Single use film developing assembly

An assembly for developing an exposed radiation sensitive film, comprising:

• a container having a chamber therein, said chamber having an inlet end and an outlet end, said container having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge opposed to one another;
• a developer package positioned in said chamber, said developer package comprising a sealed rupturable envelope having a fluid-storage pocket containing film-treating fluid, said pocket having at least one finger-like extension projecting towards one of said longitudinal edges;
• tab means including a pull tab integral with said envelope at said extension, said pull tab being secured to said container at said one of said longitudinal edges, whereby as said envelope is withdrawn from said chamber said tab means is torn to rupture said envelope at said extension to permit said fluid to enter said chamber;
• and
• linking means for coupling said envelope to the film, whereby said film is positioned in said chamber as the ruptured envelope is withdrawn therefrom.

An assembly for developing an exposed radiation sensitive film, comprising:

• a container having an inlet end and an outlet end, said container having a substantially flat entry chamber at said inlet end for receiving a film wrap containing the film, said container further having a substantially flat developing chamber between said entry chamber and said outlet end for receiving said film and film-treating fluid;
• a developer package disposed in said developing chamber, said developer package comprising a sealed rupturable envelope containing said film-treating fluid;
• tab means integral with said envelope and secured to said container, whereby as said envelope is withdrawn from said developing chamber out through said outlet end, said tab means is torn to rupture said envelope to permit said fluid to enter said developing chamber;
• linking means for coupling said envelope to said film, whereby said film is positioned in said developing chamber after the ruptured envelope is withdrawn therefrom;
• and
• light blocking means on said container cooperating with said film wrap for at least partially preventing entry of light through said input end into said developing chamber, said light blocking means including gripping means integral with said container in said entry chamber for at least inhibiting the release of a pucker formed in said film wrap by manually exerted forces during a removal of said film from said film wrap.

An assembly for developing an exposed radiation sensitive film, comprising:

• a container having a chamber therein, said chamber having an inlet end and an outlet end;
• a developer package positioned in said chamber, said developer package comprising a sealed rupturable envelope containing a film treating fluid:
• tab means integral with said envelope and secured to said container, whereby as said envelope is drawn from said chamber said tab means is torn to rupture said envelope to permit said fluid to enter said chamber, said tab means including a first tab and a second tab;
• linking means for coupling said envelope to the film, whereby said film is positioned in said chamber as the ruptured envelope is withdrawn therefrom;
• and
• delay means for ensuring that the rupture of said envelope at said second tab occurs after the rupture of said envelope at said first tab.

An assembly for developing an exposed radiation sensitive film comprising:

• a container having an inlet end and an outlet end, said container having a substantially flat entry chamber at said inlet end for receiving a film wrap containing the film, said container further having a substantially flat developing chamber between said entry chamber and said outlet end for receiving said film and a film-treating fluid;
• a developer package disposed in said developing chamber, said developer package comprising a sealed rupturable envelope containing said film-treating fluid;
• tab means integral with said envelope and secured to said container, whereby as said envelope is withdrawn from said developing chamber out through said outlet end, said tab means is torn to rupture said envelope to permit said fluid to enter said developing chamber;
• linking means for coupling said envelope to said film, whereby said film is positioned in said developing chamber after the ruptured envelope is withdrawn therefrom;
• light blocking means on said container cooperating with said film wrap for at least partially preventing entry of light through said input end into said developing chamber;
• and
• flow blockage means between said entry chamber and said developing chamber for substantially preventing the passage of fluid from said developing chamber into said entry chamber, said flow blockage means including an elongate sponge.

An assembly for developing an exposed radiation sensitive film, comprising:

• a container having an inlet end and an outlet end, said container having a substantially flat entry chamber at said inlet end for receiving a film wrap containing the film, said container further having a substantially flat developing chamber between said entry chamber and said outlet end for receiving said film and a film-treating fluid, said container having a pair of opposed substantially parallel edges extending from said inlet end to said outlet end;
• a developer package disposed in said developing chamber, said developer package comprising a sealed rupturable envelope containing said film-treating fluid;
• tab means integral with said envelope and secured to said container, whereby as said envelope is withdrawn from said developing chamber out through said outlet end, said tab means is torn to rupture said envelope to permit said fluid to enter said developing chamber;
• linking means for coupling said envelope to said film whereby said film is positioned in said developing chamber after the ruptured envelope is withdrawn therefrom;
• light blocking means on said container cooperating with said film wrap for at least partially preventing entry of light through said input end into said developing chamber;
• and
• flow blockage means at said outlet end for substantially preventing the passage of fluid from said developing chamber past said outlet end and for wiping fluid from said film as same is withdrawn from said developing chamber upon the development of said film, said flow blockage means comprising a resilient member provided with at least one groove extending substantially perpendicularly to said longitudinal edges.