Radiation imagery chemistry: process – composition – or product th – Transfer procedure between image and image layer – image... – Diffusion transfer process – element – or identified image...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-28
2001-09-18
Schilling, Richard L. (Department: 1752)
Radiation imagery chemistry: process, composition, or product th
Transfer procedure between image and image layer, image...
Diffusion transfer process, element, or identified image...
C430S207000, C430S209000, C396S283000, C396S585000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06291128
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to film assemblages of the self-developing type and, more particularly, to improved film assemblages of this type having a plurality of interconnected image forming units that are individually separable relative to each other, and wherein each unit has its associated fluid container and trap removable.
Photographic film assemblages of the so-called self-developing type are generally categorized as so-called “peel-apart” versions, and “integral” versions. In the peel-apart version, provision is made for exposing a photosensitive sheet that is brought together, in overlying relationship, with an image bearing sheet carrying a rupturable container or pod of processing fluid. The sheets pass through a pressure applying assembly comprising a pair of juxtaposed rollers that rupture the container and spread the fluid so as to initiate development of the latent exposed image. Excess fluid that passes between the sheets is collected by a fluid trap. The user peels off the image bearing portion, while the pod and trap areas remain associated with the film assemblage.
Integral film units such as described in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,415,645; 3,695,884; 3,833,382 are considered self-contained in that the rupturable container or pod, imaging bearing area, and fluid trap remain together or integral as a unit both prior to and after exposing. Processing is carried out by passing the film unit through processing rollers that rupture the pod and distribute the processing fluid to initiate development. The trap captures excess processing fluid. Therefore, the film unit that emerges from a camera, for instance, is self-contained. U.S. Pat. No. 5,888,683 describes another example of a self-contained film assemblage in the form of an elongated strip that includes a plurality of film units or frames carried thereby; whereby each of the units is separable relative to the others.
For a variety of reasons, however, it is desirable to allow the user of integral film units to retain the image bearing portion free of the spent pod and associated trap. Efforts to achieve such pod and trap removal are known. For instance, commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 2,634,886 discloses a peel-apart type film assemblage using semi-perforations that allow manual severance of the positive print from adjacent areas of the film assemblage including the pod and trap. U.S. Pat. No. 3,804,626 disclose a film assemblage wherein the pod and trap are separated from the film unit; and wherein a processing fluid activated adhesive serves to seal the trailing end of the film unit. U.S. Pat. No. 4,693,963 uses perforations between the positive print and the pod and trap so as to allow for manual separation of the latter so that undesired elements of the film assemblage may be discarded. This patent also teaches sealing along the open edges of the film resulting from detachment. Sealing may be accomplished by a pressure sensitive or processing fluid adhesive on one or more of the mutually facing surfaces of the open edges. Consequently, integrity of the developed film unit is maintained along with prevention of processing fluid leakage.
While efforts along the lines indicated above have been made, there is, nevertheless, a continuing desire to improve upon the ease and reliability of removing from such self-developing film assemblages, the fluid pod and trap portions in a manner that substantially minimizes and/or seals against leakage of processing fluid, either prior to or after film processing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided an improved self-developing film assemblage. Included in the film assemblage is a processing fluid supply assembly including a rupturable container or reservoir of processing fluid at a leading end portion of the unit; a self-developing image recording assembly including first and second overlying layers, one of the layers is exposable to form a latent photographic image, and a spacer assembly is connected to and between the first and second layers for providing a processing space therebetween which allows processing fluid to pass therethrough; fluid trap assembly at a trailing end portion of the film unit for collecting excess processing fluid traveling through the processing space; first fluid-tight coupling assembly including a fluid passage for fluidically coupling the reservoir to a leading end of the processing space for allowing processing fluid from a ruptured reservoir to be introduced into the processing space and initiate processing of the latent image; and, second fluid-tight coupling assembly including a fluid passage for fluidically coupling a trailing end of the processing space with the trap assembly for allowing processing fluid to enter into the trap assembly. In the above preferred illustrated embodiment, the end portions of the first and second film unit layers as well as the spacer means include frangible segments that are separable when subjected to manual tearing. Preferably, the frangible segments include tearable zones with accompanying perforations and lands. The perforations and lands are constructed relative to each other to facilitate and guide tearing along a predetermined path or tear line, but which lands have sufficient strength to permit pulling of the perforated film assemblage, under tension, by an operator advancing the film as during processing along a path generally perpendicular to the tear line. The first and second fluid coupling assemblies are attached to the first and second layers to cover and seal the tearable zone.
In an illustrated embodiment, the spacer means are provided with weakened longitudinal edges that facilitate propagating a tear therethrough. In still another embodiment, the perforations in each layer are laterally spaced or registered from the lateral edges thereof to facilitate separation along the tear line, but which prevent premature separation if the film unit is being pulled askew to an intended linear direction. In another preferred embodiment, the first and second fluid-tight coupling assemblies are each sealably secured at interior end portions to opposite ends of the first and second layers of the film unit. The tearable zones are positioned inboard of the respective end portions of the film unit, whereby the zones are sealed by the layers, and any separated segments of the coupling assemblies remaining on the layers are confined within the film unit and thereby presenting a smooth edge.
In still another embodiment, provision is made for a processing fluid activated adhesive on facing surfaces of the fluid-tight couplings on both sides of a tear line along the perforations. The adhesive is arranged so that following tearing along the perforations, such mutually facing surfaces are sealably joinable together. Thus, not only are the layers of the film unit sealable, but the separated ends of the first and second coupling members as well. Hence, processing fluid leakage is substantially minimized or eliminated.
According to another preferred embodiment, provision is made for the first and second fluid-tight coupling assemblies, each including pairs of first and second coupling elements and corresponding first pairs of extension members at respective opposite ends of the film unit. A first coupling element is sealably secured at one end portion to an interior end portion of the first layer of the film unit and the second coupling element is sealably secured at one end portion to an interior end portion of the second layer of the film unit. An opposite end portion of the first coupling element is sealably secured to an end portion of one of the first pair of the extension members, while an opposite end portion of the second coupling is sealably secured to an end portion of the other of the first pair of extension members. The second fluid-tight coupling assembly includes a second pair of first and second coupling elements and a corresponding second pair of extension members. The first coupling element of the second pair is
Breen, Jr. Richard P.
Meschter John E.
Norris Philip R.
Corvea Paul M.
Polaroid Corporation
Schilling Richard L.
LandOfFree
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