Abstract: Apparatus for conveying article carriers (11) through a series of processing stations (T) in the form of tanks into which articles supported by the carriers are to be dipped has a row of lifting devices (13A-13H), each including an article carrier support (17) which defines a section of a horizontal processing track along which the article carriers (11) are movable in succession. The article carrier supports (17) are individually displaceable vertically between an upper position and a lower position (dipping position). When adjacent article carrier supports (17) are simultaneously in the upper position, an article carrier on one of the article carrier supports can be fed over to the other. A sensor (K) triggers lowering of said other article carrier support to the lower position in response to the reception of the article carrier by that article carrier support.

Abstract: In a dip treating apparatus for carrying out a multiple-step process, e.g. for film processing, the objects to be treated are transferred in separate groups step by step through a row of stations by means of a series of individually operatable conveyors, one for each adjacent pair of stations. Each such conveyor comprises a vertically extending guideway along which a slide member is reciprocatable by means of a working cylinder, the piston of which is pneumatically driven at an operating speed controlled by a flow of liquid through a variable restriction.