US3854947A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Process and solution for fixing an image on silver halide prints
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-05-16
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Granted: 1974-12-17
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Expires: 1993-05-16
Abstract
Abstract A rapid process for producing a stable visible image in a photographic silver halide emulsion layer containing a latent image which comprises developing the layer in a photographic silver halide developing solution and fixing the silver halide forming the resultant image by immersing the layer in a novel fixing solution. The novel fixing solution has a major proportion of a solution including a first compound selected from the group consisting of alkali metal thiocyanate, ammonium thiocyanate, alkali metal thiosulfate, and ammonium thiosulfate, and a minor proportion of a second solution including an anionic synthetic detergent having a carbon chain length in the range of between about 7 to about 18 carbon atoms per molecule and selected from the group consisting of ammonium lauryl sulfate sodium lauryl sulfate, potassium lauryl sulfate, aklylated aromatic sulfonic acids, and mixtures thereof; and a water softening agent selected from the group consisting of sodium hexametaphosphate sodium pyrophosphate, sodium tetraphosphate, and mixtures thereof. The resultant image layer is subsequently rinsed in a moving water bath.
Inventors
- 👤 E Ritchey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 17:27
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03C; G03C5/00; G03C5/26; G03C5/38; G03C5/39; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S430/00; Y10S430/164
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A RAPID PROCESS FOR PRODUCING A STABLE VISIBLE IMAGE IN A PHOTOGRAPHIC SILVER HALIDE EMULSION LAYER CONTAINING A LATENT IMAGE, A. DEVELOPING SAID LAYER IN A PHOTOGRAPHIC SILVER HALIDE DEVELOPING SOLUTION, B. FIXING SAID SILVER HALIDE FORMING THE RESULTANT IMAGE BY IMMERSING SAID LAYER IN A FIXING SOLUTION HAVING A MAJOR PORPORTION OF, (1) A FIRST SOLUTION COMPRISING A COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ALKALI METAL THIOCYANATE, AMMONIUM THIOCYANATE, ALKALI METAL THIOSULFATE AND AMMONIUM THIOSULFATE, AND, (2) A MINOR PROPORTION OF A SECOND SOLUTION INCLUDING AN ANIONIC SYNTHETIC DETERGENT HAVING A CARBON CHAIN LENGTH IN THE RANGE OF ABOUT 7 TO ABOUT 18 CARBON ATOMS PER MOLECULE AND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF AMMONIUM LAURYL SULFATE, SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE, POTASSIUM LAURYL SULFATE, ALKYLATED AROMATIC SULFONIC ACIDS, AND MIXTURES THEREOF, AND A WATER SOFTENING AGENT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF SODIUM HEXAMETAPHOSPHATE, SODIUM PYROPHOSPHATE, SODIUM TETRAPHOSPHATE, AND MIXTURES THEREOF, WHEREIN SAID SECOND SOLUTION AND SAID FIRST SOLUTION ARE MIXED AT A RATIO OF BETWEEN ABOUT 1 OUNCE TO ABOUT 20 OUNCES OF SAID SECOND SOLUTION TO ABOUT 1 GALLON OF SAID FIRST SOLUTION, AND C. RINSING THE RESULTANT IMAGE LAYER IN A MOVING WATER BATH.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
A RAPID PROCESS FOR PRODUCING A STABLE VISIBLE IMAGE IN A PHOTOGRAPHIC SILVER HALIDE EMULSION LAYER CONTAINING A LATENT IMAGE, A. DEVELOPING SAID LAYER IN A PHOTOGRAPHIC SILVER HALIDE DEVELOPING SOLUTION, B. FIXING SAID SILVER HALIDE FORMING THE RESULTANT IMAGE BY IMMERSING SAID LAYER IN A FIXING SOLUTION HAVING A MAJOR PORPORTION OF, (1) A FIRST SOLUTION COMPRISING A COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ALKALI METAL THIOCYANATE, AMMONIUM THIOCYANATE, ALKALI METAL THIOSULFATE AND AMMONIUM THIOSULFATE, AND, (2) A MINOR PROPORTION OF A SECOND SOLUTION INCLUDING AN ANIONIC SYNTHETIC DETERGENT HAVING A CARBON CHAIN LENGTH IN THE RANGE OF ABOUT 7 TO ABOUT 18 CARBON ATOMS PER MOLECULE AND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF AMMONIUM LAURYL SULFATE, SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE, POTASSIUM LAURYL SULFATE, ALKYLATED AROMATIC SULFONIC ACIDS, AND MIXTURES THEREOF, AND A WATER SOFTENING AGENT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF SODIUM HEXAMETAPHOSPHATE, SODIUM PYROPHOSPHATE, SODIUM TETRAPHOSPHATE, AND MIXTURES THEREOF, WHEREIN SAID SECOND SOLUTION AND SAID FIRST SOLUTION ARE MIXED AT A RATIO OF BETWEEN ABOUT 1 OUNCE TO ABOUT 20 OUNCES OF SAID SECOND SOLUTION TO ABOUT 1 GALLON OF SAID FIRST SOLUTION, AND C. RINSING THE RESULTANT IMAGE LAYER IN A MOVING WATER BATH.