Apparatus for processing photosensitive material

In an apparatus for processing photosensitive material, the apparatus having an upper tank for a processing fluid and a lower tank for the processing fluid, an narrow processing chamber between the upper tank and lower thanks through which the material can be advanced for processing the material, said chamber having an entrance at one end and an exit at the other end to allow the photosensitive material to travel through the chamber, a first nozzle assembly at the entrance and exit for supplying processing fluid from the upper to the processing chamber, said first nozzle assembly comprising an outer nozzle mounted to the upper tank and an inner nozzle secured to said upper tank, said inner and outer nozzles being space apart a predetermined distance so as to form a discharge opening there between, said discharge opening being in fluid communication with the processing fluid in said upper tank so as to create a first fluid layer on one side of the photosensitive material, a second nozzle assembly at the entrance and exit for supplying processing fluid from the lower tank to the processing chamber, said second nozzle assembly comprising an outer nozzle mounted to the lower tank and an inner nozzle secured to the lower tank, said inner and outer nozzles of said second nozzle assembly being space apart a predetermined distance so as to form a discharge opening there between, said discharge opening being in fluid communication with the processing fluid in said lower tank so as to create a second fluid layer on the other side of the photosensitive material;

• the improvement comprising;
• said inner and outer nozzles of said first and second nozzle assemblies are made of a plastic material, and means for maintaining said predetermined distance between said inner and outer nozzles substantially constant along the length of the discharge opening comprises a plurality of spaced projections of substantially identical thickness between said inner and at least one outer nozzles.

In an apparatus for processing photosensitive material, the apparatus having an upper tank for a processing fluid and a lower tank for the processing fluid, an narrow processing chamber between the upper and lower thanks through which the photosensitive material can be advanced for processing the photosensitive material, said chamber having an entrance at one end and an exit at the other end to allow the photosensitive material to travel through the chamber, a first nozzle assembly for supplying processing fluid from the upper tank to the processing chamber, said first nozzle assembly comprising an inner nozzle mounted to the upper tank and at least one outer nozzle secured to said upper tank, said inner and at least one outer nozzle being spaced apart a predetermined distance so as to form a discharge opening there between, said discharge opening being in fluid communication with the processing fluid in said upper tank so as to create a first fluid layer on one side of the photosensitive material, a first drain for removing processing fluid from the first fluid layer, a second nozzle assembly for supplying processing fluid from the lower tank to the processing chamber, said second nozzle assembly comprising an inner nozzle mounted to the lower tank and at least one outer nozzle secured to the lower tank, said inner and at least one outer nozzle of said second nozzle assembly being spaced apart a predetermined distance so as to form a discharge opening there between, said discharge opening being in fluid communication with the processing fluid in said lower tank so as to create a second fluid layer on the other side of the photosensitive material, a second drain for removing processing fluid from the second fluid layer, the improvement comprising;

• said inner nozzle and at least one outer nozzles of said first and second nozzle assemblies being made of a plastic material, and means for maintaining said predetermined distance between said inner and outer nozzles substantially constant along the length of the discharge opening further comprises a means for preventing rotation of the at least one outer nozzle with respect to the inner nozzle comprises a projection formed on said inner nozzle which engages a mating recess formed in said at least one outer nozzle.