US1858888A - Method and apparatus for developing prints - Google Patents

Description

May 17, 1932. 5. M. DYE

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING PRI'NTS' Filed April 27 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet G. M. DYE

May 17, 1932.

' METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING PRINTS Filed. April 27. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented May 17, 1932 a UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE GLEN M. DYE, or MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA METHOD N APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING ramrs Application filed April 27, 1927. Serial N'o. 186,925.

This invention relates to a method and apfollowing description made in connection paratu's for handling sensitized photographic with the. accompanying drawings, in which sheets such as prints or negatives, and part-iclike reference characters refer to similar parts ul'arly to method and apparatus for developthroughout the several views and in which -ing prints or negatives. It is. desirable in Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the ap- 55 modern photographic developing and print paratus; ing establishment-s to have the prints or nega- Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; tives HIOVG progressively through the various Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line stages of operation thereon. It is also desir- 3+3 of Fig. 1; as indicated by the arrows;

able to have the prints or negatives handled Fig. t is a. vertical section taken on line so as quickly as possible and to have apparatus a of Fig. 3, as indicated by the arrows; of great capacity. Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5 It is an object of this invention, therefore, .of Fig. l, as indicated by the arrows; to provide a simple and .eflicient developing Fig. 6 is a view in end elevation of a modiapparatus comprising a receptacle in which fled form of the submerging roll; as, the prints are submerged and through which Fig. 7 isa vertical section taken on line 7 7 they progress until properly developed. of Fig. 6, as indicated by the arrows;

It is also an object of the invention to pro- Fig. 8 is a partial section similar to Fig.

vide a developing apparatus having means shown in the modification; and

for submerging the prints in the developing Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the bottom liquid, and means for progressing the prints member for the developer receptacle. in said liqui'db-y the movement of said liquid. Referring to the drawings a device, is

It is a further object of the invention to shown having a frame comprising the leg provide a method of handling prints or sensimembers 15 illustrated as of right-angular tized she ets,--Which consists insubmerging the shape in cross section, at the upper ends of same in the developing liquid and p-rogreswhich is supported the tray or receptacle l6. sively advancing the same therein without While the receptacle 16- may .be of various hand-lingorengaging theprintsin said liquid. shapes, in the embodiment .of the invention It is another object of the invention to proillustrated it is shown .as substantially recvide a device for handling sensitized .sheets tangular. Angle members l5a extend v.be- 30 comprising a print conveyor, areceptacle contween the pairs of end legs 15 ,on which .a

tai-ningdeveloping liquid to which said conh lf 15b i ad t d t gg id h lf pxveyor delivers the sheets, with means for subtending between said members 15m Other merging-the sheets in the liquidin saidrecepangle members 150 also extend between the mole. I end pairs of legs 15 ateach side of the frame Itis still another object of the invention to above th members 15a, whi h members 150 provide ade-vice such as set forth in the prcsupport the transversely extending shelf 15d .ceding paragraph, in which the submerged t di th b t Th b tt f th sheets are advanced in said liquid without beregepmcle 16 i id d ith a pl rality 4e ing touched or engaged by any advancing f l if di ll t ding upstanding par lneansallel ribs 16a. The receptacle 16 has a trough It isstilla further object of the invention 16? beneath one end thereof and holes, 160 to provide a method and apparatus. .for hanxtend through the bottom'of receptacle 16 dling sensitized photographicsheets,havinga between the ribs 16a into the trough 16]).

' receptacle-in which a treating solution is con- Another trough 16d extends transversely betained, said solution being caused to flow ,neath the otherend of receptacle 16 an Said through said receptacle and'to carry-the sheets receptacle has holes 166 between the ribs 16a therewith. extending through the bottom thereof into 'llreseand other objects and advantages of said trough. The troughs 161) and 16d have 50 the invention will be fully .set forth in the outlet spouts 16 and 169 respectively at the thereof.

inner sides thereof and substantially at transverse centers thereof. A tube or hose 17 is connected to the spout 16; at one end by a suitable clamp 17a and is connected at its other end to the inlet of the pump 18, said tube having clamps 17a thereon for connecting it to said spout and pump. Another tube or hose 19 is connected at one end to the spout 16g and at its other end to the outlet conduit of the pump 18, said tube 19 also being. connected by clamps 17 a. The pump l8 is bolted to the shelf dand is provided with a driving pulley 18a at one side Bearing plates 20 are secured to each side of receptacle 16 having central open-ended slots 20a at their upper sides and a submerging roll 21 is disposed across the tank or receptacle 16 adjacent one end thereof, having trunnion bearings 21a disposed in the slots 20a and resting in the bottom of said slots. One of the trunnions 21a is prolonged and has secured thereto a belt pulley 22. The roll 21 has longitudinally extending corrugations 216 formed in the surface thereof. A frame comprising parallel side members 23 extends from one end of receptacle 16, said side members 23 being illustrated as in the form of plates disposed in the same planes as the sides of receptacle 16. Shafts 24 are journaled in the plates 23 adjacent the ends thereof and extend therebetween, said shafts carrying rollers 25 over which run a plurality of comparatively narrow parallel endless fabric belts 26. A bar 27 is secured to the sides of plates 23 and extends transversely beneath the same, said bar having spaced u standing pins 28 secured thereto illustrated as cylindrical in form, which are disposed between the lower runs of belts 26. The shaft 24 adjacent the receptacle or tray 16 is prolonged at one side and has secured thereto a belt pulley 29. A roller 30 extends between the lates 23 between one end of the belts 26 an receptacle 16 and has trunnions journaled in the plates 23. As shownin Fig. 4, the roller 30 has its top disposed a short distance below the upper runs of the belts 26 and a short distance above the edge of the front of tray 16. One of said trunnions is prolonged and has secured thereto a belt pulley 31. Bearings 32 are secured to the members 15a in which is journaled a ack shaft 33. This shaft has secured thereto a driving pulley 34 adapted to be driven by a belt 35 running thereover, and also running over a pulley 36 secured to the shaft of a. motor 37 illustrated as of electrical type. The shaft 33 also carries a pulley 38 over which runs a belt 39. said belt also running over and driving the pulley 18a on 1 pump 18. The shaft 33 also carries a small pulley 40 having a belt 41 running thereover, which belt also runs over the pulley 29. Another small pulley 42 is secured to shaft 33 having a belt 43 running thereover, which belt also runs over the pulley 29 and a comparatively small pulley 44, said latter pulley being journaled on a shaft 45 carried in a bracket 46 having an elongated slot 46a therein through which passes a bolt 47 securing said bracket in a channel formed in a bracket 48 secured to the bottom of 'receptacle 16 and upstanding at one side thereof.

In Figs. 6 and 7 another form of submerging roller 21 is shown, comprisin end disks 50 secured adjacent each end of tlie shaft 51. Said disks 50 have rods 52 secured thereto, said rods having their ends bent substantially at right angles and extending across the outer ends of disks 50 radially of shaft 51, and being secured to said disks by any suitable means such as spot-welding. It will be noted that the bends or corners of the rods 52 are disposed some distance outwardly of the edges of the disks 50.

In Fig. 8 a modified form of the receptacle 53 is provided which may take the place of receptacle 16, said receptacle 53 having transverse corrugations 53a formed in its bottom, the same being of ratchet shape having vertical ends 536 and inclining downwardly between said ends, said receptacle, like receptacle 16, being provided with a transversely extending trough 150 at one end having the spout 53d therein, said trough communicating with the receptacle 53 through the holes 536.

In Fig. 9 a member 54 is shown comprising end bars 54a having secured therein and extending therebetween the parallel rods 54b. The member 54 is adapted to be used in a receptacle similar to receptacle 16 but having a plain flat bottom.

In operation the parts will be arranged as shown and described and the member 46 will be adjusted so that belt 43 will engage the bottom of pulley 22 when the trunnions 21a rest in the bottoms of slots 20a in bearings 20. The shaft 33 will be driven by the motor 37 and the roll 21 as well as the rolls 25 and 30 will thus be rotated, the roll 21 being rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. The rollers 25 will be rotated so as to progress the top runs of the belts 26 toward the receptacle 16 as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. \Vhen the machine is used to develop prints, the prints will be placed by the operatives on the belts 26 and will be carried toward receptacle 16. over the ends of the belts 26 over roller 25, they will tip downward into contact with the roller 30. This roller is driven at comparatively high speed and the prints are given a quick impetus forward by frictional engagement with said roller. The prints are thus directed downwardly into receptacle 16 and come beneath the submerging roller 2]. The surface of this roller is made corrugated, so that the prints cannot come into flat or As the prints pass l I ference from the ribs.

close contact therewith and adhere to the 'wise of receptacle 16 by the developing liquid moving lengthwise therein. It will be seen that the movement of roll 21 will assist the movement of the liquid longitudinally of said receptacle. The movement is determined so that the prints move at such speed that those requiring the most development will be fully developed before reaching the end of receptacle 16. The prints are usually deposited face up and their development can be Watched by the operative who is stationed at the side of the machine and when the proper degree of development is reached, the prints can be lifted from the receptacle and placed into a tray which usually will contain 'a short-stop solution. The ribs 16a are provided in the bottom of receptacle 16 so that the prints cannot come into close contact with the bottom of the receptacle where difiiculty would be experienced in getting hold of the same. .T hey are easily picked up from the ribs 16a as the operators fingers can enter between the ribs and easily get under the edge of the print. The prints can thus be very quickly lifted from the receptacle and this i s important, as the print might be overdeveloped or darkened if it were necessary to make several attempts to get hold of it. The prints being progressively moved through the tray 16, the development thereof is definitely related to and indicated by the position of the prints in said tray.

The roller shown in Figs. 6 and 7 may be substituted for the roll 21. This roll will be readily seen is of openwork or cagelike form and acts quite efiiciently to engage and submerge the prints without the formation of bubbles. The prints also cannotstick to the roll.

The receptacle 53 shown in Fig. 8 may be used in place of receptacle 16. It will be noted that with the ribs 53a shown in this form, that the liquid can move rearwardly in said receptacle but will not readily move forwardly. The prints can also move rearwardly over the ribs 53a without any inter At the same time the operator can readily lift the prints from the bottom of the receptacle, as the ends of his fingers can reach under the prints between the ribs. The ribs, of course, will be of smaller width than the smallest dimension of the prints.

\Vhen the device shown in Fig. 9 is used,

the receptacle 16 will have a plain flat bottom. The prints cannot sink lower than the rods and will be supported thereon if they sink. The operator can readily lift the rints b 1 insertin his fin ers between the: b b

rods 54?) and beneath the prints.

From the above description it will be seen that applicant has provided a simple and cilicient method and apparatus for treating sensitized sheets such as photographic prints. The prints are automatically delivered to the developing liquid in position to be effectively submerged. The submerged prints are progressed at suitable speed longitudinally of the developing tray. The operator there- 1 fore merely watches the prints as they travel through the tray or receptacle 16 and picks the same out of said receptacle when they have reached the requisite degree of develop ment. Some of the prints will, of course, travel further in the receptacle than others before being lifted out. The prints are gently and effectively moved without any mechanical means engaging the same. The prints are easily lifted out of the receptacle 16 as they do not engage the bottom thereof with their entire surface. The machine is quite simple in construction, compact and easily made and assembled. It is obvious that the method and apparatus will have a high degree of utility for the purpose intended.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the apparatus and in the steps and sequence of steps of the method, without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which generally stated, consists in a method and apparatus capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, such as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. An apparatus for treating sensitized photographic sheets having in combination, a receptacle adapted to contain liquid for treating sensitized photographic sheets, a submerging means adjacent one end of said receptacle, means for delivering sheets to said receptacle at said end, and an accelerating means for receiving prints from said last mentioned means and for directing said sheets into said receptacle toward 531d subm-erging means.

2. An apparatus for treating sensitized photographic sheets having in combination, a receptacle adapted to contain liquid for treating sensitized photographic sheets, a submerging means adjacent one end of said receptacle, an endless conveyor for delivering sheets to said receptacle at said end, and an accelerating means for directing said sheets into said receptacle toward said submerging means, said accelerating means comprising a roller disposed at one end of said conveyor with its top surface slightly below the same and adjacent one end of said receptacle.

3. A print developing apparatus having in combination, a frame, a roller journaled adjacent one end of said frame, an endless conveyor having one end thereof running over said roller for moving prints toward the same and delivering prints therefrom, a smaller roller disposed parallel to said roller at one end of said conveyor with its top sur face below the top surface of said conveyor for engaging and moving said delivered prints, a receptacle adjacent said last mentioned roller having its end substantially parallel thereto and a short distance below the top of said last mentioned roller, said receptacle being adapted to contain a print treating liquid.

4. The structure set forth in claim 3, and a revoluble submerging member of substantially cylindrical form having spaced peripheral portions adjacent said end of said receptacle having its lower side extending into the liquid in said receptacle.

5. An apparatus for treating sensitized photographic sheets having in combination, a receptacle adapted to contain l1qu'd for treating sensitized photographic sheets, means adjacent one end of said receptacle for conveying said sheets towards said receptacle and an accelerating means between said first mentioned means and said receptacle adapted to direct said sheets into said receptacle.

6. An apparatus for treating sensitized photographic sheets having in combination, a receptacle adapted to contain liquid for treating said sensitized photographic sheets and through which said liquid and sheets may move together to advance from one portion of said receptacle to a remote portion thereof, and a single means for positively submerging prints in said liquid and for moving said liquid and sheets through said r eceptacle in the same direction, whereby said sheet may be placed in said liquid and receptacle at one point and removed at a distant point when sufiiciently treated.

7. An apparatus for treating sensitized photographic sheets having in combination, a receptacle adapted to contain liquid for treating sensitized photographic sheets and through which said liquid and sheets may be moved together to progress from one portion of said receptacle to another portion, and means bodily located at one point for submerging said sheets in said liquid at said first mentioned portion, and for progressing said sheets and liquid together in said receptacle and lengthwise thereof, whereby said sheets may be'placed in said receptacle at one point and removed at another point when sufliciently treated.

8. A method of developing photographic prints which consists in placing said prints face upwards at one point in a receptacle containing developing liquid, positively submerging said prints adjacent said point and progressively movin said prints in said receptacle by moving t e liquid in the said receptacle.

9. An apparatus for developing photographic prints having in combination, a receptacle adapted to contain developing liquid, means for positively submerging prints in said liquid and for producing an upper moving body of liquid from one end of said receptacle to the other to move said prints and liquid together therethrough, and for producing an oppositely moving return body of liquid, and means for separating said bodies of liquid whereby the liquid is circulated to continuously move from one end of said receptacle to the other and carry a print from one end of said receptacle to the other.

10. An apparatus for developing separate photographic prints having in combination, a receptacle containing liquid and constructed and arranged to have said liquid moved in one direction therein in a continuous circulation throughout the length of said receptacle, means for delivering prints to one end of said receptacle, and mechanical means for engaging said liquid in said receptacle for causing said liquid to carry said prints lengthwise of said receptacle.

11. An apparatus for developing separate photographic prints having in combination, a receptacle containing liquid and constructed and arranged to have said liquid moved in one direction therein in a continuous circulation lengthwise of said receptacle, means for delivering prints at one point in said receptacle and rota-r means adjacent said point for engaging said prints delivered to said receptacle, submerging the same in said liquid, and for moving said liquid lengthwise of said receptacle for carrying the prints with said liquid lengthwise of said receptacle.

12. A method of developing photographic prints which consists in delivering prints at one point in a receptacle containing liquid, positively depressing said prints in said liquid adjacent said point, and causing a movement of the body of said liquid in said receptacle lengthwise of said receptacle by circulating said liquid to carry said submerged prints lengthwise of said receptacle.

13. An apparatus for treating separate sensitized photographic sheets having in combination, a receptacle adapted to contain liquid, and constructed and arranged to have said liquid moved throughout the length thereof in one direction in a continuous circulation, means for delivering prints adjacent one point in said receptacle, and a member adjacent said point for submerging said prints in said liquid and bodily moving the liquid in said receptacle uniformly in one direction throughout the length of said receptacle to carry the prints throughout the length of said receptacle.

14. A submerging means for sensitized I photographic sheets comprising a revoluble member having a plurality of means disposed substantially in the surface of a cylinder, said means extending longitudinally of said cylinder and having circumferential spaces therebetween and below a line joining the same, said means acting to engage said prints and press the same into a liquid.

15. A print treating apparatus having in combination, a receptacle adapted to contain 16 a print treating liquid, a driven revoluble member having a print engaging and submerging periphery and having trunnions at each end, a belt pulley secured to one of said trunnions, a belt on which said pulley rests 20 for rotating the same and said member, and

bearings secured to each side of said receptacle having open upper portions in which said trunnions rest, whereby said trunnions and pulley are vertically removable from said bearings.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GLEN M. DYE.

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