Test pouch

• US 5,593,804 A
• Filed: 12/05/1995
• Issued: 01/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kodak Alaris Inc (KPP (no. 2) Trustees Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Bernecker, Walter J., Caprio, Craig A., Chemelli, John B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Hoa Van
• Application Number:
  US08/567,751
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• Field of Search: 430/30, 430/401
• US Class Current: 430/30
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0481 squeezing of channels or chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/505 flexible containers not provided for above
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/32 Paints; inks investigating resistance to the weather, to corrosion, to light G01N17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 1/005 Silver halide emulsions; Preparation thereof; Physical treatment thereof; Incorporation of additives therein catalytic amounts of silver halide in dry silver systems or thermographic systems using noble metal compounds G03C1/494
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 5/02 Sensitometric processes, e.g. determining sensitivity, colour sensitivity, gradation, graininess, density; Making sensitometric wedges

Abstract

Method and an apparatus for measuring the development parameter of a light-sensitive fluid in a white-light environment. The apparatus comprises first and second flexible light-impervious sheets superimposed and sealed together to form a pouch containing a plurality of chambers having flow paths therebetween, wherein the chambers are sealed with burstable seals allowing fluid communication between the chambers upon the application of a predetermined pressure.

Claims

1. A method of measuring a development parameter of a light-sensitive fluid in a white-light environment comprising:

introducing a predetermined amount of the light-sensitive fluid into a first chamber of a light-impervious containment apparatus;

heating the light-sensitive fluid to a temperature above 100°

F.;

applying a predetermined pressure along a flow path between said first chamber and a mixing chamber of said containment apparatus;

bursting a seal positioned across said flow path between said first chamber and said mixing chamber;

transferring the light-sensitive fluid from said first chamber to said mixing chamber;

mixing the light-sensitive fluid with a sufficient amount of developer in said mixing chamber to develop the light-sensitive fluid to a light-insensitive mixture;

transferring the light-insensitive mixture to a detection site in communication with said mixing chamber and disposed in the white-light environment; and

measuring said development parameter in the white-light environment.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of heating the pouch to between about 103°

F. and about 104°

F.

3. A method for measuring the development of a photographic emulsion having silver particles therein in a white-light environment using a pouch, the pouch having first, second, third, fourth and fifth contiguous chambers sealed by burstable seals and connected by channels, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) pre-filling the first chamber with a measured amount of a developer;

(b) pre-filling the fourth chamber with a measured amount of a fixer;

(c) adding a measured amount of the emulsion to be tested to the second chamber;

(d) heating the pouch to a temperature above about 100°

F.;

(e) bursting the developer seal and transferring the developer by external pressure means into the second chamber;

(f) flowing the content of the second chamber into the third chamber by exerting an external pressure onto the second chamber and allowing the mixture a dwell time of about 30 seconds to allow for the reaction of the developer and the emulsion;

(g) exerting an external pressure simultaneously on the third and fourth chambers thereby transferring their contents into the fifth chamber and allowing them to mix to obtain a final, reacted emulsion;

(h) transferring the reacted emulsion into a detachable vial attached to the fifth chamber by exerting an external pressure onto the fifth chamber; and

(i) taking a photometric reading of the filled vial using an infrared device to determine the amount of silver particles in the reacted emulsion.