Polaroid Corporation

Vincent L Cocco

Philip R Norris

David V Cronin

Richard R Wareham

John Michael Guerra

Peter P Clark

Paul F Sullivan

Donald L Grimes

Wanda T Reiss

Patricia A Mokry

A photographic film image carrying element is housed in a cartridge having a strip wound around a spool in the cartridge, where the strip includes a leader protruding from the cartridge, the image carrying element, a leader barrier for physically and chemically separating the leader from the image carrying element, a first reagent laden web, a first barrier for physically and chemically separating the image carrying element from the first reagent laden web, a second reagent laden web, and a second barrier for physically and chemically separating the first reagent laden web from the second reagent laden web. The second reagent laden web is attached to the spool. The photographic film image carrying element can be processed by: winding the image carrying element onto a first take-up reel; merging the image carrying element and the first reagent laden web by guiding the strip at the first barrier through a set of rollers then winding the merged image carrying element and first reagent laden web onto a second take-up reel; rewinding and separating, after a first predetermined time, the image carrying element onto the first take-up reel and the first reagent laden web onto the spool in the cartridge; winding the first reagent laden web onto the first take-up reel; merging the image carrying element and the second reagent laden web by guiding the strip at the second barrier through the set of rollers, then winding the merged image carrying segment and second reagent laden web onto the second take-up reel; rewinding and separating, after a second predetermined amount of time, the image carrying element onto the first take-up reel and the second reagent laden web onto the spool in the cartridge; and scanning the image carrying element with a light beam while rewinding the image carrying element onto the spool.

Multi-pad film processing

An integral data storage disk card includes a planar rectangular base member on a portion of which a data storage disk is disposed for rotation relative to the base member and within an overlaying cover fixed to the base member to protect the data storage disk. A visually discernible information bearing layer in either machine or human readable form is disposed on the other portion of the base member adjacent the data storage disk.

Integral card for protectively enclosing an optical disk and a visual

A magnetic data storage system for use with a double sided disk in which a prerecorded pattern of opaque optical lines is used to define the tracks in which magnetic data is to be stored. A separate optical system including an illumination source and a photosensitive detector is provided on a read/write assembly for each side of the disk. Each detector is designed also to serve as a reference grating. The illumination source is designed to image the prerecorded pattern of optical lines on the reference grating as an indication of the alignment of the read/write head of the assembly and a desired data rack and any misalignment of the head and track generates a servo signal. The detector uses four separate photocells interleaved in a prescribed fashion to form a quadrature detector that is adjustable to compensate for various non-uniformities. One form of illumination source uses a surface-emitting light emitting diode and optics for forming a multiple beam source.

Data storage apparatus using optical servo tracks

A compact apparatus is provided for writing and/or reading information on a disk. Compactness is achieved by mounting various disk drive components on first and second housing sections which are arranged in telescoping relation for movement between a compact operative position for write and/or read operations and an extended position wherein facing drive components are retracted or spaced further apart to facilitate disk insertion and withdrawal operations.

Telescoping disk drive assembly

Film processing apparatus is provided for uniformly spreading processing fluid on a surface of a sheet of photosensitive material with an applicator pad in the form of a length of absorbent web material impregnated with processing liquid and wrapped on a pair of rollers with each end thereof being attached to a respective one of the rollers forming the roller pair. The applicator material is wrapped on both of the rollers with the applicator material and the roller pair being enclosed in a liquid-tight housing having a self-sealing opening therein for the passage of photosensitive sheet material therethrough. An exposed sheet of photosensitive material is transported from a light-tight cassette through the self-sealing housing opening and into the bite between wrapped and unwrapped applicator pad surfaces. A drive motor drives the pair of rollers such that in one direction the entire photosensitive sheet is drawn in between adjacent layers of wrapped applicator material where it imbibes processing liquid from the applicator pad for a predetermined period of time. Upon completion of the imbibition, the rollers are then driven in the opposite direction until the imbibed sheet is driven out of the processing apparatus by the drive motor through the self-sealing housing opening.

Film processor with S-curve fluid applicator pad

A processing apparatus is provided for immersion treating a sheet-like film unit with a processing liquid and thereafter squeegeeing excess liquid therefrom. The apparatus includes a processing tank holding a supply of liquid, a pair of pressure applying rollers for withdrawing the film unit from the tank and squeegeeing excess liquid therefrom, a movable film carrier for supporting the film unit at a processing position in the liquid and then raising the film unit to position where it feeds an end of the film into the rollers, and means responsive to rotation of the rollers for automatically moving the carrier from the processing position to the film feed position.

Photographic film processing apparatus

A self-processing film unit including a sheet-like photosensitive film component as provided with a liquid applicator holding a supply of low viscosity processing liquid that is to be applied to a given area of an outer surface of the film component, following its exposure, to initiate processing. The applicator comprises a liquid and air impervious sheet carrying on one surface thereof means holding a substantially uniformly distributed supply of processing liquid. The applicator is initially provided on one end of the film component in a releasably sealed folded configuration wherein the impervious sheet forms an impervious enclosure about the liquid holding means and it is movable therefrom to an unsealed extended configuration to locate the liquid holding means in liquid yielding contact with the given area of the film component outer surface.

Self-processing film unit with liquid applicator

A film processing apparatus is provided for wetting an outer surface of a film unit with a low viscosity processing liquid supplied from a liquid applicator pad enclosed in a pouch-like container forming part of a multi-container liquid applicator packaging web. The apparatus is configured to manipulate the web so as to open each of the containers in sequence and present the applicator pad therein at a film processing position.

Film processing apparatus

A processing apparatus is provided for use with a self-processing film unit of the type including a photosensitive sheet-like film component and a folded and releasably sealed processing liquid applicator secured thereto. The apparatus includes a support for the film unit and an applicator manipulating mechanism that is operable to unseal the applicator and move it to an extended position overlying the film component to bring a substantially uniformly distributed supply of processing liquid carried on an interior surface of the applicator into contact with an outer surface of the film component to initiate processing of the film component.

Processing apparatus for self-processing film unit with a folded

A photographic film assemblage including a film cassette having an exit through which a strip of film may be advanced, a spool rotatably mounted within the cassette, a strip of film coiled about the spool with a leading end thereof adapted to extend to the exterior of the cassette via the exit, and a strip of sheet material having an intermediate section, located between and in engagement with the outermost convolution of film and an interior wall of the cassette, and opposite ends which extend to the exterior of the cassette via the exit. Should the leading end of the film be located within the cassette, it may be removed by abruptly pulling one of the ends of the sheet material in a direction to cause its intermediate section to drag the leading end of the film through the exit.

Film retriever

Apparatus including a housing and a disposable film processing kit for processing an exposed roll of instant or self-developing type transparency film. The kit includes a roller supporting a coiled length of sheet material, a drum having one end of the sheet material attached thereto, and a processing composition dispenser located therebetween. The kit is adapted to be inserted into the housing, and an end of an exposed strip of film is threaded across a sprocket wheel and directed towards the drum. The sprocket wheel and the drum are driven in a direction so as to wind the film and sheet material upon the drum with a layer of the processing composition located therebetween. The drum is provided with a single resiliently mounted projection which is adapted to enter a sprocket hole in the film to facilitate the movement of the end of the film to a position between the spreader sheet and the drum.

Processing apparatus for instant type transparency film

A microfiche system for recording a regular pattern of micro image frames on a transparency film unit, preferably of the self-developing type, and thereafter for projecting enlarged images of the recorded frames for viewing. The system includes as separate cooperable components a microfiche camera, a microfiche projector and a console. The console includes a combination document mounting glass and image display screen area, a camera/projector mount for alternatively receiving the camera or projector and a pair of mirrors for transmitting images between the mounting and display area and the mount. For recording the camera is located on the mount and incrementally movable camera exposure and film advance mechanisms provide the capability of recording an orthogonal pattern of images of documents supported successively on the document mounting glass. After film processing, the system is converted for viewing by replacing the camera with the projector and locating the image display screen over the mounting glass. The projector includes a mechanism for moving the film unit relative to a projecting lens for projecting an image of any micro frame on the film unit onto the image display screen.

Growing community of inventors

Wakefield, MA, United States of America

Vincent L Cocco