The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 02, 1991
Filed:
Aug. 22, 1989
William B Wilson, Hamlin, NY (US);
Matthew DiPietro, Webster, NY (US);
Richard K Neace, Hilton, NY (US);
Vincent B Dethier, Rochester, NY (US);
Raymond G Hauss, Rochester, NY (US);
James R Louk, Rochester, NY (US);
Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY (US);
Abstract
Processing apparatus for photographic film, particularly intraoral xray film, in which the various processing stations are positioned in a circle about a central rotatable column. The column has an external spiral groove in which rides a pin carried by, and extending into the bore of, a hub which fits around the column. Rotation of the column moves the hub up or down, depending upon the direction of rotation. The hub carries a plurality of arms equal in number to the number of stations, seven in the apparatus disclosed. Each arm has a magnet for attaching a novel film holder which is detachable at the unloading station. After loading a film holder with film to be processed, the holder is loaded into the machine through a spring-pressed loading door onto a loading platform which moves the film holder upwardly to engage it with one of the arms when the door is closed. Raising, rotation and lowering of the hub, arms and film holders is controlled by rotation of the column and proper arm positioning is assured by a novel escapement mechanism. The apparatus provides operation from loading to unloading with a minimum of human intervention, with high consistency of operation, and with treatment for equal time intervals in the developing, fixing, washing, liquid removal and spin drying stations.