US3093053A

US3093053A - Photoprint developing machines

Info

Publication number: US3093053A
Application number: US125600A
Authority: US
Inventors: Perley T Blood
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-04-28
Filing date: 1961-04-28
Publication date: 1963-06-11
Anticipated expiration: 1980-06-11

Description

June 1l, 1963 P. T. BLOOD 3,093,053

PHOTOPRINT DEVELOPING MACHINES Filed April 28, 1961 2 sheets-sheet 1 FiF/nir 7.' 52000 June 1l, 1963 PA T. BLOOD PHoToPRINT DEVELOPING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 28, 1961 ,A INVENTOR. ,0f/air 7.' 52000 #rink/vir United States Patent O 3,093,953 PHOTOPRINT DEVELOPIING MACES Perley T. Blood, 6811 Delta Drive, Box 216,

El Paso, Tex. Filed Apr. 28, 1961, Ser. No. 125,600 8 Claims. (Cl. 95-94) I'his invention relates to a photoprint developing machine. It has been exceedingly diilicult to handle large photoprints or murals of the type used for covering large wall areas during the developing stages due to the great size of the desi-real prints. Trays of suilicient size to completely immerse the prints are impractical and even if such trays were available, it would be exceedingly difiicult to handle the wet print so as to obtain a uniform immersion so as to obtain uniformity in the development, iixing and Washing of the print.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a compact, highly eicient land easily operated photoprint developing machine in which large photographic photoprints of the wall mural type may be rapidly and uniformly developed over their entire area with a minimum of solution and a minimum of oor space, yand without damage to the resulting photoprint.

Other objects and ladvantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed `for simplicity, economy, and eiiciency. 'Ihese will become more apparent `from the following description.

In the Vfollowing detailed description of the invention, reference is had =to the Iaccompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all Views of the ydrawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

FIG. l is a left side elevational view of the improved photoprint machine;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof with the midsection broken away to show indeterminate length;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, cross section-al view taken on the line 3 3, FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, longitudinal section taken on the line 4 4, FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is -a fragmentary right side elevational view showing an alternate construction to be later described.

The improved machine for large photoprint developing employs a rectangular base tray ,lil `adapted to be supported in `any desired manner such as upon a conventional workbench, table or sink. The base tray is reinforced by a base angle 11 at each of its extremities and is provided with a drain nipple closed by means of a sui-t-able nipple cap 112. A forward support rod `13 and a rear support rod 14 are supported in rod brackets 15 at the ends of the base tray and extend across the width of the latter adjacent the front and back thereof.

A track member 16 is mounted on and extends between the rods 13 `and 14 adjacent the left side of the base tray land a similar, similarly mounted track member 17 is positioned adjacent the right side of the tray. The track member-s 16 and 17 have an L-shaped cross section with the horizontal portion mounted on the rods and -a Vertical portion opstanding therefrom.

A multiple developing tray 18 is positioned between the track members 16 land 17. The tray 1S is provided with terminal end plates 19, the upper edges of which are flanged outwardly, as indicated at 2i), Ito overlap the horizontal portions of the

track members

16 and 17 to support the multiple developing tray 18 therebetween. The rear support rod 14 passe-s through the end plates 19 of the multiple tray so that the front of the tray may be lifted, about the axis of the rear rod 14, from its normal horizontal position Ito a vertical rearwardly-directed dumping position. The bottom of the multiple developrice 2 ing tray is corrugated to provide a plurality of semi-cylindrical troughs, such as, a developer trough 22, a stop solution trough 23, a xative trough 24 and a water trough 21, which extend transversally of the machine in adjacent parallel relation.

A carriage slide 25 of inverted L-shaped cross section overlap-s and is slidably mounted on the vertical upstanding portion of each track member so as lto be free to vslide therealong. The carri-age slides 25 are provided with suitable knobs 26 -to facilitate sliding them forwardly and backwardly along the track members.

A vertical post member 2.7, preferably of L-shaped cross section, is mounted upon each carriage slide 25 and is maintained in iixed vertical postion thereon by means :of suitable brace gussets 28. The two post mem bers are connected `and maintained in vertical, spaced, braced rela-tion by means of a cross member 29 which is mounted at its extremities between bracket plates 30 which are fixed to and extend rearwardly from the post members 27.

The post members yare provided with a plurality of verticallyaspaced, inclined rod receiving notches 31, the respective notches in the -two posts .being in horizontal alignment with each other. The notches 31 are designed to selectively receive a hinge rod 32 upon which a roller yframe is mounted. The roller frame comprises two end plates 33 between which lthe hinge rod 32 and a brace rod 34 rigidly extend. A pair of bracket posts 66 extend outward lfrom each end plate 33 in substantially horizontal alignment. A handle rod 38 extends through the forward post 66 of each pair and is threaded into the rear post of each pair. The handle rods 38 terminate at their forward extremities in suitable hand knobs 39. A rear print roller 35 and ya forward print roller 36 extend between land have their respective shafts journalled in the end plates 33.

An endless photoprint, to be developed, is draped over the

rollers

35 and 36 `and depends therefrom. One extremity of the shaft of the forward print roller 36 is mounted in a yoke 67 on one of the handle rods 38 so that the parallel Aalignment of the

rollers

35 and 36 can be adjusted by rotation of the latter handle -rod 38 to cause .the print -to travel in a. 'true path between the extremities of the rollers.

An electric motor 40 is mounted on a motor plate 41 extending inwardly from one end of the roller frame 33 ,and over the

rods

32 and 34. The motor 40 is provided with a drive pulley 42 which drives a driven pulley 43, mounted on each of the

print rollers

35 and 36, through the medium of a transmission belt 44.

The weight of the hingedly-mounted roller frame is counter-balanced by spring actuated window weight pulleys 45 mounted on the post members 27 from which metal tapes 46 extend to any suitable detachable connection y47 with the ends of the roller frame 33.

A water-spray pipe 43 is removably supported between the carriage slides 25 and is provided with suitable spray orifices to spray water against the face of the print 37. Water is conducted to the spray pipe 48 through a tlexible hose 49 from -a shutoff valve 5t) to which properly tempered water is supplied from a hot water tube 51 and a cold water tube 52. through

tempering valves

53 and 54.

Operation Assuming the proper solutions are in the troughs of the developing tray, the exposed print to be developed is passed over the two rollers `35 and 36 and the two extremities of the print are secured together by means of suitable adhesive tape to form an endless band with the emulsion side facing outwardly. A weighted roller 55 provided with end flange discs 56 is placed in the bottom loop of the endless band to stretch it downwardly and form a relatively narrow return roll at the bottom. The roller frame is then positioned in the proper rod notches 31 so that when the roller frame is in the elevated position, the bottom loop will swing just above the multiple developing tray as shown in solid line in FIG. l and the motor 40 is started.

`The two knobs 26 are now grasped and the carriage slides are pulled forwardly until the weighted roller 55 is above the developer trough 21. The roller frame is then swung downwardly to immerse the weighted roller 55 and the lower bend of the traveling photoprint 37 in the water of trough 21 as shown in broken line in FIG. l, thence in the developing solution in the trough 22.

The photoprint is continuously traveling under the influence of the motor 40, so that it continuously rises from the developing solution in full view of the operator. When the development has reached the desired density, the roller frame is swung upwardly, by means of the knobs 39, to remove the weighted roller from the developer trough. The carriage slides are now slid rearwardly to position the weighted roller over the stop solution trough 23 and the roller frame is again swung downwardly to immerse the lower loop of the print in the stop solution of the trough 2.2.

The above procedure is repeated over the xative trough 24 after which the carriage slides are moved to the rearmost position, solid line position in FIG. 1, and the roller frame is swung downwardly to position the photoprint in the water spray from the spray pipe 4S where it is allowed to travel until completely washed. It will be noted that the wash water drops to the base tray 1t) rearwardly of the developing tray 17. The water may be discharged at intervals by removing the cap 12 or, if preferred, a suitable continuous drain can be provided.

The photoprint is now elevated to the solid line position and allowed to dry in motion if desired so that a smooth unwrinkled print is produced which can be removed by simply removing the taped attachment of the two extremities.

When finished, the solutions can be dumped by simply elevating the front of the developing tray, about the axis of the rear support rod 14 to discharge the solutions into the base tray 10.

If desired, a second water spray pipe 59 can be removably positioned inthe notches 31 of the post members 27, as shown in FIG. l, and connected to the spray pipe hose 49. The rear vertical reach of the print 37 would be positioned rearwardly of the second spray pipe so that sprays from the latter would wash the back side of the traveling print.

While the two carriage slides can be readily and simultaneously moved forward and back by simply gripping one of the knobs 26 in each hand, a one-handed operation can be provided, if desired, as shown in FIG. 5. The latter comprises a horizontal sprocket shaft 6i) journalled forwardly of the track members 16 and provided at each extremity with a chain sprocket 61 and at one extremity with a hand crank 62. An endless sprocket chain 63 extends rearwardly from each sprocket 61 alongside each track member I16 and about a rear sprocket 64 so that when the crank 62 is rotated, the chains will move in unison. A drive screw e is mounted in and extends downwardly from each carriage slide into engagement with the upper reach of the chain 63 therebelow. Thus, when the crank `62 is rotated or when either carriage slide is moved, the chains 63 will travel in unison to move both carriage slides forward or back simultaneously and uniformly.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is to be understood that the same may be varied within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A photoprint developing machine comprising: a horizontal plurality of elongated solution troughs arranged in parallel relation; a guide track extending transversely of .the long axes of said troughs at each extremity thereof; a carriage member mounted for movement along each track, said carriage members being interconnected to move in unison; a vertical post member rising from each carriage member; a roller frame supported from and extending between said post members; print supporting rollers mounted in said roller frame axially parallel to `and substantially equal in length to said troughs and adapted to support an endless photoprint band whereby said print can be moved over any desired trough by movement of said carriage members along said track members; and means allowing said roller frame to be moved down wardly to immerse said photoprint in the desired trough.

2. A photoprint developing machine as described in claim l in which the means allowing said roller frame to be moved downwardly comprises a hinge rod extending horizontally between and supported at its extremities by said posts upon which the rear of said roller frame is hingedly mounted and means yieldably supporting the front of said roller frame from said posts.

3. A photoprint developing machine comprising: a horizontal plurality of solution troughs arranged in parallel relation; a guide track extending transversely of said troughs at each extremity thereof; a carriage member mounted for movement along each track, said carriage members being interconnected to move in unison; a vertical post member rising from each carriage member; a roller frame supported from said post members; print supporting rollers mounted in said roller frame axially parallel to said troughs and adapted to support an endless photoprint band whereby said print can be moved over any desired trough by movement of said carriage members along said track members; a hinge rod extending between said posts upon which the rear of said roller frame is hingedly mounted; means yieldably supporting the front of said roller frame to allow said roller frame to be moved downwardly to immerse said photoprint in the desired trough; and a base pan positioned below said troughs with rods extending across said base pan parallel to said troughs, said troughs being hingedly mounted on one of said rods so that they may -be tilted to discharge their contents into said base pan.

4. A photoprint developing machine as described in claim 2 having vertically-spaced, horizontally-aligned rod receiving means on said posts for receiving the extremities of said hinge rod so that the height of said roller lframe can be varied by a pre-selection of the receiving means.

5. A photoprint developing machine as described in claim 4 having a motor tixedly mounted on said roller frame so as to be unitarily adjustable therewith and means for transmitting rotation from said motor to the print supporting rollers in said frame.

6. A photoprint developing machine as described in claim 5 having two parallel print-supporting rollers in said roller frame provided with means for varying the distance between said rollers.

7. A photoprint developing machine comprising: a rectangular base tray; a forward support rod extending longitudinally of said tray adjacent the yfront thereof; a rear support rod extending parallel to said forward support rod adjacent the rear of said base tray; a track member at each extremity of said tray, said track members being hingedly mounted at the forward extremities on said forward support rod and extending rearwardly therefrom in parallel relation, the rear extremities of said track members being supported by said rear support rod; a multiple trough developing tray pivotally mounted on said rear support between said track members so that the front of the multiple tray may be lifted to dump the contents into the base tray; a carriage slide mounted on and freely slidable along each track member; a post member affixed to and extending vertically from each carriage slide; a cross member unitarily connecting said post members together; a roller frame pivotally supported on and extending between .said post members over `said multiple tray; a rear print-supporting roller in said roller frame; `and a forward print roller in said roller frame, said rollers being parallel to each -other and being adapted to :support an endless photographic print draped thereover and depending into a selected trough of said multipletray, the particular trough being selected by adjusting the position of said carriage .slides on said track members.

8. A photoprint -developing machine as described in claim 7 in which the post members are provided with a yverticalaspaced series of rod-receiving notches, the respective notches in the two posts being in horizontal alignment and having a horizontal hinge rod resting in selected notches, said hinge rod acting to support the rear portion of said roller frame and having counter-balance means supporting the forward portion of said roller frame 5 over said trays.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 622,141 Gooder Mar. 28, 1899 10 2,999,447 Hams sept. 12, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 345,319 Germany Dec. 9, 1921

Claims

1. A PHOTOPRINT DEVELOPING MACHINE COMPRISING: A HORIZONTAL PLURALITY OF ELONGATED SOLUTION TROUGHS ARRANGED IN PARALLEL RELATION; A GUIDE TRACK EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THE LONG AXES OF SAID TROUGHS AT EACH EXTREMITY THEREOF; A CARRIAGE MEMBER MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT ALONG EACH TRACK, SAID CARRIAGE MEMBERS BEING INTERCONNECTED TO MOVE IN UNISON; A VERTICAL POST MEMBER RISING FROM EACH CARRIAGE MEMBER; A ROLLER FRAME SUPPORTED FROM AND EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID POST MEMBERS; PRINT SUPPORTING ROLLERS MOUNTED IN SAID ROLLER FRAME AXIALLY PARALLEL TO AND SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL IN LENGTH TO SAID TROUGHS AND ADAPTED TO SUPPORT AN ENDLESS PHOTOPRINT BAND WHEREBY SAID PRINT CAN BE MOVED OVER ANY DESIRED TROUGH BY MOVEMENT OF SAID CARRIAGE MEMBERS ALONG SAID TRACK MEMBERS; AND MEANS ALLOWING SAID ROLLER FRAME TO BE MOVED DOWNWARDLY TO IMMERSE SAID PHOTOPRINT IN THE DESIRED TROUGH.