Automatic Film Processing
Film Transport
Water System
Recirculation
Replenishment System
Developing
Fixing
Washing
Drying
Film Transport
A system of rollers that
moves the film through
the developer, fixer,
washing and drying
sections of the
processor.
Also acts as a squeegee
action to remove excess
chemicals from the film.
Make up of the Transport System
Entrance roller or detector roller
Vertical or Deep racks (transport racks)
Crossover assembly
Squeegee assembly
Entrance roller or detector roller
Contains the Entrance rollers and guide shoes
which moves film into the developer tank
Also contains a micro switch which turn on the
replenishment pump
Vertical or Deep racks (transport
racks)
Moves film into and through solutions and
dryer
Uses a turn around assembly at the bottom of
the tank to turn film direction upward.
Crossover assembly
Moves film form developer to fixer tank and
from the fixer to the wash tank
Forces solutions from film back into the tank it
is coming from.
Squeegee assembly
Moves the film from the wash tank to the dryer
Squeegee action removes excess water from
the film.
Water System
Washing the film
Temperature control
Circulation or Recirculation or
Filtration System
Agitates developer solution
Removes reaction particles by the use of a filtration
system
Helps stabilize developer temperature.
– Agitation and circulation
– Agitation keeps solutions in contact with a heater element in
the bottom of the tank and prevents layering of chemicals
– Maintains developer temperature
– Heating element is controlled by a thermostat
Replenishment or Regeneration
Systems
Responsible for replenishing processor
solutions that are used during processing
Consist of a series of umps, plastic tubing and
plastic storage tanks.
Replenishment is based on the length of the
film processed.
Types of Replenishment
Volume Replenishment
– A volume of chemicals are replaced for each film
that is processed.
Flood Replenishment
– Periodically replenishes chemicals regardless of
the number of films processed.
Developing
Changing the latent
image of film to a visible
image (manifest image)
composed of minute
clusters of silver.
Components of the Developer
– Solvents
– Developing agents
– Accelerators
– Preservatives
– Restrainers
– Hardeners
Solvents of the Developer
Water is the solvent in the developer
Water dissolves and ionizes the developer
chemicals
Film emulsion also absorbs water, causing it to
swell. This allows the dissolved developing
agents to penetrate the emulsion and to reach
all the silver halide crystals.
Developing or Reducing Agents
This component oxidizes the silver and
converts the latent image into the manifest
image
Two Components of Reducing Agents
– Hydroquinone - Slowly builds black tones for
contrast
– Phenidone – quickly builds gray tones
Accelerators or Activator
Composed of :
– Sodium or potassium carbonate
– Sodium or potassium hydroxide
Increase the rate of chemical reaction, converting
exposed silver halide grains into metallic silver at a
more rapid rate.
Swells and softens the emulsion so that the reducing
agents may work more effectively.
Provides an alkaline medium for reducing agents
Accelerators or Activator
Must have a pH of between 10 and 11.5
Must be alkaline
Preservatives of the Developer
Sodium or potassium
sulfite
Help maintain the rate of
development and
prevent staining of the
film emulsion layer
Also helps protect the
hydroquinone from
oxidation
Restrainers or anti-foggers
Potassium bromide
Potassium iodide
Protect unexposed silver
halide grains from the
action of the developer,
minimizing film fog.
Hardeners of Developer
Glutaraldehyde
Prevents excessive swelling of the gelatin and
damage to the film as it passes through the
rollers.
Fixing
Clearing of undeveloped crystals before
washing to prevent discoloration of the film with
age or exposure to visible light.
Fixer Components
– Solvent
– Fixing agent
– Preservative
– Hardener
– Acidifier
– Buffer
Solvent of the Fixer
Water
Diffuses into the
emulsion, carrying with it
the other dissolved
chemicals of the fixer.
Fixing or Clearing Agent
Sodium thiosulfate and ammonium thiosulfate
Dissolves and removes the undeveloped silver
halide grains from the emulsion.
This allows the unexposed areas of the film to
go from a milky-white appearance to a
transparent appearance.
Preservative of the fixer
Sodium sulfite
Prevents decomposition
of the fixer
Makes the fixer able to
recycle back into a fixer
solution
Hardener or Tanning Agent of the
Fixer
Aluminum chloride, aluminum sulfide, or
potassium alum.
Prevents the gelatin of the emulsion from
swelling excessively.
Also prevents softening by the wash water or
by warm air drying.
Shortens the drying time.
Acidifier
Acetic acid
Accelerates the action of other chemicals
Neutralize any developer that may be carried
over from the developer tank.
Buffer
Chemical compounds that maintain a constant
pH of the solution during the fixing process.
Maintain pH of Fixer
– Should be between 4 and 4.5
Washing
Removes the last traces
of processing chemicals
and prevents fading or
discoloration.
Drying
To dry the radiograph
after being processed.
A blower supplies heated
air to the dryer section of
the film processor which
consist of tube like
rollers. Most of the air is
recirculated. The rest is
vented to prevent
buildup of excessive
humidity in the dryer.
THE END