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The rapid process of claim 1 additionally including immersing said layer in a developing stop solution after developing and pRior to said fixing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The rapid process of claim 1 wherein said second solution additionally includes a print flattening agent selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, hexylene glycol, ethylene glycol, glycerol, and mixtures thereof, and a defoaming agent selected from the group consisting of methylhexacarbonyl, sulfonated oils, sulfonated silicones, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The rapid process of claim 1 wherein said anionic synthetic detergent includes a concentration between about 0.002 to about 0.02 grams per liter, and said water softening agent includes a concentration in the range of between about 0.01 to about 0.15 grams per liter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The rapid process of claim 3 wherein said print flattening agent includes a concentration between about 2.6 X 10 6 to about 65 X 10 6 gram moles per liter, and said defoaming agent includes a concentration range of between about 0.7 X 10 6 to about 23 X 10 6 gram mole per liter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The rapid process of claim 1 wherein said immersing of said layer in said fixing solution is between about 1 minute to about 5 minutes, and said rinsing of said resultant image in a moving water bath is between about 2 minutes to about 20 minutes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
The rapid process of claim 1 wherein said alkali metal thiocyanate is selected from the group consisting of lithium thiocyanate, sodium thiocyanate potassium thiocyanate, rubidium thiocyanate, and cesium thiocyanate and said alkali metal thiosulfate is selected from the group lithium thiosulfate, sodium thiosulfate, potassium thiosulfate, rubidium thiosulfate, and cesium thiosulfate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The rapid process of claim 2 wherein said developing stop solution is a dilute solution of acetic acid including approximately between about 0.2% to about 0.8% of acetic acid, and said immersing of said layer is from between about 15 seconds to about 45 seconds.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The rapid process of claim 2 wherein said developing stop solution is of the composition of said second solution and said immersing of said layer in said developing stop solution is from between about 15 seconds to about 45 seconds.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The rapid process of claim 7 wherein said first solution additionally includes desiccated alkali metal sulfite, alkali metal bisulfite and water.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
The rapid process of claim 10 wherein said desiccated alkali metal sulfite is selected from the group consisting of lithium sulfite, sodium sulfite, potassium sulfite, rubidium sulfite, and cesium sulfite and mixtures thereof, and said alkali metal bisulfite is selected from the group consisting of lithium bisulfite, sodium bisulfite, potassium bisulfite, rubidium bisulfite and cesium bisulfite, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The rapid process of claim 11 wherein a quantity of acetic acid, crystals of boric acid and potassium alum are substituted for said alkali metal bisulfite.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
154 words
The rapid process of claim 1 wherein said first solution comprises water, between about 135 to about 160 grams per liter of water of a thiosulfate solution selected from the group consisting of alkali metal thiosulfate and ammonium thiosulfate, and a desiccated sulfite solution selected from the group consisting of alkali metal sulfite and ammonium sulfite having a concentration in the range of between about 5 to about 15 grams per liter of water, a glacial acetic acid in a concentration range of between about 20 cc to about 40 cc per liter of water wherein every three parts of said glacial acetic acid has been initially diluted with eight parts of water, crystals of boric acid having a concentration range of between about 1 gram to about 10 grams per liter of water, and potassium alum including a concentration range of between about 5 grams to about 15 grams per liter of water.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
82 words
The rapid process of claim 3 wherein said first solution comprIses water, about 147.5 grams of sodium thiosulfate per liter of water, desiccated sodium sulfite in a concentration of about 9.25 grams per liter of water, said glacial acetic acid having a concentration of about 29.2 grams per liter of water, said crystals of boric acid having a concentration of about 4.62 grams per liter of water, and said potassium alum having a concentration of about 9.25 grams per liter of water.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The rapid process of claim 12 wherein chrome alum is substituted for said potassium alum.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
