GB1020593A - Photographic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1, 020, 593. Photographic processing apparatus. ITEX CORPORATION. Dec. 3, 1962 [Dec. 1, 1961], No. 45689/62. Heading G2A. The communicating means between a storage container for processing liquid and the processing tank in which it is used has a valve which automatically shuts off the flow of liquid from container to tank when the liquid level in the latter reaches a predetermined level. In the form shown, two tanks 11 are provided (only one visible) for sequential treatment of photographic material. Each tank has a dished bottom, connected by an elbow 12 to a flexible tube 84 leading to the supply container. This comprises two square-section plastic bottles, as at 104, one for each tank, mounted in a metal bin 24. This is shown in the raised (operative) position in Fig. 1, the dotted lines indicating the lowered (inoperative) position. The bin has a cover 60, which is hinged to a support frame 13 by the same hinge as the body part of the bin 24, although the two can be raised or lowered independently. Secured to a panel at the back of the bin is a plastic block 76 having a wide bore 78 communicating with another bore 80 at rightangles. The mouth of bore 80 is fitted with a compressible gasket 81, and the neck of each plastic bottle can engage against and form a liquid-tight seal with the corresponding gasket 81 when in the raised position. A bar 88 is pivoted at one end to a bracket fixed on frame 13, and a pin at its other end slides in a slot formed in part of the bin structure. Another bar 95 is pivoted at one end to a bracket fixed to the cover 60, and also has a pin at its other end sliding in a slot formed in another part of the bin. Initially, to load the apparatus, the bin 24 is lowered, as shown in Fig. 2, and the cover 60 raised to the position shown in dotted lines. After the two bottles of processing liquid (e.g. developing and fixing solutions) have been placed in position, the cover is closed and fastened shut. In this position, the gaskets 81 engage the necks of the bottles. The bin is now raised to bring the bottles into the operative position. Liquid flows from the bottle 104 through the bore 80 and nipple 82 into the tube 84, and so into the tank 11, until the liquid level L is such that it closes off the opening from bore 78 into bottle 104. Thus no more liquid can flow in from bottle 104, even though the liquid level in the bottle is higher than L. As the liquid in the tank is used up or evaporates, the level L falls until air can once more pass through bore 78 and bore 80 into bottle 104, thus enabling more liquid to flow into the tank. In this way the liquid level L is maintained. When the tank is not in use, or to remove sediment, the liquid may be run back into the bottle by lowering the bin into the inoperative position. The arrangement of sliding rods 88, 95 prevents incorrect use, e.g. raising the bin before the cover is closed.