A New or Improved Process for the Treatment of Sensitized Photographic Paper.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Process for the Treatment of Sensitized
Photographic Paper.
I, ARTHUR SCHWARZ, of Berlin-Schoneberg, Germany, Works Manager, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
In the printing of photographs on a large scale the vertically suspended paper
from the roll is after exposure continuously fed by suitable rollers through the
various baths containing the solutions used for developing toning and fixing the
photographs. The chief defect of this method is that the photographs are only
visible when the paper strip is moved out of each bath, which compels the opera-
tor to exercise a considerable amount of watchfulness and care, as should he
not have properly timed the passage of the paper through the different baths
the whole strip of photographs would be hopelessly spoiled. The object of this
invention is to remedy this defect by causing the paper roll to remain constantly
visible.
In carrying my invention into practice I provide a number of long and flat
receptacles or pans which are superposed and fixed to a frame in such a manner
as to allow a clear interval between such two adjoining baths, so that the operator
may conveniently see the surface of each bath. Above each bath and at both ends
thereof feed-rollers are arranged and feed the paper strip from the paper roll
which is say on the left hand side above the uppermost bath through such bath
from the left to the right hand end thereof and then back to the left hand-end of
the second bath through the latter and out of the right hand end of the same
in order to be brought back to the left hand end above the third bath and so on.
Guide rollers are also provided at the places where the paper strip passes into
the next bath. The axes of the feed rollers which operate conjointly with the
guide rollers are provided with bevil wheels gearing with similar horizontal
wheels keyed on a vertical shaft mounted on a step bearing and supported by the
frame aforesaid; a rotary motion being imparted to such shaft by any suitable
driving gear. Should the operator deem it necessary to shorten the stay of the
paper strip in one of the baths, he need only raise the same out of the latter by
means of a rod or stick.
As the paper strip issues from the last bath it is conveyed through the flue
of a drying apparatus where it is dried and finally wound up in the form of a
roll.

page_text: A New or Improved Process for the Treatment of Sensitized
Photographic Paper.
I, ARTHUR SCHWARZ, of Berlin-Schoneberg, in the German Empire, Manager
of Works, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
-
Heretofore in order to produce a large number of photographs, simultaneously,
the sensitized paper strip had to be conveyed by mechanical means through the
different baths required for developing, toning fixing and washing purposes.
The greater the production the larger had to be the baths and as in the former
treatment the paper strip was guided by a vertical band, the depth of these baths
was limited and hence they had to be increased in number thus requiring a con-
siderable space.
Moreover, in order to guide the paper strip safely through the baths a travelling
band was used and as it passed from one bath into the other it carried with it a
certain quantity of the liquid contained in one of these baths into the following
bath and as it is obvious that the cleaner the solution in a bath, the more efficient
it is and the longer it will last, the former modus operandi was very defective.
This invention has for its object to remedy these defects and for this purpose
the baths are so arranged and superposed as to dispense with the use of a travel
ling band passing from one bath to the other without interfering with the con-
tinuous feed and passage of the paper strip through the different baths which.
according to this invention takes place in a zig-zag direction.
The accompanying drawing is a sectional elevation illustrating my improved
arrangement.
The
This arrangement consists of four superposed baths A, I II III and IV.
By way of example the first two baths may serve for toning and fixing purposes,
while the two lower baths may serve merely for washing purposes.
I may obvi-
ously use any number of superposed baths either for developing toning, fixing or
washing. On each side of bath I are arranged guide-rollers a a¹ made of material
capable of withstanding the action of the liquids in the first two baths. Near
the side of the adjoining bath below is mounted above the same a feed roller a.
On the left hand side of bath I is fixed a bracket carrying the paper band P
on which the photographs are printed and which is wound up in the shape of a
roll upon a suitable axis or rod. From this roll, the paper band or strip is con-
veyed down to the lowermost feed roll over a number of guide-rollers a a¹ and
feed rollers a² in such a manner as to take a zig-zag course from the guide roller a
on one side of the baths to the guide-roller a¹ on the other side of the same.
paper band P will thus pass as shown in the drawings from the roller a to the
roller a of bath I through the solution contained therein then down between
roller a and roller a¹ of bath II so as to pass through the liquid contained in the
same whence this paper band P passes over the roller a of bath II on its way to
bath III between the rollers a³ and a¹, through which bath it passes and from
which it makes its exit over roller a¹ in order to pass over roller a² between
rollers a and a¹ through bath IV and then over roller a² at the other end of
such bath onto the drying apparatus. Where the paper band P passes into the
next bath, it is guided between a guide roller such as a² and a feed roller such as a²
which imparts motion thereto; the guide rollers a or a¹ which operate in conjunc-
tion with the feed-rollers a³ are provided with bevil wheels 6 meshing with the bevil
wheels b¹ of the vertical shafts C driven by bevil or other gearing as shown in

page_text: the drawing by way of example. The attendant can in consequence of this
arrangement, watch the action of the solutions on the paper throughout the
whole lengih of the baths and thus ascertain that such solution is of suitable com-
position. Throughout all its stages, the state of the photographic paper band can
be watched at every moment. Should the portion of the paper band which is
being treated in one of the baths say bath II for instance, have to be separately
withdrawn from such bath the operative raises that portion with a stick and sus-
pends it in the position shown in dotted lines above bath II.
The arrangement of the baths in superposed order not only economizes a con-
siderable amount of space but enables one attendant to have the whole series
under control. In the two lower baths III and IV where the paper band is
finally washed, water is caused to run continuously in a contrary direction to
that of the paper band, this water being supplied by the perforated pipe a run-
ning along bath III down the pipe e into the bath IV and escaping finally out
of the discharge pipe f. The flow of the water as well as the direction of motion
of the band are fully indicated by arrows in the drawing. This method of wash-
ing the paper band is highly effective and if desired the two baths may be tilted
in order to increase the effect.
As the paper band issues from bath No. IV, it is passed through the flue
pipe T of a heating appliance of the kind shown in the drawing, in order to be
thoroughly dried after which it is wound up on an axis in the form of a roll W.
This heating appliance to which I lay no claim may obviously be of any suitable
construction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. An apparatus for the treatment of photographic paper bands moving con-
finuously throughout a number of superposed baths containing solutions for
developing, toning & fixing and water for washing purposes, with the aid of
suitable rollers and gear and in such a manner that the operative or attendant
may be able to have all the baths under his control and to continually watch all
the stages of such treatment, substantially as herein described and shown.
2. In apparatus of the kind above claimed, the process of washing the paper
band by means of a stream of water running continuously in a direction opposite
to that of the paper band, substantially as herein described and shown.
Dated this 3rd day of March 1898.