US3844657A - Contact printing apparatus and method - Google Patents

Contact printing apparatus and method Download PDF

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Publication number
US3844657A
US3844657A US00342965A US34296573A US3844657A US 3844657 A US3844657 A US 3844657A US 00342965 A US00342965 A US 00342965A US 34296573 A US34296573 A US 34296573A US 3844657 A US3844657 A US 3844657A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
laminar flow
sheet
negative
contact printing
disposition
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00342965A
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English (en)
Inventor
H Schweriner
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Simco Co Inc
Original Assignee
Simco Co Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Simco Co Inc filed Critical Simco Co Inc
Priority to US00342965A priority Critical patent/US3844657A/en
Priority to GB839874A priority patent/GB1416665A/en
Priority to NL7402742A priority patent/NL7402742A/xx
Priority to JP2646074A priority patent/JPS5334046B2/ja
Priority to BE142070A priority patent/BE812380A/xx
Priority to FR7409123A priority patent/FR2222671B1/fr
Priority to SE7403723A priority patent/SE391987B/xx
Priority to DE2413141A priority patent/DE2413141C3/de
Priority to CH377674A priority patent/CH567278A5/xx
Priority to IT49416/74A priority patent/IT1004395B/it
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3844657A publication Critical patent/US3844657A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03B27/00—Photographic printing apparatus
    • G03B27/02—Exposure apparatus for contact printing
    • G03B27/14—Details
    • G03B27/18—Maintaining or producing contact pressure between original and light-sensitive material
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03B27/00—Photographic printing apparatus
    • G03B27/02—Exposure apparatus for contact printing

Definitions

  • the hood functions to shield the 56 R f Ct d zone from falling dust and at the same time vibrates l l e erences e on the laminar flow air stream to nullify the effect of UNITED STATES PATENTS shadows produced by dust particles falling on the 3,128,492 4/1964 Hanscom et al. l5/l.5 X hOOCl. 3,480,364 ll/l969 Barnett et al...1.. 355/[13 X I 3,578,862 5/1971 l-ludock et al.
  • electrostatic hold-down and clamping systems have been utilized as a convenient means for pinning the sheets to a printing surface and for laminating the sheets together.
  • one of the objections to the heretofore employed electrostatic pinning systems has been the resultant tendency for the electrostatically charged surfaces to react with electrically charged dust particles so as to cause deposition of these particles upon photosensitive surfaces.
  • the present contact printing apparatus utilizes the principles of directing a stream of filtered air in laminar flow disposition over the surfaces which are to be electrostatically pinned. At the same time, this ultra-cleam laminar flow of air is subjected to ionization by means of a high voltage A.C. static eliminator whereby ions of both polarities are blown over the surfaces of the printing table and the sheets which are to be laminated.
  • the high side of a unidirectional high voltage generator is applied to the undersurface of the table-top to which the sheets are to be secured such that the various sheets may be polarized when placed upon the table-top.
  • a grounding element is applied to each sheet as it is laid upon the surface of the printing table or the underlying sheet whereby a conductive path is provided back to the other side of the high voltage from the sheet contacted thus enabling charges to be transported along such path.
  • opposite charges are produced at the opposing interfaces so as to cause such interfaces to be electrostatically adhered to each other.
  • the continuous stream of ionized air in laminar flow paths is directed over the sheets to maintain a continuous path to ground as well as to sweep the area clean.
  • An enclosure for the contact printing zone includes a thin, flexible, transparent plastic hood which is interposed between the light source and the electrostatically adhered sheets.
  • the hood functions to shield the zone from falling dust and in addition is caused to vibrate by the laminar flow stream therebelow so as to nullify the effect of shadows produced by dust particles falling upon the hood.
  • the sheets are then rendered neutral, thus eliminating any tendency to be attracted or repelled with respect to any adjacent charged parts or to prevent further attraction of dust. Furthermore, neutralization of the sheets'being separated in the ionized air stream eliminates any electrostatic sparking which might otherwise occur during stripping or in touching the sheets togrounded parts thereby avoiding exposure of the photosensitive surfaces to sparks that would interfere with image quality.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide a contact printing apparatus and method in which an ultra-clean laminar flow air system is employed to furnish a dual polarity ionized background.
  • Yet another object of this invention is to provide a contact printing apparatus and method in which the lamination, the printing operation, and the removal of the sheets from laminated disposition are all accomplished in a dust-free neutralizing atmosphere.
  • a further object of this invention is to provide a contact printing apparatus in which static sparks are entirely avoided so as to prevent accidental exposure of photosensitive surfaces which would interfere with image quality.
  • a still further object of this invention is to provide a contact printing apparatus in which shadows caused by dust particles are essentially eliminated.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view, and partly in section, of a contact printing apparatus embodying this invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view demonstrating the first step in the practice of this invention and in the charge distribution resulting therefrom.
  • H6. 3 is a sectional view demonstrating a second step in the practice of this invention and thecharge distribution of the various elements.
  • a contact printing apparatus comprising an electrostatic, printing frame, generally designated as A, and an ionized ultraclean laminar flow air system, generally designated as B, for directing a filtered air stream having ions of both polarities overthe zone above the printing frame.
  • the printing frame A essentially constitutes a flat base plate 12 made of a dielectric insulating material, such as a phenolic resin, to the lower surface of which is applied a conductive element 14, such as a film or layer of copper, in intimate contact with a substantial portion thereof.
  • a conductive element 14 such as a film or layer of copper, in intimate contact with a substantial portion thereof.
  • An insulative sheet 16 of pressed wood or chipboard sandwiches the conductive layer 14 against the base plate 12.
  • a high voltage DC. power supply 18 is connected to the conductive element 14.
  • the power supply 18 is a conventional unidirectional electrostatic power generator which can develop a DC potential in the range of 1,000 to 15,000 volts with respect to ground.
  • the generator 18 is shown in block or schematic form, and for the purpose of the instant invention, develops a negative output when switch 20 (located on the control panel) is closed.
  • a voltage control 22 is also located on the instrument panel and permits the voltage output to be varied as desired within the range.
  • a light source 25 is suspended above the base plate 12 in order to direct rays of light for exposing the laminate, for example, a photosensitive sheet 26 having an overlying film negative 28 thereon.
  • the laminar flow ionization system B comprises a chamber 34 having a grilled inlet opening 36 covered by a pre-filter 38 and a multi-apertured outlet 40 covered by high efficiency particulate filter 42 on the downstream side.
  • a fan or blower 44 draws air through the inlet 36 and filter 38 and then forces the air toward the lower portion of the chamber 34 where a static head is built up againstthe face of the high efficiency filter 42.
  • the chamber 34 acts as a plenum to squeeze the air through the filter 42 and thence through the apertures 40 in a series of parallel laminar flow paths.
