A New or Improved Appliance to be used in connection with the Developing of Photographic Negatives and certain other Photo- graphic Operations.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 6th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 29th Nov. 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Appliance to be used in connection with the
Developing of Photographic Negatives and certain other Photo-
graphic Operations.
1, JOHN BOULTBEE BROOKS, of Great Charles Street in the City of Birmingham,
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to he as follows:-
This invention has for its object, the automatic distribution of photographic
developing solutions, also in automatically applying, toning and affixing solutions, to
photographic prints as aforesaid.
By my invention, the developing is conducted by automatic means, through the
intervention of clock or running-down mechanism, which gives to a table or support,
upon which the developing tray is placed, a rocking motion, and if necessary, a
gyratory movement as well.
An automatic photographic developer, constructed according to one form of my
invention, consists of a rocking table or tray with middle disposed under brackets,
supported upon opposite pivot axes, carried by upright brackets, directed from the top
of a case or enclosure, wherein the running down mechanism, for giving an isochronous
or other equal time oscilliation, to the said table, frame, or support upon which the
developing tray is placed, is situated.
The tray support has adjustable rests, for the ends and sides of the tray, to rest
against, and which rests, fix and keep the tray in a determinate position, when the
same is being rocked.
The adjustment means, are operated and guided by longitudinal and transverse
screws, and rods, passing through the said rests, so that by rotating the milled heads
at the ends of the screws, the rests are adjusted to the sides of the tray.
Directed vertically downwards from the axis or axes of the said rocking table, and
through a hole in the top of the mechanism enclosing box or case, is a pendulum, with
its bob heavily weighted in order to impart to the said tray rest and table, the
necessary isochronous rocking movement.
The upper end of the pendulum, above the middle part (of it), is connected crank-
wise to a face plate, through the intervention of a curved and jointed link, which gives
to the said pendulum, on the rotation of the face plate, a swinging movement. This
face plate carries a toothed wheel and pinion upon its axis, the latter of which engages
with a second toothed wheel, whose axis carries a second pinion which engages with a
third toothed wheel, upon a third axis, carrying a ratchet wheel, whose pawl is jointed
to and carried by the third toothed wheel as aforesaid.
Surrounding this third toothed wheel axis, which has a turn or spindle connected to
it, for the winding up of the mechanism, is an evolved or coiled spring; with its inner
end, connected to the said axis, and its outer end to that of a fixed framing, so that by
rotating the said axis, which is the main one, the spring is wound up, and its stored
up energy or force, given out to the pendulum, through the intervention of the
multiplying train of wheels, or gear as aforesaid.
To reduce the running down, the mechanism is provided with a fly, in the form of
a thin plate, turning upon a pivot, with a pinion on it, gearing with a toothed wheel,
of an intermediate axis, which has a pinion, that gears with the first named toothed.
wheel.
To start the automatic developer, rotate the thumb-lever of the winding-up
mechanism, which when turned, closes up the coils of the spring, & thereby creates
the necessary motive power, for driving the pendulum.
The force given out from the spring, on the thumb lever being released, communi-
cates itself to the third toothed wheel, then to the second, and the first, rotates the

page_text: ace or crank plate, gives a reciprocating movement to the link, which being connected
to the pendulum, swings it to and fro, through an arc, and by such swinging, the tray
carrying the plate with developing solution upon it, is rocked isocronously.
In toning or fixing photographic prints, the liquid or solutions, are placed in the
tray or bath, and then rocked by the inechanism, as aforesaid.
On the appliance requiring to be stopped, for the taking out or removal of a plate or
print, I provide a turning or sliding stop, which comes under the table or tray rest;
and which rests may be fixed, instead of being adjustable, as aforesaid.
To impart or give to the said tray, a gyratory movement, instead of a rocking one,
I dispose the crank or face plate, in a plane, directed obliquely to its axis, so that the
crank pin shall describe an oblique elipse, which thus gives to the axis or pendulum,
which has a universal joint at its upper end, a gyratory movement, and through it, a
like movement to the table or tray carrier.
Dated this 3rd day of January 1890
JOHN BOULTBEE BROOKS.
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Appliance to be used in connection with the
Developing of Photographic Negatives and certain other Photo
graphic Operations.
I, JOHN BOULTBEE BROOKS of Great Charles Street in the City of Birmingham,
Manufacturer, 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 :-
This invention has for its object, an automatic apparatus, for performing various
photographic operations, such as the distribution of developing solutions, applying of
water, for washing purposes, toning and also in applying other liquids and solutions
for various like purposes.
The said appliance consists essentially of a rocking frame, provided with trunnion
centres, supported by brackets, directed from the top of going-mechanism enclosing
casing.
The rocking frame has a depending arm directed from its underside, and with the
lower end located within the framing as aforesaid.
Motion is communicated to the said arm, by a cam plate, moving an interposed link,
or by an arm or arms, on a transmitting axis.
The cam, or arm or arms, is or are driven from going or running down clock
mechanism, provided with a winding up turn, and a stopper.
In applying my invention for developing, the negative is placed within the tray, and
the solution poured upon it, or in the tray, and the appliance set rocking, by the
winding of it up.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, represents partly in elevation, and partly
in vertical section, an automatic rocker, employed in connection with the developing
of photographic negatives, and for conducting certain other photographic operations
of a like nature, and which said rocker, and its propelling mechanism, is constructed
and arranged according to my said invention.
It will be seen that the tray containing the necessary developing or other solutions,
is supported upon a cradle rest, fulcrumed about its middle, and with a pendulus like
arın, directed from the underside of the cradle rest, to within the middle of the
enclosing box framing, wherein the driving mechanism is situated, consisting
essentially of trains of wheels, with crank plate, with interposed link between it, and
the lower end of the pendulus arm as aforesaid.
Figure 2 represents a transverse vertical section of Figure 1, upon the dotted
lines A B, looking from left to right. This said sectional view, exemplifies the going

page_text: mechanism, and its connection with the pendulus rocking arm, which takes through a
hole in the top of the enclosing casing.
Figure 3 represents a like sectional view as Figure 1, but with the front plate of
the bearing and carrying plates of the going mechanism, removed, and showing the
train of reduction wheels, (through the intervention of which the rocker or cradle is
worked) governed by a fly.
Figure 4 is an underside plan of Figure 3, (partly in section, and partly in
elevation).
Figure 5 represents a top side plan of the cradle frame, showing the pivots upon
which it is mounted and the supporting bearings.
a is a rest or support, for the tray b, and is fulcrumed at a², about its middle, and
supported by opposite upright bracket bearings c, secured by feet or flanges c², to the
top side d² of the mechanism enclosing casing d.
Directed from the middle of the underside of the said rest a, and made rigid with
it, is a pendulus arm a³, with the lower end, which is connected with one end of a
connecting rod e, located within the mechanism enclosing casing, as aforesaid.
The other end of the connecting rod, is jointedly connected to the stud f2, of a crank
plate f, made fast upon the axis f³, which carries a wheel and pinion f, f g is a fly,"
on an axis g², with pinion g³, fast at its end, for controlling the running down of the
mechanism. This fly is driven from the wheel f, driving a pinion ², whose axis
carries a wheel, which gears with the fly pinion g³.
The driving mechanism consists of a power spring i, upon the outer end of the
axis, of which, is a turn ², and upon the other end is a loose wheel ³, with a fast
ratchet wheel 4, and pawl, engaging with it, so that the said loose wheel, remains
free only on winding up, and is locked to the axis, by the pawl and ratchet wheel, on
driving the wheel-work, from the opening out of the coils of the spring. is a pinion,
and is a toothed wheel, which gears with the pinion f5. Thus, power given out by
the spring, is communicated to the toothed wheel i³, which gears with the pinionj,
which drives the pinion 2, which gears with the pinion f5, that drives the pinion f*,
which gears with the pinion 2, and communicates motion to the wheel h, meshing
with the teeth of the pinion g³, of the fly. Thus it is that the tray rest is driven, and
the speed reduced and regulated.
The mechanism is stopped by the sliding inwards of the stop k, whose outer end has
a head, so that on the end of the stop coming before the vanes of the fly, the same
prevented from rotating, and the mechanisni thereby stopped.
is
To operate the rocker, the turn is rotated, when on being released, the stored up
energy of the spring, is given out through the reduction train of wheels, which
gives motion to the crank plate f, and from it, to the depending arm a³, through the
link e, whereby the frame rest a, is slowly rocked, and the developing or other
solution placed within the tray, caused to pass over the negative, or object under
operation.
The rotation of the crank plate, gives one rock or oscillation to the tray.
Figure 6 represents the going and lower portion of another form of my invention.
In this arrangement, the speed of the rocker is accelerated.
a³ is a depending rocking arm, secured at its upper end, to the underside of the
tray rest, whilst the lower end is forked, and has rollers at, at the ends of the branches
of it, and between these rollers, comes a three armed wiper cam, made fast upon an
axis, which is turned by motion communicated to it, from running down clock
mechanism, of a like construction to that as bereinbefore described, so that on the
rotation of the said three armed wiper cam f, the pendulus rocking lever a³, is forced
from right to left, and a rocking movement given to the tray rest plate thereby.
>
ン
Figure 7 represents partly in vertical section, and partly in elevation, another form
of my invention. In this arrangement, the frame rest, instead of making an
isochronous oscillatory movement, it has imparted to it, a gyratory one, so that the
solutions employed, are caused to flow in a circuitous direction over the plate, instead.
of across.
a is the rest frame, upon which the tray is placed, mounted at the summit of an
'

page_text: inclined rotatory pendulus like axis a³, provided at its lower end, with a spherical
bearing a, and at the upper part, under the rest, with a ball joint a', which works
within a cupped bearing d', at the end of an arm d², of the carrying framing d.
The ball joint a', and its axis, is prevented from rotating within its cupped
bearing d', by a pin d³, taking into an upright slot as, made within the said spherical.
joint.
The spherical bearing at, seats itself within a socketed recess, formed within the
top side of a crown or other wheel 1, working within the framing 12, and receiving its
motion from a pinion or wheel, at the end of a train of reduction wheels, with a
governing fly, as described in the preceding arrangement.
On the wheel being driven, or motion being communicated to it, the same rotates,
and gives to the inclined axis a³, a circular movement, and in consequence of the rest
framing a, coming above the joint, the said rest framing is made to gyrate about a
common centre.
Figure 8 represents partly in elevation, and partly in vertical section, a gyratory
developer or washer, constructed according to a modification of the last named form
of my invention. In this arrangement, the joint is at the lower end of the inclined
axis, and the bearing near the upper end, and adjacent to the rest plate. In this
arrangement, the gyratory movement, is less positive than that of the former, being a
combination movement between gyratory and rocking.
a is the rest framing of the tray, a³ an inclined axis, a' a joint, working within a
cupped bearing d', supported by an arm d², of the framing d. a is a bearing sleeve,
wherethrough the upper part of the inclined axis a³, passes; and which sleeve, takes
within a socket, disposed in an excentric position upon the top face of a driven
wheel, whose motion is communicated from a train of reduction wheels, whose
motive power is preferably that of a spring, alike unto that described and represented
in the first arrangement.
By communicating motion to the said wheel 1, from gear, whose running down, is
preferably governed by a fly, the rest frame a, is caused to gyrate or move in an
undulatory circular manner.
Instead of the rest frame being directed at right angles to the inclined axis, it may
be made to make an acute or other angle with it, and driven from a pinion, which
rolls upon the face of an undulatory shaped toothed wheel. It is also understood that
the axis has a joint like unto Figure 7.
Instead of an undulatory toothed wheel, an undulatory grooved cam, may be
employed, and with the end of the spindle, working freely within the said groove.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First: An automatic rocking appliance, for performing certain photographic
operations, such as developing, toning, and washing, consisting of a rocking rest
frame or bed, oscillated or rocked by a pendulus and oscillating arm, driven from,
going or running-down clock mechanism, substantially as described and set forth in
Figures 1 to 5.
Secondly: An automatic rocker, for the purpose as described in the preceding
claim, oscillating the bed or tray supporting frame, by a pendulus arm, propelled by
running down or clock mechanism, and regulated by a fly, as described and set forth
in Figures 1 to 5.
Thirdly-The combination with a rocker, of the construction as herein described,
of a crank, or crank plate, connecting link, and running down clock mechanism,
stopped by a bolt or catch, as set forth in Figures 1 to 5.
Fourthly A rocker or appliance for distributing liquids, for performing various
photographic operations, communicating motion to the rocking arm, by means
constructed, arranged, and working, substantially as described and set forth in
Figure 6.
Fifthly -In an automatic appliance for performing certain photographic operations,

page_text: as aforesaid, imparting to the tray rest, or rest frame, a gyratory movement, by
an inclined axis, and joints and bearings, arranged and working, substantially as
described and set forth in Figure 7.
Sixthly A gyratory appliance, for performing operations as aforesaid, having a
tray rest, or rest frame, with an inclined axis, and which tray rest, or rest frame, may
be disposed at right angles to it, or it may make an acute or other angle with it, as
set forth in Figures 7 and 8.
Seventhly-A gyratory appliance for performing operations as aforesaid, consisting
of a tray rest, with an inclined axis, jointed at its lower end, and having its bearing at
its upper end, substantially as set forth in Figure 8.
Eighthly Driving the inclined axes of gyratory appliances for the purpose as
aforesaid, by means of wheels, cam plates, or their equivalents, in conjunction with
bearings for sockets, substantially as set forth and particularly in Figures 7 & 8.
Ninthly The improvements in gyratory appliances, for performing certain
photographic operations, as described, and set forth in Figures 7 and 8, and the last
paragraph of the Specification, preceding the preamble to the claims.
Dated this 3rd day of October 1890
JOHN BOULTBEE BROOKS.
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street. Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.