Self-processing film unit with liquid applicator

A self-processing film unit comprising:

• a sheet-like film component including one or more photosensitive layers and having an outer surface with a given area thereof that is configured to be wetted with a low viscosity processing liquid, following exposure of said one or more photosensitive layers, to initiate processing of said film component;
• and
• a liquid applicator secured to said film component, said applicator including an initially folded and releasably sealed enclosure section having therein means yieldably holding a substantially uniformly distributed supply of a low viscosity processing liquid, a leader section that is movable from a substantially flat initial position to an extended protruding leader tab forming position in response to subjecting said film unit to a first force, and a ground section for mechanically grounding a predetermined portion of said enclosure section so that in response to progressively applying a second force to said extended leader tab and following portions of said film unit said folded enclosure section is unsealed and extended to bring it into overlying relation to said film component outer surface with said liquid holding means in liquid yielding contact with said given area to effect wetting thereof, said enclosure section having oppositely facing top and bottom wall sections, said leader section being coupled to said bottom wall section, and said ground section being coupled to said top wall section.

A self-processing film unit comprising:

• a sheet-like film component including one or more photosensitive layers and having an outer surface with a given area thereof that is configured to be wetted with a low viscosity processing liquid, after exposure of said one or more photosensitive layers, to initiate processing of said film component;
• and
• a liquid applicator including an elongated liquid and air impervious sheet having a plurality of sequentially disposed sections including a mask section for supporting said film component secured thereto, an initially planar leader tab forming section, an initially folded and releasably sealed enclosure section formed by folding a portion of said impervious sheet back on itself to defined opposed top and bottom enclosure wall sections and releasably sealing facing open edge portions thereof, means, within said folded enclosure section, yieldably holding a substantially uniformly distributed supply of a low viscosity processing liquid, and a ground section formed as an extension of said top wall section projecting back over said leader tab forming section, said mask, leader tab forming and enclosure sections being arranged in a longitudinally extending common plane with said leader tab forming section serving as a connector between said mask section and said enclosure bottom wall section, said film unit being configured so that in response to a longitudinally directed compression force applied thereto, said leader tab forming section folds in a predetermined manner to form a leader tab that projects outwardly from said common plane to facilitate the progressive application of a tension force to said leader tab and following portions of said ground section serving to mechanically ground said enclosure top wall section and provide a reaction force in response to said tension force, thereby inducing a tensile stress in said enclosure seal to effect release thereof in conjunction with the unfolding of said enclosure section and its movement to an extended position overlying said film component outer surface to locate said liquid holding means in liquid yielding contact with said given area to effect wetting thereof.