Liquid developing apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus operable between an on and off condition for developing sensitized sheet material by the application to said material of an amount of developer liquid, said apparatus comprising: liquid applicator roller means mounted for rotation, said roller means having a surface adapted to carry a quantity of liquid, means for supplying said developer liquid to said roller means, wiper means for removing excess developer liquid from said surface of said roller, said wiper means located adjacent said roller means and mounted for engagement with said roller surface, pressure applying means mounted adjacent said roller means for engagement with the surface of said roller means, said pressure applying means and said roller means forming a developing zone along a line of contact therebetween through which said sensitized sheet material is passed for development, and means for moving said wiper means and said pressure applying means relative to said roller means into and out of engagement therewith.

Claim 3

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wiper means and pressure applying means are moved into engagement with said applicator roller means in sequence.

Claim 4

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said wiper means is moved into engagement with said roller means prior to said pressure applying means.

Claim 5

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pressure applying means includes a flat, resilient blade member mounted for tangential engagement with said roller surface, said blade member extending substantially the length of said roller means.

Claim 6

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wiper means comprises a flat, resilient blade member mounted for tangential engagement with the surface of said roller means, and extending substantially the length thereof.

Claim 7

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wiper means and pressure applying means are positioned at predetermined locations about the circumference of said applicator roller means so as to equalize the forces applied to said roller means.

Claim 8

Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said wiper means and pressure applying means are located at positions 180* from each other about the circumference of said roller means.

Claim 9

Apparatus for developing sensitized sheet material by the application to said material of a predetermined amount of developer liquid, said apparatus comprising: an applicator roller mounted for rotation, said roller having a surface adapted to carry a predetermined quantity of developer liquid, means for supplying said developer liquid to said roller surface, wiper means for removing excess developer liquid from the surface of said roller, said wiper means located adjacent said roller and mounted for movement into and out of engagement with said roller surface, pressure applying means mounted adjacent said roller for movement into and out of engagement with said roller surface, said pressure applying means and said roller surface forming a developing zone along an area of contact therebetween through which said sensitized sheet material is passed for development, and means for moving said pressure applying means and wiper means into engagement with said roller during the operation of said apparatus and out of engagement with said roller upon discontinuing the operation of said apparatus, said meAns including a movable control-linkage member connected to said wiper means and pressure applying means, whereby a first movement of said member causes said wiper and pressure applying means to engage said roller surface, and a second movement of said member causes said wiper and pressure applying means to become disengaged with respect to said roller surface.

Claim 10

Apparatus for developing sensitized sheet material by the application to said material of a predetermined amount of developer liquid, said apparatus comprising: an applicator roller mounted for rotation, said roller having a surface adapted to carry a predetermined quantity of developer liquid, means for supplying said developer liquid to said roller surface, wiper means for removing excess developer liquid from the surface of said roller, said wiper means located adjacent said roller and mounted for movement into and out of engagement with said roller surface, pressure applying means mounted adjacent said roller for movement into and out of engagement with said roller surface, said pressure applying means and said roller surface forming a developing zone along an area of contact therebetween through which said sensitized sheet material is passed for development, and means for moving said pressure applying means and wiper means into engagement with said roller during the operation of said apparatus and out of engagement with said roller upon discontinuing the operation of said apparatus, said meAns including a movable control-linkage member connected to said wiper means and pressure applying means, whereby a first movement of said member causes said wiper and pressure applying means to engage said roller surface, and a second movement of said member causes said wiper and pressure applying means to become disengaged with respect to said roller surface.

Claim 11

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said wiper means and pressure applying means each include an elongated, flat resilient blade member, mounted on a support member adapted for movement toward and away from the surface of said applicator roller, and wherein said support members are connected to said control-linkage member, whereby movement of said member in a first direction causes said blade members to engage said roller surface, and movement in a second direction causes said blade members to become disengaged from said roller surface.

Claim 12

Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said movement of said control-linkage member in said first direction moves said blade members sequentially into engagement with said roller surface, said wiper means engaging said surface prior to said pressure blade member.

Claim 13

Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said means for applying developer liquid to said roller surface includes a source of developer liquid, dispensing means in communication with said source mounted adjacent said roller means, and pump means for pumping said liquid from said source to said dispensing means for distribution onto the surface of said roller means, and wherein said pump means is operable to pump liquid to said dispensing means during the operation of said apparatus.

Claim 14

Apparatus for developing sensitized sheet material by the application to said material of a predetermined amount of developer liquid, said apparatus comprising: an applicator roller mounted for rotation, said roller having a surface adapted to carry a predetermined quantity of developer liquid, means for supplying said developer liquid to said roller surface, wiper means for removing excess developer liquid from the surface of said roller, said wiper means located adjacent said roller and mounted for movement into and out of engagement with said roller surface, pressure applying means mounted adjacent said roller for movement into and out of engagement with said roller surface, said pressure applying means and said roller surface forming a developing zone along an area of contact therebetween through which said sensitized material is passed for development, and means for moving said pressure applying means and wiper means into engagement with said roller during the operation of said apparatus and out of engagement with said roller upon discontinuing the operation of said apparatus, said means including a movable control-linkage member connected to said wiper means and pressure applying means, whereby a first movement of said member causes said wiper and pressure applying means to engage said roller surface, and a second movement of said member causes said wiper and pressure applying means to become disengaged with respect to said roller surface, and said member being connected to said pressure applying means by a first arm member and to said wiper means by a second arm member.

Claim 15

Apparatus for developing sensitized sheet material by the application to said material of a predetermined amount of developer liquid, said apparatus comprising: an applicator roller mounted for rotation, said roller having a surface adapted to carry a predetermined quantity of developer liquid, means for supplying said developer liquid to said roller surface, wiper means for removing excess developer liquid from the surface of said roller, said wiper means located adjacent said roller and mounted for movement into and out of engagement with said roller surface, pressure applying means mounted adjacent said roller for movement into and out of engagement with said roller surface, said pressure applying means and said roller surface forming a developing zone along an area of contact therebetween through which said sensitized material is passed for development, and means for moving said pressure applying means and wiper means into engagement with said roller during the operation of said apparatus and out of engagement with said roller upon discontinuing the operation of said apparatus, said means including a movable control-linkage member connected to said wiper means and pressure applying means, whereby a first movement of said member causes said wiper and pressure applying means to engage said roller surface, and a second movement of said member causes said wiper and pressure applying means to become disengaged with respect to said roller surface, and said member being connected to said pressure applying means by a first arm member and to said wiper means by a second arm member.