Eastman-kodak Company

Steven D Possanza

Roland J Koestner

Robert Peter Kraus, Jr

Fugui He

Paul P Zontek

Brian J Connolly

Angela H R Jones

Daniel J Wooster

Edgar P Lougheed

Kenneth A Nicolai

Donald E Eaton

Lawrence D Meston

Kim E Goppert

David R Bendle

Christoph H Seeling

Thomas K Winkler

Kenneth R Kresinske

Gary G Kirkpatrick

Paul K Kelly

Richard L Herbert

Angela H Jones

Jeffrey M Owen

A method is taught for removing bubbles from a coating solution prior to a coating operation. The method comprises debubbling the coating solution in a tank open to atmosphere to remove bubbles having a diameter in the range of from about 200 to 300 &mgr;m and greater therefrom; flowing the coating solution from the tank to a bubble elimination tube; debubbling the coating solution in the bubble elimination tube to remove bubbles from the coating solution having a diameter greater than about 200 &mgr;m, the bubble elimination tube preferably including at least one ultrasonic horn; flowing the coating solution from the bubble elimination tube through an end cap round ultrasonic bubble eliminator, the end cap round ultrasonic bubble eliminator removing remaining bubbles in the coating solution having a diameter greater than about 30 &mgr;m; and delivering the coating solution from the end cap round ultrasonic bubble eliminator to the downstream coating operation.

Integrated use of deaeration methods to reduce bubbles and liquid waste

A multiport valve is taught for regulating flow of liquid therethrough originating from at least two sources. The valve includes a three cylindrical valve chambers each having a piston residing therein such that through actuation of the pistons flow through each valve chamber can be permitted or stopped independently. There is an inlet port that tangentially intercepts the first cylindrical valve chamber and there is an outlet port that tangentially intercepts an intermediate cylindrical valve chamber. The design of the three valve chambers and the inlet and outlet ports to the valve chambers effectively eliminates any bubble traps in the valve and allows bubbles to be swept from the valve chambers.

Purgable multiport valve

A method and apparatus for switching a supply to a process from a first vessel to a second vessel. Liquid is flowed from the first vessel through a first outlet conduit through a vessel selection valve, including first and second switch valves, to the process. A conductivity sensor measures the conductivity level of the liquid in the first outlet conduit at a point upstream of the selection valve and a computer compares the conductivity level to a predetermined range. The computer signals an isolation valve, in a second outlet conduit from the second vessel, to open and allow liquid to displace air in the second outlet conduit from the second vessel to the selection valve. The computer determines a delay to allow liquid below the first conductivity sensor to reach the first switch valve, then closes the first switch valve and opens the second switch valve.

Method and apparatus for online switching between supply vessels

A method is taught for debubbling a liquid composition containing entrained gas bubbles that increases the effectiveness of ultrasonic debubbling apparatus employed. The method comprises the steps of immersing an ultrasonic horn in water, the horn being contained within a vessel and coupled to a pair of transducers; adjusting an RF generator connected to the pair of transducers to produce a signal at or near a parallel resonance frequency of the pair of transducers; fixing the RF generator at a constant voltage level; and flowing the liquid composition to be debubbled through the vessel with the RF generator operating at constant voltage level and at a variable operating power level that varies with the viscosity of the liquid composition.

Process control method to increase deaeration capacity in an ECR by constant voltage operation

A method for switching filters on-line while continuously supplying a fluid to a downstream operation such as a photographic product coating device comprising transmitting the fluid to a filter selection valve having a first flow path therethrough to a first filter and a second flow path therethrough to a second filter; flowing the fluid through the first flow path and through the first filter to a filter diverter valve having a first fluid from the first filter to the downstream operation, a second fluid path from the second filter to the downstream operation, a third fluid path from the first filter to a drain, and a fourth fluid path from the second filter to the drain; directing the fluid through the first fluid path; determining when the first filter will soon become inoperable; opening the second flow path through the filter selection valve and opening the fourth fluid path through the filter diverter valve; closing the fourth fluid path after the fluid has flowed through the second filter but prior to any of the fluid exiting the fourth fluid path to drain; opening the second fluid path through the filter diverter valve and concurrently flowing the fluid through the first and second filters to the downstream operation; and closing the first flow path through the filter selection valve and the first fluid path through the filter diverter valve such that all flow of the fluid to the downstream operation is through the second filter.

Method for switching filters on-line without bubbles and with zero liquid waste

A method and apparatus for evaluating the end cap round transducer horn assemblies used in debubbling operations wherein the ECR THA can be evaluated off-line at both high and low power and on-line by making electrical measurements on the ECR THA. The electrical measurements are used to characterize the physical condition of the piezoelectric ceramics of the THA. A test box is employed to practice the method. The test box is connected between the THA and a signal analyzer. Power is supplied to the THA and the electrical signals across the THA are sampled. The sampled electrical signals are transmitted to the signal analyzer while maintaining the amplitude and phase relationship thereof. The sampled electrical signals are used to generate an impedance trace for the particular THA. That impedance trace is compared to a model impedance trace. In such manner, it can be determined whether the ECR THA is operational. Further, if the ECR THA is in working condition, the impedance trace can be used to determine how efficiently it is operating. This allows for an ultimate determination to be made of how well a particular ECR THA is functioning.

Electrical circuit for testing a transducer horn assembly

Method for evaluating transducer horn assembly used in debubbling by comparing frequency dependent impedance to model

Apparatus for testing transducer horn assembly debubbling devices

Method for testing transducer horn assembly used in debubbling by

Method for testing transducer horn Assembly used in debubbling by

A method and apparatus for blending consecutive batches of photographic emulsions which includes two modified passive liquefaction apparatus, each capable of independent batch melt production. Each modified liquefaction apparatus has a metering pump associated therewith to draw melt therefrom and deliver the melt to a surge pot from which the melt can be pumped to the coating operation. Each metering pump is flow controlled and the discharge lines combined to allow for static in-line mixing of the two metering pump discharges. A control system allows for regulated flow from each of the metering pumps such that the transition of drawing from the first liquefaction apparatus to the second liquefaction apparatus occurs well in advance of the exhaustion of the melt in the liquefaction apparatus. During the transition period, total flow from the first liquefaction apparatus is constantly decreased and total flow from the second liquefaction apparatus is constantly increased with total flow from the two liquefaction apparatus remaining the same. In such manner, when melt in the first liquefaction apparatus is exhausted, 100% of the flow is coming from the second liquefaction apparatus thereby providing for a smooth transition with little variation in the sensitometric parameters of the melt.

Modified passive liquefier batch transition process

Method and apparatus for testing transducer horn assembly for testing

A device for producing discrete rolls of chilled solutions or dispersions wherein the combination of a distribution bar, an auxiliary weir hopper and a puddle hopper allows for continuous coating of a rotating chiller drum in producing discrete rolls separated from each other by a time gap built into the deposition of the solutions or dispersions from the hopper to the rotating chilled drum.

Device for producing discrete rolls of chilled solutions or dispersions

Photographic emulsions are quickly chilled to a homogeneous, particulate gel by injection of carbon dioxide coolant, while the emulsion is agitated. This process is carried out in a housing having a pair of parallel auger screws to transport emulsion circuitously within the housing. Carbon dioxide coolant is injected through a plurality of nozzles in the housing and is then removed from the housing through a vent line.

Method of chilling a photographic emulsion

The present invention is a cone insert for a liquefaction kettle. Pads on the bottom of the cone separate the cone from the surface of the kettle. Solid material is added to the top of the cone. Solid material is melted on demand by an internal spray kettle ring. The cone insert provides continuous liquefaction and prevents sensitometric shift in photographic emulsions.

Growing community of inventors

Penfield, NY, United States of America

Steven D Possanza