US3146661A - Photographic machine - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 1, 1964 s. c. YOUNG 3,146,661

PHOTOGRAPHIC MACHINE Filed April 20, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 FYGJ F1602 INVENTOR.

Sianieyj 9272171 7 Sept. 1, 1964 s. c. YOUNG w PHOTOGRAPHIC MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 20, 1959 y w w Sept. 1, 1964 s. c. YOUNG 3,146,661

PHOTOGRAPHIC MACHINE Filed April 20, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 S. C. YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHIC MACHINE Sept. 1, 1964 Filed April 20, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

Y $444} flziorne 275 .SZcmIegC BY FIG, 12

Sept. 1, 1964 s. c. YOUNG 3,146,661

PHOTOGRAPHIC MACHINE Filed April 20, 1959 Q 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Sept. 1,1964' I S.C.YQUNG 3,146,661

PHOTOQRAPHIC MACHINE Filed April 20, 1959 a Sheets-Sheet 8 344 FIG, 24-

M ENT OR. Stan/a ayozmy BY fM United States Patent 3,146,661 PHOTOGRAPHIC MACHINE Stanley C. Young, Chicago, Ill, assignor to Verne Martin, .lia, Paris, (Dntarie, Canada Filed Apr. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 807,657 8 Claims. ((Il. 88-24) This invention relates to a multi-purpose photographic machine and more particularly to a photographic machine in which the projected image of an object is maintained in continuous sharp focus on an image plane, while the magnification of the image is changed including changes from positive to negative values, and vice versa.

Photographic machines designed either for work involving positive magnifications (the image size greater than the object size), or negative magnifications (the image size smaller than the object size), have been constructed to operate so that the projected image is automatically maintained in sharp focus on the image plane while the magnification is being varied. This has been done by connecting the lens and the image plane together by a suitable linkage system. Such machines would be more useful if the projected image could be kept in sharp focus on the image plane while the magnification is changed from positive to negative values.

The difiiculty in providing an automatically focusing linkage system which satisfies these requirements is that in going, for example, from positive to negative magnifications, the image plane first has to follow the lens as they both move toward the object plane (although it is understood that the separation of the lens and the image would increase). This movement continues until the lens moves past unity magnification and into the range of negative magnification, which occurs when the lens moves past the point where the distance from the object plane to the lens equals the distance of the image plane to the lens.

After this, any continued movement of the lens toward the object plane requires the image plane to move in the opposite direction (away from the lens and the object plane) in order to maintain the projected image in sharp focus on the image plane. Since the necessary movement of the image plane with respect to the lens is inherently complex, because of the optical laws involved, it is apparent that a mechanical linkage which also has to accommodate a reverse complex movement by the image plane would be prohibitively expensive.

It has been noted, however, that if the optical system of a photographic machine is constructed so the lens is fixed and the image plane and the object plane are movable with respect to the lens and to each other, then a linkage system can be connected between the object and image planes which is substantially more economical to manufacture than the above described linkage system, and which keeps the projected image in focus on the image plane as the magnification changes from positive to negative values.

It would also be useful from the standpoint of simplicity to provide a linkage connection between the image planeand the object plane in a photographic machine, in which the image plane can keep the projected image in sharp focus by continually following the object plane, as the magnification of the projected image changes from positive to negative values.

Another problem connected with the prior photographic machines using the conventional bellows mounting for the lens, was that the image of the object was projected onto the inner surface of a ground glass screen, and the image could be seen through the outer surface of the screen. In composition work, it is often necessary to see how various magnifications of a projected image would appear on a layout. Since the layout is initially drawn 3,146,561 Patented Sept. 1, 1964 on opaque paper, it was previously necessary to go to the time and expense of transferring the layout to translucent paper, so that when the recopied translucent layout was placed on the outer surface of the ground glass screen, the projected image directed against the inner surface of the screen would appear superimposed on the layout.

It is clear that if the step of recopying the layout were eliminated, there could be a substantial saving in the time and cost of the composition work. What is needed, therefore is a photographic machine which is particularly useful for composition work and wherein the layout drawn on opaque paper can be used as a screen and placed on the image plane of the photographic machine so that various magnifications of the image on the image plane will appear superimposed on the layout for convenient inspection.

In prior photographic machines, uniform illumination of the object whose image was to be projected, was necessary if the quality of the reproduction was to be satisfactory. To provide this uniform illumination, the flood lights were mounted on the end of long support arms, which were attached to each side of the machine. The flood lights on these arms were directed against the object plane of the machine. If the arms were sufficiently long, this arrangement could produce illumination of satisfactory uniformity, but it required the photographic machine to be installed in a room which had space enough to accommodate the long arms. When sufficient space was not available, the uniformity of the illumination on the object plane was affected, and this adversely affected the quality of the projected image. In view of these considerations, it is apparent that a device both for supporting an object whose image is to be projected, and for compactly providing uniform illumination for the object would overcome the difficulties encountered in the prior machines.

It is desirable, both for reasons of economy and for speed of operation, that the photographic machine have a large quantity of film or sensitized paper, preferably in the form of a roll, stored inside. Furthermore, flexibility of operation requires that different lengths of film or paper be out according to need. These requirements are complicated by the necessity that the film, because of its light sensitive properties, be cut to the desired length and centered in the machine, in the absence of visual observation.

What is needed therefore is a photographic machine having a roll of film or light sensitive paper stored therein, and which is provided with means for cutting a predetermined length of film or sensitized paper off the roll and for centering the film in the machine in the absence of visual observation.

The rolls of film or sensitized paper, hereafter referred to as film, used in these machines are rather heavy. Despite their weight, it is necessary that the film unroll easily so that various lengths of film may be cut from it. Furthermore, the roll of film and the photographic machine must be designed so that the roll can be easily and quickly installed in the machine. These requirements are not easy to satisfy economically because of the size and weight of the roll of film, but it is evident that the satisfaction of these requirements would be economically desirable.

It is also desirable to design photographic machines so they may be used for a variety of photographic processes, and one of these processes should include the well known transfer fusion process because it lends itself to a variety of commercial purposes. Until now, however, use of this process has been largely restricted to duplicating letters or drawings. In these machines, the letter or drawing is placed in direct contact with the sensitized surface of the negative sheet and the exposure on the negative sheet is made from light reflected from the surface of the letter or drawing, in a manner Well known in the art. The fact that the light which forms the image on the negative sheet is not direct, but instead is reflected from the surface of the letter or drawing, has an adverse affect on the quality of the reproduction. This renders the transfer fusion process as employed in these machines unsatisfactory for many purposes.

1 Another factor affecting the quality of the reproduction of the machines using the transfer fusion process is that the negative sheet and the combined sheet are fed through the developing solution by hand for a portion of their travel, and if the feed rate is uneven, the lines being reproduced have a tendency to become wider or heavier. So long as the material being reproduced was not reduced in size, the reproduction was usually legible, so that this effect was not important, but if the reproduction is to be used for subsequent reproduction in graphic arts, optimum quality is essential and this effect could cause the initial reproduction to become unsatisfactory for this purpose.

In some cameras the transfer fusion process is employed and the image of the object being photographed is focused directly on the negative sheet, so that the image is sharper and the use of the bellows permits positive or negative magnification. However, the objection to employing the general techniques used in this camera on commercial photographic machines is that such cameras do not permit any convenient variation in the size of the prints.

Furthermore such cameras are inflexible in operation,

in that the combined or positive sheets are an integral part of the film. This is objectionable because it is often necessary in commercial machines to produce one print on glossy paper and the next print on matt, etc., and in the camera described above, to change the quality of the print, it would be necessary to entirely remove the film. The same objection would be encountered when it is desired to vary the contrast of the print. What is needed for a more successful commercial utilization of the transfer fusion process is a photographic machine which can use the transfer fusion process in such a way that the image of the object being reproduced is projected directly on the negative sheet so that magnification is possible, and in which the combined sheets are completely separate from the negative sheets so that the print quality and contrast can be changed from print to print by simply changing the combined sheets.

' It is also desirable to provide a mechanism for automatically feeding the negative sheet and the combined sheet through the developing solution in synchronization so that they may pass through the combining rollers to gether and at a uniform rate.

It is further apparent that a photographic machine in which all of the factors controlling exposure are consolidated, so that correct exposures may be achieved at all magnifications without resort to charts and data books, could be operated more simply by less highly skilled personnel, and accordingly would be more economical to use. As stated above, a photographic machine which can selectively use a plurality of photographic processes has great utility. In that respect, if one of the photographic processes uses a half tone screen, it would be particularly useful to design a photographic machine so that the half tone negatives could be produced without the necessity of a dark room, and so the'half tone screen could be positioned in the machine in accordance with the magnification of the projected image.

Oneobject of this invention, therefore, is to provide a photographic machine which among other things incorporates the above mentioned attractive features.

Other objects of this invention will become more apparent when read in the light of the specification and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 discloses a side elevational view of a photographic machine embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 discloses a front elevational view of the machine shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 discloses a plan view of the machine shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side sectional view of a portion of the machine.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 77 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 7.

FIG. 8a. is a view similar to that of FIG. 8, but with the side guideway, the knife, and the push fingers omitted.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 99 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line Ill-10 of FIG. 8.

' FIG. 11 is a plan view of a portion of the image table showing particular details of the push fingers and latch. FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken on the line I2I2 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken on the line I313 of FIG. 2, the peripheral cross hatching being omitted for clarity.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken on the line I4.l4

of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of the cable system used for controlling the operation of the pushing fingers.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the enclosure for the roll of film.

FIG. 17 is a portion of a front sectional view of the enclosure for the film.

FIG. 18 is a portion of a front sectional View of a package containing a roll of film, with side bearing members being forced into the sides of the package.

FIG. 19 is a side elevational view of the package containing a roll of film with the flap opened and a portion of the film leader extending out.

FIG. 20 is a front view of the lens of the device showing the Waterman stop disk in operative position.

FIG. 21 is a rear view of the lens of the device showing the operation of the shutter.

FIG. 22 is a plan View of the halftone cam disk mounted beneath the easel table showing the actuating rod attached thereto.

FIG. 23 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the easel table showing the action of the cam disk on the pins which control the position of the half tone screen.

FIG. 24 is a side elevational view of one of the inner' marginal flanges, showing its raised position in dotted lines.

FIG. 25 shows a side elevational view of the cam disk with the actuating rod riding on the surface of an upwardly inclined cam rod. 7

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawing, the photographic machine, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1d, comprises a support including a housing 12 mounted on a base 14. The housing includes front and rear walls 16 and I8, and side walls 20 and 22, see FIG.

2. An optical system, as described below, is mounted on a vertically disposed guide groove 30 formed in the front surface 16 of the housing, see FIG. 6.

A combined locking and reinforcing plate 32 is mounted on front wall 16, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. This plate This table is mounted on front wall 16 of the is provided with a slot 34 which is wide enough to permit the bearing lugs 26 to move vertically therein, but which is too narrow to permit the roller guide wheels 28 journalled on the lugs 26 from leaving the guide grooves. This arrangement permits table 24 to move easily in a vertical direction, but at the same time, it holds table 24 on the front wall of the housing in a stable horizontal position. It is to be understood, however, that the precise arrangement for mounting table 24 on housing 12 is not critical, and any convenient arrangement may be used.

Sheaves or pulley wheels 38, 40 and 42 are mounted on the top wall 44 of the housing, as shown in FIG. 13. A first cable 46 is connected at one end to table 24 and passing over sheaves 38, 46 and 42, is connected at the other end to a table counter weight 48, to permit table 24 to be easily raised and lowered, see FIGS. 5 and 6.

A vertically disposed shaft 50 is rotatably mounted by any conventional means between the top wall 44 and support plate 52 on top of the housing. As seen in FIG. 14, plate 52 is held in spaced parallel relationship to top wall 56 by means of spacers 54. An electric motor 56 mounted on top wall 44 by any conventional means is connected to shaft 50 to permit rotation of the shaft in either direction. The speed of shaft 50 may be controlled by means of conventional gearing (not shown). Spiral-like cam sheaves 58 and 60 are rigidly mounted on the shaft 50 for rotation therewith. A second cable 62 is connected at one end to an adjustable screw (not shown) but which is mounted inside table 24 for reasons to be described below. From the adjustable screw, cable 62 extends upwardly and passing over a sheave 64, is mounted in the grooves of the spiral-like cam sheave 60, see FIGS. 6 and 13. With this arrangement, when motor 56 is operated, cam sheave 60 rotates, and cable 62 is either wound or unwound on the cam sheave 69, causing table 24 to be raised or lowered, depending on the direction of rotation of shaft 50.

The optical system further includes an easel or image table 66 having a supporting surface 67 constituting the image plane, and which is mounted inside the housing 12 for vertical movement therein, see FIG. 5. As seen in FIG. 6, the easel table is rectangular in shape, and its sides areclosely adjacent to the front and rear walls 16 and 18 of the housing 12. It is to be understood, however, that the shape of the table is not critical, and others are contemplated.

As described in connection with table 24, table 66 is provided with at least one vertically disposed bearing lug 68 for supporting rollers 74 which are journalled thereon, see FIG. 6. The lugs 68 and rollers 70 ride in a guide groove '72 formed on the inner surface of the front wall 16 of the housing, and a slotted combined locking and reinforcing plate 74 is mounted on the inner surface of the front wall 16 of the housing to permit table 66 to be moved in a vertical direction, but at the same time, this combined plate 74 holds table 66 on the front wall of the housing, just as plate 32 holds table 24 there.

Sheaves 74, 76 and 78 are mounted on the top wall of the housing, as shown in FIG. 13. A cable 80 is connected at one end to the easel or image table 66 and passing over sheaves 74, 76 and 78, the cable is connected at the other end to the easel table counterweight 81, to permit the easel table to be raised or lowered easily.

An additional cable 82 is connected at one end to lug 68, see FIG. 6 and passing over sheave 84, see FIG. 13, is wound around a spiral-like cam sheave 58 in such a way that when shaft 56 rotates so cable 82 is wound on cam sheave 58, cable 62 is unwound on cam sheave 60. In other words, when table 24 moves up, table 66 always moves down, and vice versa. In this way cables 62 and 82,, sheaves 64 and 84, and the spiral-like cam sheaves 58 and 60 constitute a mechanical transmission or linkage system between tables 24 and 66.

A cover 83 is removably mounted on the top of the housing 12 to enclose the cam sheaves and the other G mechanisms positioned there and protect them from dust or the corrosive effects of moisture, see FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5.

A circular opening 86 is formed in the central portion of the front Wall 16 of the housing, see FIG. 5. A cylindrical tubular lens barrel 89 is fixed in this opening by any conventional means (not shown). A photographic lens 88, having a predetermined focal length is mounted inside this barrel as shown. Fixed mirrors 90 and 92 are mounted on the housing to provide a compact folded light path from table 24 through lens 88 and on to table 66. It is evident that an additional image reversing mirror may be added, if desired, to satisfy photographic requirements. As seen in FIG. 5, the light path is substantially U-shaped, arid this shape has special advantages, as described below.

If an object is placed on table 24, its image will be sharply projected on table 66 provided that table 66 is positioned in the housing so that the sum of the reciprocal of the distance of table 24 to lens 88 and the reciprocal of the distance of table 66 to lens 88 equals the reciprocal of the focal length of the lens. If the projected image of the object is to be in sharp focus on the table 66 for any position of table 24, then table 24 and table 66 must be connected together so they move so the above described mathematical relationship is always satisfied. This is what determines the size and shape of each of the spiral-like cam sheaves 58 and 60. The magnification of an optical system like this is equal to the ratio of the distance of the table 66 to lens 88 to the distance of table 24 to the lens 3-3. Consequently, if the spiral-like cam sheaves are chosen as described above, the image of the object will always be sharply projected on table 66, and the movements of table 24 and table 66 provide a convenient means for adjusting the magnification of the image, while keeping the image sharply focused.

As stated above, some prior photographic machines had movable lenses which were coupled to the image plane so that the projected image was always in automatic focus on the image plane, but these machines generally operated in the range of positive or negative magnifications, but not in both. This was because with the conventional lens system and its movably mounted lens, the automatic focusing mechanism would have to be designed to permit the previously described reverse movement by either the image plane or the object plane and such a mechanism would be economically prohibitive.

In the optical system employed in this photographic machine, the lens is mounted in a fixed position, while the object and image planes on surfaces 25 and 67 of tables 2.4 and 66 respectively, are movable with respect to each other and to the lens. With this arrangement as table 66 is moved up toward lens 88, as the magnification is decreased, table 24 must move down away from lens 88 to keep the projected image in focus. The same situation will prevail even if table 66 is raised to a point beyond where the magnificaton is unity and becomes negative. Sine the above described reverse movement of either the object or image planes, relative to the lens, does not occur, the tables 66 and 24 can be coupled together so that one always follows the other during increasing or decreasing magnification, in either positive or negative manification ranges. In other words, when table 24 moves up, table 66 always moves down, and vice versa, and the situation never occurs that when table 24 moves up, table 66 must also move up to keep the projected image in focus.

For this reason, it is possible to use the above described simple and economically attractive spiral-like cam sheave linkage system. It is to be understood, however, that other linkage systems besides. ones using cams, or their equivalents, are possible, e.g. an electronic system, and the claims should be construed accordingly. It is also noted that with the lens mounted in a fixed position, the projection system shown in FIG. 5 lends itself well to a U-shaped optical path, both because the photographic machine can be smaller and more compact and because all the cables movements are primarily vertical and are consequently easier to handle.

As seen in FIG. 1, an opening 94 is formed in wall 26 of the housing. This opening extends substantially the length of the wall. An opaque curtain 96, which in appearance resembles a window shade, is mounted so its upper end is on a roller mounted on the upper portion of wall 20. This curtain or shade 96 functions as a closure or a door and its lower end is adapted to be releasably secured to table 66 to render the interior of the housing above table 66 opaque to all light except that coming through the lens 88. With this arrangement, regardless of the position of the image plane on table 66, and hence the magnitude of the portion of opening 94 above table 66, the curtain 96 can beclosed over this portion of the opening to maintain the interior of housing 12 in a light tight condition when the machine is being used.

The access to the image plane or surface 67 provided by curtain 96 is extremely important. First of all it permits inspection of the image on table 66 to determine if it is in sharp focus. This is necessary because the thickness of the object on table 24 may be sufficient to affect the sharpness of the projected image. In addition, as stated above, this arrangement permits the use of a layout drawn on opaque paper as a screen in composition work. In this way various magnifications of projected images of copy or other material can be superimposed on the layout for purposes of inspection.

This present apparatus eleminates the time consuming and costly step of redrawing the layout on transparent or translucent paper, which was necessary when prior photographic machines were used. With this machine, it is only necessary to place the layout on the surface 67 of table 66, and the magnifications of the copy can be adjusted to satisfy artistic or space requirements.

As seen in FIG. 1 an adjusting knob and pointer 63 cooperates with a scale 65 on the side of table 24. This knob is connected by any conventional means (not shown) to the screw inside table 24 to which the lower end of cable 62 is attached. When rotated, knob and pointer 63 causes this screw to rotate and this effectively increases or decreases the length of cable 62. This permits table 24 to move while table 66 remains stationary, and it is used when the object whose image is being projected has appreciable thickness. For example, if the object being photographed or reproduced is a page in a thick book, the book is opened to this page and is placed on surface 25 of table 24. Then knob and pointer 63 are rotated increasing the length of cable 62 and permitting table 24 to move downwardly a distance equal to the thickness of the book below the page being photographed. Then A solenoid 108 is also connected between shutter 98 and a portion 110 of the inner surface of the front wall. This solenoid, when energized, draws the shutter away from lens 88 so its edge 101 contacts stop pin 102. It is evident that after the solenoid is no longer energized, the coil spring 104 pivots the shutter back to its lens closing position. Shutter 98 may be manually held in the lens open or dotted line position by attaching aconventional knob to its pivot shaft, or more practically, by simply energizing solenoid 168 for that purpose.

When the machine is used for photographic purposes, the shutter is needed for opening and closing the lens 88, so that the period of exposure of the light sensitive film in the machine can be regulated. The necessary exposure period for the film is among other things a function of the magnification of the image, and as the size of the image increases the exposure time of the film must also increase. This requires a timing device for controlling the period of exposure, by controlling the time the shutter 98 is held against stop pin 162 in its light admitting lens open position.

This apparatus was designed to be operated rapidly and easily and simply, so that highly skilled operators will not be necessary. In this connection, the linkage between the object table and the image table keeps the projected image always in focus on the image plane 67 on table 66, regardless of its magnification. To further simplify the operation of the machine, it is desirable to provide a timing device which is automatically controlled by the magnification of the projected image so that there are no reference charts to consult, and, for a given photographic process, the timer never has to be set by the operator.

As seen in FIG. 13, a suitable timing device for shutter 98 comprises a pinion gear 112 which is rigidly secured v to the top of shaft 50. A rack bar 114 is mounted in the projected image will be in sharp focus on surface 67 p and it will remain in sharp focus during all magnifications. When the work is completed table 24 is returned to its initial position by rotating knob and pointer 63 until it again points to the indicia on scale 65 to which it pointed initially. v M

A suitable shutter 98, formed for example from thin opaque sheet material, is pivotally mounted on a shaft secured to the inner surface of front wall 16, see FIG. 21. As seen, the shutter is movable between stop pins 106 and 102 secured to the inner surface of the front wall 16. When the edge 99 of shutter 98 engages stop pin 1%, no light can pass through lens 88, and the shutter may be described as being in a lens closing position. When the edge 101 of shutter 88 engages stop pin 102, the lens 88 is entirely unobstructed and the shutter may be described as being in a lens open position. A coil spring 104 is connected between the shutter 98 and a fixed pin 106 extending out from wall 16 to keep the edge 99 of the shutter in engagement with stop pin 104). This keeps the shutter in a position where light is normally prevented from passing through the lens.

the guideways (not shown) for linear horizontal movement. The teeth on this rack bar mesh with the teeth on the pinion gear 112. Since the rotative position of shaft 56 is determined by the position of tables 24 and 66, and hence by the magnification of the projected image on the image plane 67, the position of the end 116 or" rack bar 114 will also be determined by the magnification of the projected image.

A contact arm 117 is mounted on the opposite end of rack bar 112. This contact arm is adapted to engage the actuating arms of limit switches 121' and 123 to limit the travel of tables 24 and 66. These limit switches are connected to motor 56 by appropriate conventional circuitry (not shown), and when their actuating arms are engaged by contact arm 117, the power to motor 56 will be cut off insofar as further movement of the tables in the same direction is concerned. However, as described below, the motor will be able to operate in a reverse direction to reverse the movement of these tables.

A switch 118 is mounted on the end 116 of rack bar 114, and a cam riding wheel 120 is rigidly secured to the actuating arm 119 of the switch, see FIG. 14. A motor 122 is mounted on the upper housing wall 44 with its shaft 124 extending vertically upwards. horizontally disposed disk 126 is removably mounted by any conventional means on the end of shaft 124, and this disk is rotated by motor 122. A horizontally disposed and raised cam plate 128 is removably mounted on disk 126, see- FIG. 13. As seen, the edges of cam plate 128 diverge as they approach the periphery of the disk. 7

Motor 122, when operating, rotates disk 126 at a constant speed. The follower wheel 121 is positioned so it rolls on the surface of this disk, and when the follower wheel 120 encounters the cam plate 128, it is raised vertically as it rides over its top surface. This movement closes switch 118. Switch 118 is connected to solenoid 108 by a conventional circuit (not shown), and while Q. the switch is closed, the solenoid is energized to move the shutter 98 to its light admitting position.

As stated above, the position of the end 116 of rack bar 114 is a function of the position of table 65 or the magnification of the projected image on its image plane 67. Consequently the radial distance of the end 116 of the rack bar 114 and follower wheel 12th from the axis of disk 126 also is a function of the magnification of the projected image. Since each magnification requires a different period of exposure, the distance between the opposite edges 139 and 132 for each radial distance of the follower wheel from the axis of disk 126 must be such that when the disk is rotating at a predetermined constant speed, the roller wheel will ride on the upper surface of cam plate 128 for the precise period of time that the shutter 98 must be in an open position, for the correct exposure. This is what determines the shape of the cam surface 128.

It is evident that if the lens 88 is changed, the shape of cam surface 128 must also be changed. Furthermore, the above described cam disk is suitable only for a particular photo-graphic process during standardized operating conditions, and when the photographic process is changed, the necessary exposure time is affected so that the cam plate 128 must be changed accordingly.

As stated above, each cam plate 128, mounted on disk 126, is associated with a particular photographic process operating under standardized conditions. In practice, however, these conditions frequently vary because of changes in the sensitivity of the film, or with the age and composition of the developing solution, or because of changes in temperature. For that reason means must be provided to compensate the photographic machine for the changed effectiveness of these components. This can be done by varying the stop of the lens 88.

In conventional photographic devices, this is done by the usual adjustable diaphragm. The objection to the use of such a device is that during composition work it is necessary to open the stop of the lens completely to permit a maximum amount of light to pass through the lens to brighten the image on table 66 so it can be inspected easily. Then for actual photographic operation, the lens aperture must be stopped down again. This offers a chance for error since the stop requirements vary, as described above, with the age of the developing solution, temperature, etc., and when the stop is opened, for the reasons described, it must be set back to its original position before the photograph or reproduction is to be made. It is evident that errors may arise in performing these operations due to the operator forgetting the proper stop setting or due to an accidental setting of the stop. This would lead to incorrect film exposure and it would adversely affect the quality of the work. Besides this, the conventional adjustable diaphragm is expensive.

To simplify the problems connected with the selection of the proper stop, an arm or plate 134 is rigidly mounted on a shaft 136, which is mounted for rotation in an opening in the front wall 16, see FIGS. and 20. If shaft 136 extends completely through the front wall, its inner end may serve as a pivot bearing for shutter 93. A knob 138 is rigidly secured to the outer end of shaft 136 for convenient rotation of the plate 134 for reasons to be described below. The frictional contact between shaft 136 and the opening in front wall 16 is suflicient to retain plate 134 in various suitable rotative positions.

A disk 14th is pivotally mounted on the upper end of plate 134, see FIGS. 5 and 20. This disk is provided with a plurality of different sized circular openings 142, which are disposed in a circle equi-distant from the axis of the disk. Each opening corresponds to a particular stop size for the lens 88. The cylindrical tubular barrel 89, in which the lens 88 is mounted, is provided with a groove 144 extending partially therethrough. When the plate 134 is in a vertical position, as shown in FIG. 20, a substantial portion of the disk will be in the groove 144, see FIG. 5. The openings 142 in the disk 140 are so positioned that when plate 134 is in the position shown in FIGS. 5 or 20, the disk can be manually rotated so that each of the openings 142 can be concentric with the tubular housing 39 and the lens 88. This arrangement, which is similar to a conventional Waterhouse stop, permits the stop of the lens 88 to be determined by the size of one of the openings 142, which is concentric with it.

For normal operation, a particular opening 142, corresponding to a stop correct for standardized operating conditions is positioned so it is concentric with lens 88. Changes in the sensitivity of the film, or the temperature or the age of the developing solution can be compensated for by rotating disk 140 so a larger or smaller opening is centered over the lens 88, depending upon the particular operating conditions.

In operation, experience with the photographic machine will dictate which opening 142 will supply the correct stop. In composition work, knob 138 may be grasped and rotated far enough so disk 140 is moved completely out of the groove 144 in the tubular housing 89. This permits a. maximum amount of light to enter housing 12 and brightens the projected image to its maximum so it can be inspected easily. Then the knob 138 is rotated in the opposite direction, which causes the disk 141i carried by the plate 134 to move so the disk 14-0 re-enters the tubular housing 89. When this happens the same opening 142 will again be concentric with lens 88 so that the stop of the lens will be exactly the same as it was initially. Conventional means (not shown) are provided to prevent the disk from freely rotating on plate 134 unless it is manually turned.

The table 24 with its object supporting surface or object plane 25 provides a compact way of achieving the necessary high intensity and uniform illumination of any object placed thereon. As seen in FIG. 5, the light or object table 24 comprises a housing in which a single lamp 146 is mounted. The lamp is positioned centrally beneath surface 25, see FIG. 4. Fresnel lenses 148 and 1513 are mounted on each side of the lamp for directing the light in opposite directions into the folded optical paths 152 and 154. Each folded optical path consists of reflecting mirrors 156 and 158. As seen, mirrors 158 are mounted at the exit of each folded optical path and are disposed above and inclined'toward surface 25. With this arrangement, the light is reflected off mirrors 158 and onto surface 25 as it leaves the optical paths 152 and 154. Since the path length is long, although folded for compactness, the illumination on surface 25 will be uniform and bright as if it were illuminated by the conventional two separate flood lights mounted on the ends of long arms.on either side of the table.

The heat developed by lamp 146 may damage the lenses or the reflecting mirrors or any object placed on surface 25. Consequently it must be dissipated. To do this, a bolwer 161i is mounted inside the housing of table 24, see FIG. 5. This blower blows the air heated by lamp 146 out of the housing through the exit opening 162. The air forced out through the opening 162 causes cooler air to be drawn into the housing through optical paths 152 and 154. This air cools all the components of the light table, thus giving these folded optical paths a dual function.

As stated above, the apparatus is designed to magnify or reduce the projected image of an object on table 24 and when the apparatus is used for photographic purposes it is desirable that the size of the film correspond generally to the size of the projected image on the image plane 67. It would be best for reasons of economy to purchase the film or light sensitive paper in a roll, and then cut it to size in accordance with the size of the desired image on surface 67 of table 66. To eliminate the need for a dark room, and the separate handling entailed thereby, the entire roll of film should be mounted inside length of film off the roll, out it, and center it on table 66.

As seen in FIGS. 7 and 16, a roll of film 164 is rotata- 1 bly mounted in a magazine or housing 166 which is removably mounted in the housing. This magazine is rectangular in shape and has an open top and is long enough so that ends 167 and rear wall 168 of the magazine engage the inner surface of walls 16, 18 and 22 of the housing 12, and are held thereby snugly and removably in place. It is to be understood, however, that the precise method of holding the magazine 166 in its proper position is not critical and any suitable method may be used.

As seen in FIGS. 7 and 16, the lower wall 170 is bent arcuately to provide an exit opening 172 for the film. This lower wall 170 terminates in a plurality of identical uniformly spaced spring fingers 1'74. The housing 166 is mounted inside housing 12 so that these spring fingers press against surface 67 of table 66. The film 164 is initially drawn far enough off the roll so its extreme edge may be pressed between spring fingers 174 and surface 67 of table 66, see FIGS. 7, 16 and 8a. At the same time the side edges of the film slide in marginal guides 171 and 173 which are disposed on each side of the table 66, see FIG. 12. These guides are spaced above surface 67 of table 66 by means of shims 175.

Horizontal guideways 176 and 178 are positioned on each side of table 66 on top of the marginal guides, see FIGS. 6 and 12. These guideways are U-shaped in cross section and are positioned as shown. A film pushing unit indicated generally by the reference numeral 179, see FIG. 9, comprises a rectangular bar 180. This bar extends substantially the width of table 66 and its opposed ends are reduced in size and shaped to form oppositely extending cylindrical pintles 182, see FIG. 11. These pintles are rotatably journalled in openings formed in slide bars 184 which are mounted inside guideways 176 and 178 in sliding engagement therewith, see FIG. 8. This arrangement permits a limited rotation of bar 180, see the dotted lines in FIG. 8.

Push fingers 186 formed from rubber or some similar material are mounted in uniformly spaced relation with respect to each other on bar 180, and they are held in this spaced relation by means of spacers 188. These spacers are rectangular in cross section and fit over bar 180, see FIGS. 8 and 9. The entire film pushing unit 179 is movable with slide bars 184 riding in guideways 176 and 178 between the front and rear end portions 69 and '71 of,

table 66, see FIG. 6. The limits of movement of the pushing unit are determined by front and rear stops 181 and 183 formed in guideways 176 and 178, see FIGS. 6 and 8.

As seen in FIG. 8, these push fingers 186 are somewhat elongated in comparison to spacers 188, and the thickness of the push fingers and the spacers are designed to permit the pushing unit 179 to be moved toward magazine 166 until the push fingers 1186 move between the spring fingers 174 and into gripping engagement with the edge of the film 164, see FIG. 11.

As stated above, and as seen in FIG. 8, the bar 180 and consequently push fingers 186 are designed to rotate or pivot slightly on pintles 182 so that the push fingers may be withdrawn from engagement with the edge of film 164. In this way pushing unit 179 can be moved without pulling or'pushing more film off the roll, see the dotted line positions of the pushing fingers 186 in FIG. 8.

V A hub 190 is mounted on each pintle 182, and a lever 192 is rigidly secured to each hub, extending upwardly therefrom, see FIGS. 8 and 11. Oppositely extending cable gripping members 196 and 198 at each side of the table 66 are mounted at the upper end of each lever 192,

1?; seen FIGS. 9 and 15. These operate to releasably grip pulling cables 200 and 202.

The cables which appear offset in FIG. 15, for purposes of illustration, are actually in vertically spaced parallel relationship, although that is not critical. Cables 200 and 202 are both connected to a lever 204 which is pivotally mounted on a pivot 207 secured to a semicircular support plate 205, see FIG. 6. This support plate is secured to the front end 69 of table 66 by any conventional means (not shown), and its periphery is provided with a plurality of horizontally disposed and vertically spaced semicircular guide grooves 209, see FIG. 7. Cables 200 and 202 are held in the fixed configuration shown in FIG. 15, by means of these guide grooves 209 and by means of sheaves 211 and 213, which are associated with cable 200, and by sheaves 215, 217 and 218, which are associated with cable 202.

An inspection of lever 204 and the cables 200 and 202 along with the sheaves they ride over, shows that when lever 204 is pivoted in one direction on axis 207, cables 200 and 202 pull each end of bar in one direction, and when lever 204 is pivoted in the opposite direction cables 280 and 202 pull each end of bar 180 in the opposite direction. This provides the means for'moving pushing unit 179 between the front and rear end portions of table 66.

Pivot pins 206 are rigidly secured to each slide bar 184 mounted inside guideways 176 and 178, and extend inwardly over table 66, see FIGS. 8 and 11. Latch bar 208 is pivotally mounted on each pivot pin 206, and this latch bar is urged in the counter clockwise direction, by means of coil springs 210. This causes latch bar 208 to rotate until its tip 212 bears against the edge 214- of each lever 192, see the dotted lines in FIG. 8. This edge 214 of lever 192 is provided with a notch 216, and when cables 200 and 202 are urged in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIG. 8 (caused by rotating lever 204 in the counterclockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 6), the entire pushing unit 179 including each lever 192 is pivoted from the dotted line position to the solid line position. As this happens, the tip 212 of latch 208 enters notch 216 and this locks the pushing fingers 186 in their film pushing position shown in solid lines in FIG. 8. This keeps the pushing fingers pressed against the film 164, even after the lever 204 is released.

An actuating finger (not shown) may be mounted on one or both of the guide members 176 and 178, adjacent stops 181 in the path of the laterally projecting portion 213 of latch 208, to automatically force the tip 212 out of detent 216, when the pushing unit 179 is moved a predetermined distance toward the front end portion 69 of table 66, see FIG. 11. When this happens, pushing unit 179 pivots so all the pushing fingers 186 move back to the dotted line position, as shown in FIG. 8. In this way, the film is released, so the pushing unit 179 can be moved without affecting the film 164, or so the film can be removed from the machine.

In operation to this point, lever 204- is rotated in the clockwise direction (as seen in FIG. 6) until the pushing fingers 186 of the pushing unit 179 move to the rear end portion of table 66 and pass between the spring fingers 174. Then when the lever 204 is rotated in the opposite direction, cables 200 and 282, pulling on levers 192, see FIG. 15, rotate the pushing fingers into gripping and pushing engagement with the edge of the film. Continued rotation of lever 204 in the same direction pulls the pushing unit and the edge of the film toward the front edge portion 69 of table 66, gradually unwinding the film from the roll. This can continue until the slide bars 184 of the pushing unit 179 engage stops 183 at the front end of the guideways 176 and 178, as described. At this point, the pushing fingers 186 will have penetrated between the rollers 218, rigidly mounted on a motor driven shaft 220, see FIG. 6.

Rollers 218 do not operate until after the film is exposed, but when they do operate, they draw the film oif table 66 and into a developing tank, as described below. A gear 222 is rigidly mounted on the end of shaft 220, see FIG. 6, and this gear meshes with a driving gear 224, see FIG. 7. Gear 224 is connected to a motor 226 mounted on a developing tank, by means of a conventional gear train (not shown).

To this point, the pushing unit 179 has been described as a device for pulling a length of film from a roll. In addition, it is necessary to provide means for cutting various lengths of film from the roll, and these lengths must then be positioned on table 66 so that the exposed portions of the film will be properly centered.

The device for cutting the film off the roll, in this par ticular embodiment, comprises a slot 228 extending through table 66, see FIG. 8a. A hard steel bar 230 is mounted in a recess in the surface 67 of the table 66, and an edge surface 232 of this bar is coextensive with the edge of the slot, and provides a shear or cutting support surface for a cutting blade. The bar 250 rests on the top surface of a U-shaped guideway 236 which extends the width of table 66 and is mounted in a recess therein by any conventional means (not shown).

The movable cutting unit, indicated generally by the reference numeral 238, see FIG. 10, comprises a U- shaped support plate 240. Roller wheels 242 and 244 are secured to each arm of the support plate, and a cut ting blade 245 is rigidly secured to one side of the plate as shown. As seen in FIG. 8, roller Wheel 2 42 ridesin guideway 236, and the separation of the arms of support 240, and the diameter of the roller wheels is such that the roller wheel 242 rolls on the upper inner surface of guideway 236, and pulls roller wheel 244 down on surface 67' of table 66. A cable 246 is connected to a hub 248 which is secured to the axle of wheel 242, see FIGS. 8 and 15. In this way, by pulling on cable 246, the cutting unit 238' can be drawn back and forth in slot 228.

When the cutting unit 238 is operated it is drawn by cable 246 in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 10. Roller wheel 244 which is a little in advance of the cutting edge of blade 245 acts to press the film firmly against the top surface of supporting bar 230. This prevents the film from bunching up in front of the knife which could interfere with the cutting action. In addition roller wheel 244 holds the cutting blade in the proper cutting attitude. Cable 246 rides over sheaves or pulley wheels 250 positioned beneath each side of table 66 and rides in one of the guide grooves 269 formed in the periphery of the semi-circularsupport plate 205. This maintains cable 246 in its fixed configuration, see FIGS. 6, 7, l1 and 15. A lever 252 is also pivotally mounted on support plate 265' on pivot 297, and the cable 246 is secured to the outer end of this lever. With this arrange ment, rotating lever 252 in one direction or another causes the cutting unit 238 to be drawn back and forth in slot 228 across the width of table 66 thereby cutting any film extending across slot 228. It is to be understood, that the precise method employed in cutting the film or sensitized paper is not critical, and other arrangements are contemplated.

The manipulation of the film prior to cutting requires lever 204 to first be rotated so that the pushing unit 179 moves into engagement with the edge of the film 164, which is pressed between spring fingers 174 and surface 67 of table 66 When the motion oflever 204 is reversed, it draws the film off the roll until the proper length has been unrolled. Next, lever 252 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, as shown in FIG. 6, drawing cutting blade 245 in cutting unit 238 across the film and cutting it. Next, lever 252 is rotated back in the reverse direction, returning the cutting unit 238 to its initial position.

The length of the film 164 drawn off the roll is precisely controlled by the slide 254 mounted on the lever 204, see FIG. 6. This slide comprises a tubular portion 256 and an arm 258 rigidly secured thereto. An inwardly extending detent 260 is formed on the tubular portion 256 of slide 254, and this detent cooperates with and is adapted to enter one of three film size regulating recesses 262 formed in lever 264. These recesses precisely position slide 254 on the lever 204 in three predetermined radially spaced distances from the pivotal axis 207 of lever 264, see FIG. 6. In addition, an inwardly extending detent 264 riding on the surface of support plate 25 is formed on arm 258.

Detent receiving recesses are formed in the surface of plate 205 for receiving detent 264. Recess 266 in plate 265 is positioned at a radial distance from axis 207 of lever 204, which is equal to the radial distance of detent 264 from axis 207, when detent 260 on slide 254 penetrates the recess 262 on lever 204 which is farthest from axis 267. With this arrangement, it is evident that when the lever 264 is rotated or pivoted through a sufficient angle, in the counterclockwise direction (as seen in FIG. 6), with slide 254 positioned as shown, detent 264 will enter recess 266 providing a signal. Recess 266 is positioned so the angle through which lever 264 must be rotated from its initial position, Where the pushing unit 179 engages the edge of film 164 when it is held beneath spring fingers 174, to its final position where detent 264 enters recess 266, is sufficient to draw the edge of film 164 out from the spring fingers 174 and unroll the film until its edge is positioned beneath rollers 218. Then the film is ready to be cut by the above described manipulation of lever 252. When the film is cut, the piece of film is the largest which this particular machine can accommodate, i.e. 17 inches in length. In addition, without any further adjustment, the film will be properly centered.

Recesses 268 and 276 in plate 205 are positioned at a radial distance from pivot axis 207, which is equal to the radial distance of detent 264 from this axis when detent 266 on slide 254 engages the intermediate recess 262 on lever 264. Recess 268 is positioned so that the angle through which lever 264 must be rotated from its initial position to where detent 264 enters recess 268 causes a length of film to be unrolled which is exactly equal to the desired intermediate film size, i.e. 14 inches.

Next lever 252 is operated as described above to cut this length of film off the roll. It is noted, however, that when the film has been cut, it is still not centered on the table 66 because its rear edge is nearer the rear end portion 71 of table 66 than its front edge is to the front end portion 69 of table 66. Consequently, the film must be advanced toward the front of the table 66 before it will be centered and the distance the film must be advanced is What determines the position of recess 270. After the film has been cut, lever 264 is rotated in the same direction until detent 264 enters recess 276. As stated above, this draws the front edge of the film forwardly by an amount sufiicient to center the film on table 66.

Recesses 272 and 274 on plate 205 are positioned at a radial distance from axis 207 which is equal to the radial distance of detent 264 from this axis when detent 260 on slide 254 enters the innermost recess 262 on lever 254. Detent 272 is positioned so that the angle through which lever 204 must be rotated from its initial position to where detent 264 enters recess 272 is equal to the desired shortest length of the film to be used, i.e. approximately 10 inches. After the edge of the film is advanced to where detent 264 enters recess 272 it is cut off from the roll, but the cut film is still not centered. To be centered, the cut film must be moved forwardly a certain distance, as explained above. This requires a continued rotation of lever 204 in the same direction. The distance the film has to be moved forwardly before the film is centered is what determines the location of recess 274.

To this point, it can be seen that the pushing unit 179, the cutting unit 238, the cables 2% and 202, the support plate 205, and levers 264 and 252 constitute a device for choosing one of three different film sizes, and cutting the light sensitive materials.

araaoer correct selected film size off of a roll of film, and then centering the cut film on table 66-. It is noted that these operations can be done in the absence of visual observations, which is of the utmost importance in dealing with It is also evident that the principles disclosed in this device can be used to both cut and center any number of additional film sizes. Furthermore other means e.g., electronic devices besides the detent recess arrangement disclosed may be used as signals to position and center the film and the claims should be construed accordingly.

The roll of film mounted inside the machine 16 is supplied in a specially designed sealed package 276, which may be formed from stiff opaque paper or fiberboard. In this particular embodiment, the package is rectangular in shape and is sized to fit inside the correspondingly shaped magazine 166, see FIGS. 17 and 18. The roll of film is wound around a tubular cylindrical core 278, which may also be made of fiberboard or some similar material. As seen in FIG. 18, a temporary and removable closure 23th closes off the ends of the tubular core 278 to provide a light tight and dust proof seal, until the roll of film is ready to be installed inside the machine It In addition, as seen in FIG. 19, a removable closure flap 281. is secured to an adjacent side 279 of package 276 by any conventional means, such as gluing. A leader 283 for the film 164 may be secured to this flap. With this arrangement, to open the package, it is only necessary to pull the flap 281 until it separates from the side of the package, and then the flap 281 must be pulled away from the leader 283, see FIG. 19. V

The magazine 166 is provided with two support plates 282 which in this particular embodiment, are rectangular in shape and correspond generally to the size of the side of magazine 166, or the side of the package 276, although this is not critical. A roller wheel 234 is rotatably mounted on one surface of each support plate 282 by any conventional means. To mount the package of film in the machine, it is necessary to first press the rollers 284 against the removable closures 230, on each side of package 276, until these rollers are forced inside, as seen in FIG. 18. Next the package 276 with the roller inside the core, is mounted inside magazine 166, as shown in FIG. 16. As seen in FIG. 17, the radius of the roll of film 164 is less than the distance between the upper periphery of roller wheel 284 and the bottom edge of support plate 282. This causes the roll of film to be supported on the roller Wheels 284 as shown, so the roll of film will rotate easily to permit the desired lengths of film to be unrolled. It is evident that this particular arrangement is very useful because the roll of film can be packaged very inexpensively, and the single pair of Wheels 284 are used for each roll of film, further reducing the cost of the film package. Furthermore, the chance for inadvertently exposing the roll of film while it is being installed inside the machine is substantially reduced.

A developing tank 286, see FIG. 7, is designed to be attached to the photographic machine housing 12, for limited horizontal movement, as indicated by the arrows. A deflecting plate 283 is rigidly mounted on the front of table 66 by any conventional means. This plate is so positioned that when the drive rollers 222 are operating, and when the developing tank 286 is in its operating position, any section of film engaged by the drive rollers Will be moved off table 66 and into engagement with the deflecting plate 288, where it will be deflected into the developing tank 286.

Developing tank 286 is designed to develop negative sheets employed in the transfer fusion process, so that it is necessary to permit the entrance of the combined or positive sheets, as well as the negative sheets, as is well known in the art. This has been done by extending a portion of the deflecting plate 288 up above table 66 so that it is in spaced parallel relationship with a plate 290 It? mounted on the machine. Plates 288 and 290 define a guideway 292 for receiving these combined sheets and for leading them to a second entrance in the developing tank, as shown.

Drive roller 294 and idler roller 296 are positioned in abutting relationship at the base of the guideway 292, as shown in FIG. 7. Drive roller 294 is connected to and driven by motor 226 by a conventional gear train (not shown) so that the operation of the motor 226 drives rollers 294 and 296, as well as rollers 222 and 224. With this arrangement, when a combined sheet used for the transfer fusion process is inserted in guideway 292,

it will gravitate down until it encounters rollers 294 and.

296, where it will be stopped until these rollers are operated. At the same time, the operation of the pushing unit 179 will insert the forward edge of the exposed cut negative sheet beneath rollers 222. Then when motor 226 is operated, both the negative sheet and the combined sheet will be drawn by their respective rollers through the developing tank 286.

Since the rollers are actuated simultaneously, and since the path length through the developing tank is the same for both sheets, they will move at a constant speed and in synchronization with each other and will simultaneously encounter the combining rollers 298 and 300 which are also driven by motor 226, see the dotted lines extending through the developing tank 286. the negative sheet and combined sheet will pass through the combining rollers 298 and 390 in coextensive relationship so the image on the negative sheet will be transferred to the combined sheet in a manner well known in the art. As descibed below, motor 226, once actuated will operate for a time sufiicient to permit both the negative and the combined sheets to pass through the developing tank 286 and out through the combining rollers 298 and 360.

An additional developing tank 362 is mounted below table 66 for a different photographic process. An arcuate deflecting plate 304 is rigidly connected to the developing tank 286, and when it is desired to use a photographic process requiring developing tank 362, the transfer fusion developing tank 286 is moved as shown in dotted lines in' FIG. 7. When this happens the deflecting plate 304 moves to a position shown in dotted lines where it will deflect the film moved by roller 222 into tank 302.

The photographic machine can also use the Well known half tone photographic process. As seen in FIG. 5, a frame 306 is composed of rods assembled to form a rectangular loop, although the shape is not critical. This frame is pivotally mounted inside housing 12 on a pivot axis 308, by any conventional means. A half tone screen 310, is connected to frame 366 by chains 312 in such a way that when frame 306 is pivoted horizontally the half tone screen will be suspended horizontally below this frame in an operative position. This arrangement permits the half tone screen 310 to be pivoted to a vertical out of the way inoperative position when the half tone process is not being used.

When the half tone screen is horizontal or in its operative position, the required spacing 314 between surface 67 of table 66, and half tone screen 310 is a function of the magnification of the image. Since this machine is designed so that all the adjustments are to be as automatic as possible, a mechanism is required for automatically varying spacing 314 in accordance with the magnification of the image or the position of table 66.

The mechanism for varying this spacing, as shown in this particular embodiment, includes a disk shaped cam plate 316 which is centrally and pivotally mounted below table 66 on pivot 318, see FIGS. 5 and 22. Three arcuate downwardly inclined cam surfaces 320 are stamped out of cam disk 316 as shown in FIGS. 22 and 23. These cam surfaces 320 engage and cooperate with the base, of three lifting pins 322 which are mounted for In this way vertical movement in holes 324 which extend through the table 66, see FIG. 23. The top ends 326 of pins 322 are adapted to engage and lift the half tone screen 310 as shown by the dotted lines. With this arrangement, it is evident that rotation of disk 316 will cause pins 322 to rise or fall, and the spacing 314 to increase or decrease, depending on the direction of rotation of the disk.

It is necessary to correlate the angular rotation of the disk 316, and hence the size of spacing 314, with the magnification of the projected image and hence the position of table 66. To do this, an additional inclined cam rod 328 is pivotally mounted in housing 12 and is movable between an inoperative position and an upwardly inclined operative position by any conventional means (not shown), see FIG. 25. .One end of an actuating rod 330 is pivotally mounted near the periphery of the disk on pivot 332 as shown in FIG. 22. A cam riding wheel 334 is mounted on the opposite end of rod 330 and this wheel is in rolling engagement with the cam surface of cam rod 328 when cam rod 328 is in its operative position, see FIG. 25. A coil spring 336 is connected at one end to the periphery of disk 316 and at the other end to some fixed point movable with table 66 in order to bias the disk so that follower wheel 334 always is in engagement with the cam surface of cam rod 328.

With this arrangement, as table 66 moves up or down, the follower wheel 334 will stay in rolling contact with the surface of cam rod 328 and the direction of rotation of disk 316 will depend on the direction of movement of table. It is evident that the shape of cam rod 328 and cam surfaces 320 can be chosen so that the rotation of disk 316 will raise pins 322 by an amount such that the half tone screen 310 will always be kept the correct distance from the surface 67 of table 66, for the particular magnification of the projected image.

As seen in FIG. 5, the half tone screen 310 is smaller in width than table 66 and so it would be economical to use a sensitized paper whose width corresponds to the half tone screen size. In addition, the device for cutting and centering the film results in three different film lengths, all of the same width. If the photographic machine were designed to dispense film having even one other alternate smaller width, six different film sizes could be used. This requires an additional pair of marginal guides 338 and 340 to be centrally disposed between the sides of table 66, as shown in FIG. 6. These guides are mounted for limited vertical movement, and are angle shaped as shown in FIG. 12.

When not in use the top surface of these additional marginal guides is flush with the top surface 67 of table 66. When film having a smaller than normal Width is used, these marginal guides are raised sufficiently by any conventional means (not shown), to permit the edges of the film to pass beneath them. The guides may be locked in the raised position by means of pins 342 mounted inside table 66, and which ride in slots 344 formed in the marginal guides, as shown in FIG. 24. It is to be understood, however, that the precise method of holding the marginal guides in their operating position shown is not critical and others are contemplated and may be used.

One of the objectives of this invention is to provide a photographic machine which is as nearly automatic in operation as possible. To do this the illustrated electrical control circuit for this machine uses only four control switches, see FIG. 1. Switch 346 is connected to the lamp 146 and the fan 1'60 inside table 24 to control their operation. Switch 348, the up switch, is connected to motor 56 by a particular circuit, and it controls motor 56 so that it rotates drive shaft 50 in a direction which raises table 24. Switch 350, the down switch, is connected to motor 56 by another circuit and controls the operation of the motor so shaft 50 rotates in the opposite direction, which lowers table 24. Limit switches 121 and 123 are associated with the circuits controlled by switches 348 and 350 respectively, and when either of these switches are opened by the engagement of arms 117 on rack bar 114 with their respective operating members, as table 24 reaches its upper or lower limit, the circuit associated with the opened limit switch will cut off the power to motor 56. This prevents further movement of the tables 24 and 66 in the same direction, but it is understood that the other circuit can operate the motor in the reverse direction.

Switch 352 when momentarily closed, closes a conventional holding circuit which causes motor 122 to operate for a predetermined time, usually for the time required for disk 126 tomake one complete revolution. This causesthe solenoid 108 connected to shutter blade 98 to be energized and causes the shutter to open lens 88 for the required period of time, as described above.

All of the circuits .connected to these various switchesare simple and conventional in operation, and vsince their design is not critical, they have not been shown.

To operate the photographic machine, the particular photographic process to be used is first selected, e.g., the transfer fusion process, and the timing cam plate 128 corresponding to this process is mounted on the top surface of timer disk 1261 Then the object to be reproduced or photographed is laid on table 24 and switch 346 is ;then ,closed to illuminate table 24 and to start the fan 160. Next shutter blade '28 .is moved-out of its light obstructing position, by manually operating a lever (not shown), or by temporarily energizing solenoid 108. After that the sector plate 134 may be manually pivoted so disk 1,40 moves completely out of the path of light entering :-lens.8,8 so that the brightness of the projected image on is pivoted back until the correct stop opening in disk moves back into a position concentric with and in the lens barrel89.

After that lever 204 is rotated in the counter clockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 6 until a length of film of the selected size is unrolled. Next lever 252 is operated to cut the film. After that lever 204 is again advanced in the same direction to center the cut film as described above. Then switch 352 is operated to automatically expose the cut and centered film the proper length of time.

After exposure is completed, lever 204 is again advanced in the same direction to move the exposed fihn into engagement with the roller wheels 218. After that lever 204 is rotated in the opposite direction to return the pushing unit 179 back into engagement with the edge of the film 164 beneath magazine 166. In so doing a miniature switch 221 is momentarily closed, see FIG. 6. This switch triggers a conventional holding circuit (not shown), which operates motor 226 for a period of time sufiicient to move the exposed film through the developing tank, as described above.

The invention may be embodied in other forms without'departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof as set forth in the claims, and the present embodiment is therefore to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive and it is intended to include all changes which come within the scope and range of the claims.

I claim:

1. An auto-focus photocopy device comprising:

a support;

an object table mounted on said support for vertical movement;

an image table mounted on said support'for vertical movement on a path parallel to the path of said object table v v a fixed objective lens horizontally'mounted on said support above and between said object and image tables;

an inclined fixed mirror above each of said tables establishing an optic axis from table to table through said lens; and

table actuating means mounted on said support and linking said object and image tables together for coordinated relative movement in the same direction along said optic axis whereby an image of an object on said object table is maintained in focus on said image table during change in magnification through a range of positive and negative values.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said table actuating means comprises:

a rotatable shaft mounted on said support;

a pair of spiral-like cam sheaves rigidly mounted on said rotatable shaft; and

a first cable extending between said object table and the track of one of said cam sheaves and a second cable extending between said image table and the track of the other of said cam sheaves whereby rotation of said shaft in either direction moves said tables along said optic axis, maintaining focus and varying the magnification.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said first cable is connected to said object table in adjustable manner whereby the position of said object table along said optic axis may be moved independently of said image table to compensate for object thickness.

4. The combinationof claim 1 with the addition of:

a light-tight housing mounted on said support and enclosing saidimage table and the travel path thereof, said housing having an opening therein permitting access to said image table at all positions on its travel path whereby the front side of an image on said image table may be inspected and composed with reference to a layout on said image table; and

a light-tight closure for'said opening whereby photosensitive material on said image table may be exposed to light from said lens and object table.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said light-tight closure comprises:

an opaque flexible curtain adapted to wind on a roller mounted on said support at the top of said opening; and

fastening means releasably connecting the free end of said curtain to said image table.

6. An auto-focus photocopy device comprising:

' a support;

an object table mounted on said support for vertical movement;

an image table mounted on said support for vertical movement on a path parallel to the path of said object table;

a fixed objective lens horizontally mounted on said support above and between said object and image tables;

an inclined fixed mirror above each of said tables establishing an optic axis from table to table through said lens;

a rotatable shaft mounted on said support;

a pair of spiral-like cam sheaves rigidly mounted on said rotatable shaft;

a first cable extending between said object table and the track of one of said cam sheaves and a second cable extending between said image table and the track of the other of said cam sheaves, whereby rotation of said shaft in either direction moves said tables along said optic axis, maintaining focus and varying the magnification;

a shutter for said lens; and

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said shutter actuating means comprises:

a bar mounted for longitudinal movement in said support;

means moving said bar in response to rotation of said shaft whereby bar position in a function of magnification value;

an electrical switch mounted on said bar, said switc having a cam follower adapted to close and open said switch when displaced; v I

a rotating cam having a pair of spaced cam shoulders in effective relation with said cam follower, each cam shoulder adapted to displace said cam follower, the spacing of said cam shoulders engaged by said cam follower varying depending on the longitudinal position of said bar; and

a shutter-actuating solenoid in circuit with said switch, whereby the spacing of the cam shoulders engaged by said cam followers determines the exposure period of said shutter.

8. An auto-focus photocopy device comprising:

a support;

an object table mounted on said support for vertical movement;

an image table mounted on said support for vertical movement on a path parallel to the path of said object table; 7 I

a fixed objective lens horizontally mounted on said support above and between said object and image tables;

an inclined fixed mirror above each of said tables establishing an optic axis from table to table through said lens;

table actuating means linking said object and image tables together for coordinated relative movement whereby an image of an object on said object table is maintained in focus on said image table during change in magnification through a range of positive and negative values;

a half tone screen disposed above said image table;

and means responsive to optic axis distance between said lense and said image table establishing proper spacing between said half tone screen and said image table, said responsive means including:

a cam member rotatably mounted on said image table below the image plane, said cam member having a plurality of angularly spaced upwardly facing inclined cam surfaces;

a supporting pin engaging each cam surface and extending upwardly beyond the image plane into engagement with said half tone screen; and

cam means rotating said cam member in accordance With movement of said image table, whereby said half tone screen is spaced properly from the image table by said supporting pins.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,844,179 Rennick Feb. 9, 1932 1,985,074 Bauersfeld Dec. 18, 1934 2,344,372 Siskstrom Mar. 14, 1944- 2,431,612 Furnas Nov. 25, 1947' 2,437,898 Swanson Mar. 16, 1948 2,496,675 Pasquet Feb. 7, 1950 2,536,718 Brandon Jan. 2, 1951, 2,564,934 Sussin Aug. 21, 1951' 2,645,543 Mancini July 14, 1953 2,652,759 Bornemann Sept. 22, 1953,

(Other references on following page) 21 UNITED STATES PATENTS Pennington Oct. 20, 1953 Tuttle et a1 Jan. 12, 1954 Burnstead Mar. 30, 1954 Schwesinger Mar. 22, 1955 Smith Sept. 6, 1955 Tuttle Dec. 20, 1955 Schwesinger Jan. 10, 1956 Uschmann Sept. 11, 1956 Austin Apr. 23, 1957 10 22 Gannett Feb. 18, 1958 Rosin Sept. 16, 1958 Hennig July 14, 1959 Zollinger Mar. 8, 1960 Alves May 31, 1960 Rosenthal June 14, 1960 Anander July 3, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Sept. 2, 1932

Claims (1)

1. AN AUTO-FOCUS PHOTOCOPY DEVICE COMPRISING: A SUPPORT; AN OBJECT TABLE MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT; AN IMAGE TABLE MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT ON A PATH PARALLEL TO THE PATH OF SAID OBJECT TABLE; A FIXED OBJECTIVE LENS HORIZONTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT ABOVE AND BETWEEN SAID OBJECT AND IMAGE TABLES; AN INCLINED FIXED MIRROR ABOVE EACH OF SAID TABLES ESTABLISHING AN OPTIC AXIS FROM TABLE TO TABLE THROUGH SAID LENS; AND TABLE ACTUATING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT AND LINKING SAID OBJECT AND IMAGE TABLES TOGETHER FOR COORDINATED RELATIVE MOVEMENT IN THE SAME DIRECTION

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