US5565308A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of processing black and white photographic elements using processors having low volume thin tank designs
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
•
Filing: 1995-04-10
•
Granted: 1996-10-15
•
Expires: 2015-04-10
Abstract
Abstract A method of processing an imagewise exposed black and white silver halide photographic element comprising developing and desilvering the photographic element in a low volume thin tank processor wherein the processor operates at 15% or less of maximum production capacity.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerel R. Carli
- 👤 David G. Foster
- 👤 Edgar P. Gates
- 👤 David L. Patton
- 👤 John H. Rosenburgh
- 👤 Sheridan E. Vincent
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 11:42
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03D; G03D5/00; G03D5/04; G03C; G03C7/00; G03C7/30; G03C7/407; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S430/00; Y10S430/164
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of processing an imagewise exposed black and white silver halide photographic element comprising developing and desilvering said black and white photographic element in a processor having either a rack and tank or automatic tray design, said processor comprising a narrow processing channel wherein said processor operates at 15% or less of maximum production capacity, said black and white photographic element being processed in said narrow processing channel of said processor, which narrow processing channel has a thickness equal to or less than 100 times the thickness of said photographic element being processed, the total amount of each processing solution used in said narrow processing channel being at least 40% of the total volume of said each processing solution in said processor, and said each processing solution is delivered to said narrow processing channel via at least one nozzle according to the following formula: 1≦F/A≦40 wherein F is the flow rate of said processing solution through said nozzle in gallons per minute, and A is the cross-sectional area of said nozzle in square inches.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of processing an imagewise exposed black and white silver halide photographic element comprising developing and desilvering said black and white photographic element in a processor having either a rack and tank or automatic tray design, said processor comprising a narrow processing channel wherein said processor operates at 15% or less of maximum production capacity, said black and white photographic element being processed in said narrow processing channel of said processor, which narrow processing channel has a thickness equal to or less than 100 times the thickness of said photographic element being processed, the total amount of each processing solution used in said narrow processing channel being at least 40% of the total volume of said each processing solution in said processor, and said each processing solution is delivered to said narrow processing channel via at least one nozzle according to the following formula: 1≦F/A≦40 wherein F is the flow rate of said processing solution through said nozzle in gallons per minute, and A is the cross-sectional area of said nozzle in square inches.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the processor operates at 10% or less of maximum production capacity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said black and white photographic element has a silver halide emulsion wherein greater than 90 mole % of the silver halide is silver chloride.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said photographic element is a black and white photographic paper.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said photographic element is an X-ray film having emulsion on both sides of a film support.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said black and white silver halide photographic element has a silver bromoiodide emulsion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said black and white photographic element comprises a tabular grain silver halide emulsion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 for the processing of a black and white photographic paper, wherein said narrow processing channel has a thickness equal to or less than 50 times the thickness of said black and white photographic paper being processed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 for the processing of a black and white photographic film, wherein said narrow processing channel has a thickness equal to or less than 18 times the thickness of said black photographic film being processed.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of processing an imagewise exposed black and white silver halide photographic element comprising developing said black and white photographic element in a developing solution, in a processor having either a rack and tank or automatic tray design, said processor comprising a narrow processing channel wherein said developing solution is replenished by direct replenishment, said black and white photographic element being processed in said narrow processing channel of said processor, which narrow processing channel has a thickness equal to or less than 100 times the thickness of said black and white photographic element being processed, the total amount of said developing solution used in said narrow processing channel being at least 40% of the total volume of said developing solution in said processor, and said developing solution being delivered to said narrow processing channel via at least one nozzle according to the following formula: 1≦F/A≦40 wherein F is the flow rate of said developing solution through said nozzle in gallons per minute, and A is the cross-sectional area of said nozzle in square inches.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of processing an imagewise exposed black and white silver halide photographic element comprising developing said black and white photographic element in a developing solution, in a processor having either a rack and tank or automatic tray design, said processor comprising a narrow processing channel wherein said developing solution is replenished by direct replenishment, said black and white photographic element being processed in said narrow processing channel of said processor, which narrow processing channel has a thickness equal to or less than 100 times the thickness of said black and white photographic element being processed, the total amount of said developing solution used in said narrow processing channel being at least 40% of the total volume of said developing solution in said processor, and said developing solution being delivered to said narrow processing channel via at least one nozzle according to the following formula: 1≦F/A≦40 wherein F is the flow rate of said developing solution through said nozzle in gallons per minute, and A is the cross-sectional area of said nozzle in square inches.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said developing solution is replenished at the rate of 108 ml or less per m 2 of photographic element surface area.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said developing solution is replenished at the rate of 65 ml or less per m 2 of photographic element surface area.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said developing solution is replenished at the rate of 20 ml or less per roll of 35 mm-24 exposure film having a surface area of 0.039 m 2 .
Claim 16
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of processing an imagewise exposed black and white silver halide photographic element comprising desilvering said black and white photographic element in a fixing solution, in a processor having either a rack and tank or automatic tray design, said processor comprising a narrow processing channel wherein said fixing solution is replenished by direct replenishment, said black and white photographic element being processed in said narrow processing channel of said processor, which narrow processing channel has a thickness equal to or less than 100 times the thickness of said black and white photographic element being processed, the total amount of said fixing solution used in said narrow processing channel being at least 40% of the total volume of said fixing solution in said processor, and said fixing solution being delivered to said narrow processing channel via at least one nozzle according to the following formula: 1≦F/A≦40 wherein F is the flow rate of said fixing solution through said nozzle in gallons per minute, and A is the cross-sectional area of said nozzle in square inches.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of processing an imagewise exposed black and white silver halide photographic element comprising desilvering said black and white photographic element in a fixing solution, in a processor having either a rack and tank or automatic tray design, said processor comprising a narrow processing channel wherein said fixing solution is replenished by direct replenishment, said black and white photographic element being processed in said narrow processing channel of said processor, which narrow processing channel has a thickness equal to or less than 100 times the thickness of said black and white photographic element being processed, the total amount of said fixing solution used in said narrow processing channel being at least 40% of the total volume of said fixing solution in said processor, and said fixing solution being delivered to said narrow processing channel via at least one nozzle according to the following formula: 1≦F/A≦40 wherein F is the flow rate of said fixing solution through said nozzle in gallons per minute, and A is the cross-sectional area of said nozzle in square inches.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said fixing solution is replenished at the rate of 108 ml or less per m 2 of photographic element surface area.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said fixing solution is replenished at the rate of 54 ml or less per m 2 of photographic element surface area.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said photographic element has a silver halide emulsion wherein greater than 90 mole % of the silver halide is silver chloride.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said photographic element is an X-ray film which is processed in said narrow processing channel wherein at least two of said nozzles are used to deliver said fixing solution to both sides of said X-ray film.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said low volume thin tank processor further comprises transport rollers that are either completely submerged in or completely out of processing solution.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said low volume thin tank processor further comprises transport rollers that are completely submerged in processing solution.
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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) | 1999-10-15 | 2000-04-15 | 2000-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-10-15 | 2004-04-15 | 2004-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-10-15 | 2008-04-15 | 2008-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |