Slot impingement for an automatic tray processor
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorsJohn H. Rosenburgh, David L. Patton, Joseph A. Manico, Ralph L. Piccinino, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A low volume photographic material processing apparatus that utilizes a narrow horizontal processing channel. The channel is formed by a repeating combination of squeegee pinch rollers and impingement slot nozzles. Photographic processing solution is introduced through the impingement slot nozzles and the squeegee pinch rollers are used to remove the processing solution from the photosensitive material and provide transport of the photosensitive material. Solution level control is achieved by drains positioned below the tops of the upturned sections. The slot nozzles and the pinch rollers work interactively to break down the chemical barrier layer.
Claims24
An apparatus for processing photosensitive materials, said apparatus comprising:
- a processing module comprising a container, at least one processing assembly placed in said container and at least one transport assembly disposed adjacent said at least one processing assembly, said at least one processing assembly and said at least one transport assembly forming a substantially continuous processing channel through which a processing solution flows, said processing channel comprising at least 40% of the total volume of processing solution available for the processing module and having a thickness equal to or less than about 100 times the thickness of the photosensitive material to be processed in said processing channel, at least one discharge opening is provided in said at least one transport assembly or said at least one processing assembly for introducing processing solution to said channel;
- and
- means for circulating the processing solution from said small volume provided in said module directly to said at least one slot nozzle.
An apparatus for processing photosensitive materials, said apparatus comprising:
- a processing module comprising a container and at least one processing assembly placed in said container, said at least one processing assembly forming a channel through which a processing solution flows, said processing channel having an entrance and an exit and at least one discharge opening is provided in said at least one processing assembly for introducing processing solution to said processing channel;
- transport means for transporting the photosensitive material from the channel entrance through said processing channel to the channel exit, said transport means being disposed adjacent said at least one processing assembly and forming a portion of said channel, said processing channel comprising at least 40% of the total volume of processing solution available for the processing module and having a thickness equal to or less than about 100 times the thickness of the photosensitive material to be processed in said processing channel;
- and
- means for circulating the processing solution through the small volume provided in said processing module.
An apparatus for processing photosensitive materials, said apparatus comprising:
- a processing module comprising a container having at least one processing assembly placed in said container and at least one transport assembly disposed adjacent said at least one processing assembly, said at least one processing assembly and said at least one transport assembly forming a substantially continuous processing channel through which a processing solution flows, said processing channel comprising at least 40% of the total volume of processing solution available for the processing module and having a thickness equal to or less than about 100 times the thickness of the photosensitive material to be processed in said processing channel, wherein said at least one transport assembly is provided with at least one discharge opening for introducing processing solution to said channel;
- and
- means for circulating the processing solution through the small volume provided in said module.
An apparatus for processing photosensitive materials, said apparatus comprising:
- a processing module comprising a container and at least one processing assembly placed in said container, said container and said at least one processing assembly forming a processing channel through which a processing solution flows, said processing channel having an entrance and an exit, at least one discharge opening is provided in said at least one processing assembly for introducing processing solution to said processing channel, said processing channel comprising at least 40% of the total volume of processing solution available for the processing module and having a thickness equal to or less than about 100 times the thickness of the photosensitive material to be processed in said processing channel;
- and
- means for circulating the processing solution directly from said small volume provided in said processing module to said discharge opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.