US3826896A - Dry film developing apparatus - Google Patents

Dry film developing apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
US3826896A
US3826896A US00377888A US37788873A US3826896A US 3826896 A US3826896 A US 3826896A US 00377888 A US00377888 A US 00377888A US 37788873 A US37788873 A US 37788873A US 3826896 A US3826896 A US 3826896A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
film
web
platen
deformed portion
region
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00377888A
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English (en)
Inventor
D Thompson
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Xerox Corp
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Xerox Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Xerox Corp filed Critical Xerox Corp
Priority to US00377888A priority Critical patent/US3826896A/en
Priority to JP49067584A priority patent/JPS5043927A/ja
Priority to DE2431533A priority patent/DE2431533A1/de
Priority to GB2988874A priority patent/GB1462818A/en
Priority to CA204,371A priority patent/CA1017992A/en
Priority to FR7423878A priority patent/FR2237225B1/fr
Priority to NL7409283A priority patent/NL7409283A/xx
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3826896A publication Critical patent/US3826896A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03D—APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING EXPOSED PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03D13/00—Processing apparatus or accessories therefor, not covered by groups G11B3/00 - G11B11/00
    • G03D13/002—Heat development apparatus, e.g. Kalvar

Definitions

  • the platen surface is 219/388; 34/152; 156/499; 100/93 295 specifically constructed to offset wrinkling produced in the film at the thermal boundaries to the develop- [56] References Clted mem Zone UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,177,793 4/1965 Stewart 95/89 R X 10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures ATENTED M30574 3.826.898
  • This invention relates to a heated platen for continually developing in sequence discrete exposed regions upon the web of dry film.
  • a heated film developing platen having a working surface thereon for contacting, under tension, a discrete area of exposed film containing heat induced wrinkles along a portion thereof, the working surface of the platen having a first region thereon capable of contacting the previously wrinkled film area having a radius of curvature that increases inversely in relation to the intensity of wrinkling contained on said film whereby the normal forces acting upon the wrinkle containing film vary in proportion to the intensity of wrinkling, and a second region for contacting the nondeformed film area within the development zone having a uniform radius of curvature whereby the normal forces exerted upon the non-deformed portion of the film are relatively constant.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing apparatus for automatically processing a web of dry film embodying the teachings of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is an enlarged end view showing the heated platen surface of the present invention for developing discrete areas upon the web in process
  • FIG. 3 is a top view of a typical web illustrating heat induced wrinkles upon the film surface which are produced at the input thermal boundary to the developing system.
  • film wrinkling refers to a heat induced deformation within the web that manifests itself as a dimensional decrease across the width of the web that causes the film material to become buckled or wrinkled. Investigations involving this particular phenomena have established that during heat development a wrinkled zone is created within the web material which diminishes along the length of the web from an area of relatively high temperature at the thermal interface to the development zone to a point where the strain energy is absorbed. Depending upon the film material involved, this wrinkled region can be of considerable length and, if not treated as a waste, normally extends well into the next exposure frame.
  • the apparatus of the present invention is directed towards a heated platen development system which overcomes the wrinkling problem and provides for the development of high quality images while using a minimum amount of film.
  • the development station is made up of two vertically spaced blocks or plates 12 and 13 which are preferably constructed of a material having a relatively high coefficient of thermal conductivity.
  • the plates can be fabricated of aluminum, copper or any other suitable material exhibiting the heretofore mentioned characteristic.
  • the upper plate 12 is provided with a generally convex shaped working surface 14 for contacting the back side, or nonemulsion side of the film.
  • a lower plate 13 is similarly provided having a concave working surface 15 that complements the working surface contained upon the upper plate.
  • the plates are mounted with the two working surfaces being adjacent but in noncontiguous relation to each other so as to provide a horizontally extended cavity 17 therebetween which defines the development zone of the present system.
  • each plate On the outer surface of each plate, that is, the surface opposed to the working surfaces thereon, there is placed a foil heater blanket 20 which provides input energy to the system.
  • the blankets are both formed of a ribbon type resistant heating element 21 which is preferably sandwiched between two relatively thin sheets of plastic electrical insulating material 22.
  • the terminal ends of each blanket are brought out, via lines 27 and 28, to two variable power supplies, an upper blanket power supply 29 and a lower blanket power supply 30, which provide energy to the heaters. Because of the high thermal conductivity of the plates, the energy delivered to the heaters is rapidly and efficiently passed through the plates to bring the working surfaces 14 and 15 thereon to a predetermined operating temperature which is at or above the thermal developing threshold temperature of the film in process.
  • a pair of temperature sensors 32 and 33 are embedded within the plates with the sensing element thereon arranged to detect the plate temperature close to the working surfaces thereof.
  • the sensors are both electrically connected to a comparator circuit 35, via lines 36 and 37, which is capable of determining any deviation between the temperature sensed and the desired development temperature.
  • a corrective signal is generated and sent to the appropriate power supply by means of lines 40 and/or 41. In response to the corrective signal, the output of the power supply is adjusted thus bringing the system back within the desired operating condition.
  • the web in process consists of a series of exposed frames 50 containing input scene information recorded on the emulsion side of the film with each individual frame being separated by a relatively thin strip of unexposed film 51.
  • the web of exposed film is carried upon a supply spool 52 and is brought emulsion side down through the developing cavity and secured to a take up spool 53.
  • an indexing drive is operatively connected to the take up spool which is adapted to advance, upon demand, the web into the developing cavity one frame at a time.
  • the developing station 10 is located in reference to the take up spool so that each frame recorded on the web is centered within the developing cavity each time that the web is indexed.
  • a web tensioning means such as a tensioning roll 56, is also provided in order to place a predetermined uniform amount of tension upon the web as it is being processed within the developing system.
  • the two heating plates are adapted to move vertically between an operative or developing position to a second more extended open position. Prior to the indexing of each frame into the developing cavity, the plates are moved to the open position. Once the web has been properly indexed, the cavity is closed thereby bringing the upper working surface of plate 12 into intimate pressure contact against the nonemulsion or support side of the film. The distance be tween the two working surfaces of the plates, when in a closed position, are such that the working surface of lower plate 13 is in relatively close, but in noncontiguous relation with the exposed emulsion side of the film.
  • both a conductive transient heat transfer mechanism and a steady state adiabatic heat transfer mechanism are employed to accomplish image development.
  • the film in contact with the upper plate is rapidly heated past the development threshold by conduction while the interior of the developing cavity is adiabatically heated by the two uniformly heated plates.
  • the conductive heating of the film produces an efficient heat transfer at low power requirement while the adiabatic heating across the cavity provides for a more uniform development of the images.
  • a hydraulically actuated lifting mechanism is herein provided to facilitate movement of the plate in a vertical direction.
  • an end block in which a pair of hydraulic lifting cylinders 61 and 62 are secured.
  • the opposite ends of the hydraulic cylinders are secured to a mounting plate 63 which is affixed, as for example by welding, to the processor support frame (not shown).
  • a piston, which is located within each cylinder is arranged to hydraulically move between two extreme positions which, in turn, causes the plate to move in the direction indicated between the heretofore mentioned fully opened and fully closed position.
  • the hydraulic control system is operatively associated with the web indexing mechanism by any suitable means so as to automatically coordinate the opening and closing of the developing cavity with the indexing of the exposed frames into and out of the development zone.
  • P is the normal pressure exerted by the platen against the film (psi)
  • 7 is the amount of tension placed upon the film (lbs)
  • R is the radius of curvature of the plate (in)
  • W is the film width (in).
  • S is the platen arc length under consideration wherein S at the edge of the platen where the wrinkle area first comes into contact with the platen,
  • P is the minimum normal pressure required to process wrinkled film so that a uniform image density within a predetermined range is produced
  • P is the minimum normal pressure required to uniformly develop undistorted film to produce uniformly density of dense images with a predetermined range.
  • a platen surface can be constructed which is capable of processing wrinkled film so that the unwanted effects of the wrinkling upon image density and uniformity of development is substantially offset.
  • the upper platen surface which is brought into contact with the back side of the film during processing, is provided with two discrete zones. These include a first zone M (FIG. 2) having a changing radius of curvature which is tensioned against the wrinkled deformed portion of the film, and a second zone N having a uniform radius of curvature which is tensioned against the non-deformed portion of the film during development.
  • first zone M (FIG. 2) having a changing radius of curvature which is tensioned against the wrinkled deformed portion of the film
  • a second zone N having a uniform radius of curvature which is tensioned against the non-deformed portion of the film during development.
  • the concave working surface 15 of the lower plate is constructed so as to complement the upper plate surface and it should be understood that the surface of the lower plate is generated in a manner similar herein described in relation to the upper plate.
  • the upper platen surface is designed so that the radius of curvature at point S (FIG 2), wherein the amplitude of film wrinkling has attenuated to about 0, is such that the normal pressure exerted upon the film by the platen is equal to the minimum pressure required for uniform development of non-deformed film within a developing system.
  • this particular parameter can be found either experimentally or analytically. From point S to the entrance to the development zone at point T, the radius of curvature of the platen surface is held constant so that minimum pressure is exerted upon the non-deformed exposed frame region supported therein to produce the desired image density.
  • the radius of curvature of the platen decreases in direct proportion to the variation in amplitude of wrinkling induced in the film.
  • the platen pressure exerted upon the film is smoothly and uniformly increased across the wrinkle area thus providing an increasing normal pressure over the film wrinkle area and insuring good thermal contact therebetween throughout the contact region.
  • arc length of zone M is equal to the length of the dis-- tressed film region.
  • wrinkling of the web when processed in a conventional developing system will occur within both boundary regions.
  • wrinkling produced by the present system is confined only to the entrance region to the development zone.
  • the film located within the thermal boundary of the exit region has been previously shrunk during development and therefore tends to resist further shrinkage.
  • This internal force coupled with the increasing normal pressure delivered by the platen against the film within the development region, acts to resist further shrinkage in the exit boundary region.
  • a minimal amount of film wrinkling is produced and is confined within a very narrow area well within the unexposed film regions connecting the two adjacent exposure frames.
  • a heated platen surface for processing dry film having a deformed portion thereon containing a wrinkle, the amplitude of which diminishes over the length of the film and a non-deformed portion, including a first region on the platen surface for tensioning the wrinkled deformed portion upon said film, said first region having a radius of curvature that increases proportionally to the decrease in amplitude of film wrinkling whereby the normal forces acting on the deformed portion of the film decrease as the amplitude of wrinkles decreases, and
  • the apparatus of claim 1 having a second heated platen surface which complements the first platen described in claim 1 being positioned from said first platen at a distance that is greater than the thickness of the film in process.
  • a device for continually processing discrete exposed portions upon a web of dry film by moving said discrete portions of the web seriatim into a heated developing zone apparatus for substantially eliminating deformations induced in the web within the boundary region at the entrance to the development zone includedmg a heated platen surface within the developing portion against which each discrete portion of the web to be developed is placed under uniform tension,
  • said platen surface having a first region thereon arranged to contact the deformed portion of said web and having a radius of curvature that increases inversely with the amplitude of the deformation in said web whereby a higher normal force is exerted by the platen upon the deformed portion of the web containing a high amplitude of deformation and a lower normal force is exerted on the deformed portion of the web containing a low amplitude of deformation,
  • the apparatus of claim 6 further including a second surface positioned adjacent to said platen surface in non-contiguous relationship therewith which complements said platen surface to form a cavity of uniform depth therebetween.
  • both the platen surface and said second surface have means operatively associated therewith for heating said surfaces to the same temperature.
  • T is the uniform tension exerted upon the web
  • W is the width of the film

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Photographic Developing Apparatuses (AREA)
US00377888A 1973-07-09 1973-07-09 Dry film developing apparatus Expired - Lifetime US3826896A (en)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00377888A US3826896A (en) 1973-07-09 1973-07-09 Dry film developing apparatus
JP49067584A JPS5043927A (ja) 1973-07-09 1974-06-12
DE2431533A DE2431533A1 (de) 1973-07-09 1974-07-01 Trockenfilmentwicklungsgeraet
GB2988874A GB1462818A (en) 1973-07-09 1974-07-05 Dry film-developing apparatus
CA204,371A CA1017992A (en) 1973-07-09 1974-07-08 Dry film developing apparatus
FR7423878A FR2237225B1 (ja) 1973-07-09 1974-07-09
NL7409283A NL7409283A (ja) 1973-07-09 1974-07-09

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00377888A US3826896A (en) 1973-07-09 1973-07-09 Dry film developing apparatus

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3826896A true US3826896A (en) 1974-07-30

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Family Applications (1)

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US00377888A Expired - Lifetime US3826896A (en) 1973-07-09 1973-07-09 Dry film developing apparatus

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US3826896A (ja)
JP (1) JPS5043927A (ja)
CA (1) CA1017992A (ja)
DE (1) DE2431533A1 (ja)
FR (1) FR2237225B1 (ja)
GB (1) GB1462818A (ja)
NL (1) NL7409283A (ja)

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3887787A (en) * 1974-10-03 1975-06-03 Del Mar Eng Lab Dry process photographic paper recording apparatus
US4009034A (en) * 1973-07-09 1977-02-22 Xerox Corporation Dry film processing
US4111116A (en) * 1976-04-27 1978-09-05 Hitachi Denshi Engineering Kabushiki Kaisha Apparatus for clamping and binding a stack of paper
US4134664A (en) * 1976-09-24 1979-01-16 Olympus Optical Co. Ltd. Method of and apparatus for monitoring hot developing treatment
US4148575A (en) * 1977-07-22 1979-04-10 Rca Corporation Thermal processor
US4275959A (en) * 1979-05-10 1981-06-30 Edo Western Corporation Film processor apparatus
US4278338A (en) * 1980-07-21 1981-07-14 Eastman Kodak Company Camera-processor apparatus
US4355881A (en) * 1979-06-28 1982-10-26 Konishiroku Photo Industry Co., Ltd. Recording apparatus having roller type fixing device
US4794224A (en) * 1987-04-09 1988-12-27 Ncr Corporation Dry film developer for an aperture card printer
US4851174A (en) * 1986-08-18 1989-07-25 Loersch Johannes Process for treating a film material to eliminate a bend therein
US5485189A (en) * 1990-02-02 1996-01-16 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Thermal fixing apparatus having member projecting into recording medium
EP0803781A1 (en) * 1996-04-24 1997-10-29 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Image recording method and apparatus
US5845169A (en) * 1997-04-17 1998-12-01 Eastman Kodak Company Photographic processor

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5512186Y2 (ja) * 1975-07-01 1980-03-17

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3177793A (en) * 1961-10-26 1965-04-13 Eastman Kodak Co Processor for photographic paper
US3371915A (en) * 1965-08-13 1968-03-05 Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd Treatment machine for heat treatment of sensitive material
US3506804A (en) * 1966-03-14 1970-04-14 Barmag Barmer Maschf Devices for heating filaments or treads
US3585917A (en) * 1968-03-18 1971-06-22 Minnesota Mining & Mfg Method and apparatus for rapid access film processing
US3739143A (en) * 1970-11-30 1973-06-12 Minnesota Mining & Mfg Heat developer apparatus

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3177793A (en) * 1961-10-26 1965-04-13 Eastman Kodak Co Processor for photographic paper
US3371915A (en) * 1965-08-13 1968-03-05 Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd Treatment machine for heat treatment of sensitive material
US3506804A (en) * 1966-03-14 1970-04-14 Barmag Barmer Maschf Devices for heating filaments or treads
US3585917A (en) * 1968-03-18 1971-06-22 Minnesota Mining & Mfg Method and apparatus for rapid access film processing
US3739143A (en) * 1970-11-30 1973-06-12 Minnesota Mining & Mfg Heat developer apparatus

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4009034A (en) * 1973-07-09 1977-02-22 Xerox Corporation Dry film processing
US3887787A (en) * 1974-10-03 1975-06-03 Del Mar Eng Lab Dry process photographic paper recording apparatus
US4111116A (en) * 1976-04-27 1978-09-05 Hitachi Denshi Engineering Kabushiki Kaisha Apparatus for clamping and binding a stack of paper
US4134664A (en) * 1976-09-24 1979-01-16 Olympus Optical Co. Ltd. Method of and apparatus for monitoring hot developing treatment
US4148575A (en) * 1977-07-22 1979-04-10 Rca Corporation Thermal processor
US4275959A (en) * 1979-05-10 1981-06-30 Edo Western Corporation Film processor apparatus
US4355881A (en) * 1979-06-28 1982-10-26 Konishiroku Photo Industry Co., Ltd. Recording apparatus having roller type fixing device
US4278338A (en) * 1980-07-21 1981-07-14 Eastman Kodak Company Camera-processor apparatus
US4851174A (en) * 1986-08-18 1989-07-25 Loersch Johannes Process for treating a film material to eliminate a bend therein
US4794224A (en) * 1987-04-09 1988-12-27 Ncr Corporation Dry film developer for an aperture card printer
US5485189A (en) * 1990-02-02 1996-01-16 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Thermal fixing apparatus having member projecting into recording medium
EP0803781A1 (en) * 1996-04-24 1997-10-29 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Image recording method and apparatus
US6124871A (en) * 1996-04-24 2000-09-26 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Image recording method and apparatus capable of efficiently developing images on a photosensitive material
US5845169A (en) * 1997-04-17 1998-12-01 Eastman Kodak Company Photographic processor

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL7409283A (ja) 1974-09-25
FR2237225B1 (ja) 1976-10-22
GB1462818A (en) 1977-01-26
FR2237225A1 (ja) 1975-02-07
DE2431533A1 (de) 1975-01-30
CA1017992A (en) 1977-09-27
JPS5043927A (ja) 1975-04-21

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