Disc film processor

An apparatus for automatically processing film discs including a transport system for moving the discs through successive processing stations and a friction drive system for spinning the discs at each station for agitation and/or drying. The transport system utilizes a unique carrier spindle having a nipple on one end thereof upon which a group of film discs is removably mounted. The transport system successively transports a loaded carrier spindle from one processing station to the next. At some stations the carrier spindle is positioned so that the film discs carried thereby enter a liquid tank thereat and at other stations the spindle is positioned to facilitate disc drying. The friction drive system includes a drive belt which frictionally contacts the carrier spindle at each station for spin agitation and/or drying.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to an improved automatic disc film processor 
suitable for commercial use for concurrently processing multiple film 
discs. 
BACKGROUND 
Recent developments in film, cameras, and processing equipment, primarily 
by the Eastman Kodak Company, have led to the wide acceptance of the disc 
format for film. Several U.S. patents have issued relating to automatic 
equipment for processing film discs; e.g., see U.S. Pat. Nos.: 
4,112,452 
4,112,453 
4,112,454 
4,167,320 
4,178,091 
4,188,106 
4,252,430 
4,361,221 
In addition to processors marketed by the Eastman Kodak Company, automatic 
disc film processors intended for commercial use are also marketed by 
several other companies; e.g., Pako Corporation, Houston Photoproducts, 
Inc., Oscar Fisher Company, Inc., Copal, Hope Industries, Inc. and Fuji 
Photo Film. Although the various processors offered by these and other 
companies differ in their detailed mechanizations, they all include means 
for concurrently transporting multiple film discs through successive 
processing stages, which stages typically involve spin agitation through a 
liquid or spin drying. The specifications for a widely used commercial 
process are summarized in the following process table wherein it will be 
noticed that stages 1-6 involve passing the film discs through a liquid 
whereas stages 7 and 8 involve drying the film discs: 
______________________________________ 
DISC FILM DEVELOPING PROCESS 
Processing 
Processing Temperature 
Stages Time Spin (rpm) (.degree.C.) 
______________________________________ 
(1) Developing 
3'15" 200 .+-. 20% 
37.8 .+-. 0.2 
(2) Bleaching 6'30" 200 .+-. 20% 
24- 28 
(3) Washing 1 3'15" 200 .+-. 20% 
24- 28 
(4) Fixing 6'30" 200 .+-. 20% 
24- 28 
(5) Washing 2 3'15" 200 .+-. 20% 
24- 28 
(6) Stabilizing 
3'15" 200 .+-. 20% 
24- 28 
(7) Slinging 3'15" 2,000 .+-. 15% 
Normal temp. 
Water Off 
(8) Drying 6'30" 200 .+-. 20% 
Ambient + 
(0- 10) 
______________________________________ 
Total Processing time: 35'45 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to an improved apparatus for 
automatically processing film discs which includes a simple and reliable 
transport system for moving the discs through successive processing 
stations and a friction drive system for spinning the discs at each 
station for agitation and/or drying. 
The transport system in accordance with the invention utilizes a unique 
carrier spindle upon which a group of film discs is removably mounted. The 
transport system successively transports a loaded carrier spindle from one 
processing station to the next. Each such station is associated with a 
particular processing stage but a single processing stage may have 
multiple stations associated with it. At each station associated with the 
aforementioned processing stages 1-6, the carrier spindle is positioned so 
that the film discs carried thereby enter a liquid tank thereat. The 
friction drive system spins the carrier spindle at each station for 
agitation (stages 1-6) and/or drying (stages 7, 8). 
In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the carrier 
spindle includes a disc mounting nipple on at least one end thereof which 
accommodates multiple film discs, arranged parallel to one another and 
perpendicular to the spindle. The discs can be loaded onto the nipple with 
either side out and without use of the typical disc hub keyway. 
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a housing is provided having 
a light tight disc loading compartment which the operator has access to 
via light sealing means such as loading sleeves. The compartment includes 
an entrance chute into which a loaded carrier spindle can be dropped for 
guiding the spindle to a starting position. The transport system then 
automatically carries the spindle from the starting position through the 
successive processing stations. The preferred transport system includes 
guide means defining a spindle path which includes spaced troughs, each 
trough comprising a processing station. At least one transport arm is 
mounted adjacent each station for rotation therethrough to pick up the 
spindle thereat and carry it along the path to the succeeding station. The 
transport arms are driven in common by a timed controller to thus, in a 
single cycle, transport each of a plurality of spindles from one 
processing station to the succeeding processing station. 
In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the spindle path defines a 
substantially semicircular path portion between each pair of successive 
troughs. Each transport arm is mounted for rotation about an axis 
displaced from the center of the semicircular path portion to enable it to 
rotate through a preceding station to pick up a spindle, push the spindle 
along the semicircular path portion, and then rotate clear of the spindle 
as it is released along the path portion to the succeeding station. 
In accordance with an important aspect of the preferred embodiment, the 
transport arms are physically spaced from the liquid tanks so that the 
arms only engage the spindles and never pass through the liquid in the 
tanks. 
In accordance with a further important aspect of the invention, an 
inexpensive and reliable friction drive system is used to spin the carrier 
spindles at each processing station. The spin system includes a motor 
driven belt mounted adjacent the spindle path. Consequently, when a 
spindle is at a processing station, it is frictionally contacted by the 
belt, thus spinning the spindle, and the film discs carried thereby, for 
agitation in the liquid and/or drying. 
In accordance with a further aspect of the preferred friction drive spin 
system, a second belt is provided which is driven at a higher speed than 
the first named belt. The second belt frictionally contacts a spindle only 
at the station associated with processing stage 7, i.e., the high speed 
spin stage used to sling liquid off the film discs.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT 
Attention is initially directed to FIG. 1, which illustrates an apparatus 
10 for automatically processing film discs in conformance, for example, 
with the process specified in the previously set forth table. The 
disclosed apparatus 10 is capable of processing about one hundred discs 
per hour making it suitable for use by commercial photoprocessing 
laboratories. 
The apparatus 10, as depicted in FIG. 1, comprises a housing 12 having a 
base member 14 and a top member 16. The top member 16 is either hinged to 
or separate and removable from the base member 14. The members 14 and 16 
have closely mating cooperating edges 18 so that when member 16 is 
properly seated on member 14, light is prevented from entering the 
interior of housing 12. 
A switch control panel 20, to be described hereinafter, is mounted on the 
housing base member 14. Additionally, an exit box 22 extends from one end 
of the base member 14 for receiving a spindle carrying film discs 
subsequent to processing. 
The top housing member 16 is shaped to define a loading box 24. The box 24 
is provided with a large top opening which is closed by a removable lid 
26. The box 24 and lid 26 together enclose a light tight loading 
compartment 28. First and second apertures 30, 32 formed in the box 24 
afford access to the interior of compartment 28. The apertures 30, 32 have 
light sealing means such as daylight loading sleeves 34, 36 mounted 
thereon to permit an operator to insert his arms through the sleeves into 
the compartment 28 without admitting light into the compartment. 
Prior to proceeding with an overall functional description of the apparatus 
10, attention is directed to FIG. 3 which illustrates a carrier spindle 40 
employed in accordance with the present invention for transporting film 
discs 42 through the multiple processing stages defined by the foregoing 
table, all within the apparatus 10. The carrier spindle 40 is comprised of 
a slender central rod 44. First and second positioning flanges 46, 48 are 
secured to the rod to assist in guiding the spindle 40 through the 
apparatus 10 as will be described hereinafter. Additionally, the carrier 
spindle 40 includes a ring 50 mounted around the rod 44. The ring 50 
preferably includes an internal weight 51 to counter balance film discs 
loaded onto one end of the spindle. 
More particularly, the spindle includes a disc carrier nipple 52 mounted on 
one end of the rod 44. The nipple 50 includes an inner flange 54 and a 
split shaft 58. As is well known, typical film discs 42 comprise a hub 60 
having a central hole 62. A ring of film 64 is secured to and extends 
around the hub 60. The nipple shaft 58 is dimensioned so as to fit snugly 
within the hub hole 62. The split portions 58A and 58B of the nipple shaft 
58 are slightly biased away from one another and must be compressed 
slightly to fit through the hub hole 62. The outward biasing of the shaft 
portions 58A, 58B frictionally engage the inner portion of the hub 60 
defining the hole 62. Multiple film discs 42 can be loaded onto the nipple 
shaft 58 with the initial disc 42 being pushed along the shaft 58 right up 
to the flange 54. Subsequent film discs 42 are loaded onto the shaft 58 
with the discs extending parallel to one another and perpendicular to the 
elongation of the rod 44. Inasmuch as the film disc hubs 60 have a 
slightly greater thickness than the film 64, the hubs themselves space the 
multiple film rings 64 from one another. It is important to recognize that 
the discs can be loaded onto the spindle without regard to side 
orientation; i.e., with either side out. It is also pointed out that the 
keyway typically provided in the hub 60 for orientation is not used by the 
nipple shaft 58. 
As previously noted, the apparatus 10 depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 is useful 
for processing film discs in a commercial photoprocessing laboratory. The 
film discs processed in such laboratories are received from customers with 
the film discs still contained in their light tight cartridges (not 
shown). In the use of the apparatus 10, an operator would remove the lid 
26 to open the loading compartment 28. He would then typically place a 
single carrier spindle 40 in the compartment together with multiple film 
disc cartridges assumed to be five or less in the exemplary embodiment. 
The cartridges are of course light tight and a film disc will not be 
inadvertently exposed while in the cartridge. After placing the carrier 
spindle 40 and cartridges within the compartment 28, the operator will 
replace the lid 26 to thereby light seal the compartment 28. The operator 
will then place his hands through the daylight loading sleeves 34, 36 and 
into the compartment 28 through the apertures 30, 32. The operator will 
then pick up a disc cartridge and with the assistance of a cracking device 
70, he will crack open the cartridge to free the film disc 42 therefrom. 
The operator of course should be careful to hold the film disc 42 by its 
edge or center hub. He will then place the film disc onto the disc carrier 
nipple 54 without regard to any particular side orientation. The debris 
from the cartridges can be left in a depression or trash bin 72 for 
subsequent removal when the compartment 28 is again opened by lifting the 
lid 26. After the discs are loaded onto the carrier nipple 54, the 
operator then lifts a light sealing flap 74 to gain access to an entrance 
chute 76 into which the loaded spindle carrier can be dropped. The chute 
76 is keyed (FIG. 1) so it will accept the spindle carrier 40 only when it 
is properly oriented with the nipple end of the spindle carrier closer to 
the loading sleeves 34, 36. 
Attention is now directed to FIGS. 4-8 which illustrate the details of the 
apparatus 10 contained within the housing base member 14. The member 14 
includes a floor 80 and upwardly extending sidewalls 82. Mounted within 
the housing base member 14 is a series of aligned tanks 90 respectively 
containing the processing liquids identified in the aforementioned process 
table. Additionally, the housing base member 14 includes a carrier spindle 
transport system 92 for transporting a carrier spindle from the 
aforementioned entrance chute 76 to the various processing stations and 
ultimately to the exit box 22. 
The series of tanks 90 includes six separate tanks, one for each of the 
initial six processing stages identified in the foregoing process table. 
More particularly, the tanks 90 includes a first tank 94 containing 
developing solution. A second tank 96 contains bleaching solution. A third 
tank 98 contains a washing liquid. A fourth tank 100 contains a fixing 
solution. A fifth tank 102 contains a second washing liquid. A sixth tank 
104 contains a stabilizing solution. 
From the foregoing process table, it will be noted that the recommended 
processing time for certain stages is three minutes, fifteen seconds, 
(i.e., stages 1, 3, 5, 6, 7) and for other stages (i.e., stages 2, 4, 8) 
is six minutes, thirty seconds. As will be discussed hereinafter, the 
transport system 92 successively transports each loaded carrier spindle 40 
through multiple processing stations and is timed such that the spindle is 
retained for a unit interval of three minutes and fifteen seconds at each 
station. While at stations associated with processing stages 1-6, the film 
discs 42 carried by the spindle will extend into the liquids within the 
tanks 90. The tanks 90 are all similarly constructed, and, as will be 
noted in FIGS. 4 and 5, each has a length dimension approximately twice 
its width dimension. It should further be noted that the tanks associated 
with stages 1, 3, 5, 6, i.e., the developing tank 94, the first wash tank 
98, the second wash tank 102, and the stabilizing tank 104 are all 
oriented so that their narrower width dimension extends along the 
elongation of the transport system 92. In contrast, the bleaching and 
fixing tanks 96 and 100, associated with stages 2 and 4, are oriented so 
that their length dimension extends along the elongation of the transport 
system 92. As will be seen hereinafter, the transport system 92 is 
configured to define substantially uniformly spaced processing stations 
such that one station exists for each of tanks 94, 98, 102, and 104 
whereas two stations exist for each of tanks 96 and 100. 
The tanks are preferably free standing and readily removable. That is, they 
are not plumbed in but rather rest on the floor of the housing base member 
14, preferably within floor recesses (not shown) which properly orient the 
tanks. Inasmuch as the developing solution within tank 94 must be 
maintained at the elevated temperature indicated in the foregoing table, 
the tank is placed on a heater plate 106. 
In use, the tanks can be batch loaded with appropriate liquids prior to 
use. Alternatively, a continuous feed replenishing system is provided 
which includes five inlet nipples (FIG. 2) 110, 112, 114, 116, and 118. 
These inlet nipples are coupled to tubes 119 (FIG. 2) which have open 
terminations for supplying liquid into the tanks (e.g., tube 120 into tank 
96, FIG. 6). Each of the tanks is provided with an overflow discharge 
notch 122 (FIG. 6) in one wall thereof which permits the overflowing 
liquid to run off into gutter 126. The gutter 126 runs the full length of 
the series of tanks 90 to collect the overflow and direct it out discharge 
outlet 128 (FIG. 4). Each tank includes one or more hooks 129 (FIG. 6) 
which, when properly positioned, extends around the gutter 126 to retain 
the tank in position. Preferably each tank also includes a handle 130 to 
facilitate handling. 
Prior to discussing the details of the transport system 92, it is initially 
pointed out that when a carrier spindle 40 is dropped into the entrance 
chute 76, it arrives at a starting position 140 resting on actuator 142 of 
a normally closed switch 143 controlling a LOAD READY light on control 
panel 20 (FIG. 1). From the starting position 140, the spindle is 
successively transported by system 92, in a manner to be described 
hereinafter, to a first station 144 associated with tank 94, to second and 
third stations 146 and 148 associated with tank 96, to a fourth station 
150 associated with tank 98, to fifth and sixth stations 152 and 154 
associated with tank 100, to a seventh station 156 associated with tank 
102, to an eighth station 158 associated with tank 104, to a ninth station 
160 associated with sling dry stage 7 and to tenth and eleventh stages 162 
and 164 associated with drying stage 8. 
The transport system 92 includes first and second guide plates 200 and 204 
having upper guide surfaces which define a spindle path along which a 
carrier spindle 40 is transported from the starting position 140 (FIGS. 4, 
5) to the exit box 22. The guide plates 200, 204, are vertically mounted 
within the housing base member 14 in spaced parallel relationship to one 
another. The guide plates 200, 204 extend substantially parallel to the 
aligned tanks 90 which are positioned to one side thereof. 
The guide plates 200, 204 are substantially identical and each comprises a 
series of substantially semicircular plate sections 206 (FIG. 5) extending 
upwardly from a common base strip 208. The plate sections 206 are 
uniformly spaced along base strip 208 and define troughs 210 between 
adjacent sections 206. The troughs are dimensioned to accommodate the 
carrier spindle rod 44 as depicted in FIG. 7. Each trough 210 corresponds 
to one of the aforementioned processing stations. Thus, as can be seen in 
FIG. 5, the guideplate 204 includes twelve semicircular plate sections 206 
thereby defining eleven different troughs 210 between adjacent plate 
sections 206. By retaining a carrier spindle for a unit interval of three 
minutes, fifteen seconds at each of the eleven stations, the exemplary 
process described by the foregoing table can be executed. 
The transport system 92 further includes a pair of transport arms 220, 222 
mounted adjacent each processing station. Each pair of transport arms is 
affixed to a shaft 224 mounted for rotation between the guideplates 200, 
204. That is, each shaft 224 extends through, and is journaled for 
rotation in, holes formed in opposed semicircular sections 206 of 
guideplates 200, 204. Each shaft 224 is displaced from the center or axis 
of the semicircles defined by the plate sections 206, slightly toward the 
preceding processing station, for reasons to be discussed hereinafter. The 
end of shaft 224, extending through guide plate 200, terminates in 
sprocket 230. The sprocket 230 is engaged with a timing chain 232 passing 
below chain guide 233 and driven by timing sprocket 234. The sprocket 234 
is in turn driven by sprocket 235 chain coupled to motor 236 controlled by 
a timer circuit. When the motor 236 is activated, the timing sprocket 234 
drives the chain 232 to rotate each of the shafts 224 through one full 
revolution. The transport arms 220, 224 thus also rotate one full 
revolution (clockwise as depicted in FIG. 7), rotating through the 
preceding processing station to carry a spindle therein along the 
semicircular path defined by the plate sections 206 to the succeeding 
processing station. 
As has been mounted, motor 236 is controlled by a timer circuit which is 
depicted in FIG. 10 at 418. The timer circuit 418 operates in conjunction 
with a timing cam 237, mounted on shaft 224 associated with processing 
station 164, whose function will be explained in connection with FIG. 10. 
Attention is now directed to FIG. 7 which schematically illustrates 
stations 9, 10, and 11 of transport system 92. The transport arm 
associated with each station is identified by a subscript in FIG. 7 which 
shows arms 222.sub.8, 222.sub.9, 222.sub.10, and 222.sub.11. Carrier 
spindles 40 are depicted in the troughs 210 of processing stations 160, 
162, and 164. When the chain drive motor 236 is activated, the timing 
chain 232 is driven to rotate the transport arms in a clockwise direction 
to thus engage the spindle 40 in the immediately preceding processing 
station. The spindle will be cradled by the arm against terminal 
projection 250 and carried along the upper guide surface 252 of plate 
section 206 and around the peak 254 of the semicircular path portion. 
After passing the peak, the spindle 40 will drop into the trough of the 
next processing station or drop onto an exit ramp from the last station 
164. Inasmuch as the shafts 224 around which the arms 222 rotate are each 
displaced from the center of a substantially semicircular guide surface 
252 toward the preceding station, each arm 222 will be able to clear and 
thus move by the spindle 40 after it falls into the succeeding station. 
The arms 220, 222 are all driven in synchronism by the common chain 232 and 
thus spindles 40 can be simultaneously accommodated in all of the 
processing stations. More particularly, as a consequence of the 
aforedescribed action of the transport arms, all of the spindles 40 are 
essentially concurrently removed from their stations and transported along 
their semicircular path portions toward their peaks 254. Thus, each 
station will have been vacated prior to a spindle being deposited into 
that station. It is to be noted in FIG. 7 that the arm 222.sub.9 is 
slightly advanced with respect to arm 222.sub.8 (which is mounted 
identically to arms 222.sub.1 -222.sub.7, not shown) and that arms 
222.sub.10 and 222.sub.11 are slightly advanced with respect to arm 
222.sub.9. This is to permit the spindle vacating the sling dry station 
160 to clear the door 342 (to be discussed hereinafter) prior to the 
arrival of a succeeding spindle. The exemplary apparatus, as depicted in 
FIGS. 4 and 5, can simultaneously accommodate one spindle in each of the 
processing stations (a total of eleven spindles) with an additional 
spindle in the starting position 140. 
When a spindle 40 is received in a processing station, i.e., in a trough 
210, the film discs carried thereby extend into the liquid tanks 90 (i.e., 
for stations 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156, and 158). In accordance 
with the exemplary processing procedure summarized in the foregoing table, 
it is important to spin the film discs within the liquid. This spinning is 
accomplished in accordance with the present invention by a belt 300 (FIG. 
6) which engages the spindle friction ring 50, when a spindle is 
accommodated in a trough 210. More particularly, a belt 300 (and a second 
belt 302 for redundancy) is mounted for rotation on idler wheels 304 
supported for rotation on axles 306 fixedly mounted between guide plates 
200 and 204. The belts 300, 302 are supported at a vertical level 
substantially coincident with the bottom of troughs 210 so that when a 
spindle 40 is accommodated within a processing station, the friction ring 
50 thereof contacts the belts, as depicted in FIG. 6. The belts 300 and 
302 extend around a drive pulley 310 driven by motor 312 via sprocket 313 
chain coupled to motor 312. Shaft 315 couples sprocket 313 to drive pulley 
310. Motor 312 is driven continuously during operation of the apparatus so 
that whenever a spindle is within a processing station, the friction ring 
50 thereon engages the belts 300, 302 to thus spin the spindle within the 
guide plate troughs. As a consequence, the film discs 42 carried on the 
spindle nipple 54 will spin in the liquid contained in the tank, e.g., 
tank 96 depicted in FIG. 6. 
The motor 312 and drive pulley 310 are selected to drive the belts 300, 302 
at a first speed sufficient to spin the spindles in contact therewith at 
approximately 200 rpm, as indicated in the foregoing process table. From 
the table, it will be noted that the seventh processing stage, i.e., 
"sling water off," requires a higher speed spindle spin on the order of 
2,000 rpm. For this purpose, a larger idler roller 320 is provided (FIG. 
8) on axle 322 located proximate to the processor station 160 associated 
with processing stage 7. A high speed belt 326 extends around idler roller 
320 and is coupled to the shaft of motor 312 by pulley 330. Motor 312 
drives belt 326 at a substantially higher rate than belts 300, 302 as a 
consequence of the gearing ratio between the motor shaft and the belts via 
drive pulleys 310 and 330. Because idler roller 320 mounted proximate to 
processor station 160 has a larger diameter than the idler rollers 304 
mounted proximate to the other stations, the friction ring 50 on the 
spindle in processor station 160, will contact belt 326 and will thereby 
be driven at the higher speed, i.e., 2,000 rpm, as contrasted with the 
lower spin speed, i.e., 200 rpm, produced by the belt 300 at each of the 
other stations. 
In order to prevent the throwing of liquid from the film discs in the high 
speed spin station 160 onto discs in other stations, a canopy 340 is 
supported above station 160. Moreover, pair of doors 342 and 344 (FIG. 5) 
are gravity hinged from the canopy 340 to further prevent the throwing of 
liquid to other stations. The transport arms 222.sub.9 pick up the spindle 
from station 160 prior to the arms 228.sub.8 picking up the spindle from 
station 158. Thus, the spindle vacating station 160 will move out of the 
way enabling an arriving spindle to swing door 342 counterclockwise to 
permit the arriving spindle to drop into station 160. Likewise, when the 
spindle is transported from station 160, it will engage door 344 to hinge 
it counterclockwise to enable the spindle to move along the succeeding 
semicircular path to station 162 vacated just slightly earlier as a 
consequence of arms 222.sub.10 and 222.sub.11 being slightly advanced with 
respect to arm 222.sub.g. 
