US4423947A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rack for transporting photosensitive material through a bath
Assignee: Agfa Gevaert AG
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Filing: 1982-09-13
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Granted: 1984-01-03
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Expires: 2002-09-13
Abstract
Abstract A transporting device for advancing photosensitive material through a processing bath has an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion has an inlet region via which the photosensitive material is introduced into the bath and an outlet region via which the photosensitive material is withdrawn from the bath. The inlet and outlet regions are located above the level of the bath. The inlet region has a pair of directing rollers which convey and guide the photosensitive material to the lower portion of the transporting device while the outlet region similarly has a pair of directing rollers which convey and guide the photosensitive material away from the lower portion. The lower portion of the transporting device has several sets of transporting rollers which advance the photosensitive material through the bath. The upper and lower portions of the transporting device are designed as separable units. This permits the upper portion, which requires more frequent cleaning than the lower portion, to be removed from the latter for cleaning purposes.
Inventors
- 👤 Nikolaus Jelinek
- 👤 Hans Ketterer
- 👤 Helmut Schausberger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 03:27
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03D; G03D3/00; G03D3/08; G03D3/13; G03D3/132
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
An arrangement for advancing articles through a bath comprising: (a) a submersible first unit having transporting means designed to be immersed in and to convey the articles through the bath; (b) a second unit having an outlet region for the articles and being engageable with said first unit in such a manner that said outlet region is located externally of the bath, said second unit being separable from said first unit and including gripping means for gripping the same, and said gripping means being movable relative to the remainder of said second unit; and (c) cooperating coupling means on said units for releasably locking said units to one another, said coupling means comprising a rod on said second unit and a hook on said first unit designed to engage said rod, and said second unit being provided with guide means guiding said rod for movement along a predetermined direction, said gripping means being provided with receiving means receiving said rod for sliding movement relative to said gripping means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
An arrangement for advancing articles through a bath comprising: (a) a submersible first unit having transporting means designed to be immersed in and to convey the articles through the bath; (b) a second unit having an outlet region for the articles and being engageable with said first unit in such a manner that said outlet region is located externally of the bath, said second unit being separable from said first unit and including gripping means for gripping the same, and said gripping means being movable relative to the remainder of said second unit; and (c) cooperating coupling means on said units for releasably locking said units to one another, said coupling means comprising a rod on said second unit and a hook on said first unit designed to engage said rod, and said second unit being provided with guide means guiding said rod for movement along a predetermined direction, said gripping means being provided with receiving means receiving said rod for sliding movement relative to said gripping means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said second unit has an inlet region for the articles and said inlet region is arranged to be located externally of the bath when said second unit engages said first unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein said second unit comprises respective directing means in said outlet and inlet regions for guiding the articles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 3, wherein said directing means comprise conveying roller pairs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein said second unit comprises directing means in said inlet region for guiding the articles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said second unit comprises directing means in said outlet region for guiding the articles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said first unit is designed to be immersed in the bath from above and said second unit is designed to be situated on top of said first unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said transporting means comprises a plurality of transporting roller pairs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said transporting means defines an approximately U-shaped path for the articles.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said coupling means is designed so that said units are unlocked in response to a force urging said units apart and locked in response to a force urging said units together.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said guide means is designed to guide said rod for horizontal movement.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said guide means comprises a guide slot.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said receiving means is designed so that relative sliding movement of said rod and said gripping means occurs along an inclined path.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 13, wherein said path is upwardly and outwardly inclined as considered in a direction from the center towards a side of said gripping means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said receiving means comprises a receiving slot.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said gripping means comprises a substantially flat section and said receiving means includes an inclined receiving slot in said flat section.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said gripping means comprises a pair of gripping sections arranged at opposite sides of said second unit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said coupling means is designed so that said units are unlocked when said gripping means is manipulated to disengage said units and locked when said gripping means is manipulated to engage said units.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said gripping means comprises a guide section for guiding the same relative to said remainder of said second unit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said gripping means and said remainder of said second unit are relatively movable along a vertical direction.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
59 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1, said first unit including first drive means for said transporting means; and wherein said second unit comprises movable directing means for guiding the articles, and second drive means for said directing means, said first and second drive means being designed to be coupled to one another when said units are in engagement.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 21, wherein said directing means comprises a conveying roller pair in said outlet region.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
52 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 21, said second unit having an inlet region for the articles, and said inlet region being arranged to be located externally of the bath when said second unit engages said first unit; and wherein said directing means comprises a conveying roller pair in said inlet region.
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) | 1987-01-02 | 1987-07-04 | 1988-01-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-01-02 | 1991-07-04 | 1992-01-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-01-02 | 1995-07-04 | 1996-01-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |