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IPC Subclass
G03D

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING EXPOSED PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR

Introduced: September 1968

Classification Context

Section:
PHYSICS
Class:
PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
Subclass:
APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING EXPOSED PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR

Description

G03D encompasses equipment and devices designed to process photographic materials after exposure, including developing, fixing, washing, and drying apparatus for film, plates, and paper. This subclass covers both manual and automatic processing systems, chemical handling equipment, and related accessories such as tanks, rollers, and transport mechanisms used in traditional photographic workflows. It excludes the photographic materials themselves (covered under G03C) and the initial image capture apparatus (covered under G03B), focusing instead on the post-exposure treatment and finishing stages.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass G03D recorded 826 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings declined from 62 in 2013 to 49 in 2023 (-21%), peaking at 131 applications in 2017. The most active applicants in class G03 are CANON (31,416 applications), CANON (17,469 applications) and KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS (9,845 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

In class comparison

G03D ranks 6th of 6 subclasses with filings in G03, with 826 applications between 2013 and 2023, 0.2% of the class. Annual filings declined 21% from 2013 to 2023, below the class as a whole (-3%).

Subclasses of class G03 by patent applications, 2013–2023
RankSubclassTitleApplicationsShare
1G03B, Apparatus or Arrangements for Taking Photographs or for Projecting or Viewing Them; Apparatus or Arrangements Employing Analogous Techniques Using Waves Other Than Optical Waves; Accessories ThereforApparatus or Arrangements for Taking Photographs or for Projecting or Viewing Them; Apparatus or Arrangements Employing Analogous Techniques Using Waves Other Than Optical Waves; Accessories Therefor200,39642.1%
2G03F, Photomechanical Production of Textured or Patterned Surfaces, e.g. for Printing, for Processing of Semiconductor Devices; Materials Therefor; Originals Therefor; Apparatus Specially Adapted ThereforPhotomechanical Production of Textured or Patterned Surfaces, e.g. for Printing, for Processing of Semiconductor Devices; Materials Therefor; Originals Therefor; Apparatus Specially Adapted Therefor141,31429.7%
3G03G, Electrography; Electrophotography; MagnetographyElectrography; Electrophotography; Magnetography119,06325.0%
4G03H, Holographic Processes or ApparatusHolographic Processes or Apparatus12,8212.7%
5G03C, Photosensitive Materials for Photographic Purposes; Photographic Processes, e.g. Cine, X-Ray, Colour or Stereo-Photographic Processes; Auxiliary Processes in PhotographyPhotosensitive Materials for Photographic Purposes; Photographic Processes, e.g. Cine, X-Ray, Colour or Stereo-Photographic Processes; Auxiliary Processes in Photography1,2200.3%
6G03DApparatus for Processing Exposed Photographic Materials; Accessories Therefor8260.2%

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Additional Content

Cameras with both developing and finishing apparatus

Related Keywords

photographic equipment for DARK roomsapparatus for DEVELOPING in photographyhandling photographic FILM(S) during processingapparatus for FIXING of photographic materialprocessing apparatus for PHOTOGRAPHYhandling photographic PLATE(S) during processingPROCESSING apparatus for exposed photographic filmSPLICING of photographic materialTRAY(S) for use in photographic processing

8 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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  • G03D 11/00 Reversal processing apparatus
  • G03D 17/00 Dark-room arrangements not provided for in the other groups of this subclass; Portable dark-rooms
  • G03D 7/00 Gas processing apparatus

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class G03, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

  1. CANON 31,416
  2. CANON JP 17,469
  3. KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS 9,845
  4. RICOH COMPANY 9,807
  5. ASML NETHERLANDS NL 9,427
  6. FUJIFILM JP 7,225
  7. KONICA MINOLTA CORPORATION 7,216
  8. FUJI XEROX COMPANY 5,711
  9. CARL ZEISS SMT DE 4,971
  10. RICOH COMPANY JP 4,123