Sheet Film Processing Apparatus for Exposed Sheet Film

The invention relates to a sheet film processing apparatus in which the sheet film, either exposable or exposed sheet film, preferably X-ray film, is reloadable and is guidable thereto in a light impervious manner by means of transport rollers of a connected to developing apparatus.

Apparatuses of this type are for example known as loading and unloading apparatuses for X-ray film cassettes. Thereby, the single cassette of exposed X-ray film is either directly led through a light impermeable channel to a developing machine set up behind the apparatus, or is led into an intermediate holder from which it is transported to the developing machine. These known arrangements require a great deal of space and are therefore not well suited for smaller X-ray facilities.

Also, for example, are known photographing apparatuses in which a sheet film is brought into a film platform and exposed there and then transported into either an intermediate holder or a developing apparatus set up behind the photographing apparatus. An apparatus of this type to produce projection screen photographs is described in the older German Patent Application No. P 34 18 960.2-51. This also has the problem that the exposed film is transported in a light impervious intermediate holder and from there must be brought into a separate space consuming developing apparatus where still more working steps are additionally necessary.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved film processing apparatus of the previously mentioned type that have an X-ray film cassette loading apparatus or a photographing apparatus for picture screen or X-ray photographs. The improvement being that the exposed film can be developed in a particularly space saving manner without additional manipulations, and the risk of damage from overflowing or unsealed developing tanks is nevertheless reduced.

Pursuant to this object and others which will become apparent hereafter, one aspect of the invention resides in placing of developing tanks over an upper side of the apparatus which results in a particularly space saving, spatious arrangement. A collector basin is located below the developing tanks thereby avoiding damage to the apparatus because of pervious points or overflowing fluids of the developing apparatus. A waste water tank is also provided which makes possible emptying of the developing tanks and the collector basin in a most simple manner. Due to the movable and with the apparatus interlockable positioning of the water tank unwanted flowing away of the same is avoided, on one hand, on the other hand, it is hereby possible to move the waste water tank to a drain line for waste water and to empty it there, or to move to the waste water tank so far backward so that the back side of the apparatus which is constructed as a lid can be opened for repair purposes.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of a cassette loading apparatus pursuant to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, with dashed lines showing a setting for repair; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional side view of a picture screen photographing apparatus pursuant to the present invention.

In FIGS. 1 through 4, a known apparatus in which exposed sheet film is present in a known manner, is indicated with the number 1. The apparatus has a somewhat customary upper side 1a and a back side 1b. In FIGS. 1 through 3, the apparatus 1 is a known X-ray film cassette loading and unloading apparatus, wherein an X-ray film cassette 2 is movable into an uppermost slide-in unit 1c and is automatically openable in a light impervious area. By means of known transport roller pairs, indicated in general with the number 3, which lead an exposed film 4, located in the opened cassette 2, over a not illustrated vacuum, the exposed film 4 is transported out of the cassette slide-in unit 1c into a further housing part 5 projecting above the upper side 1a and the back side 1b. Below the slide-in unit 1c are located further slide-in units 1d for so-called dispenser magazines 6. In these slide-in units 1d, magazines 6 for various film formats are inserted. In known and therefore not illustrated and described manners, the cassette format is automatically determined and after emptying of a cassette 2, undeveloped film of a corresponding format is taken from a corresponding dispenser magazine 6 and guided into the cassette 2, the latter is then closed and again transported out of the slide-in unit 1c. Transport roller pairs 7 are provided for this purpose.

The apparatus 1 as illustrated in FIG. 4 is a projection screen photographing apparatus provided with a film platform 8, an adjustable lens 9, a surface mirror 10 and a projection screen 11 which is to be photographed, together with other mechanical and electrical means. Unexposed film is transported by customary transport means out of a dispenser magazine 6 in a slide-in unit 1d, through the transport rollers 7 and into the film platform 8 and is exposed there. After exposure, the film is transported out of the film platform 8 by means of the transport roller pairs 3 into the additional housing part 5.

Corresponding parts of the two apparatuses 1 are indicated in FIGS. 1 through 3 or 4 with the same reference number, so as not to read on the type of equipment referred to in the invention under discussion. It is only essential that after the functional completion of the exposed film 4 corresponding to the apparatus, it is on hand in the apparatus for developing in a space saving manner without processing handling. The additional housing part 5 is itself comparatively small, compared with the apparatus 1, and extends only so much upwardly over the upper surface 1a and toward the back over the back surface 1b, as the height of developing tanks or fixing and washing tanks 12 and their housing cover 13 as well as the depth necessary for an optimum measured waste water tank 14. A drying chamber 15 can be connected to the tank 12 in the area of the front side of the apparatus, and the corresponding housing portion 13a can be raised and provided with ventillation slots. The raised housing portion 13a is provided on the front side of the apparatus with a collector tray 13b for the developed and dried films 4. The housing cover 13, which covers the tanks 12 for a complete developing apparatus, fits securely between the upper surface 1a of the apparatus 1 and the further housing part 5, and completes the apparatus 1 into a compact final apparatus which processes or produces an exposed sheet film 4 and develops the same. In order to prevent damage to the apparatus 1 or the film dispenser magazine 6 from developing fluids which are inadvertently spilled while filling the tanks 12 or appear over time from unsealed locations, a collector basin 16 is provided immediately above the upper surface 1a of the apparatus 1. The dimensions of the collector basin 16 are provided so that the width and length extend so as to provide a required surface area which reaches under the tanks 12 and into the drip area of the drying chamber 15, so that all drops of, or overflowing, fluids fall into the basin 16.

The waste water tank 14 is supported on wheels 17 and is so dimensioned that it is slidable under the additional housing part 5 and onto the back surface 1b. By means of a detachable latch mechanism 18, 19, the waste water tank 14 can be latched to the back wall 1b in a working position. The waste water tank 14 can be provided with a plurality of compartments so that different fluids in the tanks 12 can each be separated in the waste water tank 14 for further use or for removal. In a not illustrated manner, the waste water tank 14 can be provided with a drain for discharge of the waste water, or if necessary the waste water can also be pumped out.

A flexible discharge hose 20 runs from each individual tank 12 and the collector basin 16 inside the housings 13, 1 and laterally next to the transport rollers 3 and the slide-in units 1c, 1d, to the waste water tank 14 for the compartments therein. Naturally, the discharge hoses 20 of the tanks 12 must be closeable by hand-operable valves, which are not illustrated in the drawing.

As seen in FIG. 3, the back surface 1b of the apparatus 1 and the additional housing part 5 are formed as one or two box-like covers in which the transport rollers 3 or 7 are turnably and driveably provided. This has the advantage that by disruptions or repairs, the transport unit is rearwardly pivotable into a position as shown in FIG. 3 by the dashed lines, so that the slide-in units 1c, 1d are accessible. In addition to this, it is merely necessary to loosen the latch mechanism 18, 19 and to move back the waste water tank 14. Therefore, in spite of the compactness, the resulting apparatus offers comfortable serviceability. In a similar manner, the photographing apparatus of FIG. 4 can also be provided with a flat tiltable back cover so as to allow access to the film platform 8 to correct any disruptions.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a sheet film pocessing apparatus for exposed sheet film, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.