Abstract: A portable unit for recovering metallic silver from photographic processing solutions includes a lightweight, molded tank structure. Spaced, elongate, stationary anodes are disposed within the tank and are positioned parallel to each other. An elongate cathode assembly is supported for rotation in the tank about an axis parallel to the anodes. The cathode assembly includes a specially configured apertured barrel designed to promote efficient contact between photographic solution and the remainder of the cathode components. The barrel is readily removed from the unit and disassembled to permit cathode components to be stripped of plated silver. Alternate cathode constructions are disclosed by which extremely efficient plating and silver recovery may be accomplished. The unit also includes a drive shaft seal assembly for supporting the cathode assembly for rotation. The seal assembly is flexible to permit operation of the device even when misaligned bearing support structures are provided.

Abstract: A warning system for a fluid mixing system provides for automatically mixing precise concentrations of photographic processing chemistry to be used in an X-ray film processor. The system produces a fresh batch of mixed solution whenever a previous batch has been reduced to a predetermined minimum volume. The warning system includes a first sensing means responsive to the presence or absence of a predetermined quantity of a first fluid contained within a fluid supply as well as a second sensing means responsive to the level of fluid in a reservoir. The warning system also includes first and second indicators to indicate an absence of fluid in the fluid supply and a predetermined low level of mixed fluid in the reservoir.

Abstract: A fluid mixing system and method is disclosed for automatically mixing precise concentrations of photographic processing chemistry to be used in an X-ray film processor. The system produces a fresh batch of mixed solution whenever a previous batch has been reduced to a predetermined minimum volume. A pair of substantially identically constructed mixing units are provided to produce both developer and fixer solutions for film processing. Each unit has: a chemical supply structure for supplying chemicals from containerized supplied; a storage and mixing tank structure which underlies the chemical supply structure and defines a reservoir for mixing the chemistry with water; a water input valve for selectively introducing water under pressure into the tank structure; control apparatus for conditionally controlling operation of the water valve; and a chemical release assembly which is coupled to and actuated by the water valve.

Abstract: The containerized fluid supply includes one or more bottles housed in a container for supplying prepackaged quantities of constituent chemicals of fixer and developer solutions. Each bottle includes a septum sealed over its mouth, which septum is pierceable to release the bottle contents. In order to prevent improper mixing of chemicals, the various bottles can be fitted within a given container only in one way and a particular container can be used with only a particular mixer.

Abstract: A fluid mixing system and method is disclosed for automatically mixing precise concentrations of photographic processing chemistry to be used in an X-ray film processor. The system produces a fresh batch of mixed solution whenever a previous batch has been reduced to a predetermined minimum volume. A pair of substantially identically constructed mixing units are provided to produce both developer and fixer solutions for film processing. Each unit has: a chemical supply structure for supplying chemicals from containerized supplied; a storage and mixing tank structure which underlies the chemical supply structure and defines a reservoir for mixing the chemistry with water; a water input valve for selectively introducing water under pressure into the tank structure; control apparatus for conditionally controlling operation of the water valve; and a chemical release assembly which is coupled to and actuated by the water valve.