Eastman-Kodak Company

Eastern Kodak Company

Ralph L Piccinino, Jr

John H Rosenburgh

David Lynn Patton

Kevin H Blakely

Joseph Anthony Manico

Daniel M Pagano

Daniel C Davis

Anthony Earle

Jeffrey L Hall

Raymond E Wess

Roger E Bartell

Ronald W Grant, Jr

Kevin M O'Connor

Leslie R Wells

Anne E Bohan

Faye Transvalidou

Craig S Lefevre

Kenneth D Corby

Thomas C Jessop

Paul A Schwartz

Allen K Tsaur

Charles M Darmon

Edgar Preston Gates

Walter D Foley

Clyde L Fetterman

Robert E Marowski

Jerry Carmen

Ramasubramaniam Hanumanthu

Ronald A Gogle

Daniel R English

Martin L Slade

Henry R Freidhoff

Michael J May

Eduard Kaminker

John Manos

Joseph A Mainco

Ronald W Grant

Timothy W Herman

Michael R Gray

Mark M Kerns

Keith S Lundy

Ross T Fortunato

Billy K Boller

Heath A Dowling

Andrew Zhou

Gordon F Breese

Thomas J Brenner

Craig S LeFevre

Homer G Porter

Tracy L Finnemore Olson

Todd C Brown

Stacy N Burris

John C Cushman

Ralph D Sadler

Three-chambered container

A system for supplying a processing solution to a printing device, such as a photographic processor or a printer, which includes a supply tank with processing solution or ink and a delivery system between the supply tank and a printing device. The delivery system has a retaining vessel with retained fluid, in the vessel, and a reference probe to signal a level probe when fluid reaches a predetermined level on receipt of a replenish signal from the controller for the printing device. The power supply actuates a three-way valve in order to flow a volume of the processing solution from the supply tank to the retaining vessel. A power supply receives the adjustable liquid level probe signal from the adjustable liquid level probe. Then switches the three-way valve to flow the retained fluid from the retaining vessel to the printer.

Replenishment system for a print media processor

The present invention relates to a processing solution supply cartridge that utilizes a single developer solution holding area having interconnected compartments for a single-part developer concentrate. The holding area has interconnected compartments and includes valves that permit the cartridge to be utilized on an existing processor or processing machine. The design of the present invention assures a complete emptying of the cartridge by permitting the simultaneous replenishment of single-part developer through the valves into the processing machine.

Photographic processing arrangement and a processing solution supply cartridge for the processing arrangement

A waste container is received in a photographic processing machine along with a chemical supply container. The supply container is oriented at an angle to horizontal. Ports are provided into the containers with an associated snap cap oriented such that the neck extends vertically when received in the processing machine. A shipping cassette system includes two stacked upper and lower cassettes, each having a plurality of vertical walls that laterally surround an interior volume. A processing machine includes a cap opening bar and a mounting mechanism with a pivot point aligning the bar with the caps of a chemical delivery container assembly along a side of the caps opposite to the side along which the hinges are aligned such that rotation of the cap opening bar about the pivot point simultaneously opens the fluid supply ports by rotating the caps about their hinges.

Mechanical interface using single stroke opener for multi-container chemical cartridge

A photographic processor and method for developing photographic images utilizes a frame and an exposure section that receives and expose print media to record an image on the print media. The exposure section includes a transport system that transports the print media to an exposing mechanism. After the exposing mechanism, the print media goes to a chemical development section contained that develops the exposed print media. A print media supply section secured to a shuttle system attached to the frame wherein the print media supply section provides print media from two or more magazines. The shuttle system sequentially moves one of the magazines to a position in line with the entry to the exposure section and then away from the entry. The shuttle system then moves other magazines from the position in line with the entry to the exposure section and then away from the entry.

Magazine shuttle for a photographic processor

The present invention relates to a processing solution supply cartridge which utilizes a single container for a single-part developer concentrate. The single container has at least two valves or necks and is adapted to be utilized on a existing processor or processing machine. The single developer container design of the present invention assures a complete emptying of the container by permitting the simultaneous replenishment of single-part developer through each of the valves into the processing machine. With the combination of the single developer container and the single-part developer the process of metering distinct developers through distinct containers is not required. By facilitating the complete emptying of the developer container, the likelihood of developer solution remaining in the container is minimized.

The invention relates to a photographic processor and a method of processing photographic material. The photographic processor is adapted to achieve a high speed processing of photographic material by utilizing the combination of a vacuum platen and a stacker arrangement that is adapted to hold the media for a time necessary to process and/or dry the media. The system permits media to be fed to a first vacuum platen where a first solution is applied. The platen transports the media to a first vertical stacker arrangement, which holds the media for a desired processing time for the first solution. The media can then be pushed through a stop solution, if needed, and onto a second vacuum platen where a second solution can be applied. The media is then delivered to second vertical stacker arrangement that is designed to assure the proper amount of processing time for the second solution.

Photographic processing system having a vertical stacker arrangement

The present invention relates to a processing arrangement that includes a processing section and a scanning section. The scanning section includes a scanner that is adapted to scan processed photographic film. The scanning section also includes a plate member with a guide slot therein and a plurality of film holding casings movably located in the guide slot. The film holding casing are adapted to receive the processed dried film from the processing section and queue the processed dried film for scanning in the scanner. With the arrangement of the present invention, it is possible to collect and queue multiple films to be scanned.

Queuing arrangement for photographic media to be scanned

The present invention relates to a photographic processing system and a method of processing photographic media, wherein a conveying member having slots therein is provided on top of a vacuum chamber and is used to convey photographic media to be processed. A processing solution supply member applies processing solution onto the photographic media on the conveying member, and a vacuum air source is adapted to apply a vacuum suction force to the vacuum chamber to hold the sheet of photographic media flat either during the application of processing solution to the media or after the processing solution is applied to the media.

Photographic processing system having a vacuum platen

A cup and probe assembly for use in a system for transferring a liquid between two sources in a photographic processor. The probe having body portion having a threaded section that mates with a threaded inlet provided on said cup.

Cup and probe assembly for use in a valve system for transferring a liquid between two sources

A photographic processor is in the form of an outside load drum processor. The outside load drum processor includes a circular member that includes a first wall, a second wall and a side-wall that connects the first wall to the second wall and extends around a perimeter of the circular member. A flexible shield member is wrapped around an outer surface of the side-wall so that a processing path for photographic material to be processed is defined between at least the outer surface of the side-wall and the inner surface of the flexible shield member. The circular drum member is rotated for processing of photographic film within the processing path.

Outside load drum processor

A dryer for drying photographic material and a transfer assembly for transferring processed photographic film from a processor to the dryer. The dryer comprises a path through which the photographic material extends wherein at least one slack loop is provided in the photographic material. An adjustable roller is provided along the path to adjust a size of the slack loop and an air supply arrangement is adapted to provide drying air to the slack loop.

Transfer assembly and a dryer operationally associated with the transfer assembly

An apparatus and method for applying at least one solution of a predetermined viscosity to photosensitive material. The apparatus includes at least an application roller that applies the coating solution onto the photosensitive material. The application roller partially extends into a solution tray of the coating apparatus and is partially submerged in solution in the solution tray. In an arrangement of the present invention, a cascade wall and metering blade are positioned within the solution tray so as to define a first section at which solution enters the tray, and a second section which receives solution that spills over from the first section and includes a port which leads coating solution back to a coating solution tank for recycling or leads cleaning solution to drain. The apparatus further includes a washing arrangement that washes the coating apparatus in an efficient manner. The washing arrangement includes a retractable scrubber bar arrangement that moves away from the application roller when the coating apparatus is in a coating mode of operation and is movable toward the application roller by way of brushes in a cleaning mode of operation. The apparatus and method further includes a recirculation system that alternatively supplies coating solution to the coating solution tray and cleaning solution to both the solution tray and washing arrangement.

Coating apparatus having a cascade wall and metering blade, and a cleaning and recirculation arrangement for the coating apparatus

A photographic processor and a dryer for drying photographic material. The dryer comprises a path through which the photographic material extends wherein at least one slack loop is provided in the photographic material. An adjustable roller is provided along the path to adjust a size of the slack loop and an air supply arrangement is adapted to provide drying air to the slack loop. The air supply arrangement supplies air to a frame member that has slots along at least one wall. A sliding member is provided within the frame member to open and close the slots in accordance with the size of the slack loop. This enables a supply of drying air directly on the media and further permits the automatic adjustment of the amount of air being supplied in accordance with the size of the slack loop or the length of the media being dried.

Slack loop dryer for drying photographic material

The present invention is directed to a photographic processor, such as a minilab, which includes at least an exposure section and a chemical development section. The exposure section of the minilab includes an inclined or slanted conveying path that receives photographic paper or media with the emulsion side in a first orientation, such as emulsion side-up; transports the photographic media emulsion side-up to an exposing position where the emulsion side of the photographic media is exposed to light, turns the exposed photographic media around so that the emulsion side is in a second orientation, such as emulsion side down; and conveys the photographic media emulsion side-down to an exit of the exposure station.

Photographic processor having an exposure section with an inclined media path

Growing community of inventors

Rush, NY, United States of America

Ralph L Piccinino, Jr