Apparatus and method for thermal film development and scanning
First Claim
1. An apparatus for thermal development comprising:
- a receiver for receiving an imagewise exposed thermal film element;
an accumulator for gathering the film;
a drive for advancing the film from the receiver to the accumulator;
a heater located between the receiver and the accumulator for developing the film as it passes between the receiver and the accumulator;
a compound image scanner for scanning the film after it has been thermally developed, the scanner having a first light source and a first sensor placed for forming a first electronic record of the image formed on the developed thermal film by reflection, a second light source and a second sensor placed for forming a second electronic record of the image formed on the developed thermal film by an opposing reflection, and a third sensor and a third light source placed for forming a third electronic record of the image formed on the developed thermal film by transmission;
wherein the third sensor may be the same or different than the first sensor and the third light source may be the same or different than the second light source; and
a lighttight container for the receiver and the heater.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to an apparatus for thermal development having a receiver for receiving an imagewise exposed thermal film, an accumulator for gathering the film, a drive for advancing the film from the receiver to the accumulator, a heater located between the receiver and the accumulator for developing the film, a compound image scanner for scanning the film after it has been thermally developed, the scanner having a first light source and a fist sensor placed for forming a first electronic record of the image formed on the developed firm by reflection, a second light source and a second sensor placed for forming a second electronic record of the image by an opposing reflection, and a third sensor and a third light source placed for forming a third electronic record of the image formed by transmission, and a lighttight container for the receiver and the heater.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus for thermal development comprising:
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a receiver for receiving an imagewise exposed thermal film element;
an accumulator for gathering the film;
a drive for advancing the film from the receiver to the accumulator;
a heater located between the receiver and the accumulator for developing the film as it passes between the receiver and the accumulator;
a compound image scanner for scanning the film after it has been thermally developed, the scanner having a first light source and a first sensor placed for forming a first electronic record of the image formed on the developed thermal film by reflection, a second light source and a second sensor placed for forming a second electronic record of the image formed on the developed thermal film by an opposing reflection, and a third sensor and a third light source placed for forming a third electronic record of the image formed on the developed thermal film by transmission;
wherein the third sensor may be the same or different than the first sensor and the third light source may be the same or different than the second light source; and
a lighttight container for the receiver and the heater. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
advancing the film from the receiver;
taking up the film in an accumulator;
thermally developing the film as it passes over a heater located between the receiver and the accumulator; and
scanning the film after it has been thermally developed to form a first electronic record of the image formed on the developed thermal film by reflection, a second electronic record of the image formed on the developed thermal film by an opposing reflection, and a third electronic record of the image formed on the developed thermal film by transmission.
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9. The method of claim 8 wherein the receiver is a receiving chamber for a thrust cartridge, and the drive is a thrust cartridge drive suitable for advancing film from a thrust cartridge and rewinding the film into the thrust cartridge and the thrust cartridge drive advances the film from the thrust cartridge.
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10. The method of claim 8 further having the step of maintaining the heater at between 50 to 180°
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- 11. An image forming method comprising the step of scanning an imagewise exposed and thermally developed silver halide film element to form a first electronic record of the image formed on the developed thermal film by reflection, a second electronic record of the image formed on the developed thermal film by an opposing reflection, and a third electronic record of the image formed on the developed thermal film by transmission.
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18. An image forming method comprising the step of scanning an imagewise exposed and developed light sensitive silver halide color film element;
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said element comprising red, green, and blue light sensitive layer units, wherein the layer units form reflective images of substantially similar color on development or wherein the element is substantially free of color forming components;
to form a first electronic record of the image formed on the developed film by reflection, a second electronic record of the image formed on the developed film by an opposing reflection, and a third electronic record of the image formed on the developed film by transmission.
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Specification