Photographic processing apparatus

Claim 2

Photographic processing apparatus comprising a substantially air-tight chamber mounted for angular movement about an axis, at least one reservoir for a photographic processing fluid, pump means for introducing processing fluid into and discharging it from the interior of said chamber, and valve means for controlling the introduction of processing fluid into and discharge of processing fluid from the interior of said chamber, the outlet of the pump means being connected to the interior of the chamber and the valve means being operable to connect the inlet of the pump means either to said at least one reservoir so that processing fluid may be withdrawn from said at least one reservoir and introduced into the chamber or to atmosphere so that air under pressure can be introduced into the chamber to force processing fluid therein out of the chamber through a chamber outlet.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said chamber comprises a hollow cylindrical chamber mounted for angular movement about its axis.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said drum comprises a cylindrical peripheral wall and end closure members at least one of which is removable so that photographic sheet material to be processed can be introduced into the drum.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said chamber is a shallow box-like chamber.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said chamber is provided by a shallow rectangular box-like container which is mounted for angular movement about an axis which extends through diagonally opposite corners of the container and is parallel with the two opposed major walls of the container.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a discharge passage communicates with the interior of said chamber at the axis thereof.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said discharge passage is provided by a conduit one end of which is disposed internally of said drum adjacent its peripheral wall so as to be immersed in a puddle of processing fluid in the drum when processing fluid had been introduced into the drum.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein an inlet passage communicates with the interior of the chamber at the axis thereof, said discharge passage extending through one end of the chamber and said inlet passage extending through the opposite end of the chamber.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein an air vent passage is provided coaxially of said inlet conduit.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one reservoir is formed from flexible material whereby it will collapse as processing fluid is withdrawn therefrom.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the or each reservoir is provided with filler means whereby it can be refilled with processing fluid.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a plurality of reservoirs for processing fluid are provided and wherein said valve means is adapted to selectively connect any one of said reservoirs to the inlet of said pump means.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one reservoir is mounted in a bath or container adapted to contain a tempering fluid for maintaining processing fluid in the reservoir at a predetermined temperature.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein heating means is provided for heating a tempering fluid in said bath or container.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein thermostatic means is provided for maintaining a tempering fluid in said bath or container at a predetermined temperature.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said chamber is mounted in a bath adapted to contain a tempering fluid for maintaining processing fluid in the chamber at a predetermined temperature.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the or each said reservoir and said chamber are mounted in a common tempering bath.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exterior of said chamber is covered with heat insulating material to reduce heat loss from the chamber.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an electric motor is provided for rotating or oscillating said chamber.

Claim 21

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pump means comprises a manually operable pump.

Claim 22

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said valve means is manually operable.

Claim 23

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pump means comprises an electrically operable pump.

Claim 24

Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein control means is provided for automatically operating said pump means and said valve means according to a predetermined timed sequence.

Claim 25

Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a sealed container for said at least one reservoir, said container being adapted to contain a tempering liquid, means for heating said tempering liquid and means for maintaining said tempering liquid at a constant predetermined temperature.

Claim 26

Apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said container has a water jacket therearound, a partition dividing said water jacket into an upper processing water reservoir and a lower displacement water reservoir, means connecting said upper reservoir to the inlet of said pump means via said valve means so that water can be selectively withdrawn from said upper reservoir and supplied to said chamber, means connecting the lower part of said lower reservoir with the interior of said container at the height of the required water level therein, said at least one reservoir for processing fluid being adapted to collapse as fluid is withdrawn therefrom, and sight glass means exteriorly of said water jacket for indicating the water level in said lower reservoir, whereby as fluid is withdrawn from said at least one reservoir for processing fluid and such reservoir collapses make-up water will pass from said lower reservoir into said container to maintain the tempering liquid level in the container, the fall in level of water in the lower reservoir being visible in said sight glass and serving to indicate the quantity of processing fluid remaining in said at least one reservoir.

Claim 27

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said chamber comprises a hollow cylindrical drum mounted for angular movement about its axis and having a cylindrical inlet coaxially of one end thereof, said drum being removably mounted on a rotatable air vent conduit for rotation therewith, means for rotating said air vent conduit and said drum, sealing means between said air vent conduit and said cylindrical inlet, and an inlet conduit mounted within and coaxially of said air vent conduit through which processing fluid or air can be pumped into said drum by said pump means.

Claim 28

Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said cylindrical inlet projects into the interior of said drum, a ring magnet around the inner end of said cylindrical inlet, and light baffle means of magnetic material adapted to be magnetically retained by said ring magnet and to close said cylindrical inlet when said drum is removed from said air vent conduit.

Claim 29

Apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said inlet conduit projects outwardly beyond said air vent conduit and has a magnet on the outer end thereof adapted to displace said light baffle means away from said cylindrical inlet and to magnetically retain the light baffle means when the drum is mounted on said air vent conduit, said sealing means being arranged to make sealing engagement with said cylindrical inlet before said light baffle means is displaced.

Claim 30

Apparatus according to claim 28, wherein means is provided for centering said light baffle means on said cylindrical inlet.