US3435748A

US3435748A - Apparatus for developing a cylinder

Info

Publication number: US3435748A
Application number: US598843A
Authority: US
Inventors: David R Cannon
Original assignee: Reynolds Metals Co
Current assignee: Reynolds Metals Co
Priority date: 1966-12-02
Filing date: 1966-12-02
Publication date: 1969-04-01
Anticipated expiration: 1986-04-01

Description

Ap 1969 D. R. CANNON APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING A CYLINDER Sheet of 5 Filed Dec. 2, 1966 INVENTOR. DAVID R. CANNON HlS ATTORNEYS D. R. .CANNON APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING A CYLINDER pril 1, 1969 Sheet Filed Dec. 2, 1966 m9 m2 N m ON 3 3 mm NAVE NVENTOR.

D R. CANNON wi mm @9 S. H N

"' ATTORNEYS April 1, 1969 D. R. CANNON 3,435,748

APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING CYLINDER I Sheet 3 ms Filed Dec. 2. 1966 Q mm N 7 m 2 s w L I, We IM l l 8 m R D W L 7 mm B A m W m m \G C N N 5 mm T old W T J 4 ml u fl E W. 2 m- B S/ S L H L m 8 B I 8% R I l l 3 HIS ATTORNEYS April 1969 D. R. CANNON APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING A CYLINDER Sheet 5 of 5 Filed Dec. 2, 1966 FIG FIG

HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,435,748 APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING A CYLINDER David R. Cannon, New Albany, Ind., assignor to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va, a corporation Filed Dec. 2, 1966, Ser. No. 598,843

Int. Cl. G03d 3/00 US. Cl. 95-89 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for developing a gelatine coating on a cylindrical surface having automatic controls for maintaining proper water temperatures in the developing bath. A vertically movable liquid applying pan is located under the horizontally rotatable cylinder. The pan bottom has a thermally sensitive element in a trough. The trough has a slow leak to maintain a representative liquid surrounding the sensitive element. A stationar tub is located underneath the pan to receive the liquid drainage and the liquid overflow from the pan. Elevated wells in the tub surround elevating supporting columns which elevate and lower the pan. Alcohol jets adjacent to the bath spray the cylinder, and liquid filling pipes fill the pan to maintain a flow of liquid through the pan.

Brief summary of the invention This invention is directed to an apparatus and method of developing a cylinder which has carbon tissue thereon to prepare the cylinder for an etching operation in another apparatus.

The apparatus of this invention includes a vertically movable liquid applying pan over which the cylinder is supported and rotated. Alcohol may be applied to the cylinder by alcohol spraying jets. A bod of water may be introduced and circulated in the plan by a water jet manifold in the pan. The cylinder is partly submerged in the body of water.

The liquid applying pan is vertically movable, and the pan may be sufficiently close to the cylinder, so that the cylinder may be partially submerged in liquid retained in the pan. The pan can be lowered, so that it can be placed below the cylinder a suflicient distance so that the cylinder can be sprayed with liquid alcohol, and such liquid may drain from the cylinder, while the cylinder is not submerged by liquid in the pan.

Automatic controls are provided for maintaining proper liquid temperatures in the pan, proper speed of rotation of the cylinder, proper length of treatment, and the like.

Further features of this invention become apparent from this description, the appended claimed subject matter, and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic end view of an apparatus embodying features of this invention, the view being taken from the left end of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 2 -is a front view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1, such view being taken from the right side of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a top portion of a combined wiring diagram, and a partial mechanical diagrammatic showing of parts of the apparatus.

FIGURE 4 is the lower part of the same diagram shown in FIGURE 3, FIGURES 3 and 4 being parts of the same diagram.

FIGURES 5-10 are diagrammatic representations of various stages in the treatment and development of the cylinder in the apparatus of this invention, and are drawn with relatively exaggerated parts to better illustrate such stages.

Certain words are used in the specification which indi- 3,435,748 Patented Apr. 1, 1969 cate relative position, direction, etc. Such words are used for the sake of clearness and brevity. However, it is to be understood that such words are used only in connection with the drawings, and that in actual practice the parts so described may have entirely different relative position, direction, etc. Examples of such words are vertical, horizontal, upper, lower, etc.

An entire apparatus, according to this invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 20. This apparatus is a developing apparatus for treating a carbon tissue covered cylinder during the development stage of intaglio images on such cylinder.

In the production of such cylinders, a camera positive of a finished design is placed in contact with carbon tissue in a vacuum printing frame. A suitable light exposes the tissue through the camera positive. Where there is no dark on the camera positive, the tissue is hardened, and where there is dark on the camera positive, the tissue or carbon remains soft. Gradation of dark will produce gradation of hardness and softness in the gelatine of such tissue.

Hardness implies that tissue is relatively insoluble in water. Softness implies that tissue is relatively soluble in water.

Carbon tissue as used herein is a historical trade name used for a product which originally had a paper backing with a carbon containing light sensitive layer. However, such product now has a paper backing with a layer of light sensitive gelatine that hardens with the exposure to light. For example, in FIGURE 5, the layer 22 is a layer of the paper, and the layer 24 is the light sensitive gelatine, these being shown in greatly exaggerated size with respect to the cylinder.

The light exposure treatment produces an undeveloped hardness and softness image in gelatine. Thereafter, the carbon tissue is applied to the cylinder, which is a copper plated cylinder. The carbon tissue is adhered to the cylinder by wetting the cylinder with distilled water and then pressing the carbon tissue on the cylinder with the paper backing 22 on the outside and gelatine layer 24 on the inside and adjacent to the cylinder.

The cylinder so prepared, as is well known in this art, is then ready to be developed in the apparatus 20 of this invention. In this apparatus 20, the paper 22 is first removed by the steps diagrammatically indicated in FIG- URES 5, 6- and 7. Thereafter, the gelatine layer 24 is developed, as diagrammatically indicated in FIGURE 8, to remove the soft portions of the gelatine, which are soluble in water. Thereafter, the water is removed by an alcohol treatment, as diagrammatically indicated in FIG- URE 9, and finally the cylinder is dried by an air blast, as shown in FIGURE 10.

Thereafter, the cylinder may be removed from this apparatus, and may be placed in an etching apparatus where the cylinder is treated with an acid, which acid is a solution of FeCl;, which removes portions of the copper plating of the cylinder to produce an intaglio cylinder surface, which is suitable for rotogravure.

The apparatus 20 of this invention is adapted to be substantially automatic in its operation and requires only a very few manually controlled operations. Such manually controlled operations are provided where the state of the progress of the operation must be watched and manually controlled temporarily.

The apparatus 20 may be supported on the strong, rigid frame work made of angle, channel, or other frame-like

members

26 and 26A, which are secured together rigidly to hold the parts, as it is obvious to those skilled in the art.

The frame construction rigidly and stationarily supports a stationary tank which may be a semicylindrical lower tank 28. An upper, vertically movable arcuate tank or pan 30, is vertically movable within the tank 28. The pan 30 may be provided with overflow flanges 32, which permit the liquid in the pan 30 to overflow, pour or drip from the flanges 32 into the lower tank 28.

The lower tank 28 is larger than the upper pan 30. The end walls of the lower tank 28 are indicated at 34 and the end walls of the upper pan 30 are indicated at 36. The end walls 36 have overflow flanges also. In a typical apparatus, the tank 28 is approximately 70 inches long and 18 inches wide, with the semicylindrical bottom having a nine (9) inch radius. The pan 30 is approximately 7" long and 14" wide at the top overflow edge.

The pan 30 is rigidly and accurately mounted on supporting columns 38 which are slidably held in rigid brackets 40 which are rigidly secured to the transverse frame members 26A of the frame work.

The supporting columns 38 pass through liquid retaining wells 42, which are welded to the bottom of the tank 28. These columns 38 extend upwardly above the probable highest level 44 of liquid in the tank 28. A drain 46 is provided in the tank 28, which is of sufficient capacity of drain the water fast enough to prevent any higher level than approximately 44. The tank is drained of liquid continuously to maintain the liquid below that level.

The supporting columns 38 are provided with racks or teeth 48 which are engaged by rack gear wheels 50 which are driven by the longitudinal shaft 52. The shaft 52 is driven by a worm gear 54, which is driven by a worm 56. The worm 56 is driven by a shaft 58, which is driven by a sprocket wheel 60. This wheel 60 is driven by a chain belt 62 which is driven by a geared motor '64 which has a sprocket wheel 66, which drives the chain belt 62. In the wiring diagram of FIGURES 3 and 4 this motor 64 is indicated as M2, for convenience in understanding the wire diagram.

The motor M2, or *64, is an AC motor, and is capable of moving the pan 30 up and down between the two dotted line positions shown in FIGURE 1. Such motor M2 may be controlled by a rotary switch 68, also indicated as RS1 in the wiring diagram. This switch 68 may be manually actuated, to cause the motor M2 to raise the pan 30 to the upper position. Such motor 64 (M2) may be a reversible motor and may be rotated to move the pan 30 downwardly under the control of switch S2 which is normally closed as long as the pan 30 is in any upper position, but is opened by any actuating part connected to pan 30, such as column 38, as indicated in FIGURE 3. This may be energized for downward movement of the pan 30 by switch T2-3 to be elsewhere described.

A cylinder 70, to be developed in apparatus 20, may have a coaxial shaft 72. The cylinder 70 may be lowered by a suitable crane, not shown, so that the ends of the shaft 70 are received in ring bearings 74 which are supported on end plates 76 at each end of the apparatus 20. The shafts 72 may have circular flanges 78, which straddle the ring bearings 74 and prevent the shaft 72 from moving longitudinally along the apparatus 20.

The ring bearings 74 have gears 80, which are driven by gear 82. The gear 82 is driven by a sprocket wheel 84 which is driven by the chain belt 86. The chain 86 is driven by a sprocket wheel 88, which is driven by a DC motor 90, which is also referred to as M1 in the wiring diagram. The speed of rotation of motor 90, and consequently of the cylinder 70, is controlled by the setting of one or both of the manually

adjustable potentiometers

92 and 94, which are also referred to respectively as P1 and P2 in the wiring diagram. These potentiometers are adjustable resistances between the AC-DC rectifier 96 and the motor M1. The motor M1 is energized or deenergized by the motor control 98, FIGURE 2, which is under the control of the

timers

101, 102, and 103, which are also indicated as T1, T2, and T3 in the wiring diagram of FIGURES 3 and 4.

By a setting of one or both of the

potentiometers

92 and 94, the speed of rotation of the motor 90 or M1, can

4 be regulated, whereas the

timers

101, 102 and 103, or T1, T2 and T3, regulate the time at which the motor is actuated or stopped and consequently the time when the cylinder 70 is rotated or stopped.

The cylinder 70 may be sprayed with alcohol from a plurality of nozzles 104, which are fed under suitable and regulated pressure from alcohol manifold 106. Each of the nozzles 104 has a nozzle valve 108. The valves 108 may be opened and closed, so that only that part of the cylinder 70 is sprayed with alcohol, which part of the cylinder has a

tissue

22, 24 to be developed in the apparatus 20. It is to be noted, that different sized cylinders 70, and different sizes of carbon tissues can be provided on the cylinders 70, and therefore only that part which contains the tissues need to be treated. In View of this, the alcohol spray can be limited to that portion of the cylinders requiring the spray, and the correct number of spray valves 108 which provide such spray need be opened for any particular cylinder treatment. This results in a saving of alcohol.

The alcohol manifold 106 is controlled by a solenoid valve 110, which is normally closed but opens when energized by the proper timer connection, to supply the alcohol to the manifold 106. Such valve 110 is indicated as SVl in the wiring diagram.

The automatic mixing valve 118 is connected to hot and

cold water lines

120, and 122 and has a mixed water discharge 124.

Two solenoid

water control valves

117 and 119, may be placed in parallel in the water connection 116, with bypass connections as shown, so that the amount of water desired may be varied by opening one or both or either of the valves as is desired. These

valves

117 and 119 may be solenoid valves, which are normally closed, but which may be opened when energized. These valves also referred to respectively as SVZ, and SV3 in the wiring diagram.

The mixing valve 118 will have its ratio of hot and cold water controlled by the temperature controller regulator 126, which is connected by the connection 128 to the thermocouple, or thermostatic bulb 130 at the bottom of the pan 30. The connection 128 may be a flexible one which extends from the controller 126, to the thermocouple or bulb 130. Such connection 128 may pass through another well 132 in the stationary tank 28, which prevents overflow of water out of tank 28.

The temperature controller regulator 126 may be any well known regulator, such as can be purchased from the Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company, of Minne apolis, Minn, or from the Foxboro Company, of Foxboro, Mass.

The regulator 126 is also referred to as TCR in the wiring diagram.

The regulator 126 is any well known regulator, which controls the mixing valve 128 by a compressed air connection 134. Such regulator, has an inking pen or arm 136, which records on a record disc the actual temperature produced in the device to be controlled, such as the water in pan 30. Such regulator 126 also has a pointer arm 138, which shows the temperature desired to be maintained in the regulated device. Such regulator 126 also has a shaft which drives the record disc that is inserted in the controller 126. A regulator motor CTRM drives the shaft 140 when energized by timer switch T2-1.

A temperature controlling cam 142 may be mounted on the shaft 140, to rotate with the shaft 140. A cam follower 144 may be biased against the cam 142, to follow such cam as such cam is rotated throughout a cycle of operations. An interlocking connection 146 may be provided between the follower 144, and the pointer arm 138, to regulate the regulator 126 to produce the temperatures desired to be maintained in the water which is being circulated in the pan 30. The thermocouple or bulb 130 responds to the water temperature in the pan 30, and thus moves the pen arm 136 toward or away from the pointer arm 138 in accordance with any departure or plus or minus from the desired temperature selected by pointer arm 138. The interlock 146 between the arm 138 and the follower 144 determines the temperature to be maintained in the pan 30 as the shaft 140 rotates throughout the cycle of operations. In this manner, the desired temperature is maintained in order to produce the proper temperatures of the water in pan 30, as will become apparent.

An air blast or air current may be directed over the cylinder 70 at the proper time. This may be accomplished by a long air nozzle 148, which may extend substantially throughout the length of the apparatus 20, or as far as is required. The air nozzle 148 may be connected by an expanding duct construction 150 with a blower 152, which may have an atmospheric air intake in the central part, as is usual. Alternatively, such air intake may be connected to a properly regulated air conditioner apparatus, which may maintain the desired temperature of the air intake. The blower 152 may be driven by an AC motor 154, which is also referred to as M3 in the wiring diagram. The air from the blower 152 passes through the duct 150 to the nozzle 148, Where the air, at controlled temperature if desired, is blown over the cylinder 70 to produce the desired temperature in the cylinder before such cylinder is removed from the apparatus 20 to be taken to an etching apparatus where the cylinder is etched to produce an intaglio image on the cylinder.

The various controllable members described herein may be controlled, as is shown in the wiring diagram of FIG-

URES

3 and 4.

In the wiring diagram of FIGURES 3 and 4, three timers T1, T2, and T3 are shown. These may be of the resetting type, such as made by the Eagle Signal Co., of Moline, 111. These are sold under the trade designation as Eagle timers H52A60701; H64A6071, etc. Each one of these timers has a timer motor TIM, T2M, and T3M respectively. These timer motors run continuously as long as the main switch 156 of the apparatus is closed. Each timer has an upper timer motor driven shaft 158, which is connected to a lower timer cam shaft 160 by means of a timer electrical clutch TIC, T2C and T3C respectively. Such clutches may be normally declutched when electrically deenergized, and vice versa. Such timer clutches are normally deenergized, but are energized, whenever their respective controller relay blades are closed. The timer shaft 160 drives a plurality of control cams, discs, or the like 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177 and 178 which close or open respectively the normally open timer switches T1-1, T12, T13; T2-1, T2-2, T23, T2-4; T2-5, T26, T27; and T3-1, T3-2, T3-3, T3-4 and T3-5.

Therefore, when any respective clutch TlC, T2C or T3C of any timer T1, T2 or T3 is energized by the proper relay switch or switch blades in the circuit diagram, such timer shaft 160 is started to revolve. At that time, the reset spring 180 is wound by the shaft 160, so that whenever its corresponding timer clutch is deenergized to release the shaft 160 from the shaft 158, then the return spring 180 returns such timer shaft 160 to the starting point and sets the timer shaft 160 at the reset or zero position ready to be rotated for the next cycle of operations.

As is usual wiring diagram practice, a relay coil is shown as a circle with the relay identification in the circle. When such coil is energized in the circuit, such coil will close or open one or more sets of relay blades or switches. Such blades are shown as two vertical lines with an open space between them to indicate a normally open switch that closes when its relay coil is energized. Other sets of blades are shown as vertical blades with a slanting line joining them. This indicates a normally closed switch that is opened when its relay coil is energized. The blades are identified with the same designation as the relay coil.

The operation as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 may be started by pushing down start button SB1, which closes its normally open switch SB1-1. This energizes the coil RA. The operator holds the button SB1 down long enough to energize the coil RA and close the relay blades RA and RA. This energizes clutch TIC and causes shaft 160 to rotate. The coil RA holds the blades RA and RA closed so a holding circuit is produced which will maintain the timer T1 shaft 160 in operation until the timer T1 solenoid T1C is deenergized by pressing starting button SB2. Start button SE2 has a normally closed contact SB21, and a normally open contact SB2-2. Pushing in of the starter button SE2, opens the switch SB21 to stop the timer T1 shaft 160 which returns to start position, and to energize relay coil RB and thus to close RB blades to energize timer clutch T20 and cause rotation of T2 timer shaft 160, and timer cams 171-178. This causes timed closing of T2 timer switches T2Lym and T2-1 to T2-7. When switch T23 is closed, relay coil RC is energized to close relay blades RC and energize T-3 clutch T3C and to start rotation of timer T3 shaft 160 and cams 171-175 with properly timed closing of timer T3 switches T3-Lyrn and T3-1 to T3-5.

The general operation of the machine 20 under the control of the circuits shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 is as follows:

Alcohol spray A cylinder 70 is placed on the machine with shaft 72 on ring bearings 74. The pan 30 is lifted to upper position by manually closing and opening switch RS1 manual circuit to start and stop pan motor M2. The potentiometers P1 and P2 are adjusted for selected speed of the cylinder 70, depending on its diameter and other charac teristics. Start button SB1 is pushed in which energized T1 timer clutch TIC and causes T1 control of switches T11, T12 and T13 to be operated. This causes cylinder 70 to rotate at P1 speed. Alcohol valve SVl is opened by closing of T2.-1 and alcohol is sprayed on the cylinder at 5 seconds after start as in FIGURE 5. The alcohol spray is turned off 9 seconds after start by opening of T2-1. The purpose is to penetrate the paper backing 22 of the carbon tissue to render it receptive to the later water treatment.

Removal of backing 22 At 9 seconds after start switch T1-3 closes and opens water solenoid valves SV2 and SV3 quickly to fill the pan 30 so water overflows pan 30. The temperature controller cam 142 is stationary with the follower 144 at F. so that TCR maintains the water in pan 30 at 105 F. while cylinder rotates, as in FIGURE 6. The experienced operator notes when the paper backing 22 starts to loosen and stops drive of cylinder motor M1 by manually opening a potentiometer switch PS. He then removes the paper backing 22 and any frills in the gelatine 24 along the edges of the tissue, as in FIGURE 7. He then closes potentiometer switch PS and restarts rotation of cylinder 70.

Development of tissue When cylinder 70 is restarted, the operator pushes in start button SB2. This opens switch SE24 and closes switch SB2-2. This stops control by timer T1 and starts control by timer T2. T1 timer shaft is returned to set position by return spring and T2 shaft 160 is started to rotate by T2 clutch T2C. Control by switches T2-Lym and T2-1 to T27 is started. T2-Lym establishes a timer T2 shaft 160 holding circuit. Switch T2-1 energizes relay R2 which energizes CTR regulator motor CTRM, cylinder motor M1 at P2 speed and reopens or maintains open Water solenoid valves SV2 and SV3 to maintain a vigorous flow of water through the pan 30. The P2 speed may be faster than the P1 speed. The regulator cam 142 rotates and causes the follower 144 to set the regulator TCR at 120 F. and to raise the water temperature in the pan 30 to such temperature. This continues to 730 seconds after start by T2 control.

During rotation of the cylinder 70 in the 120 water, the soft portions of the gelatine are dissolved to develop an image in the gelatine with varying degrees of depth of gelatine. This prepares the cylinder for etching in an etching apparatus, as is well known to produce the intaglio image in the cylinder.

At such 730 seconds, the cam 142 sets TCR at 70 and starts to lower the pan water temperature to 70 F. At 740 seconds, switch T2-2 closes and energizes relay R4 which deenergizes water valve SV3 and reduces the water flow through pan 30.

At 760 seconds after T2 start, the water temperature in pan 30 has been reduced to 70, and the cam 142 maintains this temperature for two minutes or until 880 seconds after T2 start. From 880-910 seconds the cam 142 raises the water temperature from 70 to 75, and then maintains this 75 temperature until 1250 seconds after T2 start.

This rotation of the cylinder in the 70 and 75 water cools the cylinder to proper temperature for further treatment.

At 1245 seconds, T2-3 closes and starts pan motor M2 to lower pan 30 until the pan structure opens low limit switch S2. This is accomplished by closing of switch T2-3 to connect a reverse circuit in pan motor M2 through closed switch S2 which lowers the pan 30 to lowest level when switch S2 opens such reverse circuit and stops downward movement of pan 30 by motor M2.

Also, T2-3 energizes relay RC which closes the RC 'blades in the T3C clutch to start rotation of the T3 timer shaft 160 and to start T3 controls while both T2 and T3 shafts 160 rotate.

T3Lym closes a holding circuit for T3C clutch to maintain T3 clutch engaged.

At 1250 seconds switch T21 opens and deenergizes relay R2 and stops water flow at valves SV2 and SV3 and stops cylinder 70 from rotating.

The cylinder 70 is manually turned to place the bare space between the edges of the gelatine downward. The liquid can then drip from the bare space. When dripping action has ceased, then the drops adhering to the bare cylinder are wiped off to prevent such drops from running over the gelatine during subsequent rotation.

The showing of the connections to motor M1 are diagrammatic. The rectifier 96 supplies DC to the manually adjustable resistances P1 and P2. The normally open switch R1, when closed by T1-1, supplies P1 current from P1 to M1. The normally open switch R2, when closed by T21, supplies P2 current to M1. The normally open switch RS, when closed by T2-7, supplies P2 current to M1. A return line 97 diagrammatically indicates that return current flows back to the potentiometer box and to the rectifier 96.

At 1300 seconds after the T2 timer was started T2-3 opens the M2 circuits for the remainder of the T2 and T3 run of shafts 160.

At 1270 seconds after T2 start, T2-4 closes and energizes relay R1 to cause cylinder motor M1 to rotate at P1 speed. At 1280 seconds T3-1 energizes and opens alcohol valve SV1 to produce an alcohol spray until 1285 seconds when T3-1 opens and stops such spray. From 1345 seconds to 1348 seconds T32 closes and opens to produce another alcohol spray. T3-3 produces an alcohol spray from 1400 to 1402 seconds. T34 produces another alcohol spray from 1460 to 1463 seconds. T3-5 produces another alcohol spray from 1510 to 1512 seconds.

At 1535 seconds after start of T2 control T2-4 opens and deenergizes R1 and stops drive of the cylinder 70. Also, T3-Ly-m opens and deenergizes T3 clutch T3C so T3 shaft 160 is returned to set position by spring 180. Also, T 2-5 rings a bell 192 until 1540 to warn the operator manually to turn the cylinder 70 with the gap or bare part of the cylinder straight down. For example, in FIG- URE 9, the cylinder would be slightly clockwise from the position shown.

At 1595 seconds T2-6 closes and rings bell 192 until 1600 seconds to warn that drops are to be wiped from bare part of cylinder.

At 1620 seconds T2-7 closes and energizes relay R5 which drives cylinder motor M1 at P2 speed and blower motor M3 to blow air over the rotating cylinder and dry the same. However, if desired, the motor wiring can be changed to energize the cylinder motor M1 at P1 speed, as is obvious.

At 1912 seconds T27 opens, deenergizes relay R5 and stops the cylinder motor M2 and the blower motor M3.

At 1915 seconds after start of T2 control, the T2-Lym switch opens and stops T2 shaft 160, which is returned to reset position by its spring 180.

The cylinder can then be removed from apparatus 20 for etching.

The various continuing lines at the bottom of FIG- URE 3 and corresponding lines in FIGURE 4 are identified from left to right with consecutive reference numerals 193-200 to aid in following such lines from one figure to the other and vice versa.

It is thus to be seen that a carbon tissue covered cylinder developer 20 has been provided comprising: a stationary, elongated, horizontal tank 28 having a liquid drain 46 in its bottom and having end walls 34 and side walls as shown; a vertically movable, elongated horizontal pan 30 in said tank 28 having overflow edge means or top edges as shown and a slow bottom drain means or perforated drain trough groove in the bottom of the pan 30 discharging liquid in said tank; pan vertical moving means 38, etc., for elevating and lowering said pan 30 in said tank; a pan motor M2 operating said pan vertical moving means; a stationary alcohol manifold 106 above and along the length and one side of said tank 28 with a plurality of alcohol nozzles 104 directed into said tank 28 and along the length of said tank 28; an alcohol solenoid valve SV1 controlling the flow of alcohol into said alcohol manifold 106; an elongated air nozzle 148 above and along the length and one side of said tank 28; an air blower 152 connected to said nozzle 148; an air blower motor M3 driving said air blower 152; a water manifold 112 in and carried by said pan 30 and having a plurality of water jets 114 along the length of said pan 30; a hot and cold Water automatic mixing valve means 118 with a mixed water connection 124 to said water manifold 112 and having a mixed hot and cold water ratio control means therein; a water temperature sensing member 130 sensing the temperature of water in said pan 30; a temperature control regulator means 126 having a desired temperature pointer 136, a sensed temperature indicator 138 responsive to the water temperature sensed by said sensing member and automatic means in said regulator and connected to said mixing valve 118 to control said ratio control means to maintain said desired temperature of the water in said pan 30; a regulator time shaft 140 in said regulator 126 with a timing cam 142 moving said pointer 138 to desired positions at various time sequences; solenoid water valve means SV2 and SV3 regulating the flow of water in said mixed water connection 124; cylinder shaft rotatable supports 74, 74 supported by plates 76 adjacent the tops of said tank end walls 34 for rotatably supporting a horizontal cylinder 70 partly within said tank 28; a cylinder motor M1 rotating said rotatable supports 74, 74; speed rotation control means P1 and P2 for said cylinder motor M1; a manual pan motor control means 68 for elevating said pan 30; a solenoid operated normally open pan motor switch means RS1 for lowering said pan with means to open said switch when said pan is lowered to its low limit; timer means T1, T2 and T3 with means sequentially to control said solenoid pan motor switch RS1 to lower said pan 30 to its lowest position, to control said alcohol valve SV1 to spray said cylinder 70 with alcohol when said pan 30 is lowered, to control said air blower motor M3, to control said solenoid water valve means SV2 and SV3 to regulate the flow of water to said water manifold 112, to control said cylinder motor M1; and push or start button means SB1 and SB2 to manually regulate said timer means.

These members or means cooperate to produce the sequences heretofore described to take place at certain time intervals identified in seconds of time.

The cylinder motor M1 may be a reversible motor with a reversing means and reversing switch, not shown. The direction of rotation of the motor M1 and the cylinder 70 driven thereby may be chosen in either direction by the setting of such reversing switch.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by statute, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claimed subject matter which follows.

What is claimed is:

1. A carbon tissue covered cylinder developer comprising:

a stationary, elongated, horizontal tank having a liquid drain in its bottom and having end walls and side walls;

a vertically movable elongated horizontal pan in said tank having overflow edge means and a slow bottom drain means discharging in said tank;

vertical moving means for elevating and lowering said pan in said tank;

a pan motor operating said vertical moving means;

a stationary alcohol manifold above and along the length and one side of said tank with a plurality of alcohol nozzles directed into said tank and along the length of said tank;

an alcohol solenoid valve controlling the flow of alcohol into said alcohol manifold;

an elongated air nozzle above and along the length and one side of said tank;

an air blower connected to said nozzle;

an air blower motor driving said air blower;

a Water manifold in and carried by said pan and having a plurality of water jets along the length of said pan;

a hot and cold water automatic mixing valve means with a mixed water connection to said water manifold and having a mixed hot and cold water ratio control means;

a water temperature sensing member sensing the temperature of water in said pan;

a temperature control regulator means having a desired temperature pointer, a sensed temperature indicator responsive to the water temperature sensed by said sensing member, and automatic means in said regulator and connected to said mixing valve to control said ratio control means to maintain said desired temperature of the water in said pan;

a regulator time shaft in said regulator with a timing cam moving said pointer to desired positions at various time sequences;

solenoid water valve means regulating the flow of water in said mixed water connection;

cylinder shaft rotatable supports supported adjacent the tops of said tank end Walls for rotatably supporting a horizontal cylinder partly within said tank;

a cylinder motor rotating said rotatable supports;

speed rotation control means for said cylinder motor;

a manual pan motor control means for elevating said a solenoid operated normally open pan motor switch means for lowering said pan with means to open said switch means when said pan is lowered to its low limit;

timer means with means sequentially to control said solenoid pan motor switch to lower said pan to its lowest position, to control said alcohol valve to spray said cylinder with alcohol when said pan is lowered, to control said air blower motor, to control said solenoid water valve means to regulate the flow of water to said water manifold, to control said cylinder motor;

and push button means to manually regulate said timer means.

2. A developer according to claim 1 wherein said push button means and said manual pan motor control means are operable by an operator to cause, with said timer means, a carbon tissue covered cylinder to rotate with said pan in upper position and to be sprayed with alcohol sufficiently to prepare the paper backing of said carbon tissue for water treatment and then to introduce water at a warm temperature to fill and overflow said pan and to loosen said paper backing, then to manually stop rotation of said cylinder to manually remove said paper backing and remove frills from the gelatine of said tissue.

3. A developer according to claim 2 in which said push button means is then operable to cause said timing means to cause said cam means to raise the temperature of water and increase the volume of water flowing over and through said pan to a gelatine layer developing temperature for a sufiicient time to develop any hardness and softness image on said gelatine layer, then to lower the temperature of water flowing over and through in said pan to a cooling temperature for a suflicient time to cool said cylinder substantially to room temperature, then automatically to stop water flow to said pan and to stop rotation of said cylinder so it may drip free of surplus water and to cause said timing means to lower said pan and to cause said cylinder to rotate and to cause alcohol spray to be applied to said cylinder repeatedly during a timed period and to stop rotation of said cylinder, and produce a signal to inform the operator manually to turn the cylinder with its bare gap down and after sufficient time to produce another signal to remove alcohol drips, then automatically to rotate said cylinder and blow air from said air nozzle a sufiicient time to dry said cylinder and then to stop rotation of said cylinder and blowing of air from said nozzle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,381,222 6/1921 Paulson et a1. 93 3,088,391 5/1963 Sigler 95-93 3,183,819 5/1965 Gordon 95-89 3,187,659 6/1965 Edens et a1 95-89 3,354,807 11/1967 Horner 9589 XR NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner. FRED L. BRAUN, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 118-9