PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING LARGE FORMAT, SELF-DEVELOPING FILM UNIT

• US 3,788,205 A
• Filed: 05/12/1972
• Issued: 01/29/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Duncan C. Sorli, John F. Pasieka
• Original Assignee: Duncan C. Sorli, John F. Pasieka
• Inventors: Pasieka, John F., Sorli, Duncan C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Braun, Fred L.
• Application Number:
  US05/252,566
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 95/13,14,66,68,89R,89L,93
• US Class Current: 396/584
• CPC Class Codes: G03D 3/16 Treating exposed material in original holder
• CPC Class Codes: G03D 9/02 using rupturable ampoules of liquid

Abstract

A compact drum processor for use in conjunction with a specially configured, large format, self-developing, film unit and film holding cassette to form a system for distributing a fluid processing composition between and in contact with preselected portions of two superposed elements forming the large format film unit.

Claims

1. A method for distributing a fluid processing composition between preselected portions of first and second elements forming a film unit wherein the fluid processing composition is provided in a rupturable container attached to said second element and said first element is initially provided in a lighttight cassette, said method comprising the steps of:

positioning the second element in face-to-face relation with the cassette holding the first element;

attaching the leading ends of the first and second elements to a cylindrical drum which is dimensioned such that the first and second elements may be wrapped around the drum and supported thereon without the leading ends of the first and second elements overlapping their trailing ends;

rotating the drum through one revolution to cause the first element to be extracted from the cassette and to be brought into superposition with the second element as they are wrapped around the drum; and

applying a compressive pressure to the superposed first and second elements on the drum during the course of said one revolution of the drum to cause the container to rupture and dispense the fluid processing composition and thereafter to cause the fluid processing composition to be spread between and in contact with the preselected portions of the first and second elements.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein compressive pressure is applied to the two superposed elements by moving a pressure applying member towards the drum and into engagement with the leading ends of the outermost of the first and second elements supported thereon at the beginning of said one revolution and moving the pressure applying member away from said drum near the end of said one revolution such that the film unit may be removed from the drum.

3. The method of claim 1 including the further step of applying a second compressive pressure to the lateral edges of the first and second elements during the course of said one revolution to retain the fluid processing composition between the first and second elements.

4. The method of claim 1 further including the steps of removing the film unit from the drum after a suitable imbibition period following said one revolution and separating the first and second elements.

5. The method of claim 1 further including the step of stopping said drum at the end of said one revolution.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of stopping said drum is accomplished by capturing pressure applying means with detents on a pair of cams mounted on said drum.

7. The method of claim 1 further including the step of placing the second film element in the cassette to position it in face-to-face relation with the first film element therein and interconnecting the leading ends of the first and second film elements such that they may be attached to said drum for simultaneously extracting the first and second elements from the cassette and bring the first and second elements into superposition on said drum.

8. A method for distributing a fluid processing composition betwEen preselected portions of first and second elements forming a film unit wherein the fluid processing composition is provided in a rupturable container attached to said second element and said first element is initially provided in a lighttight cassette, said method comprising the steps of:

positioning the second element in face-to-face relation with the cassette holding the first element;

attaching the leading ends of the first and second elements to a cylindrical drum which is dimensioned such that the first and second elements may be wrapped around the drum and supported thereon without the leading ends of the first and second elements overlapping their trailing ends;

rotating the drum through one revolution to cause the first element to be extracted from the cassette and to be brought into superposition with the second element as they are wrapped around the drum; and

applying a compressive pressure to the superposed first and second elements on the drum during the course of said one revolution of the drum to cause the container to rupture and dispense the fluid processing composition and thereafter to cause the fluid processing composition to be spread between and in contact with the preselected portions of the first and second elements, said compressive pressure being applied by biasing a pressure applying member towards the drum and thereby moving the pressure applying member into engagement with the leading end of the outermost of the first and second elements supported thereon at the beginning of said one revolution and moving the pressure applying member, with cams mounted on the drum, away from the drum near the end of said one revolution such that the film unit may be removed from the drum.

9. A processor for distributing a fluid processing composition between two superposed elements forming a film unit, said processor comprising:

a base;

a cylindrical drum rotatably mounted on said base for receiving and supporting two superposed elements forming a film unit, said drum being dimensioned such that two superposed elements having their respective leading ends releasably secured to said drum may be wrapped around and supported on said drum during the course of one revolution of said drum without the leading ends of the two elements overlapping the trailing ends thereof;

means for releasably securing the leading ends of two superposed elements forming a film unit to said drum; and

means cooperating with said drum for applying a compressive pressure to the two superposed elements during the course of said one revolution of said drum to cause a fluid processing composition to be distributed between and in contact with the two superposed elements.

10. A processor as defined in claim 9 wherein said means for releasably securing leading ends of the two elements to said drum is integrally formed with said drum.

11. A processor as defined in claim 9 wherein said means cooperating with said drum for applying a compressive pressure to the two superposed elements includes a roller for engaging the outer surface of two elements supported on said drum and means for biasing said roller towards said drum.

12. A processor as defined in claim 11 further including means for moving said roller towards and away from said drum during the course of one revolution of said drum to establish, in cooperation with said biasing means, a pre-programmed compressive pressure profile along the length of the two superposed elements.

13. A processor as defined in claim 12 wherein said means for moving said roller towards and away from said drum is supported by said drum.

14. A processor as defined in claim 13 wherein said means for moving said roller towards and away from said drum includes at least one profile cam supported on the exterior surface of said drum for engaging a portion of said roller to adjust its spacing from the exterior surface of said drum during the course of said one revolution thereof.

15. A processor as defined in claim 9 wherein Said means cooperating with said drum for applying a compressive pressure to the two superposed elements includes a pressure applying member which is adapted to be spaced at varying distances from said drum during the course of said one revolution such that it applies a varying compressive pressure to the superposed elements as they pass between said pressure applying member and said drum.

16. A processor as defined in claim 9 further including means for rotating said drum through one revolution and means for stopping said drum at the end of said one revolution.

17. A processor as defined in claim 9 further including means for supporting two elements forming a film unit in position to be releasably secured to and thereafter wrapped around said drum during the course of one revolution of said drum.

18. A processor as defined in claim 17 wherein at least one of said two elements is housed in a lighttight cassette and said processor includes means for supporting the cassette.

19. A processor as defined in claim 9 further including a lighttight housing for enclosing said drum such that the two elements forming a film unit may be processed in a lighttight environment.

20. A processor as defined in claim 9 further including means for applying a second compressive pressure to the lateral edges of two superposed elements during the course of said one revolution of said drum to aid in controlling the distribution of the fluid processing composition therebetween.

21. A processor for distributing a fluid processing composition between two superposed elements forming a film unit, said processor comprising:

a base;

a cylindrical drum rotatably mounted on said base for receiving and supporting two superposed elements forming a film unit, said drum being dimensioned such that two superposed elements having their respective leading ends releasably secured to said drum may be wrapped around and supported on said drum during the course of one revolution of said drum without the leading ends of the two elements overlapping the trailing ends thereof;

means cooperating with said drum for applying a compressive pressure to the two superposed elements during the course of said one revolution of said drum to cause a fluid processing composition to be distributed between and in contact with the two superposed elements;

means for applying a second compressive pressure to the lateral edges of two superposed elements during the course of said one revolution of said drum to aid in controlling the distribution of the fluid processing composition therebetween; and

means for biasing the trailing ends of the two superposed elements towards said drum.

22. A processor for distributing a fluid processing composition between superposed photosensitive and image-receiving elements forming a film unit, the photosensitive element being adapted to be housed, at least in part, in a lighttight cassette prior to being brought into superposition with the image-receiving element and the fluid processing composition being provided in a rupturable container secured near the leading end of one of the photosensitive and image-receiving elements, said processor comprising:

a lighttight housing;

a cylindrical drum rotatably mounted in said housing for receiving and supporting the superposed photosensitive and image-receiving elements, said drum being dimensioned such that the superposed elements may be wrapped around said drum without the leading and trailing ends of the elements overlapping;

means for releasably securing the leading ends of the photosensitive and image-receiving elements to said drum;

means within said housing for supporting the image-receiving element and a cassette holding the photosensitive element in position to releasably secure their leading ends to said drum;

means for rotating said drum such that the photosensitive and image-receiving elements releasably secured thereto are brought into superposition and are wrapped around and supported oN said drum during the course of one revolution of said drum;

means cooperating with said drum for applying a compressive pressure to the two superposed elements during the course of said one revolution of said drum to cause the container to rupture and dispense the fluid processing composition and to distribute the fluid processing composition between and in contact with preselected portions of the superposed elements; and

means for moving the pressure applying means towards and away from said drum during the course of said one revolution for establishing a pre-programmed compressive pressure profile along the length of the two superposed elements.

23. A processor as defined in claim 22 wherein said means for moving said pressure applying means towards and away from said drum include means for biasing said pressure applying means towards said drum and cam means mounted on said drum for engaging and guiding said pressure applying means toward said drum at the beginning of said one revolution of said drum and for engaging and guiding said pressure applying means away from said drum near the end of said one revolution of said drum.

24. A processor as defined in claim 22 further including means for locating said drum in an initial position wherein the leading ends of the photosensitive and image-receiving elements supported by said support means may be releasably secured to said drum by said securing means and for insuring that said drum is returned to said initial position at the termination of said one revolution.

25. A processor as defined in claim 24 wherein said pressure applying means includes a pressure applying member and said means for moving said pressure applying means towards and away from said drum includes cam means having detent means therein which are adapted to capture portions of said pressure applying member to initially locate and insure the return of said drum to said initial position.

26. A processor as defined in claim 22 wherein said means cooperating with said drum for applying a compressive pressure to the two superposed elements includes a roller for engaging the outermost of the two elements and urging the two superposed elements towards said drum such that said drum and said roller apply a compressive pressure to the two superposed elements.

27. A processor as defined in claim 22 wherein the photosensitive and image-receiving elements each include a tab at their respective leading ends and said drum has a slot therein through which the tab is adapted to be inserted to engage and be secured by said means for releasably securing the leading ends of the elements to said drum.

28. A processor as defined in claim 27 wherein said drum further includes a surface against which a planar leading edge of a film element tab is adapted to bear for accurately positioning the element on said drum.

29. A processor as defined in claim 22 wherein said means for moving said pressure applying means toward said drum include means for biasing said pressure applying means towards said drum.

30. A processor as defined in claim 29 wherein said biasing means include first and second biasing means for urging said pressure applying means towards said drum, said first and second biasing means being configured such that said first and second biasing means urge said pressure applying means toward said drum until the rupturable container is ruptured at which point said first biasing means becomes inoperative and said second biasing means urges said pressure applying means towards said drum thereby reducing the compressive pressure applied to the two superposed elements during distribution of the fluid processing composition.

31. A processor as defined in claim 22 wherein said means for rotating said drum include an electrically driven motor coupled to said drum.

32. A processor as defined in claim 31 wherein said motor is adapted to be energized to initiate said one revolution of said drum from a starting position and said motor is adapted tO be de-energized prior to completion of said one revolution to allow the inertia of said drum to complete said one revolution.

33. A processor as defined in claim 32 further including braking means to counteract the inertia of said drum to insure that said drum stop at said initial position at the completion of said one revolution.

34. A processor as defined in claim 22 wherein said pressure applying means includes a roller having reduced diameter end sections and said drum has profile cams supported thereon which said end sections follow to move said roller towards and away from said drum.

35. A processor as defined in claim 34 wherein said profile cams include detents thereon for capturing said roller end sections to initially locate said drum in an initial position and to aid in stopping said drum at the end of said over revolution.

36. A processor as defined in claim 34 wherein the geometry of said profile cams may be varied such that said processor may be utilized to process film units of varying dimensions.

37. A processor as defined in claim 22 wherein said drum is utilized to support the film unit during an imbibition period following the completion of said one revolution.

38. A processor for distributing a fluid processing composition between superposed photosensitive and image-receiving elements forming a film unit, the photosensitive element being adapted to be housed, at least in part, in a lighttight cassette prior to being brought into superposition with the image-receiving element and the fluid processing composition being provided in a rupturable container secured near the leading end of one of the photosensitive and image-receiving elements, said processor comprising:

a lighttight housing;

a cylindrical drum rotatably mounted in said housing for receiving and supporting the superposed photosensitive and image-receiving elements, said drum being dimensioned such that the superposed elements may be wrapped around said drum without the leading and trailing ends of the elements overlapping;

means for releasably securing the leading ends of the photosensitive and image-receiving elements to said drum;

support means within said housing for supporting the image-receiving element and a cassette holding the photosensitive element in position to releasably secure their leading ends to said drum, said support means including means for engaging the cassette and fixing its position such that the photosensitive sheet may be withdrawn from the cassette without causing movement of the cassette;

means for rotating said drum such that the photosensitive and image-receiving elements releasably secured thereto are brought into superposition and are wrapped around and supported on said drum during the course of one revolution of said drum;

means cooperating with said drum for applying a compressive pressure to the two superposed elements during the course of said one revolution of said drum to cause the container to rupture and dispense the fluid processing composition and to distribute the fluid processing composition between and in contact with preselected portions of the superposed elements; and

means for moving the pressure applying means towards and away from said drum during the course of said one revolution for establishing a pre-programmed compressive pressure profile along the length of the two superposed elements.

39. A processor for distributing a fluid processing composition between superposed photosensitive and image-receiving elements forming a film unit, the photosensitive element being adapted to be housed, at least in part, in a lighttight cassette prior to being brought into superposition with the image-receiving element and the fluid processing composition being provided in a rupturable container secured near the leading end of one of the photosensitive and image-receiving elements, said processor comprising:

a lighttight housing;

a cylindrical drum rotatably mounted in said housing for receiviNg and supporting the superposed photosensitive and image-receiving elements, said drum being dimensioned such that the superposed elements may be wrapped around said drum without the leading and trailing ends of the elements overlapping;

means for releasably securing the leading ends of the photosensitive and image-receiving elements to said drum;

support means within said housing for supporting the image-receiving element and a cassette holding the photosensitive element in position to releasably secure their leading ends to said drum, said support means including a platform having a guide slot along its sides for receiving the image-receiving sheet to center it with respect to said drum and flanges on said platform for supporting the cassette in overlying relation to the image-receiving element;

means for rotating said drum such that the photosensitive and image-receiving elements releasably secured thereto are brought into superposition and are wrapped around and supported on said drum during the course of one revolution of said drum;

means cooperating with said drum for applying a compressive pressure to the two superposed elements during the course of said one revolution of said drum to cause the container to rupture and dispense the fluid processing composition and to distribute the fluid processing composition between and in contact with preselected portions of the superposed elements; and

means for moving the pressure applying means towards and away from said drum during the course of said one revolution for establishing a pre-programmed compressive pressure profile along the length of the two superposed elements.

40. A system for distributing a fluid processing composition between first and second superposed elements forming a film unit, said system comprising:

a first film element comprising;

a first support sheet having a photosensitive layer on one side thereof; and

a first leader having a first forwardly extending tab, said first leader being attached to the leading end of said first support sheet such that said first tab extends outwardly from said first support sheet;

a second film element comprising;

a second support sheet having an image-receiving layer on one side thereof;

a second leader having a second forwardly extending tab, said second leader being attached to the leading end of said second support sheet such that said second tab extends outwardly from said second support sheet; and

a rupturable container having a fluid processing composition therein attached to said second leader on the same side of said second support sheet having said image-receiving layer thereon;

in combination with a processor comprising;

a base;

a cylindrical drum rotatably mounted on said base for receiving and supporting said first and second film elements thereon in superposed relation with their respective photosensitive and image-receiving layers in face-to-face relation, said drum being dimensioned such that said first and second elements may be wrapped around said drum without the leading and trailing ends of said elements overlapping;

means for releasably securing at least one of said first or second tabs to said drum such that said first and second film elements, interconnected at their respective first and second tabs,may be wrapped around and supported on said drum in response to said drum being rotated through one revolution; and

means cooperating with said drum for applying a compressive pressure to said first and second superposed film elements to cause said container to rupture and dispense said fluid processing composition and to distribute said fluid between and in contact with said photosensitive and image-receiving layers on said respective first and second support sheets during said one revolution.

41. The system of claim 40 wherein said first and second elements are adapted to be interconnected by releasably securing both said first and said second tabs to said drum.

42. The system of claim 40 wherein said second tab includes a slot therein through which said first tab is adapted to pass to interconnect said first and second film elements and said first tab is adapted to be releasably secured to said drum such that said first and second film elements may be wrapped thereon in response to rotation of said drum.

43. The system of claim 40 further including a lighttight cassette for holding both said first and second film elements such that their respective first and second tabs extend outwardly from one end thereof.

44. The system of claim 43 wherein said processor further includes means for supporting said cassette in position such that both or either of said first and second tabs may be releasably secured to said drum.

45. The system of claim 40 wherein at least said first tab includes a planar leading edge and said processor further includes a tab latching device on said drum having a surface against which said planar edge is adapted to bear to register said first and second film elements with said drum.

46. The system of claim 45 wherein both said first and second tabs include planar leading edges which are adapted to bear against said surface to register said first and second elements with said drum and with one another.

47. A system for distributing a fluid processing composition between first and second superposed elements forming a film unit, said system comprising:

a first film element comprising;

a first support sheet having a photosensitive layer on one side thereof; and

a first leader having a first forwardly extending tab, said first leader being attached to the leading end of said first support sheet such that said first tab extends outwardly from said first support sheet;

a second film element comprising;

a second support sheet having an image-receiving layer on one side thereof;

a second leader having a second forwardly extending tab, said second leader being attached to the leading end of said second support sheet such that said second tab extends outwardly from said second support sheet; and

a rupturable container having a fluid processing composition therein attached to said second leader on the same side of said second support sheet having said image-receiving layer thereon; and

a lighttight cassette for holding said first film element such that said first tab extends outwardly from said cassette;

in combination with a processor comprising;

a base;

a cylindrical drum rotatably mounted on said base for receiving and supporting said first and second film elements thereon in superposed relation with their respective photosensitive and image-receiving layers in face-to-face relation, said drum being dimensioned such that said first and second elements may be wrapped around said drum without the leading and trailing ends of said elements overlapping;

means for releasably securing at least one of said first or second tabs to said drum such that said first and second film elements, interconnected at their respective first and second tabs, may be wrapped around and supported on said drum in response to said drum being rotated through one revolution;

means cooperating with said drum for applying a compressive pressure to said first and second superposed film elements to cause said container to rupture and dispense said fluid processing composition and to distribute said fluid between and in contact with said photosensitive and image-receiving layers on said respective first and second support sheets;

means for supporting said second film element in position to be releasably secured to said drum; and

means for supporting said cassette in overlying relation to said second film element such that said first tab is in position to be secured to said drum.

48. The system of claim 47 wherein said first film element further includes an opaque envelope covering said first support sheet and said cassette further includes means for releasably secUring said first tab to the leading end of said cassette such that said envelope may be withdrawn from said first support sheet through a light sealed opening at the trailing end of said cassette.