An Improved Photographic Printing Apparatus.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Photographic Printing Apparatus.
I, EMIL BUHLER, of 8, Weberstrasse, Heidelberg, in the Grand-Duchy of Baden,
German Empire, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:
This invention relates to an apparatus for copying photographs by aid of
artificial light and the purpose proper of my invention is to enable an unskilled
person to easily determine the time necessary for obtaining a good copy. I attain
that object by means of the improved apparatus represented in the accompanying
drawing, in which similar letters denote similar parts throughout the several
views, and in which
Figure 1 is a side-view of said apparatus;
Figure 2 is a back-view of the same;
Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, but the vertical casing E and the front
part of the horizontal conical casing B being in section;
Figure 4 is a plan of the parts shown in Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a plan of the parts shown in Figure 2; and
Figure 6 is a horizontal section in line 7-8 of Figure 1.
My improved apparatus consists in general of three principal parts, i.e. the
vertical casing A with its support or base, the vertical casing E arranged at the
side of said casing A, and the conical horizontal casing B arranged at another
side of the said casing A. The rear end of the casing B communicates with the
casing A, the position of height of the respective opening being such that
the flame of a lamp placed into the casing A enlightens also the interior of the
casing B. The front end of the latter is furnished with a frame C having at its
upper part two angular pieces k holding a movable plate k. The plate k may
be moved from the position shown in Figure 3 to that shown in Figure 1, and
when in this position (Fig. 1) it is secured in place by a hook ³. To hold the
photograph etc. to be copied the plate & is furnished with a movable plate h which
is held and guided by some rods passing through the plate k. Springs 2¹2
encircling two of said rods tend to move the plate h off the plate k, or to press the
plate h against the frame C respectively.
The support or base of the casing forms at the same time the oil-basin (v³,
Figs. 2 and 3) for the lamp y. However, between the basin v¹ and the burner of
the lamp another basin is provided, which communicates with an outer
reservoir S (Figs. 2, 3 and 6) by means of pipes s¹s. The reservoir S and the
basin u are filled with water, the object being to keep the heat of the flame off
the oil by letting it be caught up by the water and causing the latter to circulate,
so that the heated water passes through the pipe s2 into the reservoir S where it
cools down whereas the cooled water passes through the pipe s¹ into the basin u.

page_text: The communication between the lamp-casing A and the conical casing B may
be interrupted by a flap D (Figs. 1 and 3) adapted to swing around an axle located
at the lower end of said flap. Said axle projects at one end beyond the casing B,
and is provided at said end with a disk N and a lever or arm 0, the latter carrying
a ring with a net P. The latter serves for the reception of a ball that is intro-
duced into the casing E, and is made to roll along and through a way or channel
of spiral form. Said way or channel is formed by a strip of metal wound around
the casing or cylinder E, and the outer or open side of the channel is closed
by an envelope or cover R of felt, the object of this material being to produce
friction with the ball, and thus to lengthen the time of movement of the latter.
The ball leaves the said spiral way at , Fig. 1. To further lengthen the time of
movement of the ball I prefer to compose the spirally way of descending parts and
of horizontal or even ascending parts: in other words I interrupt the properly
descending way by horizontal or even ascending parts, as distinctly represented
in Figure 3. The ball when leaving the spirally way at a falls into the net P;
and owing to the weight of the ball the lever or arm O is swung downwards, and
the axle holding the flap D is turned in such a direction that the flap 1) which up
to then was located about parallel to the lower wall of the casing B is raised so
as to interrupt the communication between A and B, or to prevent the light of
the flame of the lamp from acting further upon the photograph etc. to be copied.
The apparatus ER is furnished with a device allowing of predetermining the
time of movement of the ball, or the time of exposure of the photograph
respectively. Said device is constructed as follows:-
A part of the felt-envelope or cover R is replaced by a vertical strip of sheet-
metal having as many holes 1 2 3
16 (Fig. 1) as there are
convolutions in the spiral way afore described. The sides of said strip are formed
into guides for a slide W having in its middle part a hole affording access to one
of the holes 1-16 of the said strip, but covering two holes above the respective
one, and two below the same. The slide W serves for facilitating the introduction
of the ball into a predetermined hole, such means being necessary as the apparatus
is used in a dark room,
At a side of the strip of sheet-metal described in the preceding paragraph the
apparatus is provided with a vertical axle having at its lower end an angular lever
or arm L (connected to the disk N by means of a link M), and having distributed
upon its entire length or height 16 pins J1 J2 J3
J16 each
of which is adapted to take into the spiral way of the casing E through a suitably
arranged slit (see Figure 1). The disk N forms a connection between said axle
(with its pins) and the lever or arm 0 (with its net P), the connection being such
that said pins take through the slits, or into the spiral way respectively, as long as
the net P is in the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. During that time
the flap D is in its upright position, so that the light of the lamp of the casing A
cannot pass into the casing B; the photographs etc. to be copied should therefore
be placed into the copying-frame during that time. This being done, the flap D
is turned down by bringing the net P below the exit of the spiral way, when
at the same time the ball (which previously was introduced into the spiral way
through any of the holes 1-16, and kept back by the respective pin) is released
and commences its downward way. The time of exposure depends on the time of
movement of the ball, and ends when the ball falls down into the net P, because
in the next moment the lever or arm O is turned, and the flap D is raised, as afore
described.

