Apparatus for processing sensitized material

Claim 2

Apparatus for processing exposed sensitized material by transporting the same through a processing chamber in which said material is in contact with a fluid to reveal the latent images thereon, said apparatus comprising: a. upright members arranged in two substantially parallel rows which define a path of travel for said sensitized material; b. drive means along said path of travel for engaging and moving said sensitized material; c. said upright members and drive means together defining adjacent opposed surfaces of said processing chamber, one of said surfaces being on each side of said path of travel, the bottom of said chamber between said surfaces having an open drain and opposite ends of said chamber having a vertical entrance and exit slot respectively extending substantially the full height of said chamber; d. means for continuously introducing fluid into the upper regions of said chamber along substantially its full horizontal length, said fluid flowing by gravity in said chamber between said adjacent surfaces and out the open drain of said chamber; and e. said adjacent surfaces being disposed so that fluid flowing down through said chamber spans the spaces between adjacent ones of said upright members and said drive means and substantially fills said chamber, whereby sensitized material is immersed in said dOwnward flow while moving through said path of travel from said entrance slot to said exit slot in said chamber.

Claim 3

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including a top member for said chamber on the upper ends of said upright members, said top member having an opening into the upper regions of said chamber which extends substantially the full horizontal length of said chamber for discharging fluid into said chamber.

Claim 4

Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said top member encloses a plenum which communicates with said fluid opening, and a fluid inlet which extends through said top and communicates with said plenum; and pump means having its discharge side connected to said fluid inlet and its intake side communicating with the open drain of said chamber for recirculating of processing fluid through said chamber.

Claim 5

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein one row of upright members is an endless belt which comprises said drive means.

Claim 6

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said drive means comprises upright rollers, the upper portion of said rollers extending through said top member; and means engaging the upper portion of said rollers for driving the same in unison.

Claim 7

Apparatus for processing exposed latent images on sensitized material, by contacting said material with a fluid to reveal the latent images thereon while moving said material through a path of travel, said apparatus comprising: a. a plurality of spaced substantially upright wall members arranged in two substantially parallel rows, said path of travel being between said rows wherein said sensitized material is oriented in a vertical plane as it passes between said upright wall members; b. upright drive rollers arranged among said wall members and along said path of travel for engaging and moving said sensitized material through said path of travel; c. said two rows of upright wall members and said drive rollers together defining opposite adjacent upright surfaces of a processing chamber, the bottom of said chamber having an open drain and the opposite ends of said chamber having vertical entrance and exit slots respectively for said sensitized material; d. a top member for said chamber, said top member enclosing a plenum and having a fluid inlet communicating through said top member with said plenum and a fluid outlet communicating with and extending between said plenum and the upper regions of said chamber, the communication of said outlet with said chamber extending along substantially the full horizontal length of said chamber; e. pump means for continuously recirculating fluid from said open drain to said plenum inlet, said fluid flowing by gravity from said plenum outlet, and down through said chamber along substantially the entire horizontal length of said chamber; and f. said upright wall members and rollers being constructed and arranged so that said fluid passing down through said chamber spans the spaces between adjacent ones of said upright members and rollers to maintain said chamber substantially completely filled with fluid while said pump is operating, whereby sensitized material while passing through said chamber is completely immersed in a fluid flow.

Claim 8

Apparatus for processing exposed latent images on sensitized material, by contacting said material with a fluid to reveal the latent images thereon while moving said material through a path of travel, said apparatus comprising: a. a plurality of spaced substantially upright wall members arranged in two substantially parallel rows, said path of travel being between said rows wherein said sensitized material is oriented in a vertical plane as it passes between said upright wall members; b. upright drive rollers arranged among said wall members and along said path of travel for engaging and moving said sensitized material through said path of travel; c. said two rows of upright wall members and said drive rollers together defining opposite adjacent upright surfaces of a processing chamber, the bottom of said chamber having an open drain and the opposite ends of said chamber having vertical entrance and exit slots respectively for said sensitized material; d. a top member for said chamber, said top member enclosing a plenum and having a fluid inlet communicating through said top member with said plenum and a fluid outlet communicating with and extending between said plenum and the upper regions of said chamber, the communication of said outlet with said chamber extending along substantially the full horizontal length of said chamber; e. pump means for continuously recirculating fluid from said open drain to said plenum inlet, said fluid flowing by gravity from said plenum outlet, and down through said chamber along substantially the entire horizontal length of said chamber; and f. said upright wall members and rollers being constructed and arranged so that said fluid passing down through said chamber spans the spaces between adjacent ones of said upright members and rollers to maintain said chamber substantially completely filled with fluid while said pump is operating, whereby sensitized material while passing through said chamber is completely immersed in a fluid flow.

Claim 9

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said upright members and rollers are staggered along said path of travel so that one of said rollers on one side of said path of travel is disposed opposite an upright member on the other side of said path of travel.

Claim 10

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said upright drive rollers each have a portion extending up through said top member; and drive means engaging said portion for driving said rollers.

Claim 11

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 comprising: a. a plurality of said chambers aligned and spaced end to end, wherein the exit slot of one chamber is aligned with and spaced from the entrance slot of another; and b. means for directing an appropriate fluid to each of said chambers.

Claim 12

Apparatus as set forth in claim 9, Wherein the ends of said chambers are defined by a pair of upright, opposed drive rollers for engaging and moving said sensitized material from the exit of one chamber to the entrance of the next in line chamber.

Claim 13

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said upright members are formed integral a unitary wall structure with the spaces between adjacent upright members being formed by fluted portions in said wall structure and said drive rollers being arranged in said fluted portions.

Claim 14

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said upright wall members depend from the underside of said top member and said fluid outlet opens directly into the top of said chamber between said wall members.

Claim 15

Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said fluid outlet is a slot having a length and width substantially equal to the horizontal cross-sectional length and width of said chamber.

Claim 16

In an automatic film developer wherein the film is automatically conveyed through the conventional processing stages of developing, fixing, washing and drying, the improved means for assuring complete and even film development which comprises: a. a series of three substantially identical film processing modules arranged to sequentially receive and perform the developing, fixing and washing steps, respectively, on a film negative passing therethrough; b. each of said modules comprising a series of parallel, spaced film-driving rollers, each arranged to rotate about a vertical axis and so spaced from each other to define a vertical serpentine path of film movement therethrough; c. each of said modules further comprising a series of substantially identical vertical fluid applicators interspersed among said rollers and along said serpentine path to form a series of opposed pairs of rollers and applicators positioned on opposite sides of said serpentine film negative path, said applicators being so shaped and arranged as to contact the full vertical height of a film passing therethrough, and the gap between each roller-applicator pair being substantially bridged by a series of soft bristles extending from said applicator contact surface; d. each of said modules further comprising means for causing an appropriate chemical solution to flow downwardly by gravity along the contact surface of said applicators to wet the full height of said contact surface, and means for causing the by-products of chemical reaction to be continuously drained away by gravity from the film negative; e. means for rotatably driving said drive rollers to transport a film through the successive modules; and f. means for circulating chemical solutions to and from each of said modules.

Claim 17

In an automatic film developer wherein the film is automatically conveyed through the conventional processing stages of developing, fixing, washing and drying, the improved means for assuring complete and even film development which comprises: a. a series of three substantially identical film processing modules arranged to sequentially receive and perform the developing, fixing and washing steps, respectively, on a film negative passing therethrough; b. each of said modules comprising a series of parallel, spaced film-driving rollers, each arranged to rotate about a vertical axis and so spaced from each other to define a vertical serpentine path of film movement therethrough; c. each of said modules further comprising a series of substantially identical vertical fluid applicators interspersed among said rollers and along said serpentine path to form a series of opposed pairs of rollers and applicators positioned on opposite sides of said serpentine film negative path, said applicators being so shaped and arranged as to contact the full vertical height of a film passing therethrough, and the gap between each roller-applicator pair being substantially bridged by a series of soft bristles extending from said applicator contact surface; d. each of said modules further comprising means for causing an appropriate chemical solution to flow downwardly by gravity along the contact surface of said applicators to wet the full height of said contact surface, and means for causing the by-products of chemical reaction to be continuously drained away by gravity from the film negative; e. means for rotatably driving said drive rollers to transport a film through the successive modules; and f. means for circulating chemical solutions to and from each of said modules.

Claim 18

The film developer of claim 14 wherein each of said fluid applicators has a central vertical bore for conveying chemical solution upwardly to a dribble port located at the top of the applicator from which port the solution can cascade downwardly along said bristled contact surface.