, at least one of which forms part of a film unit, said apparatus comprising: a mounting bracket including a pair of substantially parallel ears connected together by an elongated support; a first spreader element, including an elongated sheet-contacting facing surface, mounted between said bracket ears; a second spreader element, including an elongated sheet-contacting facing surface, mounted between said bracket ears for translatory displacement towards and away from said first spreader element, said sheet-contacting facing surfaces being disposed in juxtaposition; an elongated torsion spring having offset ends and an offset central portion; means for mounting said torsion spring with its said offset ends adapted to exert a force to said second spreader element while precluding rotary movement of its said central portion thereby facilitating the establishment of said force so that said second spreader element is yieldably urged toward said first spreader element; and means for limiting the movement of said second spreader element towards said first spreader element under the influence of said torsion spring to define a minimum gap between their juxtaposed sheet-contacting facing surfaces to facilitate the introduction therebetween of the superposed leading edges of such pair of elements, whereby said spreader elements serve to spread a layer of such processing fluid between such pair of elements as such pair of elements are advanced between said spreader elements.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said offset ends of said torsion spring act intermediate each end of said sheet-contacting facing surface of said second spreader element and the adjacent said bracket ear.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said offset ends of said torsion spring are flattened to facilitate the compactness of said apparatus lengthwise of said spreader elements.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said offset central portion of said torsion spring is substantially U-shaped.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said offset central portion of said torsion spring is substantially U-shaped.

Claim 17

Photographic apparatus for spreading a processing fluid in a layer between a pair of elements, at least one of which forms part of a film unit, said apparatus comprising: a mounting bracket including a pair of substantially parallel ears connected Together by an elongated support; a first spreader element, including an elongated sheet-contacting facing surface, mounted between said bracket ears; a hollow spreader roller including an elongated sheet-contacting facing surface; an elongated shaft mounted between said bracket ears and extending through said hollow spreader roller; means for rotatably mounting said hollow spreader roller on said shaft with its said sheet-contacting facing surface juxtaposed with respect to said sheet-contacting facing surface of said first spreader element; an elongated torsion spring having offset ends and an offset central portion; means for mounting said torsion spring with each of its said offset ends engaging said shaft intermediate an end of said hollow spreader roller and an adjacent bracket ear while precluding rotary movement of its said central portion to thereby yieldably urge said hollow spreader roller towards said first spreader element; and means for limiting the movement of said hollow spreader roller towards said first spreader element under the influence of said torsion spring to define a minimum gap between their said juxtaposed sheet-contacting facing surfaces to facilitate the introduction therebetween of the superposed leading edges of such pair of elements, whereby said spreader elements serve to spread a layer of such processing fluid between such pair of elements as such pair of elements are advanced between said spreader elements.

Claim 18

Photographic apparatus for spreading a processing fluid in a layer between a pair of elements, at least one of which forms part of a film unit, said apparatus comprising: a mounting bracket including a pair of substantially parallel ears connected Together by an elongated support; a first spreader element, including an elongated sheet-contacting facing surface, mounted between said bracket ears; a hollow spreader roller including an elongated sheet-contacting facing surface; an elongated shaft mounted between said bracket ears and extending through said hollow spreader roller; means for rotatably mounting said hollow spreader roller on said shaft with its said sheet-contacting facing surface juxtaposed with respect to said sheet-contacting facing surface of said first spreader element; an elongated torsion spring having offset ends and an offset central portion; means for mounting said torsion spring with each of its said offset ends engaging said shaft intermediate an end of said hollow spreader roller and an adjacent bracket ear while precluding rotary movement of its said central portion to thereby yieldably urge said hollow spreader roller towards said first spreader element; and means for limiting the movement of said hollow spreader roller towards said first spreader element under the influence of said torsion spring to define a minimum gap between their said juxtaposed sheet-contacting facing surfaces to facilitate the introduction therebetween of the superposed leading edges of such pair of elements, whereby said spreader elements serve to spread a layer of such processing fluid between such pair of elements as such pair of elements are advanced between said spreader elements.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said first spreader element comprises a spreader roller rotatably mounted between said bracket ears.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 16 additionally including means for connecting said first spreader element to an energy source to impart a rotary motion thereto.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said movement limiting means serves to impart a rotary motion to said hollow spreader roller when said first spreader element is connected to such energy source.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said offset ends of said torsion spring are flattened to facilitate the compactness of said apparatus lengthwise of said spreader elements.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said shaft includes a pair of annular recesses located to respectively receive said offset ends of said torsion spring.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said mounting bracket is formed of relatively thin sheet metal and said torsion spring mounting means comprises an elongated rigid support member, formed of a material substantially lighter in weight than said metal, connected to said bracket support to provide a relatively compact light weight assembly comprising said bracket and said elongated rigid support member having sufficient rigidity to substantially preclude deflection thereof during film processing operations.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said rigid support member comprises a track to receive a portion of said torsion spring and said bracket includes a projection overlying said spring portion to retain said torsion spring in operative position on said rigid support member.