109 words
The rapid process of claim 10 wherein said first solution comprises water, a thiosulfate solution selected from the group consisting of alkali metal thiosulfate and ammonium thiosulfate and in a concentration range of between about 145 to about 175 grams per liter, a desiccated sulfite solution selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal sulfite and ammonium sulfite and in a concentration range of between about 4 to about 9 grams per liter of water, and a bisulfite solution selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal bisulfite and ammonium bisulfite in a concentration range of between about 12 to about 21 grams per liter of water.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
The rapid process of claim 16 wherein said first solution comprises water, sodium thiosulfate in a concentration of about 160 grams per liter of water, desiccated sodium sulfite in a concentration of about 616 grams per liter of water, and sodium bisulfite having a concentration of about 16.7 grams per liter of water.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
156 words
A FIXING SOLUTION FOR FIXING A STABLE VISIBLE IMAGE ON A DEVELOPED PHOTOGRAPHIC SILVER HALIDE EMULSION LAYER, COMPRISING: KNOWN SOLUTION; RESULTANT A. A MAJOR PROPORTION OF A FIRST SOLUTION INCLUDING A FIRST COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ALKALI METAL THIOCYANATE, AMMONIUM THIOCYANATE, ALKALI METAL THIOSULATE AND AMMONIUM THIOSULFATE, AND B. A MINOR PROPORTION OF A SECOND SOLUTION INCLUDING AN ANIONIC SYNTHETIC DETERGENT HAVING A CARBON CHAIN LENGTH IN THE RANGE OF BETWEEN ABOUT 7 TO ABOUT 18 CARBON ATOMS PER MOLECULE AND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF AMMONIUM LAURYL SULFATE, SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE, AND POTASSIUM LAURYL SULFATE, ALKYLATED AROMATIC SULFONIC ACIDS, AND MIXTURES THEREOF, AND A WATER SOFTENING AGENT SELECTED FROM SODIUM HEXAMETAPHOSPHATE, SODIUM PYROPHOSPHATE, SODIUM TETRAPHOSPHATE, AND MIXTURES THEREOF, WHEREIN SAID SECOND SOLUTION AND SAID FIRST SOLUTION ARE MIXED AT A RATIO BETWEEN ABOUT 1 OUNCE TO ABOUT 20 OUNCES OF SAID SECOND SOLUTION TO ABOUT 1 GALLON OF SAID FIRST SOLUTION.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
156 words
A FIXING SOLUTION FOR FIXING A STABLE VISIBLE IMAGE ON A DEVELOPED PHOTOGRAPHIC SILVER HALIDE EMULSION LAYER, COMPRISING: KNOWN SOLUTION; RESULTANT A. A MAJOR PROPORTION OF A FIRST SOLUTION INCLUDING A FIRST COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ALKALI METAL THIOCYANATE, AMMONIUM THIOCYANATE, ALKALI METAL THIOSULATE AND AMMONIUM THIOSULFATE, AND B. A MINOR PROPORTION OF A SECOND SOLUTION INCLUDING AN ANIONIC SYNTHETIC DETERGENT HAVING A CARBON CHAIN LENGTH IN THE RANGE OF BETWEEN ABOUT 7 TO ABOUT 18 CARBON ATOMS PER MOLECULE AND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF AMMONIUM LAURYL SULFATE, SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE, AND POTASSIUM LAURYL SULFATE, ALKYLATED AROMATIC SULFONIC ACIDS, AND MIXTURES THEREOF, AND A WATER SOFTENING AGENT SELECTED FROM SODIUM HEXAMETAPHOSPHATE, SODIUM PYROPHOSPHATE, SODIUM TETRAPHOSPHATE, AND MIXTURES THEREOF, WHEREIN SAID SECOND SOLUTION AND SAID FIRST SOLUTION ARE MIXED AT A RATIO BETWEEN ABOUT 1 OUNCE TO ABOUT 20 OUNCES OF SAID SECOND SOLUTION TO ABOUT 1 GALLON OF SAID FIRST SOLUTION.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
The fixing solution of claim 18 wherein said second solution additionally includes a print flattening agent selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, hexylene glycol, ethylene glycol, glycerol, and mixtures thereof, and a defoaming agent selected from the group consisting of methylhexacarbonyl, sulfonated oils, sulfonated silicones and mixtures thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
A fixing solution of claim 18 wherein said anionic synthetic detergent includes a concentration in the range of between about 0.002 to about 0.02 grams per liter, and said water softening agent includes a concentration in the range of between about 0.01 to about 0.15 grams per liter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
60 words
The fixing solution of claim 19 wherein said print flattening agent includes a concentration in the range of between about 2.6 X 10 6 to about 65 X 10 6 gram moles per liter, and said defoaming agent includes a concentration in the range of about 0.7 X 10 6 to about 23 X 10 6 gram moles per liter.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
