Graphic arts film processor

Claim 2

Apparatus for processing graphic arts sheet or roll material of varying sizes with a processing fluid comprising an enclosure for confining said fluid therein, sheet feeding mechanism within said enclosure, said feeding mechanism comprising a series of closely spaced generally cylindrical rollers mounted in generally vertically superposed relation on parallel axes, each having a peripheral surface tangent to a common generally vertical plane, means for driving all of said rollers together in the same direction at the same peripheral velocity, means for guiding the leading edge of a sheet into contact with the peripheral surface of one of said rollers in said common plane while said rollers are rotating together, fluid jEt means spaced from said series of rollers for directing a stream of processing fluid toward the side of said sheet away from said rollers and across the length thereof to urge the sheet into operative contact with the rollers, and means for supplying processing fluid under pressure to said jet means for urging movement of said sheet in the direction of peripheral movement of said rollers in said common plane and in frictional contact therewith, the peripheral surfaces of said rollers being provided with at least one sinuously disposed ridged portion extending across the length thereof whereby said sheet contacts the peripheries of said rollers substantially only at a series of axially moving points.

Claim 3

The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said fluid is a liquid and said liquid supplied to said jet means is recycled through said enclosure.

Claim 4

The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein a flat backup plate is positioned between pairs of said rollers for supporting said sheet substantially in said common plane during movement thereof.

Claim 5

The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said sheet feeding means comprises an elongated strip of rigid material spaced generally from said common plane having a plurality of transverse openings therein, and said jet means includes means for directing fluid under pressure through said openings from the side away from said common plane.

Claim 6

The invention as defined in claim 4, wherein said jet means includes a plurality of transversely arranged nozzle means arranged to direct fluid angularly through said transverse openings.

Claim 7

The invention as defined in claim 5, wherein said elongated rigid strip is of undulating cross-sectional configuration in a plane normal to said common plane and extending in the direction of movement of said sheet.

Claim 8

The invention as defined in claim 6, wherein a flat backup plate is positioned between pairs of rollers for supporting said sheet substantially in said common plane during movement thereof.

Claim 9

The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said rollers are provided with a plurality of said sinuously disposed peripherally spaced ridges.

Claim 10

The invention as defined in claim 9, wherein said ridged portions extended progressively from one end in a first peripheral direction along a portion of the length of a roller and continue progressively in the reverse peripheral direction along a further portion of the length of said roller.

Claim 11

Apparatus for processing sheet material with a processing fluid comprising an elongated enclosure for confining said fluid therein, one end of said enclosure being open, two sets of spaced roller guide means comprising a first set of closely spaced rollers and a second set of closely spaced rollers positioned in said enclosure, means for rotating rollers of both sets at substantially the same peripheral speed for defining a first path between said two sets of rollers for sheet to be processed, a respective roller of each of said sets having a sinuously arranged resilient ridge portion extending transversely over the width of the roller and peripherally over the entire circumference thereof, whereby during rotation of the rollers a continuously moving point of contact is established between a sheet of material and said resilient ridge, means for feeding one end of a sheet of material into said enclosure through said open end and into said first path between said spaced sets of roller guide means, fluid circulating means in said enclosure, said circulating means including means for continuously directing two streams of said processing fluid within the enclosure against the respective opposite surfaces of said sheet angularly in the direction of movement of the sheet, said two streams being of substantially equal force in a direction normal to the plane of the sheet, whereby said sheet is moved through said enclosure between said two sets of roller guide means with a minimum of physical contact therewith.

Claim 12

Apparatus for processing sheet material with a processing fluid comprising an elongated enclosure for confining said fluid therein, one end of said enclosure being open, two sets of spaced roller guide means comprising a first set of closely spaced rollers and a second set of closely spaced rollers positioned in said enclosure, means for rotating rollers of both sets at substantially the same peripheral speed for defining a first path between said two sets of rollers for sheet to be processed, a respective roller of each of said sets having a sinuously arranged resilient ridge portion extending transversely over the width of the roller and peripherally over the entire circumference thereof, whereby during rotation of the rollers a continuously moving point of contact is established between a sheet of material and said resilient ridge, means for feeding one end of a sheet of material into said enclosure through said open end and into said first path between said spaced sets of roller guide means, fluid circulating means in said enclosure, said circulating means including means for continuously directing two streams of said processing fluid within the enclosure against the respective opposite surfaces of said sheet angularly in the direction of movement of the sheet, said two streams being of substantially equal force in a direction normal to the plane of the sheet, whereby said sheet is moved through said enclosure between said two sets of roller guide means with a minimum of physical contact therewith.

Claim 13

The inventioN as defined in claim 10, wherein a third set of roller guide means is provided in said enclosure defining with one of said first two sets a second path for sheet to be processed generally parallel with first path, guide means for turning said sheet from said first-mentioned path into said second path and reversing the direction of movement thereof, said fluid circulating means including means for directing two additional streams of said processing fluid of substantially equal force against the respective opposite surfaces of said sheet while in said second path and angularly in the direction of said reverse movement.

Claim 14

The invention as defined in claim 11, wherein said means for directing said streams of treating fluid include a series of horizontally disposed superposed conduits positioned between said rollers and in generally parallel relation thereto, and nozzle means consisting of a series of openings in said conduits.

Claim 15

The invention as defined in claim 10, wherein the peripheral surface of each of said rollers is provided with more than one axially extending ridged portion.

Claim 16

The invention as defined in claim 13, wherein said ridged portion is helically arranged.

Claim 17

The invention as defined in claim 13, wherein flat backup plates are disposed between said rollers for supporting the outer surfaces of said film.

Claim 18

The invention as defined in claim 10, wherein a backup plate is mounted adjacent the path of said film and between certain of said rollers.