1993-09-24
1995-05-23
Rutledge, D.
G03D 500
Patent
active
054185904
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to photographic processing apparatus and is more particularly concerned with apparatus in which the photographic material being processed is held in place during the transport cycle by active processing chemicals.
2. Description of the Related Art
International patent application PCT/US90/04918 discloses a transport system in which the back or unsensitized surface of photographic material is held by capillary action against a surface of a transport belt. The belt surface is wetted with water and the material to be processed is placed on to the belt with its sensitized surface facing upwards. Active processing chemicals are then applied to the sensitized surface of the material as it is advanced through the processing apparatus by the belt.
Photographic processes are also known where a chemical package is held against the sensitized surface to affect treatment. Two examples of this type of treatment are in the field of instant photography and a pre-soaked bi-mat belt.
WO89/03728 discloses an arrangement in which processing solutions are supplied to a porous material against which sheet material is transported during processing. The sheet material is transported by means of a belt which acts in conjunction with the porous material to apply the solutions to the material being processed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,310,620 discloses an arrangement in which a porous spreading element in the form of an endless flexible web moves over a system of deflecting rollers to apply processing solutions to the sensitized surface of the photographic material. At least one of the deflecting rollers is mounted within a processing tank and impregnates the flexible web with processing solution, the material to be processed being introduced between the deflecting roller and the moving web with its sensitized surface being held against the web.
This arrangement has the disadvantage of requiring large volumes of processing solution for application to the moving web and cannot be used with inherently unstable processing solutions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided photographic processing apparatus for processing photographic material comprising:
a reservoir containing photographic processing solution; and
a transport belt carried by a plurality of rollers and arranged to pass through the reservoir to pick up processing solution;
characterized in that photographic material to be processed is retained on the transport belt by surface tension of the processing solution carried thereon.
Advantageously, processing solution application means are provided for applying further processing solution on to the transport belt. In one embodiment, the solution is applied to the transport belt, and in another embodiment, directly to the material to be processed as it enters the apparatus.
By this arrangement, active photographic chemicals can be applied to a moving belt on to which photographic materials are laid with their sensitized surfaces against the belt for both for treatment and transport through processing apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating the use of a separate processing chemical delivery point; and
FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating direct application of processing chemical to the material being processed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In FIG. 1, a single stage embodiment of apparatus according to the present invention is shown. The apparatus comprises a transport belt 10, inlet feed rollers 12, 14 and a reservoir 16 containing processing solution 18. The transport belt 10 is carried by rollers 20, 22, 24, 26, and driven in the direction of arrow 28 by a conventional motor (not shown).
As th
REFERENCES:
patent: 3308737 (1967-03-01), Fukuda
patent: 3418912 (1968-12-01), Land et al.
patent: 4310620 (1992-01-01), Meyer
Earle Anthony
Fyson John R.
Ward Paul C.
Eastman Kodak Company
Rutledge D.
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