Photographic material processing module

Claim 2

A photographic material processing module usable with a like module arranged in adjacent side-by-side relation, comprising: a support having front and rear portions; a cylindrical container for holding photographic material on the inside thereof, said container including a front cover and a rear cover having an opening for receiving and discharging processing liquids; means on said support for positioning said container horizontally and for imparting processing movements thereto; means on said support for feeding processing liquid into said container; means on said support for discharging liquid from said container; and means on said support for moving said container at the conclusion of a processing step in a first module to an adjacent second module for a subsequent processing step, said means for moving said container including a transport shaft mounted for rotation on said support and extending from front to rear, said transport shaft having container engaging means, a reversible electric motor, means connecting said motor to said transport shaft in driving relation and switch means causing said motor to rotate said transport shaft back and forth through a quarter revolution, whereby said container engaging means during shaft rotation in one direction engages and moves said container from one module to the next.

Claim 3

The module of claim 1 with the addition of means including a switch arm on said support for initiating a cycle of module operation when said switch arm is engaged by a container being moved into the module.

Claim 4

A photographic material processing module usable alone or with like modules arranged in adjacent side-by-side relation, comprising: a support having front and rear portions; a cylindrical container having a cylindrical wall for holding photographic material on the inside thereof in closely spaced relation with the cylindrical wall, said container including a front cover and a rear cover having an opening for receiving and discharging processing liquids; a pair of laterally spaced shafts mounted for rotation on said support and extending from front to rear, said container being positioned horizontally on said shafts; means for rotating said shafts to rotate said container a few revolutions in one direction followed by a few revolutions in the opposite direction during operation of the module; means on said support for feeding processing liquid into said cylindrical container through said rear cover opening; and means on said support for elevating the front end of said cylindrical container to discharge processing liquid through said opening, said means for elevating including an electric motor, a cam driven through one revolution by said motor, a first lever pivoted on said support and actuated by said cam, a transverse shaft mounted for rotation on said support below said container, a longitudinal arm extending from said transverse shaft below said container, a container engaging cradle at the free end of said arm below the front portion of said container, and links and levers connecting said first lever and said transverse shaft, whereby said cam is effective to elevate said cradle and thus the front portion of said container, hold same elevated for discharge of the processing liquid and return same to starting position.

Claim 5

A photographic material processing module usable alone or with like modules arranged in adjacent side-by-side relation, comprising: a support having front and rear portions; a cylindrical container having a cylindrical wall for holding photographic material on the inside thereof in closely spaced relation with the cylindrical wall, said container including a front cover and a rear cover having an opening for receiving and discharging processing liquids; a pair of laterally spaced shafts mounted for rotation on said support and extending from front to rear, said container being positioned horizontally on said shafts; means for rotating said shafts to rotate said container a few revolutions in one direction followed by a few revolutions in the opposite direction during operation of the module; means on said support for feeding processing liquid into said cylindrical container through said rear cover opening; and means on said support for elevating the front end of said cylindrical container to discharge processing liquid through said opening, said means for elevating including an electric motor, a cam driven through one revolution by said motor, a first lever pivoted on said support and actuated by said cam, a transverse shaft mounted for rotation on said support below said container, a longitudinal arm extending from said transverse shaft below said container, a container engaging cradle at the free end of said arm below the front portion of said container, and links and levers connecting said first lever and said transverse shaft, whereby said cam is effective to elevate said cradle and thus the front portion of said container, hold same elevated for discharge of the processing liquid and return same to starting position.

Claim 6

A photographic material processing module usable with a like module arranged in adjacent side-by-side relation, comprising: a support having front and rear portions; a cylindrical container having a cylindrical wall for holding photographic material on the inside thereof in closely spaced relation with the cylindrical wall, said container including a front cover and a rear cover having an opening for receiving and discharging processing liquids; a pair of laterally spaced shafts mounted for rotation on said support and extending from front to rear, said container being positioned horizontally on said shafts; means for rotating said shafts to rotate said container a few revolutions in one direction followed by a few revolutions in the opposite direction during operation of the module; means on said support for feeding processing liquid into said cylindrical container through said rear cover opening; means on said support for elevating the front end of said cylindrical container to discharge processing liquid through said opening; and means for moving said container at the conclusion of a processing step in a first module to an adjacent second module for a subsequent processing step, including a transport shaft mounted for rotation on said support and extending from front to rear, said transport shaft having container engaging means, a reversible electric motor, means connecting said motor to said transport shaft in driving relation and switch means causing said motor to rotate said transport shaft back and forth through a quarter revolution, whereby said container engaging means during rotation of the transport shaft in one direction engages and moves said container from one module to the next.

Claim 7

A photographic material processing module usable with a like module arranged in adjacent side-by-side relation, comprising: a support having front and rear portions; a cylindrical container having a cylindrical wall for holding photographic material on the inside thereof in closely spaced relation with the cylindrical wall, said container including a front cover and a rear cover having an opening for receiving and discharging processing liquids; a pair of laterally spaced shafts mounted for rotation on said support and extending from front to rear, said container being positioned horizontally on said shafts; means for rotating said shafts to rotate said container a few revolutions in one direction followed by a few revolutions in the opposite direction during operation of the module; means on said support for feeding processing liquid into said cylindrical container through said rear cover opening; means on said support for elevating the front end of said cylindrical container to discharge processing liquid through said opening; and means for moving said container at the conclusion of a processing step in a first module to an adjacent second module for a subsequent processing step, including a transport shaft mounted for rotation on said support and extending from front to rear, said transport shaft having container engaging means, a reversible electric motor, means connecting said motor to said transport shaft in driving relation and switch means causing said motor to rotate said transport shaft back and forth through a quarter revolution, whereby said container engaging means during rotation of the transport shaft in one direction engages and moves said container from one module to the next.

Claim 8

The module of claim 4 wherein said pair of laterally spaced shafts also are mounted for reciprocating axial movement on said support, and with the addition of means for axially moving said spaced shafts and thus said container in reciprocating manner during rotation of said spaced shafts, whereby optimum shear relation is established between the processing liquid and the photographic material within said container, providing substantially streak-free processing.

Claim 9

The module of claim 5 wherein said means for axially moving said laterally spaced shafts in reciprocating manner includes a cam means and clutch means on each shaft and pin means on said support engaging each said cam means, said spaced shafts being discontinuous at said clutch means, whereby the portions of said spaced shafts which position said container reciprocate in response to action of said cam means and said pin means.