Processing apparatus for instant type transparency film

Apparatus for receiving a film cassette containing therein a roll of exposed, instant type transparency film preparatory to processing the film, the cassette including a slot through which an end of the film protrudes, said apparatus comprising:

• means for defining a lighttight housing, said means including a door providing access to the interior of said housing;
• means for supporting a coiled length of sheet material;
• means for severing a strip of film;
• means for locating the film cassette containing the exposed roll of instant type transparency film within said housing with its slot adjacent to said severing means;
• means for applying a coating of processing composition to the sheet material;
• means including a drum for withdrawing the film from the cassette and the sheet material from said supporting means and winding them in superposition upon said drum with a coating of processing composition located therebetween, said withdrawing means including a projection adapted to drivingly engage a sprocket hole in a side of the film to drive the end of the film into a position between the sheet material and the withdrawing means;
• means for driving said withdrawing means in a first direction so as to superpose the film and sheet material upon said drum;
• means for inactivating said driving means prior to the film being fully withdrawn from the cassette, whereby the film and sheet material may remain in superposition upon said drum until the latent images in the film have been substantially developed;
• and
• means for resiliently coupling said projection to said drum for movement from a first operative position wherein it is located outside of the diameter of said drum to a second inoperative position wherein it is located substantially within the diameter of said drum.