Patent US3824616A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3824616A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air-jet crossover for automatic film processors
Assignee: AFP ACQUISITION Corp
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Filing: 1973-05-07
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Granted: 1974-07-16
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Expires: 1993-05-07
Abstract
Abstract An automatic film processor, of the type comprising a plurality of treatment tanks associated with a transport system for transporting a sheet of film to be processed through said tanks in succession, is provided with an improved crossover guide structure positioned between an adjacent pair of the tanks for guiding a sheet of film as it is transported from one to the next of said pair of tanks. An air blower and associated duct are provided to produce positive air pressure adjacent the interior of the crossover guide structure to pneumatically urge a sheet of film away from the guide structure as the sheet is transported past the guide structure, to minimize faulty processing or scratching of the film sheet.
Inventors
- 👤 K Uchida
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:03
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03D; G03D3/00; G03D3/08; G03D3/12; G03D13/00; G03D13/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
278 words
In an automatic film processor of the type comprising a plurality of treatment tanks associated with a transport system for transporting a sheet of film to be processed through said tanks in succession, and wherein a crossover guide structure is positioned between an adjacent pair of said tanks for guiding a sheet of film between said tanks, said guide structure having a stationary arcuate guide surface extending in a smooth curve from the outlet of one of said tanks to the inlet of the next adjacent one of said tanks, said arcuate guide surface being positioned to be engaged by the leading edge of the sheet of film to deflect said leading edge and thereby said sheet of film along an arcuate path as said sheet of film is transported from said one to the next of said pair of tanks, the improvement wherein pressure generating means are provided for producing positive air pressure adjacent a limited interior portion of said guide surface to pneumatically urge a sheet of film away from said limited portion of said guide surface as said sheet of film is transported from said one tank past said arcuate guide surface toward said next tank, said limited interior portion being located downstream of the outlet of said one of said tanks to permit the leading edge of a sheet of film emerging from the outlet of said one tank to engage and be guided by said arcuate guide surface prior to encountering said positive aIr pressure whereafter said leading edge is urged away from said arcuate guide surface by said air pressure as said leading edge progresses toward the inlet of said next tank.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
278 words
In an automatic film processor of the type comprising a plurality of treatment tanks associated with a transport system for transporting a sheet of film to be processed through said tanks in succession, and wherein a crossover guide structure is positioned between an adjacent pair of said tanks for guiding a sheet of film between said tanks, said guide structure having a stationary arcuate guide surface extending in a smooth curve from the outlet of one of said tanks to the inlet of the next adjacent one of said tanks, said arcuate guide surface being positioned to be engaged by the leading edge of the sheet of film to deflect said leading edge and thereby said sheet of film along an arcuate path as said sheet of film is transported from said one to the next of said pair of tanks, the improvement wherein pressure generating means are provided for producing positive air pressure adjacent a limited interior portion of said guide surface to pneumatically urge a sheet of film away from said limited portion of said guide surface as said sheet of film is transported from said one tank past said arcuate guide surface toward said next tank, said limited interior portion being located downstream of the outlet of said one of said tanks to permit the leading edge of a sheet of film emerging from the outlet of said one tank to engage and be guided by said arcuate guide surface prior to encountering said positive aIr pressure whereafter said leading edge is urged away from said arcuate guide surface by said air pressure as said leading edge progresses toward the inlet of said next tank.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said limited interior portion of said guide surface is disposed closer to said next tank than to said one of said tanks along the path of transport of said sheet of film past said guide surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said pressure generating means comprises an air blower, and a conduit for directing a jet of air from the outlet of said blower to the interior of said guide surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said processor includes a plurality of said crossover guide structures disposed respectively between adjacent pairs of said treatment tanks, said pressure generating means including means for producing positive air pressure adjacent said limited interior portion of each of said guide surfaces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The structure of claim 4 wherein said pressure generating means comprises a plurality of conduits for causing air under pressure to emanate, in the form of an air jet, from a limited interior portion of each of said plurality of arcuate guide surfaces respectively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said pressure generating means comprises means producing an air jet which emanates from a point downstream of the mid-point of the smoothly curved interior surface of said guide surface, said jet being directed downwardly and rearwardly relative to the transport path of the leading edge of a sheet of film past said guide surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-15 | 1978-01-14 | 1978-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-15 | 1982-01-14 | 1982-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-15 | 1986-01-14 | 1986-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |