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US 5,400,107 AGranted
Automatic replenishment, calibration and metering system for an automatic tray processor
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorsJohn H. Rosenburgh, Robert L. Horton, David L. Patton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A low volume photographic material processing apparatus that utilizes a narrow horizontal processing channel. A replenishment pump calibration system is integrated into the processor so that no manual measurements or special tools are required to set replenishment solution rates.
Claims20
An apparatus for processing photosensitive materials, the 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 channel having an entrance and an exit;
- transport means for transporting the photosensitive material from the channel entrance through the said channel to the channel exit, 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;
- means for circulating the processing solution through said processing channel;
- and
- means for replenishing the processing solution in a precisely controlled volume so as to provide a substantially uniform amount of processing solution.
2 more elements
An apparatus for processing photosensitive materials, the apparatus comprising:
- a processing module comprising a container having at least one processing assembly placed in said container and said 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 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 and said at least one transport assembly or said at least one processing assembly for introducing processing solution through said channel;
- at least one outlet is provided in said module for allowing processing solution to exit said processing channel;
- means for circulating the processing solution from said at least one outlet in said module directly to said at least one discharge opening;
- and
- means for replenishing the processing solution in a precisely controlled volume so as to provide a substantially uniform amount of processing solution.
2 more elements
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 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 channel;
- transport means for transporting the photosensitive material from said 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 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;
- means for circulating the processing solution through the processing channel in said processing module;
- and
- means for replenishing the processing solution in a precisely controlled volume so as to provide a substantially uniform amount of processing solution.
2 more elements
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 form 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 at least one transport assembly is provided with at least one discharge opening for introducing processing solution through said channel;
- means for circulating the processing solution through a processing channel in said module;
- and
- means for replenishing the processing solution in a precisely controlled volume so as to provide a substantially uniform amount of processing solution.
1 more element
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 substantially continuous processing channel through which a processing solution flows, said processing channel having an entrance and an exit, at least one discharge opening provided in said at least one processing assembly for introducing processing solution into 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;
- at least one outlet in said module for allowing processing solution to exit said processing channel;
- means for circulating the processing solution directly from said at least one outlet in said processing module to said discharge opening;
- and
- means for replenishing the processing solution in a precisely controlled volume so as to provide a substantially uniform amount of processing solution.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.