US3266405A - Photographic apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 16, 1966 A. J. SABLE ETAL PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 26, 1963 FIG! gINVE TORS 13%.,

ATTORNEYS g 1966 A. J. SABLE ETAL 3,

PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Filed July 26, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 WV NTORS BY W W WWW ATTORNEYS Aug. 16, 1966 A. J. SABLE ETAL PHOTOGRAPHI C APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 26, 1963 7/l/ll/ Z NON/ l J INVENTORS ATTORNEYS 16, 1966 A. .1. SABLE ETAL 3,266,405

PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Filed July 26, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 9 INVE T RS BY mac/d MMQ AQ.

A TORNEYS A. J. SABLE ETAL 3,266,405

PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Aug. 16, 1966 e Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 26, 1963 I z ZZFZQTORS BY W TORNEYS 3,266,4h Ce Patented August 16, 1966 3,266,405 PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Arthur J. Sable, Boston, and Robert G. Yetman, Waltharn, Mass, assignors to Polaroid Corporation, (lambridge, Mass, a corporation of Delaware Filed July 26, 1963, Ser. No. 297,851 Claims. (CI. 95-89) This invention relates to photography and, more particularly, to photographic apparatus for processing photographic materials.

Generally, the present invention is concerned with ap paratus comprising means for treating a photosensitive sheet by superposing it with a second sheet and distributing a processing liquid in a layer between the superposed sheets. The photosensitive sheet comprises a layer of a photosensitive heavy metal salt, such as silver halide, on a suitable support. A portion of the photosensitive sheet is exposed to form a latent image therein and the exposed portion of the photosensitive sheet superposed on the second or image-receiving sheet. A viscous processing liquid is distributed between the sheets as a layer covering at least the exposed portion to form a positive transfer image on the second sheet.

In apparatus of the type with which the present invention is concerned, the processing liquid is initially contained in an elongated tubular container and is discharged from the container onto either the photosensitive or second sheets by compressing a portion of the container while moving the container in the direction of its elongation to eject the liquid at an end of the container.

The invention is shown incorporated in a device for making copies of original documents. Features common to document copiers of this type include means for feeding an original document into the apparatus and superposing it with the photosensitive sheet during the exposure thereof, exposing the sheet by either direct or reflex exposure, separating the original from the photosensitive sheet, superpcsing the photosensitive sheet on the second sheet, introducing the processing fluid between the two sheets and advancing the superposed sheets between a pair of juxtaposed members to distribute the processing liquid between the sheets.

The document copier embodying the present invention is designed as a portable, electrically operated, semi-automatic device which will produce uniformly good copies of original documents of varying sizes. In most similar devices, the container of processing liquid is manually introduced into the apapratus and placed adjacent the photosensitive or second sheet, manually compressed and then manually withdrawn from the housing to discharge the enclosed fluid onto the adjacent sheet.

An object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for processing photographic materials which includes means for automatically positioning a container of processing fluid adjacent the photosensitive or image-re ceiving sheet and then compressing at least a portion of the container to facilitate discharging the enclosed processing fluid onto the adjacent sheet.

Another object is to provide novel apparatus for advancing a portion of the container positioned adjacent the photosensitive or image-receiving sheet in the direction of its elongation from the apparatus into a position where it may be grasped and withdrawn from the apparatus.

Still another object is to provide novel apparatus for the processing of photographic materials which includes means for advancing the containers of processing liquid one at a time from a storage position among a plurality of containers into position adjacent the photosensitive or image-receiving sheet, further advancing it to a position where it may be grasped and withdrawn from the apparatus to discharge the enclosed liquid onto the adjacent sheet, and then compressing at least a portion of the container adjacent the sheet.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the apparatus possessing the construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which are exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the application of which will be exemplified in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view out document-copying apparatus embodying one form of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of components of the apparatus of FIGURE 1, shown with the housing of the apparatus open in an inoperative position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the apparatus of FIG- URE 1, the section being taken substantially midway between the sides of the housing;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view, partially in section, of a container used for introducing processing fluid into the apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a perspective fragmentary view, partially in section, showing components of the apparatus;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective fragmentary views, partially in section, of apparatus comprising means for 10- eating, compressing and advancing the container of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 8 is a plan view of apparatus comprising means for advancing and compresing the container of FIG. 4.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 through 3 wherein is illustrated one form of photographic document-copying apparatus embodying the invention. Housing 10, mounting and enclosing the operative components, comprises an upper housing section 12 pivotably secured to a lower housing section 14 by a hinge 16, said hinge being located at one end, called the rear end, of the apparatus. The two sections are pivotable between the closed or operative position shown in FIG. 1 and the open or inoperative position shown in FIG. 2, in which the housing sections are separated to permit loading the photographic sheet material into the apparatus.

Upper housing section 12 comprises an upper wall 18 in which are located an inlet passage 20 and an exit passage 22 through which the original document to be copied can be introduced into and fed from the apparatus. Inlet passage 20 is defined by convergent walls which may be designated forward wall 24, rear wall 26 and side walls 28. Exit passage 22 is similarly defined by forward wall 30, rear wall 32 and side walls 34. An opening 36, located adjacent a storage area in which a number of containers are stored prior to use, is also located in upper wall 18. The cover 46 of opening 36 is pivotably connected to upper wall 18 by hinges 48. Housing section 12 also comprises side walls 50 and 52, designated left and right side walls respectively, a forward wall 54, and a rear wall 56 to which the upper portion of hinge 16 is connected.

Lower housing section 14 comprises a forward wall 60, portions of which serveto define withdrawal opening 62, bot-tom wall 64, leit and right side walls 66 and 68, and rear wall 79 to which the lower portion of binge 16 is connected.

The operative components of the document-copying apparatus are mounted on support members or chassis carried within housing 10 on the upper and lower housing sections. These support members include a lower chassis 72 comprising a base plate 74, which rests on bottom wall 64 of housing section 14, and side plates 76 extending upwardly from the base plate. The upper chassis comprises support members 78 extending downwardly from upper wall 18 of housing section 12, and securely mounted on upper wall 18.

Lower chassis 72 includes means for mounting the photosensitive and image-receiving sheet used in the apparatus. The photosensitive sheet 80, preferably in the form of an elongated strip, is supplied on a conventional spool 82, said spool being mounted at its ends for rotation between side plates 76 near the rear end of housing 10. The image-receiving sheet 84, also in the form of an elongated strip, is contained on a similar spool 86, mounted for rotation between the side plates 76 near the forward end of the apparatus.

The apparatus includes means for exposing a photosensitive sheet comprising two sources of illumination and means for conducting the photosensitive sheet and original document in superposition past the illumination sources. Each source comprises a light-conducting cylindrioal bar 88 enclosed in an opaque cylindrical tube 90 which is provided with an axial slot 92 equal in length to the width of the photosensitive sheet for transmitting the actinic light emitted from bar 88 to the photosensitive sheet. The light source for each bar comprises a small incandescent lamp mounted within the end section of tube 90 adjacent to the end of bar 88. One illumination source is mounted on upper support member 78 in upper housing section 12; the other on lower chassis 72 inlower housing section 14. As the superposed photosensitive sheet and original document are guided between the two sources, the photosensitive sheet may, by utilizing one source or the other, be subjected to either a direct exposure wherein the photosensitive sheet is exposed to light transmitted through to it through the original document, or to a reflex exposure wherein the actinic light is transmitted through the photosensitive sheet to the surface of the original document and is then partially reflected b ack to the photosensitive sheet to form a developable image therein.

I The means for guiding the photosensitive sheet and original document between the two illumination sources include a transparent cylindrical tube 94 surrounding the upper illuminating source and mounted for rotation on upper support members 78. An elongated guide rod 96 is mounted between side plates 76 with its axis parallel with the axis of tube 94 and its periphery spaced slightly at a distance from the periphery of tube 94. Guide roll 98, engaging tube 94 along its periphery, is mounted for rotation between side plates 76 with its axis parallel to tube 94.

