US1503507A - Printing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 5, 1924. 1,503,507

M. J. KOCH ET AL PRINTING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 15. 1921 7 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS Aug 5 1924.

M. J. KOCH ET AL PRINTING ATPARATUS File ov- 15. 1921 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Aug. 5 1924. 1,503,507

M. J. KOCH ET AL PRINTING APPARATUS Filed N vv 15. 1921 7 She ets-Sheet 4 V 48 54 FF 4 Aug. 5 1924.

M. J. KOCH ET AL PRINTING APPARATUS File NOV- 15 1921 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Aug- 5 M. J. KOCH ET AL PRINTING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 15, 1921 7 Sheets-Sheet, '7

Patented Aug. 5, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL J. KOCH AND HARRY B. BOOSE, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

rmn'rmo APPARATUS.

Application filed November 15, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, MICHAEL J. KocH and HARRY B. Boosn, both citizens of the United States, and residents of the city of Pittsbur h, in the county of Allegheny and State of ennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Printin Appanatus, of which the following is a fu 1, clear, and exact description.

The present invention relates broadly to photography, and more particularly to printing apparatus for use in connection therewith.

At the present time it is customary to print from negatives in a plurality of diflerent ways by the use both of rotating and stationary printing devices. Where rotating drums have been utilized for carr ing the negatives, they have either not con internally divided to produce a series of separate light compartments, or they have been polygonal in cross section. In the first case, it is extremely diflicult to provide means for varying the duration of the printing period as required by negatives having different characteristics. In the second case, it is extremely diflicult to hold the paper and films in position by means of an endless belt, as such belt tends to arch off the flat portions of the drum by reason of the high points on the drum.

The present invention has for its object the provision of a printing apparatus of the rotary type adapted to overcome the objections whlch exist with apparatus of this general type at present in use, and to facilitate the operation thereof and increase the output.

The present invention also provides in an apparatus of this type a comparison device comprising representative negatives and an easily operable means for varying the duration of the printing period in accordance with the characteristics of any particular film as compared with said comparison de- The foregoing and other objects of the present invention, together with their attendant advantages, will be apparent as the invention becomes better understood by reference Serial No. 515,252.

to the accompanying specification and drawings formin a part thereof, it bein prem1sed that c anges may be made in t e details of construction and manner of operation without departing from the scope of our invention or our broader claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is an end view of such apparatus illustrating the driving mechanism;

Figure 3 is an end view 0 the opposite end of the apparatus;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line IV-IV of Figure 1;

Fi re 5' is a sectional view on the line V of Figure 4 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a detail top plan view of a portion of the rotating drum;

Figure 7 is a detail view of a portion of the timing mechanism;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the timing contact;

Figure 9 is a die rammatic view illus trating the electrica connections for the present apparatus;

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic end elevation of a slightly modified form of apparatus;

Figure 11 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the perforating device used in the apparatus illustrated in Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a view corresponding to Figure 10, illustrating a still further modification; and

Figure 13 is a detail top plan view of a portion of the modified rotating drum used with the apparatus illustrated either in Figure 10 or 12.

As illustrated in the drawings, an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention may comprise any desired supporting frame 2, carrying a transversely extending shaft 3 for supporting the rotating printing drum 4. This printing drum has preferably a uniformly curved periphery provided with a series of printing openings 5 extending therethrough, preferably Shaft 16.

. 16 carries a clutch member 17 adapted to adjacent one end of the drum. The terior of the drum is divided into a senes of separatelight compartments 6 by partitions 7 projecting radially of the drum from the hub 8 and joined to the periphery thereof at suitable points intermediate the printin openings 5. Co-operatin with each the openings is a curve transparent closure 9 secured in suitable depressions in the drum and having a curvature conformin tothe curvature of the periphcry of sai drum.

