Year: 1887

page_text: 1, JAMES HENRY JEFFERIES, of 26 Saint James's Square, Wolverhampton in the
County of Stafford, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows :-
This invention has for its object, firstly, an improved form of rack in which to
place the glass plates having photographic negatives or pictures thereon for inserting
them into and withdrawing them from the washer and in which such plates are after-
wards allowed to dry, and, secondly, improvements in the washer employed for
washing photographic negatives and pictures on glass and for washing photographic
prints.
A rack constructed according to this invention, for the purpose. above described, is
formed as a rigid frame divided down its centre by a fixed part into two oblong
divisions. The four sides of each division are vertically corrugated or toothed on
their inner faces, and at the bottom of each side is formed an inwardly projecting
ledge slanting downwards so as readily to drain off the water as the rack is raised
from the washer or the water, run off therefrom. The plates are placed within the
rack either lengthways or transversely in each division, or lengthways in one division
and transversely in the other, according to the size or sizes of the plates under treat-
ment, two opposite edges of the plates in each case being supported within the
corrugations or teeth of the divisions and their bottom corners resting on the slanting
ledges. According to this arrangement each division is capable of receiving longitu-
dinally any size of plate of which one side is the length of such division, and transversely
any size of plate of which one side is the length of the width of the division. As the
corners only of the plates rest upon the slanting ledges, aforesaid, the plates are
readily drained. In lieu of the slanting ledges, however, a perforated bottom may be
formed with the rack

page_text: An open space is left, preferably, along each side between the bottom of the
corrugated or toothed part and the ledge or bottom so that without making the
corrugated parts of an inconvenient depth such may rise sufficiently to properly steady
the plates as they rest on the ledge or bottom; and as, for the larger sized plates,
which are placed lengthways in the divisions, it is desirable to make the corrugated
or toothed parts of the sides of the rack to be a fairly considerable height from their
tops to the level of the ledge or the bottom, aforesaid, in order to maintain the plates
parallel with one another, a wire or wires or a narrow strip or strips of metal placed
vertically or edgeways, may be fixed endways of one or of each of the divisions, at
any desired height, so that the smaller sized plates, which are placed transversely in
the divisions, may rest upon such wire or wires or strip or strips instead of upon the
ledge or the bottom, aforesaid, and thus be maintained sufficiently high in the rack to
be readily lifted out therefrom as required. This arrangement does not interfere with
the placing of the plates longitudinally within the rack, as the wires or strips run
parallel with such plates and may be fixed in positions to be between them. These
wires or strips may be employed also, for the purpose stated, in the case of racks
generally in which, alternatively, larger plates may be placed longitudinally within a
division and smaller plates be placed transversely in the same division.
The rack is supported on suitable legs. The ledge or bottom aforesaid is joined to
the corrugated or toothed parts aforesaid, when a space occurs between such ledge or
botton and such parts, by means of uprights which may be continued downwards at
the four exterior corners of the rack, below the ledge or bottom, to form the supports
or legs.
A rack constructed in the manner above described is very convenient, and by
forming the divisions each to take in 6 inches long by 3 inches wide six of the usual
sizes of plate can be carried in the one rack, that is to say, plates 3 inches square,
and 3 inches by 44 inches, may be placed transversely within the divisions, while
plates 6 inches by 4 inches, 6 inches by 4 inches, 6 inches by 4 inches, and
6 inches by 8 inches, may be placed longitudinally within the divisions, and plates
of any or all of these sizes can be carried in the rack, and washed, at the same
tiine.
•
A washer constructed according to this invention, for the purpose above described,
has a supplementary chamber formed out from one side of the washing chamber and
divided therefrom by a wall extending downwards to nearly the bottom of the washing
and supplementary chambers, an opening being left below such wall for communication
between the chambers. In the bottom of the supplementary chamber is carried an
outflow valve which beats downwards upon its seat, and within the supplementary
chamber is a hollow ball or float which is connected by means of a chain or vertical
rod with the valve; and the chain or rod is of such a length that, upon the water in
the chambers rising to a given height, the ball will be floated up by the water
sufficiently to raise the valve and allow the water to flow out through such valve,
until the falling level of the water has allowed the ball to fall sufficiently to allow the
valve to close, when the further outflow is stopped. The washer is fed with a supply
of water from a tap or otherwise, and the operation of the ball and valve prevents the
water from flowing over, and not only produces an intermittent rush of water from
-the-washer, whilst the supply is maintained, but also securely prevents the level from
falling below the desired point, and the water cannot fall below such point if from any
cause the supply is cut off. The bottom of the washing chamber is formed to slant
downwards towards the supplementary chamber, and as the rush of water takes place,
on the opening of the valve, the hypo-sulphite of soda (commonly known in the
photographic art as "hypo") or any chemical used in treating photographic negatives
or pictures on glass or photographic prints, which has been washed from such negatives,
pictures, or prints, as the case may be, is carried with the water and passes away
through the valve. The communication between the washing and supplementary
chambers being at the bottom of the washing chamber the water which rushes through
the opening into the supplementary chamber is drawn direct chiefly from the lower
stratum of water in the washing chamber, and consequently carries off the chemical

page_text: which accumulates in such stratum. The bottom of the supplementary chamber, that
is the part on which the valve is seated, is preferably at a lower level than the bottom
of the washing chamber so that the latter may be thoroughly drained through the
valve, when desired. The opening between the washing and supplementary chambers
is, preferably, provided with a perforated plate or grating to prevent prints from being
damaged by being drawn into the opening, and such opening, so provided with a
perforated plate or grating, may extend, if desired, for some distance upwards from
the bottom. When the ball is connected with the valve by means of a rod, the height
to which the ball can rise before raising the valve may be readily adjusted by means
of a fly nut on the rod, in which case the ball is formed with a tubular axis so as to
be capable of sliding up and down upon the rod except when floated up against the .
nut or stop on the rod.
This apparatus is very convenient in employment as affording no obstruction
within the washing chamber, and is moreover very certain and efficient in its
action.
It is not, of course, essential that the valve and float arrangement should be within
a supplementary chamber, as such may be placed within the washing chamber, in
which case the supplementary chamber may be dispensed with; or a supplementary
chamber with the valve and float arrangement therein may,
of course, be formed
within the washing chamber.
1
1
Lakan 1007
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton and Walsall,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: GODT DEIE DIECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Washing and Drying Photographic
Negatives and Photographic Pictures on Glass, Part of such
Improvements being Applicable also for Washing Photographic
Prints.
I, JAMES HENRY JEFFERIES, of 26 Saint James's Square, Wolverhampton in the
County of Stafford, 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, reference being had to the accompanying drawings
and the letters of reference marked thereon (that is to say) :-
This invention has for its object, firstly, an improved form of rack in which to place
the glass plates having photographic negatives or pictures thereon for inserting them
into and withdrawing them from the washer and in which such plates are, or may be,
afterwards allowed to dry, and, secondly, improvements in the washer employed for
washing photographic negatives and pictures on glass or for washing photographic
prints.
A rack constructed according to this invention, for the purpose above described, is
illustrated by figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings herewith, which are, respectively, a
plan of such rack, an end elevation, and a vertical section taken on line aa of figure 1.
The same letters of reference occurring upon two or all of these views indicate,
corresponding parts. The rack is divided by a fixed part A into two oblong
divisions B B. The four sides of each division are vertically corrugated or toothed on
their inner faces, as shewn. The four exterior sides a a etc. of the rack are soldered
or otherwise fixed at their ends, that is at the exterior corners of the rack, to vertical
angle bars bb etc. which form also the legs or supports on which the rack is carried.
Beneath the lower edges of the corrugated sides of the divisions, and preferably some
distance below so as to leave a space between such edges and itself, is carried an
inwardly projecting ledge c c etc. fixed to the uprights bb etc. The parts of this ledge
which are underneath the exterior sides of the rack may be conveniently formed
of angle section, as shewn, and the transverse part, that is the part which is underneath
the. fixed part. A which divides the rack into two divisions, may be conveniently
formed of T-section, as shewn, of which the two sides of the head of the T-form
inwardly projecting ledges under the divisions B B. The parts of the angles and T
which form the ledge are made to slant somewhat downwards so as to throw or drain
off any water which might otherwise tend to collect thereon. The glass plates
are placed within the rack, either lengthways or 'transversely, in each division B, or
lengthways in one division and transversely in the other, according to the size or
sizes of the plates, under treatment, two opposite edges of the plates in each case being
supported within the corrugations or teeth of each division and their bottom corners
resting on the slanting ledge c. According to this arrangement of rack each division
is capable of receiving longitudinally any size of plate of which one side is the length
of such division, and transversely any size of plate of which one side is the length of

page_text: the width of the division. As the corners only of the plates rest upon the slanting
ledge aforesaid the plates are readily drained on the removal of the rack from the
washer or upon the water being run off from the washer. In lieu of the slanting
ledge, however, a perforated bottom may if desired be formed with the rack.
