Claims
- 1. A method for wet processing a photosensitive material, comprising the steps of
- providing a processing tank whose interior chamber is partitioned into a plurality of serially arranged compartments filled with processing solution, adjacent compartments being allowable for fluid communication,
- successively passing the photosensitive material through the compartments without contact with the ambient atmosphere, and
- providing a flow of processing solution through the compartments in counter flow relationship to the travel of the photosensitive material.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein as processing of photosensitive material is repeated, a gradient is developed in solution composition among the compartments, which method further comprises
- maintaining the gradient in solution composition among the compartments.
- 3. A method for wet processing a photosensitive material, comprising the steps of
- providing a processing tank whose interior chamber is partitioned into a plurality of serially arranged compartments filled with processing solution, adjacent compartments being allowable for fluid communication,
- successively passing the photosensitive material through the compartments while maintaining continuous contact with the solution, and
- providing a flow of processing solution through the compartments in counter flow relationship to the travel of the photosensitive material.
- 4. The method of claim 3 wherein as processing of photosensitive material is repeated, a gradient is developed in solution composition among the compartments, which method further comprises
- maintaining the gradient in solution composition among the compartments.
- 5. An apparatus for wet processing a photosensitive material, comprising
- a processing tank for defining an interior chamber,
- means for partitioning the tank chamber into a plurality of serially arranged compartments, the compartments being filled with processing solution, and
- means for successively passing the photosensitive material through the compartments while maintaining continuous contact with the solution,
- wherein said partition means is designed such that any two adjoining compartments being in little fluid communication with each other during quiescent periods when no photosensitive material travels, and in fluid communication with each other during operating periods when the photosensitive material travels.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 5 which further comprises
- means for providing a flow of processing solution through the compartments in counter flow relationship to the travel of the photosensitive material.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 5 which further comprises
- means for providing a flow of processing solution through the compartments in parallel flow relationship to the travel of the photosensitive material.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 5 which further comprises
- means for providing a flow of processing solution perpendicular to the travel direction of the photosensitive material.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 5 which further comprises
- shutter means for blocking substantial communication between the adjoining compartments during quiescent periods when no photosensitive material travels, but allowing communication between the adjoining compartments during operating periods when the photosensitive material travels.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the tank comprises at least two configured blocks which define the plurality of compartments and channels communicating the compartments when mated.
- 11. An apparatus for wet processing a photosensitive material, comprising
- a processing tank for defining an interior chamber,
- means for partitioning the tank chamber into a plurality of serially arranged compartments, the compartments being filled with processing solution,
- means for successively passing the photosensitive material through the compartments while maintaining continuous contact with the solution, and
- shutter means for blocking substantial communication between adjoining compartments during quiescent periods when no photosensitive material travels, but allowing communication between the adjoining compartments during operating periods when the photosensitive material travels.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 11 which further comprises
- means for providing a flow of processing solution through the compartments in counter flow relationship to the travel of the photosensitive material.
- 13. The apparatus of claim 11 which further comprises
- means for providing a flow of processing solution through the compartments in parallel flow relationship to the travel of the photosensitive material.
- 14. The apparatus of claim 11 which further comprises
- means for providing a flow of processing solution perpendicular to the travel direction of the photosensitive material.
- 15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the tank comprises at least two configured blocks which define the plurality of compartments and channels communicating the compartments when mated.
Priority Claims (5)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
63-97785 |
Apr 1988 |
JPX |
|
1-25132 |
Feb 1989 |
JPX |
|
1-27034 |
Feb 1989 |
JPX |
|
1-61707 |
Mar 1989 |
JPX |
|
1-90422 |
Apr 1989 |
JPX |
|
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation-in-part application from U.S. Ser. No. 07/340,820 filed Apr. 20, 1989.
US Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
4166689 |
Schausberger et al. |
Sep 1979 |
|
4710009 |
Schneider |
Dec 1987 |
|
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
340820 |
Apr 1989 |
|