GB2246450A - Monosheet self-processing film unit - Google Patents
Monosheet self-processing film unit Download PDFInfo
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- GB2246450A GB2246450A GB9115323A GB9115323A GB2246450A GB 2246450 A GB2246450 A GB 2246450A GB 9115323 A GB9115323 A GB 9115323A GB 9115323 A GB9115323 A GB 9115323A GB 2246450 A GB2246450 A GB 2246450A
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- sheet
- peelable
- film unit
- photosensitive
- self
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03C—PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
- G03C8/00—Diffusion transfer processes or agents therefor; Photosensitive materials for such processes
- G03C8/42—Structural details
- G03C8/50—Peel-apart units, i.e. the image-forming section being separated from the image-receiving section
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Architecture (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Photographic Developing Apparatuses (AREA)
Abstract
A peelable monosheet type of self processing photographic film unit comprises a mask member (2) formed with an opening, and a rupturable pod (4), a photosensitive sheet (5) attached to the mask member, which sheet includes a supporting sheet (18) an image receiving layer (17), a peelable interlayer (16) and a photosensitive layer (15), the photosensitive sheet being provided with an adhesive layer (8) and a peelable protective sheet (9), the leading edge of which sheet (9) is behind the leading edge of photosensitive sheet (5) Alternatively, a peelable protective sheet (9) may be provided with a part to facilitate it being peeled from the sheet (5) by using fingers (Figs 9-15). <IMAGE>
Description
Monosheet Self-Processinq Film Unit
The present invention relates to a self-processing photographic film unit, and more particularly to a peelable monosheet self-processing photographic film unit.
In recent years, monosheet type self-processing photographic film units (which are referred hereinafter to simply as film units have become more popular. Such a film unit, in which it is not necessary to peel apart any component sheet thereof after processing, comprises a supporting sheet and a transparent cover sheet with photosensitive and image receiving layers sandwiched therebetween, and a developer containing rupturable pod enclosed therein. The film unit has the advantage that it is conveniently handled as a single piece from beginning to end, however it is hard to attach the print to a photo-album because of its thickness.
For easy arrangement, there has been proposed a peelable monosheet type of self-processing photographic film unit (which is hereinafter referred to simply as a peelable film unit) which is disclosed in, for example,
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications Nos. 62-231,374 and 63-231,375 assigned to the same applicant of this application. Such a peelable film unit has basically the same construction as the above described film unit and comprise a supporting sheet and a transparent cover sheet with photosensitive and image receiving layers sandwiched therebetween. However, the peelable film unit is provided with a peelable interlayer between the photosensitive and image receiving layers to allow removal of the supporting sheet with the image receiving layer thereon after the completion of self-processing of the peelable film unit, thereby providing a print.Since the supporting sheet as a print thus provided is thin, it is easy to attach the supporting sheet as a print to a photo-album. For more easy arrangement, the supporting sheet is previously formed with an adhesive layer applied to the back surface of the supporting sheet and covered with a peelable protective sheet such as papers.
The peelable protective is peeled off immediately before attaching the print to the photo-album.
In association with the peelable film unit, there are problems of the difficulty of quickly peeling apart the peelable protective sheet from the film unit.
In particular, a serious problem in association with the peelable film unit is that sometimes only the peelable protective sheet is torn off with a finger upon peeling apart the supporting sheet bearing the image receiving layer from the peelable film unit. This leads a troublesome peeling operation of the supporting sheet bearing the image receiving layer from the peelable film unit since the adhesive layer is exposed.
In addition, it often happens that the supporting sheet with the photosensitive layer is peeled apart as well as the image receiving layer from the peelable film unit. This is caused due to the fact that the sheets and layers are piled one upon another with their edges lined up for a sufficient rigidity of the peelable film unit which is passed between a pair of pressure applying rollers to spread and distribute developer reagent therein and it is accordingly hard to tear off only the edges of the supporting sheets and the image receiving layer with a finger. If in fact the photosensitive layer is peeled off from the peelable film unit, it is quite hard to remove the photosensitive layer from the image receiving layer borne on the supporting sheet even with the provision of the peelable interlayer.
Another problem in association with the peelable film unit is the possibility of slippage of the peelable film unit between the processing pressure applying rollers due to the increased thickness of the peelable film unit.
There is still another problem in association with the peelable film unit that it is difficult to find a timing at which the supporting sheet is to be peeled apart from the peelable film unit.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a peelable film unit of which a sheet providing a print is easily peeled apart.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a peelable film unit which does not slip between processing pressure applying rollers.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a peelable film unit which can indicate a timing at which a sheet providing a print is peeled apart.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a peelable film unit comprising a mask member formed with an opening, a transparent cover sheet attached to the mask member, spacer members adhered to both side margins of the mask member, a photosensitive sheet attached to the mask member to define an image area thereon by the opening of the mask member and bearing an image receiving layer, a peelable interlayer and a photosensitive layer coated on a supporting sheet thereof, the photosensitive sheet having a length shorter than the whole length of said self-processed photographic film unit.
