Apparatus for developing photographic materials

Claim 2

In an apparatus for developing photographic materials, particularly color films, a combination comprising a film developing unit; a source of developer; supplying means for supplying metered quantities of developer from said source to said unit; selecting means operatively associated with said supplying means for selecting the magnitude of said metered quantities; sensing means for sensing the developer content in said supplying means and for controlling operation of said supplying means in dependence upon the sensed content and within the magnitude selected by said selecting means; and signalgenerating means for generating a control signal for controlling the inflow of medium into said unit in response to the contents of said unit exceeding a predetermined level, and for also generating a warning signal at least substantially simultaneously with said control signal.

Claim 3

A combination as defined in claim 1, said supplying means comprising at least one container and communicating with said unit for permitting the flow of developer to the latter; and wherein said sensing means comprises electric circuit means including two feelers extending into said container and each having a free end located at a different predetermined level therein, said electric circuit means being operative for interrupting the flow of developer to said unit in response to the level of developer in said container reaching One of said free ends.

Claim 4

A combination as defined in claim 2, said circuit means including a source of electrical energy, each of said feelers being connected with one pole of said source of electrical energy; and wherein said circuit means further includes an electrode in said container connected with the other pole of said source of electrical energy and having a free end portion located at least at the lowest of said predetermined levels.

Claim 5

A combination as defined in claim 2, said container having inlet means communicating with same; and further comprising a baffle interposed between said inlet means and said feelers for shielding the latter against the turbulence of incoming developer.

Claim 6

A combination as defined in claim 2, said container having an upper end; and wherein said feelers extend downwardly in said container from said upper end.

Claim 7

A combination as defined in claim 2, said container having a lowest portion provided with an outlet; further comprising a normally closed valve in said outlet; and operating means for opening said valve.

Claim 8

A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said operating means comprises an electromagnet controlled by said sensing means.

Claim 9

A combination as defined in claim 6, and further comprising a flushing system common to said supplying means and said unit for flushing developer from the same.

Claim 10

A combination as defined in claim 4, said unit being located at a level lower than said supplying means and having at least one inlet funnel; and wherein said supplying means comprises at least one outlet conduit for said developer to and from a position in which it in fluid communication with said inlet funnel.

Claim 11

A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising programming means for programmed control of the supply of developer to said supplying means from said source, supply of said metered quantities to said unit, and admission and removal of flushing water to said supplying means and said unit.

Claim 12

A combination as defined in claim 10, said programming means including switching means operative for selecting different programs.

Claim 13

A combination as defined in claim 10, further comprising a console accommodating said source, supplying means and unit; and wherein said programming means is carried by said console.

Claim 14

In an apparatus for developing photographic materials, particularly color films, a combination comprising a film developing unit; a source of developer; supplying means for supplying metered quantities of developer from said source to said unit; selecting means operatively associated with said supplying means for selecting the magnitude of said metered quantities; sensing means for sensing the developer content in said supplying means and for controlling operation of said supplying means in dependence upon the sensed content and within the magnitude selected by said selecting means; and signal-generating means for generating a control signal for controlling the inflow of medium into said unit in response to the contents of said unit exceeding a predetermined level, said unit having a reservoir for said developer, and said signal-generating means being at least in part located in said reservoir.

Claim 15

In an apparatus for developing photographic materials, particularly color films, a combination comprising a film developing unit; a source of developer; supplying means for supplying metered quantities of developer from said source to said unit; selecting means operatively associated with said supplying means for selecting the magnitude of said metered quantities; sensing means for sensing the developer content in said supplying means and for controlling operation of said supplying means in dependence upon the sensed content and within the magnitude selected by said selecting means; and signal-generating means for generating a control signal for controlling the inflow of medium into said unit in response to the contents of said unit exceeding a predetermined level, said unit having a reservoir for said developer, and said signal-generating means being at least in part located in said reservoir.

Claim 16

A combination as defined in claim 13; and further comprising a pump controlled by said control signal for removing contents from said unit in response to generation of said control signal.

Claim 17

A combination as defined in claim 13, and further comprising a pump controlled by said control signal for removing contents from said unit in response to generation of said control signal and at least until the level of contents has dropped below said predetermined level.

Claim 18

A combination as defined in claim 15, said signal-generating means comprising an electric circuit and a plurality of electrode members connected in said circuit and having free ends located at different levels in said reservoir.

Claim 19

A combination as defined in claim 13, said unit having a reservoir for said developer; further comprising a pump for removing the contents of said reservoir from the same at least in part and at least when such contents exceed a predetermined level.

Claim 20

A combination as defined in claim 13, wherein said source, supplying means and/or unit together form a cabinet-shaped structural assembly.

Claim 21

A combination as defined in claim 18, wherein said source is located in a top portion and said supplying means is located in a bottom portion of said assembly.

Claim 22

A combination as defined in claim 18, further comprising thermostatically controlled means operative for maintaining the temperature of at least said source at a preset level.

Claim 23

A combination as defined in claim 20, said thermostatically controlled means comprising heat-exchange means.

Claim 24

A combination as defined in claim 21, said thermostatically means further comprising circulating means for circulating air in contact with at least said source.

Claim 25

In an apparatus for developing photographic materials, particularly color films, a combination comprising a film developing unit; a source of developer; supplying means for supplying metered quantities of developer from said source to said unit, said supplying means comprising at least one container and communicating with said unit for permitting flow of developer to the latter; selecting means operatively associated with said supplying means for selecting the magnitude of said metered quantities; and sensing means for sensing the developer content in said supplying means and for controlling operation of said supplying means in dependence upon the sensed content and within the magnitude selected by said selecting means, said sensing means comprising electric circuit means including two feelers extending into said container and each having a free end located at a different predetermined level therein, said feelers each including a conductive electrode member and a tubular member surrounding said electrode member electrically insulated therefrom and having a bevelled tip, and said circuit means being operative for interrupting the flow of developer to said unit in response to the level of developer in said container reaching one of said free ends.

Claim 26

In an apparatus for developing photographic materials, particularly color films, a combination comprising a film developing unit; a source of developer; supplying means for supplying metered quantities of developer from said source to said unit, said supplying means comprising at least one container and communicating with said unit for permitting flow of developer to the latter; selecting means operatively associated with said supplying means for selecting the magnitude of said metered quantities; and sensing means for sensing the developer content in said supplying means and for controlling operation of said supplying means in dependence upon the sensed content and within the magnitude selected by said selecting means, said sensing means comprising electric circuit means including two feelers extending into said container and each having a free end located at a different predetermined level therein, said feelers each including a conductive electrode member and a tubular member surrounding said electrode member electrically insulated therefrom and having a bevelled tip, and said circuit means being operative for interrupting the flow of developer to said unit in response to the level of developer in said container reaching one of said free ends.

Claim 27

A combination as defined in claim 23, wherein said feelers are carried by a cover of said container.

Claim 28

A combination as defined in claim 23, said container having an upper end portion; and further comprising an overflow opening provided in said upper end portion for overflowing of water used to flush developer from said container.

Claim 29

A combination as defined in claim 23, said tubular members being open at said tip; and wherein each of said feelers includes electrically insulating means interposed between the respectively associated tubular and electrode members and terminating inwardly of the respective open bevelled tip.

Claim 30

In an apparatus for developing photographic materials, particularly color films, a combination comprising a film developing unit; a source of developer, including a reservoir; supplying means for supplying metered quantities of developer from said source to said unit; selecting means operatively associated with said supplying means for selecting the magnitude of said metered quantities; sensing means for sensing the developer content in said supplying means and for controlling operation of said supplying means in dependence upon the sensed content and within the magnitude selected by said selecting means; a pump; and signal-generating means for generating a control signal for controlling the inflow of medium into said unit in response to the contents of said unit exceeding a predetermined level, said signal-generating means controlling said pump so that the latter removes contents from said unit in response to generation of said control signal and at least until the level of contents has dropped below said predetermined level, said signal-generating means comprising an electric circuit and a plurality of electrode members connected in saiD circuit and having free ends located at different levels in said reservoir for said developer, including a first electrode member having its free end located at the highest level to which liquid is to rise in said reservoir and operative for terminating inflow of liquid into said reservoir in response to the contents therein reaching its free end, a second electrode member having its free end located at a lower level, and a third electrode member having its free end located at an intermediate level and connected with said second electrode member in such a manner as to initiate operation of at least said pump when the level of contents reaches said free end of said third electrode member and continue the initiated operation at least until such level drops below said free end of said third electrode member.

Claim 31

In an apparatus for developing photographic materials, particularly color films, a combination comprising a film developing unit; a source of developer, including a reservoir; supplying means for supplying metered quantities of developer from said source to said unit; selecting means operatively associated with said supplying means for selecting the magnitude of said metered quantities; sensing means for sensing the developer content in said supplying means and for controlling operation of said supplying means in dependence upon the sensed content and within the magnitude selected by said selecting means; a pump; and signal-generating means for generating a control signal for controlling the inflow of medium into said unit in response to the contents of said unit exceeding a predetermined level, said signal-generating means controlling said pump so that the latter removes contents from said unit in response to generation of said control signal and at least until the level of contents has dropped below said predetermined level, said signal-generating means comprising an electric circuit and a plurality of electrode members connected in saiD circuit and having free ends located at different levels in said reservoir for said developer, including a first electrode member having its free end located at the highest level to which liquid is to rise in said reservoir and operative for terminating inflow of liquid into said reservoir in response to the contents therein reaching its free end, a second electrode member having its free end located at a lower level, and a third electrode member having its free end located at an intermediate level and connected with said second electrode member in such a manner as to initiate operation of at least said pump when the level of contents reaches said free end of said third electrode member and continue the initiated operation at least until such level drops below said free end of said third electrode member.

Claim 32

A combination as defined in claim 27, said supplying means further comprising a container, at least one conduit communicating with an upper end of said container, and having an outlet portion provided with a discharge opening directed into said container, a conduit portion extending downwardly of said upper end outside said container, and a bend portion connecting said outlet portion and said conduit portion; said pump being interposed in said conduit portion.