Patent US3698307A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3698307A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photographic print and film processing machine
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1971-02-19
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Granted: 1972-10-17
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Expires: 1991-02-19
Abstract
Abstract A photographic print and film processing apparatus having a housing adapted for holding a plurality of chemicals containers; a processing drum rotatable relative to said housing; a convective heating and cooling device for maintaining said containers and said drum substantially at a desirable temperature; and thermostatic elements for controlling said convective device whereby the temperature of chemicals in said containers and said drum are maintained compatible to the successive use of said chemicals in said drum for processing sensitized materials.
Inventors
- 👤 Theodore A Reichardt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 13:42
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03D; G03D3/00; G03D3/02; G03D3/06; G03D13/00; G03D13/006; G03D13/02; G03D13/04; G03D13/046
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
255 words
In a photographic processing machine, the combination of: a hollow circular-cross-section liquid-holding drum mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis; a fixed housing mounting said drum; first means for rotating said drum; second means for holding sensitized photographic material to be processed in said drum; a liquid-tight removable end cover for said drum, whereby the placement and removal of sensitized photographic material is permitted; third means including a light trap for feeding a liquid, such as a chemical including water, into said drum while rotating as in the processing of photographic material; fourth means, including a light trap, for removing liquid from said drum; a thermometer arranged to measure the temperature of liquid maintained inside the drum; a stationary cylindrical end cover for said drum, said cover being disposed at an opposite end of the drum from said removable end cover, said stationary end cover having cylindrically overlapping light trap means; a reduced diameter neck portion rotatably disposed in said lastmentioned light trap means; said thermometer being carried by said stationary end cover and having a sensing probe slideably mounted in the stationary end cover at an angle to the axis of the drum, the probe being adapted to be extended through said reduced diameter neck portion of the drum into contact with liquids therein, whereby the liquid temperature can be measured while the drum is rotating, and whereby the probe is retractable out of said neck portion to permit the drum to be removed relative to the stationary end cover and said first means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
255 words
In a photographic processing machine, the combination of: a hollow circular-cross-section liquid-holding drum mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis; a fixed housing mounting said drum; first means for rotating said drum; second means for holding sensitized photographic material to be processed in said drum; a liquid-tight removable end cover for said drum, whereby the placement and removal of sensitized photographic material is permitted; third means including a light trap for feeding a liquid, such as a chemical including water, into said drum while rotating as in the processing of photographic material; fourth means, including a light trap, for removing liquid from said drum; a thermometer arranged to measure the temperature of liquid maintained inside the drum; a stationary cylindrical end cover for said drum, said cover being disposed at an opposite end of the drum from said removable end cover, said stationary end cover having cylindrically overlapping light trap means; a reduced diameter neck portion rotatably disposed in said lastmentioned light trap means; said thermometer being carried by said stationary end cover and having a sensing probe slideably mounted in the stationary end cover at an angle to the axis of the drum, the probe being adapted to be extended through said reduced diameter neck portion of the drum into contact with liquids therein, whereby the liquid temperature can be measured while the drum is rotating, and whereby the probe is retractable out of said neck portion to permit the drum to be removed relative to the stationary end cover and said first means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for holding comprises a hollow film-holding cylinder frictionally and thereby removably supported in said drum, said cylinder having an outer wall spaced concentrically from the interior of said drum; and means for holding a strip of film in a spiral disposition on the outer side of said cylinder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said cylindrically overlapping light trap means permits free flow and discharge of liquid above a selected level in said drum to the exterior of the processing machine, whereby liquid can be discharged from the drum while it is rotating and without admitting light into the drum, and whereby when water is continuously charged into the rotating drum the water is continuously discharged.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 further comprising a barrier ring secured within said drum to the interior wall thereof whereby sensitized material and holders thereof may not contact said thermometer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said fourth means includes a liquid drain tube secured to said drum and penetrating the wall thereof near one end and extending outwardly from the drum; said light trap being near the inner end of the drain tube; and closure means for the drain tube, whereby when the drum is stationary with the drain tube at its lowermost position, all liquid can be drained from the drum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
142 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 further comprising: a compArtment in said housing adapted to hold a plurality of chemical containers; fifth means for forcing air into said compartment and outwardly around the outside of said drum to maintain the temperature of liquids in said containers and said drum nearly at an equilibrium; sixth means adapted thermostatically to sense the temperature of air passing through said housing, around said containers and said drum; and heating and cooling means disposed to heat and cool air delivered from said fifth means to said housing, said sixth means being coupled to the heating and cooling means and adapted to vary operation of the heating and cooling means in response to the temperature of air passing around said drum to thereby maintain a desired temperature of said chemical containers and of liquid in the drum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
93 words
The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said processing machine comprises: switch means to connect the processing machine either to heat or to cool said forced air; and seventh means controlled by both said switch means and by said sixth means whereby, when the switch means is thrown to HEAT, the forced air is either heated or not heated depending on the sensing of said sixth means, and when the switch means is thrown to COOL, the forced air is either heated or cooled depending on the sensing of said sixth means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
81 words
The invention as defined in claim 7 comprising: an electric coupling between said sixth and seventh means whereby the latter is responsive to the former to allow passage to said fifth means of either refrigerated air or heated air, in an alternating manner, as determined by the action of said sixth means for the maintenance of a preselected temporally average air temperature within said housing, said seventh means comprising a flow-selecting valve means; and a solenoid for operating said valve means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
71 words
The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said housing has a top cover pivoted and hinged on an axis parallel to said drum axis, said cover being in spaced relation to the drum and adapted to permit the escape of air from the housing around said drum, the pivoted cover being adapted to be pivoted upward away from the drum to permit the drum to be removed from the housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
160 words
The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein said sixth means includes: a thermometer/thermostat having a concentric temperature-sensing probe rotatably mounted relative to said housing, said probe being disposed to sense temperature of air passing through the housing and around said drum; a temperature scale; a temperature-indicating hand movable relative to the scale; a dual stationary pointer having two points spaced apart relative to which the thermometer/thermostat scale is rotatable; photocell means; photocell exciter lamp means; a beam interrupter mask coupled to said hand, the width of said mask being effectively and functionally equal to the distance by which said two points are spaced apart, the beam interrupter mask being so disposed relative to said photocell and exciter lamp means as to interrupt by a movement thereof the exciter lamp means beam; and means responsive to said photocell means for controlling said heating and cooling means whereby the heating and cooling means are alternatively operated to maintain a selected temperature.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention as defined in claim 10 wherein said concentric probe is provided with a portion disposed to sense the temperature of ambient atmosphere to thereby compensate for ambient thermal effects on portions of said drum.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
The invention as defined in claim 10 wherein said processing machine includes a light-obscuring masking means pivotably positioned around said photocell lamp exciter means and cooperating means adjacent thereto, whereby when in place all stray light from said photocell lamp exciter means may be effectively contained whenever such containment is necessary.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for rEducing the effective interior longitudinal dimension of said drum, whereby when the drum contains a reduced quantity of photographic materials, the volume of liquid chemical required is reduced.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
The invention as defined in claim 13 in which said means for reducing the longitudinal dimension comprises at least one thick-walled spacer cylinder having a central bore, whereby liquids introduced by said third means may flow into the portion of the said drum containing material to be processed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
130 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 further comprising: a pivot supporting said removable end cover whereby it is disposed to permit insertion and removal of said second means; gasket sealing means for said removable end cover; means for releasably locking said removable end cover in closed, sealed position relative to the gasket means; a central opening in said removable pivoted end cover; a liquids feed tube extending through said central opening and into said drum; and said light trap for feeding a liquid including cylindrical overlapping light trap means secured to said pivoted end cover and surrounding said central opening and the end of said liquid feed tube internally of said drum, whereby liquids can be fed into the horizontal drum while rotating and without allowing light to enter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
111 words
The invention as defined in claim 15 further comprising: slide track means for supporting said feed tube concentrically relative to said drum, said feed tube having a pivoted mount base slideably movable on said slide track means and adapted to be moved out of the way relative to said removable end cover when it is in the open position and when photographic materials are being placed in or removed from the drum; and a funnel coupled to said feed tube and carried by said mount base and pivotal on a horizontal axis relative thereto for moving said funnel outwardly and downwardly away from the area adjacent to said pivoted end cover.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
203 words
In a photographic processing machine, the combination of: a hollow circular-cross-section liquid-holding drum mounted for horizontal rotation about its axis; a fixed open frame mounting said drum; first means for rotating said drum; second means for holding sensitized photographic material to be processed in said drum; a liquid-tight removable end cover for said drum, whereby the placement and removal of sensitized photographic material is permitted; third means for feeding a liquid, such as a chemical including water, into said drum while rotating as in the processing of photographic material. fourth means for removing liquid from said drum; a first light trap means disposed at the opposite end of said drum from said end cover; a second light trap means carried by said frame cooperating with said first light trap means; and a thermometer including a scale and a sensing probe, said thermometer being supported by said second light trap means and extending through said second light trap means and said first light trap means into the lower part of the interior of said drum, whereby the temperature of any liquid in said drum may be read on the scale while the drum is rotating and without admitting any light to the drum interior.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
203 words
In a photographic processing machine, the combination of: a hollow circular-cross-section liquid-holding drum mounted for horizontal rotation about its axis; a fixed open frame mounting said drum; first means for rotating said drum; second means for holding sensitized photographic material to be processed in said drum; a liquid-tight removable end cover for said drum, whereby the placement and removal of sensitized photographic material is permitted; third means for feeding a liquid, such as a chemical including water, into said drum while rotating as in the processing of photographic material. fourth means for removing liquid from said drum; a first light trap means disposed at the opposite end of said drum from said end cover; a second light trap means carried by said frame cooperating with said first light trap means; and a thermometer including a scale and a sensing probe, said thermometer being supported by said second light trap means and extending through said second light trap means and said first light trap means into the lower part of the interior of said drum, whereby the temperature of any liquid in said drum may be read on the scale while the drum is rotating and without admitting any light to the drum interior.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-17 | 1976-04-17 | 1976-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-17 | 1980-04-17 | 1980-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-17 | 1984-04-17 | 1984-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |