Replaceable cartridge coating assembly method of coating a photosensitive material using the same

A processor for developing photosensitive material, comprising:

• a processing section for developing the photosensitive material, said processing section comprising at least one processing tank containing a processing solution through which said photosensitive material passes for development;
• and
• a coating section comprising a body and a removable cartridge coater removably positioned in said body, said cartridge coater being adapted to hold a viscous solution of a predetermined viscosity therein;
• wherein said cartridge coater comprises:
• a sealable inlet and a sealable outlet which are respectively aligned with an entrance and an exit of the at least one processing tank when the cartridge coater is positioned in the at least one processing tank, said inlet and said outlet permitting a passage of a photosensitive material therethrough;
• an applicator mounted in said cartridge coater which applies a layer of the viscous solution to at least one surface of the photosensitive material as the photosensitive material passes through the cartridge coater;
• and
• a controller mounted in said cartridge, said controller controlling a thickness, uniformity and laydown amount of the applied layer of viscous solution on the at least one surface of the material.

A method of coating at least one surface of a photosensitive material, the method comprising the steps of:

• inserting a coating cartridge into a tank of a processor such that an inlet and an outlet of the coating cartridge are respectively aligned with an entrance and exit of the tank, said coating cartridge being adapted to hold a solution of a predetermined viscosity therein;
• conveying the photosensitive material through the inlet and the outlet of the coating cartridge so as to coat at least one surface of the photosensitive material with the viscous solution as the photosensitive material passes through the coating cartridge;
• and
• controlling a thickness, uniformity and laydown amount of the applied viscous solution on the at least one surface of the material as the material passes through the coating cartridge.