US1811691A - Press-frame for duplicating or printing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

June 23, 1931. 1,811,691

PRESS FRAME FOR DUPLICATING 0R PRINTING APPARATUS R. HARRIS Filed June 10, 1927 ZSI'LGGtS-Sht 1 mwsma. v \Nww June 23, 1931, R HARR|5 1,811,691

PRESS FRAME FOR DUPLICATING OR PRINTING APPARATUS Filed June 10, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 23, 1 931 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBERT HARRIS, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO LITHOPRINTEX CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE PRESS-FRAME FOR DUPLICATING OR PRINTING APPARATUS Application filed June 10, 1927, Serial No. 197,789, and in Great Britain August 11, 1926.

This invention relates to press frames for duplicating or printing apparatus, and particularly for photographic step-and-repeat contact-printing machines, of the'type com-c 6 prising a unit-holder for carrying a unit, such as a photographic negative or positive, a base member (which is usually mounted to reciprocate in the machine to bring the printing surfaces into contact), and a supporting '10 member that carries the unit-holder and is movably mounted on the base.

In press frames of this type proposed heretofore all adjustments ofthe unit in relation to the base member and other associated parts 15 of the machine had to be performed when the unit-holder carrying the unit was in the machine.

This invention has for its main objectto provide an improved construction of press 20 frame of the type described which shall obviate the necessity for such adjustments to be made after the unit has been placed in the machine, whereby an appreciable saving in time in the operation of the machine is ob- 535 tained.

According .to an important feature of the invention, there is provided a press frame of the type described, characterized in that the supporting member whereon the unitholder is adjustably carried, is so mounted on the base member as always to occupy the same position when secured thereon, and to be readily removed therefrom, so that when replaced whilst carrying the unit-holder it takes up automatically its desired setting, for the purpose of enabling the unit to be accurately positioned, for example by means of lay-marks, on the supporting member out of the machine and then securing the support ing member in a predetermined position on the base member in the machlne.

According toanother feature of the inven-- tion, a press frame having clamping means arranged adjustably to secure the unit-holder on the supporting member, is characterized in that the clamping means are so arranged that when slack, but while still carried by one of said members, they permit said unitholder to be adjusted on the supporting member in two directions lying transversely (e. g.

at right-angles) to one another and also angularly in its own plane in relation to the supporting member, Consequently, if the negative ispositioned out of true on the holding member this error can be negatived by corresponding adjustmentof the holding member on its support. That is to say, the negative need not be accurately positioned on the negative holder itself.

Conveniently, the clamping means slidingly engage one of said members in one direction thereof, and slidingly engage the other of said members in a direction transversely, for example at right-angles, to the first said direction.

According to yet another feature of the invention, a press frame as set forth above is characterized in that the base memberis arranged slidingly to receive and support said supporting member, locating means are arranged for automatically locating said supporting member on the base member in two directions at right-angles to one another independently of its support at the end of its sliding movement into its operative'position, and holding means are provided for securing the supporting member on the base member in its locatedposition. By tightening the said holding means the supporting member carrying the unit-holder with the unit positioned on the latter can be automatically positioned in its desired operative setting.

Conveniently, the supporting member is mounted on the base member by two slideways, one at each side of the base, and said locating means are situated between the slideways. j 7

Other features of the invention will be described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

One embodiment of the invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a press frame constructed according to the invention for use in a photographic step-and-repeat contact-printing machine, parts of the frame being shown broken away;

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 22 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 33 in Figure 1;

Figure 1 is a section taken in the line 4- 1 in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a section taken 011 the line 55 in Figure 1, and

Figure 6 is a section taken on the line 6(3 in Figure 1.

Figures 2, 3, at, 5 and 6 are each shown on a scale larger than that of Figure 1.

Like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, a press frame for use in a photographic step-by-step contact-printing machine comprises three principal parts 10, 11, 12, namely, a negative holder 10 referred to above as a unit-holder, a slide or support 11 therefor, referred to above as a supporting member, and a base member 12 which is usually mounted in the machine. Each of these three members is in the form of an oblong frame, approxi mately equal in size, lying one on another with the slide 11 in the middle, whereof the two shorter sides will be referred to as ends and the two longer ones as sides. lVhen in use the base 12 will usually be uppermost and will transmit pressure to the negative 13 carried on a sheet of glass 11 1 at the underside of the negative holder, for pressing the negative against a sensitized metal plate.