Stations 162 and 164 are both used for the eighth processing stage, that is 
for drying. Drying is enhanced by the inclusion of a fan 350 (FIG. 8) 
preferably driven by the aforementioned belt motor 312. The fan 350 pulls 
air in through vent openings across warm motor 312 and exhausts it through 
openings 352, 354 adjacent stations 162 and 164. The transport arms 
subsequent to station 164 function to pick up the spindle therefrom and 
place it on the exit ramp 360 which leads to the exit box 22. 
Attention is now directed to FIG. 10 which schematically depicts the 
electrical control system 400 for the apparatus 10. The control system 400 
is powered from a suitable electrical power source represented by plug 
402. The source 402 is serially connected through an interlock switch 404 
to a three position manual switch 406. The interlock switch 404 is 
preferably mounted on the housing base member 14 and is closed only when 
the housing top member 12 is properly seated thereon for light sealing. 
The switch 406 is illustrated as being a triple throw manual switch 
available to the operator to enable him to switch the apparatus to either 
an OFF mode, a STAND BY mode, or a RUN mode. When in the STAND BY mode, 
only the temperature control system 408 is energized. The temperature 
control system 408 functions to energize the heater plate 106 (FIG. 5) and 
control the temperature of the liquid within the tank 94. The temperature 
controller 408 energizes a TEMPERATURE READY light 410 on control panel 20 
(FIG. 1) when the liquid reaches the desired temperature. The STAND BY 
mode is used whenever film discs are not being processed and it is desired 
to maintain the apparatus ready to accept discs for processing. 
The third position of switch 406 defines the RUN mode. When operating in 
the RUN mode, the temperature controller 408 operates in the same manner 
as in the STAND BY mode. Additionally, the belt motor 312 is continually 
energized. 
Previously mentioned switch 143 (FIG. 5) is a normally closed switch which 
normally illuminates the LOAD READY light 416, also on the control panel 
20 (FIG. 1). However, whenever a carrier spindle 40 is dropped into the 
entrance chute 76 to rest on actuator 142, the switch 143 is opened to 
extinguish the LOAD READY light 416. 
A timer circuit 418 defines a unit interval of three minutes and fifteen 
seconds. The timer circuit is energized through a normally closed switch 
420. At the end of the unit interval, the timer circuit 418 supplies a 
drive pulse to timing motor 236. The timing motor 236 drives a timing cam 
237 (FIG. 5) which in turn controls the aforementioned normally closed 
switch 420 and in addition a normally opened switch 422. That is, after 
the timer 418 supplies a drive pulse to the timing motor 236, the motor 
236 starts to rotate cam 237. Very early in the cam cycle, the switch 420 
is momentarily opened to thereby reset the timer 418. The normally open 
switch 422 remains closed for an interval determined by the cam 237 which 
is equal to the time necessary to rotate the transport arms through one 
full revolution. 
A normally open switch 424 is controlled by actuator 426 (FIG. 5) to sense 
the passage of a spindle from the last processing station 164 along the 
exit ramp 360. The switch 424 is connected between a power source, 
preferably a battery 428, and a PROCESS COMPLETE alarm 430, which when 
activated preferably produces an audible sound. 
From the foregoing, it should now be appreciated that an improved disc film 
processor has been disclosed herein capable of concurrently processing 
multiple film discs. As a consequence of its unique construction 
exemplified by the highly efficient transport system and friction driven 
spin system, the apparatus is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and 
highly reliable in operation.