Wet film cassette and transport system

Abstract

A wet film cassette and transport system for photographic diffusion transfer films having initially separate wet and dry film components. At least the wet component is contained in a tightly sealed enclosure defined by a cassette having inner and outer, relatively rotatable receptacles. Each of the receptacles is provided with a peripheral axially oriented slot, a leading end portion of the wet film projecting at all times through the slot of the inner receptacle but being capable of retraction into an annulus between the inner and outer receptacles by relative rotation of the two receptacles. Retracting movement of the inner receptacle moves a sealing pad carried thereon to a position closing the slot opening of the outer receptacle. When the pad is moved from the slot of the outer receptacle by rotation of the inner receptacle, the leading end portion of the wet film projects through both openings to the nip of a processing roller pair at which the wet film component is brought into face-to-face contact with an exposed dry or negative film component. Cut-off means are provided between the wet film cassette and the processing roller pair whereas image frame lengths of the dry component are separated from the supply thereof independently of the wet film cut-off mechanism. Alternatively, the dry film may be separated through the provision of transverse tear strips in the negative film component or by a separate cut-off mechanism.