Suitably supported within each of the compartments 6 is a non-actinic llght source 10 and also anvactinic light source 11. The

actinic light source, which may comprise any desired number of printing lights ar- I ran ed to give eflicient light distribution, is pre erably mounted in each compartment on a base 12. These bases are radially adjustable to vary the printing intensity ofthe light source by means of a slot and clamping bolt construction 13 cooperating with each of the bases.

Secured to one end of the shaft 3 is a worm wheel 14 adapted to be driven by a worm 15 on the upwardly extending drive Thelower end of the drive shaft enga e a similarly shaped clutch member on ace of the worm wheel 18. The worm wheel 18 is in turn driven by a worm 19 on the shaft 20 of an electric motor 21. The

clutch member 17 is operatively connected to the shaft 20 by a pin and slot connection 22, whereby it may be moved longitudinally of said shaft to disengage it from the worm wheel 18. This movement against the action of a spring 23 which is normally effective for holding the clutch members in operative engagement, is produced by a lever 24 pivotally secured to the frame 2 and operated by a link 25 secured to the foot treadle 26. The foot treadle is located adjacent the front of the machine in such manner that an operator may keep one foot continuously thereon. Cooperating with the foot treadle 26 is a switch 27 adapted to be thrown to inoperative position each time the foot treadle 26 is depressed, as'will be hereinafter more fully pointed out.

Each of the transparent closures 9 has cooperating therewith mats 28 adjustably carried on suitable rods 29, as is common in this art. For positioning the negatives and the printing paper on the closure, there may be provided a series of resilient stops 30, each havin. one end secured to the drum 4, as indicate at 31, and thence bent upwardly to provide positioning shoulders 32, as clearly shown in Figure 5. The opposite ends of the stops extend downwardly through suitable openings in the drum and thence outwardly to provide holding lugs 33.

Passing around a substantial portion of the periphery of the drum 4 is an endless belt 34 of any desired flexible material. This belt passes around idler rolls 35 and 36 carried by the frame 2 with their peripheries adjacent the eriphery of the drum 4, and thence around a second set of idler rolls 37. The roll 35 is preferably carried by arms 38 having a ivotal connection 39 with the frame 2 an extending forwardly therefrom whereby the roller 35 may have a sli ht upward movement with respect to the drum 4 in case an operator gets his fingers caught therebetween. One of the rolls 37 is also preferably similarly carried by arms 40, one of which is subject to the action of a tension spring 41, the opposite end of which is attache to the frame 2 for maintaining tension on a belt 34. This belt is preferably slightly wider than the length of the closures 9 and passes around the drum in such manner as to cooperate therewith. As each set of stops 30 move into engagement with the belt 34, they are pressed downwardly substantially flush with the periphery of the drum 4 and thereafter the belt maintains the negatives and printing paper in proper positlon.

Extending any desired distance around the periphery of the drum 4 at one side of the elt 34, is a curved timing contact 42, shown in perspective in Figure 8. The contact 42 is mounted on an insulatin backing 43 which is secured in any desired manner to the frame 2. At its upper end, the contact carries a wear strip 44 adapted to initially engage adjustable contacts 45 projecting upwardly from the drum and produce a snap action thereof. The contacts 45 may 'be made from any desired flexible material an oblique line. By reason of this construc-' tion, it will be apparent from an inspection more particularly of Figure 9, that as the contacts 45 are moved outwardly along the contact bars 47 they are brought into such a position that they will remain in enga ement with the contact 42 for substantia ly the entire length thereof. As the contacts 45 are moved inwardly, however, the periods durin which such engagement will be maintaine are progressively decreased. Advan-j tage is taken of this construction'for automatically varying the duration of the print- 1n%per1od as may be found necessary.

arried by the frame 38, which carries the idler roll 35, is a comparison device comprising a lamp-box 48 having an open front face covered by a comparison chart. This chart may comprise a series of negatives a, b, a, d, e and f, having different characteristics and requlring, respectively, successively longer printing periods. The periphery of the drum underlying this comparison device, may be provided with a series of lines 50, corresponding to the divisions between the comparison films of the chart. By reason of this construction, an operator may place a negative in position on one of the transparent closures 9, compare the same with this comparison chart, set the contact accordingly and the picture will be properly rinted. The non-actinic light sources 10 in each of the compartments 6, permit this observation of the negative.

Cooperating with the entire apparatus is a table 51 having transparent upper and lower inserts 52 to permit an operator to look therethrough and observe whether or not the finished prints are being removed from the endless belt 34 by the doctor blade- 53 and delivered to the receptacle 54 provided for this purpose. In the table between the inserts 52 is a non-actinic light source 55. If desired, the negatives may be placed over the upper insert 52 and observed before being placed on the drum 4.

In order to show more clearly the wiring of the present apparatus, reference will be had to Figure 9 in which there are disclosed main line wires L and L. These wires deliver current to the apparatus through a main switch 56. In the present machine this switch is adapted to be manually opened and closed'by an operating handle 57 having a suitable connection 58 with the operating handle 59 for the switch, as shown in Figure 3. With the switch in closed position, current will be supplied to the motor 21 through the wires 60, and to conducting rings 61 and 62 through the brushes 63 and 64 connected to the wires 65 and 66. These rings 61 and 62 are mounted concentrically with the shaft 3 on one end of the drum, as apparent from Figure 3, and the brushes 63 and 64 are carried by the frame 2. Current will also be supplied to the non-actinic light source 55 in the table 51 and to the nonactinic light source 67 in the comparison lamp-housing 48. From the ring 61 current will flow through wire 68 'to one side of each of the non-actinic light sources 10 within the compartments 6. The opposite sides of these lam s are in connection with the ring 62 throug wire 69, all of the light sources 10 being connected in parallel. The wire 69 also has a branch connection 70 leading to one'side of each of the actinic light sources 11 within the compartments 6. The opposite sides of these light sources are connected by wires 71 to independent fixed conducting pivots'72. Each of these pivots carries a frictionally mounted triangularly shaped conducting blade 73. Referring to Figure .3, as thei drum rotates in the direction of the arrow; the blades 73 will be brought into engagement with a pin 74 projectingintrically connected with each of the conductin bars 47. This operation occurs just prlor to the time that a transparent closure 9 is brought into position for the. placing of a negative thereon. Therefore, at the time the contacts 45 are adjusted on the bars 47, these bars are out of electrical connection and the operator is not subjected to a shock. Continued rotation of the drum will, however, bring the blades 73 into engagement with a fixed pin 76 projecting inwardly from the frame 2. This will swing the blades in the opposite direction into engagement with the contacts 75, thereby placing the bars 47 in electrical connection with one side of the actinic light sources 11. At substantially this same time, but preferably slightly thereafter, the contacts 45, so connected, engage the wear bar 44, and thence snap into engagement with the timing contact 42. This contact is connected by a wire 77 with the opposite side of the source. of current, whereby the circuit is completed to such of the actinic light sources as have their contacts 45 in engagement with the timing contact. This will subject the negatives and printing paper to a printing light for variable periods of time depending upon the setting of the contacts 45. When it is desired to temporarily stop rotation of the drum, the foot treadle 26 is depressed. This will operate the foot switch 24 throwing it to itsinoperative position, as illustrated in Figure 9, whereby the actinic light sources will be cut out of circuit. As soon as the foot treadle is released, the circuit will again be established to these light sources and the drum will continue its rotation.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that there is provided convenient means for rapidly operating adjustable contacts, as shown necessary by a comparison of the films being used with the comparison chart.

In certain cases, it may be desired to print on a continuous strip of paper. Where such is the case, the printing drum 104 may have in equally spaced lines on its periphery a series of perforating pins p adapted to pass under the endless belt 184 and perforate the printing paper between successive pictures. The printing paper may be fed from a suitable source of supply and be wound onto a roll positively driven in any desired manner from the drum shaft 103, otherwise, the apparatus may be constructed exactl in accordance with the construction here1nbe-' fore described, with the exception that each of the transparent closures 109 may have 00- operating therewith holding clips 110 for maintaining negatives in fixed position. It will be apparent that with this type of apparatus a series of pictures could be printed from each negative and it is therefore desirable to hold the negative fixedly in position.' If desired, strips of adhesive tape may a be effectively-substituted for the clips 110.

In Figure 12 there is illustrated a still further modification in which the drum 104 has no perforating points on its periphery but is adapted to deliver the paper P be tween cutting rolls 111 driven in any desired manner from the shaft 103 and provided with a cut-off blade 112.

The advantages of the present invention arise from the provision of means for readily comparing the films being used with a comparison chart and varying the print-- ing periods accordingly. v

Further advantages arise from the means for preventing injury to the operator during use of the machine and from the ease of operation thereof.

We claim:

1. In a printing apparatus. a rotating drum having a uniformly curved periphery, means dividing, the drum into a series of light compartments each having an exposure-opening, an independently regulable light source for each compartment, and a flexible belt extending partly around the.

periphery of said drum and cooperating with. said exposure openings, substantially as described.

2. In a printing apparatus, a rotating drum having a uniformly curved periphery, means dividing said drum into a series of light compartments each compartment having an exposure opening, an indepenct-' ently regulable light source for each compartment, and an endless belt of flexible material extending partly around the periphery of said drum in contact'therewith, substantially as described.

3. In a printing apparatus, a rotating drum having a uniformly curved periphery, means dividing the drum into aseries of light compartments each having an exposure opening, an independently regulable light source for each compartment, a flexible belt extending partly around the periphery of said drum and cooperating with said exposure enin and means for maintaining said bet un er tension. substantially as described.

4. In a printing apparatus, a rotating drum having a uniformly curved periphery, means dividing said drum into a series of light compartments each having an exposure opening, an independently regulable light source for each compartment, an endless belt of flexible material extending partly around the periphery of said drum in contact therewith, and means for maintaining said belt under tension, substantially as described. I

5. In a printing apparatus, a rotating drum having a uniformly curved periphery, means dividing said drum into a series of light-compartments, each having anQexposure opening, a curved transparent closure for each opening, an independently controlled light source for each comparement, and a flexible belt extending partly around the periphery of said drum in contact therewith and with'said closures, substantially as described.

6. In a printing apparatus, a rotating drum, means dividing said drum into a series of light compartments, each having an exposure opening, a light source for each compartment, a flexible belt extending partly around the periphery of said drum for cooperating with said exposure openings, and stops for each of said openings, said stops being adapted to move inwardly when engaged by said belt, substantially as described.

7. In a printing apparatus, a rotating drum having exposure openings, means for directing actinic light rays through said openings, a flexible belt cooperating with said openings, and stops for each of said openings, said stops beln adapted to move inwardly when engaged y said belt, substantially as described.

8. In a photo printing apparatus, a rotating drum having exposure openings, means dividing said drum into a series of light compartments, 8. light source for each compartment, and means for adjustingsaid light sources radially, substantially as de scribed.-

9. In a photo printing apparatus, a rotating drum having a uniformly curved periphery formed with exposure openings, means dividing said drum into a series of light compartments, each having an exposure opening, a light source for each compartment, a flexible belt cooperating with said exposure openings, and adjustable means for controlling the energization of said light sources, substantially as described.

10. In a photo printing apparatus, a rotating drum having a uniformly curved periphery formed with exposure openings, means dividing said drum into a series of light compartments, each having an exposure-opening, a non-actinic light source for each compartment, an actinic light source for each compartment, a flexible belt coopcrating with said exposure openings, and adjustable means for energizing said actinic light sources for variable periods of time, substantially as described.

11. In a printing apparatus, a transparent support for the negative and-printing paper, an actinic light source cooperating therewith, a negative comparison device constituting in effect a scale, and means cooperating with said device for varying the period of energization of said light source as found necessary by comparison of the negative being used with said comparison device, substantially as described.

12. In a printing apparatus, a rotating drum having a series of light compartments, each provided with an exposure opening, an actinic light source for each compartment, a comparison device cooperating with Said drum and constituting in effect a scale, and means cooperating with said device for energizing said actinic light sources for variable periods of time as found necessary by comparison of the negatives being used with said comparisonfldevice, substantially as described. I I

13. In a printing apparatus,a rotating drum having a series of light compartments each provided with an exposure opening. an actinic light source for each compartment, a comparison. device having a series of'sample negatives constituting in effect a scale, and means cooperating with said device for energizing each actinic light source for varying periods of time as found necessary by comparison between the film being printed and one of said sample negatives, substantially as described.

14. In a printing apparatus, a rotating drum having a series of light compartments each provided with an exposure opening, a comparison device cooperating with said drum and constituting in effect a scale. means on said drum cooperating with said i comparison device. and actinic light sources controlled by said means, substantially as described.

15. In a photo printing apparatus, a rotating drum having a series of light compartments each provided with an exposure opening, alight source for each compartment, a flexible belt extending partly around the periphery of said drum. a tim ing contact cooperating with said drum, said contact having successive portions thereof of varying widths, and adjustable contacts adapted to engage said timing contact during rotation of the drum, said adjustable contacts controlling the energization of said light sources, substantially as described.

16. In a printing apparatus, a rotating drum having a plurality of exposure openings, an independent actinic light source for directing light rays separately through each of said openings. an adjustable contact controlling each of said light sources, and means for indicating the proper setting of said adjustable contacts for negatives of differing characteristics. substantially as de scribed.

17. In a printing apparatus. a rotating drum having a plurality of exposure openings, an independent actinic li ht source for directing light rays separate y through each of said openings, an adjustable contact gontrolling each ofsaid light sources, means for indicating the proper setting of said adustable contacts for negatives of differing characteristics, and means for automatically throwing said adjustable contacts out of circuit before each setting operation thereof, substantially as described.

18. In a photo printing apparatus, a

, rotating drum having a series of printing rotating drum having a series of printing compartments each provided with an exposure opening, an actinic light source for each compartment, an adjustable contact for each light source, a timing contact adapted to be engaged by said adjustable contacts for varying periods depending upon the setting thereof for controlling the v period of energization of said light sources,

and means for automatically throwing each of said adjustable contacts out of circuit before each setting operation thereof, substantially as described.

20. In a photo printing apparatus, a rotating drum having a series of printing compartments each having an exposure opening, an actinic light source for each compartment, a flexible belt for maintains ing negatives in proper position with relation to said compartments, a curved timing contact cooperating with said drum, contacts carried by said drum adapted to engage said first mentioned contact for energizing said light sources, and means for producing a relative adjustment between said contacts for varying the period of energizationof said light sources, substantially as described.

21. In a printing apparatus, a printing drum, a comparison chart cooperating therewith, said drum having. a series of indicating means thereon cooperating with said chart. actinic light sources for said drum, and adjustable means cooperating with said indicating means and said comparison chart for energizing said light sources for varying periods, substantially as described.

22. In a photo printing apparatus, a rotating drum having a series of printing compartments each having an exposure opening, an actinic light source for each compartment, an adjustable contact for each compartment, and a timing contact adapted to be engaged by said adjustable contacts for varying the printing period in accordance with the setting of the adjustable contacts, substantially as described.

23. In -a photo printing apparatus, a rotating drum having an exposure open- 5 in an actinic light source for directing lig it rays through said opening an ad ustable contact controlling said light source,

and means indicating the pro or settin of said contact for negatives of i flering 0 aracteristics; substantially as described. 10 In testimony whereof we have hereunto.

set our hands.

MICHAEL J. KOCH. HARRY B. 'BOOSE.

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