Patent GB-321700-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to photography
IPC: G03D3/08
Filed: 1928-06-18
Abstract: 321,700. Beidler, G. C. June 18, 1928. Continuous apparatus for developing, fixing, washing, and drying. - In apparatus for treating a succession of photographic films, comprising developing, fixing, washing, and drying means, the washing apparatus comprises a receptacle in which motion of the washing fluid is adapted to buoy the films and to exert force on them to move them longitudinally of the receptacle. Means are contained within both the washing tank and the fixing tank for moving the films downwardly in succession and for ejecting the lowermost film from the tank. The photographs after being exposed and severed in the camera A are passed to a developing receptacle B, Fig. 3, and then through a conveyer C into the fixing bath D. Means within the bath D for moving the films downwardly comprise worms 36. Figs. 4 and 6, mounted on a shaft 29 and driven by bevel gears 30, 31 from a shaft 32. The films are passed by guides 80 into the uppermost convolutions of the worms and are then drawn downwards by rotation of the worms until they reach the lowermost convolutions. The gear-wheel 30 of each worm carries a pin 33 which, once in each revolution, enters a notch 35 in the bearing 28 and causes the worm to drop so that the film in the lowermost convolution is gripped between a roller 40 and a recessed part 39 of the worm and is fed to rollers 47 and thence along guides 49 and between rollers 50, 51. For intermittently rotating the shaft 32 it is provided with a shoulder 64 having ratchet teeth 65, Fig. 15, engaged by a pawl 68 pivoted on a constantly rotated wheel 58. The pawl is adapted to be periodically disengaged from the ratchet by a rod 71 coacting with the part 74 of the pawl and adapted to be oscillated by linkage 77, 78 which is operated by the means for severing the sections of film within the camera. The rod 71 is provided with a pin 76 engaging in a helical slot 75 so that oscillation of the rod causes it to reciprocate axially. The films passing between the rollers 51, 52 are received by a conveyer F, Fig. 3, which passes them on to the surface of the liquid in the washing bath G. The walls 91, Fig 12, of this bath are provided with inclined nozzles 92 through which water issues from receptacles 93 so that these jets convey the film along the surface of the water in the bath. The film is also washed from above by jets 101, Fig. 3, and additional 'upwardly-directed jets such as 98 may be provided within the bath. The washing bath also contains means for moving the films downwardly therein, these means comprising worms similar to those described in connection with the fixing-bath and operated synchronously with the latter. The worms in the washing bath are, however, formed with more convolutions so that more films are contained therein at one time than in the fixing bath. The films leaving the washing bath pass between rollers 104, 105 and under a squeegee roller 106 and then along a conveyer 110 to the drier comprising a heated drum 118 and an endless belt or apron 119, the films pass. ing between the drum and the apron. The finished films are passed by a deflector 126 into a receptacle 128. Specification 287,717 is referred to.