Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
321 words
In an improved automatic developing apparatus for long-length photo-sensitive sheet materials of the type having a treatment bath containment means into which means are immersed and suspended for directing, locating and controlling the path of travel of a plurality of long-length photo-sensitive sheet materials attached to the trailing end of a wide leader, said means including a plurality of roller means to fix the path of travel of a wide leader, and guide means to position said leader along said directing means, the improvement which comprises: (a) said directing means has a plurality of free roller means rotatably mounted on respective shafts; (b) a plurality of guide means for guiding and curl prevention extending parallel to the path of travel and spaced in juxtaposition to said free roller means which confine the long-length photo-sensitive sheet materials to a narrow gap path of travel between said free roller means and said guide means; (c) a plurality of motion prevention means for prevention of relative sideways motion of said sheet materials, each said means being rotatably mounted on respective said shafts and having a pair of arms extending horizontally forming a space between each pair of arms into which fit said free roller means and which horizontal arms extend toward said guide means to close up the sides of the narrow gap formed between said guide means and said free roller means so as to limit the amount of relative sideways motion in the long-length photo-sensitive sheet materials by further defining the desired travel path; and (d) a plurality of counter balancing means respectively associated with the rotatably mounted plurality of said motion prevention means which normally locate the said pairs of arms thereof in the horizontal position and which provide forces to return said motion prevention means to the original position after the arms are displaced by contact with a wide leader so as to allow the wide leader to pass by.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
321 words
In an improved automatic developing apparatus for long-length photo-sensitive sheet materials of the type having a treatment bath containment means into which means are immersed and suspended for directing, locating and controlling the path of travel of a plurality of long-length photo-sensitive sheet materials attached to the trailing end of a wide leader, said means including a plurality of roller means to fix the path of travel of a wide leader, and guide means to position said leader along said directing means, the improvement which comprises: (a) said directing means has a plurality of free roller means rotatably mounted on respective shafts; (b) a plurality of guide means for guiding and curl prevention extending parallel to the path of travel and spaced in juxtaposition to said free roller means which confine the long-length photo-sensitive sheet materials to a narrow gap path of travel between said free roller means and said guide means; (c) a plurality of motion prevention means for prevention of relative sideways motion of said sheet materials, each said means being rotatably mounted on respective said shafts and having a pair of arms extending horizontally forming a space between each pair of arms into which fit said free roller means and which horizontal arms extend toward said guide means to close up the sides of the narrow gap formed between said guide means and said free roller means so as to limit the amount of relative sideways motion in the long-length photo-sensitive sheet materials by further defining the desired travel path; and (d) a plurality of counter balancing means respectively associated with the rotatably mounted plurality of said motion prevention means which normally locate the said pairs of arms thereof in the horizontal position and which provide forces to return said motion prevention means to the original position after the arms are displaced by contact with a wide leader so as to allow the wide leader to pass by.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said counter balancing means includes a pair of normally vertical arm sections which serve as weights to provide gravity forces for urging said pair of normally horizontal arms to their horizontal position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said vertical arm sections are connected to each other at the respective lower parts thereof by a connecting rod which extends parallel to said shafts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein each of said arms of said pair of arms are formed to diverge outwardly relative to said travel path for said sheet material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said guide means to position said leader along said directing means includes plates having guiding grooves for guiding the edges of said wide leader.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein leaf spring means are provided to aid said counter balancing means for normally locating said arms in the horizontal position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention of claim 3 wherein leaf spring means are provided to aid said counter balancing means for normally locating said arms in the horizontal position, said leaf spring means being engaged with said connecting rod.