US3005396A - Processing basket - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 24, 1961 D. w. KELLER PROCESSING BASKET Filed Nov. 10, 1958 vv I'VVV-IVVV VVVVVVVVVV\IVVV United States Patent 3,005,396 PROCESSING BASKET Dan W. Keller, Evanston, Ill., assignor to Calumet Manu- .facturmg Company, Chiea'gm llL, a corporation of Illinois Filed Nov. 10,1958, Ser. No. 772,919 4 Claims. '(Cl.t9, ,1.00)

This invention relates to an improved processing basket for holding photosensitive sheets dur'ing development or processing of said sheets.

In the development of materials having photosensitive layers contained thereon, it has been generally accepted that the photosensitive layerl must not come in contact with anything other than theprocessiugchemicals durmg the entireproce'ss. Variousfdevices and schemes have been used to protectIthe. photosensitive layer from such contact, but all of such devices necessitate the use of clamps or clips to hold. the sheetfin suspension. The use of clamps or clips is unsatisfactory because they require extra handling and careiinust be used so that the image surface is not damaged.

, It has also been found that during processing of sheets having photosensitive layers, it' is particularly desirable to agitate the chemicals which are used to develop the layers. One successful method of performing this agitation is to introduce ages in bursts into the bottom of a tank containing the chemicals and sheets. The gas which enters thebottoni of the bank in a burst rises through the chemicals to. stir them. Then, the chemicals are allowed to set for awhile before the next burst emitted in thebottorn of the bank, so that the chemicals may react uniformly over the entire photosensitive layer. One of the devices used to hold the sheets during processing without clips is a, basket contaming wire screens which divide the basket into compartments for the various sheets. It has been found that a basket of this type is unsatisfactory in certain instances because the screening aifects the photosensitive layer and phantom images or streaks are formed in the photosensitive layer during the processing.

The present invention provides a'processing basket which allows a free flow of fluids from the bottom of the basket to the top, orvice versa.- Sheets carried by the basket are separated from each other. There is no need to use clamps or other such devices to separate the sheets one from another becausecompartments are formed in the basket for receiving the sheets.- Thestructure of the dividing walls which defines the compartments is such that the photosensitive layer may engage the wall without damage to the photosensitive layer during the processing. Thus, the basket is easy to load and simple to maintain.

For understanding the means in which the above objects are obtained and for observation of the advantages of the invention other than those specifically discussed above, reference is made to the embodiment shown in the drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a processing basket embodying the present invention with a perforated cover raised in order to show dividers within the basket and a tank supporting said basket which tank is shown partially and in dotted form;

FIGURE 2 is an end View of the basket shown in FIGURE 1 with a portion broken away;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the basket shown in FIGURE 1, but with a divider removed to show better the construction thereof;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view taken on line 44 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged side view of a portion of one of the walls in the basket; and

Patented pct. 24, 1 961 2 .FIGURE dis a cross sectiona1 view taken on line 66 in FIGURE 5.

Referring now to the drawings, and more specifically to FIGURE 1, a processing basket, shown in the figure positioned in a tank 8 and indicated by numeral 10, is made of stainless steel though other materials may be used. The basket generally includes a frame 12, a pair of end walls 14 fixed to said frame, and a plurality of dividers '16 removably mounted on said frame 12. f A perforated cover 18, having a handle 20, is removably mounted on the frame 12 and cooperates with the walls 14 to close the top of the basket. As may be seen in FIGURE 3, the bottom of the basket 10 consists of a wire mesh 22 which is welded to the frame 12 and the bottom of the walls 14.

The frame-12 includes a pair of brackets 24. Each of the brackets 24 has an outwardly extending portion 26 at its upper end. The portions 26 are adapted to engage a means for supporting the basket in a tank so that the remainder of the basket is submerged in fluid contained in a tank.

Each of the walls 14 consists of a sheet of substantial- 1y fiat material 28 folded over, thereby forming two identical sheets connected byitself. The material 28 contains a plurality of protrusions 30 such as those shown in FIGURES S and 6. The protrusions 30 are formed integral with the flat material 28, as is shown in FIGURE 6. Thus, thefiat material has a continuous surface which is substantially flat with the exception of the protrusions 30. The protrusions are regularly spaced so that each protrusion is spaced an equal distance of approximately one-half an inch from the four adjacent protrusions as is shown in FIGURE 5. The outer surface of each of the protrusions 30 defines a portion of a sphere which has a diameter of approximately one-eighth of an inch so that the outermost portion of each of the protrusions has a curved surface. The protrusions outwardly extend a distanceiless than the radius of the sphere which each protrusion defines. The walls 14 are fixed to the brackets 24 at opposite edges of each of the brackets in a manner such that the 14 are substantially parallel to each other. It may be seen in FIGURES} a'nd4 thatlthe inner surface of the vvalls contains protrusions 30, which are disposed i a ma er s h t tt q war l si idwardlhe opposite wall. I Y W Each of the aforementioned dividers 16 is constructed n. aman s iden al tssseh Qt ether iv d -'5. E divider 16 consists of a single sheet ofsubst'antially fiat material 28 folded over, thereby forming two identical sheets connected by itself as are walls 14. Each divider has outwardly extending protrusions 30 on each side, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. The dividers are spot welded in their central portion, leaving their edges open and free for reasons that will be hereinafter explained.

