Patent Application
20060104634
The present invention relates to the general field of color photographic processing, and more particularly to chemical delivery devices for such processing.
Color photographic processing typically includes the processing steps of development, bleaching, fixing, washing, and/or stabilizing. For color negative materials these steps are practiced using a color developer that generates the dye image and, as a side product, metallic silver; a bleach containing a heavy metal bleaching agent that converts any metallic silver into silver ion; and a fixing solution containing a fixing agent that forms soluble silver ion complexes which are removed in the fixing and subsequent washing or stabilizing steps. Finally, the photographic element may be processed in a stabilization step that renders the material stable for storage and includes agents, such as surfactants, that allow water to sheet off the surface without streaking. Representative sequences for processing various color photographic materials are described, for example, in Research Disclosure publication 308119, December 1989; publication 17643, December 1978; and publication 38957, September 1996. Silver halide photographic elements that are processed include color negative photographic films, color reversal photographic films, and color photographic papers. The general sequence of steps and conditions (times and temperatures) for processing are well known as Process C-41 and Process ECN-2 for color negative films, Process E-6 and Process K-14 for color reversal films, Process ECP for color prints, and Process RA-4 for color papers.
With the move to digital or hybrid technologies, the current trend is to provide processing sequences that are more rapid than achieved with these trade standard processes. Additionally, it is becoming increasingly undesirable in the photo finishing trade to manage photographic chemistries and their associated effluents, including managing effluents to on-site drains and local sewer systems. Chemical solutions are now often supplied in concentrated form that are diluted on the processing machine or are used directly at low replenishment rates to reconstitute the processing solutions as they are used such as described by Eastman Kodak Co. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,488,447 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,694,991 or in U.S. Pat. No. 5,151,731. These solutions are often delivered in rigid, single use containers. The machine interface to accept these containers often requires that these containers be inverted to empty with the resultant potential to leak. When supplying the solutions to the processing machine, to reduce the potential to leak, it is advantageous to have these containers mounted on the machine in an upright fashion. Additionally, it is desirable to reuse these containers for both economic and environmental reasons.
Some recent trends focus on use of flexible containers, mounted either in inverted or upright positions on a processing machine. However, flexible bags can potentially be ruptured during shipment resulting in a leaking container. This potential to rupture is recognized by the Department of Transportation, which requires additional testing to verify that the flexible bag remains leak proof if it is to be reused.
Photo processing container reuse has been described in Research Disclosure publication 408110. This disclosure recites the reuse of the chemical supply containers. The disclosure indicates that each functional solution is separately supplied along with a corresponding waste container for that processing solution. When solutions are independently supplied to a photo finishing machine, the operator must insure that each fresh supply solution is properly connected to the machine. The risk of incorrectly connecting the supply solution to the appropriate processing machine interface is increased. Failure to correctly connect these solutions can be catastrophic, resulting in the loss of customer orders.
Additionally, it is becoming more desirable to develop convenient and cost-effective mechanisms to collect photographic effluents in containers for shipment off site. Photo processing effluent that is characterized as corrosive (as defined by U.S. waste management regulations) cannot be managed on-site for disposal. Further, waste mixtures that are corrosive may not be transported off site without adhering to stringent government regulatory requirements that may include special labeling and handling procedures. In addition, licensed haulers must be used to manage corrosive wastes off site, presenting an additional cost burden to the photofinisher. Therefore, it is advantageous in handling, transporting, and disposing of photographic effluents and their containers for the effluents not to be corrosive (as defined by government waste management regulations) as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,579,669 and references cited therein. The combination of the processing waste from each functional solution into a single effluent container helps manage the corrosivity of the waste effluent. Reusability of the effluent containers is important as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,520,693. However, connecting an independent effluent waste container to the processing machine increases the complexity of the machine because an additional monitoring system is required to insure that this container is replaced when the waste container is full. If the independent waste container is not replaced when the supply chemistry is replaced, it is possible for the waste effluent to overflow the container. To avoid such overflow problems, the art often uses sensors or other signaling means to alert the operator to change or empty the waste container.
Government regulations often specify the maximum residual volume that can be left in a container before that container is considered empty. If this maximum residual volume is exceeded and the container held solutions considered to be hazardous waste, then the container must be treated as the same. Therefore it is critical that the containers used to deliver such solutions are emptied to levels equal to or less than that specified by governmental regulations in order that the containers are considered to be empty.
Continuous contact of the processing solution between the solution supply and the processing tank is important for effective operation of the processor. Specifically, air entrainment in the solution delivery line can cause errors in the calculated solution flow to the processing tank, which can then affect processing performance as well as bottle emptying. It is known in the trade that air can degrade the activity of the developer. Yet there is a need to effectively empty the upright containers of their delivered solution in order to meet regulatory demands. Additionally, effective solution removal as defined by government regulation is required for rigid upright containers that must simultaneously empty in order that one cartridge containing multiple rigid bottles can be removed from the processing machine and treated as non-hazardous waste.
Unitized rigid containers in an upright position also provide easy access to interface with a processing unit's delivery system. Specifically, the rigid containers are connected to the processing unit in such a way that the necks of the containers are positioned at the top, in an upright position and all at the same height above the containers. This will allow one single stroke mechanical drive system to be used to interface the replenishment lines with each of the containers.
The fitment that provides closure for the containers as well as the interface for the replenishment lines also requires orientation along the horizontal plane to properly interface with the replenishment lines. The linear alignment of the necks of the unitized rigid containers allows for a simple, single stroke mechanical interfacing with the processing machine. Flip caps, common in the trade for such items as ketchup bottles, can be attached to the unitized rigid containers as simple fitments. A single bar mechanism can effectively open all of the unitized rigid containers at once.
The rigid container necks are vertical relative to the machine interface. Therefore the rigid containers are molded with a slight pitch to the neck so that when the rigid containers are tipped to insure emptying the necks are then vertical.
The fluid connection of the processing machine to the specific processing solution supplied by the unitized rigid containers is accomplished using a set of solution delivery probes referred to as tubes. One probe is used for each processing solution and one for waste solution accumulation. These probes are themselves attached to a single drive mechanism that then inserts the probes into the opened unitized rigid container.
According to a feature of the present invention, a rigid waste container is adapted to be received in a photographic processing machine along with a chemical supply container. The waste container includes a wall structure enclosing a volume, and the wall structure includes a major top surface adapted to receive at least one chemical supply container. The wall structure is formed at an angle to horizontal when the waste container is received in the processing machine, wherein a surface of a received chemical supply container engaging the major top surface of the waste container is oriented at an angle to horizontal. A port is provided into the volume through which waste chemical is receivable from the process machine. In a preferred embodiment, the major top surface of the waste container is a depression in the wall structure. Also, the major top surface of the waste container may be a plurality of depressions in the wall structure, each depression being adapted to receive a respective chemical supply container. The port may comprise a necked region and an associated cap, which may be snap fitted to the necked region. The port may be necked and oriented such that the neck extends vertically when the waste container is received in the processing machine.
According to another feature of the present invention, a rigid container assembly for use with a photographic processing machine includes a rigid waste container adapted to be received in the processing machine at a predetermined orientation. The waste container has a major top surface formed at an angle to horizontal when the waste container is received in the processing machine. At least one rigid supply container for chemical delivery to the processing machine is provided and has a bottom wall that forms a bottom surface of a fluid chamber in the container. The bottom wall fits the top surface of the waste container such that the bottom surface of the fluid chamber is tipped so that fluid in the chamber flows to a low side of the chamber. The contouring of the waste container also provides a means to key the supply bottle so that the supply container is always correctly matched to the fluid distribution system of the processing machine. A fluid supply port is located in a top wall of the supply container above the low side. Preferably, the major top surface of the waste container is a depression. The waste container further has a necked fluid waste receiving port, an associated cap, and a waste drain. The fluid supply port is preferably necked and oriented such that the neck extends vertically when the waste container and the supply container are received in the processing machine.
According to yet another feature of the present invention, a shipping and chemical delivery cassette for a container of photographic processing chemical includes a plurality of vertical walls that substantially laterally surround an interior volume, a bottom wall sloping from first side of the cassette toward a second, opposed side of the cassette, and a plurality of ribs extending upwardly from the bottom wall and terminating in a common horizontal plane so as to form a plurality of open topped cavities between the ribs.
According to still another feature of the present invention, a shipping and chemical delivery cassette system for containers of photographic processing chemical includes two stacked upper and lower delivery cassettes, each having a plurality of vertical walls that laterally surround an interior volume. A bottom wall slopes from first side of the cassette toward a second side of the cassette. The first and second sides are opposed to each other, and a plurality of ribs extend upwardly from the bottom wall and terminate in a common horizontal plane so as to form a plurality of open-topped cavities between the ribs. A single container in the lower cassette conforms approximately to the interior volume surrounded by the vertical walls so as to rest on the ribs in the common horizontal plane. The containers in the upper cassette are substantially smaller than the single container so as to fit between respective upwardly extending ribs into the open-topped cavities.
According to but another feature of the present invention, a photographic processing machine includes a housing adapted to receive a chemical delivery container assembly having a plurality of aligned fluid supply ports with associated caps having aligned hinges along one side of the caps. The processing machine includes a cap opening bar and a mounting mechanism with a pivot point aligning the cap opening bar with the caps of a received chemical delivery container assembly along a side of the caps opposite to the one side along which the hinges are aligned such that rotation of the cap opening bar about the pivot point simultaneously opens the fluid supply ports by rotating the caps about their hinges.
Referring to
As with the embodiment of
There are multiple ways to tip the supply containers based on this configuration. In one embodiment, the contoured top of the waste container has tipped recesses to accept the rigid supply bottles thus tipping them as shown in
In a second embodiment, two cassettes are used. The second cassette 40b is placed over the waste container in the lower cassette 40a. The neck of the waste container must protrude through this upper cassette 40b (
In a third embodiment, a single cassette 40 is used in which the top of the ribs 44 are not parallel to the floor of the cassette 40, that is they have a common side (for example 44a) that is higher than the opposing common side. In this configuration, a flat-bottomed waste container sits on top of the canted ribs 44 and is thereby tipped to one side. Supply containers sit in flat, keyed recesses in the top of waste container. The necks of the waste container and the supply containers must be perpendicular to the floor of the cassette to properly interface with the single stroke opener for the multi-container cartridge. To allow for simultaneous automatic opening of caps 36a through 36e, each neck must be slightly canted relative to the top of the rigid container by approximately the same degree that the containers are tipped to insure that the container tops are all in the same vertical plane relative to the machine. The advantage of this configuration is that the bottoms of the container are flat.
This tipping of the rigid supply containers in any of these three embodiments insures that they can be emptied during use, to the level required by the Federal Government. That is, there is a need met by this invention for the integrated design of the containers and the machine interface to provide for automatic simultaneous opening of the rigid containers, leak proof integration of the supply and waste containers with the machine without operator intervention, efficient emptying of the rigid supply containers to meet Federal regulations, as well as effective design for recycling and reuse of the components.
A plurality of tubes 60a-60e descends from associated valves 62a-62e, which, in turn, are supported from an alignment bar 64. The alignment bar slides vertically along opposed rails 66 and 68 under the control of an electric drive motor 70 and a screw drive shaft 72. The drive motor is supported on a cross beam 74, which also supports a plurality of fluid pumps 76a-76e.
In
Drive motor 70 is attached to screw drive shaft 72, which raises and lowers alignment bar 64 and simultaneously raises and lowers valve 62 and tube 60. Also attached to alignment bar 64 are mechanical actuating bars 80a and 80b used to open cap 36d by causing simultaneous cap opener bar 58 to rotate around a pivot point 82 when the alignment bar is raised or lowered. Simultaneous cap opener bar 58 has a turned edge 84 that engages tab 37d on cap 36d.
As simultaneous cap opener bar 58 pivots in a counter clockwise direction around pivot point 82, caused by the downward movement of actuating bars 80a and 80b, caps 36 on each of the containers are opened. The progress of these steps is illustrated schematically in
In
A rigid container cannot be pumped empty without allowing for pressure equilibration. Valve 62 is fitted with venting ports 98 to allow for pressure equilibration when the valve is fully engaged with the rigid supply and waste containers.
The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.
