Apparatus for wet treatment of carriers of photosensitive material

Abstract

Apparatus for wet treatment of X-ray films, photographic paper or analogous carriers of photosensitive material has at least one treatingunit for carriers, and such treating unit has a liquid-containing vessel with an inlet opening for carriers at the top and an outlet opening for carriers at the bottom, or vice versa. Liquid which escapes from the vessel via opening in the bottom is intercepted by the tank of a sealing device with two squeegees located in the tank above a horizontal passage in line with the openings of the vessel. One or more pairs of advancing rolls in the vessel transport the carriers along a vertical path which extends between the openings of the vessel. The carriers which move downwardly from the upper toward and beyond the lower opening of the vessel thereupon advance along a second vertical path which extends through the nip of the squeegees and through the passage. If the carriers are transported upwardly, they advance from the passage into the nip of the squeegees, into and through the lower opening and emerge from the upper opening of the vessel. The treating unit occupies a minimum of floor space because the carriers therein are caused to advance along vertical paths. A second vertical treating unit can be mounted above or below the one treating unit. Alternatively, the one treating unit discharges carriers into or receives carriers from a conventional treating unit wherein the carriers advance along a substantially horizontal path.