Apparatus for developing exposed light-sensitive sheets

Claim 2

In an apparatus for treating sheet-like materials with liquids, particularly for treating exposed light sensitive emulsions with a developer, wherein the sheet-like materials are moved in a predetermined plane and at a predetermined speed, a combination comprising a source of fresh liquid adjacent to one side of said plane; a rotary roller-shaped applicator member dipping into said source and contacting one surface of the material moving in said plane to transfer to such surface a layer of said liquid, said applicator member being driven to rotate counter to the direction of movement of sheet-like material in said plane; a rotary roller-shaped liquid removing member located past said applicator member and having a peripheral surface contacting said one surface of the material moving in said plane to remove at least some of said liquid layer from said one surface; biasing means for urging the sheet-like material in said path against at least one of said roller-shaped members; and drive means for rotating said liquid removing member in the direction of movement of sheet-like material in said plane and at a peripheral speed which is greater than said predetermined speed.

Claim 3

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said biasing means comprises at least one yieldably mounted idler roller.

Claim 4

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said drive means is arranged to rotate said liquid removing member at a peripheral speed which is greater than said peripheral speed by at least 10 percent.

Claim 5

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said roller-shaped members has a smooth peripheral surface.

Claim 6

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the diameter of at least one of said roller-shaped members is between 1-5 centimeters.

Claim 7

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein at least that portion of said liquid removing member which is adjacent to said peripheral surface thereof consists of hydrophobic material.

Claim 8

A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said hydrophobic material is tetrafluorethylene.

Claim 9

A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least one additional source adjacent to said one side of said plane and located past said liquid removing member, an additional roller-shaped applicator member dipping into said additional source and contacting said one surface to transfer thereto an additional layer of liquid, an additional roller-shaped liquid removing member located past said additional applicator member, and common collecting means for liquid which is removed from said one surface by said liquid removing members.

Claim 10

A combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said one surface is located at the underside of said sheet-like material and said common collecting means communicates with troughs for collection of liquid which is removed by said liquid removing members.

Claim 11

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said source comprises a trough bounded by a concave surface having its center of curvature on the axis of said applicator member and containing a supply of liquid.

Claim 12

A combination as defined in clAim 10, wherein the difference between the radius of curvature of said concave surface and the radius of said applicator member is a small fraction of said last mentioned radius.

Claim 13

A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising troughs for said roller-shaped members, at least one of said troughs being provided with overflow opening means, and means for circulating liquids through said one trough so that such liquids overflow by way of said opening means.

Claim 14

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said one surface is located below said other surface and said biasing means comprises at least one idler roller which rests on said other surface under the action of gravity.

Claim 15

A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least one additional source of said liquid located past said liquid removing member, an additional roller-shaped applicator member dipping into said additional source and contacting said one surface to transfer thereto a second layer of said liquid, and an additional roller-shaped liquid removing member located past said additional applicator member and having a peripheral surface contacting said one surface to remove therefrom at least some of said second liquid layer, and drive means for rotating said additional liquid removing member at a peripheral speed which is greater than said predetermined speed.

Claim 16

A combination as defined in claim 14, wherein said first mentioned and said additional liquid removing members are respectively located at predetermined distances from said first mentioned and said second applicator members.

Claim 17

In an apparatus for treating sheet-like materials with liquids, particularly for treating exposed light sensitive emulsions with a developer, wherein the sheet-like materials are moved in a predetermined plane at a predetermined speed, a combination comprising a source of liquid adjacent to one side of said plane; a rotary roller-shaped applicator member dipping into said source and contacting one surface of the material moving in said plane to transfer to such surface a layer of said liquid, said one surface being located below the other surface of the material moving in said plane; a rotary roller-shaped liquid removing member located past said applicator member and having a peripheral surface contacting said one surface of the material moving in said plane to remove at least some of said liquid layer from said one surface; yieldably mounted biasing means for urging the sheet-like material in said path against at least one of said roller-shaped members, said biasing means comprising at least one idler roller which rests on said other surface under the action of gravity, said idler roller being pivotable about an axis which is at least substantially parallel to its own axis; stop means for limiting the extent of pivotal movement of said idler roller; and drive means for rotating said liquid removing member at a peripheral speed which deviates from said predetermined speed.

Claim 18

In an apparatus for treating sheet-like materials with liquids, particularly for treating exposed light sensitive emulsions with a developer, wherein the sheet-like materials are moved in a predetermined plane at a predetermined speed, a combination comprising a source of liquid adjacent to one side of said plane; a rotary roller-shaped applicator member dipping into said source and contacting one surface of the material moving in said plane to transfer to such surface a layer of said liquid, said one surface being located below the other surface of the material moving in said plane; a rotary roller-shaped liquid removing member located past said applicator member and having a peripheral surface contacting said one surface of the material moving in said plane to remove at least some of said liquid layer from said one surface; yieldably mounted biasing means for urging the sheet-like material in said path against at least one of said roller-shaped members, said biasing means comprising at least one idler roller which rests on said other surface under the action of gravity, said idler roller being pivotable about an axis which is at least substantially parallel to its own axis; stop means for limiting the extent of pivotal movement of said idler roller; and drive means for rotating said liquid removing member at a peripheral speed which deviates from said predetermined speed.

Claim 19

A combination as defined in claim 16, wherein said applicator member rotates counter to the direction of movement of sheet-like material in said plane.

Claim 20

A combination as defined in claim 16, wherein said idler roller is disposed between said roller-shaped members and said stop means is arranged to maintain said idler roller out of contact with said roller-shaped members in the absence of sheet-like material in said plane.