GB1248691A - Photographic film processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1,248,691. Photographic processing apparatus. PHILCO-FORD CORP. Jan.2, 1969, No.213/69. Heading G2A. Film packs which consist of photographic film and a light-tight cover therefore, e.g. dental X-ray packs, are loaded on to a carrier 22 positioned within processing apparatus 10, and the film is separated from the covers and processed by feeding the film to a support structure 131 which is rotated to sequentially move the film through a series of processing chambers 36 and through a drying station. Each film pack is loaded on a pair of fingers 26 which are radially disposed on the rotatable carrier 22. At a cover removing station, a knife blade is reciprocated to cut the cover and allow the film therewithin to fall under gravity down a chute 72 into one of a plurality of holders 33. Holders 33 are supported on tree arms 35 forming a unitary structure which is raised, rotated to the next indexing position, and lowered, in the lowered position the holders dip into processing tanks 36 or a drying chamber 37. The operation of the apparatus is controlled by a motor 14 which rotates via shaft 15 on air impeller blade 16 to drive air heated by elements 17 through drying chamber 37 and which via shaft 21 and threads 48, 53 raises/lowers carrier 22 and structure 35. After drying the films are stacked in a film removal box in the order in which carrier 22 was originally loaded.