Coating apparatus having a coating, recirculation and cleaning arrangement

A method of cleaning a coating apparatus, with the coating apparatus having at least one roller which applies at least one coating solution supplied to the coating apparatus onto a photosensitive material, the method comprising the steps of:

• stopping a supply of the at least one coating solution to said coating apparatus;
• positioning a washing arrangement at a washing position relative to said one roller so as to permit a supply of cleaning solution to said at least one roller;
• supplying said cleaning solution by way of said washing arrangement to at least said one roller;
• and
• moving said washing arrangement to a position different than said washing position when the supplying of cleaning solution has stopped.

A photoprocessing system comprising:

• a processor for processing photosensitive material;
• and
• a coating apparatus for applying at least one coating solution to said processed photosensitive material;
• said coating apparatus comprising:
• at least one roller mounted on a support structure;
• a solution supply guide positioned relative to said one roller to supply coating solution to said one roller;
• and
• a washing arrangement mounted relative to said one roller to supply a cleaning solution to at least said one roller.

A method of cleaning a coating apparatus which is adapted to apply at least one coating solution supplied to said coating apparatus to a photosensitive material, the method comprising the steps of:

• stopping a supply of the at least one coating solution to the coating apparatus when it is desired to clean components of said coating apparatus from coating solution thereon;
• supplying a cleaning solution to said coating apparatus while the supply of coating solution is stopped so as to remove coating solution from the components of said coating apparatus;
• and
• stopping the supplying of said cleaning solution to said coating apparatus when the components of the coating apparatus are substantially clean of coating solution.