Slotted processing apparatus and method

• US 5,047,795 A
• Filed: 11/28/1989
• Issued: 09/10/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technology, Inc. (Sapiens International Corp. NV)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technology, Inc. (Sapiens International Corp. NV)
• Inventors: Keable, John B., Bostic, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): MATHEWS, ALAN A
• Application Number:
  US07/442,252
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 354/317, 354/319, 354/320, 354/321, 354/322, 354/324, 354/328, 134/64 P, 134/122 P
• US Class Current: 396/614
• CPC Class Codes: G03D 15/001 Counting; Classifying; Marking
• CPC Class Codes: G03D 5/006 Liquid supply by means of a split or a capillarity G03D5/04 takes precedence

Abstract

A system of substantially closed processing stations designed to disperse chemicals for uniformly coating or otherwise contacting an emulsion-coated or other surface or strip is disclosed. The system comprises one or more slotted stations through which developing chemicals are transmitted into shallow sinks. The chemicals uniformly contact the strip as it travels over the sinks and subsequently are removed from the strip along with by-products of the reaction by wipers or ribs and disposed through disposal slots in the stations. The ribs also agitate the chemicals and emulsion to assist uniform developing of the strip. Because the processing station is virtually sealed from the surrounding atmosphere, little degradation of the processing chemicals occurs even after extended periods of nonuse.

Claims

1. An apparatus for processing a photographic emulsion comprising:

a. means for delivering a photographic processing chemical through an opening for contact with the emulsion;

b. a sink having an edge at least partially defined by the opening and in which photographic processing chemical may puddle; and

c. at least one rib positioned within the sink for agitating and removing at least a portion of the photographic processing chemical from the emulsion.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means for drying the emulsion.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the sink has a trailing edge at least partially defined by a slot, for draining photographic processing chemical from the sink and the emulsion.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the delivering means comprises a cell comprising:

a. means receiving a photographic processing chemical; and

b. a groove communicating with the receiving means and the slit for transmitting photographic processing chemical from the receiving means through the slit to the sink.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the photographic processing chemical is metered so as to be delivered in low volume, for facilitating any movement of the emulsion relative to the sink.

6. An apparatus according to claim 2 in which the means for drying the emulsion comprises means selected from the group consisting of:

a. means for exposing the emulsion to heated air;

b. means for exposing the emulsion to infrared radiation; and

c. means for exposing the emulsion to ultraviolet radiation.

7. An apparatus for processing a photographic emulsion comprising a cell positionable adjacent the emulsion, which cell comprises:

a. a side defining an opening for receiving a photographic processing chemical;

b. a surface comprising at least one sink, which sink comprises a leading edge at least partially defined by a slit and a trailing edge at least partially defined by a slot, which slit and slot extend at least partially through the cell; and

c. at least one groove communicating with the opening and the slit, for transmitting photographic processing chemical through the slit to the sink for contact with the emulsion.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising means for agitating and removing at least a portion of the photographic processing chemical from the emulsion.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising means, communicating with the slot, for draining photographic chemical from the sink and the emulsion.

10. An apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising a reservoir for circulating heated fluid through the apparatus.

11. An apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising a plate positionable opposite the emulsion from the cell for substantially sealing the emulsion against the surface of the cell.

12. An apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising a belt positionable opposite the emulsion from the cell for substantially sealing the emulsion against the surface of the cell.

13. An apparatus according to claim 8 in which the agitating and removing means comprises a wiper.

14. An apparatus according to claim 8 in which the agitating and removing means comprises at least one rib positioned within the sink.

15. An apparatus for processing a photographic emulsion comprising:

a. a first cell positionable adjacent the emulsion comprising;

i. a side defining an opening for receiving a photographic processing chemical;

ii. a rear edge;

iii. a first surface comprising;

A. a first sink, which sink comprises a leading edge at least partially defined by a first slit and a trailing edge at least partially defined by a slot; and

B. a second sink, which sink comprises a leading edge at least partially defined by a second slit and a trailing edge defined by the rear edge of the cell,

which first and second slits and slot extend at least partially through the cell;

iv. a first groove communicating with the opening; and

v. second and third grooves communicating with the first and second slits, respectively, and each communicating with the first groove for transmitting photographic processing chemical through the first and second slits to the first and second sinks;

b. a second cell positionable adjacent the emulsion, comprising;

i. a side defining an opening for receiving a photographic processing chemical;

ii. a second surface comprising a third slit which extends at least partially through the cell to the second surface; and

iii. a fourth groove communicating with the third slit and the opening for transmitting photographic processing chemical through the third slit; and

c. means for guiding the emulsion adjacent the first and second sinks and third slit in contact with the photographic processing chemicals associated with the first and second cells.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15 further comprising at least one wiper associated with each of the first and second slits of the first cell, for removing photographic processing chemical from the emulsion.

17. An apparatus according to claim 15 further comprising means for altering the direction of travel of the emulsion between the first and second cells.

18. An apparatus according to claim 16 in which the guiding means comprises at least one endless belt associated with at least one pair of opposed, counter-rotating rollers through which the emulsion passes.

19. An apparatus according to claim 17 further comprising third through seventh cells comprising components substantially identical to the first cell and eighth through twelfth cells comprising components substantially identical to the second cell.

20. A method for processing a photographic emulsion comprising the steps of:

a. passing the emulsion adjacent a sink having a leading edge at least partially defined by a first slit through which a photographic processing chemical may pass onto the emulsion; and

b. agitating and removing at least a portion of the photographic processing chemical from the emulsion by contacting the emulsion with at least one rib positioned within the sink.

21. A method according to claim 20 further comprising the step of:

c. passing the emulsion adjacent a cell having a second slit through which a photographic processing chemical may pass.

22. A method according to claim 20 further comprising the steps of:

c. repeating step (a); and

d. repeating step (b).

23. A method according to claim 21 further comprising the step of:

d. altering the direction of travel of the emulsion between the sink and cell.

24. A method according to claim 20 further comprising the steps of:

c. prompting a patron to provide information relating to the patron'"'"'s identity;

d. recording the information provided on a memory means located within an unmanned apparatus;

e. prompting the patron to deposit a light-resistent cartridge containing the photographic emulsion into the unmanned apparatus; and

f. removing the photographic emulsion from the light-resistent storage container.

25. An apparatus for processing a photographic emulsion comprising:

a. means for delivering a photographic processing chemical through an opening for contact with the emulsion; and

b. a sink having a first edge at least partially defined by the opening and in which photographic processing chemical may puddle and a second edge at least partially defined by a slot, for draining photographic processing chemical from the sink and the emulsion.

26. An apparatus according to claim 25 in which the delivering means comprises:

a. means for receiving a photographic processing chemical; and

b. a groove communicating with the receiving means and the slit for transmitting photographic processing chemical from the receiving means through the slit to the sink.