Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
299 words
A machine for processing an elongated web of photographic material, having an automatic self-threading roller transport system, said machine comprising: a plurality of processing compartments suitable for confining processing liquid therein, including at least a first and second compartment, a set of web-engaging driving rollers respectively mounted above said compartments to respectively feed the web into the compartments, a set of weighted idler rollers mounted for movement into and out of each compartment and respectively lowered into the compartments when a web of material is being processed, releasable means for initially holdng said set of weighted idler rollers in raised position, said two sets of rollers defining two principal web paths, one constituting a substantially planar initial threading path located above said compartments with the weighted rollers held in elevated position thereabove to permit the leading end of the web to be initially threaded through said path above said compartments, the other web path constituting the operative web path defined by said two sets of rollers when said weighted rollers have been lowered into their operative positions in the respective compartments after the automatic threading operation, means connected to said weighted idler rollers for counterbalancing only a portion of the weight thereof, controllable means for driving the web engaging driving rollers, control means controlling the actuation of said driving means for the second compartment actuated by the first weighted roller being lowered into operative position within the first compartment to actuate the second drive roller to feed the web into said second compartment and, control means for successively actuating the drive rollers for each of the other compartments responsive to the lowering of the next proceeding weighted roller into its operative position and thus ultimately produce a second web path through the compartments which constitutes said operative web path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
299 words
A machine for processing an elongated web of photographic material, having an automatic self-threading roller transport system, said machine comprising: a plurality of processing compartments suitable for confining processing liquid therein, including at least a first and second compartment, a set of web-engaging driving rollers respectively mounted above said compartments to respectively feed the web into the compartments, a set of weighted idler rollers mounted for movement into and out of each compartment and respectively lowered into the compartments when a web of material is being processed, releasable means for initially holdng said set of weighted idler rollers in raised position, said two sets of rollers defining two principal web paths, one constituting a substantially planar initial threading path located above said compartments with the weighted rollers held in elevated position thereabove to permit the leading end of the web to be initially threaded through said path above said compartments, the other web path constituting the operative web path defined by said two sets of rollers when said weighted rollers have been lowered into their operative positions in the respective compartments after the automatic threading operation, means connected to said weighted idler rollers for counterbalancing only a portion of the weight thereof, controllable means for driving the web engaging driving rollers, control means controlling the actuation of said driving means for the second compartment actuated by the first weighted roller being lowered into operative position within the first compartment to actuate the second drive roller to feed the web into said second compartment and, control means for successively actuating the drive rollers for each of the other compartments responsive to the lowering of the next proceeding weighted roller into its operative position and thus ultimately produce a second web path through the compartments which constitutes said operative web path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein the means connected to each idler roller for counterbalancing a portion of the weight thereof constitute a weight, an elongated tape connected at one end of the weight and at the other end to the roller, and a pulley system for suspending a roller and permitting the roller to descend into its compartment when the web is being fed into said compartment by the drive roller.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The structure set forth in claim 2 and releasable retaining means for holding each weight in lower position to retain the idler roller in its elevated position during the initial threading operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The structure set forth in claim 1 and a continuously driven pacer roller having driving engagement with the web for continuously feeding the web into the first processing compartment after the web has been initially threaded through said initial threading path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
121 words
The structure set forth in claim 1 and said control means including: a set of roller drive wheels respectively connected to said drive rollers for driving the same, a set of pivoted control arms underlying each web drive roller, a set of clutch pressure wheels respectively mounted on said arms in opposed normally spaced apart relation below, said counterbalancing means permitting the idler rollers to move successively downwardly into the respective compartments as the web of material is fed into the machine, a friction belt interposed between the two sets of wheels, means responsive to the lowering of the idler rollers into operative position to produce engagement between the friction belt and the roller drive wheels, means for driving said belt.