Eastman-kodak Company

Anthony Earle

Edward C Glover

Leslie R Wells

Nigel R Wildman

Ralph L Piccinino, Jr

Peter J Twist

John R Fyson

Michael Ridgway

John H Rosenburgh

David Lynn Patton

Gareth B Evans

Paul C Ward

Jeffrey K Green

David A Skye

Zoe Orr

Henry H Adam

Roger E Bartell

Nicholas John Taylor

John F Daehne

Andrew J Sewell

Joachim P Simon

Daniel M Pagano

Christopher B Rider

Peter D Marsden

Sheridan E Vincent

Charles S Christ, Jr

David J Young

Robert A Arcus

Andrew D Grimsey

James I Dunlop

Christopher M Graebe

Roger Baretll

Mark McLennan

Edward T Glover

Richard N Vernon

George R Dickens

A processor has a rotatable drum housed within an enclosure chamber. Processing solution is applied to the surface of the rotating drum and forms a film of solution around the periphery. The media to be processed is fed around the periphery of the rotating drum with its sensitized surface facing the drum.

Rotating processor

A processor for processing photosensitive material has a rotatable outer drum and an inner sprocket wheel which is independently rotatable from the outer drum. Two sets of sprocket teeth and, are provided on the sprocket wheel to engage with the material to be processed and to positively drive the material into and out of the processor.

Processor

A solution delivery system for a processor holds and delivers the processing solutions at working temperature. The solutions are held in an airtight chamber in which they are heated to the correct temperature. The solution is then transferred to a holding chamber until released into the processor.

Delivery system

A photographic processing system has a first processing stage to process photographic material. A second processing stage is also provided to further process the photographic material. A storage device is provided between the first processing stage and the second processing stage to receive and store photographic material output from the first processing stage prior to output to the second processing stage. This enables the photographic material to be output from the first processing stage at a different rate than that at which it is input to the second processing stage. Accordingly, the first processing stage can be vacated for use by subsequent photographic material before processing in the second processing stage is complete.

Method and system for photographic processing

The method and apparatus supplies processing solution directly to the surface of a web of sensitized material by means of a movable applicator. The web and applicator are moved relative to each other to enable good mixing of the solution on the surface. The movable applicators can be moved in and out of contact with the material as required so that the process can be varied.

Method and apparatus for processing photographic material

A drum chamber in which photographic material is processed is provided with a section in which the walls overlap to form a narrow channel therebetween. The channel acts as the entrance to and exit from the chamber for the material being processed.

Processing apparatus

A processing drum is located within an enclosed chamber. The processing drum is rotated within the chamber, the chamber being provided with means to heat and circulate air throughout the interior thereof. At least one fin is provided around the outer periphery of the drum to aid heat conduction.

An apparatus for processing photographic material comprises a chamber adapted to hold the material therein, means for introducing solution into the chamber, means for removing the solution from the chamber, and a member located within the chamber and filling a central part thereof. A gap is defined between the inner wall of the chamber and the central member in which the material is held, thereby retaining the material around the inner circumference of the chamber.

Processing photographic material

A method of processing photographic material in which a reciprocable member is plunged into a tank containing a small volume of processing solution. The solution is rapidly displaced through the channels created between the tank wall and the plunger and across the surface of the photographic material.

A method of processing a photographic material in which the material is loaded into a rotatable chamber and a metered amount of solution is introduced into the chamber. The chamber is rotated and the solution is continuously swept along the surface of the material, forming a wave through which the material passes to enable uniform processing.

A method of reducing the volume of a processing tank by only filtering processing solution when it is either drawn into the tank and circulation system or when it is returned to the supply container.

Photosensitive material is processed by passing the material through a chamber holding processing solution, the temperature of the solution being raised as the material passes through the chamber.

A low volume processing apparatus having a narrow processing channel has the processing solution entering via passages located towards the inlet and outlet of the channel. The solution leaves the channel via a passage located in the middle thereof, the flow of solution pulling the film into a fixed position within the channel. The reversal of flow minimizes the amount of air entrained with the returning flow.

A method of processing photosensitive material which passes through at least two processing solutions in which the material is rinsed after passing through a first solution and prior to passing through the second solution. The mixture of rinse solution and recovered first solution is returned to the process cycle to replenish the first solution.

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Harrow Weald, United Kingdom

Anthony Earle