Patent US5374972A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5374972A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photographic processing system
Assignee: Konica Minolta Inc
•
Filing: 1993-06-08
•
Granted: 1994-12-20
•
Expires: 2013-06-08
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for processing a photographic paper, includes a distributor between an exposure station and a developing station so that plural sheets of photographic papers exposed at the exposure station can be conveyed in parallel in the developing station.
Inventors
- 👤 Nobu Nakane
- 👤 Yutaka Ohsone
- 👤 Tetsuya Kurimoto
- 👤 Toshihiko Watanabe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:54
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03D; G03D13/00; G03D13/003; G03B; G03B27/00; G03B27/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
An apparatus for processing a photographic paper, comprising: means for exposing a cut sheet of photographic paper with an image light at an exposing region so as to form a latent image, the exposing means including an exposure conveyance member to convey a cut sheet of photographic paper along an exposure conveyance line on the exposing region; means for developing the exposed photographic paper in a developing region so as to visualize the latent image, the developing means including a developing conveyance member having a developing conveyance width larger than the width of a photographic paper so that the developing conveyance member can convey plural sheets of exposed photographic papers in parallel in the developing region; means for distributing the exposed photographic papers conveyed along the exposure conveyance line in the exposing means into plural parallel development conveyance lines in the developing means in accordance with the width of a photographic paper and means for aligning the leading edges of the plural distributed photographic papers.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
165 words
An apparatus for processing a photographic paper, comprising: means for exposing a cut sheet of photographic paper with an image light at an exposing region so as to form a latent image, the exposing means including an exposure conveyance member to convey a cut sheet of photographic paper along an exposure conveyance line on the exposing region; means for developing the exposed photographic paper in a developing region so as to visualize the latent image, the developing means including a developing conveyance member having a developing conveyance width larger than the width of a photographic paper so that the developing conveyance member can convey plural sheets of exposed photographic papers in parallel in the developing region; means for distributing the exposed photographic papers conveyed along the exposure conveyance line in the exposing means into plural parallel development conveyance lines in the developing means in accordance with the width of a photographic paper and means for aligning the leading edges of the plural distributed photographic papers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for shifting the developed photographic papers along a discharging line to a collecting position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the shifting means comprises plural pushing members moving along the discharging line, and wherein the distance between the plural pushing members and a stop position of each of the plural pushing members are changed in accordance with a number of the parallel development conveyance lines.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the shifting means conducts a shifting operation for each order of a customer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising sorting means for collecting the shifted photographic papers from the collecting position for each order of a customer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising control means for calculating the number of the parallel development conveyance lines on the basis of a relation between the width of photographic papers and the developing conveyance width and for controlling the distributing means in accordance with the calculation result.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the control means changes the position of the parallel development conveyance lines.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the control means conducts the calculation for each order of a customer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for cutting a roll of photographic photographic paper into a sheet of photographic paper in accordance with a printing size.
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) | 1997-12-19 | 1998-06-20 | 1998-12-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-12-19 | 2002-06-20 | 2002-12-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-12-19 | 2006-06-20 | 2006-12-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |