Claims
- 1. An improved self-developing film unit adapted to be exposed and then processed to form a visible image in an area thereof by moving said film unit relative to and between pressure applying rollers to distribute a processing fluid with said film unit toward a trailing end thereof, said film unit comprising:
a) an image recording means of the self-developing type including a first and second overlying layer one of which is exposable to form a latent photographic image; said image recording means comprises a photosensitive layer, an image receiving layer in overlying and coextensive relationship to said photosensitive layer; said image receiving layer and said photosensitive layer being of the integral diffusion transfer type; b) a processing fluid supply means including a rupturable reservoir of processing fluid at a leading end portion of said film unit so as to discharge said processing fluid for distribution between said first and second overlying layers; c) a spacer means connected to and between said first and second overlying layers for providing a processing space therebetween for allowing processing fluid to pass therethrough, said spacer means comprises a pair of spaced apart and generally parallel elongated rails coextensive with and adjacent opposed marginal edges of said layers; d) a fluid trap means at said trailing end portion of said film unit for collecting excess processing fluid traveling through said processing space; e) a mask adhered to an outer surface of said first overlying layer, said mask having an aperture therein defining an image area, said mask extending over and around the leading edge of said film unit adjacent said fluid trap means and over and around the trailing end of said film unit adjacent said fluid trap means; and f) a substantially zero gap zone created at said leading end by juxtaposedly disposing one or more material strips between said first and second overlying layers, said strips running substantially parallel with said fluid supply means and also interposed between said fluid supply means and said image area; whereby said zero gap zone provides a substantially full width contact of the film surface with said pressure applying spread rollers applied across said film surface, whereby further ensuring uniform flow of the processing fluid during the spreading process.
- 2. The film unit of claim 1 wherein said material strips are comprised of at least an adhesive layer.
- 3. The film unit of claim 1 wherein said zero gap zones are created at both the leading and trailing ends of said film unit.
- 4. The film unit of claim 2 wherein said adhesive layer is jump tape.
- 5. The film unit of claim 4 wherein said jump tape is notched.
- 6. An improved self-developing film unit adapted to be exposed and then processed to form a visible image in an area thereof by moving said film unit relative to and between pressure applying rollers to distribute a processing fluid with said film unit toward a trailing end therof, said film unit comprising:
a) an image recording means of the self-developing type including a first and second overlying layer one of which is exposable to form a latent photographic image; said image recording means comprises a photosensitive layer, an image receiving layer in overlying and coextensive relationship to said photosensitive layer; said image receiving layer and said photosensitive layer being of the integral diffusion transfer type; b) a processing fluid supply means including a rupturable reservoir of processing fluid at a leading end portion of said film unit so as to discharge said processing fluid for distribution between said first and second overlying layers; c) spacer means connected to and between said first and second overlying layers for providing a processing space therebetween for allowing processing fluid to pass therethrough, said spacer means comprises a pair of spaced apart and generally parallel elongated rails coextensive with and adjacent opposed marginal edges of said layers; d) a fluid trap means at said trailing end portion of said film unit for collecting excess processing fluid traveling through said processing space; e) a first fluid-tight coupling means including a fluid passage for fluidically coupling said reservoir to a leading end of said processing space for allowing processing fluid from a ruptured reservoir to be introduced into said processing space and initiated processing of the latent image; f) a second fluid-tight coupling means including a fluid passage for fluidically coupling a trailing end of said processing space with said trap means for allowing processing fluid to enter into said trap means; g) said first coupling means having one end portion sealably secured to an exterior surface of said reservoir and a second end portion sealably secured to an interior surface of a leading end portion of said image recording means; h) said second coupling means having an end portion sealably secured to and within the trailing end portion of said image recording means and an opposite end portion sealably secured to an exteerior surface of said trap means; wherein each of said first and second fluid-tight coupling means is made of a pair of resiliently flexible sheets which are sealably joined together to define the respective fluid passages and which are made of a foldable and rollable material to thereby facilitate folding and unfolding thereof as well as permit rolling action of the fold during folding of the film unit; wherein the combined thickness of each of said sheets is generally equal to a thickness of one of said rails; and i) a substantially zero gap zone created at said leading end by juxtaposedly disposing one or more material strips between said first and second overlying layers, said strips running substantially parallel with said fluid supply means and also interposed between said fluid supply means and said image area; whereby said zero gap zone provides a substantially full width contact of the film surface with said pressure applying rollers applied across said film surface, whereby further ensuring uniform flow of the processing fluid during the spreading process.
- 7. A method of manufacturing an improved self-developing film unit adapted to be exposed and then processed to form a visible image in an area thereof by moving said film unit relative to and between pressure applying rollers to distribute a processing fluid with said film unit toward a trailing end therof, said method comprising the steps of:
a) providing an image recording means of the self-developing type including a first and second overlying layer one of which is exposable to form a latent photographic image;
said image recording means comprises a photosensitive layer, an image receiving layer in overlying and coextensive relationship to said photosensitive layer; said image receiving layer and said photosensitive layer being of the integral diffusion transfer type; b) providing a processing fluid supply means including a rupturable reservoir of processing fluid at a leading end portion of said film unit so as to discharge said processing fluid for distribution between said first and second overlying layers; c) providing spacer means connected to and between said first and second overlying layers for providing a processing space therebetween for allowing processing fluid to pass therethrough, said spacer means comprises a pair of spaced apart and generally parallel elongated rails coextensive with and adjacent opposed marginal edges of said layers; d) providing a fluid trap means at said trailing end portion of said film unit for collecting excess processing fluid traveling through said processing space; e) providing a mask adhered to an outer surface of said first overlying layer, said mask having an aperture therein defining an image area, said mask extending over and around the leading edge of said film unit adjacent said fluid trap means and over and around the trailing end of said film unit adjacent said fluid trap means; and f) creating a substantially zero gap zone created at said leading end by juxtaposedly disposing one or more material strips between said first and second overlying layers, said strips running substantially parallel with said fluid supply means and also interposed between said fluid supply means and said image area; whereby said zero gap zone provides a substantially full width contact of the film surface with said pressure applying rollers applied across said film surface, whereby further ensuring uniform flow of the processing fluid during the spreading process.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is related to copending and commonly-assigned U.S. patent applications Ser. No. 60/156,984 filed Oct. 10,1999.
Provisional Applications (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60156984 |
Oct 1999 |
US |
|
60222156 |
Aug 2000 |
US |