US2804003A - Apparatus for processing photographic film and the like - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 27, 1957 a. F. HOFFMAN 2 ,804,003

Filed April 23, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 27, 1957 1, H A 2,804,003

APPARATUS FUR PROCESSING PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM AND THE; LIKE Filed April 25, 1953 ESheets-Sheet 2 Q IVENTORQ ATTORNEYS raised States Patent "flies 2,804,003 Patented Aug". 27, 1957 APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING PHGTQGRAPHEC FILM AND THE LIKE Ignace F. Hellman, Saginaw, Mich.

Application April 23, 1953, Serial No. 3585649 17 Claims. (Cl. 95-365) This invention relates to apparatus 'for processing photographic film and the like, and more particularly to a new and improved developing tank for simultaneously processing a plurality of film rolls.

Conventional developing tanks comprise broadly a film carrier mounted in a central bearing within an outer casing containing alternately the developing, rinsing, fixing and washing fluids. The carrier is rotated or moved through the solution in the outer casing to provide an agitation between the film surface and processing solution. It has been found that to accomplish this rotation manually is quite tedious and usually mechanical means such as a motor or a thermostatically controlled stream of water playing on an impeller have been employed to drive the film carrier. Obviously, the use of mechanical means for driving the-film carrier has greatly increased the cost of the device.

One of the prime objects of the instant invention is to provide a film carrier means which is floatingly supported within a closed outer casing so that it is practical to manipulate the carrier manually, a simple twist of the hand serving to spin the carrier means and produces the necessary agitative effect for a prolonged period of time.

A further object of the invention is to design a developer tank and film carrier means therefor which can support a plurality of films simultaneously in a manner in which the swirl of the fluid cannot buckle the film no matter in which direction the carrier means is spun.

Another object of the invention is to design a developer tank of the type described and film carrier'means floatingly supported therein which can be ballasted to insure that the film rolls are completely immersed in the fluid, the quantity of ballast employed being readily variable depending upon the buoyant characteristics of the fluid and the quantity of fluid employed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a developer tank into Which the developing, rinsing, fixing and washing fluids can be easily poured and from which these fluids can be quickly drained into containers for storage, with a minimum loss of time between processing fluids, until used again in developing the succeeding batch of films.

Another object of the invention is to design film car rier means which permit the easy and rapid loading and unloading of the film, the carrier means including corrugated rings on which the film rolls are mounted to permit the fluid to wash over the entire surface of the film.

A further object of the invention is to provide a developer tank and film carrier means therefor which can be formed from a translucent material so that in dc veloping color film, all surfaces of the film can be exposed to light for a few seconds during one phase of the development process without necessitating removal of the film from the carrier means.

Another object of the invention is to design a developing tank which is of limited size and yet can process roll film of all kinds within a wide range of lengths and widths.

A still further object of the invention is to design a film-developing tank of sturdy and durable construction which can be economically manufactured, and can process a plurality of films simultaneously on a commercial basis.

With the above and other objects in view, the pres ent invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illus trated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being under stood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportion, and minor details of construction, without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional, elevational view of the device taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2 showing the unrolled films individually secured to the film carrying rings.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device with the cover, funnel member, and thermometer plug thereof removed, the film rolls and securing slips being omitted from the view for clarity.

Fig. 4 is a transverse, sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, elevational view showing the clips securing the ends of an unrolled film in position.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings wherein I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, a letter D generally indicates my improved roll film developing apparatus which includes an outer cylindrical tank 16 in the downwardly sloped bottom of which is centrally mounted a drain fitting 11 which opens therethrough.

The tank 10 which contains the processing fluid F is provided with an inset cylindrical base 12 which enables the tank 10 to be readily grasped and moved to desired locations. Adapted to float within the tank It) as shown in Fig. l is a carrier C which includes an inner tank 13, having a bottom 14 which slopes upwardly from the side wall of the tank 13, the tank 13 being formed, also, with a central tube 15 which extends upwardly to a point above the outer tank is and opens through the bottom of the inner tank 13. Mounted on the outer wall of the tank 13 is a flange 16 in which are provided circumferentially spaced ports or openings 17 as shown for a purpose to be presently described.

The rolls of films A are individually mounted on a plurality of readily removable corrugated rings 13 of progressively increasing diameter which are retained in position by radially spaced lugs 19 provided at circumferential intervals on the flange 16. A pair of U-shaped clips 20 (see Figs. 4 and 5) are provided on each ring 18 for retaining the free ends of the film strip which are trained around the rings 18. It will be apparent that the clips 20 are circumferentially adjustable on the rings 18 so that rolls of film of varying length may be accommodated, and the walls of the rings are of suflicient height to enable film strips of a Wide range of widths to be carried. To enable the rings to be readily grasped when removing them from the device, it will be seen that the series of rings are of outwardly decreasing height. In processing color negatives, it is necessary during one stage of their development that they be exposed to light for an interval of a few seconds. It is therefore contemplated that the rings 18 will be formed of a suitable translucent material such as a clear plastic,

of which there are many commercial varieties, so that under ordinary light conditions.

both sides of the film may be exposed to light without removing the film from the rings.

Since the film roll is trained around the rings and the free ends thereof are secured as described, there is no possibility of the film buckling during the agitating process as occurs with present-day spiral wound film carriers. Further, since the rings 18 are corrugated, the processing fluids or solutions are able to fully contact both surfaces of the exposed film roll. It is clear that the unit can be made up to support any desired number of rings 18, although but three are shown in the instant drawings. Vertical slots 21 are formed in the upper end of the tube 15 to retain a funnel 22 therein, the funnel having a depending spout 23 which telescopes into the tube 15 and lugs Znon the spout which are accommodated in the slots 21.

A cover 25 is provided for the tank 16 to maintain the interior of the tank substantially light-free, the cover being formed with a depending tube 26 which telescopes over the tube 15, to center the floating inner tank 13. The cover 25 has also a central opening 25a, of course, to permit the entrance of the spout 23 of the funnel 22. Further, a spout 27 leads into the interior of the inner tank 13 to permit air to escape when the cover is lowered into position and to permit the addition of a ballast liquid or material 3 it necessary.

Since it is necessary to control the temperature of the developing and color processing fluids, a thermometer plug P extends through the funnel 22 and tube 15 and is threaded into the drain fitting 11. A slot 28 is provided through the plug to permit the fluids to reach the bulb of the thermometer 29, and it will be observed that the head of the plug is of less diameter than the spout 23 of the funnel so that the funnel 22, cover 25, and carrier tank C can be removed without removing the thermometer plug.

In practice, the rings 18 are first loaded with exposed film in the manner indicated and placed in position on the flange 16, beginning with the innermost ring and proceeding outwardly. The carrier tank thus loaded is deposited into tank 10. The cover is then placed over the tank and the plug P which controls the drain and funnel 22 is secured in position. Processing fluid F is poured into the funnel 22 and proceeds through the tube under the tank 13 through the perforations into the tank 10. The carrier C is caused to float in the tank 10, but is prevented from rising beyond the point where it engages the lower end of the tube 26 of the cover so that the film rolls are maintained completely immersed in the fluid. It will be apparent that a thermostatically adjusted ballast liquid such as water can be poured into the tank 13 through the spout 27 to control the float of the carrier so that it floats freely out of engagement with the tube 26. The funnel 22 is then given a twist to spin the carrier and move the film through the fluid. A single twist of the funnel is suflicient to spin the carrier for a considerable period of time.

When the film has been sufficiently agitated through the solution, the thermometer plug P is removed and the developing fluid is drained into a container and preserved for use with the next group of exposed films. The thermometer plug is then reinserted and the procedure is repeated with rinsing and fixing solutions. Finally, a washing fluid is employed in the same manner described, and I wish to point out that all of these phases of the developing process can be carried out without removing the cover when processing ordinary black and white film.

When processing color film, it is necessary to reexpose the film to light after the first few steps of the procedure are taken, and the cover is therefore removed at the proper time. Thereafter the process is carried on Re-exposure of the color film can then be accomplished by merely lifting the entire carrier tank out of the fluid and exposing it to a bright light according to standard procedures. When the cover is thus removed, the addition of a counter-ballast fluid to the carrier tank is then imperative to assure complete immersion of the film rolls in the processing fluid after the re-exposure. It will be apparent that the light is able to reach the sides of the film rolls which engage the translucent, corrugated rings 18. It will further be obvious that the oppositely sloped bottoms of the outer and inner tanks it and 13 permit the fluid to be rapidly drained from the device.

Throughout the specification and claims the liquid F has been termed a processing fluid, but I wish to advise that this term is used broadly and should be taken to mean any solution which might be employed in the handling of light-sensitive film materials.

What I claim is:

1. In a film developer, an outer tank adapted to be alternatively filled with a developing, rinsing, fixing and washing solution, an inner tank having an upwardly extending tubular member opening through the bottom of said inner tank, a removable cover for said outer tank having a depending tubular member telescoping over said first-mentioned tubular member and opening through said cover to permit developing fluid to be poured into said first-mentioned tubular member when said cover is in position, a laterally extending film carrier flange on the outer side of said inner tank immersed in said solution, a plurality of individually rcmovable film carrying rings, each capable of carrying an individual film strip, of different diameter mounted on said flange in concentric relation and means mounted on said first-mentioned tubular member which permits manual spinning of said inner tank and film carrier means through said solution when the cover is in place.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said film carrier flange is perforated.

3. In a film developing device, an outer tank containing a film processing solution, an inner tank floating therein, a lateral flange on said inner tank projecting outwardly therefrom, a plurality of individual film carrying irregular surfaced rings removably seated on said flange in concentric spaced relation, said rings being immersed in said solution, an upwardly extending central tube for said inner tank, a cover for said outer tank having a tubular depending member telescoping over said tube to maintain the inner and outer tank in spaced relation, and means connected to said tube extending through said cover which can be grasped to spin said inner tank through said solution while said cover is in place.

4. In a roll film developer, an outer tank containing a processing solution, an inner tank floating therein with the greater portion of said tank below the level of said solution, a flange on said inner tank extending laterally from the bottom thereof, an upwardly extending tubular member opening through the bottom of said inner tank, a removable cover for said outer tank having a depending tubular member telescoping over said first-mentioned tubular member and opening through said cover to permit developing fluid to be poured into said first-mentioned tubular member when said cover is in position, at least one vertically corrugated ring mounted on said flange with a film roll trained therearound, and a funnel mounted on the tubular member of said inner tank which can be twisted to spin the inner tank and film through the solution.

5. The combination defined in claim 4 in which a ballast material is in said inner tank.

6. In a film developing device, an outer tank having a bottom wall sloped to the central portion thereof, said bottom wall having a drain opening through the central portion thereof, a film carrier in said outer tank including a central, tubular portion opening through the bottom of said carrier, a cover for said tank including a central opening therein, and an elongated member having a drain fitting on one end thereof seated in said drain opening and extending up through said tubular portion of the carrier and said cover.

7. The combination defined in claim 6 in which said elongated member has a thermometer therein.

8. In a film developing device, an outer tank, including a bottom wall and a side wall, containing a processing solution, an inner tank, including a bottom and an outer side surface, freely floating therein with its bottom entirely out of contact with the bottom of said outer tank and its side surface out of contact with the side wall of the outer tank, means for carrying exposed film immersed in said solution and connected with the inner tank, a cover for said outer tank, and means connected to said inner tank and projecting through said cover which can be grasped and twisted to move said inner tank through said solution.

9. In a film developing device, an outer tank including a bottom wall and a side wall, a film processing solution therein, an inner tank including a bottom and an outer side surface, with the bottom of the inner tank entirely out of contact with the bottom of the outer tank and the side wall surface out of contact with the side wall of the outer tank, floating in said solution, and film carrying means on the inner tank at least partially immersed in said solution.

10. In a film developing device, an outer tank including a bottom wall and a side wall, a film processing solution therein, a film carrier, including a bottom and an outer side surface, in said outer tank, said bottom and side surface being out of contact with the bottom and side walls of said tank respectively and floating immersed in said solution, with the bottom of said carrier entirely spaced from said bottom of the outer tank by said solution, and means connected to said carrier for supporting film in said solution.

11. In a film developing device, an outer tank, including side and bottom walls, containing a film processing solution, a film carrier entirely spaced from the side and bottom walls thereof and floating immersed in said solution, means for holding said carrier spaced from the side wall of said outer tank, and means connected to said carrier enabling the spinning of said film carrier and thereby the agitation of said carrier and film through said solution.

12. In a film developing device, an outer tank, including a bottom wall and a side wall, containing a film processing solution, an inner tank having a bottom and an outer side surface floating therein, with the bottom out of contact with the bottom wall of the outer tank and the side surface out of contact with the side wall of the outer tank, means immersed in said solution mounted on said inner tank for carrying exposed film, an upwardly extending central tube for said inner tank, a cover for said outer tank having a tubular depending member tele scoping over said tube to maintain the inner and outer tank in concentric spaced relation and determine the depth at which said inner tank will float, and means connected to said tube extending through said cover which can be grasped to spin said inner tank and agitate the means carrying the film through the solution when the cover is in place.

13. Film processing apparatus comprising a receptacle having an opening therein for admitting processing fiuid to the interior thereof; a buoyant carrier mounted within said receptacle for vertical upward movement with respect to the latter in response to admission of fluid to said receptacle; means connected to said carrier for mounting film thereon between the carrier and the receptacle; and a surface connected to said carrier which can be engaged to impart rotary movements thereto.

14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 including means carried by said receptacle and located in a position to engage said carrier after predetermined vertical upward movement of the latter.

15. Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 including means in communication with the interior of said carrier for admitting ballast thereto.

16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 in which said carrier includes a bottom and side wall, said bottom having a circumferential flange on which said film mounting means is located.

17. Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 in which said film mounting means comprises at least one removable annular element with a film roll trained therearound seated on the flange of said carrier.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,000,287 Nyc Aug. 8, 1911 1,012,723 Seely Dec. 26, 1911 2,073,978 Smith Mar. 16, 1937 2,112,605 Pless Mar. 29, 1938 2,519,337 Alberts Aug. 22, 1950 2,530,734 Salzman Nov. 21, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 18,570 Great Britain June 24, 1909

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