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US4853743A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Moisture-controlled image recording apparatus

Assignee: Fujifilm Holdings Corp
•
Filing: 1988-04-14
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Granted: 1989-08-01
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Expires: 2008-04-14
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Abstract

Abstract An image recording apparatus in which a latent image formed on a photo-sensitive material by optical exposure is thermally developed. The photo-sensitive material is piled on an image receiving material so that the image developed on the photo-sensitive material is transferred onto the image receiving material. A moisture detecting sensor directly or indirectly detects the moisture content of the photo-sensitive material to output a control signal. In response to the control signal, a preheating roller preheats the photo-sensitive material or a humidifying nozzle is operated to humidify the photo-sensitive material, whereby the moisture content of the photo-sensitive material is maintained at a desired value.

Inventors

  • 👤 Akihiko Nagumo
  • 👤 Shigeru Yoshino

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 00:55
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/002; G03F7/0022; G03B; G03B27/00; G03B27/32; G03B2227/00; G03B2227/32; G03B2227/325

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 139 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: means for optically exposing a photo-sensitive material to thereby form a latent image in said photo-sensitive material; a thermal developing means for thermally developing said latent image in said photo-sensitive material to thereby form a developed image therein: means for conveying said photo-sensitive material along a path from said exposing means to said thermal developer: means for piling said photo-sensitive material having said developed image therein on an image receiving material and for transferring said developed image to said piled image receiving material: a housing containing said conveying means and said thermal developing means; moisture measuring means disposed inside said housing for measuring a moisture and producing a control signal and preheating means provided along said path upstream of said thermal developing means for preheating said photo-sensitive material in response to said control signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 139 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: means for optically exposing a photo-sensitive material to thereby form a latent image in said photo-sensitive material; a thermal developing means for thermally developing said latent image in said photo-sensitive material to thereby form a developed image therein: means for conveying said photo-sensitive material along a path from said exposing means to said thermal developer: means for piling said photo-sensitive material having said developed image therein on an image receiving material and for transferring said developed image to said piled image receiving material: a housing containing said conveying means and said thermal developing means; moisture measuring means disposed inside said housing for measuring a moisture and producing a control signal and preheating means provided along said path upstream of said thermal developing means for preheating said photo-sensitive material in response to said control signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 32 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising humidifying means disposed upstream of said thermal developing means along said path for humidifying said photo-sensitive material in response to said control signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said measured moisture is a moisture content of said photo-sensitive material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 53 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said measured moisture is a humidity at a point inside said housing and wherein said apparatus further comprises means for comparing a value of said control signal with a predetermined value and outputting a photo-sensitive material moisture content control signal received by said preheating means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 43 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said comparing means comprises means for converting said value of said control signal to a photo-sensitive material moisture content and further means for comparing said photo-sensitive material moisture content with a predetermined developing moisture content.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 51 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said moisture measuring means detects a moisture content of said photo-sensitive material and said apparatus further comprises means for comparing said control signal with a predetermined developing moisture content to provide a photo-sensitive material moisture content control signal received by said preheating means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 139 words
An image recording apparatus, comprising: means for optically exposing a photo-sensitive material to thereby form a latent image in said photo-sensitive material; a thermal developer for thermally developing said latent image in said photo-sensitive material to thereby form a developed image therein; means for conveying said photo-sensitive material along a path from said exposing means to said thermal developing means; means for piling said photo-sensitive material having said developed image therein on an image receiving material and for transferring said developed image to said piled image receiving material; a housing containing said conveying means and said thermal developing means; moisture measuring means disposed inside said housing for measuring a moisture and producing a control signal; and humidifying means disposed upstream of said thermal developing means along said path for humidifying said photo-sensitive material in response to said control signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 139 words
An image recording apparatus, comprising: means for optically exposing a photo-sensitive material to thereby form a latent image in said photo-sensitive material; a thermal developer for thermally developing said latent image in said photo-sensitive material to thereby form a developed image therein; means for conveying said photo-sensitive material along a path from said exposing means to said thermal developing means; means for piling said photo-sensitive material having said developed image therein on an image receiving material and for transferring said developed image to said piled image receiving material; a housing containing said conveying means and said thermal developing means; moisture measuring means disposed inside said housing for measuring a moisture and producing a control signal; and humidifying means disposed upstream of said thermal developing means along said path for humidifying said photo-sensitive material in response to said control signal.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4066460A Cited
US4002479A Cited
US4106939A Cited
US4704348A Cited
US4681423A Cited
US4760426A Cited
US4799085A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-07-31 1993-01-30 1993-08-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-07-31 1997-01-30 1997-08-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-07-31 2001-01-30 2001-08-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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