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:
Oct. 08, 1991
Filed:
Oct. 03, 1990
Christopher J Kralles, Rochester, NY (US);
Michael T Wolf, Rochester, NY (US);
Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY (US);
Abstract
Film flattening apparatus and method wherein a base (30) having a flat surface (32) contacts the film (12) as it moves thereacross in a given direction, the surface having an aperture (34) defined therein, respective portions (50, 52) of the base (30) in the vicinity of the aperture lateral edges (36, 38) define film contacting surfaces (54, 56) each having curvature sufficient to provide lateral column strength in the film as it is moved thereabove, and flattener elements (90) substantially near the aperture longitudinal edges (40, 42) apply edge flattening force to the edges of the film outwardly of the aperture longitudinal edges. Edge guides (110) contact opposite edges of the film in the vicinity of one of the base portions (50, 52), and first and second deflectors (270, 272) can be provided adjacent corresponding ones of the base portions (50, 52) for deflecting film along a serpentine path. An optical film notch detector (390, 392) can be operatively associated with one of the base portions (50, 52 ).