# US 5,734,946 A · Processing device for photographic materials

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- Number: US 5,734,946 A
- Document ID: US5734946A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/741,369
- Filed: 1996-10-30
- Granted: 1998-03-31
- Earliest claimed: 1995-11-08
- Assignees: Agfa NV
- Inventors: Ubbo Wernicke
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5734946A

## CPC

- G03D 3/132: {fed by roller assembly}
- G03D: APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING EXPOSED PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS (apparatus specially adapted for photomechanical production of textured or patterned surfaces G03F); ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; electrographic, electrophotographic, or magnetographic methods or apparatus G03G)

## Abstract

Processing with a particularly economical use of chemicals is achieved with a device for the wet-chemical processing of a photographic material, in which at least one processing stage comprises a rack having a plurality of rotatable rollers which are in contact with the layer surface of the material, at least one roller being encased over 30.degree. to 300.degree. of its circumference in such a manner that processing fluid located in the space between the roller and the casing cannot fully escape.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device for the wet-chemical processing of a photographic material, in which at least one processing step comprises at least one rack having a plurality of rotatable rollers which are in contact with the layer surface of the material, said rollers of said rack are arranged in a straight line, which forms an angle of 45.degree. to 90.degree. with the horizontal wherein at least one roller is encased over 30.degree. to 300.degree. of its circumference with a casing in such a manner that processing fluid located in the space between the roller and the casing cannot fully escape and wherein the distance between the roller surface and the casing is 0.5 to 20 mm.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein the casing of successive rollers is connected to one another.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are 2 to 100 rollers.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least half the rollers are encased.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are 5 to 50 rollers.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said space between said rollers and said casing is between 1 to 10 mm.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein the rollers of a rack are arranged in a straight line, which forms an angle of 80.degree. to 90.degree. with the horizontal.

### Claim 8

A method for the wet-chemical processing of a photographic material, the layer surface of the material being guided in at least one processing stage along a plurality of rotatable rollers, which comprises passing the material through a multiple cascade, each cascade stage being defined by a roller, the volume of each cascade stage measuring 0.2 to 5 ml/cm material width, the material not being immersed in the processing fluid between the cascade stages and at least 50% of the rollers of the processing stage being only partially immersed in the processing solution and wherein at least one roller is encased over 30.degree. to 300.degree. of its circumference with a casing and the distance between the roller surface and the casing is 0.5 to 20 mm.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method according to claim 8, wherein the method is carried out in a device for the wet-chemical processing of a photographic material, in which at least one processing step comprises at least one rack having a plurality of rotatable rollers which are in contact with the layer surface of the material, wherein at least one roller is encased over 30.degree. to 300.degree. of its circumference with a casing in such a manner that processing fluid located in the space between the roller and the casing cannot fully escape.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method according to claim 8, wherein the overflow of the processing liquid in the casing is guided to the next casing of the roller below.