Photosensitive sheet 80 is conducted from spool 82, between guide rod 96 and tube 94, around a portion of the cylindrical surface of tube 94 and between the tube and guide roll 98. The axial slots 92 in tubes 90 are positi-oned so that the actinic light transmitted from either of bars 88 will expose the portion of the photosensitive sheet 80 that is supported by cylindrical tube 94 between guide rod 96 and guide roll 98.

The means for guiding the original document, designated 100 in FIG. 3, into superposition with the photosensitive sheet, comp-rises a pair of rolls, inlet roll 102 and central roll 104, mounted for rotation in juxtaposition between upper support members 78. Rolls 102 and 104 engage the original document along a line lying in a plane substantially tangent to the surface of tube 94 at a line closely adjacent rod 96 and tube 94 and, in conjunction with light-sealing elements 106 and 108 which extend, respectively, from rear wall 26 to a point closely adjacent rod 96, and from central roll 104 to a point closely adjacent tube 94, guide the original document between rod 96 and tube 94 and into superposition for exposure with the photosensitive sheet.

The apparatus comprises means for separating original document from the photosensitive sheet following exposure of the latter in superposition with the original and for then guiding the origin-a1 out of the apparatus. Outlet roll 100 and control roll 104 :are mounted for rotation between upper support member 78 so as to engage original document 100 along a line lying in a plane substantially tangent to tube 94 and guide roll 98. A pair of light-sealing elements 112 and 114, which extend downwardly from rolls 104 and 110, respectively, to positions closely adjacent tube 94 and roll 98, assist in separating the original document from the photosensitive sheet and guiding the original into the bite of the outlet noll. Elements 106, 108 also serve to prevent light from entering the apparatus through the inlet and exit passages and fogging or overexposing the photosensitive sheet.

After the original document has been separated from the exposed photosensitive sheet and guided out of the apparatus, the exposed sheet is superposed with a secend or image-receiving sheet 84 and a layer of a processing liquid distributed between the sheets to form a copy of the original document on the second sheet. The means for distributing the liquid include a pair of pressureaapplying rolls 116 and 118. Roll 116 is mounted for rotation on lower chassis '72. Roll 118 is mounted for rotation between a pair of movable members 120 mounted on lower chassi 72 so as to provide for limited movement of roll 118 relative to roll 116. A spring mechanism 122 is provided for biasing roll 118 tow ard roll 116.

The exposed portion of photosensitive sheet 80 is guided around a portion of guide roll 98 and then 'between the pressure-applying rolls. Image-receiving sheet 84 is conducted from spool 86, around guide rod 124 mounted between side plates 76 parallel to spool 86, around a portion of roll 116 and into superposition with the photosensitive sheet. The portion of the image-receiving sheet between guide rod 124 and roll 116 provides a substantially horizontal surface on which the mass of processing fluid may be deposited. Since spools 82 and 86 are both mounted on lower chassis 72, the photosensitive and image-receiving sheet may be threaded between rolls 116 and 118 while housing sections 12 and 14 are separated in the inoperative position.

In the apparatus shown, the processing liquid is supplied in an elongated tubular container very much like a conventional drinking straw. This container, designated 126 in FIG. 4, includes a cavity of substantially uniform cross section, approximately equal in length to the width of the exposed portion of photosensitive sheet and filled with the processing liquid. Both ends of the containers are sealed with one end, designated 128, adapted to become unsealed to form a discharge mouth through which the processing liquid may be discharged in response to a hydraulic pressure generated within the enclosed liquid. In the disclosed apparatus, the container is placed transverse the image-receiving sheet with end 128 located adjacent the margin of the image-receiving sheet most distant from opening 58. The portion of the container adjacent the lateral edge of the image-receiving sheet nearest opening 58 is then compressed and the container withdrawn from the apparatus. This withdrawal creates a hydraulic pressure in the enclosed liquid and causes end 128 of the container most distant from opening 58 to become unsealed and the contents to be ejected therefrom in the form of a uniformly distributed elongated mass extending across the substantially horizontal portion of the image-receiving sheet between guide rod 124 and pressure-applying roll 116. The means for locating the container adjacent the image-receiving sheet and for discharging the liquid from the container will be described in detail hereinafter.

After the processing liquid has been discharged onto the image-receiving sheet, the photosensitive and imagereceiving sheets are advanced in superposition between the pressure-applying rolls to distribute the processing liquid between the superposed sheets, toward the trai1- ing end of the exposed area of the photosensitive sheet, as a layer covering the exposed area.

The superposed sheets with the liquid between them are required to remain in darkness during a predetermined period, at the end of which they may be guided out of the housing and separated. The means for transporting the superposed sheets through the housing in a light-tight environment and guiding them from the housing comprise a pair of withdrawal rolls 130 mounted in juxtaposition for rotation on lower chassis 72 withing housing and adjacent withdrawal opening 62,

A rotary knife 132 and anvil 134 are provided adjacent the pressure-applying rolls on the side thereof nearest withdrawal opening 62 for severing the exposed and processed portion of the superposed sheets from the remaining sheet material as the superposed sheets pass between the knife and anvil. After the exposed and processed portions of the photosensitive and image-receiving sheets have been severed from the unprocessed sheet material, the superposed sheets are advanced out of the housing through withdrawal opening 62. If the superposed sheets are separted, the photosensitive sheet may be discarded; the image-receiving sheet comprises a copy of the original document.

In the illustrated apparatus, the operational sequence is controlled by a number of switches and sensing devices located in inlet and exit passages 20 and 22, on upper wall 18, and adjacent tapered and withdrawal openings 58 and 62. A person using the apparatus must adjust a switch, designated 136 in FIGURE 1 and mounted'on upper wall 18, to selectively determine whether direct or reflex exposure is required and to control the intensity of the actinic light, introduce the original document to be copied partially into inlet passage 20, withdraw a container of processing liquid through tapered opening 58, and then separate the exposed and processed photosensitive and image-receiving sheets as they are advanced from the housing. All other operations are performed automatically.

When original document 100 is introduced into inlet passage 20, its leading edge trips a switch 138 in passage 20 illuminating the selected light source and actuating electric motor 140, mounted in lower housing section 14. As illustrated in FIG. 5, motor 140 acts through a pair of reduction gears 142 to drive power transmitting rod 144, mounted for rotation on lower chassis 72 and extending transverse the lower chassis from adjacent motor 140 to adjacent lower side wall 66 of housing 10.

A pair of coaxial juxtaposed gears 146 and 148 are mounted on rod 144 adjacent side plate 76 on the side thereof most distant from motor 140. One of the gears, gear146, engages gear 150 mounted coaxially with ro tary knife 132. The other, gear 148, engages gear 152 mounted coaxially with pressure-applying roll 116. Gears 150 and 152 are designed to rotate freely with respect to knife 132 and pressure-applying roll 116, respectively, so that rolls 116 and 118 and knife132 are not actuated at this time.

A sprocket 158 mounted on the end of power transmitting rod 144 most distant from motor 140 drives a chain 160 to transmit torque togear .162 mounted coaxially with and keyed to the upper of withdrawal rolls 130 and to gear 166 on the upper portion of side plate 76. Gear 166 is'mounted coaxially with a friction wheel 168 which engages a second friction wheel 170 mounted in upper housing section 12. The drive system is designed so that inlet, exit and withdrawal rolls are driven at the same peripheral speed. Drive chain 160 also engages an idler gear 165 on lower side wall 66, and gear 163 which drives the means for positioning, advancing and compressing the fluid filled containers.

Rolls 102 and 104 advance the original document until the documents leading edge trips a second switch 172, mounted on light sealing element 106, deactivating motor .140, to stop the advancement of the original document.

In the illustrated apparatus, switch 138 which actuated motor is also designed to actuate novel apparatus for advancing a container of processing fluid from the storage area adjacent opening 36, in which a plurality of containers are stored, into a position closely adjacent and transverse the portion of image-receiving sheet lying between guide rod 124 and pressure-applying roll 116, advancing the container from this position in an axial direction until the end most distant from end 128 extends through tapered opening 58, and then compressing the portion of the container adjacent the edge of the image-receiving sheet nearest opening 58. The container is then manually withdrawn from the housing to discharge the enclosed fluid from the container onto the image-receiving sheet. Withdrawing the container also trips a third switch (not shown) mounted on side wall 50 adjacent opening 58 reactivating motor 140. The novel means for advancing and compressing the fluid filled containerwill be described in detail hereinafter. It should be noted that the container is not advanced out of opening 58 until after the original document has been introduced into the apparatus and that the operating cycle will not continue until the container has been completely withdrawn.

