US1294429A - Method of and apparatus for developing photographic films. - Google Patents

Description

P. E. EDELMAN.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING PHOTOGRAPHIC FILMS.

APPLICATION man Aue.12. 1914.

1,294,429. Pat-iited Feb. 18, 1919,

\ 4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

wo 0W8 WITNESSES: I ma 7 INVENTOR. w wx ZMM A 63m M Ma -5W P. E. EDELMAN.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING PHOTOGRAPHIC FILMS.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.12, I9l4 1 94,429 Patented Feb. 18, 1919.

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DEVELOP/N6 PACK P. E. EDELMAN.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING PHOTOGRAPHEC FILMS.

APPLICATION HLED AUG. 12, 1914.

:ATTACH HERE FOR DEVELOPMENT mum I pirosuh:

I sAvc" FLYAPS 00m TEAR'HERE REMOVE STOPS Q'IYLY-BEFORE Dcym. OEMENT DAYLIGHT LOADING AND D YLIGHT Patented Feb. 18, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

IN VEN TOR.

E. EDELMAN. v METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING PHOTOGRAPHIC FILMS.

APP LICATlQN FILED AUQJZ, 19H- Patnted Fe10.18,1919.

1,294,429 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 7P 75 nae 9. 8a 5 11 A v FIG. 1.

W1 TNESSES INVENTOR,

parts are considered.

. ments, and in which,

PHILIP E. ELELMAN. or ST. PAUL, mivnnsora.

PATENT oFFIoE.

METHOD or AND APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING riioro(marine FILMS...

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP E. EDELMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Method of and Apparatus for Developing Photographic Films, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the development of photographic surfaces and more particularly to the development in daylight of roll or pack films, or both. One'of the 'objects of my present invention is to provide a simple method and portable apparatus for uniformly developing light sensitive surfaces. Another object is to provide means for the daylight development of film packs, the tabs of such films being utilized so that no' dark room is required for loadin the films into the developing apparatus. ther objects will appear hereafter as the several This invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way of example suitable embodi- Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a roll film; Fig. 2, a plan view of a developed pack film; Fig. 3, an isometric view of the essential parts of a rotary embodiment of my invention; Fig. 4, a modification of Fig. 3 particularly adapted to film packs in which an isometric view of the essential parts is shown; Fig. 5, a portion of the film. and spacers cut away from Fig. 4 so as to show their relation in use; Fig. 6, an

isometric view of a suitable form of spacer;

Fig. 7, an isometric view of a modification of Fig. 6 and showing a suitable mode ofconnection at the end thereof; Fig. 8, an isometric view of a modification of'Fig. 6; Fig. 9, an isometric view illustrating the preparation of a film pack for use as in Fig. 4; Fig. 10, another view showing how one film of the pack pulls out the next when prepared as shown in Fig. 9; Fig.11, a section view through the middle of the end of Fig. 10, showing therelation of the successive films; Fig. 12, a complete isometric View of an embodiment of my invention for either roll or pack films, particularly the former, the outer casing of this embodiment being indicated by broken lines; Fig. 13, an isometric view of a complete film pack having its tabs saved in accordance with my invention; Fig. 14, an isometric view of one of the stops used in Fig. 13, Fig. 15, an isometric view of the interior frame of a film pack embodying.;suitable changes in accordance with. my'invention; Fig. 16, an

isometric view of one of thetwo stops used with Fig. 15;Fig. 17 is an isometric View of the films in positions before and after be- 1 ing drawn for exposure and before development; Fig. '18 shows. an isometric partial view of the upper portion of a film packs casing such as in Fig.- 15 but provided with a modified stopping means in lieu of that I shown in Fig. 16; Fig. 19 is a partial isometric view of the upper corner of a film pack embodying the device of Fig. 18; Fig. 20 is an isometric view of the upper portion of a film pack showing another modification of my improvement; Fig. 21 is an isometric view showing another modification'of Fig. 20; Fig. 22 is an isometric view showing a modified form of the film pack of Fig. 13;

23 isa plan view showing a sultable "form of my invention for use with the film pack of Fig. 13, the cover being removed; Fig. 24 is a side projection of Fig. 23 with the cover shown in position; Fig. 25 "is an isometric view of the cover of Fig. 24 showing the pack of Fig. 13 in position before development; Fig. 26 is a partial section through the middle of Fig. 23', showing the relation of the parts when in use; Fig. 27 is an isometric View of the shaft used in Fig. 23; Fig. 28 is an isometric view of the reel used in Fig. 23; Fig. '29 is a section through the middle of the flange as'used in Fig. 28;

Fig. 30 is an isometric view of the film supports of Figs. 23; 24, and 26, in extended position'to disclose the construction; Fig.31 is anisometricview of a modification of the supports of Figf30; Fig. 32 is an enlarged isometric view of the spacing element of Fig. 31;. Fig. 33 shows the right elevation, plan, and front respectively of the hobks ,83- used in Fig. 30.; Fig. 34 is a section view of the film spool support screw used in Fig. 12; Fig. 35 is a section of the adjusting screw 4l-of Fig. 12; Fig. 36 'is a partial section .views'howing how the spacing reel of Fig. 12 is carried; Fi 37 is a partial view in part section in which is shown the manner in which the lower portion of the spacer support of Fig. 12 is'journaled into'the lower portion of the frame; Fig. 38 "is an illustrative isometric view showing the relation of the parts and the roll film in use in Fig. 12; Fig. 39 is an isometric view of the device of Fig. 12 showing a film pack in place ready to be treated for development; Fig. 40 is a front elevation partially in section showing the frame of Fig. 39 placed in a developing bath; Fig. 41 is a front elevation and Fig. 42 a side view projected therefrom, showing a suitable crank for actuating the mechanism of the device of Fig. 12; Fig. 43 is an illustrative isometric view of'a modification of of Fig. 1, for supporting the film 1 without spoiling the picture portion 3 thereof. 1*, 2, and 3 designate the corresponding parts of a pack film in Fig. 2. I support the blank rims 2 by means of a narrow spacer such as that shown in Fig. 7. The spacer is placed against the film with its smooth side 4 against the blank portion 2. In practice, when this is done the picture portion 3 develops, leaving the blank rim undeveloped, but this blank rim 2 automatically becomes clear when the film l is placed in the usual fixing solution after development.

development and to that end the spacers are preferably made about as wideas this blank rim 2, which for example-may bet" wide. The spacer, Fig. 7 has fluid openings5 and forms the sole support for the film 1, leaving the blank portion 3 containing the picture untouched. The spacers 6, Fig. 7 ,may be also constructed as in Figs. 6 and 8 but in any instance these spacers are used as shown by 6, 6, in Fig. 3, being held between the flanges 7 of reel 8 and wound uponanother reel 9, a layer of film 1 with its backing paper l0 being thereby sandwiched in between the successive layers of 6 on 9 so as to form a free passageway for the fluid used for development of the image, over the entire picture surface of the film 1 The film is thus not supported upon an apron but is supported by itself at the blank rims only and has its entire length rigidly and uniformly spaced from the next adjacent layer. Fluids can flow through this spiral passageway by means of the holes 11 and opening 12. This arrangement can be used for either pack or roll films but for pack films the arrangement of Fig. 4 is preferred. Here, Fig. 5, the spacers 6 are-held at a uniform distance apart by a strip of celluloid or other suitable material 13 and the film to be developed only touches the My ins vention contemplates the use of spacers only covering the natural blank portions 2 during spacers 6 at the films blank rims so that 13 does not support but merely keeps the spacers 6 properly positioned against the film 1 A piece of sheet metal 14 bent into the form shown in Fig. 4 springs against the contents of the two reels 8, 9, and keeps the spacers 6, 6, taut, thereby also guiding the films 1* into place as indicated by Fig. 5.

In order to use a film pack'as in Fig. 4 I have taken one of the ordinary film packs, such asare marketedas daylight loading and exposing packs but not daylight developing packs, and improved it in accordance with my invention so that it can be developed entirely without the use of a darkroom. I save the flaps of the films of said film pack and construct the pack so that said films cam be removed from the film pack casing by means of these flaps without requiring the touch of the human hand.

The pack, Fig. 13, is used in the usual manner except that the flaps 15 are saved after exposure. The lugs 16 normally stop the films within the pack but are quickly removable when the seal 17 is broken. When the stops 1 6 are removed the films can'be pulled from the pack by means of the flaps. This principle can be utilized as shown in the drawings to pull any desired number of films front the pack. Any remaining films-can be left in the pack and used by simply resealing the stop lugs 16. 4

Now in the form indicated in Fig. 4, a pack such as shown in Fig. 13 has been prepared as in Fig. 9 by simply pasting orattaching by means of a pin or other suitable fastener, the tip of flap from film two to the back of flap one, the tip of flap three to the back of' flap two, and so on. Then when flap one is. attached to reel 9 or to 13, Fig. 4, 5, and the reel 9 is rotated clockwise, first the first film will be pulled out of the pack 26 and then all the succeeding films'will be pulled out, one by the other, as indicated in 1 or rubber fabric or any suitable material and may be sewed or cemented to. the strip 13 or used alone as in Fig. 3'. In the latter case the end of the spacer 6 is preferably tapered to a fiat extremity 18 and provided with an attaching eyelet 18. The spacer 6 can also be made as shown in Figs. 6 and 8.

In Fig. 6 the openings 5*, 5*, are arranged to come at staggered portions of the channel 19 formed in 6 so that fluids will b freely admitted but light which travels iii straight lines will not be able to pass. The

' or their equivalent to catch theshoulders C,

C, Fig. 17, of the films before they are pulled afford the necessary light form shown'in Fig. '8 simply has its openings 5", formed from, corrugations as shown. It is to be noted that the form shown in Fig. 6 requires no light tight flange 9 in use, and if a flange is to be used with it, the spacer alone, thus constructed, will roofing.

Taking up now the fim pack, I attach the usual back piece 20 carrying velvet 21 to the frame 22 at the side by means of suitable dog ears .or fasteners 24,-so that an opening 25 is formed which will allow films 1" and their backing papers 10 to freely. pass. The velvet serves in conjunction with the carton 26 to form the usual light tight valve. Stops formed as in either Fig. 14 or 16 are then placed adjacent to each end of when the frame with its films is in place, and the stops 27 formed on the lugs 16 partially close the passageway by shutting off its two ends so that only the flaps 15 can pass While the end lugs 16 or 16 are in place.

Novices are thereby prevented from lifting the films out of the-pack-26 prematurely. The pack 26 is of course capable of use by careful persons without the stops. 16 or an equivalent therefor can be arranged in the camera or film pack holder itself. It is however very desirable to provide these stops 16 out of the pack 26 and before they are to be developed. i

In the modification of. Figs. 18 and 19, the

stops are formed of sheet metal angles 28, 29, with 29 extending so that 1t can be pulled out 7 from the back of pack 26 and with 28 heldnormally with its end in the hump 27 formed at the top-of frame 22.. In the modification of' Fig. 20, the stops are .formed from the paper carton 26 itself, the ends 23 of which are simply pasted into position so that 27 covers the passage slot 25 in the manner set forth. In the modification of Fig. 21- the stops 27 are formed of a metal band 30 placed around the pack 26 and the same band 30 may be used repeatedly with different packs. The stop 30 can thus conveniently be placed in the camera or pack holder itself. In the modification of Fig. 22, the stops 27 d are carried by hinged metal strips 1 which are capable of being sealed set forth." The flaps 15 are placed under a rubber band'or other suitable fastener 32 as exposed and are saved. This flap holder 32 can also be embodied in the pack holder or on the camera instead of the film pack, as is obvious. In accordance with my invention any other type of film pack may similarly be modified for use with my apparatus, sufficient examples having been shown, as is obvious. In Fig. 12 I show a suitable form of my invention which will develop either pack films 01' roll films according to the holder used.

49- is carried down as already.

Thus the roll film are simply replaced by the paokfilm supports such as in Fig. 39 are shown by 35,35, if pack films areto be developed. A two part frame 39, 34, and 40 fits into the casing 47 provided with a lcover '48 having holes 61 through which the shafts 59 project. The bottom part of this frame 39 carries the slotted uprights 34 and the top part 40 carry' ing the extensions 37 slides about 34 up and down and may be adjusted at various heights as2i, 3%", etc., marked on 34 and fastened'by means of a screw 41. Pieces 34 are 'bent over at the top to form lugs 45 by means of which the whole frame may be pumped up and down within 47. The top 40 has its corners beveled or out off at 46, 46, so that fluids poured upon 40 may flow around 46 and into 47 Both 40 and 39 have holes 11 to facilitate thecirculation of the developing solution. The spacers 6 are attached to the reel 9 by means of pins 107 Both joints are accordinglgy of the'type shown in Fig. 36. reel, 7, is held to The upper portion of the 40 by a dou'bleiflanged hollow piece 52 so that 7 can rotate freely about 52. The hole in 52 is also such that the square shaft 44 can rotate freelyin'it. The flange 7 ,however carries the piece. 53 which fits about 44 so that 53 can slide up or downf44 axially but must turn with 44.

These adjustable joints are only necessary at the top 40. The screw 36' is mounted in 40 as shown in Fig. 34 where the smooth spool support 36 forming the end of screw by 40 and a bushing 50 soldered thereto. The clamping screw 41 is shown in detail in Figure 35 and has a flange 5 1 rest1ng against 37. The two spring pieces 42 fastened to one of the members 34 bear down upon the spacers 6, 6, as the latter are wound up and keep 6, 6 in position against '39, 40 respectively.

In practice 'the top 40 is adjusted for the size of film to be developed. The spool of the roll film is placed between 33, 36. one end of the films backing paper is threaded in slot 43 of reel 9, the spacers 6, 6, are attached to 9, the frame 39,40, is placed in 47 and with the cover 48 in position the shaft 46 is wound clockwise by means of the detachable crank of Fig. 41. When the film is wound up the cover 48 is removed and the usual developing solution is poured over 40 and-into 47 the frame 39, v

40 is then pumped up andldo'wn a. few times to insure an even-flow o'f'the fluid from time to time, and after each pumping the cover 48 may be replaced or left off as the film when once 'wound up is protected from the light by its own backing paper inconjunction with the spacers 6 and the flanges formed by 39, 40. After development, the fluid may be poured oil" by tipping 47 cornerwlse; the de- Various other modes of operation are-also possible but I have ascertained that this one gives good results. -The essential relation of the parts in this embodiment is shown 1n Fig. 38. The operation is similar when the film pack already described is used with the modified frame as in Fig. 39. As a modi-fication, the frame may be removed from 47 when the film is all wound up and may then be placed in a smaller open container 62 containing a fluid for development, 64. 64 may be covered by a layer of floating nonactinic material such as partially refined petroleum oil of non-actinic color, which oil also prevents oxidation of the developing reagent 64. g

The crank, Figs. 41 and 42, carries a tube 56 which slips over a slotted shaft 59, 60 so that the extension 55-carried by 57, 58 engagTs the said slotted shaft as has been set fort 1.

The device of Fig. 12 maybe modified as in Figs. 43, 44, so that in the case of a roll film, the backing paper 1O thereof, may be ejected. Thus, as diagrammed, as the spacers 6 are wound about 9 the film l-is also wound and spaced thereabout but the paper 10 is simultaneously ejected from 47, 48 and accordingly no backing paper need be retained in the spiral to which the fluids for treating are admitted.

In the modification of Figs. 23, 24, and 25 the individual pack films are separately wound up and spaced, the reel 9 carrying the films is then removed from the winding box 71 and placed in a separate solution container of smaller dimensions as in Fig. 40 except that in this case only the reel 9 without the other equipment is so immersed in the solution. The spring 14 is fastened to the bottom of the box 71 at 67 as shown and serves to keep the spacers holding strip 13 taut. 13 has its end bent over to support eyelet hooks 66 of metal which hooks slip over the pins 72 of reel 73 and the other end is provided with similar eyelets 66, and pins 72 are provided upon reel 9 for the same purpose. The film pack is placed in a metal spring holder 92 fastened to the cover 90, Fig. 25, at 91. The film pack film .tightly to it at 72.

constructed to fit into the grooved top flaps 15 are held between the bottom of the cover 90 and the pack itself andmay be removed one by one as wanted. The cover 90 has a hinged portion 89 joined light The cover 89, 90 is .of 71 to exclude light and strips of velvet 69 are further used as shown to, exclude light during the winding operation. The reel 9 is constructed as shown in Fig. 28 and Fig. 29 with fluid openings 11 and a square hole 78 to coiiperate with the square portion 76 of the shaft 77, 76, 75, 74 of Fig. 27.

The reel 73 is similarly "supported by a duplicateshaft like that shown in Fig. 27.

The celluloid strip 13 carries hooks 83 of sheet metal as in Fig. 33, at intervals, and also carries spacers 87 which, Fig. 2, are not only adapted to contact with the edge blank portions 2', 2*, but also the two ends of each film pack film. The rims 86 do not make contact with the films and merely serve as guides, thereby aiding in the forming of a uniform spiral. Starting with the spiral wound upon 73 as indicated by the dotted lines of Fig. 24, the first film to be developed has its flap end attached to the first hook. The cover 89 is then closed down and the crank 74 turned a predetermined angle to the next position marked upon the outside of box 71 by 2. The first film is thereby pulled out of the pack 26 and wound into a protected position.

The cover 89 is then lifted up and the next film is attached to the next hook and the operation is repeated until all of the desired films have been wound up. The action is indicated by the partial section view of Fig. 26.

The result is that each film is wound into a spaced position so that even when the fluid subsequently admitted unloosens the gummed fastener 15* by which it is held to its flap 15,.the film 1 is spaced positively at its blank rims and cannot hit against the black celluloid strip 13 to prevent proper development. The modification here shown is obviously intended particularly for pack films. The numbers 1, 2, .3, 6 etc., enable the operator to turn the crank 74 properly according to a pre-.arranged schedule so that each time when the cover is opened the next tight container having aremovable cover, a

be omitted. The spacers may be sewed to various means I employ to accomplish the objects of this invention so that the advantages thereof and equivalents therefor are obvious to any one skilled in the art. Various changes may be made within the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim, and these Letters Patent are to be understood as granted for:

1. Developing-apparatus having in combination, a winding spindle; a pan-of separating strips; a reel for supporting the strips; and a frame forrotatably supporting the spindle, the reel, and for supporting a supply of films, the frame comprising tWo parallel plates and connecting members between the plates, one of the plates being movable with respect to the other.

2. Developing-apparatus having, in combination, a winding-spindle; a pair of separating-strips; a reel forsupporting, the, strips; and a frame for rotatably supp0rtingthe spindle and the reel, and for sup i porting a supply of films, said frame com prislng resilient members which engage thereel to subject it to friction tion thereof. a a

3. In a portable film developing apparatus the combination of a light and liquid to limit the rotawinding shaft therein andextending through said cover, two film rim spacers -controlling means for the said spacers, an means for holding asu ply of films so that afilm therefrom may e wound spacers about said shaft.

4. In a portable film developing apparatus, a container, a shaft therein and extending therethrough, a reel therein and carrying film spacers, and. means on said reel' for retaining said spacers in operative position and for guiding said spacers onto said shaft and the edges of a film as it is wound thereon.

