US1999965A - Photographic developing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

April 30,1935. B, J. HALL 1,999,965

PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPTNG APPARATUS Filed June 1, 1933 -latented A r. 30, 1955 1 1,399,965

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PHOTOGR-APHIC DEVELOPING APPARATUS Benjamin James Hall, Westminster, England Application June 1, 1933, Serial No. 673,897

In Great Britain June 17, 1932 a Claims. ((1 95- 94) This invention relates to photographic ap n alternative form of the heating mvans used in ratus in which the development of photograplic prints is carried out by exposure to a gaseous Fig. 5 is a sectional diagrammatic view of a vapour or gas impregnated atmosphere, the further modification of the invention; I 5 prints being exposed to the action of the vapour g- 6 i a Sec a diagrammatic w Of a 5 by carrying them between or upon fabric bands, Purifying Chamber d W y n on; a d fabric covered drums or other suitable surfaces 7 is a Sectional diagrammatic View of and whereas it has been the custom to accelerate d fi a the Purifying Chamber 0! 6. the formation of gaseous vapours by applying n e pp a s Shown y 1 I p y tWO 10 heat to the volatile liquid or liquids and further r c band in act Suitably mounted m to free the photographic ,prints from clinging in the chamber B. The contiguous surfaces of vapours byallowing them to fall into an airing the bands are supported by solid or perforated chamber from which th vapour re extr ct d plates D, D the surfaces of which plates, curved by ventilation, I have discovered that the ac- 0r fl as required, are p at t e desired tem- 1;, celeration of volatilization can be more empelatllre y the heating elements y hOt l5 ciently performed by introducing the volatile water circulation or other convenient method. liquid or liquids into the chamber at a norm l The volatile liquid may-be applied to one or both temperature and by heating the surfaces where bands, in any position and y y means inwhich development is to take place, in particular mainit can be most conveniently absorbed, and prefertaining such surfaces as it is desirable to keep ab y y 11 P p p p running the full free from the moisture of condensation, at 9. Width f the, band. higher temperature than any other part of the The print enters the apparatus mll the apparatus. By so doing the prints pass through slit b and is discharged through the slit 12 prothe apparatus in a comparatively dry condition vided in the Chamber B for the D D and there is no disturbance caused by the con- At Fig. 2 I h Shown diagrammatically a 25 densation of moisture upon the parts of the maapparatus in which I employ a Single fabric chine with which the prints come in contact. band A in C n t w h a solid r' p rf rated By this means the quality of the product is immetal plate D, the surface of which plate, curved proved, considerable saving in the use of volatile or flat as required, is kept at the desired tempera- I liquid is effected and the discharge of fumes ture by the heating elements 0 y hot Water diminished. circulation or other convenient heating method. To free the prints from clinging vapours, I A suppl nta y plate D1 and heaters ay provideapur'ifying chamber into which the prints be introduced above the band A if desired. pass between a heated surface and an absorbent The p t enters the apparatus at and 1S 1 surface. These surfaces. may be in direct contact discharged at b 35 or separated slightly one from the other-they In the pp u Shown diagrammatically a .may be stationary or one or both may have mo- Fig. 3 I employ a non-absorbent band A 111 tion imparted tothem. tact with a curved or flat perforated plate or In cases where it is not convenient to use a ven- S D forming One Side Of a chamber H in 40 fllating l xh t fan or any like m of which the volatile liquid enters and is vaporized discharging fume from t gppamtus, I provide by heater h The underside surface of the plate a water tank, tanks, spray or sprays or other D is heat d by the heating elements E, suitably means of condensation within th 011 positioned to obtain the requisite degree of 8 casing temperature. Or the perforated surface or grid which encloses the apparatus; 45 The invention is illustrated on the accompany- 3 3 2:3 f i g z gg g fiz g gi mg drawing in which enters thei aratus at b and discharged Fig. 1 is a sectional diagrammatic view of one at pp form or my invention; At Fig. 5 I have shown a form of apparatus in 2 15 a sectional diagrammatic View of an which I employ a fabric covered drum J revolv- 50 alternative m t e inventim discmsed by ing in contact with a solid or pzrforated curved 8. metal plate D, the surface of which plate is kept is 8 Sectional diag ammatic view of a at the desired temperature by heaters E, by hot a modification of my invention; water circulation or other convenient means. Fig. 4 is a sectional diagrammatic view of an The liquid to be volatilized is conveyed to the fabric in any convenient way, by preference through the hollow spindle J of the drum J.

The mouth of the casing B in which the drum revolves is closed at K with the exception of two full width slots k k for feeding and discharge, arranged at any desired distance from each other. The upper horizontal wall of the slot k is perfora-ted at k to allow the escape of vapours to the outer casing B, and both walls of the slots is, k are heated by the heating elements e to prevent condensation.

To free the prints issuing from the developing apparatus from clinging vapours I may provide a purifying chamber, such purifying chamber, which is intended for use in connection with any of the foregoing developing apparatus, being placed at the slot through which the print issues from the developing apparatus.

The purifying chamber, illustrated diagrammatically at Fig. 6 comprises a casing B in whichan absorbent endless band A, moving round rollers a is arranged, a water tank L or air cooled chamber being provided in the base of the cas ing B. The upper wall of the slot through which the print'travels on issuing from the developing apparatus is formed by the plate N, such plate N being warmed by the heaters E, or by hot water circulation or by any other suitable method. Or instead of employing the plate N in conjunction with the moving band A, I may employ two travelling bands, the upper one of which is heated and the lower cooled, or vice versa.

At Fig. 7 I have shown a further modification of the purifying chamber. In this case instead of a moving absorbent band I may provide a fixed absorbent surface P, between which surface and the warmed plate N the print is caused to travel.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. An apparatus for the development of light sensitive sheet material comprising a casing having end, side, bottom and top walls, an entrance slot for sensitized sheet material in one side wall, an exit slot in the opposite wall and aligned with said first slot, spaced and parallel plates within said casing and defining a narrow passage therein between said slots, separate heating means for each plate and adjacent thereto, an endless and absorbent conveyor in the upper portion of said casing and extending around the upper plate, a second endless absorbent conveyor in the lower portion of said casing and extending around the lower plate and so arranged as to contact with said first conveyor between said plates, separate means for introducing a volatile developing liquid to each of said conveyors, and said heating means being adapted to heat said plates and also to accelerate the volatilization of said liquid.

2. An apparatus for the development of light sensitive sheet material. comprising a casing having end, side, bottom. and top walls, an entrance slot for said sheet material in one side wall, an exit slot in the opposite side wall and aligned with said first slot, spaced and parallel plates within said casing and defining a narrow passage therein between said slots, endless and absorbent conveying means within said casing for conveying said maerial through said casing between said plates, means for introducing a volatile developing liquid to said conveying means, separate means for heating each of said plates and adjacent thereto, said last named means also serving to aid in the volatilization of said liquid.

3. An apparatus for the development of light sensitive sheet material, comprising a casing, entrance and exit slots in said casing, a narrow passage having top and bottom walls connecting said slots, endless and absorbent conveying means within said casing for conveying said sheet material through said passage, separate means for heating both the top and the bottom walls of said passage throughout their length, means for introducing a volatile developing liquid to said conveying means, and said heating means also serving to accelerate the volatilization of said liquid. l

4. An apparatus for the development of light sensitive sheet material, comprising a casing having side, end, bottom, and top walls, an entrance slot for sensitized sheet material in one side wall, an exit slot in the opposite side wall and aligned with said first slot, spaced and parallel plates within said casing and defining a narrow passage therein between said slots, separate means for heating each plate throughout its length, an endless and absorbent conveyor in the upper portion of said casing and extending around the upper plate, means for introducing a volatile developing liquid to said conveyor, and said heating means also serving to accelerate the volatilization of said liquid.

5. An apparatus for the development of light sensitive sheet material, comprising a casing having side, end, bottom, and top walls, spaced entrance and exit slots in one of said side walls, narrow passages extending inwardly of said casing from said slots and terminating on opposite sides of a cylindrical chamber, an absorbent conveying cylinder rotatably mounted in said chamber,

means for introducing a volatile developing liquid to said cylinder, and separate means for heating the top, and bottom walls of said passages throughout their length and means for heating the defining wall of said chamber.

BENJAMIN JAMES HALL.

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