APPARATUS FOR MODIFYING IMAGES ON PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM

Abstract: A photographic exposure apparatus and method for preparing production artwork of an image to be reproduced by photo-engraving. Prior art handwork or manually operated devices employed in modifying artwork images required high levels of skill and considerable time to achieve satisfactory results The subject apparatus includes a movable panel (46) superposed on a stationary plate (42) for supporting a film (160) containing an image to be reproduced in contiguous contact with a light sensitive sheet (162) superposed on the stationary plate. An eccentric motion dial guide (74) connected with a drive motor (86) and connected with the film support panel is manually adjusted and the motor energized for orbital movement of the film support panel in a path of predetermined magnitude during exposure of the image on the light sensitive sheet.

Description: APPARATUS FOR MODIFYING IMAGES ON PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM Technical Field The present invention relates to the preparation of reproducible artwork and more particularly to an apparatus for modifying images on photographic film. In the graphic arts industry "camera ready" artwork of the image to be printed is necessary for presentation to the photographic stages of producing a lithographic plate or an engraving cut for subsequent printing. The artwork may be a design, a letter of a type font, a composition of letters or words or an entire type font. Two similar modifications frequently required are: "adding to or subtracting from" a given amount of all defining edges of the image to be repro- duced. Such modifications are commonly referred to as "swells, spreads, or plus images" or "shrinks, chokes, or minus images", respectively. Another version of the "adding to" modification of an image is creating a "shaded or shadow" area along selected edges of the image to obtain the illusion of three- imensions. In modifying an image for reproduction, particularly where more than one printing plate is necessary to print the respective components of the image in different colors, it is essential that the artwork forming the camera ready copy be capable of meeting reproduction requirements to obtain accurate registration when one color plate is print- ed over another. Background Art Prior art UoS„A. Patent No. 3,927,942 provides a centrally apertured planar base plate for holding a sheet of unexposed photographic film thereon by a vacuum source and a cable guided overlying transparent sheet supporting a film containing an image to be reproduced and moved in an orbit- al or linear direction in unison with the transparent sheet relative to the unexposed film by a control knob manually inserted into and guided along a template supported by the base. The principal disadvantage of the device disclosed by this patent is the manual operation which requires the oper- ator to achieve smooth orbital or linear motion of the film containing the image when attempting to trace a template with a mandrel. Repeated consistent and uniform plus or minus image exposures on the order of thousandths of an inch or centimeter cannot be obtained by this prior art on accoun of the flexible guide cables and necessary tolerance of at- ing parts, such as the bearings mounting the cable pulleys. Other techniques presently used for obtaining modifi- cation of artwork images include handwork methods and light diffusion methods. The handwork method requires a high leve of skill on the part of the workman and considerable time to obtain satisfactory results. The time factor is directly proportional to the number of images, such as letters for - ing words to be modified by hand. Light diffusion is accom- pushed by interposing a clear film spacer between the image bearing film and an unexposed film. The exposing ligrit is moved angularly around the films allowing the light to strik in at all angles to undercut the perimeter of the image form ing a modified image on the exposed film. This method achieves approximately one-half millimeter undercut of the image for each exposure and additional exposures to obtain further undercuts results in loss of definition and a re- suiting poor quality of image. Further, when using this method of modification it is difficult to obtain identical and predictable results. Disclosure of Invention The present invention eliminates the inaccuracies of O 1 handwork or manually operated devices including a film hold- 2 ing vacuum source by providing an apparatus having an adjust- 3 able drive guide imparting micro orbital motion of the film 4 and image being modified and further provides an accurate 5 repeatable visual indication of the magnitude of movement of 6 the film and image. 7 A generally rectangular planar base is disposed in a 8 photographic darkroom below a point light source controlled 9 by light intensity and timing devices. A planar- face plate 10 centrally overlies the base and its upper surface is scored 11 with lines representing the outside dimensions of standard 12 & film sizes. A film registration bar is supported by the base 13 adjacent the forward limit of the face plate. An upright 14 backboard, supported by the base, is provided with scored 15 lines of identical size with respect to the film position 16 lines scored on the face plate. A transparent planar film 17 carriage panel is supported by the backboard when receiving 18 an image bearing film and is subsequently supported in con- 19 tiguous overlying contact on the face plate and movable with 20 respect thereto by a film carriage support assembly includ- 21 ing control arms extending between the base and film carriage 22 for maintaining the marginal edges of the film carriage par- 23 allel with the face plate during movement of the film carriage. 24 A manually adjustable eccentric motion dial drive guide 25 having an upstanding mandrel is mounted on the base adjacent 26 the forward limit of the face plate and driven by a motor 27 mounted on the depending surface of the base for moving, the 28 film carriage relative to the face plate when the mandrel is 29 inserted through an aperture in the film carriage. 30 The purpose of the eccentric dial is to uniformly in- 31 crease or decrease the image on the film supported by the 32 film carriage when exposed on an underlying photographic 33. film wherein the amount of increase or decrease is determin- 34 ed by the manually adjustable radius of the orbital motion 35 imparted by-the drive guide πandrel. 36 Brief Description Of The Drawings 37 Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus in 8 operative position and illustrating, by broken lines, the film carriage panel when supported by the backboard; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the film carriage panel per se; Figure 3 is a top view of Fig. 1; Figures 4, 5 and 6 are fragmentary vertical cross sectional views, to a larger scale, taken substantially along the lines 4 4; 5 5 and 6 6, respectively of Fig. 3; Figure 7 is a top view of the adjustable eccentric dial, per se; Figure 8 is a vertical cross sectional view taken su stantially along the line 8 8 of Fig. 7 and illustrating the dial adjustment key in exploded relation; Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view, partiall in section, of one end portion of the register bar and ass ciated elevator; Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 10 10 of Fig. 9; Figures 11 and 12 are exploded perspective views of film illustrating the two basic functions of the apparatus Figure 13 is a top view of a film fragment containin a graphic image to be modified; and, Figure 14 is an example of a plus image formed from the graphic image contained by the film of Fig. 13. The Best Mode For Carrying Out The Invention In the drawings i Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 through 10, t reference numeral 12 indicates the apparatus which is rec- tangular-box like in general configuration located in a photographic darkroom, not shown, below a point light .sour 14 (Figs. 11 and 12). The apparatus 12 comprises a base portion 16 having a top surface defined by a planar rearwa chassis 18 joined at its forward edge to a, front planar chassis 20. The rearward edge portion of the chassis 18 i turned downwardly and forwardly at its rearward end to for a rearward wall 22 and a base support 24. The forward end edge of the chassis 18 and rearward end edge of the front Q chassis 20 are turned downwardly and joined, as by bolts 26, in flange abutting relation transversely of the base 16 with the top surface of the forward chassis disposed in a horizontal plane spaced downwardly with respect to the plane of the rearward chassis top for the purposes presently apparent. The forward edge portion of the front chassis 20 is turned downwardly and rearwardly to form a forward wall 28 and base support 30. for the base. Opposing side edges of the chassis 18 and 20 are closed by coextensive side panels 32 and 34. The base 16 is provided with an upstanding back- board 36 which overlaps, at its depending end, the rearward chassis wall 22 and is secured thereto, as by bolts 38, for the purposes presently explained. A base panel 40 (Fig. 4) overlies the top surface of the rearward chassis 18 between its forward and rearward limits and spaced inwardly from .the_side panels 32 and 34 a selected distance. An opaque, preferably glass, face plate 42, at least coextensive with the base panel 40, is super- posed thereon. The face plate 42 is scored or printed with - a plurality of lines, as at 44, terminating at its forward edge to define a plurality of rectangular-like box areas of different dimensions corresponding to standard size film sheets to be secured thereto within the respective box area during operation of the apparatus. The forwardly disposed surface of the backboard 36 is similarly provided with scored lines 45 terminating adjacent the top edge of the backboard defining identical sized rec- tangular box areas with respect to the boxed area positions on the face plate 42 for the purposes of aligning film con- taining a graphic image to be modified with unexposed film. A film carriage 46, formed from transparent plastic sheet material, having overall dimensions st least coexten- sive with the dimensions of the face plate 42, supports film having a graphic image to be modified, as presently explain- ed. The film carriage 46 is provided with an apertured for- wardly projecting ear 48 and opposing laterally directed 1 apertured ears 50 and 52 for moving the film carriage 46 2 with respect to the face plate 42 in the manner presently 3 described. The film carriage is further provided with a 4 pair of apertures 54 adjacent its forward edge for receivi 5 cooperating pins 56 secured to the forward upper edge sur 6 face of the backboard 36 for supporting the film carriage 7 when placing film thereon. 8 A shaft 58 extends horizontally between and is journ 9 led by the side panels 32 and 34 below the top of the rear 10 ward chassis 18. and spaced forwardly of its rear wall 22. 11 The respective end portions of the shaft are diametrically 12 reduced for receiving bushings 60 in turn received by suit 13 able apertures formed in the respective side panel in clos 14 " fitting relation eliminating any axial movement of the sha 15 and radial movement within the respective bushing 60. 16 A pair of upstanding posts 62 and 64 are secured to 17 the respective end portions of the shaft 58 and project up 18 wardly through loosely surrounding apertures 65 and 66 for 19 ed in the top surface of the rearward chassis 18 between t 20 face plate 42 and the respective side panel 32 and 34. Th 21 upper end portion of each post 62 and 64 is transversely dr 22 ed on an axis parallel with the planes of the side panels 23 and 34 for respectively receiving one end portion of a pai 24 of relatively small spring steel rods 68 and 69, such as a 25 length of .062 inch (.158 cm) diameter piano wire, with th 26 other end of the respective rod 68 and 69 projecting into 27 suitable aperture longitu inally formed in one end portion 28 of a pair of elongated strap metal control arms 70 and 71 29 overlying the top surface of the rear chassis 18 and proje 30 ing at their other ends a selected distance toward the for 31 ward limit of the base 16. The length of the rods 68 and 32 between the respective post and arm, is preferably 1 inch 33 (2.54 cm) . The rods 68 and 69 are staked in place in the 34. respective posts and arms. The forward end portion of the 35 control arms 70 and 71 are provided with upstanding film 36 carriage receiving pins 72 and 73 for receiving the film 37 carriage apertured ears 50 and 52, respectively. O A centrally bored cylindrical eccentric dial motion guide 74 projects upwardly through a suitable opening formed in the top surface of the forward chassis 20 and partially underlies the film carriage forward ear 48. The ' motion guide 74 is supported for angular rotation " *by an axle 76 journalled by zero tolerance bearings 78 contained by a housing 80 secured to a platform 82 underlying the motion guide 74 and secured to the depending surface of the for- ward chassis 20 in downwardly spaced relation by spacers 84. An electric motor 86, connected with a source of elec- trical energy, not shown, through a switch 87, depends from and is similarly supported by the platform 82 with its drive shaft 88 driving a belt 90 entrained in a suitable groove around the periphery of the motion guide 74. The motion guide 74 includes a body portion 91 characterized by an eccentric counterbore 92 and a coaxial counterbore 94 in its upper end portion with the counterbore 94 defining a hub 95 coaxially receiving a spur gear 96 diametrically smaller than the outer diameter of the counterbore 94. An eccen- tricity of .0625 inch (.15875 cm) for the counterbore 92 has proven satisfactory, thus providing a maximum of .125 inch (.3175 cm) movement of the film carriage 46, as presently explained. The eccentric counterbore 92 receives a dial plate 98 characterized by a downwardly and outwardly facing rabbeted edge 100 which receives, in frictional sliding relation, the inward end portion of a plurality of set screws 102 which tend to bias the dial plate 98 downwardly and maintain it within the counterbore 92 during angular rotation of the dial plate relative to the body 91 and stationary relative to the body during angular rotation of the body, for reasons believ- ed readily apparent. The top surface of the dial plate is scored with a row of indicia indicating units of measure- ments and is provided with a radially offset bore 104 inter- secting the teeth of the spur gear 96 for receiving a pinion 106 formed on one end portion of a shaft-like dial adjustment key 108 for the purposes of angular rotation of the dial DMPI IPO 1 plate 98 with respect to the body 91 and moving its zero 2 starting line indicia with respect to the zero position fo 3 modifying film images, as presently explained. 4 The drive bore 109 of the dial plate 98 rigidly sup- 5 ports an upstanding film carriage drive mandrel 110 for co 6 nection with the film carriage apertured ear 48. A zero 7 tolerance fit is formed between the film carriage ears 48, 8 50 and 52 with respect to the film carriage receiving pins 9 72 and 73 and drive mandrel 110 by a plastic material bush 10 ing 112, having a centrally apertured generally U-shaped, 11 diametric section, central portion snugly receiving the re 12 spective pin in a zero tolerance friction fitting relation 13 The bushing 112 is snugly received by the respective apert 14 in the respective film carriage ear. The bushing 112 is 15 further characterized by an annular flange overlying the 16. upper surface of the film carriage 46. 17 A register bar 114 coextensive with the width of the 18 face plate 42 is disposed adjacent its forward edge and su 19 ported for vertical movement toward and away from the plan 20 of the face plate by a pair of leaf springs 116 and 118 co 21 nected at one end with the depending surface of the respec 22 tive end portion of the register bar and secured at their 23 other ends to the top surface of the forward chassis 20 by 24 spring clamps 120 and 122. The purpose of vertical moveme 5 of the register bar 114 is to permit freedom of movement o 6 the film carriage 46 as presently explained. A pair of 7 register bar elevators 124 and 126 are slidably supported 8 by the top surface of the rearward chassis 18 for sliding 9 movement toward and away from the respective end of the re 0 ister bar 114. 1 As shown by Fig. 9, each of the elevators 124 and 12 2 are characterized by an inclined surface 128 for slidably 3 contacting the depending surface 130 of th*e register bar a 4 a horizontal portion 132 which supports the upper surface 5 the register bar in the plane of the top surface of the fa 6 plate 42 when the elevators are moved under the adjacent e 7 of the register bar with an upstanding stop 134 at its end O I opposite the inclined surface. The respective elevator is secured to the chassis 18 by a pair of pins 136, or the like, depending from the elevator and slidably received, longitudi- nally within a slot 138. A selected film registration pin bar 140 is longitudi- nally secured to the upper surface of the register bar 114 and includes a plurality of film registration pins 142, or the like, for registering films on the face plate 42 in a conventional manner. A light source intensity control 144 and a light timer 146 are mounted on the forward chassis 20 and connected with the source of electrical energy through a switch 148. A conventional dial indicator 150 is mounted in a suitable aperture on the forward chassis 20 forwardly of the film carriage 46. The indicator 150 is provided with a contact 152 abutting the adjacent edge of the film carriage 46 which spring biases an indicator arm 154 and records movement of the film carriage in thousandths of an inch or centimeter. The purpose of the dial indicator 150 is to double-check the amplitude of movement imparted to the film carriage 46 as a control measure in accordance with the desired setting of the eccentric dial drive guide 74. In Figs. 11 through 14, the apparatus 12 has been omitted for simplicity and the photographic films illustrat- ed, in exploded perspective, as they would appear when attach- ed to the apparatus. A type character is illustrated in Figs. -11 and 12 as an example of the image to be modified, how - ever, any image can be modified in the ranner presently ue- scribed. Definition of the photographic terms used hereinafter are as follows: Negative - where the image of a type character is clear on an opaque film; Positive - where the image of a type character is opaque on a clear film; Plus image - a modified film image produced by orbital motion of the apparatus from a negative of original copy OMPI wherein a uniform amount of image area has been added to a defining edges of the image on the negative; and, Minus image - a modified film image produced by orbi motion of the apparatus from a positive of the original co wherein a uniform amount of image area has been subtracted from all defining edges of the image on the positive. In practicing the invention, a film negative 160 con taining an image to be modified is attached by tape, not shown, to the smaller of the box areas revealed on the for ward surface of the film carriage 46 when supported by the backboard 36 with the position of the type character inver and the emulsion side of the negative facing away from the film carriage. A similar size section of unexposed film h ing an edge portion punched or otherwise modified for repe ed registration on the pins 142 on the registration bar 14 when the register bar 114 is lifted by the elevators 124 a 126, is disposed emulsion side up and taped on the corresp ing box area of the face plate 42. The register bar 114 i then released, after removing the unexposed film from the pins 142, by moving the elevators 124 and 126 toward the -r spective side panel 32 and 34. Best results are obtained by using high contrast fil such as Kodalith MP and MP11 line film marketed by Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, N.Y. 14650 or DuPont CBC-4 and CLF-4 line film marketed by E I DuPont Denernours & Co., Inc., 160 Hurd Drive, Irving, Texas 75062. Obviously other film with similar characteristics may be used. The film carriage 46 is removed from the backboard 36 by manually grasping its ear portions 50 and 52 and placin it in overlying position on the face plate 42 with the bush ings 112 in these ears surrounding the control arm pins 72 and 73. The bushing 112 in the film carriage ear 48 is si i larly disposed over the eccentric dial driye mandrel 110.. The film carriage 46 thus forms the fourth side of a parall ogram wherein lateral movement of the flim carriage is per mitted by the flexibility of the rods 68 and 69 and front t back movement of the film carriage is permitted by angular rotation of the shaft 58. The eccentric dial 74 is then manually adjusted by using the key 108 to rotate the dial plate 98 so that the indicia indicates a desired magnitude of movement of the film carriage 46. The motion indicator contact 152 is positioned in contact with the forward edge of the film carriage, as described hereinabove, and manually adjusted so that its indicator 154 is at zero. With the point light source 14 deenergized a trial motion movement of the film carriage is initiated by starting the motor 86 while observing the movement of the dial indicator arm 154 in opposing directions to insure the desired magnitude of ove- ment is being imparted to the.film carriage. In the event the initial setting of the eccentric dial plate 98 does not produce the desired orbital motion, the setting of the eccen- trie dial and indicator is repeated until desired orbital movement of the film carriage is achieved. Thereafter, the light intensity control 144 and timer 146 are set for the desired duration, in accordance with predetermined parameters, and activated by the switch 148 simultaneously with operation of the motor 86. The resulting exposure produces a plus image on the film 162 when the latter is developed or, con- versely, a plus image negative of the type character when using a duplicating film, not shown, in place of the film 162. Figure 12 illustrates an ident ical operation of the apparatus for produc ing a minus negat ive image on a film 164 obtained by us ing a posit ive f ilm 156 conta ining the type character . Figure 13 illustrates a fragment of a film conta ining a graphic image , such as a star , 168 to be mod if ied to form a plus image , as ind icated at 170 , where in the acute angle or points of the star image 168 produce a full rad ius line around the respective t ip of the star image . The apparatus is particularly adapted for use in mod ify- ing microc ircuitry d iagrams where in the a ir gap. between ad - j acent conductors is critical .

Claims: Cla ims 1. In a graphics modifier having a planar base defin- jng forward and rearward ends and supported by opposing side panels, a stationary face plate overlying the base and a planar transparent film carriage superposed on the face plate, the improvement comprising: motion guide means mounted on said base and connected with a marginal edge portion of said film carriage for moving said film carriage in an orbital path of predetermined magnitude; motor means drivably connected with said motion guide means; and, arm and shaft means connecting opposing marginal edge portions of said film carriage with said base for maintaining marginal edges of said film carriage parallel with the respective marginal edges of said base dur- ing motion guide means induced orbital movement. 2. The combination according to claim 1 in which said arm and shaft means includes: a shaft extending between and journalled by said side panels; a post rigidly secured to the respective end portion of said shaft and projecting upwardly through said planar base, said planar base having an aperture loosely surrounding the respective said post; an elongated plate-like arm overlying said planar base adjacent and par- allel with the respective side panel; an elongated spring steel rod extending between and rigidly secured to the re- spective said post and adjacent end of the respective said arm parallel with the respective said side panel; and, pin means removably connecting the other end portion of said arms with said opposing marginal edge portions of said film carriage . 3 . The combination accord ing to cla im 2 in which sa id motion guide means includes: a centrally bored cylindrical body projecting upwardly through said planar base forwardly of said face plate with its upper limit adjacent the plane of said film carriage, said body having an eccentric counter- bore in its upper end; axle means supported 'by the depending surface of said planar base for journalling said body; a dial plate disposed within the eccentric counterbore for angular rotation relative to said body; means maintaining said dial plate in a predetermined position, said dial ' plate having a drive bore coaxial with the body central bore when said dial plate is in a starting position; and, a drive mandrel within the dial plate drive bore for driving said film carriage. 4. The combination according to claim 3 in which said body is characterized by a coaxial counterbore inwardly of the eccentric counterbore defining a hub and further includ- ing: a spur gear surrounding said hub, said dial plate having a radially offset bore communicating with the teeth of said spur gear; and, a shaft-like key having a pinion on one end engaging said spur gear teeth for angular, rotation of said dial plate relative to said body. 5. The combination according to claim 1 or 4 and further including: film register bar means extending trans- versely of said planar base between said face plate and said motion guide means; spring means supporting said register bar means for vertical movement toward and away from said planar base; and, elevator means slidably supported by said planar base adjacent the respective end of said register bar means for supporting said register bar means in the plane of said face plate. 6. The combination according to claim 5 and further in- eluding: motion indicator means supported by said planar base adjacent the forward edge of said film carriage for visually indicating the magnitude of movement of said film carriage. 7. The combination according to claim 6 and further including: an upstanding backboard having overall dimensions at least equal with respect to said face plate supported by -14- the rearward end of said planar base; and, at least one pi on said backboard for temporarily supporting said film car riage.

Inventors: BYERS T
Applicants: BYERS T
Application year: 1980
Main classification: G03B27
IPC codes: B41B13, G03B27, G03F1