Patent GB-191121513-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Photographic Printing Machines.
Inventor: LAKE WILLIAM EDWARD
IPC: G03B27/06
Filed: 1911-09-29
Granted: 1912-09-19
Abstract: 21,513. Lake, W. E., [Huebner-Bleistein Patents Co.]. Sept. 29. Step-and-repeat machines. - In a machine for producing prints or repeat - designs on metal plates, stones, &c., separate adjusting - mechanisms are provided for adjusting (1) the plate holder B, B', Figs. 1 and 6, in two directions at right-angles; (2) the light chamber F' towards and from the holder; and (3) the pressure frame I<8> and pressure device to and from the back of the holder. Each adjusting - mechanism is driven by a separate electric clutch which has its own controller. The pressure device comprises a series of concentric pressure rings which are successively pressed against the back of the pressure frame I<8>. The printing-lamps can te circulated in order to produce a more even printing illumination. In operation, the controllers are all set for the adjustments required. The horizontal adjusting - mechanism of the plate-holder is started by energizing its clutch, which is cut out by the corresponding controller when the horizontal position is reached; the vertical adjusting-mechanism is then similarly started and stopped by its controller. The starting-switch of the machine is next actuated, and the separate adjusting-mechanisms for the light chamber, pressure frame, and pressure rings are automatically started and stopped in succession by corresponding controllers; the printing-lamps are then automatically switched in for a predetermined interval. The mechanism finally comes to rest, and provision is made for reversing the current in order to return the parts of the machine to their original positions in the reverse order. Plate holder and adjusting-mechanism. The sensitive plate is gripped in the holder B' between bars b, b<1>, Figs. 1 and 6, which are operated together from the handle b<11> by means of cam shafts b<2>, which in themselves are rotated in opposite directions by the opposite threads of the screws b<5>. The holder B' is adjusted vertically in the carriage C by means of vertical screw shafts c<6>, Figs. 1 and 8, which are turned by a horizontal splined shaft C' by bevel gearing c<8>. The carriage C is in turn horizontally adjustable along bearings c<2>, c<3>, Fig. 6, by means of two horizontal screw shafts D', D, which are connected by bevel-gearing to operate together. The operating-shafts C', D' are driven from the main driving-shaft E, Figs. 1 and 16, by wheels e<2>, e' which gear with the loose or driving member of the separate clutches E<2>, E<1>. The driven members of the clutches operate the shafts C<1>, D' through gearing e<5>, p<11> and e<3>, e<4> respectively. The clutches E<2>, E' are controlled by separate controllers P, N. The controller N, Fig. 22, comprises two pairs of units and fractions wheels N<1>, N<3> and N<2>, N<4>. The fractions wheel N<2> is directlv driven from the horizontal screw shaft D<1> by gearing n<13> ... n<4>, and the units wheel N' is driven from the wheel N<2> by the pinion n<4> and reducing - gearing n<17>, n<18>. In adjusting the setting-wheels N<3>, N<4> for the horizontal adjustment, the arms n<25>, n<28> carried by insulated contact rings n<23>, n<29> are rotated away from the contacts n<26>, n<27>, which are electrically connected through insulated arms n<30>, n<31> on the wheels N<1>, N<2>. The wheels N<3>, N<4> are locked by spring catches n<22>. When the holder is being positioned, the wheels N', N<2> are driven until the circuit through the contact rings n<23>, n<29> and the main circuit brushes N<5>, N<6> is completed, thereby cutting out the clutch E'. When the holder is being returned after printing, the wheels N', N<2> are rotated backwards until an insulated contact n<32> on the wheel N' completes another circuit across fixed terminals N<7>, thereby again cutting out the clutch E'. The controller P for the vertical adjustment is exactly similar, and the fractions wheel P<2> is driven from the vertically adjusting shaft C' through gearing p<11> ... p<1>, the units wheel P<1> being driven from the wheel P<2> through reducing-gearing. Light chamber and lighting-mechahism. The light chamber comprises two telescopic sections F<1>, F<2>, Fig. 6. The negative F is supported on the front section F<1> by clamping bars f<12>, f<13> which are vertically adjustable. The edges of the negatives are screened by four flexible curtains F<4> on spring rollers f<19>. The light chamber is moved by adjusting-screws G, Fig. 5, which are driven from the main driving-shaft E when the light-clutch G' is operated by gearing g<2> ... g<9>, Figs. 5, 6, and 16. The lamps F<3> are mounted on a rectangular frame h, Fig. 10, which slides horizontally on a frame h<2>, the latter itself sliding vertically on a frame h<3>. The frame h<2> is hinged to the rear section F<2>. The lamps are rotated from the operating-shaft g<8> of the light - chamber through gearing h<15> ... h<11>, which latter can he coupled to the gear-wheel h<9>. This wheel h<9> carries a reciprocating crank h<6> which operates the frames h, h<2>. The wheel h<9> is journaled on a swinging arm h<10> and is coupled to the wheel h<11> by pneumatic pressure acting on the piston of the cylinder h<16>. When the rotation of the lamps is not required, the pneumatic pressure is released, and the arm h<10> is retracted by the spring h<20>, disconnecting the wheel h<9>. Pressure devices and their operating-mechanism. The side blocks i<2>, Figs. 1 and 13, at the end of the cross-bar i, Fig. 6, supporting the pressure block I, are vertically adjustable on screw shafts i<3>, whereby the block is tilted on its own central pivot i<4>, Figs. 6 and 14. The pressure frame I<8> is moved by a screw K which is rotated from the main shaft E, Figs. 1 and 16, through gearing k<12> ... k<2> when the clutch K<1> is energized. Each of the concentric pressure rings I<1> ... I<7> is supported by an internal thread engaging with a threaded part i<7>, Fig. 14, of the frame I<8>, so that when the rings are rotated they move forward against the plate i<8>, Fig. 6. The rings are operated in succession through three double clutches L<1>, L<2>, L<3> and a single clutch L<4>. The driven members of the clutches separately drive a series of pinions on seven shafts m<1> ... m<7>, each of which is journaled in the frame I<8> and carries a pinion gearing with the pressure rings I<1> ... I<7>. Any number of the driven members of the clutches can be coupled in turn, and the driving-members are all geared so as to rotate together by connecting gears l<3>, l<4>, l<5>. The driving-member of one clutch, say L<1>, is driven from the main ring clutch M' through gearing m<18>, m<19>, m<20>, m<26>, which includes a splined shaft m<20> to allow the in-and-out movement of the pressure frame I<8>, and the main ring clutch M<1> is itself driven from the main shaft E through gearing k<12>, k<11>, k<10>, m<27>. Controlling-means for the light-chambers and pressure devices. The controllers R, S, Fig. 43, for the clutches G<1>, K' are similar to the controllers N, P. In the controller T, Fig. 41, for the pressure rings, there are two outer setting- wheels T<1>, T<2> and two inner driven wheels T<3>, T<4>. The fractions wheel T<3> is driven from the clutch M'. An insulated contact ring t<4> on the setting- wheel T' carries a series of projecting contacts t<8> which successively engage a contact t<10> on the arm t<11> of the wheel T<3>, and an insulated ring t<5> on the wheel T<2> carries another ring t‹ with seven contacts t' which successively engage a contact t<9> on an insulated arm t<12> of the driven wheel T<4>. The arms t<11>, t<12> are electrically connected, and the contacts f<7>, t<8> are spaced according to the relative speeds of the wheels T<3>, T<4>, so that the contacts t<7>, t<8> will engage the contacts t<9>, t<10> simultaneously, thereby completing a circuit through the rings t<5>, t<6>, t<4> and the brushes T<5>, T<6>, and thereby establishing circuits by means of which the ring clutches are energized in turn. In setting the controller according to the number of pressure rings required, an insulated contact arm t<17> on the setting-ring t<13> is rotated from an insulated contact t<18> on the arm t<12> which is in connexion with a main circuit brush T' through a rotating ring t" on the wheel T<4>. The arm t<17> engages the ring t<6> so as to complete a circuit through the brushes T<5>, T<7> to cut out the main ring clutch M' when the last pressure ring required has been operated. Exposure-time controller U, Fig. 39. In setting the controller, the contact u<6> is rotated from the circuit contact U<6> according to the exposure required. During the exposure after the lamp circuit v<13>, F<3>, v<14> is completed, the wheel U is intermittently driven through gearing u, u<1>, u<2> by the electro-magnet u<3>, which is controlled by the pendulum or clock-work contacts 46, 47. At the end of the exposure, the circuit through U<6>, U<5> cuts out the lighting section. Switches and circuit - changing devices. Similar switches Q, Q<1>, Figs. 1 and 42, are used for separately energizing the clutches E<1>, E<2>. When the switch Q is opened, the arms q<5>, q<6> are moved by a sliding connexion q<9> to engage the circuit contacts q<7>, q<8>, and are held by a catch q<10>. When the switch is re-closed, the arms q<5>, q<6> are subsequently retracted to break the circuit by a spring q<12>, when a solenoid q<11> is energized. Two switches V, V<1>, Fig. 43, are used to couple and cut out automatically the several clutches of the pressure and lighting sections of the machine in sequence. The switch V comprises a stationary disk v and a rotating disk v<1>. The rotating disk v<1> has two insulated rings v<2>, v<3>, which engage the main circuit contact brushes v<4>, v<5> and carrycontacts v<13>, v<14> which connect together in succession four pairs of contacts v<15> on the fixed disk v, which are connected with the clutches G', K<1>, M<1> and the