As the original document is further advanced, its leading edge trips a fourth switch 206 on light sealing element 106 engaging the pressure-applying rolls 116 and 118 for advancing the photosensitive and image-receiving sheets. As illustrated in FIG. 5, clutch 156, keyed to roll 116 and normally spaced apart from gear 152, is mounted coaxially with roll 116 on the side of gear 152 most distant from motor 140. Gear 152, as previously noted, is driven by motor 140, but is mounted for rotation relative to roll 116. When switch 266 is tripped, a solenoid (not shown) moves clutch 156 into engagement with gear 152.

Since the superposed original document and photosensitive sheet should not move relative to each other during exposure of the photosensitive sheet, the inlet, outlet and pressure-applying rolls are designed to rotate at the same peripheral speed. A gear train, designated 208 in FIG. 3, is provided to insure that guide roll 98 and cylindrical tube 94 rotate at the same peripheral speed as do the pressure-applying rolls.

As the exposed photosensitive sheet and original document pass between tube 94 and guide roll 98, they are separated, the original document passing between lightsealing elements 112 and 114 into exit passage 22 and the photosensitive sheet being advanced into superposition with the image-receiving sheets. As the original document enters the exit passage, its leading edge releases a fifth switch 210 mounted on light-sealing element 114 adjacent guide roll 98 engaging knife 132 to sever the superposed photosensitive and image-receiving sheets along a line closely adjacent the leading edge of the exposed portion of the photosensitive sheet. I

As illustrated in FIG. 5, clutch 154, keyed to knife 132 and designed to normally be disengaged from gear 150, is mounted coaxially with knife 132 on the side of gear most distant from motor 140. Gear 150, as previously noted, is driven by motor 140 and mounted for rotation relative to knife 132. Switch 210 acts through a solenoid (not shown) to engage clutch 154 and gear 150, and cause rotary knife 132 to rotate against anvil 134 to sever the superposed sheets. In the preferred embodiment, clutch 154 is designed to disengage itself from gear 150 after one complete revolution to allow the processed sheets to be further advanced between the 7 switch 242 disengages clutch 154 and gear 150 to stop the rotation of the pressure-applying rolls.

The present invention, illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, includes means for advancing a container of processing liquid from the storage area into a position parallel with and closely adjacent to the image-receiving sheet; advancing the container in an axial direction through tapered opening 58 until at least a portion of the container extends outside housing 10 and the remainder of the container extends transverse the portion of the imagereceiving sheet onto which the liquid is to be discharged, and then compressing the portion of the container adjacent the lateral edge of the image-receiving sheet nearest opening 58 so that the liquid will be discharged onto the image-receiving sheet when the container is completely withdrawn from the housing. The illustrated apparatus also includes means for insuring that the plurality of containers located between the storage area and the image-receiving sheet are substantially parallel to said sheet thereby insuring the proper advancement of the containers into position adjacent the imagereceiving sheet.

