Patent GB-191108813-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus Suitable for Developing and Enlarging Photographic Images
Inventor: BARKER GUY STRACHAN
IPC: G03B17/50
Filed: 1911-04-08
Granted: 1912-04-09
Abstract: 8813. Barker, G. S. April 8. Automatic apparatus; enlarging; cameras fitted with provision for developing and the like. -Apparatus is described in which each small negative in a magazine camera is automatically removed in turn from the magazine and is developed, fixed, and washed, and thereafter is enlarged upon another plate or equivalent, which is itself developed, fixed, and washed. The plates are contained in pockets c, Fig. 1, of a magazine b which is inserted in the apparatus. A plate is gripped by spring fingers 3, Figs. 10 and 11, mounted on a block 4, which moves along a bar 5 under the pull of an elastic cord 6 and in its starting position over the magazine is retained by a catch 14. The bar 5 is mounted at one end to a vertical rod 27 which can be raised and lowered to various heights by different cams 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 on a rotating disk 22, which in turn actuate the end 32 of a compound lever 32, 30. The various heights to which the bar 5 is raised are determined by a rocking cam stop 56, Fig. 7, the angular movement of which is controlled by a cam 60 on a disk 22 which engages a pin 59<a> on the lever 59 connected to the cam 56 by the flexible connexion 58. The disk 22 is rotated from the main motor 15, Figs. 17 and 18, which is started from the starting-switch 50. The first cam 45 rocks the lever 32, 30 and raises the bar 5 sufficiently high to enable the spring fingers 3 to lift the plate clear of the carrier b. Another cam 49<a> operates other levers to release the block 4, which advances along the bar 5 until arrested by the pin 12 engaging the first stop 9 of a series of three stepped stops 9, 10, 11. The bar 5 then descends and immerses the plate in the developing-tank n. The adjacent developing, washing, and fixing tanks n, o, p are filled and emptied from reservoirs t, u, v, Fig. 8, by means of small pumps s connected to the receptacles by three-way cocks x. The tanks n, o, p are also provided with rotary wiping-devices r. The developing continues until the cam 46 again raises the bar 5 sufficiently high for the pin 12 on the block 4 to clear the stop 9, when it is pulled along until stopped by the stop 10. The bar then again drops to immerse the plate in the washing-tank o, and washing proceeds until the cam 47 raises the bar high enough for the block 4 to clear the stop 10, after which it is moved along as far as the stop 11 and dips the plate into the fixing-tank p. It is raised from the tank p over the stop 11 by a cam 48 and is moved along until it comes into a position in which the bar lowers the plate into the enlarging-holder between the condenser 2<a> and the enlarging-lens 2. The copying-lamp 1 is put into circuit by a brush 123 engaging a contact 122 on the rotating wheel 119, which is also driven from the motor 15. The speed of the motor 15 is now reduced by putting-in a resistance 51. This is effected by a cam 52 on the disk 22 which operates to move the switch 53<a> to the position shown in Fig. 17. At the end of the copying a cam 49 on the disk 22 raises the block 4 but the plate is released from the spring fingers and is retained by a spring catch 14<a>, Fig. 11, engaging its upper edge, and then stops into a receptacle below. The block 4 is returned to its starting position by a toothed segment 40 on the disk 22 which rotates a drum 36 on which the cord 33 is wound which passes round a pulley 34 and is fastened to the block. The drum 36 also gears with a toothed segment 38 to tension a weak spring 39 which opposes the tension of the elastic 6 in moving the block 4 step by step. For developing, washing, and fixing the plate 63 on which the negative is enlarged, three receptacles 70, 71, 72, relatively situated as shown in Fig. 20, are each fitted with travelling bands 77, Fig. 15, which dip into the wells 76 of the receptacles and are in turn brought into register with the front plate 63. The receptacles rotate on spring hinges, and the developing-receptacle is first released from its catch 171, Fig. 8, by a cam 174 on a rotating disk 98 driven by the motor 15, Fig. 18. As soon as the receptacle comes into position against the plate 63, the pinon 81 on the spindle carrying one of the driving-rollers 79 for the band 77 comes into gear with gearing 82, Fig. 7, which is rotated from the motor 15, Fig. 18. Developing proceeds until another cam 96 on the disk 98 rocks the arm 95, thereby pulling the first of three drums 88 into gear with a shaft 90, which is driven by an auxiliary motor 80. The three drums 88 are mounted on spring-retracted levers 89 and wind up cords which return the receptacles 70, 71, 72 to idle position. The drums are intermittently geared with the shaft 90 as the arms 95, 103, 104 are rocked by the cams 96, 97 on the disk 98, and the motor 80 is intermittently driven at the corresponding times and as contacts 124, 125, 126, Fig. 17, on the rotating disk 119 engage a contact arm 127. When the developing-receptacle is returned, it releases the holding-catch of the washing-receptacle 71 through a series of bolts and levers, and this receptacle is returned when the arm 103 is rocked by the cam 96 and in turn releases the fixing-receptacle 72. This receptacle is returned when the cam 97 rocks the arm 104. The receptacles 71, 72 are supplied with liquid by hand. At the end of the developing operations, a tappet 138, Fig. 8, on the disk 119 engages a pin 139 on a rotating member 140 and actuates through a flexible connexion 141 and ratchet pawl h on the magazine b, which rotates the next plate into position. After a complete cycle of operations, a bell circuit 134 is closed by a rotating pin 131, which also opens the motor circuit switch 130. The particular operation in progress at any moment is indicated by a rotating disk and a stationary pointer. The motor 15 is driven from an accumulator 16, Fig. 17, which can be reinforced by an accumulator 17 by a switch 18. The lamp 1 can be tested by means of an auxiliary switch 135, and when the lamp is in use an indication is given by the electro-magnetic indicator 136.