Patent GB-1031730-A (GB)
Title: Processing unit
IPC: G03D13/00
Filed: 1962-12-18
Abstract: 1,031,730. Photographic apparatus. EASTMAN KODAK CO. Dec.18, 1962 [Dec. 18, 1961] No. 47828/62. Heading G2A. A photographic processing unit comprises a first tray and a second tray substantially complementary to the first tray and positioned below it so that the two trays form an arcuate path which constitutes a container for processing solution and through which exposed light-sensitive material may be passed, means for moving the material through the path, means formed in the first tray providing a reserve supply of processing solution and means for feeding processing solution from a supply to the reserve supply so light, sensitive material is moved along the path. As shown in Fig. 3, exposed light sensitive material M is driven by squeegee rollers 43 and 43' past cut-off station 39 and between trays 51 and 53. Tray 51 has an upwardly directed triangular indentation 61 which acts as a reserve supply for processing liquid, this supply being held by the upper surface of the material M. As the trailing edge of the material passes the indentation 61, the supply therein is discharged and causes the use solution to flow over weir 151 and through hole 153 into tray 57 where it is returned to the supply via hose 59. Similarly excess liquid squeezed from the material by rollers 43 and 43' is returned to the supply. As the next exposed material is advanced through the cut-off station 39, processing liquid is pumped via hose 63 to indentation 61 just before the material shuts off 61 so that some liquid is purged from the arcuate path as above. As shown in Fig 6 a motor 77 (switched on just after material M is drawn through station 39) drives rollers 43, 43' into gear wheels 71', 71' and 73 and chain 81 and drives pump 83 by means of chain 85 and sprocket 87 mounted on shaft 89. (see Fig 7). This shaft carries cam 91 which is eccentrically mounted so that rocker 93 operates pump bellows 97a causing liquid to be pumped from hose 65' to hose 65 connected via fitting 63 to indentation 61. A second cam surface 97 on cam 91 engages two spring clips 99 which open and close hoses 65, 65'. Motor 123 may be operated by switch 123 which is closed by pin 121 on gear wheel 119 driven by timing motor through gear 118. Gear wheel 119 is pivotably mounted on frame F via link 125 and stud 127. A chopper crank 133 coupled to link 135 draws knife 137 past the fixed knife 139 (see Fig 3) prior to feeding the material through station 39. A similar link and crank are on the other side of the knife. Link 135 carries pin 141 which engages link 125 when knife 137 is lowered thus raising gear wheel 119 away from gear 118. Just after the exposed section of material M is moved through solution 39 (detected by mocroswitch arm 140) crank 133 is released so that spring 143 draws knife 137 over knife 139 severing the material M. Pin 141 is thus disengaged from link 125 and gear 119 re-engages gear 118 and timed motor 117 so that at the end of timed cycle pin 121 closes switch 123 stopping motor 77 after material is discharged through rollers 43, 43<SP>1</SP>. In Fig 1, light-sensitive material M is wound on roll 33 may be exposed to an image on film F in gate 21, the image being projected by lens 19 and mirrors 17 and 45 on to the material at 37. Alternatively the mirrors 17 and 45 may be placed so that the film image is projected on to screen 15.