Method and system for environmental control during film processing
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorsMark White, Angela Cheng, Paul N. Winberg, Michael Rohrer
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Abstract
A method and system for environmental control in film processing is disclosed. In general, photographic film is coated with a processing solution, such as a developer solution, and is then developed within a controlled air environment. In the preferred embodiments, the temperature and humidity within the air environment is strictly controlled, which allows the development process to be more accurately and consistently controlled. This also allows fewer processing chemicals to be used and reduces harmful effluents caused by photographic film processing.
Claims56
A development tunnel operable to receive a photographic film coated with a developer solution, the development tunnel comprising a housing forming a development chamber through which the coated film is transported, the development chamber operable to maintain a relatively constant temperature and humidity of the coated film during development of the film.
A photographic film processing system comprising:
- an applicator station operable to coat a developer solution onto a photographic film;
- a development station operable to receive the coated photographic film, wherein the development station operates to heat coated photographic film in an air environment;
- and
- a transport system operable to transport the film.
A method of processing a photographic film comprising:
- coating a development solution onto the photographic film;
- and
- transporting the coated photographic film through a development station, wherein the development station operates to develop the coated photographic film in an air environment where the temperature and humidity are substantially controlled.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.