US703671A

US703671A - Apparatus for toning photographs.

Info

Publication number: US703671A
Application number: US63586497A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur Schwarz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1897-05-10
Filing date: 1897-05-10
Publication date: 1902-07-01
Anticipated expiration: 1919-07-01

Description

No. 703,671. Patented July I, I902;

A. SCHWARZ. APPARATUS FOR TUNING PHOTOGRAPHS.

(Application filgad May 10. 1697.)

3 Sheets-Sheet L .(No Model.)

No. 703,67l. Patented-July I, I902. A. SCHWARZ.

APPARATUS FOR TUNING PHOTOGRAPHS.

(Application filed. May 10, 1897.: (No Model.) 3 Sheets-She,et 2.

- d mmm Tvrmums nsrpgs co, Pummumo wAsHmomN, n c

N0. 703,67l. Patented July I, I902.

A. scHwARz.

APPARATUS FOR TUNING PHOTUGRAPHS.

(Application filed May 10, 1897.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-8heet 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT @EEiCE.

ARTHUR SOHWARZ, OF BERLIN-SOHONEBERG, GERMANY.

APPARATUS FOR TGNENG PHUTOGRAPHS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 703,6? 1, dated July 1, 1902.

Application filed May 10,1897. Serial No. 635,864. (No model.)

To LLZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR SoHwARZ, a subject of the German Emperor, residing at Berlin-Schoneberg, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Toning Photographs, of which the following is a specification.

In the manufacture of photographs the sensitized paper is fed through the several baths for developing, toning, and fixing the pictures. With this operation as hitherto carried out only one and the same toning of the photographs is obtained, because the strip of paper is continually fed at a uniform speed through the several baths. I have devised a new apparatus whereby the treatment of the strip of sensitized and exposed paper is also carried outin a continuous manner, but which is so constructed that it enables me to obtain different shades in the toning of the photographs. I have attained this purpose by devising arrangements enabling me to shorten or extend at will the period during which the photographs are treated in the baths, either by increasing or decreasing the speed of feeding of the paper through the baths or by immersing the loops of paper more or less deep into the baths, whereby the speed of the travel of the paper remains unchanged.

I have illustrated my new apparatus in the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, same letters of reference being used for the same parts in the several views, and wherein- Figure 1 shows an apparatus wherein the toning of the photographs can be regulated by changing the speed of travel of the paper through the baths and also embodying a de- Vice enabling me to prevent the loss of a part of the paper when same should tear in the course of the process. Fig. 2 shows a plan view, on a larger scale, of the mechanism for changing the speed of travel of the paper. Fig. 3 shows a sectional front view of a bath embodying a device to change the depth of immersion of the paper. Fig. a shows a sectional side view of the same bath, the paper being immersed very deep. Fig. 5 shows a similar View with a very shallow immersion of the paper. Figs. 6 and 7 show details of construction. Fig. 8 shows a sectional front view of a bath equipped with a modified constrnction of the device for regulating the depth of the immersion of the paper.

The exposed paper P is, as usual, wound upon the reel R and is fed over the feedingrolls IV W W, &7C., through the baths I, II, III, and IV, the loops of paper being weighted down in each bath by meansof the small rolls 0*. The feeding-rolls W WV V &c., are rotated at uniform speed by the shaft L by means of worm-gears N. At its end the shaft L carries a disk (4 in frictional contact with a frictiolrroller b, rigidly mounted upon the shaft B, so that the shaft L is rotated by the shaft B. This shaft B is adapted to be moved in an axial direction by means of the handwheel C, Fig. 2, so as to shift the point of contact of the friction-rollerl) and the disk at. It is obvious that the farther the roller 1) is removed from the center of disk a the slower the rotation of the shaft L will be, and vice versa. These changes in speed may of course be effected gradually by means of the mechanism described, and by these means I am enabled perfectly to regulate the speed of the travel of the paper through the baths.

The shaft B is rotated by abelt d,laid over the stepped pulleysD D D as shown in Fig. 2,and this arrangement affords another means roughly to regulate the time of treatment of the paper; but as each rate of speed as obtained by the shifting of the belt d can be further minutely changed by means of the shifting of the point of contact between roller 5 and disk a the mechanism described affords the means eXactlyto regulate the speed of the travel of the paper.

If it should be desired not to change the speed of travel of the paper or, if besides this, it should be preferred to use another means for changing the toning of the photographs, I make use of the arrangement illustratedin Figs. 3 to 7. To this end the opposite walls of the receptacles are provided with rails that are extended parallel up to the ceiling of the work-room. These rails should be formed so as to prevent a lateral motion of the rollers c, running thereon, and should be preferably of the form shown in cross-section in Fig. 6. A frame F, preferably of the form shown in Fig. 8 and provided at its four corners with rollers e, corresponding in shape to the rails c, is adapted to be moved vertically up and down between said rails. This operation is conveniently performed by means of a counterweight Q. The frame E is provided at its lower end with a guide-roll 7', adapted to guide the paper in the bath. As shown in Fig. 6, the pivots r of the roll 0' are housed inslots r in the downwardextending projections r of the frame E and are kept in place by pins W. A clamping device F, the cheeks ff Fig. 7, of which clasp the rail (2 and are clamped together by the screwf prevents any unintentional motion of the frame E. The clamping device F is hinged to the frame E and is moved back in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 if the frame is to be taken out of the rails. The frame and the rails are made of metal, hard rubber, or any other suitable material which is not affected by the baths. The time during which the paper is submitted to the action of the bath if it travels at uniform speed depends upon the length of the travel through the bath. With the device just described the length of this travel can be varied at will by shifting the position of the frame. Fig. 4 shows the frame lowered into the bath, and Fig. 5 shows it in a raised position. In this Wayanydesired shadeoftoning can be obtained, and if the position of the frame for a certain tone is once ascertained all pictures will be uniformly toned.

The arrangement described embodies a superstructure which in some cases maybe undesirable and which is done away within the modification illustrated in Fig. 8.

The loop of paper depends into the baths from the feeding-roll TV and is weighted down by the guide-roll r. The axle of roll o is housed in slide-pieces r that slide on the rail 6 when the roll r is displaced. Close to the slide-pieces 1- which may of course be substituted by small rollers, are attached cords s and s by means of a loop or aring, as shown so that when the two cords s and s are pulled down at the same time and with the same force the rollr is lowered parallel to the travel of the paper. The downward motion of the roll 0' in this construction is effected by the weight Q acting upon the cords s and s, while the upward motion of the roll 1' is effected by the upward pull of the strip of paper traveling through the bath. For this p urpose the cord 5- is passed over the bottom roll. a; and then passes upward over the roll X and is then passed between the clamping-- rollers 31 3 to the weight. The cord .5" first passes around roll :20, thence to roll :11, and thence parallel to cord 3 to the weight Q. If the weight Q and the weight of the guideroll 9' are sufficient to overcome the upward pull of the strip of paper moved by the feeding-roll W, the weight Q and the cords s s will pull the guide-roll r downward as soon, as these cords be released. As in this case the pull at both ends of the guide-roll r is entirely the same, said roll 0' will be lowered and remain parallel to the axle of the feeding-roll W.

In order to secure the guide-roll 'r at any desired height, the cords s s are passed between clamping-rollers 1 7 the roller 11 having a fixed axle, while the axle of roller 1 is movable in the oblique slot 1f the roll 3/ is pulled upward, so that its axle becomes located in the upper part of the slot .2, the clamping action on the cords s s is releascd, the weight Q moves downward and pulls the guide-roll "r, and consequently the loop of paper, deeper into the bath. If the roller p is then released, it will pull back by its own. weight the cords s s, and owing to its oblique slot it clamps the cords immediatcly against roller 11 so that the desired adjustment is obtained. If, on the contrary, the paper is desired to become further immersed, it is only necessary to lift the weight (-3, and the roll 0* will then be raised by the pull of the paper, and as the cords will thereby move in the reversed direction the clamping-rollers 3 1 are automatically opened. As soon as the desired position is reached the weight Q is again released and under the influence of its weight the clamping action of the rollers 2 11 is at once restored. It is obvious that the movement of the guide-roll 0' may be obtained by other means; but these are merely modiliations, the object in view be ing to adjust the roll 1' by a downward pull.

In all the arrangements thus far described it is quite possible that the moist paper may tear in the course of its travel through the baths. If the paper tears, which notwithstanding all possible precautions is apt to occur from time to time as it becomes thoroughly moistened by the solutions,the operation must be interrupted in order to fasten together the two ends. During this time the travel of the paper is interrupted, so that the loop of paper in the toning solution remains subjected to the action, which in most cases is too long, so that this length of paper is spoiled. This more or less frequent loss may be avoided by providing the driving-shaft for the fceding-rolls with a device enabling me to withdraw the lengths of paper located in the toning and developing baths whenever the continuous operation of the apparatus should be interrupted in conquence of a break of the endless band of pa per. This arrangementisillustratedin Fig. 1. At any suitable place, preferably behind bath II, which contains the toning solution, the shaft L is cut and the two ends are connected by an easily-operating coupling or clutch 0. The right-h an d end of the shaft L is, moreover, provided with a crank S. Now if the band of paper becomes tornfor instance, after passing through bath lI-the belt (1 is shifted to the idle pulley and the coupling 0 is thrown out of gear by means of the lever 0 or by any other suitable device. The right-hand side end of the shaft L is now turned by means of the crank S with equal speed in the opposite direction, and the end of the strip of paper is taken hold of. It is obvious that in this way the paper in the baths I and II will be withdrawn from same with the same speed as if the continuous operation had not been interrupted. Consequently this length of paper, which would otherwise have been lost, is now saved.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an apparatus for developing, toning and fixing a long band of photographic paper, the combination of a bath containing the necessary solution, means for moving the long band of paper through the bath, means for regulating the time of treatment of the paper in the bath to obtain the desired shade of toning, and means for reversing the direction of travel of a part of the paper through the bath in the event of the band of paper becoming severed in its travel through the bath,substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for developing, toning and fixing a long band of photographic paper, the combination of a series of baths containing the necessary solutions, means for moving the paper through the series of baths at a uniform speed, means for varying the period of time for movement of the paper through the baths, and means for reversing the direction of travel of a part of the paper through the bath in the event of the band of paper becoming severed in its travel through the bath, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus for developing, toning and fixing a long band of photographic paper, the combination of a series of tanks, feed-rolls arranged to conduct the paper from one tank to another, a shaft common to all the rolls for driving the same and carrying a disk, a shiftable rotatable roll in frictional contact with said disk for varying the speed of the shaft by changing the point of contact between the disk and roll, and means for reversing the direction of travel of apart of the paper through the bath in the event of the band of paper becoming severed in its travel through the bath, substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. In an apparatus for developing, toning and fixinga long band of photographic paper, the combination of aseries of tanks, feed-rolls arranged to conduct the paper from one tank to another, a divided shaft for driving said rolls having its members connected together by a clutching device adapted to disconnect the members to permit one member to rotate independent of the other member, and means for independently operating the disconnected members for withdrawing the band of paper in the event of the same breaking apart, substantially as and for the purposes described.

5. In an apparatus for developing, toning and fixing a long band of photographic paper, the combination of a series of tanks, feed-rolls arranged to conduct the paper from one tank to another, a divided shaft for driving said rolls common to all of said rolls and having its members connected together by a clutching device adapted to disconnect the members in the event of accident to permit one member to rotate independently of the other member, means for independently operating the disconnected members for withdrawing the band of paper in the event of the same breaking apart, a disk carried by one of said shaft members, and a shiftable rotatable roll in frictional contact with said disk for varying the speed 'of the feed-rolls through the shaft common to them all when the members of said shaft are connected, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR SOHVVARZ.

Witnesses:

W. HAUPT, HENRY HASPER.