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US4641940A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Sheet film processing apparatus for exposed sheet film

Assignee: Agfa Gevaert AG
•
Filing: 1985-08-14
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Granted: 1987-02-10
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Expires: 2005-08-14
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Abstract

Abstract A sheet film processing apparatus for sheet film including a housing for holding a re-loadable film, and having an upper surface and a back surface, developing equipment including developing tanks with developing fluid, arranged above the upper surface, a housing cover for covering the developing equipment in a light impervious manner, elements for leading the film to the developing device, a fluid collector basin located between the developing tank and the upper surface for catching any developing fluid which may fall from the developing equipment, a waste water tank provided at the back surface, and a plurality of drain hoses connecting the tanks and the collector basin with the waste water tank so as to lead the developing fluid to the waste water tank. This leads to a particularly compact construction which is easily accessible for servicing.

Inventors

  • 👤 Jurgen Muller
  • 👤 Alfons Kastl
  • 👤 Heinrich Farber

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 05:00
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03D; G03D3/00; G03D3/08; G03D3/13; G03D3/132

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim 131 words
Sheet film processing apparatus for sheet film, comprising: means for processing the sheet film, and having an upper side and a back side; means for developing the sheet film including a plurality of developing tanks holding fluid, located above said processing means; means for transporting the sheet film from said processing means to said developing means; a fluid collector basin located between said developing tanks and said upper side of said processing means, said collector basin being provided so as to catch any fluid which may fall from said developing means; a waste water tank provided at said back side of said processing means; and means for connecting said developing tanks and said collector basin with said waste water tank so as to lead said fluid to said waste water tank.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 131 words
Sheet film processing apparatus for sheet film, comprising: means for processing the sheet film, and having an upper side and a back side; means for developing the sheet film including a plurality of developing tanks holding fluid, located above said processing means; means for transporting the sheet film from said processing means to said developing means; a fluid collector basin located between said developing tanks and said upper side of said processing means, said collector basin being provided so as to catch any fluid which may fall from said developing means; a waste water tank provided at said back side of said processing means; and means for connecting said developing tanks and said collector basin with said waste water tank so as to lead said fluid to said waste water tank.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 16 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said connecting means includes a plurality of drain hoses.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 25 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2; and further comparing a housing having a housing cover which covers said developing means in a light impervious manner.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 16 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said developing means further includes a drying chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 15 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said transport means includes transport roller pairs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 32 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 3; and further comprising means for closing said drain hoses which are connected to said developing tanks, said closing means being accessible from outside said housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 14 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said closing means includes valve means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 89 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 3; and further comprising an additional housing part which houses a part of said transport means, said additional housing part being located above said upper side and said back side of said processing means so as to provide a first space between said upper side and said additional housing part and a second space between said back side and said additional housing part, said housing cover being located in said first space, and said waste water tank being located in said second space.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 55 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said processing means includes an upper wall located on said upper side, and a back wall located on said back side, said plurality of drain hoses running through said upper wall, laterally next to said transport means, through said back wall and into said waste water tank.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 29 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 8; and further comprising means for moving said waste water tank so that it is movable into and out of said second space.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 13 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said moving means includes wheels.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 21 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 10; and further comprising means for releasably holding said waste water tank to said housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 16 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said holding means includes a releasable stop mechanism.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 15 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said holding means includes a latch device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 29 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said additional housing part has a back side, at least one of said back sides being formed as a hinged cover.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 18 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein both said back sides are formed as a hinged cover.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 36 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said hinged cover is formed as a hood in which a corresponding portion of the transport means is located so as to be pivotable away from said housing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 36 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said hinged cover is formed as a shell in which a corresponding portion of said transport means is located so as to be pivotable away from said housing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 24 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein a portion of said transporting means is located in said covers of both said back sides.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 22 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said holding means is provided between said waste water tank and said hinged cover.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 43 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said waste water tank is provided with a plurality of chambers for holding various fluids, said plurality of drain hoses connecting each of said developing tanks to a corresponding chamber of said waste water tank.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 17 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1; and further comprising means for draining said waste water tank.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3978506A Cited
US4081816A Cited
US4101919A Cited
US4187023A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-02-09 1990-08-11 1991-02-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-02-09 1994-08-11 1995-02-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-02-09 1998-08-11 1999-02-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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