Processor for photographic film cassettes

Claim 5

The device recited in claim 1 wherein said pressure pad is contoured in a cross-section transverse to the direction of film travel to complement the cross-section of such film and its side rails.

Claim 6

The device recited in claim 1 wherein said pressure pad is contoured in cross-section transverse to the direction of film travel to complement the cross-section of such film and its side rails so as to define a raised surface portion intermediate a pair of laterally spaced rail supporting surfaces, and said raised surface portion extending above said rail supporting surfaces a distance substantially equal to or slightly shorter than the height of such rails.

Claim 7

In a cassette containing photographic film having a light sensitive emulsion on one surface thereof and also containing a processor operative to deposit processing fluid on a moving run of the film after exposure of such emulsion, the improvement comprising: means defining a nozzle opening in a given plane; means including a pressure pad located in spaced relation to such nozzle opening, for supporting at least a portion of such film intermediate the longitudinal margins thereof in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said nozzle opening; and means for providing a positive pressure in such fluid downstream from said nozzle opening in the direction of film run travel to facilitate uniform distribution of such processing fluid laterally of such emulsion and to urge such film towards said supporting pressure pad during the application of such fluid, said pressure providing means comprising an inclined surface extending from the vicinity of a trailing edge of said nozzle opening and converging towards the emulsion surface of such film, said inclined surface extending at an angle of less than 6* towards the emulsion surface of such film.

Claim 8

In a cassette containing photographic film having a light sensitive emulsion on one surface thereof and also containing a processor operative to deposit processing fluid on a moving run of the film after exposure of such emulsion, the improvement comprising: means defining a nozzle opening in a given plane; means including a pressure pad located in spaced relation to such nozzle opening, for supporting at least a portion of such film intermediate the longitudinal margins thereof in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said nozzle opening; and means for providing a positive pressure in such fluid downstream from said nozzle opening in the direction of film run travel to facilitate uniform distribution of such processing fluid laterally of such emulsion and to urge such film towards said supporting pressure pad during the application of such fluid, said pressure providing means comprising an inclined surface extending from the vicinity of a trailing edge of said nozzle opening and converging towards the emulsion surface of such film, said inclined surface extending at an angle of less than 6* towards the emulsion surface of such film.

Claim 9

In a cassette containing photographic film having a light sensitive emulsiOn on one surface thereof and also containing a processor operative to deposit processing fluid on a moving run of the film after exposure of such emulsion, the improvement comprising: means defining a nozzle opening in a given plane; means, including a pressure pad located in spaced relation to such nozzle opening, for supporting at least a portion of such film intermediate the longitudinal margins thereof in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said nozzle opening; and means for providing a positive pressure in such fluid downstream from said nozzle opening in the direction of film run travel to facilitate uniform distribution of such processing fluid laterally of such emulsion and to urge such film towards said supporting pressure pad during the application of such fluid, said pressure providing means comprising an inclined surface extending from the vicinity of a trailing edge of said nozzle opening and converging towards the emulsion surface of said film, said inclined surface lies in a single plane and is inclined at an angle of about 2*40 feet with respect to the emulsion surface of such film.

Claim 10

In a cassette containing photographic film having a light sensitive emulsiOn on one surface thereof and also containing a processor operative to deposit processing fluid on a moving run of the film after exposure of such emulsion, the improvement comprising: means defining a nozzle opening in a given plane; means, including a pressure pad located in spaced relation to such nozzle opening, for supporting at least a portion of such film intermediate the longitudinal margins thereof in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said nozzle opening; and means for providing a positive pressure in such fluid downstream from said nozzle opening in the direction of film run travel to facilitate uniform distribution of such processing fluid laterally of such emulsion and to urge such film towards said supporting pressure pad during the application of such fluid, said pressure providing means comprising an inclined surface extending from the vicinity of a trailing edge of said nozzle opening and converging towards the emulsion surface of said film, said inclined surface lies in a single plane and is inclined at an angle of about 2*40 feet with respect to the emulsion surface of such film.

Claim 11

In a cassette containing photographic film having a light sensitive emulsion on one surface thereof and a pair of spaced parallel side rails extending lengthwise along the longitudinal margins of the other surface of such film strip, the cassette also containing a processor operative to deposit processing fluid on the emulsion surface of a moving run of the film strip after exposure of the emulsion the improvement comprising: means defining a nozzle opening in a given plane; means, including a pressure pad located in spaced relation to such nozzle opening, for supporting at least a portion of such film intermediate such rails in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said nozzle opening, said pressure pad providing a planar surface portion configured to fit within said rails and support such film during said application of such fluid; and means for providing a positive pressure in such fluid downstream from said nozzle opening in the direction of film travel so as to facilitate uniform distribution of such fluid laterally of such emulsion and to urge such film towards said supporting pressure pad during the application of such fluid.

Claim 12

In a cassette containing photographic film having a light sensitive emulsion on one surface thereof and a pair of spaced parallel side rails extending lengthwise along the longitudinal margins of the other surface of such film strip, the cassette also containing a processor operative to deposit processing fluid on the emulsion surface of a moving run of the film strip after exposure of the emulsion the improvement comprising: means defining a nozzle opening in a given plane; means, including a pressure pad located in spaced relation to such nozzle opening, for supporting at least a portion of such film intermediate such rails in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said nozzle opening, said pressure pad providing a planar surface portion configured to fit within said rails and support such film during said application of such fluid; and means for providing a positive pressure in such fluid downstream from said nozzle opening in the direction of film travel so as to facilitate uniform distribution of such fluid laterally of such emulsion and to urge such film towards said supporting pressure pad during the application of such fluid.