Each side of the negative holder has in its face adjacent the slide two slots 141- of T-sect'ion lying parallel with the ends, the two slots in one side being in line with the two slots in the opposite side and spaced apart equally from the centre line 50 of the holder passing through those sides. The corresponding sides of the slide 11 have adjacent the holder 10 each an inward]y-directed lip 15 and four clamps (Figure 2) are provided, one for each slot, for engaging the lip. Each of these clamps comprises a bolt 16 having its head movable in the cross of a T slot and on the stem of each bolt is an L- shaped plate 17, 18 which can be secured by a nut 19 with one limb 17 bearing against said lip 15 and its other limb 18 against the negative holder 10. By sliding the bolts in said slots and along the lips the negative holder can be adjusted in any direction on the slide according to laymarks, an angular movement of about 5 about the centre of the holder being generally is slid with the holder on to the base and secured in its end position, the negative will be automatically correctly positioned in the machine. The ends of the slide are provided each with a tongue 20 (Figure of Lsecti0n extending from side to side of the slide, which tongues are received each in a. corresponding groove 21 in the ends of the base 12. The tongues 20 are a loose lit in the grooves and these tongue-and- groove connections 20, 21 serve as a coarse adjustment of the slide on the base and also for holding these two parts together. In order to position the slide accurately in the direction of length of the slide, i. c., in the direction transverse to its direction of sliding, the slide 11 and base 12 are provided on the centre line 50 at the front and rear sides with two grooves 22, (F ig-- ures 1, 1- and 6), one at each side, arranged in line one with the other, and two iine-adjustment tongues 24:, 25, one at each side, tapered each at one end, which fit accurately therein, the rear line-adjustment tongue 21!: and groove considered in the direction oi? sli 1g into position indicated by the arrow in i igure 1 being wider than the front. As illustrated, the groove 2 is provided on the slide 11, and the tongue 24. 011 the base 12, whi st the groove 23 is on the base 12- and the tongue 25 is carried by the slide. Alternatively both tongues may be on the slide; owing to their difference in width the front fincadjustment tongue 25 can readily pass through the rear groove when the holder is being positioned. Obviously both the grooves may be provided on the slide and both the tongues on the base, it desired.

Two stops 26 (Figure 2) for arresting the slide 11 at the end of its forward movement are provided on the base 12, one at each side of the centre line at the front side of the base. These stops 26 are undercut to slant downwards and co-operate with correspondingly chamfered stops 27 fixed on the front side of the slide 11. Two screw clamps 30 (Figure are secured on the rear side of the base, one opposite each of said stops. These clamps comprise each a yoke piece 31 having two jaws, 32, 33, one engaging under a shoulder 8st of a recess 35 in the base, and the other being bevelled and bearing on an outwardly slanting shoulder 36 on the slide 11, so that when held home by a nut 3'? on the clamp the yokes 81 not only press the slide 11 home against its stops 26, but also force the opposed taces of the slide and base firmly together in a direction normal to them.

After adjusting the holder 10 and slide 11 so as to carry the negative in its correct posi tion, the same can be assembled in the machine on the base member 12 aforesaid by a simple sliding movement and by a simple clamping movement, when the negative will be automatically correctly positioned in the ill) machine and ready for being shifted step-bystep over the press plate.

The bodies of the frames 10, 11, 12 may convenientl be made of aluminium, whilst the parts su jected to wear, such as the parts 26, 27, 31, 34, 36, 22, 23, 24, 25, are preferably made of a harder material, such as steel.

The invention is not restricted to press frames for contact-printin machines. Also, various modifications may e made in the details of construction as described above without departing from the invention. For example, the number of stops 26 may be increased or decreased, and the form of the tongue-and- groove guides 22, 24 or 23, 25 and clamping devices may be changed.

I claim:

1. A press frame of the character described, comprising in combination a base member, a

supporting member 'detachably mounted on the base member, a unit-holder for carrying a unit adjustably carried by said supporting member, clamping means for clampin said holder in its adjusted position on said supporting member, and holding means'for removably securing the supporting member in its operative'position on the base member, locating means for automatically locating said supporting member in its operative position on the base member in two directions at right angles to one another at the end of its sliding movement into its operative position,

which said holder can be adjusted on the supporting member in two directions lying transversely to one another and also angularly in its own plane in relation to the supporting member when said clamping means is slack but is still carried by said holder or said supporting member.

2. A press frame of the character described, comprising in combination a base member, a supporting member detachably mounted on the base member, a unit-holder for carrying a unit adjustably carried by said supporting member, clamping means for clamping said holder in its adjusted position on said supporting member, and holding means for removably securing the supporting member in its operative position on the base member, locating means for automatically locating said supporting member in its operative position on the base member in two directions at right angles to one another at the end of its sliding movement into its operative position, which clamping means slidingly engage the said holder and its supporting member one in. the direction of length of one of its sides,

and the other in a direction lying transversely of the first said direction.

3. A press frame of the character described, comprising in combination a base member, a supporting member detachably mounted on the base member, a unit-holder for carrying a unit adjustably carried by said supporting member, clamping means for'clamping said unit-holder holder in its adjusted positionon said supporting member, and holding means for'removably securing the supporting member in its operative positionon the base member, locating means for automatically locating said supporting member in its operative position on the base member in two directions at right angles to one another at the end of its sliding movement into its operative position, which clamping means comprise a plurality of bolts carrying each a plate, which plates slidingly engage each a lip on the sides of the supporting member, and the heads of which bolts are slidable each in a slot that is formed in said holder and extends at right-angles to the lips. I

4. A press frame of the character described, comprising in combination'a base member, a unit-holder supporting member in the form of an aperturedframe member so carried thereby as to be slidable in its own plane into and out of its operative position thereon, locating means for automatically locating said supporting member in its operative position on the base member in two directions at right-angles to one another at the end of its sliding movement into its operative position, holding means for securing the supporting member 011 the base member in its located position, and a unit-holder in the form of an apertured frame member adjustably carried by said supporting member and registering therewith. I

5. A press frame of the character described, comprising in combination a base member, a supporting 'member carried thereby by two slideways, one at each lateral marginal portion of the base, so as to be slidable into and out of its operative position thereon, locating means situated between said slideways for automatically locating said supporting member in its operative position on the base member in two directions at rightangles to one another at the end of its sliding movementinto its operative position, which locating means comprise a guide lying in one direction and a stop operative in the same direction, holding means forsecuring the supporting member on the base member-in its located position, and a unit-holder adjustably carried by said supporting'member.

6. A press frame of the character described, comprising in combination a base ly locating said supporting member in its operative position on the base member in two directions at right-angles to one another at the end of its sliding movement into its operative position, which locating means comprise sto'psin the form of grooves on oneof I said members, tongues provided on the other the base member in two directions at right of said members in the direction of sliding of the supporting member and arranged to enter said grooves, an undercut abutment on the base member, and a tapered stop on the supporting member for co-operating with said abutment and thereby arresting the supporting member at the end of its sliding movement into its operative position, holding means for securing the supporting member on the base member in its located position, and a unit-holder adjustably carried by said supporting member.

7. A press frame of the character described, comprising in combination a base member, a unit-holder supporting member so carried thereby as to be slidable into and out of its operative position thereon, locating means for automatically locating said supporting member in its operative position on the base member in two directions at rightangles to one another at the end of its sliding movement into its operative position, holding means in the form of a clamp for securing the supporting member on the base member in its located position, which clamp is arranged to press the supporting member in one direction in its own plane against said locating means and also simultaneously in a transverse direction against the adjacent face of the base member, and a unit-holder adjustably carried by said supporting member.

8. In a press frame of the character described, the combination with a supporting member in the form of a frame arranged to be slid by a tongue and groove engagement on to and off from a base member, a unit-holder also in the form of a frame slidable on said supporting member in two directions ar ranged face to face with the supporting member, which unit-holder is lying transversely one to the other and also adjustable angularly in its own plane in relation to the supporting member, and clamping means for clamping said holder in its adjusted position on the supporting member.

9. A press-frame of the character de scribed, comprising in combination a base member and a unit-holder structure detachably and slidably mounted thereon, which said structure comprises two registering frame members one slidable on and adjustable angular-1y in its own plane'in relation to the other, one of which frame members constitutes a holder for a unit and the other of said frame members constitutes a support for said holder on the base member, clamping means for clamping said holder in its adj usted position on the supporting frame member, holding means for removably securing the unit-holdingstructure in its operative position on the base member, and locating means for automatically locating said supporting frame of member in its operative position on angles to one another at the end of its slid lng movement into its operative p osition.

In testnnony whereof I aflix my signature.

ROBERT HARRIS.

1 iii)

Images