Patent GB-1072803-A (GB)
Title: Photographic processing apparatus
IPC: G03B17/52
Filed: 1964-05-21
Abstract: 1,072,803. Photographic processing apparatus. EASTMAN KODAK CO. May 21, 1964 [May 21, 1963], No. 19229/64. Heading G2A. Photographic apparatus for processing "shingled" film comprises a supply chamber for holding the film, a passageway through which it can pass to a processing chamber, and means along the said passageway for inverting the individual sheets each about its hinge and pressing them against the backing sheet. As shown in Fig. 2, the socalled "shingled" film is formed as a continuous strip 11, on to which the image transfer is eventually made, and a series of separate sheets 13, each secured along one edge only (the rearward edge) to strip 11 by a hinge strip 14. When the film is intended for processing within the camera, a rupturable container 21 holding processing liquid is attached just behind each hinge. The outer face 16 of each sheet 13 carries the light-sensitive area 17 on which the exposure is to be made. The film is initially supplied in roll form on a spool 22, which is inserted into the top part of the camera by pivoting open its back wall 27 about a hinge 28. A wall portion 34 forms a separating partition between two narrow chambers 31 in front of it and 32 behind it. These chambers are connected over the top of wall 34, a pair of pressure rollers 44, 45 being located at this point. In loading the camera, a sufficient length of strip 11 is unwound such that the leading end extends slightly through an exit slot 41 in the bottom of the camera, before the back is latched shut (as shown in Fig. 1). In this position, strip 11 lies between the rollers 44, 45. A thin flexible stripper member 43 is arranged to bear lightly against the roll of film. Strip 11 is now pulled outwardly from the camera by the operator, so as to bring the first sheet 13 into position. Due to having been rolled up on spool 22, this now has a natural curl away from sheet 11 (as shown in Fig. 2). It thus guides itself in front of roller 45, passing down into chamber 31 while Strip 11 passes through chamber 32. When the hinge 14 approaches roller 44, a sudden increase in the resistance to movement is felt by the operator, who ceases to pull the strip 11. Sheet 13 is now fully in position behind exposure aperture 35, which exposure is now made. Strip 11 is pulled once more, and if sufficient force is exerted, the hinge strip is pulled between the rollers, so that sheet 13 is drawn upwards again and then down between the rollers. At the same time, the liquid container 21 has been ruptured, so that the exposed face of sheet 13 is drawn between the rollers and pressed into contact with strip 11, the processing liquid being spread between them. The image transfer on to strip 11 is thus effected, and the finished print can be separated from strip 11 (which can be conveniently perforated as at 20) by opening the rear door 37. Instead of processing and detaching each print separately, the complete roll of film may be exposed, and then removed from the camera for processing in a separate apparatus, as shown in Fig. 7. In this case, the film does not carry its own separate containers of processing liquid. The roll 10' of exposed film is unwound so that the strip 11' is pulled between rollers 66, 67 through a processing chamber 65, while the curl of sheet 13' carries it downwards into a chamber 63 containing processing liquid 64. If sufficient force is now applied to strip 11', sheet 13' is drawn out of bath 64 and pressed into contact with strip 11', as in the previous arrangement. Instead of filling the chamber 63 with the processing liquid, a container holding the liquid can be slipped into the chamber Fig. 8 (not shown).