US 6,383,727 B1 · Method and system for processing photographic material which includes water recovery from humid air for re-use in the processing

Abstract

The present invention relates to a processing system and method for processing photographic material. The processing system and method of the invention is adapted to recover water from humid air for reuse in the processor, as well as convert a liquid waste processing solution into a dry waste for disposal. In the system and method of the present invention, heated air is circulated through the processor and comes into contact with a cold surface to condense the heated air. The water resulting from this contacting of the heated air with the cold surface can be collected and recycled back to the processor for reuse in the processor. Further, waste solution can be absorbed by a matting material appropriately placed in the processor which evaporates the waste solution to a solid waste for subsequent disposal.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A method of processing photographic material comprising:

processing a photographic material in a processor, wherein the processing of the photographic material includes at least applying a processing solution to the material and circulating heated air through the processor, said heated air becoming humid heated air as it circulates through the processor;
contacting said humid heated air with a cold surface to condense the humid heated air;
and
collecting water resulting from the contacting of the humid heated air with the cold surface.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

09/705,410Filed 3 Nov 2000

Granted

7 May 2002

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

G03C 5/3956
Regeneration of photographic processing agents other than developers; Replenishers therefor: microseparation techniques using membranes, e.g.…
G03C 5/3952
Regeneration of photographic processing agents other than developers; Replenishers therefor: chemical, mechanical or thermal methods, e.g.…
G03D 3/065
Liquid supply; Liquid circulation outside tanks: replenishment or recovery apparatus
G03C
Photosensitive materials for photographic purposes

Method and system for processing photographic material which includes water recovery from humid air for re-use in the processing

Life of this patent

Method and system for processing photographic material which includes water recovery from humid air for re-use in the processing

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims7