Improvements in Photographic Printing Apparatus for Producing Photographic Copies at a Rapid Rate.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 29th Jan., 1891-Accepted, 7th Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Printing Apparatus for Producing
Photographic Copies at a Rapid Rate.
We, FRIESE GREENE, of 92, Piccadilly, S.W., Photographer, and FREDERICK
HENRY VARLEY, 82, Newington Green Road, N., Civil Engineer, in the County
of London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
We take a roll of sensitized paper or sensitized film which by preference we wind
with its face inwards upon a spool or drum placed at one end of the exposure frame.
We pass the end of the paper by a roller over a negative which we desire to print
from and after exposure we pass through a developing & fixing solution. In order
to do this the machine is so arranged that the paper is checked at given intervals &
placed automatically in close contact with the negative by means of a pressure pad
at the same time it is exposed to the light by means of a properly timed shutter,
the operations being automatically performed and presents a consecutive series
of new areas for printing. Negatives for the apparatus may be made of glass
celluloid or other transparent substance.
FRIESE GREENE.
FREDERICK H. VARLEY.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Printing Apparatus for Producing
Photographic Copies at a Rapid Rate.
We, WILLIAM FRIESE GREENE (also known as Friese Greene), of 92,
Piccadilly, and FREDERICK HENRY VARLEY, Civil Engineer, of 82, Newington
Green Road, both in the County of London, do hereby declare the nature of the
said invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to effect a rapidly consecutive reproduction of
photographic prints of photographic representations, letter-press, type-written
matter &c. on a continuous strip or band, in a machine adapted to effect successively
the several necessary operations.
The invention consists in an apparatus in which are combined :--a holder of
a continuous roll of any required length of suitable paper or other material on
which it is desired to produce the photographic prints;-a series of sensitizing,
developing, toning, fixing and washing or other necessary tanks with appropriate
means of supplying the proper solution or liquid to each thereof and of withdrawing
the exhausted solution or liquid therefrom;-means for squeegeeing the liquid from
the continuous strip as it passes from each tank, both before it passes to the printing
apparatus, and before it passes from each tank to the next thereof;-means for
simultaneously exposing both sides of the sensitized band, and for holding it
stationary during exposure and releasing it immediately thereafter;-adjustable
means for, at each actuation, drawing forward the exact length of sensitized band
required for the next following print, such means, during such operation, co-acting
with means for feeding forward the same length of sensitized band to the printing
frame, (so that the band while between the squeegeeing rollers of such tank and
said drawing-forward device will be kept at about the same tension,) and, during its
return or inoperative movement, co-acting with the first or any other or others of
the following series of squeegeeing rollers, so as, at each such return movement, to
cause the band to be drawn forward a length equal to that last fed and drawn

page_text: forward, as aforesaid; in order to maintain the band at a nearly uniform tension
until it issues from the machine in a finished condition, when it may be wound
directly onto a drum or the like. The printing and following apparatus may, how-
ever, be used conjunctively with a previously sensitized roll of paper or other
material in lieu of a roll of paper or other material sensitized at the time of being
used, and for printing only on one side of the sensitized band.
The accompanying drawings represent an arrangement of such apparatus which
we find to be suitable for the purpose of the invention, but we do not limit ourselves
to such arrangement, as the component parts thereof may be variously arranged, as
may, also, the relative dimensions thereof, according to the class of work in
connection with which the apparatus is desired to be used.
On the drawings:-
Fig. 1, represents the apparatus in plan view partly in section and omitting the
exposure details.
Fig. 2, represents a sectional elevation more particularly illustrating the devices
for intermittently feeding and drawing forward the band ;-for separating and closing
together the opposing negatives between which the band is passed, and for preventing
retrograde movement of the band.
Fig. 3, represents a similar view of part of the same mechanism in a different
position.
Fig. 4, represents exposure mechanism, suitable for simultaneously exposing both
sides of the band while it is held stationary between the negatives, representing the
same immediately after an operation.
It will, of course, be understood that the apparatus will require to be operated in
a dark room or to be properly enclosed to prevent the access of light otherwise than
through the exposure openings.
5, represents a removable roll containing a continuous band of any required
length of paper or other material 6, on which it is desired to produce the photo-
graphic prints, such reel may be supported in any suitable manner and in any
suitable position.
7, represents a sensitizing tank, which may be made of any suitable dimensions
and of any suitable material, and is provided with any suitable means of emptying
the same or withdrawing the exhausted solution, and if it be of large size and be
intended for long continuous operation, it may also be provided with any suitable
means of supplying fresh solution. It is provided with a series of any required
number of freely turning removable rollers 9, which are supported in suitable
bearings projecting from the inner sides of the tank. It is also provided with a
roller for leading the band from the reel 5, into the tank 7, in which it is guided by
the rollers 9, to a pair of squeegee-rollers 12, which are intermittently driven, at
the times hereinafter mentioned, and, at each actuation, feed forward the required
length of sensitized band toward the exposure device, at the same time causing the
sensitizing medium to sufficiently permeate the substance of the band and expressing
the excess thereof therefrom, so that the band issues sufficiently dry to be
immediately exposed. If necessary, the drying of the band may be accelerated by
a current of hot air or the like passed through the rollers 12, and, if required,
through the guide roller 13, leading the band to the printing-frame. If a roll of
sensitized band is used the tank 7, would not require to be used.
14, represents an enclosed printing-frame wherein both sides of the sensitized
band 6, are simultaneously exposed, the band passing between the negatives 15, 16,
(which would usually be of different subjects) one of which (say, the lower one,)
occupies a fixed position and is supported by a removable padded frame 17, which
rests on ledges 18, projecting inwards from the sides and ends of the frame 14, the
other negative being cemented or otherwise suitably secured to a removable padded
frame 19, which can be temporarily secured in any suitable manner to a sliding
frame 20, which projects through covered slots 21, in the ends of the frame 14
and is raised and lowered, at the appropriate times, by means of cross rods 22, and
toggle levers 23, connecting the frame 20, to suitably supported fixed centres 24

page_text: the cross rods being simultaneously actuated in reverse directions by oppositely;
set excentrics 25, keyed on a main shaft 26, and connected to the rods 22, by
rods 27. The frame 20, is raised, immediately after each exposure, to permit of
the drawing forward of a further length of the band for the next exposure, and is-
immediately thereafter lowered so as to clamp the band between the negatives
during such next exposure.
The exposure may be advantageously effected by a rocking lever 28, centred
midway of its length, as at 29, and engaging at each end with a slide 30, in which
is an opening 31, the pair of which, by the traverse of the lever from the position
indicated in full lines to that indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4, and vice-versá, are
caused simultaneously to pass the exposure openings 32, in the opposite ends of the
frame 14, and thus effect the simultaneous exposure of each side of the sensitized
band to the adjacent negative. Such exposure device is operated from the main
shaft by gearing 33, 34, and a reciprocating crank rod 35, which is supported in a
suitable bearing, as at 36, and is provided with trigger-like attachments 37, adapted
to operate in both directions of movement of the rod 35, on an opposite arm 38,
of a suitably supported triform spring lever, the depending arms 39, of which
respectively engage with and detain a catch 40, projecting from the lever 28, until
released by the operation of the said trigger attachments 37; whereupon, the
lever 28, is immediately caused to shift from the one position to the other, both
shutters being thus simultaneously caused to cross the adjacent exposure openings 32
of the frame 14. This movement of the lever is effected by that one of the two
springs 41, which was compressed by the endway movement of the rod 35, prior to
the release, as aforesaid, of the lever 28. The tension of the springs 41, can be
varied, to suit the exposure required by adjusting the set screws 42. If required
to print on only one side, one of the perforated slides 30, may be replaced by a
closed slide.
Immediately subsequent to the exposure and to the release of the band by the
rising of the frame 20, the band is drawn forward by an adjustable reciprocating
lever 43, which is centred at 44, and, at each actuation, is raised to the position
indicated in Fig. 4, above the level of the band by an oscillating cradle 45,
operated from the main shaft by excentrics 46, and connecting rods 47, the cradle
oscillating at each actuation to the fullest extent of the traverse of the lever 43.
The lever in its operative movement upon the band, is actuated by suitably attached
springs 48, which draw it downwards, as the lowering of the cradle permits it to
fall, the extent of its downward movement being limited, as desired, by set
screws 49, adjustable in slots 50, in the supporting side frames 51, in which slots a
bar 52, connecting both of the lever arms 43, also reciprocates.
At its free end, the lever 43, is provided with a freely turning roller 53, which,
at each of its return or inoperative movements upon the band effected by..the
cradle 45, is carried between two guide rollers 54, (over which the band 6, passes,)
to a position above the level of the band (vide Fig. 4,) and during such movement
a lever 73, keyed on the shaft 44, is operative in causing the winding forward of
the band from the printing frame as hereinafter described, and at each actuation by
the springs 48 it is carried to a position between the said guide rollers 54, as far
as the said adjustable stops 49, will permit, and during such actuation such
lever 73 is operative in causing the feeding forward of the band to the printing
frame.
To enable the lever 73 to effect such operations, its opposite ends are respectively
provided with toothed segments 55, 56, which respectively engage with clutch
pinions 57, 58, loosely mounted on suitably supported shafts 59, 60, and which
respectively engage with ratchet pinions 74, 75, fast on such shafts, which latter,
by pulleys and connecting straps 76, 77, 78, and 79, 80, 81, or by connecting
gearing, respectively and alternately operate any of the series of squeegeeing
rollers (64, vide Fig. 1, or adjacent rollers 63, vide Fig. 1) drawing the band from
the printing frame, and those (12) feeding the band thereto, such respective
segments 55, 56, and clutch pinions 57, 58, at all times engaging, but only operating

page_text: in actuating the shafts 59, 60, at the respective times mentioned, the pinions 57, 58,
slipping on their shafts in the relatively reverse movements of the lever 73.
The guide rollers 54, (and also, if required, the rollers 12, 13, 63, 64,) are pro-
vided with gripping pawls 67, which, by adjustable springs 68, are borne against
the adjacent rollers, nipping the edges of the band thereagainst and so effectually
preventing any retrograde movement of the band.
69, 70, (vide Fig. 1) represent tanks respectively adapted for toning, developing,
fixing, washing or any other necessary operations, depending upon the nature of
the sensitizing medium with which the band is impregnated; and which tanks, (as
hereinbefore referred to with reference to the sensitizing tank 7,) are adapted with
appropriate means of supplying and withdrawing the proper solutions or liquid, and
with rollers 9, guiding the band, and with others, as 64, expressing the liquid there-
from as it leaves each tank.
The first or any other pair of such rollers is, as aforesaid, operated by the
lever 73, and the said connecting gearing, and the other pairs of such rollers may,
if required, be actuated from such driven pair of rollers, the winding-on roll being
mounted on a frictional hub driven from the last pair of such rollers so as to prevent
any slack in the band and to keep a constant tension thereon.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. The herein before described improved apparatus for effecting a rapidly con-
secutive reproduction of photographic prints of photographic representations, letter-
press, type written matter and the like on a continuous sensitized band.
2. In apparatus adapted to effect the object of the invention, the use, in com-
bination; of a continuous roll of suitable paper, a series of sensitizing, developing,
toning, fixing, washing or other necessary tanks with appropriate means of supplying
the proper solution or liquid to each thereof and of withdrawing the exhausted
solution or liquid therefrom; means for squeegeeing the liquid from the strip as it
passes from each tank; means for simultaneously exposing both sides or for exposing
one side of the band, and for holding it stationary during exposure and releasing
it immediately thereafter; adjustable means for, at each actuation, drawing forward
the exact length of sensitized band required for the next following print, co-acting,
in the manner aforesaid, with means for feeding forward the same length of
sensitized band to the printing frame, and drawing forward a similar length of the
band from the printing mechanism, and with a frictionally driven drum or the like
for taking up the finished band.
3. The use in combination, of such means referred to in Claim 2, (excepting as
regards the sensitizing tank) with a roll of sensitized paper.
4. The use in such apparatus, of the hereinbefore described means of inter-
mittently feeding and drawing forward the sensitized band and preventing any
retrograde movement thereof.
5. The use in such apparatus, of the hereinbefore described means of separating
and closing together the opposed negatives, between which the band is passed, and
is held stationary during exposure.
6. The use in such apparatus, of the hereinbefore described exposed mechanism.
7. The use in combination, in such apparatus, of a printing frame and exposure
mechanism adapted to print both sides of a sensitized band simultaneously.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.