Before use, a number of containers are located in the storage area in upper housing section 12. The means for advancing the containers into position adjacent the image-receiving sheet includes a pair of end blocks, 1'76 and 178, which comprises the sides and bottom of the storage area. As illustrated in FIG. 2, end blocks 176 and 178 are arranged so that the central portion of the document-copying apparatus is easily accessible for loading the rolls of sheet material into the device. Each end block includes a vertical slot 180, one side of which has been partially removed at a 45 angle, for guiding the containers into position adjacent the image-receiving sheet and the means for advancing the containers from the apparatus. The top surface of the end blocks is slightly inclined toward slots 180. A belt 182 is mounted on a pair of wheels 184 adjacent the inclined portion of each slot so that the portion of the belt parallel to the inclined portion frictionally engages the periphery of the adjacent fluid-filled containers. Belts 182 are driven by a second pair of belts 186 connecting drive shaft 164 which extends transverse the apparatus between end blocks 176 and 178 and the upper of wheels 184 on each end block.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the means for advancing the container located at the bottom of slots 180 closely adjacent the image-receiving sheet, until an end portion of the container extends partially out of housing 10 through tapered opening 58, comprises a spacer 192 and a rubber drum 190 mounted for rotation on shaft 191 adjacent the bottom of slot 180 on end block 178 nearest the tapered opening. Drum 190 and spacer 192 are essentially cylindrical, except that the portion of each that is adjacent slot 180 has been removed to allow the fluidfilled containers to drop freely to the bottom of slots 180. When shaft 191 is rotated, the peripheral surface of drum 190 engages the container most closely adjacent the imagereceiving sheet between drum 190 and the surface of slot 180 opposite the drum and advances the container partially out of the apparatus; spacer 192 simultaneously rotates between the container to be advanced and the containers located above it in slots 180 to insure that only the container most closely adjacent the image-receiving sheet will be advanced and compressed.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, gear 163 which engages drive chain 160 is mounted on drive shaft 164 so that it is free to rotate with respect to shaft 164. A clutch 188 mounted coaxially with and keyed to shaft 164 is originally spaced apart from gear 163 but is adapted to move into engagement with gear 163 in response to the tripping of switch 138 by the original document. When clutch 188 and gear 163 are engaged, torque is transmitted from motor 140 to drum 190 and spacer 192 through a pair of level gears mounted on shafts 191 and 164.

The means for compressing the'fluid-filled containers after the advancement of an end portion through the tapered opening comprise a pair of jaws 198 on gears 194 and 196 which are mounted in engagement for rotation on either side of slot on end block 178. Gear 194 mounted coaxially with drum and keyed to drum 190 and gear 196 rotate in response to the rotation of drum 190 to advance jaws 198, as sh'own in FIG. 8, from the position illustrated -to the position indicated by the dashed outline in which the jaws are in compressive engagement with the fluid-filled container. Gears 194 and 196 are designed for moving jaws 198 into engagement with the container immediately after the end portion of the container has been advanced through opening 58 into a position where it may be grasped and completely withdrawn from the apparatus. As the jaws 198 move into engagement, a pawl 200, mounted on lower chassis 72 near the end of drive shaft 164 most distant from opening 58, drops into the single recess on ratchet gear 202 to lock drive shaft 164, which is spring biased for counterclockwise rotation (as seen in FIG. 7), and to lock jaws 198 in compressive engagement with the fluid-filled container. When pawl 200 is released drive shaft 164 will rotate counterclockwise to separate jaws 198 and rotate spacer 192 and drum 190 to their original positions.

Belts 182 and bevel gears 193 are designed so that the portion of belts 182 that is in contact with the fluid-filled containers in slots 180 will move upward while drum 190 is rotating to advance the desired container out of the apparatus. This upward movement agitates the containers adjacent the inclined portions of slots 180 and insures that the containers remain parallel. When pawl 200 is released, the portion of belts 182 engaging the containers is driven downward thereby forcing the containers downward until one of the containers is loctaed adjacent the image-receiving sheet in position for advancement and compression during the next documentcopying cycle.

The present invention has been described with reference to a device in which the fluid-filled containers are advanced in parallel relationship from the storage area adjacent opening 36 to the position adjacent the imagereceiving sheet. This parallel relationship insures that two or more containers will not cross or otherwise jam during advancement so that a container will be advanced into position for compression during every documentcopying cycle. It should be apparent that a number of equivalent means for insuring continuous advancement could be satisfactorily incorporated with the remaining parts of the apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention.

