Patent ID: 6317561
Filing Date: 2001-11-13
Classification: G03B

Abstract:
A portable imaging system comprising an electronic camera for capturing images, disposed in a camera housing of a size that is conveniently carried by hand and said imaging system comprising an electronic printer for printing photographs disposed in a printer housing that is distinct and detachable from said camera housing, wherein said printer includes a processing fluid spread system for spreading processing fluid of a self-processible film unit so that the film unit may be processed, said self-processible film unit is of the type including a pair of sheet elements and a rupturable container of the processing fluid positioned adjacent to a leading edge of the film unit, and wherein said printer further includes a stationary print head suitable for emitting consecutive lines of image data on said film unit to expose said film unit while said film unit is advanced proximately to said print head, wherein said imaging system further comprises:complimentary releasable connecting means operatively associated with respect to said camera housing and said printer housing for effecting a releasable fixed connection between said camera housing and said printer housing, said fixed connection also operating to effect an electrical connection between said camera and printer;memory storage means for each of said camera and printer for storing the image data;a microprocessor unit having portions disposed respectively within said camera housing and said printer housing, said microprocessor being responsive to user selection for acquiring image data via said camera, said microprocessor operable to process said image data for memory storage and film unit exposure and processing; andmeans for advancing the film unit along a predetermined advancement path whereby the film unit is simultaneously exposed by said print head and processed by said spread system, wherein said spread system comprises:means for spreading the processing fluid in a thin layer between the sheet elements, said fluid spreading means including a pair of elongated juxtaposed pressure applying members which define an elongated spreader gap through which the film unit is advanced by said advancement means with the sheet elements in superposed relationship to apply a first constraint to the film unit to first rupture the container to release the processing fluid and then to cause the released mass of processing fluid to flow downstream between the sheet elements opposite to the direction of advancement of the film unit through said spreader gap such that the processing fluid is progressively deposited between the sheet elements as a thin layer extending over a preselected area of the sheet elements which has been exposed by said print head;means for applying a second constraint to selective portions of the film unit to oppose the flow of the processing fluid, received downstream from said spreading means, relative to the sheet elements as the film unit is advanced through said spreader gap so as to cause said processing liquid to flow transversely to said direction of advancement of the film unit; andmeans for applying a third constraint to selective portions of the film unit to oppose the flow of the processing fluid, received downstream from said second constraint means, so as to contain the wave front of the processing fluid within a predetermined longitudinal distance from said spreading means, thereby defining a wave extent, and to assist the transverse flow of the processing liquid causing the processing liquid to coalesce or merge.