US3769897A

US3769897A - Automatic film processing machine

Info

Publication number: US3769897A
Application number: US00221228A
Authority: US
Inventors: E Zwettler; S Goebels
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-01-27
Filing date: 1972-01-27
Publication date: 1973-11-06
Anticipated expiration: 1990-11-06

Abstract

A portable automatic processing machine for developing exposed X-ray films by treating the film in successive tanks. The film is driven through the machine along a continuously curved path which directs the film down into each of the successive tanks and then through a drying chamber. A cassette enclosing the exposed X-ray film is provided which when inserted in an entrance slot on one end of the housing for the machine automatically provides for the film to be dropped into a film driving and guiding unit supported for immersion in the first tank. The film is then advanced into similar film driving and guiding units supported for immersion in each of the other tanks and then into a film driving and guiding unit disposed in a drying chamber which directs the fully developed film out of an exit slot on the other end of the housing. The film driving and guiding units interfit so that the curved path in each is aligned with the curved path of the following unit to thereby provide a continuously curved path for the film which extends throughout the machine. The film driving and guiding units are designed to be readily removable from the housing along with the tanks for the purpose of cleansing the equipment and replenishing the solution in the tanks.

Description

Nov. 6, 1973 g the exlm to be dropped into pported for immersion lm driving a .m rt tm e s l..w mwh te umhm hen 11 C u n r. ga .l O nf H .l dh Y. w m om Olpl m Primary Examiner-F red L. Braun AttorneyJohn T. Matlago [57] ABSTRACT A portable automatic processing machine for develo ing exposed X-ray films by treating the film in successive tanks. The film is driven through the machine along a continuously curved path which directs the film down into each of the successive tanks and then through a drying chamber. A cassette enclosin posed X-ray film is provided which when inserted in an entrance slot on one end of the housing for the machine automatically provides for the fi a film driving and guiding unit su in the first tank. The film is then advancedinto similar film driving and guiding units supported for immersion in each of the other tanks and then into a fi and guiding unit disposed in a dr directs the fully developed fi C United States Patent Zwettler et al.

[ AUTOMATIC FILM PROCESSING MACHINE [76] Inventors: Ernst Zwettler, 2101 Hollister Ter. Glendale, Calif. 91206; Siegmund E Goebels, 1734 S. Barrington Ave., West Los Angeles, Calif. 90025 [22] Filed: Jan. 27, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.: 221,228

[52] US. 95/94 R, 34/155 [51] Int. Cl. 603d 3/12 [58] Field of Search................. 95/89 R, 89 F, 94 R, 95/96, 97; 34/155 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS other end of the housing. The fi 34/155 units interfit so that the curved 95/89 F I with the curved path of the fol 5 provide a continuously curved 95,94 R X extends throughout the machine. The fi guiding units are designed to be readil FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 834,867

95/97 X 95/94 R X 95/94 R m wf dm .1 .wh mwbm slke h PoaEll c EZTEKFKS 60346801 56666677 99999999 11111111 73409022 y removable from the housing along with the tanks for the purpose of 95/94 R cleansing the equipment and replenishing the solution in the tanks.

10 Claims, 29 Drawing Figures 9/1938 France............................

PATENTEDNUV 61975 I SHEET 10F 7 illln i Q3, mm

SHEET 8 OF 7 PATENTEDImv 5 I915 PATENTEDHuv 6 ms SHEET 7 BF 7 l AUTOMATIC FILM PROCESSING MACHINE The present invention relates to apparatus for processing photographic film and more particularly to a machine for automatically processing exposed X-ray films.

There are many instances where the frequent processing of X-ray film is ne essary, one of these being in a dentists office. Since t e time of the dentist as well as the time of his assisting nurse is taken up with caring for the teeth, it is not only inconvenient but sometimes impossible for them to take time out to attend to the developing of an X-rayfilm. Furthermore, since the space in a dentists office is expensive, an elaborate, permanent type installation of processing equipment for this purpose in a dark room is often impractical.

It is thus seen that there is a need for a small, automatic machine that does not need to be especially installed and that can be readily available during the course of a working day in a dentists office for use in developing X-ray films.

One of the objects of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a small, compact, portable machine for automatically processing exposed X-ray films.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine for automatically processing exposed X-ray film wherein a cassette enclosing the exposed X-ray film need be merely inserted into an entrance slot'near one end of the machine and without any further concern on the part of the person in attendance the fully developed X-ray film will'be delivered from the other end of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cassette for enclosing an X- ray film which, when positioned in an entrance slot of a processing machine, will automatically release the film so that it can be engaged by driving rollers and automatically advanced for processing through the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a processing machine for X-ray film which is provided with a shutter on the lower end of an entrance slot thereof which is automatically opened as a result of the positioning of the end of the cassette into the entrance slot of the machine.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement and apparatus for developing an X-ray film by positively driving and guiding the film along a continuously curved path which swings down into and out of each tank and then over to the next tank of a series of open tanks in succession.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for automatically processing exposed X-ray film in which each tank and an associated driving and guiding unit provided for each of the steps in the developing process can be readily assembled in the housing and removed therefrom for ease in cleansing the machine and replenishing the solutions in the tanks.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means for positively advancing a film along a curved path through a tank filled with solution without touching the emulsion on the front or back surfaces of the film while it is moving through the solution.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cassette for an X-ray film having light baffling surfaces on its lower end which are not opened up until the end of the cassette has bottomed on the entrance slot of the machine.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be made more readily apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of the machine of the present invention shown with the cover therefor removed;

FIG. 2 is a partial top plan view of the cover showing the entrance slot of the machine for receiving the cassette enclosing the exposed X-ray film;

FIG. 3 is a left end view of the machine in FIG. 1 with a portion of the end of the housing removed;

FIG. 4 is a'front view of the machine in FIG. I with most of the front side of the housing cover removed;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the entrance slot on the machine as taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the entrance slot on the machine as taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the entrance slot of the machine as taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the component parts of the shutter mechanism as located on the lower end of the entrance slot of the machine;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a film driving and guiding unit in the housing as taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the drying chamber within the housing as taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a film driving and guiding unit;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view showing the journal supports for the end of the incoming set of rollers in the driving and guiding unit of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the machine with the top of the cover cut away as taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the inner, rear, longitudinal side of the housing showing the supporting and driving mechanism for the driving and guiding units as taken along line 14-14 in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view through the machine showing the continuous, curved path for the film through each of the successive tanks and the drying chamber as taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a partial plan view of the gearing mechanism for the incoming set of rollers in a driving and guiding unit as taken along line 16-16 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary view showing the leading portion of the film being advanced through a driving and guiding unit as taken along line 17-17 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating the contact between the front edge of the film and the lower bail on a driving and guiding unit;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a cassette for use with the machine of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a back view of the cassette in FIG. 19 with portions of the back cover broken away;

FIG. 21 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view of the cassette as taken along line 21-21 of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a vertical, cross-sectional view of the cassette as taken along line 22-22 of FIG. 20;

FIG. 23 is a vertical, cross-sectional view of a portion of the cassette as taken along line 23-23 of FIG. 20;

FIG. 24 is an enlarged view of the lower portion of the vertical cross-sectional view of the cassette as shown in FIG. 22;

FIG. 25 is a view of the bottom of the cassette;

FIG. 26 is a view showing the notched bottom of the cassette positioned over a pin on the end of the entrance slot of the machine;

FIG. 27 is a view showing the bottom of the cassette wedged on the pin on the end of the entrance slot to enable the cassette to open up;

FIG. 28 is a view of the bottom of the cassette showing the front and back covers separated to enable the film therein to drop out; and

FIG. 29 is an overall perspective view showing the inner surfaces of the front and back covers of the cassette.

Reference will first be madeto FIG. 1 which shows the overall perspective view of the machine of the present invention which is used for automatically processing an exposed X-ray film 37 as stored in a cassette The machine includes a housing 11 provided with a bottom 12, a rear side 14, a left end 16 and a right end 17. A removable housing cover 18 forms the top 13 and the front side 15 of thehousing 11. The rear edge of the top 13 of cover 18 is provided with a ledge 19 which abuts against the upper edge of the rear side 14 when the cover 18 is positioned on the housing 11 by use of the handle on the front side 15. A partition 20 divides the housing 11 longitudinally so that the processing compartment is formed to the left of the partition 20 and a drying chamber is formed to the right of the partition. Positioned within the processing compartment of the housing are three rectangularly shaped open tanks a developer tank 22a, a fixing tank 22b, and a rinsing tank 22c. With the cover 18 in place on the housing 11 and a light-baffle wall 171 provided at the entrance to the drying chamber, light is prevented from entering the processing compartment so that the film 37 can be processed under dark room conditions.

A hanger 27 extends across the front upper edge of the processing compartment of the housing 11. A longitudinally extending front supporting rail 28 is attached by screws 26 to the hanger 27. A longitudinally extending rear supporting rail 30 is attached to the upper edge of the rear side 14. Three film driving and guiding

units

32a, 32b, and 32c are suspended across the supporting

rails

28 and 30 so that the lower portion of each unit extends down into one of the three

tanks

22a, 22b and 220. Located on the left end of the top 13 of the cover 18 is an entrance slot 34 for receiving the lower end of the cassette 35 in which the exposed X-ray film 37 is stored. When the lower end of cassette 35 is positioned in the entrance slot 34, the cassette opens to permit the X-ray film 37 to drop down into the driving and guiding unit 32a which advances the film 37 along a curved path through 'the developing tank 22a. The film 37 is then directed into the second unit 32b which advances the film 37 along a curved path through the fixing tank 22b. The film 37 is then directed into the third unit 320 which advances the film 37 along a curved path through the rinsing tank 220. The film 37 is then directed into a driving and guiding device 50 (FIG. 4) which causes the film 37 to be advanced along a path through the drying chamber after which it then emerges out of an exit slot 245 provided on the right end 17 on the housing 11.

42b. A rectangularly shaped land 44 is formed on the inside surface of the front cover 39. The back cover 41 of the cassette 35 is amolding fonned with indented, vertical sides 45a and 45b. Furthermore, the central portion of inside surface of back cover 41 is recessed to form a rectangularly shaped well 46 for receiving the land 44 on the inside surface of the front cover 39. When the front and back covers 39 and 41 are assembled together the vertical side walls 42a and 42b of the front cover 39 extend over the indented vertical side walls 45a and 45b of the back cover 41 and the land 44. .on the inside surface of the front cover 39 is positioned within the well 46 formed on the inside surface of the back cover 41. Secured on the surface of the land 44 of the front cover 39 are a sheet of lead 47 and a first intensifying screen 48, and secured on the recessed surface of the well 46 of the back cover 41 is a second intensifying screen 49. The film 37 which is freely held between the

screens

48 and 49 is shown in position on the former in FIG. 29. Located on the corner top of the cassette 35 formed by the top wall 53 of the back cover 41 is a slot 51 which extends down into a rectangularlyshaped cut-out 54 provided on the upper corner of the screen 49 secured within the well 46. A transverse opening 56 extends from the inner surface of the top wall 53 to the slot 51. A member 57 is positioned in the transverse opening 56. The inner surface of the member 57 adjacent the slot 51 is covered with a piece of velvet material 58. As shown inFlG. 23 when the front and back covers 39 and 41 are assembled together, springs 59 in opening 60 of the member 57 urge the surface of the velvet material 58 on the member 57 against the surface of the slot 51 thus serving as a light baffle. As shown in FIG. 19, the slot 51 is provided on the top of the cassette 35 to enable a rectangularlyshaped identification tag 52 to be inserted therein.

The front and back covers 39 and 41 are held together by three spaced screws 62 on each vertical side of the cassette. As shown in FIGS. 21 and 29, each screw 62 passes through a spring coil 63 positioned in each of three spaced bores 61 provided on each vertical side of the back cover 41 and the threaded end of each screw 62 engages a threaded opening 65 in the front cover 39. The lower, inside surface of the front cover 39 below land 44 is provided with a transversely disposed angular projection 67. The projection 67 has a mating engagement with a depression 69 transversely disposed on the lower inside surface of the back cover 41. Located on the top wall 53 of the cassette 35 is a cylindrical bore 68. A portion of a tapered seat 69a is formed on the upper inner edge of the front cover 39 in line with the bore 68. Positioned upward within the bore 68 from below wall 53 is a cylindrical member 70 provided with a shoulder 71 on the central portion thereof, the lower surface 72 of which is tapered to the reduced diameter cylindrical base. As shown in FIG. 22 when the cylindrical member 70 is positioned within the bore 68 with its shoulder 71 abutting against the lower surface of the top wall 53, it is held therein by a spring 75, the upper end of which is seated within the cylindrical base and the lower end of which rests on the upper end of land 44. The arrangement is in such a manner that when the top end of the cylindrical member 70 is depressed by the thumb of the operator of the machine, the force on the tapered surface 72 creates a lateral force on the tapered seat 69a which spreads the upper portion of the front and back covers 39 and 41 slightly apart so as to free the film 37 in the event it will not freely drop out of the cassette when the lower ends of the front and back covers of the cassette are spread apart as a result of being positioned within the entrance slot 34 of the machine.

The entrance slot 34 of the machine will next be described with reference to FIGS. 4-8. Located in an opening 33 in the top 13 of the cover 18 near the left end thereof is an entrance member 77 provided with a shoulder 78 about the upper surface thereof which rests against the top surface of the cover 18. In order to hold the entrance member 77 in position in opening 33, a pair of elongated stops 79 are positioned below the top 13 of cover 18 and held onto the sides of entrance member 77 by screws 80. As shown in FIG. 7, the inside front surface 73 and back surface 74 of the passageway through the entrance member 77 are slanted outwardly from the top toward the bottom thereof. A shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, a recess 81 is provided on each side of the inside front surface of the entrance member 77. Pivotally mounted in a horizontally disposed pivot pin 82 in each of the recesses 81 is a finger 83. Attached to the bottom of the entrance member 77 is a shutter mechanism 84 comprised of an upper plane member 86 and a lower plane member 87. As shown in FIG. 8 the upper plane member 86 is provided with an elongated opening 88 and the lower plane member 87 is provided with an aligned elongated opening 89. A shutter 90 is disposed in a recess 91 provided on the lower plane member 87. Semicylindrical depressions 92 are formed on either side of the under surface of the upper plane member 86 and similar semicylindrical depressions 93 are formed on either side of the upper surface of the lower plane member 87. A spring coil 94 is positioned in the cylindri-cal opening formed by each opposing pair of

depressions

92 and 93 so that the end of each of the spring coils 94 fits in a notch 96 on the edge of shutter 90 and thus urges the shutter 90 in a position in which it resides over the aligned

elongated openings

88 and 89. The upper plane member 86 is provided with openings 98 on either side thereof and the lower plane member 87 is provided with recesses 100 on the upper surface opposite the openings 98 in the upper plane member 86. The shutter 90 is provided with narrow slots 99 on either side thereof. When the ends of the

plane members

86 and 87 with the shutter 90 therebetween are attached to the bottom of the entrance member 77 by screws 85, the ends of the fingers 83 pivotally supported on either side of the front inner surface of the entrance member 77 extend through the openings 98 in the upper plane member 86, and the narrow slots 99 in the shutter 90, and down into the recess 100 in the lower plane member 87.

4 Extending inwardly from each end of the passageway through the entrance member 77' is a horizontally disposed wedging pin 102. When the cassette 35 with the exposed X-ray film 37 therein is positioned within the entrance member 77 of the machine, the lower end of the cassette 35 contacts the fingers 83 and causes them to be pivoted back in alignment with the inner surface of the entrance member 77. The backward movements of the ends of the fingers 83 cause the shutter to slide back thus opening up the passageway formed by the aligned

elongated openings

88 and 89 on the lower end of the entrance slot 34. Referring to FIGS. 7, 26 and 27, as the lower end of cassette 35 becomes bottomed in the opening of the entrance member 77, the wedging pins 102 on either end of the entrance member 77 engage the notches formed by the

angular surfaces

64 and 66 as provided on either of the inside lower ends of the respective covers 39 and 41, thus causing the front and back covers 39 and 41 to become separated against the action of the spring-loaded screw 62 on the vertical sides of the cassette 35. It should be noted that a clearance 76 is provided on either lower side of the cover 39 for the wedging pins 102. As the front and back covers 39 and 41 separate, the transverse angular projection 67 on the lower inside surface of the front cover 39 separates from the transverse depression 69 on the lower inside surface of the back cover 41 sufficiently to permit the film 37 to drop out of the cassette 35 into the machine, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 28.

Attached to the side of the entrance member 77 underneath the cover 18 is a microswitch 103. Actuator 104 of the microswitch 103 is positioned to extend across the elongated opening 89 on the bottom of the entrance passageway. As shown in FIG. 6 when the film 37 drops into the machine 10 from the cassette 35 the lower end of the film 37 forces'the actuator 104 to rotate downwardly and thus opens the microswitch 103 causing a light bulb-105 on the cover 18 near the entrance slot 34 to go out. After the upper end of the film 37 has traveled into the machine 10 the actuator 104 is freed to rotate upwardly thus closing the microswitch 103 to again light the bulb 105. Thus as long as the light bulb 105 is on the operator is aware that he can feed another film 37 into the machine by positioning another cassette 35 into the entrance slot 34 thereof. As will be made clear in the ensuing description, several films 37 can successively and simultaneously be advanced through the machine for processing.

Before describing the overall machine 10, one of the film driving and guiding units 32a, as shown in FIG. 11,

will be described. It should be understood that each of the units 32b, and 32c is identical with unit 32a and corresponding parts are identified by the same numerals bearing letter subscripts corresponding to the respective units. The driving and guiding unit 32a includes a front side wall 106a having a lower portion 108a with a circular opening 118a and having an integrally formed upper portion 110a which extends to the right of the lower portion; and a rear side wall 107a similarly having a lower portion 109a with a circular opening 119a and having an integrally formed upper portion 111a which extends to the right of the lower portion. The side walls 106a and 107a are connected in parallel by a pair of spacers 112a and 113a (FIG. 15) interconnecting their lower portions and by a pair of spacers 114a and 115 a interconnecting their upper portions. The opposing inner surfaces of the side walls 106a and 107a are provided with opposing V-shaped grooves 116a and 1171;, respectively, each groove forming a continuous curved path that swings down and around the

circular openings

118a and 119a on the

lower portions

108a and 109a and then swings up and around the inner surface of the upper portions 110a and 111a, respectively. An incoming set of driving rollers 122a and 1230 spans the lower portions of the side walls 106a and 1070 near the beginning of the V- shaped

grooves

116a and 1170 and an outgoing set of driving

rollers

1240 and 1250 spans the lower portion of side walls 106a and 1070 on the upward path of the .V-shaped

grooves

116a and 1170. A lower bail 126a formed of wire is provided which generally conforms with the curved path of the V-shaped grooves 1 16a and 1 17 a on the lower portions of the side walls. The leading end of the lower bail 1260 is attached by a pin 1270 to the spacer 112a and the trailing end of the lower bail 1260 is attached by a pin 129a to the spacer 1130 (see 8 hanger 27. The forward end of the hanger 27 is attached by a screw 29 to the left end 16 of the housing 11. The hanger 27 is then bent inwardly beyond the entrance slot 34 of the machine and the other end of the FIG. An upper bail 130a formed of wire which I generally conforms with the upwardly curved path of the opposing V-shaped

grooves

116a and 117a on the upper portions of the side walls has its leading end attached by pin 1320 to the spacer 114a and its trailing end attached by a pin 1310 to the spacer 1150 on the upper portion of the side walls. As shown in FIG. 12, the ends 1330 and 1340 of the incoming set of driving rollers 122a and 1230 pass through openings 135a and 1360 in the side wall 106a and are positioned in

journals

1380 and 1390 attached by screws 1400 to the outside of the side wall 1060.

Journals

1380 and 1390 may be formed of plastic. As shown in FIG. 16, the other ends 142a and 1430 of the incoming set of

rollers

122a and 123a after passing through openings in the side walls 1070 and

journals

1440 and 145a are provided with

gears

146a and 147a. The extended end 1430 of the roller 123a is further provided with a worm gear 149a.

Similarly, the ends of the outgoing set of rollers 124a and 1250 are supported in journals 151a and 1520 on side wall 1060 and the other ends of the outgoing set of rollers are similarly supported in journals and provided with gears 154a and 1550 and a worm gear 1560. It should be noted that both the driving rollers of the incoming set and the outgoing set are positively driven to ensure that there is no shearing force on the emulsion surface of the film 37 which would result in ruining the images thereon.

The upper portions 1100 and 1110 of the side walls I 1060 and 107a of the film driving and guiding units 320 are provided with a pair of arms 159a-l60a and 1610-16212, respectively.

Reference will next be made to the housing 11 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 14. Attached on the upper end of rear side 14 of the housing 11 is the rear supporting rail 30. The rear supporting rail 30 is provided with three sets of spaced notches 1630-1640, 163b-164b, 163c-164c on the upper edge thereof. A locking rail 166 is held on the rear supporting rail 30 by screws 167 which freely pass through elongated openings 168 in the locking rail 166 and thus permit the locking rail 166 to be slideably moved longitudinally relative to the rear supporting rail 30. When the locking rail 166 is positioned toward the left, sets of spaced notches 1710-1720, etc, provided on the upper edge thereof (FIG. 4) are in alignment with the set of spaced notches 16311-1640, etc. on the supporting rail 30. The lower portions of the spaced notches 1710-1720, etc. in the locking rail 166 are elongated to enable the locking rail 166 to slide to the right and thus lock the arms 1610-1620, etc. of the units 320, etc. thereon.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 13, attached across the upper front corner of the housing 11 is the longitudinal hanger 27 is attached by screw 31 to the short, light, baffle wall 171 attached across the upper portion of the housing 11 in the drying chamber. Attached by screws 26 to the hanger 27 is the front supporting rail 28 provided with three sets of spaced notches 173a-174a, etc. on the upper edge thereof. The three sets of notches on the opposing supporting

rails

28 and 30 are aligned with each other.

Referring to FIG. 14, positioned in the housing 11 near the rear side 14 thereof is a longitudinally extending drive shaft 169. The forward end of the drive shaft 169 is supported on a slot of a bracket attached to the left end 16 of the housing 11. The drive shaft 169 is then supported in a bearing 175 positioned in a slot 21 provided in the partition 20 and extends on through the drying chamber such that its opposite end is sup ported on a slot of a bracket 176 attached to the right end 17 of the housing 11. Positioned on the drive shaft 169 are three sets of spaced nylon worms 1770-1780, 177b-178b, 1770-1780 which are attached to the drive shaft 169 by set screws. In addition, a worm 179 is provided near the entrance of the drying chamber and another worm 180 is provided on drive shaft 169 near the exit of the drying chamber. Located intermediate the

worms

179 and 180 on the drive shaft 169 is a pulley 181 which engages a drive belt 182. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 15, a motor 184 is mounted on the bottom 12 of the housing 11 by rubber cushions 186. A gear box 188 on the rear of the motor 184 is provided with a stub shaft 189 having a pulley 190 attached thereto. The drive belt 182 connects the motor pulley 190 to the shaft pulley 181.

Having described the housing 11 with the front and rear supporting

rails

28 and 30, the locking rail 166 and the driving train for thefilm driving and guiding

units

32a, 32b and 320, next to be described by reference to FIGS. 13-15 is the simple manner in which the

tanks

22a, 22b and 22c; and the film driving and guiding

units

32a, 32b and 32c can be assembled within and removed from the housing 11. Each of the

tanks

22a, 22b and 22c comprises an open, rectangularly shaped container which is positioned within the processing compartment of the housing 11 adjacent to each other. Thus, starting from the left, the developer tank 220 is positioned then the fixing tank 22b and then the rinsing tank 220. After the tanks have been so positioned and filled with their respective solutions, the unit 32c is first positioned in the housing 11 with its arms 159c-160c and 161c-162c fitted on the pair of spaced notches 173c-174c and 163c-164lc on the front and rear supporting

rails

28 and 30 respectively, and with the lower portions 108C and 1096 of its side walls 106C and 107c immersed within the water tank 220. When so positioned the worm gears 14% and 1560 engage the worms 177c and 178C, respectively, on the drive shaft 169. The unit 32b is then positioned in the housing 11 so that its upper portions 11012 and 111b fit over the lower portions 108C and 109C of the unit 320, its lower portions 108b and 10911 are immersed in the tank 22b and its arms 159b-160b and 161b-162b are fitted in the set of spaced notches 173b-174b and l63b-164b provided on the front and rear supporting

rails

28 and 30 respectively. When so positioned, the worm gears 14% and 156b engage the worms l77b and 178b, respectively, on the drive shaft 169. The unit =a then is positioned in the housing 11 such that its upper portions 110a and 111a fit over the lower portions l08b and of the unit 32b, its

lower portions

108a and 109a are immersed in the tank 22a, and its arms 159a-160a and 161a-l62a are fitted in the set of spaced notches 173a-174a and 163a-1'64a, respectively. When so positioned the

worm gears

149a and 156a engage the

worms

177a and 178a, respectively, on the drive shaft 169. With the

units

32a, 32b and 320 in position on the supporting

rails

28 and 30 the locking rail 166 is then slid toward the right thus locking these units in position in the housing 11.

It should be noted, as shown in FIG. 15, that when the unit 32b is positioned with its upper portions 11% and lllb fitted over the lower portions l08c and 1090 of the unit 32c, the ends of the V-shaped grooves 116k and l17b on the opposing inside surfaces of the upper portions 11% and lllb meet with the ends of the V- shaped grooves 116C and 1170 on the opposing inside surfaces of the lower portions l08c and 1090. Likewise, the V-shaped

grooves

116a and 117a of the unit 32a line up with the V-shaped grooves 1 16b and l17b of the unit 32b. The V-shaped grooves of the

interfitting units

32a, 32b and 320 thus form a continuous path extending from just below the entrance slot 34 of the machine through to the beginning of the drying chamber.

It should be noted that the incoming set of driving rollers and the outgoing set of driving rollers of each of the

units

32a, 32b and 320 is located above the level of the solution in the respective tanks and each of the outgoing set of rollers serve to drain the liquid rapidly from the surface of the film 37 as it is withdrawn from the respective tanks.

Starting with the dropping of the film 37 out of the cassette 35, when the film 37 is advanced by the incoming set of driving

rollers

122a and 123a down into the tank 22a, the sides of the film 37 engage the V-shaped grooves on the opposing side walls 106a and 107a of the film driving and guiding unit 32a. Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, as the front end 38 of the film 37 advances along the inwardly curved path formed by the V-shaped grooves it tends to buckle outwardly. It is for this reason that the lower bail 126a in the form of a curved wire is provided. The bail 126a is positioned midway between the side walls 106a and 107a and has a curvature corresponding to the outer edge of the inwardly curved path formed by the V-shaped

grooves

116a and 117a, as shown in FIG. 15. The upper bail 1300 which is connected to the upper pair of spacers '1 14a and 115a is similarly provided for preventing the film 37 from buckling as it is advanced along the inwardly curved path formed by the V-shaped

grooves

116a and 117a on the upper portions 110a and 111a of the side walls of unit 32a.

It should be clear from FlGS. 1 5 and 18 that as the relatively stiff film 37 advances, the leading edge 38 only of the film 37 makes sliding contact with the lower bail 126a and the upper bail 130a as it is advanced through the unit 32a by engaging first the incoming set of driving rollers l22arand 123a and then by engaging the outgoing set of driving rollers 124a and 125a. The balls on units 32b and 32c similarly engage the-leading edge 38 of the film 37 and prevent the film from buckling as it is advanced through the respective tanks in the processing compartment.

A description of the apparatus located in the drying chamber of the housing 11 will next be presented. It

should be noted that the short transverse light baffle wall 171 is provided in the drying chamber spaced away from the top of the partition 20 so as to provide an opening leading from the processing compartment to the drying chamber. This spacing is used to provide the path for the film 37 as it is directed down from the third unit 320 into the film driving and guiding device 50. The short wall 171 thus serves as a light baffle to ensure that the processing of the film 37 is performed under dark room conditions. As previously described the motor 184 is mounted on the bottom 12 of the drying chamber and the pulley 190 is attached to the stub shaft 189 of the gear box 188 on the rear of the motor 184 and the belt 182 connects the motor pulley 190 to the pulley 181 on the drive shaft 169. The film driving and guiding device 50 positioned within the drying chamber is comprised of a pair of

parallel side walls

192 and 193 the inner surfaces of which are formed with V-shaped grooves 194 and 195 for guiding the film 37. An incoming set of drive rollers 197 and 198 is provided near the entrance end of the path formed by the V-shaped grooves 194 and 195 for receiving and driving the film 37 as it is advanced from the unit 32c suspended over the rinsingtank 220. Spacers 201, 202 and 203 are provided near the front of the

side walls

192 and 193 and spacers 206 and 207 are provided near the rear of the

side walls

192 and 193 of device 50. An outgoing set of

rollers

242 and 243 is provided near the exit end of the path formed by V-shaped grooves 194 and 195 for driving the film out of the drying chamber and through the exit slot 245. A bail 208 attached to spacers 201 and 202 is provided on the inlet curved portion of the V-shaped grooves 194 and for preventing the film 37 from from buckling out as it is advanced by the incoming set of rollers 197 and 198 along the inwardly curved portion of the path through the drying chamber. When device 50 is slideably positioned within the drying chamber with the bottom of the

side walls

192 and 193 thereof resting on a supporting member 204 on the partition 20 and a supporting member 205 on the right side wall 17, a worm gear 199 on the end of driving roller 198 engages the worm 179 on the drive shaft 169 and a worm gear 210 on the end of driving roller 242 engages the worm 180. Furthermore, the V-shaped grooves 116a and l17c on the.

upper portion of the side walls of units 32c line up with the V-shaped grooves 194 and 195 on the respective side walls of device 50.

It should now be clear that the V-shaped grooves of the

interfitting units

32a, 32b and 320 and device 50 thus form a continuous curved path for the film 37 extending from just below the entrance slot 34 on the top of the left end of the machine through the successive tanks in the processing compartment and then through the drying chamber to the exit slot 245 on the right side 17 of the machine.

Positioned in upper slots 209 provided in the

respective side walls

192 and 193 of device 50 above the path of the film 37 is a horizontally disposed upper rectangular heater frame 211 and positioned in lower slots 213 provided in the

side walls

192 and 193 below the path of the film 37 is a horizontally disposed lower rectangular heat frame 215.

As shown in FIG. 13, a length of heater coil 217 is connected by eye hooks 218 to span the upper heater frame 211 in a zig zag manner. Similarly a length of heater coil 219 is connected by eye hooks 221 to span the lower heater frame 215 (FIG. The ends of the heater coils 217 and 219 are connected to terminal clips 222 which are connected by conductors (not shown) to an inlet electrical receptacle 223 on the lower rear side of the housing 11. An upper fan 226 provided with a motor 227 is attached by a bracket 228 across the top of the

side walls

192 and 193 of the dryer film driving and guiding device 50. A lower fan 229 provided with a motor 230 is attached by a bracket 231 to bottom 12 of the housing 11. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 10, ambient air is drawn into the drying chamber by the lower fan 229 through lower windows 233 provided on the front side and the rear side 14 of the housing 11. The lower fan 229 thus forces the air which is heated upon passing through the heater coils 219 to be blown against the bottom surface of the film 37 as it is advanced through the drying chamber and the air is then dispelled through a series of lower elongated openings 235 provided'in the

side walls

192 and 193 and then through centrally disposed exit windows 236 provided on the front side 15 and rear side 14 of the housing.

In a similar manner, the upper fan 226 draws ambient air into the machine via upper windows 238 provided on the front and rear sides of the housing 11. This air is then heated upon passing through the heater coils 217 and then blown down on the top surface of the film 37 after which it is dispelled through a series of upper elongated openings 239 provided on the

side walls

192 and 193 of device 50 and then through the central exit windows 236 on the front and rear sides of the housing 11.

In order to enable the air provided by the upper and A

lower fans

226 and 229 to dry the side portions of the film 37 as it is advanced through the drying chamber, the upper and lower sides of the V-shaped grooves 194 and 195 are formed with scalloped openings 240 (FIG.

13) in the vacinity of the heater coils. The outgoing set of

rollers

242 and 243 positioned near the exit end of the V-shaped grooves 194 and 195 advance the film 37 through the exit slot 245 provided on the right end 17 of the housing.

In order to supply power to the machine the electrical inlet receptacle 223 is provided on the lower right of the rear side 14 of the housing as shown in FIGS. 10 and 13 and conductors (not shown) are connected by way of an on/off switch 246 on the upper right end 17 of the housing 11 to the drive shaft motor 184, the

motors

227 and 230 for the fans, and the indicator light r'eceptacle 247. An indicator light plug 248 is attached to the underside of the top 13 of the cover 18 such that it fits on the receptacle 247 when the cover 18 is in position on the housing 11 to thus provide for electrically connecting the indicator light 105 provided adjacent the entrance slot 34 via the microswitch 103. The conductors (not shown) to the drive motor 184 further include an adjusting knob 250 which can be set to vary the speed of the motor 184 and consequently the speed with which the film 37 is advanced through the develthe housing 11. The screen 251 is attachedby a screw 252 to a member 256 provided on the upper front of the bafile wall 171. The screen 251 is used to prevent the operator from getting too close to the apparatus located within the frame.

In addition, screens 253 (FIG. 10) are positioned on the windows provided on the portions of the rear side 14 of the housing and the front side 15 of the cover 18 enclosing the drying chamber.

It should be noted that the driving and guiding

units

32a, 32b and 32c are supported by the front and rear supporting

rails

28 and 30 relative to the

respective tanks

22a, 22b and 220 so that the incoming set l22a-l23a, etc. and the outgoing set l24a-l25a, etc.

of driving rollers for each'of these units are located above the level of the liquid provided in these respective tanks, thus assuring that the surface of the film 37 is not being contacted while the film is being advanced through the solution. This is especially important for the developing tank 220 since the emulsion on the surface of film 37 is softened upon being advanced into the developing solution and is not hardened to the point where it can be safely contacted by the driving rollers until the film is withdrawn therefrom. Damage to the surface of the film 37 is also avoided by making the driving rollers out of rubber. It should be further noted that forming the V-shaped

groove

116a, 117a, etc. to have an angle of 60 aids in retaining the sides of the film 37 therein while the film is being advanced through each of the tanks by the driving rollers.

Although the description herein has been concerned with a particularly illustrative embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is subject to various modifications in both the construction and arrangement thereof without departing from the spirit of the invention. The invention, therefore, should be considered as including all possible modifications and variations coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a processing machine for photographic films,

the combination comprising:

a housing having an entrance slot and an exit slot,

a row of open tanks in said housing,

film transport means supported in said housing,

said film transport means including spaced parallel side walls having portions extending into each of the tanks and portions bridging each tank with the succeeding tank,

grooves provided on the opposing surfaces of said side walls, said grooves forming a continuous curved path extending from below the entrance slot of said housing down into and out of each of said tanks in succession,

driving rollers having their ends rotatively supported on said opposing side walls adjacent the grooves at the entrance and exit of each of said tanks,

guide bails disposed between said parallel side walls, said guide bails having a curvature corresponding to but displaced radially outwardly from the in wardly curved portions of said path and extending along said path between the driving rollers at the entrance and exit of each said tank and between the driving rollers at the exit of each tank and the entrance of the succeeding tank, and

drive means for simultaneously driving said driving rollers,

whereby a film fed into the entrance slot of said housing has its side edges engaged in the grooves in said opposing side walls and its leading edge only sup ported by said guide bails while the film is being driven along said continuous curved path by said driving rollers so as to successively pass through each of said tanks toward the exit slot of said housmg.

2. A processing machine for photographic films comprising:

a longitudinally extending housing having a processing compartment and a drying chamber,

said housing having an entrance slot on one end and an exit slot on the other end thereof,

a row of open tanks within the processing compartment of said housing,

film transport means supported in said housing,

said transport means including spaced side walls extending down into each of said tanks and bridging each tank with the succeeding tank and the last tank with the drying chamber and extending through said drying chamber, the opposing surfaces of said side walls provided with grooves forming a continuous path extending from below the entrance slot of said housing and curving down into and out of each of said tanks in succession and then curving down into and through said drying chamber to the exit slot of said housing,

said transport means including driving rollers supported across said spaced side walls adjacent the grooves at the entrance and exit of each said tanks and the entrance and exit of said drying chamber, and

said transport means including guide bails located between said spaced side walls and having a curvature similar to but spaced radially outwardly from the inwardly curved portions of the path formed by the grooves on the opposing surfaces thereof, and

drive means for said driving rollers,

whereby a length of film dropped into the entrance slot of said housing has its sides engaged in the grooves on the opposing surfaces of said side walls and its leading edge supported by said guide bails while the film is being driven along the curves of said continuous path by said driving rollers so as to successively pass through each of said tanks and then through said drying chamber to the exit slot of the housing.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 2 including a shutter mechanism in the entrance slot of said housing, 1

a cassette comprised of a front and back cover for enclosing an exposed X-ray film, means in said entrance slot for opening said shutter mechanism when the lower end of saidcassette is positioned therein, and further means in said entrance slot for wedging open the covers of said cassette to permit the film to drop out of said cassette into the driving rollers supported across 60 the side walls ad acent the grooves at the entrance of said first tank.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein said film transport means includes an individual film driving and guiding unit for each of said tanks and said drying chamber, and

wherein the spaced side walls of the film driving and guiding unit for each of said tanks comprises a l0 driving and guiding units are provided with a pair of arms,

wherein supporting rails having pairs of spaced notches therealong are provided in said housing above said tanks,

wherein each of said film driving and guiding units is supported relative to its respective tank by positioning its pair of arms in a pair of notches provided on said rails, and

a locking rail on one of said supporting rails for locking the pairs of arms of said film driving and guiding units in position on said supporting rails.

6. The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein the grooves on the opposing surfaces of the side walls of said film transport means are v-shaped.

7. The invention in accordance with claim 2 including engaging gears on the ends of the driving rollers provided at the entrance and exit of each of said tanks and said drying chamber,

a drive shaft extending longitudinally through said housing, said drive shaft provided with worms along the length thereof, and

worm gears on the ends of one of the driving rollers on the entrance and exit of each of said tanks in said drying chamber, said worm gears engaging the worms on said drive shaft.

8. The invention in accordance with claim 2 including an upper and lower heater device supported across the side walls above and below the path of the film through said drying chamber,

an upper fan supported in said housing above said upper heater device, a lower fan supported in said housing below said lower heater device,

said housing being provided with upper, lower and middle windows on the front and rear sides of said drying chamber,

said upper fan drawing in air through said upper windows and blowing said air past said upper heater device and across the upper surface of said film and then out said middle windows, and

said lower fan drawing in air through said lower windows and blowing said air past said lower heater device and across the lower surface of said film and then out of said middle windows.

9. A processing machine for photographic films comprising:

a row of open tanks within the processing compartment of said housing,

film driving and guiding means supported in said housing,

said means including spaced side walls extending down into each of said tanks and bridging each tank with the succeeding tank and the last tank with the drying chamber and extending through said drying chamber, the opposing surfaces of said side walls being provided with grooves forming a continuous path extending from below the entrance slot of said housing down into and out of each of said tanks in succession and then down into and through said drying chamber to the exit slot of said housing,

said means further including driving rollers supported across said spaced side walls adjacent the grooves at the entrance and exit of each of said tanks and the entrance and exit of said drying chamber,

drive means for said driving rollers,

an upper and lower heater device supported across the side walls above and below the path of the film through said drying chamber,

an upper fan supported in said housing above said upper heater device and a lower fan supported in middle windows on the front and rear sides of said drying chamber,

said upper fan drawing in air through said upper windows and blowing said air past said upper heater device and across the upper surfaces of said film and then out said middle windows, and

said lower fan drawing in air through said lower windows and blowing said air past lower heater device and across the lower surface of said film and then out of said middle windows.

the sides of the grooves formed on the opposing side walls of the drying chamber in the vicinity of said heater device being formed with scalloped openings to enable the side edges of the film to be dried by the air blown thereover,

whereby a film dropped into the entrance slot of said housing has its sides retained in the grooves on the opposing surfaces of said sidewalls while it is being driven along said continuous path by said driving rollers so as to successively pass through each of said tanks and then through said drying chamber to the exit slot of the housing.

10. in a film processor,

a housing having an entrance slot and an exit slot,

a plurality of tanks aligned in said housing, each said tank containing a body of fluid,

a drying chamber in said housing located adjacent the last aligned tank,

transport means comprising spaced parallel side walls having lower portions extending into each of the tanks and upper portions bridging each tank with the succeeding tank, said upper portion of the side walls for the last tank providing for bridging the last tank with the drying chamber,

grooves provided on the opposing surfaces of said side walls, said grooves forming a continuous curved path extending from the entrance slot of said housing down into and out of each of said tanks in succession and through the drying chamber to the exit slot of the housing,

an incoming pair of drive rollers disposed adjacent the grooves at the entrance of each of said tanks and the entrance of said drying chamber,

an outgoing pair of drive rollers disposed adjacent the grooves at the exit of each of said tanks and the exit of said drying chamber,

said incoming and outgoing pairs of drive rollers associated with each said tank being located above the level of the body of fluid contained therein,

a lower guide bail located midway between the lower portions of the sidewalls extending into each of the tanks, eachsaid lower guide bail having a curvature similar to but displaced radially outwardly from the curvature of said path in the associated lower portion of the side walls and having a length extending from below the incoming pair of drive rollers to the outgoing pair of drive rollers of each of the tanks,

an upper guide blail located midway between the upper portions of the side walls bridging each tank with the succeeding tank and the last tank with the drying chambeneach said upper guide bail having a curvature similar to but displaced radially outwardly from the curvature of said path in the associated upper portion of the side walls and having a length extending from above the outgoing pair of drive rollers of each of the tanks to the incoming pair of drive rollers of the following tank, the upper guide bail for the last tank extending to the incoming pair of drive rollers of the drying chamber,

drive means for simultaneously driving said drive rollers, and

a cassette adapted when positioned in the entrance slot of said housing to drop a length of film therethrough into said incoming pair of drive rollers of said first tank,

said film having a length so that it is advanced along said path by the incoming pair of drive rollers of each tank until its leading edge engages the outgoing pair of drive rollers of each tank, said outgoing pair of drive rollers for each tank advancing the film along the path to the incoming pair of drive rollers of the following tank, and the outgoing pair of drive rollers of the last tank advancing the film along said path to the pair of incoming drive rollers of the drying chamber which advances the film through the drying chamber until the leading edge of the film engages the outgoing pair of drive rollers of the drying chamber which then advances the length of film through the exit slot of the housing.

Claims

1. In a processing machine for photographic films, the combination comprising: a housing having an entrance slot and an exit slot, a row of open tanks in said housing, film transport means supported in said housing, said film transport means including spaced parallel side walls having portions extending into each of the tanks and portions bridging each tank with the succeeding tank, grooves provided on the opposing surfaces of said side walls, said grooves forming a continuous curved path extending from below the entrance slot of said housing down into and out of each of said tanks in succession, driving rollers having their ends rotatively supported on said opposing side walls adjacent the grooves at the entrance and exit of each of said tanks, guide bails disposed between said parallel side walls, said guide bails having a curvature corresponding to but displaced radially outwardly from the inwardly curved portions of said path and extending along said path between the driving rollers at the entrance and exit of each said tank and between the driving rollers at the exit of each tank and the entrance of the succeeding tank, and drive means for simultaneously driving said driving rollers, whereby a film fed into the entrance slot of said housing has its side edges engaged in the grooves in said opposing side walls and its leading edge only supported by said guide bails while the film is being driven along said continuous curved path by said driving rollers so as to successively pass through each of said tanks toward the exit slot of said housing.

2. A processing machine for photographic films comprising: a longitudinally extending housing having a processing compartment and a drying chamber, said housing having an entrance slot on one end and an exit slot on the other end thereof, a row of open tanks within the processing compartment of said housing, film transport means supported in said housing, said transport means including spaced side walls extending down into each of said tanks and bridging each tank with the succeeding tank and the last tank with the drying chamber and extending through said drying chamber, the opposing surfaces of said side walls provided with grooves forming a continuous path extending from below the entrance slot of said housing and curving down into and out of each of said tanks in succession and then curving down into and through said drying chamber to the exit slot of said housing, said transport means including driving rollers supported across said spaced side walls adjacent the grooves at the entrance and exit of each said tanks and the entrance and exit of said drying chamber, and said transport means including guide bails located between said spaced side walls and having a curvature similar to but spaced radially outwardly from the inwardly curved portions of the path formed by the grooves on the opposing surfaces thereof, and drive means for said driving rollers, whereby a length of film dropped into the entrance slot of said housing has its sides engaged in the grooves on the opposing surfaces of said side walls and its leading edge supported by said guide bails while the film is being driven along the curves of said continuous path by said driving rollers so as to successively pass through each of said tanks and then through said drying chamber to the exit slot of the housing.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 2 including a shutter mechanism in the entrance slot of said housing, a cassette comprised of a front and back cover for enclosing an exposed X-ray film, means in said entrance slot for opening said shutter mechanism when the lower end of said cassette is positioned therein, and further means in said entrance slot for wedging open the covers of said cassette to permit the film to drop out of said cassette into the driving rollers supported across the side walls adjacent the grooves at the entrance of said first tank.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein said film transport means includes an individual film driving and guiding unit for each of said tanks and said drying chamber, and wherein the spaced side walls of the film driving and guiding unit for each of said tanks comprises a lower portion extending down into the tank and an upper portion overlapping the lower portion of the film driving and guiding unit extending down into the succeeding tank, the upper portion of the driving and guiding unit for the last tank overlapping a portion of the film driving and guiding unit provided for the drying chamber.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 4 wherein the upper portions of the side walls of each of said film driving and guiding units are provided with a pair of arms, wherein supporting rails having pairs of spaced notches therealong are provided in said housing above said tanks, wherein each of said film driving and guiding units is supported relative to its respective tank by positioning its pair of arms in a pair of notches provided on said rails, and a locking rail on one of said supporting rails for locking the pairs of arms of said film driving and guiding units in position on said supporting rails.

7. The invention in accordance with claim 2 including engaging gears on the ends of the driving rollers provided at the entrance and exit of each of said tanks and said drying chamber, a drive shaft extending longitudinally through said housing, said drive shaft provided with worms along the length thereof, and worm gears on the ends of one of the driving rollers on the entrance and exit of each of said tanks in said drying chamber, said worm gears engaging the worms on said drive shaft.

8. The invention in accordance with claim 2 including an upper and lower heater device supported across the side walls above and below the path of the film through said drying chamber, an upper fan supported in said housing above said upper heater device, a lower fan supported in said housing below said lower heater device, said housing being provided with upper, lower and middle windows on the front and rear sides of said drying chamber, said upper fan drawing in air through said upper windows and blowing said air past said upper heater device and across the upper surface of said film and then out said middle windows, and said lower fan drawing in air through said lower windows and blowing said air past said lower heater device and across the lower surface of said film and then out of said middle windows.

9. A processing machine for photographic films comprising: a longitudinally extending housing having a processing compartment and a drying chamber, said housing having an entrance slot on one end and an exit slot on the other end thereof, a row of open tanks within the processing compartment of said housing, film driving and guiding means supported in said housing, said means including spaced side walls extending down into each of said tanks and bridging each tank with the succeeding tank and the last tank with the drying chamber and extending through said drying chamber, the opposing surfaces of said side walls being provided with grooves forming a continuous path extending from below the entrance slot of said housing down into and out of each of said tanks in succession and then down into and through said drying chamber to the exit slot of said housing, said means further including driving rollers supported across said spaced side walls adjacent the grooves at the entrance and exit of each of said tanks and the entrance and exit of said drying chamber, drive means for said driving rollers, an upper and lower heater device supported across the side walls above and below the path of the film through said drying chamber, an upper fan supported in said housing above said upper heater device and a lower fan supported in said housing below said lower heater device, said housing being provided with upper, lower and middle windows on the front and rear sides of said drying chamber, said upper fan drawing in air through said upper windows and blowing said air past said upper heater device and across the upper surfaces of said film and then out said middle windows, and said lower fan drawing in air through said lower windows and blowing said air past lower heater device and across the lower surface of said film and then out of said middle windows. the sides of the grooves formed on the opposing side walls of the drying chamber in the vicinity of said heater device being formed with scalloped openings to enable the side edges of the film to be dried by the air blown thereover, whereby a film dropped into the entrance slot of said housing has its sides retained in the grooves on the opposing surfaces of said sidewalls while it is being driven along said continuous path by said driving rollers so as to successively pass through each of said tanks and then through said drying chamber to the exit slot of the housing.

10. In a film processor, a housing having an entrance slot and an exit slot, a plurality of tanks aligned in said housing, each said tank containing a body of fluid, a drying chamber in said housing located adjacent the last aligned tank, transport means comprising spaced parallel side walls having lower portions extending into each of the tanks and upper portions bridging each tank with the succeeding tank, said upper portion of the side walls for the last tank providing for bridging the last tank with the drying chamber, grooves provided on the opposing surfaces of said side walls, said grooves forming a continuous curved path extending from the entrance slot of said housing down into and out of each of said tanks in succession and through the drying chamber to the exit slot of the housing, an incoming pair of drive rollers disposed adjacent the grooves at the entrance of each of said tanks and the entrance of said drying chamber, an outgoing pair of drive rollers disposed adjacent the grooves at the exit of each of said tanks and the exit of said drying chamber, said incoming and outgoing pairs of drive rollers associated with each said tank being located above the level of the body of fluid contained therein, a lower guide bail located midway between the lower portions of the sidewalls extending into each of the tanks, each said lower guide bail having a curvature similar to but displaced radially outwardly from the curvature of said path in the associated lower portion of the side walls and having a length extending from below the incoming pair of drive rollers to the outgoing pair of drive rollers of each of the tanks, an upper guide bail located midway between the upper portions of the side walls bridging each tank with the succeeding tank and the last tank with the drying chamber, each said upper guide bail having a curvature similar to but displaced radially outwardly from the curvature of said path in the associated upper portion of the side walls and having a length extending from above the outgoing pair of drive rollers of each of the tanks to the incoming pair of drive rollers of the following tank, the upper guide bail for the last tank extending to the incoming pair of drive rollers of the drying chamber, drive means for simultaneously driving said drive rollers, and a cassette adapted when positioned in the entrance slot of said housing to drop a length of film therethrough into said incoming pair of drive rollers of said first tank, said film having a length so that it is advanced along said path by the incoming pair of drive rollers of each tank until its leading edge engages the outgoing pair of drive roLlers of each tank, said outgoing pair of drive rollers for each tank advancing the film along the path to the incoming pair of drive rollers of the following tank, and the outgoing pair of drive rollers of the last tank advancing the film along said path to the pair of incoming drive rollers of the drying chamber which advances the film through the drying chamber until the leading edge of the film engages the outgoing pair of drive rollers of the drying chamber which then advances the length of film through the exit slot of the housing.