Apparatus for processing photographic material or the like

Claim 2

In an apparatus for wet treatmeNt of photographic strip material, a combination comprising a vessel containing a supply of processing liquid; level regulating means for maintaining the upper surface of liquid in said vessel at a predetermined level; a first and a spaced second pair of rotary transporting members defining a substantially horizontal path for lengthwise transport of strip material above the liquid level, each of said pairs including a lower member which dips into the supply of liquid; upper and lower liquid discharging chambers disposed between said pairs of transporting members and respectively located above and below said path, said upper and lower chambers defining a channel for the strip material and respectively having first and second outlet means for directing streams of processing liquid against the upper side and the underside of strip material in said channel, said channel having first and second open ends in the region of said first and second pairs of transporting members; first and second liquid-intercepting extensions flanking said path from below and respectively disposed between said first and second open ends and the lower members of said first and second pairs of said transporting members so that the liquid which is discharged by said outlet means and passes through said channel flows along said extensions and the respective lower members and into the supply of liquid in said vessel; and means for feeding processing liquid into said chambers.

Claim 3

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said level regulating means comprises at least one overflow opening in said vessel.

Claim 4

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said feeding means comprises pump means for drawing the liquid from said supply in said vessel.

Claim 5

A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein said level regulating means comprises at least one overflow opening in said vessel, conduit means connected with said vessel to receive the liquid which overflows through said opening, normally open valve means in said conduit means, and means for closing said valve means in response to inactivation of said pump means.

Claim 6

A combination as defined in claim 4, wherein said valve means is a solenoid-operated valve.

Claim 7

A combination as defined in claim 4, further comprising means for delaying the opening of said valve means in response to activation of said pump means.

Claim 8

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein one of said extensions slopes upwardly toward the respective lower transporting member.

Claim 9

A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising a frame supporting said chambers and said transporting members and being separably mounted in said vessel.

Claim 10

A combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said frame comprises a pair of parallel upright platens, said chambers and said transporting members being disposed between said platens.

Claim 11

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said chambers has a liquid-admitting inlet connected with said feeding means, each of said inlets flaring outwardly in the direction of liquid flow into the respective chamber.

Claim 12

A combination as defined in claim 10, wherein each of said inlets is a flat funnel.

Claim 13

In an apparatus for wet treatment of photographic strip material, a combination comprising a vessel containing a supply of processing liquid; level regulating means for maintaining the upper surface of liquid in said vessel at a predetermined level; a first and a spaced second pair of rotary transporting members defining a substantially horizontal path for lengthwise transport of strip material above the liquid level, each of said pairs including a lower member which dips into the supply of liquid; upper and lower liquid discharging chambers disposed between said pairs of transporting members and respectively located above and below said path, said upper and lower chambers defining a channel for the strip material and respectively having first and second outlet means for directing streams of processIng liquid against the upper side and the underside of strip material in said channel, said channel having open ends in the region of said pairs of transporting members and said lower chamber being provided with two liquid-intercepting extensions flanking a portion of said channel from below and each extending into close proximity of one of said lower transporting members so that the liquid which is discharged by said outlet means and passes through said channel flows along said lower members and into the supply of liquid in said vessel; pairs of side panels flanking a portion of said channel and said extensions, each of said extensions forming with a pair of said side panels a trough wherein the liquid flows toward the respective lower transporting member; and means for feeding processing liquid into said chambers.

Claim 14

In an apparatus for wet treatment of photographic strip material, a combination comprising a vessel containing a supply of processing liquid; level regulating means for maintaining the upper surface of liquid in said vessel at a predetermined level; a first and a spaced second pair of rotary transporting members defining a substantially horizontal path for lengthwise transport of strip material above the liquid level, each of said pairs including a lower member which dips into the supply of liquid; upper and lower liquid discharging chambers disposed between said pairs of transporting members and respectively located above and below said path, said upper and lower chambers defining a channel for the strip material and respectively having first and second outlet means for directing streams of processIng liquid against the upper side and the underside of strip material in said channel, said channel having open ends in the region of said pairs of transporting members and said lower chamber being provided with two liquid-intercepting extensions flanking a portion of said channel from below and each extending into close proximity of one of said lower transporting members so that the liquid which is discharged by said outlet means and passes through said channel flows along said lower members and into the supply of liquid in said vessel; pairs of side panels flanking a portion of said channel and said extensions, each of said extensions forming with a pair of said side panels a trough wherein the liquid flows toward the respective lower transporting member; and means for feeding processing liquid into said chambers.