Relating to photographic processing apparatus

Abstract

Photographic processing apparatus in which both exposing and processing stages of a photographic process are combined to form a single unit or linked so that a continuous web of photographic film or paper is used in both units at the same time is known. However, due to differences in speed of the exposing and processing stages, there is a need to store a "buffer" length of the material being processed between the two stages. Described herein is a method of varying the speed of the processing stage of photographic processing apparatus to compensate for changes in the capacity of a processor while maintaining a constant path length. This achieved by changing its activity of one of the steps in the processing stage, for instance, by changing the temperature of the development step. This is feasible without unacceptable time delays or energy or chemical consumption associated with changing the solution activity by the use of low volume tanks with low capacity. The system can be controlled by providing a means of maintaining the transport speed of the paper using the measured temperature of the solution.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.