Disposable container for dispensing of photographic developing liquids

Abstract

A disposable container in the shape of a bottle made of molded polyethylene plastic serves as a reservoir for a photographic development liquid, that is circulated between the container's reservoir and a machine. The container has large planar sides to which good thermal contact is made by electrical heating pads for the purpose of heating the liquid within the container's reservoir. A substantially planar top surface of the container defines a central outlet aperture. This aperture connects to a feed tube which extends into the container's reservoir. The container is mounted upright to the machine's bottom surface by a screw collar. The machine's bottom surface is complementary to, and mates with, the container's top surface. A fluid-tight compressive seal is made in a first annular region about the container's central aperture by means of an O ring or gasket. A second annular section of the container's top surface includes a number of inlet orifices through which circulating fluid is returned to the container's reservoir, and through which gases are vented. Another fluid-tight compressive seal is made (also by means of an O ring or gasket) at an outermost annular section of the container's top surface. Circulating fluid enters the container through its inlet orifices and flows down internal baffles within the container to the reservoir in a continuous path that inhibits dripping and resultant fluid oxidation. A disposable filter, preferably porous polyethylene, is located where the bore of the feed tube opens into the container's reservoir.