Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for thermal film development and scanning

US6783902B2 · kind B2 · utility

5Cited by
24References
45Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 21, 2003
Grant dateAug 31, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 21, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03D13/002
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for thermal development having a receiver for receiving an imagewise exposed thermal film, an accumulator for gathering the film, a drive for advancing the film from the receiver to the accumulator, a heater located between the receiver and the accumulator for developing the film, a compound image scanner for scanning the film after it has been thermally developed, the scanner having a first light source and a first sensor placed for forming a first electronic record of the image formed on the developed film by reflection, a second light source and a second sensor placed for forming a second electronic record of the image by an opposing reflection, and a third sensor and a third light source placed for forming a third electronic record of the image formed by transmission, and a lighttight container for the receiver and the heater.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.