GB1131681A - Drying processed photographic material - Google Patents

Abstract

1,131,681. Drying apparatus. ADDRESSOGRAPH MULTIGRAPH CORP. 22 Feb., 1966 [8 July, 1965], No. 7782/66. Heading F4G. [Also in Division G2] A drying apparatus, intended for drying duplicating masters after they have been processed, so that they can then be stored for future use conveys the masters through a housing where they are exposed to radiant heat, and then passes them into a storage container. The master sheets, on leaving the processing unit (not shown) enter the drier between guides 28, 30, which have ribbed inner surfaces to prevent the wet sheets from sticking thereto. A further guide 32 (in the full-line position) leads the sheets to a first pair of soft rubber rollers 36, 38, after which they pass on between further guide members 40, 42. These are spaced widely apart (in a lateral direction), so as to intercept only a minimum of the heat radiation from the infra-red heating elements 50, 52, disposed one above and one below the sheet. Each heater lies within a semicircular reflector, 54, 56, made preferably of etched aluminium. A temperature control unit (80, Fig. 3a, not shown) maintains a constant optimum temperature, e.g. 160‹ F. After drying, the sheets pass through a further pair of rollers 44, 46 to a collecting bin 100, which is provided with a fan (120, Fig. 3b, not shown) for drawing out and expelling moist air from the apparatus. Stop rods (112, 114, Fig. 3b, not shown) may be provided in the bin for retaining sheets of different sizes. If, instead of drying and storing the sheets for future use, it is desired to use a sheet immediately after processing, a push-rod 154 is provided by means of which the guide 32 can be tilted from its normal (full-line) position to the position shown in broken lines. A sheet entering between guides 28, 30 is now diverted upwards along another guide 34 and out of the apparatus on to a receiving shelf 158.