.5. Apparatus for the purposes set forthcomprisinga pair of spacln strips of width,

not exceedlng the width of t e natural blank portion at each rim of a-flexible film' and constructed with light-excluding passages, a container having means for winding said spacers spirally, a film holder in said c0ntainer, and means through .which said spacers pass andare guided to the rims of a film and wound therewith as it is drawn from said holder by said means for winding said 5 acers.

6. pparatus for the pu with said v coil ng up a plurality of separated films about a common axis and sandwiched in berposes set forth film and spacers therein, the said winding means being operated from the exterior. of

said container.

7. In apparatus of the class set forth a pair of'separate spacing strips of identical character, eachbein not more than one eighth inch wide,'hav1ng one smooth surface for contact with a film, and having channels which allow fluids to pass but exclude light when said'spacers'are'wound into operative position.-

- 8. In a portable apparatus for developing photographic films the combination of a suitable container, a frame therefor, means therein whereby a film may be spaced at its rims and means whereby said film may be moved longitudinally within said container. 7

9. In apparatus, of the character specified,

a container, a frame therein, a winding shaft, a film supply holder, and a pair of spacing strips within said frame, a crank external to said container and connecting with said' shaft, and means for holding said spacing strips parallel to each other and taut with respect 'to said windin shaft.

10. The combination with paratus of two separate spacingstrips subdeveloping 'apstantially three thirty seconds of an inch wide and 'eachhavin'g one. smooth surface,

anda reel for holding said strips parallel and in spaced relationf-tol' each other, said reel having retain-ing flanges for each of said strips. A

11. In a paratus for developing normally substantia ly' flat fiexible'films, means for tween' a plurality of combined spacing and holding strips which contact with the blank rims but not and means for applying fluids'thereto.

j 12. Apparatus for-developing film pack thepicture' faces of said films. I

films comprising a container having means for holding a supply of films, a winding shaft .and a" reel rotatably'mounted therein,

comb1ned"filmspacing. and film engaging means carriedfby said tech-and means for simultaneously winding a film from said supply and said holding and spacing means about said shaft,

13. Apparatus for developing film pack 4 films com rising, afilm supply holder, a winding ,s aft,-an d combined means for holding and spacing film's,

film. pack filmsabout said shaft positively spaced from each other and. held in positlon a containerffor' said elements, and means for wmding said by said combined holding and spacing means' v 14. Apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a container, a film pack holder and a winding shaft therein, parallelstripsv associated with said shaft and means to wind said strips on said'shaft, and means to .Wind films from said holder about said shaft and both held and spaced by said strips, successive films being thereby clamped.

between adjacent layers of said strips and v I positively'held from each other.

15. The'method for the purpose set forth which consists in placing a film pack in intimate light tight relation with a developing apparatus, pulling films from said pack into said apparatus directly by means of the natural tabs thereof and without attaching any extensions to said tabs, retaining said tabs together whereby not more than one of said films will be pulled into said apparatus at a time, applying spacing strips at the rims of said films so as to both hold said films and space them from each other, and maintaining the said pack in its original light tight condition throughout these operations.

16. Apparatus of the class specified comprising combined supporting, holding, and spacing means for supporting a plurality of individual films in spaced relation so that said films are uniformly accessible to fluids but protected from actinic light, a film supply holder in relation therewith, and

means for attaching a flap from a film from said supply holder to said film supporting 1 .means whereby said flap serves to transfer said film thereon.

217. In apparatus of the class set forth, a container, means for introducing a supply of'films therein, a .reel and film spacing means in said container, means for Wll'ldlIlLQ said spacing means about said reel, and

means for successively winding up a plurality of separate films from said supply onto said reel and in contact with said spacing means whereby the picture portion of tabs of said pack against a portion of said container.

