In the machines currently in general use for the processing of photographic roll films, the films are transported through the processing solutions by mechanical film transport devices, for instance bet een rollers, whereby the films may be mechani¬ cally damaged or damaged because of mishaps in the multiplicity of mechanical devices in the machines.

There are difficulties in keeping such machines clean and in performing service work. These difficulties are avoided or nearly completely eliminated in processing machines built in accor¬ dance with the present invention.

The new invention involves transporting the roll films through a helical film transport tube, the HELIX ( (1) of figs. 1, 2, 3, 4), said helix being immersed in the chemical solutions used in the pro¬ cessing of the roll films.

The leading end of the roll film is firmly affixed by a clamp to the RUNNER (fig. 2, ( 3) ) which is pulled around the helix by the IMPELLER ( (4) of figs. 2, 3, 4) by a part of the runner which projects through a longitudinal slit in the helix tube.

The impeller is turned by a rotating shaft or other device, at a fixed speed of rotation, whereby the roll film is not touched by any mechanically moving parts .

The machine in accordance with the invention is suitable for processing all known types of roll film no produced: negative, positive, black-and- white and colour films.

-BU EAI

OMPI

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The helix tubes have an inside diameter suitable for each width of film and are also furnished longitudinally with an open slit and are made of a material which resists the chemicals involved in the process, for instance, plastic or stainless material .

The tubes are formed into a helix of suitable length and diameter for each part of the process ( (1) of figs. 1-2-3-4) and said tube helices , being each immersed in the individual tanks or containers of a common tank whereby the film moves continuously i.e. without any interruption, through the processing tanks, finally to exit from the machine quite finished and dried, all in accor- dance with the processing instructions of the film manufacturers. By means of a runner ( (3) of fig. 2) to which the leading end of the film is firmly attached, the film is pulled through the helical tube by a mechanical impeller through a longitu- dinal slit in the tube of the helix (cf. (4) of figs. 2-3-4).

The impeller ( (4) of figs. 2-3-4) may consist of one or more radial arms which are fixed to a rotat¬ ing shaft and which follow the inside of the helix whereby the runners ( (3) of fig. 2) are pulled for¬ ward through the helix tube.

There is one impeller in each separate tank, said impeller moving synchronously with the others.

The speed of rotation of the impellers must be adjusted according to the length of the tube in the helix and the processing time involved. When the film is transferred to a new separate tank section the transfer of liquid from one tank to the next is in¬ hibited by the liquid running out of the longitu-

dinal slit in the tube helix and through holes arranged in the tube for this purpose, and by means of a device wellknown in the art for pre¬ venting the transfer of liquid, located at the helix tube junctions, ( (2) in fig. 1).

OMPI

A ty ₇ IPO

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Figure 1 shows a plan of the helical transport tube (1) in place in two tank sections (7).

Figure 2 sho s an elevation of the helical transport tube (1).

Figure 3 shows a plan of three tank sections with the IMPELLER (4) on the DRIVING SHAFT (5) and the PRIME MOVER, for instance, an electrical motor with reduction gear (6).

Figure 4 shows a section A-A of fig. 3 with the helical film transport tube (1) and the impeller.