Abstract: A processor for photosensitive sheet material which allows uniform initial exposure of the sheet material to developer solution. The processor includes a channel defined by an initial roller pair submerged in developer tank, third and fourth rollers above the rollers of the pair. The channel runs horizontally in the processor and has a stream of developer. The sheet to be developed travels downward through the stream and through the nip of the initial roller pair.

Abstract: A dryer apparatus for drying sheets of photosensitive material which eliminates reflective artifacts. The dryer apparatus includes a plurality of pairs of opposed drive rollers which support a sheet of photosensitive material in a generally planar sheet drying path. The pairs of opposed drive rollers are spaced longitudinally along the sheet drying path. The drive rollers are rotated to move the sheet in a first longitudinal direction along a path. A plurality of pairs of opposed dryer nozzles face the sheet drying path from each planar side thereof, with each pair of opposed dryer nozzles being between adjacent longitudinally spaced pairs of drive rollers. Each dryer nozzle includes a laterally disposed air inlet through which air is forced by a blower toward the sheet. A laterally extending guide is provided adjacent each roller for guiding the sheet along the sheet drying path.

Abstract: A processor for use in processing sheets of photosensitive material has a plurality of processing stations. A plurality of drive rollers define a sheet processing path through the processing stations and are driven to transport a sheet of photosensitive material along that path. The drive rollers at the processing station at the end of the path are driven at a faster rate of rotation than the drive rollers at previous processing stations along the path. The drive rollers of those previous processing stations, however, are mounted to permit said rollers to overrun their driven slower rate of rotation and permit those rollers to rotate at the faster rate of rotation.

Abstract: A photographic print sorter has a series of print slides along which the photographic prints are driven by drive rollers. Deflectors which are movable into the flow path are positioned between the print slides selectively deflect the prints into good, reject and remake print trays. Each print slide has a recess below each drive roller. The radius of each drive roller is betwen about 0.005 inches and about 0.045 inches greater than the distance from the axis of the drive shaft to the transport plane defined by the top surface of the print slide. This creates an interference fit between the drive rollers and the photographic print as the print is driven over the print slide.

Abstract: A replenishment control system for a graphic arts continuous-tone film processor includes a scanner which scans a light spot across the film transport path and a sensor bar for receiving the light spot. The output of the sensor bar is periodically sampled during each scan of the light spot to produce a plurality of sample values for scan. Each sample value is then converted to a density value, and the density values are summed to produce an integrated density. Replenishment control signals for developer and fix replenishment are produced as a function of the integrated density.

Abstract: A photographic slide mounter cuts photographic film transparencies from a photographic film web and inserts the transparencies into slide mounts. A slide mount is advanced along a slide track to a position adjacent a knife where the slide mount is flexed to provide an insertion opening. The film web is advanced along a film track until a leading end of the web is partially inserted into the insertion opening. A first plurality of rollers are positioned over the film track and a second plurality of rollers are positioned under the film track to prevent transverse curl of the film web as it is advanced toward the insertion opening. A pair of curved shoes is mounted over the film track proximate the knife to prevent longitudinal curl of the film web as it is advanced through the knife and into the insertion opening. The knife is provided with tapered portions to align the web as it passes the knife.

Abstract: A holding device for securing a photographic paper roll core concentrically about a rotatable shaft has a resilient clamping ring positioned concentrically about the shaft. An annular shoulder is fixed on the shaft on one side of the resilient clamping ring and a cylindrical compression sleeve is positioned concentrically about the shaft on the other side of the resilient clamping ring with the cylindrical compression sleeve being movable in axial direction along the shaft. A spring bias apparatus normally urges the cylindrical compression sleeve away from the shoulder so that the resilient clamping ring is in a first radially retracted position. The holding device has a lever-actuated cam assembly for urging the cylindrical compression sleeve toward the shoulder upon actuation of the cam assembly.

Abstract: A sensing system senses web movement and web tension of a photosensitive web moving through a processor. The system includes a sensing arm pivotally attached about a pivot to the processor and a transport roller rotatably attached to one end of the sensing arm. The photosensitive web engages the transport roller such that the roller rotates. The other end of the sensing arm, on an opposite side of the pivot point, is biased in a direction opposing the web tension of the photosensitive web. A tension detecting mechanism detects the movement of the sensing arm when the web tension overcomes the biasing force and transmits an alarm signal indicating that the web tension has increased beyond a predetermined value. A web break detecting mechanism is preferably included and detects the rotation of the transport roller and transmits a signal when the transport roller stops rotating indicating that a web break has occurred.

Abstract: A photographic slide mounter cuts photographic film transparencies from a photographic film strip and inserts the transparencies into slide frames. The slide mounter includes a slide advance device which advances a slide frame from a slide holder along a slide track to a position where an insertion opening in the slide frame is widened. The film strip is advanced by a film advance device, which inserts the transparency into the insertion opening in the slide frame. The transparency is then severed from the strip by a knife. As the next slide is advanced from the slide holder along the slide track, it ejects the previous slide. During ejection of the previous slide, the severed transparency is inserted the final distance into the slide frame to align the photographic image on the transparency with the aperture in the slide frame.

Abstract: A graphic arts film processor includes a scanner which measures the transmittance of light through the film along a line or a set of parallel lines positioned at a skew angle A with respect to the direction of film travel. A film switch is located at the upstream end of the scanner. The film width is determined based upon the skew angle A, the film transport speed and time intervals between changes in the signals from the scanner and the film switch which correspond to the leading and trailing ends of the film. The film length is determined based upon the transport speed and a time interval between changes in the signal from the film switch corresponding to the leading and trailing ends. Developer replenishment is controlled based upon an integrated transmittance complement measured by the scanner, and fix replenishment is controlled as a function of the film length, the film width, and the integrated transmittance complement.

