Abstract: Apparatus for developing a photographic emulsion carrier. The carrier travels through a succession of tanks of photographic processing fluid. The apparatus includes mechanisms that forward the carrier through the tanks, a drive device that operates the forwarding mechanisms, guides that guide the carrier from one tank into the next, and means that connect an inlet for each processing fluid with its associated tank. The apparatus also includes at least one separate assembly associated with at least one tank, for forming a cascade which includes means for conveying the processing fluid from at least one cascade stage to the tank. The assembly, for forming the cascade is a separate module that rests as a cover on the tanks and has a separate inlet for receiving processing fluid. The cascade assembly accommodates a mechanism that forwards the carrier through it. This mechanism couples with the mechanisms that forward the carrier through the tanks while the cascade assembly is resting on them.

Abstract: A dark box which has at least one sealable opening and whose internal chamber can be divided into a desired number of compartments for stacks of identical or differently dimensioned and/or shaped sheets of exposed radiation sensitive material such as X-ray films, photographic paper, photographic film or others. The dark box can be inserted into the dark room of an apparatus which is designed to simultaneously withdraw two or more sheets from the inserted dark box and to transport the withdrawn sheets toward or into a developing machine of the type capable of simultaneously processing two or more rows of sheets. If the machine must be confined in a dark chamber, the apparatus is equipped or combined with an adapter which prepares simultaneously withdrawn sheets for admission into the developing machine.

Abstract: A method of drying a developed, wet sheet carrier, especially an X-ray film after passing through a development device includes passing the sheet carrier through a dryer which has several infrared radiators arranged along the path of the sheet carrier at its both sides and reflectors provided at the side away from the sheet carrier and deflecting the infrared radiator to the facing side of the sheet carrier. The method is performed so that a main stream is supplied at both sides of the sheet carrier at the rear side of the reflectors, a partial air stream is supplied between each infrared radiator and the sheet carrier, and then each partial air stream is united with the main air stream so that the temperature and the moisture of the main air stream increases in a flow direction.

Abstract: A wet treatment arrangement for photographic sheet carriers comprises at least one liquid tank having an inlet slot and an outlet slot, and an upper side, at least one transporting roller located in the tank for transporting a sheet carrier from the inlet slot to the outlet slot, a cover part covering the upper side of the tank and provided with guiding surfaces for guiding a sheet carrier from the inlet slot to the transporting roller and from the transporting roller to the outlet slot, and also provided with transfer guiding surfaces, the first mentioned guiding surfaces and the transfer guiding surfaces merging with one another and being formed as guiding ribs extending transversely to a length of the rollers and parallel to one another.

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 transporting device for advancing photosensitive material through a processing bath has an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion has an inlet region via which the photosensitive material is introduced into the bath and an outlet region via which the photosensitive material is withdrawn from the bath. The inlet and outlet regions are located above the level of the bath. The inlet region has a pair of directing rollers which convey and guide the photosensitive material to the lower portion of the transporting device while the outlet region similarly has a pair of directing rollers which convey and guide the photosensitive material away from the lower portion. The lower portion of the transporting device has several sets of transporting rollers which advance the photosensitive material through the bath. The upper and lower portions of the transporting device are designed as separable units.

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: A film processor wherein two partitions divide the housing into a centrally located chamber, a first compartment between the film-admitting inlet and the chamber and a second compartment between the chamber and an outlet for evacuation of processed film. Each partition has a one-piece plastic flow restrictor with a horizontal slot for the film. The flow restrictors extend into the respective compartments and into immediate proximity of the peripheral surfaces of advancing rolls which are installed in the compartments to advance the film from the inlet into the chamber via one of the slots and from the chamber toward and into the outlet by way of the other slot. A system of pumps delivers processing liquid from a reservoir into the chamber at such a rate that the liquid level is above the slots. The liquid which escapes from the chamber into the compartments by way of the respective slots is returned into the reservoir.

Abstract: Apparatus for wet treatment of X-ray films, photographic paper or analogous carriers of photosensitive material has at least one treatingunit for carriers, and such treating unit has a liquid-containing vessel with an inlet opening for carriers at the top and an outlet opening for carriers at the bottom, or vice versa. Liquid which escapes from the vessel via opening in the bottom is intercepted by the tank of a sealing device with two squeegees located in the tank above a horizontal passage in line with the openings of the vessel. One or more pairs of advancing rolls in the vessel transport the carriers along a vertical path which extends between the openings of the vessel. The carriers which move downwardly from the upper toward and beyond the lower opening of the vessel thereupon advance along a second vertical path which extends through the nip of the squeegees and through the passage.

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: Apparatus for wet treatment of webs of photographic material has a series of chambers each of which defines an upper and a lower horizontal path for the transport of webs therethrough and a discrete liquid collecting tank below each chamber. Each chamber has an upper section above the upper path, a median section between the two paths and a lower section below the lower path, and each section has an inlet which receives liquid from the tank through the medium of a pump and an upright pipe which latter can constitute a support for the respective chamber. The liquid which issues from the inlet of the median section of a chamber is divided into two streams which respectively contact the undersides and upper sides of webs in the upper and lower paths. The upper sides of webs in the upper path are contacted by liquid issuing from the inlet of the upper section, and the undersides of webs in the lower path are contacted by liquid issuing from the inlet of the lower section.

Abstract: In the apparatus photographic film is transported along a predetermined path of travel. A flap structure is mounted for pivoting movement about a pivot axis between a rest position in which the flap structure blocks the path of film travel and a work position in which the flap structure does not block the path of film travel. The flap structure is so disposed as to be displaced to and maintained in the work position by film being transported along the path of film travel. The pivot axis of the flap structure is oriented parallel to the surface of the portion of the film which engages the flap structure and transverse to the direction of travel of the portion of the film which engages the flap structure. A detecting arrangement indirectly detects the travel of film along the path of film travel by detecting the pivotal displacement of the flap structure.