EP0043493B1 - Device for the development of photographic material - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for developing photographic material in a treatment vessel. To store the various treatment fluids, a number of self-contained storage containers are provided, which are provided on the one hand with a gas line and on the other hand with a riser for the treatment liquid, because this makes it easier than with expensive devices (DE-AS 1 106 178), who work with feed pumps, the development process of photo material can also be automated for the photo amateur.

The gas line is temporarily connected to a gas supply source and thereby builds up a gas pressure inside the container, which drives the treatment liquid out of this reservoir through the riser. The risers coming from the various storage containers as well as an additional, valve-controlled rinsing water line are connected to the treatment vessel via a collecting line, in which the photographic material for development is housed. A control program determines the sequence of the successive work phases, in each of which a specific treatment liquid is transferred from one of the storage containers into the treatment vessel, which is carried out in accordance with the control program by a distribution valve which can be switched by a stepper motor.

In the known device of this type (DE-AS 1 303 749), the distributor valve not only controls the gas supply to the correct supply container but also the supply of the treatment liquid from the controlled supply container into the collecting line. The distributor valve has a complicated, fault-prone structure. In addition to an input for the supply line connected to the gas supply source, which, according to the control program, is coupled to one of the outlets carrying the gas lines of the storage containers, the distributor valve has numerous further inputs for connecting the risers coming from each storage container, which, according to the control program, are coupled to a common output to pass the treatment liquid in question to the manifold. Even if rinsing processes with water are carried out between the operations with different treatment liquid, there is a risk of contamination of the treatment liquid by previous liquid residues, especially if, at the latest after a long period of operation, the sealant in the distributor valve fails. Although the supply line for the gas must be closed from the control program via a shut-off valve, the gas lines and thus the risers remain under pressure at their connection points in the distributor valve, which means that small leaks can already cause serious mutual contamination of the treatment liquids.

In the known device, finally, a shut-off valve is required at the end of the collecting line which, in accordance with the control program, allows the desired amount of the respective treatment liquid to pass into the treatment vessel. The treatment fluids used in development processes are aggressive, which is why high-quality material is required for the shut-off valve and the aforementioned distribution valve. In addition, the treatment fluids deposit incrustations, which make it difficult to operate the valves and impair the seals. In order to reduce malfunctions on the valves, these have to be manufactured precisely, which makes the known devices more expensive and not affordable for the amateur.

The invention has for its object to develop an inexpensive and failure-prone device of the type mentioned in the preamble of claim 1, which enables a quick change of the various treatment fluids for a fully automatic mode of operation without the risk of liquid loss or contamination.

This is achieved according to the invention in that the flow paths for the various treatment liquids, each extending from one of the storage containers to the treatment vessel, are valve-free and each have a defined flow resistance, the distributor valve is only pressurized with gas by only one input for the gas supply source, such as a compressed air pump, and only through exits for the gas lines of the various storage containers, at the end of a working phase, before switching the distributor valve to another outlet, the respectively controlled outlet of the distributor valve can be relieved of the gas pressure, a sensor responsive to the flow of the treatment liquid is arranged in the manifold and the sensor starts a timer at the beginning of each work phase, the timer switching the stepper motor of the distributor valve according to the control program after an adjustable period of time et.

In the invention, a valve coming into contact with the treatment liquid is avoided, as a result of which an expensive component, which is prone to failure, is saved. The distributor valve only interacts with gases, such as compressed air, so that contamination cannot occur here. An uncontrolled sikkern of the treatment fluids from a riser is avoided with certainty because at the end of a working phase before the distributor valve is reversed, the outlet of the distributor valve which was last controlled is relieved of the gas pressure. As a result, the gas line is depressurized and the column of the respective treatment liquid reaching in the riser pipe up to the collecting line can flow back into its storage tank and is available for further use. An undesirable after-flow of treatment liquid into the manifold is thereby also Security excluded. This applies in particular when the connecting pieces of the various risers opening into the collecting line are angled and form an end leg extending in the direction of gravity, from which point the treatment liquid flows back into the associated storage container from its kink.

Relieving the gas pressure in the outlet of the distributor vent for the aforementioned purpose can be done in two ways, each with its own particular advantages. It is particularly effective to briefly exert a gas negative pressure at the inlet of the distributor valve at the end of a working phase. B. happens simply by switching the input from a pressure source of the gas to a suction source of the gas. For this purpose, it is sufficient to carry out a reversal from the pressure end to the suction end in the case of an air pump as the gas supply source, for which it is sufficient to use a two-way valve at the inlet of the distributor valve. The negative pressure at the inlet spreads out to relieve the gas pressure on the respectively controlled outlet of the distributor valve. Due to the negative pressure, suction is applied to the associated liquid column in the riser pipe, which means that this liquid is quickly retrieved. Any remaining droplets in the riser are also carried along by entrained gas, so that there is no fear of an uncontrolled flow of liquids.

A simpler method for relieving the gas pressure at the end of a work phase is to briefly connect the controlled outlet of the distributor valve to the atmosphere, which causes the gas pressure to collapse. It is particularly important if storage containers are used which are pneumatically deformable due to the gas pressure exerted. Simple plastic bottles are suitable for this. In the working phase, such plastic bottles are bulky due to the gas pressure. If the gas pressure collapses due to connection with the atmosphere, the liquid column flowing back into the associated storage container obviously has an inertia effect which, because of the incompressibility of the liquid, tends to continue to flow beyond the pressure equalization and, surprisingly, even exerts a suction effect, which particularly affects the aforementioned effective cleaning of the risers and thereby reliably prevents unwanted dripping of the treatment liquid. In this case you save a special suction source.

Although no valves are used in the area of the liquid flow, an exact metering of the treatment liquid flowing into the collecting line to the treatment vessel is achieved. The aforementioned sensor in the manifold responds to the start of the flow and sets a timer in motion which, after the time period set there, activates the stepping motor to advance the distributor valve. Because the flow resistances are defined in the flow path of the various treatment liquids, which, for. B. is achieved with short risers by additional installation of resistance means, the same amounts flow in the same times. As a result, an exact metering of the quantities of the treatment liquid required in each case is obtained in a simple manner via the time switch.

A very simple connection of the outlet of the distributor valve to the atmosphere at the end of a work phase is obtained if one briefly lifts a part of the distributor valve that can move from its stationary part. It is advantageous to use one plate each for the rotationally movable part and also as a stationary part of the distributor valve, which plate can be easily rotated relative to one another by balls in between. The balls are engaged in receptacles in the mutually facing end faces of the two plates, which fix the respective rotational position of the distributor valve in the respective working phase and thus ensure alignment of bores which serve to transfer the pressure medium from the inlet to the selected outlet of the distributor valve. In addition, the balls also fulfill a third task, namely they generate the desired axial stroke between the two plates, because in the intermediate positions that arise between the respective working phases, the balls come out of their receptacles in the rotating plate and this against a spring load lift axially. With this ventilation, a sealing ring on the connection piece of the inlet hole for the pressure medium lifts off the stationary plate and thereby ventilates the previously controlled outlet against the atmosphere. This lifting ultimately also protects the sealing ring on the connecting piece of the inlet bore, which results in a long service life of the seal. It is particularly easy to in the input bore of one, z. B. rotatable plate, a connector for the z. B. coming from a compressed air pump supply line freely rotatable, because a complicated and prone to failure axial supply of the compressed air in the distributor valve is avoided. In the other, e.g. B. stationary plate, the counterbores are then provided, each in alignment with the rotationally movable connector, which form the outputs for the various gas lines.

• Fig. 1 einen für die Anwendung der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung geeigneten Prozessor zur Entwicklung von Fotomaterial,
• Fig. 2 eine Endansicht der beim Prozessor von Fig. 1 verwendbaren Vorrichtung in schematischer Darstellung der wichtigsten Bauteile, wobei eine Abdeckhaube der Vorrichtung weggelassen ist, Fig. 3 zur Vorrichtung von Fig. 2 gehörende Bauteile, nämlich ein Verteilerventil im Schnitt sowie einen ihm vorgeordneten Umschalter,
• Fig. 4 eine Längsschnittansicht durch ein maßgebliches Teilstück der Vorrichtung, wo eine rotierende Trommel als Behandlungsgefäß in dem Prozessor von Fig. 1 verwendet wird,
• Fig. 5 eine Längsschnittansicht durch einen Vorratsbehälter für die Behandlungsflüssigkeit, der in einer Aufnahme des Prozessors von Fig. 1 eingesteckt wird und dort in ein Temperierbad eintaucht,
• Fig. 6a und 6b in zwei Arbeitsstellungen die Längsschnittansichten durch das Anfangsstück einer Sammelleitung der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung, wobei die Längsschnittführung durch die Schnittlinie VI-VI von Fig. 7 gezeigt ist,
• Fig. 7 eine Endansicht durch das abgelöste Anfangsstück des Sammelrohrs, wobei ein schwenkbeweglicher, als Sensor für die Flüssigkeit dienender Bauteil der Deutlichkeit wegen weggelassen ist,
• Fig. 8a und 8b die Längsschnittansichten durch ein bei der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung verwendetes Verteilerventil in zwei zueinander unterschiedlichen Arbeitsstellungen, wobei die Schnittführung für die Fig. 8a durch die Schnittlinie VIII-VIII von Fig. 9 ersichtlich ist,
• Fig. 9 die Draufsicht auf das Verteilerventil in der Arbeitsstellung von Fig. 8a und
• Fig. 10 die Draufsicht auf den stationären Teil des Verteilerventils mit Schnittführung durch die Achsen, wobei die Schnittlinie X-X in Fig. 8a gezeigt ist.

Further advantages and measures of the invention are mentioned in the claims, the drawings and in the description below. The invention is shown in several exemplary embodiments in the drawings. It shows

• 1 shows a processor suitable for the use of the device according to the invention for developing photographic material,
• Fig. 2 is a schematic end view of the device usable in the processor of Fig. 1 Representation of the most important components, with a covering hood of the device being omitted, FIG. 3 components belonging to the device of FIG. 2, namely a sectional distribution valve and a switch arranged upstream of it,
• 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through an essential section of the device, where a rotating drum is used as a treatment vessel in the processor of FIG. 1,
• 5 shows a longitudinal sectional view through a storage container for the treatment liquid, which is inserted into a receptacle of the processor of FIG. 1 and immersed there in a temperature bath,
• 6a and 6b in two working positions, the longitudinal sectional views through the starting piece of a manifold of the device according to the invention, the longitudinal sectional view being shown by the section line VI-VI of FIG. 7,
• 7 shows an end view through the detached starting piece of the collecting tube, a pivotable component serving as a sensor for the liquid being omitted for the sake of clarity,
• 8a and 8b show the longitudinal sectional views through a distributor valve used in the device according to the invention in two mutually different working positions, the cut for FIG. 8a being shown by the section line VIII-VIII of FIG. 9,
• Fig. 9 is a plan view of the distributor valve in the working position of Fig. 8a and
• Fig. 10 is a plan view of the stationary part of the distributor valve with a cut through the axes, the section line XX being shown in Fig. 8a.

The processor 10 shown in FIG. 1 enables automatic development of photographic material which is accommodated in the interior of a drum 11. The drum 11 can be driven in the operating direction in the direction of the arrow 88. The necessary motors and pumps are housed in a control housing 18 of the processor 10, which circulate a tempering bath kept at a certain temperature. The temperature bath is contained in a lower tub 12 of the processor 10 and is guided by the pumps into an upper channel 15, where the drum 11 is located. From the channel 15, the temperature bath flows back through an overflow 16 into the tub 12. The motors and pumps and the temperature of the temperature control bath can be set by means of various handles 19 on the control housing 18.

The tub 12 is closed off at the top by a suitable profiled cover 13 and has a series of openings 14 in which a host of storage containers 20 with various treatment liquids are accommodated, which are immersed in the temperature bath. Deformable plastic bottles are used as storage containers 20, which are usually provided with screw caps for the transport of the treatment liquid. These screw caps are removed for use of the storage containers 20 in the device and provided with special connections, as best shown in FIG. 5.

The terminations consist of an insert 24 which is screwed onto the neck 25 of the container 20 by a union nut 23 and which is inserted in the opening of the container neck 25. A riser pipe 26 is guided through the insert 24, to which a riser pipe 56 for the treatment liquid 22 located in the container 20 is connected. Furthermore, the end-side feed pipe 28 of a gas line 57 is passed through the insert 24, through which in the present case compressed air is fed into the interior of the container above the liquid level 21. The storage containers 20 are held at a desired immersion depth in the temperature bath of the tub 12 by suitable holders which engage the shoulders 29 of the container 20, as can be seen in FIG. 1.

The relevant components of the device 30 according to the invention are shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. The device is attached to a housing part 32, which can be accommodated in the free space 31 shown in FIG. 1 next to the drum 11 and can be moved there via rollers 97 on side parts of the channel 15 of the processor 10. The device 30 is provided with a connecting body 33 which is connected to the inside of the drum 11 via a suitable coupling. In the present case, this is done by a cover 40 which can be removed from the drum 11 and which has a sealed central insert 37 which does not rotate during the rotation of the drum 88. The insert 37 is provided with a sleeve 36, in which the end 35 of the connector body 33 is inserted and, for example, is held liquid-tight by the two halves 92, 93 of a magnetic coupling. The insert 37 has a plurality of passages, which first of all include a vent opening going outward from the tank interior, which in the coupling case, as can be seen from the end view of FIG. 2, continues in a vent channel 41 of the connecting body 33. The insert 37 also has a feed channel 42 and an outlet channel 43 for the treatment liquids, which continues on the inside of the drum with a lifting tube 46 to the drum base. In the case of coupling, this feed and outlet channel are connected via seals 38, 39 to openings 44, 45 in the connection body, the opening 44 belonging to a collecting line 34 and the opening 45 belonging to an outlet channel 50 in the connection body 33. The above-mentioned ventilation channel 41 could be temporarily closed by closure members, not shown, whereby an overpressure or underpressure for certain control processes can be achieved inside the drum. A non-rotatable positioning of the insertion end 35 of the connector body 33 in the sleeve 36 of the drum-side insert 37 is also provided by a plug connection, which here consists of a mandrel 47 on the one hand and a mandrel receptacle 48 on the other hand.

4, the collecting line 34 runs axially parallel in the connecting body 33, which its free end is provided with a line 52 for rinsing water which can be shut off by a valve 49. The rinsing water flows through the collecting line 34 in the longitudinal direction and reaches the interior of the drum via the connected feed channel 42 for watering the photographic material arranged there. In relation to the flow direction in the collecting line 34 indicated by the arrow 54, connecting tubes 55 for the risers 56 of the various storage containers 20 already mentioned open laterally into the collecting line 34 at an acute angle. The connecting tubes 55 are expediently in a vertical plane in order to allow at least one component to act in the direction of gravity. The flow of a specific treatment liquid 22 is obtained when, as shown in FIG. 5, compressed air is fed into the interior of the container via the gas line 57 mentioned, which, as the arrows 58 in FIG. 5 show, acts on the liquid level 21 there. As a result, the treatment liquid 22 is pushed up in the riser pipe 26 and reaches the collecting chamber 34 via the riser pipe 56 and the associated connection tube 55. The treatment liquid 22 does not pass through a valve on this flow path 26, 56.

The flow resistance on this flow path 26, 56 has a certain size, which can even be kept at the desired value by means of internals. Because the pressure 58 acting in the storage containers 20 and the flow resistance are constant, the duration of the liquid flow determines the amount of the respective treatment liquid 22 which is passed through. This amount is consequently determined by the duration in which a pressure 58 is exerted in the interior of the container. This is automatically controlled by a distributor valve 70, of which two exemplary embodiments are shown in the drawings, namely in FIGS. 2 and 3 on the one hand and in FIGS. 8a to 10 on the other hand.

2 and 3, the operation and the basic structure of the distributor valve 70 can be explained. The distribution valve 70 is only supplied with gas, for which compressed air 58 is used in the present case, which is supplied by a pump via a supply line 79 and, according to FIG. 3, via a changeover switch 62 and a connecting line 64 to the single inlet 78 of the distribution valve 70 . The distributor valve 70 consists of a stationary part 75 and of a rotationally movable part 76, which is driven by a stepper motor 72, for example via a pinion 85 and a circumferential toothing 84. In the present case, the compressed air inlet 78 is arranged centrally in the stationary part 75 and opens into an axial inlet opening 83. The rotationally movable part 76 has a radial chamber 86 which, depending on the respective rotational position of the rotationally movable part 76, has an outlet 71 each having outlet opening 81 connects. The various outlets 71 are arranged on a circle arranged coaxially to the inlet opening 83 in the stationary part 75 and serve to connect the individual gas lines 57 which lead to the various storage containers 20.

The compressed air consumption for expelling the treatment liquid 22 in a storage container 20 is not measured, because deformation of the flexible storage container due to the prevailing internal pressure and the different height of the liquid level 21 in the storage container 20 would result in different quantities of liquid. Rather, the duration of the flow 54 mentioned in the collecting line 34 in front of the drum 11 is measured, which is sensed by a sensor 59 indicated in FIG. 4. The sensor 59 responds to a flow of the liquid. It can consist of an electrical resistor, e.g. B. a PTC thermistor, which responds to the presence of liquid. One could also use optical devices for this purpose, e.g. B. a light barrier, which is formed between a light transmitter and light receiver on both sides of the bus 34. The refraction of a light beam in the flowing liquid could also be used as an optical sensor. 6a to 7 illustrate a mechanically active sensor, which will be described later with regard to its structure and mode of operation. As long as there is no liquid in the collecting line 34, the sensor 59 is in its rest position. In this case, an electronic control device is informed via electrical connections (not shown) on the sensor 59 that no treatment liquid flows to the drum.

If, via a control program of the control device, the distribution valve 70 is set in such a way that a certain reservoir 20 is supplied with compressed air 58, and the treatment liquid 22 in question flows through its associated riser 56 and its connecting tube 55 into the collecting line 34, the sensor 59 reports the control unit the start of the liquid flow. As a result, a time switch is set in motion in the control device, which is set to a specific period of time. If this time period has elapsed, a switching pulse is triggered in this control unit, which interrupts the supply of compressed air 58 to this storage container 20, as a result of which the flow of the respective treatment liquid 22 indicated in FIGS. 4 and 5 in the riser 56 ends in FIGS. 4 and 5. Expediently, however, the relevant storage container 20 is then also relieved of the pressure 58 prevailing in it, which is most easily done by briefly connecting the associated outlet 71 to the atmosphere. This results in a backflow of the compressed air in the sense of the arrows 99 indicated in FIG. 5 through the associated gas line 57. This can be brought about by reversing the distributor valve 70, which is initiated by the electronic control unit mentioned when the one set in the associated timer circuit Time has expired. A control pulse is fed to the stepper motor 72, which further moves the rotationally movable part 76 of the distributor valve 70 via the drive connection 84, 85 mentioned. As a result, not only the supply of compressed air 58 is interrupted, but also that of Pressure 58 inside the bottle reduced in the sense of the arrows 99 shown in FIG. 5. 8a to 10 show a particularly simple, reliable design option, which will be described in more detail later.

If the storage containers 20 are flexible, for example if they consist of plastic bottles which are inflated somewhat by the internal pressure 58, then there is a surprising suction effect when the compressed air 99 flows back from the storage container. The backflow of the treatment liquid in the sense of the backflow arrow 65 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 in the riser 56 which has been effective clearly makes inertial forces noticeable which cause a suction effect in the interior 20 of the container. Any liquid residues 66 are thereby entrained in the risers 56. As a result, the riser 56 is certainly emptied and an uncontrolled dripping of these liquid residues 66 during a later other working phase of the device is excluded.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3, a special suction phase is provided for this purpose at the end of each working phase, which is triggered by the timing switch mentioned by means of a control pulse. The embodiment of FIG. 3 is therefore particularly suitable for rigid storage containers 20 that cannot be deformed due to changing internal pressure 58. The changeover switch 62, which is designed as a two-way valve, is used for this purpose. In addition to the supply line 79 already mentioned, the changeover switch 62 carries a suction line 90 leading to an air suction source. The respective switching position of the changeover switch 62 is effected by a slide 51 or the like. In the extended switching position of the slide 51 shown in FIG. 3, the supply line 79 is connected via the connecting line 64 to the inlet 78 of the distributor valve 70, which is why in this case the aforementioned working phase of the device is present, where the treatment liquid 22 in question is in the direction of the flow arrow 87 of FIGS. 4 and 5 are driven out of the associated storage container 20 and introduced into the drum 11. At the end of the working phase, which is determined by the setting of the effective duration of the time switch mentioned, the slide 51 of the changeover switch 62 is transferred to the other switching position indicated by dash-dotted lines in FIG of the distribution valve 70 is connected. If necessary, the slide 51 could also remain in a central position, in which both the supply line 79 for the compressed air and the suction line 90 are shut off and, for example, a connection of the inlet 78 from the distributor valve 70 to the atmosphere is established. If the slide 51 is in the actuation triggered by the control device in the sense of the actuation arrow 27 shown in FIG. 3 in the switching position indicated there by dash-dotted lines, then the suction 99 acts, as can be seen from FIG Inside the previously effective storage container 20. This results in a particularly thorough cleaning of the associated riser 56 from the liquid residues 66 mentioned.

Rotated further by the stepper motor 72, the rotatable part 76 of the distributor valve 70 initially remains in an ineffective intermediate position, where none of the outputs 71 is initially supplied with compressed air. The development process of the photographic material can now take place due to the mentioned rotation 88 of the drum 11 inside the drum. The associated duration is defined in the control program mentioned and is controlled by the control units. After the treatment of the Fotoma erials _t by the treatment liquid drum 11 is emptied. This can e.g. B. happen by tilting the drum 51, whereby the liquid runs out of itself from the inside of the drum. In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 2, a pump 60 is provided for this purpose, which is driven by a motor 63. As a result, the used treatment liquid is sucked out of the lifting tube 46, the outlet channel 43 and the outlet channel 50 coupled thereto in the connecting body 33 and can be collected in a special container, not shown, for regeneration, if necessary.

During such an intermediate position of the distributor valve 70, flushing processes can also take place inside the drum. For this purpose, the shut-off valve 49 shown in FIG. 4 is opened by the control device according to a selected specific program, as a result of which water flows from the flushing water line 52 into the collecting line 34 and from there via the feed channel 42 into the interior of the drum. After the rinsing process, the water filling is poured out of the drum 11 in the manner already described either by tilting the drum due to gravity or pumped out via the pump 60 through the lifting tube 46, the outlet channel 43 and the outlet channel 50. Thereafter, the device 30 is ready to introduce the next treatment liquid 22. This is defined in the control program. Stepper motor 42 brings rotationally movable part 76 of distributor valve 70 into a rotational position, where inlet 78 is connected to a specific outlet 71 of distributor valve 70 through its radial chamber 86. As a result, compressed air 58 again flows into the associated storage container 20 and drives the desired treatment liquid 22 there in the flow direction 87 through the associated riser 56. The process is thus repeated. It is understood that when the device is constructed in the sense of FIG. 3, the switch 62 there has been reset to the supply line 79 for the compressed air 58.

As has already been mentioned several times, FIGS. 6a to 7 show another embodiment of the sensor that has proven particularly useful. For the sake of a better overview, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same components as in the previous exemplary embodiment, even if the In contrast, the structure should be designed differently. This embodiment is particularly suitable for a drum that can be tilted to empty it. The outlet end for tipping out the respective tank filling is also used in this case at the same time for introducing the fresh treatment liquids, which is why the collecting line 34 shown in FIGS. 6a to 7 opens into this drum opening. The manifold 34 is formed here by a tube 53 and does not require a connector body 33 of the embodiment of FIGS. 2 to 4 with different passages. The tube 53 can therefore have a cross section which is readily comparable to the cross section of the connecting body 33. The pipe 53 is arranged with a slight inclination to the drum axis in order to allow the liquid located there to flow out easily, as a result of which the liquid can enter the drum due to gravity. At the beginning of the collecting line 34, the tube 53 is provided with an end wall 61, which is provided by connecting pieces 17 for the various risers 56 and for the flushing water line 52. The connecting pieces 17 form an angled line course, which in each case reaches its highest position at an inflection point 66 and from there runs downward with an end leg 67 in the direction of gravity. This has the advantage that, with respect to this kink 66, the amounts of liquid behind it always reach the collecting line 34 and from there into the inside of the drum via the end leg 67, while the liquid residues in front of it in the riser 56 return to the associated one after the end of the working phase Return reservoir 20 in the sense of the backflow arrow 65 mentioned, as has already been explained in detail.

The end piece 68 of the tube 53 is expediently made in one piece from plastic together with the end wall 61 and the various connecting pieces 17 and a radial flap 69. The inner end view of this end piece 68 is shown in FIG. 7. The inner surface of the end wall 61 forms a stop surface 73 for a flap 74 belonging to this sensor 59. In the present case, the stop surface 73 extends slightly inclined to the longitudinal course of the collecting line 34. As can be seen from FIGS. 6b and 7, the various connecting pieces 17 open out with openings in the stop surface 73; namely, the opening of the connector for the flushing water line 52 is approximately in the middle of the pipe and is surrounded by a ring of openings which belong to the connectors 17 of the various risers 56.

In this case, the sensor 59 comprises an approximately S-shaped cranked two-armed lever 89 which passes through a slot 82 in the radial flap 69 mentioned and has a pivot axis 77 there. The lever 89 is inserted through an overhead slot 94 in the end piece 68 of the tube 53 into the manifold 34 and the flap 74 mentioned is attached to its inner arm end. Due to the weight of the flap 74, the lever 89 strives to come into abutment with the stop surface 73, which can be supported if necessary by a return spring. Such a rest position is shown in Fig. 6a. The externally directed free arm 95 is then in a position with respect to the mentioned radial flap 69, where a light barrier has passed through it. A light transmitter 96 and a light receiver 98 are arranged on both sides of the movement path of this lever arm 95 determined by the slot 82, as can be seen from FIG. 7.

If liquid now flows through the risers 56 in the direction of the collecting line 34, the latter abuts the flap 74, as a result of which the lever 89 is moved 128 about its pivot axis 77. The working position of the sensor according to FIG. 6b occurs. The free arm 95 is pivoted away and releases the light barrier, as a result of which the light can pass from the transmitter 96 into the receiver 98 without being disturbed. This happens as soon as a treatment liquid begins to run into the collecting line 34. The then released light barrier 96, 98 starts a timer which is set to a certain period of time. After the period of time has elapsed, as already explained above, a control pulse is fed to the stepper motor of the distribution valve 70.

A particularly simple and reliable construction of the distributor valve is shown in FIGS. 8a to 10, where the previous reference numerals are used to designate the same components and the description so far applies. The stationary and the rotationally movable part 75, 76 each consist of a plate which is connected to one another by an axial bolt 100 and is pressed against one another by a compression spring 102 which is supported by an end plate 101 located at the end of the axial bolt 100.

In the present case, the compressed air inlet 78 is located on the rotatable plate 76 and consists of an inlet bore lying at a radial distance from the axis of rotation 103 of the two plates 75, 76, in which an attachment piece 104 for the supply line 79 is arranged. The connecting piece 104 is arranged rotatably 127 in the inlet bore 78, so that the connecting piece 104 can rotate back correspondingly far during the rotational movement 105 of the plate 76 shown in FIG. 9 and the supply line 79 is not twisted as a result. The stationary plate 75 is fastened in the device via a flange 106 and has a family of bores which are arranged on a circle 107 which corresponds to the inlet bore 78 and which have outlets 71 for connecting the various gas lines 57. 10 shows the top view of the stationary plate 75, on the upper end face 80 of which the outlet openings 81 of the mentioned outlets 71 are arranged on the circle 107 shown in dash-dotted lines. Between the two plates 75, 76 balls 108 are arranged for storage purposes, the side of the stationary plate 75 in deep recesses 109 and on the opposite lower end face 110 of the rotationsbe movable plate 76 are received in flat recesses 111. A small gap 112 can already remain between these two end faces 80, 110 of the two plates 75, 76, due to the support of the balls 108 lying between them, in the starting position shown in FIG. 8a. This gap 112 is bridged gas-tight by a sealing ring 113 which is stuck on the inlet-side connecting piece 104 and encloses its outlet opening. 8a, the sealing ring 113 is in alignment with a specific outlet 71 of a gas line 57 and supplies the associated storage container 20 with compressed air, as has already been described. In this case, the sealing ring 113 is pressed in by the compression spring 102 between the two end faces 80, 110 of the two plates 75, 76. In order to stabilize the position of the rotatable plate 76, in addition to the sealing ring 113, it also has support rings 114 of corresponding height, which together provide a gap 112 of the same height everywhere. The starting position of FIG. 8a is in each case during a working phase of the device, where a certain output 71 is activated due to the rotational position of the plate 76 which can rotate.

This rotational position is initially secured in that the three balls 108 are engaged in certain associated recesses 111, the arrangement of which can be seen in broken lines in the top view of FIG. 9. While only three deep recesses 109 are provided for the storage of the balls in the stationary plate 75, numerous flat recesses 111 are each arranged in a defined angular position there in accordance with the number of outlet openings 81 in the stationary plate 75. The balls 108 and their recesses 111 act together with the compression spring 102 mentioned in the manner of a latching connection. The decisive securing of the rotational position of the rotatable plate 76 is, however, determined by a rotating member 120, which is seated on a drive shaft 115 of the stepping motor 72. The motor 72 is attached to a stepped plate extension 118 by screws 119 or the like. The circular circumference of the rotatable plate 76 is provided with two types of recesses 116, 117, which are arranged alternately with one another and have different functions to perform. 8a and 9, a rear piece 121 of the rotary member 120 always engages in one of the recesses 116 and thereby fixes the rotational position of the plate 76, which is why this recess can be referred to as the rest recess 116. If the stepper motor 72 is driven to carry out a switching step, the rear piece 121, which has a rotating profile, first rolls in the rest recess 116 determined by a corresponding circular profile, until finally a radially offset switching finger 122 of the rotating member 120 during the rotation indicated in FIG. 9 123 arrives in the adjacent recess 117 and takes the rotationally movable plate 76 in its direction of rotation 105 by an angular amount 124, as can be seen in FIG. 9. Because of this transport, the recess 117 can be referred to as a transport recess. After rotation by this angular amount 124, the next rest cutout 116 comes to rest in the area of the rotary member 120, which is why its rear piece 121 can retract there and fix this new rotational position of the rotatable plate 76. As can be seen, the cutouts 116, 117 interact with the rotary member 120 in the manner of a so-called “Maltese cross drive”.

FIG. 8b shows the changeover phase of the distribution valve 70, where the shift finger 122 engages in a transport recess 117 and thereby moves the plate 76 which can be rotated further. As a result, the ball 108 disengages from the flat recess 111 of the rotatable plate 76 which can be seen in FIGS. 8a and 9. The ball rolls in front of the lower end face 110 of the rotatable plate 76, whereby the plate 76, against the action of the compression spring 102, in 8b is raised in the sense of the lifting arrows shown in FIG. The narrow gap 112 previously located between the plate end faces 110, 80 in the starting position of FIG. 8 a is thereby widened to the wide gap 112 ′ shown in FIG. 8 b. With this lift 125 of the rotatable plate 76, the sealing ring 113 used to seal the compressed air is of course also carried along, as a result of which the previously controlled outlet 71 is vented. This leads to the pressure reduction mentioned in the arrows 99 in connection with FIG. The further flow of the treatment liquid is interrupted immediately and it does not matter whether the compressed air pump connected to the supply line 79 is switched off or whether a shut-off valve on the compressed air source is closed.

The lift 125 of the plate 76 during its rotation 105 also protects the sealing ring 113 and also the support rings 114. The balls 108 produce a rolling mounting of the plate 76, which is why it can be adjusted easily.

After each switching step of the stepper motor 72 by the angular amount 124 shown in FIG. 9, the stepper motor 72 can be switched off. This is determined by a control program, which in its individual phases depends on the desired course of the development process inside the drum 11 of FIG. 1. After the rotational movement 105 has ended by the angular amount 124 shown in FIG. 9, the plate 76 has only been moved by half a switching position where the supply line 79 is not yet in alignment with the next outlet opening 81. The supply line 79 is therefore between two outlet openings 81 and can therefore not be effective. Because the recesses 111 on the lower end face 110 of the plate 76 are not aligned with the balls 108, the lift 125 of FIG. 8b remains. Inside the Drum 11 can now apply the treatment liquid to the photographic material for the desired time. Then the liquid is pumped out. If necessary, rinsing with water can then start. Only when all of this has expired, the stepper motor 72 is again activated briefly, whereupon its rotary member 120 can move the plate 76 by a further angular amount 124, which moves the plate 76 further by the total angle 126 with respect to the starting position of FIG. 9. Now the supply line 79 is in alignment with the next outlet opening 81 of the stationary plate 75. The ball 108 is now also in alignment with the next recess 111 on the underside of the plate 110 and engages there. The plate 76 is therefore pressed down again by the spring 102 and the sealing ring 113 is pressed between the end faces 80, 110 of the two plates and seals the transition between the plates 75, 76. Compressed air can now pass through the supply line 79 to the next controlled output 71 if the control program wants to transfer the associated treatment liquid 22 of the controlled storage container 20 into the drum interior. Then the process already described is repeated. If the transfer of this treatment fluid is not desired, however, the compressed air pump is not switched on or the shut-off valve between the compressed air source and the supply line 79 is not opened and the stepping motor 72 can provide the switching to the next position.

It is understood that any other gas, e.g. As nitrogen, could be used as a pressure medium, which from any source, for. B. a gas bottle comes.

List of reference numbers

• 10 processor 54 flow arrow
• 11 drum 55 connection tubes
• 12 tub 56 riser
• 13 Cover 57 gas pipe
• 14 Opening 58 arrows for compressed air
• 15 channel 59 sensor
• 16 overflow 60 pump
• 17 connector 61 end wall
• 18 control housing 62 changeover switch
• 19 Handle 63 engine
• 20 storage container 64 connecting line
• 21 Liquid level 65 Arrow of the backflow
• 22 treatment liquid 66 break point
• 23 union nut 67 end leg
• 24 insert 68 end piece
• 25 neck 69 radial lobes
• 26 riser pipe 70 distributor valve
• 27 arrow for 51 71 exit
• 28 feed tube 72 stepper motor
• 29 shoulder 73 abutment surface
• 30 device 74 flap
• 31 Free space for 30 75 stationary part, plate
• 32 lower housing part. 76 stationary part, plate
• 33 connector body 77 swivel axis
• 34 manifold 78 compressed air inlet, inlet bore
• 35 plug end of 33 79 supply line
• 36 sleeve 80 upper face
• 37 Insert 81 outlet opening
• 38 seal at 50 82 slot
• 39 seal at 44 83 axial inlet opening
• 40 cover 84 circumferential toothing
• 41 Vent channel 85 pinion
• 42 feed channel 86 radial chamber
• 43 outlet channel 87 arrow for flow direction
• 44 Opening 88 Rotation arrow for drum
• 45 opening 89 lever
• 46 lifting tube at 43 90 suction line
• 47 mandrel in 37 91 switch
• 48 mandrel holder in 33 92 magnetic coupling half
• 49 Shut-off valve 93 Magnetic coupling half
• 50 drain channel 94 slot of 53
• 51 slide 95 arm of 89
• 52 Rinsing water line 96 Photoelectric sensor transmitter
• 53 tube 97 roller of 30
• 98 light barrier receiver 113 sealing ring
• 99 Air return arrow 114 Support ring
• 100 axial bolts 115 drive shaft
• 101 end plate 116 resting recess
• 102 compression spring 117 transport recess
• 103 axis of rotation 118 plate extension
• 104 connector 119 screw
• 105 rotational movement 120 rotary member
• 106 flange 121 rear piece of 120 107 arrangement circle 122 shift finger
• 108 ball 123 rotation
• 109 recess 124 angular amount
• 110 lower end face 125 stroke arrow
• 111 recess 126 total angle
• 112 gap 127 rotation of 104
• 112 'widened gap, gap 128 pivoting movement of 89

Claims (14)

1. A device for developing photographic material in a processing vessel (11), including a number of self-contained reservoirs (20) for different processing liquids, in which each reservoir (20), on the one hand, has a gas line (57) temporarily connected with a gas supply source, thereby to build up a gas pressure (58) inside the reservoir, and on the other hand, has a riser pipe (56) for the processing liquid (22) driven from ther reservoir (20) by the gas pressure (58), which pipe passes a required amount of the respective processing liquid (22) via a manifold (34) to the processing vessel (11), in which the manifold (34) has connected thereto the riser pipes (56) of all reservoirs (20) as well as a valve-operated (49) wash water line (52), and further including a distributor valve (70) adapted to be switched by a stepping motor (72) according to a control program, to the input and outputs of which (78; 71) the different lines are connected in order to feed a specific processing liquid (22) from one of the reservoirs (20) into the processing vessel (11) during successive working stages and in accordance with the control program, characterized in that the flow paths (26, 56, 34) extending from a respective one of the reservoirs (20) to the processing vessel (11), for the different processing liquids (22) have no valving means, while each having a defined flow resistance, the distributor valve (70) is gas-controlled only through one input only (78) for the gas supply source (64, 62, 79), such as a compressed-air pump, as well as only through outputs (71) for the gas lines (57) of the different reservoirs (20), that at the end of a working stage, and prior to changeover of the distributor valve (70) to another output (71), the respectively previously controlled output (71) of the distributor valve (70) can be relieved of the gas pressure, that a sensor (59) responding to the flow of the processing liquid is mounted in the manifold (34), and that the sensor (59) actuates a respective time switch at the beginning of each working stage, which timer switches on the stepping motor (72) of the distributor valve (70) in accordance with the control program at the end of an adjustable period of time.

2. A device as claimed in the claim 1, characterized in that at the respective end of a working stage a gas underpressure (99) is temporarily applied to the input (78) of the distributor valve (70) in that the input (78) in the distributor valve (70) is connected to a two-way valve (62), and the two-way valve (62) connects to a compressed-air source (79) at one end and to an air suction source (90) at the other end thereof (compare fig. 3,4,5).

3. A device as claimed in the claim 2, characterized in that the compressed-air source (79) is provided by the pressure end and the air suction source (90) by the suction end of one and the same air pump.

4. A device as claimed in the claim 1, characterized in that upon change-over of the distributor valve (70) between two working stages the respectively previously controlled output (71) of the distributor valve is temporarily connectable to the atmosphere for a reduction (99) of gas pressure in the associated gas line (57).

5. A device as claimed in the claim 4, including a distributor valve (70) having a stationary (75) part and a part (76) adapted to rotate relative thereto, between which there is arranged a seal (113) and which are force-loaded (102) relative to each other, characterized in that during change-over of the distributor valve (70) the rotating part (76) can axially be lifted off (125) the stationary part (75) against the force load (102), thereby establishing a connection (112') of the previously controlled gas line (57) with the atmosphere (compare fig. 8b).

6. A device as claimed in any one or several of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the reservoirs (20) can be deformed themselves by the gas pressure, and consist, for instance, of plastic bottles.

7. A device as claimed in the claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the rotating part consists of a plate (76) having an input bore (78) arranged at a radial distance from the axid of rotation (103), in which a connecting piece (104) for the supply line (79) extending from the gas supply source, such as a compressed-air pump, is mounted for free rotating movement (127) and the outlet opening of the connecting piece (104) is provided with a packing ring (113) and faces the stationary part (75), the stationary part ist turn consists of a plate (75) having counterbores provided on a circle (107) corresponding to the radial distance of the input bores (78) and constituting the outputs (71) for connection of the different gas line (57).

8. A device as claimed in the claim 7, characterized in that the spring-loaded (102) rotating plate (76) is supported for rotating movement on the stationary plate (75) via interposed balls (108), and the opposed front faces (80, 110) of the two plates (75, 76) have seats (109, 111) for reception of the balls (108) which are respectively aligned in pairs in the working stages, however, during change-over are not in alignment with each other, thereby causing an axial uplift (125) of the rotating plate (76) with respect to the stationary plate (75), lifting the connecting piece (104) of the input bore off the stationary plate (75) (compare fig. 8b).

9. A device as claimed in the claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the circular peripheral rim of the rotating plate has two types of alternatingly arranged recesses (116, 117) for a rotating element (120) of the stepping motor (72), provided with a radial operating finger (122), i. e. on the one hand, a rest recess (116) for full rotational engagement (123) of the rear portion (121) of the rotating element (120), turned away from the operating finger (122), during the working stage of the distributor valve (70), and, on the other hand, a transport recess (117) for entry of the operating finger (122) for change-over (105) of the distributor valve (70) through a preset angle of rotation (124,126) (compare fig. 9).

10. A device as claimed in any one or several of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the sensor (59) in the manifold (34) is provided with a photoelectric cell (compare fig. 4).

11. A device as claimed in any one or several of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the sensor (59) is provided by an electric resistor.

12. A device as claimed in any one or several of the claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the sensor (59) is provided by a flap (74) arranged for pivotal movement (130) in flow direction, which flap is forced against a stop (73) in a position of rest by restoring forces, thereby closing off the flow cross-section in the manifold (34), (compare fig. 6a), and with a start of a liquid flow (54) the flap (74) while releasing the flow crossection in the manifold (34), can be pivoted away (130) from the stop (73) (compare fig. 6b).

13. A device as claimed in the claims 10 and 12, characterized in that the flap (74) is provided with an arm (95) crossing a photoelectric cell (96, 98) at the beginning of pivotal movement (130) of the flap (74).

14. A device as claimed in any one or several of the claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the connecting pieces (17) of the riser pipes (56), opening into the manifold (34), are bent and have a terminal leg (67) extending downwardly in a direction of gravity.

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