Apparatus for processing photographic film and treating contaminated processing liquids

An arrangement for the development of latent images, comprising means for conveying an article which carries a latent image along a predetermined path including a first section for contacting said article with developer fluid, a second section downstream of said first section for washing said article, and a third section downstream of said second for contacting said article with fixer fluid;

• means for detecting the movement of said article along said path;
• means for contacting said article with developer fluid so as to develop the latent image on said article;
• means for washing said article so as to remove at least the predominant part of the developer fluid adhering thereto;
• means for contacting the washed article with fixer fluid so as to fix the developed image on said article;
• means for chemically neutralizing contaminated developer fluid and means for treating contaminated fixer fluid separately from contaminated developer fluid so as to at least partially decontaminate said contaminated fixer fluid, said fixer fluid treating means comprising electrode means for regenerating contaminated fixer fluid, and said electrode means being operatively associated with said detecting means so that current is supplied to said electrode means in response to a signal from said detecting means.

An arrangement for the development of latent images, comprising means for contacting an article which carries a latent image with developer fluid so as to develop the latent image on said article;

• means for washing said article so as to remove at least the pedominant part of the developer fluid adhering thereto;
• means for contacting the washed article with fixer fluid so as to fix the developed image on said article;
• means for chemically neutralizing contaminated developer fluid;
• means for treating contaminated fixer fluid separately from contaminated developer fluid so as to at least partially decontaminate said contaminated fixer fluid;
• means for conveying said article along a predetermined path including a first section for contacting said article with developer fluid, a second section downstream of said first section for washing said article, and a third section downstream of said second section for contacting said article with fixer fluid;
• means for detecting the movement of said article along said path;
• rinsing means downstream of said means for contacting said article with fixer fluid, said rinsing means including container means for accommodating a body of washing fluid;
• and means for admitting regulated quantities of fresh washing fluid into said container means, said admitting means being operatively associated with said detecting means so that fresh washing fluid is admitted into said container means in response to a signal from said detecting means, said means for contacting said article with developer fluid comprising developer container means for accommodating a body of developer fluid, and said fixer fluid treating means comprising electrode means for regenerating contaminated fixer fluid, said detecting means being effective for sensing the sizes of articles in a direction along said path;
• and wherein additional admitting means is provided for admitting regulated quantities of fresh developer fluid into said container means, said additional admitting means being operatively associated with said detecting means so that fresh developer fluid is admitted into said developer container means in response to a signal from said detecting means, and said electrode means also being operatively associated with said detecting means so that current is supplied to said electrode means in response to a signal from said detecting means.