US3363530A - Apparatus for processing film by means of a porous web solution applicator - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 16, 1968 APP J. N. RICE 3,363,530 CESSING ARATUS FOR PRO FILM BY MEANS OF A POROUS V WEB S TION AP PLICATOR Fil June 7, 1965 JOHN M RICE INVENTOR I BY A ATTORNEYS United States Patent F 3,363,530 APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING FILM BY MEANS OF A POROUS WEB SOLUTION APPLICATOR John N. Rice, Rochester, N.Y., assignor to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed June 7, 1965, Ser. No. 462,024 3 Claims. (Cl. 95-89) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A film processing apparatus having a continuous porous web movable into intimate engagement with an exposed photosensitive film for applying processing solutions to the film, and means for reconditioning the porous web by removing spent processing solution therefrom so that it may be reused.

This invention relates generally to a photographic apparatus, and more specifically to an improved film processing apparatus incorporating a porous web for applying a processing solution or solutions to the film.

Film processing apparatus in which a porous web, impregnated with a processing solution, is brought into intimate contact with the exposed emulsion surface of a strip of photosensitive material for the necessary time to eilect processing are well known in the art. An apparatus of this type is disclosed in US. Patent 2,848,931, R. A. Troidl, Aug. 26, 1958. In such apparatus, since the porous web is used only once, supply and take-up mechanisms for the porous web are required. Applicants improved film processing apparatus eliminates the necessity tor supply and take-up mechanisms for the porous web by using a reusable porous web.

In summary, applicants invention includes within its scope an improved film processing apparatus utilizing a reusable continuous porous web for applying processing solutions to an exposed photosensitive film. Transport means are provided for transporting the web through a processing station in which the web is moved into intimate pressure contact with the film for processing it. Processing solution applying means are located at the entrance end of the processing station for applying a processing solution or solutions to the web before that portion of the web enters the processing station. Processing solution removing means are located at the exit end of the processing station for reconditioning the porous web by removing the spent processing solution or solutions from the web.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved film processing apparatus having a continuous, resuable porous web for applying a processing solution or solutions to an exposed photosensitive film.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved film processing apparatus having a continuous porous web that may be reconditioned during use for continuously applying substantially uncontaminated processing solution or solutions to an exposed photosensitive film.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved film processing apparatus in which supply and take-up mechanisms for a porous web incorporated therein for applying processing solution or solutions to the film are eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved film processing apparatus that is of simple design and construction, thoroughly reliable and efiicient in operation, and economical to manufacture.

Objects and advantages other than those set forth above will be apparent from the following description when read Patented Jan. 16, 1968 in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation view of a film processing apparatus constructed in accordance with one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing a further embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, one embodiment of a film processing apparatus according to the present invention is disclosed in FIG. 1. This processing apparatus comprises a processing station 10 having a film back-up support member 12 of an arcuate configuration over which a film 14 is transported by any suitable transport mechanism, not shown. If desired, the film support member 12 may be heated by any suitable means, not shown. In addition, guide rollers 16 are provided at each end of support member 12 for guiding film 14 thereover with its base in engagement with support member 12.

In order to apply a processing solution or solutions to the exposed emulsion surface of the photosensitive film 14, a continuous porous web 18 is provided. The web 18 may be constructed of any suitable porous material which is secured to a backing support. For example, paperbacked polyurethane has been found to give acceptable results. Other porous materials such as cellulose, fiberglass, woven materials and paper can be used. In certain cases, backing materials with less absorbency than paper are desirable to reduce the carry-over of residual chemicals. In such cases, backing materials such as stainless steel, rubber and several of the chemically impervious plastic materials maybe used.

The continuous web 18 passes over three rollers, two of which are guide rollers 20 positioned adjacent the entrance and exit ends 19, 21, respectively, of processing station 10, for guiding web 18 through the station into intimate pressure contact with the exposed emulsion surface of film 14. The third roller 22 is a drive roller and may be driven in a clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 1 by any suitable drive mechanism, not shown, for transporting web 18 in the same direction. The amount of agitation desired in the processing operation may be controlled by varying the direction of transport of film 14. For example, if the porous web 18 and film 14 are transported through the processing station 10 in the same di rection and at the same speed, zero agitation will result. On the other hand, if the web 18 and film 14 are transported through the processing station 10 in opposite directions as seen in FIG. 1, a high rate of agitation will result which will increase as the speed of travel of each is increased. Two guide rollers 24 are provided, which may be spring mounted, not shown, for applying proper tension to porous web 18. A mono-bath processing solution of known type containing developing and fixing ingredient is supplied to the porous surface of web 18 by any suitable solution applicator 26. The impregnated porous web 18 is transported through processing station 10 for applying the processing solution to the exposed emulsion surface of fihn 14 for processing same. After any part of web 18 passes through processing station 10, it is reconditioned by transportation of the web through a nip formed by a rubber pressure roller 28 in pressure engagement with drive roller 22 for squeegeeing out the used or spent solution from porous web 18. This spent solution is removed by any suitable vacuum solution extractor 30, connected to any suitable source of vacuum, not shown.

In the modification of the invention shown in FIG. 2, parts similar to parts disclosed in FIG. 1 will be designated by the same numerals primed. In this modification, a rotatable drum 32 is provided having a porous surface layer 34 of some suitable porous material similar to the heretofore-described web 18. An exposed film 14 to be processed is guided by suitable guide rollers 16' over a portion of the periphery of drum 32 serving as a film back-up support where the two are brought into intimate pressure contact. The drum 32 is normally rotatably driven in one direction, and film 14 may be transported in either direction depending upon the degree of agitation desired. A solution applicator 26' is located along the periphery of drum 32 near the entrance end 19 of processing station for applying a processing solution to the porous surface 34 thereof. The solution applicator 26' should preferably be located as close as possible to the entrance end 19 in order to reduce oxidation of the solution. A suitable pressure roller 28 is biased by a spring, not shown, into engagement with the periphery of drum 32 for squeegeeing out the spent solution which is removed from surface 34 by a vacuum extractor 30.

In the modification of the invention shown in FIG. 3, parts similar to parts disclosed in FIG. 1 will be designated by the same numerals double primed. In this modification, a plurality of solution feed applicators 26 are provided for applying different processing solutions in succession to porous web 18". In addition, a back-up roller 36 is provided for pressure roller 28".

The processing apparatus disclosed is applicable not only to the processing of a continuously-transported film 14, but also to the processing of a film which is intermittently advanced. In the situation where a film is intermittently advanced, it is preferable to inter-connect the film transport mechanism, the porous web transport mechanism, and the solution applicator mechanism in timed relation by any suitable means so that the solution is applied to the web 18, and the web advanced only when film 14 is advanced.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to several embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinabove, and as defined in the appended claims.

I claim: 1. In a processing apparatus, the combination comprising:

a processing station having an entrance end and an exit end;

means for supporting Within said processing station photographic film to be processed;

a processing solution applicator positioned near said entrance end of said processing station;

movable means having a continuous porous surface for receiving processing solution from said solution applicator;

means for mounting and moving said movable means so that said porous surface is transported along a closed path past said applicator and thence through said processing station in intimate pressure cont-act with said film for applying said processing solution received by said porous surface to said film for processing same; and

solution extracting means positioned along said path beyond the exit end of said processing station for extracting from said porous surface the processing solution remaining on said porous surface after it exits from said processing station, said solution extracting means comprising (1) a squeegee roller in engagement with said porous surfaces for squeeging solution therefrom, and (2) vacuum operated means adjacent the position of engagement of said roller and porous surface for removing the squeegeed solution, whereby said porous surface is reconditioned to once again receive and apply substantially uncontaminated processing solution to said film.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said movable means comprises a web.

3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said movable means comprises a drum.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,757,950 5/1930 Allin 89 2,931,736 4/1960 Park 118104 2,983,250 5/1961 Godfrey 9589 3,262,381 7/1966 Zimmerman 9589 3,271,187 9/1966 Chen et al 118-104 X 3,271,226 9/1966 Staehle et al 9589 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,085,257 7/1954 France.

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

F. L. BRAUN, Assistant Examiner.

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