GB916170A - Improvements in or relating to film-strip developing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

916,170. Photographic processing apparatus. UNION TONFILMMASCHINENBAUGESELLSCHAFT. April 22, 1960, No. 14244/60. Class 98 (2). [Also in Group XVI] Developing apparatus comprises a succession of open-topped baths, each bath having an upper driven and a lower free shaft provided with transport rollers, the upper shafts being capable of adjustment to a selected one of two operating positions, one above the other, and in both of which they are in engagement with driving means, in the upper of which two positions the rollers on the said driving-shaft are above the liquid level in the bath, and in the lower of which they are below the liquid level. The arrangement shown has two baths 1 and 2, a rear wall 3 carrying the driving mechanism which drives a spur gear 4 located above each bath. Each upper shaft 6 carries a number of freely running rollers 21 and one driven roller 20. The shaft and rollers are supported in a frame between end portions 8, 9. Portion 9 is extended into a support member 10 which can be secured to holder members 11 fixed on wall 3. Each shaft 6 carries a gear-wheel 18 which, when the shaft assembly is attached to the holder members 11, engages with the spur gear 4, thus transmitting the drive to the shaft 6 and its driving roller 20. Two sets of holder members 11 are provided above each bath, an upper one and a lower one. When the shaft assembly is attached to the upper set, it is held above the mouth of the bath (and hence the liquid therein) as shown for bath 2. In this position, the lower edge of gear 18 engages with the upper edge of gear 4. When the shaft assembly is attached to the lower set of holders 11, the shaft comes within and below the mouth of the bath (as shown for bath 1) and thus may be completely immersed in the liquid therein. In this position, the upper edge of gear 18 engages with the lower edge of gear 4. The gears are covered by protecting caps 5, 19, leaving uncovered only the actual engagement zones. Each shaft assembly can be readily detached or changed from one position to the other. The film is fed in from a spool, and passed alternately round a roller on shaft 6 and another roller on a lower shaft (not shown) near the bottom of bath 1. Finally it is led over a guide roller (not shown) into bath 2, and so on. The shaft 6 may be disposed as shown for bath 2 when processing black and white films. When processing colour films, and it desirable that the film shall be continuously immersed in its passage through a particular bath, to avoid oxidation, shaft 6 is disposed in its lower position, as shown for bath 1, so that it can be completely covered by the liquid in the bath.