EP1182502A1 - Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Entwicklung von photographischen Materialien und Behälter für Entwicklungsflüssigkeit - Google Patents

Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Entwicklung von photographischen Materialien und Behälter für Entwicklungsflüssigkeit Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1182502A1
EP1182502A1 EP01118767A EP01118767A EP1182502A1 EP 1182502 A1 EP1182502 A1 EP 1182502A1 EP 01118767 A EP01118767 A EP 01118767A EP 01118767 A EP01118767 A EP 01118767A EP 1182502 A1 EP1182502 A1 EP 1182502A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
processing
photographic material
transport
liquid
processing liquid
Prior art date
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP01118767A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Eni Scoleddaro
Ennio Pessot
Fabrizio Giusti
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
San Marco Imaging SRL
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San Marco Imaging SRL
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by San Marco Imaging SRL filed Critical San Marco Imaging SRL
Priority to EP01118767A priority Critical patent/EP1182502A1/de
Publication of EP1182502A1 publication Critical patent/EP1182502A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • 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
    • G03D3/02—Details of liquid circulation
    • G03D3/06—Liquid supply; Liquid circulation outside tanks

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a device and a process for processing photographic material.
  • the present invention relates to the processing of photographic films and to a process for processing photographic films.
  • the present invention relates to a processing vessel for processing photographic material.
  • the present invention relates to a storage cartridge or storage container for storing processing liquid for processing photographic material.
  • processors for processing photographic material usually have several problems.
  • the processing liquid has to be heated to a particular temperature and because of the large surface area of the heated processing liquid, a significant amount of liquid is evaporated. This causes a considerable loss of processing liquid and an unexpected alteration of the mixture or combination of the different processing liquids.
  • the use of processing liquids is accompanied by the risk that the at least partially dangerous processing liquids can come into contact with an operator of the processor.
  • the processing channel generally has a U-shaped configuration with an entrance section, a processing section and an exit section, for processing the photographic material.
  • a nozzle is usually arranged in the narrow processing channel for supplying the processing liquid to treat the photographic material.
  • this prior art also only discloses a large volume processing vessel, wherein on the one hand the processing channel itself is narrow, while on the other hand the voluminous entrance and exit sections also have to be kept completely under the surface of the processing liquid, e.g. a developer solution, a bleaching solution, a fixing solution or a stabiliser solution.
  • a processing liquid e.g. a developer solution, a bleaching solution, a fixing solution or a stabiliser solution.
  • a processing vessel for processing photographic material comprising a low volume processing and transport channel with an entrance and an exit portion for including a processing bath.
  • a processing bath preferably has a volume between 5 ml and 30 ml, and in particular a volume between 10 and 20 ml. This also depends on the type of processing chemistry which is applied. The above figs. are valid where C 41 type chemistry is used and where higher temperatures are used for the different processing baths.
  • the processing vessel also comprises a replenishment portion for supplying processing liquid to said processing bath, and a withdrawal portion for withdrawing processing liquid from the processing bath. The replenishment portion is located near the entrance portion and the withdrawal portion is located near the exit portion.
  • the level of the processing bath can be held between the replenishment portion and the withdrawal portion and there is a stream of processing liquid, said stream being initiated at the replenishment portion and continuing through the processing and transport channel towards the withdrawal portion.
  • the processing bath is defined by the area between the replenishment portion and the withdrawal portion.
  • transport means are assigned to the processing vessel in accordance with the invention, said transport means being provided at least either on the entrance or the exit portion, such that said transport means are essentially not in contact with the processing bath.
  • a storage container for storing a processing liquid for processing photographic material comprises at least one collapsible tank for a fresh processing liquid and at least one collapsible tank for an exhausted processing liquid.
  • this tank collapses and the other collapsible tank is expanded since exhausted processing liquid is injected into this tank.
  • this new type of storage container or storage cartridge does not need twice the space, which is necessary for including the unexhausted or fresh processing liquid and essentially the same amount of exhausted processing liquid. Since this new and inventive storage container or storage cartridge can be constructed smaller, it is simultaneously possible to manufacture this container or cartridge less expensively. And finally, since any pressure excesses or partial vacuums are used to collapse or to expand the respective tanks in a storage container, there are no problems with compensating for the pressure excesses and partial vacuums occurring in the different tanks.
  • the tanks are included in a mechanically stable and/or rigid container having a constant volume, in which said tanks are collapsible and/or expandable in relation to each other.
  • This additional feature guarantees that the collapsible tanks can not be damaged and that the collapsible tanks cannot be expanded in any unexpected directions, such that they could be damaged by the surroundings.
  • the collapsible tanks or soft tanks together mainly occupy the complete inner space of the stable and/or rigid container.
  • the processing vessel according to one of the aspects of the present invention can be used as one of a sequence of consecutive processing vessels, each of said processing vessel having an entrance portion and an exit portion, and at least one of the processing vessels having a low volume processing and transport channel in between, said processing and transport channel(s) being connected to a processing liquid replenishment portion and a withdrawal portion, for replenishing and withdrawing said processing liquid, wherein the replenishing portion is arranged near the entrance portion of the processing and transport channel and the withdrawal portion is arranged near the exit portion of the processing and transport channel, so that the level of the processing liquid is held within the processing and transport channel.
  • the low amount of processing liquid and the very small surface area of the corresponding processing bath allows the device in accordance with the present invention to be maintained over a long period of time without being used, and allows very small amounts of photographic material to be processed. For instance, it is possible to process one negative film per week and to maintain the processing liquid in the system of the device according to the invention and to use the same processing bath for hundreds of films just afterwards, and so on.
  • the device in accordance with the invention allows such unequal cycles because the processing liquid only has a very small surface area in contact with the environment and which can react with the ambient air of the environment, such that the composition of the processing liquid can only be affected over very long time periods.
  • a very low volume processing channel can be used in accordance with the invention because, particularly for undeveloped negative film, the photographic material is transported in the same direction as the processing liquid in a recycling arrangement where the processing liquid is heated such as to be kept at a particular processing temperature.
  • a C41 type chemistry is used, for processing and in particular for developing undeveloped negative film, i.e. 135 film and APS film, and the processing temperature has to be raised to be within the range 45 °C to 50 °C at least for the developer bath.
  • the developer bath needs to be kept at a set temperature within a tolerance of ⁇ 0.3 °C. At about this temperature of 45 to 50 °C, it is preferable to develop each area of a photosensitive film for 45 to 50 sec.
  • the film will remain fpr the same time period in each of the different baths since all other processing and transport channels of the consecutive processing vessels have the same size.
  • the developer bath is the most critical bath for the photographic material whether, it is a photosensitive film or a photosensitive print paper, it is sufficient to control the temperature of the developer bath, and to control all other processing baths in depending on the temperature of the developer bath only.
  • the transport means for instance several pairs of transport rollers, are kept dry during the process. Only the photographic material to be processed can convey processing liquid to the transport means, but only to a very small degree.
  • the recirculation in accordance with the present invention also includes a recovery portion, in order to be able to withdraw exhausted processing liquid from the cycle.
  • This exhausted liquid is filled into a recovery tank within a cartridge which can also include the fresh processing liquid which is supplied to each of the recirculation cycles to replace exhausted processing liquids.
  • the processing liquid and in particular the developer, is directed from the replenishment portion towards an emulsion side of the photographic material, such that the processing liquid has a very close direct contact with the side of the photographic material to be treated. Furthermore, since both the photographic material and the processing liquid are conveyed in the same direction, co-currently with each other, it is possible to avoid turbulences as much as possible, so that the processing reaction, in particular during the development reaction, can be kept equal over the complete surface of the sensitive emulsion side of the photographic material.
  • the device for processing photographic material comprises a sequence of consecutive processing vessels, each of said processing vessels having an entrance portion and an exit portion, and at least one of them having a low volume processing and transport channel in between, said processing and transport channel(s) being connected to a processing liquid replenishment portion and a withdrawal portion for replenishing and withdrawing said processing liquid, wherein transport means are assigned to the processing vessel having said low volume processing and transport channel, said transport means being arranged outside of the processing volume, so that there is no contact with the processing liquid, wherein cleaning means are arranged to clean the transport means.
  • the transport means for instance pairs of rollers, are arranged outside of the processing volume and thus outside of the processing bath, processing bath ingredient can crystallise on the transport means and dirt particles can accumulate thereon, it is necessary to clean the transport means, because dirt and/or crystallised ingredients, of the processing liquid could otherwise damage the photographic material and in particular the emulsion side of the photographic material.
  • cleaning means clean the transport means, in particular after the device has stood idle.
  • the cleaning means can supply only a few drops of distilled water or the like, to dissolve crystallised ingredients of the processing liquid and rinse away dirt particles so that the transport means are clean and cannot scratch the photosensitive film and, generally speaking, the photographic material to be processed. It is sufficient to supply only a few drops of cleaning liquid and to withdraw the used cleaning liquid either by sucking off the cleaning liquid or by evaporating the cleaning liquid. Of course, it is also possible to use a blade or the like to scrape any particles from the transport means.
  • the cleaning of the transport means is particularly useful or necessary if, after a long period of time idle, photographic material has to be processed. Accordingly, sensor means should be provided near the entrance portion of a first processing vessel of the processing and transport channel, to activate the cleaning means. Accordingly, when photographic material approaches the processor in accordance with the invention, the cleaning means are activated and spray cleaning liquid onto the transport means, so that crystallised ingredients of the processing liquid can be dissolved and dirt can be rinsed from the surface of the transport means, in particular a pair of transport rollers.
  • transport rollers it is also possible for instance to use transport webs, or in the case of photosensitive film, sprockets, engaging into the transport perforations along both edges of the photographic film web.
  • a process for processing photographic material comprising the steps that an exposed photographic material web enters a first processing bath included in a low volume processing and transport channel, and a developer solution in said first bath is conveyed in a direction co-current with the transport direction of the photographic material web.
  • the developer solution should have a component of an incident angle which is directed towards the emulsion side of the photographic material.
  • the respective processing liquid is circulated.
  • the processing liquid, and in particular the developer are heated to very close to a set temperature value.
  • Fig. 1 a preferred embodiment of a device with features in accordance with the invention is referred to by the reference number 10.
  • the device 10 includes a film processor, and a film scanner 40 with a film storage 43.
  • the scanner 40 has a re-order entrance 44 which can be used to enter and scan already developed films.
  • the scanner can of course be used for 135 films and APS films.
  • the film processor 11 includes a load entrance 45 for supplying cartridges with exposed photosensitive films to be entered into the wet-part of the processor 11.
  • a load entrance 45 for supplying cartridges with exposed photosensitive films to be entered into the wet-part of the processor 11.
  • the entrance 45 can be a part of an entrance compartment 38 for different purposes, for instance for connecting film cartridges light tight to the wet part of the processor 11, to be supplied to a secondary entrance 46 and processed in the wet part of the processor 11.
  • the film processor 11 includes several processing vessels 12, 14, 16, 18 which are arranged in a consecutive row. Between the consecutive processing vessels 12, 14, 16, 18 several transport means 20 are provided. In the present case, the transport means 20 are formed by means of pairs of transport rollers 20 which will be described in more detail with respect to a particular embodiment, later.
  • the transport means 20 are driven by one or more electric motors 50, and the driving force is transmitted to the transport means 20 through a gear arrangement 36. It is also possible to use a gear arrangement between consecutive transport means 20. On the other hand, it is also possible to use a belt drive or a chain drive. It is of particular importance to convey the film through the different vessels or channels without any significant slippage, not to damage the film or to put any strain on the film.
  • the first processing vessel 12 is directed to the developing process.
  • the second processing vessel 14 is directed to a bleaching process and the third processing vessel 16 relates to a fixing process.
  • the last three processing vessels 18 are involved in a stabilising process.
  • the film 42 is directed to a drier portion 41 where the developed film is dried, before being directed to the scanner 40.
  • the film processor 11 includes a heater arrangement 22, and the processing liquid in the processing vessels 12, 14, 16, 18 is pumped through the heater arrangement 22 to be adjusted to a particular pre-set temperature.
  • the transport means 20 are located outside of the vessels 12, 14, 16 and 18 and accordingly, the transport means are kept dry and any liquid arriving at the transport means can only do so because the liquid adheres to the surface of the photosensitive film.
  • all of the processing vessels 12, 14, 16, 18 have a low volume processing and transport channel through which the films to be developed, bleached, fixed and stabilised are transported and in which they are processed.
  • the level of the processing liquid in all the different channels which will be described in detail later, is adjusted so that the liquid can be kept in the channels and so that the length of the processing and transportation channels remains the same so that the processing time can be kept constant.
  • a sensor means (not shown) which provides an electric control signal if a film web or a film strip is approaching the row of the vessels. If the sensor means detects an incoming film strip, the processing liquid in the processing and transport channels 13 is recycled, to warm up the processing liquid to the pre-set temperature value.
  • a sensor means which detects the end of the last film introduced into the processor 11, in which case the recycling and the heating of the processing liquid is stopped to save energy, to avoid evaporation of processing liquid, and so on.
  • each of the pairs of transport rollers is provided with a cleaning means, for instance a kind of spraying apparatus, or a blade or the like, to clean the surface of the transport rollers, so that damaging or scratching of the emulsion side of the film strip can be avoided. Accordingly, after a particular pre-set time period has lapsed during which no processing has occurred, cleaning liquid can be dripped or sprayed onto the pairs of rollers, and the used cleaning liquid can be pumped off or evaporated. Since it is only necessary to supply a few drops of cleaning liquid, for instance distilled water, the used cleaning liquid can easily be evaporated.
  • a number of pumps are provided for the different processing liquids. These pumps 26, 28, 30, 32 are replenishing fresh processing liquids are stored which can be recycled in the recycle cycles, where the processing liquids are adjusted to a particular processing temperature.
  • a recovery tank which will be shown later, is arranged, and exhausted processing liquid can be conveyed from the processing vessels, i.e. the processing and transporting channels, to the recovery tank.
  • a tank 34 includes cleaning liquid, e.g. distilled water, to be supplied to the transport means 20 for cleaning purposes.
  • the processing liquid in the processing vessels 12, 14, 16, 18 are conveyed in the same direction as the photosensitive film to be processed.
  • the device 10 according to Fig. 1 can also be used by means of a process which can be described as follows: first, a film strip is entered through the entrance 46. A sensor means (not shown) detects that a film strip is approaching the first pair of transport rollers 20 in front of the entrance portion of the first processing vessel 12. If the device 11 is idle for a significant time period, a cleaning liquid is supplied to the first and also to other pairs of transport rollers 20, and the transport rollers are cleaned so that the film strip and in particular the emulsion side of the film strip cannot be damaged by dirt, crystallised ingredients of the processing liquids, or the like.
  • recycling of the developer bath, and immediately or subsequents of all of the other baths can be started in order to adjust the temperature of the developer baths and also of the other processing baths to the set processing temperatures.
  • Exhausted processing liquid can be replaced and the exhausted processing liquid can be withdrawn into a recovery tank.
  • the replacement processing liquid can be pumped by means of pumps 26, 28, 30, 32 into the processing bath, i.e. into the recycle cycles and therefore into the processing and transport channels 64.
  • the pump means can be a low power and low volume type pump, for instance a peristaltic pump.
  • processing liquids are conveyed in the same direction as the film itself.
  • the processing liquids are conveyed starting from a location near the entrance portion, through which the film strip enters a respective processing and transport channel.
  • the processing liquid is conveyed co-currently with respect to the film strip.
  • the consecutive row of processing vessels 12, 14, 16, 18 is connected to a variety of pump means 24, 25, 28, 30, 32, 34 on several tanks 110a, 110b, 110c, 100d with fresh processing liquids and a tank 120', all tanks being provided in a container 100' for exhausted processing liquid.
  • the pump blocks 28, 30, 32. 34 are each comprised of a replenishment pump for fresh processing liquids and a withdrawal pump for exhausted processing liquid. Accordingly, all the pumps on the left-hand sides of the blocks 28, 30, 32,. 34 are connected via connection pipes or tubes to the tank 120' for exhausted processing liquid. All the pumps on the right-hand sides of the blocks 28, 30, 32,34 are connected via pipes or the like to the tanks 110a, 110b, 110c, 110d for fresh processing liquids.
  • the tank 110a contains developer solution, the tank 110 b bleacher solution, the tank 110c fixer solution and the tank 110c stabiliser solution.
  • the container 100' can be constructed like the container 100 shown in figs. 7 to 9.
  • the individual pumps of the pump block 24 are connected to withdrawal portions 74a, 76, 78 in figs. 3 and 4 of all of the different processing vessels 12, 14, 16, 18 to recycle the processing liquid to be kept on moving for good processing efficiency and to be reheated in a heater block 22 to keep the processing liquid at a constant processing temperature.
  • the pumps of the pump block 25 are used for pumping the processing liquid, a stabiliser solution in this case, from the third stabiliser vessel, the last processing vessel in this row, to the second, and from the second to the first stabiliser vessel 18.
  • Fresh stabiliser is only introduced into the third stabiliser vessel 18, which then can also be exhausted in the two stabiliser vessels 18 arranged in front of two stabiliser vessels.
  • the control of the activation and deactivation can be accomplished by a timer circuit of a known layout, taking into account the length of the film web which has to pass the corresponding processing and transport vessels.
  • the length of the film web can be detected by the signal of a detector, e.g. a photoelectric detector, which detects the beginning and the end of a film web.
  • the replenishment of fresh processing liquid can be controlled, e.g., on the basis of the amount of processed film web, the length of which can be counted continuously by means of above-referred detector (not shown).
  • each of the processing vessels 12, 14, 16, 18 can be constructed as shown in Fig. 2.
  • Each of the processing vessels 12, 14, 16, 18 can be formed modularly. This means that each of the processing vessels 12, 14, 16, 18 can be replaced by another unit of the same type and construction.
  • Each of the processing units 12, 14, 16, 18 is comprised of an upper portion 60 and a lower portion 62 and between these two portions 60, 62 a low volume processing and transport channel 64 is formed. Accordingly, the upper border plane of the channel 64 is formed by the bottom end of the portion 60 and the lower boarder plane of the channel 64 is formed by the upper part of the lower portion 62.
  • An entrance 78 is arranged in the film transport direction at the beginning of the channel 64.
  • the entrance is funnel-shaped to render the introduction of the film strip more easy.
  • the pair of rollers 20 at the entrance 78 is provided with a cleaning means 67a, 67.
  • Cleaning liquid for instance drops of distilled water, can be supplied or sprayed onto the surface of the rollers via a pipe mouth 67a.
  • the cleaning liquid then can be conveyed either by gravity or by rotation of the rollers, or both, towards the lower roller of the pair of rollers 20 in order to clean this roller as well.
  • the exhausted cleaning liquid can drip into a collecting vessel 67, to be withdrawn by a pump means or to be evaporated by a heater or the like.
  • FIG. 1 Another example of a cleaning means 69 is depicted in relation to the pair of transport rollers 20a, 20b at the exit portion 77 of the processing unit 12, 14, 16, 18 according to Fig. 2. While the pair of transport rollers 20a, 20b located at an exit portion 76 of the processing units 12, 14, 16, 18 is formed like the pair of rollers at the entrance portion 78, the cleaning portion 69 is formed as a kind of blade in order to scrape dust, dirt or the like from the surface of one of the rollers. Of course, a corresponding blade 69 can also be mounted in relation to the roller 20a. The particular shape and function of a preferred embodiment of the rollers 20a, 20b will be described below with reference to Fig. 5.
  • a replenishment portion is provided through which it is possible to fill the processing and transport channel 64 with recycled and/or fresh processing liquid.
  • the processing liquid arrives at the replenishment portion 68 through a pipe 72 which is connected to a recycle pipe arrangement and a replenishment pipe arrangement.
  • the portion 68 will be described below with reference to Fig. 4.
  • a withdrawal portion 70 is provided which has the function of withdrawing the processing liquid to be recycled and reheated and, if necessary, refreshed. Furthermore, the withdrawal portion 70 includes a recovery portion through which exhausted processing liquid is withdrawn to be directed to a recovery tank (120, Fig. 7) for disposal purposes. The withdrawal portion 70 will be described in more detail with reference to Fig. 3.
  • the processing and transport channel 64 has, in cross section a disklike shape. This shape is very narrow at the ends 64a, 64b of the channel 64 which narrow ends 64a, 64b are working as a guide for the film strip. Towards the middle of the channel 64, the cross section becomes broader so that the processing liquid has free access to the surface of the film strip and in particular to the surface of the emulsion side of the film strip. Furthermore, the shape of the channel 64 depicted in Fig. 6 avoids that the emulsion side can contact the walls of the channel 64, which could damage the film strip, e.g. scratch the emulsion side of the film strip.
  • cross sectional shapes of the channel 64 can also be used.
  • the end sections as guide means, while the region between these end sections 64a, 64b issued for the process itself.
  • the cross-section of the channel has to be modified, e.g. the narrow end sections 64a, 64b extend more to the left and right, respectively.
  • a tube-like shape 80 is machined into at least one of the portions 60, 62 of the processing vessel of the processing units 12, 14, 16, 18.
  • a level sensor 82 is installed in the tube 80 and, if it senses that the level of the processing bath is too low, fresh processing liquid can be added to the recycling cycle and thus to the channel 64.
  • the level sensor 82 can also be placed elsewhere, for instance in either the replenishment portion 68 or the withdrawal portion 70.
  • Fig. 3 the withdrawal portion 70 is depicted together with the pair of transport rollers 20a, 20b behind it.
  • the withdrawal portion 70 is connected to a recycle pipe arrangement 74a and to a recovery pipe arrangement 74b.
  • Processing liquid is withdrawn through an opening 78 and through a gathering portion 76, to be reheated in the heater 22 according to Fig. 1. Afterwards, the reheated and, if necessary, refreshed processing liquid can be supplied to the processing and transport channel 64 through the replenishment portion 68.
  • a recovery opening 82 is provided for withdrawing exhausted processing liquid through the pipe arrangement 74b which is connected to a disposal tank, in order to expel the exhausted processing liquid from the process.
  • the pair of transport rollers 20a, 20b is comprised of a transport roller 20b having a smooth and rigid surface and of a roller 20a, preferably a squeeze roller having a softer outer layer 23 which should help to transport the film without slipping and which should also help to restrict the pressure acting on the film.
  • the film is transported through a nip 21 between the rollers 20b, 20a.
  • the replenishment portion 68 comprises a slit-like exit 84 through which the recycled processing liquid is directed towards the emulsion side of the photographic material to be processed.
  • the processing liquid is supplied to the slit 84 through a conduit or pipe 72.
  • the slit 84 can be replaced by a row of small orifices or the like.
  • the particular shape is not important while it is important to supply the processing liquid even and wall-balanced to each square unit of the emulsion side of the photographic film.
  • the pair of rollers 20a, 20b can be called a squeegee arrangement.
  • the roller 20a includes a soft rubber layer 23 which is supported by an axis 20c.
  • the surface of the soft rubber layer can be porous, which may also help to take care of the photographic material to be processed.
  • the photographic material is transported through the nip region 21.
  • the surface as well as the material of the lower roller 20b is rigid but smooth.
  • the two rollers are mechanically locked to each other by means of gears 25a, 25b, the sprockets of which engage with each other, such that the rotation of the two both rollers is locked with respect to each other.
  • all the other transport means, in particular pairs of transport roller, shown in fig. 1 are also mechanically locked to each other by means of gears or other sensible means. In principle all the transport means 20, 20a, 23b can be accomplished and work to same way.
  • the two rollers 20a, 20b are provided with additional support rims 20d.
  • Spring means are provided (not depicted) which are slidingly held in the rims 20d so that a pressing force acting between the two rollers 20a, 20b can on the one hand be provided and, on the other hand, can be restricted to the force of the closed-loop spring.
  • Fig. 7 shows a cartridge 100 or container for fresh processing liquid and for exhausted processing liquid.
  • the cartridge 100 comprises a rigid outer casing 106 and several collapsible containers 110, 120.
  • the collapsible containers 110, 120 can be connected through connection means 122 to the conduits or pipes to and/or from the different vessels and their processing and transport channels 64.
  • the cartridge 100 includes four collapsible tanks for fresh developer, bleacher, fixing liquid and stabiliser liquid. Furthermore, an additional collapsible tank 120 is covered by the rigid outer wall 106 of the cartridge 100, said tank 120 being for the recovery of exhausted processing liquid.
  • connection of the different tanks to their respective recycling cycles and processing and transport channels can be accomplished through injection connections with injection needles, through bayonet or twist lock connections, screw connections or comparable means.
  • the cartridge 100 or container of the present invention enable a very limited space to be used for the fresh and the exhausted processing liquid, since when the fresh processing liquid is increasingly consumed, the collapsible tanks 110 collapse and, at the same time the recovery tank 120 is increasingly expanded into the free volume which was previously occupied by the collapsible containers 110.
  • One or all of the different tanks 110, 120 can be provided with a level sensor to sense the amount of processing liquid whether exhausted or not in the respective tanks.
  • a level sensor to sense the amount of processing liquid whether exhausted or not in the respective tanks.
  • Figs. 8 and 9 the container according to Fig. 7 is shown in different cross sections. According to Figs. 8 and 9, the connection between the collapsible tanks and the respective pipe systems is accomplished at the lower end of the container 100 by means of injections needles.
  • the injection arrangements 124 penetrate through rubber plugs in the mouth areas 122 of the collapsible tanks 110. The same connection arrangement is used with the recovery or overflow tank 120.
  • the cartridge 100 only needs one space for the fresh processing liquid as well as for the exhausted processing liquid.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Photographic Processing Devices Using Wet Methods (AREA)
EP01118767A 2000-08-24 2001-08-08 Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Entwicklung von photographischen Materialien und Behälter für Entwicklungsflüssigkeit Withdrawn EP1182502A1 (de)

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EP01118767A EP1182502A1 (de) 2000-08-24 2001-08-08 Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Entwicklung von photographischen Materialien und Behälter für Entwicklungsflüssigkeit

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP00117387 2000-08-24
EP00117387 2000-08-24
EP01118767A EP1182502A1 (de) 2000-08-24 2001-08-08 Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Entwicklung von photographischen Materialien und Behälter für Entwicklungsflüssigkeit

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Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5043756A (en) * 1988-08-31 1991-08-27 Konica Corporation Automatic developing apparatus for a photosensitive material
US5778272A (en) * 1996-09-30 1998-07-07 Eastman Kodak Company Photographic processor and method of operation
EP0872766A1 (de) * 1997-04-17 1998-10-21 Eastman Kodak Company Photographisches Entwicklungsgerät
US5860037A (en) * 1996-01-31 1999-01-12 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Photosensitive material processing device

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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US5043756A (en) * 1988-08-31 1991-08-27 Konica Corporation Automatic developing apparatus for a photosensitive material
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