Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd July, 1887
Complete Left, 12th Mar., 1888
Complete Accepted, 13th Apr., 1888

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Combined Folding Metal Washing, Draining, and Drying Rack
for Photographic Use.
1 WILLIAM TYLAR of 31 Yates Street Aston, Birmingham, Dealer in Microscopic
& Photographie Apparatus, and Commission Agent 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 plate racks used in photography; and consists in providing
a skeleton framed metal rack, in which the plates are isolated from each other, and
their working surfaces are preserved from all contact with the metal of which the
rack is composed, thus preventing scratching or staining.
Drying and draining racks have hitherto been made of wood, or of corrugated
sheets of metal. These are open to several objections; the wooden ones, when
immersed in fluids, swell, and the liquids used, penetrate the wood and make it liable
to stain the plates. The corrugated metal racks pierced or otherwise, are objectionable,
because they hinder the air having free access to the plates, and thus requires a long
time for the plate to dry, and further, the air coming from one direction only, the
drying is unequal and causes stains; the plates coming into contact with the metal
itself, is also an objection. My invention is intended to remedy these evils, and
specially designed to allow a free current of air to penetrate between the plates in all
directions.
This accomplish by using a specially made wire or thin metal (sheet) rack or
grooving, covered with india-rubber, gutta-percha, celluloid or other suitable soft and
waterproof material. Wherever the surface of the plates rest, it rests against such
covered parts. This grooving can also be used in plate boxes, or other photographic
goods, in which it is necessary to isolate plates.
Handles are attached and also a trough, where it is required to catch drainings
from the plates, also struts to give rigidity to the frame when open.
Having now described the nature of this my said invention, I will proceed to more
fully explain it, having reference to the accompanying illustrative sheets of drawings
upon which are figures and letters of reference, similar letters referring throughout
the several views to the same thing or part.
Figs. 1 & 2, is a side and end elevation of a rack, constructed according to this my
invention.
Fig. 3 is a plan of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a cross section of Fig. 2 upon line A-B.
Fig. 5 shews in detail the contact covering, and the division prongs.
Fig. 6 shows the method of folding up the rack.
Fig. 7 shews modified form of rack, without the draining tray, and with fixed
struts.
Fig. 8 is a side elevation of Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 shews a plan of Fig. 7.
Fig. 10 is a sectional plan of Fig. 8 upon line C-D.
a, a are the sides of a skeleton framework of wire or narrow strip metal. bis a
trough or pan to receive and..contain. the drainings from the plates, when the rack is
c, is an hinge joint formed upon the trough, into which the lower part of the
sides
a¹ engage.
At the upper part of such sides are provided handles d, by which
the rack can be handled or carried about.
in use.
Uy

page_text: I next provide division prongs or projections for isolating the plates, and
for allowing a free current of air to pass between them. This I prefer to do by
forming upon a strip of metal, teeth or prongs e, at regular intervals along its length,
as seen for instance, in detail Fig. 5, f, being the body of the strip, and e the prong.
Instead of the sheet metal prongs, I may form such prongs by bending wire into such
shapes, or by soldering wire pegs to a strip, but the metal (sheet) prongs as shewn, are
most convenient and economical. I next cover such prongs with indiarubber tubes g;
or such tubes may be of gutta-perclia, or other similar suitable waterproof material.
These tubes serve to prevent contact of the surface of the plates with the metal.
At h, I have shewn in dotted lines the position of the plate when in the rack,
where it will be seen that the said plate is preserved from metallic contact, except upon
a narrow portion of its edge, which is immaterial.
In Figs. 1, 2, 3, & 4 it will be seen I have shewn three sets of division prongs,
while in Figs. 7, 8, 9, & 10 I have shown four sets of such prongs, the plate h in the
latter case, resting upon the two cross wires k¹. The number and position of these
sets of prongs may be varied as may be desired.
Further, in cases where it is desirable that the rack should be made to fold up for
compactness during transit &c., I provide the struts i, so that they may be passed
into the tubular parts; as shown; or if preferred in order to avoid risk of loss, one
end of such strut may be permanently attached to the side a, and the other side would
be readily sprung into its tubular part.
In Figs. 7, 8, 9 & 10 it will be seen I have produced a cheaper and simpler arrange-
ment, by dispensing with the trough; the general construction and arrangement of
the frame, and the division prongs and their coverings however, being similar to that
already described. In this case I have shown the struts, as being permanently
soldered at each end to the sides a.
The advantages of these my skeleton constructed racks, whether used for drying, or
for washing plates, or other similar purposes will be apparent, as they readily afford
the free access of air or water &c. to the sides of the plates, while the plates themselves
are free from damage arising from metallic contact.
These racks also afford a ready and convenient plate box for the storage of plates,
which may be covered with wood when the plates are such as to require it, or the
division prong racks may, apart from the skeleton frames be fixed inside a wooden or
other box.
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. The forming of division prongs or racks from sheet metal or wire, and the
covering of such prongs with india-rubber, or other similar suitable material, sub-
stantially as described and illustrated, and for the purposes set forth.
2. The construction and arrangement of the parts forming a plate rack for photo-
graphic use, that is to say; the skeleton frame a, trough 6, handles d, the covered
division prongs e, and struts i, substantially as described and illustrated in
Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6.
3. The construction and arrangement of the modification of parts forming a plate
rack for photographic use, described and illustrated in Figs. 7, 8, 9 & 10, that is to say,
the frame a, handles d, the covered division prongs e, and struts i, substantially as
set forth.
nid il: init - C
1000
CHARLES T. POWELL,
12, Cherry Street, Birmingham,
Applicant's Agent.