Photographic print processing apparatus

Claim 2

Photographic print development apparatus comprising: a drum into which may be inserted one or more photographic printing papers to be developed; support means supporting said drum in generally horizontal and rotatable relation; hopper means carried by said support means; conduit means being disposed in communication with said hopper means and being positioned for conducting development fluid from said hopper means into said drum; means for selectively rotating said drum; means for selectively expelling development fluid from said drum; a supply of washing fluid at controlled temperature; means for distributing washing fluid on the exterior surface of said drum for maintaining said drum at controlled temperature; and means for selectively controlling communication between said hopper and said conduit means, between said supply of washing fluid and said washing fluid distributing means and between said supply of washing fluid and said conduit means.

Claim 3

Photographic print development apparatus as recited in claim 1: wherein said means for rotating said drum comprises shaft means directly connected to said drum; and crank means being secured to said shaft means.

Claim 4

Photographic print development apparatus as recited in claim 1: said drum having one open extremity, said means for expelling development fluid from said drum comprising a plurality of vanes fixed to said drum adjacent said open extremity, upon rotation of said drum in one direction said vanes retaining said fluid within said drum and upon rotation of said drum in the opposite direction said vanes expelling said fluid from said drum.

Claim 5

Photographic print development apparatus as recited in 1: said means for distributing washing fluid being spray means disposed adjacent said drum and adapted to spray said temperature control fluid onto the exterior surface of said drum; and said means for selectively controlling communication being a three-way valve.

Claim 6

Photographic print development apparatus as recited in 1: said means for distributing washing fluid being spray means disposed adjacent said drum and adapted to spray said temperature control fluid onto the exterior surface of said drum; and said means for selectively controlling communication being a three-way valve.

Claim 7

Photographic priNt development apparatus as recited in claim 1: said means for expelling development fluid from said drum comprising a plurality of vanes fixed to said drum and coming into contact with fluid within the drum upon rotation of the same; and said vanes retaining the development fluid within the drum upon rotation of the drum in one direction and expelling development fluid from the drum upon rotation of said drum in the opposite direction.

Claim 8

Photographic print development apparatus as recited in claim 1: said means for rotating said drum comprising a reversible electric motor having an electric motor circuit; means for connecting said motor in driving relation with said drum; and motor control means for achieving selective energization of said motor circuit for selective rotation of said motor.

Claim 9

Photographic print development apparatus as recited in claim 6 comprising: a control lever for controlling rotation of said drum; said motor control means comprising a plurality of mercury switches mounted on said control lever with each being physically oriented in fixed position relative to said control lever, each of said mercury switches being selectively operated at various inclined positions of said control lever; and the position of said control lever being selectively changed manually to achieve selectively energization of said motor.

Claim 10

Photographic print development apparatus as recited in claim 7: means for selectively changing the inclination of the axis of rotation of said drum; said last mentioned means comprising means for rotatably supporting said drum with the axis of rotation of said drum disposed generally horizontal manner; elevating means being carried by said drum supporting means and being disposed for contact with a surface upon which said processing apparatus rests; and said control lever controllably actuating said elevating means thereby causing said elevating means to selectively alter the inclination of the axis of rotation of said drum.

Claim 11

Photographic print development apparatus comprising: a generally cylindrical drum having one closed and and an open end through which may be inserted photographic printing papers to be developed; support means supporting said drum for rotation about a generally horizontal axis; hopper means carried by said support means in fixed relation to said support means; means for rotating said drum relative to said support means; a supply of washing fluid at controlled temperature; conduit means in communication with said hopper means and said supply of washing fluid for introducing a quantity of photographic development fluid from said hopper means into said drum and for introducing washing fluid into said drum; means for spraying washing fluid at controlled temperature onto said drum for maintaining said drum and the contents therein at controlled temperature; valve means for selectively controlling fluid communication between said supply of washing fluid and said conduit means, between said supply of washing fluid and said fluid spraying means and between said hopper means and said conduit means; means for retaining development fluid within said drum upon rotation of said drum in one direction and for expelling development fluid from said drum upon rotation of said drum in the opposite direction; and means for selectively controlling horizontal inclination of said drum.

Claim 12

Photographic print development apparatus comprising: a generally cylindrical drum having one closed and and an open end through which may be inserted photographic printing papers to be developed; support means supporting said drum for rotation about a generally horizontal axis; hopper means carried by said support means in fixed relation to said support means; means for rotating said drum relative to said support means; a supply of washing fluid at controlled temperature; conduit means in communication with said hopper means and said supply of washing fluid for introducing a quantity of photographic development fluid from said hopper means into said drum and for introducing washing fluid into said drum; means for spraying washing fluid at controlled temperature onto said drum for maintaining said drum and the contents therein at controlled temperature; valve means for selectively controlling fluid communication between said supply of washing fluid and said conduit means, between said supply of washing fluid and said fluid spraying means and between said hopper means and said conduit means; means for retaining development fluid within said drum upon rotation of said drum in one direction and for expelling development fluid from said drum upon rotation of said drum in the opposite direction; and means for selectively controlling horizontal inclination of said drum.

Claim 13

Photographic print development apparatus as recited in claim 9: said means for retaining and expelling photographic development fluid comprising a plurality of vanes disposed about the open extremity of said drum.

Claim 14

Photographic print development apparatus as recited in claim 9: perforated conduit means disposed at the upper extremity of said hopper means, and adapted to spray washing fluid into said hopper for flushing of the hopper; and said valve means selectively controlling fluid communication between Said supply of washing fluid and said perforated conduit means.

Claim 15

Photographic print development apparatus as recited in claim 11: said means for spraying washing fluid onto said drum comprising a second perforated conduit disposed adjacent said drum; and said valve means being fixed to said second perforated conduit.

Claim 16

Photographic print development apparatus as recited in claim 9: said means for rotating said drum comprising a reversible electric motor having an electric operating circuit; means connecting said motor in driving relation with said drum; and motor control means for achieving selective energization of said motor circuit for selective rotation of said motor.

Claim 17

Photographic print development apparatus as recited in claim 13: a control lever for controlling rotation of said drum; said motor control means comprising a plurality of mercury switches mounted on said control lever with each being physically oriented in fixed position relative to said control lever, each of said mercury switches being selectively operated at various inclined positions of said control lever; and the position of said control lever being selectively changed manually to achieve selective energization of said motor.

Claim 18

Photographic print development apparatus as recited in claim 14: means for selectively changing the inclination of the axis of rotation of said drum; said last mentioned means comprising means for rotatably supporting said drum with the axis of rotation of said drum disposed in generally horizontal manner; elevating means being carried by said drum supporting means and being disposed for contact with a surface upon which said processing apparatus rests; and said control lever controllably actuating said elevating means thereby causing said elevating means to selectively alter the inclination of the axis of rotation of said drum.

Claim 19

Photographic print development apparatus as recited in claim 9: partition means disposed within said drum for separation of said drum into compartments of variable size within said drum; spacer means disposed within said drum to prevent shifting to multiple printing papers within said compartments.

Claim 20

Photographic print development apparatus as recited in claim 10: means for preventing contact between photographic printing papers within said drum and said vanes during operation of said apparatus.