  • the filter 42 is a high efficiency particulate filter which only passes submicron particles, such as is made by Cambridge Filter Company for ultraclean air installations. By circulating a large volume of the submicron particle filtered air in laminar flow disposition across the working area, the ultra-clean air stream sweeps the zone above the plate 12 of any dust particles.
  • An area static eliminator 45 is arranged in a network about the apertured outlet 40.
  • the area static eliminator constitutes a series of conductive points 46 which are embedded in an insulatively coated conductive cable 48 formed in a sinuous path over the face of the outlet 40.
  • the points 46 are axially disposed with respect to the laminar air flow in adjacently spaced disposition with respect to a grid 50 of grounded conductive rods.
  • An A.C. high voltage 52 is connected to. the points 46 through the cable conductor 48 and across the grid 50 whereby ions are created in the gap therebetween. Accordingly, a plurality of positive and negative ions are formed in the laminar air flow path which is swept over the zone above the printing frame A.
  • each sheet is first exposed to the ionized laminar air stream which effectively neutralizes the sheets and cleans them of any dust particles.
  • Sheet 26 is first laid upon the surface of insulative plate 12 and the grounding element is moved across the upper surface of the sheet 26 thus causing polarization, as shown in FIG. 2. That is, the negative voltage applied to the layer 14 causes the adjacent surface of the plate 12 to be charged positively while the distal surface of the plate 12 becomes negatively charged.
  • the surface of sheet 26 in contact with plate 12 becomes positively charged whereas the upper surface of the sheet 26 is polarized negatively.
  • the sheet 26 becomes electrostatically pinned to the upper surface of the plate 12 by virtue of the opposed charges at opposite sides of the interface.
  • the sheets of the laminate become electrostatically pinned to each other and are adhered to the plate 12.
  • the contact printing may be accomplished by directing the rays from lamp 25 upon the sheet 28 whereby the photosensitive surface of sheet 26 is exposed through the clear areas thereof. Note that the electrostatic pinning procedure allows the various sheets to be manipulated laterally with respect to each other by lifting and then replacing in registration of the composite elements.
  • An enclosure formed about the contact printing zone acts in conjunction with the laminar air flow system as a barrier to keep dust particles out of the area and includes a back wall 54 and a hood 56.
  • the hood 56 is of thin, flexible, transparent plastic, such as Tedlar resin, which permits passage of light waves between ultra-violet and infra-red bands, thereby allowing the full range of light to which the film sheets are photosensitive to be passed by the light source 25 through the hood.
  • Tedlar resin thin, flexible, transparent plastic, such as Tedlar resin
  • the laminated sheets 26 and 28 may be lifted together from the face of the table-top 12. However, these sheets may adhere together by virtue of the trapped opposing charges at their contacting interfaces. Thus, even though the laminate may be effectively neutralized by the neutralizing atmosphere of the ionized laminar flow air stream, the opposed charges at the interface remain relatively tightly bound. By peeling the sheets 26 and 28 from each other while both are subjected to the ionized air stream bath, each individual sheet becomes entirely neutralized so as to resist attraction of any dust with respect thereto. In addition, since each sheet 26 and 28 is now electrically neutral, uncontrolled attractive and/or repelling forces are essentially eliminated with respect to adjacent members.
  • Contact printing apparatus comprising:
  • an enclosure at least partially overlying the contact printing zone said enclosure including a hood of thin, flexible transparent material interposed between the light source and the sheets to be exposed, said hood operating to shield the contact printing zone from falling dust and at the same time vibrating on the laminar flow air stream to nullify the effects of shadows produced by dust particles falling on the hood.
  • a method for contact printing comprising the steps a. directing a stream of ultra-clean, filtered air in laminar flow disposition over a surface defining a contact printing zone while effecting D.C. charging of the surface,
  • the sheets are cleansed and maintained in dust-free condition during pinning, (ii) the ionized laminar flow air stream acts to support the electrostatic holding forces maintaining the sheets in pinned disposition during exposure, and (iii) the sheets can be separated from each other in a staticfree environment.
  • a contact printing apparatus for electrostatically pinning a photosensitive sheet and at least one negative to a surface and in face-to-face disposition with each other preparatory to exposing said photosensitive sheet to light rays through each said negative comprising:
  • electrostatic discharge means for generating ions of both polarities within the laminar flow air stream so that both positive and negative ions permeate the ultra-clean air zone
  • applicator means coupled to ground for contacting the outermost surface of said photosensitive sheet and each said negative as they are respectively placed in successive abutment with the first surface of said insulative plate and with each other, and
  • the ionized laminar flow air stream (l cleanses the photosensitive sheet and each negative prior to pinning, (2) acts to support the electrostatic holding forces maintaining the photosensitive sheet and each negative in pinned disposition during exposure to the light rays, and (3) provides a static-free environment during separation of the photosensitive sheet from each said negative.
  • said electrostatic discharge means comprises an area static eliminator.
  • electrostatic means for pinning a photosensitive sheet and at least one negative sheet upon said first surface and in electrostatically pinned disposition with each other, said electrostatic means including a unidirectional high voltage having one side coupled to the second surface of said insulative plate and means constituting a conductive path from the other side of said unidirectional high voltage to an outboard surface of a sheet whose other face is in pinned disposition with the first surface of said insulative plate, and

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Elimination Of Static Electricity (AREA)
  • Exposure And Positioning Against Photoresist Photosensitive Materials (AREA)
  • Electrostatic Charge, Transfer And Separation In Electrography (AREA)
US00342965A 1973-03-20 1973-03-20 Contact printing apparatus and method Expired - Lifetime US3844657A (en)

Priority Applications (10)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00342965A US3844657A (en) 1973-03-20 1973-03-20 Contact printing apparatus and method
GB839874A GB1416665A (en) 1973-03-20 1974-02-25 Contact printing apparatus and method
NL7402742A NL7402742A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-03-20 1974-02-28
JP2646074A JPS5334046B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-03-20 1974-03-08
BE142070A BE812380A (fr) 1973-03-20 1974-03-15 Appareil et procede pour le tirage par contact
FR7409123A FR2222671B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-03-20 1974-03-18
SE7403723A SE391987B (sv) 1973-03-20 1974-03-19 Sett och apparat for kontaktkopiering
DE2413141A DE2413141C3 (de) 1973-03-20 1974-03-19 Kontaktkopiergerät
CH377674A CH567278A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-03-20 1974-03-19
IT49416/74A IT1004395B (it) 1973-03-20 1974-03-21 Apparecchio e metodo per la stampa fotografica a contatto

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00342965A US3844657A (en) 1973-03-20 1973-03-20 Contact printing apparatus and method

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3844657A true US3844657A (en) 1974-10-29

Family

ID=23344073

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00342965A Expired - Lifetime US3844657A (en) 1973-03-20 1973-03-20 Contact printing apparatus and method

Country Status (10)

Country Link
US (1) US3844657A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS5334046B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BE (1) BE812380A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH (1) CH567278A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2413141C3 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2222671B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1416665A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
IT (1) IT1004395B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL7402742A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
SE (1) SE391987B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4516848A (en) * 1982-03-05 1985-05-14 Tdk Corporation Charging device for an electrostatic copying machine
US20100181023A1 (en) * 2005-06-20 2010-07-22 Lg Display Co., Ltd. Production layout for lcd, method for manufacturing the lcd, and hardening device for the lcd
US9714184B2 (en) 2011-10-31 2017-07-25 Corning Incorporated Electrostatically pinned glass roll, methods and apparatus for making

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS53158947U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1977-05-19 1978-12-13
JPS61196234A (ja) * 1985-02-25 1986-08-30 Dainippon Screen Mfg Co Ltd 一方向伸縮焼付機

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3128492A (en) * 1961-10-23 1964-04-14 Frank E Hanscom Device for cleaning photographic film by rotating brushes and by the neutralization of static on the film
US3480364A (en) * 1967-07-28 1969-11-25 Simco Co Inc The Multilayer electrostatic copyboard and light panel
US3578862A (en) * 1968-10-07 1971-05-18 Time Inc Photographic exposing apparatus
US3723001A (en) * 1970-09-03 1973-03-27 Capitol Reproductions Photographic exposure apparatus

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3128492A (en) * 1961-10-23 1964-04-14 Frank E Hanscom Device for cleaning photographic film by rotating brushes and by the neutralization of static on the film
US3480364A (en) * 1967-07-28 1969-11-25 Simco Co Inc The Multilayer electrostatic copyboard and light panel
US3578862A (en) * 1968-10-07 1971-05-18 Time Inc Photographic exposing apparatus
US3723001A (en) * 1970-09-03 1973-03-27 Capitol Reproductions Photographic exposure apparatus

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4516848A (en) * 1982-03-05 1985-05-14 Tdk Corporation Charging device for an electrostatic copying machine
US20100181023A1 (en) * 2005-06-20 2010-07-22 Lg Display Co., Ltd. Production layout for lcd, method for manufacturing the lcd, and hardening device for the lcd
US8607834B2 (en) * 2005-06-20 2013-12-17 Lg Display Co., Ltd. Production layout for LCD, method for manufacturing the LCD, and hardening device for the LCD
US9714184B2 (en) 2011-10-31 2017-07-25 Corning Incorporated Electrostatically pinned glass roll, methods and apparatus for making
US10322961B2 (en) 2011-10-31 2019-06-18 Corning Incorporated Electrostatically pinned glass roll, methods and apparatus for making

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS5334046B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1978-09-19
SE7403723L (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-11-29
IT1004395B (it) 1976-07-10
FR2222671A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-10-18
BE812380A (fr) 1974-07-01
DE2413141A1 (de) 1974-10-03
JPS49128731A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-12-10
DE2413141B2 (de) 1978-07-20
GB1416665A (en) 1975-12-03
SE391987B (sv) 1977-03-07
DE2413141C3 (de) 1979-03-29
FR2222671B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1978-12-01
CH567278A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1975-09-30
NL7402742A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-09-24

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