Kit for use with a photographic processor

United States Patent [w]

Gates et al.

US006126337A [ii] Patent Number: [45] Date of Patent:

6,126,337 Oct. 3,2000

[54] KIT FOR USE WITH A PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSOR

[75] Inventors: Edgar P. Gates, Honeoye; Daniel

Davis; Ralph L. Piccinino, Jr., both of
Rush; Keith S. Lundy, Spencerport;
Mark M. Kerns; Michael R. Gray,

both of Rochester, all of N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N.Y.

[21] Appl. No.: 09/163,215 [22] Filed: Sep. 29, 1998

[51] Int. CI.7 G03D 13/00; G03D 3/08;

G03B 27/52

[52] U.S. CI 396/567; 396/615; 355/27

[58] Field of Search 355/27-29, 68,

355/77; 396/599, 612, 615, 567-570

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

3,776,119 12/1973 Slingsby et al 396/582

3,873,988 3/1975 Pfeifer et al 396/622

4,218,123 8/1980 Viehrig et al 396/594

4,362,376 12/1982 Otani 396/615

4,363,548 12/1982 Oberhoffner et al 396/568

4,406,534 9/1983 Viehrig et al 396/612

4,555,632 11/1985 Vockenhuber 250/599.02

4,719,483 1/1988 Yamazaki 396/594

4,742,216 5/1988 Morse et al 396/595

4,743,928 5/1988 Young 396/594

4,760,417 7/1988 Zwettler et al 396/620

4,843,430 6/1989 Huber et al 396/599

4,967,222 10/1990 Nitsch 396/616

5,373,338 12/1994 Yamaguchi et al 396/612

5,434,643 7/1995 Ishikawa et al 355/27

Aphotographic processing method and apparatus. The apparatus includes a processor for developing an exposed photographic paper, a first entry point into the processor for transferring of the exposed photographic paper to the main processing path of the processor, and a second entry point into the processor to receive a photosensitive material of a second format different from the first format and leading the photosensitive material to the main processing path. An adapter is provided having a first end which is arranged to mate with a cassette in a light-tight manner having a second end which is connectable in a light-tight manner with the second entry point on the processor. The cassette contains a photosensitive material of a second format and the cassette may be fed directly into the processor via the adapter and the second entry point of the processor. A sensor is provided for monitoring the amount of photosensitive material passing through the second entry point and for controlling the amount of replenishment of processing chemicals to the processor in response to the amount of photosensitive material monitored.

9 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets