US5235369A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Photographic picture-taking film processing
Assignee: Fujifilm Holdings Corp
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Filing: 1991-10-24
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Granted: 1993-08-10
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Expires: 2011-10-24
Abstract
Abstract A method for continuously processing a plurality of photographic picture-taking films is provided. The printing information used in making prints from a processed film, for example, an exposure quantity upon printing, and the density information of the processed film, for example, the density of each frame of the processed film are used as a decisive factor for determining a processing condition under which subsequent films are processed. The amount of processing solution to be replenished is controlled by taking into account the processing of the preceding film, thereby achieving optimum processing performance.
Inventors
- 👤 Takashi Nakamura
- 👤 Yasuhisa Ogawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 05:04
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03D; G03D13/00; G03D13/007; G03D3/00; G03D3/02; G03D3/06; G03D3/065; G03B; G03B2206/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
60 words
A method for continuously processing a plurality of photographic picture-taking films, comprising the steps of: obtaining at least one of the printing information used in making a print from a processed film and the density information of the processed film, determining a processing condition using the information as a decisive factor, and processing a subsequent film under the determined condition.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
60 words
A method for continuously processing a plurality of photographic picture-taking films, comprising the steps of: obtaining at least one of the printing information used in making a print from a processed film and the density information of the processed film, determining a processing condition using the information as a decisive factor, and processing a subsequent film under the determined condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said photographic picture-taking film has picture information born on itself or on a container for the film, and the step of determining a processing condition further uses the picture information as another decisive factor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the processing condition is an amount of processing solution to be replenished, and the step of determining a processing condition includes the steps of: predetermining a standard amount of processing solution to be replenished during processing, determining a coefficient of correction from said printing information and/or said density information, and multiplying the standard amount by the coefficient of correction, thereby determining the amount of processing solution to be replenished.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the step of determining an amount of processing solution to be replenished includes the steps of: determining a first coefficient of correction from the picture information, determining a second coefficient of correction from the printing information and/or the density information of the processed film, dividing the standard amount into two portions, multiplying the divided standard amount portions by the first and second coefficients of correction, respectively, and adding the multiplied values.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the step of determining an amount of processing solution to be replenished includes the steps of: determining a coefficient of correction from the printing information and/or the density information of the processed film, dividing the standard amount into two portions, one divided standard amount portion being a fixed amount, multiplying the other divided standard amount portion by the coefficient of correction, and adding the multiplied portion to the fixed amount.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
117 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the processing condition is an amount of processing solution to be replenished during processing, and the step of determining a processing condition includes the steps of: predetermining a standard amount of processing solution to be replenished Ro during processing on the basis of the film information read from the unprocessed film or cassette, dividing the standard replenishing amount Ro into a fixed amount Ro' and a variable amount Ro", determining a coefficient of correction e from the printing information or density information associated with the processed film and computing a replenishing amount Re=Ro"×e, replenishing the processing solution in an amount of the fixed amount Ro' plus the corrected replenishing amount Re.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 6 further including the steps of determining a coefficient of correction g from the picture information associated with the film and computing a replenishing amount Rg=Ro"×g, and determining the corrected replenishing amount by averaging Re and Rg.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the picture information includes the number of exposed frames and the degree of over- or under-exposure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the film contains up to 4 perforations per frame along at least one lateral edge thereof.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
195 words
A system including a processing apparatus for continuously processing a plurality of photographic picture-taking films and a printing apparatus interconnected to the processing apparatus for making prints from the processed films wherein each length of exposed film in roll form is contained in a cassette and the film itself or the cassette carries picture information thereon, the processing apparatus including a supply means for storing cassettes, a loading means for loading the apparatus with the film by pulling out the film leader from the cassette, a reading means for reading the picture information on the film or cassette, a cutter means for cutting the film at the trailing edge to free the film from the cassette, and a bonding means for bonding the leading edge of the film to the trailing edge of a preceding length of film, the printing apparatus providing at least one of the printing information used in making a print from a processed film and the density information of the processed film, the printing apparatus being electrically connected to the processing apparatus through a control unit so that the information is delivered to the control unit for determining a processing condition.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
195 words
A system including a processing apparatus for continuously processing a plurality of photographic picture-taking films and a printing apparatus interconnected to the processing apparatus for making prints from the processed films wherein each length of exposed film in roll form is contained in a cassette and the film itself or the cassette carries picture information thereon, the processing apparatus including a supply means for storing cassettes, a loading means for loading the apparatus with the film by pulling out the film leader from the cassette, a reading means for reading the picture information on the film or cassette, a cutter means for cutting the film at the trailing edge to free the film from the cassette, and a bonding means for bonding the leading edge of the film to the trailing edge of a preceding length of film, the printing apparatus providing at least one of the printing information used in making a print from a processed film and the density information of the processed film, the printing apparatus being electrically connected to the processing apparatus through a control unit so that the information is delivered to the control unit for determining a processing condition.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
