Abstract: A film splicing device which makes it possible to easily connect a film to a leader. It has a housing having a top plate on which is provided a leader presser which is pivotable toward and away from the top surface of the top plate. The top plate has a window. A film guide is mounted in the housing under the window and has a recess that faces the window. A slide guide is coupled to the leader presser so as to be slidable into and out of the recess. With a leader placed on the top plate and pressed by the leader presser, a film end is inserted into a second hole formed in the leader, then into a film turning path defined between a curved inner surface of the recess and the slide guide, and then into a first hole formed in the leader to deform protrusions of the leader upward. When the film end is inserted until holes formed in the leading end of the film register with the tips of the protrusions, the protrusions engage in the holes.

Abstract: Photographic processing apparatus in which both exposing and processing stages of a photographic process are combined to form a single unit or linked so that a continuous web of photographic film or paper is used in both units at the same time is known. However, due to differences in speed of the exposing and processing stages, there is a need to store a "buffer" length of the material being processed between the two stages. Described herein is a method of varying the speed of the processing stage of photographic processing apparatus to compensate for changes in the capacity of a processor while maintaining a constant path length. This achieved by changing its activity of one of the steps in the processing stage, for instance, by changing the temperature of the development step. This is feasible without unacceptable time delays or energy or chemical consumption associated with changing the solution activity by the use of low volume tanks with low capacity.

Abstract: A photosensitive material processing apparatus is provided with a loading section for loading therein a film container accommodating a film which is wound from one edge section in the longitudinal section thereof around a spool shaft with the edge section thereof in the longitudinal section separated from the spool shaft for development and also which is returned in the separated state to a customer, said film accommodated therein in the state of being wound around the spool shaft; a feeding device means for feeding the film into the loading section from another edge section of the film wound around the spool shaft and also retaining the film in the state where the former edge section of the film in the longitudinal direction is kept locked in the loading section; and a single processing tank for receiving a portion of the film fed out by the feeding means from the loading section and developing the film with a processing liquid.

Abstract: A photosensitive material processing device having a processing tank in which is stored a processing solution for processing photosensitive materials. The processing tank is formed such that, given that a tank volume is V milliliters and a path length is L centimeters, a value V/L is less than or equal to 25. A circulating path which circulates the processing solution within the processing tank is provided. A cast heater which heats the processing solution in the circulating path to a predetermined temperature is provided on the circulating path. Accordingly, because the processing tank is long and thin, stores a small amount of processing solution, and has a value V/L of less than or equal to 25, the cast heater heats the processing solution to the predetermined temperature in a short time and stably maintains the predetermined temperature. The photosensitive material processing device is advantageous in terms of cost and environmental preservation.

Abstract: A high capacity, low volume processor is described in which the benefits associated with low volumes are obtained. The processor comprises an inner tank (50) which holds a volume of processing solution which is substantially less than that of an outer tank (40) in which it is placed. A rack insert (60) is provided inside the inner tank (50) to define a processing channel (62) therebetween. The inner tank (50) and rack insert (60) can be retro-fitted to existing processing tanks.

Abstract: A plurality of films contained within a respective plurality of cartridges are successively spliced together and transferred to a development processing station. The leading end of a first film is drawn out from its respective cartridge and transferred to a splicer. At the splicer, a film leader is spliced to the leading end of the first film. The film leader having the leading end of the first film spliced thereto is transferred to the development processing station to cause the trailing end of the first film to arrive at the splicer. Then, at the splicer, the leading end of a second film is spliced to the trailing end of the first film. In this manner, a string of films is spliced together and transferred to the film development station, with the leading end of the first film having the film leader spliced thereto.

Abstract: A cartridge case stocker apparatus for use in an automatic film development processor machine comprises a pair of lifting devices movably arranged opposite to each other to have a space therebetween for detachably storing a number of cartridge cases and driven by a drive device; and rows of support plates mounted at substantially equal intervals to the lifting devices for engaging with and holding the two edges of each cartridge case with a corresponding pair thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting a photographic photosensitive material in an automatic developing apparatus has a direction-changing transporting section. The direction-changing transporting section includes a rotating center roller, at least three auxiliary rollers disposed around the center roller, and a transporting belt which is looped around the at least three rollers to travel while contacting a substantially lower half of the center roller. The direction-changing transporting section is used, for example, in a section for processing a photographic photosensitive material in solutions. The transporting belt has a guide protrusion along each side edge thereof, and the auxiliary rollers have a smaller-diameter portion at each end portion thereof for engaging with each of the guide protrusions. Thus, a stable force is obtained for transporting the photographic photosensitive material. By employing the structure described above, high-quality photographs are provided.

Abstract: An automatic film processing apparatus includes a detector plate which is projected upward when cartridges are placed in cartridge case in an adverse manner. Limit switches detect the upward displacement of the detector plate and present a warning signal to an operator.

Abstract: An apparatus for the wet processing of photographic sheet material comprises at least one treatment vessel (12, 12', 12") having upper and lower openings (17, 18), one of the openings constituting a sheet material inlet and the other of the openings constituting a sheet material outlet, the inlet and outlet defining there-between a substantially vertical sheet material path (20) through the vessel. The vessel comprises a pair of rotatable rollers (28, 30) biased towards each other to define a nip (36) there-between through which the sheet material path extends. The apparatus is characterised in that the end faces of one roller lie in substantially the same plane as the end faces of the other roller and each roller is in sealing contact with a stationary sealing means (38) having a continuous contact line (52) which extends along the length of each roller (28, 30) and over the end faces of each roller, at least on the fluid side of said nip (36).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing an undeveloped filmstrip contained in a reel. The apparatus comprises at least one processing tank containing a processing solution therein. A holding mechanism is provided for holding and retaining the processing reel and for positioning the processing reel within the at least one processing tank so that the filmstrip can be submerged within the processing solution contained in the at least one processing tank. An agitation mechanism is provided and comprises a motor and a propeller connected to the motor. The propeller is disposed within the tank for agitating the processed solution contained in the tank. The motor is activated as the reel is being lowered into the processing solution causes the processing solution to be moved past the filmstrip as it is being placed within the processing solution.

Abstract: A photosensitive material processing apparatus comprises a first processor having a first retaining member in which a solution is stored, a second processor positioned beneath the first processor and having a second retaining member into which the solution is shifted from the first processor, and a conveyor for conveying a photosensitive material upward from the second processor to the first processor so that the photosensitive material is firstly processed by the second processor and thereafter processed by the first processor.

Abstract: In a film feeder for use in an automatic developing machine, a cutter control circuit actuates a cutter using electrical energy from a utility power source and electrical energy stored in a capacitor if a film end sensor detects the tail end of a film during normal feeding conditions. In the event that the film end sensor detects the tail end of the film in the event of a power failure, the cutter control circuit actuates the cutter using the electrical energy stored in the capacitor. This makes it possible to actuate the cutter even in the event of a power failure as well as to reduce the capacitance of the utility power source to a small level.

Abstract: A silver halide photographic material processing apparatus is provided with a solid processing agent replenishing unit which includes a supplying device for supplying a solid processing agent to the tank; and a constructing member for forming a guide passage in the tank in such an arrangement that the guide passage receives the solid processing agent from the supplying device, guides the solid processing agent to an upper portion above a filter, and feed the solid processing agent from the upper portion into the processing solution.

Abstract: An automatic photographic developing machine allows a rack to be pushed up only if a feed mechanism of such rack is put under excessive load, and is made of fewer parts and is simple in structure. The rack has a feed mechanism for feeding photosensitive material and is inserted in a treating tank. The rack has an input shaft at its upper portion. The input shaft carries a helical gear in mesh with a worm of a drive shaft. A resilient piece made of synthetic resin is supported on a presser holder slidable in the axial direction of the drive shaft. An end of the resilient member is located opposite the end of the input shaft to prevent the rack from being pushed up. If the force urging the rack upward exceeds the resilience of the resilient piece due to an excessive load applied to the feed mechanism, the resilient piece is resiliently deformed by the input shaft. The rack is thus pushed up, and the helical gear is disengaged from the worm.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing a photographic sheet material in at least one processing stage which includes a feed roller array for transporting the material to or from the stage. The feed roller array has a pair of rollers supported on shafts for rotation and mounted with one superposed generally above the other. The upper roller is driven in a transport direction by a drive mechanism acting on an end of its shaft. The opposite ends of the shafts of the two rollers are journaled in frame members with the lower roller being supported for limited independent movement toward and away from the upper roller. The lower roller is normally biased into contact with the upper roller and is adapted to be displaced vertically away from the upper roller by a cam arrangement acting on the ends of its shaft. The upper roller is adapted to be shifted axially to disengage an end of its shaft from its journal to permit the upper roller to be removed manually from the apparatus.

Abstract: A condensation preventing structure for a crossover rack provided in a printer processor. The structure has a plurality of conveying rollers provided at a crossover rack provided within a printer processor, and a moisture adhesion prevention/moisture removing device which effects one of prevention of adhesion of moisture to the plurality of conveying rollers due to condensation and removal of moisture on the plurality of conveying rollers due to condensation. Due to the moisture adhesion prevention/moisture removing device, uneven development of a photographic printing paper caused by moisture adhering to the plurality of conveying rollers due to condensation does not occur.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for printing individual customer rolls of photographic film in a batch that differs from the film batch during development. Individual film rolls are collected during printing in batches that are based in major part on optimizing the use of photographic paper. The film is scanned after development to determine information available only then, such as the image format, and the film is batched during printing based on efficient paper use. Each film roll is provided with a unique identification number that is used for tracking the film rolls throughout processing and printing. Information required for printing is entered into the system in association with the unique number and is used in combination with information determined after film development for optimizing the printing operation based on the paper required.

Abstract: A method of inspecting a negative film in a photographic processing apparatus includes the steps of using a detector to detect location data (i.e., preforations) arranged at equal intervals on the negative film, electrically comparing the detected location data with equally distanced reference location data having a regularity and assigned to a standard negative film, and automatically stopping the advancing movement of the negative film upon finding a fault in the regularity of the detected location data.

Abstract: Extra printing is made possible during a set of ordinary processing operations such as film development and printing. A film is developed and dried while being fed by a leader attached thereto. After cutting the leader from the film, it is fed to the printing unit to print the images on the film onto photographic paper. A plurality of film stocking units are provided in a path from the film drying unit to the printing unit. Each stocking unit can selectively stock a single film or allow it to pass without stocking. A second film stocking unit can move laterally to change the film track. If a film requiring a long exposure time is present in the printing unit, the subsequent films that have been developed and dried can be stocked in the other film stocking units. Thus, continuous film developing operations are not interrupted.