Photographic development apparatus

US5448325A · kind A · utility

Inventors

• Bartholomeus Verlinden · Tongeren, BE
• Jan Claes · Mortsel, BE
• Marc Scheerders · Mortsel, BE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 5, 1993
• Grant date: Sep 5, 1995
• Expiry date: Aug 5, 2013

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G03F7/3071
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Apparatus for processing rectangular sheets of photographic material in varying format sizes is equipped to calculate at least approximately the surface area of the sheets fed therethrough. For this purpose, the apparatus includes a sensor for determining a dimension, e.g. the length, of each sheet, a memory for storing the length and width dimensions of a plurality of sheet format sizes, and a control unit which compares the determined dimension of a sheet with the dimensions stored in the memory and upon finding a match therebetween gives an output signal indication of the surface area of the sheet. If more than one match is found, the unit gives an output signal corresponding to the largest format size having a dimension equal to the determined dimension. If no match is found by the control unit, the unit is adapted to give an output signal equal to the multiple of the determined dimension and the largest of the stored width dimensions or, alternatively, an output signal corresponding to a format size having a length greater than the determined dimension. The surface area indications can be used to regulate the replenishment of processing liquid consumed during processing.