GB1156464A - Improvements relating to Photographic Processing Apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1,156,464. Photographic processing apparatus. INTERNATIONAL POLAROID CORP. Nov. 22, 1966 [Nov.26, 1965], No.52278/66. Heading G2A. A motor-driven automatic camera producing processed colour, or other prints, comprises a container 36 holding processing fluid 38 into which an exposed image-recording sheet 14 is fed by foam plastics covered rollers 48 and 52, 54, the developed sheet then being withdrawn and pressed by rollers 54, 56 into contact with a sheet 26 to which an image is transferred by diffusion, the sheet 26 being fed by roller 60 when development is complete. The resulting sandwich is fed by rollers 54, 56 into compartment 68. Each sheet (14) has an opening (62, Fig.3, not shown), which is engaged by a tongue (64) on the advancing receiving sheet (26) after development whereby the sheets are accurately superposed. Container 36 may be an integral part of the camera or separable and disposable, and has a pivoting rubber lip to wipe off excess fluid from the developed sheet. Photo-sensitive sheets 14 are stacked in cassette 12 and urged by pressure plate 18 against flange 24. Sheets 26 are similarly stacked in compartment 34. Electric motor 72 drives the sheet feeding rollers through chain and sprocket systems, rollers 48 and 60 being driven through singlerevolution clutches. Shutter release and processing are controlled by means 98 comprising a timer motor (100, Fig. 7, not shown), driving timing cams (108, 114, 118, 122, 126) controlling switches which regulate the cycles of the apparatus; and a manually operated start button (104) which also actuates the shutter solenoid (102). The duration of development is variable by relative adjustment of cams (122, 126). In a modification, container 36 is made U-shaped with curved guides and has a plastics lid with V- shaped entry and exit slots. All parts of the sheet 14 receive equal development time in this arrangement. In another form, Fig. 9 (not shown), using a U- shaped bath (144), sheets (14) and (26) are stacked in a single container in alternate order, the container being shiftable vertically by cam (164) from a first position where roller (162) cannot engage the leading sheet (14), to a second position wherein roller (162) is moved forward to drive the sheet (14) down to bath (144). Pivoting guide (168) directs receiving sheet (26) to the nip of rollers (158, 160). Movement of a single sheet only by roller (162) is made possible by restraining pads lightly gripping the sheets in their cassettes. Alternatively, the sheets may each have a slight notch which is lightly engaged by a knife-edge on the cassette wall.