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 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 drying arrangement for strips or sheets of photosensitive material includes a pair of infrared heating rods which are located on opposite sides and extend transversely of the path of travel of the photosensitive material. A parabolic reflector is associated with each of the heating rods and serves to direct radiant energy from the same onto the photosensitive material. The heating rods lie at the focal points of the respective parabolic reflectors. Each of the reflectors has a symmetry plane which is inclined with reference to the path of the photosensitive material in such a manner that the line of intersection of the symmetry plane and the path is situated downstream of the location where a perpendicular from the focal point of the reflector to the path intersects the latter. By virtue of this arrangement, more radiant energy is directed to the upstream portion of the drying arrangement than to the downstream portion thereof. As a result, a thermal gradient exists in the drying arrangement.

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 arrangement for presenting light-sensitive sheets, especially X-ray film sheets, to a treating machine, especially to a developing machine, includes a closure which is mounted at an inlet opening of a withdrawing station of the machine for movement between a retracted position in which it is spaced from the inlet opening, and an extended position in which it light-tightly closes the inlet opening. The cassette containing the sheets to be withdrawn at the withdrawing station is mounted on a carriage for joint movement through the inlet opening and forms a movable unit therewith. An engaging member engages the movable unit and causes the closure to move into its extended position during the movement of the unit in an initial path section, while an unlatching device unlatches the lid of the cassette during the movement of the unit in an intermediate path section, and a lid-opening device opens the lid of the cassette during the movement of the unit in path terminal path section.