Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Apr., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 29th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 24th Mar., 1894
I WILLIAM MORRISON SIMPSON of 58 Elphinstone Road Hastings in the
County of Sussex, Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
In constructing my apparatus I use a tank preferably of metal and of rectangular
shape.
The prints to be washed are placed on a series of light open-work frames or
grids which lie horizontally in the tank one above another with sufficient space
between each to prevent any damage to the intervening prints. Each grid is
attached to a pipe placed preferably across the middle of the grid from side to side.
One end of the pipe is closed, and the other end, which is left open, projects a little
beyond the grid. Each pipe is pierced on opposite sides with a number of fine
holes so that when water under pressure is let into the pipe it will issue in a number
of fine jets parallel to the plane of the grid and over the surface of the print below.
To convey the water to the pipes I place in the tank a tube in the side of which is
a row of holes corresponding in number to the pipes, the distance between the holes
being identical with that between the grids. The open ends of the pipes are
connected with the holes in the tube by the intermediary of metal rings or washers,
each ring having a hole bored through its edge into which one of the pipes is fixed.
The object of this is to allow of any of the grids being turned aside horizontally
and independently of the others so as to facilitate the laying on and taking off of
prints. The tube is supported in the tank in an upright position on a rod, and
space is left between the rod and the inside of the tube for the flow of water, except
at the ends of the tube which are bushed to fit the rod. The tube with system of
pipes and grids attached can be raised or lowered on the rod and clamped thereon
by a thumbscrew. An inlet is provided for the admission of water to the tube.
I provide an overflow to keep the water at the proper level in the tank and to
draw the contaminated water from the bottom thereof. 1 also provide means to
empty the tank, and, if necessary, I place a strainer at the inlet to prevent the fine
jet-boles from becoming choked.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Washing Apparatus for Photographic Prints.
I WILLIAM MORRISON SIMPSON of 58 Elphinstone Road, Hastings, in the
County of Sussex, Gentleman, 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:-
In constructing my apparatus I use a tank preferably of metal and of rectangular
shape. In the tank I place a series of light open-work frames or grids to carry
the prints. The grids are severally smaller in area than the tank and are supported
horizontally one above another, with sufficient space between each to prevent any
damage to the intervening prints, in the following manner.
Each grid is attached to and supported by a pipe placed preferably across the
middle of the grid from side to side. One end of the pipe is closed and the other

page_text: end, which is left open, projects a little beyond the grid. Each pipe is pierced on
opposite sides with a number of fine holes, so that when water under pressure is let
into the pipe, in the manner hereinafter described, it will issue in a number of fine
jets parallel to the plane of the grid.
The pipes are connected with the water supply as follows.
I fix the open end of each pipe into a hole bored through the side of a stout
metal ring or sleeve, care being had that the pipe does not project beyond the inner
surface of the ring. The rings are fitted over a length of metal tube one above
another in such a manner that, while each ring fits closely to the tube, it shall be
free to turn independently of the other rings, a washer being provided at the lower
end of the tube to prevent the rings from coming off. In the tank and near the
middle of one side thereof I fix vertically a metal rod of a diameter considerably
less than the internal diameter of the tube, and I provide a metal stiffener on the
bottom of the tank having a boss to screw the rod into. On the rod I place the
tube which is bushed at each end to fit the rod so that the tube can slide up and
down, and a screw or clamp is provided to fix the tube in any position on the rod.
Holes are bored through the side of the tube so that they shall come exactly
opposite the holes in the rings (into which the open ends of the pipes are inserted
as before mentioned) when the latter are placed in position on the tube.
Communication is made with the interior of the tube through a short length of
pipe placed under the upper bushing. This pipe may be connected with a water-
supply by a length of flexible tube.
The mode of use is as follows.
The tube with system of pipes and grids attached is raised on the rod to such a
height that the lowest grid is above the level of the sides of the tank and the tube
is clamped in that position, the rod being of a sufficient height to allow this to be
done. The grids are then turned aside, all but the lowest which may be left over
the tank. On it one or more prints are placed and the next grid brought over and
prints placed on it. And so on in succession until all the grids are one above
another over the tank. The system is then lowered into the tank..
It will be seen that when communication is made with the water-supply the
water will flow into the tube, filling the space between the tube and rod, and from
the tube into the pipes and, issuing through the small holes in the latter in fine jets
over the surface of the prints, will gradually fill the tank. Thus a constant
circulation of the water will be ensured both under and over the prints. When it
is considered that the washing has been sufficient, the system may be drawn up,
the top print removed, and the grid on which it rested turned aside so that the
next print may be conveniently removed, and so on for the remainder. It will be
seen that this method ensures a thorough washing of the prints without in any way
damaging or crumpling them.
An overflow is provided so as to keep the water at the proper level and to draw
the contaminated water from the bottom. In the case of large sizes I provide a
tap to empty the tank when required. Also when required I provide a strainer at
the inlet to prevent the small holes being choked with particles of dirt.
The accompanying drawings show in Fig. 1 a vertical section of the apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a plan of a grid, pipe, and ring on a smaller scale.
a, is the tank. b, the supporting rod. c, is the tube. d, the rings. e, the pipes.
h, the bushings. J, is a jet-hole. K, is a part of the outer framework of one of
the grids. m, pipe for connexion to water-supply. O, the outlet. P, a plug to
close end of pipe. S, stiffener. t, clamping screw.
In Fig. 2 K represents the grid entire.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In an apparatus for washing photographic prints the combination of grids and
horizontal jet-pipes with rings, tube and sunport in such a manner as to permit the

page_text: entire system to be raised out of a tank so as to allow of any of the grids being
turned aside independently of the rest.
2. In an apparatus for washing photographic prints the use of such movable
combination in promoting a circulation of water between the prints substantially as
hereinbefore described.
W. M. SIMPSON,
Applicant.