Method and apparatus for processing exposed photographic material with bath constituent supply outlet openings at different levels

摘要

A processing bath is accommodated in a container having a pipe which communicates with the interior of the container at two different locations of the latter. The bath is circulated through this pipe and a pump for circulation of the bath is provided in the pipe. Several tubes extend into the bath and each tube has an outlet opening in the region of the inlet end of the circulation pipe. The outlet openings of the tubes are all located at different levels below the surface of the bath. The tubes are respectively connected with supply pumps which, in turn, are connected with respective sources of concentrates and a diluent required to maintain the strength of the bath within predetermined limits. A sensor senses the amount of material processed in the bath and causes the supply pumps to pump the concentrates and diluent into the bath in dependence upon the amount of material processed. Since the concentrates and diluent enter the bath at different levels, they mix with the bath before coming into contact with one another. This prevents undesirable chemical reactions which might otherwise occur between the various constituents of the bath. The admission of the concentrates and diluent into the bath in the region of the inlet end of the circulation pipe insures rapid mixing of the concentrates and diluent with the bath so that the homogeneity of the latter is maintained.