Processing apparatus

Abstract

A processor for light sensitive material includes a processing device which is immersed in processing liquid in a processing chamber and defines a processing channel through which a web is transported by transport rollers for contact with a treatment liquid. Liquid is injected into the channel at one or more injection sites and evacuated from the channel at one or more evacuation sites. A pump which is totally immersed in the liquid circulates liquid from within the chamber to the evacuation sites and through the processing channel to the evacuation sites. In one embodiment of the pump comprises an elongated cylindrical element having a plurality of peripheral blades and positioned in close proximity to manifold elements which define high pressure zones adjacent the injection sites. In another embodiment the pump comprises an elongated gear pump. The processor may include a plurality of such chambers and a plurality of such processing devices and pumps. Transport rollers between adjacent chambers serve to transport the web from chamber to chamber through the processor. Each set of transport rollers and the drive gears therefore is supported in a removable module. Similarly each processing device and the associated pump and drive gears for the pump are supported in a removable module. Indexing surfaces define the operative positions of the modules. Central drive shafts having a plurality of gears drive the gear drives of the modules when the modules are in their operative positions.