20. Developing-apparatus having, in combination, a winding-spindle; a pair of separating strips; a reel for supporting the strips; a framefor rotatably supporting the spindle and the reel and for supporting a film supply holder, said frame having means for guiding said separating strips from said reel to the spindle and for holding the strips taut while they are transferred reel to the spindle' 21. Developing-apparatus having, in combination, a winding-spindle; a plurality of separating strips; a reel for supporting the '70 from the strips; and a frame for rotatably supporting I container, a plurality of combined spacing and 'film holding strips and a reel for holding same in said container, means to engage the natural paper strip attached to a film from said film pack holder to transfer said film from the holder to the Winding shaft, and means to simultaneously guide said spacing strips from said reel to said shaft and wind said spacing strips about said shaft to both hold and space said film so that the portionvthereof to be developed is freely accessible to any fiuid which may be supplied to said wound up film and spacing strips.

23. In apparatus of the class specified, a suitable container, means therein to hold a film package, a winding spindle in said container and extending therethrough, resilient members in said container and engaging said spindle to control the rotation thereof, two film spacers and means to retain said spacers in operative position in said con-g tainer, and means for transferring a film from said film package to said winding splndle and for simultaneously winding said spacers about said spindle so that the rims of said film sandwich in between suc-' 'cessive layers of said spacers, all while the whole is contained within said container.

24. Developing-apparatus having, in combination; alight tight container provided with a removable cover; a winding spindle therein and extending therethrough; a pair of separating strips; ,a reel for supporting said strips;. and a frame adapted to fit in said container to hold a supply of films and to rotatably support the spindle and the reel, said frame being adjustable in order that film supplies of more than one size may be accommodated.

25. In combination, a frame comprising two plates and joining members between-"the plates, a shaft, a film supply holder, and a reel mounted in said frame, spacingstrips carried and guided by said reel, and a light tight fluid said frame and having an exterior crank in .relation thereto and cooperating with said frame to turn said shaft.

26. In combination; a frame carrying a winding shaft and a reel having means for retaining and winding two separate spacing strips, a film supply holder in relation to said frame, a container frame, and means for moving said frame therein.

27 As a developing machine, a container, a film pack holder therein, a shaft extending through said container, a plurality of combined film holding and film spacing strips whose depth is substantially the same as the Width thereof, means for winding said strips about said shaft, and means'for successively pulling individual films from said pack into relation with said strips about said shaft so that adjacent layers of said films about said shaftare spaced from .each other a distance equivalent and due to the depth of said strips. i

28. The method of developing film pack films which consists in engagingjthe attached paper strips thereof, thereby sucfilms from said pack and into a plurality of separated spiral layers, simultaneously placing spacing strips in between said layers, one face of sai strips in contact with the non-picture portion of said films and the other contacting with the back of the next adjacent layer thereof whereby said strips both hold and space saidfilms, applying a treating fluid to sald spaced films, protecting said films from light and said fluid from the atmosphere while said films are being treated, and thereafter fixing and washing said films. 29. The combination with means for developing a photographic image of a flexible spacing strip having one smooth surface of admitting container inclosing' for inclosing said spacing strips face thereof narrow width corresponding to' the Width of the naturally blank rim of a camera film and a plurality of fluid passageways which prevent the passage of light.

' 30. In combination with means for developing a flexible film, a spacing element smooth surface of width corresponding to in the form of a flexible strip with one the narrow blank rim of a camera film and contact therewith without touchadaptedto said film, and a ing the picture portion of multiplicity of fluid openings in staggered relation therein so as to prevent the passage of light.

31. The combination with apparatus of the class set forth of .a pair of separate of identical character, each being not more than one eighth inch wide, with one surface of said width of not more than one eighth inch smooth along its length for contact With the rim of a film, and having' channels which allow fluids to pass but exclude light when said spacers are wound into operative position. 1

. 32. Apparatus of the character set forth comprising a container, a winding shaft therein and extending therethrough,"- a holder for a supply of films therein and in relation to said shaft, and means for coiling films from said supply holder about said shaft in a series of spaced layers, said means comprising combined film gripping and film spacing strips of width corresponding to the width of the usual blank rims of such films contacting therewith and sand-, wic hed in. between successive layers of said .films to hold, grip, and space each such film

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