Photographic processing apparatus

Claim 2

A processing drum for use in apparatus for processing exposed sheets of photographic material including a tray for containing treatment solution comprising; a cylinder having spaced apart circular end plates and provided with an elongated opening positioned in the periphery of the cylinder for access to the interior of the said drum, the said opening having two parallel rims extending along the length of the periphery of the cylinder between the said end plates, an outwardly projecting scooping lip mounted on one of the said rims, means for holding the said sheets on the inside periphery of the said cylinder, shaft means for rotating the cylinder about its longitudinal horizontal axis, whereby when the said cylinder is rotated the said scooping lip supplies the said treatment solution from the said tray to the inside of the said cylinder, thereby bringing the surface of the said sheets into contact with the said solution.

Claim 3

Apparatus for processing exposed sheets of photographic material comprising: a. a horizontal cylindrical drum having an elongated opening extending over a sufficient arc of the periphery of the drum to proVide access to the interior of the said drum for loading of the said sheets into the drum; b. said opening being defined by first and second parallel rims extending along the length of the periphery of the drum; c. an outwardly projecting scooping lip mounted on said first rim; d. means for holding the said sheets on the inside periphery of said drum; e. means for rotating said drum about its horizontal longitudinal axis; f. a substantially hemi-cylindrically shaped tray for containing treatment solution, having an arcuate bottom wall positioned near the outside periphery of the drum; g. means for supplying treatment solution to the said tray during continuous rotation of said drum; h. drain means for receiving spent treatment solution and; i. means pivotally mounting said tray for movement of said tray during continuous rotation of said drum between a first position in which the said treatment solution is brought into contact with the said scooping lip and a second solution discharging position; whereby with the tray in the first position, the scooping lip supplies the treatment solution to the inside of the drum, thereby bringing the surface of the sheets into contact with the solution and when the tray is moved to the second position the solution is discharged from the drum and tray into the drain means.

Claim 4

Apparatus for processing exposed sheets of photographic material comprising: a. a horizontal cylindrical drum having an elongated opening extending over a sufficient arc of the periphery of the drum to proVide access to the interior of the said drum for loading of the said sheets into the drum; b. said opening being defined by first and second parallel rims extending along the length of the periphery of the drum; c. an outwardly projecting scooping lip mounted on said first rim; d. means for holding the said sheets on the inside periphery of said drum; e. means for rotating said drum about its horizontal longitudinal axis; f. a substantially hemi-cylindrically shaped tray for containing treatment solution, having an arcuate bottom wall positioned near the outside periphery of the drum; g. means for supplying treatment solution to the said tray during continuous rotation of said drum; h. drain means for receiving spent treatment solution and; i. means pivotally mounting said tray for movement of said tray during continuous rotation of said drum between a first position in which the said treatment solution is brought into contact with the said scooping lip and a second solution discharging position; whereby with the tray in the first position, the scooping lip supplies the treatment solution to the inside of the drum, thereby bringing the surface of the sheets into contact with the solution and when the tray is moved to the second position the solution is discharged from the drum and tray into the drain means.

Claim 5

Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the said sheets of photographic material are bent to conform to the curvature of the inside wall of the said drum.

Claim 6

Apparatus as defined in claim 3 further comprising means disposed between the said sheets and the said inside wall for maintaining the said sheets in spaced apart relation to the said inside wall.

Claim 7

Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the said means disposed between the said sheets and the said inside wall comprises a flexible grid having an open lattice.

Claim 8

Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the said drum is provided with a second scooping lip for supplying fluid between the said sheets and the said inside wall.

Claim 9

Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the said sheets of photographic material are bent to conform to the inside wall of the said drum and wherein the said means for holding the said sheets includes one or more bars detachably fixed to the inside periphery of the drum and extending along the length of the drum on an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof, the edges of the said sheets being held on the said bars.

Claim 10

Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein the said bars are provided with grooves extending longitudinally along the length thereof, the said first and second parallel rims being provided with complimentary grooves on the inside of the drum, the edges of the said sheets being held in the grooves of said bars and said rims.

Claim 11

Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the said means for supplying treatment solution to the said tray comprises; an elongated distribution pipe positioned above and extending along the length of the said tray, the said pipe having a series of perforations positioned in its bottom wall and axially spaced along its length, the said pipe being closed at both ends and having a solution supply conduit coupled to the mid-point of its length.

Claim 12

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further comprising: j. an elongated horizontal housing enclosing said horizontal drum, said housing having an elongated opening; and k. a lid for sealing said last mentioned opening.

Claim 13

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said scooping lip contacts said arcuate bottom wall of said tray during a portion of each revolution of the drum.

Claim 14

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said drum has a non-removable end plate at both ends, thereby substantially enclosing both ends of the drum.

Claim 15

Apparatus for processing exposed sheets of photographic material comprising: a. a horizontal drum having an elongated opening extending over a sufficient arc of the periphery of the drum to proviDe access to the interior of the said drum for loading of the said sheets into the drum; b. said opening being defined by first and second parallel rims extending along the length of the drum; c. a first scooping lip mounted on said first rim; d. means for holding the said sheets on the inside of said drum adjacent the inside wall of the drum; e. means for rotating said drum about its horizontal longitudinal axis; f. a substantially hemi-cylindrically shaped tray for containing treatment solution, having an arcuate bottom wall positioned near the outside periphery of the drum; g. means for supplying treatment solution to the said tray during continuous rotation of said drum; h. at least one further scooping lip mounted on said drum for supplying fluid between said sheets and said inside wall; i. drain means for receiving spent treatment solution and; j. means pivotally mounting said tray for movement of said tray during continuous rotation of said drum between a first position in which the said treatment solution is brought into contact with the said first scooping lip and a second solution discharging position; whereby with the tray in the first position, the said first scooping lip supplies the treatment solution to the inside of the drum, thereby bringing the surface of the sheets into contact with the solution and when the tray is moved to the second position the solution is discharged from the drum and tray into the drain means.

Claim 16

Apparatus for processing exposed sheets of photographic material comprising: a. a horizontal drum having an elongated opening extending over a sufficient arc of the periphery of the drum to proviDe access to the interior of the said drum for loading of the said sheets into the drum; b. said opening being defined by first and second parallel rims extending along the length of the drum; c. a first scooping lip mounted on said first rim; d. means for holding the said sheets on the inside of said drum adjacent the inside wall of the drum; e. means for rotating said drum about its horizontal longitudinal axis; f. a substantially hemi-cylindrically shaped tray for containing treatment solution, having an arcuate bottom wall positioned near the outside periphery of the drum; g. means for supplying treatment solution to the said tray during continuous rotation of said drum; h. at least one further scooping lip mounted on said drum for supplying fluid between said sheets and said inside wall; i. drain means for receiving spent treatment solution and; j. means pivotally mounting said tray for movement of said tray during continuous rotation of said drum between a first position in which the said treatment solution is brought into contact with the said first scooping lip and a second solution discharging position; whereby with the tray in the first position, the said first scooping lip supplies the treatment solution to the inside of the drum, thereby bringing the surface of the sheets into contact with the solution and when the tray is moved to the second position the solution is discharged from the drum and tray into the drain means.