Abstract A drum-carrying photographic film is rotated in a housing in which developing solutions and wash water are introduced and withdrawn in a predetermined sequence with high rapidity through the same conduit. A baffle is provided in the housing to prevent splattering. Wash and rinse water is introduced at a rate exceeding that which is otherwise practicable by accumulating a reserve of water as the process continues and simultaneously discharging the accumulated wash water together with rinse water from normal outlets into the drum housing during the wash and rinse cycle. Color film rotated on the drum is subjected to reexposure lights disposed at the top of the drum. Polygonal drums are provided for photogrammetric plates. Expandible holding rods with spaced intermediate resilient means automatically adjust for expansion of the film which takes place during the processing. Exceedingly large paper prints are wound loosely about the drum and developed in such position while the drum rotates. A modified drum with a helical path provided about its periphery receives long strips of film such as movie film. The drum housing is selectively ventilated by means of a programmed exhaust fan, air being drawn into the housing through a light trap affixed adjacent the periphery of the drum.
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said pumping means comprises centrifugal pumps.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
In an apparatus for processing exposed photographic material such as photogrammetric plates; a housing (22) adapted to receive processing liquid therein; a horizontally disposed drum (145) carried by said housing and adapted to rotate through processing liquid therein; the sidewalls of said drum presenting a substantially continuous peripheral surface; said drum including a flat area along its peripheral surface; and means (146, 147) mounted over the peripheral surface of said drum holding photographic material (150) spaced above said flat area whereby when said drum is rotated through processing liquid in said housing said processing liquid circulates on both sides of said photographic material.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of processing large exposed photographic prints which comprises: securing an end of said print (140) to a drum (21); rotating said drum in a first direction (141) while loosely wrapping said print in a spiral over itself about said drum; securing the other end of said print to said drum whereby it is spaced above the periphery of said drum and underlying portions of said print; and rotating said drum in an opposite direction (142) to said first direction through developing solutions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
106 words
A holding rod for holding photographic sheet materials for processing in a liquid which causes said materials to expand which comprises: a rod (122); resilient sleeve (124, 125) means in compression surrounding said rod; removable spacer means (130) on said rod holding said sleeve means in compression whereby when said spacer means is removed said sleeve means expands, and fastening means (131) for fastening a photographic sheet to said sleeve whereby said sheet is held in tension by said sleeve means, said sleeve means being adapted to expand a sufficient amount to accommodate expansion of said sheet which occurs when it is exposed to processing liquid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A holding rod in accordance with claim 5 wherein said resilient sleevE means comprises compression springs (125).
Claim 6
Independent Claim
192 words
An apparatus for processing exposed photographic sheet material such as film or prints which comprises: a housing adapted to receive processing liquid therein; a recess disposed along said housing; a horizontally disposed drum carried by said housing and adapted to rotate through processing liquid therein; a plurality of tanks for storing different processing liquids; a plurality of valves in said recess; said valves including discs which seat in valve seats included in the bottom of said recess; a baffle member disposed over said recess; a said baffle member including openings from said recess to said housing located directly over said discs; a conduit leading from each of said valves to one of said tanks; and pumping means included in each of said conduits, each of said pumping means adapted to cause processing fluid from its corresponding tank to be conveyed into said housing through its respective said conduit and valve and to permit the processing fluid in said housing to return through its respective said valve and conduit to its respective said tank at preselected times whereby processing fluid in each tank flows to and from said housing in the same conduit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
98 words
In an apparatus for processing exposed photographic material such as photogrammetric plates; a housing adapted to receive processing liquid therein; a horizontally disposed drum carried by said housing and adapted to rotate through processing liquid therein; said drum being polygonal in vertical section and including a plurality of said flat areas; holding means disposed at the edges of said drum between each of said flat areas for holding photographic material spaced above said flat areas whereby when said drum is rotated through processing liquid in said housing, said processing liquid circulates on both sides of said photographic material.