Polaroid Corporation

Harry R Parsons

Philip R Norris

John E Meschter

Stephen G Gilvar

William T Plummer

Lawrence J Salvo

Paul D Gjeltema

Robert M Curry, Jr

Robert J Wadja

Richard P Breen, Jr

Donald W Preissler

Carl L Olson

A film assemblage of the self-developing type which has a pair of upper and lower carrier sheets in juxtaposed relationship to one another. A pair of openings is provided in each of the carrier sheets. A photosensitive sheet and a positive receiving sheet are joined to outer surfaces of the upper and lower carrier sheets; respectively, so as to cover the respective openings. The pair of upper and lower carrier sheets is fixedly joined together in overlapping relationship, whereby the photosensitive and receiving sheets are in superimposed and spaced apart relationship thereby forming, in combination, an image area of the film.

Simplified self-developing film assemblages and methods of making the same

The present invention is an improved film assemblage of the self developing type that allows separation of both the pod and trap portions of the film frame, but sealing of the ends of the separated film portions including pod, trap, and image area. The present invention also provides such a film assemblage of the foregoing type whereby further ensuring uniform flow of the processing fluid during the spreading process. A method of manufacturing said film is also provided.

Retrofitted self-developing film assemblages and methods of making the same

A self developing photographic apparatus comprising: a housing including a film exit slot; exposure means operable for effecting an exposure; a film assemblage of the self-developing type including at least one exposable area and a rupturable reservoir containing processing fluid being associated with a corresponding exposable area. The apparatus also includes pressure applying means operable for rupturing the reservoir to thereby dispense and spread the fluid over the exposable area so as to initiate development of latent images as the film is withdrawn from the housing. Also included is at least one film engaging assembly coupled to the housing and located exteriorly of the film exit slot. In another embodiment, the invention includes a method of processing a film assemblage such that the film spreading fluid is applied substantially uniform.

Method and system for reducing image artifacts

There is described a self-developing film unit which has a photosensitive member and an image-receiving member and wherein one outermost surface of the film unit comprises a support layer carrying a layer of a releasable material and a layer of an adhesive material. After an image is formed in the film unit by photoexposure of the photosensitive element and photographic processing of the exposed photosensitive element, the support and releasable material layer can be removed and the film unit or the image-receiving element, as the case may be, adhered to a surface for viewing of the image.

Self developing-film unit

An improved self-developing film unit comprising: a processing fluid supply including a rupturable reservoir of processing fluid; an image recording assembly of the self-developing type including first and second overlying layers one of which is exposable to form a latent photographic image, and a spacer connected to and between the first and second layers for providing a processing space therebetween for allowing processing fluid to pass therethrough; a fluid trap at a trailing end portion of the film unit for collecting excess processing fluid traveling through the processing space; a first fluid-tight coupling device including a fluid passage for fluidically coupling the reservoir to a leading end of the processing space for allowing processing fluid from a ruptured reservoir to be introduced into the processing space and initiate processing of the latent image; and, second fluid-tight coupling device including a fluid passage for fluidically coupling a trailing end of the processing space with the trap for allowing processing fluid to enter into the trap; the image recording assembly comprises a photosensitive layer, an image receiving layer in overlying and coextensive relationship to the photosensitive layer; the image receiving layer and the photosensitive layer being of the integral diffusion transfer type; and, the spacer comprises a pair of spaced apart and generally parallel elongated rails coextensive with and adjacent opposed marginal edges of the layers.

Photographic film assemblages and methods of making

An improved self-developing film unit comprising: processing fluid supply means including a rupturable reservoir of processing fluid at a leading end portion of the unit; image recording means of the self-developing type including first and second overlying layers one of which is exposable to form a latent photographic image, and spacer means connected to and between said first and second layers for providing a processing space therebetween for allowing processing fluid to pass therethrough; fluid trap means at a trailing end portion of the film unit for collecting excess processing fluid traveling through said processing space; first fluid-tight coupling means including a fluid passage for fluidically coupling said reservoir to a leading end of said processing space for allowing processing fluid from a ruptured reservoir to be introduced into said processing space and initiate processing of the latent image; and, second fluid-tight coupling means including a fluid passage for fluidically coupling a trailing end of said processing space with said trap means for allowing processing fluid to enter into said trap means; said first coupling means having one end portion sealably secured to an exterior surface of said reservoir and a second end portion sealably secured to an exterior surface of a leading end portion of said image recording means; and, said second coupling means having an end portion sealably secured to and about the trailing end portion of said image recording means and an opposite end portion sealably secured to an exterior surface of said trap means.

Film assembly

This invention involves a film cassette for resiliently holding a film unit for exposure. The cassette includes a forward wall, a rear wall, two side walls, a leading end wall and a trailing end wall all combined to form an enclosure for holding the film unit. An exposure opening in the forward wall allows exposure of the film unit and an egress opening in the leading end wall allows it to be discharged after exposure. A pick slot in the forward wall provides access to a pick to engage the film unit and advance it through the egress opening. A spring platen mounted within the chamber between the rear wall and the film unit biases the film unit against the forward wall in proper position for exposure through the exposure opening.

Cassette for enclosing a plurality of negative film units

A cassette holds sheets of film which form a positive image on one side thereof. The cassette is especially configured to minimize accidental discharge of the film sheets due to jars or impacts. A pick is used to penetrate a pick slot in the forward wall of the cassette to engage pockets formed on the leading ends of enclosed film units and urge them through an egress opening in the forward wall of the cassette. A probe opening in the rear wall of the cassette receives a probe from below to urge each film unit successively into alignment with the egress opening at the time the pick engages the pocket in each film sheet. Inward offsets at the leading end of the cassette are filled by two hold-back fingers, one on each side of the cassette, to engage hold-back shoulders on the leading end of each film sheet to prevent inadvertent discharge of the sheet due to impacts on the cassette.

Cassette for enclosing a plurality of positive film units

During manufacture a film unit has one portion masked while it is exposed to light in a second portion to form a latent image of indicia on the mask. A pod of liquid developer is attached to the pre-exposed film unit and together they are mounted within a cassette. The cassete is inserted into a camera where the previously unexposed portion of the film unit is exposed to image bearing light while the pre-exposed portion of the film unit is masked from said light. The pod of developer liquid is passed through a pair of rollers to rupture the pod, spread the developer liquid between the layers of the film unit, and develop the two latent images as a single photograph.

Growing community of inventors

Burlington, MA, United States of America

Harry R Parsons