US 3,943,786 A · Photographic film processing apparatus having disengagement means

Abstract

A film advancing-fluid spreading apparatus for progressively distributing a released mass of a processing composition across an exposed photosensitive layer of a film unit carrying a pod wherein the processing composition is contained. A pair of pressure-applying members having juxtaposed surfaces are rotatably mounted for contacting and advancing upper and lower surfaces of the film unit therebetween to distribute a layer of the processing composition across the photosensitive layer of the film unit. One of the pair of pressure-applying members includes a pinion axially coupled thereto which receives energy from a motor connected to a power transmitting system including a coupler whereby energy is transferred from the motor to rotate the pinion in a predetermined direction. The coupler permits a transfer of energy through the power transmitting system to the pinion when the film advancingfluid spreading apparatus is operating in a driving mode, and substantially prevents the transfer of energy from the pinion back through the power transmitting system to the motor when the pressure-applying member having the pinion axially coupled thereto is manually rotated in the predetermined direction.

Claims13

Dependent claims

Photographic apparatus comprising:

a pair of juxtaposed pressure-applying members including at least one roller adapted to be driven in a predetermined direction for spreading a processing composition across an exposed area of a photosensitive element while simultaneously advancing the element therebetween;
means attached to said one roller for driving said one roller in said predetermined direction;
means for supplying power for rotating said drive means;
means coupled to said power supplying means for transmitting power, received from said power supplying means at an input end thereof, to an output end;
and
means for coupling said output end of said power transmitting means to said drive means, said coupling means being mounted for automatic movement between a first position, wherein power received at said output end is transmitted to said drive means for rotation of said roller in said predetermined direction and a second position wherein said coupling means substantially prevents the transfer of power from said drive means to said output end of said power transmitting means during manual rotation of said roller in said predetermined direction.

3 more elements

Photographic apparatus including a film advancing-fluid spreading apparatus for spreading a processing composition across an exposed area of a photosensitive element and a power transmitting system coupled to a motor for operating said film advancing-fluid spreading apparatus, comprising:

a pair of juxtaposed pressure-applying members including at least one roller mounted to be rotated in a predetermined direction for advancing the exposed photosensitive element between said pressure-applying members while distributing the processing composition across the element;
a motor;
a gear train including a first gear coupled to said motor;
a second gear coupled to said roller for driving said roller in said predetermined direction;
an intermediate gear rotatably mounted for enmeshment with said first and second gears;
and
means for disengaging said intermediate gear from said second gear during manual rotation of said roller in said predetermined direction, said disengaging means having a first end pivotally connected to an axis of rotation of said intermediate gear and a second end rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation of said first gear for automatic pivotal movement of said intermediate gear about said first gear's axis from a first position wherein said intermediate gear is in mesh with said first and second gears and said motor is driving said second gear to a second position wherein said intermediate gear is out of mesh with said second gear during manual rotation of said roller in said predetermined direction.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Photographic film processing apparatus having disengagement means

Life of this patent

Photographic film processing apparatus having disengagement means

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13