US3850635A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for developing heat processable photographic film
Assignee: Cutler Hammer Inc
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Filing: 1972-08-03
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Granted: 1974-11-26
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Expires: 1992-08-03
Abstract
Abstract After exposure to light, heat is applied to the emulsion side of a heat processable film at a sufficient rate to maintain the emulsion side at a high temperature where the emulsion is processed at a rapid rate. Heat is removed from the base side of the film at a sufficient rate to maintain the interior of the emulsion at a low temperature where the emulsion is processed at a slow or negligible rate. The heat is applied only long enough to process the surface of the emulsion side to completion. If the base material has a softening temperature lower than the temperature where the emulsion is readily processable, heat removal is at a sufficient rate to maintain the base at a temperature below its softening temperature.
Inventors
- 👤 M Leavitt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:17
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03D; G03D13/00; G03D13/002; G03C; G03C1/00; G03C1/494; G03C1/498; G03C1/49881; G03C5/00; G03C5/26; G03C5/263
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
A METHOD FOR DEVELOPING A HEAT PROCESSABLE PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIAL THE RATE OF PROCESSING OF WHICH IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE TEMPERATURE OF THE MATERIAL, THE PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIAL HAVING FIRST AND SECOND APPROXIMATELY PARALLEL SURFACES, SELECTED PORTIONS OF THE FIRST SURFACE HAVING BEEN EXPOSED TO LIGHT, THE METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: SUPPLYING HEAT TO THE FIRST SURFACE OF THE MATERIAL AT A SUFFICIENT RATE TO MAINTAIN THE FIRST SURFACE AT A HIGH TEMPERA10 TURE WHERE THE MATERIAL IS PROCESSED AT A RAPD ID RATE; REMOVING HEAT FROM THE SECOND SURFACE OF THE MATERIAL AT A SUFFICIENT RATE TO MAINTAIN THE SECOND SURFACE OF THE MATERIAL AT A LOWER TEMPERATURE THAN THE FIRST SURFACE WHERE THE MATERIAL IS PROCESSED AT A LOWER RATE THAN THE FIRST SURFACE OR A NEGLIGIBLE RATE; AND TERMINATING THE SUPPLY OF HEAT TO THE FIRST SURFACE AFTER THE FIRST SURFACE IS PROCESSED TO COMPLETION BUT BEFORE THE SECOND SURFACE IS PROCESSED TO COMPLETION.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
157 words
A METHOD FOR DEVELOPING A HEAT PROCESSABLE PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIAL THE RATE OF PROCESSING OF WHICH IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE TEMPERATURE OF THE MATERIAL, THE PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIAL HAVING FIRST AND SECOND APPROXIMATELY PARALLEL SURFACES, SELECTED PORTIONS OF THE FIRST SURFACE HAVING BEEN EXPOSED TO LIGHT, THE METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: SUPPLYING HEAT TO THE FIRST SURFACE OF THE MATERIAL AT A SUFFICIENT RATE TO MAINTAIN THE FIRST SURFACE AT A HIGH TEMPERA10 TURE WHERE THE MATERIAL IS PROCESSED AT A RAPD ID RATE; REMOVING HEAT FROM THE SECOND SURFACE OF THE MATERIAL AT A SUFFICIENT RATE TO MAINTAIN THE SECOND SURFACE OF THE MATERIAL AT A LOWER TEMPERATURE THAN THE FIRST SURFACE WHERE THE MATERIAL IS PROCESSED AT A LOWER RATE THAN THE FIRST SURFACE OR A NEGLIGIBLE RATE; AND TERMINATING THE SUPPLY OF HEAT TO THE FIRST SURFACE AFTER THE FIRST SURFACE IS PROCESSED TO COMPLETION BUT BEFORE THE SECOND SURFACE IS PROCESSED TO COMPLETION.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1, in which the heat supplying step comprises the step of forming a hot gas cushion in contact with the first surface, and the heat removing step comprises the step of forming a cool gas cushion in contact with the second surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 2, additionally comprising the step of establishing turbulence in the gas cushions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
101 words
The method of claim 1, comprising the additional step of passing the photosensitive material between a pair of closely spaced parallel pieces of microporous material, the heat supplying step comprising the step of forcing a hot gas through one of the pieces of microporous material into the space between said one piece of microporous material and the first surface of the photosensitive material, and the heat removing step comprises the step of forcing a cool gas through the other piece of microporous material into the space between said other piece of microporous material and the second surface of the photosensitive material.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of developing a film comprising a first layer of support material and a second layer of heat processable photosensitive material deposited on the first layer after the photosensitive material has been activated by light traveling transverse to the surface of the second layer, the method comprising the step of: coupling heat through the film from the surface of the second layer to the surface of the first layer such that a sufficient temperature gradient is established across the film to process the surface of the second layer to completion without appreciably processing the interior of the second layer.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of developing a film comprising a first layer of support material and a second layer of heat processable photosensitive material deposited on the first layer after the photosensitive material has been activated by light traveling transverse to the surface of the second layer, the method comprising the step of: coupling heat through the film from the surface of the second layer to the surface of the first layer such that a sufficient temperature gradient is established across the film to process the surface of the second layer to completion without appreciably processing the interior of the second layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 5, in which the softening temperature of the support material is below the temperature at which the photosensitive material is readily heat processable and the step of coupling the heat through the film establishes a sufficient temperature gradient so the temperature of the first layer is below said softening temperature while the surface of the second layer is being heat processed to completion.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of developing a film comprising a first thin layer of base material and a second thin layer of heat processable photosensitive emulsion attached to the base material after the photosensitive emulsion has been activated by light, the emulsion being developed upon exposure to heat at a temperature T1 for a time period P and the base material having a softening temperature of T2 where T2 is lower than T1, the method comprising the steps of: conductively coupling a heat source to the second layer to maintain the emulsion at temperature T1 for the time period P; and simultaneously conductively coupling a heat reservoir to the first layer to maintain the base material below temperature T2.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of developing a film comprising a first thin layer of base material and a second thin layer of heat processable photosensitive emulsion attached to the base material after the photosensitive emulsion has been activated by light, the emulsion being developed upon exposure to heat at a temperature T1 for a time period P and the base material having a softening temperature of T2 where T2 is lower than T1, the method comprising the steps of: conductively coupling a heat source to the second layer to maintain the emulsion at temperature T1 for the time period P; and simultaneously conductively coupling a heat reservoir to the first layer to maintain the base material below temperature T2.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 5, in which the heat source coupling step comprises forming a hot gas cushion in contact with the second layer and the heat reservoir coupling step comprises forming a cool gas cushion in contact with the first layer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
94 words
The method of claim 8, additionally comprising the step of passing the film between a pair of closely spaced parallel pieces of microporous material, the step of forming a hot gas cushion comprising forcing a hot gas through one of the pieces of microporous material into the space between said one piece of microporous material and the second layer, and the step of forming a cool gas cushion comprising forcing a cool gas through the other piece of microporous material into the space between said other piece of microporous material and the first layer.
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) | 1977-11-25 | 1978-05-27 | 1978-11-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-25 | 1982-05-27 | 1982-11-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-25 | 1986-05-27 | 1986-11-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |