System for processing a strip of photographic material

Claim 1

In apparatus for processing a strip of photographic sheet material after said material has been exposed to image carrying light rays to record latent images thereon, a system comprising: a collapsible container in which a supply of processing fluid suitable to develop visibLe images on said sheet material from said latent images recorded thereon is initially stored, said container having a weakened portion adapted to rupture when said fluid stored therein is subjected to a predetermined pressure responsive to a force applying member being pressed against said container; and an expandable fluid receiving chamber configured upon expansion to accommodate substantially the entire supply of said fluid, said chamber having an entrance port of substantially the same size and configuration as said weakened portion of said container and a comparatively smaller exit port defining a restricted exit orifice through which said fluid may be expressed onto said strip of material, said entrance port being connected to said weakened portion of said container whereby, when said force applying member is pressed against said container, said weakened portion ruptures and said container collapses to cause said fluid to be expelled therefrom into said receiving chamber which expands to accommodate said fluid and from which said chamber said fluid may be subsequently fed by application thereto of a suitable hydraulic pressure.

Claim 5

A device useful for initially storing and subsequently applying processing fluid to a strip of exposed photographic sheet material, comprising: a container having a pair of opposed walls joined together to provide a liquid-containing cavity, said cavity holding a supply of processing fluid capable of developing visible images on a strip of photographic sheet material after such material has been exposed to image carrying light rays to record latent images thereon, at least one of said container walls being flexible and deformable for transmitting pressure applied to the exterior of said container directly to said fluid retained therein, said container walls being connected together along one marginal section thereof adjacent said cavity by a weakened bond whereby said container will rupture along said weakened bond and such fluid will be expelled from said container through said ruptured section in response to hydraulic pressure developed within said cavity when pressure is applied to the exterior of said container; a fluid receiving chamber configured upon expansion to accommodate substantially the entire supply of said processing fluid, said chamber having a pair of opposed walls disposed in contact with each other connected together along marginal portions thereof to form an entrance port of substantially the same size as said weakened bond of said container and a comparatively smaller exit port forming a restricted exit orifice through which said fluid may be expressed onto said strip of exposed photographic material, said chamber connected to said container so that fluid expelled from said container through said ruptured section will be received into said chamber through said entrance port, at least one of said walls of said chamber being flexible and deformable whereby, as such fluid is expelled from said container, said chamber will expand to accommodate such fluid and such that pressure applied to the exterior of said chamber may be transmitted directly to such fluid so that the latter can subsequently be fed from said chamber through said restricted orifice to such applicator in response to hydraulic pressure developed within said chamber when pressure is applied to the exterior thereof.

Claim 6

A device useful for initially storing and subsequently applying processing fluid to a strip of exposed photographic sheet material, comprising: a container having a pair of opposed walls joined together to provide a liquid-containing cavity, said cavity holding a supply of processing fluid capable of developing visible images on a strip of photographic sheet material after such material has been exposed to image carrying light rays to record latent images thereon, at least one of said container walls being flexible and deformable for transmitting pressure applied to the exterior of said container directly to said fluid retained therein, said container walls being connected together along one marginal section thereof adjacent said cavity by a weakened bond whereby said container will rupture along said weakened bond and such fluid will be expelled from said container through said ruptured section in response to hydraulic pressure developed within said cavity when pressure is applied to the exterior of said container; a fluid receiving chamber configured upon expansion to accommodate substantially the entire supply of said processing fluid, said chamber having a pair of opposed walls disposed in contact with each other connected together along marginal portions thereof to form an entrance port of substantially the same size as said weakened bond of said container and a comparatively smaller exit port forming a restricted exit orifice through which said fluid may be expressed onto said strip of exposed photographic material, said chamber connected to said container so that fluid expelled from said container through said ruptured section will be received into said chamber through said entrance port, at least one of said walls of said chamber being flexible and deformable whereby, as such fluid is expelled from said container, said chamber will expand to accommodate such fluid and such that pressure applied to the exterior of said chamber may be transmitted directly to such fluid so that the latter can subsequently be fed from said chamber through said restricted orifice to such applicator in response to hydraulic pressure developed within said chamber when pressure is applied to the exterior thereof.

Claim 12

A device for attachment to an applicator having an orifice therein, and useful for initially storing and subsequently applying processing fluid through such applicator orifice to a strip of exposed photographic sheet material, comprising: a disposable container having a pair of opposed walls joined together to provide a liquid-containing cavity, said cavity holding a processing fluid capable of developing visible images on a strip of photographic sheet material after said material has been exposed to image carrying light rays to record latent images thereon, at least one of said walls being flexible and deformable for transmitting pressure applied to the exterior of said container directly to said fluid retained therein, said walls being connected together along one marginal section thereof adjacent said cavity by a weakened bond whereby said container will rupture along said weakened bond and said fluid be expelled from said container through said ruptured section in response to hydraulic pressure developed in said fluid when pressure is applied to the exterior of said container; a fluid receiving chamber having a pair of opposed walls disposed in contact with each other connected together along marginal portions thereof to form an entrance port of substantially the same size as said weakened bond of said container and a restricted exit orifice adapted to be connected to such applicator through which said fluid may be expressed onto said strip of exposed photographic material, said chamber connected to said container so that fluid expelled from said container through said ruptured section will be received into said chamber through said entrance port, at least one of said walls of said chamber being flexible and deformable whereby, as said fluid is expelled from said container, said chamber will expand to accommodate said fluid and said fluid can subsequently be fed from said chamber through said restricted orifice to said applicator by application thereto of a suitable hydraulic pressure, said opposed walls of said container and said chamber comprise an outer layer of paper and an inner layer of polymeric material and wherein said inner layer of said chamber walls adjacent said entrance port are bonded to said outer layer of said container walls adjacent said weakened bond.

Claim 13

A device for attachment to an applicator having an orifice therein, and useful for initially storing and subsequently applying processing fluid through such applicator orifice to a strip of exposed photographic sheet material, comprising: a disposable container having a pair of opposed walls joined together to provide a liquid-containing cavity, said cavity holding a processing fluid capable of developing visible images on a strip of photographic sheet material after said material has been exposed to image carrying light rays to record latent images thereon, at least one of said walls being flexible and deformable for transmitting pressure applied to the exterior of said container directly to said fluid retained therein, said walls being connected together along one marginal section thereof adjacent said cavity by a weakened bond whereby said container will rupture along said weakened bond and said fluid be expelled from said container through said ruptured section in response to hydraulic pressure developed in said fluid when pressure is applied to the exterior of said container; a fluid receiving chamber having a pair of opposed walls disposed in contact with each other connected together along marginal portions thereof to form an entrance port of substantially the same size as said weakened bond of said container and a restricted exit orifice adapted to be connected to such applicator through which said fluid may be expressed onto said strip of exposed photographic material, said chamber connected to said container so that fluid expelled from said container through said ruptured section will be received into said chamber through said entrance port, at least one of said walls of said chamber being flexible and deformable whereby, as said fluid is expelled from said container, said chamber will expand to accommodate said fluid and said fluid can subsequently be fed from said chamber through said restricted orifice to said applicator by application thereto of a suitable hydraulic pressure, said opposed walls of said container and said chamber comprise an outer layer of paper and an inner layer of polymeric material and wherein said inner layer of said chamber walls adjacent said entrance port are bonded to said outer layer of said container walls adjacent said weakened bond.