page_text: I, EMIL BUHLER, of 8, Weberstrasse, Heidelberg, in the Grand-Duchy of Baden,
German Empire, 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 relates to an apparatus for copying photographs by aid of
artificial light and the purpose proper of my invention is to enable an unskilled
person to easily determine the time necessary for obtaining a good copy. I attain
that object by means of the improved apparatus represented in the drawings sent
in with the Provisional Specification, in which similar letters denote similar parts
throughout the several views, and in which:
Figure 1 is a side-view of said apparatus,
Figure 2 is a back-view of the same;
Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, but the vertical casing E and the front
part of the horizontal conical casing B being in section;
Figure 4 is a plan of the parts shown in Fig. 1;
Figure 5 is a plan of the parts shown in Fig. 2; and
Figure 6 is a horizontal section in line 7-8 of Figure 1.
My improved apparatus consists in general of three principal parts, i.e. the
vertical casing A with its support or base, the vertical casing E arranged at the
side of said casing A, and the conical horizontal casing B arranged at another
side of the said casing A. The rear end of the casing B communicates with the
casing A, the position of height of the respective opening being such, that
the flame of a lamp placed into the casing A enlightens also the interior of the
casing B. The front end of the latter is furnished with a frame C having at its
upper part two angular pieces k¹ holding a movable plate k. The plate k may
bc moved from the position shown in Figure 3 to that shown in Figure 1, and
when in this position (Fig. 1) it is secured in place by a hook 3. To hold the
photograph etc. to be copied the plate is furnished with a movable plate h which
is held and guided by some rods passing through the plate k. Springs
encircling two of said rods tend to move the plate h off the plate k, or to press the
plate h against the frame C respectively.
The support or base of the casing A forms at the same time the oil-basin (v³,
Figures 2 and 3) for the lamp y. However, between the basin v¹ and the burner of
the lamp another basin u is provided, which communicates with an outer
reservoir S (Figures 2, 3 and 6) by means of pipes s¹ s². The reservoir S and
the basin u are filled with water, the object being to keep the heat of the flame
off the oil by letting it be absorbed by the water and causing the latter to circulate,
so that the heated water passes through the pipe into the reservoir S where it
cools down, whereas the cooled water passes through the pipe s¹ into the basin u.
The communication between the lamp-casing A and the conical casing B may
be interrupted by a flap D (Figures 1 and 3) adapted to swing around an axle
located at the lower end of said flap. Said axle projects at one end beyond the
casing B, and is provided at said end with a disc N and a lever or arm o, the latter
carrying a ring with a net P. The latter serves for the reception of a ball that
is introduced into the casing E, and is made to roll along and through a way or
channel of spiral form. Said way or channel is formed by a strip of metal wound
around the casing or cylinder E, and the outer or open side of the said channel
is closed by an envelope or cover R of felt, the object of this material being to
produce friction with the ball, and thus to lengthen the time of movement of the

page_text: latter. The ball leaves the said spiral way at x, (Figure 1). To further lengthen
the time of movement of the ball I prefer to compose the spiral way of descending
parts and of horizontal or even ascending parts; in other words I interrupt the
properly descending way by horizontal or even ascending parts, as distinctly
represented in Figure 3. The ball when leaving the spiral way at a falls into
the net P; and owing to the weight of the ball the lever or arm O is swung down-
wards, and the axle holding the flap 1) is turned in such a direction that the flap D
which up to then was located about parallel to the lower wall of the casing B is
raised so as to interrupt the communication between A and B, or to prevent the
light of the flame of the lamp from acting further upon the photograph etc. to be
copied.
The apparatus E R is furnished with a device allowing of predetermining the
time of movement of the ball, or the time of exposure of the photograph respectively.
Said device is constructed as follows:-
A part of the felt envelope or cover R is replaced by a vertical strip of sheet-
metal having as many holes 123
16 (Figure 1) as there are
convolutions in the spiral way afore described. The sides of said strip are formed
into guides for a slide W having in its middle-part a hole affording access to one of
the holes 1-16 of the said strip, but covering two holes above the respective one,
and two below the same. The slide W serves for facilitating the introduction of
the ball into a predetermined hole, such means being necessary as the apparatus
is used in a dark room.
At a side of the strip of sheet-metal described in the preceding paragraph the
apparatus is provided with a vertical axle having at its lower end an angular lever
or arm L (connected to the disk M by means of a link N), and having distributed
J16 each
upon its entire length or height 16 pins J1 J2 J3.
of which is adapted to take into the spiral way of the casing E through a suitably
arranged slit (see Figure 1). The disc N forms a connection between said axle
(with its pins) and the lever or arm 0 (with its net P), the connection being such
that said pins take through the slits, or into the spiral way respectively, as long
as the net P is in the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. During that
time the flap D is in its upright position, so that the light of the lamp of the
casing A cannot pass into the casing B; the photographs etc. to be copied should
therefore be placed into the copying-frame during that time. This being done,
the flap D is turned down by bringing the net P below the exit a of the spiral way,
when at the same time the ball (which previously was introduced into the spiral
way through any of the holes 1-16, and kept back by the respective pin) is
released and commences its downward way. The time of exposure depends on
the time of movement of the ball, and ends when the ball falls down into the net P,
because in the next moment the lever or arm O is turned, and the flap D is raised,
as afore described.
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:
1. In a copying-apparatus for photographs and the like, the combination with
a casing; a lamp arranged within said casing; another casing located in front
of the burner of said lamp; a flap arranged in said other casing; and adapted
to keep the light emitted by the lamp off the other casing: a third casing forming
a spiral way; a ball adapted to roll down upon said spiral way, and a lever con-
nected to said flap, and extending below the exit of the spiral way, substantially
as described.
2. In a copying-apparatus for photographs and the like, the combination with a
casing; a lamp arranged within said casing; another casing located in front of the
burner of said lamp; a third casing forming a spiral way; a ball adapted to roll
down upon said spiral way; a lever terminating below the exit of said way, and
adapted to catch the said ball; a flap arranged in said other casing; and secured

