Film developing apparatus

Claim 1

Film processing apparatus, comprising: A. at least one film processing tank; B. a first shaft mounted transversely across said tank and supporting a plurality of freely rotatable first film guide spools which are substantially restrained from radial motion; C. a second shaft generally parallel to said first shaft and supporting a plurality of freely rotatable second film guide spools, said first and second spools defining a helical path for guiding film to be processed; D. film supply means for feeding film to said helical path; E. film drawing means for drawing film from said film supply means through said helical path at a constant rate; F. an auxiliary driven drive roll mounted parallel to said first shaft and adjacent said first spools, and said drive roll when in contact with said first spools adapted to drive film engaged therewith at a greater rate than film is drawn by said film drawing means; and G. means independently resiliently mounting each end of said first shaft, whereby each end thereof is capable of independent movement towards said drive roll while the other end remains fixed and whereby upon occurrence of excessive film tension at one of said first spools, it and said first shaft will be pulled toward said drive roll until said one of said first spools contacts and is driven by said drive roll to thus relieve said excessive film tension condition.