It is preferred to leave an open space between the lower edges of the corrugated
sides of the divisions and the ledge c or bottom of the rack, as described, in order that
the sides may rise sufficiently to properly steady the plates as they rest on the ledge or
bottom without the corrugated parts themselves having to be of an inconvenient
depth.
A rack constructed in the manner above described is very convenient as it. be
may
adapted to take in a number of different sizes of plate; for instance, by forming the
divisions each to take in 6 inches long by 34 inches wide six of the usual sizes of plate
can be carried in one rack, that is to say, plates 3 inches square and 3 inches by
44 inches may be placed transversely within the divisions while plates 6 inches
by 4 inches, 6 inches by 44 inches, 6 inches by 4 inches, and 6 inches by
8 inches, may be placed within the divisions lengthways thereof, and plates of any or
all of these sizes can, if desired, be carried in the rack and washed at the same time.
One of the divisions B may be made of a different width to the other, and thus
allow for a wider range of sizes of plate which may be carried within the rack, though
it would not, of course, necessarily enable a larger number of sizes to be carried
at the same time than with both the divisions of the same width.
The larger sized plates are, of course, placed, with their narrower width lengthways
of a division and stand therefore a considerable height above the ledge or bottom on
which they rest, and it is desirable therefore, in order to maintain these plates parallel
with one another, that the top of the corrugations should be at a fairly considerable
height from the ledge or bottom of the rack. In order that this may be done without
interfering with the convenience with which the smaller sizes of plates may be placed
transversely within a division and withdrawn therefrom, a wire d may be placed
longitudinally within or below the division at any desired height so that when plates
are placed transversely within the division they will rest upon such wire. More than
one wire d may of course be employed in a division, if desired, or a narrow strip
or strips may be substituted therefor, and whether a wire or wires or strip or strips
are employed they do not interfere with the placing of the plates longitudinally, -
as such wires or strips run parallel with such plates and may be fixed in position to be
between them. These wires or strips may be employed also for the purpose stated, in
the case of racks generally in which, alternatively, larger plates may be placed
longitudinally within a division and smaller plates be placed transversely within the
same division.
In lieu of employing wires or strips as described the
a division may be kept at a lower level than the ends.
employed there is no necessity, of course, to provide a
bottom for the transverse plates to rest upon.
tops of the corrugated sides of
When the wires or strips are
slanting ledge or a perforated
The rack may be formed into more than two divisions, if desired, so as to be capable
of being used for a still wider range of sizes of plate, but probably two divisions will
usually be found sufficient for the purposes required.
A washer constructed according to this invention, for the purpose above described,
is illustrated by figures 4, 5, and 6 of the accompanying drawings, which are,
respectively, a plan, a vertical section on line y y, and a vertical section on line y' y¹.
The same letters of reference occurring upon two or all of these views indicate corre-
sponding parts. The washer consists primarily of a main or washing chamber C, and
of a supplementary or outflow chamber D divided from the main chamber by a wall E.
A communication is formed between the chambers C and D by means of a perforated
plate e fixed across a corresponding opening in the wall E, or if it is not desired to use
the washer for prints it is sufficient to form a plain opening at the bottom of the
wall E or even to omit the wall E altogether. The bottom of the chamber D is,
preferably, formed to be at a somewhat lower level than the bottom of the chamber (
and the bottom of the chamber is formed, preferably, to slant downwards towards

page_text: the chamber D. In the bottom of the chamber D is carried an outflow valve which
beats downwards upon its seat, and a ball F within such chamber is connected by
means of a chain g with the valve; this chain is of such length that, upon the water
in the chambers rising to a given height, the ball will he floated up by the water
sufficiently to raise the valve and allow the water to flow out through the valve seat,
until the falling level of the water has allowed the ball to fall sufficiently to allow the
valve to close, when further outflow is of course stopped. A nut / or other projection
upon the lower end of the valve spindle forms a stop against a cross-bar in the scat
to prevent the ball rising too high and lifting the valve out of its scating. The ball F
is shown in position as if the water had risen to its normal level. The washer is fed
by means of a tap or other convenient means; in the illustrations a pipe is shewn to
pass down the side of the washer and to supply the same through perforations i¹ etc.
The operation of the ball and valve prevents the water from flowing over, and
occasions an intermittent rush of water from the chamber whilst the supply is
maintained, and also securely prevents the level from falling below the desired point
both while the supply is maintained and when from any cause it is cut off. On the
opening of the valve a rush of water of course takes place from the chamber A
through the perforated plate e, and the hypo-sulphite of soila (commonly known in the
photographic art as "hypo") or any chemical used in treating photographic negatives
or pictures on glass or photographic prints, which has been washed from such
negatives, pictures, or prints, as the case may be, is carried with the water and passes
away through the valve. The chemical thus washed from off the negatives, pictures,
or prints, aforesaid, collects more or less in the lower stratum of the water, and as the
perforated plate e is carried down to the bottom of the chamber C the water which
rushes through the perforations into the supplementary chamber upon the opening of
the valve is drawn direct from the lower stratum of water in the washing chamber
and consequently carries off the chemical which accumulates in such stratum. When
the washer is used for prints the perforated plate e securely prevents such prints from
being damaged by being drawn into the opening between tlie chambers; and in order
to provide for a proper outflow from the chamber C to the chamber D in case of a
print being drawn flatly across the perforated plate e so as to close up or almost close
up the whole of the perforations therethrough, perforated openings k k etc. are formed
through the wall E at a height preferably slightly above the normal level of the
water.
The washing apparatus above described is suitable for the reception of a rack such
as described above and also for the washing of prints. The apparatus may,
of course,
however, be made of any convenient shape such as oval or rectangular.
A. rectangular washer constructed according to this invention for the purpose of
receiving a rack only, and not for the purpose of washing prints, is illustrated by
figures 7 and 8 of the drawings herewith which correspond, respectively, to figures 4
and 5, but are drawn to an enlarged scale. The washer is shewn to be somewhat
narrow as when for use with an ordinary rack, that is with a rack formed in one
division only. In this case an alternative arrangement of connecting the ball F with
the valve is shewn, and consists of a rod j fixed to the ball and connected at its lower
end with a loop upon the valve by means of a single link. In this illustration a split
peg through the valve spindle forms a stop against the lower edge of the valve
scating to the upward movement of the valve, being an alternative arrangement for
such purpose to that shewn by figure 5.
The above described washing apparatus is very convenient in employment as
affording no obstruction within the washing chamber, and it is moreover very certain
and efficient in its action.
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 improved form and construction of rack for employment in washing or

page_text: substantially as described with reference to figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings
herewith, for the purpose set forth.
2. A rack for employment in washing or washing and drying photographic
negatives or photographic pictures on glass, divided into two or more divisions on
plan, substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.
3. In a rack for employment in washing and drying photographic negatives or
photographic pictures on glass, an inwardly projecting ledge around or beneath the.
bottom of the corrugated or toothed sides or, in the case of a rack formed into two or
more divisions, of each division thereof, such ledge being formed to slant so as to
readily drain off any water therefrom, substantially as described.
4. In a rack for employment in washing or washing and drying photographic
negatives or photographic pictures on glass, and fitted to receive alternatively plates
lengthways or end ways thereof or lengthways or endways of one or more divisions
thereof, the employment of a wire or wires or of a strip or strips running longitudinally
of such rack or of one or more divisions thereof, substantially as described, for the
purpose set forth.
5. Apparatus for employment in washing photographic negatives or pictures on
glass, or photographic prints, constructed and operating substantially as described
with reference to the drawings herewith for the purpose set forth.
6. In apparatus for washing photographic negatives or photographic pictures on
glass or photographic prints the combination of a main washing chamber with a
supplementary chamber within which is fitted a valve and float, substantially as
described, for the purpose set forth.