Three pairs of rails 32 are spot welded to the frame 12, as is shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, to provide a means for slideably retaining the dividers. Each rail 32 consists of a sheet metal angle which has one arm 33 spot welded to the interior surface of a bracket 24 sothat the other arm 33a extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the bracket toward the other rail of the pair. The second mentioned arm 33a fits between the sheets forming a divider so that the divider may be moved vertically along the rail 32 but is retained from moving in a lateral direction by the rail. Each of the dividers is removably mounted on the frame in the manner described above, thereby rendering the dividers removable for cleaning.

The dividers 16 which are mounted on the frame 12 cooperate with each other and the walls 14 to form cornpartments 34 within the basket, as may be seen in the drawing. These compartments 34 are narrow in order to accommodate sheet material but maintain the material in a substantially vertical attitude.

When the processing basket is placed into use, it has a plurality of sheets having'a photosensitive layer on each sheet placed in the compartments 34. It may be noted at this point that sheets of photographic film are placed singly in the compartments 34, but sheets of material used for making prints, especially color prints, may ;be placed in compartments 34, two at a time. The latter: is accomplished by positioning the sheets so that the image side of each sheet extends away from the other sheet in the compartment.

After the sheets have been loaded in the basket, the cover 18 is placed on the basket and the basket is placed in tank 8', which tank is filled with suitable chemicals. A burst of gas is introduced into the bottom of the bank by a suitable means not shown so that the gas flows upward, entering the basket 10 through the wire mesh 22, and leaving the basket through the perforated cover 18. As the gas passes through the basket it agitates the chemicals contained in the basket and forces the chemicals to flow through the various compartments 34. The photosensitive layer on a sheet may engage the protrusions 30 during the processing of the sheet, but the photosensitive layer is in no way adversely affected by its contact with the protrusions. There are no streaks formed during the processing nor are there any scratches made in the surface. As the gas enters the bottom of the basket, it flows between the sheet and any protrusions which it may engage, since there is a flow path for the gas between the wall and the sheet. Thus, a sheet does not stick to the walls or the dividers.

The cover 18' prevents the sheets of material from floating upward during the chemical processing, especially when the gas is introduced into the bottom of the bank. The wire mesh provides a means for supporting the sheets in the basket and still allowing a fluid to flow 'into the basket during the processing.

While the instant invention has been described in use with gas agitation of chemicals, it is understood that the description is for purposes of illustration and in no way the invention. The foregoing description and drawing is given merely to explain and illustrate the present invention, and the invention is not to be limited thereto, except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, since those skilled in the art who have my disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A processing basket for holding a plurality of photo sensitive sheets in vertical position in a tank of processing solution comprising spaced endwalls extending across the ends of the basket and engageable with the ends of the sheets to limit endwise movement thereof, spaced side walls connecting the end walls, a perforated bottom wall connected to the end and side walls engageable with the lower edges of the sheets to support them, a plurality of spaced partitions extending between the end walls dividing the basket into a plurality of side by side compartments each extending the full length and height of the basket and adapted to hold the sheets in parallel ver tical relationship, a perforate cover for the basket overlying the compartments and preventing removal of the sheets therefrom, and means on the basket for mounting it in fixed position in a tank, the side walls and the partitions being imperforate and the surfaces thereof facing the compartments being formed with smooth rounded projections thereon distributed substantially uniformly over said surfaces and engageable directly with the photosensitive surfaces of the sheets whereby the treating solution in the basket may be agitated by an agitating fluid entering the basket through its perforate bottom and passing around the sheets in the compartments to effect uniform processing of the photosensitive sheets in the basket.

2. The basket of claim 1 in which the end walls are provided with spaced vertically extending guide means and the partitions are slidable into and out of the basket on the guide means.

3. The basket of claim 1 in which the end walls are provided with spaced vertically extending flanges and each of the partitions is formed by a metal sheet folded upon itself with its sides parallel and spaced to receive the flanges slidably between them.

4. The basket of claim 1 in which the mounting means on the basket comprises outwardly extending brackets at the upper ends of the basket end walls to engage the top of a tank and support the basket therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,753,779 Krause July 10, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 20,199 Great Britain 1890 276,924 Germany July 22, 1914 217,712 Great Britain June 26, 1924 405,552 Germany Nov. 6, 1924 OTHER REFERENCES Siegel, German application, Serial No. 830092 LX/ 570, printed October 31, 1956.

Images