US1896526A - Film processing machine and method - Google Patents

Description

l() She@ Feb 7, 1933. c. c, SMITH ET AL FILM PROCESSING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Oct.

C. C. SMITH ET AL FILM PROCESSING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Oct. 20, 1931 lO Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 7,v 1933'. c. c. SMITH ET AL 1,896,526

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Inventars Feb. 7, 1933. c. c. SMITH ET AL FILM PROCESSING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Oct. 20, 1931 l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 lill Feb. 7, 1933. c. c. SMITH ET AL 1,896,526

FILM PROCESSING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Oct. 20, 1931 lO Sheets-5h99?I 6 Feb. 7, 1933". c. c. sMrrH ET AL 1,896,526

PIII PROCESSING MACHINE AND METHOD 4b llonny,

. SMITH FILM P ssING MACH ed oct. 20

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FILM PROCESSING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed oct. 2o, 1931 1o sheets-sheer 9 5203 Inventors By n M Mmm Feb. 7, 1933. c, c. SMITH ET AL 1,896,526

FILM PROCESSING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Oct. 20, 1931 10 Sheets-Sheet '10 76 w @EMV/77 AAV *M 64 .u ,I i j?? i u lL H 6542 Il @iwf "alb u/ M /larmys l methods of, treating Patented ANGELES,

OFFICE CALIFORNIA, :ASSIGNORS TO UNIVERSAL PICTURES CORPORATION,- l

UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK- FILH PROCESSING MACHINE AND METHOD Application flied October `llt), 1831. Serial No. 509,884.

This invention relates to machines for, and

particularly films in the form of elongated tapes such as'lie used in motion pictures.

Prior to applicants invention as disclosed herein, and also in February 16, 1932, to Hunter and Pierce, 'on application Serial-No. 423,729, filed January 27, 1930, the only machines in commercial use for the continuous development of motion picture films involved the driving of a film through treating tanks at a relatively high speed by a large number of rollers to which power was ap lied simultaneously.

. As disclosed) in the aforementioned Patent 1,845,416 of Hunter and Pierce, it was dis; covered that by drawing films horizontally through treating fluids in elongated troughs, more satisfactory results could be obtained at much less expense than with the old type of machine' then in general use. ,I g.

.'Ihe present invention relates to numerous improvements in machines of the type disclosed in the aforementioned patent of Hunter andl Pierce, and a full understanding of them can best y ing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view-'of our machine with portions broken away to indicate the operation.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the ath followed by the film in traversing the different treating troughs in our machine.

Figure 3 is an elevational viewA of the front end of the machine, showing the driving mechanism for feeding film into and withdrawing it from the machine.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the rear end of the machine.

Figure 5 is a detail view of a mechanism for introducing film into the developing bath at any desired point.

Figure 6 is an end elevational view taken in the plane VI-VI of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a detail side elevational view of the magazine for supplying film to the machine.

Figure 8 is a detail end elevationaljiew of the magazine shown in Figure 7.

photograph films, and

Patent 1,845,416, issued.

be had from the follow-.

a sectional view, showing the guide members for guiding maintaining it at the proper depth within the treating troughs.

igure 14 is a sectional view XIV--XIV of Figure 13.

Figure 15 is an end elevational view of air blowers for removing surplus moisture from the film before it enters the drying chamber.

Figure 16 is a sidel elevational view of the in the plane apparatus shown in Figure 15.

Fi ure 17 is a detail view of a portion of the clieveloping trough, showing the circulation of fluid therethrough.

Figure 18 is an exploded view of one of the pulleys used in our device.

gigure 19 is a sectional view of the pulley, an

Figure is a side view thereof.

General description of machine Although the various features of our nvention may be employed in machines for developing or treating films by any one of a large number of processes they have been disclosed in connection with a machine for producing duplicate negatives or positives by the .inversion process.

Referring to Figure 1, our machine comprises three troughs arranged in a vertical tier, with a drying compartment positioned above the top trough. Each trough is divided by a longitudinal partition into two compartments. Thus, referring to Figure 2, which shows the troughs spread out so as to disclose each one in plan view, the upper trough is divided by a central partition 4 to Y tion 7 is provided adjacent one end of the ing.

- forming the trough, 12 the developer trough to form a small container` 8 containing trough is also tition 9 and a a stop solution. The second divided by a longitudinal partransverse partition 10 into a long trough 11 containing developer solu-k tion, a-.short trough' 12 containing bleach, and a short trough 13 containing water or rinsing solution. The lower trough is divided by a longitudinal partition 14 into troughs 1 5 and 16 containing water. j

Exposed film enters from a magazine 17 into the upper front trough 6 containing developer and during its passage throughthe length of this trough the image is made visible. This image 1s, of course, opposite to the image from which thefilm .was printed or exposed. When the negative image is fully developed, the film leaves the end of the developer trough 6 and enters the short trough 8 containing stop solution.

Stop solutions are commonly used in photographic work for halting the action of the develo er and hardening the gelatine coatrom the stop solution trough 8 the film passes immediately therebelow, containing water, and during its passage through this trough all develo er and stop solution is removed from the lm. After leaving trough 13, the lm enters the trough 12 containing bleaching solution. Numerous reagents are in common use for bleaching the film. Its purpose is to remove -the negative image produced by the developer, and this removal is usually effected by a bleaching reagent which changes the reduced silver dark portions of the developed a, silver halide or sub-halide. the film leaves the bleaching negative image has disapeared. After leaving trough 12 the passes down into trough,16 directly therebelow, Trough 16 contains water which was-hes out the bleachin solution and silver salts previously rendere soluble with which the film became impregnated while passing through trough 12. Just before the picture into At the time A. film leaves the end of trough 16 it is exposed to light from a lamp 18, which is termed the fogging lamp. The light commonly :romlamp 18 acts upon the previously unexposed portion o'f the light-sensitive emulsion in the film which was not developed in v trough 6 and bleached out in trough 12. As

a result, those sections of the film which were ynot originally exposed are exposed bythe fogging lamp 18.

After leaving the end of trough 16 the lmvpasses upward and at the same time crosses over (the method of crossing over is disclosedin Figire 4) and enters the upppr rear trough 5 which contains a clearing directly down into the trough 13V circuitous path through the trough 15 and the washing trough 16 is yellow in appearance and the clearing bath in trough 5, which maybe sodium sulphite or bi-sulphite removes tliis yellow color. The

film, after being cleared, oes from trough 5- directly therebelow into t e middle rear tray 11 which contains developing solution. This solution may or may n0t be substantially the same as that used in the original developer in trough 6. Since it is used to develop the yimage produced by the fogging lamp 18, it is commonly termed redevelopeix The redeveloping of the film in trough 11 develops a visible image which is opposite to that produced by the original.i development but is similar to the image from which the film was printed., In/other words, it is a positive image rather than a. negative image. After beingre-developed in trough 11; the film o. passes directly down into the lower rear trough 15 which contains water for removing` from the film all traces of developer;

-After'leaving the trough 15 the film passes upward between two downwardly directed air jets 19 and 20, which remove all surplus moisture from the film. The film thereafter continuesupward to the drying chamber 21 at the top of themachine and is passed in a drying chamber 21, during which time it is exposed to a controlled current of dr air which removes all moisture from the film. The film is then withdawn from the chamber onto a take-up reel 22.

Since the diagram-pf Figure 2 is purely schematic, it does not disclose how the film is actuallyv moved through the machine.

Referring again to Figure 1, the film leaves the magazine 17 and passes overl a" brake pulley 23, thence between a tension pulley 24 and an associated pulley 25, around the tension pulley 24, back of pulley 25, thence through one or more guides 26 to an adjustable submersing pulley assembly 27 which comprises three pulleys28, 29 and 30. Pulleys 28 and 29 are positioned above the level of the developing solution in trough 6, but pulley 30 is positioned below thesurface of the developer. The film, after leaving the guides 26, passesover pulley 28, back over pulley 29, and under pulley 30 into the developing solution. During its passage through the developing trough 6 the film, being submerged in the liquid and being of approximately the same specific gravity as the solution, needs very little support. However, to maintain it at the proper level above the bottom of the tank, .it passes over numerous guides 31. At the end of the developing trough 6 the film passes under a pulley 32, thence up out of the developing solution over a pulley 33 positioned above the partition 7, and thence down under a pulley 34,

the lower side of which is submerged in the rbleaching trough 12.

stop solution in trough 8. From trough 8 'the film passes out over a pulley 35, thence down under a pulley 36, and under a pulley 37 submerged in the washing water in trough 13. The film passes through trough 13, being supported by guides 31 similar to those previously described, and at the end of trough 13 passes under a pulley 38, over a pulley 39 positioned above the partition 10, and 'thence down under the puley 40 into the Thence it passes through the bleach, out under a pulley 41 at the exit end thereof, and u and over a. pulley 42. From pulley 42 the down under a pulley 43 and a pulley 44 into the rinsing trough 16. It is supported in its passage through rinsing trough 16 by guides 31 and at the end of the trough is' fogged by the light from lamp 18. At the end of trough 16 it passes under a pulley 45and then up out `of the trough and under a pulley 46 from which it extends cross-wise up over the end of the machine andA over a pulleyV 47 down into the clearing bath in trough 5. It passes through trough 5, thence under a pulley 48, over a pulley 49, down and under a pulley 50, and into `the rear middle trough 11 containing the re-developer. It is submerged in the re-developer by a pulley 51, and passes to the end of the trough 11, thence under a pulley 52,

under a pulley 54-`into the washing trough 15. It is submerged in the solution in washing trough 15 by a' pulley 55, passes through the solution supported by guides 31, thence under a pulley 56 at the end of the trough and a pulley 57 atA the endl of the machine. Thereafter it passes between the blower nozzles 19 and 20 up over a pulley 58 into the drying chamber 21. In the drying chamber it passes lengthwise through the drying chamber, being supported by pulleys 59, and thence out under a pulley 60, over a constant- 1 driven sprocket wheel 61, which serves to (Ii-aw the entire length of film from magazine 17 through the machine, and under a pulley 62 onto the wind-up reel 22.

In the above description only one film has been traced through the machine. The machine is actually designed to handle simultaneously as many films as can be positioned side by side in the troughs. We have found it convenient to use troughs of such width as to accommodate five tapes of film, but this number may be varied between wide limits, if desired. Thus, Figures 11 and 12 disclose treating troughs of sufficient Width to accommiodate five tapes of film side by side. Figure 11, discloses how a plurality of pulleys (corresponding to pulleys 32, 34, 37. 38, 40, 51, etc.) are mounted on a'common shaft for u'iding five films into or out of the fluids 1n the treating troughs, and Figure 13 discloses the construction of the guides 3L for maintaining the film tapes at the proper lm passes directly' over a pulley 53' and down depth in the treating fiuids while they pass longitudinally therethrough. In Figure 11 the outer wall of the trough 64, a floor of the trough 65 and a center partition 66 are 'shown constructed of wood with the joints tongued ancllJegIooved'to prevent leakage of the fluids to. ably of bakelite and are mounted to rotate freely on a metal or bakelite shaft 68 which is secured by shoulders 69 to the walls 64 and 66 of the trough. The pulle s are maintained in roper separated position by separating bus iings 70 and are centered with respect to the trough by bushings 71 which are secured to the shaft 68 by set screws, as shown. As disclosed in Figure 12, the end supports 69 are secured to the top edges of the troughs by screws 72.

The guides 31 disclosed in Figures 13 and 14 are preferably constructed of bakelite and are secured to a crosspiece 73 of rectangular cross section, the ends of which are fastened by screws 74 to the edges of the trough. The guides 31 are constructed in sections and are prevented from turning with respect to the rods 73 because of the rectangular shape of the latter. 4

It should be noted that both the pulleys 67 and the guides 31 are provided with shoulders 75 which engage the edges only of the film, thus preventing any possibility of the central' portion of the film tape becoming scratched.

The manner in which the five film tapes are conveyed from the delivery end of one trough to the entry end of the succeeding trough, is clearly shown in the end view of the machine in Figure 4. The numbers on the pulleys in this view correspond to the numbers given in Figure 1, so that the paths of the tapes may be readily followed.

New pulley construction The pulleys 35, 36, 53, 54, 46 and 47 disclosed in Figure 4, and also pulleys 49, 50, 42, -43 and 57 disclosed film tapes that are wet, in fact dripping wet, with solutions. For this reason it is found necessary to disassemble these pulleys from time to time to clean them and prevent corrosion ofthe shafts upon which they turn. For this service special pulleys have been designed, as disclosed in Figures 18, 19 and 20. Thus, referring to the above figures, each pulley comprises two half sections 76 and 77. The section 76 has an inner opening adapted to fit over an inner shoulder 78 on the section 77 with a snug fit, so that when the parts are pressed together they will not readily separate. Each section 76 and 77 has an annular recess formed in its outer surface into which bushings 79 loosely fit. The bushings 79 in turn have openings therethrough of such size that they fit loosely on their mounting shafts. e The pulley, when assembled on 'n Figure 1 carryk contained. The pulleys 67 are preferassembly or disassembly,

the shafts, may rotate either with respect to the bushing 79, or both the pulley and the bushings 79 may rotate together upon the shaft. The openings through the bushings 5 79 are tapered, as shown in Figure 19, so that the area 0f the bearing surface on the shaft. is reduced. A particular advantage of the pulley construction described is that very often a flange of a pulley is broken during and by constructing the spool in two parts only that half of the pulley carrying a broken flange need be replaced. This reduces the cost of maintenance of the machine. Furthermore, since l the spools are preferably molded from bakelite or similar material, they can be more readily formed in separate sections than 1f they were made in a single piece.

tapes simultaneously In a system, as described, for running a plurality of film tapes through the mach-ine simultaneously, it is desirable to be 'able yto stop any film tape instantly without disturbing the motion of the others. In accordance with the present invention, means is provided for achieving this result.

As described above in connection with Figure 1, the film passes from a magazine 17 over av brake pulley 23 into the first developing trough and is drawn through the various troughs and the drying chamber by a sprocket Wheel 61, after. which it passes onto the winding reel 22. During normal operation of the device, film unwinds freely from the magazine and is maintained under proper tension in the initial developing trough by pulley 24, which is mounted to turn with l 9 some resistance on its shaft. However, should the film be stopped suddenly at the exit end by stopping the rotation of sprocket wheel 61. the film might continue to feed into the developing trough from rim 17 and thus permit undesirable slack to accumulate in the developing trough. To prevent such an occurrence t is desirable to lstop the film at pulley 23 at the time the rotation of the sprocket 61 is stopped. We therefore provide means for simultaneously stopping the rotation of sprocket 61 and for clamping the film tape against brake pulley 23, ,thus preventing an film from entering the developng trough.

ferring now to Figure 10, all the sprocket wheels 61 are mounted to rotate freely on a common shaft 80.. A gear 81 is keyed to the end of the shaft and meshes with a gear 82 on a shaft 83 which carries a worm gear 84. Worm ear 84 is driven by a worm 85 which (referring now to Figure 9) is mounted on a vertical shaft 86. Shaft 86 is journalled in .ball bearings 87, whereby it turns freely and is driven at its lower end by a motor, as indicated in Figure 1. To rotate the take-up @5 reels 22 the latter are mounted on a pair of rollers 88 which are constantly driven through shaft 89, having a gear 90 on the end thereof meshing with a gear 91 on shaft 86.

Shaft 89 passes under the ends of rollers 88 and has mounted thereon a pair of spiral gears 92 which mesh with gears 93 on the ends of shafts 94 carrying the rollers 88. The gear ratio between the original driving shaft 86 and the shafts 94 supporting rollers 88 is such as to always tend to rotate the reel at a greater speed than that at which film is withdrawn from the machine by sprockets 61. However, the reel 22 is free to slip with respect to the rollers 88 and can place no objectlonable amount of tension on the film for that reason.

To rotate any one of the sprocket wheels 61, it is voperatively connected to rotate with the shaft 80 by means of a clutch. Thus, referring to Figure 10, a driving clutch member 95 is mounted adjacent to each sprocket` wheel 61 and is keyed to the shaft 80, whereby it must turn therewith but can slide therealong. Each member 95 has pins 96 projecting therefrom adapted to engage in holes 97 in the sprocket wheel 61 when the member 95 is forced into engagement with the sprocket wheel. A spring 98 mounted between the outer edgel of the clutch member 95 and a shoulder 99 on the shaft -80 normally tends to force the cluch member 95 into engagement with the sprocket wheel 61.- However, the

member 95 may be maintained out of engagement with the sprocket wheel 61 by means of a lever arm 102 having a bifurcated upper end 100 with rollers 101 which are mounted on pins attached to the bifurcated end 102.

Referring now to Figure 9, the lever arm 102 ispivoted to swing about a pivot 103 as a fulcrum to move the clutch member 95 into or out of engagement with the sprocket 61. The lower end of lever arm 102 below the pivot 103 (referring for the moment to Fig- .ure 3) bears against acam 104 mounted .on shaft 105. By turning shaft 105 and cam 104 the lower end of arm 102 may be forced to the left, thus moving the upper bifurcatedV end of arm 102 to the'right, compressing spring 98 and disengaging the clutch member from the sprocket 61. Referring back to Figure 9, shaft 105 is mounted to turn freely in supporting journalsl06 and 107. In addition to carrying the cam- 104, this shaft carries an eccentrically mounted disc 108 upon which is journalled a member 'from which there extends downwardly (referring back to Figure 3) a shaft 109 on the lower end of which is a brake shoe 110 mounted imme-- diately above the brake pulley 23.

With the construction outlined it will'be seen that by rotating shaft 105 the clutch member 95 may be disengaged from the driving sprocket 61 and the brake shoe 110 simultaneously clamped against the brake pulley 23 to restrain further motion of the film whereby the operator can rotate the shafts ythe machine.

- once been of the treating baths By means of the clutch and brake assembly described, any number from one to five tapes may be treated simultaneously in Furthermore, if it is desired, for any reason, to stop one of the films, this can be done instantly without in any way glisturbing the motion of the remaining Meana amt method of altering tite time of treatment son of the fact that any alteration of the speed of the machine alters the length of treatment in all of the troughs.y The value of the second method is greatly reduced by the fact that it is not practicable to vary the length of a trough after the machine has 4designed and constructed. Furthermore, in a machine of the type described, either of the aforementioned methods is disadvantageous in that they do not provide for a change in the time of treatment of one film without at the same time changing the treatment-of all of the films being run at that time.

To rovide a ready means of altering the perio oftr'eatment of any film in any one without at the same time varying the treatment of that.film in A the remaining baths or varying the treatment' of the other films in the same bath, we have provided a special device whereby the film may be introduced (or removed, if desired) from a treating solution at any longitudinal Vv.mote from the entry point along the trough containing that solution. It is apparent that introducing the film to the solution in any trough at a point re- .end of that trough produces exactly the same effect, so far as the length of treatment is concerned, as shortening the trough.

The means for achieving this result is disv closed in Figures 1 and 5. Referring to Figure 5, it will be seen that the film, after passing over the tension pulley 24 and the auxiliary pulley 25, is not introduced below the surface of the solution in the trough by a fixed pulley, but passes over and under the set of pulleys 28, 29 and 30 mounted in the frame work 27. The frame work 27 is suspended at its upper end from a track 116 which extends overthe trough for either its entire length or a substantial art thereof. The cross-sectional shape of the track 116 and the mode of suspension of the frames 27 therefrom is shown to best advantage in Figure 6. Thus, the tracks 116 may be intheform of an inverted T and framemembers 27 may be provided with lips 117 which fit over the lower edges of the tracks 116. Each frame 27 may be clam d in position in any longitudinal point a ong track 116 by tightening thumb screw 118. It will be notedthat the film, after leaving the auxiliary p'ulley 25, passes up over pulley 28 in the frame 27, thence around pulley 28,` around pulley 29, and under pulley 30, the latter being positioned below the surface of the fluid so 'that it carries the film well .into the solution. The

film is not wet, however, until it passes below pulley 29. To prevent any possibilit of the film tape dropping into contact wit the solution in the trough between ulleys 25 and 28 when the frame 27 is move a considerable distance away from the ulley. 25, small guides 26 are provided, wh over the track 116 above the surface for varying the time of treatment of the film ich loopY and support the film well of the solution in thev trough. Although the above described means'-v is shown 1n Figure l only in connection withl 'Y the developing troughV 6, it is to-be clearly understood that its use is not limited tothe initial development tray, athough the period of development is usually the one which is most critical'and the one which lrit' is most necessary to-adjust. However, the device 27A may beused in any or all of the treating troughs, if it is necessary or desirable to vary the time of immersion in those troughs.

Magazine and re-Zoad indicator It is customary for one operator to oontrol a machine of the type described, and where two or more films4 are being run through the machine simultaneousl ,it is desirable that a. readily visible in icator be provided to warn the operator when one of the `magazines 17 is nearly empty in order that he may stop the driving mechanism in time to prevent the end of the film leaving the magazine and being drawn entirely through the machine. Should the film be withdrawn entirely from the machine, it would be necessary for the operator to rethread a new film through, over and about all the pulleys in the machine, which involves a considerable amount of time and effort. Such re-threading is ordinarily avoided by stopping a film before the feed magazine 1 is entirely emptied and splicing a new film to vbe processed onto the end of the old film,

sothat the old Elm serves to thread the new hlm through the machine.

l 1n accordance with our invention, the magazine 17v (referring to Figures Z and 8) 5- comprises a case 119 in which a roll of film mounted on a spool 120 is suspended by a shaft 121 engaging with hooks 122 on the case 119. rlhe case 119 is provided at the bottom thereof with a hinge-125 and is normally held in closed position by a catch 124 at the to thereof. The ilm is threaded betweenro 1ers 126 in the inner side of the case 119 and thence passes directly over the brake pulley 23' directly into 'the machine. Each case 119 is mounted on an arm 128 which is pivotally supported by a pin 129 to the framework 130 of the machine and carries, on an extension thereof, a counter-weight 131. The extension arm 128 preferably con- '20 sists of arod 132 and the counter-Weight 131 is slideably mounted on this rod and adapted tobe fixed in any desired position by means of a set screw 133.

- When a full roll of film is inserted in amagazine 119 its weight is more than sucient to counter-balance the counter-weight 131 and the case 11.9 therefore assumes the lower position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 7. As the film feeds out of the case an 119 its wei ht becomes less and less, with the result t at the' case 119 gradually` rises l until it occupies the position shown in full lines in Figure 7.

Referring now to Figure 1, the end maga- 33' zine 17 is'shown in its upper position, under which conditions the'operator is immediately informed that the magazine is nearly empty and that he must watch it closely andv stop itv before the film unwinds completely ce from the roll in the magazine and escapes over pulley 23. However, the second maga-- zine is shown in Figure 1 as occupying a position substantially lower than that of the front magazine, which indicates to the operator that this magazine still contains a substantial amgunt of film and that he need not give it any attention for an appreciable interval of time.

5 Means for securing agitation of treating solutzons l lt has been found that where a' plurality of film tapes are floated through a common. trough of treating solution, that unless special means is provided for securinga fairly a manifold 137 and an inlet tube 138 on the v opposite side of the trough. These inlet tubes are positioned substantially at the bottom of the troughs, as indicated in Figure 6. To maintain the level of the fluid in the trough constantly at the proper depth, numerous outlet openings 139, 140 and 141 are provided. These are positioned above the inlet tubes and at the desired level of the solution in the troughs. Outlet pipes 139 and 140 feed into a waste manifold 142, and the outlet opening 141, feeds into a waste manifold 143. The

inlet manifolds 137 and 134 may be connected together and to a common source of supply, and the waste manifolds 142 and 143 may be connected together to a common Waste tank. l However, the inlet and waste pipes may be l connected to a common source of supply through which solution is constantly circulated, as disclosed and described in the patent of Hunter and Pierce referredto above.

AIt will be noted, by referring to Figure 17, that although there is an outlet pipe substantially opposite to each inlet pipe, they are separated b film guides 31. Although the film Guides o not form an absolute barrier to the low of liquid therethrough, they tend to cause the incoming fresh solution to spread out and circulate in a whirlin current through the trough, instead o passing straight across and out through the opposite outlet pipe. It has been found that with the arrangement of inlet and outlet pipes, as described, all of the films in the trough are treated substantially uniformly.

Removal of surface moisture by air jets As shown in Figure 1, the jets 19 and 20 aredirected toward the film at an angle against the motion of the film. Thus, the film after leaving pulley 57 moves vertically upward to pulley 58, while the jets 19 and 20 are directed downward. They thus act to blow the surface moisture downward in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the film.

Referring now to Figures 15 and 1G, each jet 19 or 2O comprises a nozzle of bvakelite or any suitable material, having a chisel-shaped end whereby it directs a uniform flat stream lof air against the entire surface of each film.

There are as many sets of nozzles 19 and 2O as there are films to be treated. In this instance the number is five, since the machine is adapted to develop to treat five films simultaneously. All of the front nozzles 19 are connected to a common manifold 144, and all the rear nozzles 20 are connected to a common manifold 145. Manifolds 144 and 145 are in turn connected by ipes 146 and 147 to a common source ofp compressed air 148. Valves'149 and 150 are provided inthe supply pipes 146 and 147, respectively, for controlling the flow fof air to the respective nozzles. ,Y

Although the air jets issuing from each pair of nozzles 19 and 20 are theoretically equal in intensity, it is advisable to guide the film at a point closelyy adjacent the nozzles in order to prevent the film being blown into contact with one or'the other of the nozzles or in contact with an adjacent film tape. lVe therefore provide guides for the film tape which comprise a pair of cross members 151 and 152 extending across the machine and in front and in the rear of the films immediately below the ends of the nozzles 19 and 20, and mount a plurality ofrollers 153 between the frame members 151 Aand 152 to definethe paths ofthe different film tapes. Each roller 153 is provided with a circumferential groove at substantially its'mid-point and the edges of the film tapes fit into these grooves, as disclosed in Figure 15. Each film is thus restrained against movement toward an adjacent film by contact with the bottom of the grooves 154 in the two rollers with which it contacts, and is prevented from moving away rom a position central with respect to nozzles 19 and 20 by the edges in the guide rollers 151. By using the guides, as described, anyv possibility of the lm being blown against one nozzle-by excessive velocity of the air jet from the other nozzle is avoided. ,f

iVhat is claimed is:

1. A developing machine for motion picture film tape comprising a treating reservoir, means comprising fixed guides and guides movable longitudinally of the reservoir for guiding a plurality of film tapes through said reservoir, a plurality of feed reels for simultaneously feeding said film tapes into said reservoir, a plurality of takeups means for drawing said film `tapes through said reservoir, a common source of motion for driving all said take-up means, and a plurality of clutch elements for connecting each take-up means to said source of of the grooves 154.

motion, each clutch element functioning independent of the others.

2. A developing machine for motion picture film tapes comprising a treating reservoir, means for guiding a plurality of film tapes through said reservoir, a plurality of means for guiding said film tapes into saidl reservoir, a plurality of take-up means for drawing said film tapes through said reservoir, a common source of motion for drivin all said take-up means, aplurality of clutch elements for connecting each of the take-up means to said source of motion, a plurality of brake means for stopping the entry of each film tape into said reservoir, and means for operating each clutch element independent of the others and simultaneously o erating the brake means associated with te same film tape, `whereby each clutch may be disengaged and the brake associated therewith applied simultaneously.

3. A developing machine for motion picture film tapes comprising a treat-ing reservoir, means adjustable as to its osition and having fixed and movable gui es mounted above the tank for guiding a film tape through said reservoir,a feed reel for feeding film tape into said reservoir, a take-up means for positively drawing said film tape through said reservoir, and a take-up reel beyond said positive take-up means for winding up film tape as it is delivered by said positive take-up means, and means for frictionally driving said take-up reel to drive said reel with a slipping drive, whereby it constantly tensions said fi positive take-up means.

4. A developing machine for motion picture film tape comprising an elongated reservoir containing treating solution, means for continuously feeding film tape to one end of said reservoir, means for continuously withdrawing film tape from the other end of said reservoir, and guide means adjustable as to its position relative to theends of said reservoir for 'guiding said film tape into the solution in said reservoir at a desired point between the ends thereof.

5. A developing machine for motion picture film tape comprising an elongated reservoir containing treating solution, means for continuously feeding film tape to one end of said reservoir, means for continuously withdrawing film tape from ythe other end of said reservoir, guide means adjustable as to its position relative to the ends of said reservoir for guiding said film tape into the solution in said reservoir at a desired point between the ends thereof, and auxiliary guide means for supporting said film tape above the surface of solution in said reservoir between the joint of entry of said film tape to said reservoir and said adjustable guide means.

6. A developing machine for motion picture film tape comprising an elongated reslm tape beyond said .said reservoir, means for continuously withdrawing lilm tape from the other end of said reservoir, a track extending longitudinally above said reservoir, and guide means movable along said track for uiding said ilm ta e into'and below the sur ace of solution in said reservoir at a desired point longitudinully of the reservoir.

7. A developing machine for motion picture film tape comprising an elongated' reservoir containingtreating solution, means for continuously feeding film tape to one end of said reservoir, means for continuously withdrawing film tape from'vitl Vother end of said reservoir, a track extending longitudinally adjacent said reservoir, guide means movable along said track for guiding V- 3 film tape into and below the surface of solution inisaid reservoir at any desired point longitudinally of the reservoir, and auxiliary gui e means suspended from said track hetween the point of entry of said iilm tape to said reservoir and said first guide means, for suspendingsaid film tape above the solation.

8. A developing machine for motion picture lilni tape comprising an elongated reservoir containing treating solution, means for continuously feeding a plurality of lni tapes to one end of said reservoir, means for continuously and simultaneously withdraw'- ing said plurality of, film tapes from the other end of said reservoir, and a plurality of guide means, each independently. adjustable as to its position longitudinally along said reservoir for guiding each of said film tapes into the solution in said reservoir at a desired 9. The method of controlling the time of immersion of a motion icture lilm tape in a treating solution whic comprises floating said film tape in submerged position substantially out of contact with the container in which the solution is held, and at a constant speed through the solution and adjusting the length of said film tape submerged fin said solution at one time.

10. The method of independently controlling the times of immersion of a plurality of motion picture film tapes in a common treating bath, which comprises floating all of said ilm tapes submerged and out of contact with the container in which the solution is held,

and at a constant speed through the solutionh of and independently adjusting the 1e each of said films submerged 1n said so ution.

11. A machine for treating motion picture film tapes eomprisi a treating tray containing a treating so ution, means for 'continuousl drawing av plurality of ilm tapes in para el paths through said solution, `and mea for circulating uid past said lm tapes comprising a supply pipe entering said Lacasse side thereof and oriented to direct a. stream ofvsolution across the path of said film tapes, and means for exhausting solution from said reservoir'comprising an outlet pipe approximately opposite said inlet pipe, and baille means between said inlet and outlet pipes.

13. A machine for treating motion picture ilm tapes comprising a treating tray containing solution, means for continuously drawin a plurality of films in parallel paths throug said solution, and means for circulating solu- V tion past said films, comprising means for directing a stream of solution laterally across the paths of said film ta\pes from one side of said tray and other means for directing a stream oi solution laterally across the paths of said film tapes from the opposite side of said tray at a point longitudinally removed from said first point, wherebyeross currents are produced.

14. ln a machine utilizing or treating film tape, a magazine for supply-ing lilm tape thereto, means for supporting said magazine, and second means for shifting said reel into successively different positions as film tape is withdrawn therefrom and its weight thereby reduced.

15. In a machine utilizing or treatin film tape, a plurality of magazines for supp ying film tape thereto, a plurality of levers associated with said magazines for supporting said respective magazines, and means associated with each lever to elevate the m azine associated therewith to successively igher and its-weight thereby reduced, said magazines being mounted side by side and occupying a position axially aligned when the magazines contain the same weight of film tape. vSigned at Los Angeles, California, this 28th day of Sept., 1931;

CHARLES .ROY HUNTER. r RoBER'i` M. PIERCE., cHALMERs o. sin'rn; l

positions as film tape is withdrawn from it im

Images