Photographic chemical mixing system
First Claim
1. A photographic chemical mixer for supplying premixed chemical solution to a film processing unit, or the like, comprising:
- a fluid holding tank for said pre-mixed chemical solution;
low level sensing means in said tank for detecting a preset low fluid level in said tank;
high level sensing means in said tank for detecting a preset high fluid level in said tank;
liquid supply means for adding diluting fluid to said tank which fluid is designed to be mixed with a concentrate to provide said pre-mixed chemical solution;
control means associated with both said sensing means and said liquid supply means, and including indicating means operably connected with said low level sensing means for indicating the attainment of said low fluid level;
means for selectively activating said liquid supply means; and
means operably associated with said high level sensing means for deactivating said liquid supply means when said high fluid level in said tank is reached; and
reservoir means adapted to contain a quantity of said pre-mixed chemical solution, said reservoir means being operably connected with said tank such that upon the liquid level in said tank reaching said low fluid level, said reservoir means will feed its premixed solution to continue the supply of said pre-mixed chemical solution to a processing unit without interruption, by maintaining the liquid level of said pre-mixed solution in said tank at said low fluid level for a period of time, with the retention of said low fluid level by said reservoir means serving to maintain a desired volumetric difference between said low and high fluid levels, to replenish said pre-mixed chemical solution, in said tank to said high fluid level said means for selectively activating said liquid supply means is operated to add said diluting fluid to the tank to be mixed with a pre-packaged concentrate added within said tank, said tank being filled to said high fluid level automatically to replenish the supply of pre-mixed chemical solution at the desired strength, said replenishing of the chemical solution being attained without the necessity of an operator having to measure said diluting fluid or commence the replenishing operation immediately upon attainment of said low fluid level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for mixing photographic process chemicals, and supplying the mixed chemical to a film processing unit. The apparatus provides a chemical holding tank having a water supply inlet and a chemical discharge outlet thereon. The tank is provided with submersible pumps for agitating the contained chemical. Sensors on the inner portion of the tank detect when the process chemical reaches a minimal level whereupon water is added through the water inlet to fill the tank to its maximum whereupon the water supply is automatically shut off. In the preferred embodiment, an operation can add dry chemicals or liquid concentrate to form the finished process chemical. The sensors can be adjusted to vary water levels as needed for adapting the system to different chemical-water mix ratios as specified with the concentrated chemicals supplied by different manufactures. The apparatus additionally is provided with a reservoir tank which can supply processed chemicals to maintain the minimal level in the tank after an alarm has alerted a technician that the minimum level is reached.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A photographic chemical mixer for supplying premixed chemical solution to a film processing unit, or the like, comprising:
- a fluid holding tank for said pre-mixed chemical solution;
low level sensing means in said tank for detecting a preset low fluid level in said tank;
high level sensing means in said tank for detecting a preset high fluid level in said tank;
liquid supply means for adding diluting fluid to said tank which fluid is designed to be mixed with a concentrate to provide said pre-mixed chemical solution;
control means associated with both said sensing means and said liquid supply means, and including indicating means operably connected with said low level sensing means for indicating the attainment of said low fluid level;
means for selectively activating said liquid supply means; and
means operably associated with said high level sensing means for deactivating said liquid supply means when said high fluid level in said tank is reached; and
reservoir means adapted to contain a quantity of said pre-mixed chemical solution, said reservoir means being operably connected with said tank such that upon the liquid level in said tank reaching said low fluid level, said reservoir means will feed its premixed solution to continue the supply of said pre-mixed chemical solution to a processing unit without interruption, by maintaining the liquid level of said pre-mixed solution in said tank at said low fluid level for a period of time, with the retention of said low fluid level by said reservoir means serving to maintain a desired volumetric difference between said low and high fluid levels, to replenish said pre-mixed chemical solution, in said tank to said high fluid level said means for selectively activating said liquid supply means is operated to add said diluting fluid to the tank to be mixed with a pre-packaged concentrate added within said tank, said tank being filled to said high fluid level automatically to replenish the supply of pre-mixed chemical solution at the desired strength, said replenishing of the chemical solution being attained without the necessity of an operator having to measure said diluting fluid or commence the replenishing operation immediately upon attainment of said low fluid level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- a fluid holding tank for said pre-mixed chemical solution;
Specification