Abstract: The device comprises a housing (10) having a powder inlet opening (12) in an upper face (13) thereof. A dust shield (14) upstands from the upper face (13) adjacent said powder inlet opening (12). A movable box (16) for accommodating a bag (18) containing powder has an open end (20). Co-operating guides (22, 24) provided respectively on the housing (10) and on the box (16) constrain movement of the box (16) between a first position in which the open end (20) is closed by the dust shield (14) and a second position in which the open end (20) mates with the powder inlet opening (12) to allow powder from the bag (18) to fall through the powder inlet opening (12). Thereby, discharge of the powder contents of a flexible material bag can be achieved in a convenient manner.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a housing (10) defining a treatment vessel (12.sup.2) having entrance and exit openings (16, 20) defining a sheet material path (22) therethrough. The lower opening (20) is closed by a pair of path-defining rollers (28, 26) biased into contact with each other to form a nip (28) through which the sheet material path (22) extends. The housing (10) includes a collecting chamber (50) positioned to collect treatment liquid which in use falls from the treatment vessel (12.sup.2) through one or both of the openings. The collecting chamber (50) is a closed chamber (50) and means (52) are provided to return treatment liquid from the collecting chamber (50) to the treatment vessel (12.sup.2). The construction has the advantage that the wastage of treatment liquid is reduced without requiring the use of complicated and costly sealing devices.

Abstract: A method of processing photographic sheet material comprises passing the sheet material along a sheet material path (20) through a processing apparatus comprising a plurality of processing cells (12, 12', 12"), and causing processing liquid to pass across the surface of the sheet in at least one of the cells. The cell is a closed cell the speed of liquid flow across the sheet material, as measured in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the sheet material path (20), is at least 3 times the speed of the sheet material along the sheet material path (20) and the resultant liquid flow speed is at least 100 mm/sec. The consistency of reaction kinetics at the sheet material surface are improved.

Abstract: Apparatus for exposing and processing a photographic recording material, generally called imaging element, comprising (i) an exposing part, generally called imagesetter, in which the imaging element is imagewise exposed, and (ii) a processing part, generally called processor, in which the imaging element is wet processed, characterized in that the exposed imaging element is fed automatically from the imagesetter into the processor and in that the processing is carried out along a substantially vertical path. Also disclosed is a method for recording an image by using the above described apparatus for exposing and processing an imaging element.

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 constitutes a sheet material inlet and the other of the openings constitutes a sheet material outlet. A substantially vertical sheet material path (20) through the vessel is defined by the inlet and outlet and by a path-defining rotatable roller (28) biased towards a reaction surface (30) to form a roller nip (36) there-between through which the sheet material path extends. The path-defining roller (28) is in sealing contact along its length, with a rotatable sealing member (38). The reaction surface is preferably a further path-defining roller. The sealing of one vessel from the next and of the path-defining roller to the housing of the associated vessel is thereby achieved in a simple and reliable manner.

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 characterized in that the rollers (28, 30) are axially offset relative to each other; and each roller is in sealing contact along its length, at least between the limits (56) of the nip (36) with a stationary sealing member (38, 39).

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 wet processor comprises a plurality of cells (12, 12', 12") mounted one above the other in a stack to define a substantially vertical sheet material path (20) through the apparatus. Each cell comprises a housing within which is mounted rotatable roller (28) biased towards a reaction surface (31) to define a roller nip (36) there-between through which the sheet material path extends and associated sealing means (38, 39) serving to provide a gas- and liquid-tight seal between roller (28) and reaction surface (31) on the one hand and a wall (14) of the housing on the other. The roller (28) is a drive roller. Alternatively or additionally means (19, 21) are provided for connecting each cell to adjacent cells in the stack in a closed manner. By this simple construction, treatment liquid in one cell is not contaminated by contents of the adjacent cells. Furthermore, consumption of treatment liquids is reduced by reducing the evaporation, oxidation and carbonization thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for the processing of photographic sheet material having upstream and downstream drying chambers (101, 102). A heater (106) heats air entering the downstream chamber (102) to a downstream drying temperature. A fan (108) recirculates drying air from the downstream chamber (102) through the heater (106) while taking in fresh air through an inlet (116). A heater (110) heats air entering the upstream chamber (101) to a temperature higher than the downstream drying temperature. A fan (112) recirculates air from the upstream chamber (101) through the heater (110) while taking in air from the downstream chamber (102). Optimum drying of the sheet material is thereby achieved without risk of dimensional instability.

Abstract: Processing liquid supply system for the processing vessel of photographic processing apparatus wherein fresh processing liquid is delivered from and used liquid returned to a liquid storage container via corresponding conduits which may each include a liquid flow pump. The container is equipped with a push-in/pull-out cap penetrated by passageways communicating with the conduits. The cap is insertable into the container mouth and has an expandable resilient seal around its periphery for sealing engagement when expanded with the internal surface of the container mouth. A handle is pivoted on the cap for movement between cap-sealed and cap-unsealed positions. The cap has an internal piston which is linked to the handle and is displaced axially when the handle is pivoted between its positions to thereby alternatively compress the seal to expand the same and seal the container mouth and relax the seal for removal of the cap from the container.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for processing photographic material in which the material is passed through at least one processing vessel filled with processing liquid from a supply receptacle of processing liquid. Each vessel is filled by means of a liquid delivery pump which operates under the control of a liquid level sensing means sensing the level of processing liquid in the vessel and actuating the pump when the sensed level falls below a predetermined level. In order to regenerate the processing liquid in use over time, a predetermined quantity of processing liquid is removed periodically from at least one vessel via a discharge pump, preferably operating volumetrically, the quantity of liquid thus removed from the vessel being replaced with additional liquid from the supply receptacle to maintain the predetermined liquid level, Preferably, the supply receptacle is a flexible collapsible bag sealed to minimize deterioration of the processing liquid therein.

Abstract: A processing apparatus comprises at least one wet processing station followed by a dryer in which wet sheet material comes into contact with heated drying air. Sheet material is fed over a static support member which supports the sheet material during drying. A drying unit is positioned opposite to and extending across the support member in a transverse direction, thereby to define a drying space between the support member and the drying unit. Drying air is fed to the drying unit to pass out through a drying air exit into the drying space. The support member includes a plurality of openings to allow drying air to pass therethrough, to ensure that the air flow is substantially the same whether a sheet of photographic material is positioned on the support member or not, while minimising the generation of turbulence.

Abstract: A photographic liquid processing station (14) comprising at least two sections (15, 16) through which a photographic sheet material is passed in succession, the processing liquid being fed through said sections in countercurrent, replenishing means (67) which comprises discharge means (70) for carrying off rinsing liquid from the first section (15) in response to the amount of processed film, pump means (63) for feeding liquid from the second section (16) to the first one (15) in response to a level sensor (61) in the first section, and a liquid level sensor (64) in the last section (16) for controlling said replenishing means (67).

Abstract: A photographic processor for treating an image-wise exposed photographic sheet material with a processing liquid, which comprises:developing (12), a fixing (13) and a rinsing (14) station,driven pressure roller pairs (21, 22, 23, 24, 25) in the rinsing station for conveying sheet material through a body of rinsing water in said station, the lower rollers of the roller pairs dipping completely in the liquid and the upper rollers dipping only partially therein, andcleaning rollers (26, 27, 29) with a circumferential covering of a pile fabric, which are in frictional contact with the upper rollers of said roller pairs, and the peripheral speed of which is equal to that of the corresponding upper roller(s).