Photographic processing apparatus

Abstract

In small processing machines, the rate at which material passes through the machine tends to be low due to its size. This results in the access time being long as it is the sum of the actual processing time at each stage, plus the crossover times between each stage, and finally the time it takes for the whole sheet of material being processed to emerge from the machine. Described herein is apparatus which allows the transport rate between each stage and the exiting speed of the material from the apparatus to be increased. The apparatus comprises a rotating drum around which a guide is arranged to define a processing tank. Material to be processed is transported around the surface of the drum in the processing tank by transport roller set. The roller set comprises a fixed roller to which rollers are pivotally connected. Roller is lifted from against the surface of the drum to allow the material to be switched out of the tank. Similarly, roller may be lifted to allow the material to enter the tank and lie against the surface of the drum.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.