US730091A - Photographic developing apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JUNE 2 l1903.

No. 730,091. I R. L. CHAMBERLAINE.

PHTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.17,1903. l

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

no MODEL.

110.730,091. l PATENTED.JUNB2,1903. y

R. L. GHAMBERLAINE.

PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATIoN FILED M1111. 17. 1003.

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No. l730,091.

UNirnn STATES Patented .Tune 2, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 7 30,091, dated June- 2, 1903. Application filed March 17, 1903. Serial No. 148,139. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern.-

Be it known that 1, ROBERT LLOYD CHAM- BERLAINE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Photographic Developing Apparatus, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to an improved photographic developing apparatus.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple and improved apparatus of this character by means of which sensitized surfaces may be developed without the aid of a dark room.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means by which the developing solution is brought into contact with the sensitized surface without the use of trays.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device whereby plates may be taken out and also put into holders and developed without the aid of a dark room.

Another object is to provide a device which may readily be carried about, by means of which a plate orother sensitized surface may be developed immediately after having been exposed in the camera, no matter whether the operator be in the iield or indoors, and, further, to provide an apparatus of such construction that the numerous trays and other developing paraphernalia now necessary are entirely dispensed with.

With these and other objects in view the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which show one form of apparatus for carrying the same into practical effect without limiting the invention, however, to the precise construction shown.

In the drawings, Figure 1. illustrates a perspective view of the apparatus as the same appears when in use. Fig. 2 illustrates -a central vertical section of same. Fig. 3 shows a horizontal cross-section taken just beneath the top. Fig. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the plates which form the liquid-chamber, and Fig. 5 illustrates avertie-al sectional View of the device when notin use and shows how the parts are packed when being carried out.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates a case of any desirable size or shape and which may be constructed of any suitable material. In the present instance this case is provided at one side with a frame 2, having an opening 3, and a door or flap 4 is hinged or pivoted to the lower portion of said frame 2, and when desired may be swung upto close the opening 3. The inner surface 5 of the door or Hap is preferably polished or provided with some suitable material .which will serve as a reflector to direct the light, if desired, into the opening 3. `A bead 6 extends around the frame 2 in said opening and serves as a stop against which the door or flap abuts when the latter is closed.

A frame 7 is pivoted at the upperend S on the interior of the case, and said pivoted frame hangs pendent and has a position confronting the opening 3. At the lower or free end said pivoted frame is provided with a thu rnb-screw 9, which latter passes loosely through said frame and screws into the stationary frame 2. A plurality of springs 10 are secured to said pivotedA frame 7, and the free ends of said springs project toward the opening 3 in the case. This frame 7 is provided with a central opening 11, which is for a purpose to be hereinafter described. At the rear or the side opposite from the opening 3 the case lk is provided with an opening 12, which in the presentinstance extendsin a horizontal or crosswise direction nearly the entire width of the case and in a vertical direction from the top about half-way toward the bottom. The size and location of'this opening, however, are not essential, and the same may be varied; but it is preferably at the rear. At each side of the opening 12 isa door 13, each of which is hinged to the case and adapted to swing toward each other and close the said opening. This opening 12 is surrounded by a suitable flexible material 14, such as kid, which is secured to the frame 15, and this iieXible material'is provided with two openings 16, one for each eye of the operator. A semicircular band 17, also of suitable flexible material, is secured to the material 14, and at each end 1S said band is secured to the free ends of the doors 13, and this band is also provided with openings which register with the openings 16 in the material 14. Beneath the openings 16 the band is provided with suitable pads 19, which adapt or make the band fit close to the face of the operator IOO when the latter is looking through said openings 16 and prevent the admission of light into the case. A shut-ter 20 is pivoted at its upper end on the interior of the case, and said shutter hangs pendent over the opening l2 and serves to cut 0E the rays of light from the interior of the case. A thumb-nut2l on the exterior of the case is secured to the shutter 20, and the latter may be swung upwardly thereby.

The case l at the bottoni is provided on its interior with a recess 22,which extends around said bottom and near the lower edge 23 thereof. A pluralityof turn-buttons have position on the bottom of the case adjoining said edge 23 and serve a purpose which will now be described.

A sleeve 24, of some suitable close-Woven light-tight fabric, and preferably being larger at one end than at the other, is secured at its larger end to a band 25, which latter may be of metal, and said band is adjusted to beinserted in the recess 22 at the bottom of the case, and said band and sleeve are held in position in said recess by means of the turnbuttons which take beneath the band, as shown in Fig. 2. The smaller end of the sleeve 24 is provided with a strap 26, by means of which it may be secured around the wrist of the operator. It is obvious that in place -of the strap 26 an elastic cord or band may be substituted.

Pivoted at 27 on the interior of the case and near the bottom thereof are two arms or supports 28, one at each side of the case, and each of these supports at its lower end 29 is pivoted to a tray 30, and these supports serve to hold the case in proper position above the tray. When the device is not in use and is closed up, as seen in Fig. 5, the tray 3G swings up into the case and serves as a bottom for the latter, the supports 28 assuming the position shown by broken lines.

The tray 30 is preferably lined with some water-tight material 3l and serves as a base for the instrument and also as a receptacle to catch any drops of liquid that may possibly drip from the tube during the changing of the developing solutions.

lt will be seen from the foregoing description that provision has been made for rendering the interior of the case light-proof by providing at the several openings devices for cutting olf the admission of light. This is essential, for reasons obvious to those skilled in the art of photography and need not be explained.

A glass plate 32 has position in the front of the case l between the stationary frame 2 and the pivoted frame 7, and this glass plate 32 is tinted or colored rubyand is practically impervious to actinic light, which latter is well known to be injurious to photographic plates, and this plate 32 is provided on its interior and around its edge with a gasket 33. In the present instance the plate 32 is also provided in diametrically opposite corners with holes 34 and 35, and two tubes 3G and 37 are secured one in each of said holes. When in position within the case that side of the glass plate 32 from which the tubes are inserted contacts with the bead 6 and the tubes project through the opening 3 of the frame 2. The tube 36 projects on the top of the case and is sustained by a screw-stem 38, and the end of said tube is provided with a bulb 39 or equivalent device. The tube 37 projects from said glass plate 32 and hangs pendent and projects into a bottle or receptacle 40, Vcontaining developing solution. The

lslots 4l in the door or flap 4 permit the tubes to pass.

The description up to this point relates to the construction of the apparatus complete and ready forr treating a sensitized photographic surface, and it will now be explained how the surface to be developed is held and treated.

The following description will make use of the expression plate or i sensitized plate but it is to be understood that while the treatment of a plate will be described the invention is not to be limited to the treatment of plates, but may also be utilized for developing films or other sensitized surfaces.

The sensitized plate 42, having previously been exposed in a camera? is placed in the case l, with the sensitive surface 43 confronting the gasket 33 and the tinted plate 32, and this plate 42 is pressed forward against said gasket by the springs l0 on the pivoted frame 7. Said springs l0 press against the glass side 44 of said plate as the screw 9 is turned and seat the plate 42 firmly against the gasket 33 and make a liquid-tight joint and also form a chamber 45 between said plates 32 and 42. This chamber 45 is the developing-solution chamber, and communication thereto is made through the tubes 36 and 37. It will be seen that the surface to be developed forms one side of the chamber 45. It will be seen that when the plate 42 is pressed against the gasket 33 and the chamber 45 is formed liquid may be drawn from the bottle by operating the bulb 39, and the chamber is thereby filled with solution, which contacts with and acts on the sensitive surface of the plate 42.

When the device is not in use and closed, as shown in Fig. 5, the bottles 40, containing the developing solutions and wrapped togetherwith other loose parts,are conveniently packed within the case.

The operation is as follows: The tray is withdrawn from the interior of the case and the bottles, sleeve, and other articles removed. The flap 4 is then lowered and the ruby glass, with the tubes, is placed in position. The flap is then closed and the sleeve is attached at the bottom, as described. The

holder containing the plate to be developed is now inserted into the sleeve and the strap is drawn around the wrist of the operator in The operator now order to exclude the light.

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grasps the holder with the free hand from the exterior of the sleeve, and with the hand on the interior withdraws the slide of the holder, removes the plate, and places its sensitive side against the gasket on the ruby glass bottom and in front of the frame '7. The pivoted frame is now lowered, and when about in a vertical position the fiat springs lO take against the non-sensitive or glass side 44 of said plate and press the same outward against the said gasket 33. The thumb-screw 9 is now entered into the stationary frame 2 and serves to draw the pivoted frame toward the glass side 44 of the plate and firmly seat same against the gasket, so asto form a liquid-chamber 45.v It will thus be seen that the surface to be developed forms one side of the developing-chamber. The operator may now fold or grasp the sleeve with the free hand to exclude light, so as to remove the other hand and the holder. The developing operation may now be commenced. The case is swung up on the pivoted supports and clamped at any convenient angle. One tube is inserted in the developing-solution receptacle, and to the other a bulb or other suction apparatus is attached. Upon the compression of the bulb and the release of the Vsame it can be readily seen that the solution will be drawn up through the tube 37 into the chamber and partly into tube 36, the quantity depending upon the amount of compression given the bulb. The operator now opens the doors'and places his face closely against the flexible band,his eyes registering with the holes. This band being attached to the hinged doors will hug the face and prevent reflected light from getting through the eyeholes. The operator now opens the shutter by the thumb-nut and observes the progress of development. Slight compression and release of the bulb now causes the liquid to fall and rise, and what is known as local development can be carried on to some extent-that is, the lower portion of the plate can be given more development than the upper. It can be readily seen that the operators time need not be taken up entirely by this operation, as an occasional glance will suffice. By this construction and operation the danger of air-bubbles forming on the sensitive side of the plate 42 is entirely obviated, and the surface 43 of said plate is thoroughly covered. Another advantage arising from this construction is that if there should be any undissolved particles in the developing solutionthese would fall to the bottom and not remain in contact with the sensitive surface 43 and canse pin-holes and defects in the negative. When the plate is sufficiently developed, the bulb is compressed to expel the liquid, and the receptacle then removed and another receptacle of a different solution is substituted to carry on the next step in developing. When the plate has been developed and Xed,it can then be removed by merely reversing the operation. This, however, may be accomplished as the operator desires, as some may prefer to remove the sleeve and remove the developed plate through thel bottom of the case. When a plate has been developed in the field, the washing process may be postponed, in which case the developed plate may remain in position against the gasket of the tinted plate and keep in a moist condition for hours.

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

l. In a photographic developing apparatus the combination of a light-tight case provided with a receptacle open at one side; means adjacent the open side of said receptacle to hold a sensitive surface to be developed, and means for introducing liquid into said receptacle.

2. In a photographic developing apparatus the combination of a case; a receptacle closing one end of said case and having a ltransparent wall; means for holding a sensitive surface at one side of said receptacle, and means whereby liquid may be introduced into said receptacle between said transparent wall and said sensitive surface after the latter has been put into place.

3. In a photographic developing apparatus the combination of alight-tight case; a receptacle; means whereby a sensitive surface may be clamped to said receptacle and the latter thereby made liquid-tight, and means for introducing liquid from the exterior of the case and into said receptacle.

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4. In a photographic developing apparatus the combination of a case open at one side 5 a receptacle in said case at said open side, said receptacle adapted to contain a sensitive surface to be developed; a frame for holding said receptacle in place; and means for in# troducing liquid into said receptacle.

5. In a photographic developing apparatus the combination of a case open at one side; a receptacle in said case at said open side, said receptacle adapted to contain a sensitive surface to be developed; a frame pivoted within said case and adapted to clamp the wall of said receptacle to hold the latter in said open end, and means for introducingliquid from the exterior of said case into said receptacle.

6. In aphotographic developing apparatus the combination ot' a light-tight case open at one side; a receptacle at the open side of said case, said receptacle having a transparent exterior wall provided at one side with a gasket, against which latter a sensitized surface may be placed; means whereby said transparent wall and a surface to be developed may be clamped together to'form a tight4 chamber, and means for introducing liquid into said receptacle. 1

7. In a photographic developing apparatus IIO the combination of a case open at one side; a

vclosed by a sensitive surface to be developed to form a chamber; a tube leading from said receptacle to the exterior of the casel for developing solution, and another tube also, in communication with said receptacle and by means of which the developing solution may be introduced into said receptacle.

8. In a photographic developing apparatus the combination ofa case; a receptacle in said case; a bottom pivoted With respect to and supporting said case, and means for introducing liquid from the exterior of said case into said receptacle.

9. In a photographic developing apparatus the combination of a case open at one side; a transparent receptacle fitting in the open side of said case; a combined tray and bottom, and two supports pivoted at one end to said case and at the other end each of said supports being pivoted to said tray and bottom.

10. In a photographie developing apparatus, the combination of a case; a receptacle in said case and adapted to contain a sensitive surface to be developed, and means for introducing liquid into said receptacle by exhausting the air therefrom.

11. In a photographic developing apparatus the combination of a case; a receptacle in said case and provided with two openings, and means for exhausting the air from said receptacle through one of said openings and thereby introducing liquid through the other opening.

12. In a photographic developing apparatus having in combination a case open at opposite sides; a transparent developing-receptacle closing one of said sides, and a shutter closing the other side of said case.

13. A photographic developing apparatus having in combination a case open at the rear and provided with swinging doors at said rear opening; a fabric band secured at each end to one of said doors, said band having one or more eye-openings, and a shutter on the interior of said case and in front of said doors.

14. A photographic developing apparatus having in combination a case open at the rear; means for closing the case at the rear, comprising a flexible material having one or more openings for the eyes; a shutter on the interior of said case and in front of said eye-openings and a transparent developing-receptacle in said case in front of said shutter.

15. A photographic developing apparatus having in combination a case open at the front; adoor adapted to close the front of said case and having a surface for reflecting light into said case and a transparent. developingreceptacle in said case near said door.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ROBERT LLOYD CIIAMBERLAINE.

Witnesses:

CHARLES B. MANN, Jr., G. FERDINAND Voer.

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