Photographic processing apparatus

Claim 3

A photographic processing apparatus comprising outer container means having a top end and a bottom end, said outer container means having an opening at one such end to receive material to be processed, and also having closure means for closing the said opening inner container means mounted within said outer container means in spaced relationship thereto to form a processing chamber externally of said inner container means, said inner container means being operative to contain fluid introduced therein, an aperture provided in the top end of said outer container means and communicating with the interior of said inner container means for the introduction of processing liquid thereto when said processing apparatus is in an upright position, said aperture being positioned in said top end so as to fall within the confines of said inner container means, and fluid passage means formed at the top of said inner container means adjacent the top end of said outer container means and communicating with said processing chamber, said fluid passage means operating to permit processing fluid to flow into said processing chamber when said apparatus is tilted from an upright to a horizontal position and to permit fluid to flow from said processing chamber through said aperture when said apparatus is inverted.

Claim 4

A photographic processing apparatus comprising outer container means having a top end and a bottom end, said outer container means having an opening at one such end to receive material to be processed, and also having closure means for closing the said opening inner container means mounted within said outer container means in spaced relationship thereto to form a processing chamber externally of said inner container means, said inner container means being operative to contain fluid introduced therein, an aperture provided in the top end of said outer container means and communicating with the interior of said inner container means for the introduction of processing liquid thereto when said processing apparatus is in an upright position, said aperture being positioned in said top end so as to fall within the confines of said inner container means, and fluid passage means formed at the top of said inner container means adjacent the top end of said outer container means and communicating with said processing chamber, said fluid passage means operating to permit processing fluid to flow into said processing chamber when said apparatus is tilted from an upright to a horizontal position and to permit fluid to flow from said processing chamber through said aperture when said apparatus is inverted.

Claim 5

An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the closure means consists of a removable lid forming part of said outer container means, said aperture being provided in such lid.

Claim 6

A photographic processing apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which the inner container means and lid are interconnected.

Claim 7

An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the inner container means is formed by a cup connected to the lid by a plurality of spacers disposed between the underside of the lid and the upper end of the cup.

Claim 8

An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which said lid is provided with an air vent for venting the interior of the processing apparatus, said air vent being in the form of a narrow tube extending into the cup.

Claim 9

An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which the aperture is funnel shaped at its outer end.

Claim 10

In a photographic processing apparatus comprising a substantially cylindrical housing for receiving photographic material to be processed, which housing is adapted for movement between substantially vertical and horizontal orientations, and has at least one opening at one end for the admission of processing liquids into said housing, the improvement which comprises: reservoir means mounted within said housing below said opening when said housing is in a vertical position and in communication with said opening for receiving such liquids admitted through said opening and storing the received liquids out of contact with the interior surface of said housing and said received material while said housing is disposed generally vertically, and for discharging such liquids into contact with the cylindrical interior surface of said housing and said received material when said housing is disposed generally horizontally.

Claim 11

In a photographic processing apparatus comprising a substantially cylindrical housing for receiving photographic material to be processed, which housing is adapted for movement between substantially vertical and horizontal orientations, and has at least one opening at one end for the admission of processing liquids into said housing, the improvement which comprises: reservoir means mounted within said housing below said opening when said housing is in a vertical position and in communication with said opening for receiving such liquids admitted through said opening and storing the received liquids out of contact with the interior surface of said housing and said received material while said housing is disposed generally vertically, and for discharging such liquids into contact with the cylindrical interior surface of said housing and said received material when said housing is disposed generally horizontally.

Claim 12

Photographic processing apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said reservoir means is a liquid contAiner supported substantially coaxially within said housing below said opening when said housing is in a vertical orientation.

Claim 13

Photographic processing apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said container has at least a portion spaced from said opening and adapted to discharge such liquids upon tipping of said housing from said vertical orientation.

Claim 14

A photographic processing apparatus comprising an outer container having a top end and a bottom end, said outer container being openable at one end to receive sheet material to be processed, an inner container mounted within said outer container in spaced relationship thereto to provide a processing chamber externally of said inner container and within said outer container, said inner container being operative to contain fluid introduced therein, the top end of said outer container being provided with an aperture communicating with the interior of said inner container for permitting the introduction of processing liquid into said inner container through said aperture when said processing apparatus is in an upright position, and fluid passage means between said inner container and said processing chamber for permitting processing fluid contained in said inner chamber to flow into said processing chamber when said apparatus is tilted from an upright to a horizontal position.

Claim 15

A photographic processing apparatus comprising an outer container having a top end and a bottom end, said outer container being openable at one end to receive sheet material to be processed, an inner container mounted within said outer container in spaced relationship thereto to provide a processing chamber externally of said inner container and within said outer container, said inner container being operative to contain fluid introduced therein, the top end of said outer container being provided with an aperture communicating with the interior of said inner container for permitting the introduction of processing liquid into said inner container through said aperture when said processing apparatus is in an upright position, and fluid passage means between said inner container and said processing chamber for permitting processing fluid contained in said inner chamber to flow into said processing chamber when said apparatus is tilted from an upright to a horizontal position.

Claim 16

Apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said inner container is positioned directly beneath the aperture of the top end of said outer container.

Claim 17

In a photographic processing apparatus comprising a substantially cylindrical container for receiving photographic material to be processed, said container having a top end and a bottom end when in a vertical orientation, said container being adapted for movement between substantially vertical and horizontal orientations, and having an opening in said top end for the admission of processing liquids into said container, the improvement which comprises reservoir means mounted within the container directly beneath and in fluid communication with said opening for receiving liquids admitted through said opening and retaining said received liquids out of contact with the interior surface of said container and said received material while said container is maintained generally vertically, said reservoir means having means for discharging such liquids into contact with the cylindrical interior surface of said container and said received material when said container is moved from a substantially vertical to a substantially horizontal orientation.

Claim 18

In a photographic processing apparatus comprising a substantially cylindrical container for receiving photographic material to be processed, said container having a top end and a bottom end when in a vertical orientation, said container being adapted for movement between substantially vertical and horizontal orientations, and having an opening in said top end for the admission of processing liquids into said container, the improvement which comprises reservoir means mounted within the container directly beneath and in fluid communication with said opening for receiving liquids admitted through said opening and retaining said received liquids out of contact with the interior surface of said container and said received material while said container is maintained generally vertically, said reservoir means having means for discharging such liquids into contact with the cylindrical interior surface of said container and said received material when said container is moved from a substantially vertical to a substantially horizontal orientation.

Claim 19

Apparatus as in claim 13, wherein said reservoir means is concentrically mounted in said container.

Claim 20

Apparatus as in claim 14, wherein said reservoir means is supported by reservoir support means connected to said container top end.

Claim 21

Apparatus as in claim 15, wherein said discharging means comprises at least one opening in said reservoir support means.