Abstract: Apparatus for removing strips of X-ray film from elongated flat envelopes, wherein the film is flanked by two foils of lead, has a table supporting two blade-like tools whose tips can be introduced into the open front end of an envelope so that each tool enters between a panel of the envelope and the outer side of the respective foil. The envelope is then advanced lengthwise so that the tools penetrate deeper into its interior whereby the envelope is severed along opposite marginal portions of the film by knives which are mounted on one of the tools. One of the panels is introduced into the nip of two advancing rolls downstream of the knives so that the one panel then pulls the envelope forwardly and the envelope is automatically opened by the knives. The leader of the exposed film is connected to the core of a reel which is driven in synchronism with the advancing rolls so that the film is convoluted onto the core of the reel.

Abstract: A developing device for a photographic layer carrier, particularly a film, includes two rotary transport roller pairs transporting a film in a horizontal direction over a bath containing a processing liquid. Two liquid-admitting chambers are positioned opposite to each other in spaced relationship to form a processing space through which the film is transported. Each chamber is subdivided into two portions by a comb-like partition which loosens vortexes generated in one chamber portion upon pumping the liquid thereinto and ensures a uniform distribution of the liquid discharged into the processing space through a slot provided in the second chamber portion.

Abstract: A strip of exposed film which issues from a developing machine is convoluted onto the core of a horizontal takeup reel whose flange or flanges rest on the peripheral surface of a horizontal roller which is driven to rotate the reel in a direction to convolute the strip. The strip is braked by a tensioning device between the developing machine and the reel, and the latter is thereby maintained in a first position of abutment with the concave internal surface of a first locating device and in contact with the driven roller. A spring-biased lever urges the reel to a second position in which the reel is out of contact with the roller and abuts against the concave inner side of a second locating device. The lever is free to move the reel sideways and to the second position as soon as the action of the tensioning device upon the strip is terminated, namely, as soon as the trailing end of the strip advances beyond the tensioning device.

Abstract: A roller for transporting and/or squeezing sheet-like photographic material has a metallic tubular core. The core has a cylindrical central portion of relatively large diameter and a pair of cylindrical ends of smaller diameter which constitute journals for the roller. The journals merge into the central portion via respective conical transition portions which widen in the direction from the corresponding journal to the central portion. The central portion and transition portions are surrounded by an annular coating of rubber or a synthetic resin. The core is produced by swaging the ends of a tube having the same diameter as the central portion of the core so as to form the journals and the transitions portions. The core obtained in this manner is coated by extruding or injection molding a synthetic resin, or by vulcanizing rubber, on to the same. The roller is lightweight, stable and inexpensive to manufacture.

Abstract: A roller for transport and/or guidance of flexible webs or sheets of radiation-sensitive material has a grounded shaft and an antistatic cylindrical member which is coaxial with and surrounds the shaft and has a web- or sheet-contacting cylindrical peripheral surface. The cylindrical member consists of hard polyvinyl chloride, fine crystalline polyamide, polypropylene, polyethylene or a mixture of two or more such plastic materials. Pulverized silver or another pulverulent metal is embedded in the material of the cylindrical member. If the roller is rather long, the cylindrical member surrounds a hollow cylindrical metallic core whose end portions confine inserts which surround the respective end portions of the shaft.

Abstract: A processing bath is accommodated in a container having a pipe which communicates with the interior of the container at two different locations of the latter. The bath is circulated through this pipe and a pump for circulation of the bath is provided in the pipe. Several tubes extend into the bath and each tube has an outlet opening in the region of the inlet end of the circulation pipe. The outlet openings of the tubes are all located at different levels below the surface of the bath. The tubes are respectively connected with supply pumps which, in turn, are connected with respective sources of concentrates and a diluent required to maintain the strength of the bath within predetermined limits. A sensor senses the amount of material processed in the bath and causes the supply pumps to pump the concentrates and diluent into the bath in dependence upon the amount of material processed.

Abstract: An apparatus for wet treatment of sheets or strips of photographic material has a small-volume treating chamber bounded by pairs of advancing rollers at its inlet and outlet ends. A lower wall of the chamber extends between the lower rollers of the pairs of advancing rollers and sealing lips bridge the gaps between such lower wall and the respective lower rollers. Treating liquid is admitted laterally into the chamber, transversely of the path of advancement of photographic material and at about the level of such path.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a washing unit at which film is washed with wash water, including a wash-water tank containing a body of wash water, and also a drier unit from which drying air is continually exhausted. Exhausted drying air from the drier unit is transmitted into the body of wash water in the wash-water tank. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, exhausted drying air is transmitted into the outflow conduit system for spent wash water. The wash water becomes oxygen-enriched and when sewered the oxygen demand of any processing fluids in the wash water poses a reduced threat to lifeforms in rivers and streams. Disposal of exhausted drying air in this way eliminates the need for chimney discharge, and the like.

Abstract: An arrangement for developing latent images includes a mechanism for conveying an article which carries a latent image over a succession of containers which accommodate a developer, a washing fluid, a fixer and a washing fluid respectively. A pressure chamber is arranged above each container and the article passes through the pressure chambers. A pump is associated with each pressure chamber and pumps the respective fluid therein for contact with the article. A sensing device located at an upstream end of the arrangement senses the length of the article and causes a quantity of fresh developer, which is related to the size of the article, to be admitted into the container with the developer. Concomitantly, a corresponding amount of contaminated developer flows out of the container and into a collecting vessel.

Abstract: In a method for separately treating the used developing fluid from the remaining used photographic processing fluids prior to feeding the used fluids to a sewer system. The used developing fluid is continually withdrawn from the developing tank and chemically neutralized in a collecting vessel by a chemical oxidizing agent such as acetic acid or hydrogen peroxide prior to feeding the fluid to a sewer system. The method includes the continued withdrawal of spent fixer fluid to a silver recovery device and recirculation of the regenerated fixer fluid to the fixer tank.

Abstract: An arrangement for developing latent images includes a mechanism for conveying an article which carries a latent image over a succession of containers which accommodate a developer, a washing fluid, a fixer and a washing fluid, respectively. A pressure chamber is arranged above each container and the article passes through the pressure chambers. A pump is associated with each pressure chamber and pumps the respective fluid therein for contact with the article. A sensing device located at an upstream end of the arrangement senses the length of the article and causes a quantity of fresh developer to be admitted into the container with the developer. Concomitantly, a corresponding amount of contaminated developer flows out of the container and into a collecting vessel. The sensing device activates a source of chemical neutralizing fluid and causes a quantity of the latter to be admitted into the collecting vessel for neutralizing the contaminated developer.

Abstract: A roller to be used in apparatus for wet treatment of photographic material comprises a hollow metallic core and two inserts with coupling shafts provided therein. A coat of chemically resistant thermoplastic material is applied around and sealingly surrounds the core to protect it from the corrosive action of media used in the wet treatment process. The outer surface of the thus coated roller is thereupon machined to a high-quality finish.

Abstract: A method of mixing at least one chemical concentrate with a thinning fluid to form a predetermined amount of a mixture or solution having a predetermined composition, particularly for use in photographic processing operations. Predetermined amounts of the concentrates are placed into respective holding units. The contents of the holding units are emptied into a mixing conduit which leads to a supply tank while at the same time thinning fluid is passed through the mixing conduit. The flow of thinning fluid through the mixing conduit is terminated when the amount of thinning fluid which has been passed through the mixing conduit reaches the amount corresponding to the predetermined amounts of the initial concentrates and to the predetermined amount of final solution or mixture desired.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for neutralizing waste film-processing fluids discharged from a plurality of work stations containing film-processing fluids utilize a container adapted to receive the waste fluids as well as a predetermined quantity of neutralizing fluid. The quantity of neutralizing fluid admitted into the container is a function of the number and/or size of the film-emulsion carriers to be processed in the work station and/or a function of the fluid content of the container itself. A sensor is provided to detect the fluid contents of the container and cooperates with a control value so as to admit the predetermined quantity of neutralizing fluid into the container. A discharge pump is also provided to discharge the neutralized fluid contents of the container to a discharge area.

Abstract: A roller to be used in apparatus for wet treatment of photographic material comprises a hollow metallic core and two inserts with coupling shafts provided therein. A coat of chemically resistant thermoplastic material is applied around and sealingly surrounds the core to protect it from the corrosive action of media used in the wet treatment process. The outer surface of the thus coated roller is thereupon machined to a high-quality finish.