Apparatus for processing photosensitive materials

A photographic processing ingredient applicator for applying a processing ingredient to a porous material, said applicator comprising:

• a tank for holding a processing ingredient;
• a pressure roller submersed in a processing ingredient in said tank;
• a compressible/expandable porous roller mounted for eccentric rotation located adjacent said pressure roller;
• and
• means for rotating said compressible/expandable porous roller to cause the porous roller to be rotated against said pressure roller to compress the porous roller and away from said pressure roller to allow expansion of the porous roller to cause the porous roller to absorb a processing ingredient in said tank and for rotating the porous roller to cause said porous roller to be rotated against said porous material to compress the porous roller to cause the processing ingredient to be transferred to said porous material.

A photographic processing ingredient applicator for applying first and second processing ingredients to a porous member, said applicator comprising:

• first applicator means for absorbing a first processing ingredient when said first applicator means is in a first position and for transferring the first processing ingredient to a porous member when said first applicator means is in a second position;
• second applicator means for absorbing a second processing ingredient when said second applicator means is in a first position and for transferring the second processing ingredient to a porous member when said second applicator means is in a second position;
• and
• means for controlling said first and second applicator means to cause said first applicator means to approach said first position while said second applicator means approaches said second position.

A method for applying a processing ingredient contained in a tank to a porous material, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. compressing a portion of a porous roller;
• b. absorbing the processing ingredient into the porous roller by expanding the portion of the porous roller;
• c. contacting the porous material with the porous roller;
• and
• d. transferring the processing ingredient from the porous roller to the porous material by compressing the portion of the porous roller.