Improvements in Devices to be used in Washing Photographic Plates or Films, or the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices to be used in Washing Photographic Plates
or Films, or the like.
I, HAROLD COVENTRY, of 19, Sweeting Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Iron Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to bo
as follows:.
:-
This invention has for its object improvements in apparatus to be used in
washing photographic plates, films, or the like.
The main object of my invention is to provide a device upon which one or
more plates, films, or the like (hereafter termed plates), may be supported,
approximately radially round a common centre, after the manner of the blades
or floats of a paddle wheel or water wheel. When the plates are affixed in
position the device is placed under a source of water supply, and the issuing
water impinges on the surface of the plates, preferably through an elongated
orifice so as to strike the whole of the width of said plates.
The issuing water besides Howing over and washing each plate, turnd the
whole series so that each plate in succession comes in rotation into washing
position and each receives a supply of flowing, fresh water.
The radial supports for the plates may be formed of any suitable material,
such as sheet metal, or wire, and I provide clips, either adjustable, or arranged
in series, by means of which plates of different dimensions may be fastened in
place for washing.
I wish it to be clearly understood that the flow of water onto the plates washes
them, and also serves to turn the series, so as to bring them in succession into
the path of the water.
75
1000
CHAS. COVENTRY,
Patent Expert, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices to be used in Washing Photographic Plates
or Films, or the like.
I, HAROLD COVENTRY, of 19, Sweeting Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Iron Merchant, 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 improvements in apparatus to be used in
washing photographic plates, films, or the like. The main object is to provide
a device upon which one or more plates films or the like (hereafter termed
plates) may be supported, approximately radially round a common centre, after

page_text: the manner of the blades or floats of a paddle wheel or water wheel. When the
plates are affixed in position the device is placed under a source of water supply
and the issuing water impinges on the surface of the plates, preferably through an
elongated orihee or a series of orifices so as to strike the whole of the width of
said plates. The issuing water besides flowing over and washing each plato
turns the whole series round so that each plate in succession comes under the
jet and receivos a supply of fresh flowing water. The radial supports for the
plates may be formed of any suitable material such as sheet metal or wire and
I provide clips by means of which plates of different dimensions may be fastened
in place for washing.
In the drawings,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus constructed according to my invention.
Fig. 2 is an end elevation, but for the sake of clearness only two of the
vanes 7 hereafter described, are shown.
1 are side brackets or supports stayed together as at 2. 3 is a transverse
spindle supported by and free to revolve in said brackets. 4 are discs mounted
on spindles 3 and having notches 5 to engage the inner edges of the plates and
serving to support frames 6 of wire on which the vanes 7 are carried. Ench
vane 7 has a slot 8 in which a claw 9 is free to travel and said claws are adapted
to hold the outer edges of the plates. Springs 10 attached at one end to the
underside of said claws 9 and at the other end to the vanes 7, constantly tend
to impel said claws inwards along said slots 8. 11 are extensions of the brackets
and support the water spray pipe 12, which has a series of orifices 13 for the
issue of the water. Instead of a series of orifices a single elongated orifice or
slit may be provided. This pipe 12 is closed at one end and has a prolonga-
tion 14 at the other for attaching a flexible tube (not shown) to be connected to
a lap supplying water.
I show in Fig. 1 four plates 15, but it is obvious that a lesser or greater number
not exceeding six in the apparatus shown, may be washed at a time.
The mode of action is as follows.
The plates 15 are placed on the vanes 7 and are held thereon by reason of
notches 5 at one end and claws 9 at the other. Water is caused to enter the
supply end of water spray pipe 12 and issuing from orifices 13 sprays over the
surface of the plate 15 in proximity to it. This washes said plate and the
impact of the water on the plate and on the vane 7 causes the series to revolve
until another vane 7 comes under the water, and this continues. The plates
continuing to revolve get new supplies of fresh water each time they pass the
pipe 12, and after passing, as they descend, the water and dissolved salts drain
off by gravity assisted by centrifugal force.
The apparatus is very successful in actual use.
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. The combination of side brackets, a rotatable spindle supported thereby, a
series of vanes attached to said spindle, and adapted to support the plates, dises
attached to the spindle and having notches therein, spring actuated catches sliding
in slots in said vanes and a water spray pipe attached to the brackets, all arranged
and operating substantially as described.
2. The improvements in devices for washing photographic plates or films,
taken as a whole, substantially as described.
Dated this 23rd day of July 1990.