Did You Know...
...that several people are credited with the invention of the flush toilet? Most people have heard of Thomas Crapper (1837-1910), the sanitary engineer who invented the valve-and-siphon arrangement that made the modern toilet possible. Another claimant to "the throne" was British inventor Alexander Cumming who patented a toilet in 1775. Then there's a nameless Minoan (a native of ancient Crete) who lived 4,000 years ago who supposedly was ahead of his time and created the first flush toilet!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7245827 | Image recording apparatus An image recording apparatus has a pack chamber loaded with an instant film pack which stores by stacking plural pieces of instant film sheets having an image recording section which is exposed and subjected to spreading of a developer to record an image and a devel... | 07/17/2007 |
| 6778765 | Camera and transport apparatus The present invention provides a camera which restrains a photosensitized material from being unstably discharged, while allowing a reduction in diameter of a pair of rollers that feed the photosensitized material out of the camera as well as a transport apparatus w... | 08/17/2004 |
| 6625395 | Optical printer for exposing an instant film In a digital instant camera, a fixed exposure head emits a printing light to an instant film contained in a film pack, and a spreading roller performs a developing process. While the instant film is conveyed by the spreading roller toward the outside of t... | 09/23/2003 |
| 6509950 | Preexposure method and apparatus for photosensitive films A preexposure apparatus comprises a film supply station ST1 for arranging a film cartridge 14 containing a film 12 accommodated therein, a film-drawing station-ST3 for automatically drawing the film 12 over its entire length, an exposure station ST5 for e... | 01/21/2003 |
| 6490413 | Compact photographic camera The present invention is a self-developing compact camera having a housing that encloses, in a common cavity thereof, an arrangement comprising a taking lens, shutter, a light-reflector, viewfinder, power source, actuator, a self-developing film compartme... | 12/03/2002 |
| 6330397 | Film unit drive assembly for an electronic photographic printer and camera and related method thereof An electronic photographic printer having a film unit drive assembly that advances the film unit (self-developing type) past a stationary print head for emitting consecutive lines of image data on the film unit to effect progressive exposure on the film u... | 12/11/2001 |
| 6055375 | Self-developing camera A photographic apparatus for use with self-developing film wherein the apparatus comprises a light-tight housing assembly having a film unit exit for allowing the film units to exit the housing assembly; an exposure control assembly including a shutter bu... | 04/25/2000 |
| 6006036 | Preloaded single-use instant camera The principal embodiment of the present invention is a preloaded single-use instant camera. The single-use instant camera is provided with user-inaccessible film holding compartment in a sealed light-tight enclosure and a predetermined number of pressure-... | 12/21/1999 |
| 5838997 | Preloaded single-use instant camera The principal embodiment of the present invention is a preloaded single-use instant camera. The single-use instant camera is provided with user-inaccessible film holding compartment in a sealed light-tight enclosure and a predetermined number of pressure-... | 11/17/1998 |
| 5619292 | Camera A camera using films each having a development processing solution in a solution accommodating bag includes rollers feeding photographed film outside of the camera or into an accommodating chamber, a piezoelectric press member held between an electrode an... | 04/08/1997 |
| 5491526 | Instant camera and manufacturing method of the same An instant camera is used with a film unit, in which a solution pod contains processing solution. The camera has first and second rotatable spreading rollers, which apply pressure to the film unit. When rotated the spreading rollers squeeze the pod, exit ... | 02/13/1996 |
| 5218391 | Instant camera with reversable rollers for cleaning An instant camera is provided with a motor rotatable in normal and reverse directions, a claw member for pushing an exposed film unit out of a film pack, and a pair of spreading rollers for ejecting the exposed film unit from the camera by applying pressu... | 06/08/1993 |
| 5023636 | Pivotally mounted spread roller assembly A camera for use with instant film includes a spread roller assembly including superposed rollers for spreading a processing liquid between predetermined layers of an exposed film unit to initiate the formation of a visible image therein while simultaneou... | 06/11/1991 |
| 4505560 | Camera back A camera back adapted to be fitted on the back of a camera or the like has a frame for a film container pivotally mounted in the housing of the camera back for movement between the first picture taking position and a second film discharge position. A pair... | 03/19/1985 |
| 4460255 | Instant camera An instant camera in which a self-processing type film unit is passed between a pair of spreading rollers and ejected to the exterior of the camera while a container means containing a development processing solution in the film unit is torn by the nippin... | 07/17/1984 |
| 4268142 | Camera employing web for film ejection and processing A film unit ejection and processing system for instant cameras having a spread roller pressure nip through which an exposed film unit is passed from the camera interior for processing and discharge to the camera exterior. The system includes an opaque fee... | 05/19/1981 |
| 4174163 | Film unit processing means A film unit processing means in an auto-process camera, comprising first and second processing rolls or bars, and a frame to support said rolls or bars. In supporting said rolls, bars, or a combination, one above the other by the frame to define a passage... | 11/13/1979 |
| 4165931 | Self developing type photographic apparatus A self developing type photographic apparatus wherein one of the spread rollers is driven by one or two toothed racks forming part of or constituting a manually reciprocable handle. One of the racks further rotates a gear which programs the movements of a... | 08/28/1979 |
| 4131352 | Photographic apparatus of the self-developing type An improved pressure roller in a photographic apparatus of the self-developing type is disclosed. The roller has a rigid core provided with two axially spaced circumferential grooves which are filled with resiliently compressible material. The core is jac... | 12/26/1978 |
| 4069490 | Camera construction A camera construction is provided which is adapted to removably accommodate a cartridge of self-developing film. The cartridge presently available on the market includes a rectangularly shaped container having a self-contained battery and a stack of photo... | 01/17/1978 |
| 4051492 | Photographic apparatus gear train having a unique set of gears A pair of meshing gears, having unique tooth profiles, are provided in a separable gear train which is usable in a self-developing camera to couple a motor in one housing section of the camera to at least one of a pair of pressure-applying rollers mounted... | 09/27/1977 |
| 4047192 | Photographic apparatus with sequencing system A photographic apparatus including a "sequencing system" for initiating and controlling the orderly performance of functions in a cycle of apparatus operation that includes the exposing and processing of a self-developing film unit. The "sequencing system... | 09/06/1977 |
| 4044366 | Device for applying pressure to developer distributing means in self-development type cameras A device for applying pressure to a pair of developer distributing rollers in a self-development type photographic camera utilizes a pair of bell crank levers provided in the vicinity of the ends of the rollers for pressing one roller onto the other. The ... | 08/23/1977 |
| 4020499 | Apparatus for controlling drive to pressure rollers in a camera with electric motor drive In the removal of a film unit from a motor-assisted self-processing camera, the number of rotations per unit time of the pressure rollers which accomplish such removal is controlled by providing electrical contacts in association with a star wheel and a m... | 04/26/1977 |
| 4020498 | Photographic fluid processing apparatus A fluid processing apparatus adapted to spread a processing fluid over a predetermined photosensitive area of a photographic film unit. The film unit includes a first image-recording sheet element that is secured in superposed face-to-face relation with a... | 04/26/1977 |
| 4016578 | Processing fluid flow control device for self developing camera Photographic apparatus for consecutively transporting and processing a cassette of self-processable film units. The apparatus includes an integrally molded plastic housing section having a film exit slot, a pair of rotatable pressure-applying rollers moun... | 04/05/1977 |
| 3987466 | Switching device for an automatic camera A switching device for use in a fully automatic camera including a chamber for receiving and locating a disposable cassette therein such that a foremost member of an assemblage, including photosensitive film units in stacked relation and a dark slide cove... | 10/19/1976 |
| 3983567 | Pressure roller assembly for self processing camera A pressure roller assembly for use in a camera of the type adapted to expose and process self developing film units includes a pair of rollers held in juxtaposed relation within a frame having open ended slots for receiving the ends of the rollers. Unimpe... | 09/28/1976 |
| 3974510 | Mounting apparatus for a spreader roller assembly A mounting apparatus for a pair of juxtaposed pressure-applying members operating as a spreader system for a camera to distribute a fluid processing composition between predetermined layers of a film unit subsequent to exposure to initiate a developing pr... | 08/10/1976 |
