US3779148A

US3779148A - Photographic print processing basket

Info

Publication number: US3779148A
Application number: US00290487A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Hill
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-09-20
Filing date: 1972-09-20
Publication date: 1973-12-18
Anticipated expiration: 1990-12-18

Abstract

A photographic print processing basket having compartments for photosensitive films provided by a pair of facing end walls and a plurality of mesh walls of plastic material arranged in spaced parallel planes between the end walls and molded therein. A center plate is disposed between the end walls in a plane normal to the facing surfaces thereof. The end walls are screwed to the center plate. The bottoms of the compartments are blocked by a perforate plate member screwed to the center plate. The center plate has a handle secured along the upper edge thereof to extend outwardly from the basket. A print hold down device is provided selectively to block egress of the photosensitive films from the top of the compartments, one form thereof being frictionally secured to the handle and another form thereof comprising wire bails hingedly secured to the upper ends of the end walls and capable of movement between a position blocking the upper ends of the compartment and a position enabling access thereto for insertion and removal of the photosensitive films.

Description

United States Patent [191 Hill [ Dec. 18, 1973 [22] Filed:

1 PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT PROCESSING BASKET Sept. 20, 1972 [21 Appl. No.1 290,487

[52] US. Cl. 95/100, 95/98 [51] Int. Cl. G03d 3/00 [58] Field of Search 95/97, 98, 100

[56] I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,199,431 9/1965 Hill 95/100 3,657,990 4/1972 Wilhelm i 95/98- 2 892,393 (1/1959 Hixon et al. 5/100 2,845,852 8/1958 Parker 95/100 1,661,378 3/1928 McKellar 95/100 3.503.319 3/1970 Buechner 95/100 3.180243 4/1965 Siskind et a1. 5/98 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 6,841 9/1912 Great Britain 95/98 30.092 10/1956 Germany 5/100 Primary Examiner-Richard M. Sheer Atmmeyl. lrving Silverman et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A photographic print processing basket having compartments for photosensitive films provided by a pair of facing end walls and a plurality of mesh walls of plastic material arranged in spaced parallel planes between the end walls and molded therein. A center plate is disposed between the end walls in a plane normal to the facing surfaces thereof. The end walls are screwed to the center plate. The bottoms of the compartments are blocked by a perforate plate member screwed to the center plate. The center plate has a handle secured along the upper edge thereof to extend outwardly from the basket. A print hold down device is provided selectively to block egress of the photosensitive films from the top of the compartments, one form thereof being frictionally secured to the handle and another form thereof comprising wire bails hingedly secured to the upper ends of the end walls and capable of movement between a position blocking the upper ends of the compartment and a position enabling access thereto for insertion and removal of thc photosensitive films.

12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures i PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT PROCESSING BASKET FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to print baskets for use in processing photosensitive sheets and more particularly relates to a novel construction for a print processing basket characterized by improved ease of assembly and disassembly and improved handling characteristics.

This invention is an improvement upon the print basket described and claimed in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,199,431 granted Aug. 10, 1965.

Print baskets of the general character with which the invention is concerned are used in large volume processing of photosensitive sheets, such as would be the case in commercial photographic printing and developing. The basket is provided with a plurality of individual compartments open at the upper ends thereof into which one or more. photographic sheets are inserted for immersion in the processing solutions. Prior to the aforesaid patent, the compartments were formed by means of sheets of mesh material such as stainless steel or plastic materials which were resistant to the processing solution. Prior print basket constructions are intended to permit increased numbers of photographic sheets to be processed simultaneously without departing from the standard sizes and shapes. Because of the use of stainless steel to form the frames of earlier baskets, the structures were expensive and somewhat awkward to use. In using mesh material, considerable difficulty was encountered in mounting the individual sheets of said material and supporting the same sheets in the basket structure in sufficiently taut condition to prevent their collapse upon the treated films. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,199,431, there was provided a print basket in which the compartments of the photosensitive films were formed by means of at least one prefabricated insert unit, the insert unit comprising a pair of molded end bar members having plastic mesh material supported therebetween in parallel, vertically arranged planes spaced apart to provide the walls of the compartments. The compartments were open at the upper ends thereof with the lateral ends of the mesh walls being molded in'the end bars so as to be rigidly heldin spaced apart arrangement. Multiple I inserts were mounted in a framework 'to form the basket, the mesh walls being maintained under tension.

ln the'patented print basket, handles provided on the print basket framework were utilized selectively to retain the photosensitive film within the compartments while the bottom ends of the compartments were blocked by means of a cord threaded along the bottom end of the mesh walls to prevent film from falling out of the compartments and yet not blocking the passage of processing solution through the compartments. Once assembled, the inserts could not be disassembled for repairing, for example.

Notwithstanding the advantages of the print basket construction of U.S. Pat. No. 3,199,431, a simplified construction is desirable. For example, it would be advantageous to provide units which are more easily manipulated and more readily capable of assembly and disassembly,- and further, to' provide improved means for retaining the photosensitive films within the compartments. It would be advantageous also to obviate the necessity for providing a separate framework for handling the respective insert portions of the structure de- 2 scribed in my patentwithout loss in any of the advantages afforded by said patented print basket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A photographic print basket comprising a substantially rectangular frame formed of a pair of facing plastic end walls and a rectangular plate disposed between said end walls and removably secured thereto. Mesh wall members are molded in said end walls extending therebetween in parallel spaced planes on both sides of the plate to define compartments capable of receiving photosensitive sheets. Handle means are secured to the plate at the upper edge thereof and extending outwardly therefrom. Means are provided at the top and bottom of the compartments to retain said'photosensitive sheets therein during processing.

The handle means may take the form of a U-shaped wire having its free ends secured to said plate or a U- shaped formation integral with said plate. Where the U-shaped wire is used, grommet means may be provided for facilitating securement of said wire handle to the central plate. Spring biased print hold down means are provided at the top of said compartments in the form of a pair of. integral hinged bails having angled free ends seated within suitable passages formed in opposite edges of each end wall. Alternatively, a separate hold down means in the form of a spreadable wire formation can be seated over the tops of the compartments transversely bridging the mesh walls and frictionally secured to the handle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the print basket constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the lower half of the print basket with portions broken away to show interior construction.

I FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the print basket illustrated in FIG. 1 with portions broken away to interior construction.

FIG. 3A is an enlarged section taken along lines 3A of FIG. 3 viewed in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is a partially exploded view of a modified embodiment of the invention, portions being broken away to show interior detail.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, as illustrated in FIG.

I l, a print processing basket embodying the invention is designated generally by reference character 10. The basket 10 is comprised of a generally open rectangular frame formed of a pair of spaced facing

plastic end walls

12 and 14, and a substantially rectangular plate 16 disposed vertically between the

end walls

12 and 14. Preferably, the

end walls

12 and 14 are secured to the plate 16 at a location intermediate the long edges thereof by fastening means such as screws 17 being received in sockets 18. The sockets 18 are provided in photosensitive film for introduction into the various chemical solutions used in photographic film processing and developing procedures.

A bottom plate 24, preferably of channel-shaped configuration is secured to the lower edge of the plate 16 by suitable fastening means, such as screws 26, engaged in threaded sockets 28, formed or otherwise provided in said lower edge. The channel member 24 includes longitudinal flanges 30 arranged to engage the lower edges of the mesh walls 20 along the bottom of the basket to protect same against tearing. The channel member 24 is perforated, such as by the plurality of openings 32 arranged to permit passage of processing fluid while preventing photosensitive films or sheets falling from the compartments 22 during processing.

The mesh walls are molded permanently to the

end walls

12 and 14 in accordance with the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 3,199,431, and preferably are formed of a suitable material such as vinylidene chloride resin, as taught therein. The

end walls

12 and 14, as well as plate 16 preferably are formed of a thermosetting epoxy resin. The sockets l8, threaded to accommodate screws 17, are seated in the plate opening to opposite edges 36 for axial alignment with the apertures 19 of the

end bars

12 and 14. The type of epoxy resin composition used for the

end bars

12 and 14 and the plate 16 is selected from those epoxy resins which are chemically inert relative to the various chemical solutions used, and also which preferably can be cured satisfactorily at room temperature.

A pair of spaced keyholes 38 are formed in said plate 16 with the legs 40 thereof opening to the upper edge of plate 16. The annular inner wall 42 of keyholes 38 have a V profile configuration for seating of a plastic disc 44 therein, said disc having a matching or conforming outer annular circumferential formation 46 A wire handle 48 of substantially U-shaped configuration having free ends 50 is provided and secured to the plate so that the bight thereof extends outward of the basket 10. In FIG. 1, the height of plate 16 is less than the height of end bars 12 and 14 so that the handle 48 does not extend too far above the processing tank so as to prevent'the use of light-tight covers. The plastic disc 44 has an axial passageway 52 formed therein and also carries a transverse passageway 54 intersecting axial passageway 52 and opening at least at one end to the annular formation 46. Transverse passageway 54 is of size and configuration frictionally to receive the free ends 50 of handle 48. The disc 44 is fitted forcibly into keyhole 38 with the transverse passageway 54 aligned with leg 40, so that passageway 54 opens to the edge of plate 16. The free ends 50 of handle 48 are inserted in transverse passageway 54 to bridge the axial passageway 52. The free ends 50 are upset or otherwise deformed at the portion thereof which intersects the axial passageway 52, as shown at 56, permanently to secure the handle 48 to plate 16.

Print hold down means are provided in the form of a pair of Ushaped wire bails 58 (see FIG. 1) having bent free ends 60 fixedlysecured in bores 62 formed in the upper ends of the

respective end walls

12 and 14 and opening to the long edges 64 thereof. The bores 62 may be angled and the free ends 60 likewise angled to apply increased spring tension to the bails. The bails 58 are pivotable about their free ends and are under tension to maintain their position, being movable to block v the upper ends of the compartments 22 by engagement against the upper edges of the mesh walls 20 and movable out of their interfering position to gain access to said compartments.

In FIG. 4, a modified embodiment of the print basket in accordance with the invention is designated generally by reference character 10'. It is substantially identical to print basket 10 except the handle 48 is replaced by an integral molded handle 48' unitary with the plate 16; the height of the center plate 16' is approximately the height of the

end walls

12 and 14 and the hold down means takes the form of a spreadable wire formation in lieu of the bails 58 carried by basket 10. The wire formation 70 is formed by a pair of spaced U-shaped wires72 welded to bridging

wires

74 and 74 which are slightly bowed at a location midway between their ends. Each wire 74 and 74' has a matching V-shaped bend intermediate the ends thereof with the wires 74 and 74' arranged in such disposition that the bends extend outward in opposite directions. The legs of said

wires

74 and 74 are slightly divergent so that they are spaced apart a slightly greater distance at their welded connection to the wire members 72 than adjacent their respective V bends. This enables the V-bend to be pulled in opposite directions to spread the wires 74 and 74' enabling the integral handle 48' to pass therebetween. The

wires

74 and 74 are spaced apart a distance sufficient to enable the frictional engagement of the handle 48' therewith. The length of the bight of wires 72 is selected to enable the free ends to embrace the outer mesh walls 20 of basket 10 when the formation 70 is engaged upon said handle 48.

The

basket

10 or 10 may be used singly or in multiple array. In the illustrated embodiments, one plate is shown dividing the basket into a pair of sections, each carrying plural compartments. Additional plates may be used with one carrying the handle without departing from the scope of the described invention. In lieu of the keyholes and

discs

38 and 44, the free ends 50 of handle 48 may be cemented or otherwise secured within suitable passageways formed in the plate 16, adjacent an opening to the longitudinal upper edge thereof. The plate 16 may be secured to the

end walls

12 and 14 by cementing same instead of screwing the walls together although then, permanent assembly results.

What itis desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

. l. A photographic print basket for receiving photosensitive sheets for processing, said print basket comprising a pair of vertically disposed end walls, a plurality of flexible, untensioned mesh walls arranged between said end walls and fixedly secured thereto and extending in spaced, substantially parallel planes to define a plurality of compartments for receiving photosensitive sheets dur-ing processing thereof, a generally rectangular frame member of a predetermined width vertically disposed between and in a plane normal to said end walls, means removably securing said rectangular frame member to said end walls to hold said end walls in predetermined spaced apart relation to place said mesh walls secured to said end walls under tension, and bottom support means for maintaining said photosensitive sheets within said compartments during processing.

2. The photographic print basket defined in claim 1 wherein said plurality of initially untensioned flexible mesh walls are molded to said end walls.

3. The print basket as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bottom support means for maintaining the photosensitive sheets within said compartments comprise a perforate member removably secured to said frame member along the bottom edge thereof, the width of said perforate member being selected sufficient to block egress from the bottom ends of said compartments.

4. The print basket as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a handle on said frame member, means above the photosensitive sheets for maintaining the same within said compartments said last named means including a removable wire cover frictionally engageable with said handle and having bridging members at opposite ends thereof engageable with the outermost of said mesh walls to block access to the upper ends of said compartments.

5. The print basket as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means above the photosensitive sheets for maintaining the same within said compartments said last named means including wire bails each having free ends hingedly secured to said end walls, said free ends including angularly bent portions and said end walls having passageways for receiving said bent portions, said bails being'under spring tension whereby to maintain any selected positioning of said bails.

6. The print basket as directed in claim 1 in which said frame member has handle means extending outwardly of said basket a distance sufficient to enable grasping thereof from the exterior of said basket.

7. The print basket as claimed in claim 6 in which said handle means comprises a U-shaped wire member having freeends secured to said frame member along the upper edge thereof.

8. The print basket as claimed in claim 7 wherein said frame member has a pair of spaced keyholes formed therein and including an enlarged portion and a leg opening to the upper edge of said frame member and said free ends of said wire member are secured within said keyholes.

9. The print basket as claimed in claim 7 wherein said frame member has a pair of spaced keyholes formed therein and including an enlarged portion inward of the upper edge of the frame member and communicating thereto by way of a leg, the free ends of said wire member entering said portion by way of said leg and each of said free ends having a deformed portion disposed within said enlarged portion.

10. The print basket as claimed in claim 7 wherein said frame member has a pair of spaced keyholes formed therein and including an enlarged portion and a leg portion communicating therefrom to the upper edge'of said frame member, said enlarged portion defined by an annular inner wall, a disc adapted to be seated within said enlarged portion and having an outer circumferential wall cooperating conforming formations on said disc and inner wall to enable retention of said disc within said enlarged keyhole portion, said disc carrying an axial passageway and a transverse passageway extending diametrically outward of said axial passageway opening to at least one end of said transverse passageway opening to the outer circumfernetial wall of the disc, said disc being engaged within said enlarged portion with said transverse passage opening to the upper edge of said frame member and aligned with said leg, the transverse passage being selected of size and configuration to receive the free ends of said wire member therethrough intercepting relation to said axial passageway and a deformed portion formed along said free ends to retain same within said axial passageway.

11. The print basket as claimed in claim 10 in which said cooperating conforming formations comprise a V- shaped formation on said annular and a V-shaped groove on the outer circumferential wall of said disc whereby said disc is capable of being tightly received within said enlarged portion of said keyhole.

12. A photographic print basket as defined in claim 1 wherein said rectangular frame means secured to said end walls to place said mesh walls under tension comprises a flat plate member.

Claims

1. A photographic print basket for receiving photosensitive sheets for processing, said print basket comprising a pair of vertically disposed end walls, a plurality of flexible, untensioned mesh walls arranged between said end walls and fixedly secured thereto and extending in spaced, substantially parallel planes to define a plurality of compartments for receiving photosensitive sheets during processing thereof, a generally rectangular frame member of a predetermined width vertically disposed between and in a plane normal to said end walls, means removably securing said rectangular frame member to said end walls to hold said end walls in predetermined spaced apart relation to place said mesh walls secured to said end walls under tension, and bottom support means for maintaining said photosensitive sheets within said compartments during processing.

5. The print basket as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means above the photosensitive sheets for maintaining the same within said compartments said last named means including wire bails each having free ends hingedly secured to said end walls, said free ends including angularly bent portions and said end walls having passageways for receiving said bent portions, said bails being under spring tension whereby to maintain any selected positioning of said bails.

7. The print basket as claimed in claim 6 in which said handle means comprises a U-shaped wire member having free ends secured to said frame member along the upper edge thereof.

10. The print basket as claimed in claim 7 wherein said frame member has a pair of spaced keyholes formed therein and including an enlarged portion and a leg portion communicating therefrom to the upper edge of said frame member, said enlarged portion defined by an annular inner wall, a disc adapted to be seated within said enlarged portion and having an outer circumferential wall cooperating conforming formations on said disc and inner wall to enable retention of said disc within said enlarged keyhole portion, said disc carrying an axial passageway and a transverse passageway extending diametrically outward of said axial passageway opening to at least one end of said transverse passageway opening to the outer circumfernetial wall of the disc, said disc being engaged within said enlarged portion with said transverse passage opening to the upper edge of said frame member and aligned with said leg, the transverse passage being selected of size and configuration to receive the free ends of said wire member therethrough intercepting relation to said axial passageway and a deformed portion formed along said free ends to retain same within said axial passageway.

11. The print basket as claimed in claim 10 in which said cooperating conforming formations comprise a V-shaped formation on said annular and a V-shaped groove on the outer circumferential wall of said disc whereby said disc is capable of being tightly received within said enlarged portion of said keyhole.