US4035074A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Step and repeat camera having an improved film processor
Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1975-12-15
•
Granted: 1977-07-12
•
Expires: 1995-12-15
Abstract
Abstract A step and repeat camera is disclosed which includes a module for supporting a supply of film material, for metering a length of film material from the support and cutting the film to a predetermined length, a second module for supporting the cut sheet of film with the light sensitive coated surface positioned downward and moving the film along X and Y coordinates to position successive areas of the film over an image projecting lens. The support moves the film from a first film receiving conveyor to a titling area where a title is contact exposed onto the film, through the imaging section along the coordinates, and to the discharge conveyor. The third module includes apparatus for conveying the film over a DC corona bar which causes the film to adhere to a hot processing drum and to be carried thereby under a heated shoe past an AC corona bar to discharge the film, permitting the same to drop from the surface of the drum across its initial infeed path into a cooling chute.
Inventors
- 👤 Lawrence A. Flor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 17:28
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B27/00; G03B27/32; G03B27/46; G03B27/47
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
338 words
A step and repeat camera for placing images of documents onto microfiche comprising: a housing, fixed support means for supporting a supply of unexposed light-sensitive heat-developable film, means for advancing said film from said supply and placing the same in a reference position, support means for contacting said film and placing the same in a fixed horizontal focal plane, drive means for moving said support means and said film in mutually perpendicular X and Y directions incrementally to place successive areas of said film in a predetermined location, lens and shutter means for imparting images from a support onto said film at said predetermined location, and processing means for processing the exposed sheet of film upon exposure of a predetermined number of said areas, said processing device comprises a conveyor for receiving an exposed film, said conveyor or moving said film along a predetermined path, a drum rotatably mounted about an axis transverse to the direction of movement of said conveyor, said axis supporting the periphery of said drum generally tangential to the path of movement of said conveyor, a shoe disposed about and spaced from the periphery of said drum to allow a film to move therebetween, heating means for heating at least one of said drum and shoe sufficiently to afford the development of a film as said film moves with said drum past said shoe, corona charging means disposed adjacent said drum and said shoe for placing a charge on a section of film moved from said conveyor into contact with said drum and for removing the charge from a film after the same has passed about the surface of said drum to permit said sheet of material to fall edgewise from said surface of said drum, and a vertically positioned chute disposed in a position generally tangential to a side of said drum and positioned below and normal to the path of said conveyor and at the end of said conveyor nearest said drum for receiving and discharging a film separated from said drum.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
338 words
A step and repeat camera for placing images of documents onto microfiche comprising: a housing, fixed support means for supporting a supply of unexposed light-sensitive heat-developable film, means for advancing said film from said supply and placing the same in a reference position, support means for contacting said film and placing the same in a fixed horizontal focal plane, drive means for moving said support means and said film in mutually perpendicular X and Y directions incrementally to place successive areas of said film in a predetermined location, lens and shutter means for imparting images from a support onto said film at said predetermined location, and processing means for processing the exposed sheet of film upon exposure of a predetermined number of said areas, said processing device comprises a conveyor for receiving an exposed film, said conveyor or moving said film along a predetermined path, a drum rotatably mounted about an axis transverse to the direction of movement of said conveyor, said axis supporting the periphery of said drum generally tangential to the path of movement of said conveyor, a shoe disposed about and spaced from the periphery of said drum to allow a film to move therebetween, heating means for heating at least one of said drum and shoe sufficiently to afford the development of a film as said film moves with said drum past said shoe, corona charging means disposed adjacent said drum and said shoe for placing a charge on a section of film moved from said conveyor into contact with said drum and for removing the charge from a film after the same has passed about the surface of said drum to permit said sheet of material to fall edgewise from said surface of said drum, and a vertically positioned chute disposed in a position generally tangential to a side of said drum and positioned below and normal to the path of said conveyor and at the end of said conveyor nearest said drum for receiving and discharging a film separated from said drum.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
A step and repeat camera according to claim 1 wherein said support means is a plate, said plate being supported below a manifold, means connected to said manifold for reducing the pressure within said manifold beneath atmospheric pressure, said plate being a porous plate having a smooth surface forming an optical support for a film.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A step and repeat camera according to claim 2 including means connected to said manifold for producing a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure within said manifold for forcing air through said porous plate to place said film on said conveyor and affording a cleaning action on said plate surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3261259A
Cited
US2645153A
Cited
US3136232A
Cited
US3469077A
Cited
US3398638A
Cited
US3528355A
Cited
US3439905A
Cited
US3558223A
Cited
US3782820A
Cited
US3680461A
Cited
US3746444A
Cited
US3965332A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-07-11 | 1981-01-10 | 1981-07-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-11 | 1985-01-10 | 1985-07-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-11 | 1989-01-10 | 1989-07-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |