US2654300A - Photoprinting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 6, 1953 L. BAKER PHOTOPRINTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 24, 1949 Oct. 6, 1953 l.. BAKER PHOTOPRINTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 24, 1949 Oct. 6, 1953 L. BAKER 2,654,300

PHOTOPRINTING APPARATUS Filed May 24, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVEN TOR.

6 al D r.. 6 6 u Esw mmv. ro 4l NT.. o1.. man. 1 al un. uw. sm. O 3 camp una Knv. 1 O NL, Ewv uw ll Nrw. T w A l 04K ESL KKL Jl: PZN PlA 90A Q. am

ATTORNEY.

Oct. 6, 1953 L. BAKER PHOTOPRINTING APPARATUS 4 sheets-sheet 4 Filed May 24, 1949 .M i J ATTO RN EY.

Patented Oct. 6, 1953 PHOTOPRINTING APPARATUS Leonard Baker,

Hillsdale, N. J., assignor to Dexter Folder Company, Pearl River, N. Y., a corporation of N ew York Application May 24, 1949, Serial No. 95,105

18 Claims.

This invention relates generally to the art of printing, and more particularly to apparatus for photo-printing on light-sensitive sheet material.

One object of the present invention is to provide novel apparatus simple in construction and reliable in operation for automatically printing addresses or other matter of a similar character on sheet material more rapidly, more cleanly, and more cheaply by photo-printing as compared to present-day methods employing inked stencils or embossed metal printing plates operating in conjunction with an inked ribbon.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel photo-printing apparatus for printing on light-sensitive sheet material from light transmitting inserts carried by record cards or the like and bearing address forms or other indicia.

Another object is to provide a novel automatic photo-printing apparatus for feeding printing devices in the form of transparencies bearing address forms or other indicia successively to printing position and in superposed relation with a light-sensitive sheet-like element, and for thereafter subjecting said element to light through each transparency to expose the same and thereby reproduce the address or other matter thereon.

Another object is to provide novel apparatus for producing by photo-printing the so-called address containing Dick Strip.

Another object is to provide a novel automatic photo-printing apparatus for successively feeding printing devices in the form of record cards carrying transparencies bearing address forms or other indicia into operative relation with a light source and an intermittently advanced lightsensitive web of paper material, and for exposing successive areas of said web by said light source through the transparency carried by successi-.ve cards.

A further object is to provide novel apparatus of the above character wherein the light-sensitive sheet material, element, or web after exposure thereof is developed as the same passes through said apparatus, thus delivering a nnished product.

A still further object is to provide novel apparatus of the above character wherein the lightsensitive sheet material, element, or web is provided with a coating of a light-sensitive composition on a surface thereof prior to presentation of the same to printing position and as the exposing operation progresses.

The above and further objects and novel features of the present invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended as a denition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings, acters refer to like Views,

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a photo-printing apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, said view being taken substantially on the line l-i of Fig. 2, and certain of the parts having portions thereof broken away for purposes of clearer illustration;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of said apparatus, with parts omitted and portions of certain of the parts broken away for purpose of clearer illustration;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional View of said apparatus taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of said apparatus looking from the left of Fig. 3, showing the drive means for movable parts thereof;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation, showing the operating means for the record-card feeder shown in Figs. l and 2 at the right-hand ends thereof;

Fig. 6 is a face view of a record card handled in said apparatus;

Fig. is a face view of a portion of a printed address strip produced by said apparatus;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of said apparatus, showing a coating unit for applying a coating of light-sensitive composition to a surface of a web of sheet material; and

Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the coating unit shown in Fig. 8 looking from right thereof.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings, there is shown, by way of example, one form of photoprinting apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention which is particularly, although not exclusively, adapted for producing the so-called Dick Strip by photo-printing individual addresses successively on successive areas of a continuous light-sensitive web of paper or the like material from record or ordinary cards provided with a transparency or transparent insert bearing an address form.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the Various movable parts, as well as certain stationary parts, of the novel photo-printing apparatus comprewherein like reference charparts throughout the several 3 hended by the present invention are all mounted on a frame comprising a vertically disposed longitudinally extending standard l5 and two transversely spaced longitudinally extending side plates i6, Il which are disposed at opposite sides of said standard and are connected together by tie bars i8 suitably secured thereto. Bars I8, in turn, are suitably secured to the upper surface of standard i5 and the latter is provided with longitudinally spaced laterally extending feet I9 (one.

only being shown) which rest on the machine foundation.

The photo-printing apparatusmay be driven by any suitable means which may, comprisea V-belt '2.9i (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) driven from any suitable source of power (not shown) and passing around a pulley versely extending shaft 22. This shaft 22 .makes one complete revolution for each cycle of operation of the apparatus and is journalledin suitable bearings provided Vin an auxiliary frame 23 (Figs. 1, 3 and 5) which is disposed between the side plates it, il and forms part of a card feeder indicated generally at 2d. Feeder 2B may be of any well known construction capable of feeding cards singly one after another in timed relation from a supply thereof, and that herein shown is of the conventional botton -feed reciprocating picker type employed in conjunction with commercially known and existing record card tabulating and sorting machines.

Feeder 2d comprises the auxiliary frame 23 and a cross base plate 25 (Figs. l, 2 and 5) which is disposed above in spaced relation with said frame and rests on the upper surfaces of the side plates i6, I?. Frame 23 is suitably secured at opposite sides thereof to angle irons 2S `(one only being shown) which, in turn, are suitably secured to the inner surfaces of the side plates IG, Il', and base plate 25 is immovably secured to said angle irons by means of bolts 2l and spacers 28. Plate 25 is adap-ted to support a supply of cards 2Q which are maintained in proper position on said plate and in an orderly stack by vertically projecting front, side and rear guides 3e, 3i and 32, respectively, said plate and guides constituting a hopper or magazine for the stack of cards. Guides 3i and 32 are adjustably secured to plate 25, and guides 36 are adjustably secured to a vertical extension 33 of said plate and are provided with thin strips-Sli which project downwardly therefrom and form a continuation thereof. The feeder may be provided with the usual weight or follower plate (not shown) which is placed on top of the stack of cards 29 to press the same firmly downwardly and to hold them flat, particularly when the L magazine is near exhaustion.

As shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, the cards 29 stacked and handled in the feeder 2li are each provided at a selected position with a photoprinting medium which, in the illustrated embodiment, is in the form of a transparency consisting of a thin, rectangular-shaped, lighttransmitting sheet or strip 35 of paper, film, foil or the like having an address form 3B typed or printed thereon. The address form 36 on each card in the stack is different, and is opaque or impervious to light, whereby an exact fullsize reproduction thereof on light-sensitive sheet material will be obtained when the latter is exposed by intense light directed through the strip 35, as hereinafter described. It will be understood that the size and shape of the strip 35, as well as the indicia thereon, may be varied 2l which is Xed-'on a transas desired, and that the present invention also comprehends the use of an opaque strip having a light-transmitting address form or other indicia stencilled therein as the printing medium, as Well as micro-film and any other transparent or translucent image bearing sheet. Accordingly, the term transparency is intended to apply to any strip or sheet of the character defined which lends itself to photo-printing of the subject matter thereof on light-sensitive sheet material.

In the illustrated embodiment, the transparency or strip 35 is wholly positioned within an aperture 3l ofl a corresponding shape and size in the card 29,. and is retained in said aperture and 1secured to said card by means of a transparent, `adhesive coated cover sheet or strip 38 which is-adhesiveh7 secured to the upper surface ofcard 2% :within a compressed portion thereof surrounding the apertureii'l. The transparency 35 is adhesively securedto the cover sheet 38 with the address form l3B thereoffacing said cover sheet. The address form S6 is thus protected against injurious abrasive action, and

-ff opposite faces of card 29 are thus free of any projections which might interfere with the proper handling of the card in the apparatus.

1f desired, an opaque cover sheet may be used in ,lieu of the transp-arent cover sheet V3.1.3,; said opaque sheet having a died-out window therein to expose the address form 3e, or the transparency 35 may be adhesively or otherwise suitably secured directly within the compressed portion of the card 29, thus eliminating the cover sheet 38. Additionally, the transparency 35 may be adhesively secured to the coverl sheet 38 with `the address form 36 thereof facingaway from said cover sheet and protected by a second transparent cover sheet adhesively secured to the printed fac@ of said transparency.

1n the illustrated embodiment, the cards 2Q are oblong and formed of single ply cardboard or heavy relatively stiff paper or other material and are of the same shapel and size in all dimensions as the cards commonly employed in connection with known statistical, tabulating andrecord card sorting systems and machines. It will ce vunderstood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the use of .the statistical or tabulating machine typ-e of cardsince the transparencies 35 may be mounted in other record or catalogue cards, as well as in ordinary cards of a corresponding or different size, as desired.

The mounting of the transparencies on cards or card-like elements facilitates handling thereof in the photo-printing apparatus, and filing and indexing of the same. The mounting of the transparencies in a statistical or tabulating record card further provides for classifying of the address forms as to geographical location and other matter pertaining thereto in accordance with a particular code by perforations in said cards as well understood in the tabulating maf chine art, and automatic sorting of said cards andv transparencies under the control of said perf-orations in commercially known and existing record card sorting machines.

rThe cards 29 are stacked in the magazine or hopper face up and with their shorter dimension extending in the feeding direction and with their bottom edges contacting the front guide strips 35. In this position of the cards 2e in the magazine the transparencies 35 will be toward the rear .of the machine and adjacent the left-hand side thereof, as viewed in Fig. 2.' The cardsso stacked are fed one after another in timed relation from the bottom of the stack in the usual well-known manner by two transversely spaced reciprocating pickers 39 (Figs. 1 and 2) which are arranged beneath said stack and project upwardly through longitudinally extending slots in the base plate 25. Pickers 33 engage the rearwardly positioned edge of the lowermost card in the supply stack at two transversely spaced points and are connected to slide-blocks 45 which are supported and guided for straight line reciprocating movement in a horizontal plane by cooperating tongues 4i on said blocks and tracks 42 on the plate 25.

Reciprocating movement is imparted to pickers 3S by vertically extending arms 43 (Fig. l) disposed within the auxiliary frame Z3 and having bifurcated upper end portions which engage transverse pins 44 in the slideblocks 40. Arms 43 are fixed on a transversely extending rock shaft 45 (Figs. 1, 3 and 5) which is journalled in suitable bearings provided in the frame 23. Secured to one end of shaft 45 exteriorly of frame 23 is the upper end of a vertical link 4E the lower end of which is pivotally connected at 4l to a shorter link 4.8 which, in turn, is pivotally connected at 49 to the free end of a crank arm 5i) that is secured to the opposite free end of shaft 22. It will thus appear that during each revolution of shaft 22, pickers 39, through the described operating connections therefor with crank arm 5B, will be reciprocated to engage and feed a card 29 from the bottom of the supply stack thereof.

As each card 29 is fed from the bottom of the supply stack by pickers 39, it passes through a throat which is wide enough to permit the passage of a single card, but narrow enough to prevent the passage of two or more cards simultaneously. This throat is formed by the upper surface of base plate 25 and the lower end of a throat-knife 5| (Figs. 1 and 2) which is disposed centrally of the supply stack at the front side. thereof and is adjustably secured to the extension 33 to enable proper setting of the same with respect to said plate in accordance with the thickness of the cards being handled. Extension 33 is provided with a relatively wide transverse slot to permit the cards 29 to freely pass therethrough as the same are fed from the supply stack.

The cards 29 successively fed from the bottom of the supply stack 4by the pickers 39 are presented by said pickers to conveyor means to be presently described which advance said cards one after another from the projecting forward end of the feeder base plate 25 onto and along a table 52 which is disposed forwardly of said plate in substantially the same plane thereof and is supported in a suitable manner by and between the side plates l5, I1. As herein shown, said conveyor means comprise a plurality of longitudinally spaced lower feed rollers arranged at opposite sides of the longitudinal median line of the base plate 25 and table 52, the rollers at one side of said line being in transverse alignment with the rollers at the opposite side of said line. There are ten of said feed rollers in the illustrated embodiment, five at one side of said median line and indicated at 53 to 51 inclusive, and ve at the other side of said line and indicated at 58 to 62 inclusive (Figs. 1, 2 and 3). With the live-roller structure several cards 29 are in progress of movement along the conveyor one behind the other in spaced relation, but the 6 number of feed rollers may be varied depending on the length of the conveyor desired.

The feed rollers 53 to 5'! and 58 to 62 are equally spaced in the feeding direction and said spacing is the same as or may be slightly less than the length or shorter dimension of the cards 29 so that the latter are always under the control of said rollers to insure continuous movement thereof along table 52. rlhe spacing between the feed rollers 53 to 57 and 58 to 52 in the lateral direction is such that said rollers will engage the cards 29 inwardly of the marginal side edges thereof and will not contact the transparencies 35.

The transversely aligned pairs or feed rollers 53 and 58, 54 and 55, 55 and 60, 56 and 6|, 51 and 52 are fixed cn and rotated by shaft 63, 64, 65, 65 and 6l, respectively, which extend transversely of the apparatus in parallel relation and are journalled at opposite ends thereof in suitable bearings provided in the side plates I 6, I1 (Figs. l, 2 and 3). The shaft 53 is disposed beneath the projecting forward end of the feeder base plate 25, and the feed rollers 53, 53 thereon project upwardly to or slightly above the upper surface of said plate through suitable openings in the latter. The shafts 54 to G1 are disposed beneath the table 52, the feed rollers 54 and 59, 55 and Gil, 5l and 52 on shafts 54, 55 and 61, respectively, projecting upwardly at opposite side edges of said table to or slightly above the upper surface of the latter, and the feed rollers 55 and GI on shaft 55 projecting upwardly to or slightly above said surface through suitable openings in said table.

The feed rollers 53 to 52 are driven continuously and at a speed faster than the speed at which pickers 35 move in feeding the cards 29 successively from the supply stack. In this manner, each card 29 presented to said rollers by said pickers will be rapidly and completely removed from the supply stack before the pickers 39 are returned to engage and feed the next lowermost card in the next feeding cycle andJ hence, the successively fed cards will follow each other along the table 52 a predetermined distance apart.

Feed rollers 53 to 52 are driven in the manner described from the drive shaft 22 and for this purpose, said shaft has xed thereon outwardly of pulley 2l a large sprocket 58 (Figs. 2 and 4). Passing around sprocket 58 is a chain 59 which also passes around and drives a smaller sprocket Iii that is fixed on the outwardly projecting end of a tranverseiy extending shaft il. This shaft 'Il is centrally disposed between the feed roller shafts 63, 54 and is journalled at opposite ends thereof in suitable bearings in the side plates l5, il. Secured to shaft 'il between side plate I? and sprocket it or formed integrally with said sprocket is a spur gear l2 which meshes with and drives spur pinions f3 and 'f4 that are fixed on the outwardly projecting ends of shafts '63 and 64, respectively. The remaining feed roller shafts 65, 55 and 5l have fixed on the outwardly projecting ends thereof similar spur pinions l5, 'l5 and l1, respectively, which mesh with similar idler gears i8, le and 35, the idler gear 18 also meshing with gear i4 on shaft 54 to complete the drive. Idler gear 'i8 is fixed on the outwardly projecting end of a transversely extending shaft 8i journalled in suitable bearings in the side plates I5, l1, and idler gears 79 and 85 are journalled on studs 82 and 83, respectively, which are suitably secured in the side plate I7. Shafts 63 torti' I zand L'lill aref-held:'againstaxial displace-` ment in one directionby the gears t.hereon,and`

in the opposite direction by collars 84 which are xed on the opposite outwardly projecting ends thereof. If desired,'the gears V'IZand'lB may also be yjournalled on studs fixed. in side plate I'I, thereby eliminating the cross 'shafts 'II and` 8|.

Cooperating with each of .the `feed rollers 53 to 52 to advance the cards .29 along table 52 is a spring-pressed rubber-tired pressure roller 85 journalledat the free. end` of a U-shaped larm 89"(Figs.' l and 2); The pressure roller and arm units 89; 95 for the feed.rollers.53, 58 are loosely carried on a shaft Si which extends transversely of the conveyor above and in spaced relation with tablev e'and is i'fixedly supported by theside plates iii,` I'i. The pressure vroller and' arm units 8E, Se for 'the'feedrollerst `59 and 55, .80' are..

looselyV carried vin nested' rearwardly and forwardly extending pairs 'on a transverse shaft 88 which is centrally disposed: between" the feed roller shafts 9G, 95 above and in spaced relation with table 52 `and is xedly supported bythe side plates I9, |'i. The pressure roller and arm units 85,- 89 for the feed rollers 5E, 9| and '57, 62 are also loosely carried innest'ed rearwardly and forwardly extending pairs on va transverse vshaft 89 which' is centrally disposed between the feed roller shafts 99, 9i above and in spaced relation with table zand is fixedlysupported by the side plates I6, Il.'

Secured to shaft '3i andassociated with arms 99 thereon" are levers provided with spring-Y pressed pins 9 i' which engage said arms to yieldingly press and hold the pressure .rollers'85 in engagement with the respective feed rollers 53, S (Figs. 1 and 2).y Secured to shafts 8B, 89 and associated with the arms 89 vthereon are double-- armed levers92 (Fig. 2) provided with springpressed pins 9| which engage said arms to yieldingly press and hold the respectiveV` pressure rollers 85 in engagement with the respective feed rollers 5d to 62.

The cards 29 during forward movement thereof aleng table 52 by the described feed and pressure rollers are maintained in the same lateral position on said table as they originally occupied in the feeder hopper by suitable ve-rtically'disposed side guides 93 in the form of flat steel'bars which extend longitudinally of the conveyor at opposite sides thereof and are adjustably securedA to the shafts lie and 99. The side guides or bars 93 project downwardly a short distance beyond the upper surfaceof table 52 andhave their rear ends bent or curved outwardly. to` permit the cards 29 to freely enter between' the same.

Disposed above and in spaced relation with table 92 and preferably located so as toglie cen'- trally between the feed roller shafts B5," E, is a light housing 9d (Figs. l, 2 and 3) which extends transversely of the conveyor and is suitably securedfto vthesideplates i9, Il. Housing 94 may be of any suitable construction and in theform herein shown, particularly in Fig. l yof'thefdrawings, said housingr comprises an upper cupola section 99 secured to the upper surfaces of side plates I9, il, and a lower section*96' seoured'to said side plates and said upper section and having converging side walls terminating in a at bottom Wall parallel with the upper surface of table 52.'. The upper section 95 is closed at 'the end thereof adjacent side plate'I'I except for Ventilating louvers 91 therein, andthe opposite ends of the 'lower section 96 vare clos'ed by the side .housing Sii-through .1igilt-transmitting,v glass housing 94 through a suitable enlarged opening provided in the side plate I6 for Athis purpose. In orderto decrease exposure expedite the printing operations, as hereinafter described, lamp 99 is preferably of the type capableof producing intense light, and as herein shown,` said `lamp is a` spark' tube'cornrnercially known asthe Edgerton Light which is inthe form of a sealed, gas tube-surrounded by a-transparent glass or plastic envelope. I Itwill` invention-comprehends the `use ofother formsof lamps for the purposey described.,l Lamp 99 is connected with a suitable source of electrical current to illuminate the saine.

Suitably ysecured to the free'end of casing 99 and communicating .with the atmosphere andv the-interiorofy said casing and housing 94 is a smaller casing Iii within whichis mounted-a blowerin the form of arotary fan |92 (Fig. 3) for expelling'the heal-J generated by lamp 99 from the louvers 91. Blower or fan Kwis-secured to the armature shaft y|93 of an electrical. motor |9-(Fig.-2) carried by casing I'd I. Motor ille is connected with a suitable source ofelectricall current and is vcontrolled for starting and stopping ,purposes by .suitable .switch means (not shown) .l

Housing Sli-is provided in thevbottom wall `of the lower section SES-thereof with a light-transmitting opening which is closed by a transparent,

or plastic plate fixedin-a surrounding metallic frameV I 99 which is suitably secured to-said section, the lower surfaces of said-plate and said frame being flush and prow jecting slightly belowI the lower surface of said wall;r Thel light-transmittingplate |95 issubstantiallythe-same size in lengthand width as the transparencies 35 carried by the cards 29, and is so located on housing 94 that it is in accurate lateral register. with said transparencies as said V,cards pass one after another beneath said housing, said cards during saidin-ovement being confined by the side guides93, as hereinbefore described. Housing 9 isso located yvertically with respec'tto 'the upper' surfaceV of table 52 that there' is'a space between the light transmitting" plate "|95 and'said table slightly greater than the thickness of-asingle card 29, but less than the thicknessof two of said cards. The rear edge of the .plate-carrying frame |99 is -bevelled inA order to guidethe cards 29 beneath-plateflfii Yand to insure that saidcards rearwardlyof the frame |09 may be employed to direct 'the cards 29 beneath.. said frame andthe plate "I i5.`

It vwill be noted that by virtue of the relative size of the` light-transmitting plate |95 vand the close location thereof to the table 52, the-light' thereof in accurate register with plate |05. By this arrangement, clear, sharp, and full size repro-Y time and thereby.

fil-led, helically wound, glassbe understood that' the will not loe-obstructed byy said frame. If desired, short top guides extending'A ductions of the addresses 3S or other images borne by the transparencies 35 on light-sensitive sheet material hereinafter referred to will be assured.

Each card 2S advanced along table 52 and under the light housing Se by the feed and pressure roller conveyor is stopped for a predetermined interval on said table and with the transparency 35 carried thereby in accurate register with the light-transmitting plate |55. While each card is so stopped, the light source 99 is rendered effective, as hereinafter described, to expose the lightsensitive sheet material, hereinafter referred to, through the transparency 35 and thereby reproduce thereon the address 35 or other image borne by said transparency. Stopping of each card 29 as described is preferably effected by a pair of stops I D'I (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) which are loosely mounted in spaced relation on the feed roller shaft 65. These stops Id'l are rocked relative to shaft 66 in one direction through suitable openings in table 52 into the path of travel of the cards 29 to be engaged by their forward edges, and in the opposite direction out of said path to release the cards for further forward movement beyond printing position by the conveyor. When the stops Iill are in their card stopping positions, as shown in Fig. l, and the forward edge of a leading card 29 confined by the side guides 93 engages said stops, the transparency 35 carried by said card will be in accurate register longitudinally and laterally with the light-transmitting plate I 85. It will be noted that the stops I bl are so constructed and arranged that when the forward motion of each card 29 is arrested by said stops, the card will still be under the infinence of the continuously driven feed rollers e, SI and cooperating pressure rollers 135. Under these conditions, each card 29 will be continuously urged against the stops |01 and thereby held against displacement during the printing operation, the feed rollers 5G, 5| at this time slipping relative to the card and the pressure of the pressure rollers 85 being insuificient to buckle said card. When the card is released by the stops it will immediately be taken by said feed and pressure rollers and further advanced beyond printing position and out of the path of movement of the next following card.

The stops I'J'l are oscillated once during each cycle of operation of the feeder and in timed relation with the feeding of the cards and the movement thereof along the conveyor. For this purpose, the stops ls'l have secured thereto or formed integrally therewith gear segments I i (Figs. 1

and 2) which mesh with gears 59 that are fixed on a transversely extending shaft lli! journalled in suitable bearings in the side plates I5, Il. Fixed on shaft l ld outwardly of side plate I l is a cam lever il I (Fig. 4i having a roller I I2 journalled thereon which engages a cam I I3 fixed on a transversely extending cam shaft IIe. This shaft Il@ is journalled in suitable bearings provided on the standard l5 and is driven from shaft 22 to also mal-:e one revolution for each cycle of operation of the feeder. Accordingly, there are fixed on shafts 22 and Iii! identical sprockets I|5 and I respectively, around which passes a chain Ill. Roller H2 is yieldingly held in engagement with cam H3, and stops Ifil are yieldingly urged out of the path of travel of the cards 29 on table 5f by suitable resilient means which may comprise a torsion spring IIS surrounding shaft I Iii between side plate i6 and the adjacent gear ISS and having one end connected to said gear and the opposite end connected to said side plate. It will thus appear that shaft IlO is cam operated in one direction and spring operated in the opposite direction by cam I 3 and spring I I8, respectively, to rock gears |59 and thus move the stops |01 into and out of the path of travel of the cards 29 on table 52.

In the illustrated embodiment, photo-printing of the addresses 36 from successive cards 2S is effected on successive areas of a continuous, narrow, light-sensitive web of paper, whereby a product will be produced, as shown in Fig. 7, comparable in all respects to the so-called Dick Strip which is a narrow paper strip or web approximately two inches wide having a series of addresses printed thereon in successive order which are thereafter individually out from said strip for application to magazines, catalogues, wrappers and the like for mailing or delivery purposes. It will be understood, however, that within the broader aspects of the invention the addresses or other images may be photo-printed from the cards on webs of light-sensitive sheet material for other purposes, as well as on individual lightsensitive sheets, cards, or the like, which are either fully sensitized or merely spot-sensitized to receive said addresses or images.

In producing the so-called Dick Strip in accordance with the present invention, a portion I I9 of a web of paper I2I! (Figs. l, 2 and 3) is supported directly below and in accurate register with the light-transmitting plate |05 and substantially in the same plane as the upper surface of table 52 by a pair of longitudinally spaced idler rollers I2I and |22, said table having a side edge portion thereof removed to receive said web portion and said rollers. Roller I2I is loosely journalled on the feed roller shaft G5 at the righthand side of light housing ed as viewed in Fig. l, and roller |22 is xed on a separate transverse shaft I 23 which is disposed forwardly of the feed roller shaft 5d at the left-hand side of said light housing and is journalled in suitable bearings in the side plates IS, Il. The width of the web I2 is the same as or may be slightly smaller than the width of the transparency 35, and said web is drawn from a supply roll I2I; of paper of the type coated on the outer surface thereof with a diazo type light-sensitive composition and commonly employed in commercially known Ozalid machines. With the diazo type light-sensitive paper, printing and developing of the addresses thereon can be rapidly effected, but the use of other commercially available photo-sensitive material is also comprehended by the present invention.

The supply roll |253 is rotatably supported on a pin |25 (Figs. l and 3) secured in and projecting laterally from the standard I5. In order to prevent excessive unreeling of the web IBS from roll |24 and to keep said web under a slight tension a light frictional drag is applied on said roll by suitable frictional brake means which may be in the form of a spring-pressed disk |25 (Fig. l) slidably mounted on pin |25 and engaging the adjacent end of the core of roll I 24. The spring for disk I is indicated at I 2l (Fig. 3) and surrounds pin |25 between said disk and a washer |26 also slidably mounted on said pin. The pressure of disk |26 on roll I 2li may be regulated by a nut f2s threaded on the outer end of pin |25.

The web |29 is guided from the supply roll |24 to the roller I2I by a flanged pulley |39 (Fig. l) rotatably mounted at I3I on the standard I5. From the web supporting roll |22, the web |213 yflanged guide pulleys |35 and passes downwardly ,and thenjforwardly around a flanged guideA pulley |32, then u rearwardly around a feed drum |33 hereinafter referred'to, and then forwardlyl and downwardly @around u |39 toa flanged guide pulley |35. From theguide pulley` |35 the web |29 passes rearwardly intol a developing unit |51 hereinafter referred to, lthen forwardly through and out of said unit, and thenupwardly and rearwardly around flanged guide pulleys |38 and |39 to a take-up reel Milalso hereinafter referred to. The guide pulleys |32, |34, |95, |35, |38 and |39 are rotatablyvmounted at ||||,|42, |153, |54, and |56, respectively, on theistandard. I5.

It will be apparent thatwith the webportion i 9 located as shown anddescribed, each'cardZS advanced along table 52 will passV over said web Vportion and beneaththe light-transmitting plate Y|95 with the transparency 35 carried by s aid card in accurate register with said webepcrtion. lWhen the card 29 is .stopped by thestops |51, as hereinbefore described, with thetransparency 35 thereof over the web portion ||9 and inaccurate register with the light-transmitting plate |55, a positive full size image of the address 36 borne by said transparency will be reproduced onthe'area of said web portion directly'beneath said plate upon exposure of said area by the light source 99 through the transparency andsubsequent developing of the exposed area, as hereinafter described.

In order to further insure clear and sharp images of the addresses 39 on thelight sensitive web |29, the web portion 9 and each card 29 stopped thereover by the stops |51 are clamped tightly together and againstthe light transmitting plate |95 prior to and during exposure of said web portion by the light source 99. For this purpose, suitable presser means is provided and asvhereinshown, said presser means Acomprises a verticallymovable presser plate |41"(Figs. 1, `2 and 3) arranged beneath the web portion l i9 and `indirect vertical alignment with the light-trans- :mitting vplate |55. `Presser plate |51 is slightly larger in length and width than the light-transmitting plate |95V and is provided on its upper surface with a cushion pad |53 of a suitable material, such as sponge rubber, felt or the like, adhesively secured thereto. Plate |51, |48 in itslowered inoperative position, shown in Fig. 1`, also serves -as intermediate support for the web portion I 9.

Presser plate |51, |53 is suitably secured tothe upper end of a short vertically extending shaft |59 (Figs. l andB) which is-guided for vertical movement in two vertically spaced, forwardly projecting lugs |55 carried by a cross bar |5| that is disposed beneath table 52 and is suitably secured at opposite ends thereof to the side plates i5, |1. Shaft |99 projects downwardly beyond the lower lug |55, and surrounding the lower projecting end of said shaft is a coil compression spring |52 for yieldingly urging the presser plate |91, |58 downwardly to its inoperative position, one end of said spring engaging said lug and the opposite end engaging a collar |53 adjustably secured to said shaft. Rotation of presser plate |51, |55 relative to the web portion `|I9 is prevented by a pair of forwardly projecting annular members |55 which are suitably secured to bar |51 at opposite sides of shaft |49 and have opposed flats slidably engaged by flattened portions of said shaft.

Slidably mounted within an axially extending bore in shaft |49 and projecting downwardly ,beyond the'lOWCI end presser plaie |41,

I e of said shaft is aplunger |55 v(Figs. 1V and-3). VDisposed within the bore n shaft |49`for plunger |55 is a coil compression spring |56 Vhaving one end engaging the upper inner end of said plunger and the opposite en d engaging the end wall of Ysaid bore. The tension 4cfspring |55 Vis greater than the tension of spring |52and is yof a degree sufficient to resist upward movement of plungerv|55 relative to shaft |59 until the presser plate |51, 14R-has firmly Dressed the web portion ||9 and the superposedA card 29 together yagainst the light-transmitting plate |05. Plunger |55 and spring |55 thus provide a yieldable connection between presser plate |41, iliandrits operating meansto be presently described, whereby the web portion ||9 and card 29 will be firmly but yieldingly pressed against the light transmitting plate |95 and any undue strain on said plate and the light housing 99,

and possible Vdistortion ofgsaid web portion-and said card will be completely avoided.

Therlower outer end of plunger |55 Yis continuously urged by spring |55 into engagement .with an adjustable abutment member |51 (Fig.

l) in the form of `a. bolt which is threaded into a suitable threaded opening in a laterally projecting lug |58 formed on the arm |59 of a double-armed lever |65, the other arm of which is indicated at |5|. Abutment-bolt |51 is locked in adjusted position by a lock nut |62 threaded thereon and tightened against lug |59. Lever |65 is pivotally mounted at |53 on the standard l5, and the arm |59 of said lever has journalled thereon a roller |5| which engages a cam |65 vfixed lon the cam shaft lili. 'Roller |55 is held in engagement with cam |55 by the pressure of thespring-pressed plunger |55 on the abutmentbolt |51. It will thus appear thatl shaft |419 is cam ,operated in one direction by cam |55 through plunger |55 Yand spring |55 to Yraise .|48 and thus yieldingly press the web portion |19 and the superposed card'29 together against thelight-transmitting plate |95,

end isspring operated in the opposite direction by spring Ybythe stops |91 and is lowered afterthe web portionhas been exposed by the light source 99 through the transparency 35 carried by said card.

1 After eachrcard 29 is stopped by the stops |01 imprinting position and is clamped together with the web portion ||9 against the light-transmitting plate |95 by the presser plate |41, |48 as hereinbefore described, the light source 99 is rendered effective and for period suicient to expose an area of said web portion through the transparency 35 carried by the stopped and clamped card and thereby reproduce the address 35 thereon. Prior to each operation of the light source 99 and each exposure of the addresses 35 on successiveareas of the web |29, a circular opening V|55 (Fig. '1) is formed in the web |29 centrally between the opposite side edges thereof which is utilized in a manner and by means to ybe hereinafter described to impart a positive vstep-by-step feed to the web |29 a distance equal In the illustrated embodiment, the openings |65 are formed in the exposed section of the web I 20 and on the dividing line between the contiguous exposed address bearing areas thereof, but it will be understood that said openings may, if desired, be formed in the unexposed section of said web in advance of printing position and similiary located so that the addresses will be reproduced between the same. The openings |65 formed and located as shown in the resulting product illustrated in Fig. 7, in addition, provide for handling and cutting of said product into individual address strips in the same machines presently employed for the same purpose in conu `nection with the so-called Dick Strip.

As herein shown, the operation of the light source 99, and the forming of the openings |66 in the web |20 is preferably effected by electrical switch means and punch means, respectively, constructed, arranged and operated as follows. Bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the standard l and disposed between the guide pulley I 32 and feed drum I 33 is a punch block |61 (Figs. 1 and 3) provided in the lower end thereof with a slot |68 through which the exposed section of the web I 20 passes. Fitted for sliding vertical movement in the upper end of block |61 is a punch |69 which is suitably shaped to form the circular openings |66 in the web |20 and is provided with enlarged head portion projecting outwardly of said block. Any other shape and size of punch may be used in lieu of punch 69. Punch |69 registers with a similarly shaped opening formed in a die block I1I which is suitably secured in the lower end of block |61. Punch |69 is yieldingly urged upwardly clear of the web |20 by a coil compression spring |12 surrounding said punch within block |61 and having one end engaging the head |10 and the opposite end engaging a guide block |13 suitably secured in block |61. Guide block |13 serves to cause punch |69 to register properly with the opening in the die block 1|. Punch |69 is so located with respect to the web |20 and the exposed addresses thereon that the opening |66 will be formed thereby in said web centrally between the opposite side edges thereof and on the dividing line between adjacent exposed areas.

The upper outer end of the head portion |10 of punch |99 is yieldingly held by spring |12 in engagement with an adjustable abutment member |16 (Fig. 1) in the form of a bolt which is threaded into a suitable threaded opening in a. laterally projecting lug formed on the arm |9| of lever |69. Abutment-bolt |14 is locked in adjusted position by a lock nut |16 threaded thereon and tightened against a forwardly projecting finger |11 disposed between said nut and lug |15 and provided for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

It will thus appear that when arm |59 of lever |60 is raised by cam |55 during each revolution of the latter to raise presser plate |41, |48 and clamp the web portion II9 and superposed card 29 against the light-transmitting plate |05, the arm |6| of said lever will be simultaneously lowered, whereupon punch |69 will be actuated downwardly by the abutment-bolt |14 and caused to pass through the web and into the die block |13, thus forming the opening |66 in said web. When the arm |59 is lowered by plunger |55 upon continued rotation of cam |65 to permit lowering of presser plate |41, |49 by spring |52 and release of the web portion |I9 and card 29, the arm |6I will be simultaneously raised, whereupon punch |69 will be withdrawn by the spring |12 from the die block |13 and from the web |29 and returned to its original position. This punching operation is repeated on the web |20 during each dwell in the intermittent movement thereof and as the exposure of successive areas of said web through successive transparencies progresses. A suitable receptacle (not shown) is positioned below punch block |61 to receive the web punchings forced through the die block |13 and thereby prevent the same from dropping on the web I 20.

Bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the forward face of punch block |61 is a normally open micro-switch |18 (Figs. l and 3) which is electrically connected in the electrical circuit for lamp 99 and is provided with a plunger |19 guided in a sleeve secured to the casing oi said switch. Micro-switch |18 is so-called because the movable contacts therein require a movement of only a few thousandths of an inch in making and breaking contact, and since said switch is well known and disclosed in the United States Patent No. 1,960,020, granted May 22, 1934, to P. K. McGall, a further description herein is thought to be unnecessary. Switch |10 is so located on punch |61 that the plunger I 19 thereof is spaced below the linger |11 on the arm |51 of lever |60.

It will thus appear that when lever |60 is swung in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, by cam |65 during each revolution thereof, presser plate I 41, |48 is iirst actuated to clamp the web portion I9 and the superposed card 29 against the light-transmitting plate |95, and then the plunger |19 of switch |18 is actu'- ated by finger |11 to close the contacts of said switch and complete the electrical circuit to lamp 99. The latter is then illuminated for a short duration, as indicated by the contour of cam |65, suiliciently to expose an area of the web portion I| 9 through the transparency 95 and thereby reproduce the address 36 thereon. When lever |60 is swung in a clockwise direction from actuated position upon continued rotation of cam |65, the finger |11 first releases the plunger |19 of switch |10 and then the presser plate |61, |110 releases the web portion I I 9 and superpcsed card 29. When the plunger |19 is released by nnger |11, the contacts of switch 18 automatically open and cause said plunger to return to its original position. Opening of the contacts cf switch |18 breaks the electrical circuit to the lamp 99, thus extinguishing the same. Any other electrical switch may be employed instead of micro-switch |18, and the periodic operation of the lamp 99 may be effected by continuously illuminating the same and employing a periodically operated shutter in conjunction therewith.

During the operation of the apparatus, the sensitized web |20 is intermittently advanced a distance equal to the length of one transparency 35 to bring unexposed areas thereof successively into position for printing of the addresses 96 thereon from successive cards 29. 1t will be understood that the degree of movement of the web |20 may be varied in accordance with the desired location of the address or other images thereon. The intermittent movement of web |20 is synchronized with the intermittent operation of lamp 99 and punch |69 so that during each dwell in the movement of said web an opening |66 will be punched therein and an address from a card 29 will be reproduced thereon.

This intermittent movement of web |20 is ac- .inumber of pins |92.

'n complishedby means :of thefeedzdrum |33 which Vis lxed onone end ofa short..transversesshaft |9| that is journalled in .suitable ...bearings .on

ithe standard I5 and projects beyondppposite ysides of said standard (Figs. 1, Sand .4) .Drum

of one transparency 35 andare adaptedtosuccessively `enter successive openings |66 formed in the'vveb |29 by punch |69. It will .benoted that the Web |29 passes around a majorportion of the;periphery Ordrum |33 .and,.hence, said web .is engaged ata pluralityof points .byeJ

| and the latter Will not be damagedl ortorn in each starting movement thereof.

.Fixed onthe opposite end of shaft llat the opposite side of standard |5,is,a ratchet |83,

(Figs. 3 .and Ll) which is continuously .engaged by a pawl ld pivoted at|85 on .a paWl-carrier .|99 which is loosely mounted von saidshaft .be-

tween said ratchet and said standard. yPivotally connected, asat |81, topawl carrier |86 is one end of a link |98 the .opposite endof which'is .pivotally connected to a vcrank .pin |39 secured in the continuously rotating cam H3. Crank pin |89 is so located on cam I3, and pawl carrier |86 is so proportioned thattin each oscillation of said pawlcarrier and through engagementof pavvl |84 with ratchet |83, the drum |33 will be rotated a partial revolution equal to the length of one transparency 35, thus advancing the web |20 a corresponding distance through'engagement of the pins |82 in the vopenings |66. in said web. I'Ihe operation of paWl .carrier |89 is so timed that movement ofthe web |29 is effected after each exposure thereof and after the same is released by the presser plate |47, |48. A spring-pressed .retaining pavvl |90 .pivoted at |9| on standard |5 is engaged with ratchet |83 .to hold the latter and drum |33 in vactuated positions and prevent return rotation thereof as pavvl carrier |85 is returned for pawl |84 lto i,"

engage the next tooth on said ratchet.

After successive areas of the web |22 have-.been exposed by the light source 99 through successive transparencies 35, the exposed section -of said web, after leaving drum itis drawn through the developing unit i3? by the take-up reel |40, the leading end of said web being initially threaded through said developing unit and suitably attached to said reel. Asthe Web |28. isintermittently advanced by drum |33, thereel lili) L operates to draw the exposed section of said-Web lin like manner through the developingrunit |31. Since, in the illustrated embodiment, a diazo type light-sensitive paper is employed as the photosensitive material, and since it is Well known that an alkali, such as ammonia vapors, is a suitable developing medium for this type of material, the

developing unit l'a' is constructed and arranged to subject the exposed areas of the `web |29 -to ammonia vapors as said web is drawn through .said unit. The invention, however, comprehends the use of other forms ofdeveloping units when other types of photo-sensitive material are used. If desired, the exposed web may be Wound directly on reel lllli and then taken from the apparatusto another location for developing thereof. Additionally, the developed web may be led to the machine ior cutting the addresses therefrom in yindividual strips and applying the same to the magazines, Wrappers, or the like.

In this manner ya ,positive .step-by-step movement Will be impartedto web -l6 herein shown, thedevelopingunit llcornprises an elongated tank |92 (Figsl and 3) which .is-supported-on acradle |93 which, in turn, is suitably supported on thestandard l5.

Tank |92 contains asupply of an aqueous solution of am- Vmonium hydroxide |91| which is replenished When necessaryfrom a container |95 filled with said .solution and suitably connected with said tank.

.the coverY |99 and suitably secured to the upper Wall thereof isa suitable commercially known, thermostatically controlled, electrical heating element |99, whichis connected with a suitable source .of electrical current. The heating element |99 extends substantially he length of cover |99 and is utilized to heat the chamber 2li@ Within said cover for drying the developed web |23 as the'latter passes through said chamber. Hinged on the tank. |92 and disposed between said tank and cover |95 is an elongated dividing plate A2||| which is hollow and filled with a suitable insulating material 262, such as, for example, glass Wool. Journalled onplate 2t! at the far or .right-hand end thereof, as viewed in Fig, l, is a flanged roller rThe exposed section of web |29 passes into and out of the developing unit |31 through suitable opening formed in and between the tank |92 and cover |99 at the near or left-hand ends thereof.

Inpassing into and out of the developing unit |31, the exposed section of web |23 iirst moves along the lower surface of plate 2|! then around pulley 283, and then along the upper surface of said platethrough chamber 23d. it will thus appear that as the exposed section of web |22 is progressively moved along the lower surface of plate 29|, the contiguous exposed areas thereof are .continuously subjected to ammonia vapors rising from the solution |912 and are thus dcveloped, and as the'developed Web moves through theheated chamber'il and along the upper surface of plate 29| it is completely dried, whereupon it passes out of the developing unit |37 and is Wound on the reel ldd for further handling thereof. lThe resulting product, as shown in Fig. '7, discharged from the developing unit i3? and Wound on reel |139 contains the spaced openings |66 andthe addresses 3S in dark print between said openings and on a light or White background, Which is comparable in all respects to the socalled Dick Strip.

Reel |418 is fixed on one end of a short trans verse shaft 294 (Figs. l, 3 and 4) Which'is journalled in suitable bearings provided on the standard l5 and projectsbeyond4 opposite sides of'said standard. Loosely mounted on the opposite end of shaft 264 at the opposite side of standard i5 .is a pulley 295 around which passes a V -belt 255 that also passes aroundasmaller pulley 29'! xed on the main drive shaft 22. Pulley 205 is thus driven from shaft 22 to rotateshaft 2M and reel |49. Pulley 2ll5 is drivably connected to shaft 294 by means of a friction slip-clutch comprising a collar 208 fixed on the outer end of said shaft and engageable by the outer face of said pulley, a leather-faced metallic disk 299 loosely and slidably mounted onsaid'shaft and engageable with the'inner face of saidpulley, and acoil compres- 17` sion spring 2|0 surrounding said shaft and having one end engaging against said disk and the opposite end engaging against the bearing for said shaft, Spring 2 I0 presses pulley 205 against the collar 208 through the friction disk 203 with suicient pressure to frictionally drive shaft 204, but which will permit slippage of said pulley relative to said shaft when the rotation of reel |40 is prevented. The rotation of reel |40 to draw the exposed section of web |20 through the developing unit |31 and to wind the developed web thereon is responsive to the intermittent operation of the web feed drum |33. Accordingly, during each dwell in the intermittent movement of drum |33 and web |20 the reel |40 will be prevented frcm rotating by the web, and if it were not for the provision of the frictional slip connection between pulley 205 and shaft 204 said web would otherwise be wound upon said reel and thereby broken. This frsictional slip connection also compensates for the differential between the surface speed of the drum |33 which is constant and the surface speed of the roll of developed web upon reel 60 which increases as the web accumulates upon said reel. Additionally, by virtue of the frictional slip connection between pulley 205 and shaft 204 a yieldable pulling force is continuously applied by the reel on the exposed and developed sections of the web |20 which tends 'to keep said sections at a slight tension at all times.

Each card 29 released by the presser plate I 41, |48, and stops |01 after the printing operation is quickly withdrawn from printing position by the feed rollers 56, 6I and cooperating pressure rollers 85 and further advanced by the feed rollers 51, 62 and cooperating pressure rollers 85 to a card delivery indicated generally at 2II (Figs. 1 and 2) disposed adjacent the front end of table 52 and wherein the successive cards are stacked one upon another in the same order as they were originally stacked in the feeder 24. This delivery may be in the form of a receptacle into which the cards 29 are successively deposited by the feed rollers 51, 62, but in the illustrated embodiment said delivery is of the stacker type comprising a plurality of transversely spaced, intermittently operated, endless belts 2|2 upon which the successive cards are stacked in overlapping fanned-out relation. The rear portions of belts 2|2 pass around suitable rollers 2I3 fixed on a transverse shaft 2 I4, and the front portions of said belts pass around suitable rollers 2| 5 fixed on a transverse shaft 2 I6, said shafts being journalled in suitable bearings in the side plates I6, I1.

Fixed on the outwardly projecting end of shaft 2I4 adjacent side plate I1 is a ratchet 2I1 (Figs. 2 and 4) which is continuously engaged by a pawl 2I8. This pawl 2I8 is pivotally mounted, as at 2 I 9, on an arm 220 which is loosely mounted on the shaft ||0. PaWl 2|0 is yieldingly held in engagement with ratchet 2I1 by an extension spring 22| having one end connected to said pawl and the opposite end connected to arm 220. Pivotally connected, as at 222, to arm 220 is one end of a link 223 the opposite end of which is pivotally connected to the crank pin |89. It will thus appear that through oscillation of arm 220 by crank pin |89 and through engagement of the oscillating pawl 2| 8 with ratchet 2I1, shaft 2I4 will be intermittently rotated to intermittently advance belts 2|2. This operation of ratchet 2I1 is so timed that belts 2| 2 will be moved a short distance after each card 29 is delivered thereto. A retaining pawl 224 pivoted at 225 on i8 the side plate I1 is engaged with ratchet 2| 1 to hold the same and belts 2|2 in actuated positions.

Spring-pressed rider wheels 220 cooperate with certain of the belts 2|2 to properly position the successive cards 29 thereon and to aid in the movement of the cards by the belts. These rider wheels 226 are adjustably carried by rods 221 fixed in the side plates IG, I1. From the belts 2| 2 the stacked cards 29 pass onto a plurality of transversely spaced inclined slats 228 and accumulate in a pile thereon from which they may be conveniently removed in bunches for filing or other purposes. Slats 228 are adjustably secured to a cross bar 229 which is secured at opposite ends to the side plates I6, I1.

Referring now to Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings, there is shown a coating unit, indicated generally at 230, for applying a coating of a light-sensitive composition, preferably of the diazo type, on a surface of a web of paper, whereby inexpensive rolls of blank uncoated paper may be employed in the described structure in place of the expensive commercially available rolls of diazo type light-sensitive paper previously referred to herein. In employing the blank uncoated paper in the described structure, a roll of said paper, identified by the numeral 23| for the sake of description, is mounted on the pin |25 in place of the roll of sensitized paper |24. A web 232 is drawn from roll 23|- through the coating unit 230, and then from the latter through printing position, around the drum |33, through the developing unit |31 and at-l tached to the reel |40. The web 232 as it is so initially passed through the coating unit 230 is coated on the outer surface thereof with a light-sensitive composition and is thus in readiness for photo-printing of the addresses 36 thereon, as previously described. Thereafter, as the web 232 is intermittently advanced by the drum |33, uncoated portions of said web are drawn in like manner through the coating unit 230 and progressively coated with the light-sensitive composition as the printing operation progresses.

As herein shown, the coating unit 230 is suitably mounted on the standard I5 at the rear end thereof, and comprises a pair of transversely spaced vertically extending plates 233 which are connected together at the upper and lower ends thereof by tie bars 234 and 235, respectively, suitably secured thereto. manner to the lower ends of plates 233 is a fountain 236 which contains a supply of a lightsensitive composition 231, preferably of the diazo type, in liquid form, Journalled in suitable bearings in the plates 233 and extending into the light-sensitive composition 231 in fountain 236 is a rubber covered pick-up roll 238. Journalled in suitable elongated bearings in plates 233 for rotary and floating vertical movements is a rubber covered transfer roll 239 which rests on the pick-up roll 238. Journalled in suitable elongated bearings in plates 233 and cooperating with the transfer roll 239 is a metallic pressure rol1 240. This roll 240 is yieldingly urged against roll 239 by a pair of spring-pressed eye-rods 24| which are engaged over reduced opposite ends of roll 240 and project upwardly therefrom through suitable externally threaded sleeves 242 threaded in the tie plate 234. The springs 243 for rods 24| are mounted thereon between the heads 244 thereof and the lower ends of the sleeves 242. The pressure of roll 240 on roll 239 and the pressure of the latter Secured in a suitablev on roll 238 may be regulated by turning.- the.:V

In threading the web 232. drawnv from the supply roll 23| through the machine in the samel manner as previously described in connection with web |20, said web 232 is rst passed. between the rolls 239 and 240 of the coating. unit 2301.'. It will thus appear that with the vveb..232v yieldingly pressed against the roll 239 by roll 2411, movement of said web in the direction. ofthe. arrows (Fig. 8)y will cause rotation of rolls 238 and 249. in. opposite directions, whereupon roll 238 will pick up a quantity of the light-sensitive composition 231 and transfer the sameto roll 239 which, in turn, will transfer and apply said composition to said web over the entire contacting surface thereof. Theblank vuncoated web is thus4 coated with the light-.sensitive composition as. it is intermittently drawn and advanced from roll 240 to printing position. During this. inter-V mittent movement of the coated` web 232 from the coating unit 230 to printing position, the light-sensitive coating on said web dries to a. slightly damp condition at normal roomv tem. perature. sensitive composition in a slightly damp. conditiony is advantageous to the process sinceV it increases the speed of reaction of the sensitive. composition to the light. However,l the coat. ing unit 23Dv may 4be so spaced with respect to the light source 99 that suiiicient time is provided for the coating thereon to fully dry at normal room temperature.

Although two embodiments of the present inventionV have been illustratedin the accompany'- ing drawings anddescribed in the foregoing specication, it is to beexpressly understood that ther invention is not limited to said embodiments. Various modications. maybe made in the structure, as well asy changes inthe mode of operation, assembly and manner of. use, some of which havev been mentioned in. the. foregoing specification,y without departing from'the spirit and scope of the invention, as willV now be clear to those skilled in the. art. For .a definition` of the limits. of the invention, reference isrhad: pri-` marily tothe appended claims.

What. is claimed is z.

1. In a photo-printing apparatus,y a source of light, means for supporting av light-sensitiveel'e ment adjacent said light source, continuously driven conveyor means. disposedin the plane of said supporting meansA forr advancing a transparency-carrying member Vbetween said lightsource and. said elementand with thetransparency thereof in register with said-element, means for stopping saidadvancing member in'- dependently ofv said. conveyor means in a prede'- termined. position withY respect to said element and with. the transparency thereof Within. the range of light from said light source, and means.,

for thereafter rendering said light. source effec-..

tive and for a time interval sufficient to-expose said element throughthe transparency.

l2. In` apparatus of the class described, a source` of light, means for supporting alight-'sensitive element adjacent said4 light, source, continuously driven conveyor means disposed in the plane of said supportingv means for advancing a trans.-v parency-carrying member between-A said light source and said element and with the transparency thereof in. register with said element,

Ameans for stopping, said advancingY member independently of said conveyor meansA in. a prede- Printing on the Web with the light.`

termined position with respect to said element'- parency, and means for clamping said member.

and said element together during exposure of the latter by said light source.

3. In a photo-printing apparatus, a source of.` light, means for supporting a sheet-like element having a light-sensitive surface adjacent said light source, continuously driven conveyor means disposed in the plane of said supporting means for advancing a transparency-carrying card-like member between said light source and said element and with the transparency thereof in register with said element, means for stopping said advancing member independently of said conveyor means in a predetermined position with respect to said element and with the transparency thereof Within the range of light from said light source, operable means for clamping said element and the stopped member together, means operable after said element and the stopped member have been clamped for rendering said light source effective and for a period sufficient to expose said element through the transparency, and

power means for operating said last-named.

with the transparency thereof in register with said element, said transparency extending across.

an aperture in said card and having opaque and light-transmitting portions, means operable to stop said advancing card independently of said. conveyor means in a predetermined positionvwith.

respect to said element and with the transpar-v ency thereof directly opposite saidv light source` and to thereafter release said card for movement d by said conveyor means beyond said light source,

means for moving. said stop means intol and out' of operative relation with said card at predetermined intervals, means for rendering saidlight source effective While said card is stopped and. for a period ysufficient to expose said element through the transparency, and means for receiving the released card fromsaid conveyor-means.

5. In apparatus ofthe class described, a sourceNV of. light, means movably supporting a sheet-like element having a light-sensitive surface adjacent said .light source, continuously driven conveyormeanshaving portions disposed at opposite sides and. inthe plane of said. supporting meansA for advancing a transparency-carrying card-like.

member between and beyond saidv light source` andv said element. and with the' transparency.A thereof in register with said element said trans..

parency extending across an; aperture in saidv member and having portions pervious to light: and other portions impervious to light, operable means for stopping said advancing member independently of said conveyor meansfor apredel termined internal in a predetermined posia.

tion with respect to said element. and w-ith4 the transparency thereof directly opposite said light source and for thereafter releasing said member for movement by said conveyor means beyond said light source, control means operable during said interval for rendering said light source effective and for a period suilcient to expose said element through the transparency, operable means for clamping said member and said element together during exposure of the latter and for thereafter releasing said member and the exposed element, operable means for advancing the exposed element relative to said light source after the same has been released by said clamping means, power means for operating said last-named means, said stopping means, said control means, and said clamping means and for controlling the operations thereof in timed relation with each other, and delivery means for receiving the released member from said conveyor means.

6. A photo-printing apparatus comprising, a source of light, means movably supporting a sheet-like element having a light sensitive surface adjacent said light source, continuously driven conveyor means disposed in the plane of said supporting means for advancing a transparency-carrying card-like member between said light source and said element and with the transparency thereof in register with said element, said transparency extending across an aperture in said member and having opaque and lighttransmitting portions, means for stopping said advancing member independently of said conveyor means in a predetermined position with respect to said element and with the transparency thereof directly opposite said light source, means for rendering said light source effective after said member has been stopped and for a period suilcient to expose said element through the transparency, means for advancing said element after exposure thereof to a developing position, and means for developing the exposed element.

7. A photo-printing apparatus comprising, a source of light, means movably supporting a sheet-like element having a light sensitive surface adjacent said light source, continuously driven conveyor means disposed in the plane of said supporting means for advancing a transparency-carrying card-like member between said light source and said element and with the transparency thereof in register with said element, means for stopping said advancing member independently of said conveyor means in a predetermined position with respect to said element and with the transparency thereof directly opposite said light source, means for rendering said light source effective after said member has been stopped and for a period sufficient to expose said element through the transparency, operable means for clamping said member and said element together during exposure of the latter, means for operating said clamping means to release said member and said element after exposure of the latter, means for advancing the released and exposed element from exposing position to a developing position, and means for developing the exposed element.

8. A photo-printing apparatus comprising, a source of light, means mov-ably supporting a sheet-like element having a light-sensitive surface adjacent said light source, continuously driven conveyor means disposed in the plane of said supporting means for advancing a transparency-carrying card between said light source and 22 said element and with the transparency lthereof in register with said element, said transparency extending across an aperture in said card and having opaque and light-transmitting portions, means operative for stopping said advancing card independently of said conveyor means for an interval in a predetermined position with respect to said element and with the transparency thereof directly opposite said light source and for thereafter releasing said card for further movement, means operative for rendering said light source effective during said interval and for a period sui'- cient to expose said element through the transparency, means operative for clamping the stopped card and said element together prior to exposure of the latter by said light source and for releasing said card and element after exposure of the latter, delivery means for said card, continuously driven conveyor means disposed in the plane of said supporting means and said rst named conveyor means and effective upon release of said card by said stopping means and said clamping means for moving said card to said delivery means, developing means, and means operative upon release of said element by said clamping means for moving said element from exposing position and presenting the same to said developing means.

9. In a photo-printing apparatus, continuously driven conveyor means arranged to receive and advance a card in a horizontal position along a predetermined path, said conveyor means having portions thereof arranged to provide a space therebetween, feeding means located adjacent the receiving end of said conveyor means for feeding a card carrying a transparency from a supply thereof and presenting the same to said conveying means, said transparency extending across an aperture in said card and having portions pervious to light and other portions impervious to light, a source of light arranged in vertical alignment with said space above and in spaced relation with said conveyor means, means disposed in said space for supporting a light-sensitive sheetlike element substantially in the plane of said path and beneath said light source, said advancing card passing under said light source and over and in contact with said element, stop means for stopping said card independently of said conveyor means in a predetermined position with respect to said element and with the transparency thereof directly opposite said light source and overlying said element, and means for rendering said light source elfective after said card has been stopped and for a period sufficient to o expose said element through the transparency.

10. In apparatus of the class described, means for supporting a supply of card-like members each carrying a transparency extending across an aperture therein, said transparency having opaque and light-transmitting portions, means for feeding said members successively from said supply in predetermined spaced relation, continuously driven conveyor means receiving each fed member and advancing the same in 'a horizontal position along a predetermined path, said conveyor means having portions thereof arranged to provide a space therebetween, a source of light 'arranged in vertical alignment with said space above and in spaced relation with said conveyor means, means disposed in and at opposite ends of said space for supporting a light-sensitive sheetlike element substantially in the plane of said path and beneath said light source, said 'advancing members passing under said light source and over s'a'id element, stop means for stopping each ofsaidadvancing members in turn independently of said conveyor means in a predetermined position .with respect'to said element and with the transparency thereof directly opposite said light source and overlying said element, means operatively disposed between said last named supporting means and above and below said path for clamping said element and each stopped member together, and means for rendering said light source effective after said element and each member havebeen clamped and for a period sufficient to expose said element through the transparency.

1l. In apparatus of the class described, a housing, .a source of light in said housing, means for supporting a light-sensitive sheet-like element in horizontal position below and in spaced relation with said housing, said housing having a lighttransmitting aperture in the wall portion thereof adjacent said element, a. solid plate of lighttransmitting transparent material carried by said housing and extending across said aperture in spaced parallel relation with respect to said element, continuously driven conveyor means disposed in the plane of said supporting means for advancing a card carrying a transparency between said plate and said element, said transparency extending across an aperture in said card and .having opaque and light-transmitting portions, means for stopping said advancing card in a predetermined position with respect to said element and with the transparency thereof directly opposite said plate and overlying said element, means arranged below said element for pressing the latter and the stopped card against said plate, `and Ameans for thereafter rendering said light source effective and for a period sufficient toexpose said element through the transparency.

l2.. In a photo-printing apparatus, a horizontal support for cards, a housing supported above and in spaced relation with respect to said support adjacent the forward end of the latter, -a source of light within said housing, said housing having a light-'transmitting aperture in the lower wall portion thereof, a solid -plate of light-transmitting transparent material carried vby said housing :and extending across ,said aperture in spaced parallel relation with vrespect to said support, transverselyextending longitudinally spacedl means for supporting a lightsensitive sheet-like element substantially in the plane of said support ,and directly below said plate, continuously driven conveyor means ,for advancing a card carrying-:a transparency over said support and `between said plate and said element, said transpa-rency extending racross an aperture in said card and having opaque and light-transmitting portions, stop A.means for stopping said advancing card independently of said conveyor means in a predetermined :position with respect to said element and with the transparency thereof directly opposite said plate and overlying said element, a vertically movable `presser plate arranged Vbetween said longitudinally spaced supporting means and beneath said element for pressing the latter gand the stopped card against said light transmitting plate, cam actuated means includinga yieldable connection for moving said presser plate upwardly andapplying a yielding l-pressure thereon,` an electrical switch for energizing said light .source for a period suii'icent to expose said element through the transparencmand cam actuated means'for'operating said electrical switch lin timed relation with said pressure plate.

13. In.v apparatus of the class described, a source of-Iight, means movably supporting adjacent said light source a portion of a normally stationary web having a light-sensitive surface, continuously driven conveyor means having portions disposed at opposite sides and in the plane of said supporting means for advancing transparency-carrying cards one after another at timed intervals between said web portion and said light source and with the transparencies thereof in register with said web portion, said transparencies extending across apertures in said cards and having portions pervious to light and other portions impervious to light, stop means operative in timed relation with said conveyor means for stopping each advancing card in turn independently of said conveyor means for an interval in a prede.- termined position with respect to said -web portion and with the transparency thereof Adirectly opposite said light source and for thereafter releasing said card for further movement beyond said light source by said conveyor means, means operative in timed relation with said stop means for clamping said web portion and Aeach stopped card together and for thereafter releasing said card and said web portion, means operative in timed relation with said clamping means for rendering said light source effective and for a period suicient to expose an yarea of said web portion through the transparency` carried by each stopped card, means operative'in timed relation with the release of said web portion by said clamping means for imparting a step-by-step forward movement to said web to move successive exposed areas thereof beyond said light source and to bring successive unexposed areas into operative relation with said light source, andreel means operative to wind up thev web as the ex'.A posing operation progresses.

14. In a photo-printing apparatus `of the class described, a source of light, means movablysupporting adjacent said light source a portion of a normally stationary web having a light-sensitive surface, continuously driven conveyor means having portions disposed at opposite sides and in the plane of said supporting means for advancing transparency-carrying card-like members .one after another at timed intervals between `said web portion and said light source andwith the transparencies thereof in register with said web portion, said Atransparencies extending across apertures in said members and having portions pervious to light and other portions impervious to light, stop means operative in timed relation with said conveyor means for stopping each advancing member in turn independently of said conveyor means for an interval in a predetermined position with respect to said web portion and with the transparency thereof directly opposite said light source and for thereafter releasing said member for further movement beyond ysaid light-source by said conveyor means, means .operative in `timed relation with said stop means for clamping said web portion and each stopped member together and for` thereafter yreleasing said member and said web portionfmeans operati-ve in timed relation with said clamping means to render said light source effective vand fora period sufcient to expose an area of said web portion through the transparency carried by each stopped member, means operative in timed relation with the release of said web portion -by said clamping means `for imparting a step-byfstep forwardmovement to said web to move successive exposed areas thereof beyond said light source and to bring successive unexposed areas into operative relation with said light source, reel means operative to wind up the web as the exposing operation progresses, delivery mea-ns arranged adjacent the discharge end of said conveyor means for receiving and stacking the members successively released by said stop means, and means arranged in advance of said reel means and acting on said web to develop the exposed areas thereof.

15. In apparatus of the character described, a source of light, means movably supporting adjacent said light source a portion of a web having a light-sensitive surface, a conveyor for advancing transparency-carrying cards successively between said web portion and said light source and with the transparencies thereof in register with said Web portion, said transparencies extending across apertures in said cards and having opaque and light-transmitting portions, feeding mechanisms for feeding said cards periodically from a supply thereof and presenting the same to said conveyor, stop means operative to temporarily stop each advancing card in turn in a predetermined position with respect to said web portion and with the transparency thereof directly opposite said light source, means operative to clamp said web portion and each stopped card together and to thereafter release said card and said web portion, means operative to render said light source effective and for a period suncient to expose an area of said web portion through the transparency carried by each stopped and clamped card, means for intermittently advancing said web to bring successive unexposed areas thereof into operative relation with said light source, said -last-named means comprising a rotatably mounted drum having a plurality of radially projecting pins equally spaced about the periphery thereof, the spacing between adjacent pins being equal to the size of the transparency measured in the feeding direction and said pins being adapted to successively enter into corresponding spaced openings formed in said web longitudinally thereof, means operative upon each release of said web portion for rotating said drum an extent equal to said pin-spacing, punch means arranged in advance of said drum for forming said openings in said web, and means for operating said punch means in the interval between successive operations of said drum.

16. In a photo-printing apparatus, a table, a housing supported above said table, a source of light within said housing, said housing having a light-transmitting aperture in the wall portion thereof adjacent said table. A solid plate of light-transmitting transparent material carried by said housing and extending across said aperture in spaced parallel relation with respect to said table, a pair of longitudinally spaced transversely extending rollers for supporting a portion of a light-sensitive web substantially in the plane of the upper surface of said table and directly beneath said plate, a continuously driven conveyor for advancing transparency-carrying card-like members successively over said table and beneath said plate and with the transparencies thereof in register with said web portion, said transparencies extending across apertures in said members and having opaque and light-transmitting portions, said conveyor comprising a plurality of transversely extending longitudinally spaced rollers having upper portions disposed substantially in the plane of the upper surface of said table, movable stops for temporarily stopping each advancing member in turn independently of said conveyor in a predetermined position with respect to said web portion and with the transparency thereof directly opposite said plate, means for moving said stops into and out of the path of movement of said members at predetermined intervals, a presser plate movably mounted between said pair of rollers and beneath said web portion for pressing the latter and each stopped member against said light-transmitting plate, means for raising and lowering said presser plate in timed relation with said stops, an electrical switch for energizing said light source for a period sufficient to expose an area of said web portion through the transparency carried by each stopped member, means for operating said switch in timed relation with the raising of said presser plate, and means operative in timed relation with the lowering of said presser plate for imparting a step-by-step forward movement to said web to bring successive unexposed areas thereof into operative relation with said light source.

17. In apparatus of the character described, a source of light, means for rotatably supporting a supply roll of sheet material, means for movably supporting a web drawn from said roll adjacent said light source, means for intermittently advancing said web to bring successive areas thereof into operative relation with said light source, a coating unit arranged between said supply roll and said light source and through which said web is drawn for progressively applying a layer of a light-sensitive composition on a surface thereof, continuously driven conveyor means disposed in the plane of said web supporting means for advancing a card carrying a transparency between said light source and said web during each dwell in the intermittent movement of said web, said transparency extending across an aperture in said card and having opaque and light-transmitting portions, means for temporarily stopping each advancing card in turn independently of said conveyor means in a predetermined position with respect to said web and with the transparency thereof in register with said web and said light source, and means operable while each card is so stopped for rendering said light source effective and for a period suiicient to expose an area of the light sensitive surface of said web through the transparency carried by the card.

18. In apparatus of the character described, a source of light, lmeans for rotatably supporting a supply roll of sheet material, means for movably supporting adjacent said light source and in a horizontal plane a web drawn from said roll, means for intermittently advancing said web to bring successive areas thereof into operative relation with said light source, a coating unit arranged between said supply roll and said light source and through which said web is drawn for progressively applying a layer of a light-sensitive composition on a surface thereof, continuously driven conveyor means disposed in the plane of said web supporting means for advancing a. card -carrying a transparency between said light source and said Aweb during each dwell in the intermittent movement of said web, said transparency extending across an aperture in said card and having opaque and light-transmitting portions, means for temporarily stopping each advancing card in turn independently of said conveyor means in a predetermined position with respect to said web and with the transparency thereof in register with said web and said light source, means operable while each card 27 isA so stopped for rendering said light source effective and for a period sucent to expose an area of the lightsensitive surface of said web through the transparency carried by the card, and means for clamping each card and said web together during exposure of the latter by said light source.

LEONARD BAKER.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 836,660 Winslow Nov. 20, 1906 976,164 Goldstein Nov. 22, 1910 1,006,428 Bowers Oct. 17,1911 1,350,023 Kelley et al Aug. 17, 1920 1,421,413 Cossitt July 4, 1922 1,755,041 Wasylenko Apr. 15, 1930 Number Number Name Date Lootens Sept. 24, V1935 vLyle Dec. 31, 1935 Niederle May 19, 1936 Wahl July 6, 1937 Dazey May 9, 1939 McClay Apr. 22, 1941 Konig et al Feb. 15, 1944 Schade et a1. Mar. 20, 1945 Gorad-et al Jan. 22, 1946 Haff 1 June 3, 1947 Feldstein et al. Jan. 10, 1950 Weckbaugh Jan. 17, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Nov. 8, 1928 Great Britain Aug. 30, 1935

Images