Improvements relating to processing photosensitive film.

摘要

The invention provides an apparatus (2;202) and a method for processing bulk quantities photo-sensitive film originally contained in a cassette.
<??>The arrangement is concerned with a controlled source of illumination (10;224) which is initially actuated to permit recognition and identification of the cassette and the film contained therein, but to be automatically extinguished prior to removal of the photo-sensitive film from the cassette for association (by splicing) with the content of other cassettes to enable continuous processing and development of continuous lengths of film to be achieved.
<??>A control system (38,46,48; 224) automatically ensures extinguishment of the source (10;224) before opening of the cassette is completed, thereby preventing exposure of the film prior to processing.
<??>A safety interlock (52;112) may be provided to prevent actuation of the source after the opening thereof is sealed within a light-tight enclosure (26;220).