Improvements in Rocking Apparatus for Developing, Washing or Treating Photographic Plates.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rocking Apparatus for Developing, Washing or
Treating Photographic Plates.
I, THOMAS ELLIOTT, of 21, Pelham Street, in the City of Nottingham, Furrier
and Mantle Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
follows:-
--
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for automatically rocking
or oscillating developing trays or other vessels, in order to agitate the developing
or other solutions contained therein in the process of developing or treating photo-
graphic plates, and it has for its object to provide inexpensive apparatus of the
kind described, which will be more efficient, economical, and convenient in use
than those as constructed heretofore.
In carrying out my invention the body of the apparatus is formed by a prefer-
ably rectangular oscillating platform of a suitable length and width, the ends of
which are provided with trunnions which are mounted in bearings secured or
formed in a suitable base.
The platform oscillates in a plane which is preferably at right angles to its
length, and one or more developing trays or other vessels may be placed on its
upper face and the contents thus agitated. To prevent the vessels from slipping
off, raised ribs of india-rubber or an india-rubber covering is secured to the upper
face of the platform, or if desired other suitable means may be employed for this
purpose.
Secured to the oscillating platform is a transverse lever one end of which is pro-
vided with a counter-weight, and the other with a receptacle of suitable shape.
In order to oscillate the platform the apparatus is adjusted say for example over
& developing trough, with the receptacle on one end of the transverse lever
under a stream of water from the tap. The receptacle as it is filled overcomes the
counter-weight and falls until it reaches a certain point when it empties itself
and the counter-weight raises it again. The operation described is again repeated
and the platform which is connected to the lever is thus oscillated continuously.
The angle through which the platform oscillates may be regulated by suitable
stops, the rapidity of the oscillations may also be regulated by regulating the
stream of water or by adjusting the lever relatively to the trunnions on the plat-
form, which in this instance form the fulcrum of the lever.
For this purpose the lever may be provided with a longitudinal slot and be
secured to any part in the length of the platform by a screw or bolt. One end
of the lever may thus be lengthened and the other shortened.
The same result may be obtained by making the counter-weight adjustable on
the lever.
Plates, prints, or the like which require washing may be placed in a rack or
receptacle placed under the receptacle on the lever, so that the water from the
latter may be delivered on to them, and the water used will thus perform this

page_text: operation simultaneously with that of oscillating the platform and the trays or
vessels thereon.
Dated this 23rd day of November 1897.
BOULT & WADE.
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Rocking Apparatus for Developing, Wash ng or
Treating Photographic Plates.
I, THOMAS ELLIOTT, of 21, Pelham Street, in the City of Nottingham, Furrier
and Mantle Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for automatically rocking
or oscillating developing trays or other vessels, in order to agitate the solution
contained therein during the process of developing or treating photographic
plates, and it has for its object to provide inexpensive apparatus of the kind
described, which will be efficient, economical, and convenient in use.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying draw-
ings, in which
Fig. 1 is an elevation, and
Fig. 2 a plan, showing apparatus constructed according to my invention.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
In carrying out my invention, the body of the apparatus is comprised of a
preferably rectangular platform or tray rest A, provided at its ends with trun-
nions B B. which latter are mounted in bearings CC secured to or formed in-
tegrally with a base I) of suitable form. The platform or tray rest A can thus
oscillate in a plane which is transversely to the length of and at right angles to
the base D.
Secured to preferably the underside of the platform or tray rest A is a transverse
lever E, one end of which is provided-with a weight F, and the other with a pre-
ferably shovel shaped receptacle G.
The developing tray H is placed on the oscillating platform or tray rest A, and
the latter caused to oscillate by adjusting the apparatus, say for example over a
developing trough, with the receptacle G under a stream of water from say a tap I.
The receptacle G as it is filled overbalances the weight F. and falls until it is
in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, where it empties itself, and is
then immediately raised again to its normal position by the weight F. This
operation is constantly repeated, and a continuous rocking motion with a steady
action is thus obtained.
The rapidity of the oscillations may be regulated by regulating the volume of
the stream of water, or by adjusting the length of the lever or its position rela-
tively to the tray rest or platform A.
The downward movement of the weighted end of the lever E, is checked by a
spring J (see Fig. 1) one end of which is secured to the said lever and its other
free end engages with the base D. This spring acts as a buffer and gradually
checks the downward movement of the weighted end of the lever E. and assists
in starting it again in the reverse direction."
In order that the position of the lever E may be adjusted relatively to the
platform or tray rest A, the said lever E is provided with a longitudinal slot E
(see Fig. 2) through which the bolt which connects it to the platform or tray

page_text: rest A is carried. The receptacle G is also provided with a tubular extension G¹
which fits loosely on the end of the lever E. and the working length of the lever
may thus be increased by sliding this tubular part G₁ of the receptacle on the
lever, either towards or away from the point about which said lever oscillates.
To prevent the tubular part G from rotating on the lever it is provided with a
slot K (see Fig. 2) in which a pin K' on the lever E engages. The tubular part G'
is also formed with a second slot G³ (see Fig. 1) which is connected by a trans-
verse opening to the first slot. This slot G2 also extends to the end of the tubular
part G as shown, so that the latter can be removed from the lever without remov-
ing the pin K¹.
To prevent the trays or vessels from slipping about the platform or tray rest A
when it is oscillating, raised ribs or strips of india-rubber are secured to the upper
face, or flat elastic rubber bands are placed round the platform or tray rest A.
The latter hold themselves in position and may be readily replaced.
In the apparatus described and shown provision is only made for one developing
tray, but it will be understood that by increasing the length of the platform or
tray rest A, provision may be made for two or more trays which are placed side
by side.
Plates after being developed may be washed by placing them at M on a rest N
as shown, in which position the water from the receptacle G is delivered over
them. The stream of water thus performs two operations simultaneously.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. In rocking apparatus for developing washing or treating photographic plates
the combination with an oscillating platform or tray rest such as A of a weight F
and a receptacle such as G which is placed under a stream of water substantially
as and operating in the manner described.
2. In rocking apparatus for developing washing or treating photographic plates
the combination with an oscillating platform or tray rest such as A of a lever
such as E a weight F at one end of the lever a receptacle such as G at the other
substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. In rocking apparatus for developing washing or treating photographic plates
the combination with an oscillating platform or tray rest such as A mounted on
a base B of a lever such as E a weight F at one end of the lever and a receptacle
such as G at the other and a buffer spring such as J on the weighted end of the
lever substantially as and for the purpose described.
4. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete rock-
ing apparatus for developing washing or treating photographic plates substan-
tially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of August 1898
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.