Improvements relating to Apparatus for Developing and Fixing Photographic Plates:
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 24th Oct., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Apparatus for Developing and Fixing
Photographic Plates:
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM GOLBY, of 36 Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by Wilhelm
Herrmann, of Landeskronenstrasse 8, Goerlitz, Germany, Joiner, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The present invention relates to a developing and fixing apparatus for photo-
graphic purposes which is peculiar in as much as it renders possible the introduction
of the exposed plate as well as the changing of the developing for the fixing fluid
without a dark chamber being necessary. This is attained principally by the
developing and fixing apparatus being constructed as a light tight closed case in
the cover of which is arranged a shutter, in such a manner that it offers sufficient
room after the introduction of the dark slide into this cover to allow the plate to
fall in the apparatus when the dark slide is pushed in. The entrance and exit of the
different fluids is effected by means of a right angled pipe, as well as by a cock or
similar contrivance near the bottom of the apparatus.
Developing and fixing apparatus constructed according to this invention is
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section, Fig. 2 is a transverse section and Fig. 3 is a part
ground plan and part horizontal section.
As shewn in the drawings this developing and fixing apparatus is formed of two
parts, viz. an under part a and an upper part b. Both form a light-proof connection
with each other. In the under part a is the basin or dish c in the side of which
near the bottom enters the tube d' of the tap or cock d; said tube d¹ penetrating
the side of the apparatus through the under part a. In the upper part b is
arranged a tube or pipe e in the perpendicular arm of which is inserted the neck
of a funnel f, in order to allow the fluid to enter; said pipe e discharging over the
dish or basin c. Suppose now that the developing fluid is first introduced in this
manner. When the tap d is closed, it is self evident that in order to change to the
fixing fluid it is only necessary to open this tap d until the outflow ceases, to close
it again and to let in the fixing fluid by means of the funnel.
In order to bring the exposed plate into the light proof secluded bed, the
following contrivance is introduced in the apparatus.
The shutter 9. shewn drawn out sideways in Fig. 2, is in the closed position, then
the dark slide h is pushed in between the frames i and the top longitudinal sides of
the upper part 6 Figs. 1 and 3. Thereupon the shutter k of the dark slide is
pushed back and the shutter g of the apparatus at the same time. The exposed
plate can therefore fall in the under part of the double dark slide h and into the
Huid bath of the basin e the bottom of which is made of a concave shape, so that
the plate, which falls with its sensitized side downwards, only touches the basin
with its edges.
In the apparatus a further contrivance is introduced in order to prevent the
exposed plate from remaining in the dark slide, or the injury to the sensitized
layer by contact with the shutters. Projections m m² are arranged therefore in
the dark slide, as well as a spring n. A pressure rod p introduced in the upper
part 6 of the apparatus, continually pressed outwards by the spring o, pushes by
its inward movement a rod q inserted in an aperture in the dark slide, and this

page_text: rod q again presses the exposed plate 7, in a direction opposite to that of the
spring n, so far to the left, Fig. 1, that it passes beyond the projection m¹. A sheet
springs if further fixed to the partition of the dark slide quickly forces the exposed
plate downwards, as soon as the same is removed from the projection m'. In the
apparatus the dark slide b is shewn as a double dark slide.
In the bottom of the underpart a of the apparatus is a door t with a slide u of
coloured glass arranged so as to enable the progress of the development and fixing
to be observed. The same is the case with the shutter g of the apparatus which
must be again pushed in after the plate has been withdrawn from the dark slide.
The dark slide can then be withdrawn from the apparatus and employed again.
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 :-
Development and fixing apparatus for photographic purposes in which the light
proof introduction of the plate, as well as the changing of the developing for the
fixing fluid is rendered possible, by its forming a light tight case, the opening in
the top of which is closed by a shutter g until the dark slide is introduced light
proof into the apparatus, the plate being freed by drawing back the said shutter,
the apparatus being further provided with a right angled pipe e passing through
the cover and discharging into the developing or fixing basin or dish, and with a
tap d leading from the basin c to respectively effect the influx and outflow of the
fluids substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 11th day of August 1896.
F. W. GOLBY,
36 Chancery Lane, London, W.C.