US833626A

US833626A - Automatic photograph-developing apparatus.

Info

Publication number: US833626A
Application number: US18776404A
Authority: US
Inventors: George N Pifer
Original assignee: AMERICAN AUTOMATIC PHOTOGRAPH Co
Current assignee: AMERICAN AUTOMATIC PHOTOGRAPH Co
Priority date: 1904-01-05
Filing date: 1904-01-05
Publication date: 1906-10-16
Anticipated expiration: 1923-10-16

Description

PATRAITRD 001'. 1-6, 1906.

G. N. PIPER.

AUTOMATIC PHOTOGRAPH DEVELOPING APPARATUS. I

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 5, 1904.

PATENTED OCT. 16, 1906.

G. N. PIPER:

AUTOMATIC PHOTOGRAPH DEVELOPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JANPE, 19044 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. 4 7360 J nii zramlsaw I AUTQMATlC PHGTUGRAPH CUIEEPANY, @F ULEVELAND, Gilli), A (16% PORA'HO N OF ()Hlt).

no. esacae.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Get, 16, ieoa Application filed January 5, 1904. Serial l lo. 187,754

To will whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Gnones N. Pines, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cleveland, Uhio, have invented certain lam-- provements in Automatic Photogra h-Developing Apparatus, of which the to lowing is a specification.

My invention consists of certain improve ments in the automatic photographic apparatus forming the subject of my previous patents, Nos. 708,16fi, ?'O8,lfi7, and 7518,3168, dated September 2, 1902, the main purpose of my present improvements being to provide for the simultaneous treatment of a number of successively exeosed plates whereby 1 prevent that waste oi time which in the previous machines was permitted to intervene after the exposure had been made and while the ex osed plate was being developed and fixed.

11 using the present machine the persons desiring to be photographed may succeed each ot ier as rapidly as the exposures are made. Hence the capacity of the machine is very materially increased as compared with the one in. which the entire operation of developing and the plate had to be performed before another or; osure was possible.

In the accompanying rawings, Figure 1 is aside view of sufficient of an automatic photographic machine to illustrate my resent invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view il ustrating the parts in a different osition from that shown m Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view. Fig. 4 is a plan view illustrating another embodiment of my invention, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating still another emin the tank 2, whereby a p tween the convolutions 0 bodiment of the same.

In Figs. 1,2, and 3 of the drawings is shown a receptacle having three

tanks

1, 2, and 3, the tank 1 being intended for the reception of a developing fluid, the tank 2 receiving a fix ing fluid, and the tank 3 containing a washing fluid. Ada ted to suitable hearings on the central tan is a transverse shaft 4, upon which is mounted a screw conveyor 5, the lower portion of which is in close proximity to a perforated or other 0 on false bottom 6 ate introduced bethe conveyor 5 will by the rotation of the latter be fed along on the false bottom 6 of said tank 2 from one end of the latter to the other. of the screw conveyor 5 the latter has be- At the delivery end tween its convolutions a rib 7. Hence when the plate reaches the final convolution of the 5 screw it is lifted by said rib from the lower portion of the chamber in which the screw opcrates, so as'to be delivered over the edge of the tank 2. The sensitized. plates after being properly exposed in the apparatus are ted downwardly through a chute 8, but are prevented from leaving the lower end of the same by an escapement-lever 9, having upper and lower pawls 10 and 11 on opposite sides of the fulcrum of the lever and so spaced as to receive one of the sensitive plates between them. The normal position otthis escapement-lever isthat shown in Fig; 1, the preponderance of the lower arm of the lever causing its pawl 11 to engage the lowermost plate in the chute S, and thereby prevent the delivery of said. plate therefrom, "it, however, the depending arm of the lever 9 is moved outwardly in the direction of the ar row in Fig. 1, the pawl 11 will be moved out of engagement with the lowermost plate in the chute, so as topermit delivery of the latter from said chute; but at the same time the upper pawlv 10 of the escapement-lever will be thrust inwardl as shown in Fig. 2, so as to engage the fol owing plate, and thereby prevent deliyery of morethan one plate at the time from the chute, said up or pawl beingwithdrawn when the lever 9 is permitted to swing back again to its normal position, so as to permit of the descent of the plates in the chute, the lower pawl 11, however, arresting the lowermost plate when it reaches the lower end of the chute and the parts being then again in position for permitting delivery of so another plate from the chute when the escapement-lever is again moved outwardly. A-rock-shaft 12 at the upper inner corner of the tank 1 carries a tray 13, which is located directly beneath the delivery end of the chute 9 5 8, and therefore receives each plate as it is delivered from said chute, the tray being then in the depressed position shown in Fig. 2, so that the plate entering the tra will be submerged in the developing liqui contained in the tank 1, the tray being erforated or of other open construction, so t at said developing liquid has free access to all portions of-the interior of the tray.

The tray 13 is 0 on at the top. Hence when said tray is li ted to position shown in too Fig. 1 a plate will roll from the same into the space between the first two of the convolutions of the conveyer-screw 5, so as to be fed along the tank 2 and exposed to the action of the fixing liquid contained in said tank. On the tray 13 is a projecting lug 30, which when the tray has been again rocked backwardly strikes the depending arm of the escapement-lever 9 and operates the same, so as to permit the lowermost plate in the feedchute 8 to drop into the tray, the upper pawl 10 engaging the next higher plate and preventing the descent of the same. When the tray 13 again rises, the lever 9 is released from the control of the lug 30 and resumes its normal position, so as to permit the plates to descend in the feed-chute .8, the lowermost plate bein caught and retained by the lower pawl 11 of the lever preparatory to a repetition of the operations when the tray 13 is again tilted downwardly. Tank 3 contains a tray 14 similar to tray 13 and, like it, mounted on a rock-shaft 15 at the upper outer corner of said tank 3, this tray receiving the developed and fixedplate delivered by the conveyer-screw 5, and after permitting the same to remain immersed in washing fluid in tank 3 for a proper length of time delivering it from said tank, as shown in Fig. 2. The shaft 4, which carries the conveyer-screw 5, is rotated in any suitable manner, and the joint and simultaneous operation of said conveyer-screw and of the

trays

13 and 14 is effected in the manner following: On one end of the shaft 4 of the conveyer-screw is a crankarm 16, having a pin 17, which engages a pair of

links

18 and 19. The link 18 has a slot 20 for receiving a pin 21 on a crank-arm 22, which is secured to the rock-shaft 12 of the tray 13, and the link 19 has a similar slot 23 for receiving a pin 24 on a crank-arm 25, which is secured to the rock-shaft 15 of the tray 14. Continuous rotation of the shaft 4, therefore, provides for the rocking of the trays13 and 14, each of the trays, however,

being permitted to remain in the depressed.

position for a considerable length of time, owing to the lost motion of the

links

18 and 1 9, provided for by the slots in said links. The conveyer-screw 5 provides for the accommodation of as many plates as there are spaces between the convolutions of said screw. Hence any desired number of plates may be subjected simultaneously to the action of the fixing-bath, and each plate may be retained in said bath for a period of time necessary to effect its complete fixation, such period of time being considerably longer than that necessary to effect either the prior development or subse uent washing of the plate.

While I prefer in carrying out my inven tion to use a single fixing-tank and single conveyer-screw, as previously shown and de scribed, a plurality of fixing-tanks may be employed, if desired, each with its own con- 'veyer. For instance, in Fi 4 I have shown apparatus in which three ing-

tanks

2, 2", and 2 are employed, the conveyer in the first tank receiving the plate from the tray 13 and conveying it through the tank in one direction and the conveyer in the intermediate tank 2 receiving the plate from the conveyer in the first tank and conveying it in the opposite direction, the conveyer in the final tank 2 receiving the plate from the conveyer in the intermediate tank and conveying it in the opposite direction to the point at which it is delivered to the tray 14 in the washingtank. In Fig. 5 I have illustrated still another embodiment of my invention in which the trays and conveyer screw or screws are no longer employed, this device comprising a series of

tanks

1, 2, 2, and 3, each with slotted, perforated, or other open false bottom. In connection with each tank operates a 1'0- tating fork 26, carried by atransverse shaft 27, all of these shafts being geared to a single longitudinal shaft 28. Hence by the rotation of the latter rotating movement will be simultaneously imparted to all the forks 26. The position of the various forks upon the respective shafts is such that the desired timing of their successive operations will be effected. Thus a plate delivered onto the false bottom of the tank 1 remains thereon for a short time and is then caught by the first fork 26, cooperating with said tank, and is carried forwardly and fed into the tank 2, wherein it remains for a certain time before being ejected therefrom and fed into the tank 2 by the action of the second fork 26, the plate being allowed to remain for a certain time in tank 2 and then being fed b the third fork 26 into tank 3, from which, a'ter it has been retained therein for a sufficient time to efiect the desired washing of the late, it is delivered by the final fork 26 of t 1e series. In all these embodiments of my invention, however, provision is afforded for acting simultaneously upon a succession of plates, each plate remaining for a longer time in the fixing-bath than in either the developing or washing baths, as is desirable in the proper and orderly operation of the machine.

The term bath as used in my claims is not to be interpreted as limiting same to a single chamber, vessel, or receptacle unless the claim is otherwise limited in that respect.

It will be evident from what I have shown that other embodiments of the main feature of my invention can be devised by those skilled. in the art. are not to be understood as limited to specific mechanism.

I claim- 1. An automatic photographic machine having a treating-bath, and means for movin plurality of rigid plates simultaneously through one and the same bath, substantially as specified.

Hence my broader claims ICC 2. automatic photographic machine having a developing-bath and a fixing-bath,

with means for subjecting the plates singly vstantially as specified.

to the action of the developing-bath, and for subjecting a pluralityv of plates simultaneously to the action of the fixing-bath, sub- 3. An automatic photographic machine having a developing-bath, a fixing-bath, and a washing-bath, with means for subjecting the plates singly to the action of the develop' ing and washing baths, and for subjecting a plurality of plates simultaneously to the fixing-bath, substantially as specified.

v stantially as specified.

6. A11 automatic photographic machine having a plurality of treatingbaths,a screw conveyor in one of said baths, and a tilting tray for conveying a plate from the preceding bath to said screw conveyer, substantially as specified.

conveyer in one of said, baths, and a tilting tray in a succeeding bath for receiving a plate from said conveyer, substantially as specified.

8. An automatic photographic machine having a plurality of treating-baths, a screw conveyer in one of said. baths, a tilting tray I in another of said baths, and means for effecting simultaneous rotation of the. screw conveyerand tilting of the tray, substantially as specified.

9. An automatic photographic machine having a plurality of treating-baths a rotating screw conveyer in one of said baths, a tilting tray in another of said baths, crankarms on the conveyer-shaft and on the shaft of the tray respectively, and a slotted link connecting-pins on said crank-arms, substantially as specified.

10. An automatic photographic apparatus having, in combination, means for developing and fixing an exposed plate, a platefeeder, and a stop for preventing delivery of more than one plate at a time from said feeder, one of the elements of the developing and fixing mechanism acting upon said stop .so as to release the same, substantially as specified.

11.. An automatic photographic apparatus having in combination means for developing and fixing an exposed 'plate, and a plate feeder having an escapement-lever with oppositely-disposed pawls for engaging alter-.

nately the lowermost plate in the feeder and the plate next above the same, substantially as specified.

12. An automatic photographic apparatus [having in'combination means for developing and fixing an exposed plate, a plate-feeder, and an escapemcnt-lever therefor having oppositely-disposed pawls for engaging alternately the lowermost plate in the feeder and 7. An automatic photographic machine having a plurality of treating-baths, a screw the plate above the same, one of the elements of the developing and fixing mechanism acting upon said escapement-lever to effect delivery of [the plates successively from the feeder, substantially as specified. In testimony whereof I have signed my name in this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE N. PIFER.

Witnesses:

NORTON T. How, A. LEWENTHAL.