Photographic processor having movement responsive rotation control

Claim 2

A photographic processing apparatus for use with a cylindrical processing drum with an axis of rotation, the processing drum being adapted to receive material to be processed and having a fluid introducing opening at one end thereof, said apparatus comprising: a. base means; b. frame means mounted on said base means for movement to a first frame means position and to a second frame means position and including chamber defining means for receiving the processing drum and supporting the processing drum in a manner to facilitate movement of the processing drum with respect to said frame means; c. means mounted on said frame means for rotating the processing drum when the processing drum is in a coupling relation therewith; d. means for moving said frame means from said first frame means position to said second frame means position; and e. said frame means supporting the processing drum to permit the movement of the processing drum with respect to said frame means from a first drum position in said coupling relation with said means for rotating in response to the movement of said frame means to said second frame means position, and to permit the movement of the processing drum to a second drum position out of said coupling relation with said means for rotating in response to the movement of said frame means to said first frame means position.

Claim 3

The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said frame means is constructed and movably mounted on said base means in a manner such that the processing drum is disposed with its axis of rotation generally horizontal in said first drum position and with its axis of rotation generally vertical in said second drum position.

Claim 4

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second frame means positions are so located that the processing drum is moved from said second drum position to said first drum position by gravity in response to the movement of said frame means from said first frame means position to said second frame means position.

Claim 5

Apparatus for processing photographic materials including: a. a processing tube with axis of rotation, said processing tube having a reservoir means for receiving processing liquids, said processing tube being disposable in a first tube position to receive the processing liquids into said reservoir means and to maintain the liquids out of contact with the photographic material to be processed, and being disposable in a second tube position for discharging the liquid into contact with the photographic material; b. a frame for receiving said processing tube and for moving said processing tube from said first tube position to said second tube position to thereby affect the discharge of the liquid into contact with the photographic material; c. drive means for being selectively coupled to said processing tube and; d. means responsive to the movement of said processor tube to said second tube position to rotatably couple said drive means to said processing tube.

Claim 6

Apparatus for processing photographic materials including: a. a processing tube with axis of rotation, said processing tube having a reservoir means for receiving processing liquids, said processing tube being disposable in a first tube position to receive the processing liquids into said reservoir means and to maintain the liquids out of contact with the photographic material to be processed, and being disposable in a second tube position for discharging the liquid into contact with the photographic material; b. a frame for receiving said processing tube and for moving said processing tube from said first tube position to said second tube position to thereby affect the discharge of the liquid into contact with the photographic material; c. drive means for being selectively coupled to said processing tube and; d. means responsive to the movement of said processor tube to said second tube position to rotatably couple said drive means to said processing tube.

Claim 7

The invention defined in claim 4 wherein said processing tube has liquid introducing and discharge openings located at opposite ends and is disposed with said axis of rotation being disposed in a generally vertical orientation in said first tube position.

Claim 8

The invention defined in claim 5 wherein said processing tube is disposed with said axis of rotation substantially horizontal in sAid second tube position and said drive means is located beneath said processing tube.

Claim 9

The invention defined in claim 6 wherein said drive means is mounted on said frame and said tube moves with respect to said drive means and said frame in response to gravitational forces acting thereon during movement of said frame from said first tube position to said second tube position.

Claim 10

Photographic processing apparatus of the type using a tubular processing drum with an axis of rotation, said axis of rotation disposable in a generally vertical position so that liquid may be disposed in said processing drum, and said axis of rotation being disposable in a generally horizontal position so that said processing drum may be rotated, said photographic processing comprising: a. means for supporting said processing drum in a substantially stationary position when said axis of rotation is disposed generally vertical; b. means responsive to movement of said axis of rotation to a generally horizontal position for rotating said drum about said axis of rotation; and c. said means for supporting being movable from a first position in which said axis of rotation is generally horizontal to a second position in which said axis of rotation is generally vertical.

Claim 11

Photographic processing apparatus of the type using a tubular processing drum with an axis of rotation, said axis of rotation disposable in a generally vertical position so that liquid may be disposed in said processing drum, and said axis of rotation being disposable in a generally horizontal position so that said processing drum may be rotated, said photographic processing comprising: a. means for supporting said processing drum in a substantially stationary position when said axis of rotation is disposed generally vertical; b. means responsive to movement of said axis of rotation to a generally horizontal position for rotating said drum about said axis of rotation; and c. said means for supporting being movable from a first position in which said axis of rotation is generally horizontal to a second position in which said axis of rotation is generally vertical.

Claim 12

The invention defined in claim 8 wherein said means for rotating is mounted on said means for supporting.

Claim 13

Apparatus for supporting a processing drum for selective rotation, said apparatus comprising: a. drive means for selectively rotating the processing drum; and b. support means for receiving and supporting the processing drum for movement between a first and second drum position with respect to said support means, in said first drum position the processing drum is disengaged from said drive means and is disposed in a stationary relationship with respect to said support means, in the said second drum position the processing drum is rotatably engaged with said drive means, said support means being movable from a first support means position to a second support means position to effect the movement of the processing drum with respect to said support means from said first drum position to said second drum position.

Claim 14

Apparatus for supporting a processing drum for selective rotation, said apparatus comprising: a. drive means for selectively rotating the processing drum; and b. support means for receiving and supporting the processing drum for movement between a first and second drum position with respect to said support means, in said first drum position the processing drum is disengaged from said drive means and is disposed in a stationary relationship with respect to said support means, in the said second drum position the processing drum is rotatably engaged with said drive means, said support means being movable from a first support means position to a second support means position to effect the movement of the processing drum with respect to said support means from said first drum position to said second drum position.

Claim 15

Apparatus for supporting a processing drum for selective rotation, said apparatus comprising: a. drive means for selectively rotating the processing drum; b. support means for receiving the processing drum and for supporting the processing drum for relative movement from a first drum position to a second drum position with respect to said support means, in said first drum position the processing drum is disengaged from said drive means and is disposed in a stationary relationship with respect to said support means, in said second drum position the processing drum is rotatably engaged with said drive means, said support means being movable from a first support means position to a second support means position; c. to effect the movement of the processing drum with respect to said support means from said first drum position to said second drum position.

Claim 16

Apparatus for supporting a processing drum for selective rotation, said apparatus comprising: a. drive means for selectively rotating the processing drum; b. support means for receiving the processing drum and for supporting the processing drum for relative movement from a first drum position to a second drum position with respect to said support means, in said first drum position the processing drum is disengaged from said drive means and is disposed in a stationary relationship with respect to said support means, in said second drum position the processing drum is rotatably engaged with said drive means, said support means being movable from a first support means position to a second support means position; c. to effect the movement of the processing drum with respect to said support means from said first drum position to said second drum position.

Claim 17

Processing apparatus for receiving and supporting a processing tube adapted to receive photographic material to be processed, the processing tube having an axis of rotation, said processing apparatus comprising: a. frame means mounted for movement from a first frame means position to a second frame means position; b. drive means mounted upon said frame means for selectively rotating the processing tube; and c. said frame means supporting the processing tube for relative movement with respect to said frame means under influence of gravity so that in said first frame means position, the processing tube is disposed in a stationary relationship with respect to said frame means, and so that in said second frame means position the processing tube is rotatably coupled to said drive means.

Claim 18

Processing apparatus for receiving and supporting a processing tube adapted to receive photographic material to be processed, the processing tube having an axis of rotation, said processing apparatus comprising: a. frame means mounted for movement from a first frame means position to a second frame means position; b. drive means mounted upon said frame means for selectively rotating the processing tube; and c. said frame means supporting the processing tube for relative movement with respect to said frame means under influence of gravity so that in said first frame means position, the processing tube is disposed in a stationary relationship with respect to said frame means, and so that in said second frame means position the processing tube is rotatably coupled to said drive means.

Claim 19

Apparatus for processing photographic materials including: a. a processing tube wiTh an axis of rotation, said processing tube having a reservoir means for receiving processing liquid; b. means for supporting said processing drum in a substantially stationary position when said axis of rotation is disposed in a substantially vertical position to facilitate the disposition of the processing liquid into said reservoir means, said reservoir means maintaining in its substantially vertical position the liquid out of contact with the photographic materials to be processed; and c. means responsive to the movement of said axis of rotation to a generally horizontal position for rotating said drum about said axis of rotation and for discharging the liquid into contact with the photographic materials to be processed.

Claim 20

Apparatus for processing photographic materials including: a. a processing tube wiTh an axis of rotation, said processing tube having a reservoir means for receiving processing liquid; b. means for supporting said processing drum in a substantially stationary position when said axis of rotation is disposed in a substantially vertical position to facilitate the disposition of the processing liquid into said reservoir means, said reservoir means maintaining in its substantially vertical position the liquid out of contact with the photographic materials to be processed; and c. means responsive to the movement of said axis of rotation to a generally horizontal position for rotating said drum about said axis of rotation and for discharging the liquid into contact with the photographic materials to be processed.

Claim 21

Apparatus for supporting the processing drum for selective rotation, said apparatus comprising: a. drive means for rotating selectively the processing drum; b. support means for receiving and supporting the processing drum for movement relative with respect to said support means between a second drum position wherein the processing drum is disengaged from said drive means and is disposed in a stationary relationship with respect to said support means and a first drum position wherein the processing drum is rotatably engaged with said drive means, said support means being movable from a first support means position to a second support means position and including spaced wall members defining an open-ended chamber for facilitating the movement of the processing drum with respect to said support means in response to the movement of said support means from said first support means position to said second support means position; c. said drive means comprising at least one driven roller having an axis of rotation mounted for movement with said support means and located so that said axis of rotation is disposed substantially horizontal and beneath the processing drum when said support means is disposed in said first support means position, and is generally vertical in said second support means position; and d. said support means disposing the processing drum on said one driven roller and said support means in said first support means position and disposing the processing drum in a spaced relationship from said one driven roller when said support means is in said second support means position.

Claim 22

Apparatus for supporting the processing drum for selective rotation, said apparatus comprising: a. drive means for rotating selectively the processing drum; b. support means for receiving and supporting the processing drum for movement relative with respect to said support means between a second drum position wherein the processing drum is disengaged from said drive means and is disposed in a stationary relationship with respect to said support means and a first drum position wherein the processing drum is rotatably engaged with said drive means, said support means being movable from a first support means position to a second support means position and including spaced wall members defining an open-ended chamber for facilitating the movement of the processing drum with respect to said support means in response to the movement of said support means from said first support means position to said second support means position; c. said drive means comprising at least one driven roller having an axis of rotation mounted for movement with said support means and located so that said axis of rotation is disposed substantially horizontal and beneath the processing drum when said support means is disposed in said first support means position, and is generally vertical in said second support means position; and d. said support means disposing the processing drum on said one driven roller and said support means in said first support means position and disposing the processing drum in a spaced relationship from said one driven roller when said support means is in said second support means position.