Photographic processor having side by side processing paths and method of operation
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorsRalph L. Piccinino, Jr., Daniel M. Pagano
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A photographic processor and method of operation is disclosed. The processor includes a circular drum having first and second film processing paths, and a disk positioned inside the drum. The disk comprises a first set of disk teeth for engagement with perforations on a first type of film and a second set of disk teeth for engagement with perforations on a second type of film. The first and second set of disk teeth are positioned along a portion of an outer periphery of the disk. The processor also includes a circular dryer for drying the processed film. The dryer extends around an outer periphery of the drum.
Claims19
A photographic processor comprising:
- a processing drum having a first wall, a second wall, and a side wall connecting the first wall to the second wall, said side wall extending around a perimeter of the drum;
- a disk positioned inside the drum in a plane parallel to both the first wall and the second wall, wherein the disk comprises a first set of disk teeth capable of interengaging with first holes along an edge of a first type of film, and a second set of disk teeth capable of interengaging with second holes along an edge of a second type of film;
- and
- a mechanism for rotating the disk.
A processing device comprising:
- means for processing a first type of film along a first circular processing path and processing a second type of film along a second circular processing path, wherein said first and second circular processing paths are respectively positioned within adjacent parallel planes;
- and
- means for conveying the first and second types film along the respective first and second circular processing paths.
A processing apparatus comprising:
- a circular processing drum having a first film path for processing a first type of film and a second film path for processing a second type of film, said first and second film paths being respectively positioned in parallel planes;
- and
- a circular disk positioned inside the drum, said disk comprising a first set of disk teeth capable of interengaging with first holes on the first type of film to convey the first type of film along the first film path, and a second set of disk teeth capable of interengaging with second holes on the second type of film to convey the second type of film along the second film path.
A method of processing photographic film, the method comprising the steps of:
- inserting the film into a first processing path or a second processing path of a circular processing drum based on a type of film to be processed, said first processing path being adapted to receive a first type of film and said second processing path being adapted to receive a second type of film which is different from said first type of film;
- supplying and discharging processing solution into and from said processing drum to process said film;
- and
- transferring the processed film from the circular processing drum to a circular drying cylinder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.