US957398A - Time-controlling mechanism. - Google Patents

Description

H. C. WILGOX.

TIME CONTROLLING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7, 1909.

957,398. Patented May10,1910.

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HORACE c. wILcox, or HAZLETON, PENNSYLVANIA.

TIME-CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 10, 1910.

Application filed August 7', 1909. Serial No. 511,762.

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To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE C. lVILooX, a' citizen of the United States, residing at Hazleton, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Time- Controlling Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to time-controlling mechanism applicable more particularly to photographic developing tanks, the object being to provide a mechanism which will turn the tank upside down at a predetermined time.

The invention also has for its object to provide a mechanism of the kind stated which is simple in structure, and reliable in operation, and which can be readily applied to any ordinary developing tank.

With these objects in view, the invention consists in a novel construction and arrange ment of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the drawing hereto annexed, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation, and Fig. 2 an end view partly in section, of the invention. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the clamp to be hereinafter described.

In the drawing, 5 denotes a developing tank of ordinary construction. This tank is encircled by a metal band 6 which is in two parts, the ends of which have matching outstanding portions 7 provided with registering openings to receive bolts 8, whereby the two parts are tightly clamped around the tank. The band 6 carries trunnions 9 and 10, respectively, which are in axial alinement. These trunnions are journaled in bearings formed on a support or stand comprising a base 11, and spaced cheek plates 12 rising therefrom, the bearings being made in the upper edges of said plates. The band 6 will be secured to the tank 5 at a point a little below its center of gravity, so that it will be unbalanced, and its normal tendency will be to tilt from the position shown in Fig. 1, and assume an inverted position. The plates 12 are spaced apart sufiiciently to permit the tank to swing freely therebetween. Means are provided for holding the tank in upright position, together wlth means for releasing the tank after a predetermined time, so that it may tilt and turn upside down. These means will now be described.

At 13 is shown diagrammatically a timecontrolled electric circuit closing device, or switch. This device may be a clock having its minute hand connected to one side of the circuit, the other side being connected to a contact located in the path of said hand, the arrangement being such that the circuit is closed when the hand engages the contact. The contact is adjustable so that the circuit will be closed at a predetermined time. Any other suitable time-controlled circuit closing device may be employed. The circuit includes a battery or other suitable source of electrical energy.

On one of the plates 12 is mounted a base board 1 1 carrying an electromagnet which is interposed in the circuit aforementioned, and which is therefore energized when said circuit is closed. The armature 15 of the magnet is secured at one end to a fiat spring 16 made fast to the base board 14, and at the opposite end the armature is bent in a curve in the direction of the cheek plate, as indicated at 17. The spring forces the armature away from the core of the magnet when the latter is deenergized.

To the trunnion 9 is secured a stem 18 which projects at a right angle therefrom into the path of the curved end 17 of the armature, when the tank is in upright position, and when the magnet is deenergized, the stem being then engaged by said end of the armature. On the other side, the stem engages a pin 19 projecting from the plate 12. The tank is thus prevented from tilting in either direction, and is held in upright position. When the magnet is energized, its armature is attracted, whereupon the part 17 swings away from the stem, thus releasing the tank, and permitting it to tilt on its trunnions, and assume an inverted position. The pin 19 is provided so that the tank will swing in one direction only.

In operation, the tank, containing the plate to be developed, is placed in upright position as shown in Fig. 1, and locked in this position, by the engagement of the end 17 of the magnet armature with the stem 18. The circuit closing device will be set to close the circuit at the predetermined time. When this takes place, the armature is attracted,

and the tank is released, whereupon itturns upside down by its own weight, and by so doing will cause the chemicals which it contains to become agitated, and to act evenly on the surface of the plate which is being developed, thus giving a negative which is uniform in development.

The device is entirely automatic in its action after the circuit closing device is set, and it therefore requires no watching on the part of the workman, thus leaving him free to attend to other work.

The trunnion 10 has a V-shaped circumferential groove 20 which is entered by a rib 21 located in its bearing, which prevents lateral movement of the tank, and holds it in place between the plates 12.

The device is simple in structure and reliable in operation, and it can be readily applied to any ordinary developing tank.

The drawing shows a single tank, but it will be understood that the support may be so dimensioned as to hold several tanks, the device being applied to each tank, so that they may be operated together.

1 claim:

1. The combination of a support having bearings, an unbalanced tank, a band clamped around the tank, trunnions carried by the band and journaled in the bearings, means for holding the tank stationary, and time-controlled means for releasing said holding means.

2. The combination of a support having bearings, an unbalanced tank, trunnions on the tank journaled in the bearings, a stem projecting from one of the trunnions, a holding device engageable with the stem to prevent tilting of the tank, and time-controlled means for withdrawing the holding device to release the tank.

3. The combination of a support having bearings, an unbalanced tank, trunnions on the tank journaled in the bearings, a stem projecting from one of the trunnions, an electric circuit including a time-controlled switch, a holding device engageable with the stem to prevent tilting of the tank, and an electromagnet in the circuit for withdrawing the holding device to release the tank.

4:. The combination of a support having bearings, an unbalanced tank, trunnions on the tank journaled .in the bearings, a stem projecting from one of the trunnions, an electric circuit including a time-controlled switch, and an electromagnet in the circuit having an armature engageable with the stem when said magnet is deenergized, to

prevent tilting of the tank, said armature releasing the stem when the magnet is energized.

5. The combination of a support having bearings, an unbalanced tank, a band clamped around the tank, trunnions carried by the band and journaled in the bearings, means for holding the tank stationary, and time-controlled electromagnetic means for releasing said holding means.

6. The combination of a support having bearings, an unbalanced tank, trunnions on the tank journaled in the bearings, a stem projecting from one of the trunnions, a stop on the support engageable with the stem 011 one side thereof, a holding device engageable with the stem on the other side thereof, and time-controlled means for withdrawing the holding device.

7. The combination of a support having bearings, an unbalanced tank, trunnions on the tank journaled in the bearings, one of said trunnions having a circumferential groove, and the bearing of said trunnion having a rib entering said groove, a stem projecting from one of the trunnions, a holding device cngageable with the stem, and time-controlled means for withdrawing the holding device from the stem.

8. The combination of a support having bearings, an unbalanced tank, a band clamped around the tank, trunnions carried by the band and journaled in the bearings, a stem projecting from one of the trunnions, a holding device engageable with the stem, and time-controlled means for withdrawing the holding device from the stem.

9. A photographic developing apparatus comprising a tank, pivots on the tank on opposite sides thereof and below its center of gravity, supports for the pivots, means for holding the tank stationary in upright position, and time-controlled means for releasing the holding means.

10. A photographic developing apparatus comprising an unbalanced tank mounted for rotation, means for holding the tank stationary in upright position, and time controlled means for releasing the holding means, to permit the tank to assume an inverted position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VIOLA YOUNGCORT, HENRY Prrrnn'r.

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