US3680464A

US3680464A - Single use film developer and film/developer package coupling means therefor

Info

Publication number: US3680464A
Application number: US77779A
Authority: US
Inventors: James F G Bowlby
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: BOWLBY ASSOCIATES Inc; Scopas Technology Corp
Priority date: 1970-10-05
Filing date: 1970-10-05
Publication date: 1972-08-01
Anticipated expiration: 1989-08-01

Abstract

Improved means for coupling a length of film to a pliable developer package are disclosed. A rigid tooth that is integral with the film releasably engages an aperture in a flexible tab that is integral with the developer package. The tooth and aperture are sized so as to be readily uncoupled after the film is accurately located in the developer chamber.

Description

United States Patent Bowlby [54] SINGLE USE FILM DEVELOPER AND FILM/DEVELOPER PACKAGE COUPLING MEANS THEREFOR [72] Inventor: James F. G. Bowlby, 124 Demarest Road, Bloomingdale, NJ. 07403 22 Filed: Oct. 5, 1970 21 Appl.No.: 77,779

52 U.S.'Cl. ..95/89R,95/l3,96/76R, 250/68 51 Int.Cl. ..G03d 3/00 [58] Field of Search ...95/89 R, 89 L, 90, 13; 250/65, 250/68, 69; 96/76 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,767,972 6/1930 Garretson ..95/90 [15] 3,680,464 [451 Aug. 1,1972

2,689,307 9/1954 Fairbank ..95/89RX 3,195,436 7/1965 Decrop ..95/90 Primary ExaminerSamuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner-Richard L. Moses Attorney-Leonard H. King ABSTRACT Improved means for coupling a length of film to a pliable developer package are disclosed. A rigid tooth that is integral with the film releasably engages an aperture in a flexible tab that is integral with the developer package. The tooth and aperture are sized so as to be readily uncoupled after the film is accurately located in the developer chamber.

13 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PA TENTEMB 1 I972 SHEET 1 OF 3 INVENTOR. Ii/mes [6. 3001/45) ATTORNEY PATENTEUAus' 1 I972 SHEU 3 0F 3 INVENTOR. .7201

G Zen/43y ATTORNEY SINGLE USE FILM DEVELOPER AND FILM/ DEVELOPER PACKAGE COUPLING MEANS THEREFOR This invention relates generally to the photographic arts and more particularly to improvements in a low cost film developer that is disposable after a single use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A need exists for a low cost, simple developing appar'atus for exposed, light-sensitive film. X-rays have on-the-site applications such as at accident scenes and during military operations. There are also industrial uses for on-the-site X-rays for inspection purposes and the like. While it is highly desirable that the X-ray film be developed as promptly as possible, this is frequently not done because dark room facilities are usually remote. There must necessarily be a time delay between film exposure and processing that could prove costly.

An example of apparatus to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art in this field is disclosed in my copending application, Ser. No. 760,231, filed on Sept. 17, 1968. Therein a system is disclosed which utilizes a supply of film developer contained within a rigid compartment. The exposed film is attached to a pull tab which is then drawn through the developer, carrying with it the exposed film.

Another copending application, Ser. No. 814,243, filed Apr. 8, 1969, discloses an improvement over the first filed application in that a length of exposed film is coupled to a pliable package containing a fluid composition for treating the film. The pliable package and the film are drawn through a rigid container that applies a force to the pliable package so that the fluid is discharged therefrom into the rigid container and onto the film.

Still other examples of the prior art are U.S. Pat. No. 3,379,879 issued to E.T. Dicker et al. on Apr. 23, 1968 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,430,042 granted on Feb. 25, 1969 to V. Neri. Both of these last mentioned patents relate to devices for developing dental X-ray film and provide that both the film and the processing fluid are in the same package. The disadvantage of the prior art structure is that there is always the possibility of leakage of the processing fluid. By way of contrast, the present invention permits remote usage of the X-ray film which is then coupled to a processor for development. The prior art requires that the processing fluid be dispensed onto the film instead of moving the film through and out of the processing fluid in accordance with the concept of this invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The improved coupling means of this invention are comprised of a rigid plastic tooth that is sandwiched between opposed layers at the end of the pliable envelope that contains the film. The end of the pliable film envelope has an S-bend with the tooth pointing initially in a direction away from film travel. An opening on a tab formed integrally with a pliable plastic developer package releasably receives the rigid tooth so that when the developer package is pulled through a rigid developer container, the S-bend is opened and the film package is pulled from its envelope into the rigid developer container.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention to provide an improved, low cost, single use film developing pack.

An advantage of this invention is that the improved film developing pack described above does not require the use of a conventional darkroom.

An additional object of this invention is to provide an improved coupling means between the film holder and the developer package of the film pack described above.

A specific object of this invention is to provide im proved coupling means, as described above, comprising a rigid tooth secured to a flexible tab portion on one of the two movable elements, the tooth mating with an opening in the other of the two movable elements.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will, in part, be pointed out with particularity and will, in part, become obvious from the following more detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which forms an integral part thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the various figures of the drawing like reference characters designate like parts.

IN THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a plan view of the film holder comprising the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1 but with the coupling means of this invention shown in the bent or folded condition and with an outer pack shown in phantom;

FIG. 3A is a fragmentary plan view, on an enlarged scale, illustrating a light seal arrangement for the film holder;

FIG. 4 is a sectional side elevational view, on an enlarged scale, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view similar to FIG. 3, with a portion broken away and partially in section, showing the outer pack in solid outline with the coupling means extending therethrough;

FIG. 6 is a plan view, partially broken away and partially in section, illustrating the combined pliable film holder, pliable developer pack and rigid developer container of this invention in their physical relationship preliminary to developing;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view, in section and on an enlarged scale, taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the film holder and developer pack in the coupled condition, a portion of the developer container having been removed to show an intermediate stage in the usage of the present inventron;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view, similar to FIG. 8, showing the film positioned in the developer container and with the empty developer package uncoupled;

FIG. 10 is another fragmentary side elevational view in section on an enlarged scale illustrating a feature of the developer container;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary plan view of a coupled length of film and a developer package illustrating another feature of this invention, the developer container being removed for clarity.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary plan view with the developer container partially broken away illustrating the relationship of the pliable and rigid portions of the developer package and developer container, respectively; and

FIG. 13 is a plan view similar to FIG. 12 showing the pliable developer package almost completely removed and with the film almost completely positioned within the rigid developer container.

, Referring now to the drawing, and in particular to FIGS. 14, there is shown the film holder portion 20 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4 a length of film 22 is positioned between layers of

protective sheets

24a, 24b, such as paper, for example. The

paper layers

24a, 24b protect the emulsion on the film 22 from light rays and also keep the film 22 from sticking and from being scratched as it is pulled. A layer of lead 26 may also be provided for protective purposes. The several layers just described are packaged in an opaque, pliable plastic holder 28 which is positioned in an opaque outer pack 30.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 3A and 4, means made of a heat'sealable plastic material are provided for making the pliable film holder 28 light-tight. The upper layer 32 of the film holder 28 is shorter than the lower layer 34, the end 36 of which is folded over as shown in FIG. 4.-The two

layers

32 and 34 are heat sealed along side edges 38 as well as along end 40. This construction defines a film holder that is open at only one end.

The end 36 is bent into U-shape as shown in FIG. 4 and then is folded over the top layer 32 as best shown in FIG. 3. As is common with all envelopes, the corners defined by the juncturesof the sides and the end therebetween will have a slight opening. In letter envelopes, for example, this opening is advantageous since it acts as a vent. However, for the present application, any such opening would be deleterious, since it could easily permit entry of light. This problem is overcome by a small angularly placed heat seal 42 as shown in FIG. 3 and in FIG. 3A on an enlarged scale. It should be particularly noted that the heat seal is very small and does not interfere with the opening of the film holder 28. For all practical purposes, the end 36 may be considered as being functionally open but with provisions being made at the corners to close the vent holes.

In order to provide coupling means for the pliable film holder 28 a tab comprised of two layers of pliable plastic film 50'is secured to the end of the film 22 adjacent the open end 36 of the container 28. The tab 50 is first folded so as to be positioned between the upper layer 32 and the inner surface of the folded over end 36 of the film holder 28. The tab 50 is then reverse-folded over the outer surface of the end 36 to define, together therewith, an S-shaped bend. Thus the film tab 50 is intertwined with the end 36 of the pliable film holder 28.

As will be described later, the folded over end 36 is opened automatically when the film 22 is pulled to the right. Registered holes 52 are suitably formed in the free end of the tab 50 and a rigid plastic tooth 54 is suitably secured between the layers 50 at the free end thereof so as to extend through the registered openings 52.

The opaque, relatively rigid outer pack 30 is heat sealed about the pliable film holder 28. The outer pack 30 is comprised of upper and

lower layers

62 and 64, respectively, that are heat sealed to each other along at least the side-edges 66 and the end edge 68. The other end edge 70 that is adjacent the tooth 54 is provided with a notch 72 through which the tooth 54 projects. There is thus provided a compact, readily opened film container 20 that is light-tight and which can be stored for a great length of time without adversely affecting the condition of the film therein.

FIGS. 6-10 illustrate how the film holder 28 is coupled to a pliable developer package and also how the invention is used. The developer package 80, which will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter in connection with another aspect of this invention, is made of two heat sealed layers 82 of a suitable plastic. A pull tab 84 is provided integrally at one end of the developer package 80 and a coupling tab 86, having an opening 88 therein, is provided integrally at the other end of the developer package 80. As will be explained below, the tooth 54 is adapted to be hooked into the opening 88 when the developer package 80 is pulled to the right. As shown in FIGS. 6-10 the film 22 will be withdrawn from the film holder 28 and, together with the developer package 80, will be drawn through a developer container 90 which will now be described.

The coupling arrangement described above provides reliable mechanical means that overcome problems inherent with an adhesive type of fastening. Where tape or other form of adhesive bond is used for coupling purposes, there is the possibility of a loss of holding power if exposed to air or moisture.

The developer container 90 is formed of two opposed

rigid layers

92 and 94 of a suitable plastic which are heat sealed along

longitudinal edges

96 and 98. The

layers

92 and 94 are spaced from each other to define a developer chamber 100 and an entrance chamber 102. A first transverse rib 104 separates the two

chambers

100 and 102 and a second transverse rib 106 defines the opposite end of the developer chamber. One of the two

layers

92 and 94 is formed with a recess 107 in the entrance chamber 102 in order to accommodate the coupled portion of the film holder 28 and developer package 80' as shown in FIG. 7. In the assembled condition the recess 107 is aligned with the holes 52 in the tab 50. The recess 107 permits the tooth 54 to snap into place when it is inserted.

When the developer package 80 is pulled to the right, as shown in FIGS. 6-10, the film 22 is drawn out of the film holder 28. In this connection, it should be noted that the entrance chamber 102 is provided with longitudinal walls 108 and 110 (FIGS. 6, 8 and 9) that converge in the direction of the pulling force in order to bear against and resist further inward movement of the film holder 28 and the rigid container 30. When the film 22 is positioned within the developer chamber 100 the tab 50 is exposed at the right hand end of the developer container 90 and is automatically uncoupled from the developer package 80, as shown in FIG. 10. Because the uncoupling is automatic the film 22 cannot be inadvertently drawn too far to the right. After a predetermined time has elapsed the film 22 is manually withdrawn from the developer'chamber 100, using the tab 50 for this purpose.

As shown particularly in FIGS. 7 and 10, the right hand end of the developer container 90 is formed with opposed enlarged transverse recesses 112a and ll2b. Resilient squeegee means 114 and 116 are secured in the

recesses

112a and 112b, respectively, in closely spaced opposition to each other so that the film can be drawn therebetween. The squeegee means 1 14 and 116 squeeze dry the film in order to remove excess fluid and in addition compresses the film emulsion which becomes hard and easier to handle.

The squeegee arrangement described above is advantageous since a developing agent (more notably in monobaths) has a tendency to swell or blister the emulsion coating of film. This creates an extremely soft emulsion and often leads to cracking and peeling of the emulsion. As a result caution must be exercised in the handling of the film in the wet condition. The use of the resilient squeegee means 114 and 116 assures that the film emulsion does not become severely swollen or soft so that the film 22 may be safely handled immediately after removal from the developer chamber 100.

In order to prevent any distortion of the developer package 80 as a result of the pressure applied, the squeegee means 114 and 116 are offset as shown in FIGS. 7 and 10. An effective wiper seal is provided. The developer container 90 can expand at the pressure area without distorting the developer package 80.

A simple yet effective means for automatically releasing the fluid from the developer package 80 concurrently with the pulling thereof is disclosed in FIGS. 11-13. The developer package 80 is provided with at least one laterally extending tab 118 that is heat sealed between the longitudinal edges of the two

opposed layers

92 and 94. Although two tabs 118 are illustrated in FIGS. ll-l3, one tab 118 will be sufficiently effective. As the developer package 80 is pulled to the right, the captured tab 118 will remain in place thereby tearing the developer package 80 so that the contents thereof may be discharged into the developer chamber 100 just prior to the arrival of the film 22. To aid in the tearing process of the developer package 80, a starting out 120 may be provided although this is not absolutely essential. In any event the developer package 80 is completely sealed initially. The

transverse ribs

104 and 106 act as barriers to prevent loss of the fluid. Since the developer fluid is sealed in an air-tight package, it can be mixed and filled under nitrogen conditions and then easily stored and handled without oxidation.

As used herein the term developer fluid is generic to all film treating fluids. Similarly, where heat seals have been indicated other equivalent sealing means may be employed. Although the plastic materials have not been specifically identified, it is evident that the proper selection is well within the skill of a competent designer, consistent with the usage of the invention, particularly as concerns the film treating fluids and types of seals that are used. In this connection it should be noted that the term plastic includes fibrous materials such as paper, for example, wherein a coating of plastic is applied to at least one surface thereof. The particular plastic selected for either the coating or the sheet itself should be consistent with the ultimate usage thereof namely heat sealing, opacity, imperviousness to a particular fluid, etc.

There has been disclosed heretofore the best embodiment of the invention presently contemplated. However, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Improved means for coupling a length of film and a developer package of the type used in a disposable processor for exposed, light sensitive film including a container having a chamber in which the developer package is initially positioned and into which chamber a fluid, film treating composition contained within the developer package is adapted to be dispensed when the film is drawn therethrough, said coupling means comprising:

a. an extension integral with theupstream end of the developer package, said extension having an opening therein; and

b. a tooth integral with the downstream end of the film, said tooth being in engagement with the opening in said extension and arranged to be drawn through the fluid composition by the developer package.

2. The coupling means in accordance with claim 1 wherein said tooth is made of a rigid material.

3. The coupling means in accordance with claim 2 wherein said extension is made of a pliable material.

4. A disposable processor for exposed, light sensitive film, said processor comprising the combination of:

a. a developer section having entry and exit ends and a developer chamber therebetween;

b. a frangible developer package positioned within said developer chamber, said developer package containing a supply of a fluid, film treating composition;

c. a holder for a length of film;

d. an extension integral with the upstream end of said developer package, said extension having an opening therein; and

e. a tooth integral with the downstream end of the film, said tooth engaging the opening in said extension whereby the film is drawn through the fluid treating composition when said developer package is withdrawn from said processor.

5. The processor in accordance with claim 4 wherein said tooth is made of a rigid material.

6. The processor in accordance with claim 5 wherein said extension is made of a pliable material.

7. The processor in accordance with claim 4 wherein said tooth extends in a direction opposite to that of the movement of the film whereby said tooth and said extension remain coupled to each other at least until said tooth completely traverses said chamber in said processor.

8. The processor in accordance with claim 7 wherein said tooth and the opening in said extension are sized so as to permit decoupling thereof when said tooth is positioned downstream of said chamber in said processor.

9. Improved means for coupling a length of film and a developer package of the type used in a disposable processor for exposed, light sensitive film including a container having a chamber in which the developer package is initially positioned and into which chamber a fluid, film treating composition contained within the developer package is adapted to be dispensed when the film is drawn therethrough, said coupling means comprising:

a. an extension integral with the upstream end of the developer package, said extension having an opening therein; and

b. a tooth integral with the downstream end of the film, said tooth being in engagement with the opening in said extension and arranged to e drawn through the fluid composition by the developer package, said tooth extending in adirection pposite to that of the movement of the film whereby said tooth and said extension remain coupled to each other at least until said tooth completely traverses the chamber and the processor.

10. The coupling means in accordance with claim 9 wherein said tooth and the opening in said extension are sized so as to permit decoupling thereof when said tooth is positioned downstream of the chamber in the processor.

11. The coupling means in accordance with claim 9 wherein said tooth is made of a rigid material.

12. The coupling means in accordance with claim 11 wherein said extension is made of a pliable material.

13. The coupling means in accordance with claim 11 wherein said tooth and the opening in said extension are sized so as to permit decoupling thereof when said tooth is positioned downstream of the chamber in the processor.

Claims

1. Improved means for coupling a length of film and a developer package of the type used in a disposable processor for exposed, light sensitive film including a container having a chamber in which the developer package is initially positioned and into which chamber a fluid, film treating composition contained within the developer package is adapted to be dispensed when the film is drawn therethrough, said coupling means comprising: a. an extension integral with the upstream end of the developer package, said extension having an opening therein; and b. a tooth integral with the downstream end of the film, said tooth being in engagement with the opening in said extension and arranged to be drawn through the fluid composition by the developer package.

4. A disposable processor for exposed, light sensitive film, said processor comprising the combination of: a. a developer section having entry and exit ends and a developer chamber therebetween; b. a frangible developer package positioned within said developer chamber, said developer package containing a supply of a fluid, film treating composition; c. a holder for a length of film; d. an extension integral with the upstream end of said developer package, said extension having an opening therein; and e. a tooth integral with the downstream end of the film, said tooth engaging the opening in said extension whereby the film is drawn through the fluid treating composition when said developer package is withdrawn from said processor.

9. Improved meaNs for coupling a length of film and a developer package of the type used in a disposable processor for exposed, light sensitive film including a container having a chamber in which the developer package is initially positioned and into which chamber a fluid, film treating composition contained within the developer package is adapted to be dispensed when the film is drawn therethrough, said coupling means comprising: a. an extension integral with the upstream end of the developer package, said extension having an opening therein; and b. a tooth integral with the downstream end of the film, said tooth being in engagement with the opening in said extension and arranged to e drawn through the fluid composition by the developer package, said tooth extending in a direction opposite to that of the movement of the film whereby said tooth and said extension remain coupled to each other at least until said tooth completely traverses the chamber and the processor.