Film processing apparatus and method for information storage system

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1 comprising the further steps of disposing said pad and a container in a fluid flow path, continuously applying a suction to one end of said path, and coupling fluid sources to the other end of said path whereby compressing said container against said receiving film serves to draw fluid from a selected one of said sources via said path.

Claim 6

In a document storage system of a type for recording an image on the emulsion side of a first film for transfer to a second film, a film processing station including means for disposing the first and second films at a position in spaced confronting relation with the emulsion side of said first film confronting said second film, a pair of pads flanking said films at said position, one of said pads being movable between advanced and retracted positions relative to the other for engaging and pressing said spaced films together to develop an image on each film, the improvement comprising means supporting the plane of one of said pads at a slight angle to the angle of the other pad, said films passing between the pads, and means for urging the first named one of said pads relative to the other in a predetermined direction to initially engage said films between an edge margin portion of the second named one of said pads and the other pad and in response to continuing said urging to progressively compress more and more of the contact area of the second named said one pad against a progressively increasing area of said other pad, thereby applying a squeege action in compressing the films together between the pads for removing fluid captured between the films.

Claim 7

In a document storage system of a type for recording an image on the emulsion side of a first film for transfer to a second film, a film processing station including means for disposing the first and second films at a position in spaced confronting relation with the emulsion side of said first film confronting said second film, a pair of pads flanking said films at said position, one of said pads being movable between advanced and retracted positions relative to the other for engaging and pressing said spaced films together to develop an image on each film, the improvement comprising means supporting the plane of one of said pads at a slight angle to the angle of the other pad, said films passing between the pads, and means for urging the first named one of said pads relative to the other in a predetermined direction to initially engage said films between an edge margin portion of the second named one of said pads and the other pad and in response to continuing said urging to progressively compress more and more of the contact area of the second named said one pad against a progressively increasing area of said other pad, thereby applying a squeege action in compressing the films together between the pads for removing fluid captured between the films.

Claim 8

In a document storage system of a type for recording an image on the emulsion side of a first film for transfer to a second film, an image-transfer station including means for disposing the first and second films at a position in spaced confronting relation with the emulsion side of said first film confronting said second film, a pair of resilient pads flanking said films at said position, one of said pads being movable between advanced and retracted positions relative to the other for engaging and pressing said spaced films together to develop an image on each film, the improvement comprising means supporting the plane of one of said pads at a slight angle to the plane of the other pad, said films passing between said pads, and means for urging the first named one of said pads relative to the other to initially engage said films between an edge margin portion of said pads and in response to continued urging serving to apply a progressively increasing surface area of the pads to said second film, thereby applying a squeegee action in compressing the films together for removing fluid captured therebetween.

Claim 9

In a document storage system of a type for recording an image on the emulsion side of a first film for transfer to a second film, an image-transfer station including means for disposing the first and second films at a position in spaced confronting relation with the emulsion side of said first film confronting said second film, a pair of resilient pads flanking said films at said position, one of said pads being movable between advanced and retracted positions relative to the other for engaging and pressing said spaced films together to develop an image on each film, the improvement comprising means supporting the plane of one of said pads at a slight angle to the plane of the other pad, said films passing between said pads, and means for urging the first named one of said pads relative to the other to initially engage said films between an edge margin portion of said pads and in response to continued urging serving to apply a progressively increasing surface area of the pads to said second film, thereby applying a squeegee action in compressing the films together for removing fluid captured therebetween.

Claim 10

In a document storage system of a type having means for disposing first and second films in confronting image-transfer relation, said first film being prepared with a photoresponsive emulsion on one surface for optically recording a miniaturized image thereon of a document, said second film having a material carried on one surface thereof, said material being normally inactive bUt capable of being activated for receiving an image of the first named image transferred thereto, a film processing apparatus, said processing apparatus comprising an open cup-shaped container confronting said material of said second film and having a peripheral edge serving to define a frame on said second film to be activated, a porous, sponge-like, resilient pad disposed in said container for contact with said material, a vacuum flow path leading through said container for drawing fluid through said pad, means continuously drawing a vacuum via said flow path, said sponge-like pad protruding out of said container beyond a plane defined by said peripheral edge, means for moving said container into engagement with said second film to provide a seal at said peripheral edge, a fluid supply opening leading into said container from a plurality of fluid sources, said sources including activating fluid for said material, a washing fluid, and a gas, and valve means selectively operable to couple any of said sources to said supply opening to cause said vacuum to draw fluid from the selected source into said container under the influence of said vacuum when said periphery forms said seal.

Claim 11

In a document storage system of a type having means for disposing first and second films in confronting image-transfer relation, said first film being prepared with a photoresponsive emulsion on one surface for optically recording a miniaturized image thereon of a document, said second film having a material carried on one surface thereof, said material being normally inactive bUt capable of being activated for receiving an image of the first named image transferred thereto, a film processing apparatus, said processing apparatus comprising an open cup-shaped container confronting said material of said second film and having a peripheral edge serving to define a frame on said second film to be activated, a porous, sponge-like, resilient pad disposed in said container for contact with said material, a vacuum flow path leading through said container for drawing fluid through said pad, means continuously drawing a vacuum via said flow path, said sponge-like pad protruding out of said container beyond a plane defined by said peripheral edge, means for moving said container into engagement with said second film to provide a seal at said peripheral edge, a fluid supply opening leading into said container from a plurality of fluid sources, said sources including activating fluid for said material, a washing fluid, and a gas, and valve means selectively operable to couple any of said sources to said supply opening to cause said vacuum to draw fluid from the selected source into said container under the influence of said vacuum when said periphery forms said seal.