Improved Appliances Adapted for Use in Conducting Photographic- dark-room Operations.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 28th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 28th Nov., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Appliances Adapted for Use in Conducting Photographic-
dark-room Operations.
I, CHARLES RALEIGH, of Johannesburg, in the South African Republic,
Milling Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to means for protecting photographic plates, films. and the
like, from the action of actinic light whilst being changed from one receptacle to
another, developed or otherwise manipulated.
In developing or otherwise manipulating plates according to the present practice,
it is usual to employ a "dark room from which actinic light is excluded; the light
available being too feeble to admit of some of the delicate operations involved
being conducted with the comfort and certainty desirable.
"
In carrying out my invention, I employ a box of special construction to serve as
a "dark room ; this box being sufficiently capacious to contain developing dishes
or tanks, as also the plates to be developed or otherwise dealt with. The sides of
the box are fitted with ruby glass or other non-actinic material. The top of the
box is provided with a loose cover of ruby cloth or other (actinic) light-proof
flexible material. A pair of specially constructed forceps or grippers, adapted to
seize and hold one or more plates, is also placed in the box. The plates.to be
manipulated, the grippers, and the tanks or baths charged with the requisite
chemical solutions, are placed in the box and the cover, applied.
By these means, the operator is enabled to carry out all necessary operations in
a fully lighted room; the grippers being grasped through the loose folds of the
cloth covering, and a plate, film or the like, being placed in the developing.or
other tank or bath, removed therefrom, or otherwise dealt with. The tanks or
baths may be of glass or other transparent material to facilitate observation of the
plates.
The operator is able to observe through the ruby glass sides of the box what is
taking place within the chamber. By the employment of a grooved and suitably
constructed carrier, twelve or more plates may be developed or otherwise
manipulated simultaneously; the whole batch being transferred from one bath or
other receptacle to another with the aid of the grippers. The flexible covering
admits of such operations being also performed manually.
In some instances, as for example where vertical tanks or baths are employed,
the sides of the box may be provided with ruby glass and the top thereof covered
with flexible material; whilst, where the baths. consist, of trays arranged one above
another, the top of the box is preferably fitted with ruby glass and the sides
thereof formed of flexible material.
Dated this 28th day of November 1805

page_text: Improved Appliances Adapted for Use in Conducting Photographic-
dark-room Operations.
I, CHARLES RALEIGH, of Johannesburg, in the South African Republic,
Milling Engineer, 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 means for protecting photographic plates, films and
the like, from the action of actinic light whilst being developed or otherwise
manipulated.
In developing or otherwise manipulating plates according to the present practice,
it is usual to employ a "dark room from which actinic light is excluded; the light
available being too feeble to admit of some of the delicate operations involved
being conducted with the comfort and certainty desirable.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section and Fig. 2 a transverse section of one form of
apparatus adapted for employment in developing or otherwise manipulating photo-
graphic sensitive plates according to my improved method.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section illustrating an alternative mode of construction ;
Fig. 4 being a corresponding face view with the cover removed.
In carrying out my invention, I employ a box A of special construction to serve
as a "dark room ; this box being only sufficiently capacious to contain the
requisite developing and other baths a¹ a² a³ a¹, as also the plates a to be developed
or otherwise dealt with. B is a space in which the plates already developed or
about to be developed may be placed. The several tanks are retained in position
by means of longitudinal bars b b, the latter being secured by swivel fastenings 6' 6'.
The sides of the box are fitted with panels C of ruby glass or other material opaque
to actinic light. The top of the box is provided with a tightly fitting lid D having
a longitudinal opening daround which is secured a loose cover D' of ruby cloth or
other (actinic) light-proof flexible material. A pair of suitably constructed forceps
or grippers E, adapted to seize and hold one or more plates, either singly or in
batches in a carrier F, is also placed in the box. The plates a to be manipulated,
the grippers E, and the baths at a² a³ at charged with the requisite chemical
solutions are placed in the box A and the cover applied. In dealing with a number
of plates simultaneously, I prefer to employ the carrier F (Figs. 1 and 2). This
carrier is provided with grooves arranged in such a manner as to maintain the plates
at suitable distances apart, so that the developing and fixing solutions may freely
circulate between them. The carrier shown in the drawing comprises a light
frame fand is furnished at the top with a projection f' with which the grippers E
engage.
In using the apparatus, the carrier F, containing the plates a, is placed in the
space B and the lid D applied and secured perfectly light-tight; care being taken
that the upper end of the grippers projects through the opening d in the lid D so
that same may be readily grasped and manipulated through the flexible cover D¹.
The plates may now be lifted from the space B and transferred at suitable intervals
to the tanks a¹ a² a³ a successively; according to the time the plates are required
to remain under treatment for developing, fixing, washing or intensifying, as the
case may be. The developed plates may be returned in the carrier to the space B
to drain. The number of the tanks may be varied as circumstances require.
In the above example, where vertical tanks or baths are employed, the sides of
the box are provided with ruby glass and the top thereof covered with flexible
material; but, in some cases, as for instance, where the baths consist of dishes

page_text: arranged one above another, the top and sides of the box are preferably fitted with
ruby glass whilst the lid or cover carrying the flexible material is situated in front
or at one side.
In this latter construction (Figs. 3 and 4), the flexible material D¹ must be so
arranged as to afford sufficient space for transferring the plates a from the space B
to the several trays a¹ a² a³ a². The trays, preferably of transparent material, are-
supported on glass shelves a³ so that the light may be reflected through the series
of trays and shelves. Each plate a is in this instance separately manipulated by
means of the grippers E; the carrier previously referred to being dispensed with.
9 g are grooves in the space B for receiving the plates a awaiting treatment. After
treatment the plates are returned to this space to drain; and with this object are
arranged on the notched supports g g¹ in such a way that their upper edges.
rest against a vertical separating piece 9 which may be carried by a rod 93.
9 is a stop for the plates being drained and 9 is a tray for receiving the
drainings.
By these means, the operator is enabled to carry out all necessary operations in
a fully lighted room; the grippers being grasped through the loose folds of the
cloth covering, and the plates, films or the like, either in batches or singly, being
placed in the developing or other baths, removed therefrom or otherwise dealt with.
Through the ruby glass sides of the box he is able to observe what is taking place
within the chamber; and in order to further facilitate observation, the tanks or
dishes serving as baths may be of glass or other transparent material.
By the employment of a grooved and suitably constructed carrier F, twelve or
more plates may be developed or otherwise manipulated simultaneously; the whole
batch being transferred from one tank, bath or other receptacle to another with the
aid of the grippers. The flexible covering D' admits of such operations being also
performed manually. If desired, the carrier may be manipulated entirely by
mechanical means. A light-tight box may also be employed for carrying the plates
to be developed, whereby the apparatus could be charged in the full light of day;
the plate-carrying box being furnished with means whereby the lid may be removed
with the aid of the grippers E.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, and being aware that developing
"
tents or dark rooms designed for the insertion of the operator's hands through
suitable openings formed in flexible material are known, I claim :-
66
1. The improved means applicable for use in manipulating sensitive photographic
plates whilst undergoing development and fixing, comprising a box, such as A,
furnished with a loose cover composed of flexible material, such as D¹, enclosing
the requisite baths, as also a pair of grippers, such as E, for working the plates,
either singly or in batches, substantially as herein described.
2. For employment in a dark room of the kind herein referred to, a carrier, such
as F, adapted for the reception of a number of photographic plates, and capable of
manipulation by means of grippers, substantially as described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 28th day of September 1896.