Apparatus for simultaneously processing plural webs of photosensitive material

Apparatus for simultaneously treating two or more webs of photosensitive material has a tank with sets of pulleys for advancement of discrete webs. The sets of pulleys are installed in discrete compartments which are separated from each other by one or more light-intercepting partitions having one or more passages for the flow of liquid but preventing the penetration of light. Each set of pulleys is driven by a discrete motor or by a discrete clutch receiving torque from a single prime mover. The compartments are sealed by discrete closures. If the parts which are used to advance and treat a particular web happen to be defective or require attention for any other reason, the respective set of pulleys is arrested while the other set or sets of pulleys continue to transport the respective web or webs, and the cover for the compartment which confines the arrested set of pulleys is removed to afford access to the respective compartment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to improvements in apparatus for processing webs or 
strips or photosensitive material in photographic processing laboratories 
and similar establishments. 
The treatment of films in photographic processing laboratories is being 
automated to a progressively increasing extent in order to save labor and 
time and to thus reduce the cost of development, printing and other 
processing. A modern photographic processing laboratory operates in such a 
way that the exposed customer films are admitted at one end of a 
production line and the other end of the production line discharges 
exposed and developed photographic films (often cut up into sections each 
of which contains a relatively small number of film frames) and the 
corresponding prints on exposed and developed photographic paper. Such 
laboratory no longer relies on rolling up of exposed films between the 
inlet and the outlet of the production line, and this holds equally true 
for the manipulation of photographic paper. In other words, once a film 
has been admitted into a production line, it is caused to advance along a 
predetermined path without being convoluted onto the cores of reels, 
bobbins or like storing devices, and this also applies for the 
manipulation of webs of photographic paper which is to yield prints of 
exposed and developed film frames. Laboratories of the above outlined 
character are known as maxilabs. A person at the inlet of a production 
line inserts successive cartridges with exposed but undeveloped customer 
film, and the film is thereupon automatically withdrawn from the 
respective cassette, advanced through one or more monitoring stations, 
through a developing station and through a copying station. A large number 
of films can be spliced together end-to-end prior to entering the 
developing station. The treatment of photographic papers is automated to a 
similar extent. Such treatment involves developing of exposed photographic 
paper and subdivision of developed paper into discrete prints. A person at 
the outlet of the production line introduces the exposed photographic 
films and the corresponding prints into the pockets of envelopes which are 
thereupon shipped to or picked up by dealers or customers. 
In order to achieve additional savings in space and equipment, it was 
already proposed to assemble two or more maxilabs in such a way that they 
operate in parallel and can employ common developing tanks, fixing tanks, 
rinsing tanks and/or other treating units. For example, each tank for the 
development of films or photographic paper can be designed to permit the 
establishment of paths for two or more webs of photosensitive material. 
A drawback of heretofore known combined maxilabs wherein at least one 
treating unit is common to a plurality of running webs of photosensitive 
material is that the entire production line must be shut down if the 
equipment for the treatment of a single web happens to be defective or 
requires attention of a nature which necessitates stoppage of the 
transporting system for the respective web. This entails considerable 
losses in output because any stoppage of a single web necessitates 
simultaneous stoppage of each other web. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for simultaneous 
treatment of two or more running webs of photosensitive material which is 
constructed and assembled in such a way that temporary stoppage of 
facilities for the treatment of a particular web does not necessitate 
simultaneous stoppage of facilities for the treatment of the other web or 
webs. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a combination of maxilabs 
wherein defective operation of one maxilab does not necessitate even 
temporary stoppage of the other maxilab or maxilabs. 
A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved web 
treating unit for use in the above outlined apparatus. 
An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved 
liquid confining tank for use in the above outlined apparatus. 
Still another object of the invention is to enhance the output of a 
production line which employs two or more maxilabs. 
A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method 
of enhancing the output of a combination of two or more maxilabs in a 
photographic processing laboratory. 
An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved 
developing unit for plural webs of photographic paper or other 
photosensitive material. 
Another object of the invention is to provide novel and improved means for 
operating the drives for plural webs in an apparatus which employs two or 
more maxilabs. 
A further object of the invention is to provide a photographic processing 
laboratory which employs one or more apparatus of the above outlined 
character. 
An additional object of the invention is to reduce the cost of photographic 
prints and the cost of development of exposed photographic films. 
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which can employ 
numerous standard parts of the type used in heretofore known apparatus for 
the development and other processing of exposed photographic films in 
processing laboratories. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention is embodied in an apparatus for simultaneously processing a 
plurality of discrete webs of photosensitive material, such as webs of 
exposed photographic film or webs of exposed photographic paper. The 
improved apparatus comprises at least one treating unit, a plurality of 
transporting devices, one for each web and each defining a discrete path 
for advancement of the respective web through the at least one treating 
unit, and means for operating the transporting devices including a 
discrete drive for each transporting device so that each transporting 
device can advance the respective web independently of each other web. 
In accordance with one presently preferred embodiment of the invention, 
each drive comprises a discrete prime mover. Alternatively, the operating 
means can further comprise a single prime mover and each drive then 
comprises means for coupling the prime mover with, and for uncoupling the 
prime mover from, the respective transporting device. 
The at least one treating unit can comprise a liquid confining tank and 
each transporting device can include at least one rotary web advancing 
member, particularly a pulley which is arranged to receive motion from the 
respective drive. 
The at least one treating unit can further comprise means for sealing the 
paths from each other against penetration of light. Such sealing means can 
comprise a discrete partition between each pair of discrete compartments 
for the paths, and the tank can further comprise a discrete 
light-intercepting closure for each compartment. 
The at least one treating unit can further comprise means for 
communicatively connecting the compartments to each other so that the 
confined liquid (e.g., a developing, fixing or rinsing bath for 
photosensitive material) is free to flow between discrete compartments in 
the tank. Such compartments can include neighboring first and second 
compartments, and the at least one treating unit can further comprise a 
single liquid circulating unit which defines for the liquid an endless 
path extending from the circulating unit through the first compartment, 
through the connecting means in the partition between the first and second 
compartments, through the second compartment, and back to the circulating 
unit. 
The connecting means can comprise at least one labyrinthine passage which 
is defined by the sealing means. 
The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention 
are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved apparatus 
itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, 
together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best 
understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain 
presently preferred specific embodiments with reference to the 
accompanying drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIG. 1 shows a portion of an apparatus which embodies a first form of the 
present invention. The apparatus is designed to simultaneously process 
several webs 7, 8 of photosensitive material, e.g., webs of exposed 
photographic film or webs of exposed photographic paper. The apparatus 
comprises at least one treating unit which includes a developing, fixing 
or rinsing tank 1 having a plurality of lighttightly sealed chambers or 
compartments 3, 4, one for each web of photosensitive material. The 
sealing means between the illustrated compartments 3, 4 in the tank 1 
comprises an upright partition 2, and each of these compartments can be 
sealed from above against penetration of light by a discrete closure or 
lid 11, 12, respectively. 
The apparatus further comprises a discrete transporting device for each 
web, and each of the illustrated transporting devices comprises a 
plurality of rotary web advancing members in the form of pulleys 5 which 
are installed in the respective compartments 3, 4 of the tank 1 below the 
level 6 of the top surface of the confined liquid bath and can be rotated 
to advance the respective webs 7, 8 in directions indicated by arrows B. 
In accordance with the first embodiment, the means for operating the 
transporting devices including the pulleys 5 comprises a discrete drive 
for each transporting device, and each such drive comprises a discrete 
electric or other suitable motor 9, 10 which can be started and arrested 
independently of the other motor, i.e., the web 7 can be caused to advance 
along its path through the body of liquid in the tank 1 independently of 
the web 8 and vice versa. 
The bottom portion of the illustrated sealing means or partition 2 includes 
a labyrinthine passage 13 serving as a means for communicatively 
connecting the compartments 3, 4 to each other so that the confined liquid 
can flow from the compartment 3 into the compartment 4 or in the opposite 
direction but light which has been permitted to enter one of these 
compartments is prevented from entering the other compartment as long as 
the closure for the other compartment remains in the illustrated sealing 
position. The partition 2 can be provided with two or more labyrinthine 
passages 13 and/or analogous passages which permit the flow of a liquid 
but prevent the penetration of light. 
An advantage of the passage or passages 13 is that the treating unit 
including the tank 1 can be provided with a single combined circulating, 
regenerating and tempering unit 14 for the liquid. Such single unit 14 can 
include one or more pumps (not specifically shown) serving to circulate 
the liquid along an endless path extending from the outlet of the unit 14, 
through the compartment 4, through the passage or passages 13 in the 
partition 2 and the compartment 3, and through a return conduit 15 to the 
inlet of the unit 14. The direction of circulation of the liquid is 
indicated by arrows A. 
If the motor 9 and/or the pulleys 5 of the transporting device in the 
compartment 3 and/or the means for supplying the web 7 into the 
compartment 3 and/or the means for receiving the web 7 from the tank 1 
fails to operate in the desired manner, the operator in charge or an 
automatic control unit arrests the motor 9 so that the cover 11 can be 
lifted off the left-hand portion of the tank 1 while the cover 12 remains 
in the illustrated position and the motor 10 continues to drive the 
pulleys 5 in the compartment 4 so that the treatment of the web 8 
continues without any interruptions. Analogously, the motor 9 can continue 
to drive the pulleys 5 in the compartment 3 if any part of the apparatus 
which is used to advance and/or otherwise treat the web 8 happens to be 
out of commission. The same holds true if the apparatus includes a tank 
with three or more compartments or a multiple-section tank for 
simultaneous treatment of three or more webs of photosensitive material. 
Each of the webs can consist of a series of successive separate or 
interconnected web portions. If the apparatus comprises one or more tanks 
with pulleys and/or other transporting devices which provide discrete 
paths for three or more webs, the operating means for the drives comprises 
a discrete prime mover for each transporting device, i.e., for each web. 
An important advantage of the improved apparatus is that the output of the 
apparatus need not be reduced to zero when the apparatus can properly 
transport and treat one or more webs but the parts which advance and/or 
treat a further web require attention of a nature which requires stoppage 
of the respective drive and/or lifting of the respective cover. 
The passage or passages 13 and the single circulating, regenerating and 
tempering unit 14 constitute an optional but desirable and advantageous 
feature of the improved apparatus. An advantage of such single unit 14 is 
that the improved apparatus is much simpler and less expensive than two 
conventional treating apparatus each of which is designed to treat a 
single web of photosensitive material. 
The illustrated tank 1 can constitute one of a series of two or more 
successive liquid-confining tanks. Stoppage of the motor 9 or 10 results 
in stoppage of the corresponding portion of the web 7 or 8 in each of two 
or more successive tanks. 
FIG. 2 shows a portion of a second apparatus wherein the means for 
operating the transporting devices including the pulleys 5 includes a 
single prime mover 116 (e.g., a variable-speed electric motor or another 
suitable motor) and the discrete drives for the individual transporting 
devices comprise clutches 109, 110 serving as a means for releasably 
coupling the output element 17 of the prime mover 116 to the respective 
sets of pulleys 5. In all other respects, the apparatus which embodies the 
structure of FIG. 2 is or can be identical with the apparatus of FIG. 1. 
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of 
the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, 
readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, 
from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential 
characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of the aforedescribed 
contribution to the art and, therefore, such adaptations should and are 
intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of 
the appended claims.