US3904292A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for single sheet photographic reproduction
Assignee: INSTITUTE FOR GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION Inc
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Filing: 1974-03-04
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Granted: 1975-09-09
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Expires: 1994-03-04
Abstract
Abstract The invention described is a copier that is preferably small, light in weight, easy to use, self powered and portable. It may be used for reproducing a one or two-sided original that is flat or has a curved surface. The copier uses a single sheet diffusion transfer copy medium comprising a positive image receiving layer separated from a negative silver halide emulsion layer by a pigment layer. In use, an original to be copied is put in contact with the negative silver halide emulsion layer of the copy medium. Exposure is preferably by a battery powered, capacitance discharge flash lamp. Light passes in turn through the positive image receiving layer of the copy medium, the pigment layer, the negative emulsion layer and onto the original with reflection from the white background areas of the original back into the negative emulsion layer to form a latent image that is rendered visible in the positive image receiving layer by a diffusion transfer mechanism. The method is characterized by single sheet copying without a lens system and with dry-to-touch development. Developed images are positive, right-reading copies of the original and are of good resolution and contrast.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard E Ravich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 13:44
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B27/00; G03B27/02; G03B27/14; G03B27/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
An apparatus for making a right reading, positive, single sheet copy of an original, said apparatus comprising, in combination a diffusion transfer copy medium and having a positive image receiving layer separated from a negative photographic layer by a visually opaque layer, a chamber having one wall which defines an exposure zone and a light source in said chamber for providing sufficient light to form a latent image in said copy medium; means to uniformly distribute light over said copy medium; means for advancing said copy medium in sheet form a storage position inside from said chamber, along a path outside of said chamber into optical communication with said exposure zone, and back into said chamber for development; means to develop said copy medium; said copy medium, when in optical communication with said exposure zone, being disposed such that an original to be copied can be placed in face to face contact with the negative photographic layer of said copy medium, whereby, upon exposure, light passes successively through the positive image receiving layer of the copy medium, the visually opaque layer, the negative photographic layer and onto the original where it is imagewise reflected back into the copy medium to form a latent image.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
204 words
An apparatus for making a right reading, positive, single sheet copy of an original, said apparatus comprising, in combination a diffusion transfer copy medium and having a positive image receiving layer separated from a negative photographic layer by a visually opaque layer, a chamber having one wall which defines an exposure zone and a light source in said chamber for providing sufficient light to form a latent image in said copy medium; means to uniformly distribute light over said copy medium; means for advancing said copy medium in sheet form a storage position inside from said chamber, along a path outside of said chamber into optical communication with said exposure zone, and back into said chamber for development; means to develop said copy medium; said copy medium, when in optical communication with said exposure zone, being disposed such that an original to be copied can be placed in face to face contact with the negative photographic layer of said copy medium, whereby, upon exposure, light passes successively through the positive image receiving layer of the copy medium, the visually opaque layer, the negative photographic layer and onto the original where it is imagewise reflected back into the copy medium to form a latent image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 where the negative photographic layer of said copy medium is a silver halide emulsion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 having a soft, transparent and resilient material between the light source and the copy medium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 where the light source is a flash lamp capable of multiple illumiNation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 where the means to distribute light uniformly over said copy medium is a reflector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 where copy medium is in roll form in a cartridge and means to pass said copy medium from said roll through said chamber as a continuous web.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 6 where said continuous web of copy medium is perforated across its width at intervals along its length.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 6 where said cartridge comprises at least in part a battery.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 where said means to develop said copy medium comprises a wetted wick which passes over said copy medium as it passes through said chamber after exposure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 9 where the wick is in combination with a reservoir for developer or activator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 where the copy medium is in combination with a developer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 where the copy medium has a rupturable pod containing developer at intervals across its width.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 11 where the developer is a monobath developer comprising a developing and fixing agent in rupturable pods spaced at intervals across the width of the copy medium.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 2 where the emulsion has microcapsules containing developer and fixer for said emulsion distributed over the surface of said copy medium.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
189 words
An apparatus for making a right reading, positive, single sheet copy of an original, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a diffusion transfer copy medium having a positive image receiving layer separated from a negative photographic layer by a visually opaque layer; a chamber having one wall which defines an exposure zone and a light source capable of providing sufficient light to form a latent image in said copy medium; means to uniformly distribute light over said copy medium; means for advancing said copy medium in sheet form from a location outside of said chamber, in optical communication with said exposure zone, into said chamber for development; means to develop said copy medium; said copy medium, when external to said chamber, being disposed such that an original to be copied can be placed in face to face contact with the negative photographic layer of said copy medium, whereby, upon exposure, light passes successively through the positive image receiving layer of the copy medium, the visually opaque layer, the negative photographic layer and onto the original where it is imagewise reflected back into the copy medium to form a latent image.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
189 words
An apparatus for making a right reading, positive, single sheet copy of an original, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a diffusion transfer copy medium having a positive image receiving layer separated from a negative photographic layer by a visually opaque layer; a chamber having one wall which defines an exposure zone and a light source capable of providing sufficient light to form a latent image in said copy medium; means to uniformly distribute light over said copy medium; means for advancing said copy medium in sheet form from a location outside of said chamber, in optical communication with said exposure zone, into said chamber for development; means to develop said copy medium; said copy medium, when external to said chamber, being disposed such that an original to be copied can be placed in face to face contact with the negative photographic layer of said copy medium, whereby, upon exposure, light passes successively through the positive image receiving layer of the copy medium, the visually opaque layer, the negative photographic layer and onto the original where it is imagewise reflected back into the copy medium to form a latent image.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 15 where the negative photographic layer of said copy medium is a silver halide emulsion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 15 having a soft, transparent and resilient material between the light source and the copy medium.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 15 where the light source is a flash lamp capable of multiple illumination.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 15 where the means to distribute light uniformly over said copy medium is a reflector.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 15 including a cartridge for storing single sheets of said copy medium.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 20 where said cartridge comprises at least in part a battery.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 15 where said means to develop said copy medium comprises a wetted wick which passes over said copy medium as it passes through said chamber after exposure.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 22 where the wick is in combination with a reservoir for developer or activator.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 15 where the copy medium is in combination with a developer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 23 where the developer is a monobath developer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 16 where the emulsion has microcapsules containing developer and fixer for said emulsion distributed over the surface of said copy medium.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-08 | 1979-03-10 | 1979-09-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-08 | 1983-03-10 | 1983-09-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-08 | 1987-03-10 | 1987-09-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |