US3320867A

US3320867A - Repetitive contact printer

Info

Publication number: US3320867A
Application number: US393593A
Authority: US
Inventors: William E Miller
Original assignee: Miller Holzwarth Inc
Current assignee: Miller Holzwarth Inc
Priority date: 1964-09-01
Filing date: 1964-09-01
Publication date: 1967-05-23
Anticipated expiration: 1984-05-23

Description

May 23, 1967 w. E. MILLER 3,320,867

REPETITIVE CONTACT PRINTER Filed Sept. 1, 1964 4 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR.

3 9 F 29 6 William/E. Mallet ATTORNEYS May 23, 1967 Filed Sept. 1, 1964 w. E. MILLER 3,320,867

REPETITIVE CONTACT PRINTER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I III/Illrl INVENTOR. Wv'llia/m/EMbller BY FM, 4% Qu k M4 ATTORNEYS May 23, 1967 w. E. MILLER REPETITIVE CONTACT PRINTER 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 1, 1964 INVENTOK WlLIZI/nv E. Miller wgma'm ATTORNEYS y 1967 W. E. MILLER 3,320,867

REPETITIVE CONTACT PRINTER Filed Sept. 1, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 S QE I N V E N TOR. Wtlh'u/m E. M filler BY aaa yva a m III.

A. .SU y

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,320,867 REPETITEVE CQNTACT PRENTER William E. Miller, Salem, Ohio, assignor to Miller- Holzwarth, Inc, Salem, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Sept. 1, 1964, Ser. No. 393,593 9 Claims. (ill. 95--75) This invention relates to a repetitive contact printer and more particularly it pertains to a stationary platen having an inflatable air bag for holding prints and negatives together during printing.

In the art of contact printing various devices have been developed for making prints from out or rolled film. Most of such devices, however, have not been satisfactory for sundry reasons.

A disadvantage of most prior contact printers of the repetitive type has been lack of coordination between the several steps of their operation. Among other things, such printers have involved a manually operated platen for holding a negative and a print together during exposure time. Manually operated platens cause an undue delay in the printing cycle of each frame where a long series of different negatives are exposed.

Most platens are necessarily secured in a print-holding position during the exposure time by one means or another and require manual manipulation as well as raising and lowering of the platen to remove an exposed print. Such manual operations are inconvenient where a long series of negatives are exposed.

Moreover, manually operated platens are usually provided with soft padding such as sponge rubber on the undersurface for holding the film in place during exposure. Such padding is unsatisfactory because when the platen is lowered it contacts the entire surface of the film simultaneously and entraps air between the negative and the duplicating film which results in an unsatisfactory print.

Associated with the foregoing is a disadvantage of performing the other functions such as advancing the duplicating film to the next frame position, adjusting the time exposure of the frame, and ascertaining that the raw stock such as the print or duplicating film and negative film do not have air trapped between them. The coordination of the foregoing activities with the manipulation of the platen is the primary reason for objections to most prior contact printing devices.

It has been found that the foregoing disadvantages may be overcome by providing a repetitive contact printer having a stationray platen with an inflatable air bag. Such a bag expands against the negative film and duplicating film to hold the same securely in place during exposure. The bag is so constructed that after the cut negative has been moved into position beneath the negative, the bag inflates and sweeps away any air to the outer peripheries of the paper and thereby avoids entrapped air bubbles.

It has also been found that a repetitive contact printer having a print carriage may be provided which is movable between a printing position and an operators access position for placement of print paper. The printer reduces the number of manual functions to a minimum by requiring merely that the operator place print paper on the carriage prior to printing and removing the negative. The cycle of operation of the printer between placement and removal of the cut negative is automatic which eliminates the disadvantages of most prior contact printers. Moreover, the time involved in printing an entire series of negatives is reduced.

Accordingly, it is a general object of this invention to provide a repetitive contact printer in which manual manipulations by an operator are reduced to a minimum.

It is another object of this invention to provide a repetitive contact printer having an inflatable air bag on a platen.

3,320,867 Patented May 23, 1967 It is another object of this invention to provide a repetitive contact printer having an inflatable air bag on a platen at the printing position and having a print-holding carriage movable between the printing position and another position.

It is another object of this invention to provide a repetitive contact printer by which the time involved in exposing successive negatives of a series of frames in a roll of film is reduced.

It is another object of this invention to provide a repetitive contact printer having an inflatable air bag on a platen at the printing position and having means for advancing and metering a roll of negative film and/ or a roll of raw stock such as duplicating film.

It is another object of this invention to provide a repetitive contact printer having an automatic step and repeat printing cycle by which a series of negatives are successively presented at the printing position with separate prints, whereby the paper and negatives are secured in printing position, whereby the exposure lamp is used for a predetermined time, and whereby the air bag is deflated to permit removal of the exposed negative film by a carriage.

Finally, it is an object of this invention to provide a repetitive contact printer which accomplishes the foregoing objects and desiderata in a simple and effective manner.

These and other objects and advantages apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description and claims may 'be obtained, the stated results achieved and described difficulties overcome by the discoveries, principles, apparatus, parts, combinations, subcombinations and elements which comprise the present invention, the nature of which is set forth in the following statement, preferred embodiments of whichillustrative of the best modes in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles-are set forth in the following description, and which are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming part hereof.

The nature of the improved apparatus of the present invention may be stated in general terms as including a light-excluding cabinet having a contact printing opening in the top surface, printing light means within the cabinet for directing a path of light to the printing opening, means on the top surface for mounting and advancing a roll of duplicating film across the opening by successive frames in the film, a platen mounted on the top surface and spaced above the printing opening and providing a clearance therebetween, carriage means for mounting negative film and for moving the negative film between an operators access position and a printing position within the clearance, an associated roll of duplicating film mounted on the film-mounting means and extending between the platen and carriage, the platen having an inflatable air bag on the surface facing the opening, the bag being inflatable for holding the films in surface-to-surface contact during exposure to the light means, the inflatable bag being deflatable after exposure, the carriage means being movable to the operators access position after deflation of the bag, and the roll film being advanceable by a distance equal to one frame for the next cycle of operation.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by way of example:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational View having a portion broken away to show the source of light within the light cabinet and showing the film mounting and advancing means above the cabinet;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view showing the film mounting and advancing means;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view showing the film mounting and advancing means with a roll of film therein;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a certical sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 3 and showing the air bag in the inflated position for holding the negative film and duplicating film in printing position;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing another form of the invention by which negative film roll and duplicating film roll are used together;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of another form of the invention having no print carriage; and

FIG. 10 is a wiring diagram.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

In FIG. 1 a repetitive contact printer is generally indicated at 1. It includes a light-excluding cabinet or base 2, a work surface 3, and a rolled film advancer 4 on the work surface.

The cabinet 2 includes an exposure light 5 which sends a beam of light 6 from mirrors 7 and 8 to an opening 9 in the work surface 3. For a more complete description of the cabinet, reference is made to US. Patent No. 3,141,398.

The work surface 3 which constitutes the upper surface of the cabinet 2 includes the rectangular opening 9 through which the light beam 6 passes for exposure of prints to duplicate film. The surface 3 supports the film advancer 4 for mounting a roll of duplicating film 18 (FIG. 3) and for advancing the film into printing position above the opening 9 The film advancer 4 includes an upright housing 11 (FIG. 3) for supporting a film supply spool 12, a film take-up spool 13, as well as

film reels

14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20, by which the film 10 is directed over the exposure opening 9 in the work surafce 3.

In addition, a platen generally indicated at 21 is mounted on the housing 11. The platen includes a plate 22, a frame 23, and an air bag 24 composed of elastic material such as rubber or neoprene. The air bag 24 has a peripheral portion that is secured between the frame 23 and the plate 22, which frame is attached to the plate by spaced screws 25.

The platen also includes a mounting frame having a pair of spaced

bars

26 and 27, as well as a bar 28 extending across the ends of the

bars

26 and 27. The plate 22 is secured to the undersurface of the bars 26-28 so that the piaten 21 is sustained over and spaced above the aperture 9 of the work surface 3. Both bars 26 and 27 are pivotally mounted on the housing 11 by pivot pins 29. For that purpose bar 26 is shown mounted in FIG. 4.

Likewise, opposite ends of the bar 28 are pivotally mounted by similar pins 30 at the upper end of links 31, ,.1e lower end of which are pivotally secured by pins 32 on link brackets 33. By mounting the platen on pivot pins 29 and 32 the platen may be readily removed for repair purposes, such as replacing the air bag 24 from time to time.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, an air hose 34 is attached to the plate 22 by .a connector link 35 so that air at a predetermined pressure may be injected into a chamber 36 between the bag 24'and the plate. Thus, the bag 24 is inflated from the deflated position of FIG. 5 to the inflated position of FIG. 6 in order to hold the duplicating film 10 in surface-to-surface contact with a cut film or negative 37 during exposure.

The printer 1 is also provided with a carriage 38 which is a rectangular frame having a central opening 39 that is covered with a glass plate 40 (FIG. 6). The carriage 38 is movable horizontally between an operators access position, as shown by broken lines in FIG. 4, and the printing position, as shown by the solid lines. A pair of

air cylinders

41 and 42 is provided for moving the carriage. Each cylinder is mounted on the surface 3 and is provided with a rod 43, the outer end of which is attached to a bracket 44 on each side of the carriage 38.

An air hose 45 is secured to the back end of each

cylinder

41 and 42. Likewise, a hose 45a is connected to the front end of each cylinder. Both hoses are connected to a source of compressed air for alternately extending and retracting the rods 43. Moreover, a pair of guide bars 46 is mounted on the work surface for guiding the movement of the carriage 38. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the end portion of each

cylinder

41 and 42 on opposite sides of the frame 38 is concealed under a guard 46a composed of sheet metal.

In addition to the plate 22 and frame 23, the carriage 38 includes a spacer frame 47 and a base plate 48 (FIG. 6). The plate 48 moves with carriage 38. The central portion of the work surface 3 between the guide bars 46 is covered with slide plate 49. To minimize friction between the

plates

48 and 49, the undersurface of the plate 48 is covered with a sheet 50 of material which minimizes friction such as Teflon.

The plate 48 as well as the frame 47 have

openings

48a and 47a which are aligned with the opening 9 in the surface 3 as well as the opening 39 in the frame 38. The plate 48 extends rearwardly of the spacer frame 47 and has a back end '51 which is aligned with the back ends of guide bars 46 with the carriage in the printing position. As shown in FIG. 4 a platen switch (or microswitch) 52 is mounted on the work surface 3 and is actuated by the back end 51 of the plate 48 when the carriage moves from the forward access position to the printing position.

FIGS. 7 and 8 disclose another form of the invention which permits the use of rolls of negative film as an alternative to cut negative or cut film which is used with the plate carriage 38. For that purpose a supply spool 53 is provided below the work surface 3 and within the cabinet 2 on one side and a take-up spool 54 is provided on the other side. Thus, a roll 55 of negative film may be extended between the

spools

53 and 54 and over the glass plate 48 in the carriage 38.

Reels

56, 57, 58, and 59 guide the roll film through film openings 66* and 61 in the work surface 3. In addition, a film drive reel 62, that is operated by a motor 62a, is provided for advancing the film roll 55 by a distance equal to one negative frame in the film after each exposure.

The reel 62 has a rubber surface for gripping the film and is aided in that function by a pair of pinch rolls 63 which hold the film 55 against the reel 62. The construction and operation of the reel 62 and the rolls 63 are' similar to those of the reels 19 and 20 (FIG. 3). In other words, the end of the reel 62 is provided with an adjustable dial 64 by which the distance of advancing the film 55 can be set in accordance with the width of the negative film.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the

reels

57 and 58 guide the roll film '55 across and over the carriage 38 and in .alignment with the roll 10 of duplicating fihn. Thus,

when the film advances

reels

19 and 62 are set for equal advancement, the printer 1 may be used for printing roll film as well as cut film.

When used for copying roll film, the carriage 38 is locked in the position shown under the platen 21 so that the glass plate 40 serves as a back-up member for the

film

10 and 55 which extend between the expanded air bag 24 and the carriage. The carriage is made inoperative by locking out the platen switch 52 as shown in the wiring diagram of FIG. 10 in a manner to be described below.

All other parts of the form of printer shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 are similar to those of FIGS. 1-6.

Another form of the invention is shown in FIG. 9 in which the printer is used primarily for printing from roll film 55. The form of the printer shown in FIG. 9 differs from that of prior constructions in that it includes no OJ carrier for cut film. A glass plate 40a is mounted across an opening 9a in the top surface 3a directly below the air bag 24.

The

films

10 and 55 advance automatically after each deflation of the bag. When the bag is expanded as shown by the broken line position of FIG. 9, the uppermost roll 10 of duplicating film is pressed downwardly upon and in contact with the surface of the negative film 55. Both films are supported by the glass plate 40a.

The form of the invention shown in FIG. 9, however, is not limited to use for roll film. It may be used with cut negative or cut film even though the carriage 38 is not provided. Where it is desirable to make a negative fromcut film, the roll is removed and a negative inserted upon the plate 443a below the deflated air bag and the duplicating film roll 10.

The Wiring diagram shown in FIG. 10 is used for the forms of invention of FIGS. 1-8. For the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6, a foot switch 6 5 is used to initiate each cycle of operation, which includes the steps of placing a cut negative 37 on the plate 40 of the carriage 38, moving the carriage to the exposure position under the platen, inflating the air bag, closing the circuit through the exposure lamp, deflating the air bag after a timed exposure, extending the carriage to the original position, and ad van-cing the film iii by one frame for the next cycle.

The foregoing cycle is initiated when the operator actuates a foot switch 65 (FIG. 10) which energizes a sole noid 66 for actuating a step relay 6? to energize a solenoid 68 of a four-way valve 69. Compressed air from an air hose 70 is directed by the valve 69' to the hoses 45a leading to the air cylinders 41-42 to pull the carriage 38- to exposure position.

As the carriage v38 reaches the position beneath the platen 21 it actuates the switch 52 and closes the circuit through a relay 7! and a time delay motor 72. The relay energizes a solenoid 73 which actuates a three-way valve 74 for connecting a hose 75 of compressed air to the air hose 34 for inflating the air bag 24. Meanwhile the time delay motor 72 actuates a time delay switch '76 for closing a circuit through a timer 77 which includes a motor 78 and a solenoid 79. The solenoid closes the circuit through normally open switch 80 to the projection lamp 5 thereby exposing the duplicating film frame 10 to the negative 37 (FIG. 6).

At the end of the exposure time the lamp 5 is turned off and the rotating motor 78 closes a circuit through the normally open switch 82 which closes the circuit through a solenoid 8-3 in the relay 71 and through a motor 84. The solenoid 83 opens a switch 85 in the relay 7:1 and reverses the three-way valve 74 to exhaust the air through the conduit 34 from the air bag 24 into an exhaust vent 86.

By the time the air bag 28 is completely deflated the time delay motor 84 closes a circuit through a switch 87 which de-energizes the solenoid 68 for directing cornpressed air through the air hoses 45 into the rear of the

cylinders

41 and 42, thereby moving the carriage 38 outwardly to the access position as shown in broken line in FIG. 4. A circuit is then directed to a motor 62:: within the housing 11 (FIG. 3) for rotating the film reel 19 to advance the film 10 through a distance of one frame, and thereby completing the cycle.

When the printer is used with a roll 55 of negative film, instead of cut film which is used with the carriage 38, repeated actuation of the foot pedal is obviated by closing a selector switch 88 to permit automatic recycling of the printer with each exposure. For that purpose a negative advance motor 89 is provided on the reel 62 for automatically advancing the film 55 after each exposure. The platen 38 is maintained in the position shown in FIG. 8 so that the platen switch 52 is held closed. Solenoid 9t) actuates a switch 9-1 after each cycle which opens and closes the circuit through the motor 89 which in turn rotates an advanced cam 92 that opens and closes a switch 93.

For the form of the invention shown in FIG. 9 having no print carriage 38 and which is used primarily for the roll 55 of negative film in conjunction with the roll 10 of duplicating film, a simplified wiring diagram may be provided that synchronizes the several steps involved. Likewise, the same form may be used for printing from cut film or negatives with a corresponding simplified wiring diagram.

The device of the present invention provides a repetitive contact printer having an inflatable bag on the undersurface of the platen which eliminates the manual acts of raising and lowering the platen for each exposure. The inflatable air bag has a more important function of pressing and holding the duplicating film and the negative film in surface-to-surface contact by squeezing all entrapped air from between the surfaces. For that purpose, the bag when inflated normally contacts the film at the center and as the inflation increases the area of contact broadens out from the center to the peripheries of the film. Thus, all air is squeezed out from between the films.

The device also provides for use of cut negative film or rolled negative film either of which may be printed on duplicating film wit-h a minimum of manual functions. Where cut film is used, a carriage for the film is provided for moving the film from the operators access position to the exposure position below the duplicating film and the platen. Where rolls of negative film are used, the carriage is inoperative below the platen and reel means are provided for advancing the roll of negative film automatically and in synchronization with the roll of duplicating film.

In the foregoing description certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations a-re to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiments of the improved construction illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

Having now described the invention or discovery, the construction, the operation, and use of preferred embodiments thereof, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and useful construction, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a contact printer having a light-excluding cabinet with a top surface, the surface having a contact printing opening, means for mounting negative film and raw stock over the opening, a stationary platen mounted over and spaced above the opening, a normally deflated air bag mounted on the platen and facing the opening, the air bag providing a clearance space between the bag and the contact printing opening when the bag is in a deflated position, means for inflating the air bag to occupy the clearance space and cover the contact printing opening, whereby the inflated bag holds a negative film and raw stock in surfaceto-surface contact for exposure over the opening.

2. In a contact printer having a light-excluding cabinet with a top surface, the surface having a contact printing opening, a light-transparent plate over the opening, means for mounting negative film and raw stock over the opening, a stationary platen mounted over and spaced above the light-transparent plate, a normally deflated air bag on the platen and facing the plate, the deflated air bag providing clearance space above the plate, means for inflating the air bag to occupy the clearance space and hold an associated contact printing film in surface-tosurface contact with associated negative film, and means for deflating the air bag.

3. In a contact printer in which a light-excluding cabinet is provided with a contact printing opening in its top surface, in which printing light means are mounted in the cabinet for directing a light beam to the printing opening, and in which mounting means are provided on the top surface for mounting and advancing a roll of duplicating film across the opening by successive frames in the film; the improvement including a limit transparent plate over the opening, a stationary platen mounted over and spaced above the printing opening, a normally deflated air bag on the platen and facing the plate, the associated duplicating film extending between the bag and the plate, and means including an electrical circuit and pneumatic devices for inflating the air bag for holding an associated contact printing film in surface-to-surface contact with a photographic negative, for closing a circuit through the printing light means for a predetermined period of time, for deflating the air bag, and for advancing the roll of film one frame prior to another cycle.

4. In a contact printer in which a light-excluding cabinet is provided with a contact printing opening in its top surface, in which printing light means are mounted in the cabinet for directing a light beam to the printing opening, and in which means are provided on the top surface for mounting and advancing a roll of duplicating film across the opening by successive frames in the film; the improvement including a stationary platen mounted on the top surface and over the printing opening, the platen being spaced above the opening and providing a clearance therewith, carriage means for mounting associated cut film and for moving the cut film between an operators access position and a printing position Within the clearance between the platen and the opening, the associated duplicating film extending between the platen and the carriage, the platen having a normally deflated air bag on the surface facing the opening, and cycle means including an electrical circuit and pneumatic de- 'vices for sequentially moving the carriage from the operators position to the printing position, inflating the air bag, closing a circuit through the printing light means for a predetermined period of time, deflating the air bag, returning the carriage to the operators position, and advancing the roll of film one frame to set up the printer for another cycle.

5. In a contact printer in which a light-excluding cabinet is provided with a contact printing opening in the top surface, in which printing light means are mounted in the cabinet for directing a light beam to the printing opening, and in which means are provided on the top surface for mounting and advancing a roll of duplicating film across the opening by successive frames in the film; the improvement including a stationary platen mounted on the 'top surface and spaced above the opening for providing a clearance therebetween, carriage means for mounting associated cut film and for moving the cut film between an operators access position and a printing position within the clearance between the platen and the opening, the associated duplicating film extending between the platen and the carriage, the platen having a normally deflated air bag on the surface facing the opening, the air bag being inflatable for holding the films in surface-to-surface contact, means including an electrical circuit and pneumatic devices for sequentially moving the carriage means to the printing position within the clearance, inflating the air bag, closing the circuit through the light means for a predetermined period of time, deflating the air bag, returning the carriage to the operators position, and advancing the film one frame, and the electrical circuit including an operators switch means for initiating the foregoing cycle.

6. The construction set forth in claim in which the air bag is provided with pneumatic means for inflating the bag which means includes a source of compressed air and valve means for connecting and disconnecting the air bag and the compressed air source.

7. The construction set forth in claim 5 in which the carriage means includes a print mounting frame having a light-transparent surface alignable with the printing opening in the cabinet, and in which the carriage means in cludes pneumatic piston means for moving the frame between the operators access position and the printing position within the clearance between the platen and printing opening.

8. In a contact printer in which a light-excluding cabinet is provided with a contact printing opening in the top surface, in which printing light means are mounted in the cabinet for directing a light beam to the printing opening, and in which means are provided on the top surface for mounting and advancing a roll of duplicating film across the opening by successive frames in the film; the improvement including a stationary platen mounted above the top surface opening and providing clearance therebetween, carriage means for mounting associated cut film and for moving the cut film between a printing position within the clearance and an operators access position, the associated duplicating film extending between the platen and the carriage, the platen having a normally deflated air bag on the surface facing the carriage, pneumatic means for inflating the air bag against the film and for holding the films in surface-to-surface contact, the pneumatic means including a source of compressed air and a valve for connecting and disconnecting the air bag and the compressed air source, the carriage means including a print mounting frame having a lighttransparent surface for supporting a cut fim above the printing opening, the carriage means also having pneumatic piston means for moving the frame between an operators access position and a printing position, and cycling means including an electrical circuit and pneumatic devices for sequentially moving the carriage means to the printing position within the clearance, inflating the air bag, closing the circuit through the light means for a predetermined period of time, deflating the air bag, returning the carriage to the operators position, and ad vancing the duplicating film one frame, and the electrical circuit including an operators switch means for initiating the foregoing cycle.

9. In a contact printer in whicha light-excluding cabinet is provided with a contact printing opening in the top surface, in which printing light means are mounted in the cabinet for directing a light beam to the printing opening, and in which means are provided on the top surface for mounting and advancing an associated roll of duplicating film across the opening by successive frames in the film; the improvement including a stationary platen mounted above the top surface opening and providing clearance therebeteween, carriage means for mounting associated cut film and for moving the cut film between a printing position within the clearance and an operators access position, the associated duplicat ing film extending between the platen and the carriage, second means on the cabinet for mounting and advancing an associated roll of negative film by successive film frame between the duplicating film and the platen, the platen having a normally deflated air bag on the surface facing the carriage, pneumatic means for inflating the air bag against the film and for holding the films in surface-to-surface contact, the pneumatic means including a source of compressed air and a valve for connecting and disconnecting the air bag and the compressed air source, the carriage means including a duplicating film mounting frame having a light transparent surface for supporting negative film above the printing opening, the carriage means also having pneumatic piston means for moving the frame between an operators access position and a 9 10 printing position, and means including an electrical cir- References Cited by the Examiner cuit and pneumatic devices for holding the carriage in UNITED STATES PATENTS the printing position, for inflating the air bag for holding the associated films in surface-to-surface contact, for 1780701 11/1930 Crane 95-76 2,739,516 3/1956 Hosterman 95-76 closing a circuit through the printing light means for a 5 3,169,465 2/1965 Patterson 9576 predetermmed period of time, for deflating the an bag, and for advancing the rolls of film one frame prior to NORTON Primary Examinera succeding cycle. R. A. WINTERCOR'N, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A CONTACT PRINTER HAVING A LIGHT-EXCLUDING CABINET WITH A TOP SURFACE, THE SURFACE HAVING A CONTACT PRINTING OPENING, MEANS FOR MOUNTING NEGATIVE FILM AND RAW STOCK OVER THE OPENING, A STATIONARY PLATEN MOUNTED OVER AND SPACED ABOVE THE OPENING, A NORMALLY DEFLATED AIR BAG MOUNTED ON THE PLATEN AND FACING THE OPENING, THE AIR BAG PROVIDING A CLEARANCE SPACE BETWEEN THE BAG AND THE CONTACT PRINTING OPENING WHEN THE BAG IS IN A DEFLATED POSITION, MEANS FOR INFLATING THE AIR BAG TO OCCUPY THE