According to a feature of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the peelable film unit is provided with an adhesive layer coated onto the photosensitive sheet which is covered by a protective sheet peelable from the adhesive layer. The protective sheet has an extension beyond an end of the photosensitive sheet.
According to another feature of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the supporting sheet is provided with an adhesive layer coated onto the photosensitive sheet which is covered by a protective sheet peelable from the adhesive layer. The protective sheet has a part to be picked up and torn off with fingers so as to be thereby peeled apart from the film unit. In particular, the part of the peelable protective sheet may be formed by partly removing the adhesive layer between the supporting and peelable sheets.
According to still another feature of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the peelable film is provided with color sample means attached to the peelable film unit and coloring means attached to the film unit which provides a color change upon contact with the developer reagent released from a developer containing rupturable pod, the color change giving a visible indication of the time of completion of the self-processing of the peelable film unit upon becoming substantially the same color as the sample color.
Some embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly exploded, of a peelable film unit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken along a line A-A of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken along a line B-B of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is an enlarged cross sectional illustration of a part of the peelable film unit of
Figure 1;
Figure 5 is an enlarged cross sectional illustration of a part of the peelable film unit of
Figure 1;
Figure 6 is an illustration showing processing rollers between which the leading end of a peelable film unit is bit;
Figure 7 is a cross sectional view of a peelable film unit according to another preferred emnbodiment of the present invention;;
Figure 8 is a cross sectional view of a peelable film unit according to still another preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 9 is a perspective view, partly exploded, of a peelable film unit according to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 10 is an enlarged cross sectional illustration of a part of the peelable film unit of
Figure 9;
Figure 11 is a plan view of the peelable film unit of Figure 9 viewed from the back;
Figure 12 is a plan view of a peelable film unit according to a further embodiment of the present invention viewed from the back;
Figure 13 is a cross sectional view of a peelable film unit according to a still further embodiment of the present invention seen from the back;
Figure 14A to 14C are illustrations showing various variations of a peelable protective sheet; ;
Figure 15 is a cross sectional view of a peelable film unit according to a still further embodiment of the present invention seen from the back;
Figure 16 is a perspective view, partly exploded, of a peelable film unit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention in which a coloring member is provided;
Figure 17 is an enlarged cross sectional illustration of a part of the peelable film unit of
Figure 16;
Figures 18A to 18C are explanatory illustrations showing color change of mordant sections of the coloring member of Figure 16;
Figure 19 is a graph showing a density change of the mordant section of the coloring member of Figure 16;
Figures 20A to 20C are explanatory illustrations showing color change of a variation of mordant sections of the coloring member of Figure 16;;
Figure 21 is an explanatory illustration showing another variation of the coloring member of Figure 16;
Figure 22 is a graph showing the relationship between the coloring time and the thickness of developer reagent spread in a peelable film unit; and
Figures 23 to 26 are cross sectional views showing a coloring member disposed at various locations of the peelable film unit of Figures 16 and 17.
Referring now to the drawings, in particular to
Figures 1 to 5, there is shown a peelable film unit partly broken and exploded. As shown, a peelable film unit 1 has a photosensitive sheet 5, a mask member 2 preferably made of a thin plastic sheet for defining an area 2a in the photosensitive sheet 5 in which an image is formed, a peelable protective sheet 9 such as papers adhered to the photosensitive sheet 5 though an adhesive layer 8 and a transparent cover sheet 6 covering the photosensitive sheet 5. The mask member 2 has front and rear flap member which are foldable along folding lines 2b and 2c, respectively. The mask member 2 is provided with a rupturable pod 4 containg a processing liquid or viscose developer reagent therein and a trapping member 3 for trapping an excess of developer reagent, respectively, each being sandwiched by the flap member folded.An outer half of the rear flap is formed with a plurality of orifices 2d through which air escapes.
The photosensitive sheet 5, in particular, is heat-welded to the back of the mask member 2 with a heat-melt adhesive. The photosensitive sheet 5 comprises a supporting sheet 18 made of a water-proof paper sheet or a polyethylene sheet, an image receiving layer 17 coated over the supporting sheet 18, a peelable interlayer 16 coated over the image receiving layer 17, and a photosensitive emulsion layer 15 coated over the peelable interlayer 16. The photosensitive emulsion layer 15 of the photosensitive sheet 5 is heat-welded to the back of the mask member 2 with a heat-melt adhesive.
The peelable protective sheet 9 is heat-welded to the back of the supporting sheet 18 with a heat-melt adhesive layer 8. As is seen in Figure 1, the length of the photosensitive sheet 5 is made shorter than the length between the folding lines 2a and 2b of the mask member 2 for saving materials for the photosensitive emulsion layer 15 and the image receiving layer 17, which are generally expensive. It is noted that the front edge of the peelable protective sheet 9 is away from the front flap member of mask member 2 relative to the front edge of the photosensitive sheet 5.Owing to the elemental sheets of the peelable film unit 1 differing stepwise in length, not only is the front or leading edge of the peelable film unit 1 positively bit between processing rollers without slippage but it becomes certain that the photosensitive emulsion layer 15 can be peeled off from the image receiving layer 17 without being torn off from the mask member 2.
The cover sheet 6 made of a thin transparent plastic sheet is adhered to the mask member 2 to cover the whole area of the photosensitive sheet 5. For reducing the thickness of the peelable film unit, the cover sheet 6 is made equal in length to the photosensitive sheet 5 and is placed between the developer reagent containing rupturable pod 4 and the developer reagent trapping member 3 as well as the photosensitive sheet 5. Between the mask member 2 and the cover sheet 6 there are blackened spacer members 7 in the form of a long and relatively thick plastic rail which serves to make a developer reagent uniformly distributed over the photosensitive emulsion layer 15 of the photosensitive sheet 5.As is clearly shown in
Figure 3, each spacer rail member 7 extends near the front and rear edges and are used to structurally reinforce the folded flap members of the mask member 2.
However, the spacer member 7 need not always extend from edge to edge of the mask member but it is sufficient for it to extend between the folding lines 2b and 2c.
The peelable film unit 1 thus constructed is exposed through the transparent cover sheet 6. After exposure, the peelable film unit 1 is withdrawn from a camera or film holder (which is not shown but may be of any well known type of instant cameras or film holders therefor). The leading edge of the peelable film unit 1 is bit by a pair of spring-urged juxtaposed processing rollers 11 and 12 of the camera or film holder. As is shown in Figure 6, the front end portion of the peelable film unit 1 is passed between and by the processing rollers 11 and 12 of the camera or film holder to break the developer containing rupturable pod 4 so as to release the developer reagent and spread it between the photosensitive emulsion layer 15 and the cover sheet 6.
Owing to the front folded flap member of the mask member 2 reinforced by the spacer rail members 7, the front end portion of the peelable film unit 1 has a rigidity sufficient to be bit without being bent even though the photosensitive sheet 5 is shorter than the peelable film unit 1. With the withdrawal of the peelable film unit 1, the stepped leading edge of the photosensitive sheet 5 will abut against the lower processing roller 12 and the peelable film unit 1 passes between the processing rollers 11 and 12 without slippage consequently.
With the withdrawal of the peelable film unit 1 through the processing rollers 11 and 12, the developer reagent is spread and distributed between the photosensitive sheet 5 and the cover sheet 6 and an excess of the developer reagent escapes passing between the trailing end of the cover sheet 6 and the mask member 2 and captured by the trapping member 3. After a predetermined time, the diffusion transfer process is completed to transfer a latent image formed in the photosensitive layer 15 to the image receiving layer 17 through the peelable interlayer 16, providing a visible positive image on the image receiving layer 17.
Because the leading end of the mask sheet 2 extends beyond forward of the fore end of the photosensitive sheet 5, the peelable interlayer 16 is easily peeled apart from the image receiving layer 17 by holding and drawing apart the fore end of the mask sheet 2 and the fore end of the supporting sheet 18 of the photosensitive sheet 5 separately with fingers of the both hands, as is shown in Figure 4. Thus the photosensitive layer 15 and the image receiving sheet 17 are separated from each other. At this time, because the opposite ends of the peelable protective sheet 9 do not extend out beyond the opposite ends of the supporting sheet 18, it is difficult to peel apart the supporting sheet 18 from the peelable protective sheet 9 before the separation of the photo sensitive layer 15 from the image receiving layer 17.
Furthermore, because of the firm fixation of the photosensitive layer 15 to the mask member 2, the photosensitive layer 15 is peeled apart from the-image receiving layer 17 as being fixed to the mask member 2.
The peelable protective sheet 9 is thereafter peeled apart from the supporting sheet 18 with the image receiving layer 17 thus peeled apart from the photosensitive layer 15, as is shown in Figure 5. In such a manner, the supporting sheet 18, which bearing the image receiving layer 7 and the adhesive layer 8 formed on the both surfaces, respectively, is offered as a self-adhesive print. The supporting sheet 18 as an self-adhesive print is attached to an album or the like without applying any paste.
Referring to Figure 7, there is shown a peelable film unit 20 according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which a transparent cover sheet 26 is adhered to a mask member 22 at its opposite ends.
This transparent cover sheet 26 is made to be equal in length to the whole length of the peelable film unit 20.
Near and inside the adhered opposite ends there are a developer containing rupturable pod 24 containing a processing liquid or viscose developer reagent therein and a trapping member 23 for trapping an excess of developer reagent, each being adhered to the mask member 22. As is clearly shown in Figure 7, between the fore end of the peelable film unit 20 and the developer containing rupturable pod 24 there is a small space provided inside the peelable film unit 20. Due to the provision of the small space, the leading end portion of the peelable film unit 20 is easily smashed by and between the pair of the processing rollers 11 and 12 as is shown in Figure 6 and is securely bit without slipping therebetween accordingly.Attached to the mask member 22 is an elongated flap member 23A leaning on the trapping member 23 which is provided to prevent develop reagent from flowing backward. The mask member 22 is firmly attached with photosensitive sheet 25, having the same layers as the photosensitive sheet 5 of the previous embodiment has, over an opening 22a defining an exposure aperture. For easy separation between a photosensitive layer and an image receiving layer stuck to each other through a peelable interlayer, the photosensitive sheet 25 is adpated to be shorter than the mask member 22. The photosensitive sheet 25 is attached with a peelable protective sheet 29 such as paper through an adhesive layer. The peelable protective sheet 29 is adpated to be shorter than the photosensitive sheet 25 for the same reason as for the previous embodiment.It is noted in this embodiment that the equality of length between the transparent cover sheet 26 and the whole peelable film unit 20 advantageously maintains the flatness of the peelable film unit 20 and prevents the peelable protective sheet 29 from being removed upon passing between the processing rollers 11 and 12.
Referring to Figure 8, there is shown a peelable film unit 30 according to another embodiment of the present invention in which a transparent cover sheet 36 is adhered to a mask member 32 at one end to enclose therein a developer containing rupturable pod 34 containing a processing liquid or viscose developer reagent therein. The mask member 32 is folded back at the othe end to envelope a trapping member 33 for trapping an excess of developer reagent therein.
Because a photosensitive sheet 35, having the same layers as the photosensitive sheet 5 or 25 of the previous embodiment has, is mrde shorter than the mask member 32, easy separation between the photosensitive and image receiving layers is realized through a peelable interlayer. However, the construction of Fig. 7 in which the peelable film unit 20 in which the developer containing rupturable pod 34 is not enveloped by a folded-back end portion of the mask member 32 but is enclosed between the transparent cover sheet 36 and the mask member 32 is contributive not only to a sufficiently wide area of the transparent cover sheet 36 but also to an improved flatness and thickness of the peelable film unit 30 which permits the processing rollers 11 and 12 to smoothly and certainly bite the leading end of the peelable film unit 30 therebetween.
Referring now to Figures 9 to 11, there is shown a peelable film unit 40 according to still another preferred embodiment of the present invention which is partly broken and exploded. A particular feature of this embodiment resides in the provision of a peelable protective sheet such as paper which is more easily peeled apart from a photosensitive sheet after a self-processing process. As shown, a peelable film unit 40 has a photosensitive sheet 45, a mask member 42 desirably made of a thin plastic sheet for defining an area 42a in the photosensitive sheet 45 in which an image is formed, a peelable protective sheet 49 adhered to the photosensitive sheet 45 though an adhesive layer 48 and a transparent cover sheet 46 covering the photosensitive sheet 45. The mask member 42 has front and rear flap members which are foldable along folding line 42b and 42c, respectively.The mask member 42 is provided with a rupturable pod 44 containing a processing liquid or viscose developer reagent therein and a trapping member 43 for trapping an excess of developer reagent, respectively, each being sandwiched by the flap member folded. An outer half of the rear flap is formed with a plurality of orifices 42d through which air escapes while the peelable film unit 41 is processed.
The photosensitive sheet 45, in particular, is heat-welded to the back of the mask member 42 with a heat-melt adhesive. The photosensitive sheet 45 comprises a supporting sheet 58 made of a water-proof paper sheet or a polyethylene sheet, an image receiving layer 57 coated over the supporting sheet 58, a peelable interlayer 56 coated over the image receiving layer 57, and a photosensitive emulsion layer 55 coated over the peelable interlayer 56. The photosensitive emulsion layer 55 of the photosensitive sheet 45 is heat-welded to the back of the mask member 2 with a heat-melt adhesive. The peelable protective sheet 49 is heat-welded to the back of the supporting sheet 58 wth a heat-melt adhesive layer 48.As is seen in Figure 9, the length of the photosensitive sheet 45 is made shorter than the length between the folding lines 42a and 42b of the mask member 42 for saving materials for the photosensitive emulsion layer 55 and the image receiving layer 57 which are generally expensive.
The transparent cover sheet 46 made of a thin transparent plastic sheet is adhered to the mask member 42 to cover the whole area of the photosensitive sheet 45. Between the mask member 42 and the cover sheet 46 along both sides there are blackened spacer members 47 in the form of a long and slender plastic rail which serve to spread and distribute a developer reagent in a uniform layer over the photosensitive emulsion layer 55 of the photosensitive sheet 45.
As is clearly shown in Figures 10 and 11, the peelable protective sheet 49 has ripple-formed portions 50a and 50b adjacent to the trapping member 43 at its front corners where it cause no irregularity of developed and transferred image quality in the image receiving layer 57 and is relatively hard to peel apart by itself. It is desirable to form at least three ripples within a three mm width in the back surface of the peelable protective sheet 49.
The ripple-formed corners 50a and 50b may be provided by pressing ripples on film units when and which a film unit continuum in the form of a web is cut thereinto in the production line thereof.
The peelable film unit 40 thus constructed is provided for use with well known self-processing cameras or film holders in the same way as the peelable film unit previously described. Not only because the protective sheet 49 is weak-adhered to the supporting sheet 58 at the ripple-formed corners 50a and 50b due to the provision of ripples, but also because the ripple formed corners 50a and 50b are easily nip with fingers, it will be quite easy to peel and separate the peelable protective sheet 49 apart from the supporting sheet 58.
Referring now to Figure 12, there is shown a peelable film unit 60 according to yet another emodiment of the present invention which is different only in the location of ripples formed in the peelable protective sheet 59 from the same general construction as the peelabe film unit 50 of Figures 9 to 11. As shown, a plurality of parallel ripples are formed in both side margins 69a and 69b of the peelable protective sheet 69 adhered to the supporting sheet of the photosensitive sheet and extend in the direction in which the peelable film unit 60 passes between the processing rollers 11 and 12 shown in Figure 6 of the self-developing camera or film holder.
Owing to the provision of such parallel ripples formed in the ripple-formed side margins 69a and 69b of the peelable protective sheet 69, it is secured to prevent the leading edge of the peelable protective sheet 69 from being undesirably partly torn off due to a resistive engagement of the leading edge of the photosensitive sheet against the processing rollers, in particular, the lower processing roller 12.
For more easy separation, the peelable film unit may be incorporated with a peelable protective sheet such as papers formed with an adhesion-free part. As is shown in Figures 13 and 14A, a peelable film unit 70 of this embodiment is provided with a peelable protective sheet 79 which has an adhesion- free leading end margin 79a. The peelable protective sheet 79 can be easily peeled apart from the peelable film unit 70, in particular from the photosensitive sheet 75 by bending up the adhesion-free leading end margin 79a of the peelable protective sheet 79 with a finger nail and then tearing off it with fingers after the peelable film unit 70 has been self-processed.In this case, the peelable protective sheet 79 either may be of the same size as the photosensitive sheet 75 or may extend beyond the leading edge of the photosensitive sheet 75 in the direction in which the peelable film unit 70 passes between the processing rollers 11 and 12 shown in Figure 6 of the self-developing camera or film holder.
Otherwise, the peelable protective sheet 79 having the same size as the photosensitive sheet 75 may be formed either with an adhesion-free corner 79b as is shown in Figure 14B or with an adhesion- free peripheral margin 79c as is shown in Figure 14C, by partly removing the adhesive layer 78 coated over the photosensitive sheet 75.
There is shown in Figure 15 an alternative embodiment. A peelable film unit 80 has almost the same construction as the peelable film unit 70 shown in
Figure 13 has and the only difference is to employ a peelable protective sheet 89 having an extension 89a which extends beyond the leading edge of the photosensitive sheet 85 with the adhesive layer 88 coated all over the whole area thereof to form an adhesion-free section similar to the adhesion-free leading end margin 79a in Figure 14A.
Referring now to Figures 16 to 18, there is shown a peelable film unit 100 partly broken and exploded which is featured by the provision of a coloring member adapted to change in color upon the completion of the self-developing process of the peelable film unit as a result of the chemical reaction of the coloring member contacting a developer reagent spread over a photosensitive sheet of the peelable film unit. As shown in Figures 16 and 17, the peelable film unit 100 has a photosensitive sheet 105, a mask membe 102 which is made of a thin light- transmittable colored plastic sheet so as to prevent light piping and is formed therein with an opening 102a for defining an image frame in the photosensitive sheet 105 within which an image is formed, and a transparent cover sheet 106 covering the photosensitive sheet 105.The mask member 102 has front and rear flap members which are foldable along folding lines 102b and 102c, respectively. The mask member 102 is provided with a rupturable pod 104 containing a processing liquid or viscose developer reagent therein and a trapping member 103 for trapping and hardning an excess of developer reagent collected in a trapping space 101, respectively, each being sandwiched by a folded flap member. An outer half of the rear flap is formed with a plurality of orifices 102d through which air escapes.
The photosensitive sheet 105, in particular, is heat-welded to the back of the mask member 102 with an heat-melt adhesive. The photosensitive sheet 105 comprises a supporting sheet 118 made of a water-proof paper sheet or a polyethylene sheet, an image receiving layer 117 coated over the supporting sheet 118, a peelable interlayer 116 coated over the image receiving layer 117, and a photosensitive emulsion layer 115 coated over the peelable interlayer 116. The photosensitive emulsion layer 115 of the photosensitive sheet 105 is heat-welded to the back of the mask member 102 with a heat-melt adhesive. The cover sheet 106 made of a thin transparent plastic sheet is adhered to the mask member 102 with a heat melt adhesive. The cover sheet 106 made of a thin transparent plastic sheet is adhered to the mask member 102 to protect the whole area of the photosensitive sheet 105.Between the mask member 102 and the transparent cover sheet 106 there are blackened spacer members 107 in the form of a long and relatively thick plastic rail which serve to make a developer reagent distributed over the photosensitive emulsion layer 115 of the photosensitive sheet 105 uniform. As is clearly shown in Figure 17, each spacer rail member 107 extends near the front and rear edges and are used to structurally reinforce the folded flap members of the mask member 102.Attached to the inside surface of the rear flap member of the mask member 102 is a coloring member 110 as an indicator comprising three layers; a coloring layer 111 with mordant sections llla and color sample sections lllb arranged alternately, a white reflective layer 112 and a timing layer 113, all these layers being piled in that order from the surface thereof attached to the mask member 102.
The developer reagent in the trapping space 101 permeates gradually into the layers 112 and 111 through the timing layer 113. At this time, the timing layer 113 reacts with the developer reagent which is alkaline, controlling the progress of chemical reaction of the developer reagent with the coloring layer 111. The white reflection layer 112 is provided to make it easy to observe the gradual color change of the mordant sections llla of the coloring layer 111. The mordant sections llla of the coloring layer 111 react with the developer reagent to change its color to green varying in color density gradually from light to deep with the progress of their chemical reaction. The color sample sections lllb of the coloring layer 111 have a certain color density of green and provide no color change even when contacting the developer reagent.When the chemical reaction progresses to a predetermined extent, the mordant sections lila change to substantially the same color density of green density as that of the color sample sections lllb.
The following table shows and example of the chemical composition and quantity of each layer of the coloring member 110 and coating thickness.
Mordant Section of Coloring Layer Total Thickness 3
DAC(Deacetylcellulose) One part
Aceton Eight parts
TP(Thymolphthalein: 3.6%) Two parts
Ethanol Solution
White Reflection Layer Total Thickness 3
DAC(Diacetylcellulose) One part
Aceton Eight parts
Titanium White (55% in Weight) Eight parts
Timing Layer Total Thickness 3
Polyacrylic Ester 12 parts
Aceton Four parts
Ethyl Acetate Four parts
The color sample section lllb of the coloring layer ill may be of a mixture of polyvinyl butyral and phthalocyanine.
The peelable film unit 100 thus constructed is exposed through the transparent cover sheet 106 in the self-developing camera or film holder. After exposure, the peelable film unit 100 is withdrawn from a camera or film holder. The front leading edge of the peelable film unit 100 is bit by the spring-urged juxtaposed processing rollers 11 and 12 of the camera or film holder shown in Figure 6 and the peelable film unit 100 is withdrawn from the camera or film holder. With the withdrawal of the peelable film unit 100 through the processing rollers 11 and 12, the developer reagent is spread and distributed between the photosensitive sheet 105 and the cover sheet 106 in a uniform layer, and an excess of the developer reagent escapes passing between the trailing end of the cover sheet 106 and the mask member 102 and captured or trapped by the trapping member 103.With time, the diffusion transfer process of the peelable film unit 100 progresses to transform an image formed in the photosensitive layer 115 to the image receiving layer 117 as a visible positive image.
The timing layer 113 of the coloring member 110 reacts a part of the excess of the developer reagent trapped in the trapping space 101 and controls the permeation of the developing reagent into the white reflection layer 112 and the coloring layer 111. The developer reagent contacts and reacts with the coloring layer 111, in particular the mordant sections llla accordingly, causing the mordant sections llla of the coloring layer 111 to start a coloring reaction thereof.
Before an excess of the developing reagent passes through the timing layer 113, the mordant sections llla of the coloring layer 111 do not provide any color change but are white and, on the other hand, the color sample sections lllb of the coloring layer 111 are green as is shown in Figure 18A. The coloring layer ill can be seen as a pattern with white and green sections repeated alternatively through the light-transmittable mask member 102. When the excess of the developer reagent passed through the timing layer 113 and the white reflection layer 112 contacts with the coloring layer 111, causing the mordant sections lila if the coloring layer 111 to change at beginning to a light green and, with the progress of time, gradually to a deep green.The diffusion transfer process of the peelable film unit 100 is judged to have properly and sufficiently progressed when the coloring layer 111 becomes substan- tially the same color as that of the color sample sections lllb. At the time of the completion of the diffusion transfer process of the peelable film unit 100, the coloring layer 111 provides a uniform color, green, thereover which can be seen through the light transmittable mask member 102 as is shown in Figure 18B.
Therafter the peelable film unit 100 is separated into two parts by peeling apart the supporting sheet 118 with the image receiving layer 117 from the peelable interlayer 116 with fingers as is shown by a doubledotted line in Figure 17 so as to provide a print formed a visible positive image. Because the photosensitive layer 115 is adhered to the mask member 102, it is left on the part of the mask sheet 102 even peeling apart the supporting sheet 118 from the peeling interlayer 116.
With the further progress of time, the mordant sections llla of the coloring layer 111 becomes more deep than the color of the color sample sections lllb as is shaded in Figure 18C. At this time, the supporting sheet 118 with the image receiving layer 117 as print has however been peeled apart from the peelable film unit 100, there is therefore no problem with the print.
The coloring member 110 may contain polymer materials which contact with the developer reagent to release acid so as to perfrom a neutralizing reaction with the developer reagent which is alkaline. Through such a neutralizing reaction, the coloring member 110 having a polymer contained coloring layer 111 is either decolorized or colored in order to decide a timing at which the supporting sheet 118 is peeled apart from the peelable film unit 100 based on the change of color density .As is shown in more detail in Figure 19, the mordant sections llla of the coloring layer 111 are so designed as to discolorize after having had the most deep color or the maximum density of color at a time to and thereafter to show substan- tially the same color as the fixed density of color of the color sample sections lllb at a time tl which is the most suitable timing to terminate a diffusion transfer process of the peelable film unit 100, namely to peel apart the supporting sheet 118 from the peelable film unit 100.
According to the peelable film unit 100 with the coloring member 110 having the polymer contained coloring layer 111, the mordant sections villa of the coloring layer 111 of the coloring member 110 shows a coloring change to have substantially the same color as that of the color sample sections lllb, after the start of diffusion transfer process of the peelable film unit 100 but before the time to, as is shown in Figure 20A and, thereafter, to have the maximum density of color at the time to as is shown in Figure 20B. The mordant sections llla of the layer 111 of the coloring member 110 shows a discolorizing change to have again substantially the same color as that of the color sample sections lllb at the time t as is shown in Figure 20C.
As soon as possible immediately after the coloring member 110 has shown a uniform color thereover, the supporting sheet 118 is peeled apart from the peelable film unit 110. A significant advantage of this embodiment is that the uniformity of the color the coloring member 110 wil show at the time tl can be previously recognized.
It is noted that the mordant and color sample sections villa and lllb of the coloring layer 111 may take any color and any pattern. Alternatively, it is desirable to indicate such an message as, for example, "PEEL OFF" shown in Figure 21 pressing the photographer to peeling off the supporting sheet. In Figure 21, the solid characters "P", "E", "0", and "F" are previously printed either on the color sample sections lllb or on the outside surface of the trapping member 103. The broken characters, "E", "L" and "F" becomes gradually visible when the mordant sections llla contact and chemically react with an excess of the developer reagent.In this embodiment, when a time required to complete a diffusion transfer processing of the peelable film unit passes, the complete message "PEEL OFF" will become clearly visible and be seen through the light transmittable mask member 102.
Figure 22 shows the relationship between the coloring time and the quantity of developer reagent trapped in the trapping space 101. In this figure, the quantity of developer reagent is represented by the thickness of developing reagent spread between the transparent cover sheet 106 and the photosensitive sheet 105. The coloring time is shown by a solid curve A for a coloring member 110 having a timing layer 113 consisting of an acrylic polymer of 90% esterified rate and by a broken curve B for a coloring member 110 having a timer layer 113 consisting of an acrylic polymer of 85% esterified rate. In any case, it will be understood that a sufficient quantity of developer reagent provides a stable and short-time color change.
According to the above fact, it is preferred to dispose the coloring member 110 within the trapping space 101 formed by the folded flap member of the mask member 102. As is shown as an example in Figure 23, the coloring member 110 is preferably attached to the inside surface of a U-shaped wall of the trapping space 101 formed by the folded flap member of the mask sheet 102.
The coloring member 110 thus provided can be viewed either from the front side of the peelable film unit 100 or from the back side of the peelable film unit 100.
For more timely indicating the time at which a diffusion transfer process of the peelable film unit 100 completes, it is desirable to dispose the coloring member 110 attached to the inside surface of the mask member 102 close to the opening 102a on the side of the trapping space 101 as is shown in Figure 24 or on the side of the developer containing rupturable pod 104 as is shown in Figure 25.
Colour change of the coloring member will securely occur as long as the diffusion transfer process of the peelable film unit is permitted to take a sufficiently long time. In view of this, the coloring member 110 may be disposed at any location where it can contact with developer reagent. For example, as is shown in Figure 26, the coloring member 110 can be disposed adjacent to the transparent cover sheet 106 on the side of the developer containing rupturable pod 104. Otherwise, the coloring member 110 may be attached to the transparent cover sheet 106 out of the area defined by the opening 102a of the mask member 102.
It is to be clearly understood that there are no particular features of the foregoing specification, or of any claims appended hereto, which are at present regarded as being essential to the performance of the present invention, and that any one or more of such features or combinations thereof may therefore be included in, added to, omitted from or deleted from any of such claims if and when amended during the prosecution of this application or in the filing or prosecution of any divisional application based thereon.
Furthermore the manner in which any of such features of the specification or claims are described or defined may be amended, broadened or otherwise modified in any manner which falls within the knowledge of a person skilled in the relevant art, for example so as to encompass, either implicitly or explicitly, equivalents or generalisations thereof.
Claims (8)
1. A peelable monosheet self-processing photographic film unit comprising a mask member formed with an opening; a photosensitive sheet attached to said mask member to define an image area thereon by said opening of said mask member and bearing an image receiving layer and a photosensitive layer coated on a supporting sheet thereof; and a rupturable pod containing therein a developer reagent which is ruptured to release said developer reagent for spreading and distributing it over said image area of said photosensitive sheet in a direction in which said peelable monosheet self-processing photographic film unit is moved for self-processing, wherein said photosensitive sheet is provided with an adhesive layer covered by a peelable protective sheet which has a front edge away from a leading edge of said photosensitive sheet toward a rear edge of said photosenitive sheet.
2. A peelable monosheet self-processing photographic film unit as defined in claim 1, said peelable protective sheet having a rear extension beyond a rear end of said photosensitive sheet.
3. A peelable monosheet self-processing photographic film unit comprsing a mask member formed with an opening and a photosensitive sheet attached to said mask member to define an image area thereon by said opening of said mask member and having a supporting sheet bearing an image receiving layer, a peelable interlayer and a photosensitive layer coated thereon in that order toward the side of said mask member, said supporting sheet being peeled apart from said peelable interlayer after a self-processing of said peelable monosheet self-processing photographic film unit so as to provide said supporting sheet with a visible image thereon as a print, wherein said supporting sheet is provided with an adhesive layer covered by a peelable protective sheet which has a part to facilitate being picked up to be peeled apart from said peelable monosheet self-processing photographic film unit with fingers.
4. A peelable monosheet self-processing photographic film unit as defined in claim 3, wherein said part of said peelable protective sheet is formed by partly removing said adhesive layer between said supporting sheet and said peelable protective sheet.
5. A peelable monosheet self-processing photographic film unit as defined in claim 3, wherein said peelable protective sheet is formed with ripples in rear corners thereof, to define said part.
6. A peelable monosheet self-processing photographic film unit as defined in claim 3, wherein said peelable protective sheet is formed with ripples in both side margins thereof to define said part.
7. A peelable monosheet self-processing photographic film unit as defined in any one of claims 1-to 6, wherein said peelable protective sheet is made of a paper.
8. A peelable monosheet self-processing photographic film unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (7)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP17080687 | 1987-11-09 | ||
| JP28251487A JPH0687158B2 (en) | 1987-11-09 | 1987-11-09 | Instant film unit |
| JP1987170805U JPH0175242U (en) | 1987-11-09 | 1987-11-09 | |
| JP17080487 | 1987-11-09 | ||
| JP6074888U JPH021749U (en) | 1987-11-09 | 1988-05-09 | |
| JP1988063153U JPH0755557Y2 (en) | 1987-11-09 | 1988-05-13 | Instant film unit |
| GB8826223A GB2212295B (en) | 1987-11-09 | 1988-11-09 | Monosheet self-processing film unit |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9115323D0 GB9115323D0 (en) | 1991-08-28 |
| GB2246450A true GB2246450A (en) | 1992-01-29 |
| GB2246450B GB2246450B (en) | 1992-06-17 |
Family
ID=27562805
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9115323A Expired - Lifetime GB2246450B (en) | 1987-11-09 | 1991-07-15 | Monosheet self-processing film unit |
| GB9115322A Expired - Lifetime GB2246449B (en) | 1987-11-09 | 1991-07-15 | Monosheet self-processing film unit |
Family Applications After (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9115322A Expired - Lifetime GB2246449B (en) | 1987-11-09 | 1991-07-15 | Monosheet self-processing film unit |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (2) | GB2246450B (en) |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1527120A (en) * | 1974-09-14 | 1978-10-04 | Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd | Diffusion-transfer photographic method and film unit therefor |
| GB1531240A (en) * | 1974-11-12 | 1978-11-08 | Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd | Diffusion-transfer photographic method and film unit |
-
1991
- 1991-07-15 GB GB9115323A patent/GB2246450B/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1991-07-15 GB GB9115322A patent/GB2246449B/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1527120A (en) * | 1974-09-14 | 1978-10-04 | Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd | Diffusion-transfer photographic method and film unit therefor |
| GB1531240A (en) * | 1974-11-12 | 1978-11-08 | Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd | Diffusion-transfer photographic method and film unit |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9115322D0 (en) | 1991-08-28 |
| GB2246449A (en) | 1992-01-29 |
| GB9115323D0 (en) | 1991-08-28 |
| GB2246450B (en) | 1992-06-17 |
| GB2246449B (en) | 1992-06-17 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20051109 |