US3652281A - Photographic film unit - Google Patents

Photographic film unit Download PDF

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Publication number
US3652281A
US3652281A US744912A US3652281DA US3652281A US 3652281 A US3652281 A US 3652281A US 744912 A US744912 A US 744912A US 3652281D A US3652281D A US 3652281DA US 3652281 A US3652281 A US 3652281A
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Prior art keywords
film unit
elements
sheets
photographic film
image
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US744912A
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English (en)
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Albert J Bachelder
Frederick J Binda
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Polaroid Corp
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Polaroid Corp
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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
    • G03C8/44—Integral units, i.e. the image-forming section not being separated from the image-receiving section
    • G03C8/46—Integral units, i.e. the image-forming section not being separated from the image-receiving section characterised by the trapping means or gas releasing means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03B17/00—Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor
    • G03B17/28—Locating light-sensitive material within camera
    • G03B17/32—Locating plates or cut films
    • G03B17/34—Changing plates or cut films

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A self-developing, photosensitive film unit including a multilayer photosensitive element and a transparent imagerecording element laminated to one another during manufacture and a rupturable container of processing liquid attached to the elements at one end for dispensing its liquid contents between the elements, and adapted to be processed by passing the film unit including the container and laminated elements between a pair of pressure-applying members.
  • the film unit is formed by embossing, or attaching spacer strips, to the lateral margins of an elongated strip and then laminating the strip to a second strip by spreading a film-forming agent between the strips, severing the laminated strips to the required length to form sandwiches each comprising laminated photosensitive and image-recording elements, securing a binding around at least two sides of each sandwich and attaching a container of processing liquid to one end of the sandwich.
  • the film unit includes a photosensitive sheet, a transparent, image-receiving sheet, a rupturable pod or container of processing liquid adapted, when distributed between the sheets following exposure of the photosensitive sheet, to produce a transfer image visible through the image-receiving sheet, and a combination mask and binding element for retaining the sheets in face-to-face relation, coupling the container to the sheets and assisting in the distribution of the processing liquid between the sheets.
  • the container of processing liquid is of the type which, when subjected to compressive pressure, discharges its liquid contents unidirectionally
  • the film unit comprises means including the binding element for conducting the liquid between the sheets where it is distributed in a thin layer by advancing the sheets between the pair of pressure-applying members employed to compress and rupture the container.
  • the combination mask and binding element aids in the proper spread and distribution of the processing liquid within the film unit between the sheets by securing the sheets to one another at their lateral edges so as to confine the processing liquid to the region between the sheets while permitting the sheets to separate to their edges and by spacing apart medial portions of the pressure-applying members.
  • the film unit is designed to remain intact following processing, with the liquid spread between the sheets functioning to laminate the sheets to one another.
  • the margins of the imagereceiving sheet are embossed as shown, for example, in the U.S. Pat. No. 726,252 application and in the copending application of E. E. Land et al., Ser. No. 622,286, filed March 10, 1967, and now abandoned, so as to displace the sheets apart from one another in at least the regions of the lateral margins of the image area during distribution of the processing liquid.
  • film units of the type embodying the present invention basically comprise two separate sheetlike elements
  • a number of advantages can be realized by laminating the two elements during the manufacture and assembly process and delaminating the elements following exposure during spreading of the processing liquid.
  • a prelaminated integral film unit is easier to handle and manipulate during assembly and during exposure and processing within the camera; it is more compact and hence, permits smaller and less bulky film packs and cameras; it is less subject to buckling and distortion due to temperature and humidity changes and more likely to lie flat and remain planar during exposure; and processing, specifically, spreading of the processing liquid within the film unit is facilitated since there is little or substantially no air between the sheets to interfere with liquid distribution.
  • a film unit such as disclosed in the aforementioned patent in which a single photosensitive layer or strata, e.g., a gelatino silver halide emulsion, is formed by distributing the photosensitive medium as a layer between the supports comprising the two elements of the film unit, and include manufacture and assembly of the various strata comprising the elements, lamination of the elements during manufacture and assembly, and delamination of the elements during processing.
  • a single photosensitive layer or strata e.g., a gelatino silver halide emulsion
  • An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved self-developing, photosensitive film unit and a method of manufacturing and assembling the film unit.
  • the invention accordingly comprises the product possessing the features, properties and the relation of components, and the method involving the several steps and the relation and order of one or more of such steps with respect to each of the others which are exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially in section, of a film unit embodying the invention
  • FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the film unit of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a transverse, sectional view of the film unit of FIG.
  • FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 of another embodiment of the film unit
  • FIGS. 5 and 6 are sectional views, illustrating the processing of the film units of FIGS. 3 and 4 respectively;
  • FIG. 7 is a somewhat schematic view, illustrating the method of manufacturing the film unit of FIGS. 1 through 3;
  • FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, showing the method of manufacturing the film unit of FIG. 4.
  • the film unit of the invention is adapted to the performance of a number of different image-forming process, it is especially designed for the production of a positive photographic print in full color formed by a diffusion-transfer process in which a photographic image-recording medium including a photosensitive material such as silver halide is exposed to form an image (latent) therein and is treated by wetting with a liquid processing agent to develop the image of the image-recording medium, form an imagewise distribution of transferable image-providing substances and transfer the image-providing substances by diffusion to an image-receptive stratum in which they are immobilized to form a visible positive image.
  • a diffusion-transfer process in which a photographic image-recording medium including a photosensitive material such as silver halide is exposed to form an image (latent) therein and is treated by wetting with a liquid processing agent to develop the image of the image-recording medium, form an imagewise distribution of transferable image-providing substances and transfer the image-providing substances by diffusion to an image
  • a preferred embodiment of the film unit of the invention includes all of the materials and reagents required to produce a full color photographic print by a process such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,983,606, issued May 9, 1961, in the name of Howard G. Rogers.
  • This patent discloses a photosensitive element including a silver halide emulsion and a dye developer, that is, a dye which is a silver halide developing agent; a second or image-receiving element including an image-receiving layer of a dyeable material; and a processing liquid in which the dye developer is soluble.
  • the photosensitive and image-receiving elements are superposed with the emulsion and image-receiving layers in face-to-face relation and the processing liquid is distributed in a uniform layer between and in contact therewith for permeation into the photosensitive layer where it initiates development of exposed sliver halide.
  • the dye developer is immobilized or precipitated in exposed areas as a consequence of development while in unexposed areas and partially exposed areas of the emulsion, the dye developer remains unreacted and diffusible thereby providing an imagewise distribution of unoxidized dye developer which is transferred, at least in part, by diffusion to the image-receiving layer without altering the imagewise distribution of the dye developer, to form a reversed or positive color image of the developed latent image in the emulsion.
  • Multicolor transfer images are obtained utilizing dye developers, for example, by employing an integral multilayer photosensitive element such as illustrated in FIG. 9 of the No. 2,983,606 US. Pat, including at least two selectively sensitized overlying photosensitive strata on a single support.
  • a typical photosensitive element of this type comprises a support carrying a red sensitive silver halide emulsion stratum, a green sensitive silver halide emulsion stratum and a blue sensitive silver halide emulsion stratum, the emulsions having associated therewith, respectively, for example, a cyan developer, a magenta dye developer and a yellow dye developer.
  • Each set of silver halide emulsion and associated dye developer strata may be separated from other sets by suitable interlayers formed, for example, of gelatin or polyvinyl alcohol.
  • the dye developers are preferably selected for their ability to provide colors useful in producing a full color image by a subtractive process and may be incorporated in the respective silver halide emulsion with which they are associated or in a separate layer behind their respective silver halide emulsion.
  • a yellow filter is incorporated located in front of the green sensitive emulsion and comprising a yellow dye developer or a separate layer of a yellow filter material.
  • FIGS. 1 through 3 of the drawings wherein there is illustrated a photographic film unit 10 embodying the invention, the thickness of the materials being exaggerated for purposes of clarity of illustration.
  • Film unit 10 comprises a photosensitive or image-recording sheet 12, a second or image-receiving sheet 14 and a rupturable container 16 holding a quantity of processing liquid 18.
  • Sheets 12 and 14 are preferably rectangular and coextensive with one another and are arranged in superposed face-to-face contact with at least the lateral edges of each sheet aligned with the lateral edges of the other.
  • Binding element 20 is in the general form of a frame having a large rectangular opening 22 defining the extent of the image produced in the film unit, surrounded by lateral edge portions 24and end portions 26 and 28.
  • Sheet 12 includes lateral marginal portions 30 and an end marginal portion 34 and sheet 14 includes lateral marginal portions 32 and an end marginal portion 36 with the lateral and end marginal portions of the two sheets being located in face-to-face contact, preferably with the edges of the lateral marginal portions in alignment.
  • binding element 20 The lateral edge portions 24 and end portion 26 of binding element 20 are secured around and to, respectively, lateral marginal portions 30 and 32 of sheets 12 and 14 and end marginal portions 34 and 36 of the sheets effectively binding the two sheets to one another along three sides thereof.
  • at least binding element 20 is formed of an opaque, white material and container 16 may also include a white outer coating to provide a more aesthetically pleasing product.
  • Container 16 is of the type shown in US. Pat. No. 2,543,181, formed by folding a rectangular blank of a fluid impervious sheet material medially and sealing the marginal sections of the blank to one another to form a cavity for containing processing liquid 18.
  • the seal between longitudinal marginal sections 38 of the container is weaker than the end seals so that upon the application of a predetermined compressive force to the walls of the container in the region of the liquidfilled cavity, there will be generated within the liquid hydraulic pressure sufficient to separate longitudinal marginal sections 38 throughout the major portion of their length to form a discharge mouth at least equal in length to the length of the cavity and the width of opening 22 through which processing liquid 18 is discharged.
  • Container 16 is attached to the sheets at the edges thereof opposite end portions 34 and 36, preferably with the longitudinal edge of the container butted against the edges of the sheets and with the discharge passage of the container aligned with the facing surfaces of the sheets.
  • Sheets 12 and 14 include, respectively, end marginal portions 40 and 42 and the means for coupling the container to the sheets include end portion 28 of binding element 20 secured to end marginal portion 42 of sheet 14 and longitudinal marginal sections 38 of the container so as'to bridge the container and sheet 14; and a strip 44 secured to end marginal portion 40 of sheet 12 and the other longitudinal marginal section 38 of the container to bridge the gap between the container and sheet 12.
  • the binding element and strip 44 cooperate to provide a liquid-tight seal between the marginal sections of the container defining the discharge mouth thereof and sheets 12 and 14; and form a circuit for conducting the liquid from the container between the sheets at end marginal portions 40 and 42 thereof.
  • the most useful and advantageous film unit insofar as packaging, storing, handling, exposure and processing are concerned, is one characterized by an integral, unitary, laminate form of structure designed so that its integrity may be maintained during and after exposure and processing; and a structure that is sturdy, has some flexibility, resists buckling and warping, remains flat particularly during exposure, and
  • a useful and attractive photographic print can be described as being substantially flat or planar and without a tendency to curl as the result of temperature and humidity changes; as being relatively rigid and inflexible as opposed to being limp or easily bent; as having a uniform white border surrounding a well-defined rectangular image that extends to the border; and a protective coating or covering for the image permitting the print to be handled and stored without the necessity for taking special precautions to avoid damage and deterioration.
  • the structure and composition of components of the film unit of the invention combine to provide a film unit meeting these criteria and specially adapted, when processed, to provide a useful and attractive photographic print, preferably in full color, having the foregoing characteristics.
  • At least one of the sheets of the film unit is formed of a transparent material.
  • the second or image-receiving sheet is transparent and the photosensitive medium is exposed and the final image is viewed through the image-receiving sheet which functions to protect both the image-recording medium and the final image.
  • the photosensitive sheet may be transparent depending upon the manner in which the image-recording medium is exposed and the final image is formed and viewed.
  • the transparent imagereceiving sheet may be formed of a conventional film base material such as cellulose triacetate coated on its inner surface with one or more layers providing an appropriate environment for the formation of a diffusion transfer image.
  • the image-receiving sheet may be prepared as disclosed in the following example, by coating a transparent cellulose triacetate film base in succession with the following layers:
  • the image-recording sheet is preferably opaque to actinic light and is prepared, for example, by coating in succession on a gelatin subbed opaque cellulose triacetate film base, the following layers:
  • the image-recording and image-receiving elements may incorporate other strata and coatings commonly employed in photographic products of this type such as optical coatings for preventing halation and reflection and otherwise improve the optical properties of the sheet material and to facilitate and improve exposure and viewing of the final image.
  • optical coatings for preventing halation and reflection and otherwise improve the optical properties of the sheet material and to facilitate and improve exposure and viewing of the final image.
  • the embodiment of the film unit illustrated and described herein is adapted to be exposed and processed to produce a multicolor dye transfer image in a dyeable polymeric layer located between a transparent film on which the dyeable polymeric layer is supported and an opaque layer located between the image and the photosensitive medium.
  • This opaque layer comprises the liquid contents 18 of container 16 provided in sufficient quantity to form a layer of predetermined thickness, e.g., of the order of 0.004 inch, when distributed uniformly between the sheets over an area at least coextensive with opening 22 in binding element 20.
  • the processing liquid is provided in a quantity in excess of the minimum amount required.
  • the processing liquid contained in container 16 comprises an aqueous alkaline solution having a pH at which the dye developers are soluble and diffusible and contains an opacifying agent in a quantity sufficient to mask the dye developers retained in the image-recording layer (laminate) subsequent to processing; and a film-forming viscosity increasing agent or agents to facilitate rupture of the container and distribution of the liquid processing composition and help in maintaining the layer of processing composition as a structurally stable layer tending to bind the sheets to one another.
  • the opacifying agent will be present in the layer of liquid spread between the transparent image-receiving sheet and the opaque image-recording sheet in a concentration sufficient to prevent further exposure of the imagerecording medium by actinic radiation transmitted by the transparent image-receiving sheet.
  • Bind ing element 20, strip 44 and the material comprising container 16 are also formed of a material opaque to actinic radiation to prevent exposure of the image-recording medium by light entering the laminated assembly at the edges thereof.
  • the opacifying agent is selected for its suitability as a background for viewing the dye-transfer image formed in the dyeable polymeric layer as well as for its opaque property. Another factor considered in the selection of the opacifying agent is the requirement that it does not interfere with the formation and color integrity of the dye-transfer image in the image-receiving sheet and that the agent be aesthetically pleasing and does not provide a noisey background that may degrade the image or detract from the information content thereof.
  • Opacifying agents particularly desirable for incorporation in the liquid processing composition are those providing a white background for viewing the transfer image and particularly those compositions conventionally employed to provide a background for photographic reflection prints and having optical properties particularly suited for the reflection of incident radiation.
  • opacifying agents examples include barium sulfate, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, barium stearate, silver flake, silicates, alumina, zirconium oxide, zirconium acetyl acetate, sodium zirconium sulfate, kaolin, mica and the like.
  • An opacifying agent especially preferred because of its highly reflective properties is titanium dioxide and where it is desired to increase the opaqueness of the processing composition containing, for example, titanium dioxide, beyond that ordinarily obtained, an additional opacifying agent such as carbon black may be added in a concentration of about one part carbon black to 500 parts titanium dioxide.
  • a liquid processing composition suitable for incorporation in container 16 for use in combination with sheet materials of the type disclosed in the foregoing example is as follows:
  • film unit 10 is processed as illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings, by moving the film unit with container 16 foremost relative to and between a pair of juxtaposed members for applying compressive pressure first to the container to eject the fluid contents of the container between the photosensitive and image-recording sheets 12 and 14 and then spread processing liquid 18 in a uniform, thin layer between sheets over an area at least coextensive with opening 22 in binding element 20.
  • the processing liquid includes an agent for increasing the viscosity of the liquid so as to promote opening of the discharge passage of the container throughout substantially its entire length and facilitate the discharge of the liquid from the container and spreading of the liquid between the sheets.
  • the liquid should be quite viscous and contain the film-forming material in quantities sufficient to impart a viscosity in excess of l,000 centipoises at a temperature of C., and preferably of the order of 1,000 to 200,000 centipoises at said temperature.
  • Preferred means for spreading the processing liquid in a thin layer of uniform predetermined thickness comprise a pair of cylindrical rolls 46 mounted in juxtaposition for rotation about axes located in a common plane and biased toward one another and/or mounted a fixed maximum distance apart so as to apply compressive pressure to the container and elements of the film unit during movement thereof between the rolls.
  • compressive pressure is initially applied to container 16 generating hydraulic pressure in liquid 18 effecting the rupture of the bond between longitudinal marginal sections 38 of the container and the discharge of liquid 18 in the form of an elongated mass between sheets 12 and 14 at the end marginal portions 40 and 42 thereof.
  • This thickness is in turn a function of the thickness of the photosensitive and second sheets 12 and 14 and the thickness of lateral edge portions 24 ofbinding element 20. Since the photosensitive and second sheets are of substantially uniform thickness throughout, the thickness of layer 48 of processing liquid is determined by the thickness of binding element 20 and is approximately twice the thickness of the binding element. In a typical film unit, for example, the binding element may have a thickness of the order of 0.002 inch and provide for spreading of the processing liquid in a layer having an initial depth of the order of 0.004 inch.
  • image-receiving sheet 14 is embossed at its lateral margins to displace marginal portions 32 out of the plane of the medial portion of sheet 14 toward sheet 12 by a distance or depth approximating the thickness of binding element 20 or, one-half of the desired initial thickness of the layer of processing liquid.
  • This construction provides for the formation of a layer of processing liquid extending substantially to the lateral edges of opening 22 in the binding element.
  • the sheets commence to absorb the processing liquid, immediately as it is spread therebetween and to further insure the formation of a layer of processing liquid extending at least to the lateral edges of the opening in the binding element as well as to provide assurance that'the liquid within the narrow linear regions between the sheets at the lateral edges of the image area will be available in sufficient quantity, the edge sections of lateral edge portions 24 and end portion 28 secured to marginal portions 32 and end portion 36 of sheet 14 are wider thanthe sections of lateral edge portions 24 and end portion 28 secured to marginal portions 30 and end portion 34 of sheet 12.
  • Strip 44 is also narrower than end portion 26 and as a result of this construction, during spreading of the processing liquid between sheets 12 and 14, the inner surfaces of the sheets will be spaced apart in lateral and end regions extending outside of the edges of opening 22 (defining the image area) following processing liquid to enter these regions and provide a reservoir of liquid for effecting image-formation within the region of the exposed image-recording medium immediately adjacent the lateral and end edges of opening 22.
  • the processing liquid is initially spread as shown in FIG. 5 in a layer having a depth approximately twice the thickness of the binding element and calculated to provide aqueous liquid sufficient to permeate the layer containing the photosensitive medium and effect formation of a diffusion transfer image.
  • the thickness of layer 48 is reduced and the film-forming agent becomes increasingly solid to provide a dimensionally stable opaque layer providing a background for the transfer image and tending to adhere the sheets to one another to form a laminate in which the integrity of the film unit structure is preserved.
  • the depth of embossing of image-receiving sheet 14 approximates the final thickness of layer 48 to provide an integral, laminated structure of substantially uniform thickness throughout in which layer 48 and the image extend to the edges of opening 22 in binding element 20.
  • the film unit of the invention is designed to be processed by movement between spread rolls 46 to distribute the processing liquid in a layer that is continuous, is of uniform depth and extends throughout the entire area within opening 22 of binding element 20.
  • liquid 18 is advanced between the sheets as a mass located immediately ahead of spread rolls 46 and extending from sidetoside of the region defined by opening 22.
  • the binding elements at the lateral margins of the sheets function to prevent escape of the processing liquid while permitting the sheets to separate to their margins during spreading of the processing liquid.
  • the liquid collecting and retaining (also termed trapping) system must be designed to prevent escape of the liquid and accordingly binded element 20 which forms a part of the liquid collecting and retaining system is preferably formed of a substantially liquid impermeable material such as a polymeric film, waterproof paper or the like, which is also substantially impermeable to gas. This means that air, advanced between the sheets ahead of the processing liquid, may also tend to be trapped together with excess processing liquid interfering with the complete spread of the liquid and accordingly, provision must be made for releasing, as well as minimizing, the air.
  • the trapping means includes an elongated, generally comb-shaped spacing element 50 adapted to be secured between the trailing end portion of one of the sheets, preferably photosensitive sheet 12, and trailing end section 28 of binding element 20 to provide trapping spaces there between in which excess processing liquid is collected and retained.
  • Spacing element 50 is substantially equal in length to the width of the sheets, is relatively narrow having a width approximating or slightly less than the width of the trailing end border and includes a longitudinal section 52, uniformly spaced teeth 54 extending from the longitudinal section, and end sections 56 in the form of widened teeth extending from the ends of longitudinal section 52. Longitudinal section 52 is formed with recess 58 located intermediate teeth 54. Spacing element 50 is formed of a relatively incompressible material, organic plastics adapted to molding processes being preferred, and has a thickness of the order of one to three times the thickness of the photosensitive and second sheets, the thickness of the spacing element depending upon the quantity of excess processing liquid to be collected and retained.
  • Spacing element 50 is secured between trailing end portion 28 of binding element 20 and end marginal portion 34 of photosensitive sheet 12 with teeth 54 extending toward the trailing end of the film unit to at least the trailing edge of the photosensitive sheet to provide between the teeth, photosensitive sheets and binding element, spaces or reservoirs opening toward the trailing end of the film unit.
  • End marginal section 28 of binding element 20 is adhered along its edge (trailing) to photosensitive sheet 12 adjacent longitudinal section 52 of the spacing element and may also be adhered to the outer surface of the spacing element with the inner surface thereof being adhered to the photosensitive sheet thereby further insuring integrity of the structure.
  • At least the medial portion of the photosensitive sheet i.e., the portion located intermediate end sections 56 of the spacing element, may be shorter than the second sheet 14 so that the trailing edge of the second sheet is spaced inwardly from the trailing edge of the second sheet.
  • the photosensitive sheet includes extended sections 60 at its lateral edges corresponding to end sections 56 and extending beyond the trailing edge of the medial portion of the photosensitive sheet to substantially the trailing edge of the second sheet.
  • the processing liquid is advanced as a mass between sheets 12 and 14 by and ahead of pressure-applying rolls 46 toward the trailing end of the film unit and any excess processing liquid is spread beyond the trailing edge of the image area between the trailing end marginal portions 34 and 36 of sheets 12 and 14 and thence beyond the trailing edge of photosensitive sheet 12.
  • the pressure rolls pass over the trailing end section of the film unit, they press together the inner facing surfaces of the trailing end marginal portions 34 and 36 securely laminating these portions to one another by virtue of the fact that these portions have been wetted by the liquid so as to activate the adhesive properties of the adjacent hydrophilic strata and there is no layer of liquid between the strata to weaken the bond formed by pressing the sheets and strata together.
  • the additional thickness of the film unit in this region provides for the application of increased compressive pressure further insuring the formation of a secure bond between the sheets in the region of the trailing edges.
  • the teeth 54 of spacing elements 50 being incompressible, function to hold apart the facing surfaces of sheet 12 and trailing end portion 28 of binding element 20 in the same region thereby providing a space exterior of the two sheets into which the excess processing liquid is free to flow.
  • End section 56 of spacing element 50 and extended section 60 of sheet 12 extend to the trailing edge of sheet 14 and cooperate to maintain the space within the binding element between the trailing edge of sheet 12 and the trailing edge of sheet 14 required to enable the excess processing liquid to flow from between the sheets into the trapping spaces between the teeth of the spacing element.
  • Recesses 58 are provided in longitudinal section 52 of the spacing element to permit air to escape from the trapping spaces between the teeth and two alternative constructions may be incorporated in the film unit for releasing air from between the binding element and sheet 12.
  • end portion 28 of the binding element is formed with a plurality of very small perforations or pin holes 62 each located in alignment with a recess 58 and being large enough to pass air freely but too small to pass the viscous processing liquid. It should be apparent that this is also a characteristic of recesses 52 which are also quite small and, accordingly will inhibit, if not absolutely preclude, the passage of the viscous liquid while allowing the free passage of air.
  • both sheets 12 and 14 may be formed at their trailing ends with a series of indentations or notches providing spaces for trapping excess processing liquid, thereby obviating the necessity for an additional element (50) for trapping the excess processing liquid.
  • the separation of the sheets as the bond is ruptured provides a region of reduced pressure, into which the processing liquid is drawn in the direction in which it is being spread. Moreover, by adhering the sheets in face-to-face relation, a thinner, more compact structure is obtained in which there can be no motion of the sheets relative to one another, and distortion or buckling of the sheets is prevented. These latter two factors are especially important during exposure when the photosensitive sheet is required to be located with a substantial degree of preciseness in the image plane of the camera lens and particularly, when a number of stacked film units are involved with the foremost film unit being urged by means at the opposite side of a stack into position for exposure with the second sheet of the film unit located against the positioning means.
  • the aforementioned Land patent suggests utilizing the inherent adhesive properties of the photosensitive layer, i.e., gelatin, to laminate the sheets of the film unit to one another.
  • the photosensitive layer comprises a number of selectively sensitized photosensitive strata as well as other strata.
  • a major problem to be solved is separation of the sheets at the proper strata or layers during and in response to spreading of the processing liquid.
  • the photosensitive and image-recording elements are laminated to one another as a step which is performed early in the assembly process.
  • photosensitive and image-recording elements such as described in the foregoing example are manufactured by coating the appropriate layers on elongated support strips by conventional continuous coating practices, including baking the coated strips to form integral, finished laminates that can be handled and utilized, if defined, in their then existing conditions.
  • coating the appropriate layers on elongated support strips by conventional continuous coating practices, including baking the coated strips to form integral, finished laminates that can be handled and utilized, if defined, in their then existing conditions.
  • a typical film unit manufactured according to the invention was formed by laminating photosensitive and image-recording sheets, such as described, by advancing the sheets into superposition between a pair of pressureapplying rolls while introducing an aqueous solution of a polymeric film-forming agent between the sheets at the nip of the rolls. As illustrated in FIG.
  • the image-receiving element 14 was first embossed by passing it between a pair of embossing rolls 62 and then advanced into superposition with photosensitive sheet 12 at the nip of a pair of laminating rolls 64, one of which may be provided with flanges at its ends for containing the laminating liquid introduced between the sheets at the nip of the rolls through a tube 66 where the liquid is permitted to form a meniscus.
  • the laminating liquid comprised a solution of 1.23 grams of hydroxypropyl cellulose in 100 cc.
  • the sheets were laminated by moving them at the rate of 45 inches per minute between a pair of hard rubber rolls (approximately 60 to 70 durometer) biased toward one another to exert approximately 62 p.s.i. pressure.
  • the quantity of the film-forming agent distributed between the sheets was relatively small, approximately l.45 mg. per square foot.
  • the liquid was distributed in contact with the sheets and the sheets were pressed together so as to adhere them to one another over substantially their entire facing surfaces (as shown in FIG. 3) except for narrow linear regions, designated 60, immediately adjacent the embossed lateral marginal portions 32 of the imagerecording (photosensitive) sheet.
  • the small quantity of filmforming agent has been found to contribute to the formation of a bond between the sheets that is secure under normal conditions encountered in manufacture, storage, and use, and having properties that are not unduly altered in response to changes in humidity, yet ruptures readily, easily, and cleanly, leaving the adjacent layers intact when subjected to tension as by spreading a mass of liquid between the sheets.
  • the laminated sheets are advanced from laminating rolls 64 into and through an oven 68 where they are baked to evaporate the laminating liquid and thence to cutting means such as rotary knife 70 and anvil 72 where the individual sandwiches are cut to length.
  • Each sandwich is then guided by a guide 74 and stop 76 onto a strip or web comprising the retaining element which may be pre-formed with appropriate openings and edge configurations and coated with a suitable adhesive.
  • the remaining assembly steps include adhering retaining element 20 to the sandwich comprising photosensitive and second sheets 12 and 14 and attaching a container of processing liquid thereto.
  • prelaminating elongated strips of the photoand image-recording sheet material and then severing them to the desired length has the added advantage of delaminating, or at least weakening the bond between, the two sheets in the region in which they are cut. This includes the leading edge portions of the two elements where they are coupled to a container of processing liquid and where delamination of the elements by the processing liquid is initiated.
  • This delamination, or weakening of the bond, by cutting occurs in a region extending inwardly from the leading edges of the sheets a very small fraction of an inch, e.g., a few thousandths, and while it has no observable effect on the lamination of the elements of the film unit, it is very effective in facilitating initiation of delamination by the processing liquid.
  • FIGS. 4 and 6 of the drawings An alternative embodiment of the film unit of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6 of the drawings.
  • image-receiving sheet 14 is not embossed and the space between the sheets for providing the requisite processing liquid near the margins of the image area is provided by spacing elements in the form of narrow spacing strips secured between the lateral marginal portions of sheets 12 and 14.
  • Strips 80 extend inwardly from the lateral edges of elements 12 and 14 part way to the lateral edges of opening 22 in binding element 20 defining the image area, and in the preferred embodiment shown, the inner edge of strips 80 are located in alignment with the edges of lateral edge portions 24 of binding element 20 adhered to the outside of photosensitive element 12.
  • FIG. 8 The method of manufacturing and assembling the form of film unit shown in FIG. 4 is illustrated in FIG. 8 and comprises essentially the same steps as illustrated in FIG. 7 except that the spacing strips 80 are adhered to sheet 12, for example, by advancing sheet 12 and strips 80 into superposition between a pair of heat-sealing rolls 82. Thereafter the process is essentially the same, including laminating sheets 12 and 14 to one another throughout the entire area of the facing surfaces of the sheets and spacing strips by spreading a film-forming agent between the sheets and pressing them together.
  • the photosensitive sheet will be laminated to the receiving sheet and/or spacing strips 82 throughout the entire inner surface of the photosensitive sheet except in narrow linear regions designated 86 immediately adjacent the inner edges of spacing strips 80 underlying the edge portions of binding element 24 at the lateral edges of the image area.
  • the roll 46 which contacts sheet 14 is formed with annular grooves 88 near its ends, having a depth approximately equal to the thickness of binding element 20.
  • Each of annular grooves 88 has a width slightly exceeding the difference in width between a spacer strip 80 and the lateral edge portion 24 of binding element 20 adhered to the image-receiving sheet 14 and is positioned to receive the edge portion of the binding element which overlaps the underlying spacer strip 80 to provide for spreading of the processing liquid, as shown in FIG. 6, into the regions between the sheets underlying the binding element and outside of the image area thereby providing a reservoir of processing liquid for assuring proper image formation to the edges of the image area.
  • a photographic film unit adapted, following exposure, to be processed by distributing a liquid processing composition within said film unit, said film unit comprising, in combination:
  • a photosensitive element comprising a first support layer and at least a photosensitive layer on said support layer including a photosensitive, image-recording material suspended in a supporting medium at least permeable to said liquid processing composition;
  • a second element including a second support layer and at least a second layer on said second support layer permeable to said liquid processing composition
  • said elements being arranged in face-to-face relation with said photosensitive and second layers innermost, and one of said elements being light transmitting to permit exposure of said photosensitive layer through said one element;
  • the facing surfaces of said photosensitive and second elements at least in the medial region of said elements intermediate said linear regions and extending substantially to the end edges of the superposed portions of said elements, being adhered to one another throughout substantially the entire area of said medial region by at least a thin layer of a film-forming material, the bond formed between said elements by said film-forming material being weaker than the bond between any other layers of said film unit.
  • a photographic film unit as defined in claim 1 including a rupturable container of a liquid processing composition coupled to said elements at one end thereof exterior of said elements by means secured to said container and said elements for conducting said liquid from said container between the transverse edge portions of said elements at said one end, said elements being delaminated in a narrow transverse region at said one end edges.
  • a photographic film unit as defined in claim 4 wherein said retaining element includes sections adhered to said lateral marginal portions of one of said elements and having longitudinal edge portions overlying said linear regions, and other sections adhered to said lateral marginal portions of the other of said elements and having longitudinal edges located in substantial alignment with the edges of said spacing strips at said boundaries of said linear regions.
  • said means comprise said lateral marginal portions of one of said elements embossed toward the other of said elements out of the plane of said medial region of said one element along lines defining boundaries of said linear regions.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Silver Salt Photography Or Processing Solution Therefor (AREA)
  • Laminated Bodies (AREA)
US744912A 1968-07-15 1968-07-15 Photographic film unit Expired - Lifetime US3652281A (en)

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US74491268A 1968-07-15 1968-07-15

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US744912A Expired - Lifetime US3652281A (en) 1968-07-15 1968-07-15 Photographic film unit

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US (1) US3652281A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS4834171B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
AT (1) AT307227B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BE (1) BE736128A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CA (1) CA925345A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH (1) CH535973A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE1936009C3 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1281590A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL149010B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
SE (2) SE358743B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3751256A (en) * 1971-09-07 1973-08-07 Eastman Kodak Co Fluid receiving means
FR2181913A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1972-04-24 1973-12-07 Polaroid Corp
US3957510A (en) * 1974-04-30 1976-05-18 Xerox Corporation Overflow prevention for liquid between flexible layers on a solid surface
US4056397A (en) * 1974-11-09 1977-11-01 Agfa-Gevaert, A.G. Dye diffusion transfer material with graft polymer binding layer
FR2396423A1 (fr) * 1977-06-30 1979-01-26 Polaroid Corp Elements electriques stratifies plats et piles constituees de ces elements
US4161815A (en) * 1977-06-30 1979-07-24 Polaroid Corporation Methods for making electrical cells and batteries
US4242443A (en) * 1978-10-05 1980-12-30 Agfa-Gevaert, A.G. Photographic film unit with integral structure
US4247626A (en) * 1974-05-09 1981-01-27 Eastman Kodak Company Fluid receiving trap
US4356248A (en) * 1981-05-26 1982-10-26 Polaroid Corporation Photographic product
US4693963A (en) * 1986-04-01 1987-09-15 Polaroid Corporation Self-developing integral film unit
US5187282A (en) * 1991-04-08 1993-02-16 Polaroid Corporation Sulfonated xanthene dyes, and photographic products and processes employing these dyes
US5264322A (en) * 1991-04-08 1993-11-23 Polaroid Corporation Sulfonated xanthene dyes, and photographic products and processes employing these dyes
US20020071701A1 (en) * 2000-02-10 2002-06-13 Sullivan William A. Printable substrate having controllable thickness and method of making and using the same
US20040202463A1 (en) * 1999-07-02 2004-10-14 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Method of and apparatus for manufacturing instant photography film unit
CN117251828A (zh) * 2023-08-03 2023-12-19 山西航天清华装备有限责任公司 一种d-t曝光曲线的数学建模方法

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3752722A (en) * 1971-05-05 1973-08-14 Polaroid Corp Method of manufacturing photographic film units
BE793081A (fr) * 1971-12-20 1973-06-20 Polaroid Corp Pellicules photographiques a autodeveloppement du type a diffusion-transfert et leur procede de fabrication
CA1110794A (en) * 1977-06-10 1981-10-13 Eastman Kodak Company Low temperature adhesives for photographic materials

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US2627460A (en) * 1950-05-11 1953-02-03 Polaroid Corp Sealed photographic film unit containing a liquid
US2627459A (en) * 1947-01-15 1953-02-03 Polaroid Corp Photographic film unit having a frangible fluid container therein
US2686716A (en) * 1949-04-16 1954-08-17 Polaroid Corp Photographic product comprising a sheet support and means for collecting liquid spread upon said support in excess of that required to cover a predetermined area of the support
US2686717A (en) * 1949-04-16 1954-08-17 Polaroid Corp Photographic product comprising a sheet support and means for collecting liquid spread upon said support in excess of that required to cover a predetermined area of the support
US2906182A (en) * 1958-06-04 1959-09-29 Polaroid Corp Photographic apparatus
US3053160A (en) * 1960-08-08 1962-09-11 Polaroid Corp Photographic film unit
US3152529A (en) * 1960-08-10 1964-10-13 Polaroid Corp Photographic apparatus
US3352674A (en) * 1964-01-20 1967-11-14 Eastman Kodak Co Process and product for image transfer photography
US3415646A (en) * 1967-05-16 1968-12-10 Polaroid Corp Novel photographic products and processes
US3473925A (en) * 1968-05-23 1969-10-21 Polaroid Corp Photographic diffusion transfer color process and film unit for use therein

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2627459A (en) * 1947-01-15 1953-02-03 Polaroid Corp Photographic film unit having a frangible fluid container therein
US2686716A (en) * 1949-04-16 1954-08-17 Polaroid Corp Photographic product comprising a sheet support and means for collecting liquid spread upon said support in excess of that required to cover a predetermined area of the support
US2686717A (en) * 1949-04-16 1954-08-17 Polaroid Corp Photographic product comprising a sheet support and means for collecting liquid spread upon said support in excess of that required to cover a predetermined area of the support
US2627460A (en) * 1950-05-11 1953-02-03 Polaroid Corp Sealed photographic film unit containing a liquid
US2906182A (en) * 1958-06-04 1959-09-29 Polaroid Corp Photographic apparatus
US3053160A (en) * 1960-08-08 1962-09-11 Polaroid Corp Photographic film unit
US3152529A (en) * 1960-08-10 1964-10-13 Polaroid Corp Photographic apparatus
US3352674A (en) * 1964-01-20 1967-11-14 Eastman Kodak Co Process and product for image transfer photography
US3415646A (en) * 1967-05-16 1968-12-10 Polaroid Corp Novel photographic products and processes
US3473925A (en) * 1968-05-23 1969-10-21 Polaroid Corp Photographic diffusion transfer color process and film unit for use therein

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3751256A (en) * 1971-09-07 1973-08-07 Eastman Kodak Co Fluid receiving means
FR2181913A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1972-04-24 1973-12-07 Polaroid Corp
US3957510A (en) * 1974-04-30 1976-05-18 Xerox Corporation Overflow prevention for liquid between flexible layers on a solid surface
US4247626A (en) * 1974-05-09 1981-01-27 Eastman Kodak Company Fluid receiving trap
US4056397A (en) * 1974-11-09 1977-11-01 Agfa-Gevaert, A.G. Dye diffusion transfer material with graft polymer binding layer
FR2396423A1 (fr) * 1977-06-30 1979-01-26 Polaroid Corp Elements electriques stratifies plats et piles constituees de ces elements
US4161815A (en) * 1977-06-30 1979-07-24 Polaroid Corporation Methods for making electrical cells and batteries
US4242443A (en) * 1978-10-05 1980-12-30 Agfa-Gevaert, A.G. Photographic film unit with integral structure
US4356248A (en) * 1981-05-26 1982-10-26 Polaroid Corporation Photographic product
US4693963A (en) * 1986-04-01 1987-09-15 Polaroid Corporation Self-developing integral film unit
US5187282A (en) * 1991-04-08 1993-02-16 Polaroid Corporation Sulfonated xanthene dyes, and photographic products and processes employing these dyes
US5264322A (en) * 1991-04-08 1993-11-23 Polaroid Corporation Sulfonated xanthene dyes, and photographic products and processes employing these dyes
US20040202463A1 (en) * 1999-07-02 2004-10-14 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Method of and apparatus for manufacturing instant photography film unit
US6922979B2 (en) 1999-07-02 2005-08-02 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Method of and apparatus for manufacturing instant photography film unit
US20020071701A1 (en) * 2000-02-10 2002-06-13 Sullivan William A. Printable substrate having controllable thickness and method of making and using the same
US6937358B2 (en) * 2000-02-10 2005-08-30 Technology Innovations, Llc Printable substrate having controllable thickness and method of making and using the same
CN117251828A (zh) * 2023-08-03 2023-12-19 山西航天清华装备有限责任公司 一种d-t曝光曲线的数学建模方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE1936009A1 (de) 1970-02-12
GB1281590A (en) 1972-07-12
DE1936009C3 (de) 1981-02-26
JPS4834171B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-10-19
CH535973A (de) 1973-04-15
AT307227B (de) 1973-05-10
DE1936009B2 (de) 1980-06-12
SE358743B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-08-06
NL6910852A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1970-01-19
SE356613B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-05-28
NL149010B (nl) 1976-03-15
CA925345A (en) 1973-05-01
BE736128A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1970-01-15

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