US4094603A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flat field, roll film transport
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-11-22
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Granted: 1978-06-13
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Expires: 1996-11-22
Abstract
Abstract A film transport capable of periodically advancing roll film to present a flattened portion of the film at an exposure station between the supply and take-up spools. As originally developed the invention is applied to processing sensitized photographic film. Such a film, even when tightly rolled upon a spool, will exhibit a tendency to curl and bow transversely when unwound from the spool, the face of the film carrying the emulsion curving inwardly. This film transport as an accessory to a paper printer periodically presents to an "enlarger" in the printer successive frame portions of 35mm film or the like, in place of the regularly dispensed sensitized paper, while eliminating the hazard of damage to the image area of the film, this latter feature being achieved by non-use of any pressure plate or hold-down springs which might abrade the film surface and the substitution of means to exert a reverse bending strain on the film and thus to achieve a localized flattening of the film at the exposure station.
Inventors
- 👤 Ben Fowler Evers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:16
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B27/00; G03B27/32; G03B27/52; G03B27/62; G03B27/6271; G03B27/6285
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
A roll film transport for use with a paper printer or the like, comprising: (a) a supporting base plate; (b) a supply spool and a take-up spool operatively mounted on said base plate; (c) an exposure station structure between said spools and having a film track defined by a pair of narrow, co-planar, spaced rails to receive the longitudinal edge portions only of a film being processed, and having a mask operatively positioned slightly above said rails and having a window opening between the rails and dimensioned to expose a single frame of film being processed; (d) means to bend a film sharply downwardly at at least one end of said film track in said exposure station structure immediately outside the exposure area thereof whereby the film is flattened temporarily in a portion thereof including that portion at said window opening; and (e) means to slip drive said take-up spool and means to advance the film intermittently to expose successive frame portions of the film in said window opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
A roll film transport for use with a paper printer or the like, comprising: (a) a supporting base plate; (b) a supply spool and a take-up spool operatively mounted on said base plate; (c) an exposure station structure between said spools and having a film track defined by a pair of narrow, co-planar, spaced rails to receive the longitudinal edge portions only of a film being processed, and having a mask operatively positioned slightly above said rails and having a window opening between the rails and dimensioned to expose a single frame of film being processed; (d) means to bend a film sharply downwardly at at least one end of said film track in said exposure station structure immediately outside the exposure area thereof whereby the film is flattened temporarily in a portion thereof including that portion at said window opening; and (e) means to slip drive said take-up spool and means to advance the film intermittently to expose successive frame portions of the film in said window opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A film transport according to claim 1 wherein said (d) means to bend comprises a roller rotatively immediately mounted beyond at least one pair of the ends of said rails, said roller having portions thereof adapted for rolling contact with the film.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A film transport according to claim 2 wherein said roller portions are sprockets with teeth to engage sprocket holes in a film being processed, and said (e) means to advance the film intermittently comprises a motor operatively connected to said sprockets.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A film transport according to claim 3 wherein said sprockets are substantially the same transverse width as said rails and said roller is undercut between the sprockets so that the image portion of the film being processed is not touched and therefore not damaged by said rails and roller.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A film transport according to claim 1 wherein said (d) means to bend is substantially duplicated at the other end of said film track in the exposure station structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A film transport according to claim 1 wherein said film track is terminally radiused to provide a smooth transition of the film from said film track to said (d) means to bend.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A film transport according to claim 5 wherein said film track is terminally radiused at both ends of both rails to provide a smooth transition of the film when entering and leaving said film track.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A film transport according to claim 1 wherein said mask is hinged to said exposure station structure and is relieved so that in operative position the mask does not contact the image portion of a film being processed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A film transport according to claim 1 and wherein said mask is countersunk periherally of the window opening therein so that said opening is defined by a relatively sharp edge to minimize reflection of light from said edge toward a film being processed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
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Cited
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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) | 1981-06-12 | 1981-12-12 | 1982-06-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-06-12 | 1985-12-12 | 1986-06-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-06-12 | 1989-12-12 | 1990-06-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |