US3913119A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for wet treatment of webs of photosensitive material
Assignee: Agfa Gevaert AG
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Filing: 1974-10-21
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Granted: 1975-10-14
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Expires: 1994-10-21
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for wet treatment of webs of photosensitive material wherein the top portion of a liquid-containing vessel consisting at least in part of light-transmitting material supports spaced apart first and second pairs of advancing rolls and a web guide which normally extends between the two pairs of rolls. At least the lower section of the web guide is pivotable downwardly so that an intermediate portion of a web whose leader has been introduced into the nip of the first advancing rolls and has advanced through the guide into the nip of the second advancing rolls can be looped in the vessel in response to continuing rotation of the first rolls while the second rolls are idle. The second rolls are arrested by a photoelectric detector when the latter detects the leader of the web downstream of the nip of the second advancing rolls, and this detector also causes an electromagnet to pivot the lower section of the guide downwardly. A second photoelectric detector monitors the length of the loop in the vessel and starts the drive for the second rolls when the length of the loop reaches a preselected maximum value. The second rolls thereupon advance the web at a speed exceeding the speed of the first rolls so that the length of the loop decreases and the second detector again arrests the drive for the second rolls.
Inventors
- 👤 Josef Pfeifer
- 👤 Wilfried Hofmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 09:30
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03D; G03D3/00; G03D3/08; G03D3/13; G03D3/132; G03D3/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
330 words
In an apparatus for wet treatment of elongated flexible webs, particularly for wet treatment of carriers of photosensitive material, a combination comprising a liquid-containing vessel having an upper portion and a lower portion; guide means including an upper section and a lower section, at least said lower section being movable between an operative position in which said sections define an elongated channel extending transversely across said upper portion of said vessel and having an inlet and an outlet, and an inoperative position in which said lower section permits a web in said channel to move generally downwardly toward said lower portion of said vessel; means for moving said lower section between said operative and inoperative positions; a first pair of rotary web advancing members adjacent to said inlet; a second pair of rotary web advancing members adjacent to said outlet; first drive means for rotating said first pair of advancing members so that a web whose leader is introduced between said first pair of advancing members is caused to advance through said channel and into the range of said second pair of advancing members; second drive means for intermittently rotating said second pair of advancing members; first detector means for monitoring the web downstream of said second pair of advancing members; means for arresting said second drive means and for actuating said moving means to effect a movement of said lower section to said inoperative position in response to detection of the leader of a web by said first detector means whereby, in response to continuing rotation of said first pair of advancing members, the web portion behind said leader descends in said vessel and forms a loop having a bight which moves towards the lower portion of said vessel; second detector means in the region of said lower portion of said vessel for monitoring the bight of said loop; and means for starting said second drive means in response to detection of the bight by said second detector means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
330 words
In an apparatus for wet treatment of elongated flexible webs, particularly for wet treatment of carriers of photosensitive material, a combination comprising a liquid-containing vessel having an upper portion and a lower portion; guide means including an upper section and a lower section, at least said lower section being movable between an operative position in which said sections define an elongated channel extending transversely across said upper portion of said vessel and having an inlet and an outlet, and an inoperative position in which said lower section permits a web in said channel to move generally downwardly toward said lower portion of said vessel; means for moving said lower section between said operative and inoperative positions; a first pair of rotary web advancing members adjacent to said inlet; a second pair of rotary web advancing members adjacent to said outlet; first drive means for rotating said first pair of advancing members so that a web whose leader is introduced between said first pair of advancing members is caused to advance through said channel and into the range of said second pair of advancing members; second drive means for intermittently rotating said second pair of advancing members; first detector means for monitoring the web downstream of said second pair of advancing members; means for arresting said second drive means and for actuating said moving means to effect a movement of said lower section to said inoperative position in response to detection of the leader of a web by said first detector means whereby, in response to continuing rotation of said first pair of advancing members, the web portion behind said leader descends in said vessel and forms a loop having a bight which moves towards the lower portion of said vessel; second detector means in the region of said lower portion of said vessel for monitoring the bight of said loop; and means for starting said second drive means in response to detection of the bight by said second detector means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said lower section of said guide means is pivotable between said operative and inoperative positions thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said detector means is a photoelectric detector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein at least said upper section of said guide means has a convex surface at the underside thereof and at least a portion of said convex surface dips into the liquid in said vessel so that successive increments of a web which moves in said channel come into contact with the liquid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said pairs of advancing members comprises an upper and a lower advancing member, at least a portion of each of said lower advancing members extending into the liquid in said vessel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
82 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for circulating the liquid in said vessel, said vessel having a bottom wall and said circulating means comprising a pump having an intake connected with a first opening provided in said bottom wall and an outlet and conduit means for supplying lIquid from the outlet of said pump into said vessel whereby the evacuation of liquid through the opening of said bottom wall promotes the formation of said loop in the vessel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said upper section has an opening and said conduit means comprises a portion which discharges a stream of liquid into said opening of said upper section whereby said stream promotes the looping of the web in said vessel in the inoperative position of said lower section.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said vessel further comprises side walls and said conduit means includes portions for discharging streams of liquid into said vessel via openings provided in at least one of said side walls, at least one of said streams having a component of movement in a direction toward said bottom wall to thereby promote the formation of said loop.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said portions of said conduit means discharge said streams toward and in directions making an acute angle with said bottom wall.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein at least said lower portion of said vessel consists of light-transmitting material and said second detector means comprises a photosensitive detector having a light source arranged to emit a light beam across the liquid in said lower portion of said vessel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A combination as defined in claim 10, wherein the light of said beam is in the non-actinic range of the light spectrum.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A combination as defined in claim 10, wherein at least a portion of said photosensitive detector is mounted directly on said vessel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A combination as defined in claim 10, wherein said photosensitive detector is embedded in said vessel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said second detector means includes a photoelectric detector and adjusting means for moving said detector between a plurality of levels.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said second detector means comprises a plurality of photoelectric detectors disposed at different distances from said channel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said second drive means comprises a device for rotating said second pair of advancing members at a peripheral speed exceeding the peripheral speed of said first pair of advancing members so that the bight of said loop rises in response to starting of said second drive means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
A combination as defined in claim 16, wherein the peripheral speed of said second pair of advancing members exceeds the peripheral speed of said first pair of advancing members by approximately 2 percent.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
A combination as defined in claim 16, wherein the angular speed of said first pair of advancing members equals the angular speed of said second pair of advancing members and the diameters of said second pair of advancing members exceed the diameters of said first pair of advancing members.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said detector means comprises a photoelectric detector.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
76 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising a second liquid-containing vessel adjacent to said first mentioned vessel, second guide means for said second vessel, additional first and second detector means for said second vessel, and an additional second pair of advancing members adjacent to the outlet of the channel defined by said second guide means, said first mentioned second pair of advancing members constituting the first pair of advancing members for said second vessel.
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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) | 1978-10-13 | 1979-04-14 | 1979-10-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-13 | 1983-04-14 | 1983-10-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-13 | 1987-04-14 | 1987-10-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |