EP0352720B1 - A continuous processing machine for photographic sheet material - Google Patents

A continuous processing machine for photographic sheet material Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0352720B1
EP0352720B1 EP89113661A EP89113661A EP0352720B1 EP 0352720 B1 EP0352720 B1 EP 0352720B1 EP 89113661 A EP89113661 A EP 89113661A EP 89113661 A EP89113661 A EP 89113661A EP 0352720 B1 EP0352720 B1 EP 0352720B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
unit
processing
processing machine
machine according
bath
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP89113661A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0352720A2 (en
EP0352720A3 (en
Inventor
Filipp Lamprecht
Richard Dr. Piock
Siegfried Tasser
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Durst Phototechnik AG
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Durst Phototechnik AG
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Priority to AT89113661T priority Critical patent/ATE100949T1/en
Publication of EP0352720A2 publication Critical patent/EP0352720A2/en
Publication of EP0352720A3 publication Critical patent/EP0352720A3/en
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03D—APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING EXPOSED PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03D3/00—Liquid processing apparatus involving immersion; Washing apparatus involving immersion
    • G03D3/08—Liquid processing apparatus involving immersion; Washing apparatus involving immersion having progressive mechanical movement of exposed material
    • G03D3/13—Liquid processing apparatus involving immersion; Washing apparatus involving immersion having progressive mechanical movement of exposed material for long films or prints in the shape of strips, e.g. fed by roller assembly
    • G03D3/132—Liquid processing apparatus involving immersion; Washing apparatus involving immersion having progressive mechanical movement of exposed material for long films or prints in the shape of strips, e.g. fed by roller assembly fed by roller assembly

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a continuous processing machine for photographic material, in particular sheet-shaped photographic paper, comprising an input device for dad exposed sheet material, a plurality of bath containers arranged one behind the other for receiving different treatment baths and transport means for conveying the material through the baths.
  • Development machines of this type are known and are available on the market in various designs which are mainly based on the required performance, that is to say the number of copies to be produced per unit of time. Development machines for copy shops or professional photo laboratories, where high productivity is required, are complex and expensive and the purchase price and the operating costs are unaffordable for the amateur or professional photographer who wants to process his pictures himself.
  • the known development machines are also mostly designed for a specific treatment process, so that different machines are required for processing material with different treatment processes. This contradicts the requirements of an amateur who works with different materials and processes or who just wants to keep the way open for experimenting with new materials.
  • DE-A 32 09 262 discloses a development device with a plurality of bath containers which have essentially the same structure with one another and can be connected to one another. There are transport rollers inside each container arranged, which, in cooperation with appropriate guiding means, form a circular, closed orbit for the material being conveyed, which passes through the bath repeatedly until it reaches the container exit after the operator has changed a deflecting element.
  • the arrangement enables the dwell time of the material in each bath to be regulated in accordance with the treatment time prescribed for a particular process. This brings greater flexibility with lower device costs, thanks to the possibility of adapting the device to different treatment processes.
  • the device is not suitable for automatic operation with continuous input of the material to be treated because of the discontinuous passage of the material through the successive treatment units.
  • the adjustable treatment times By limiting the adjustable treatment times to a multiple of the material's circulation time in the closed orbit, the programmability of various processes is also limited.
  • the dynamic coupling of the transport rollers of the individual units to a common drive is relatively complex and complicates the disassembly of the device into its individual components or its assembly, so that the advantages of the inherently flexible construction of the device are partially lost.
  • the object of the invention is to realize a development machine of the type mentioned at the outset, which can be adapted to different treatment processes, for which it delivers consistently satisfactory results and which is distinguished by simple, space-saving construction and low manufacturing costs.
  • this task is accomplished by a developing machine solved with the features specified in the characterizing part of claim 1.
  • a variable number of individual treatment units of the same structure can be connected to one another and to an input unit, so that a custom-made development machine can be formed for a particular treatment process. Due to the form-fitting nature of the connecting parts, the individual units and the developing machine itself can be disassembled and assembled easily and quickly and without the aid of tools.
  • a screw conveyor in the treatment bath which is driven by the same motor for the material transport, forms an effective and at the same time inexpensive circulating agent for the bath, because it eliminates the need for an actual circulating pump.
  • the development machine shown in Fig. 1 comprises an input unit A and two treatment units B and B ', only a fragment of the latter being visible in the drawing.
  • the input unit comprises a box 1 with a lid 2, which in turn has a hinged lid 3 as access to the inside of the box for the input of a sheet.
  • the box In its upper area, the box has a pair of feed rollers 4-4 ', which conveys an inserted sheet to an exit opening 5 and through this into the inlet channel of the subsequent treatment unit.
  • a contact plate 6 points the sheet into the nip, while guide vanes 7 protruding from the inside of the cover 2 feed the sheet leaving the rollers to the exit.
  • Edge projections 8 and 9 of the hinged lid 3 interact with form-fitting edge parts 10 and 11 of the box or the lid and prevent the light from entering the box when the lid is closed.
  • the treatment unit B has a trough-shaped container 12 with a front wall 13, a rear wall 14, end walls 15 and 16 and a curved bottom 17.
  • the container is suitable for holding a certain amount of treatment liquid and is provided with an overflow, not shown in the figures, which determines the maximum fill level of the bath.
  • an overflow not shown in the figures, which determines the maximum fill level of the bath.
  • rollers consisting of pairs of rollers 18-18 ', 19-19', 20-20 ', 21-21' and 22-22 ', which are arranged so that they have a continuous path for the sheet material to be treated Form from the inlet side through the treatment bath to the opposite outlet side.
  • a separate baffle 31 has the sheet emerging from the treatment bath to the pair of rollers 22-22 'on the outlet side, which, in contrast to the others, lies outside the liquid bath and has the function of a pair of squeeze rollers, with which liquid residues are removed from the sheet material before it enters a next treatment phase is transferred.
  • the central area of the container is filled by a screw conveyor 32, which is rotatable about an axis of rotation 33 and causes a liquid circulation in the direction of the axis of rotation, the liquid flow in the area of the screw conveyor in one direction and in the area of the tank bottom the backflow in the opposite direction .
  • the transport rollers and the screw conveyor are supported at the ends in end shields 35 and 36, which are held together by the packing elements 25 to 30, at the ends of which they are anchored.
  • the roller system and the screw conveyor form a structural unit, which is releasably carried in the container by means of suitable guide and holding means.
  • a removable cover 37 covers the container 12 upwards, but leaves an inlet or outlet channel open on the front and on the rear container wall for the sheet material to be treated.
  • the cover 37 has on the input side on its inside guide ribs 38, the profile of which is shaped such that an incoming sheet is directed onto the first pair of transport rollers.
  • the cover 37 has ribs 39 on the outlet side in such an arrangement that a sheet is guided to the outlet when it has finished its passage through the treatment bath and leaves the pair of nip rollers.
  • the lid 37 has a projection on the inside, the curved surface 40 of which surrounds the part of the screw conveyor 32 lying outside the bath in a shell-like manner and dips into the bath with the end parts 41 and 42 on both sides of the screw conveyor. In this way, the contact of the treatment liquid with the ambient air is kept to a minimum and premature degeneration of the bath due to oxidation is prevented.
  • the treatment unit is designed in such a way that several units that are identical to one another can be assembled into different device configurations, depending on the type of treatment process envisaged.
  • the rear wall 14 of the container 12 has an envelope 43 at the upper edge, which fits in shape and position in the upper edge of the front wall 13.
  • a container is thus connected to a second, the same, by hanging the envelope of the rear wall of the first in the front wall of the second, as illustrated in Fig. 1 in relation to the treatment units B and B '.
  • the cover 37 at the rear end has an edge projection 44 which fits in shape and position in a corresponding groove 45 along the front edge of the cover, so that when the cover is closed, the rear edge projection 44 into the groove 45 'of the cover 37' of a subsequent treatment unit B 'intervenes.
  • the input unit A can be connected to a treatment unit B because it has the same connection elements on the output side as the treatment unit itself.
  • the drive of the transport rollers and the screw conveyor can be seen from FIG. 2 in conjunction with FIG. 3.
  • the roller journals protrude from the end of the end shield 36 and are provided with gear pairs 46-46 ', 47-47', 48-48 '49-49' and 50-50 'for each pair of rollers.
  • the pairs of gears are in engagement with one another via intermediate gears 51 to 54, which are rotatably mounted on fixed bolts 55 to 58 of the end shield 36.
  • the gear pair 46-46 'of the first pair of rollers is engaged by a further gear 59, which is rotatable about a fixed pin 60 and in turn meshes with a gear 61, which is rotatable about a fixed pin 62 and in the case of connection of the treatment unit to the input unit drives a corresponding gear pair of the feed rollers 4-4 'of the input unit.
  • a multi-stage gear 63 is rotatably mounted in the upper part of the end shield 36 about a fixed bolt 64.
  • Two rotatably connected gears 65 and 66 are rotatable about a common pin 67 in such a position that one engages in the step gear 63 and the other in one of the intermediate gears 51 to 54, whereby the transmission of movement from the step gear to the transport rollers is established.
  • the pin 67 is optionally displaceable in one of several holes 68 to 71 arranged on the end shield and provided with a thread, the gear wheels 65 and 66 of the gear pair rotating around the pin depending on the position of the pin in the step gear 63 at a specific step and engage a specific one of the intermediate gears 51 to 54.
  • the bolt 67 is seated in the bore 71, which is therefore not visible in the drawing.
  • the axial distance between the gears 65, 66 is adjustable.
  • the outer gear 65 is displaceable on a support sleeve 72, which has suitable locking elements.
  • the individual bores 69 to 71, each of which defines a position for the gear pair 65, 66 correspond to as many gear ratios and thus different rotational speeds of the transport rollers. The feed rate of the material to be treated can thus be changed from one position to another simply by moving the pin of the gear pair 65, 66.
  • the screw conveyor 32 is driven from the step gear 63 via a gear 73 on the axis of rotation of the screw.
  • the gear 73 is preferably interchangeable in order to enable the engagement in the step gear 63 optionally on one of the two innermost steps and thus to achieve two different rotational speeds of the screw conveyor.
  • a drive unit 74 (FIG. 2) comprises an electric motor 75, on the rotary shaft 76 of which a gear 77 is seated, which meshes with the step gear 63 from above.
  • the drive unit 74 also forms a removable modular unit which can be connected to the treatment unit by means of suitable connection elements in its housing.
  • the housing rests on a bearing surface 78 protruding from the end wall 16 of the container 12 and is held on this by means of an eyelet hook 79 which extends from the housing bottom and engages in an eyelet 80 of the bearing surface.
  • a longitudinal groove 81 in the housing base fits into a strip-shaped elevation 82 of the support surface, so that a light-tight connection with the end wall 16 of the container is created.
  • a wall extension 83 of the housing rests on the end shield 36 and has an envelope 84 at the lower end, which receives an edge projection 85 of the cover 37 in the closed position.
  • the power supply circuit 86 for a heating coil 87 which is part of the modular, removable unit and is immersed in the treatment bath, is also accommodated in the housing of the drive unit.
  • FIG. 4 shows the drive unit in a simplified cross section and restricted to the parts for illustrating the mutual connection of drive units of successive treatment units.
  • the housing of the drive unit has an extension 88 at the front at the bottom, which receives the plug 89a of an electrical connector, while the housing on the rear side has a step 90, which is adapted in shape and position to the extension 88 , which receives the socket 89b of the same connector.
  • the plug and socket of the same drive unit are electrically connected to each other.
  • the arrangement is such that when the drive units of two successive treatment units are connected, the backward withdrawal 90 of one drive unit matches the front extension 88 'of the other and the plug 89a engages in the socket 89b, as a result of which the electrical connection between the two drive units is established.
  • the input unit has a similar withdrawal 90 'on the output side, which in turn receives a socket 89'b of the connector and fits into the extension 88 of a subsequent drive unit.
  • the connector of the input unit is connected to a power supply cable, so that with the connection of several, to successive treatment units belonging drive units and the input unit with a first treatment unit, the electrical power supply for the entire device is automatically established.
  • a switch on the input unit is therefore the main switch for the electrical parts of all treatment units.
  • the top wall 91 of the housing of the drive unit has a longitudinal groove 92 at the front edge and an edge projection 93 at the opposite end, which form positive connection elements for successive units.
  • the bottom 94 has a groove 95 into which an elevation 96 of the bearing surface 78 fits (FIG. 2).
  • the electric motor 75 is a synchronous motor running at the mains frequency, which ensures that the feed speed of the sheet material is rigorously the same in the individual treatment units. Equipping each treatment unit with its own drive unit has the advantage, among other things, that the electric motor is to be dimensioned exclusively with regard to the individual unit, regardless of the number of treatment units joined together. The same applies to the heating device, which is also dimensioned after the bath of the individual treatment unit.
  • the combination of the electric drive and the heating device to form a removable modular drive and heating unit results in a complete separation of the electrical parts from the rest of the device with obvious advantages in terms of care and maintenance of the device.
  • the preceding description shows how the individual treatment unit consists of a bath container, a roller unit, a drive and heating unit and a cover part is composed and how a plurality of identical treatment units composed in this way can be connected to one another and to an input unit.
  • the assembly begins with the treatment unit, which is ultimately intended to form the end of the device, and continues to the preceding units until the input unit is placed last on the device head side.
  • the disassembly of the device begins with the removal of the input unit and continues in sequence to the final unit. It should be noted that the mandatory sequence of placing the input unit last and removing it first ensures that all treatment units are de-energized during the assembly and disassembly of the device, since only the input unit can be connected directly to the network .
  • the development machine is composed of the input unit and two treatment units, of which the first contains a developer solution and the second wash water, preferably running water, which flows in via an inlet and flows off via the overflow.
  • the treatment unit with the developer bath is followed by a treatment unit with a bleach-fix bath and the latter again by the washing unit.
  • Other treatment processes for coloring material require separate baths for bleaching and for fixing, so that a further treatment unit is added.
  • Other processes may involve an even greater number of separate treatment phases and may require the addition of further treatment units with appropriate treatment solutions.
  • An additional unit specially set up for this purpose can be connected to the watering unit be provided as a dryer for the sheet material after the washing phase.
  • the treatment times can be adapted to the different processes by changing the throughput speed of the material to be treated by selecting the appropriate transmission ratio in the drive of the transport rollers, as described above.
  • the exposed sheet passes through the successive treatment units in a light-protected path, so that with the exception of the sheet input, the entire workflow can take place in the bright room.
  • the input unit also offers space for a whole sheet and the hinged lid can be closed as soon as the sheet is gripped by the feed rollers.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Photographic Processing Devices Using Wet Methods (AREA)
  • Photographic Developing Apparatuses (AREA)

Abstract

The processing chain is assembled from a number of similar baths (B) moduler. Each bath has a servo drive, which can be adjusted to regulate the dwell time for the material in that bath. The baths are linked by light-proof couplings. The process line has a material feed module (A), and the different dwell times are regulated by altering the gearing inside each module, that motors of constant speed can be used, or a single drive motor may be used for the whole chain.

Description

Die vorliegende Erfindung betrifft eine Durchlaufentwicklungsmaschine für fotografisches Material, insbesondere blattförmiges Fotopapier, umfassend eine Eingsbeeinrichtung für dad belichtete Blattmaterial, mehrere hintereinander angeordnete Badbehälter zur Aufnahme unterschiedlicher Behandlungsbäder sowie Transportmittel zum Befördern des Materials durch die Bäder.The present invention relates to a continuous processing machine for photographic material, in particular sheet-shaped photographic paper, comprising an input device for dad exposed sheet material, a plurality of bath containers arranged one behind the other for receiving different treatment baths and transport means for conveying the material through the baths.

Derartige Entwicklungsmaschinen sind bekannt und auf dem Markt in verschiedenen Ausführungen, die sich hauptsächlich nach der geforderten Leistungsfähigkeit, das heißt der Anzahl der pro Zeiteinheit zu fertigenden Kopien richten, verfügbar. Entwicklungsmaschinen für Kopieranstalten oder professionelle Fotolabors, wo hohe Produktivität gefordert ist, sind komplex und aufwendig und der Anschaffungspreis und die Betriebskosten sind für den Amateur- oder Berufsfotografen, der seine Bilder selbst verarbeiten möchte, unerschwinglich. Die bekannten Entwicklungsmaschinen sind außerdem zumeist für einen bestimmten Behandlungsprozeß ausgelegt, so daß für die Verarbeitung von Material mit unterschiedlichen Behandlungsprozessen verschiedene Maschinen erforderlich sind. Dies widerspricht den Erfordernissen eines Amateurs, der mit unterschiedlichen Materialien und Prozessen arbeitet oder sich auch nur den Weg für das Experimentieren mit neuen Materialien offen halten will.Development machines of this type are known and are available on the market in various designs which are mainly based on the required performance, that is to say the number of copies to be produced per unit of time. Development machines for copy shops or professional photo laboratories, where high productivity is required, are complex and expensive and the purchase price and the operating costs are unaffordable for the amateur or professional photographer who wants to process his pictures himself. The known development machines are also mostly designed for a specific treatment process, so that different machines are required for processing material with different treatment processes. This contradicts the requirements of an amateur who works with different materials and processes or who just wants to keep the way open for experimenting with new materials.

Aus der DE - A 32 09 262 ist eine Entwicklungsvorrichtung mit mehreren Badbehältern bekannt, die untereinander im wesentlichen gleiche Struktur aufweisen und miteinander verbindbar sind. Im Innern eines jeden Behälters sind Transportrollen angeordnet, die im Zusammenwirken mit entsprechenden Leitmitteln eine kreisförmige, geschlossene Umlaufbahn für das beförderte Material bilden,welches das Bad wiederholt durchläuft, bis es nach Umstellen eines Umlenkelementes seitens der Bedienungsperson zum Behälterausgang gelangt. Die Anordnung ermöglicht eine Regelung der Verweilzeit des Materials in jedem Bad entsprechend der für einen jeweiligen Prozeß vorgeschriebenen Behandlungsdauer. Dies bringt größere Flexibilität bei geringeren Gerätekosten mit sich,dank der Möglichkeit, das Gerät an unterschiedliche Behandlungsprozesse anzupassen. Nachteilig ist hingegen, daß sich die Vorrichtung wegen des diskontinuierlichen Durchlaufs des Materials durch die aufeinanderfolgenden Behandlungseinheiten nicht für einen automatischen Betrieb mit laufender Eingabe des Behandlungsgutes eignet. Durch die Beschränkung der einstellbaren Behandlungszeiten auf ein Mehrfaches der Umlaufzeit des Materials in der geschlossenen Umlaufbahn sind außerdem der Programmierbarkeit verschiedener Prozesse Grenzen gesetzt. Schließlich ist die dynamische Koppelung der Transportrollen der einzelnen Einheiten an einen gemeinsamen Antrieb relativ aufwendig und erschwert das Zerlegen des Gerätes in seine Einzelkomponenten bzw. dessen Zusammenbau, so daß die Vorteile des an sich flexiblen Aufbaus der Vorrichtung zum Teil verlorengehen.DE-A 32 09 262 discloses a development device with a plurality of bath containers which have essentially the same structure with one another and can be connected to one another. There are transport rollers inside each container arranged, which, in cooperation with appropriate guiding means, form a circular, closed orbit for the material being conveyed, which passes through the bath repeatedly until it reaches the container exit after the operator has changed a deflecting element. The arrangement enables the dwell time of the material in each bath to be regulated in accordance with the treatment time prescribed for a particular process. This brings greater flexibility with lower device costs, thanks to the possibility of adapting the device to different treatment processes. On the other hand, it is disadvantageous that the device is not suitable for automatic operation with continuous input of the material to be treated because of the discontinuous passage of the material through the successive treatment units. By limiting the adjustable treatment times to a multiple of the material's circulation time in the closed orbit, the programmability of various processes is also limited. Finally, the dynamic coupling of the transport rollers of the individual units to a common drive is relatively complex and complicates the disassembly of the device into its individual components or its assembly, so that the advantages of the inherently flexible construction of the device are partially lost.

Aufgabe der Erfindung ist es, eine Entwicklungsmaschine der eingangs genannten Art zu realisieren, die an verschiedene Behandlungsprozesse anpaßbar ist, für die sie gleichbleibend zufriedenstellende Resultate liefert und die sich durch einfache, raumsparende Konstruktion und niedrige Herstellungskosten auszeichnet.The object of the invention is to realize a development machine of the type mentioned at the outset, which can be adapted to different treatment processes, for which it delivers consistently satisfactory results and which is distinguished by simple, space-saving construction and low manufacturing costs.

Erfindungsgemäß wird diese Aufgabe durch eine Entwicklungsmaschine mit den im kennzeichnenden Teil des Anspruches 1 angegebenen Merkmalen gelöst.According to the invention, this task is accomplished by a developing machine solved with the features specified in the characterizing part of claim 1.

Dank des modularen Aufbaus nach dem Baukastenprinzip ist eine veränderliche Anzahl einzelner Behandlungseinheiten gleicher Struktur aneinander und an eine Eingabeeinheit anschließbar, so daß eine Entwicklungsmaschine nach Maß für einen jeweiligen Behandlungsprozeß gebildet werden kann. Aufgrund der Formschlüssigkeit der Anschlußteile sind die einzelnen Einheiten und die Entwicklungsmaschine selbst leicht und schnell und ohne Zuhilfenahme von Werkzeugen auseinander- bzw. zusammensetzbar.Thanks to the modular design based on the modular principle, a variable number of individual treatment units of the same structure can be connected to one another and to an input unit, so that a custom-made development machine can be formed for a particular treatment process. Due to the form-fitting nature of the connecting parts, the individual units and the developing machine itself can be disassembled and assembled easily and quickly and without the aid of tools.

Die Regelung der Durchlaufgeschwindigkeit des Materials durch einfaches Umstecken von Zahnrädern im Antriebssystem bei gleichbleibender Drehzahl des Antriebsmotors schafft ein einfaches Mittel zur Anpassung der Entwicklungsmaschine an Behandlungsprozesse mit unterschiedlicher Behandlungsdauer.The regulation of the throughput speed of the material by simply changing gears in the drive system while the drive motor remains at the same speed creates a simple means of adapting the developing machine to treatment processes with different treatment times.

Eine Förderschnecke im Behandlungsbad, die vom selben Motor des Materialtransports angetrieben wird, bildet ein wirksames und zugleich kostengünstiges Umwälzmittel für das Bad, weil sich dadurch eine eigentliche Umwälzpumpe erübrigt.A screw conveyor in the treatment bath, which is driven by the same motor for the material transport, forms an effective and at the same time inexpensive circulating agent for the bath, because it eliminates the need for an actual circulating pump.

Weitere Vorteile und Einzelheiten der Erfindung ergeben sich aus den abhängigen Ansprüchen in Verbindung mit der nachfolgenden Beschreibung eines bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispieles unter Bezugnahme auf die beiliegenden Zeichnungen. Diese zeigen:

Figur 1
- einen senkrechten Teilschnitt der erfindungsgemäßen Entwicklungsmaschine bestehend aus einer Eingabeeinheit und zwei Behandlungseinheiten;
Figur 2
- eine Schnittansicht einer Behandlungseinheit normal zur Durchlaufrichtung des Behandlungsgutes;
Figur 3
- eine Stirnansicht des Zahnradsystems zum Antrieb der Transportwalzen;
Figur 4
- eine vereinfachte Schnittansicht der Antriebseinheit.
Further advantages and details of the invention result from the dependent claims in connection with the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show:
Figure 1
- A vertical partial section of the developing machine according to the invention consisting of an input unit and two treatment units;
Figure 2
- A sectional view of a treatment unit normal to the direction of flow of the material to be treated;
Figure 3
- An end view of the gear system for driving the transport rollers;
Figure 4
- A simplified sectional view of the drive unit.

Die in Fig. 1 dargestellte Entwicklungsmaschine umfaßt eine Eingabeeinheit A und zwei Behandlungseinheiten B und B′, wobei von letzterer nur ein Fragment in der Zeichnung sichtbar ist.The development machine shown in Fig. 1 comprises an input unit A and two treatment units B and B ', only a fragment of the latter being visible in the drawing.

Die Eingabeeinheit umfaßt einen Kasten 1 mit einem Deckel 2, der seinerseits einen Klappdeckel 3 als Zugang zum Innern des Kastens für die Eingabe eines Blattes aufweist. In seinem oberen Bereich weist der Kasten ein Einzugswalzenpaar 4-4′ auf, das ein eingeführtes Blatt zu einer Ausgangsöffnung 5 und durch diese in den Einlaufkanal der anschließenden Behandlungseinheit befördert. Ein Anlegeblech 6 weist das Blatt in den Walzenspalt, während von der Innenseite des Deckels 2 hervorstehende Leitflügel 7 das die Walzen verlassende Blatt dem Ausgang zuführen. Randvorsprünge 8 und 9 des Klappdeckels 3 wirken mit formschlüssigen Randteilen 10 und 11 des Kastens bzw. des Deckels zusammen und verhindern den Lichteinfall in den Kasten bei geschlossenem Deckel.The input unit comprises a box 1 with a lid 2, which in turn has a hinged lid 3 as access to the inside of the box for the input of a sheet. In its upper area, the box has a pair of feed rollers 4-4 ', which conveys an inserted sheet to an exit opening 5 and through this into the inlet channel of the subsequent treatment unit. A contact plate 6 points the sheet into the nip, while guide vanes 7 protruding from the inside of the cover 2 feed the sheet leaving the rollers to the exit. Edge projections 8 and 9 of the hinged lid 3 interact with form-fitting edge parts 10 and 11 of the box or the lid and prevent the light from entering the box when the lid is closed.

Mit Bezug auf die Figuren 1 und 2 weist die Behandlungseinheit B einen wannenförmigen Behälter 12 mit einer vorderen Wand 13, einer rückwärtigen Wand 14, Stirnwänden 15 und 16 und einem gewölbten Boden 17 auf. Der Behälter ist für die Aufnahme einer bestimmten Menge Behandlungsflüssigkeit geeignet und mit einem in den Figuren nicht dargestellten Überlauf versehen, der den maximalen Füllstand des Bades festlegt. Im Behälter befindet sich ein Satz Walzen, bestehend aus Walzenpaaren 18-18′, 19-19′, 20-20′, 21-21′ und 22-22′, die so angeordnet sind, daß sie eine Durchlaufbahn für das zu behandelnde Blattmaterial von der Einlaufseite durch das Behandlungsbad hindurch bis zur gegenüberliegenden Auslaufseite bilden. Erhebungen 23 und 24 im Boden 17, zusammen mit entsprechend geformten Füllkörpern 25 bis 30 übernehmen die Führung des Blattmaterials in den Bereichen zwischen aufeinanderliegenden Walzenpaaren. Ein eigenes Leitblech 31 weist das aus dem Behandlungsbad heraustretende Blatt zu dem ausgangsseitig gelegenen Walzenpaar 22-22′, das im Unterschied zu den übrigen außerhalb des Flüssigkeitsbades liegt und die Funktion eines Quetschwalzenpaares hat, mit dem Flüssigkeitsreste vom Blattmaterial entfernt werden, bevor es in eine nächste Behandlungsphase übergeführt wird. Der mittige Bereich des Behälters ist von einer Förderschnecke 32 ausgefüllt, die um eine Drehachse 33 drehbar ist und eine Flüssigkeitsumwälzung in Richtung Drehachse bewirkt, wobei der Flüssigkeitsfluß im Bereich der Förderschnecke in die eine Richtung und im Bereich des Behälterbodens der Rückfluß in die entgegengesetzte Richtung erfolgt. Die Transportwalzen und die Förderschnecke sind an den Enden in Lagerschilden 35 und 36 gelagert, die von den Füllkörpern 25 bis 30, an deren Enden sie verankert sind, zusammengehalten werden. Das Walzensystem und die Förderschnecke bilden eine bauliche Einheit, die im Behälter mittels geeigneter Leit- und Haltemittel lösbar getragen wird.With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the treatment unit B has a trough-shaped container 12 with a front wall 13, a rear wall 14, end walls 15 and 16 and a curved bottom 17. The container is suitable for holding a certain amount of treatment liquid and is provided with an overflow, not shown in the figures, which determines the maximum fill level of the bath. In the container there is a set of rollers consisting of pairs of rollers 18-18 ', 19-19', 20-20 ', 21-21' and 22-22 ', which are arranged so that they have a continuous path for the sheet material to be treated Form from the inlet side through the treatment bath to the opposite outlet side. Elevations 23 and 24 in the bottom 17, together with appropriately shaped packing elements 25 to 30, take over the guiding of the sheet material in the areas between pairs of rollers lying on top of one another. A separate baffle 31 has the sheet emerging from the treatment bath to the pair of rollers 22-22 'on the outlet side, which, in contrast to the others, lies outside the liquid bath and has the function of a pair of squeeze rollers, with which liquid residues are removed from the sheet material before it enters a next treatment phase is transferred. The central area of the container is filled by a screw conveyor 32, which is rotatable about an axis of rotation 33 and causes a liquid circulation in the direction of the axis of rotation, the liquid flow in the area of the screw conveyor in one direction and in the area of the tank bottom the backflow in the opposite direction . The transport rollers and the screw conveyor are supported at the ends in end shields 35 and 36, which are held together by the packing elements 25 to 30, at the ends of which they are anchored. The roller system and the screw conveyor form a structural unit, which is releasably carried in the container by means of suitable guide and holding means.

Ein abnehmbarer Deckel 37 deckt den Behälter 12 nach oben hin ab, läßt jedoch an der vorderen und an der hinteren Behälterwand einen Einlauf- bzw. Auslaufkanal für das zu behandelnde Blattmaterial offen. Eingangsseitig weist der Deckel 37 auf seiner Innenseite Führungsrippen 38 auf, deren Profil so geformt ist, daß ein eintretendes Blatt auf das erste Transportwalzenpaar gelenkt wird. Ähnlich weist der Deckel 37 ausgangsseitig Rippen 39 in einer solchen Anordnung auf, daß ein Blatt zum Ausgang geführt wird, wenn es seinen Durchlauf durch das Behandlungsbad beendet hat und das Quetschwalzenpaar verläßt. Im dazwischenliegenden Bereich weist der Deckel 37 auf der Innenseite einen Vorsprung auf, dessen gewölbte Oberfläche 40 den außerhalb des Bades liegenden Teil der Förderschnecke 32 schalenförmig umgibt und mit den Endpartien 41 und 42 zu beiden Seiten der Förderschnecke in das Bad taucht. Auf diese Weise bleibt der Kontakt der Behandlungsflüssigkeit mit der Umgebungsluft auf ein Minimum beschränkt und eine vorzeitige Degenerierung des Bades infolge Oxidation wird verhindert.A removable cover 37 covers the container 12 upwards, but leaves an inlet or outlet channel open on the front and on the rear container wall for the sheet material to be treated. The cover 37 has on the input side on its inside guide ribs 38, the profile of which is shaped such that an incoming sheet is directed onto the first pair of transport rollers. Similarly, the cover 37 has ribs 39 on the outlet side in such an arrangement that a sheet is guided to the outlet when it has finished its passage through the treatment bath and leaves the pair of nip rollers. In the area in between, the lid 37 has a projection on the inside, the curved surface 40 of which surrounds the part of the screw conveyor 32 lying outside the bath in a shell-like manner and dips into the bath with the end parts 41 and 42 on both sides of the screw conveyor. In this way, the contact of the treatment liquid with the ambient air is kept to a minimum and premature degeneration of the bath due to oxidation is prevented.

Die Behandlungseinheit ist so konstruiert, daß mehrere untereinander gleiche Einheiten zu unterschiedlichen Gerätekonfigurationen zusammensetzbar sind, je nach der Art des vorgesehenen Behandlungsprozesses. Zu diesem Zweck weist die hintere Wand 14 des Behälters 12 am oberen Rand einen Umschlag 43 auf, der in Form und Lage in den oberen Rand der vorderen Wand 13 paßt. Ein Behälter ist somit an einen zweiten, gleichen, anschließbar, indem der Umschlag der hinteren Wand des ersten in die vordere Wand des zweiten eingehängt wird, wie in Fig. 1 in bezug auf die Behandlungseinheiten B und B′ veranschaulicht. Gleicherweise weist der Deckel 37 am rückwärtigen Ende einen Randvorsprung 44 auf, der in Form und Lage in eine korrespondierende Nut 45 längs des vorderen Deckelrandes paßt, so daß bei geschlossenem Deckel der rückwärtige Randvorsprung 44 in die Nut 45′ des Deckels 37′ einer nachfolgenden Behandlungseinheit B′ eingreift. Auf dieselbe Art und Weise ist die Eingabeeinheit A mit einer Behandlungseinheit B verbindbar, weil sie ausgangsseitig dieselben Anschlußelemente aufweist, wie die Behandlungseinheit selbst.The treatment unit is designed in such a way that several units that are identical to one another can be assembled into different device configurations, depending on the type of treatment process envisaged. For this purpose, the rear wall 14 of the container 12 has an envelope 43 at the upper edge, which fits in shape and position in the upper edge of the front wall 13. A container is thus connected to a second, the same, by hanging the envelope of the rear wall of the first in the front wall of the second, as illustrated in Fig. 1 in relation to the treatment units B and B '. Likewise, the cover 37 at the rear end has an edge projection 44 which fits in shape and position in a corresponding groove 45 along the front edge of the cover, so that when the cover is closed, the rear edge projection 44 into the groove 45 'of the cover 37' of a subsequent treatment unit B 'intervenes. In the same way, the input unit A can be connected to a treatment unit B because it has the same connection elements on the output side as the treatment unit itself.

Der Antrieb der Transportwalzen und der Förderschnecke ist aus Fig. 2 in Verbindung mit Fig. 3 ersichtlich. Die Walzenzapfen reichen stirnseitig aus dem Lagerschild 36 heraus und sind mit Zahnradpaaren 46-46', 47-47', 48-48' 49-49' und 50-50' für jedes Walzenpaar versehen. Die Zahnradpaare sind über Zwischenzahnräder 51 bis 54, die auf festen Bolzen 55 bis 58 des Lagerschildes 36 drehbar gelagert sind, miteinander in Eingriff. Mit dem Zahnradpaar 46-46' des ersten Walzenpaares ist ein weiteres Zahnrad 59 in Eingriff, das um einen festen Bolzen 60 drehbar ist und seinerseits mit einem Zahnrad 61 kämmt, das um einen festen Bolzen 62 drehbar ist und im Falle der Verbindung der Behandlungseinheit mit der Eingabeeinheit ein entsprechendes Zahnradpaar der Einzugswalzen 4-4' der Eingabeeinheit antreibt.The drive of the transport rollers and the screw conveyor can be seen from FIG. 2 in conjunction with FIG. 3. The roller journals protrude from the end of the end shield 36 and are provided with gear pairs 46-46 ', 47-47', 48-48 '49-49' and 50-50 'for each pair of rollers. The pairs of gears are in engagement with one another via intermediate gears 51 to 54, which are rotatably mounted on fixed bolts 55 to 58 of the end shield 36. The gear pair 46-46 'of the first pair of rollers is engaged by a further gear 59, which is rotatable about a fixed pin 60 and in turn meshes with a gear 61, which is rotatable about a fixed pin 62 and in the case of connection of the treatment unit to the input unit drives a corresponding gear pair of the feed rollers 4-4 'of the input unit.

Ein mehrere Stufen aufweisendes Stufenzahnrad 63 ist im oberen Teil des Lagerschildes 36 um einen fixen Bolzen 64 drehbar gelagert. Zwei drehfest miteinander verbundene Zahnräder 65 und 66 sind um einen gemeinsamen Bolzen 67 in solcher Lage drehbar, daß das eine in das Stufensahnrad 63 und das andere in eines der Zwischenzahnräder 51 bis 54 eingreift, wodurch die Bewegungsübertragung vom Stufenzahnrad auf die Transportwalzen hergestellt wird. Der Bolzen 67 ist wahlweise in eine von mehreren auf dem Lagerschild angeordneten und mit einem Gewinde versehenen Bohrungen 68 bis 71 versetzbar, wobei die Zahnräder 65 und 66 des sich um den Bolzen drehenden Zahnradpaares je nach Position des Bolzens in das Stufenzahnrad 63 auf einer beStimmten Stufe und in ein bestimmtes der Zwischenzahnräder 51 bis 54 eingreifen. In der in der Fig. 3 dargestellten Konfiguration sitzt der Bolzen 67 in der Bohrung 71, welche dadurch in der Zeichnung nicht sichtbar ist. Um den Eingriff mit dem Stufenzahnrad 63 auf Stufen in verschiedenen Ebenen zu ermöglichen, ist der axiale Abstand der Zahnräder 65, 66 einstellbar. Zu diesem Zwecke ist das äußere Zahnrad 65 auf einer Auflagehülse 72, die geeignete Rastelemente aufweist, verschiebbar. Es ist ohne weiteres verständlich, daß die einzelnen Bohrungen 69 bis 71, deren jede eine Position für das Zahnradpaar 65, 66 festlegt, ebensovielen Übersetzungsverhältnissen und damit unterschiedlichen Drehgeschwindigkeiten der Transportwalzen entsprechen. Die Vorschubgeschwindigkeit des zu behandelnden Materials ist somit durch einfaches Versetzen des Bolzens des Zahnradpaares 65, 66 von einer Position in eine andere veränderbar.A multi-stage gear 63 is rotatably mounted in the upper part of the end shield 36 about a fixed bolt 64. Two rotatably connected gears 65 and 66 are rotatable about a common pin 67 in such a position that one engages in the step gear 63 and the other in one of the intermediate gears 51 to 54, whereby the transmission of movement from the step gear to the transport rollers is established. The pin 67 is optionally displaceable in one of several holes 68 to 71 arranged on the end shield and provided with a thread, the gear wheels 65 and 66 of the gear pair rotating around the pin depending on the position of the pin in the step gear 63 at a specific step and engage a specific one of the intermediate gears 51 to 54. In the configuration shown in FIG. 3, the bolt 67 is seated in the bore 71, which is therefore not visible in the drawing. To engage the step gear 63 To enable steps on different levels, the axial distance between the gears 65, 66 is adjustable. For this purpose, the outer gear 65 is displaceable on a support sleeve 72, which has suitable locking elements. It is readily understandable that the individual bores 69 to 71, each of which defines a position for the gear pair 65, 66, correspond to as many gear ratios and thus different rotational speeds of the transport rollers. The feed rate of the material to be treated can thus be changed from one position to another simply by moving the pin of the gear pair 65, 66.

Die Förderschnecke 32 wird vom Stufenzahnrad 63 aus über ein Zahnrad 73 auf der Drehachse der Schnecke angetrieben. Vorzugsweise ist das Zahnrad 73 austauschbar, um den Eingriff in das Stufenzahnrad 63 wahlweise auf einer der beiden innersten Stufen zu ermöglichen und so zwei verschiedene Drehgeschwindigkeiten der Förderschnecke zu erzielen.The screw conveyor 32 is driven from the step gear 63 via a gear 73 on the axis of rotation of the screw. The gear 73 is preferably interchangeable in order to enable the engagement in the step gear 63 optionally on one of the two innermost steps and thus to achieve two different rotational speeds of the screw conveyor.

Eine Antriebseinheit 74 (Fig. 2) umfaßt einen Elektromotor 75, auf dessen Drehwelle 76 ein Zahnrad 77 sitzt, das von oben in das Stufenzahnrad 63 eingreift. Die Antriebseinheit 74 bildet im übrigen eine abnehmbare modulare Einheit, die mittels geeigneter Anschlußelemente ihres Gehäuses mit der Behandlungseinheit verbindbar ist. Das Gehäuse liegt auf einer an der Stirnwand 16 des Behälters 12 hervortretenden Auflagefläche 78 auf und ist an dieser mittels eines Ösenhakens 79, der vom Gehäuseboden ausgeht und in eine Öse 80 der Auflagefläche eingreift, festgehalten. Eine Längsnut 81 im Gehäuseboden paßt in eine leistenförmige Erhebung 82 der Auflagefläche, so daß eine lichtdichte Verbindung mit der Stirnwand 16 des Behälters entsteht. Eine Wandverlängerung 83 des Gehäuses ruht auf dem Lagerschild 36 und weist am unteren Ende einen Umschlag 84 auf, der einen Randvorsprung 85 des Deckels 37 in Schließstellung aufnimmt. Im Gehäuse der Antriebseinheit ist auch die Stromversorgungsschaltung 86 für eine Heizspirale 87 untergebracht, die Teil der modularen abnehmbaren Einheit ist und in das Behandlungsbad taucht.A drive unit 74 (FIG. 2) comprises an electric motor 75, on the rotary shaft 76 of which a gear 77 is seated, which meshes with the step gear 63 from above. The drive unit 74 also forms a removable modular unit which can be connected to the treatment unit by means of suitable connection elements in its housing. The housing rests on a bearing surface 78 protruding from the end wall 16 of the container 12 and is held on this by means of an eyelet hook 79 which extends from the housing bottom and engages in an eyelet 80 of the bearing surface. A longitudinal groove 81 in the housing base fits into a strip-shaped elevation 82 of the support surface, so that a light-tight connection with the end wall 16 of the container is created. A wall extension 83 of the housing rests on the end shield 36 and has an envelope 84 at the lower end, which receives an edge projection 85 of the cover 37 in the closed position. The power supply circuit 86 for a heating coil 87, which is part of the modular, removable unit and is immersed in the treatment bath, is also accommodated in the housing of the drive unit.

Die Fig. 4 zeigt die Antriebseinheit in einem vereinfachten Querschnitt und beschränkt auf die Teile zur Veranschaulichung der gegenseitigen Verbindung von Antriebseinheiten aufeinanderfolgender Behandlungseinheiten. Wie aus der Figur ersichtlich ist, weist das Gehäuse der Antriebseinheit an der Vorderseite unten eine Verlängerung 88 auf, die den Stecker 89a eines elektrischen Steckverbinders aufnimmt, während das Gehäuse an der rückwärtigen Seite einen in Form und Lage an die Verlängerung 88 angepaßten Rücktritt 90 aufweist, der die Buchse 89b desselben Steckverbinders aufnimmt. Stecker und Buchse einer selben Antriebseinheit sind miteinander elektrisch verbunden. Die Anordnung ist derart, daß beim Verbinden der Antriebseinheiten zweier aufeinanderfolgender Behandlungseinheiten der rückwärtige Rücktritt 90 der einen Antriebseinheit mit der vorderseitigen Verlängerung 88′ der anderen übereinstimmt und der Stecker 89a in die Buchse 89b eingreift, wodurch die elektrische Verbindung zwischen den beiden Antriebseinheiten hergestellt ist. Gleicherweise weist die Eingabeeinheit ausgangsseitig einen ähnlichen Rücktritt 90′ auf, der seinerseits eine Buchse 89′b des Steckverbinders aufnimmt und in die Verlängerung 88 einer nachfolgenden Antriebseinheit paßt. Der Steckverbinder der Eingabeeinheit ist an ein Stromversorgungskabel angeschlossen, so daß mit der Verbindung mehrerer, zu aufeinanderfolgenden Behandlungseinheiten gehörender Antriebseinheiten und der Eingabeeinheit mit einer ersten Behandlungseinheit die elektrische Stromversorgung für das gesamte Gerät automatisch hergestellt ist. Ein Schalter an der Eingabeeinheit ist somit Hauptschalter für die elektrischen Teile aller Behandlungseinheiten.FIG. 4 shows the drive unit in a simplified cross section and restricted to the parts for illustrating the mutual connection of drive units of successive treatment units. As can be seen from the figure, the housing of the drive unit has an extension 88 at the front at the bottom, which receives the plug 89a of an electrical connector, while the housing on the rear side has a step 90, which is adapted in shape and position to the extension 88 , which receives the socket 89b of the same connector. The plug and socket of the same drive unit are electrically connected to each other. The arrangement is such that when the drive units of two successive treatment units are connected, the backward withdrawal 90 of one drive unit matches the front extension 88 'of the other and the plug 89a engages in the socket 89b, as a result of which the electrical connection between the two drive units is established. Similarly, the input unit has a similar withdrawal 90 'on the output side, which in turn receives a socket 89'b of the connector and fits into the extension 88 of a subsequent drive unit. The connector of the input unit is connected to a power supply cable, so that with the connection of several, to successive treatment units belonging drive units and the input unit with a first treatment unit, the electrical power supply for the entire device is automatically established. A switch on the input unit is therefore the main switch for the electrical parts of all treatment units.

Die Deckwand 91 des Gehäuses der Antriebseinheit weist am vorderen Rand eine Längsnut 92 und am gegenüberliegenden Ende einen Randvorsprung 93 auf, die formschlüssige Verbindungselemente für aufeinanderfolgende Einheiten bilden. Ähnlich weist der Boden 94 eine Nut 95 auf, in die eine Erhebung 96 der Auflagefläche 78 paßt (Fig. 2).The top wall 91 of the housing of the drive unit has a longitudinal groove 92 at the front edge and an edge projection 93 at the opposite end, which form positive connection elements for successive units. Similarly, the bottom 94 has a groove 95 into which an elevation 96 of the bearing surface 78 fits (FIG. 2).

Der Elektromotor 75 ist ein mit Netzfrequenz laufender Synchronmotor, womit gewährleistet ist, daß die Vorschubgeschwindigkeit des Blattmaterials in den einzelnen Behandlungseinheiten rigoros gleich ist. Die Ausstattung jeder Behandlungseinheit mit einer eigenen Antriebseinheit hat unter anderem den Vorteil, daß der Elektromotor ausschließlich im Hinblick auf die einzelne Einheit zu bemessen ist, ohne Rücksicht auf die Anzahl der aneinandergefügten Behandlungseinheiten. Das gleiche gilt für die Heizeinrichtung, die ebenfalls nach dem Bad der einzelnen Behandlungseinheit bemessen ist. Die Vereinigung des elektrischen Antriebs und der Heizungseinrichtung zu einer abnehmbaren modularen Antriebs- und Heizungseinheit bringt eine vollständige Trennung der elektrischen Teile vom Rest des Gerätes mit sich mit offensichtlichen Vorteilen hinsichtlich Pflege und Wartung des Gerätes.The electric motor 75 is a synchronous motor running at the mains frequency, which ensures that the feed speed of the sheet material is rigorously the same in the individual treatment units. Equipping each treatment unit with its own drive unit has the advantage, among other things, that the electric motor is to be dimensioned exclusively with regard to the individual unit, regardless of the number of treatment units joined together. The same applies to the heating device, which is also dimensioned after the bath of the individual treatment unit. The combination of the electric drive and the heating device to form a removable modular drive and heating unit results in a complete separation of the electrical parts from the rest of the device with obvious advantages in terms of care and maintenance of the device.

Aus der vorhergehenden Beschreibung geht hervor, wie die einzelne Behandlungseinheit aus einem Badbehälter, einer Walzeneinheit, einer Antriebs- und Heizungseinheit und einem Abdeckteil zusammengesetzt ist und wie mehrere so zusammengesetzte gleiche Behandlungseinheiten miteinander und mit einer Eingabeeinheit verbindbar sind. Der Zusammenbau beginnt mit der Behandlungseinheit, die letztlich den Geräteabschluß bilden soll und schreitet zu den jeweils vorhergehenden Einheiten weiter, bis als letzte die Eingabeeinheit an der Gerätekopfseite angesetzt wird. Umgekehrt beginnt der Auseinanderbau des Gerätes mit dem Abnehmen der Eingabeeinheit und geht der Reihe nach weiter bis zur Schlußeinheit. Es sei darauf hingewiesen, daß durch die zwingende Reihenfolge des Aufsetzens der Eingabeeinheit als letztes und deren Abnahme als erstes gewährleistet ist, daß alle Behandlungseinheiten während des Auf- und Abbaus des Gerätes stromlos sind, da einzig und allein die Eingabeeinheit unmittelbar an das Netz anschließbar ist.The preceding description shows how the individual treatment unit consists of a bath container, a roller unit, a drive and heating unit and a cover part is composed and how a plurality of identical treatment units composed in this way can be connected to one another and to an input unit. The assembly begins with the treatment unit, which is ultimately intended to form the end of the device, and continues to the preceding units until the input unit is placed last on the device head side. Conversely, the disassembly of the device begins with the removal of the input unit and continues in sequence to the final unit. It should be noted that the mandatory sequence of placing the input unit last and removing it first ensures that all treatment units are de-energized during the assembly and disassembly of the device, since only the input unit can be connected directly to the network .

In einer für die Verarbeitung von Schwarz-Weißmaterial vorgesehenen Ausbaustufe setzt sich die Entwicklungsmaschine aus der Eingabeeinheit und zwei Behandlungseinheiten zusammen, von denen die erste eine Entwicklerlösung und die zweite Waschwasser, vorzugsweise Fließwasser enthält, das über einen Einlauf einläuft und über den Überlauf abfließt. In einer für die Verarbeitung von Farbmaterial eines bestimmten Typs vorgesehenen Ausbaustufe ist die Behandlungseinheit mit dem Entwicklerbad von einer Behandlungseinheit mit einem Bleich-Fixierbad gefolgt und letztere wieder von der Wässerungseinheit. Andere Behandlungsprozesse für Farbmaterial erfordern gesonderte Bäder für Bleichen und für Fixieren, so daß eine weitere Behandlungseinheit hinzukommt. Andere Prozesse können eine noch größere Anzahl getrennter Behandlungsphasen umfassen und die Hinzunahme weiterer Behandlungseinheiten mit entsprechenden Behandlungslösungen erforderlich machen. Eine zusätzliche, eigens dazu eingerichtete Einheit kann im Anschluß an die Wässerungseinheit als Trockner für das Blattmaterial nach der Waschphase vorgesehen sein. Die Behandlungszeiten sind an die verschiedenen Prozesse anpaßbar, indem die Durchlaufgeschwindigkeit des zu behandelnden Materials durch Wahl des entsprechenden Übersetzungsverhältnisses im Antrieb der Transportwalzen verändert wird, wie weiter oben beschrieben ist.In an expansion stage intended for the processing of black and white material, the development machine is composed of the input unit and two treatment units, of which the first contains a developer solution and the second wash water, preferably running water, which flows in via an inlet and flows off via the overflow. In an expansion stage provided for the processing of color material of a certain type, the treatment unit with the developer bath is followed by a treatment unit with a bleach-fix bath and the latter again by the washing unit. Other treatment processes for coloring material require separate baths for bleaching and for fixing, so that a further treatment unit is added. Other processes may involve an even greater number of separate treatment phases and may require the addition of further treatment units with appropriate treatment solutions. An additional unit specially set up for this purpose can be connected to the watering unit be provided as a dryer for the sheet material after the washing phase. The treatment times can be adapted to the different processes by changing the throughput speed of the material to be treated by selecting the appropriate transmission ratio in the drive of the transport rollers, as described above.

Dank der lichtdichten Ankoppelung der einzelnen Behandlungseinheiten aneinander und des lichtdichten Verschlusses derselben nach außen, durchläuft das belichtete Blatt die aufeinanderfolgenden Behandlungseinheiten in einer lichtgeschützten Bahn, so daß mit Ausnahme der Blatteingabe der gesamte Arbeitsablauf im Hellraum erfolgen kann. Die Eingabeeinheit bietet im übrigen Raum für die Aufnahme eines ganzen Blattes und der Klappdeckel kann geschlossen werden, sobald das Blatt von den Einzugswalzen erfaßt ist.Thanks to the light-tight coupling of the individual treatment units to one another and the light-tight closure of the same to the outside, the exposed sheet passes through the successive treatment units in a light-protected path, so that with the exception of the sheet input, the entire workflow can take place in the bright room. The input unit also offers space for a whole sheet and the hinged lid can be closed as soon as the sheet is gripped by the feed rollers.

Claims (13)

  1. Continuous processing machine for photographic material, especially photograph paper in sheet form, with an infeed device for the exposed sheet material, a first and a number of further processing units (B, B') substantially of the same construction, each of which has a processing tank (12) to receive different processing baths, and with a set of transport rollers (18-22), and transport means in each processing unit comprising a drive to convey the material to be processed through a processing bath, characterised in that
    - the infeed device is in the form of a structural unit (A);
    - the infeed unit (A) and each processing unit (B, B') have connecting means (13, 43-45) for coupling each processing unit to the next and for coupling the first processing unit to the infeed unit (A), for assembly of the processing machine as a modular system consisting of the infeed unit (A), the first and the number of further processing units (B, B'); and that
    - the transport means comprise electrical drives (75-77), the electrical drive of the first processing unit being fed from the infeed unit (A), and the electrical drives of successive processing units (B, B') being fed from the respective preceding processing unit.
  2. Processing machine according to Claim 1, characterised in that each processing unit (B, B') has mechanical setting means to set the transmission ratio between the electrical drive (75-77) and the set of transport rollers (18-22), corresponding to a discrete series of different advance speeds for the sheet material to be processed.
  3. Processing machine according to Claim 1, characterised in that the bath tank (12) has a removable lid (37) which closes off the bath tank in a lightproof manner while leaving an inlet and an outlet channel for the sheet material, and that the tank and the lid have, on opposite sides in the run-through direction of the material, interlocking connecting elements (43-45) for the lightproof connection of one bath tank to the next.
  4. Processing machine according to Claim 3, characterised in that the connecting elements have interlocking tongue and groove parts at the connecting points.
  5. Processing machine according to Claim 1, characterised in that each roller of the set of transport rollers (18-22) has a gearwheel and the gearwheels (46-50) of the set of rollers are connected to one another and to the electrical drive for movement by way of toothed gearing.
  6. Processing machine according to Claim 5, characterised in that the toothed gearing has a step gearwheel (63) engaging with the electrical drive (75-77) and a coupling link (65-66) between the step gearwheel (63) and the gearwheels (46-50) of the set of rollers, the step gearwheel having several steps and the coupling link being able to be set against the different steps of the step gearwheel in order to obtain different transmission ratios.
  7. Processing machine according to Claim 6, characterised in that the coupling link consists of two coaxial gearwheels (65, 66) which are connected to each other so as not to be rotatable relative to each other and are rotatable about a common bolt (67) which can be set into different positions, one of the gearwheels (65) engaging with the step gearwheel (63) on a step determined by the position of the bolt (67) and the other (66) with the series of roller gearwheels.
  8. Processing machine according to Claim 1, characterised in that each processing unit has a housing which has reciprocally interlocking connecting elements (79-92; 95, 96) and can be set onto the bath tank, and the housing accommodates the electrical drive (75) and an electrical heating device (86) for the processing bath, the electrical drive, the electrical heating device and the housing together forming a removable drive and heating unit.
  9. Processing machine according to Claim 8, characterised in that the housing has at opposite ends plug-in connectors (89a, 89b) which are complementary to one another and electrically connected to one another and by way of which the drive and heating unit of each bath tank receives the current supply from the preceding processing unit and transmits it to the following unit.
  10. Processing machine according to Claim 1, characterised in that the electrical drive comprises a synchronous motor operating at the mains frequency.
  11. Processing machine according to Claim 1, characterised in that each processing unit has means for circulating the processing bath which are mechanically actuated by the electrical drive of the transport rollers.
  12. Processing machine according to Claim 11, characterised in that the circulating means comprise a conveyor worm (32) which is rotatable in the central region of the bath tank (12) about an axis (33) parallel to the transport rollers, and is driven by way of the toothed gearing of the transport rollers.
  13. Processing machine according to Claim 1, characterised in that the infeed unit has a receiving chamber, which can be closed in a lightproof manner with a hinged lid (3), for a sheet of photographic material that is to be processed, and is equipped with a pair of draw-in rollers (4-4') which is driven by the gearwheel drive of the following processing unit.
EP89113661A 1988-07-25 1989-07-25 A continuous processing machine for photographic sheet material Expired - Lifetime EP0352720B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT89113661T ATE100949T1 (en) 1988-07-25 1989-07-25 CONTINUOUS DEVELOPMENT MACHINE FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC SHEET MATERIAL.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT8804844A IT1224924B (en) 1988-07-25 1988-07-25 CONTINUOUS DEVELOPER MACHINE FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIAL IN FORMAT.
IT484488 1988-07-25

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0352720A2 EP0352720A2 (en) 1990-01-31
EP0352720A3 EP0352720A3 (en) 1990-09-12
EP0352720B1 true EP0352720B1 (en) 1994-01-26

Family

ID=11114874

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP89113661A Expired - Lifetime EP0352720B1 (en) 1988-07-25 1989-07-25 A continuous processing machine for photographic sheet material

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US4922276A (en)
EP (1) EP0352720B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2851308B2 (en)
AT (1) ATE100949T1 (en)
DE (1) DE58906803D1 (en)
IT (1) IT1224924B (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0352720A2 (en) 1990-01-31
ATE100949T1 (en) 1994-02-15
JP2851308B2 (en) 1999-01-27
IT8804844A0 (en) 1988-07-25
DE58906803D1 (en) 1994-03-10
IT1224924B (en) 1990-10-29
US4922276A (en) 1990-05-01
JPH0268553A (en) 1990-03-08
EP0352720A3 (en) 1990-09-12

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