Patent GB-677792-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in machines for making photographic prints
IPC: G03D9/00
Filed: 1950-05-18
Abstract: 677,792. Apparatus for taking, developing, and finishing photographs. KODAK, Ltd. May 18, 1950 [May 18, 1949], No. 12461/50. Classes 98 (i) and 98 (ii). A machine for making prints from an exposed light-sensitive material on a receiving sheet by rolling the latter against the former with a processing liquid therebetween includes a flat support for the exposed light-sensitive material, rails extending along and parallel to two edges of the support, a carriage movable on the rails and having a reversible power drive to enable it to be moved to and fro over the support, and a pressure roller on the carriage which, during movement of the carriage, presses a receiving sheet evenly on the lightsensitive material with a processing fluid therebetween, whereby the receiving sheet receives an image from the exposed and processed light-sensitive material. In one form, a sheet of light-sensitive material is fed from a roll to an exposure station where it is exposed and is thereafter positioned on the flat support. A pod containing a processing agent is then moved across and beyond one end of the exposed area. The movable carriage then rolls a receiving sheet over the pod and over the exposed area, the pod comprising a readily rupturable envelope containing a processing liquid. The pressure roller movable with the slidable carriage breaks the pod and smooths the receiving sheet upon the exposed material with the processing agent therebetween. After the sheet and material have been in contact for a predetermined time, a reverse movement of the carriage is effected to wind up the receiving sheet with the image thereon. Measuring rollers are then operated to unwind the resulting print first for a short distance to unwind waste material which is cut off and then for a greater distance to enable the print to be cut off. As shown, Fig. 21, the light-sensitive material M is fed from a roll 11, between rollers 12, 13, over a flat bed to roller 13a and a take-up roll 18. A receiving sheet R of paper or like material to which the image is to be transferred, is fed from a roll 19, under a pressure roller 29, between rollers 14, 15 to a rotary cutter 21, 22. The roll 19, Fig. 6, is mounted on arms 24 of a carriage 42, which is movable along the bed on horizontal rails by means of a rack 51 and pinion 52 driven by a motor 57 (Fig. 21). When the carriage moves, a pinion 46 on the carriage, meshing with a rack 45 on the bed, drives the shaft 23 of roll 19 through a belt 28 and a one-way clutch. The roller 29 is mounted on arms 30 pivoted at 31 on arms 24, and is urged downwardly by springs 32. In the starting position shown in Fig. 6, roller 29 is held up from the bed by cam surfaces 38 engaging pins 37 on arms 30; but when the carriage moves to the left, roller 29 drops on to a pod P containing reagents, and breaks it. As the carriage advances, sheet R is drawn from roll 19 (the clutch not operating in this direction) and is rolled on to the light-sensitive material M with the reagents squeezed into a thin film between them. After the image has been developed and transferred, the carriage returns. The clutch is then operative to turn roll 19 to strip the sheet R from the material M. The pods P containing the reagents are formed of paper or the like and are joined end to end and folded zig-zag fashion in a container at the side of the machine, and are drawn over the bed by an endless chain on the other side thereof, having projections engaging perforations at the joint between the pods. The chain is driven through a clutch from a sprocket driven by a chain 95, Fig. 21. The clutch is engaged only when the pod is to be replaced by another. The empty pods are wound on a drum driven through a slipping clutch. The area against which the pod rests contains no picture, so the sheet R is advanced by one revolution of the measuring roller 15, and the knife 22 rotates to remove the waste. Then the measuring roller revolves three times, and the knife again operates to cut off the picture area. To make a photograph, a main switch is closed which energizes lamps 7 and starts a motor 99 driving chain 95; this chain passes over a series of sprockets driving the various parts through electrically operated clutches, which are engaged in proper sequence and for the required times by switches operated by cams on camshafts 212, 213. The copy is placed on a transparent platen 135 at the top of the machine and illuminated by lamps 7. On pressing a push-button, a clutch is engaged so that cam-shafts 212, 213 are driven by motor 99. The cams cause a shutter 10 to open for a predetermined time to project the image of the copy through a lens 8 on to the light-sensitive material M. Clutches are then engaged so that a fresh pod is brought into position, and roller 16 is driven by chain 95 to move the exposed material M into position for treatment. The cams then close the circuit of motor 57, which drives, through a chain 56, pinion 62 meshing with the rack 51, so that carriage moves to the left. Roller 29 breaks pod P and presses the sheets R and M together with the reagent between them. A switch operated by the carriage at the end of its run actuates a relay which breaks the circuit to motor 57 and prepares it for reversal, so that, after an interval to allow the transfer of the image to take place, the carriage moves back, stripping material R from the light-sensitive material M. Measuring roller, 15 and knife 22 are then operated to cut-off first the waste and then the print. A new cycle can be started on pressing the button again, or the process may be made continuous, one area of the light-sensitive material being exposed while the previously made print is being stripped and cut off.