Baker & Botts, L.L.P.
Vessel for the wet processing of photographic sheet material
 The vessel (10) comprises a housing (12) having openings (14, 16) closed by pairs of rotatable path-defining rollers (18, 20, 22, 24) through which a sheet material path (30) extends. Liquid level control means (38) define a dynamic liquid level (L) in the treatment chamber (32) above the sheet material path (30). A buffer comprises one or more drip chambers (34, 36) positioned to receive liquid escaping from the treatment chamber (32) through the nips (26, 28) and between the rotatable path-defining rollers (18, 20, 22, 24) and the housing (12). The buffer has a maximum total volume such that a static liquid level (S) is established below the sheet material path (30), without the buffer overflowing. In a non-operative condition, treatment liquid, which escapes through the nips and between the path-defining rollers and the housing, is all retained in the buffer, for later re-use as desired. 
Agfa-Gevaert N.V.
G G
G03D G03D
inventional inventional
Patrick Bart
Van den Bergen Verlinden