EP0207896A1 - Film-treating device - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for treating a film (J), which is wound on the latter in a cassette with a substantially cylindrical cassette body (C) with light-tight film outlet (D), end caps (B1, B2) and a spool (E) stored in the cassette body , comprises a light-tight envelope with an upper housing part (1) which holds the cassette body in a holder block (2) and a treatment space (10) which is large enough to accommodate the spool removed from the cassette with the film wound thereon. A gripping device (9, 11) for gripping the end cap (B1) facing the treatment room (10) pulls the end cap off the cassette body (c) when the upper housing part (1) is removed from the gripping device (9, 11). At the same time, a spool coupling device (12, 13, 14) gradually pulls the spool (E) with the film (J) thereon out of the cassette body (C) and, when the housing part (1) is continuously removed, completely into the treatment room (10).

Description

The invention relates to a device for the treatment of exposed photographic film material, and in particular to the device described in the preamble of claim 1.

Nowadays, photographic films are usually marketed in a film cassette wound on a spool. After exposure of the film in a camera, the cassette with the exposed film wound therein is removed from the camera and opened in the dark. The leading non-photosensitive end of the film is trimmed and the film is then wound on an open spiral that holds the film in place along its long edges. As soon as the film is usually completely wound onto the spiral by hand, the spiral is inserted into a light-tight treatment drum, which is closed with a light-tight lid. Treatment liquid can then be poured into the drum in daylight and removed from the drum again in daylight. After the treatment of the film is complete, the lid is removed from the drum and the treated film is washed therein and then checked.

However, the handling of the cassette and the film in the dark is not popular with many, and there is also no darkened room available in modern apartments that would be sufficiently light-tight to be sensitive to light remove the film from the cassette and wind it on a spiral without risking the formation of a haze on the film.

Treatment devices have therefore been proposed several times, in which the loaded cassette can be inserted in daylight, whereupon the film is wound onto a spiral already built into the device. However, the known devices are complicated to handle, bulky and expensive. Also, they often require the filling of a relatively large volume of treatment liquid into the treatment tank of the device. Therefore, such devices that can be loaded in daylight have not been used too often in practice. Various methods for daylight treatment are nevertheless described in the patent literature, of which, however, as has been said, has not yet become widespread. For example, as described in US Pat. No. 2,781,708, the film is loaded into a film holder or a cartridge or cassette of a special type which, however, requires a special camera for exposure since the cartridge does not correspond to the known film cassette which is used today 35mm film is mainly used.

U.S. Patents 3,605,601 and 4,001,857 disclose devices in which the film is treated in place in its cassette. In practice, however, a film is treated very unevenly in such processes and does not give satisfactory results. US Pat. No. 4,134,666 describes a film processing system in which a film is applied from a cassette to a spool which is inserted into a light-tight housing. The housing can then be positioned over a number of baths and the film immersed in each of the baths. This system is complicated to use and requires a large number of individual units parts to your equipment. US Pat. No. 4,171,055 describes a complicated and expensive apparatus for removing a film spool from a cassette. The film cassette opener described there can be used, for example, in the method described at the outset, in which a film is wound onto a spiral in the usual tank containing it.

Finally, a device for opening film cassettes is also described in GB-PS 2 067 163, in which the end cap seated above the shorter hub of the cassette is pressed in and is thereby spread apart from the cylinder wall of the cassette by a hammer part from above onto the long hub seated at the upper end of the cassette and is then deformed with an anvil on the end cap seated at the lower end of the cassette.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a film treatment device which is particularly simple in construction and easy to handle and which advantageously differs from the known devices in both of the above-mentioned points.

This object is achieved according to the invention in the case of an input device having the features listed in the characterizing part of claim 1.

Preferably, when using the device according to the invention, the end cap gripping device provided therein is stationary and the cassette body held in another part of the device is moved away from the gripping device.

The device according to the invention can be used in daylight to unload cassettes in a treatment room which is provided within the device without it bulky, and although the device does not have a spiral to stretch the film on, the treatment results obtained with this device are highly satisfactory.

Particularly advantageous embodiments of the device according to the invention have one or more of the features listed in subclaims 2 to 6.

The cassette body cannot pass through the cassette body holder because the radially protruding lips of the outlet gap of the cassette prevent this by protruding into the axial groove in the inner wall of the holder and resting on the closed end of the axial groove at their lower end.

The holder block holding the cassette body in the upper housing part of the device can be designed such that it holds the cassette body in the central block passage and compressively engages it. For this purpose, the block can consist of two longitudinal halves or can also be designed as an axially slotted cylinder. The cassette is e.g. inserted into the block and then pressed firmly into the upper housing part. This design of the holder block provides very good support for the cassette body, which is particularly important with crimped end caps.

In almost all 35mm film cassettes manufactured today, one end of the spool carrying the wound film protrudes considerably from one of the two spool end caps (long hub end of the spool). It is most advantageous if the end cap is pulled off at this hub end, and provision can be made that the cassette can only be inserted into the device with this hub end and not with the opposite end.

When the cassette is inserted into the cassette body holder installed in the upper housing part of the device, the end cap gripping device comes into engagement with the lower end cap of the cassette, while the upper housing part is screwed to a lower housing part containing the treatment space. The upper housing part is then closed light-tight by placing a cover and then raised by unscrewing rotation upwards relative to the lower housing part containing the end cap gripping device. As a result, the lower end cap is now pulled down from the cassette, while at the same time a cavity forming the treatment space is created below the cassette body holder which is large enough to accommodate the spool with the film wound on it.

Even with housing parts completely screwed together, a spool coupling device was brought into engagement with the coupling element or the coupling elements in the hollow of the longer spool hub and connected by tight fit so that when the upper housing part was screwed up, the spool with the film wound thereon downward out of the cassette body and is drawn into the treatment room that becomes free in the lower housing part.

Preferably, the spool with the film wound on it is removed from the cassette body by means of the coupling device mentioned, which, as soon as the cassette is stuck in the holding block, enters a recess in the hub of the protruding spool end, one or more, preferably two, in the hub recess of the The coil axially protruding connecting members firmly penetrate into a notch or transverse groove in the front end of this coupling device. Therefore, while the upper case of the device containing the cassette body holder becomes opposed to the lower case below raised by partial unscrewing, the end cap is pulled off the cassette by means of the end cap gripping device and preferably falls in the direction of the base plate of the lower housing part and preferably comes to rest on the coil coupling device.

Also, when the upper housing part is screwed further up relative to the tank housing part, the coil with the film wound thereon is firmly seated at the upper end of the coupling device and can no longer rotate with the cassette body, which at the same time is lifted up from it. If this is done sufficiently far, the spool with the film it carries is completely removed from the cassette body and is located in the lower housing part. Treatment liquid can now be introduced into this and treatment of the film can begin.

Thereafter, treatment liquid is introduced into the treatment room through inlet paths described below and the film or the treatment liquid or both is moved in said room in such a way that the liquid comes into sufficient contact with all areas of the film surface.

To introduce the treatment liquid into the treatment chamber _b eidem device light-tight channels or passages in the cover and / or are provided in the base plate of the lower casing; however, an inlet pipe can also be provided in the side wall of the lower housing part. The liquid can also be removed from the treatment room in the same way.

The treatment space below the cassette body holder intended for the absorption of liquid in the lower housing part should be so large that it can absorb enough liquid to completely treat the film; nevertheless, the volume of liquid required for this is much less than that provided by most with a spiral needed.

In a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, devices are provided at the base of the liquid-absorbing treatment space which allow liquid to enter this space when the device is placed in a container filled with treatment liquid, the lower housing part of the device being deep enough into the Immerse liquid in the container to fill the treatment room completely. The treatment of the film is now carried out while the device remains in the liquid bath. As soon as it is finished, the device is lifted out of the container and the liquid therein flows back out of the device into the liquid bath in the container. The entry and exit paths here also include a labyrinth of light which prevents light from entering the device during the treatment.

The base or base plate of the lower housing part is preferably designed in such a way that the lower end cap, separated from the cassette, can be placed in the central position. This base or base plate should also be preferably formed such that thereby rotating the hub end of the coil can be supported on it, the coil at the partial loosening of the Filmwindun ^g en and rewinding of the film is facilitated during the treatment.

As the film wound on the spool is pulled downwards out of the cassette, its windings become loose and treatment liquid can penetrate into the gaps between the film windings and act on the entire surface of the film.

• Fig. 1 eine auseinandergezogene Ansicht einer mit einem Film beschickten 35mm-Filmkassette in Perspektive,
• Fig. 2 einen Längsschnitt durch eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform des Behandlungsgeräts nach der Erfindung mit am weitesten abwärtsgeschraubter Stellung des oberen Gehäuseteils in den unteren Gehäuseteil, und
• Fig. 3 einen Längsschnitt durch die Ausführungsform nach Fig. 2, aber mit dem oberen Gehäuseteil weitgehend aus dem unteren nach oben herausgeschraubt, zeigen.

Further details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which

• 1 is an exploded view of a 35mm film cassette loaded with a film in perspective,
• Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section through a preferred embodiment of the treatment device according to the invention with the most downward screwed position of the upper housing part in the lower housing part, and
• Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal section through the embodiment of FIG. 2, but with the upper housing part largely unscrewed upwards from the lower one.

In all figures of the drawing, the same reference symbols have the same meaning.

In Fig. 1 a normal 35 mm film cassette is shown, which, pulled apart along a central axis, comprises two ring-shaped end caps B1 and B2 and between them a substantially cylindrical cassette body C with a light-tight lateral film outlet D which ._. there are two axially extending side flanges or lips D1 and D2, which protrude from the outer wall of the body C in planes running parallel to the central axis and between which there is an open exit slot S for the film. The film exit D is formed by clamping the two shorter end edges of a metal strip forming the cassette body C. The lips Dl and D2 extend away from the cylinder wall somewhat beyond the circumference of the end caps B1 and B2. The cassette body C is designed to hold the film J on the reel E provided with end flanges E1 and E2 has a long hub end F and a short hub end G. Axial coupling members H protrude into a recess at the hub end F (only one of which is visible), with the aid of which the coil E is brought into the correct position in the camera. The film J has an end edge K leading in front of the unwinding from the reel E and holes L on its long edges for the engagement of a toothed wheel or similar film transport means.

In Figures 2 and 3, a treatment device according to the invention is shown, which comprises a column-shaped upper housing part 1 intended for receiving the cassette and a wider columnar, pot-shaped lower housing part 3, the latter with the upper housing part 1 as a light-tight envelope a screw connection 4 is screwed together, which has an external thread 4a at the lower end of the upper housing part 1 and an internal thread 4b at the upper end of the lower housing part 3. A cover 5 fits on the upper end of the housing part 1 and closes it light-tight.

The housing parts 1 and 3 and the cover 5 are preferably all made of opaque plastic. In a first stage of use of the device according to the invention, the pot-like lower housing part 3 surrounds the upper housing part 1 practically from all sides almost to its upper end, while in another stage of use the lower housing part 3 is screwed downwards, however still connected to the upper housing part 1 in a light-tight manner.

In the upper housing part 1, a holding block 2 for holding the cassette body C is attached. This cassette body holder 2 has a central passage 2a into which the cassette is inserted; but only the lower end cap B1 and the coil with their flanges El and E2 can pass through pass through the lower open end 2b of the passage 2a, since the holder block 2 has an axial groove 6 in the passage 2a, the lower end of which is closed and which is designed such that the lips D1, D2 of the film outlet D protrude into the groove 6 and on it rest closed bottom end. As a result, the cassette body C is held in the holder block 2.

The lower housing part 3 comprises a base plate 7 and has a cylindrical side wall 8, which carries on its inside the internal thread 4b, which extends almost over its entire height. On the base plate 7 sits a pipe socket 9, the upper open end of which has a radially inwardly projecting inner ring flange 11. The pipe socket 9 is provided with axial slots 9a, through which its open end can easily be widened by bending apart by means of a downward stretching force. The pipe socket 9 and the clear width of the inner ring flange 11 are dimensioned such that the end cap B1 emerging from the holder block 2 is pressed down under the flange 11 and is then held by it (FIG. 2).

The base plate 7 has a central opening 7a, in which a coil coupling element 12 is provided centrally and rotatably with respect to the tube stages 9, which comprises a shaft part or pin 13 which extends upwards through the opening 7a and a transverse slot at its upper end 13a or has a transverse groove 14. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the pin 13 extends into the recess of the long hub end F, and the coupling member or H located therein penetrate into the transverse slot 14 with a tight fit.

A number of liquid passages 17 are also provided in the base plate 7. The incidence of light through the passages 17 into the interior of the lower housing part 3 is prevented by light traps (not shown) of a known type. There is also a central transverse groove 19 in the underside of the coil coupling element 12.

As shown in FIG. 3, the entire device is placed in an outer treatment container or tank 20, which bears an upwardly projecting, elongated transverse nose or similar locking element 21 in the center of its inner bottom surface 20a, which fits into the transverse groove 19.

When using the device for treating a film in a cassette, the upper housing part 1 is first completely unscrewed from the lower housing part 3. The cassette with the film fully rolled into it is then inserted into the holder block 2 with the long hub end F pointing downwards. The upper housing part 1 is now closed with the cover 5.

Then the upper housing part 1 is screwed light-tight into the lower housing part 3 so that the coupling members H penetrate the transverse slot 14 in the pin end 13a firmly enough so that not only a rotation of the coil E relative to the coupling element H, but also an axial movement of the two parts away from each other when screwing the housing part 1 out of the housing part 3 is prevented. At the same time, when screwing down the housing part 1 into the housing part 3, the end cap BI is pressed into the pipe socket 9, so that the inner ring flange 11 of the pipe socket 9 engages over the edge of the end cap B1.

This is now the case in the position of all parts of the device shown in FIG. 2, the upper housing part 1 being screwed completely into the lower housing part 3. The external thread 4a of the housing part 1 is screwed down to the lower end of the internal thread 4b in the housing part 3.

The device is then placed in the cup-shaped container 20 in such a way that the nose 21 at the bottom of the container 20 is fitted into the transverse groove 19, so that when the container 20 is stationary, neither the coil coupling element 12 nor the cross slot 14 and the coupling members H connected coil S can be rotated when the container 20 is stationary.

In order to remove the end cap B1 from the cassette body C, the container 20 is held in place and the upper housing part 1 is screwed upwards in the direction from the lower housing part 3. So that the cassette body holder 2 is lifted upwards away from the pipe socket 9 and its inner ring flange 11 which grips the end cap Bl and the end cap Bl is pulled downwards from the cassette body C and falls into the interior of the pipe socket 9, on the bottom of which they lie around the pin 13 remains _(FIG. 3).

At the same time, the coil coupling element 12 pulls the coil E, which is stuck to it, with increasing progressive screwing of the upper housing part 1 downwards out of the cassette body C until it is completely removed from the cassette in the end position shown in FIG lower, housing part 3 is located.

The entire device can now be lifted out of the container 20 and filled with the required amount of treatment liquid up to the upper level of the wound film. The device is then put back into the container 20 so that the transverse groove 19 fits onto the nose 21. The treatment liquid then enters through the passages 17 into the lower housing part 3. The coupling element 12 together with the coil E and the film J located on it is then set in rotating motion by rotating the container 20 in relation to the lower housing interior 10 and the liquid therein. This causes the film J to spread out, so that its turns on the coil E become looser and away from the central axis of the coil on a truncated cone-shaped intermediate floor 15, which is attached to the upper end of the pipe socket 9 and surrounds it, after the side wall 8 of the housing part 3 slide down.

The lower peripheral edge of the intermediate floor 15 lies at a distance above the base plate 7 of the housing part 3, so that treatment liquid can fill the interior 10 through the remaining gap to such an extent that it reaches all areas of the film surface. Preferably, a certain number of rotations of the container 20 in one sense is followed by an equal number of rotations in the opposite sense.

When the required treatment time of the film in the treatment liquid supplied has elapsed, the device is lifted out of the container 20 and the liquid runs back out of the device into the container. The device can then be placed in another container 20 which is loaded with a different treatment liquid.

Finally, the device can be removed from the container with the treatment liquid last used and placed in one with washing water. This last step can be repeated as many times as necessary to thoroughly wash the film.

When using a monobath, of course, only a single treatment bath is required in the container 20. After the treatment and washing of the film has ended, the device is lifted out of the container 20 and all the washing water can flow out of it through the passages 17. The upper housing part 1 is then completely unscrewed from the lower housing part 3 and the film J on the spool E and the end cap B1 are removed from this housing part. The cover 5 is now removed from the upper housing part 1 and the cassette body C can be removed from the holder block 2.

Claims (6)

1. An apparatus for treating film in a cassette, the cassette having a substantially cylindrical cassette body (C) with a light-tight, longitudinally extending film outlet (D), two end caps (B1, B2) attached to the cassette body and one held between them , The coil (E) carrying the film (J) wound on it, and the device comprises a light-tight envelope with a housing part (1) in which the cassette body (C) is held, and a treatment room (10) located below the latter which is large enough to accommodate the spool (E) removed from the cassette body (C) held in the housing part (1) and the film (J) wound thereon, and which is suitable for loading with liquid, characterized in that in an end cap gripping device (9, 11) is provided in said space (10); - That the end cap gripping device and the cassette held in the upper housing part (1) are arranged so that they can be axially removed from one another in such a way that the end cap gripping device (9, 11) has the end cap (B1) it detects from the cassette body (C). subtracts; and - That a coil coupling device (12,13,14) is provided, which can be coupled to the coil (E), so that when the axial removal of the upper housing part (1) mentioned from the end cap gripping device (9,11) and also the coil (E) with the film (J) wound thereon pulls out of the cassette body (C) and into the treatment room (10). 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing part (1) is an upper part of the light-tight envelope, and that it holds a block (2) with a central passage (2a) for the lower end cap (2) for holding the cassette body (C). Bl) of the cassette and for the reel (E) with the film (J) wound thereon, and that the block (2) has a longitudinal groove (6) in the passage wall (2a), which is closed at its lower end and shaped in this way is that it receives the projecting film outlet (D) of the cassette and this rests on the closed end of the groove (6) and thereby holds the cassette body (C) in the block (2). 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the treatment room (10) is inside a lower housing part (3), that the end cap gripping device is in this housing part (3) and that the upper housing part (1), and the lower Housing part (3) are connected to one another by a thread (4) in such a way that they can be displaced in the axial direction against one another while rotating. 4. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the end cap gripping device (9, 11) comprises a pipe stub (9) which is arranged in the lower housing part (.3) and extends axially into the treatment chamber (10) and which is attached to its carries an inner ring flange (11) at the upper end and is provided with longitudinal slots (9a) through which it can expand sufficiently for the purpose of inserting the end cap (B1) to be gripped. 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the lower housing part (3) below the treatment room (10) has a base plate (7) with light-tight passages (17) for the entry and exit of liquid, in particular from a container (20) in which the device can be placed. 6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the coil coupling device (12,13,14) comprises a shaft part (13) which has a transverse groove (14) or the like recess at its upper end (13a) by means of which can be coupled to the coupling members (H) provided on the lower hub end (F) of the coil (E) facing the treatment chamber (10) so that the coil ( _E ) is axially removed from one another when the housing parts (1) and (3) are removed is locked against rotation, and he pulls the spool (E) with the film (J) wound thereon out of the cassette body (C) and into the treatment room (10).

Images