58 words
The fixing solution of claim 18 wherein said alkali metal thiocyanate is selected from the group consisting of lithium thiocyanate, sodium thiocyanate, potassium thiocyanate, rubidium thiocyanate, and cesium thiocyanate, and mixtures thereof, and said alkali metal thiosulfate is selected from the group consistiNg of lithium thiosulfate, sodium thiosulfate, potassium thiosulfate, rubidium thiosulfate and cesium thiosulfate, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
46 words
The fixing solution of claim 22 wherein said first solution additionally includes a desiccated sulfite solution selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal sulfite and ammonium sulfite, and a bisulfite solution selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal bisulfite and ammonium bisulfite.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
59 words
The fixing solution of claim 23 wherein said desiccated alkali metal sulfite is selected from the group consisting of lithium sulfite, sodium sulfite, potassium sulfite, rubidium sulfite and cesium sulfite and mixtures thereof, and said alkali metal bisulfite is selected from the group consisting of lithium bisulfite, sodium bisulfite, potassium bisulfite, rubidium bisulfite, and cesium bisulfite, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The fixing solution of claim 23 wherein a quantity of acetic acid, crystals of boric acid and potassium alum are substituted for said bisulfite solution.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
160 words
The fixing solution of claim 18 wherein said first solution comprises water, a first compound selected from the group consisting of alkali metal thiocyanate, ammonium thiocyanate, alkali metal thiosulfate and ammonium thiosulfate, in a concentration range of between about 135 to about 160 grams per liter of water, a desiccated sulfate solution selected from the group consisting of alkali metal sulfate and ammonium sulfate in a concentration range of between about 5 to about 15 grams per liter of water, a glacial acid in a concentration range of between about 20 cc to about 40 cc per liter of water wherein about every 3 parts of said glacial acetic acid has been initially diluted with 8 parts of water, crystals of boric acid having a concentration range of between about 1 gram to about 10 grams per liter of water, and potassium alum including a concentration range of between about 5 grams to about 15 grams per liter of water.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
83 words
The fixing solution of claim 26 wherein said first solution comprises water, sodium thiosulfate in a concentration of about 147.5 grams per liter of water, desiccated sodium sulfate in a concentration of about 9.25 grams per liter of water, said glacial acetic acid in a concentration of about 29.2 grams per liter of water, crystals of boric acid having a concentration of about 4.62 grams per liter of water, and potassium alum having a concentration of about 9.25 grams per liter of water.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
The fixing solution of claim 25 wherein chrome alum is substituted for said potassium alum.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
111 words
The fixing solution of claim 24 wherein said first solution comprises water, a thiosulfate solution selected from the group consisting of alkali metal thiosulfate and ammonium thiosulfate and having a concentration in the range of between about 145 to about 175 grams per liter of water, a desiccated sulfite solution selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal sulfite and ammonium sulfite in a concentration range of between about 4 to about 9 grams per liter of water, and a bisulfite solution selected from the group consisting of alkali metal bisulfite and ammonium bisulfite in a concentration range of between about 12 to about 21 grams per liter of water.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
53 words
The fixing solution of claim 29 wherein said first solution comprises water, sodium thiosulfate in a concentration of about 160 grams per liter of water, desiccated sodium sulfite in a concentration of about 6.6 grams per liter of water, and sodium bisulfite in a concentration of about 16.7 grams per liter of water.
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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) | 1977-12-16 | 1978-06-17 | 1978-12-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-16 | 1982-06-17 | 1982-12-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-16 | 1986-06-17 | 1986-12-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |