Patent GB-920683-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus and method for mounting photographs in photomounts
Inventor: FLYNN FRANK MICHAEL
IPC: G03D15/10
Filed: 1959-05-12
Abstract: 920,683. Feeding sheets; feeding webs; bending. E. G. SEARY, and M. F. MICHELBACH, [trading as SEARY MANUFACTURTURING CO.]. May 12, 1959, No. 16227/59. Classes 100 (1) and 100 (2). [Also in Group XV] A method of automatically mounting photo. graphs in a mount of the type having first and second portions relatively foldable along a central transverse fold line, the first portion having a central aperture, comprises the steps of disposing the mount in a horizontal plane, moving the mount horizontally in a direction parallel to the fold line, holding the first portion of the mount in the horizontal plane during this movement and simultaneously folding the second portion upwards to substantially right angles with the first portion, positioning a photograph in registry with the aperture, moving the mount and photograph transversely of the first direction of movement and simultaneously folding the second portion into surface-to-surface relation with the first portion, and then hot-pressing the folded mount with the photograph in it. General arrangement.-As shown in Fig. 7, a machine for automatically mounting photographic transparencies includes a device 10 for separating mounts from a stack, a mount holddown device 120, a film feeding device 8, a folding device 156, 265, a heat-sealing press 4 and a shuttle device 312 for moving the mounted transparency through the press. Mount separating device.-A pile of opened-out mounts 74 (Fig. 2) having apertures on each side of the fold line is supported on a substantially circular plate 20 rotatably mounted above a surface 16 supported by the machine frame 14. The plate 20 is secured to a vertical shaft 22 driven through bevel gears 24, 26 from a cam-shaft 28 powered by an electric motor 30. The pile of mounts is held against rotation with the plate 20 by a bar 75 extending vertically down through one of the apertures in each of the mounts. The plate 20 has the peripheral shape shown in Fig. 7 being deeply recessed at 92 and less deeply at 94 where the upper face of the plate is sloped downwards to meet the lower face. A bellows 42 projects through a hole in the surface 16 below the plate 20 and is carried by the upper end of a tube 48 slidably mounted in bearings 50, 52. Suction is applied to the bellows 42 by a pump P connected through a valve V and a pipe 54 to the lower end of the tube 48. Vertical reciprocating motion is conveyed to the tube 48 by a cam 70 on the camshaft 28 through a lever 56 carrying a cam follower 58. When the recess 94 lies above the bellows 42, the latter are raised by the cam 70 into engagement with the bottom mount of the stack. The valve V is opened at this moment and the bellows is held in engagement with the mount by suction. As the bellows is moved downwards it carries the edge of the mount 74 with it, the mount being bent over the sloped portion of the plate 20 until one edge is below the level of the plate. As the plate rotates a projection 90 at the rear side of the recess 92 moves over that edge of the mount and peels the lowest mount off the bottom of the stack until it snaps down on the surface 16. After complete separation of the bottom mount the valve V is closed to allow disengagement of the bellows 42 from the mount. A weight 82 is slidable on the post 75 and bears on the uppermost mount 74; a spring 86 carried by the weight helps to keep the mounts pressed down for engagement by the bellows when the stack is low. An endless chain 98 is carried by sprockets 100, 102 and carries upstanding studs which project through a slot 116 in the surface 16. The sprocket 100 is driven through gears 110, 112 from the shaft 22. The slot 116 passes below the plate 20 and the separated mount 74 is engaged by one of the studs on the chain for transmission to the folding station. Folding and film feeding stations.-As the mount 74 is moved from under the plate 20, one side thereof is held down by two horizontal bars 140, 142 which are parallel to the surface 16. The bar 140 engages the mount at a position parallel and adjacent to the fold line. As the chain 98 moves the mount the free side thereof is bent upwards about the fold line by a plough-like folding blade 156 until it lies at approximately 90 degrees to the side which is held down. At this point the stud on the chain 98 changes direction and the mount is left stationary on the surface 16 above a slot 271 in the surface. The transparencies are in the form of a number of frames on a length of film perforated at the edges. The film is fed from a supply spool (not shown) by the device 8, Fig. 12, until the leading frame thereof rests on the horizontal portion of the mount 74 over the aperture therein, when the frame is severed from the rest of the film by scissors 251, Fig. 7, which are actuated by a cam on the shaft 28. The device 8 comprises a sprocket 162 having teeth which engage in the marginal perforations of the film and mounted on a shaft 164. The shaft 164 is intermittently rotated through gears 170, 172 from a shaft 174 connected by an electrically operated clutch 184 to a further shaft 180. The clutch 184 may be disengaged to allow manual advancement of the film by means of a knob 187. The clutch couples the shafts 174, 180 when the latter is rotated in one direction, but slips when the shaft 180 is rotated in the opposite direction. The shaft 180 is oscillated by means of a pinion 182 mounted thereon and a vertically reciprocating rack 183 operated by a lever 196 engaging a cam 198 on the shaft 28. To ensure accurate longitudinal register of the film the shaft 180 is locked against rotation once per rotation of the camshaft 28. A bell-crank lever 199 is oscillated by a cam 204 on the shaft 28 so that when the shaft 180 is stationary a dog 206 on the lever enters a slot 208 in a hub 209 mounted on the shaft 180. The dog is moved out of the slot before further rotation of the shaft takes place. The scissors 251 are synchronized with the device 8 so as to operate on the film when it is stationary. The film F, Fig. 16, is fed into a space between the upper surface of the mount 74 and the lower surface of a presser plate 230. Before severance of the transparency a post 210 having an aperture in its upper face is moved upwards through the slot 271, through the hole in the mount and presses the piece of film F bearing the transparency against the presser plate 230. Suction is applied to the film through the hole in the post which is connected through a tube 224 on which the post is mounted with the pump P, whereby a temporary seal is effected between the post and the film. When the parts are in this position the transparency is severed from the film. The post 210 is then moved downwards slightly and to the right as seen in Fig. 16 (to the left in Fig. 7), thereby sliding the transparency and mount in a direction at right angles to their previous lines of movement in the direction of the press 4. Before reaching the press the mount is folded flat by the device 265 which is associated with the blade 156, the mount being moved into a passage 279 between the device 265 and the surface 16 from left to right as shown in Fig. 8A. When the mount is thus disposed the post 210 is moved downwards out of contact with the transparency and horizontally back to its initial position beneath the presser plate 230. The vertical and horizontal movements of the post are effected by means of cams 242, 244 respectively mounted on the shaft 28. The presser plate 230 can be hinged upwards to facilitate access to the post 210. Specification 920,684 and U.S.A. Specification 2,495,142 are referred to.