US3871010A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spread roller system for self developing type photographic apparatus
Assignee: Polaroid Corp
•
Filing: 1974-05-02
•
Granted: 1975-03-11
•
Expires: 1994-05-02
Abstract
Abstract Photographic apparatus including film-advancing fluid processing means for use with a self-developing photographic film unit including a first image-recording sheet element secured in superposed face to face relation with a second image-receiving sheet element by external binding means secured to and overlapping the longitudinal and lateral edges of the sheet elements and defining, in part, an exposure area of the film unit, the film unit adapted to be processed to produce a visible image as a processing fluid is distributed between the sheet elements, coextensive with the exposure area, in a layer with a predetermined cross-sectional configuration. The film-advancing fluid processing means includes a pair of rotatably mounted juxtaposed pressure applying rollers resiliently urged toward one another and adapted to spread the processing fluid between the sheet elements of the film unit as it is advanced between the rollers. At least one of the rollers is a structure including a generally rigid support member with a pair of spaced apart annular grooves therein, a layer of high-friction resilient material overlying the support member and having an internal configuration similar to that of the support member and an external configuration that is a substantially cylindrical sheetcontacting surface being relatively more deformable in those portions overlying the annular grooves of the support member whereby the binding means on the surface of the second sheet element along the longitudinal edges of the film unit, when disposed within these deformable portions, are permitted to move toward the annular grooves of the support member during spreading of the processing fluid between the sheet elements.
Inventors
- 👤 James M Whall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 20:18
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03D; G03D9/00; G03D9/02; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/28; G03B17/32; G03B17/34; G03B17/48; G03B17/50; G03B17/52
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
386 words
Photographic apparatus including means for spreading a processing fluid in a layer between first and second superposed sheet elements, at least one of the elements forming part of an exposed rectangular area of a film unit, the elements secured in superposed relationship by spaced apart longitudinal edge binding means secured to the external surfaces of the sheets and overlapping longitudinal edge of the elements, the binding means extending inwardly from the longitudinal edges of the first element on the external surface thereof to define lateral edges which in part define the exposure area and inwardly from the longitudinal edges of the second element to a distance shorter than the inward extension on the surface of the first element, the elements thus secured having longitudinal margin portions of greater thickness than the portions thereof intermediate the longitudinal edges, said spreading means comprising: a first member having a first sheet-contacting surface; and a second member mounted in juxtaposed relation to said first member and adapted to define a pressure generating gap therewith through which the sheet elements are adapted to be advanced during spreading of the processing fluid, said second member including a generally rigid support member, means defining a pair of laterally spaced apart recesses in said support member, said recesses being adapted to respectively overlie the longitudinal margin portions of the superposed sheet elements from a lateral point intermediate the longitudinal edge on the surface of the second element and the lateral edge defining the exposure area on the surface of the first element and extending inwardly to a lateral point at least coextensive with the lateral edge defining the exposure area on the surface of the first element as the sheet elements are advanced between said first and second members, and a layer of relatively high-friction resilient material located in overlying relation to said support member, said layer including an external surface defining a second sheet-contacting surface and an interior surface having a configuration similar to that of said support member; said second sheet-contacting surface of said second member being capable of relatively more surface deformation on those portions of the said second surface overlying said recesses whereby the inwardly extending lateral edges of the binding means on the surface of the first element may move toward said recesses during spreading of the processing fluid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
386 words
Photographic apparatus including means for spreading a processing fluid in a layer between first and second superposed sheet elements, at least one of the elements forming part of an exposed rectangular area of a film unit, the elements secured in superposed relationship by spaced apart longitudinal edge binding means secured to the external surfaces of the sheets and overlapping longitudinal edge of the elements, the binding means extending inwardly from the longitudinal edges of the first element on the external surface thereof to define lateral edges which in part define the exposure area and inwardly from the longitudinal edges of the second element to a distance shorter than the inward extension on the surface of the first element, the elements thus secured having longitudinal margin portions of greater thickness than the portions thereof intermediate the longitudinal edges, said spreading means comprising: a first member having a first sheet-contacting surface; and a second member mounted in juxtaposed relation to said first member and adapted to define a pressure generating gap therewith through which the sheet elements are adapted to be advanced during spreading of the processing fluid, said second member including a generally rigid support member, means defining a pair of laterally spaced apart recesses in said support member, said recesses being adapted to respectively overlie the longitudinal margin portions of the superposed sheet elements from a lateral point intermediate the longitudinal edge on the surface of the second element and the lateral edge defining the exposure area on the surface of the first element and extending inwardly to a lateral point at least coextensive with the lateral edge defining the exposure area on the surface of the first element as the sheet elements are advanced between said first and second members, and a layer of relatively high-friction resilient material located in overlying relation to said support member, said layer including an external surface defining a second sheet-contacting surface and an interior surface having a configuration similar to that of said support member; said second sheet-contacting surface of said second member being capable of relatively more surface deformation on those portions of the said second surface overlying said recesses whereby the inwardly extending lateral edges of the binding means on the surface of the first element may move toward said recesses during spreading of the processing fluid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
386 words
Photographic apparatus including means for spreading a processing fluid in a layer between first and second superposed sheet elements, at least one of the elements forming part of an exposed rectangular area of a film unit, the elements secured in superposed relationship by spaced apart longitudinal edge binding means secured to the external surfaces of the sheets and overlapping longitudinal edge of the elements, the binding means extending inwardly from the longitudinal edges of the first element on the external surface thereof to define lateral edges which in part define the exposure area and inwardly from the longitudinal edges of the second element to a distance shorter than the inward extension on the surface of the first element, the elements thus secured having longitudinal margin portions of greater thickness than the portions thereof intermediate the longitudinal edges, said spreading means comprising: a first member having a first sheet-contacting surface; and a second member mounted in juxtaposed relation to said first member and adapted to define a pressure generating gap therewith through which the sheet elements are adapted to be advanced during spreading of the processing fluid, said second member including a generally rigid support member, means defining a pair of laterally spaced apart recesses in said support member, said recesses being adapted to respectively overlie the longitudinal margin portions of the superposed sheet elements from a lateral point intermediate the longitudinal edge on the surface of the second element and the lateral edge defining the exposure area on the surface of the first element and extending inwardly to a lateral point at least coextensive with the lateral edge defining the exposure area on the surface of the first element as the sheet elements are advanced between said first and second members, and a layer of relatively high-friction resilient material located in overlying relation to said support member, said layer including an external surface defining a second sheet-contacting surface and an interior surface having a configuration similar to that of said support member; said second sheet-contacting surface of said second member being capable of relatively more surface deformation on those portions of the said second surface overlying said recesses whereby the inwardly extending lateral edges of the binding means on the surface of the first element may move toward said recesses during spreading of the processing fluid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
386 words
Photographic apparatus including means for spreading a processing fluid in a layer between first and second superposed sheet elements, at least one of the elements forming part of an exposed rectangular area of a film unit, the elements secured in superposed relationship by spaced apart longitudinal edge binding means secured to the external surfaces of the sheets and overlapping longitudinal edge of the elements, the binding means extending inwardly from the longitudinal edges of the first element on the external surface thereof to define lateral edges which in part define the exposure area and inwardly from the longitudinal edges of the second element to a distance shorter than the inward extension on the surface of the first element, the elements thus secured having longitudinal margin portions of greater thickness than the portions thereof intermediate the longitudinal edges, said spreading means comprising: a first member having a first sheet-contacting surface; and a second member mounted in juxtaposed relation to said first member and adapted to define a pressure generating gap therewith through which the sheet elements are adapted to be advanced during spreading of the processing fluid, said second member including a generally rigid support member, means defining a pair of laterally spaced apart recesses in said support member, said recesses being adapted to respectively overlie the longitudinal margin portions of the superposed sheet elements from a lateral point intermediate the longitudinal edge on the surface of the second element and the lateral edge defining the exposure area on the surface of the first element and extending inwardly to a lateral point at least coextensive with the lateral edge defining the exposure area on the surface of the first element as the sheet elements are advanced between said first and second members, and a layer of relatively high-friction resilient material located in overlying relation to said support member, said layer including an external surface defining a second sheet-contacting surface and an interior surface having a configuration similar to that of said support member; said second sheet-contacting surface of said second member being capable of relatively more surface deformation on those portions of the said second surface overlying said recesses whereby the inwardly extending lateral edges of the binding means on the surface of the first element may move toward said recesses during spreading of the processing fluid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including means for resiliently urging one of said first and second members toward the other member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first member comprises a rotatably mounted elongated roller the first sheet-contacting surface of which has a length greater than the distance intermediate the lateral edges of the inward extension of the longitudinal edge binding means on the surface of the second element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said support member of said second member comprises a rotatably mounted elongated roller wherein said recess means comprises a pair of annular grooves.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said second sheet-contacting surface has a substantially cylindrical configuration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
100 words
The apparatus of claim 4 further including means for driving at least one of said rollers to cause said one roller to impart rotary motion to the other of said rollers prior to the introduction of the pair of sheet elements between said rollers and to cause said second high-friction sheet-contacting surface to advance the pair of sheet elements between said rollers once the pair oF sheet elements have been brought into operative relationship therewith, the spacing between said first and second sheet-contacting surfaces being defined by the thickness of the longitudinal margin portions of the secured superposed sheet elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 4 further including means for limiting the movement of said rollers towards one another under the influence of said urging means to define a minimum spacing between said first and second sheet-contacting surfaces thereby facilitating the introduction therebetween of the sheet elements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
111 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said movement limiting means includes a pair of annular collars provided with bearing surfaces mounted on one of said rollers and extending towards the other said roller, and supporting surfaces on said other roller to respectively engage said collar bearing surfaces, said bearing and supporting surfaces comprising relatively low-friction non-resilient surfaces, said annular collars being spaced apart a distance greater than the width of the sheet elements and respectively located adjacent opposite ends of said second sheet-contacting surface, said collars imparting rotary motion to said first roller when under the influence of driving means prior to the advancment of the sheet elements between said rollers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support member of said second member is comprised of stainless steel and said layer of resilient material is comprised on an elastomer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said elastomer is urethane.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said layer of resilient material is comprised of an elastomer.
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) | 1978-03-10 | 1978-09-09 | 1979-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-10 | 1982-09-09 | 1983-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-10 | 1986-09-09 | 1987-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |