US3860944A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for the fluid treatment of photographic sheet material wherein the latter is passed along an array of rollers
Assignee: Autopan Heimerdinger and Stabler GmbH and Co
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Filing: 1973-04-05
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Granted: 1975-01-14
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Expires: 1993-04-05
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for the treatment of sheet material, especially photographic sheets, comprises a multiplicity of surfaces or a single surface movable in a transport direction and defining a transport path through a vessel into which the treating fluid (e.g. developer, fixer or washing liquid, mist or gas) is admitted. The surface is provided with openings which are under suction so that a pressure differential is applied across a sheet carried along the surface to retain the sheet thereon without pressure members overlying the emulsion or sensitive side of the sheets. A drying chamber downstream of the fluid-treatment vessels circulates air into contact with the photographic paper or film, the air being dehumidified by a cooler in the circulating path. A counter responsive to the width and length of the photographic material measures the area treated.
Inventors
- 👤 Norbert Huber
- 👤 Siegfried Nissler
- 👤 Hans Schneider
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 19:56
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03D; G03D3/00; G03D3/08; G03D3/12; G03D13/00; G03D13/006; G03D15/00; G03D15/02; G03D15/022; G03D3/02; G03D3/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
An apparatus for the treatment of photographic materials, comprising: a housing; roller means defining a transport path for a photographic material having a sensitive face and a reverse face; means forming at least one open-work surface engageable with said reverse face of the photographic material and displaceable to entrain said photographic material along said path; means for treating said sensitive face with a fluid and including fluid-displacement means having an intake side communicating with said housing on the side of said path opposite said sensitive face and a discharge side communicating with the interior of said surface outwardly of the sensitive face of photographic material disposed thereon, said means forming said surface being the surface of said roller means, said roller means comprising a plurality of tubular rollers spaced apart along said path and provided with radial bores opening at the surfaces of said rollers, said intake side of said fluid-displacement means communicating with the interiors of said rollers; and a support frame receivable in said housing and having a pair of uprights carrying said rollers, at least one of said uprights being hollow and forming a duct connecting the interiors of said rollers with said intake side of said fluid-displacement means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
202 words
An apparatus for the treatment of photographic materials, comprising: a housing; roller means defining a transport path for a photographic material having a sensitive face and a reverse face; means forming at least one open-work surface engageable with said reverse face of the photographic material and displaceable to entrain said photographic material along said path; means for treating said sensitive face with a fluid and including fluid-displacement means having an intake side communicating with said housing on the side of said path opposite said sensitive face and a discharge side communicating with the interior of said surface outwardly of the sensitive face of photographic material disposed thereon, said means forming said surface being the surface of said roller means, said roller means comprising a plurality of tubular rollers spaced apart along said path and provided with radial bores opening at the surfaces of said rollers, said intake side of said fluid-displacement means communicating with the interiors of said rollers; and a support frame receivable in said housing and having a pair of uprights carrying said rollers, at least one of said uprights being hollow and forming a duct connecting the interiors of said rollers with said intake side of said fluid-displacement means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising drive means including at least one flexible endless element passing about two of said rollers for rotating same.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising a pair of upright lateral walls flanking said rollers and received in said housing, said walls being formed with bores and with cylindrical sleeves receivable in said bores, said rollers being rotatably mounted on the exteriors of said sleeves and communicating therethrough with said intake side of said fluid-displacement means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said uprights are formed with downwardly projecting tubular fittings receivable in upwardly open sockets formed at the bottom of said housing and communicating with said intake side of said fluid-displacement means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said rollers are each subdivided into two portions, each communicating with the interior of a respective hollow upright and connected thereby to said intake side of said fluid-displacement means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said means for treating said sensitive face with said fluid includes a partition extending substantially parallel to said path and defining a compartment within said housing along a side of said partition opposite that juxtaposed with said path, said partition being perforated, and means connecting said discharge side of said fluid-displacement means with said compartment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein said discharge side is provided with an outlet opening into said compartment, said outlet being formed with a baffle for deflecting fluid parallel to said partition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
77 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said photographic material is to be treated with a number of fluids, said apparatus comprising a plurality of vessels each having such a housing, roller means and surface, said apparatus further comprising deflector means for diverting the photogRaphic material from one housing into the other housing, said deflector means including a roller conveyor disposed above the path of said one housing and leading to the path of said other housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein said roller conveyor comprises a plurality of shafts lying along an arc between said housing, and a plurality of axially spaced rollers mounted on each shaft with the rollers of adjacent shafts in interdigitating relation.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
147 words
An apparatus for the treatment of photographic material, comprising: a housing; roller means defining a transport path for a photographic material having a sensitive face and a reverse face; means forming at least one open-work surface engageable with said reverse face of the photographic material and displaceable to entrain said photographic material along said path; means for treating said sensitive face with a fluid and including fluid-displacement means having an intake side communicating with said housing on the side of said path opposite said sensitive face and a discharge side communicating with the interior of said surface outwardly of the sensitive face of photographic material disposed thereon, said roller means including a pair of spaced-apart rollers and said surface being defined by at least one conveyor band extending around said rollers; and means for displacing one of said rollers relative to the other to tension said band.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
147 words
An apparatus for the treatment of photographic material, comprising: a housing; roller means defining a transport path for a photographic material having a sensitive face and a reverse face; means forming at least one open-work surface engageable with said reverse face of the photographic material and displaceable to entrain said photographic material along said path; means for treating said sensitive face with a fluid and including fluid-displacement means having an intake side communicating with said housing on the side of said path opposite said sensitive face and a discharge side communicating with the interior of said surface outwardly of the sensitive face of photographic material disposed thereon, said roller means including a pair of spaced-apart rollers and said surface being defined by at least one conveyor band extending around said rollers; and means for displacing one of said rollers relative to the other to tension said band.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus defined in claim 10 wherein said band is preforated.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
172 words
An apparatus for the treatment of photographic materials, comprising: a housing; roller means defining a transport path for a photographic material having a sensitive face and a reverse face; means forming at least one open-work surface engagable with said reverse face of the photographic material and displaceable to entrain said photographic material along said path; means for treating said sensitive face with a fluid and including fluid-displacement means having an intake side communicating with said housing on the side of said path opposite said sensitive face and a discharge side communicating with the interior of said surface outwardly of the sensitive face of photographic material disposed thereon, said roller means including at least one pair of spaced-apart rollers and said surface being formed by an endless perforated conveyor band extending around said rollers; and stationary support members spaced apart along said path and engaged by said band, said support members opening into the space enclosed by said band, said intake side of said fluid-displacement means communicating with said space through said members.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
172 words
An apparatus for the treatment of photographic materials, comprising: a housing; roller means defining a transport path for a photographic material having a sensitive face and a reverse face; means forming at least one open-work surface engagable with said reverse face of the photographic material and displaceable to entrain said photographic material along said path; means for treating said sensitive face with a fluid and including fluid-displacement means having an intake side communicating with said housing on the side of said path opposite said sensitive face and a discharge side communicating with the interior of said surface outwardly of the sensitive face of photographic material disposed thereon, said roller means including at least one pair of spaced-apart rollers and said surface being formed by an endless perforated conveyor band extending around said rollers; and stationary support members spaced apart along said path and engaged by said band, said support members opening into the space enclosed by said band, said intake side of said fluid-displacement means communicating with said space through said members.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
178 words
An apparatus for the treatment of photographic materials, comprising: a housing; roller means defining a transport path for a photographic material having a sensitive face and a reverse face; means forming at least one open-work surface engageable with said reverse face of the photographic material and displaceable to entrain said photographic material along said path; means for treating said sensitive face with a fluid and including fluid-displacement means having an intake side communicating with said housing on the side of said path opposite said sensitive face and a discharge side communicating with the interior of said surface outwardly of the sensitive face of photographic material disposed thereon, said roller means including at least one pair of spaced-apart rollers and said surface being formed by an endless perforated conveyor band extending around said rollers; said rollers being spaced apart vertically in said housing, the lowermost roller being tubular; and openings in said lowermost roller communicating with said intake side of said fluid-displacement means, said lowermost rollers being provided with axially spaced rings freely rotatable thereon and engaging said band.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
178 words
An apparatus for the treatment of photographic materials, comprising: a housing; roller means defining a transport path for a photographic material having a sensitive face and a reverse face; means forming at least one open-work surface engageable with said reverse face of the photographic material and displaceable to entrain said photographic material along said path; means for treating said sensitive face with a fluid and including fluid-displacement means having an intake side communicating with said housing on the side of said path opposite said sensitive face and a discharge side communicating with the interior of said surface outwardly of the sensitive face of photographic material disposed thereon, said roller means including at least one pair of spaced-apart rollers and said surface being formed by an endless perforated conveyor band extending around said rollers; said rollers being spaced apart vertically in said housing, the lowermost roller being tubular; and openings in said lowermost roller communicating with said intake side of said fluid-displacement means, said lowermost rollers being provided with axially spaced rings freely rotatable thereon and engaging said band.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
140 words
An apparatus for the treatment of photographic materials, comprising: a housing; rolleR means defining a transport path for a photographic material having a sensitive face and a reverse face; means forming at least one open-work surface engageable with said reverse face of the photographic material and displaceable to entrain said photographic material along said path; means for treating said sensitive face with a fluid and including fluid-displacement means having an intake side communicating wtih said housing on the side of said path opposite said sensitive face and a discharge side communicating with the interior of said surface outwardly of the sensitive face of photographic material disposed thereon; a conduit connecting said discharge side of said fluid-displacement means with the interior of said housing: and a valve in said conduit for controlling the fluid-pressure differential across photographic material on said surface.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
140 words
An apparatus for the treatment of photographic materials, comprising: a housing; rolleR means defining a transport path for a photographic material having a sensitive face and a reverse face; means forming at least one open-work surface engageable with said reverse face of the photographic material and displaceable to entrain said photographic material along said path; means for treating said sensitive face with a fluid and including fluid-displacement means having an intake side communicating wtih said housing on the side of said path opposite said sensitive face and a discharge side communicating with the interior of said surface outwardly of the sensitive face of photographic material disposed thereon; a conduit connecting said discharge side of said fluid-displacement means with the interior of said housing: and a valve in said conduit for controlling the fluid-pressure differential across photographic material on said surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
130 words
The apparatus defined in claim 14 wherein said roller means includes a pair of rollers spaced apart along said path and said means forming said surface is at least one conveyor belt passing endlessly around said rollers, said apparatus further comprising a pair of vertical lateral walls flanking said belt and defining therewith a first chamber surrounding by said belt and a second chamber between said belt and walls of said housing, at least one of said lateral walls being formed with an opening communicating with said first chamber and connected to said intake side of said fluid-displacement device, one of said lateral walls being formed with a slot extending parallel to said belt and opening into said second chamber while communicating with said discharge side of said fluid-displacement device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
95 words
The apparatus defined in claim 14 wherein said path has a downwardly extending stretch and an upwardly extending stretch in said housing, said apparatus further comprising deflector means at the bottom of said path diverting the photographic material from said downward stretch into said upward stretch, said deflector means comprising a pair of rollers flanking said path and a third roller disposed therebelow, and an endless deflector band passing around said rollers of said deflecting means for retaining said photographic material against said surface during the transition from said downward stretch to said upward stretch.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
172 words
An apparatus for the treatment of photographic materials, comprising: a housing; roller means defining a transport path for a photographic material having a sensitive face and a reverse face; means forming at least one open-work surface engageable with said reverse face of the photographic material and displaceable to entrain said photographic material along said path; means for treating said sensitive face with a fluid and including fluid-displacement means having an intake side communicating with said housing on the side of said path opposite said sensitive face and a discharge side communicating with the interior of said surface outwardly of the sensitive face of photographic material disposed thereon, said housing defining a drying chamber downstream of a system for the chemical treatment of photographic material, said drying chamber having a blower for directing air against said photographic material on said surface and for drawing air from said housing beyond said surface; cooling means in the path of air circulated by said blower from condensing water therefrom; and means for collecting the condensed water.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
172 words
An apparatus for the treatment of photographic materials, comprising: a housing; roller means defining a transport path for a photographic material having a sensitive face and a reverse face; means forming at least one open-work surface engageable with said reverse face of the photographic material and displaceable to entrain said photographic material along said path; means for treating said sensitive face with a fluid and including fluid-displacement means having an intake side communicating with said housing on the side of said path opposite said sensitive face and a discharge side communicating with the interior of said surface outwardly of the sensitive face of photographic material disposed thereon, said housing defining a drying chamber downstream of a system for the chemical treatment of photographic material, said drying chamber having a blower for directing air against said photographic material on said surface and for drawing air from said housing beyond said surface; cooling means in the path of air circulated by said blower from condensing water therefrom; and means for collecting the condensed water.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus defined in claim 17 wherein said path is generally U-shaped and said surface is a perforated band extending endlessly around said path, said cooling means being disposed within the space surrounded by said band.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus defined in claim 18, further comprising a perforated partition extending parallel to said path and closely spaced therefrom, said blower communicating with said housing between said partition and an outer housing wall, the total area of the perforations of said partitions being greatEr than the area of the perforations of said band.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus defined in claim 17 wherein said drying chamber is provided downstream of a chamber for the liquid treatment of said photographic material with an aqueous solution, said apparatus further comprising means for passing water through said cooling means and thereupon into said treatment chamber.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus defined in claim 16 wherein said drying chamber is provided downstream of a treatment chamber for contacting said photographic material with a liquid, further comprising means for delivering condensed water from said cooling means to said treatment chamber.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
180 words
An apparatus for the treatment of photographic materials, comprising: a housing; roller means defining a transport path for a photographic material having a sensitive face and a reverse face; means forming at least one open-work surface engageable with said reverse face of the photographic material and displaceable to entrain said photographic material along said path; means for treating said sensitive face with a fluid and including fluid-displacement means having an intake side communicating with said housing on the side of said path opposite said sensitive face and a discharge side communicating with the interior of said surface outwardly of the sensitive face of photographic material disposed thereon; means downstream of said housing for contacting said photographic material with a stream of drying air subsequent to its treatment with said fluid, the last-mentioned means including: a blower for the circulation of air, heating means at a discharge side of said blower for heating the circulated air, and a cooler at the intake side of said blower for condensing moisture from the circulated air; and a trough for collecting the condensed moisture.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
180 words
An apparatus for the treatment of photographic materials, comprising: a housing; roller means defining a transport path for a photographic material having a sensitive face and a reverse face; means forming at least one open-work surface engageable with said reverse face of the photographic material and displaceable to entrain said photographic material along said path; means for treating said sensitive face with a fluid and including fluid-displacement means having an intake side communicating with said housing on the side of said path opposite said sensitive face and a discharge side communicating with the interior of said surface outwardly of the sensitive face of photographic material disposed thereon; means downstream of said housing for contacting said photographic material with a stream of drying air subsequent to its treatment with said fluid, the last-mentioned means including: a blower for the circulation of air, heating means at a discharge side of said blower for heating the circulated air, and a cooler at the intake side of said blower for condensing moisture from the circulated air; and a trough for collecting the condensed moisture.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus defined in claim 22, further comprising means for passing said fluid through said cooling means prior to admitting same to said housing.
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) | 1978-01-13 | 1978-07-15 | 1979-01-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-13 | 1982-07-15 | 1983-01-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-13 | 1986-07-15 | 1987-01-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |