Eastman-kodak Company

Gareth B Evans

John R Fyson

Christopher B Rider

Peter Hewitson

Anthony Earle

Michael J Simons

Peter J Twist

John Gasper

Peter D Marsden

John Kenneth Kempster

Victor C Wong

Badhri Narayan

Nigel R Wildman

Danuta Gibson

Leslie R Wells

Jennifer C Loveridge

Christopher John Winscom

Henry H Adam

Jon A Kapecki

Andrew D Grimsey

Paul M Magee

John Arthur Bee

Michael J Simmons

A method and system of capturing a three dimensional image of an object or scene and using the information obtained to produce a physical representation of the object or scene. The physical representation may be dynamic, for moving objects, or permanent.

Three dimensional images

A contact printing apparatus (), using a direct-coupled emissive array () of individual light emitting pixels (), forms an image from digital data onto a photosensitive medium (). The direct-coupled emissive array () is fabricated on an optically coupled substrate () that provides light-directing elements, such as a lenslet array or fiber optic faceplate () for directing light from emitter pixels () to print pixel () locations on the photosensitive medium ().

Printer using direct-coupled emissive array

An apparatus for washing contaminants from a coated surface of a material comprises an inclined substantially planar surface up which the material is passed, an inlet for the introduction of wash solution at the upper part of the planar surface and pressure applying means for holding the material in full contact with the surface.

Washing method and apparatus

Method of producing a photographic image

The present invention provides a method and a system for processing light sensitive photographic material, comprising the steps of exposing an image onto the photographic material, applying to the material in an imagewise manner at least one developer wherein the amount of developer applied at any point depends on the image density to be produced at that point, wherein the exposure is controlled to account for the response of the photographic material to the amount of developer applied. The invention provides a method and system for processing photographic material that is simple, chemically efficient and produces low or zero-effluent whilst also providing fully satisfactory photographic performance.

Method of processing photographic material

Method and apparatus are disclosed for washing exposed photographic material in less time and with a reduced replenishment rate compared with conventional processing. Multi-stage counter-current washing is employed, in which the time that the material spends in each stage is such that equilibrium of chemical concentration between solution contained in the material and solution contained in the stages (a) is reached in the final stage, but (b) is reached in fewer than all the stages, and wherein the material resides in at least one stage for a time that is different from that in at least one other of the stages. Preferably the longest time is spent in the final stage. The time distribution throughout the stages can be optimized to produce a final tank concentration comparable to that obtained with conventional processing.

Processing photographic material

High silver chloride photographic materials can be processed with a process comprising two fixing steps, one before and another after a hydrogen peroxide bleaching step. The first fixing step utilizes a sulfite fixing agent.

Method of processing photographic silver halide materials

A processing method can be used to develop sequentially both low silver and relatively high silver photographic materials in the same processor. The method includes a development step for each type of material, in any order, with a developer solution adapted for both development steps. When the lower silver photographic materials are developed, the developer solution also contains an oxidizing agent to render it a redox developer/amplifier solution. The oxidizing agent is removed or inactivated when the relatively high silver photographic materials are processed with the same developer solution.

Processing both low and high silver photographic materials in a

Described herein is a high capacity, low volume processor for processing photographic material in web form. The processor is self-threading and is capable of being linked directly to a high-speed printer. The processor can be replenished by direct replenishment of concentrates without external chemical mixing. 'Fluid drive' is preferably used to provide both transport of the web through the processing tanks and to provide agitation at the surface of the web.

Photographic processing apparatus

A process for the development of an imagewise exposed photographic material having at least one silver halide layer, comprises forming an image therein in a solution that contains a developing agent, that is replenished. The process is carried out in an apparatus comprising at least one processing tank in which the ratio of the tank volume to maximum area of material accommodatable therein is less than 20 dm.sup.3 /m.sup.2. Substantially all replenishers are added as solids directly to said developer.

Photographic image-forming process

Photographic processing apparatus in which both exposing and processing stages of a photographic process are combined to form a single unit or linked so that a continuous web of photographic film or paper is used in both units at the same time is known. However, due to differences in speed of the exposing and processing stages, there is a need to store a 'buffer' length of the material being processed between the two stages. Described herein is a method of varying the speed of the processing stage of photographic processing apparatus to compensate for changes in the capacity of a processor while maintaining a constant path length. This achieved by changing its activity of one of the steps in the processing stage, for instance, by changing the temperature of the development step. This is feasible without unacceptable time delays or energy or chemical consumption associated with changing the solution activity by the use of low volume tanks with low capacity. The system can be controlled by providing a means of maintaining the transport speed of the paper using the measured temperature of the solution.

Relating to photographic processing apparatus

A high capacity, low volume processor is described in which the benefits associated with low volumes are obtained. The processor comprises an inner tank (50) which holds a volume of processing solution which is substantially less than that of an outer tank (40) in which it is placed. A rack insert (60) is provided inside the inner tank (50) to define a processing channel (62) therebetween. The inner tank (50) and rack insert (60) can be retro-fitted to existing processing tanks.

A photographic silver halide color print material comprising a support and yellow, magenta and cyan dye image forming layer units comprising at least one silver halide emulsion layer and at least one dye image-forming coupler which material contains a total silver halide coating weight less than 150 mg/m.sup.2 (as silver) and wherein the grain size (average volume in cubic microns) of the emulsion(s) is less than 1.0 (.mu.m).sup.3 in the yellow image forming unit and less than 0.125 (.mu.m).sup.3 in the magenta image forming unit and wherein each layer unit of the material has a dye image-forming efficiency (E) under conditions of use of above 30 where: ##EQU1## wherein the emulsion(s) of the cyan dye image forming layer unit have a silver coating weight less than 50 mg/m.sup.2, and an average grain size less than 0.064 (.mu.m).sup.3 and comprise means for increasing the speed of the cyan dye image forming unit emulsion(s) to a level sufficient to provide a cyan image having the desired neutral color balance relationship with the yellow and magenta images formed on exposure and processing.

Photographic silver halide colour material having improved granularity

Spectral properties of dye images produced from low silver halide coverage materials are improved by using dyes which are formed in the magenta, yellow and cyan image dye-forming units. These dyes have certain spectral characteristics, as determined by their unwanted absorptions, in combination with certain silver halide emulsion grain characteristics in each emulsion layer. In particular, reduction of unwanted absorptions can be achieved either with couplers per se which meet these characteristics or by the use of certain high-boiling solvents in the coupler dispersions at preferred levels.

Growing community of inventors

Potten End, United Kingdom

Gareth B Evans