Photography – Fluid-treating apparatus – Having fluid-circulating means
Reexamination Certificate
2001-06-06
2003-02-18
Rutledge, D. (Department: 2851)
Photography
Fluid-treating apparatus
Having fluid-circulating means
C221S232000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06520695
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a photographic processing chemical supplier for supplying photographic processing chemicals, in particular dry chemicals to a developer solution preparing means. Furthermore the invention relates to cartridges and magazines used in connection with the supplier, to a liquid developer solution preparing arrangement comprising the supplier as well as to a photographic minilab for processing photographic films, which comprises the developer solution preparing arrangement.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the field of photofinishing technologies, two types of photofinishing environments are mainly known. One of these types concerns minilabs and the other, large-scale photofinishing laboratories. In the minilabs, all kinds of processing needed for the exposed film, for the exposure of the photosensitive paper and the development of the exposed photosensitive paper as well as all splicing and cutting operations necessary for the exposed and developed film and the exposed and developed photosensitive paper are dealt with in one small scale minilab. This minilab is able to process small to medium numbers of films and is meant for use in retail shops, which implies a standing area of the minilab typically below 5 square meter.
On the other hand, large-scale photofinishing laboratories are able to process a huge number of exposed films, which are arranged in film batches. These film batches are processed in special high-speed printer device.
In minilabs it is useful to conduct most of the operations, if not all operations, automatically without wasting time.
Minilabs include one compartment directed to the development of the exposed film and one compartment directed to the development of the exposed photo paper. In the known minilabs as well as in the known types of large-scale photofinishing laboratories, replenishment of the development compartment is not sufficiently operated automatically and some times has to be replenished, if the developer solution in the development compartment is no longer useful for an acceptable result.
The parallel application of the present application, which has the title “Automatic Replenishment for a Developing Compartment of a Photofinishing Apparatus” (European patent application no. 00 106 025.0), was filed under the title “Automatic Replenishment for a Treatment Compartment of a Photofinishing Apparatus,” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/818,348, and discloses a developer solution preparing arrangement having a high degree of automation, provides a solution for this problem. The disclosure of the parallel application is incorporated by reference.
According to this parallel application a developer solution preparing arrangement comprises a mixing tank which is located between a supply portion, a reception container and a storage container, wherein said latter parts are connected to the mixing tank by conduits. With this feature it is possible to prepare a new developer solution on the basis of dry components in connection with the solvent, which will usually be water or distilled water, while, at the same time, when mixing the new liquid developer solution, unused and active liquid developer solution is available for the development compartment of a development apparatus in a minilab or in a large scale photofinishing laboratory. Correspondingly, if the fresh liquid development solution has been pumped or withdrawn from the storage container to the development compartment of the development apparatus, the prepared fresh developer solution from the mixing tank can be supplied to the storage container and, immediately afterwards, the components of the development solution can be introduced into the mixing tank to prepare a new charge of the liquid developer solution. This is in particular important if dry ingredients in the form of powder or granules have to be dissolute in the solvent, e.g. water, which takes considerable time which can delay the overall function of the respective development apparatus and, correspondingly, of the complete minilab or the complete large scale photofinishing laboratory.
The above-mentioned components, on the basis of which the liquid developer solution is prepared by combining the components with a solvent, are referred to in the following as photographic processing chemicals. The device, which performs the combination, is referred to as a developer solution preparing means. The present invention relates to the supply of these photographic processing chemicals to a developer solution preparing means by means of a supplier. The combination of the developer solution preparing means and the supplier is referred to as developer solution preparing arrangement.
EP 0 611 987 describes the supply of photographic processing chemicals in the form of powder. The powder is contained in a package, which is attached to a screw supplier. The package is opened by a roller if attached.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a supplier which minimizes the risk of introduction of dirt or dust into the supplier from the outside and to minimize the pollution or contamination of the surrounding of the supplier by spilling out photographic processing chemicals, while allowing an easy replenishment of photographic processing chemicals into the supplier.
Furthermore it is an object to provide a set of the afore-mentioned suppliers for a developer solution preparing arrangement as well as cartridges and magazines for use with the supplier and the set of suppliers and a supply system comprising the cartridges or magazines and the suppliers or set of suppliers. Finally a developer solution preparing arrangement and a photographic minilab comprising said supplier or set of suppliers should be provided.
The above objects are solved by means of a photographic processing chemical supplier for supplying photographic processing chemicals for processing exposed light-sensitive material, in particular dry chemicals, e.g. in powder or granule form, to a processing solution preparing means, comprising: a container having a receiving opening through which said photographic processing chemicals are receivable in said container and a supply opening through which the received photographic processing chemicals are supplyable out of said container to said processing solution preparing means; wherein an attaching means is constituted such that a cartridge is removably attachable to the supplier by means of said attaching means; and opening/closing means for opening and closing said receiving opening constituted such that said receiving opening is closed if said cartridge is removed and such that said receiving opening is openable or open if said cartridge is attached.
The afore-mentioned objects are at least partially solved by the present invention according to which the photographic processing chemicals may be provided in different form, e.g. liquid, powder, and tablet. Preferably the processing chemicals are in powder or granules form since the powder and the granules have less weight than liquid chemicals and are less aggressive then liquid chemicals. Furthermore powder and granules have the advantage over tablets that the powder dissolves more quickly in a solvent if processed by the developer solution preparing means. A drawback of powder is that it may be inhaled by an operator. The present invention allows to minimize the risk of inhaling that powder as set forth below, if granules are used instead of powder.
The supplier of the present invention may be constituted as a hopper. The container has a receiving opening, preferably located at the top of the container and a supply opening, preferably located at the bottom of the container, through which the received chemicals are supplied to the developer solution preparing means.
The chemicals are stored in cartridges or any other suitable tank. Preferably these cartridges are sealed such that the chemicals may not spill out of the cartridge or tank. The mouth portion of the cartridge is attached to the supplier. As mentioned
Castellarin Silvano
Scodellaro Eni
Rutledge D.
San Marco Imaging Srl
Weingarten, Shurgin, Gagnebin & Lebovici LLP
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