US890380A - Developing-tank. - Google Patents

Description

No. 890,380. PIATENTBD JUNE 9, 190a. A. SH-BRR'IGK.

DEVELOPING TANK.

APPLICATION FILED .11. 11, 1908.

2 sums-51mm 1.

No. 890,380. PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908. A. SHERRIGK.

DEVELOPING TANK. lrrmculou nun) JAN 17 190B 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED ALLYN SHERRIOK, OF LIMA, OHIO.

DEVELOPING-TANK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 9, 1908.

Application filed January 17, 1908. Serial No. 411,306.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALLYN SHERRIOK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lima, in the county of Allen and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Developing-Tanks, of which the following is a specification.

I My present invention relates to improve ments in developing tanks of the class especially adapted for use in the treatment of photographic plates, and it has for its object to provide a simple and efficient tank of this character that is capable of accommodating a number of plates of different sizes simultaneously, the plates being supported in proper position within the tank by means of racks whichpositionthe plates in such a manner as to insure a thorough and uniform action of the developing solution on the sen sitized surfaces of the plates.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tank of this character wherein the plate supporting racks are carried by a frame which is removable relatively to the tank and which enables the plates to be readily inserted and removed relatively thereto, the racks being preferably inclined relatively to the plane of the bottom of the tank so that as the solution flows from one end of the tank toward the other, it is caused to flow over the surfaces of all the plates contained in the tank, the top of the tank being closed by a tight fitting lid which serves to seal the tank and prevent escape of the solution therefrom, and also excludes light from the tank so that the treatment of the plates may be performed in daylight without danger of fogging the sensitized plates.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in certain improvements and com binations and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out particularly in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 represents a central longitudinal section of a developing tank constructed in accordance with my present invention; Fig. 2 represents a transverse section on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the plate receiving frame removed from the tank; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a filling device which may be used to economize in the amount of solution required when the tank is only partly filled with plates.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in the several views.

Developing tanks constructed in accordance with my present invention may be made in different sizes to receive plates of four ormore sizes, that is to say, tanks adapted for use by amateurs may be of such a width, height and length as to accommodate simultaneously plates of the sizes that are most commonly used in this class of photography, or tanks intended for use by professionals may be made of larger dimensions in order to accommodate simultaneously the several sizes of plates most commonly used by professionals, the primary object of the invention being in either case to provide a tank of this class that is capable of simultaneously developing plates of several different sizes, so that the necessity of using a separate tank for plates of each size is obviated.

The tank shown in the present embodiment of my invention comprises generally a tank proper designated by the reference character 1, this tank being composed of sheet metal or other suitable material of a width equal to or slightly greater than the length of the largest plate to be accommodated, and of a height sufficient to accommodate the plates while resting in an inclined or sloping position relatively to the bottom of the tank, the length of the tank being proportioned according to the number of plates it is desirable to accommodate at one time. The top of the tank is provided with an opening through which the plate containing frame may be introduced, and in order to economize in the amount of solution necessary during the development of the plates, it is preferable to partition ofi one of the corners of the tank by a sloping partition 2 which is inclined at an angle corresponding approximately to the incline of the plates while resting in the tank.

In order to prevent spilling or leakage of the solution during the developing operation, and also to enable this operation to be performed in daylight, a removable liquid and light-tight cover is providedfor the tank. It will be understood that any suitable form of cover may be used that is capable of sealing the tank to prevent the escape of fluid and exclude light from the tank, the cover 3 shown in the present instance being composed of a plate of sheet metal or other appropriate material having a depending flange 4 on the under side thereof and extending around the four edges of the cover, this flange being arranged to fit into a corresponding groove 5 formed in a bead 6 which surrounds the upper edge of the tank, the flange and cooperating groove serving to center the lid or cover upon the tank and as aseal to conline the solution and exclude light from the tank. The lid or cover may be provided with one or more handles 7 to facilitate its manipulation, and in order to facilitate the filling and emptying of the tank, a spout S is preferably provided at one end thereof, the spout being in the form of an elbow in order to facilitate the pouring of the solution therein and prevent the entrance of light to the interior of the tank, and this spout is closed by a cork or other suitable closure 9.

The plates to be develo ed are supported in proper position within t e tank by means of a pair of upper and lower racks 10 and 11 which preferably lie in parallel planes or in planes parallel to the top and bottom of the tank. In the present instance these upper and lower racks form a part of a frame which is bodily removable from the tank whereby the plates may be inserted and removed with the greatest facility. The racks are preferably so constructed as to form plate receiving channels which extend horizontally across the top and bottom of the tank and the walls of the channels are inclined relatively to the bottom of the tank, the racks being pressed or molded, in the present instance, of strips of sheet metal or other material connected at their ends by the sloping end-pieces 12 and 13, and the plate receiving channels are formed. by bending the strip flatwise at an oblique angle to form an end wall 14 for each channel, the material thence being bent at right angles to the end wall to form one of the side walls 15, and. is thence doubled to form the opposite inclined side wall 16, each plate receiving channel thus comprising a pair of oppositely arranged side walls which are inclined relatively to the plane of the bottom of the tank, and an end. wall which is arranged to cooperate with the respective upper or lower horizontal edge of a plate. The receiving channels of the two racks are arranged symmetrically and obliquely opposite to one another, and the inclined side walls of each channel are spaced apart a dis- 'tance greater than the thickness of the plates so that the latter may either extend directly between the corresponding channels of the racks, or the ends of the plates may be tilt ably supported in the respective channels, that is to say, plates of a larger or smaller size may be accommodated by introducing one of the horizontal edges of the plate into a channel offset toward one end of the tank relatively to the opposite channel of the other rack. In other words, the plates may be introduced between the racks at different angles of inclination, the smaller plates resting at an angle more nearly vertical, while the larger plates stand at an angle more nearly horizontal, but in either case all of the plates may be accommodated simultaneously, and they all occupy positions inclined relatively to the bottom of the tank, so that by tilting the tank to cause the solution to flow longitudinally thereof, the several )lates will serve as deflectors, causing the solution to flow over the entire surface thereof and thereby effect a thorough and uniform developing action.

In order to provide a good circulation of the developing solution, the lower rack is preferably provided. with numerous perforations 17 through which the solution may pass to reach the plates, and if so desired, similar perforations 17 may be provided in the upper rack.

The frame embodying the plate supporting racks is preferably reinforced by pairs of upper and lower longitudinally extending strips 18 and 19, these strips being preferably composed of sheet metal bent into channel form so as to possess the requisite rigidity and not interfere with the passage of the solution, and the longitudinal reinforcing strips 18 of the upper rack are connected by a pair of longitudinally spaced transverse members or cross-pieces 20 which serve as handles to facilitate the removal and replacing of the rack or frame relatively to the tank.

The insertion and removal of the plates relatively to the frame may be easily accomplished by standing the rack on one of its sides so that the plate receiving channels are arranged vertically, and in order to retain the plates within the frame while the latter is being lifted, it is preferable to close one side of the frame by means of a set of vertical strips 21 which are attachedto the upper and. lower racks, these vertical strips however being relatively thin and spaced apart so that they will not impede the flow of the developing solution.

A photographic developing tank constructed in accordance with my present invention is capable of simultaneously receiving a large number of plates of different sizes, the peculiarly constructed racks serving to support the plates in inclined positions so that the solution in flowing from one end of the tank to the other during the rocking thereof is caused to pass over every portion of each plate, so that a thorough and uniform development is insured, and by so constructing the racks that they may be readily removed and replaced in the tank, the insertion and removal of the plates or negatives may be accomplished with the greatest facility Ordinarily a single tank will serve for developing the several sizes of plates ordinarily used, but it will be understood that the tanks may be made in different usually large or small sizes.

sizes in order to accommodate plates of un- It will also be understood that while I have illustrated one particular form of liquid and light-tight cover, I do not wish to be confined to a cover of any particular construction, as any form of cover may be used that is capable of confining the solution or li uid and excluding lightfrom the tank so t at the developing operation may be carried on in daylight and without the disadvantages of the usual dark room.

In some cases, and especially during the use of the tank by amateurs, the rack will be only partially filled with plates, and in order to reduce the amount of solution required in developing the reduced number of plates, it is preferable to provide a filling device 22 which conforms substantially to the shape of the plate-receiving rack, the upper and lower sides thereof being adapted to snugly fit between the upper and lower racks, and the ends of the device are preferably inclined at an angle corresponding to the inclination of the ends of theplate-receiving frame, and this device in the present instance, is composed of a hollow fluid-tight body made preferably of sheet metal, such as zinc or any other suitable metal, this device being placed in one end of the rack while the plates are contained in the opposite end thereof, and it serves to displace a considerable quantity of the solution so that the latter may stand at the desired level although a small quantity only is necessary. It will be understood of course that these filling devices may be of any desired length in proportion to the length of the rack, and the mode of applying the device to therack is indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3 on the drawing.

I claim as my invention:

1. A developing tank embodying a pair of racks provided with horizontally extending plate receiving channels having their opposing walls inclined in substantially the same direction and capable of simultaneously accommodating a plurality of plates of different sizes.

2. A photographic developing tank provided with a pair of racks having sets of horizontally extending channels to receive the upper and lower edges of the plates, the channels in one rack having their opposing walls inclined toward one end of the tank and the walls of the other rack being inclined toward the opposite end of the tank, the channels being arranged to simultaneously accommodate a plurality of plates of different dimensions.

3. A developing tank of the class described provided with a pair of u per and lower racks having series of para lel horizontally extending channels to cooperate with the upper and lower edges of the plates, the opposite Walls of the channels being inclined obliquely relatively in the same direction to the plane of the bottom of the tank for supporting a plurality of plates simultaneously and in inclined position within the tank.

4. A developing tank of the class described having a removable plate-carrying frame, the latter embodying a pair of upper and lower racks having channels extending parallel to the bottom of the tank, the walls of the channels being approximately parallel and inclined at substantially the same angle relatively to the bottom of the tank and adapted to simultaneously receive a plurality of plates of different sizes and in inclined position.

5. A developing tank provided with a re-' movable plate-carrying frame embodying a pair of upper and lower racks having channels with the walls thereof similarly inclined and adapted to simultaneously support a plurality of plates within the tank, and a light and liquid-tight cover adapted to fit and close the tank.

6. A developing tank provided with a light and liquid-tight cover, and a plate-carrying frame removably fitted in the tank and embodying upper and lower racks provided with horizontally extending plate receiving channels having opposing walls inclined in the same direction for supporting a plurality of plates in inclined position within the tank, end-pieces connecting the racks, and transversely extending handles arranged on the upper side of the frame and accessible after removal of the cover.

7. A developing tank provided with a liquid and ligl1t-tight cover removably fitting the same, and a removable plate-carrying frame fitting within the tank and embodying a pair of upper and lower parallel racks, each of the latter being formed of sheet ma terial bent flatwise to form a series of plate receiving channels extending horizontally across the tank and provided with parallel similarly inclined walls between which the upper and lower edges of the plates are adapted to slidingly fit, the lower rack being perforated to permit circulation of the solution, end-pieces connecting the ends of the upper and lower racks, longitudinal reinforcing strips attached to the respective racks, and transverse members connecting the strips 011 the upper rack and providing handles for the manipulation of the frame.

8. A developing tank provided with a removable liquid and light-tight cover, and a plate-carrying frame adapted to removably fit within the tank, the frame embodying a pair of upper and lower plate engaging racks having parallel horizontal channels extending transversely of the frame for slidingly receiving the plates, the walls of the channels being approximately parallel and inclined in the same direction and means at one of the vertical sides of the frame for my hand in presence of two subscribing preventing discharge of the plates from the Witnesses. frame When the latter is removed from the tank and tilted laterally, the opposite verti- 5 cal side of the frame being open to receive l/Vitnesses:

the plates. v M. U. BAsINGER, In testimony whereof I have hereunto set R. WV. THORPE.

ALLYN SHERRIOK.

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