109 words
The system of claim 10 wherein the processing condition is an amount of processing solution to be replenished during processing which is determined by predetermining a standard amount of processing solution to be replenished Ro during processing on the basis of the film information read from the unprocessed film or cassette, dividing the standard replenishing amount Ro into a fixed amount Ro' and a variable amount Ro", determining a coefficient of correction e from the printing information or density information associated with the processed film and computing a replenishing amount Re=Ro"×e, replenishing the processing solution in an amount of the fixed amount Ro' plus the corrected replenishing amount Re.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
261 words
A method for continuously processing a plurality of photographic picture-taking films in a film processing device which includes a processing apparatus for continuously processing a plurality of photographic picture-taking films and a printing apparatus interconnected to the processing apparatus for making prints from the processed films wherein each length of exposed film in roll form is contained in a cassette and the film itself or the cassette carries picture information thereon, the processing apparatus including a supply means for storing cassettes, a loading means for loading the apparatus with the film by pulling out the film leader from the cassette, a reading means for reading the picture information on the film or cassette, a cutter means for cutting the film at the trailing edge to free the film from the cassette, and a bonding means for bonding the leading edge of the film to the trailing edge of a preceding length of film, the printing apparatus providing at least one of the printing information used in making a print from a processed film and the density information of the processed film, the printing apparatus being electrically connected to the processing apparatus through a control unit so that the information is delivered to the control unit for determining a processing condition, wherein the method comprises the steps of: obtaining at least one of printing information used in making a print from a processed film and density information of the processed film, determining a processing condition using the obtained information as a decisive factor, and processing a subsequent film under the determined condition.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
261 words
A method for continuously processing a plurality of photographic picture-taking films in a film processing device which includes a processing apparatus for continuously processing a plurality of photographic picture-taking films and a printing apparatus interconnected to the processing apparatus for making prints from the processed films wherein each length of exposed film in roll form is contained in a cassette and the film itself or the cassette carries picture information thereon, the processing apparatus including a supply means for storing cassettes, a loading means for loading the apparatus with the film by pulling out the film leader from the cassette, a reading means for reading the picture information on the film or cassette, a cutter means for cutting the film at the trailing edge to free the film from the cassette, and a bonding means for bonding the leading edge of the film to the trailing edge of a preceding length of film, the printing apparatus providing at least one of the printing information used in making a print from a processed film and the density information of the processed film, the printing apparatus being electrically connected to the processing apparatus through a control unit so that the information is delivered to the control unit for determining a processing condition, wherein the method comprises the steps of: obtaining at least one of printing information used in making a print from a processed film and density information of the processed film, determining a processing condition using the obtained information as a decisive factor, and processing a subsequent film under the determined condition.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said photographic picture-taking film has picture information born on itself or on a container for the film, and the step of determining a processing condition further uses the picture information as another decisive factor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the processing condition is an amount of processing solution to be replenished, and the step of determining a processing condition includes the steps of: predetermining a standard amount of processing solution to be replenished during processing, determining a coefficient of correction from at least one of said printing information and said density information, and multiplying the standard amount by the coefficient of correction, thereby determining the amount of processing solution to be replenished.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the step of determining an amount of processing solution to be replenished includes the steps of: determining a first coefficient of correction from the picture information, determining a second coefficient of correction from at least one of the printing information and the density information of the processed film, dividing the standard amount into two portions, multiplying the divided standard amount portions by the first and second coefficients of correction, respectively, and adding the multiplied values.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the step of determining an amount of processing solution to be replenished includes the steps of: determining a coefficient of correction from at least one of the printing information and the density information of the processed film, dividing the standard amount into two portions, one divided standard amount portion being a fixed amount, multiplying the other divided standard amount portion by the coefficient of correction, and adding the multiplied portion to the fixed amount.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
117 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the processing condition is an amount of processing solution to be replenished during processing, and the step of determining a processing condition includes the steps of: predetermining a standard amount of processing solution to be replenished Ro during processing on the basis of the film information read from the unprocessed film or cassette, dividing the standard replenishing amount Ro into a fixed amount Ro' and a variable amount Ro", determining a coefficient of correction e from the printing information or density information associated with the processed film and computing a replenishing amount Re=Ro"×e, replenishing the processing solution in an amount of the fixed amount Ro' plus the corrected replenishing amount Re.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 17 further including the steps of determining a coefficient of correction g from the picture information associated with the film and computing a replenishing amount Rg=Ro'×g, and determining the corrected replenishing amount by averaging Re and Rg.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the picture information includes the number of exposed frames and the degree of over-or under-exposure.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the film contains up to 4 perforations per frame along at least one lateral edge thereof.
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) | 1996-08-09 | 1997-02-08 | 1997-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-08-09 | 2001-02-08 | 2001-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-08-09 | 2005-02-08 | 2005-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |