US3507204A - Photographic film processor - Google Patents

Description

April 21,"1970 R. .1. KoI-ILI-:Ri JR 3,507,204

' PIIO'IOGRPI'IIC FILM PROCESSOR Filed Marchi?. 1967 ROBERTJ KO/-ME/ Jr. :i INVENTOR ArroR/VEY.

United States Patent O 3,507,204 PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM PROCESSOR Robert Joseph Kohler, Jr., Sudbury, Mass., assignor to Itek Corporation, Lexington, Mass., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 17, 1967, Ser. No. 624,685 Int. Cl. G03d 3/00, 13/04 U.S. Cl. 95-89 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A processor for photograhic film consisting of a support structure, a plurality of vertically stacked processing modules, and guide rollers on the support structure for enabling the modules to be easily removed therefrom. The processing modules have fiuid conduits extending therefrom with disconnect couplers thereon and are removed from the support structure in a horizontal direction for cleaning or replacement purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In patent application 480,450 filed Aug. 17, 1965, now U.S. Patent 3,406,627, of Kenneth Howard Day and Lloyd Clifford Sanford, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, a liquid bed processor is disclosed having rows of horizontally oriented liquid and gaseous bed processor modules. Liquid bed developing, fixing, and washing modules are often provided together with a hot air dryer module. Turnabouts may be included for feeding a film emerging from one module into an adjacent module. Such a processor is self-threading and has numerous advantages enumerated in the aforesaid patent applications. These processors operate at high speed to rapidly develop large quantities of film on a continuous basis. Rapid, controlled and accurate development of film is essential for certain applications. On occasion, it may be necessary to clean the applicators or otherwise adjust them to produce optimum results, and in doing so the machine remains inoperative for the requisite maintenance period. Y

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, separate processing modules are provided which are slidably supported within the support frame or structure so that individual modules may be quickly and easily extracted and replaced by similar stand by modules and thus valuable processing time is saved. The stand by module may be removed from a second inactive processor and inserted into the active one or, of course, may be supplied from storage. This arrangement also greatly facilitates cleaning and adjustment of the rollers and applicators situated within the processor modules. One embodiment employs a -plate containing rollers sandwiched between individual modules.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the detailed description taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 discloses a front view while FIGURE 2 discloses a side view of one embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 3 discloses a side view of a second embodiment while FIGURE 4 discloses a broken 'view of a top portion of the roller plate containing one roller.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION Referring now to FIGURE l, processing modules 1 and 2 are shown in position within a support structure including frame portions 3 and 4. The modules contain liquid ICC applicato-rse which are illustrated as dotted rectangles since their configurations hafve no bearing on the present invention. These modules may also contain transport rollers 7. Apertures 8 serve to forward lrn to the turnab'outs (not shown) and to receive film from the turnabouts.

Ledges 9, forming part of frame structure portions 3 and 4, contain rollers 11 which support the modules as shown. These rollers may merely be positioned within cylindrical nests formed within the ledges or may consist of more sophisticated commercially available bearings. Fluid supply and exhaust pipes such as pipes 12 and 12' may be fitted within the back wall of the supporting structure as shown in FIGURE 2. Pipes 12 and 12' are coupled to module 1 through quick- disconnect fluid couplers 13 and 13 which are standard items of commerce. When the operator desires to remove module 1, for instance, he may disconnect coupler 13 by reaching through an aperture formed within the back wall of support structure 4. The operator thereafter grasps handles 14 and 14 and pulls the module out of the support frame. A replacement module may be readily inserted thereafter and coupler 13 is manipulated to effect iiuid recoupling. Obviously, fluid drainage pipes are also provided in like manner to complete the iiuid circuit which, of course, includes an external pump. Mechanical drive disconnects (not shown) are also provided in the case where drive rollers are included within the modules.

FIGURE 3 discloses a second embodiment of the present invention wherein plates 16 and 16 containing rollers 17 and 17 are sandwiched between stacked modules. FIGURE 4 illustrates a broken section 16" containing roller 17". The rollers may merely be inserted within rectangular apparatus formed within the roller plates. On the other hand, the entire roller plate assembly could consist of more sophisticated commercially available roller platform bearings. This embodiment need not require ledges or tracks projecting from the frame support structure, in contrast with the embodiment of FIGURES l and 2.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

l claim:

1. A continuous fiow fluid processor for processing photosensitive comprising:

(a) a support structure;

(b) a lplurality of vertically stacked horizontal tiers of processing modules positioned with said support structure;

(c) extraction means .for enabling said modules to be removed from said su-pport structure in a substantially horizontal direction; and f (d) said modules having fluid conduits extending therefrom, said fluid conduits having disconnect couplers attached thereto.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said extraction means includes rotatable load bearing members for supporting said processing module.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support structure includes a front Vertical wall and a back vertical Wall, each of said front and back walls including a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal ledge means for supporting each module across a pair of front and back ledge means, with said modules being movable on said ledge means.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said extraction 4means comprises a plurality of rotatable load bearing members positioned between and contacting the lower portion of a rst processing module and the upper 1,821,129 9/ 1931 Weisker 95-90 'X portion of a second processing module. 3,077,155 2/ 1963 Maddock et al 95-98 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 further including 3,294,004 12/1966 Benson 95-96 a -plate for containing said rotatable load bearing mem- 3,345,928 10/1967 Krehbiel 95-89 X bers and maintaining them in position between said modules. 5 NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner References Cited F. L. BRAUN, Assistant Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,377,887 5/1921 Hubbard 95-94 U'S' CL X'R' 2,376,032 5/1945 Clare 312441 10 95""96? 312"341

Images