EP0062593B1 - Automatic apparatus for developing photographic films - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an automatic device for developing photographic films, especially in color.

To date, in practice, the development of color photos requires the use of specialized centers which are heavy, bulky and expensive. This leads to appreciable delays, of the order of 24 hours, and prohibits economic development film by film.

Automatic devices have already been proposed for the development of films (see for example: Journal of Applied Spectroscopy vol. 18 no. 1, 1975 pages 129-131; American patents 1,794,996, 2,975,695 and 3,494,273). However, all of these solutions are not suitable for processing color films and do not provide a valid response to instant demand.

• - une pluralité de bacs de traitement disposés en couronne dans un compartiment noir,
• - un bras porte-film animé d'un mouvement continu de rotation et dont la base est disposée au centre de la couronne,
• - un premier chemin de câme sur lequel s'appuie ce bras, destiné à faire avancer le film dans un bac de traitement et à le faire passer dans le bac suivant,
• - un second chemin de câme ondulé destiné à agiter le film dans un bac considéré.

In French patent 1,483,153, an apparatus has been described consisting of:

• - a plurality of treatment tanks arranged in a crown in a black compartment,
• - a film-carrying arm animated by a continuous movement of rotation and the base of which is arranged in the center of the crown,
• - a first cam path on which this arm rests, intended to advance the film in a treatment tank and to pass it into the next tank,
• - a second corrugated lane path intended to agitate the film in a bin considered.

• - d'une part, l'agitation donnée par le second chemin de câme est nettement insuffisante pour permettre un renouvellement efficace du bain qui s'épuise au contact des films en cours de développement,
• - d'autre part, le bras tournant en permanence, le déplacement angulaire de ce bras pour aller d'un bac à l'autre et l'agitation de ce bras dans un bac donné sont simultanés, ce qui entraîne un cycle de fonctionnement invariable et ne permet donc pas de tenir compte de la sensibilité des films à traiter et nécessiterait des bacs volumineux, donc encombrants, pour tenir compte du temps de séjour variable d'un bac à l'autre.

This solution suitable for the development of black and white films, such as dental images, cannot be validly used for the development of color films because:

• on the one hand, the agitation given by the second lane path is clearly insufficient to allow an effective renewal of the bath which runs out on contact with the films being developed,
• - on the other hand, the continuously rotating arm, the angular movement of this arm to go from one tank to another and the agitation of this arm in a given tank are simultaneous, which results in an invariable operating cycle and therefore does not allow the sensitivity of the films to be treated to be taken into account and would require bulky, therefore bulky, tanks to take account of the variable residence time from one tank to another.

In French patent 1,193,668, an apparatus of the same kind has been described, but in which a plurality of film-carrying arms are raised in order to pass from one tray to another by means of a horizontal cam driven in continuous rotation by a motor associated with a rotating and rising plate carrying said arms. Again, the agitation is insufficient. To vary the cycle, certain parts of the device must be modified. Consequently, this device is not suitable for developing color films.

Finally, in these two embodiments, the development of films wound on special reels called "turns" on which the film is wound in a spiral from the outside to the inside, is hardly possible without rapidly causing wear of the different moving mechanisms.

• - à l'opérateur de travailler en plein jour,
• - de répondre à la demande instantanée,
• - d'être d'un fonctionnement très simple, à la portée de non professionnels et ne nécessite aucune formation approfondie.

The invention overcomes these drawbacks. It relates to an automatic processor for photographic films which allows:

• - the operator to work in broad daylight,
• - respond to instant demand,
• - to be very simple to operate, accessible to non-professionals and does not require any in-depth training.

• - une pluralité de bacs de traitement disposés en couronne dans un compartiment noir;
• - un bras articulé à sa base, disposé au centre de la couronne formée par lesdits bacs, présentant à son extrémité libre un organe destiné à recevoir la spire sur laquelle est enroulé le film à développer;
• - un moteur dont l'axe de rotation vertical entraîne une came horizontale présentant une rampe sur laquelle vient prendre appui l'extrémité d'un poussoir vertical dont l'autre extrémité prend appui sur le bras mobile au voisinage de son axe d'articulation.

This automatic device for developing photographic or similar films, in particular in color, of the type comprising:

• - a plurality of treatment tanks arranged in a crown in a black compartment;
• - an articulated arm at its base, placed in the center of the crown formed by said tanks, having at its free end a member intended to receive the turn on which the film to be developed is wound;
• - A motor whose vertical axis of rotation drives a horizontal cam having a ramp on which comes to bear the end of a vertical plunger whose other end is supported on the movable arm in the vicinity of its axis of articulation.

• - en ce que ladite came horizontale est entraînée dans les deux sens de rotation à une vitesse oscillante dépendante du bac de traitement, dans lequel le film est plongé;
• - et en ce que la partie supérieure de ladite came horizontale présente un manetton vertical excentré, destiné à coopérer avec une croix de Malte montée folle autour d'un poussoir vertical, mais solidaire de l'embase de fixation de l'extrémité articulée du bras mobile, ladite croix de Malte présentant un nombre de branches équidistantes égal au nombre de bacs de traitement.

This advanced device is characterized:

• - in that said horizontal cam is driven in both directions of rotation at an oscillating speed dependent on the processing tank, in which the film is immersed;
• - And in that the upper part of said horizontal cam has an eccentric vertical handle, intended to cooperate with a Maltese cross mounted madly around a vertical pusher, but integral with the mounting base of the articulated end of the arm mobile, said Maltese cross having a number of equidistant branches equal to the number of treatment tanks.

• - la came horizontale présente sur sa face supérieure horizontale, une lunule verticale dont le centre coïncide avec l'axe de rotation du moteur et dont la courbure extérieure correspond à la courbure de l'extrémité des branches de la croix de Malte;
• - cette came horizontale présente un cran vertical destiné à coopérer avec deux micro- rupteurs, destinés à inverser le sens de rotation du moteur, et par voie de conséquence, le mouvement de monte et baisse du bras mobile;
• - lesdits micro-rupteurs présentent des galets de contact dont la courbure correspond à la courbure du cran vertical taillé sur le bord de la came horizontale;
• - le compartiment noir contenant les bacs de traitement est précédé de manière connue par un autre compartiment dit de manipulation, également noir, relié au compartiment noir par des manchons souples noirs, un écran souple noir étant disposé entre les deux compartiments pour assurer l'étanchéité de l'ensemble à la lumière;
• - l'ensemble des deux compartiments noirs de traitement et de manipulation est recouvert d'un couvercle unique, articulé sur un bord, équipé d'un moyen de sécurité destiné à empêcher l'ouverture intempestive de ce couvercle lorsque le cycle de développement est engagé.

Advantageously:

• - The horizontal cam has on its horizontal upper face, a vertical lunula whose center coincides with the axis of rotation of the motor and whose external curvature corresponds to the curvature of the end of the branches of the Maltese cross;
• - This horizontal cam has a vertical notch intended to cooperate with two microswitches, intended to reverse the direction of rota tion of the motor, and consequently, the movement of up and down of the movable arm;
• - Said micro-switches have contact rollers whose curvature corresponds to the curvature of the vertical notch cut on the edge of the horizontal cam;
• - the black compartment containing the treatment tanks is preceded in a known manner by another so-called handling compartment, also black, connected to the black compartment by black flexible sleeves, a black flexible screen being disposed between the two compartments to ensure sealing of the whole in the light;
• - the set of two black processing and handling compartments is covered with a single cover, articulated on one edge, equipped with a safety means intended to prevent inadvertent opening of this cover when the development cycle is engaged .

• - d'une came horizontale rotative permettant d'agiter le bras porte-spire d'un mouvement répété et programmé de haut en bas, et ainsi d'éviter un épuisement du bain au niveau de la spire en cours de développement,
• - d'une croix de Malte solidaire de l'embase de fixation du bras, coopérant avec ladite came horizontale entraînée en rotation par un moteur, afin de permettre le passage du bras porte-spire d'un bac à l'autre, lorsque le traitement dans le bac considéré est terminé.

In other words, the apparatus according to the invention is essentially characterized by the combination:

• - a horizontal rotating cam allowing the revolving arm to be agitated with a repeated movement programmed from top to bottom, and thus avoiding exhaustion of the bath at the level of the spiral being developed,
• - a Maltese cross secured to the mounting base of the arm, cooperating with said horizontal cam driven in rotation by a motor, in order to allow the passage of the turn-carrying arm from one tank to the other, when the processing in the relevant bin is completed.

Thus, the phases of agitation of the arm in a determined tank are separated and the angular displacement of this arm from one tank to the other, which the devices known hitherto do not make possible.

• La figure 1 représente vu de dessus un appareil de développement conforme à l'invention.
• La figure 2 montre ce même appareil en coupe.
• Les figures 3 et 4 montrent une vue détaillée respectivement de dessus et en coupe du moyen d'animation du bras mobile.
• La figure 5 est une vue perspective sommaire de la came de commande du mouvement de monte et baisse du bras.

The manner in which the invention can be implemented and the advantages which ensue therefrom will emerge more clearly from the example of embodiment which follows, given by way of indication and without limitation.

• Figure 1 shows a top view of a development device according to the invention.
• Figure 2 shows this same device in section.
• Figures 3 and 4 show a detailed view respectively from above and in section of the moving arm animation means.
• Figure 5 is a summary perspective view of the cam for controlling the up and down movement of the arm.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the automatic development apparatus according to the invention consists of a box (1) of molded plastic (for example PVC or polypropylene) formed of two black compartments, one said of manipulation (2), the other said of treatment (3). These two compartments (2) and (3) are closed by a single cover (4) articulated in (5), blocked during processing by a safety lock (6) against any untimely opening.

• - sur sa face avant, deux manches souples (7), par exemple en un tissu épais noir enduit d'usage courant, terminées aux extrémités par une poignée élastique (8), destinées à recevoir les deux avant-bras du manipulateur,
• - et sur la cloison (9) de séparation avec le compartiment de traitement (3), un écran lourd mais souple (10), par exemple une feuille de PVC chargé de noir de carbone, afin d'assurer l'étanchéité de l'ensemble à la lumière.

The handling compartment (2) has:

• - on its front face, two flexible sleeves (7), for example made of a thick black coated fabric in common use, terminated at the ends by an elastic handle (8), intended to receive the two forearms of the manipulator,
• - And on the partition (9) of separation with the treatment compartment (3), a heavy but flexible screen (10), for example a sheet of PVC loaded with carbon black, in order to ensure the sealing of the together in the light.

The electrical control compartment (11) is placed under the handling compartment (2).

• - une résistance électrique chaufante (14);
• - une arrivée de liquide (15);
• - un orifice de vidange (16) relié ou non à un trop plein (17);
• - une électro-vanne (18) pour le rejet aux égouts.

The actual treatment compartment (3) is made up in a known manner of a set of several elementary tanks (12) (here nine tanks) arranged side by side on a ring circle, separated by partitions (13). The assembly is also made of molded plastic. Each tray (see Figure 2) has a known manner on the bottom:

• - a heating electrical resistance (14);
• - a liquid inlet (15);
• - a drain orifice (16) connected or not to an overflow (17);
• - a solenoid valve (18) for discharge to sewers.

In the center of the compartment (3), and more precisely of the tanks (12), is a movable arm (20) articulated at its lower end (21) and which has at its other free end (22) a perpendicular axis carrying the turn (23) on which will be fixed by pinching the turn (24), stainless steel or plastic, removable or not, and of a type known per se for this application. The film to be developed is wound in a known manner in an Archimedean spiral from the outside towards the inside of this spiral (24).

• - le révélateur,
• - le lavage,
• - l'inversion, c'est-à-dire le transfert de l'image négative en image positive,
• - le révélateur chromogène,
• - le conditionneur,
• - le blanchiment,
• - le fixage,
• - le lavage,
• - le stabilisant.

In the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, for the development of color films, the nine treatment tanks (12) contain the conventional treatment baths, namely in the order of clockwise:

• - the developer,
• - washing,
• - inversion, that is to say the transfer of the negative image into a positive image,
• - the color developer,
• - the conditioner,
• - laundering,
• - fixing,
• - washing,
• - the stabilizer.

• - d'un motoréducteur (30), par exemple à courant continu,
• - sur l'axe vertical de rotation (31) de ce moteur (30) est montée une came horizontale (32) (voir figure 5) qui présente une rampe en forme de cloche (33) et un plat (34) sur lequel viennent se loger un manetton vertical excentré (35) et une lunule verticale (36) dont l'axe coïncide avec l'axe de rotation (31);
• - un poussoir (37), à extrémités arrondies, libre de se mouvoir verticalement, prenant appui d'une part vers le bas sur la rampe (33) et d'autre part vers le haut sous et dans le bras (20) au voisinage du point d'articulation (21);
• - montée folle autour de ce poussoir (37) (voir figure 3), une croix de Malte (38) horizontale dont les branches (60) (ici à neuf branches puisqu'il y a neuf bacs (12)) sont séparées par des rainures (39) à bords parallèles.

The characteristic means of the invention capable of animating this arm (20) consists of (see Figures 3 and 4):

• - a geared motor (30), for example with direct current,
• - on the vertical axis of rotation (31) of this motor (30) is mounted a horizontal cam (32) (see Figure 5) which has a bell-shaped ramp (33) and a dish (34) on which come housing an eccentric vertical handle (35) and a vertical lunula (36) whose axis coincides with the axis of rotation (31);
• - a pusher (37), with rounded ends, free to move vertically, bearing on the one hand down on the ramp (33) and on the other hand upwards under and in the arm (20) in the vicinity the point of articulation (21);
• - crazy climb around this pusher (37) (see FIG. 3), a horizontal Maltese cross (38) whose branches (60) (here with nine branches since there are nine tanks (12)) are separated by grooves (39) with parallel edges.

In known manner, the eccentric handle (35) cooperates with these grooves (39) and the lunula (36) cooperates with the corresponding sector, located at the end of each of the branches of the Maltese cross (38).

All these parts are also made of molded plastic, possibly for wearing parts, of plastic filled with glass fibers.

This Maltese cross (38) is fixed by a vertical screw (50) (see Figure 4) to the horizontal base (51) on which is fixed the articulated end (21) of the movable arm (20).

The horizontal rotary cam (32) (see FIG. 5) has a vertical notch (40) situated at the edge and in the vicinity of the middle of the ascending part (48) of the ramp (33).

The horizontal platform (41) disposed under the cam (32) and on the motor (30) has two diametrically opposite microswitches (42) and (43) with their contact roller (44) and (45). The micro-switch (42) corresponds to the high position of the arm (20) and the micro-switch (43) to its low position.

The curvature of the roller (44-45) corresponds substantially to the curvature of the vertical notch (40).

The reference (46) designates spacers and the reference (47) designates orifices for the passage of the electrical control wires.

The motor (30) and the microswitches (42-43) are connected, by electric wires passing through these passages (47) to a known control programmer not shown, placed in the electric control box (11), supplied according to the case either by battery or on mains; this printed circuit programmer transmits all the information to the motor (30) and thus controls the various functions as the development cycle progresses.

The apparatus according to the invention operates in the following manner.

When he wishes to develop a film, the operator opens the cover (4), places the film and a turn (24) in the compartment (2). He then closes the cover (4). He then puts his forearms in the sleeves (7), then puts the film by hand on the turn (24). This manual operation, which takes place in a black box, requires training, the automatisms of which are very quickly acquired, since if the arms work in the dark, on the other hand, the operator is in broad daylight.

Once the film has passed over the turn (24), that is to say wound from the outside towards the inside thereof, the operator raises the screen (10) and then places the turn (24 ) on the turn holder end (23) of the articulated arm (20) which is then entirely to the right and in the raised position under the effect of the pusher (37). This pusher (37) is then located on the horizontal part (34) of the rotary cam (32).

As already said, the holding of this turn (24) on the turn holder (23) is carried out by a simple radial pinching.

This manual positioning operation being completed, the operator withdraws his arms from the sleeves (7) and pushes the general control button (52) which controls the automation of the development operation. This engagement automatically locks (6) the cover (4).

At the start of the cycle, the arm (20) is therefore in the raised position under the effect of the pusher (37) which is supported on (34).

By turning, the motor (30) drives the horizontal cam in the direction indicated by the arrow F in FIG. 3. The lever (35) then engages in the neighboring groove (39) located between two branches (60) of the Maltese cross (38). By moving in this groove (39), the handle (35) therefore rotates the Maltese cross (38), therefore the assembly, therefore the arm (20), by forty degrees (angular distance between two branches neighboring the Maltese cross (38)). The arm (20) is thus thus brought into the high position just above the first tank (12) containing the developer.

When the pusher (37) arrives at the edge of the horizontal part (34) of the cam (32), it moves on the descending part (53) of the ramp (33) (see FIG. 5). Therefore, the arm (20) will move vertically downwards. In other words, the arm (20), therefore the turn (24), descends into the bath contained in the tank (12).

When the pusher (37) rises on the ascending part (48) of the ramp (33), the pusher (37) rises vertically, thereby driving the arm (20) upwards. When the roller (44) associated with the microswitch (42) meets the vertical notch (40) formed in the cam (32), the rotational movement of the motor (30) is reversed. The pusher (37) therefore descends along the ramp (48), which again plunges the arm (20), therefore the turn (24) in the bath. One thus prints on the arm (20), and consequently on the turn (24), an upward and downward movement which causes a permanent agitation of the turn (24), therefore of the film which it carries, in the bath contained in the tank (12). When the roller (45) of the microswitch (43) meets the vertical notch (40), the movement is reversed, etc.

The frequency and duration of this up and down movement depends on the nature of the film to be revealed and on the development process. This is controlled by the programmer which acts on the motor (30).

At the end of movement, the handle (35) engages in the next groove (39), which transfers the arm (20), therefore the turn (24), to the next tank. Then the movement of rising and falling, so stirring resumes and so on until the last tank (12) containing the stabilizer.

To avoid, when the handle (35) is no longer engaged in the groove (39) that the arm (20) can move laterally, the cam (32) carries a lunula (36) whose axis coincides with the axis of rotation (31) and whose external curvature (61) coincides with the curvature (62) of the end of the branches (60) of the Maltese cross (38).

At the end of the cycle, the arm (20) remains in the high position (that is to say pusher (37) bearing on the horizontal part (34) of the cam (32)), so as to be able to extract the coil developed. To do this, the operator opens the cover (4) and can remove the developed coil directly in broad daylight.

A fan (49) with outside air intake (see Figure 2) allows all three compartments (2), (3), (11) to be depressed, in order to avoid condensation.

• - quinze minutes pour un film négatif,
• - trente minutes pour un film inversible (diapositive).

As an indication, the average duration of a development cycle for a color film is:

• - fifteen minutes for a negative film,
• - thirty minutes for a reversible film (slide).

• - la simplicité de construction,
• - la rapidité du cycle,
• - la facilité de mise en oeuvre, même par des non-professionnels,
• - la possibilité de développer des pellicules à la demande,
• - la possibilité de modifier le cycle de traitement selon la sensibilité des films à développer.

The development device according to the invention has many advantages compared to those marketed to date. We can cite:

• - the simplicity of construction,
• - the speed of the cycle,
• - ease of implementation, even by non-professionals,
• - the possibility of developing films on demand,
• - the possibility of modifying the treatment cycle according to the sensitivity of the films to be developed.

Claims (7)

1. Automatic apparatus for developing photographic films, specially in color, comprising:

- a plurality of processing tanks (12) arranged in a ring in a light-tight compartment (3);

- an arm (20) articulated on its basis (21), arranged in the center of the said ring formed by tanks (12), and having at its free end (22) a member (23) intended to receive a spool (24) on which the film to be developed is wound;

- a motor (30) whose vertical rotation shaft (31) drives an horizontal cam (32) comprising a ramp portion (33) on which supports the end of a vertical push rod (37), the other end resting below the movable arm (20) in the vicinity of its articulation axis (21);

wherein:

- the said horizontal cam is driven in the two rotating directions to an oscillating speed which is dependent of the processing tank in which the film is plunged;

- and the upper part of the said horizontal cam (32) comprises an exentric vertical crank pin (35) operating to cooperate with a Maltese cross (38) loosely mounted around the vertical push rod (37) rigidly connected to the basis (51) of the articulated end (21) of the movable arm (20), the said Maltese cross (38) having a number of equidistant arms (60) equal to the number of processing tanks (12).

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal cam (32) also comprises on its upper horizontal face (34) a vertical lunule (36) whose center coincides with the axis of rotation (31) of the motor (30), said lunule having an external curvature (61) corresponding to the curvature (62) of the end of the arms (60) of the Maltese cross (38).

3. Apparatus according to claims 1 and 2, wherein the horizontal cam (32) comprises a vertical notch (40) intended to cooperate with two microswitchs (42, 43) intended to reserve the rotating direction of the motor (30) and therefore cause the upward and downward movement of the movable arm (20).

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the microswitchs (42,43) have contact rollers (44,45) whose curvature corresponds to the curvature of the vertical notch (40).

5. Apparatus according to claims 3 and 4, wherein the microswitchs (42, 43) and the motor (30) are connected to a programer intended to transmit informations to the motor (30).

6. Apparatus according to any claim 1 to 5, in which the light-tight compartment (3) comprising the processing tanks (12) is adjacent to a manipulation compartment (2) connected to the light-tight compartment by black flexible sleeves (7), characterized by the fact that it also comprises a flexible black screen (10) located between both compartments (2) and (3), in order to assure the imperviousness to light of the unit.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the unit of the two black compartments of processing (3) and of manipulation (2) is closed by a single cover (4) hinged on one edge (5), said cover (4) being equiped with a safety means (6) intended to prevent its undesired opening during the development cycle.

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