GB1012391A - Photographic method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1,012,391. Drying photographic film. FAIRCHILD CAMERA & INSTRUMENT CORPORATION. Feb. 28, 1964 [March 8, 1963], No. 8441/64. Heading G2A. [Also in Division F4] Wet photographic film is dried by covering the surface with a web of inert porous material, and then applying a powdered chemical drying agent. The latter may be applied to the web directly as a powder, as by sifting, blowing, &c., or it may be dispersed on the surface of a tape which is then brought into contact with the web. The tape may be of paper, or textile, or a plastics material such as polyethylene, and the drying powder may be pressed directly into the surface, or dispersed in an inert adhesive. Several suitable drying agents are mentioned, barium oxide being preferred. The porous web may itself be impregnated with a developer or fixer or monobath solution, being brought into contact with the film for processing thereof. Fig. 1 shows an apparatus comprising an exposure-taking camera section 11 and a processing and drying section 12, which sections may be secured together to act as a single unit. The film 15 is progressed by an intermittent drive from a supply spool 14 to pass through the gate 19 behind lens 21, where an exposure is made. The film then passes through an opening 24 into the rear section 12, where it is wound on to a take-up roll 42. Here there is also wound against it a porous web 53 impregnated with a monobath processing solution, and over that a drying tape 55 as described above, coming from respective supply reels 54, 56. The several layers are pressed into close contact by a spring- loaded roller 47. The multi-layered roll can then be dismounted, and the porous web and drying tape removed, leaving the fully processed and dried film ready for use. In order to close off the front camera section 11 completely if the rear section 12 is to be removed, a racked closure member 39 can be wound down until opening 24 is covered. The lower edge can be sharpened so that it also acts as a knife to sever the film.