US4364655A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photographic darkroom control system with timing means
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1981-02-19
•
Granted: 1982-12-21
•
Expires: 2001-02-19
Abstract
Abstract Process timing and controlling system for use in photographic darkrooms involving multiple timing and control process steps including a control console, programmable in at least one channel to step through substantially all timing and control process steps, timing means in at least one channel for measuring time remaining in a particular process step, timing indicator means in at least one channel for indicating time remaining in a particular process step, a source of power connecting the console and the timing means which when activated supplies power to the console and timing mean, means for initiating a program step in at least one channel, switching means in at least one channel for stepping through the steps independently of the programmed time, a plurality of relays for operating programmed timing and control functions, and relay driving means programmed to select an appropriate output to activate the relay.
Inventors
- 👤 Russell A. Parker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 05:41
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03D; G03D13/00; G03D13/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
A process timing and controlling device system for use in photographic darkrooms involving multiple timing and control process steps comprising, a control console, programmable in at least on channel to automatically run and step through substantially all timing and control process steps, step timing means in at least one channel for counting down time remaining in a particular process step, step timing indicator means in at least one channel for indicating time remaining in a particular process step, means defining a power supply connecting a source of power with said console and said timing means which when activated supplies power to said console and timing means, means for initiating a program step in at least one channel, switching means in at least one channel for manually stepping through steps independently of the programmed time including means for interrupting a programmed timing step during automatic running thereof and means for advancing from the interrupted timing step to the subsequent program step, a plurality of relays for operating programmed timing and control functions, and relay driving means programmed to select an appropriate output to activate each said relay.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
A process timing and controlling device system for use in photographic darkrooms involving multiple timing and control process steps comprising, a control console, programmable in at least on channel to automatically run and step through substantially all timing and control process steps, step timing means in at least one channel for counting down time remaining in a particular process step, step timing indicator means in at least one channel for indicating time remaining in a particular process step, means defining a power supply connecting a source of power with said console and said timing means which when activated supplies power to said console and timing means, means for initiating a program step in at least one channel, switching means in at least one channel for manually stepping through steps independently of the programmed time including means for interrupting a programmed timing step during automatic running thereof and means for advancing from the interrupted timing step to the subsequent program step, a plurality of relays for operating programmed timing and control functions, and relay driving means programmed to select an appropriate output to activate each said relay.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device system of claim 1 in which said timing indicator means includes visual display means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device system of claim 1 in which said timing indicator means includes an audio signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device system of claim 1 further including step indicator means for indicating the program step currently in progress.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device system of claim 4 in which said step indicator means is visual.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device system of claim 1 in which said means for initiating includes switching means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device system of claim 6 in which said initiating switching means includes at least one push-button switch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device system of claim 1 in which said switching means for stepping includes at least one push-button switch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device system of claim 6 in which said initiating switching means and switching means for stepping include the same switching means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device of claim 1 further including a temperature regulating mechanism, in at least one channel, having a relay actuated heater which is operated automatically to control solution temperature within narrowly defined upper and lower limits.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device system of claim 1 further including a thermometer for measuring photographic darkroom solution temperature in at least one channel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device system of claim 11 further including a thermometer for measuring photographic darkroom solution temperature in at least one channel and in which said temperature regulating mechanism and said thermometer are included in a single probe.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device system of claim 1 further including burst agitators which release a burst of gas into solutions in at least one channel at programmed intervals.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device system of claim 13 in which said burst agitators include burst timing means which are calibrated for said intervals independently of said console.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device system of claim 1 further including tray rockers in at least one channel which rock solutions at programmed intervals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device system of claim 1 further including audio agitation reminders which sound at programmed intervals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device system of claim 1 further including a photometric accessory for measuring negative density.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device system of claim 1 in which said relays may be stackably connected.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device system of claim 1 in which said switching means for stepping are remotely connected to said console.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device system of claim 1 in which said initiating means are remotely connected to said console.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device system of claim 1 in which said step timing indicator means are remotely connected to said console.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device system of claim 2 further including a thermometer for measuring photographic darkroom solution temperature in at least one channel and in which said visual display indicates measurements taken by said thermometer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device system of claim 2 further including a photometric accessory for measuring negative density and in which said visual display indicates measurements taken by said photometric accessory.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device system of claim 1 in which said power supply is associated with at least one said relay in a power relay box.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device system of claim 1 in which said switching means further including means for initializing a program entered into said control console to the commencement of the first program step thereof.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
40 words
The device system of claim 1 further including at least one auxiliary control console remotely connected to said control console and programmable in at least one channel to automatically run and step through substantially all timing and control process steps.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device system of claim 1 in which said relays are remotely connected to said console.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device system of claim 1 in which said control console includes multiple selector means for enabling variable selection and programming of a particular program step.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device system of claim 12 in which said control console includes multiple selector means for enabling variable selection and programming of a particular program step and variable selection and programming of a controlled solution temperature.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
19 words
The device system of either of claims 28 or 29 in which said multiple selector means comprise a keyboard.
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) | 1985-12-20 | 1986-06-21 | 1986-12-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-12-20 | 1990-06-21 | 1990-12-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-12-20 | 1994-06-21 | 1994-12-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |