Photographic material processing apparatus

Claim 2

In processing apparatus for processing a sheet of sensitive material in fluids, the combination comprising a generally cylindrical bottom wall having a substantial radius of curvature, generally cylindrical sidewalls extending integrally and smoothly from said bottom and curved to overlie partially said bottom wall, said sidewalls having a curvature with the radius thereof substantially less then the curvature of said bottom wall and said bottom and sidewalls defining a fluid flow path which is smooth and free of inflections, and end wall members, one secured to the edges of said boTtom and sidewalls at each end thereof to define a vessel, said bottom wall having a radius which is in the range between about 2.5 and about three times the radius of said sidewalls to provide smooth flow of fluid in said vessel when said vessel is rotated relative to its longitudinal axis.

Claim 3

The processing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said end wall members include end walls shaped to produce inwardly directed fluid flow therealong when said vessel is rocked on its arcuate bottom.

Claim 4

The processing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bottom has surface deformations centrally located between said end wall members to provide a tactile indication of the center of the vessel.

Claim 5

In processing apparatus for processing a sheet of sensitive material in fluids, the combination comprising a generally cylindrical bottom, cylindrical sidewalls extending integrally from said bottom and partially overlying said bottom, and arcuate end wall members secured to the edges of said bottom and sidewalls to define a liquid-tight vessel, said end wall members being spaced apart a predetermined distance along the central length of said bottom and tapering inwardly along the edges of said bottom whereby said end wall members are spaced apart along distal portions of said bottom a distance substantially less than said predetermined distance, said end wall members being shaped to produce inwardly directed fluid flow therealong when said vessel is rocked on its arcuate bottom, said end wall members further defining end planes on which said vessel may rest, said end wall members being shaped to form funnel means to discharge said fluid chemicals toward the center of said arcuate end wall members when said vessel is resting on said end wall embers.

Claim 6

In processing apparatus for processing a sheet of sensitive material in fluids, the combination comprising a generally cylindrical bottom, cylindrical sidewalls extending integrally from said bottom and partially overlying said bottom, and arcuate end wall members secured to the edges of said bottom and sidewalls to define a liquid-tight vessel, said end wall members being spaced apart a predetermined distance along the central length of said bottom and tapering inwardly along the edges of said bottom whereby said end wall members are spaced apart along distal portions of said bottom a distance substantially less than said predetermined distance, said end wall members being shaped to produce inwardly directed fluid flow therealong when said vessel is rocked on its arcuate bottom, said end wall members further defining end planes on which said vessel may rest, said end wall members being shaped to form funnel means to discharge said fluid chemicals toward the center of said arcuate end wall members when said vessel is resting on said end wall embers.

Claim 7

The processing apparatus of claim 4 wherein said end wall members include end wall means defining segments of conic sections, the inner arcuate edges thereof being such that when said vessel is rested thereon, said vessel is tilted from the vertical for complete draining.

Claim 8

The apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein the arcuate curvature of the bottom describes an arc of between 60* and 180* on the circumference of a circle.

Claim 9

The apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein the means associated with at least one of the end walls to facilitate pouring of liquid from the vessel comprises an outward curvature of the end wall near the upper edge thereof at approximately the midpoint between said sidewalls.

Claim 10

The apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein the length of the arc of the bottom is substantially the width of the print to be processed therein plus 20* .

Claim 11

The apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein the length of the arc of the bottom is substantially the length of the print to be processed therein plus 20*.

Claim 12

The apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein the radius of the circle upon whose circumference the arc is described is approximately two to three times the height of the end wall of the vessel.

Claim 13

The apparatus recited in claim 10 wherein the said sidewalls are substantially semicylindrical and have a diameter substantially equal to the height of the end walls.

Claim 14

The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said bottom and sidewalls are formed of a single substantially rectangular sheet of metal and the connection of each end wall to the arcuate bottom and sidewalls defines a plane generally perpendicular to the axis of the bottom of the vessel, said connection adapted to serve as a base for the vessel during draining.

Claim 15

The apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein said end walls are made of a nonmetallic substance.

Claim 16

The apparatus as recited in claim 12, including a base comprising an open tray adapted to hold a tempering fluid and having dimensions corresponding to said vessel whereby said vessel rockably floatable therein.

Claim 17

The apparatus as recited in claim 14, including a means for mechanically positioning a developed print for easy removal from tHe bottom of the arcuate vessel.

Claim 18

The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the means for mechanically positioning a developed print for easy removal from the bottom of the arcuate vessel is a metal bail removably attached and pivotally mounted on the vessel.

Claim 19

The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the means for mechanically positioning a developed print for easy removal from the bottom of the arcuate vessel is a metal foot and clamp, said clamp removably attached to one end of the vessel, said foot disposed between the bottom of the vessel and the print to be removed.

Claim 20

The apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said bottom and sidewalls are formed of a single metal sheet and said end wall members define segments of conic sections which tiltingly support the vessel when placed on an end.

Claim 21

The processing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said end walls have a radial height between about one-third and about four-tenths of the bottom radius.

Claim 22

In processing apparatus for processing a sheet of sensitive material in fluids, the combination comprising a generally cylindrical bottom wall having a substantial radius of curvature, generally cylindrical sidewalls extending integrally and smoothly from said bottom and curved to overlie partially said bottom wall, said sidewalls having a curvature with the radius thereof substantially less than the curvature of said bottom wall and said bottom and side walls defining a fluid flow path which is smooth and free of inflections, and end wall members, one secured to the edges of said bottom and sidewalls at each end thereof to define a vessel, said bottom wall extending over an arc in the range between about 105* and about 180* to provide smooth flow of fluid in said vessel when said vessel is rotated relative to its longitudinal axis.

Claim 23

In processing apparatus for processing a sheet of sensitive material in fluids, the combination comprising a generally cylindrical bottom wall having a substantial radius of curvature, generally cylindrical sidewalls extending integrally and smoothly from said bottom and curved to overlie partially said bottom wall, said sidewalls having a curvature with the radius thereof substantially less than the curvature of said bottom wall and said bottom and side walls defining a fluid flow path which is smooth and free of inflections, and end wall members, one secured to the edges of said bottom and sidewalls at each end thereof to define a vessel, said bottom wall extending over an arc in the range between about 105* and about 180* to provide smooth flow of fluid in said vessel when said vessel is rotated relative to its longitudinal axis.

Claim 24

The processing apparatus of claim 20 wherein said bottom extends over an arc of about 140* .

Claim 25

The processing apparatus of claim 21 wherein said sidewalls are approximately semicylindrical.

Claim 26

The processing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bottom wall comprises a sector of about one-third of a cylinder.