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Photographic material advancement adaptation unit for plant for continuous development of photographic material

  • US 5,463,440 A
  • Filed: 12/14/1993
  • Issued: 10/31/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A photographic material advancement adaptation unit for a plant for continuous development of photographic material, said plant comprisinga plurality of operating units of a conventional type selected from the group consisting of developing machine, collecting storage means, quality-control table, cutting equipment, and combinations thereof, which operating units are combinable with each other in different manners, such that a photographic material is passable for treating of the photographic material through the plurality of operating units;

  • a plurality of adaptation units, wherein each of the plurality of adaptation units is disposed between two otherwise neighboring operating units of the plurality of operating units, said adaptation units comprising guide means shaped as rotating rollers for passing the photographic material and at least a driving band leader for entraining the photographic material therethrough, wherein the plurality of adaptation units includes a first adaptation unit and a second adaptation unit, wherein the first adaptation unit and the second adaptation unit are autonomous and separated as well as removably interposable between two operating units which are consecutive to each other and wherein the first adaptation unit and the second adaptation unit comprise temporary collecting means, shaped as stationary upper rollers and movable lower rollers, for winding the photographic material thereon, adapted to compensate for changes in advancement speed of the photographic material through the different plant units, by means of a succession of storing and dispensing of such photographic material between the first adaptation unit and the second adaptation unit;

    at least a display unit of a conventional type connected to the plurality of operating units and to the plurality of adaptation units for aiding in controlling and inspecting operation of said operating units and of said adaptation units;

    a plurality of powered means, wherein each of the powered means is associated with one of said operating units and said adaptation units to provide for advancing the photographic material;

    a plurality of control means connected independently relative to each other, and wherein each one of the plurality of control means is connected to the plurality of operating units and connected to the plurality of adaptation units for controlling the operation of the respective operating units and of the respective adaptation units in accordance with preestablished operating cycles and depending on the operational state of the other operating units and adaptation units disposed directly adjacent to a respective one of the plurality of operating units and of the plurality of adaptation units;

    first sensor means provided to said first adaptation unit and adapted to sense as coded information the quantity of photographic material which is provided from time to time within said temporary collecting means, wherein said first sensor means is controlled by said control means associated with the first adaptation unit in such a way as to influence a predetermined first powered means of the plurality of powered means of the operating unit preceding the first adaptation unit and a predetermined second powered means of the plurality of powered means of the operating unit following to the first adaptation unit in a way to change or stop a rotation of the powered means of the first adaptation unit depending on the photographic material being provided within the first adaptation unit;

    second sensor means provided to said second adaptation unit adapted to sense as coded information the quantity of photographic material which is provided from time to time within said temporary collecting means, wherein said second sensor means is controlled by said control means associated with the second adaptation unit in such a way as to influence a predetermined third powered means of the plurality of powered means of the operating unit preceding the second adaptation unit and of a predetermined fourth powered means of the plurality of powered means of the operating unit following to the second adaptation unit in a way to change or stop a rotation of the powered means of the second adaptation unit depending on the photographic material being provided within the second adaptation unit.

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