Coating apparatus having a removable coating module for applying a protective coating to photosensitive material

A processor for developing a photosensitive material, the processor comprising:

• a processing section for developing a photosensitive material, said processing section comprising at least one processing tank containing a processing solution therein;
• and
• a coating section disposed downstream of the processing section, with respect to a direction of travel of the material, said coating section comprising a body and a removable coating module removably positioned in said body, said removable coating module being adapted to hold a solution of a predetermined viscosity therein;
• said removable coating module comprising:
• an inlet and an outlet through which the material passes;
• an applicator rotatably mounted in said coating module which applies a layer of the viscous solution to at least one surface of the material as the material passes through the coating module;
• and
• a controller which controls a thickness, uniformity and laydown amount of the viscous solution applied to the at least one surface of the material.

A coating apparatus for use in a processor for processing photosensitive material which provides a protective coating on the photosensitive material, the coating apparatus comprising:

• a body;
• and
• a removable coating module removably positioned within said body, said removable coating module having an inlet and an outlet through which the photosensitive material passes and being adapted to hold a product therein which forms a protective coating on at least one surface of the photosensitive material;
• said removable coating module comprising:
• an applicator which applies the protective coating on the at least one surface of the photosensitive material as the photosensitive material passes through the removable coating module;
• and
• a controller which controls the application of the protective coating on the at least one surface of the photosensitive material so as to provide for a protective coating having a predetermined characteristic.