ing Tray Rocker.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Dec., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Sept., 1900-Accepted, 24th Nov., 1900
I, JOHN HOUGHTON CLARKE, of Framingham, County of Middlesex,
Massachusetts, U.S.A., Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The photograph developing tray rocker of this invention is formed from a
flat blank having two straight parallel sides and two rounded ends. The ends
are bent down perpendicularly to the middle part of the blank so as to form a
raised platform with two opposite rocking edges or feet. In the platform is
an opening for the reception of the developing tray having the usual inclined
sides. The rocking is effected by finger pressure so as to cause the developing
liquid to pass over the plate to be developed quickly or slowly.
Dated this 22nd day of December 1899
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
15, Tooks Court, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.
Photograph Developing Tray Rocker.
I, JOHN HOUGHTON CLARKE, of Framingham, County of Middlesex,
Massachusetts, U.S.A., Inventor, 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:--
The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved photodeveloping-
tray rocker, made from a single piece of material and which is simple and durable
in construction, designed to receive the ordinary developing-tray, and arranged
to permit the operator to conveniently and easily impart the necessary motion to
the tray to properly develop photographic plates contained in the tray and
without requiring the operator to hold the tray in both hands.
In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a plan view of the tray-rocker of this
invention,
Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the same on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.
The improved tray-rocker is provided with a tray-receiving frame A, pro-
vided with a platform A¹, carrying at opposite sides the downwardly-extending
rockers A2, adapted to rock on a table or other support, so as to impart a rocking
motion to the platform A¹.

page_text: In the platform A¹ is formed an opening A³, adapted to receive the tray
containing the developer and the plates to be developed, and this tray B is formed
with the usual inclined sides B₁, adapted to rest on the walls of the opening A³,
so that the said tray B is firmly held in the platform A¹, and when the latter
is rocked the tray rocks with it to cause the developer to gently pass over the
film of the plate, so as to develop the negative in the proper manner.
It is. understood that the operator by placing the finger on one end of the
frame A can readily impart a rocking motion to the said frame, so as to cause
the developing liquid to pass over the plate quickly or slowly, according to
the rocking motion given to the frame. Thus the operator has the developing
of the plate fully under his control and is not liable to soil or stain his fingers
by contact with the developer, as is so frequently the case with trays of ordinary
construction.
It will be seen by reference to Figs. 2 and 3 that the rockers A2 are of a
suitable height to support the bottom of the tray B such a distance above the
surface on which the frame is placed as to, prevent the tray from touching the
surface during the rocking operation. As illustrated in the said figures, the
opening is of a size somewhat in excess of the size of the bottom. of the tray,
but less than the top surface of the tray, to cause the inclined sides B' to snugly
fit onto the walls of the opening A3, to support the tray in the frame. It will
also be seen that by the arrangement described the operator can conveniently
place the tray in position on the platform A and remove the same therefrom when-
ever the plates are developed.
It is further understood that the tray-rocker may be constructed for support-
ing two or more trays to permit of developing a number of plates at the same
time.
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: L
1. As an improved article of manufacture a jointless photodeveloping-tray
rocker made from a single piece of material, the top of which has a cavity for
the réception of the tray and the sides of which are parallel with each other
and rounded or curved upon their under edges, substantially as described and
shewn.
2. A jointless photodeveloping-tray rocker made from a flat blank having a
relatively large central tray-holding cavity the outer opposing edges of which
blank are curved or rounded and are bent or formed to become parallel with
each other and to extend in the same direction from the remainder of the blank,
substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 22nd day of September 1900
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
15, Tooks Court, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.