US4841321A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Circulating liquid flow detecting apparatus in a machine for automatically processing light-sensitive material
Assignee: Fujifilm Holdings Corp
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Filing: 1988-05-05
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Granted: 1989-06-20
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Expires: 2008-05-05
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for detecting circulating liquid flow in a machine for automatically processing a photographic light-sensitive material is disclosed in which a branch pipe opened at a position higher than a liquid level of a processing liquid is vertically provided on the suction side of a circulating pump of a processing liquid circulating system provided outside a processing tank for circulating the processing liquid in the processing tank. A liquid level detecting electrode is provided in said opening portion so that the lower end of the electrode is positioned on the same level as or a position a little lower than the liquid level of the processing tank. A contact electrode is provided so as to be in contact with the processing liquid.
Inventors
- 👤 Junichi Kose
- 👤 Nobuyuki Seto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:06
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03D; G03D3/00; G03D3/02; G03D3/06; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/7287; Y10T137/7306
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
An apparatus for detecting circulating liquid flow in a machine for automatically processing a photographic light-sensitive element, comprising: a processing tank for containing a processing liquid; a processing liquid circulating means, provided outside said processing tank, for circulating a part of the processing liquid in said processing tank; a branch pipe means having an opening portion at one end opened at a position higher than a liquid level of the processing liquid, said branch pipe means being vertically disposed and having the other end connected to a pipe which extends between a lower portion of said processing tank and a suction side of said processing liquid circulating means such that the liquid in said branch pipe means is directly responsive to operation of said circulating means; a first liquid level detecting electrode provided in said opening portion so that a lower end of said first electrode is positioned on the same level as or a position a little lower than the liquid level of said processing tank; a second liquid level detecting electrode provided so that a lower end of said second electrode is positioned on the same level as or a little lower than a position where the liquid level in said branch pipe is lowered when said circulating means is driven; and a common electrode provided so as to be in contact with the processing liquid.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
228 words
An apparatus for detecting circulating liquid flow in a machine for automatically processing a photographic light-sensitive element, comprising: a processing tank for containing a processing liquid; a processing liquid circulating means, provided outside said processing tank, for circulating a part of the processing liquid in said processing tank; a branch pipe means having an opening portion at one end opened at a position higher than a liquid level of the processing liquid, said branch pipe means being vertically disposed and having the other end connected to a pipe which extends between a lower portion of said processing tank and a suction side of said processing liquid circulating means such that the liquid in said branch pipe means is directly responsive to operation of said circulating means; a first liquid level detecting electrode provided in said opening portion so that a lower end of said first electrode is positioned on the same level as or a position a little lower than the liquid level of said processing tank; a second liquid level detecting electrode provided so that a lower end of said second electrode is positioned on the same level as or a little lower than a position where the liquid level in said branch pipe is lowered when said circulating means is driven; and a common electrode provided so as to be in contact with the processing liquid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said common electrode is provided so as to be in contact with the processing liquid in said processing tank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said common electrode is provided so as to be in contact with the processing liquid is said branch pipe.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processing liquid circulating means comprises a circulating pump.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
178 words
An apparatus for detecting circulating liquid flow in a machine for automatically processing a photographic light-sensitive material, comprising: a processing tank for containing a processing liquid; a processing liquid circulating means, provided outside a processing tank, for circulating the processing liquid in said processing tank; a branch pipe means having an opening portion at one end opened at a position higher than a liquid level of the processing liquid, said branch pipe means being vertically disposed and having the other end connected to a pipe which extends between a lower portion of said processing tank and a suction side of said processing liquid circulating means such that the liquid in said branch pipe means is directly responsive to operation of said circulating means; a liquid level detecting electrode provided in said opening portion so that a lower end of said electrode is positioned on the same level as or a position a little lower than the liquid level of said processing tank; and a contact electrode is provided so as to be in contact with the processing liquid.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
178 words
