US3864710A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photographic processing apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-12-03
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Granted: 1975-02-04
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Expires: 1993-12-03
Abstract
Abstract In a photographic processing apparatus of the type having a rotary cylindrical carrier, the photographic sheets are attached to the carrier by suction cups which engage only the rear sides of the sheets to hold the sheets to the support surface of the carrier. The apparatus has a lid which provides a vaulted interior surface to which washing liquid may be directed for washing the walls of the apparatus, the washing liquid being collected in a tray and emptied therefrom into a drainage chamber simply by tilting the apparatus from a normal upright position to a forward tilted position.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward F Zuber
- 👤 Udo F Rumpf
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 17:31
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03D; G03D13/00; G03D13/02; G03D13/04; G03D13/046
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
An apparatus for processing photographic sheet material comprising a light-tight housing, a tray-like container for processing solution mounted in the housing, a rotary carrier providing a cylindrical support surface journalled in said housing for rotation about a horizontal axis, and a plurality of discrete attachment means distributed over said support surface for engagement with the rear side only of sheet material carried by the rotary carrier whereby to hold said material to said surface, said attachment means comprising a plurality of suction cups mounted on the carrier and uniformly distributed over a major sector of said cylindrical support surface, the carrier being positioned in relation to the tray-like container so as to contact the sheet material with the processing solution as the drum rotates.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
124 words
An apparatus for processing photographic sheet material comprising a light-tight housing, a tray-like container for processing solution mounted in the housing, a rotary carrier providing a cylindrical support surface journalled in said housing for rotation about a horizontal axis, and a plurality of discrete attachment means distributed over said support surface for engagement with the rear side only of sheet material carried by the rotary carrier whereby to hold said material to said surface, said attachment means comprising a plurality of suction cups mounted on the carrier and uniformly distributed over a major sector of said cylindrical support surface, the carrier being positioned in relation to the tray-like container so as to contact the sheet material with the processing solution as the drum rotates.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the rotary carrier is constituted by a frame structure comprising a plurality of axially spaced discs, coaxial with said horizontal axis, and a plurality of axially extending, circumferentially spaced, slats rigidly connected to the edges of the discs and supported thereby, the suction cups being mounted on and distributed along said slats.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the slats are uniformly spaced, and the suction cups are uniformly spaced along the slats, the suction cups being uniformly distributed over a major sector of said support surface defined by the slats.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
272 words
An apparatus for processing photographic sheet material comprising a light-tight housing having a pair of end walls, longitudinally extending front and rear walls, a base wall structure, and a lid which can be opened to provide access to the interior of the housing, a tray-like container for processing solution mounted in the housing, a rotary carrier providing a cylindrical support surface journalled in said housing for rotation about a horizontal, longitudinal axis, attachment means on said carrier for the attachment of sheet material to be processed to said support surface, the carrier being positioned in relation to the tray-like container so as to contact the sheet material with processing solution as the carrier rotates, the lid providing a vaulted interior surface having a longitudinal apex portion and sloping portions extending therefrom to said front and rear walls, means for supplying washing liquid to said apex portion of the interior surface for washing the interior surface and fRont and rear walls, the tray-like container being positioned to receive washing liquid from said front and rear walls, and structural means defining a drainage chamber within the housing, the tray-like container providing a front longitudinal edge which defines a passage communicating with said drainage chamber, the housing being tiltable about an axis parallel to said longitudinal axis from a normal upright position to a forward tilted position for emptying the contents of said container into the drainage chamber through said passage, and said structural means including a rearwardly and downwardly sloping wall member defining with the base wall structure a drainage opening for draining the chamber when the housing is in the forward tilted position.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
272 words
An apparatus for processing photographic sheet material comprising a light-tight housing having a pair of end walls, longitudinally extending front and rear walls, a base wall structure, and a lid which can be opened to provide access to the interior of the housing, a tray-like container for processing solution mounted in the housing, a rotary carrier providing a cylindrical support surface journalled in said housing for rotation about a horizontal, longitudinal axis, attachment means on said carrier for the attachment of sheet material to be processed to said support surface, the carrier being positioned in relation to the tray-like container so as to contact the sheet material with processing solution as the carrier rotates, the lid providing a vaulted interior surface having a longitudinal apex portion and sloping portions extending therefrom to said front and rear walls, means for supplying washing liquid to said apex portion of the interior surface for washing the interior surface and fRont and rear walls, the tray-like container being positioned to receive washing liquid from said front and rear walls, and structural means defining a drainage chamber within the housing, the tray-like container providing a front longitudinal edge which defines a passage communicating with said drainage chamber, the housing being tiltable about an axis parallel to said longitudinal axis from a normal upright position to a forward tilted position for emptying the contents of said container into the drainage chamber through said passage, and said structural means including a rearwardly and downwardly sloping wall member defining with the base wall structure a drainage opening for draining the chamber when the housing is in the forward tilted position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the means for supplying washing liquid comprises a pipe extending longitudinally immediately beneath said apex portion and means for supplying liquid under pressure to the pipe, the pipe having rows of perforations positioned to direct washing liquid onto the apex portion of said interior surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the tray-like container further defines one wall of a reservoir which is partitioned from the drainage chamber, the housing providing means for supplying liquid at a selected temperature to the reservoir for maintaining the contents of the container at the selected temperature, the container providing for heat exchange between said liquid and said contents.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
277 words
An apparatus for processing photographic sheet material comprising: a light-tight housing having a pair of end walls, longitudinal vertical front and rear walls, and a base wall structure, said housing being tiltable about a longitudinal axis from a normal upright position to a forward tilted position; a lid for said housing, the lid providing a valuted interior surface having a longitudinal apex portion and sloping portions extending therefrom to said front and rear walls; means for supplying washing liquid to the apex portion of said interior surface; an elongated tray-like container for processing solution mounted longitudinally in said housing; a rotary carrier providing a cylindrical support surface journalled in said housing for rotation about an axis parallel to said longitudinal horizontal axis; a plurality of suction cups distributed over said support surface for engagement with the rear side only of sheet material carried by the rotary carrier whereby to hold said material to said support surface; the carrier being positioned in relation to the tray-like container so as to contact the sheet material with the processing solution as the carrier rotates; the tray-like container being positioned to catch washing liquid from said front and rear walls; and structural means defining a drainage chamber within the housing, the tray-like container providing a longitudinal front edge which defines a passage communicating with said drainage chamber, whereby to empty the contents of the container into the drainage chamber when the housing is tilted to the forward position, said structural means including a rearwardly and downwardly sloping wall member defining with said base wall structure a drainage opening for draining the chamber when the housing is in the forward tilted position.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
277 words
An apparatus for processing photographic sheet material comprising: a light-tight housing having a pair of end walls, longitudinal vertical front and rear walls, and a base wall structure, said housing being tiltable about a longitudinal axis from a normal upright position to a forward tilted position; a lid for said housing, the lid providing a valuted interior surface having a longitudinal apex portion and sloping portions extending therefrom to said front and rear walls; means for supplying washing liquid to the apex portion of said interior surface; an elongated tray-like container for processing solution mounted longitudinally in said housing; a rotary carrier providing a cylindrical support surface journalled in said housing for rotation about an axis parallel to said longitudinal horizontal axis; a plurality of suction cups distributed over said support surface for engagement with the rear side only of sheet material carried by the rotary carrier whereby to hold said material to said support surface; the carrier being positioned in relation to the tray-like container so as to contact the sheet material with the processing solution as the carrier rotates; the tray-like container being positioned to catch washing liquid from said front and rear walls; and structural means defining a drainage chamber within the housing, the tray-like container providing a longitudinal front edge which defines a passage communicating with said drainage chamber, whereby to empty the contents of the container into the drainage chamber when the housing is tilted to the forward position, said structural means including a rearwardly and downwardly sloping wall member defining with said base wall structure a drainage opening for draining the chamber when the housing is in the forward tilted position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the tray-like container further defines one wall of a reservoir which is partitioned from the drainage chamber, the housing providing means for supplying liquid at a selected temperature to the reservoir for maintaining the contents of the container at the selected temperature, the container providing for heat exchange between said liquid and said contents.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the suction cups are uniformly distributed over a major sector of said cylindrical support surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, in which the rotary carrier is constituted by a frAme structure comprising a plurality of axially spaced discs, coaxial with the rotational axis of the carrier, and a plurality of axially extending, circumferentially spaced, slats rigidly connected to the edges of the discs and supported thereby, the suction cups being mounted on and distributed along said slats.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, in which the rotary carrier provides a pair of axially spaced end members and is mounted on a rotary drive shaft extending between said end members, and further comprises a tubular shield enclosing the drive shaft and extending between said end members of the carrier.
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) | 1978-02-03 | 1978-08-05 | 1979-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-03 | 1982-08-05 | 1983-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-03 | 1986-08-05 | 1987-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |