Method and apparatus of applying a solution of a predetermined viscosity to photosensitive material to form a protective coating thereon

A method for developing an exposed photosensitive material having a front side and a back side and for applying a protective coating thereon, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) subjecting the exposed photosensitive material to at least one processing solution so as to develop latent images thereon;
• b) removing any excess processing solution from the photosensitive material after it has been subjected to said at least one processing solution;
• c) applying a coating solution on at least one of said front or back sides of said photosensitive material;
• d) controlling a thickness, uniformity and laydown amount of said applied coating solution based on a viscosity of the coating solution using a metering roller so as to provide for a uniform specific layer thickness of said applied coating solution;
• and
• e) drying said photosensitive material.

A processor for developing an exposed photosensitive material, the processor comprising:

• a processing section for developing an exposed photosensitive material, said processing section comprising at least one processing tank containing a processing solution through which said photosensitive material passes;
• a coating section disposed after said processing section for applying a layer of a coating solution on said photosensitive material which forms a protective coating when drying, said coating section comprising a control mechanism for controlling a thickness, uniformity and laydown amount of the applied layer of coating solution;
• and
• a dryer for drying said photosensitive material and said layer of coating solution thereon.

A method of applying at least one solution of a predetermined viscosity to processed photosensitive materials so as to form a protective coating on at least one surface of the photosensitive material, the method comprising the steps of:

• applying a layer of viscous solution on at least one surface of a photosensitive material;
• controlling a thickness, uniformity and laydown amount of the applied viscous solution on the at least one surface of the photosensitive material, as to provide for a uniform specific layer thickness of said viscous solution on said at least one surface of the photosensitive material;
• curing the layer of viscous solution on the photosensitive material after said step of controlling the thickness, uniformity and laydown amount of the applied viscous solution on said at least one surface of said photosensitive material;
• and
• drying the material after said curing step.

A method of applying at least one solution of a predetermined viscosity to processed photosensitive materials so as to form a protective coating on at least one surface of the photosensitive material, the method comprising the steps of:

• applying a layer of viscous solution on at least one surface of a photosensitive material;
• controlling a thickness, uniformity and laydown amount of the applied viscous solution on the at least one surface of the photosensitive material, to provide for a uniform specific layer thickness of said viscous solution on said at least one surface of the photosensitive material;
• and
• the step of drying the material and thereafter curing the layer of viscous solution on the dried material.

A method for developing an exposed photosensitive material having a front side and a back side and for applying a protective coating thereon, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) subjecting the exposed photosensitive material to at least one processing solution so as to develop latent images thereon;
• b) removing any excess processing solution from the photosensitive material after it has been subjected to said at least one processing solution;
• c) applying a coating solution on at least one of said front or back sides of said photosensitive material;
• d) controlling a thickness, uniformity and laydown amount of said applied coating solution based on a viscosity of the coating solution using an aromatic so as to provide for a uniform specific layer thickness of said applied coating solution;
• and
• e) drying said photosensitive material.

A method for developing an exposed photosensitive material having a front side and a back side and for applying a protective coating thereon, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) subjecting the exposed photosensitive material to at least one processing solution so as to develop latent images thereon;
• b) removing any excess processing solution from the photosensitive material after it has been subjected to said at least one processing solution;
• c) applying a coating solution on at least one of said front or back sides of said photosensitive material wherein said coating solution is applied by first passing said photosensitive material through a tank containing said coating solution and then using a coating roll to apply said coating solution;
• d) controlling a thickness, uniformity and laydown amount of said applied coating solution based on a viscosity of the coating solution as to provide for a uniform specific layer thickness of said applied coating solution;
• and
• e) drying said photosensitive material.

A method for developing an exposed photosensitive material having a front side and a back side and for applying a protective coating thereon, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) subjecting the exposed photosensitive material to at least one processing solution so as to develop latent images thereon;
• b) removing any excess processing solution from the photosensitive material after it has been subjected to said at least one processing solution;
• c) applying a coating solution on at least one of said front or back sides of said photosensitive material;
• d) controlling a thickness, uniformity and laydown amount of said applied coating solution based on a viscosity of the coating solution using a metering roller so as to provide for a uniform specific layer thickness of said applied coating solution so as to provide a wet laydown amount of the solution within the range of 0.6 to 600 cc/m.sup.2 ;
• and
• e) drying said photosensitive material.

A method for developing an exposed photosensitive material having a front side and a back side and for applying a protective coating thereon, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) subjecting the exposed photosensitive material to at least one processing solution so as to develop latent images thereon;
• b) removing any excess processing solution from the photosensitive material after it has been subjected to said at least one processing solution;
• c) applying a coating solution on at least one of said front or back sides of said photosensitive material;
• d) controlling a thickness, uniformity and laydown amount of said applied coating solution based on a viscosity of the coating solution using a metering roller so as to provide for a uniform specific layer thickness of said applied coating solution so as to provide a wet laydown amount of the solution within the range of 0.3 to 6 g/m.sup.2 ;
• and
• e) drying said photosensitive material.