US3779147A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for processing photographic material
Assignee: COLORAPID Ltd
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Filing: 1972-07-25
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Granted: 1973-12-18
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Expires: 1992-07-25
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for treating photographic prints or film material in which chemicals and water are selectively fed to a light proof container for the material to be treated, which is releasably mounted on a collecting chamber from which it is pumped by a processing pump to the container and flows back to the chamber via a light trap. The temperature of the chemicals and water is accurately controlled. The chemicals are fed selectively from containers therefore positioned in a thermostatically controlled water tank via a separate secondary pump for each vessel and via a separate syphon tube for each secondary pump. When the pumps are switched off a portion of the chemicals can syphon back for re-use. Various types of light proof containers may be used and in one construction the feed pipe from the outlet of the pump is connected to the lower end of the container with the chemical or water overflowing at the top via a surrounding outer container. A level sensing switch in the container may alternately switch on and off the processing pump to provide vertical agitation. Film spirals may be supported on a motor driven rotary rod.
Inventors
- 👤 D Woollacott
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 10:29
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03D; G03D3/00; G03D3/02; G03D3/04; G03D13/00; G03D13/02; G03D13/04; G03D13/06; G03D13/08; G03D3/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
Apparatus for processing photographic sheet or film material, the apparatus comprising a collecting chamber, a lightproof container for the material releasably mountable on said collecting chamber, a processing pump communicating with said collecting chamber, an outlet for said processing pump, a feed pipe extending into the interior of the light proof container and connected to the outlet of the processing pump, whereby liquid may be pumped from the collecting chamber into said container, a drain in the lightproof container providing communication between the interior of said container and said collecting chamber effective to return liquid from the container to the collecting chamber for recirculation by the processing pump, means for selectively feeding chemicals and rinsing water, at a controlled temperature, to said collecting chamber, said means including a tank arranged at a location below that of the collecting chamber, a plurality of vessels for chemicals, positioned in said tank, a separate secondary pump for each one of said vessels and a separate syphon tube for each secondary pump connecting the secondary pumps to the collecting chamber, each of said tubes extending to a point above said collecting chamber and down into the chamber to a point adjacent the bottom thereof so that the tube acts as a syphon to return the excess liquid in the chamber to its respective vessel when the operation of its secondary pump is terminated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
Apparatus for processing photographic sheet or film material, the apparatus comprising a collecting chamber, a lightproof container for the material releasably mountable on said collecting chamber, a processing pump communicating with said collecting chamber, an outlet for said processing pump, a feed pipe extending into the interior of the light proof container and connected to the outlet of the processing pump, whereby liquid may be pumped from the collecting chamber into said container, a drain in the lightproof container providing communication between the interior of said container and said collecting chamber effective to return liquid from the container to the collecting chamber for recirculation by the processing pump, means for selectively feeding chemicals and rinsing water, at a controlled temperature, to said collecting chamber, said means including a tank arranged at a location below that of the collecting chamber, a plurality of vessels for chemicals, positioned in said tank, a separate secondary pump for each one of said vessels and a separate syphon tube for each secondary pump connecting the secondary pumps to the collecting chamber, each of said tubes extending to a point above said collecting chamber and down into the chamber to a point adjacent the bottom thereof so that the tube acts as a syphon to return the excess liquid in the chamber to its respective vessel when the operation of its secondary pump is terminated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing and secondary pumps are centrifugal pumps.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the secondary pumps have rotors and stators formed of plastic material, and further comprising a driving motor for each pump and a magnetic connection forming the sole connection between each rotor and the associated driving motor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising a further secondary pump connected to the interior of the tank and a further syphon tube connecting said further secondary pump to the collecting chamber effective to pump water to the latter, and wherein a bleed port is formed at the highest point of said further syphon tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising level sensing means associated with the collecting chamber, said level sensing means being operatively connected to the processing pump and to the secondary pumps to control operation thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the level sensing means comprise pressure sensitive switches associated with downwardly depending tubes in the collecting chamber, the tubes having therein diaphragms, flexing of the diaphragms causing operation of the pressure sensitive switches.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising a drain valve for the collecting chamber for draining the collecting chamber, the processing pump and the feed pipe.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
188 words
A container for use with a photographic processing apparatus having a collecting chamber on which the container is mountable, a processing pump communicating with said collecting chamber, a supply pipe connected to the outlet of the pump and a drain inlet for the collecting chamber, said container comprising, in combination: a. a light proof outer body wall portion, having upper and lower ends; b. an inner tubular wall portion enclosed entirely within said body wall portion and having upper and lower ends, said inner tubular wall portion being spaced radially inwardly from said outer body wall portion to define an annular space therebetween; c. a photographic material receiving space defined within said inner tubular wall portion; d. a feed pipe connected to the lower end of said photographic material receiving space; e. means defining an overflow passage at the upper end of said inner tubular wall portion, providing communication between said photograph material receiving space and said annular space; f. a drain pipe connected to the lower end of said annular space for draining liquid therefrom; and g. combined light trap means for said feed and drain pipes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
188 words
A container for use with a photographic processing apparatus having a collecting chamber on which the container is mountable, a processing pump communicating with said collecting chamber, a supply pipe connected to the outlet of the pump and a drain inlet for the collecting chamber, said container comprising, in combination: a. a light proof outer body wall portion, having upper and lower ends; b. an inner tubular wall portion enclosed entirely within said body wall portion and having upper and lower ends, said inner tubular wall portion being spaced radially inwardly from said outer body wall portion to define an annular space therebetween; c. a photographic material receiving space defined within said inner tubular wall portion; d. a feed pipe connected to the lower end of said photographic material receiving space; e. means defining an overflow passage at the upper end of said inner tubular wall portion, providing communication between said photograph material receiving space and said annular space; f. a drain pipe connected to the lower end of said annular space for draining liquid therefrom; and g. combined light trap means for said feed and drain pipes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
A container according to claim 8 and further comprising level sensing means in said inner tubular wall below said overflow passage defining means operatively connectable to the processing pump of the apparatus effective to cause alternate switching on and off thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
A container according to claim 8 and further comprising a removable lid positionable on said outer body wall portion, a rotatable film spiral support positionable within said inner tubular wall, a drive motor carried by said removable lid and means connecting said rotatable film spiral supporT to said drive motor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
A container according to claim 8, and further comprising a displacement vessel positionable within said inner tubular wall, spaced inwardly of said inner tubular wall to provide an annular space therebetween, and means on the exterior of said displacement vessel to hold photographic sheet material spaced therefrom.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A container according to claim 11, wherein said displacement vessel is constructed of a transparent plastic material and further comprising a light source within said vessel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
91 words
A container according to claim 8, wherein the container includes a removable photographic material support comprising an open topped and open bottomed box, a first set of spaced apart parallel rods extending across the open bottom, a second set of parallel rods extending across the open top, the rods at the top and bottom being perpendicular to one another, and spirally twisted elastic bands looped over one rod of the first set and one rod of the second set to extend perpendicularly from the top to the bottom of the box.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-17 | 1977-06-18 | 1977-12-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-17 | 1981-06-18 | 1981-12-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-17 | 1985-06-18 | 1985-12-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |