US3804379A

US3804379A - Developing apparatus for photographic materials

Info

Publication number: US3804379A
Application number: US00325893A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Merz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-01-21
Filing date: 1973-01-22
Publication date: 1974-04-16
Anticipated expiration: 1991-04-16
Also published as: JPS4883827A; GB1421465A; FR2168528B3; DE2202877A1; IT976789B; FR2168528A1

Abstract

A drum is rotatable about a horizontal longitudinal axis and adapted to contain a developer liquid and photographic materials which are to be developed by contact with this liquid. A drive is provided for rotating the drum and for agitating the liquid therein, and a humidifying arrangement is provided for raising the level of humidity in the drum to a desired extent so as to prevent evaporation of the liquid in the drum.

Description

United States Patent [191 Merz DEVELOPING APPARATUS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS Inventor: Werner Merz, Napoloenweg 3,

D-791 l Oberelchingen, Germany Filed: Jan. 22, 1973 Appl. No.: 325,893

Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 21, 1972 Germany 2202877 Int Cl. G03d 3/04 Field of Search 95/89 R, 93, 99

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,550,521 12/1970 Carrie ..95/93 US. Cl .(ffflf .259/81 RT95/89 I?" [4 1 Apr. 16, 1974 3,599,554 8/l97l Aelterman et a1. 95/89 R 3,698,307 l0/l972 Reichardt 95/93 Primary Examiner-Fred L. Braun Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Michael S. Striker ABSTRACT 7 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure I u. L 7 T is 17 f-qdiiZ T 37:73.21.

g l o .usonwmzz DEVELOPING APPARATUS FOR PI-IOTOGRAPIIIC MATERIALS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a developing apparatus for photographic material, particularly for color films and the like.

Apparatus of the type here in question is already known and it is known from the prior art to provide a drum having a normally horizontal longitudinal axis and to rotate it about this axis. The developer liquid and the photographic materials which are to be developed by contact with the liquid, are accommodated in the drum and as the latter rotates, either continuously or alternately in opposite directions, the liquid is agitated and is thus brought into intimate contact with the photographic material. In order to assure uniform and high-quality development of the photographic material it is necessary that the material and the liquid be maintained at a certain temperature during the developing operation. This, however, produces substantial difficulties because the developing liquid which wets the photographic material outside the bath of liquid in a thin film, rapidly evaporates and thus drastically cools the surface of the film as a result of such evaporation. This means that to all intents and purposes it has heretofore been impossible to obtain completely uniformly developed film material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved developing apparatus for photographic materials which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.

More particularly it is an object of the present invention to provide such an improved developing apparatus in which the aforementioned disadvantageous cooling effect resulting from evaporation of the developing liquid, is avoided.

In keeping with these objects, and with others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of the invention resides in a developing apparatus for photographic materials which, briefly stated, comprises a drum having a normally horizontal longitudinal axis and adapted to contain a developer liquid and photographic materials which are to be developed by contact with such liquid. Agitating means is provided for agitating the liquid in the drum, and humidifying means is provided for raising the level of humidity in the drum above the liquid therein, to a desired extent. With this construction the level of humidity in the drum can be raised to or near the saturation point, which makes it impossible or almost impossible for developing liquid to evaporate and thus avoids the cooling of the photographic material resulting from such evaporation.

It is advantageous if the developing apparatus comprises a chamber which may be so constructed as to prevent the entry of light and which accommodates the humidifying means, and the latter is advantageously arranged in the lower or bottom portion of this chamber.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims- The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will best be understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The single FIGURE is a diagrammatic side view of an apparatus according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing the drawing in detail it will be seen that in the FIGURE there is provided a chamber 10 which is of generally box-shaped configuration and which may be so constructed as to prevent the entry of light when the apparatus is in operation. Accommodated in the chamber 10 is a receptacle, here configurated as a drum 11 having a normally substantially horizontal longitudinal axis about which it is either rotatable continuously in one direction, or about which it can be rotated in alternately opposite directions. In known manner the photographic material to be developed is placed on the inner circumferential surface of this drum 11 and the latter is filled to a certain level, for instance the level identified with reference numeral 12, with a developer liquid. Such liquid may be introduced via an inlet funnel 13 which discharges into a tube 14 communicating with the interior of the drum 11.

It is advantageous if, as illustrated in the drawing, the drum 11 is mounted on a rocking element 15 which is mounted for rocking movement about a transverse axis 16 so that the drum ends can alternately be raised and lowered by raising and lowering of the rocking element 15. This will cause the liquid to flow back and forth from one end of the drum to the other, and will facilitate the agitation of the liquid. In addition it is possible to provide a rocking frame 15a which causes the entire unit to perform a rocking motion. A drive is provided identified with reference numeral 17 for not only rotating the drum 11 about its longitudinal horizontal axis, either continuously in one direction or alternately in mutually opposite directions, but also for effecting the rocking movement.

The unit 15 can be tilted up about the axis 16 so that the drum assumes a partly upright position, permitting the liquid in the drum to flow out through the opening provided in the right-hand end of the drum 11 and to flow into the chamber 10 which is provided at a low point with a collecting trough 18 in which the liquid collects and from where it is removed via a pump 19 to the exterior as indicated by the arrow.

In accordance with the present invention, there is arranged, preferably in the lower portion or bottom portion 10a of the chamber 10, humidifying means for increasing the humidity in the drum to a desired extent. This humidifying means is, in the illustrated embodiment, essentially composed of a water tube 20 provided with a variety of relatively small outlet openings 21. One end, here the left-hand end of the tube 20, can be connected with a source of water, preferably water under pressure, which enters in the direction of the arrow f into the tube 20 and issues from the spray or outlet apertures 21. The tube 20 advantageously extends entirely or substantially over the length of the drum 11 and is inclined downwardly in direction towards the collecting trough 18. The right-hand end of the tube 20, that is the end remote from that which serves as the entry for water, is identified with reference numeral 22 and is preferably closed so that the entire amount of water admitted into the tube 20 is forced to issue through the openings 21.

In some circumstances a single tube 20 may be sufficient to achieve the intended purposes. However, in order to provide for a particularly effective increase in the level of humidity two or more tubes 20 can be provided, and they may be arranged one above the other, in a common plane parallel with one another, or in any other desired manner.

It is further possible and advantageous to provide a hygrometer 23 in the chamber in order to measure the level of humidity therein, and this can be coupled with the water supply in known and therefore nonillustrated manner, so as to control the supply of water to the tube or tubes in such a manner as to maintain automatically a selected level of humidity, at or at least substantially near the saturation point.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a developing apparatus for photographic materials, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that from the standpoint of prior art fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

- What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended 1. A developing apparatus for photographic materials, comprising a drum having a normally horizontal longitudinal axis and adapted to contain a developer liquid and photographic materials which are to be developed by contact with such liquid; agitating means for agitating the liquid in said drum; and humidifying means for raising the degree of humidity in said drum above the level of liquid contained therein, to a desired extent, said humidifying means extending axially of said drum and having a length which at least substantially corresponds to the axial length of said drum.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said agitating means comprises rotating means for rotating said drum about said longitudinal axis thereof.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1; further comprising a chamber surrounding said drum and having a bottom portion located beneath the same; and wherein said humidifying means is arranged in said bottom portion.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said humidifying means comprises at least one water pipe provided with a plurality of water outlet openings and adapted to be connected with a source of water.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4; further comprising a chamber surrounding said drum and said humidifying means and having a bottom portion provided with an outlet; and wherein said water pipe is downwardly inclined in direction towards said outlet.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, said water pipe having one end adapted to be connected to said source,

and an other end remote from said one end; and

wherein said water pipe is closed at said other end.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 1; and further comprising control means associated with said humidifying means and operative for maintaining the humidity in said drum at a predetermined level.

Claims

1. A developing apparatus for photographic materials, comprising a drum having a normally horizontal longitudinal axis and adapted to contain a developer liquid and photographic materials which are to be developed by contact with such liquid; agitating means for agitating the liquid in said drum; and humidifying means for raising the degree of humidity in said drum above the level of liquid contained therein, to a desired extent, said humidifying means extending axially of said drum and having a length which at least substantially corresponds to the axial length of said drum.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, said water pipe having one end adapted to be connected to said source, and an other end remote from said one end; and wherein said water pipe is closed at said other end.