GB2029308A
Expired / Lapsed
GB
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photographic processing method and apparatus
Assignee: Polaroid Corp
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Filing: 1979-07-20
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Granted: —
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Expires: 1999-07-20
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
No inventors recorded.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
GB
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:23
CPC Classifications
B; B44; B44B; B44B7/00; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/08; B23K26/0823
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
A method for roughening the surface of a cylindrical processing roller of the type which is used in a motor-driven photographic processing apparatus for advancing an integral-type self-60 processable film unit to the exterior of a camera while simultaneously spreading a fluid processing composition between selected layers of the film unit, and which has a circumferential surface of given length machined to a given diameter to facilitate spreading of the fluid processing composition in a substantially uniform thin layer between the film unit's selected layers, comprising: mounting a roller and a laser operable in a pulsed manner so that the laser is aimed at the roller surface and for translation of the laser beam relative to the roller surface while the roller is rotated about its axis of revolution; and activating the pulsed laser and substantially simultaneously therewith rotating the roller about its axis of revolution and translating the aimed laser and the roller at a predetermined linear velocity relative to one another in a direction substantially parallel with the roller's axis of revolution to locally melt the roller's surface at fixed intervals while the roller and the laser beam move relative to one another thereby forming over a predetermined area of the roller surface a plurality of microscopic craters which are of substantially uniform size and which are uniformly spaced from one another, whereby the roller surface is provided with a high-friction characteristic for transporting a film unit.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
239 words
A method for roughening the surface of a cylindrical processing roller of the type which is used in a motor-driven photographic processing apparatus for advancing an integral-type self-60 processable film unit to the exterior of a camera while simultaneously spreading a fluid processing composition between selected layers of the film unit, and which has a circumferential surface of given length machined to a given diameter to facilitate spreading of the fluid processing composition in a substantially uniform thin layer between the film unit's selected layers, comprising: mounting a roller and a laser operable in a pulsed manner so that the laser is aimed at the roller surface and for translation of the laser beam relative to the roller surface while the roller is rotated about its axis of revolution; and activating the pulsed laser and substantially simultaneously therewith rotating the roller about its axis of revolution and translating the aimed laser and the roller at a predetermined linear velocity relative to one another in a direction substantially parallel with the roller's axis of revolution to locally melt the roller's surface at fixed intervals while the roller and the laser beam move relative to one another thereby forming over a predetermined area of the roller surface a plurality of microscopic craters which are of substantially uniform size and which are uniformly spaced from one another, whereby the roller surface is provided with a high-friction characteristic for transporting a film unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method according to claim 1 further including the steps of placing a laser beam expander to intercept the laser beam to increase the diameter of the laser beam and placing a converging lens to intercept the expanded laser beam to focus the laser beam on the roller's circumferential surface, whereby the shape of the microscopic craters can be controlled by changing the diameter and/or focus of the laser beam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
79 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the laser's power output and pulse rate are selected so that each crater formed thereby includes a substantially uniform generally annular lip which surrounds the crater ^nd extends above the roller's circumferential surface by an amount insufficient to mark the film unit's surface, whereby the roller is provided with a high-friction characteristic for transporting a film unit while being insufficiently rough to leave any visually perceptible marks on its surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
93 words
A method according to Claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein the laser's power output and pulse rate and the rates of rotation and translation of the roller with respect to the laser beam are selected so that the percentage of the roller's circumferential surface area covered by the said microscopic craters does not exceed 50 per cent, whereby the roller's roughened surface is configured to minimize pickup of particulate matter from the film unit which would otherwise build up and reduce the friction at the roller surface and to maintain the roller diameter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
98 words
A method according to Claim 1,2, 3, or 4, wherein the roller is comprised of 1/4 inch diameter stainless steel, wherein the rates of rotation and relative translation of the roller with respect to the laser beam are 1800 RPM and 0.36 IPS respectively, and wherein the laser is Q-switched at a frequency of 10,000 CPS, is operated in itsTEM00 mode, and has an average pulse power of 10 watts and a pulse width of 600 nanoseconds. . 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 6 GB 2 029 308 A 6
Claim 7
Independent Claim
27 words
A method according to Claims 2 and 5 wherein said beam expander has a 6x magnification and the converging lens has a focal length of 48mm. 5
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A roller having a roughened surface produced by a method according to any one of Claims 1 to 6.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A roller having a roughened surface produced by a method in accordance with Claim 10 3, wherein the maximum height to which the lips of the craters extend above the surface does not exceed .00035 inches.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
A roller according to Claim 8 wherein the microscopic craters are of oval shape having a 15 major diameter of approximately 0.003 inches and a minor diameter of approximately 0.002 inches and wherein the mean height of the said crater's annular lip above said surface is 80 microinches.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A roller as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the 20 mean number of microscopic craters per square inch is 55,000 so that the crater's cover approximately 30.0 percent of the surface's total area.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A roller as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 25 1 o, wherein the said microscopic craters are substantially uniformly spaced apart with respect to one another.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A roller as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 11 wherein said roller's surface has a finish within 30 the range of 35 to 70 microinches per inch (AA).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A roller as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 12, fabricated of stainless steel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A roller as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 13 wherein the said predetermined length of 35 the roller's surface is centrally disposed along the roller's length.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
Photographic processing apparatus including a roller in accordance with any one of Claims 7 to 14. 40
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
110 words
A photographic camera comprising a motor-driven photographic processing apparatus which includes a cylindrical processing roller in accordance with any one of Claims 7 to 14 for advancing self-processable film unit to the exterior 45 of the camera while simultaneously spreading a fluid processing composition between selected layers of the film unit in a substantially uniform layer, the craters providing the roller with a high-friction characteristic for transporting a film unit 50 while being insufficiently rough to leave any visually perceptible marks on the surface of the film unit, minimizing pickup of particulate matter from the film unit which would otherwise reduce the high-friction characteristic and alter the roller's 55 diameter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method in accordance with Claim 1, substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
53 words
Photographjc processing apparatus in 60 accordance with Claim 15, substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1 of the 'accompanying drawings. Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by the Courier Press, Leamington Spa, 1980. Published by the Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A 1 AY, from which copies may be obtained.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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