page_text: to the axle of said lever; and means for keeping the ball back within the casing
until said flap is opened so as to allow of the light emitted by the lamp passing
into the said second casing, substantially as described.
3. In a copying-apparatus for photographs and the like, the combination with
a casing; a lamp arranged within said casing; another casing located in front of
the burner of said lamp; a copying frame attached to the outer end of said other
casing a flap arranged within the latter and adapted to keep the light emitted
by the lamp off said frame; a third casing forming a spiral way, a ball adapted to
roll along the latter; a lever connected to said flap, and terminating below the
exit of said spiral way; and a vertical series of openings located at the outer side
of said third casing, and serving for the introduction of the ball into the spiral
way, substantially as described.
4. In a copying-apparatus for photographs and the like, the combination with a
casing; a lamp arranged within said casing; another casing located in front
of the burner of said lamp; a flap arranged in said other casing; and adapted to
keep the light emitted by the lamp off the other casing; a third casing forming
a spiral way; a ball adapted to roll down upon said spiral way, and a lever con-
nected to said flap, and extending below the exit of the spiral way, said spiral way
being composed of descending and ascending parts, substantially as described.
5. In a copying-apparatus for photographs and the like, the combination with
a casing; a lamp arranged within said casing; another casing located in front
of the burner of said lamp; a flap arranged in said other casing, and adapted to
keep the light emitted by the lamp off the other casing; a third casing forming
a spiral way; a ball adapted to roll down upon said spiral way,
and a lever connected to said flap, and extending below the exit of
the spiral way, the outer wall of said spiral way being formed by a layer of felt,
substantially as described.
6. In a copying-apparatus for photographs and the like, the combination with
a casing; a lamp arranged within said casing; another casing located in front of
the burner of said lamp; a flap arranged in said other casing; and adapted to
keep the light emitted by the lamp off the other casing; a third casing forming a
spiral way; a ball adapted to roll down upon said spiral way, and a lever con-
nected to said flap, and extending below the exit of the spiral way; the basin of
said lamp having a lower compartment for the reception of the oil and an upper
compartment for the reception of water; a reservoir for the water, and pipes con-
necting said reservoir with said upper compartment so as to allow of a circulation
of the water, substantially as described.
;
7. In a copying-apparatus for photographs and the like, the combination with a
casing a lamp arranged within said casing, another casing located in front of
the burner of said lamp; a copying frame attached to the outer end of said other
casing; a flap arranged within the latter, and adapted to keep the light emitted.
by the lamp off said frame; a third casing forming a spiral way; a ball adapted
to roll along the latter; a lever connected to said flap, and terminating below the
exit of said spiral way; and a vertical series of openings located at the outer side
of said third casing, and serving for the introduction of the ball into the spiral
way; a vertical axle arranged at the side of said series of openings and having
pins adapted to take into the spiral way and to keep said ball back until said axle
is turned, and means connecting said axle with the flap, substantially as described.
8. In a copying-apparatus for photographs and the like, the combination with
a casing; a lamp arranged within said casing; another casing located in front of
the burner of said lamp; a copying frame attached to the outer end of said other
casing; a flap arranged within the latter, and adapted to keep the light emitted
by the lamp off said frame; a third casing forming a spiral way; a ball adapted
to roll along the latter; a lever connected to said flap, and terminating below the
exit of said spiral way; and a vertical series of openings located at the outer side
of said third casing, and serving for the introduction of the ball into the spiral
way, and a slide adapted to be moved along upon said series of openings, and

page_text: having an opening adapted to afford access to one of said openings, substantially
as described.
"
Dated this 4th day of April 1898.
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
4, Corporation Street, Manchester, Agents for the Applicant.