Apparatus for developing photographic prints

Claim 1

An apparatus for developing photographic prints having an exposed side, a back side and spaced outer edges, said apparatus comprising a developing tank for receiving and containing developing liquid, an open fixture mounted inside said developing tank for rotation relative thereto about a pivot axis and through the liquid contained in said tank, said fixture including means for releasably holding at least one photographic print to be developed in a plano-arcuate shape with the exposed side of the print facing inwardly towards said pivot axis, said holding means including inwardly open support means adapted to contact only the outer edges and the back side of the print and being free of engagement with the exposed side of the print, said support means including a pair of circumferentially spaced generally radially extending surfaces located at a circumferential distance therebetween greater then the length of the print between the outer edges thereof and engagable by the outer edges of the print to hold the print in outwardly bowed condition, said support means also including respective flange surfaces extending transversely outwardly from the outer ends of said radially extending surfaces and adapted for engagement with the back side of the print so as to limit radially outward movement of the outer edges of the print, circumferentially extending respective guide surface means located inwardly of said flange surfaces and extending toward each other from said radially extending surfaces for engagement with the outer edges of the print so as to guide said outer edges into engagement with said radially extending surfaces without engaging the exposed side of the print, and means for rotating said fixture about said axis and thereby moving the print through the developing liquid contained in said developing tank.

Claim 2

An apparatus for developing photographic prints having an exposed side, a back side and spaced outer edges, said apparatus comprising a developing tank for receiving and containing developing liquid, an open fixture mounted inside said developing tank for rotation relative thereto about a pivot axis and through the liquid contained in said tank, said fixture including means for releasably holding at least one photographic print to be developed in a plano-arcuate shape with the exposed side of the print facing inwardly towards said pivot axis, said holding means including inwardly open support means adapted to contact only the outer edges and the back side of the print and being free of engagement with the exposed side of the print, said support means including a pair of circumferentially spaced generally radially extending surfaces located at a circumferential distance therebetween greater then the length of the print between the outer edges thereof and engagable by the outer edges of the print to hold the print in outwardly bowed condition, said support means also including respective flange surfaces extending transversely outwardly from the outer ends of said radially extending surfaces and adapted for engagement with the back side of the print so as to limit radially outward movement of the outer edges of the print, circumferentially extending respective guide surface means located inwardly of said flange surfaces and extending toward each other from said radially extending surfaces for engagement with the outer edges of the print so as to guide said outer edges into engagement with said radially extending surfaces without engaging the exposed side of the print, and means for rotating said fixture about said axis and thereby moving the print through the developing liquid contained in said developing tank.

Claim 3

An apparatus for developing photographic prints having an exposed side comprising a developing tank for receiving and containing developing liquid, an open fixture mounted inside said developing tank for rotation relative thereto about a pivot axis and through the liquid contained in said tank, said fixture including a horizontally extending shaft rotatably mounted on said developing tank and means for releasably holding at least one photographic print to be developed in a plano-arcuate shape with the exposed side of the print facing inward towards said pivot axis, said holding means being inwardly open and including a pair of mounting units carried on said shaft in axially spaced relation, each of said mounting units comprising at least two elongated support members extending radially outwardly from said shaft and having at the outer ends thereof, a pair of circumferentially spaced mounting brackets, each bracket having a generally radially extending surface adapted to contact only opposite edges of the print and being free of engagement with the exposed side of the print, and a flange beneath which an outer edge of the print can be inserted, and means for guiding the opposite edges of the print beneath said flanges without engaging the exposed side of the print, said guide means comprising a guide wire extending between circumferentially adjacent mounting brackets and located beneath said flanges, and means for rotating said fixture about said axis and thereby moving the print through the developing liquid contained in said developing tank.

Claim 4

An apparatus for developing photographic prints having an exposed side comprising a developing tank for receiving and containing developing liquid, an open fixture mounted inside said developing tank for rotation relative thereto about a pivot axis and through the liquid contained in said tank, said fixture including a horizontally extending shaft rotatably mounted on said developing tank and means for releasably holding at least one photographic print to be developed in a plano-arcuate shape with the exposed side of the print facing inward towards said pivot axis, said holding means being inwardly open and including a pair of mounting units carried on said shaft in axially spaced relation, each of said mounting units comprising at least two elongated support members extending radially outwardly from said shaft and having at the outer ends thereof, a pair of circumferentially spaced mounting brackets, each bracket having a generally radially extending surface adapted to contact only opposite edges of the print and being free of engagement with the exposed side of the print, and a flange beneath which an outer edge of the print can be inserted, and means for guiding the opposite edges of the print beneath said flanges without engaging the exposed side of the print, said guide means comprising a guide wire extending between circumferentially adjacent mounting brackets and located beneath said flanges, and means for rotating said fixture about said axis and thereby moving the print through the developing liquid contained in said developing tank.

Claim 12

An apparatus for developing photographic prints having an exposed side comprising a developing tank for receiving and containing developing liquid, a cabinet housing said developing tank and defining a chamber surrounding a substantial portion of said developing tank and adapted to contain a liquid for tempering developing liquids contained in said developing tank, an open fixture mounted inside said developing tank for rotation relative thereto about a pivot axis and through the liquid contained in said tank, said fixture including means for releasably holding at least one photographic print to be developed in a plano-arcuate shape with the exposed side of the print facing inward towards said pivot axis, said holding means being inwardly open and including a generally radially extending surface adapted to contact only opposite edges of the print and being free of engagement with the exposed side of the print, means for rotating said fixture about said axis and thereby moving the print through the developing liquid contained in said developing tank, a plurality of containers for storing developing liquids, individual conduit means connecting each of said containers in liquid communication with said developing tank, said conduit means including intermediate portions located in said chamber in heat transfer relationship with the liquid contained in said chamber, valve means associated with each of said conduit means for selectively admitting the respective developing liquid into said developing tank, and frame means for holding said intermediate portions of each of said conduit means in a coiled fashion, said frame means being disposed in a stacked relation inside said chamber.

Claim 13

An apparatus for developing photographic prints having an exposed side comprising a developing tank for receiving and containing developing liquid, a cabinet housing said developing tank and defining a chamber surrounding a substantial portion of said developing tank and adapted to contain a liquid for tempering developing liquids contained in said developing tank, an open fixture mounted inside said developing tank for rotation relative thereto about a pivot axis and through the liquid contained in said tank, said fixture including means for releasably holding at least one photographic print to be developed in a plano-arcuate shape with the exposed side of the print facing inward towards said pivot axis, said holding means being inwardly open and including a generally radially extending surface adapted to contact only opposite edges of the print and being free of engagement with the exposed side of the print, means for rotating said fixture about said axis and thereby moving the print through the developing liquid contained in said developing tank, a plurality of containers for storing developing liquids, individual conduit means connecting each of said containers in liquid communication with said developing tank, said conduit means including intermediate portions located in said chamber in heat transfer relationship with the liquid contained in said chamber, valve means associated with each of said conduit means for selectively admitting the respective developing liquid into said developing tank, and frame means for holding said intermediate portions of each of said conduit means in a coiled fashion, said frame means being disposed in a stacked relation inside said chamber.

Claim 14

An apparatus for developing photographic prints having an exposed side, a back side, and spaced outer edges, said apparatus comprising a developing tank for receiving and containing developing liquids, a cabinet housing said developing tank and defining a chamber surrounding a substantial portion of said developing tank and adapted to contain a liquid for tempering developing liquids contained in said developing tank, a fixture for releasably holding at least one print to be developed, said fixture including a horizontal shaft mounted inside said developing tank for relative rotation, a pair of axially spaced mounting units carried on said shaft each including a pair of circumferentially spaced support members extending radially from said shaft and having an outer end, a mounting bracket carried on the outer end of each support member, each mounting bracket being inwardly open and including a generally radially extending surface adapted to engage one of the opposite edges of the print and to cooperate with the circumferentially adjacent mounting bracket to releasably hold a print in a plano-arcuate shape with the exposed side facing inwardly toward said shaft and without engagement of the exposed side of the print by said mounting brackets, each mounting bracket also including respective flange surfaces extending transversely outwardly from the outer ends of said radially extending surfaces and adapted for engagement with the back side of the print so as to limit radially outward movement of the outer edges of the print, circumferentially extending respective guide surface means located inwardly of said flange surfaces and extending toward each other from said radially extending surfaces for engagement with the outer edges of the print so as to guide said outer edges into engagement with said radially extending surfaces without engaging the exposed side of the print, and a removable hood for covering said developing tank againt the entrance of light and including drive means rotatably mounted thereon for drivingly engaging and rotating said shaft, thereby moving the print through the developing liquid contained in said developing tank.

Claim 15

An apparatus for developing photographic prints having an exposed side, a back side, and spaced outer edges, said apparatus comprising a developing tank for receiving and containing developing liquids, a cabinet housing said developing tank and defining a chamber surrounding a substantial portion of said developing tank and adapted to contain a liquid for tempering developing liquids contained in said developing tank, a fixture for releasably holding at least one print to be developed, said fixture including a horizontal shaft mounted inside said developing tank for relative rotation, a pair of axially spaced mounting units carried on said shaft each including a pair of circumferentially spaced support members extending radially from said shaft and having an outer end, a mounting bracket carried on the outer end of each support member, each mounting bracket being inwardly open and including a generally radially extending surface adapted to engage one of the opposite edges of the print and to cooperate with the circumferentially adjacent mounting bracket to releasably hold a print in a plano-arcuate shape with the exposed side facing inwardly toward said shaft and without engagement of the exposed side of the print by said mounting brackets, each mounting bracket also including respective flange surfaces extending transversely outwardly from the outer ends of said radially extending surfaces and adapted for engagement with the back side of the print so as to limit radially outward movement of the outer edges of the print, circumferentially extending respective guide surface means located inwardly of said flange surfaces and extending toward each other from said radially extending surfaces for engagement with the outer edges of the print so as to guide said outer edges into engagement with said radially extending surfaces without engaging the exposed side of the print, and a removable hood for covering said developing tank againt the entrance of light and including drive means rotatably mounted thereon for drivingly engaging and rotating said shaft, thereby moving the print through the developing liquid contained in said developing tank.