Abstract: A processor of photosensitive material includes an automatic control system for providing anti-oxidation replenishment, as a function of a stored anti-oxidation replenishment rate and anti-oxidation replenishment provided by exhaustion replenishment. A time interval of fixed duration is initiated, at the end of which the anti-oxidation replenishment required due to expired time is compared to the amount of anti-oxidation replenishment provided by the exhaustion replenishment in that time interval. If the amount of needed anti-oxidation replenishment reaches a preset value, a fixed amount of replenisher is added to the developer tank. If the amount of needed anti-oxidation replenishment is less than the preset value, no replenisher is added and all amounts continue to accumulate. The comparison is repeated at the end of successive time intervals.

Abstract: A processor for processing undeveloped photographic film discs mounted on a spindle assembly has a conveyor to intermittently convey the spindle assembly from a first end to a second end of the processor along a generally horizontal conveyor path. The spindle assembly is conveyed to a plurality of processing stations along the conveyor path, with each processing station having a processing tank. During processing, the processing tanks move between an upward process position and a downward dump and transport position. A fluid dispenser at each processing station dispenses processing fluid to the processing tank at that processing station when a spindle assembly is positioned at that processing station. A spindle sensor at the first end of the processor provides a signal indicative of the presence of the spindle assembly in the processor. The operations of the conveyor, processing tank movement and fluid dispensers are controlled by a control apparatus as a function of the spindle sensor signal.

Abstract: A processor for processing undeveloped photographic film discs mounted on a spindle assembly has a conveyor to intermittently convey the spindle assembly along a generally horizontal conveyor path. The spindle assembly is conveyed to a plurality of processing stations on the conveyor path, with each processing station having a processing tank. During processing, the processing tanks pivot between an upward process position and a downward dump/transport position. In their upward process position, selected processing tanks are filled with processing fluids. When the spindle assembly is positioned at one of the selected processing tanks and that tank is in its upward process position and filled with processing fluid, portions of the film discs on the spindle assembly are contacted by the procesing fluid. The spindle and discs are then rotated to uniformly contact the photographic images on the film discs with the processing solution.

Abstract: A photographic film cutter for cutting film segments from a web of photographic film includes a knife located along a web advancement path, a splice sensor located upstream from the knife, and a notch sensor located between the knife and the splice sensor. A stepper motor moves the web along the path in fixed length steps. A step counter counts the steps to determine the length that the web has advanced since the web was cut by the knife. When a splice is detected by the splice sensor, a maximum feed switch determines, based upon the count of the step counter, whether the distance from a leading cut edge to the splice sensor is greater than or equal to a predetermined maximum distance. If the length is less than the maximum, the web is advanced until a portion of the web adjacent the splice is positioned at the knife, and the web is cut. If the length from the cut edge to the splice is greater than the predetermined maximum length, an additional cut is made.

Abstract: A processor of photosensitive material having a plurality of tanks for containing fluids, one of which is a wash tank for containing wash water, and a top cover, including a movable front portion for covering the tanks when the processor is in operation is provided with a spring-loaded valve for controlling draining of wash water from the wash tank. The spring-loaded valve includes a U-shaped spring attached to the top of the wash tank. Connected to the spring is a plunger which extends vertically down into the drain hole. The plunger is equipped with a gasket for sealing the drain hole when the cover is in its lowered closed position. The spring has an adjustable striker extending upward to contact the bottom of the processor cover. When the processor cover is in its normal operating position, the striker is depressed and the spring is compressed. This seals the gasket against the bottom of the tank and prevents draining.

Abstract: A processor for processing undeveloped photographic film discs mounted on a spindle assembly has a conveyor to intermittently convey the spindle assembly along a generally horizontal conveyor path. The spindle assembly is conveyed to a plurality of processing and drying stations on the conveyor path. At each processing station, the spindle assembly and film discs mounted thereon are rotated at a first rate of rotation and the film discs are contacted with processing fluids. At a first drying station, the spindle assembly and film discs are rotated at a second higher rate of rotation. At the second drying station, the spindle assembly and film discs are again rotated at the first rate of rotation. Tempered air is blown through the drying stations and a movable dryer hood encloses the drying stations to prevent fluid from being cast from the spinning film discs into the rest of the processor and to direct the tempered air through the drying stations.

Abstract: A processor for processing undeveloped photographic film discs carried on a rotatable spindle includes a conveyor for conveying the spindle intermittently from a first end of the processor along a generally horizontal conveyor path to each of a plurality of stations along the conveyor path. The intermittent conveying of the spindle by the conveyor is cyclical, with each cycle of the conveyor having a transport portion during which the spindle is conveyed from one station to another and a processing portion during which the spindle is positioned at one of the stations for processing. The spindle and film discs mounted thereon are rotated when positioned for processing at each station, and a rotation sensor at each station senses a failure of the spindle to be rotated. The processor also has a spindle sensor which senses the presence of the spindle adjacent the first end of the processor.

Abstract: A processor for processing undeveloped photographic film discs carried on a rotatable spindle includes a conveyor for conveying the spindle intermittently along a generally horizontal conveyor path. The spindle has a follower magnet attached adjacent one end thereof and has an axial direction which is generally horizontal and perpendicular to the conveyor path. A plurality of stations for processing the film discs are spaced along the conveyor path, with a drive magnet rotatably mounted adjacent each station in spaced axial alignment with the follower magnet of the spindle when the spindle is positioned at that station. Operably connected to the drive magnet is a drive motor for rotating the drive magnet to cause the follower magnet, spindle and film discs mounted thereon to be rotated due to magnetic coupling of the drive magnet and the follower magnet.