Since certain changes may be made in the above apparatus Without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In photographic apparatus for treating a photographic sheet by distributing a processing liquid over at least a portion of said sheet during movement of said sheet through said apparatus, in combination:

an opening in said apparatus for admitting one of said containers lengthwise; first advancement means comprising an advancement member for engaging an end portion of one of said containers and advancing said one container from said storage means in a direction substantially perpendicular to the elongation of said container to a position adjacent said sheet and extending transversely 0f the direction of movement of said sheet in alignment with said opening in response to movement of said advancement member; and

a second advancement means for engaging said one container in said position and moving said one con- 9 tainer in the direction of the elongation thereof relative to said sheet to advance at least an end portion of said one container from said apparatus through said opening;

said second advancement means comprising a drum mounted within said apparatus adjacent said sheet and said opening, said drum having a substantially cylindrical surface for engaging said container and being mounted for rotation adjacent the lateral edge of said sheet nearest said opening, being normally disposed with said surface out of contact with said one container and being rotatable into frictional engagement with the peripheral surface of said one container in said position, and means for rotating said drum into and in frictional engagement with said one container to advance the latter from said position through said opening;

said first advancement means being coupled with said second advancement means and being responsive thereto for advancing another of said containers from said storage means subsequent to advancement of said one container from said apparatus by said second advancement means. I

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said second advancement means include means for spacing all but said one of said plurality of said containers away from said position during rotation of said drum, said means comprising a substantially cylindrical disc mounted coaXially with said drum on the end thereof nearest said first advacement means for movement in response to the rotation of said drum to a position intermediate said one container in said position and the remainder of said plurality of containers.

3. In photographic apparatus for treating a photographic sheet by distributing a processing liquid over at least a portion of said sheet during movement of said sheet through said apparatus, in combination:

an opening in said apparatus for admit-ting one of said containers lengthwise;

first advancement means comprising an advancement member for engaging an end portion of one of said containers and advancing said one container from said storage means in a direction substantially perpendicular to the elongation of said container to a position adjacent said sheet and extending transversely of the direction of movement of said sheet in alignment with said opening in response to movement of said advancement member;

a second advancement means for engaging said one container in said position and moving said one container in the direction of the elongation thereof relative to said sheet to advance at least an end portion of said one container from said apparatus through said opening; and

a pressure member movable into engagement with said container in said position for applying compressive pressure progressively to the remaining portion of said container as said remaining portion is advanced from said apparauts through said opening.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 in which said pressure member is normally disposed out of engagement with said container and is moved by said second advancement means into engagement with said container after advancement of a predetermined length of said container, including said end portion, from said apparatus through said opening.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which said second advancement means comprise an advancement member mounted adjacent said sheet and said opening, said member normally being disposed out of engagement with said one container in said position and being movable into and in frictional engagement with said one container in said position for moving said one container from said position, and in which said pressure member is coupled with said advancement member for advancing said pressure member into engagement with said container in response to movement of said advancement member.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which said advancement means include means for spacing all but one of said plurality of containers away from said position during movement of said advancement member and said engagement means to insure that only said one container in said position is advanced and compressed.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 in which said advancement member comprises a drum having a substantially cylindrical surface for engaging said container mounted for rotation adjacent the lateral edge of said sheet nearest said opening, said surface of said drum being rotatable into and in frictional engagement with said container for moving said container.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 in which said second advancement means include means for spacing all but said one of said plurality of containers away from said position during rotation of said drum, said means comprising a substantially cylindrical disc mounted coaxially with said drum between the latter and said first advancement means for rotation in response to rotation of said drum to a position intermediate said one container in said position and the remainder of said plurality of containers.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 in which said engagement means comprises a pair of engagement members mounted adjacent said opening on opposite sides of said position for movement into compressive engagement with said one container in response to the rotation of said drum.

10. The apparatus of claim 11 in which said first advancement means comprise an advancement element disposed in engagement with an end portion of at least said one container for advancing said end portion from said storage means into said position.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 in which said first advancement means include means for engaging said one container during the advancement thereof from said storage means to align the axis of said one container parallel with said position prior to the advancement of said one container into said position.

12. In photographic apparatus for treating a photographic sheet by distributing a processing liquid over at least a portion of said sheet during movement of said sheet through said apparatus, in combination:

means for locating an elongated tubular container within said apparatus in a position adjacent said sheet and transversely of the direction of movement of said sheet;

an opening in said apparatus for admitting said container lengthwise;

advancing means including an advancement member normally disposed out of engagement with said container and mounted for movment into and in frictional engagement with said container for moving said container in the direction of its elongation relative to said sheet to advance at least an end portion of said container from said apparatus through said opening; and

engagement means within said apparatus adjacent said opening and normally disposed out of engagement with said container, said engagement means being coupled with said advancement means and responsive thereto for moving said engagement means into engagement with said container after advancement of a predetermined length of said container, including said end portion, from said apparatus to apply compressive pressure to the remaining portion of said container as said remaining portion is advanced from said apparatus through said opening.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 in which said advancement member comprises a drum having a cylindrical surface for engaging said container, mounted for rotation adjacent the lateral edge of said sheet nearest said opening, said surface of said drum being movable by rotation of said drum'into and in engagement with said container to move said container through said opening.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 in which said engagemen-t means are normally disposed out of engagement With said container and are coupled with said drum and responsive to movement thereof for moving said engagement means into engagement With at least a portion of said one container.

15. In photographic apparatus for treating a photographic sheet by distributing a processing liquid over at least a portion of said sheet during movement of said sheet through said apparatus, in combination:

means for locating an elongated tubular container Within said apparatus in a position adjacent said sheet and transversely of the direction of movement of said sheet; an opening in said apparatus for admitting said con- 7 tainer lengthwise;

advancing means including an advancement member normally disposed out of engagement with said contrainer and mounted for movement into and in frictional engagement with said container for moving said container in the direction of its elongation relative to said sheet to advance at least an end portion of said container from said apparatus through said opening;

engagement means within said apparatus adjacent said opening and normally disposed out of engagement with said container, said engagement means being coupled with said advancement means and responsive thereto for moving said engagement means into engagement With said container after advancement of 'a predetermined length of said container, including said end portion, from said apparatus through said opening to apply compressive pressure to the remaining portion of said container as said remaining portion is advanced from said apparatus'through said opening; and 7 storage means for holding a plurality of said containers within said apparauts, said means for locating the first-mentioned container in said position including means for advancing said containers substantially perpendicular to the elongation thereof from said storage means until at least one of said containers is located in said position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,167,049 7/1939 Maurath et a1. 221295 X 3,112,843 12/1963 Hamberg 221-259 X 3,134,317 5/1964 Land 98-89 3,189,220 6/1965 Mullaney 22 1-259 X NORTON ANSI-IER, Primary Examiner.

C. B. PRICE, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

12. IN PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS FOR TREATING A PHOTOGRAPHIC SHEET BY DISTRIBUTING A PROCESSING LIQUID OVER AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID SHEET DURING MOVEMENT OF SAID SHEET THROUGH SAID APPARATUS, IN COMBINATION: MEANS FOR LOCATING AN ELONGATED TUBULAR CONTAINER WITHIN SAID APPARATUS IN A POSITION ADJACENT SAID SHEET AND TRANSVERSELY OF THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID SHEET; AN OPENING IN SAID APPARATUS FOR ADMITTING SAID CONTAINER LENGTHWISE; ADVANCING MEANS INCLUDING AN ADVANCEMENT MEMBER NORMALLY DISPOSED OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CONTAINER AND MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT INTO AND IN FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CONTAINER FOR MOVING SAID CONTAINER IN THE DIRECTION OF ITS ELONGATION RELATIVE TO SAID SHEET TO ADVANCE AT LEAST AN END PORTION OF SAID CONTAINER FROM SAID APPARATUS THROUGH SAID OPENING; AND ENGAGEMENT MEANS WITHIN SAID APPARATUS ADJACENT SAID OPENING AND NORMALLY DISPOSED OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CONTAINER, SAID ENGAGEMENT MEANS BEING COUPLED WITH SAID ADVANCEMENT MEANS AND RESPONSIVE THERETO FOR MOVING SAID ENGAGEMENT MEANS INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CONTAINER AFTER ADVANCEMENT OF A PREDETERMINED LENGTH OF SAID CONTAINER, INCLUDING SAID END PORTION, FROM SAID APPARATUS TO APPLY COMPRESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE REMAINING PORTION OF SAID CONTAINER AS SAID REMAINING PORTION IS ADVANCED FROM SAID APPARATUS THROUGH SAID OPENING.

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