GB990183A - An improved method and apparatus for continuously processing a web of photographic light-sensitive material - Google Patents

Abstract

990,183. Photographic processing apparatus. EASTMAN KODAK CO. Feb. 8,1962 [Feb. 8, 1961], No. 4861/62. Heading G2A. Light-sensitive material in strip form is processed by applying to it a layer of viscous developer, transporting it into a constant temperature developing zone, then into a zone where a fixing solution is applied, and then into a washing zone. In the form shown, the apparatus is housed in an upper cabinet 3 and a lower cabinet 11. The web 4 of photographic light-sensitive material passes into the upper cabinet through an opening 13, and is then carried over various rollers and guide members till it reaches a hopper 26. (The roller 16 is mounted on a vertically movable carrier 17, so as to maintain constant tension in the web as the length varies.) The hopper 16 contains the developer material in the form of a viscous liquid (produced by adding a thickening agent to a normal developer), and kept at 100‹F. by a water-jacket. This is applied to the full width of the web as it passes between the hopper and roller 27. The web now enters a developing chamber 28, maintained at 100‹F. by a hot-water jacket. The chamber is also maintained at 100% relative humidity, i.e. constant wet bulb temperature,by a jet humidifier 32 through which water at 100‹F. is sprayed. On leaving the developing chamber, the web passes through a hopper 37,where the developer is washed off by a spray 38. The stop solution is applied by allowing it to drip from a tube 40 down a sheet 42 of a flexible porous material such as fibreglass under which the web 4 passes. The bleaching and fixing mixture is similarly applied from a distributor 45 which drips it on to an endless belt 43 passing round rollers 44,the web passing downwards in contact with the belt, whose speed is about 25 times that of the web. The bleach-fix is washed off by water from a tube 48, and the web passes over roller 47 and down into the lower cabinet 11 for washing and drying. Here the web is conveyed in a looped path by a number of rollers 49, 51,the paths being separated by sets of endless belts 52. These belts are in contact with the web, and pick up washing water from a tank 54. After leaving the last wash belt, the web is treated with stabiliser by passing against a fibreglass screen 64, down which the stabiliser liquid runs from a distributor 65. After passing round a heated drying drum 9, the web leaves the cabinet over rollers 71, 72, and is finally wound on a take-up spool 69.