An apparatus for detecting circulating liquid flow in a machine for automatically processing a photographic light-sensitive material, comprising: a processing tank for containing a processing liquid; a processing liquid circulating means, provided outside a processing tank, for circulating the processing liquid in said processing tank; a branch pipe means having an opening portion at one end opened at a position higher than a liquid level of the processing liquid, said branch pipe means being vertically disposed and having the other end connected to a pipe which extends between a lower portion of said processing tank and a suction side of said processing liquid circulating means such that the liquid in said branch pipe means is directly responsive to operation of said circulating means; a liquid level detecting electrode provided in said opening portion so that a lower end of said electrode is positioned on the same level as or a position a little lower than the liquid level of said processing tank; and a contact electrode is provided so as to be in contact with the processing liquid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said contact electrode is provided so as to be in contact with the processing liquid in said processing tank.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said contact electrode is provided so as to be in contact with the processing liquid in said branch pipe.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said processing liquid circulating means comprises a circulating pump.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
204 words
An apparatus for detecting circulating liquid flow in a machine for automatically processing a photographic light-sensitive element, comprising: a processing tank for containing a processing liquid; a processing liquid circulating means, provided outside said processing tank, for circulating a part of the processing liquid in said processing tank; a branch pipe means opened at a position higher than a liquid level of the processing liquid, said branch pipe means being vertically provided on a suction side of said processing liquid circulating means; a first liquid level detecting electrode provided in said opening portion so that a lower end of said first electrode is positioned on the same level as or a position a little lower than the liquid level of said processing tank; a second liquid level detecting electrode provided so that a lower end of said second electrode is positioned on the same level as or a little lower than a position where the liquid level in said branch pipe is lowered when said circulating means is driven; a common electrode provided so as to be in contact with the processing liquid; and wherein said common electrode is provided so as to be in contact with the processing liquid in said processing tank.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
204 words
An apparatus for detecting circulating liquid flow in a machine for automatically processing a photographic light-sensitive element, comprising: a processing tank for containing a processing liquid; a processing liquid circulating means, provided outside said processing tank, for circulating a part of the processing liquid in said processing tank; a branch pipe means opened at a position higher than a liquid level of the processing liquid, said branch pipe means being vertically provided on a suction side of said processing liquid circulating means; a first liquid level detecting electrode provided in said opening portion so that a lower end of said first electrode is positioned on the same level as or a position a little lower than the liquid level of said processing tank; a second liquid level detecting electrode provided so that a lower end of said second electrode is positioned on the same level as or a little lower than a position where the liquid level in said branch pipe is lowered when said circulating means is driven; a common electrode provided so as to be in contact with the processing liquid; and wherein said common electrode is provided so as to be in contact with the processing liquid in said processing tank.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus for detecting circulating liquid flow in a machine for automatically processing a photographic light-sensitive material, comprising: a processing tank for containing a processing liquid; a processing liquid circulating means, provided outside a processing tank, for circulating the processing liquid in said processing tank; a branch pipe means opened at a position higher than a liquid level of the processing liquid, said branch pipe means being vertically provided on a suction side of said processing liquid circulating means; a liquid level detecting electrode provided in said opening portion so that a lower end of said electrode is positioned on the same level as or a position a little lower than the liquid level of said processing tank; a contact electrode is provided so as to be in contact with the processing liquid; and wherein said contact electrode is provided so as to be in contact with the processing liquid in said processing tank.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus for detecting circulating liquid flow in a machine for automatically processing a photographic light-sensitive material, comprising: a processing tank for containing a processing liquid; a processing liquid circulating means, provided outside a processing tank, for circulating the processing liquid in said processing tank; a branch pipe means opened at a position higher than a liquid level of the processing liquid, said branch pipe means being vertically provided on a suction side of said processing liquid circulating means; a liquid level detecting electrode provided in said opening portion so that a lower end of said electrode is positioned on the same level as or a position a little lower than the liquid level of said processing tank; a contact electrode is provided so as to be in contact with the processing liquid; and wherein said contact electrode is provided so as to be in contact with the processing liquid in said processing tank.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4480901A
Cited
US4688917A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-06-19 | 1992-12-19 | 1993-06-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-06-19 | 1996-12-19 | 1997-06-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-06-19 | 2000-12-19 | 2001-06-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |