US4367941A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for silver recovery during photographic processing
Assignee: Fujifilm Holdings Corp
•
Filing: 1981-08-05
•
Granted: 1983-01-11
•
Expires: 2001-08-05
Abstract
Abstract The efficiency of silver recovery from photographic processing solutions is improved by the installation of a silver recovery water tank between the fix or blix tank and the wash water tank, which is provided with a mechanism for maintaining the silver concentration of said recovery tank at a substantially constant value, said mechanism comprising a detecting means for measuring the amount of the photographic material treated by the processing line involved and a means to supply water thereto operatable by signal from said detecting means.
Inventors
- 👤 Kazushige Uenaka
- 👤 Shinichi Kashiwagi
- 👤 Toshiro Tahara
- 👤 Kazuo Shirasu
- 👤 Yoshio Usui
- 👤 Akira Abe
- 👤 Fumio Nakagawa
- 👤 Tetsuya Masuda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 12:43
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03D; G03D3/00; G03D3/02; G03D3/06; G03D3/065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
An apparatus for recovering silver during photographic processing by collecting a silver-containing photographic processing fluid carried by photographic materials transported from a processing tank containing a silver-containing processing fluid, said apparatus comprising a silver recovery tank interposed between the processing tank containing said silver-containing processing fluid and a water wash tank, wherein said processing tank and said silver recovery tank are each provided with an independently regulated replenishing fluid supply pump and an overflow pipe, whereby said tanks may be provided with replenishing fluid and drained of excess fluid, wherein said replenishing fluid supplied to said silver recovery tank is determined by the amount of said photographic materials introduced to said processing tank.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
113 words
An apparatus for recovering silver during photographic processing by collecting a silver-containing photographic processing fluid carried by photographic materials transported from a processing tank containing a silver-containing processing fluid, said apparatus comprising a silver recovery tank interposed between the processing tank containing said silver-containing processing fluid and a water wash tank, wherein said processing tank and said silver recovery tank are each provided with an independently regulated replenishing fluid supply pump and an overflow pipe, whereby said tanks may be provided with replenishing fluid and drained of excess fluid, wherein said replenishing fluid supplied to said silver recovery tank is determined by the amount of said photographic materials introduced to said processing tank.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus for recovering silver during photographic processing as in claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises multiple silver recovery water tanks and the water supplied thereto is supplied at the downstream side of the tank, and is pumped out at the upstream side thereof to the adjacent upstream tank in turn.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said replenishing fluid is supplied in an amount about 2-10 times as great as the amount of photographic materials introduced to said processing tank.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said replenishing fluid is supplied in an amount of about 2-6 times the amount of photographic materials introduced to said processing tank.
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) | 1986-01-10 | 1986-07-12 | 1987-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-01-10 | 1990-07-12 | 1991-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-01-10 | 1994-07-12 | 1995-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |