US2048182A

US2048182A - Block system developing machine

Info

Publication number: US2048182A
Application number: US406252A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ybarrondo Vincent C De
Original assignee: Patco Inc
Current assignee: Patco Inc
Priority date: 1929-11-11
Filing date: 1929-11-11
Publication date: 1936-07-21
Anticipated expiration: 1953-07-21

Description

July 21, 1936. v. c. 01-: YBARRONDO BLOCK SYSTEM bEVELOPING MACHINE Filed Nov. 11, 1929 y E a Rr H M r 0 p 2% n [w 7 mm 1 y M 1m Z I 2 2 4 fi a ,2 M w Patented July 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE signor to Paton, Inc., Los poration of California Calif., a cor- Application November 11, 1929, Serial a... 400,252

29 Claims.

My invention relates to film handling apparatus which may be employed to carry film through the various processes employed in the production veloping the washing solutions and through dry-- ing chambers. In order to reduce operating costs to a minimum, much attention has been lately directed to machines for continuously handling the film so as to carry such film through the various steps or processes to which it must be sub- Jected, with a minimum handling of the film, and machines have been developed which will carry a film continuously through various steps of a process by means of sprockets or similar devices; but such machines are found to have very marked disadvantages, among which are loss of valuable film and loss of time resulting from the v breaking of the film within the automatic, continuously operating handling equipment.

It is an object of my invention to provide a film handling device having parts so relatively movable that the stress placed upon a film carried therethrough cannot exceed a predetermined maximum.

A further object of the invention is to provide handling equipment which will automatically compensate in its operation for the variation in length of a strip of film dueto contraction and elongation. q

A further object of the invention is to provide a-device which will automatically shut down ing adjacent portions of film which have be- 'come injured in the machine as a direct result of the film breaking.

K furtherobject of the invention is to provide' a film handling device which isextremely simple to operate and which may be operated by a single attendant.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be made evidentthroughout the follow:

ing part of the specification.

Referring to the drawing which is for'illustrative purposes only,

m. 1 a a partly sectioned diagrammatic ele- (Cl. Til-2.8)

vatlonal view showing in simple manner the essential features of my invention. a

Fig. 2 is a section on a plane represented by the line 2-4 of Fig. l. I

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged detail showing 5 the shaft and pulley construction of the automatic controlling mechanism.

v This film handling apparatus is adapted for the carrying of continuous strips of film or continuous strips of other materials through con- 1 tainers, treatment chambers, etc., wherein one or more steps of the process or treatment are performed on the strips. For the purpose of simplicity in disclosing'the invention, I show my improved film handling apparatus inconiunction with a vat or tank i I having a liquid therein through which a strip of film is to be carried, such liquid being a developing, compound, fixing compound, washing compound, or film coating solution, 'as may be required in the carrying out of a film treating process. Mounted in the vat II are a plurality of slide members I! each consisting of a pair of vertical bars ll, these bars serving as slides or guides for upper and lower blocks l4 and II which maybe preferably equipped with rollers II to minimize friction in the engagement of the blocks I4 and I! with the slide members If. The lower endsof the vertical rods or bars It may be secured by means of base plates II, and the upper ends of the pairs of bars ll may be tied together by a cross bar I.

The term "blocks" is employed with reference to the members It and II to indicate a movable member or frame having a plurality of rollers or pulleys mounted therein. Therefore, each of the blocks l4 and II consists of a frame member 2| having rollers ll mounted thereon and a lateral shaft if carrying :freely rotatable fianged rollers 13, the flanges of therollers being intended for the purpose of guiding the film as it passes over 4 the rollers.

- I 'roma film spool ll carriedbyabracketil, afilm 20 is conducted over a propelling means consisting of a pulley, this film being from thence carried, as indicated by an arrow ll, to the first filmhandling unit fl consisting of the first cooperating pair of blocks I4 and IS, the film fl being carried inconsecutive loops ill over the rollers of the upper and lower blocks l4 and ll. From the unit II the film: is carried, as

indicated at II, over a second or secondary prop lling means consisting of a pulley if to a second film handling unit 08- in which the film is carried in the form of loops It over the upper and lower rollers 28 supported respectively by the upper and lower blocks I4 and I5. The film 25 may be in this manner carried continuously to any number of succeeding film handling units which will cooperate to produce the valuable results set forth in the objects. Therefore, in accordance with the foregoing, the film may be directed from the unit 33, as indicated at 34, over a secondary propelling means or pulley 35. to a film handling unit 35 which is substantially identical to the

units

23 and 33. From the film handling unit 35 the film is carried over a pulley .31 and, as indicated by an arrow 38, may be directed to any desired point of disposal.

As shown in Fig. 2, the upper blocks I4 are each adiustably supported in the slides I2 by cords 40 which extend over pulleys 4|, it being possible to raise or lower the upper blocks I4 as desired. The lower blocks I5 are each counterbalanced or partly counterbalanced by a weight 43 which is connected to the block I5 by means of a cable or cord 44 extended over a pulley 45 rigidly mounted on a shaft 45 so that the shaft 45 will be caused to rotate with the pulley 45. As shown in Fig. 3, the shaft 45 may be mounted in bearing brackets 47 and has a drum 48 mounted thereon which carries a rope or cable 43, the cable 49 being wound on the drum 48 in an anticlockwise direction and extending down to and being connected to the movable electrode 5| of a liquid type variable resistor or rheostat 52.

In Fig. 1, I have shown the counterweight 43 and rheostat 52, with their associated parts, in connection with the final film handling unit 35, but it is to be understood that each

film handling unit

23 and 33 is provided with similar apparatus.

When a film is to be started or initially looped through the film handling equipment, the upper and lower blocks I4 and I5 are raised in their respective slides I2 to positions above the level of liquid 53 in the vat II, each lower block I5 being positioned adjacent to its cooperating upper block I4, making it possible for the attendant to readily thread the leading end of a film or a leader strip, over the rollers 23 and

pulleys

21, 32, 35, and 31 in their proper consecutive order. It will be perceived that when a lower block I5 is raised, the cable 44 extending to the counterweight 43 will move so as to rotate the shaft 45 in right-hand or clockwise direction, thus causing the cable 43 to wind on the spool or drum 43 and lift the movable electrode 5| from the electrolyte 54 of the rheostat 52, thereby increasing to a maximum the resistance of the rheostat 52 and reducing to aminimum the strength of current which will fiow through the motor circuits 55 which extend to secondary motors 55 by which the

pulleys

32, 35; and 31 are driven. As shown in Fig. 2, each motor 55 is mounted on a bracket 51 in a position to drive a gear 53 carried by a shaft 53, this gear 55 being frictionally mounted on the shaft and being adapted to drive the shaft 53 through a friction power transmitting. means or clutch, diagrammatically indicated at 55. The rightwardly or outwardly projecting end ofeach shaft 53 has a

pulley

32, 35, or .31 mounted thereon and may also be provided with a sprocket 52 and may be adapted to be engaged by a handle such as indicated at 53. The primary or initial propelling pulley 21 is driven by a motor 54 energized through a circuit 55 adapted to be closed by a magnetic drop switch 55 and having a rheostat 51 therein for controlling the speed of the motor. The rheostat 51 is set for a normal or desired advance of the film 25. i

As previously described, the film is initially wound on the

units

23, 33, and 35 with the blocks I5 in raised position, with the result that when the circuits to the

various motors

64 and 55 are closed, the. motors 55 will be rotating at a relatively low speed, if at all, with the following result: The pulley 21 rotating at a normal rate of speed will feed the film in the direction of the arrow 28 ,to the first film handling unit 23 at a speed considerably greater than that at which the pulley 32 is pulling a film from the unit 23. The length of the film in the unit 23 will increase, thus permitting the lengths of the loops 35 to increase and the lower block I5 to move downwardly in the slide member I2 thereof, carrying the film into the liquid 53. As the lower block I5 approaches the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1, the rheostat associated therewith will'be operated to lower the electrode 5| in or into ,the electrolyte 54 to turn pn or increase the current delivered to the motor 55 which drives the secondary pulley 32, thereby increasing the speed at which the film is taken oIf'at 3| from the handling unit 23, the block I5 of the unit 23 continuing to lower until the speed of the pulley 32 is sufiicient to remove the film from the unit 23 as fast as the pulley 21 is delivering film thereto. At this time the length of film Inthe unit 23 will remain substantially constant, and the position of the lower block I5 of the unit 29 will remain substantially constant.

When the unit 23 has expanded due to the feeding of the film therelnto, as previously described, and its lower block I5 has been brought to a stationary position adjacent to the lower end of the vat II, the motor 55 drivingthe pulley 32 will cause film to be fed into the second film handling unit 33, and this second film handling unit will expand by downward movement of its lower block- I5 in a manner identical to that explained relative to the unit23. When the unit 33 has become filled or expanded, the film will be carried through the

units

23 and 33 into the unit 35 which in turn will expand in the manner previously de scribed.

Each secondary motor 55 is controlled in speed in accordance with the size of .the film handling unit lying adjacent thereto; therefore, all of the

units

23, 33, and 35 are automatically kept at a desired condition of expansion, and it will be recognized that the handling equipment may be worked either forwardly or rearwardly.

Should the film break in any of the

units

23, 33, or 35, the lower block I5 of the unit in which the break occurs will immediately drop from its normal position of operation, with the result of raising its associated counterweight 43 and carrying a. body I5 upwardly against the upper leg I5 of a switch II forming part of a circuit" which extends to the holding magnet I3 of the dropswitch 55 which is adapted to close the power circult of the motor 54. The breaking of the circuit I3 causes de-energization of the magnet I3 so that the drop arm 3| of the switch 55 will be Cit thereby released so as to drop down and produce V an open condition of the switch 55, thus immediately stopping the motor 54 so as to stop the feed, ing of the film in the direction of the arrow 25 into the first film handling unit 23 which will then shorten and raise its lower block I5, there being an accompanying operation of the rheostat connected with the motor 55 by which the pulley 32 is driven to shut off the current to the motor which drives the pulley 32. Each of the motors 55 will be shut down in this manner.

It is also intended In the practice of my invenbreakage of the film occur in any of the film of the strand, represented by the film 28, extend handling units.

This new film handling device has very marked advantages over the old types of automatic film handling equipment. The tension which may be exerted on any portion oflthe film is determined by the efiective weight of each lower block I, it being recognized that part of the'weight of each block is counterbalanced by a counterbalance weight 43. The actual stress which may be placed on the film is therefore determined solely from the force applied to relatively separate the,

pair of upper and lower blocks of each film handling unit. 4

- The rollers 23 are individually turnable so that the rotation of one roller does not control the rotation of another; therefore, it is impossible for contraction of the film at any point throughout its length to produce a breaking strain, as such contraction will be immediately compensated for by the turning of the rollers 23 and movement of the lower blocks l5. Breakage of the film does not result in a loss of film due to piling up of the film within the machine for the reason that any breakage immediately produces a stopping of the equipment. The film may be very easily threaded through the machine with the blocks in raised position, or a leader may be threaded into the machine while the blocks are in raised position, these blocks being lowered as the machine is entirely threaded.

If desired, the upper block may be lowered to entirely submerge the loops 30 carried thereby in the liquid of the vat ll. Each

unit

29, 33, or 36 is in the form of a block and tackle through which a strand is being continuously moved. Both ends to a motor whereby to accomplish a desired movement of the strand through the blocks or in and 4 out of the blocks.

The rheostat 52 may be designed to shut off completely or nearly completely, as may be desired in the practice of the invention. In Fig. 1, I have shown the electrode 5| adapted to be raised from the electrolyte 54 so as to completely open the circuit 55 to a corresponding secondary motor 56, but is will be recognized that the rheostat may be so designed that it will operate to reduce the speed of the motor 56 to a very small rate.

The drum 48 is resiliently and adjustably mounted on the shaft 46 by means of a block 90 which is secured on the shaft by means of a set screw 9|. To cause the drum 48 to turn with the block 80, a connecting means in the form of a spring 02 is employed, this spring having its ends connected respectively to the drum 48 and the member 90. To change the position of the electrode 5| so that it will engage the electrolyte 54 when the movable member I5 is in, a different position from the operating position shown in the drawing, the set screw 9| may be released so as to permit rotation of the drum 48 relative to the shaft whereby to wind or unwind the cable 49 while the member 45 and the cable 44 remain stationary.

Although I have herein shown and described a simple and practical format my invention, it is recognized that certain parts or elements thereof are representative of other parts, elements, or mechanisms which may be employed in substantially the same manner to accomplish substantially the same results; therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but shall have the scope of the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

- l. A film handling device of the character described, including: a pair of cooperating blocks; means for slidably supporting said blocks for corelative movement, there being a force application tending to separate said blocks; a plurality of rollers on each block over which a film may be carried in loops; means for directing said film to a roller of said blocks; and means for taking said film from a roller of said blocks, said loops of film controlling the separation of said blocks by said force application.

' 2. Afilm handling device of the character described, including: a pair of cooperating blocks; means for slidably supporting said blocks for corelative movement, there being a force applica tion tending to separate said blocks; a plurality I of rollers on each block over which a film may be carried in loops, said loops of film controlling the 3. A film handling device of the character described, including: a pair of cooperating blocks; means for slidably supporting said blocks for corelative movement, there being a force application tending to separate said blocks; a plurality of rollers on each block over which a film may be carried in loops, said loops of film controlling the separation of said blocks; propelling means engaging said film at a point adjacent to said blocks; and means actuated in consequence of co-relative movement of said blocks for controlling saidpropelling means in a manner to preserve a predetermined separation of said blocks.

4. A film handling device of the character described, including: an upper block; a lower block; means for vertically slidably supporting said blocks for co-relative movement, there being a force application tending to separate said blocks; a plurality of rollers on each block over which a film may be carried in loops; means for directing said film to a roller of said blocks; and means for taking said film from a roller of said blocks, said loops of film controlling the separation of said blocks by said force application.

5. A film handling device of the character described, including: an upper block; a lower block;

'means for vertically slidably supporting said blocks for co-relative movement, there being a force application tending to separate said blocks; a plurality of rollers on each block over which a film may be carried in loops, said loops of film controlling the separation of said blocks; and propelling means engaging said film at a point adjacent to said blocks, said propelling means being controlled in accordance with the co-relative movement'of said blocks.

6. A film handling device of the character described, including': an upper block; a lower block; means for vertically slidably supporting said blocks for co-relative movement, there being a force application tending to separate said blocks; a plurality of rollers on. each block over whicha film may be carried in loops, said loops of film controlling the separation of said blocks; propelling means engaging said film at a point adjacent to said blocks; and means actuated in consequence of co-relative movement of said blocks for controlling said propelling means in a manner to preserve a predetermined separation of said blocks.

7. A film handling device of the character described, including: an upper block a lower block; means for slidably supporting said blocks in vertical positions, there being a force application tending to move said lower block downwardly; means for securing said upper block in a desired stationary position; aplurality of rollers on each block over which a film may be carried in loops; means for directing said film to a roller of said blocks; and means for taking said film from a roller of saidblocks, said loops of film controlling the separation of said blocks by said force application.

8. A film handling device of the character described, including: an upper block; a lower block; means for slidably supporting said blocks in vertical positions, there being a force application tending to move said lower block downwardly; means for securing said upper block in a desired stationary position; a plurality of rollers on each block over which a film may be carried in loops, said loops of film controlling the separation of said blocks; and propelling means engaging said film at a point adjacent to said blocks, said propelling means being controlled in accordance with the co-relative movement of said blocks.

9. A film handling device of the character described, including: an upper block; a lower block; means for slidably supporting said blocks in vertical positions, there being a force application tending to move said lower block downwardly; means for securing said upper block in a desired stationary position; a plurality of rollers on each block over which a film may be carried in loops, said loops of film controlling the separation of said blocks; propelling means engaging said film at a point adjacent to said blocks; and means actuated in consequence of co-relative movement of said blocks for controlling said, propelling means in a manner 'to preserve a predetermined separation of said blocks.

10. A film handling device of the character described, including: a pair of cooperating blocks; means for slidably supporting said blocks for corelative movement, there being a force application tendingto separate said blocks; a plurality of rollers on each block over which a film may be carried in loops, said loops of film controlling the separation of said blocks; propelling means engaging said film at a point adjacent to said blocks, said propelling means being controlled in accordance with the co-relative movement of said blocks; and means for stopping said propelling means consequent upon the separation of said blocks in excess of a given dimension. 7

11. A film handling device of the character described, including: a pair of cooperating blocks; means for slidably supporting said blocks for corelative movement, there being a force application tending to separate said blocks; a plurality of rollers on each block over which a film may be carried in loops, said loops of film controlling the separation of said blocks; propelling means engaging said film'at a point adjacent to said blocks; means actuated in consequence of corelative movement of said blocks for controlling said'propelling means in a manner to preserve a predetermined separation oi. said blocks; and

means for stopping said propelling means consequent upon the separation of said blocks in excess of a given dimension.

12. A film handling device of at character described, including: a plurality of slides; a pair of cooperating blocks slidably supported by each of said slides, there being a force application tending to separate said blocks; a'plurality oi rollers on each of said blocks over which a film may be carried in the form of loops, such film being conducted from one pair of cooperating blocks to another; film propelling devices engaging said film adjacent to said pairs of cooperating blocks; and means actuating in consequence of co-relative movement of said blocks for controlling the speed of said propelling devices so as to preserve a predetermined separation of said blocks.

13. A film handling device of the character described, including: a plurality of slides; a pair of cooperating blocks slidably supported by each of said slides, each pair of cooperating blocks consisting of an upper block and a lower block, there being a force application tending to separate said blocks; a plurality of rollers on each of said blocks over which a film may be carried in the form of loops, such film being conducted from one pair of cooperating blocks to another; film propelling devices engaging said film adjacent to said pairs of cooperating blocks; and means actuating in consequence of co-relative movement of said blocks for controlling the speed of said propelling devices so as to preserve a predetermined separation of said blocks.

14. A film handling device 0! the character described, including: a plurality of slides; a pair oi cooperating blocks slidably supported by each of said slides, there being a force application tending to separate said blocks; a plurality oi rollers on each of said blocks over which a film may be carried in the form of loops, such film being conducted from one pair of cooperating blocks to another; film propelling devices engaging said film adjacent to said pairs of cooperating blocks; means actuating in consequence oi. co-relative movement oi. said blocks for controlling the speed of said propelling devices so as to preserve a predetermined separation of said blocks; and auxiliary means actuated in response to relative movement of said cooperating pairs of blocks into predetermined positions of separation for stopping one of said propelling devices when said film breaks.

15. A film handling device of the character described, including: a plurality of slides; a pair of cooperating blocks slidably supported by each of said slides, there being a force application tending to separate said blocks; a plurality of rollers on each of said blocks over which a film may be carried in the form of loops, such film being conducted from one pair '01 cooperating blocks to another; film propelling devices engaging said film adjacent to said pairs of cooperating blocks; means actuating in consequence oi co-relative movement of said blocks for controlling the speed of said propelling devices so as to preserve a predetermined separation of said blocks; and auxiliary means actuated in response to relative movement of said cooperating pairs of blocks into predetermined positions of separation for stopping the first of said propelling devices when said film breaks.

16. A film handling device of the character described, including: a plurality of slides; a pair of cooperating blocks slidably supported by each of said slides, there being a force application tending to separate said blocks; a plurality of rollers on each of said blocks over which a film may be carried in the form of loops, such film being conducted from one pair or cooperating blocks to another; a primary propelling device for ieeding said film to the first of said pairs of cooperating blocks; secondary film propelling device engaging said film intermediate each of said pairs of cooperating blocks; means actuating in consequence of relative movement of saidblocks in said slides for controlling the speed 01' said secondary propelling devices so as to preserve a predetermined separation of said pairs of cooperating blocks; and auxiliary means for stopping said primary propelling means in event of breakage of said film.

17. A film'handling device of the character described, including: walls forming a film treating zone; a plurality of expansible film receiving members in said film treating zone; a primary propelling device for feeding a film to the first of said members, said'film being carried from one expansible member, to another; secondary propelling devices engaging said film so as to feed same into succeeding of said expansible members; and means controlling the operation of said secondary propelling devices in a manner to maintain a desired expansion of said expansible members.

18. A film handling device of the character described including: a plurality of expansiblefilm receiving members; film feeding means for feeding a film into the first of said film receiving members; a film motivating means for each of said film receiving members, for taking said film from said film receiving members, means controlled by the expansion of said expansible members for determining the speed of said motivating means so that the speed of said motivating means will increase when said film receiving members expand beyond a predetermined'point and will decrease when said film receiving members contract within said predetermined point; and means for varying the predetermined points of expansion of said film receiving members.

19. A film handling device of the character described, including: a plurality of expansible film receiving members; film feeding means for feeding a film into the first of said film receiving members; a film motivating means for each of said film receiving members, for taking said film from said film receiving members; variable speed motors for driving said motivating means; and means controlled by the expansion of said expansible members for gradually increasing or decreasing the speed of said motors so that the speed of said motivating means will increase when said film receiving members expand beyond a predetermined point and will decrease when said film receiving members contract withinsaid predetermined point.

20. A film handling device of the character described, including: a plurality of expansible film receiving members; film feeding means for feeding a film into the first of saidfilm receiving members; a film motivating means for each of said film receiving members, for taking said film from said film receiving members; means controlled by the expansion of said expansible'members for determining the speed of said motivating means so that the speed of said motivating means will increase in proportion to the movement of said film receiving members when said film receiving members expand beyond a predetermined point and will decrease when said film receiving members contract within said predeterminedpoint; and means for varying the predetermined points of expansion of said film receiving members.

21. A film handling device of the character described, including: a plurality of expansible film receiving members; film feeding means for feeding a film into the first of said film receiving members; a film motivating means for each of said film receiving members, for taking said film from said film receiving members; and means controlled by the expansion of said expansible members for gradually increasing or decreasing the speed of said motivating means so that the speed of said motivating means will increase in proportion to the movement of said film receiving members when said film receiving members expand beyond a predetermined point and will decrease when said film receiving members contract within said predetermined point.

22. A film handling device of the character described, including: walls forming a space for a film treating fiuid; an expansible film. receiving member in said space having a part moving in accordance with the expansion of said expansible member; means for feeding a film to said expansiblemember at a prescribed rate of movement; removing means for taking film from said expansible member; members forming an electric circuit; electric current control means for said circuit connected to a movable part of said expansible member; and electrically operated drive means for said removing means, said electically operated drive means being included in said electric circuit and being operated in response to the amount of electric current passing through said electric circuit, as controlled by said electric circuit control means.

24. A motion picture film treating device of the character described, including: expanding means relatively movable for forming a loop of film; a motor; film moving means adapted to be driven by said motor; a pulley; a cable member extending from said expanding'means and being connected to said pulley so as to produce rotation thereof as said'expanding means contracts and expands in accordance with the length of the loop of film formed thereby; switch actuating means connected to said pulley so as to be moved in response to thev rotation of said pulley; and a regulating switch electrically connected with said motor and operated by said switch actuating means whereby to control said motor so as to propel said film-in such a manner that said expanding means will be maintained in a predetermined condition of expansion.

25. A motion picture film treating device of the character described, including: expanding means relatively movable for forming a loop of film; a motor; film moving means adapted to be driven by said motor; a pulley; a. cable member extending from said expanding means and being connected to said pulley so as to produce rotation thereof as said expanding means contracts and-expands in accordance with the length of the loop of film formed thereby; a drum secured to said pulley and having a switch operating cable wound thereover; and a switch having a moving pert connected to said switch operating cable, there being adjustment means for varying the position of said moving part relative to said pulley.

26. A motion picture film treating device of the character described, including: expanding means relatively movable for forming a loop of film; a motor; film moving means adapted to be driven by said motor; a pulley; cable extending over said pulley so as to rotate the same, the inner end of said cable being connected to said expanding means, and the outer end of said cable having a switch actuating part thereon; switch means having an operating element adapted to be engaged by said switch actuating part when such switch actuating part is raisedabove a predetermined position; switch actuating means connected to said pulley so as be moved in response to the rotation of said pulley; and a regulating switch electrically connected-with said motor and operated by said switch actuating means whereby to control said motor so as to propel said film in such a manner that said expanding means will be maintained in a predetermined condition of expansion.

27. A motion picture film treating device of the character described, including: expanding sneans relatively movable for forming a loop of film; a motor; film moving means adapted to be driven by said motor; a pulley; a cable extending over said pulley so as to rotate the same, the inner end of said cable being connected to said expanding means, and the outer end or said cable having a switch actuating part thereon: switch means having an operating element adapted to be engaged by said switch actuating part when such switch actuating part is raised above a predetermined position; a drum secured to said pulley and having a switch operating cable woimd scribed, including: walls forming a film treating zone; an expansible film receiving member in said film treating zone adapted to form a loop of film and to expand and contract in accordance with the quantity of film therein; means for feeding a film to said receiving member at a speed determined in accordance with the treatment to be given said film; film take-oil means for removing film from said receiving member; drive means for said take-oi! means; and control means connected to said receiving member and functioning to vary the speed of said drive means in accordance with the expansion and contraction of said receiving member so as to maintain a substantially constant expansion oi! said film receiving member.

29. A film handling device 01' the character described, including: walls forming a film treating zone; an expansible film receiving member in said film treating zone adapted to form a loop of film and to expand and contract in accordance with the quantity oi. film therein; means for feeding a film to said receiving member; take-of! means for removing film from said receiving member; a mechanism for controlling the speed of one o! said means in accordance with the treatment to be given said film while it is in said receiving member; and a control device connected to said receiving member so as to be operated thereby, said control device varying the speed of said other 36 means in accordance with the expansion and contraction of said receiving member in a manner to maintain a substantially constant expansion of said receiving member.