Patent GB-300706-A (GB)
Title: Photographic machine for taking a negative and making a positive therefrom
IPC: G03B17/53
Filed: 1927-07-22
Abstract: 300,706. White, A,. E., (American Phototure Co.). July 22, 1927. Automatic and coinfreed apparatus.-In a machine for taking a negative, and making a positive therefrom, the exposed negative is developed in situ and exposed to make the. positive whilst it is in development position. The positive may also be developed in situ. The working of the machine mav be .coincontrolled. The machine described has inter alia the following features : (1) a section of a film band is exposed; (2) an illuminated aperture is uncovered and re-covered by the lens shutter before and after the exposure; (3) the exposure is adjustable; (4) the band is stepped to bring the exposed section into development position ; and it is developed, washed and fixed by atomizing the solutions on to it; (5) the atomizing is effected by an air nozzle which is moved across the ends of liquid supply tubes; (6) the developed negative is illuminated from the back or front, or both in the case of a translucent film, and copied on a sensitized card which has been fed into position from a pack; (7) the latter after exposure is likewise developed, fixed and washed in situ by atomized solutions, and then delivered; (8) repeat positives may be produced before the machine is reset for taking another negative ; (9) the latter feature is effected by the provision of two operating shafts, one controlling the negative taking, and the other the positive reproducing mechanism, both shafts being driven from a main shaft through a movable clutch, which has to be re-set for a new negative to be taken; and (10) an electric circuit comprising a, main switch and supplementary switch for the client. The temperature of the developing solutions may be controlled, as by jacketing the supply pipes. The film 26, Fig. 5, from the spool 25a is fed between rollers 26<b>, 23<f>, through a camera chamber 25, through a chute 26<c> positioned for developing the exposed section, and wound on a roller 26e. The casing of the machine is divided into compartments by partitions. The main driving shaft 37, Fig. 6, is started when the switch button 12, Fig. 1, is pressed. The circuit may, however, be such as to necessitate the closure of a control switch by an attendant or by a coin. On closing the circuit an electromagnet. 67<c>, Figs. 4 and 6, is energized, thereby attracting a pivoted armature' 67<b> and completing a motor circuit through 67, 67<a> and also releasing a plate 67<d>, Fig. 8, attached to the armature from notches 67e in cam discs 54, 65<d> which maintain the closure of the contacts 67, 67<a> and control the movements of parts of the apparatus. The shaft 37, Figs. 6 and 8, drives through gears 38, 41 on a. shaft 39, a shaft 42 on which are two gears 43, 44 ; the latter drive, alternatively, two gears 46, 47 on a shaft 48, Fig. 9, according to the position of a clutch member 45. The gear 47 is coupled to the shaft 48 which controls the production of the negative. The gear 46 is on a concentric shaft 49 which controls the exposure and production of the positive. After completion of the negative, a cam 55, Fig. 9, on the shaft 48 moves a clutch shifter 55b, displacing the clutch 45, thereby clutching in the shaft 49, and also moving a sleeve 55<' AND ROD 55<D>, Fig. 6, to the left, pushing out a' control button 20, Fig. 1. The end of the operations finishes with the button 20 in forward position, and on restarting the mechanism the control shaft will be operated to make a repeat positive. The knob 20 is pushed in to make a new negative, thereby re-clutching in the shaft 48. Exposure control mechanism. The exposure for the negative is effected by a cam disc 50, Figs. 6, 8, on the shaft 48. The disc normally holds the spring-operated pivoted shutter 21 to cover the lens, but is notched to release it. The shutter covers and uncovers both the lens opening 15, Fig. 1, and an indicating opening 16 through which light from an internal lamp is seen. The shutter is re-closed by a disc 50b on the disc 50, the disc 50<b> being adjustable to vary the exposure. An indicator 17, Figs. 1 and 6, is also operated synchronously with the shutter. The film is moved after exposure by a cam disc 26<b>, Figs. 5 and 8, on a shaft 26<g> integral with a pulley 52 and in alignment with the shaft 39 driven from the main shaft 37. The pulley 52 is normally held declutched from the shaft 39 by a pivoted lever 53d, Fig. 7, which holds a spring lever 53 out of action with a projection 53<c> on the shaft 39. At the appropriate moment a pin 53f, Figs. 7 and 9, on the cam 55 of the rotating shaft 48, trips the lever 53d, thereby clutching in the pulley 52 and shaft 39. The pulley 52 in addition to rotating the feed cam 26b also rotates the take-up spool 26<e>, Fig. 4, by the belt 52a. At the end of the film movement, the exposed film is in the chute 26<c>, Fig. 5, for development, and the lever 53d, Fig. 7, re-engages, the lever 53 and declutches the pulley 52. The development of the negative is effected by an air-jet 29, Fig. 6, which discharges air in turn across the end of three pipes 28, Figs. 5 and 6, extending from developing, washing, and fixing tanks 27, 27<a>, 27b. The compressed air is supplied through a pipe 31, through a chamber 30, within which is a valve disc 30<a> on the shaft 48, which allows the air to pass at the proper time. The jet, 29 is reciprocated across the ends of the liquid supply pipes 28 by a cam 54 on the shaft 48, a follower lever 54<a> and adjustable link mechanism. At the end of the development, the driving shaft 48 is declutched from the main drive by the movement of the clutch 45, and the coaxial driving shaft 49 is engaged. A sensitized card for a positive picture, taken from the magazine 56, Fig. 5, is fed forward by means of fingers 56e which are moved by linkwork from a shaft 56<g>. This shaft is rotated by gearing 56<f>, 59<c>, Fig. 6, and connected linkwork 59b, 59<a> which is operated from a cam disc 59 on the shaft 49. The shifted card is engaged by feed rollers 57, Fig. 5, on a pair of shafts one of which is rotated from the main shaft 37, Fig. 6, by a gear shaft 57<a>. The card is fed into a swinging frame 58f, Fig. 5, mounted on a shaft 58<d> and fitted with a spring platen 58<a> also rocking on the shaft. The shaft 58d is rotated to press the card against the front framework 58h for exposure, by the gearing 59<c>, 58<g>, Fig. 6. Simultaneously with the actuation of the feed fingers 56e, a spring-controlled partition 66, Fig. 5. shielding the card magazine from the frame 58<f> is opened by the movement of a rod 66f. The exposure of the card is effected by a lens 60 Fig. 5, in a casing provided with a pivoted partition cap 61 and a rotary shutter 60<b>. The negative is illuminated by a lamp 23, Fig. 3, in an adjacent compartment, by a shutter 62 on the partition A, Fig. 3. A separate shutter 72 on the partition can be opened to illuminate the front of the negative if the latter is translucent or opaque. These shutters are operated from the shaft 49 by a cam 63, Fig. 6, thereon which operates link mechanism and gearing 63<a>, 63b, 63<c> to operate a spring-returned shaft 63<e>. The operating face of the cam 63 is adjustable to vary the exposure. Development of the positive is effected by admission of compressed air through a second valve 30<b>, Fig. 9, in the chamber 30 and on the shaft 49, to a nozzle 65, Fig. 5, which is reciprocated across the ends of liquid supply tubes 64 extending to the tanks 27, 27<a>, 27b, Fig. 6. The movement of the nozzle 65 on the frame 65b is controlled by another cam 65<d> Figs. 7, 8 and 9, on the shaft 49 through spring controlled follower mechanism 65<h>, 65f, 65<g>, 65<e>. After development, the card frame 58f, Fig. 5, on the shaft 58d is retracted, and the card is pushed off the ledge 58b by fixed prongs 58m, and falls into the delivery slope 13, Figs. 1 and 5. Stoppage of the machine and the electric circuit.-The machine is stopped by the plate 67d, Figs. 4, 6 and 8, on the armature. 67b, falling into the slots 67e in the cam discs 54, 65d under the influence of gravity and a spring 67f, and thereby breaking the circuits through the contacts 67, 67<a>. The circuit control system, Fig. 16, comprises a main control switch 74 which switches on the lamp 76 for illuminating the client, and enables the latter to start the machine by the switch 75. The latter completes the circuit through the coil 67<c> and the armature contacts 67, 67<a> thereupon complete the motor circuit 82, 83, 33, and the lamp circuit 23 in shunt with the motor 33. The switch 74 is opened after the negative exposure period. A supplementary circuit 79, 84, independent of the switch 75, is provided through the coil 67 and one pair of contacts 67, 67<a> to prevent the coil being de-energized by a sudden release of the switch 75 before the contacts 67 67<a> are mechanically held closed by the action of the cam discs 54, 65d on the armature, plate 67<d>.