Abstract: A device for tempering a receptacle in a chamber, including a cylindrical casing surrounding the chamber, a bottom, which is arranged on an end of the casing and is connected with it, an opening on an end of the casing opposite to the bottom, which is limited by a contact surface running parallel to the bottom, an annular sealing element, which has a sealing leg and a contact leg, which rests on the contact surface and an annular tensioning element, which, placed on the sealing element, lies on the sealing leg on its outside.

Abstract: In a developing method for performing developing treatment of a substrate by supplying a developing solution onto a resist film formed on a surface of the substrate, the present invention controls a zeta potential of the surface of the substrate at a predetermined potential in the same polarity as that of a zeta potential of insoluble substances floating in the developing solution, thereby preventing or reducing the adhesion of the insoluble substances to the resist film and the substrate. This remedies the occurrence of development defects. The adhesion of the insoluble substances to the resist film and the substrate can also be prevented or inhibited by supplying an acid liquid to a liquid on the substrate, or controlling a pH value of the liquid on the substrate to control an absolute value of the zeta potential of the insoluble substances.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for processing an imaged element comprising a support, an image-receiving layer and a silver halide emulsion layer. The apparatus comprises a tank for holding a processing liquid, driving means for propelling the imaged element through the tank, guide means for directing the path of the imaged element through the tank and developer circulation means for promoting circulation of the processing liquid in the tank. The circulation means includes flow control means to provide substantially fresh processing liquid to the surface of the imaged element and to disperse exhausted processing liquid present at the surface of the element, thereby eliminating the difficulties associated with local developer exhaustion and ensuring that consistently high image quality is maintained across the whole area of the imaged element.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for preventing fire in a liquid heating tank that utilizes resistive heating elements for raising the temperature of a flammable liquid are described. In the apparatus, a buffer tank is provided which is positioned under a process tank that heats the flammable liquid. The buffer tank is equipped with a thermocouple for detecting the temperature of fluid flown therein and an air actuated solenoid valve for shutting off a drain pipe from the buffer tank. When a higher temperature is sensed by the thermocouple, i.e. caused by the mixing of the higher temperature process liquid and the lower temperature water, the air solenoid valve is shut off to cause a back flow of the processed liquid/water mixture into the process tank and thus keeping the heating elements submerged in the processed liquid/water mixture. Any possible exposure of a hot surface of the resistive heating elements to ignite flammable vapor or liquid is thus prevented and a potential fire is avoided.

Abstract: A processing apparatus for processing of a photographic material, the apparatus comprises a first processing tank containing a first processing solution; a second processing tank containing a second processing solution; and a heat exchange system having a heat exchange fluid, which is independent of the first and second solutions and a temperature of which is controlled independent of the first and second solutions, for cooling of the first processing solution contained in the first processing tank and heating of the processing solution contained in the second processing tank.