Photographic material developing apparatus

A photographic material developing apparatus having processing tanks, and rack units removably mounted in the processing tanks, respectively, said apparatus comprising:

• a pair of guide members mounted in each of said rack units for guiding a photographic material passing through said processing tanks, said guide members being movable relative to each other to vary a distance therebetween defining a passage width of said photographic material;
• guide width varying means for varying a relative position between said guide members to adjust said passage width;
• a first drive line disposed outside each of said rack units;
• a second drive line provided for each of said rack units and connected to said guide width varying means for driving said guide width varying means with power received from said first drive line;
• and
• coupling means disposed between said first drive line and said second drive line for enabling and disabling power transmission from said first drive line to said second drive line, said coupling means including:
• a connected member disposed on said first drive line;
• a connecting member disposed on said second drive line for connection to said connected member;
• and
• automatic adjusting means for automatically adjusting a relative position between said connecting member and said connected member, said automatic adjusting means comprising ramps which guide said connecting member during displacement relative to said connected member to allow said connecting member and said connected member to be connected to each other in a predetermined relative position.

A photographic material developing apparatus having processing tanks, and rack units removably mounted in the processing tanks, respectively, said apparatus comprising:

• a pair of guide members mounted in each of said rack units for guiding a photographic material passing through said processing tanks, said guide members being movable relative to each other to vary a distance therebetween defining a passage width of said photographic material;
• guide width varying means for varying a relative position between said guide members to adjust said passage width;
• a first drive line disposed outside each of said rack units;
• a second drive line provided for each of said rack units and connected to said guide width varying means for driving said guide width varying means with power received from said first drive line;
• and
• coupling means disposed between said first drive line and said second drive line for enabling and disabling power transmission from said first drive line to said second drive line, said coupling means including:
• a connected member disposed on said first drive line;
• a connecting member disposed on said second drive line for connection to said connected member;
• and
• automatic adjusting means for automatically adjusting a relative position between said connecting member and said connected member to allow said connecting member and said connected member to be connected to each other in a predetermined relative position, said automatic adjusting means comprising sensor means for detecting a displacement of said connecting member from said predetermined relative position, and a motor operable in response to signals from said sensor means to connect a position of said connected member through said first drive line.