US3368471A

US3368471A - Method and apparatus for making three dimensional contact prints

Info

Publication number: US3368471A
Application number: US363652A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carl J Beato
Original assignee: Carl J. Beato
Current assignee: CARL J BEATO
Priority date: 1964-04-29
Filing date: 1964-04-29
Publication date: 1968-02-13
Anticipated expiration: 1985-02-13

Description

C. J. BEATO Feb. 13, 1968 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING THREE DIMENSIONAL CONTACT PRINTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 29, 1964 INVENTOR J. BEA 7'0 CARL Feb. 13, 1968 c, J. BE TO 3,368,471

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING THREE DIMENSIONAL CONTACT PRINTS Filed April 29, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet '2 grime/whom CARL J 85470- Feb. 13, 1968 c. .1. BEATO METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING THREE DIMENSIONAL CONTACT PRINTS 7 Filed April 29, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 CARL .1 BEA r0 Feb. 13, 1968 c. .1. BEIATO 3,368,471

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING THREE DIMENSiONAL CONTACT PRINTS Filed April 29. 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 l'l HQIIIIIEEEEHE!!! gvwwwbo b HQ 8 CARL J. 554m Feb. 13, 1968 c.'J. BEATO 3,363,471

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING THREE DIMENSIONAL CONTACT PRINTS Filed April 29, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR CARL J. 55470 United States Patent 3,368,471 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING THREE DIMENSIONAL CONTACT PRINTS Carl J. Bcato, 603 Woodland Drive, Forest Heights, Md. 20023 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 22,372,

Apr. 14, 1960. This application Apr. 29, 1964, Ser.

13 Claims. (Cl. 95-76) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for (the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes Without the pay ment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This application is a confirmation-impart of application Ser. No. 22,372, filed Apr. 14, 1960, for Method and Apparatus for Making Three Dimensional Contact Prints, which in turn is -a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 623,265, filed Nov. '19, 1956, for Method for Making Three Dimensional Contact Print. Both of the above applications are now abandoned.

The present invention relates :to a method and apparatus for making -a three dimensional contact print and more particularly to a method and apparatus for making la three dimensional contact print by exposing to a light source a preformed photosensitive sheet of a three dimensional form through -a correspondingly preformed photographic negative.

Known methods of transferring cultural and vegetative information to a three dimensional surface have been either by first hand painting or by prepainting the desired indicia on flat plastic sheets ltithographicallly or photographically and then vacuum drawing or blow-molding the surfaces over a three dimensional mold to put the finished print into relief, su ch a method of relief duplication is disclosed in US. Patents 2,493,439, issued J an. 3, 1950, to Bra-und. However, in employing this method of relief duplication, it is physically impossible to form previously flat plastic sheets over a three dimensional molded surface and still achieve perfect registration. The process of vacuum drawing or blow-molding is such that small local areas of pre-printed material are stretched to relatively larger areas, resulting in distention and falsification of the three dimensional "printed surface.

The present invention provides a novel method and apparatus for accurately producing three dimensional photographic contact prints. The present method differs from previously known methods in that the negative and the photosensitive sheets are both preformed by vacuum drawing before transferring the information from the negatiive onto the photosensitive sheet by contact printing. The main advantage of this method is that the distortions and falsifications which previously resulted from postform ing pre-pn'nt-ed or pro-photographed plastic forms is elimiate'd, resulting in a perfect registration of information with the three dimensional photosensitive sheet. There is the further advantage of saving :a great deal of time and money in using the present invention since contact printing of information is much (faster than projection printing. Uniformity of registration is a major factor to be considered in the use of three dimensional contact printing since a perfectly preformed three dimensional negative can be obtained by projecting the information orthographically with a collimating system which eliminates any error which may result in conic projection or by vacuum forming pre printed thermoplastic sheets.

An object ot the present invention is the provision of an iapparatus for making a three dimensional negative and photosensitive sheet.

Another object of the present invention is Ito provide a novel method and apparatus for making a three dimensional icon-tact print with a minimum of time and expense.

3,368,471 Patented Feb. 13, 1968 ice A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel method and apparatus for making a three dimensional contact print which has a uniformity of registration exceeding that obtainable by prior known methods.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. -1 shows an assembled perspective view of a preferred portable form of three di-mensional contact printer which is used to carry out the inventive method.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, omitting certain parts for clarity.

FIG. 3 shows an assembled perspective View ot a preferred stationary form of vacuum molding machine and three dimensional con-tact printer.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of FIG. 3 illustrating the auxiliary equipment.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the lines 5-5 of FIG. 4, illustrating the driving and elevating mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the gearing and chain-belt arrangement.

FIG. 7 shows a partially sectional view illustrating the manner in which the photosensitive sheet and the negative are vacuum drawn.

FIG. 8 shows a partially sectional view illustrating the relative position of the photosensitive sheet and the negative when a print is made.

FIG. 9 shows a partially sectional view illustrating the relative position of the photosensitive sheet and the negative.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the end portion of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 9.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like referenc characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 a three dimensional contact printer 5 having a box 6, an airtight lid 7 with a frosted or clear plate glass 8, and a light source enclosure 9 which contains a series of adjustable lamps. Y

The lid 7 is pivotally mounted to the box 6 by hinges 11 and releasably locked thereto by cooperation between latch 12, secured to the lid 7, and the opening 13 in box 6.

An air outlet 14 is connected to the box 6 to provide a means to evacuate the air in the box 6 and create a vacuum therein.

Lid 7 has an air outlet 15 and an air inlet 16 connected to opposite sides thereof, and a pressure gauge 17 .attached thereto to enable the air pressure within the lid 7 to be read. Handles 18 are provided on the lid 7 to enable the lid to be pivotally lowered and raised from the box 6 when the latch 12 is released from the opening 13 in box 6. A rubber seal 19 is secured to the undersurface of the lid 7 to provide an airtight closure between the box 6 and the lid 7 when they are incontact with each other.

The light source enclosure 9 is secured to the lid 7 by any suitable means, such as latch 19. The lamps contained in the enclosure 9 may be ozalid mercury vapor lamps, fluorescent lights, or a concentrated are light, dependent upon the material to be exposed. A control box 21 is attached to the side of the enclosure 9 and is provided with a switch and temperature gauge to control the light sources used in the enclosure 9. Shown at 22 are a plurality of preformed sheets nested together, said sheets being fully explained in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the plurality of preformed sheets 22 as shown in FIG. 1, comprises a preformed three dimensional mold 23 made of any suitable material such as plaster, plastic, etc., a three dimensional preformed photosensitive sheet 24 made of plastic or the like, a three dimensional preformed negative 25, and a frosted three dimensional preformed sheet 26, the latter being necessary only if a plain light source is employed.

The method of obtaining a three dimensional contact print is as follows: the preformed members 23 to 26 (if they are all used) are placed in juxtaposition and inserted into the box 6. The lid 7 and light source enclosure 9 are clamped to the box 6 by means of the latch 12 engaging the opening 13. Two or more pounds of air pressure are applied through the air inlet 16 to the lid to insure absolute and uniform contact between the sheets. In some cases, where it is difficult to obtain a tight contact between the photosensitive sheet 24 and the negative sheet 25 with air pressure alone, a vacuum is drawn in the box 6 by means of the air outlet 14 which evacuates the air through holes in the preformed mold 23 and at the same time the air pressure in the lid 7 will force the negative 25 downward so that the negative 25 is pressed against the photosensitive sheet 24 while being exposed to light, resulting in absolute and uniform contact.

The photosensitive sheet 24 is then exposed to the proper light source in enclosure 9 for the required time, then removed from the contact printer and developed under dark room conditions. The contact printer 5 is then ready for another preformed photosensitive sheet.

The chemistry of three dimensional contact printing in black and white or color is similar to that of flat printing, and the complete method of preforming the photosensitive sheet and exposing the same in the three dimensional contact printer 5 must be done under dark room photographic conditions.

The manner in which the

sheets

24 and 25 are drawn into three dimensional sheets will be explained later in connection with the stationary embodiment of the present invention. It is to be noted, that if desired, the

sheets

24 and 25 could be vacuum drawn with the portable embodiment of the present invention by replacing certain components. However, the vacuum drawing could best be done on the other embodiment of the invention.

If the photosensitive sheets 24 are made of ozalid or similar material, they are exposed to a mercury vapor lamp or other source on the three dimensional contact printer thereby reducing the unprotected parts of the sensitized material into an invisible compound. After the ozalid exposure, the three dimensional photosensitive sheet 24 is then removed from the printer and placed into a developing box where controlled aqua ammonia vapors develop the sensitized preform. The three dimensional surface on the sheet will have red, black, blue or sepia lines and/ or tones depending upon the type of material exposed. By this method, color transparencies are superimposed over the photosensitive sheet to obtain 'a three dimensional color effect.

Dia'zo materials can be used for exposure in the three dimensional contact printer similar to ozalid plastic plastic sheets, but are developed in a special plastic sensitizing liquid formula. Similarly, blue line, blue printing, etc., are exposed in the three dimensional contact printer and developed as prescribed by the manufacturers of the material preformed.

If the preformed photosensitive sheet 24 is made thicker and heavy enough, the preformed mold 23 may be eliminated in the printing process. Likewise, the frosted preform sheet 26 can be eliminated if the plate glass it in lid 7 is made 'of frosted glass instead of clear glass. But, the frosted sheet '26 can be used as an additional diffusion means for the light rays if an open light source is used.

The three dimensional contact printer 5 can also be used with other reproducing systems such as dry photo, blue line, blue printing, stencilling, thermal or electronic systems when printing on relief or three dimensional surfaces is desired by exposing, to the proper light source, photosensitive sheets through a preformed photographic negative which has thereon the indicia to be transferred and which corresponds to the original photosensitive surface.

FIG. 3 shows a combination vacuum molding machine and three dimensional printer. The combination molding and printing machine is formed by three major components, the first of these being a mold box 28, the second being a heating element 29 and the third being a light fixture 31. All three of these components are supported by a table 32, the table 32 being supported by four legs 30 and provided with four vertical posts 33 which extend upwardly therefrom and directly support a floor plate 73 on which the mold box 28 is mounted. Attached to the front and rear of the floor plate 73 are a pair of angle iron rails 35 that extend out from both ends of table 32 a distance suflicient to accommodate and support the heating element 29, which is located to the right of the mold box 28, and the adjustable lights 31, located to the left of the mold box 28. The angle iron rails 35 are each provided with a track 36 to accommodate wheels 37 which are mounted on heating element 29 and adjustable lights 31 permitting them to be moved inwardly to the mold box 28 or away therefrom. The tracks 36 are provided with stops 38 to prevent the heating element 29 and the adjustable light mounting 31 from being extended too far and rolling off the track 36. The extending angle iron rails 35 are further provided with knee supports 39 which support the outwardly extending angle iron rails 35, both ends of the parallel angle iron rails 35 being fastened together by angle iron cross pieces 41 which support the rails 35.

The light fixture 31 is mounted on a frame 42 which is comprised of a pair of end members 43 that are fastened together by means of a cross member 44; any suitable means of attachment may be used such as welding, riveting, bolting, etc, The frame 42 is provided with eight wheels 37 which permit it to move on the track 36 and thereby move lights 31 into the desired position. The frame 42 is further provided with a height adjusting mechanism 45 which permits the light fixture 31 to be raised and lowered depending on the amount of light required for a given exposure. The adjusting mechanism 45 comprises a threaded crank 46 which meshes in a fixed gear 47 mounted in a pair of ears 48 which extend from the light fixture 31. Rotation of the crank 46 will cause the light fixture 31 to move up or down depending upon the direction of rotation. Since the crank 46 is not capable of moving vertically, the light fixture 31 will move upon the rotation of the crank 46.

The mold box 28 is mounted on a supporting floor plate 73 which is supported by four posts 33 and it is within this mold box 28 that the mold 49 is placed. The mold 49 which may be made manually to represent any given area in relief, is made having a porosity which permits a vacuum to be drawn through it, or if necessary, minute holes, a few thousandths of an inch in diameter, may be drilled in the mold 49 to permit a better vacuum to be drawn therethrough. The posts 33 are hollow so as to accommodate jacking gears 51 which are actuated through a "series of gears and chain belts which will be further explained with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. Attached to the upper end of the jacking gears 51 is a squeeze frame 52 which is secured thereto by four collars 50. The squeeze frame 52 which is raised and lowered by jacking gears 51 serves the purpose of providing uniform pressure on top of the photosensitive sheet 76 and negative 77 when contact printing is taking place. The four jacking gears '51 are all geared to a single driving motor 62 through a series of chain belts 65 and sprockets 64 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The uniform pressure which is applied by the equally spaced jacking gears 51 in combination with the vacuum underneath the photosensitive sheet 76 and the negative 77 thereby results in a finished print of uniform contact and perfect registration, heretofore unattainable. It is to be noted, that if necessary, the squeeze frame 52 may be provided with an enclosure and air pressure may be applied to the top of the negative, in a manner similar to that employed in the use of the portable embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.

A drape former 53 is attachable to the squeeze frame 52 as by clamps 54, the function of the drape former being to hold the negative in its proper position when contact printing.

The heating element 29 is provided with four mounting plates each of which accommodates two wheels 37 which ride in the track 36 and permit the heating element 29 to be moved inwardly to the mold box 28.

FIG. 4 is a front view of FIG. 3, illustrating more of the piping connections and the vacuum lines, There is shown a flexible tube 55 which is connected to a source of vacuum (not shown), the flexible tube 55 being connected to an auxiliary vacuum tank 56 by any suitable means. The auxiliary vacuum tank 56 is provided with an outlet 59 which is connected by piping 61 to the underside of the mold box 28. The line 61 is provided with a vacuum control valve 60 which connects and disconnects the line 61 from its source. There is also shown in FIG. 4 the driving motor 62 with its output shaft 63 provided with a sprocket 64 that drives chain belt 65, as well as a control switch 66 for the vacuum pump in addition to a motor control switch 67. The

electrical lines

68 and 57, for the heating element 29 and the lights 31, respectively, are also shown.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the lines 55 of FIG. 4, illustrating the driving and elevating mechanism. The table 32 serves as a mounting platform for driving motor 62, the motor 62 being connected to sprockets 64 by means of the output shaft 63. There is also shown in FIG. 5, the piping 61 which connects the vacuum source to the mold box 28 and the valve 60 for controlling the suction.

Referring to FIG. 6 there is shown the table 32 with its four posts 33. Mounted within each of the posts 33 is a jacking gear 51, the jacking gear 51 meshing with gears, not shown, which are mounted at the ends of shafts 78 within the gear housing 80. The shafts 78 are driven through their respective sprockets 64 and chain belts 65 which in turn are driven by the motor 62. The two shafts 78 are interconnected by a timing chain belt 79 which insures that the movement of all four jacking gears 51 is simultaneous and that they exert a uniform pressure on the squeeze frame 52 when it is lowered into position.

FIG. 7 shows a sectional view illustrating the manner in which the photosensitive sheet 76 and the negative 77 are vacuum drawn. The mold 49, which is shown in section, is a male mold which is made by hand. The elevations and depressions in the surface of the mold may correspond to the topographical terrain of any given area which may be desired to be put into relief. As previously pointed out, the mold 49 is made of plaster, or some other material which has similar characteristics, and which will permit a vacuum to be drawn through it. The mold 49 is placed in mold box 28 which has been connected to a source of vacuum by means of piping 61. It is to be noted that mold box 28 is provided with an inwardly extending lip 72 which keeps the mold 49 off the floor 73 of the mold box 28 thereby permitting the suction to act on the entire area of the mold. After the mold 49 is placed in the mold box 28, a flat sheet of photosensitive plastic material is placed across the mold box 28, as shown by the broken lines 74. Then the squeeze frame 52 is lowered into position to secure the photosensitive plastic sheet 74 in position. The underside of the squeeze frame 52 is provided with rubber seal 75, the rubber seal 75 holding the edge of sheet 74 in position so that it will not move once the vacuum drawing process has begun. After the squeeze frame 52 is lowered to its desired position, the heating element 29 is then rolled into the position where it is directly over the photosensitive plastic sheet 74 and the mold box 28. Then the heating element 29 is turned on and the vacuum source is connected to the mold box by means of control valve 60. As the photosensitive plastic sheet 74 is heated and the vacuum draws on its underside, the plastic sheet 74 will flow into the shape of the mold 49, as shown. After the photosensitive plastic sheet 74 is fully drawn, the vacuum source (not shown) is disconnected, and heating element 29 is turned off and rolled away, permitting the plastic sheet 74 to cool and set.

The negative 77 is drawn in the same manner as the photosensitive plastic sheet 74 described above. After the negative 77 is vacuum drawn, it is coated with a film of material known as scribe-write which is then worked by hand to place the desired indicia on the negative in the areas where desired. Another way of placing the desired indicia on the negative 77 is by means of an Orth0- graphic projector. In using an Orthographic projector the indicia is projected upon the three dimensional surface of the negative and thereby eliminates the distortion and falsifications encountered with a regular two dimensional projection. A known transfer device for superposing photographic images such as grid and relief lines on an irregular three dimensional surface is shown in the patent to Cooke et al. No. 2,309,627 dated Feb. 2, 1943.

FIG. 8 shows a sectional view illustrating the relative position of the photosensitive sheet 74 and the negative 77 when a print is being made. As pointed out earlier, the photosensitive sheet 74 and the negative 77 are vacuum drawn to put them into relief. After this is done and the desired information is placed on the negative 77, the photosensitive sheet 74 is placed over the mold 49. The mold 49 serves as support for the photosensitive sheet 74, the negative 77 being placed on the upper edge of the squeeze frame 52. Drape former 53 is then lowered over the marginal edge of the negative and by means of the clamps 54, the negative 77 is fixedly secured in its proper position. The motor control switch 67 is then pressed and the squeeze frame 52 is lowered over the photosensitive sheet 74 and the negative 77 until the sheet 74 and negative 77 are nested together and there is intimate contact between the mold 49 and the photosensitive sheet 74 and between the photosensitive sheet 74 and the negative 77. At this point, the vacuum control valve 60 is opened and a vacuum is drawn through the mold 49 and act on the underside of the photosensitive sheet 74, thus bringing them into even closer contact. It is to be noted that in some instances the pressure exerted by the squeeze frame will be sufiicient to obtain a print of uniform contact and in those cases vacuum may not be required for the printing operation. Such may occur, for example, when the size of the map is relatively small and the depressions in the three dimensional surface are not too deep. The determination of whether or not the vacuum is necessary for any given printing operation will usually be determined after making a first or trial copy of the map, if the contact is poor and the registration is not too clear, it will become obvious that the vacuum is required and accordingly the proper adjustments will be made before the next printing. Then the light fixture 31 is rolled over the mold box 28 and the exposure is made, producing a three dimensional contact print of uniform registration.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 8. The sheet 74 is trimmed along its edges, thus permitting a gap 74a to exist. It is obvious that with a gap 74a present any air which is trapped between photosensitive sheet 74 and negative 77 will be removed when the vacuum is applied to the box 28 via gap 74a and thereby permitting photosensitive sheet 74 and negative 77 to come into closer contact to give proper registration and a clear print.

FIG. 10 is an enlargement of the mold box 28 shown shown a photosensitive sheet 74 which has been trimmed along its edges to permit a gap 74a to exist to permit the evacuation of air from between

elements

74 and 77.

It is to be understood that the configuration and method illustrated in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 for removing air from between photosensitive sheet 74 and negative 77 can be readily incorporated into the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of forming a photographically printed relief map by the super'positioning of a sensitized contact printing sheet-like medium upon a preformed porous mold of a character having elevated portions to form an irregular three dimensional surface representing contours of a particular topography, comprising the steps of placing a preformed sensitized sheet, a preformed negative sheet and a preformed frosted sheet on top of said preformed porous mold, said sensitized sheet, negative sheet and frosted sheet each having configurations sufficiently identical with that of said mold so that the corresponding portions of the respective sheets and mold will nest with each other when superposed, applying air pressure to the top surface of the uppermost sheet and suction to the bottom surface of the lowermost sheet to produce uniform alignment of the preformed areas of the sheets and uniform contact between the sheets, exposing the superposed sheets to a light source to cause activation of the sensitized sheet by light passing through the negative sheet, removing the pressure and suction, and developing the activated sensitized sheet to form the printed relief map.

2. The method of making a relief map from a preformed sheet having a photosensitive surface, a preformed negative and a preformed porous mold, said sheet, negative and mold having substantially identical contour areas to represent an irregular three dimensional portion of the earths surface, said method comprising the steps of placing said preformed negative having substantially identical contour areas in mating contact with said preformed sheet over said preformed porous mold and further comprising the additional steps of applying air pressure above said negative and creating a vacuum below said porous mold to thereby ensure uniformity of contact and registration between said sheet, negative and mold, passing light through said negative onto said photosensitive surface and the final step of developing said photosensitive sheet thereby producing a contact print of uniform registration.

3. A method of making a relief map from a preformed sheet having a photosensitive surface, a preformed negative and a preformed porous mold, said sheet, negative and mold having identical contour areas to represent an irregular three dimensional portion of the earths surface,

said method comprising the steps of placing said preformed negative having substantially identical contour areas in mating contact with said preformed sheet over said preformed sheet over said preformed porous mold and further comprising the additional steps of applying pressure above said negative and creating a vacuum below said porous mold to thereby ensure uniformity of contact and registration between said sheet, negative and mold, passing light through said negative onto said photosensitive surface to contact print information onto said sheet from said negative and the final step of developing said photosensitive sheet.

4. A method of forming a printed relief map comprising the steps of: superposing upon a preformed porous mold having elevated portions to form an irregular three dimensional surface representing contours of a particular topography, a preformed sensitized sheet and a preformed negative sheet each having configurations substantially identical with that or saru mold so that the corresponding portions of the respective sheets and mold will nest witheach other when superimposed, applying pressure to the top surface of the uppermost sheet and suction to the bottom surface of the lowermost sheet to produce uniform alignment of the preformed areas of the sheets and uniform contact between the sheets, exposing the superposed sheets to a light source to cause activation of the sensitized sheet by the negative sheet, discontinuing the application of the pressure and suction, removing the activated sensitized sheet and developing same in a manner to form the printed relief map.

5. A method of making a printed relief map comprising the steps of: making a three dimensional porous mold to correspond to a particular portion of the earths surface, making a three dimensional photosensitive sheet and negative with contours substantially identical to nest over the contours of said mold, providing the desired information on said negative, placing said photosensitive sheet and said negative over said mold, applying pressure to the upper surface of the negative and suction to the underside of said mold thereby forcing said negative, photosensitive sheet, and mold into intimate contact with each other, the further step of exposing said photosensitive sheet to a light source by passing light through said negative onto said photosensitive sheet and the final step of developing said photosensitive sheet in a manner and under conditions to thereby produce a print of uniform contact and substantially perfect registration in relief.

6. In a photographic apparatus for producing three dimensional prints by contact printing, the combination of a table, a plurality of posts fixedly secured to said table, a mold box mounted on said posts, a three dimensional mold mounted within said mold box, a squeeze frame mounted above said mold box in a manner to be operatively connected to said posts, means for supporting a plurality of photographic elements comprising a negative and a photosensitive element within said squeeze frame, height adjusting means for controlling the position of said squeeze frame, pressurizing means connected to apply air under pressure to the upper surface of said photographic elements and said mold when the squeeze frame is secured thereover, evacuating means connected to the underside of said mold box for applying suction to the underside of said mold and the innermost one of said photographic elements, and means for photographically exposing the photosensitive one of said plurality of photographic elements when said squeeze frame is in its proper position.

7. In a photographic apparatus as described in claim 6 wherein said squeeze frame is formed by a rectangular frame operatively connected to said height adjusting means by a plurality of jacking gears, sealing means located on the under side of said squeeze frame, a drape former attachment fixedly secured atop the squeeze frame by means of clamps, and additional seal means intermediate the under side of said drape former and the top of said squeeze frame.

8. In a photographic apparatus as described in claim 7 wherein said height adjusting means is formed by a plurality of driving gears, each of said driving gears being operatively connected to one of said jacking gears, a gear housing enclosing each of said driving gears and mounted on each of said posts, a pair of shafts mounted intermediate said driving gears, each shaft being connected to two of .said driving gears in a manner to 'be substantially integral thereto, a plurality of sprockets and chainbelts driving said shafts, a driving motor operatively connected to the sprockets and chainbelts, and a timing chainbelt interconnecting said shafts to insure the synchronized rotation of said shafts and gears thereby insuring that a uniform pressure will be exerted on said squeeze frame through said jacking gears.

9. In a photographic apparatus as described in claim '6 wherein said height adjusting means is formed by a plurality of driving gears, a plurality of jacking gears mounted in said posts, each of said driving gears being operatively connected to one of said jacking gears, a gear housing enclosing each of said driving gears and mounted on each of said posts, a pair of shafts mounted intermediate said driving gears, each shaft being integrally connected to two of said driving gears, a plurality of sprockets and chainbelts driving said shafts, a driving motor operatively connected to said plurality of sprockets and ch-ainbelts, and a timing chainbelt interconnecting said shafts to insure the synchronized rotation of said shafts and gears thereby insuring that a uniform pressure will be exerted on said squeeze frame through said jacking gears.

10. In a photographic apparatus as described in claim 8 wherein said evacuating means is formed by a piping connection to the underside of said mold box, a manually operated control valve disposed in fluid communication with said piping connection, an auxiliary vacuum tank located immediately downstream of said control valve for absorbing any sudden pressure surges, the downstream side of said auxiliary vacuum tank being connected by suitable piping to a source of suction.

11. In a photographic apparatus as described in claim 6 wherein said evacuating means is formed by a piping connection to the underside of said mold box, -a manually operated control valve disposed in fluid communication with said piping connection, an auxiliary vacuum tank located immediately downstream of said control valve for absorbing any sudden pressure surges, the downstream side of said auxiliary vacuum tank being connected by suitable piping to a source of suction.

12. In a photographic apparatus as described in claim 10 wherein said means for photographically exposing said plurality of photographic elements is formed by a light fixture which is fixedly secured to a frame, a plurality of wheels attached to said frame for moving said frame axially, a track fixedly secured to said posts providing a guide for said wheels, a plurality of knee supports extending diagonally from said table to the outer extremities of said track, a plurality of threaded cranks and gears mounted between said light fixture and said frame, said threaded cranks engaging said gears, said gears being held stationary on said light fixture thereby permitting said light fixture to be raised or lowered whereby said photographic elements may be exposed.

13. A method for producing a photographic image in relief accurately representing a three-dimensional subject, comprising forming two three-dimensional photographic elements presenting complementary relief faces accurately representing the relief features of the subject, one of said elements presenting a negative image accurately representing the subject and the other of said elements being photosensitive; placing said elements in registry with said complementary relief faces directed toward and in contact with each other; evacuating air from between said relief faces and applying a positive fluid pressure to one of said elements thereby establishing uniform and intimate contact between said faces; photographically exposing said photosensitive element through said negative image to form a latent positive image on said photosensitive element; separating said elements, and developing said latent image to provide a finished positive photographic image accurately representing the subject in three dimensions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,087,404 4/ 1963 Hase et al. 9Z'27 X NORMAN G. TORCHIN, Primary Examiner.

A. E. TANENHOLTZ, J. H. RAUBITSCHEK,

Assistant Examiners.

Claims

6. IN A PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING THREE DIMENSIONAL PRINTS BY CONTACT PRINTING, THE COMBINATION OF A TABLE, A PLURALITY OF POSTS FIXEDLY SECURED TO SAID TABLE, A MOLD BOX MOUNTED ON SAID POSTS, A THREE DIMENSIONAL MOLD MOUNTED WITHIN SAID MOLD BOX, A SQUEEZE FRAME MOUNTED ABOVE SAID MOLD BOX IN A MANNER TO BE OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID POSTS, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A PLURALITY OF PHOTOGRAPHIC ELEMENTS COMPRISING A NEGATIVE AND A PHOTOSENSITIVE ELEMENT WITHIN SAID SQUEEZE FRAME, HEIGHT ADJUSTING MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE POSITION OF SAID SQUEEZE FRAME, PRESSURIZING MEANS CONNECTED TO APPLY AIR UNDER PRESSURE TO THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID PHOTOGRAPHIC ELEMENTS AND SAID MOLD WHEN THE SQUEEZE FRAME IS SECURED THEREOVER, EVACUATING MEANS CONNECTED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID MOLD BOX FOR APPLYING SUCTION TO THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID MOLD AND THE INNERMOST ONE OF SAID PHOTOGRAPHIC ELEMENTS, AND MEANS FOR PHOTOGRAPHICALLY EXPOSING THE PHOTOSENSITIVE ONE OF SAID PLURALITY OF PHOTOGRAPHIC ELEMENTS WHEN SAID SQUEEZE FRAME IS IN ITS PROPER POSITION.
13. A METHOD FOR PRODUCING A PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE IN RELIEF ACCURATELY REPRESENTING A THREE-DIMENSIONAL SUBJECT, COMPRISING FORMING TWO THREE-DIMENSIONAL, PHOTOGRAPHIC ELEMENTS PRESENTING COMPLEMENTARY RELIEF FACES ACCURATELY REPRESENTING THE RELIEF FEATURE OF THE SUBJECT, ONE OF SAID ELEMENTS PRESENTING A NEGATIVE IMAGE ACCURATELY REPRESENTING THE SUBJECT AND THE OTHER OF SAID ELEMENT BEING PHOTOSENSITIVE; PLACING SAID ELEMENTS IN REGISTRY WITH SAID COMPLEMENTARY RELIEF FACES DIRECTED TOWARD AND IN CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER; EVACUATING AIR FROM BETWEEN SAID RELIEF FACES AND APPLYING A POSITIVE FLUID PRESSURE TO ONE OF SAID ELEMENTS THEREBY ESTABLISHING UNIFORM AND INTIMATE CONTACT BETWEEN SAID FACES; PHOTOGRAPHICALLY EXPOSING SAID PHOTOSENSITIVE ELEMENT THROUGH SAID NEGATIVE IMAGE TO FORM A LATENT POSITIVE IMAGE ON SAID PHOTOSENSITIVE ELEMENT; SEPARATING SAID ELEMENTS, AND DEVELOPING SAID LATENT IMAGE TO PROVIDE A FINISHED POSITIVE PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE ACCURATELY REPRESENTING THE SUBJECT IN THREE DIMENSIONS.