Photographic film processing apparatus having disengagement means

Claim 2

Photographic apparatus comprising: a pair of juxtaposed pressure-applying members including at least one roller adapted to be driven in a predetermined direction for spreading a processing composition across an exposed area of a photosensitive element while simultaneously advancing the element therebetween; means attached to said one roller for driving said one roller in said predetermined direction; means for supplying power for rotating said drive means; means coupled to said power supplying means for transmitting power, received from said power supplying means at an input end thereof, to an output end; and means for coupling said output end of said power transmitting means to said drive means, said coupling means being mounted for automatic movement between a first position, wherein power received at said output end is transmitted to said drive means for rotation of said roller in said predetermined direction and a second position wherein said coupling means substantially prevents the transfer of power from said drive means to said output end of said power transmitting means during manual rotation of said roller in said predetermined direction.

Claim 3

Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said coupling means includes a pair of rotatably supported members.

Claim 4

Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said power transmitting means and said drive means comprise a plurality of gears.

Claim 5

Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said coupling means includes at least one gear.

Claim 6

Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said coupling means further includes a link having a first end pivotally attached to said output end of said power transmitting means and a second end coupled to said one gear for enabling said coupling means to move from said first position into said second position during manual rotation of said roller in said predetermined direction.

Claim 7

Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said coupling means further includes biasing means attached to said link for urging said coupling means out of said second position into said first position.

Claim 8

Photographic apparatus including a film advancing-fluid spreading apparatus for spreading a processing composition across an exposed area of a photosensitive element and a power transmitting system coupled to a motor for operating said film advancing-fluid spreading apparatus, comprising: a pair of juxtaposed pressure-applying members including at least one roller mounted to be rotated in a predetermined direction for advancing the exposed photosensitive element between said pressure-applying members while distributing the processing composition across the element; a motor; a gear train including a first gear coupled to said motor; a second gear coupled to said roller for driving said roller in said predetermined direction; an intermediate gear rotatably mounted for enmeshment with said first and second gears; and means for disengaging said intermediate gear from said second gear during manual rotation of said roller in said predetermined direction, said disengaging means having a first end pivotally connected to an axis of rotation of said intermediate gear and a second end rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation of said first gear for automatic pivotal movement of said intermediate gear about said first gear's axis from a first position wherein said intermediate gear is in mesh with said first and second gears and said motor is driving said second gear to a second position wherein said intermediate gear is out of mesh with said second gear during manual rotation of said roller in said predetermined direction.

Claim 9

Photographic apparatus including a film advancing-fluid spreading apparatus for spreading a processing composition across an exposed area of a photosensitive element and a power transmitting system coupled to a motor for operating said film advancing-fluid spreading apparatus, comprising: a pair of juxtaposed pressure-applying members including at least one roller mounted to be rotated in a predetermined direction for advancing the exposed photosensitive element between said pressure-applying members while distributing the processing composition across the element; a motor; a gear train including a first gear coupled to said motor; a second gear coupled to said roller for driving said roller in said predetermined direction; an intermediate gear rotatably mounted for enmeshment with said first and second gears; and means for disengaging said intermediate gear from said second gear during manual rotation of said roller in said predetermined direction, said disengaging means having a first end pivotally connected to an axis of rotation of said intermediate gear and a second end rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation of said first gear for automatic pivotal movement of said intermediate gear about said first gear's axis from a first position wherein said intermediate gear is in mesh with said first and second gears and said motor is driving said second gear to a second position wherein said intermediate gear is out of mesh with said second gear during manual rotation of said roller in said predetermined direction.

Claim 10

Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said disengagement means further includes biasing means for urging said intermediate gear out of said second position into said first position.

Claim 11

Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said biasing means includes spring means for restricting angular rotation of said disengagement means about said axis of said first gear.

Claim 12

Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said axes of said first, second and intermediate gears are arranged such that peripheral forces transferred to said intermediate gear by said first and second gears are in a direction which tends to maintain sasid intermediate gear in said first position when said first gear is set in motion by said motor and to move said intermediate gear into said second position when said second gear is rotated by said roller during manual rotation of said roller in said predetermined direction.

Claim 13

Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said disengagement means includes means for pivotally connecting it to said intermediate and first gears such that peripheral forces generated by manual rotation of said roller and said second gear in said predetermined direction are not transferred by said intermediate gear to said first gear and said motor.

Claim 14

Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said disengagement means further includes means for securely maintaining a center distance between said first gear and said intermediate gear when said intermediate gear is in said first and second position.

Claim 15

Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said first, second and intermediate gears are rotatably mounted such that an axis of rotation of said second gear is in the same plane as said axis of rotation of said first gear and said axis of rotation of said intermediate gear is spaced outside of said plane containing the rotational axes of said first and second gears for enabling said intermediate gear to pivotally move about said rotational axis of said first gear between said first and second positions.