Method and apparatus for processing a film insert on an aperture card

Claim 1

Apparatus for processing an exposed photographic emulsion layer on one side of a film member mounted on a compressible aperture card with the emulsion side of the film member facing and overlying the card aperture, said aperture card being normally subject to damage by the wetting effects of contact with a processing liquid, said apparatus comprising: a. a processing receptacle having a sealing member arranged to contact a portion of such a card bordering the aperture, on the side of the card opposite the film member, to form a processing chamber defined partially by an edge portion of the card bordering the aperture and partially by the exposed emulsion layer; b. means for compressing such a card against said sealing member to render said aperture-edge portion of the card substantially impervious to processing liquid; and c. means for supplying processing liquid to said processing chamber to process the exposed emulsion layer of such a card.

Claim 7

A method of processing an exposed photographic emulsion layer on one side of a film member mounted on a compressible record card in registry with an aperture through the card, said record card being normally subject to damage by the wetting effects of contact with a processing liquid, said method comprising the steps of: a. contacting a portion of the card bordering the aperture, on the side of the card corresponding to the emulsion side of the film member, with a sealing member on a processing receptacle to form a processing chamber defined partially by an edge portion of the card bordering the aperture and partially by the exposed emulsion layer; b. compressing said card against said sealing member to render said aperture-edge portion of the card substantially impervious to processing liquid; and c. supplying processing liquid to said processing chamber to process said exposed emulsion layer.

Claim 8

A method of processing an exposed photographic emulsion layer on one side of a film member mounted on a compressible record card in registry with an aperture through the card, said record card being normally subject to damage by the wetting effects of contact with a processing liquid, said method comprising the steps of: a. contacting a portion of the card bordering the aperture, on the side of the card corresponding to the emulsion side of the film member, with a sealing member on a processing receptacle to form a processing chamber defined partially by an edge portion of the card bordering the aperture and partially by the exposed emulsion layer; b. compressing said card against said sealing member to render said aperture-edge portion of the card substantially impervious to processing liquid; and c. supplying processing liquid to said processing chamber to process said exposed emulsion layer.

Claim 9

A method of processing an exposed photographic emulsion layer on one side of a film insert mounted on a compressible record card, the card defining an aperture and having a shoulder portion of a reduced thickness around the aperture, said film insert being mounted with its emulsion side facing and overlying the card aperture and fastened to said shoulder portion, said record card being normally subject to damage by the wetting effects of contact with a processing liquid, said method comprising the steps of: a. contacting the shoulder portion of the card, on the side of the card opposite the film insert, with a sealing member on a processing receptacle to form a processing chamber defined partially by an edge portion of the shoulder around the card aperture and partially by the exposed emulsion layer; b. compressing said card against said sealing member to render said shoulder-edge portion of the card substantially impervioius to processing liquid; and c. supplying processing liquid to said processing chamber to process said exposed emulsion layer.

Claim 10

A method of processing an exposed photographic emulsion layer on one side of a film insert mounted on a compressible record card, the card defining an aperture and having a shoulder portion of a reduced thickness around the aperture, said film insert being mounted with its emulsion side facing and overlying the card aperture and fastened to said shoulder portion, said record card being normally subject to damage by the wetting effects of contact with a processing liquid, said method comprising the steps of: a. contacting the shoulder portion of the card, on the side of the card opposite the film insert, with a sealing member on a processing receptacle to form a processing chamber defined partially by an edge portion of the shoulder around the card aperture and partially by the exposed emulsion layer; b. compressing said card against said sealing member to render said shoulder-edge portion of the card substantially impervioius to processing liquid; and c. supplying processing liquid to said processing chamber to process said exposed emulsion layer.

Claim 11

A method of processing an exposed photographic emulsion layer on one side of a film chip mounted on a compressible aperture card with the emulsion side of the film chip facing and overlying the card aperture and a portion of the card bordering the aperture, said aperture card being normally subject to damage by the wetting effects of contact with a processing liquid, said method comprising the steps of: a. contacting the aperture-border portion of the card, on the side of the card opposite the film chip, with a sealing member on a processing receptacle to form a processing chamber defined partially by an edge portion of the card bordering the aperture and partially by the exposed emulsion layer; b. compressing said card against said sealing member to render said aperture-edge portion of the card substantially impervious to processing liquid; and c. supplying processing liquid to said processing chamber to process said exposed emulsion layer.

Claim 12

A method of processing an exposed photographic emulsion layer on one side of a film chip mounted on a compressible aperture card with the emulsion side of the film chip facing and overlying the card aperture and a portion of the card bordering the aperture, said aperture card being normally subject to damage by the wetting effects of contact with a processing liquid, said method comprising the steps of: a. contacting the aperture-border portion of the card, on the side of the card opposite the film chip, with a sealing member on a processing receptacle to form a processing chamber defined partially by an edge portion of the card bordering the aperture and partially by the exposed emulsion layer; b. compressing said card against said sealing member to render said aperture-edge portion of the card substantially impervious to processing liquid; and c. supplying processing liquid to said processing chamber to process said exposed emulsion layer.

Claim 13

A method of processing an exposed photographic film member mounted on a compressible record card in registry with an aperture therein, said exposed photographic film member having an emulsion surface and being mounted on said card with the periphery of the exposed emulsion surface adjaceNt the periphery of said aperture, said record card being normally subject to damage by the wetting effects of contact with a processing liquid, said method comprising the steps of: a. contacting the record card at the periphery of the aperture with a sealing member to form a processing chamber which includes the edge of the aperture and at least all of the exposed emulsion surface of the film member; b. compressing said card against said sealing member to render the compressed portion of the card adjacent the film member substantially impervious to processing liquid; and c. supplying processing liquid to said processing chamber into contact with the entire exposed emulsion surface of the film member for processing.

Claim 14

A method of processing an exposed photographic film member mounted on a compressible record card in registry with an aperture therein, said exposed photographic film member having an emulsion surface and being mounted on said card with the periphery of the exposed emulsion surface adjaceNt the periphery of said aperture, said record card being normally subject to damage by the wetting effects of contact with a processing liquid, said method comprising the steps of: a. contacting the record card at the periphery of the aperture with a sealing member to form a processing chamber which includes the edge of the aperture and at least all of the exposed emulsion surface of the film member; b. compressing said card against said sealing member to render the compressed portion of the card adjacent the film member substantially impervious to processing liquid; and c. supplying processing liquid to said processing chamber into contact with the entire exposed emulsion surface of the film member for processing.

Claim 15

A method of processing an exposed photographic emulsion layer on one side of a film member mounted on a compressible record card with the emulsion side of the film member facing and overlying an aperture in the card and a border portion of the card around the aperture, said record card being normally subject to damage by the wetting effects of contact with a processing liquid, said method comprising the steps of: a. contacting said border portion of the card, on the side of the card opposite the film member, with a sealing member on a reservoir to form a processing chamber that restricts flow of liquid in the chamber to a predetermined area of the card including at least all of the exposed area of the emulsion layer on the film member; b. compressing said card against said sealing member to render said contacted border portion of the card substantially impervious to processing liquid; and c. supplying processing liquid to said processing chamber to flow into contact with the exposed emulsion layer for processing.

Claim 16

A method of processing an exposed photographic emulsion layer on one side of a film member mounted on a compressible record card with the emulsion side of the film member facing and overlying an aperture in the card and a border portion of the card around the aperture, said record card being normally subject to damage by the wetting effects of contact with a processing liquid, said method comprising the steps of: a. contacting said border portion of the card, on the side of the card opposite the film member, with a sealing member on a reservoir to form a processing chamber that restricts flow of liquid in the chamber to a predetermined area of the card including at least all of the exposed area of the emulsion layer on the film member; b. compressing said card against said sealing member to render said contacted border portion of the card substantially impervious to processing liquid; and c. supplying processing liquid to said processing chamber to flow into contact with the exposed emulsion layer for processing.

Claim 17

A method of processing an exposed photographic emulsion layer on one side of the film member mounted on a compressible aperture card with the emulsion side of the film insert facing and overlying the card aperture and a portion of the card bordering the aperture, said aperture card being normally subject to damage by the wetting effects of contact with a processing liquid, said method comprising the steps of: a. at a first work station contacting the aperture-border portion of the card, on the side of the card opposite the film member, with a sealing member on a processing receptacle to form a processing chamber defined partially by an edge portion of the card bordering the card aperture and partially by the exposed emulsion layer; b. compressing said card against said sealing member to render said aperture-edge portion of the card substantially impervious to processing liquid; c. supplying a first processing liquid to said processing chamber at said first work station to flow said liquid into contact with the entire exposed area of the emulsion layer; d. removing said card from said sealing member at said first work station, and transporting said card to a second work station; and e. repeating at said second work station the steps of contacting with a second sealing member on a second processing receptacle, compressing said card against said second sealing member, and supplying a second processing liquid to the processing chamber formed at said second work station.

Claim 18

A method of processing an exposed photographic emulsion layer on one side of the film member mounted on a compressible aperture card with the emulsion side of the film insert facing and overlying the card aperture and a portion of the card bordering the aperture, said aperture card being normally subject to damage by the wetting effects of contact with a processing liquid, said method comprising the steps of: a. at a first work station contacting the aperture-border portion of the card, on the side of the card opposite the film member, with a sealing member on a processing receptacle to form a processing chamber defined partially by an edge portion of the card bordering the card aperture and partially by the exposed emulsion layer; b. compressing said card against said sealing member to render said aperture-edge portion of the card substantially impervious to processing liquid; c. supplying a first processing liquid to said processing chamber at said first work station to flow said liquid into contact with the entire exposed area of the emulsion layer; d. removing said card from said sealing member at said first work station, and transporting said card to a second work station; and e. repeating at said second work station the steps of contacting with a second sealing member on a second processing receptacle, compressing said card against said second sealing member, and supplying a second processing liquid to the processing chamber formed at said second work station.