Photographic processing apparatus

Abstract

A photographic processing apparatus (100) for processing photographic materials and comprising at least one processing stage (10,20), a washing/stabilizing stage (30), replenishment system (14,15,16,24,25,26,34,35,36) for replenishing each processing and washing/stabilizing stage (10,20,30), and a treatment system (50,60,65,66,70,72) for treating effluent displaced at least from each replenished processing stage (10,20,30) during replenishment. The treatment system (50,60,65,66,70,72) comprises a collecting tank (50) in which the effluent is collected and at least one treatment chemistry holding tank (60) which contains treatment chemistry for the collected effluent. A pump head (66) controlled by a pump-motor (40) is provided for each holding tank and is used to deliver treatment chemistry to the collecting tank (50) in accordance with the amount of photographic material processed. The pump-motor (40) also controls pump heads (16,26,36) which effect replenishment of the processing and washing/stabilizing stages (10,20,30).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.