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US3797026A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Device for use with self-developing film

Assignee: Berkey Photo Inc
•
Filing: 1972-12-13
•
Granted: 1974-03-12
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Expires: 1992-12-13
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Abstract

Abstract A device is provided for use in a camera utilizing selfdeveloping film. The film in question comprises a rupturable pod of processing liquid which is sandwiched betwen a pair of photographic sheets. Attached to the exterior of one of the sheets and disposed adjacent the leading end thereof is an elongated removable feeder tab. The device is disposed within the camera and includes a pair of elongated spreader members which are biased towards one another to assume a substantially superposed relation and define an longated predetermined minimum gap through which the photographic sheets and the pod, when in a collapsed state, are caused to move. As the film moves through the gap, the pos is ruptured and the processing liquid uniformly spread between the sheets. Compression means are disposed adjacent the infeed side of the gap and provide uninterrupted pressure on the opposite marginal segments of the film sheets. Compressive pressure is continuously exerted along a wide uninterrupted band on opposite marginal segments of the film from a location substantially upstream of the spreader members into the gap between the spreader members and thereby confining the spread of the processing liquid to between the compressed wide bands formed on the marginal segments. Portions of the compression means extend into the gap and engae the film while the latter is moving therethrough. The device includes a guide means which is disposed adjacent the infeed side of the gap and directs the leading end of the film into the gap. The feeder tab carried by one of the photographic sheets is positioned over the guide member so as to circumvent the gap. The feeder tab projects outwardly from the camera housing and, as it is manually pulled therefrom, the feeder tab will cause the leading ends of the photographic sheets to pass through the gap and extend outwardly from the camera housing whereupon they may be grasped for manual pulling of the remainder of the film through the gap.

Inventors

  • 👤 I Nesson
  • 👤 R Palmer
  • 👤 E Faris
  • 👤 C Hertling

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 05:54
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03D; G03D9/00; G03D9/02

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim 395 words
In a camera utilizing a self-developing film wherein the latter is provided with a rupturable pod of processing liquid sandwiched between a pair of superposed photographic sheets, at least one of the sheets carrying a feeder tab; a device positionable within the camera for distributing the processing liquid between the sheets as the latter are moved a predetermined distance through said device, said device comprising a frame, upper and lower elongated spreader members supported on said frame and biased towards one another to assume a substantially parallel superposed relation, means cooperating with said spreader members for maintaining an elongated predetermined minimum gap between said spreader members, said gap being adapted to accommodate the film sheets, and when the latter are moved therethrough, cause rupture of the pod and uniform spreading of the processing liquid between the sheets, guide means supported on said frame and in parallel relationship to said spreader members and disposed adjacent the infeed side of the gap for directing the leading ends of the sheets into the gap and causing the feeder tab to circumvent said gap, and compression means disposed adjacent the infeed side of said gap for engaging opposite marginal segments of the film sheets as the latter move through said gap; said compression means including a pair of elongated pawls disposed at opposite ends of said guide means, each pawl having an elongated opening in slip-fit engagement with an adjacent end portion of said guide means and extending downwardly and forwardly therefrom into said gap, a pair of components supported on said frame adjacent said pawls and extending to the infeed side of said gap, and a coil spring for each pawl encompassing said guide means end portion and having one end of said spring resiliently engaging a forwardly extending portion of said pawl and biasing same towards the adjacent component, the forward terminus of each pawl being disposed within a peripheral groove formed in one of the spreader members and provided with a concave end surface conforming substantially to the peripheral configuration of the base of said groove; said components being adapted to subtend the marginal segments of the film sheets and cooperating with said pawls whereby substantially uninterrupted compressive force is exerted on the marginal segments as the film sheets move from said guide means through said gap and confine the processing liquid between the marginal segments.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 395 words
In a camera utilizing a self-developing film wherein the latter is provided with a rupturable pod of processing liquid sandwiched between a pair of superposed photographic sheets, at least one of the sheets carrying a feeder tab; a device positionable within the camera for distributing the processing liquid between the sheets as the latter are moved a predetermined distance through said device, said device comprising a frame, upper and lower elongated spreader members supported on said frame and biased towards one another to assume a substantially parallel superposed relation, means cooperating with said spreader members for maintaining an elongated predetermined minimum gap between said spreader members, said gap being adapted to accommodate the film sheets, and when the latter are moved therethrough, cause rupture of the pod and uniform spreading of the processing liquid between the sheets, guide means supported on said frame and in parallel relationship to said spreader members and disposed adjacent the infeed side of the gap for directing the leading ends of the sheets into the gap and causing the feeder tab to circumvent said gap, and compression means disposed adjacent the infeed side of said gap for engaging opposite marginal segments of the film sheets as the latter move through said gap; said compression means including a pair of elongated pawls disposed at opposite ends of said guide means, each pawl having an elongated opening in slip-fit engagement with an adjacent end portion of said guide means and extending downwardly and forwardly therefrom into said gap, a pair of components supported on said frame adjacent said pawls and extending to the infeed side of said gap, and a coil spring for each pawl encompassing said guide means end portion and having one end of said spring resiliently engaging a forwardly extending portion of said pawl and biasing same towards the adjacent component, the forward terminus of each pawl being disposed within a peripheral groove formed in one of the spreader members and provided with a concave end surface conforming substantially to the peripheral configuration of the base of said groove; said components being adapted to subtend the marginal segments of the film sheets and cooperating with said pawls whereby substantially uninterrupted compressive force is exerted on the marginal segments as the film sheets move from said guide means through said gap and confine the processing liquid between the marginal segments.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 55 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the surface of each pawl engaging a marginal segment of one photographic sheet is elongated and substantially flat, and the surface of each component engaging the corresponding marginal segment of the other photographic sheet is elongated, substantially flat and substantially broader than the flat surface of the adjacent pawl.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

No citation records indexed.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1977-03-11 1977-09-10 1978-03-12 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1981-03-11 1981-09-10 1982-03-12 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1985-03-11 1985-09-10 1986-03-12 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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