Patent US3377622A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4190418A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for preparing gradient dyed sheet
Assignee: Polaroid Corp
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Filing: 1977-01-03
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Granted: 1980-02-26
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Expires: 1997-01-03
Abstract
Abstract A process and apparatus for dyeing a web in a continuous manner so as to impart a dye density gradient to the web across its transverse dimension is disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Harold O. Buzzell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 00:19
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06P; D06P7/00; D06P1/00; D06P1/0004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A method of providing a dye density gradient to a web comprising a relatively small transverse dimension and top and bottom substantially parallel longitudinal edges, said web providing a lens stock from which lenses can be cut, which method comprises: conducting said web into a bath of dye material in such a manner that the transverse plane through the longitudinal dimension of said web makes substantially a right angle with the plane of the surface of said bath and said bottom longitudinal edge of said web enters said dye bath at an acute angle to the surface of said dye bath so that the web is at least partially progressively immersed in said dye bath, and conducting said web out of said dye bath whereby a transverse dye density gradient is established on said web as a function of the residence time of the various portions of said web in said dye bath.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
153 words
A method of providing a dye density gradient to a web comprising a relatively small transverse dimension and top and bottom substantially parallel longitudinal edges, said web providing a lens stock from which lenses can be cut, which method comprises: conducting said web into a bath of dye material in such a manner that the transverse plane through the longitudinal dimension of said web makes substantially a right angle with the plane of the surface of said bath and said bottom longitudinal edge of said web enters said dye bath at an acute angle to the surface of said dye bath so that the web is at least partially progressively immersed in said dye bath, and conducting said web out of said dye bath whereby a transverse dye density gradient is established on said web as a function of the residence time of the various portions of said web in said dye bath.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 which further comprises agitating the surface of said dye bath while conducting said web into said dye bath.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said dye bath is maintained at a temperature in the range of approximately 180° F. to just below the boiling point of said dye bath.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said web comprises a transparent synthetic plastic material.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
178 words
A method for providing a lens stock from which lenses can be cut comprising providing a web comprising a transparent synthetic plastic material, said web comprising a relatively large longitudinal dimension and a relatively small transverse dimension and top and bottom substantially parallel longitudinal edges, conducting said web into a bath of dye material in such a manner that the transverse plane through the longitudinal dimension of said web makes substantially a right angle with the plane of the surface of said bath and said bottom longitudinal edge of said web enters said dye bath at an acute angle to the surface of said dye bath so that the web is at least partially progressively immersed in said dye bath, conducting said web out of said dye bath, whereby a transverse dye density gradient is established on said web as a function of the residence time of the various portions of said web in said dye bath, washing said web after conducting it out of said dye bath, drying said web, and cutting lens blanks from said web.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
178 words
A method for providing a lens stock from which lenses can be cut comprising providing a web comprising a transparent synthetic plastic material, said web comprising a relatively large longitudinal dimension and a relatively small transverse dimension and top and bottom substantially parallel longitudinal edges, conducting said web into a bath of dye material in such a manner that the transverse plane through the longitudinal dimension of said web makes substantially a right angle with the plane of the surface of said bath and said bottom longitudinal edge of said web enters said dye bath at an acute angle to the surface of said dye bath so that the web is at least partially progressively immersed in said dye bath, conducting said web out of said dye bath, whereby a transverse dye density gradient is established on said web as a function of the residence time of the various portions of said web in said dye bath, washing said web after conducting it out of said dye bath, drying said web, and cutting lens blanks from said web.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said dye bath comprises a water dispersible dye dispersed in water.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said dye bath further comprises up to about 25% of a water miscible solvent having a low vapor pressure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said solvent is ethylene glycol.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
198 words
A method of providing a dye density gradient to a web comprising a relatively large longitudinal dimension and a relatively small transverse dimension and top and bottom substantially parallel longitudinal edges, said web providing a lens stock from which lenses can be cut, which method comprises: conducting said web into a bath of dye material containing about ten percent of a water miscible solvent having a low vapor pressure, and maintained at a temperature above approximately 180° F. but below the boiling point of said dye bath, in such a manner that the transverse plane through the longitudinal dimension of said web makes substantially a right angle with the plane of the surface of said bath and said bottom longitudinal edge of said web enters said dye bath at an acute angle to the surface of said dye bath, so that said web is at least partially immersed in said dye bath; continually disturbing the surface of said dye bath; and conducting said web out of said dye bath; whereby a transverse dye density gradient is established on said web as a function of the residence time of the various portions of said web in said dye bath.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
198 words
A method of providing a dye density gradient to a web comprising a relatively large longitudinal dimension and a relatively small transverse dimension and top and bottom substantially parallel longitudinal edges, said web providing a lens stock from which lenses can be cut, which method comprises: conducting said web into a bath of dye material containing about ten percent of a water miscible solvent having a low vapor pressure, and maintained at a temperature above approximately 180° F. but below the boiling point of said dye bath, in such a manner that the transverse plane through the longitudinal dimension of said web makes substantially a right angle with the plane of the surface of said bath and said bottom longitudinal edge of said web enters said dye bath at an acute angle to the surface of said dye bath, so that said web is at least partially immersed in said dye bath; continually disturbing the surface of said dye bath; and conducting said web out of said dye bath; whereby a transverse dye density gradient is established on said web as a function of the residence time of the various portions of said web in said dye bath.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said web comprises a transparent synthetic plastic material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said transparent synthetic plastic material comprises a plastic laminate comprising a polarizing layer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 10 which further comprises the steps of conducting said web through means for removing excess liquid, washing said web with water, drying said web, and cutting from said web lens blanks having a dye density gradient.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said substantial angle is a right angle.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for providing a lens stock from which lenses can be made comprising providing a web comprising a transparent synthetic plastic material, said web comprising a relatively large longitudinal dimension and a relatively small transverse dimension and top and bottom substantially parallel longitudinal edges, conducting said web into a bath of dye material in such a manner that the transverse plane through the longitudinal dimension of said web makes a right angle with the plane of the surface of said bath and said bottom longitudinal edge of said web enters said dye bath at an acute angle to the surface of said dye bath so that the web is at least partially progressively immersed in said dye bath, conducting said web out of said dye bath, whereby a transverse dye density gradient is established on said web as a function of the residence time of the various portions of said web in said dye bath, washing said web after conducting it out of said dye bath, drying said web, and cutting lens blanks from said web.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for providing a lens stock from which lenses can be made comprising providing a web comprising a transparent synthetic plastic material, said web comprising a relatively large longitudinal dimension and a relatively small transverse dimension and top and bottom substantially parallel longitudinal edges, conducting said web into a bath of dye material in such a manner that the transverse plane through the longitudinal dimension of said web makes a right angle with the plane of the surface of said bath and said bottom longitudinal edge of said web enters said dye bath at an acute angle to the surface of said dye bath so that the web is at least partially progressively immersed in said dye bath, conducting said web out of said dye bath, whereby a transverse dye density gradient is established on said web as a function of the residence time of the various portions of said web in said dye bath, washing said web after conducting it out of said dye bath, drying said web, and cutting lens blanks from said web.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of providing a dye density gradient to a web comprising a relatively small transverse dimension and top and bottom substantially parallel longitudinal edges, said web providing a lens stock from which lenses can be cut, which method comprises: conducting said web into a bath of dye material in such a manner that a plane through the longitudinal dimension of said web is substantially perpendicular to the surface of the bath and said bottom longitudinal edge of said web enters said dye bath at a small acute angle to the surface of said dye bath so that the web is at least partially progressively immersed in said dye bath, and conducting said web out of said dye bath whereby a transverse dye density gradient is established on said web as a function of the residence time of the various portions of said web in said dye bath.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of providing a dye density gradient to a web comprising a relatively small transverse dimension and top and bottom substantially parallel longitudinal edges, said web providing a lens stock from which lenses can be cut, which method comprises: conducting said web into a bath of dye material in such a manner that a plane through the longitudinal dimension of said web is substantially perpendicular to the surface of the bath and said bottom longitudinal edge of said web enters said dye bath at a small acute angle to the surface of said dye bath so that the web is at least partially progressively immersed in said dye bath, and conducting said web out of said dye bath whereby a transverse dye density gradient is established on said web as a function of the residence time of the various portions of said web in said dye bath.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
164 words
A method comprising providing a web comprising a transparent synthetic plastic material, said web comprising a relatively large longitudinal dimension and a relatively small transverse dimension and top and bottom substantially parallel longitudinal edges, conducting said web into a bath of dye material in such a manner that the transverse plane through the longitudinal dimension of said web makes a right angle with the plane of the surface of said bath and said bottom longitudinal edge of said web enters said dye bath substantially parallel to the surface of said dye bath so that the web is at least partially progressively immersed in said dye bath, conducting said web out of said dye bath whereby a transverse dye density gradient is established on said web as a function of the residence time of the various portions of said web in said dye bath, washing said web after conducting it out of said dye bath, drying said web, and cutting lens blanks from said web.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
164 words
A method comprising providing a web comprising a transparent synthetic plastic material, said web comprising a relatively large longitudinal dimension and a relatively small transverse dimension and top and bottom substantially parallel longitudinal edges, conducting said web into a bath of dye material in such a manner that the transverse plane through the longitudinal dimension of said web makes a right angle with the plane of the surface of said bath and said bottom longitudinal edge of said web enters said dye bath substantially parallel to the surface of said dye bath so that the web is at least partially progressively immersed in said dye bath, conducting said web out of said dye bath whereby a transverse dye density gradient is established on said web as a function of the residence time of the various portions of said web in said dye bath, washing said web after conducting it out of said dye bath, drying said web, and cutting lens blanks from said web.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-02-25 | 1983-08-27 | 1984-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-02-25 | 1987-08-27 | 1988-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-02-25 | 1991-08-27 | 1992-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |