Improved Method of and Apparatus for Cleaning and Preparing Photographic Plates and Films.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 4th May, 1897-Accepted, 5th June, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Cleaning and Preparing
Photographic Plates and Films.
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH EDWARDS, of The Grove, Hackney, in the County of
Middlesex, Photographic Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved method of and apparatus for cleaning and
coating, or preparing, with a suitable substratum, plates and films used in
photography, the object of my, invention being to provide for doing such work
efficiently, without the necessity of handling the plates or films during any of the
operations.
'
According to my invention the plates to be cleaned are fed into the machine in
a vertical position and they are retained in this position during the operations of
cleaning, rinsing and coating with substratum. This constitutes an important
feature of my invention.
an endless band or bands travelling over
In carrying out my invention I use
rollers mounted in suitable bearings or I use a series of revolving rollers and
dispense with the band. The plates to be cleaned are placed with their lower
edges resting on the band or rollers as the case may be and are kept upright by
means of suitable guides either alone or supplemented by weighted or pivoted
arms or supports provided with grooved wheels. or pulleys resting upon the
upper edges of the plates. The said arms and grooved pulleys tend to keep the
When the machine is set in motion
plates pressed down upon the endless band.
the plates are carried forward on the band and are passed between two or more
pairs of vertical rollers provided with flexible rubber or other gripping surfaces
and driven at a convenient speed so as to carry the plates forward at about the
same rate as the travelling band moves. Between each pair of such rollers and the
next pair, I arrange circular or cylindrical brushes in pairs one on each side of
the plates to revolve about vertical axes at a speed suitable for cleaning the plates
as they are carried forward. The brushes of each pair revolve in opposite directions,
and preferably I make each pair revolve in the opposite direction to the next
pair. I provide for supplying a continuous stream of water or other cleaning fluid
to the brushes or to the sides of the plates preferably at or near their upper
edges. I also enclose the brushes in casings or covers to avoid splashing and
waste of the cleaning fluid which I may collect in a trough or receptacle and use
over again.
As soon as the plates have been cleaned by the revolving brushes they are
carried forward by the last pair of guiding rollers and delivered, while still held
in a vertical position by guides or grooved pulleys, to another travelling band
similar to that just described. Between or near the said guides I arrange one or
more jets or streams of water to flow on to the upper edges of the plates and
down or over both sides of the plates whereby the plates are efficiently rinsed.
I preferably pass the plates between one or more pairs of vertical or vertically
inclined rubber squeegees before reaching and after passing the rinsing devices to
remove any excess of the cleaning fluid previous to rinsing and the excess of water
after rinsing.

page_text: After the plates have been properly rinsed by passing under or through a sufficient
number of separate jets or streams of water as above described, I cause them to pass
in a similar way through or under one or more jets or streams of a fluid substratum,
such as is ordinarily used as a final preparation for the plates before the same are
coated with sensitive emulsion. The plates are then placed in racks and dried ready
for use.
I prefer to make my improved apparatus in sections and to make the band which
carries the plates during the operation of applying the substratum independent of and
separate from that which is in use during the rinsing, whereby I prevent the
substratum from becoming too much diluted with water, and I am enabled to collect
the substratum in a trough placed under the band and after filtering use it again.
I sometimes provide a pump or other means for raising the cleaning fluid to be used
again and also for raising and filtering the used substratum. By these means I am
able to perform mechanically and continuously the various operations of cleaning,
rinsing and coating with substratum plates for photographic purposes in a more
efficient and economical way than has heretofore been possible.
. My improved apparatus is also suitable for cleaning and preparing thin films such
as celluloid films as well as glass plates but in applying my invention to the
cleaning and preparing with substratum flexible films I prefer to place the guiding
rollers and revolving brushes in a transversely horizontal instead of vertical position,
and to so arrange them longitudinally that the flexible film will be inclined or curved
during the operations of cleaning and rinsing and made finally to pass in an inclined
or curved direction between jets or through a bath of the fluid substratum.
Dated this 4th day of August 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Cleaning and Preparing
Plates and Films.
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH EDWARDS, of The Grove, Hackney, in the County of
Middlesex, Photographic Chemist, 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:-
This invention relates to an improved method of and apparatus for cleaning plates
and films intended for photographic purposes preparatory to coating them with the
sensitive emulsion, and the said invention also provides for coating the plates or films
after the washing with a film of distilled water or with a suitable substratum, the
various operations being conducted without involving the necessity for bandling the
plates or films. For this purpose I employ a machine or apparatus preferably
constructed in three sections, which serve respectively for cleaning, rinsing and the
final preparation of the plates or films, the machine being so constructed that after
the final rinsing or preparation the surfaces of the plates, or films are kept clean by
being prevented from coming in contact with any part of the machine.
An important feature of my invention is that all the necessary operations are
performed with the plates or films in a vertical position. The plates are carried
through the machine by means of travelling endless bands and gripping rollers and
their surfaces are cleaned by revolving cylindrical brushes or cleaning rollers which
press against the plates as the latter pass through the machine. To hold the plates
firmly in contact with the travelling band and to maintain them in a vertical position,
I weight and guide them by means of grooved pulleys. The water or cleaning fluid

page_text: is delivered in a continuous stream or jet at or near the upper edge of the plates or
on to the brushes or cleaning rollers, a trough being provided in which the fluid may
be collected. After leaving the cleaning brushes the plates are rinsed by jets or
streams of clean water directed on to the top edge of the plates in such manner that
the jet is divided by the edge of the plate or film and flows down on both sides.
Finally a jet of distilled water or fluid substratum is allowed to flow over the plates
in like manner to finish the preparation. Between the jets of water I may fix
vertically inclined guides or squeegees to guide the flow and remove any excess of
fluid. Preferably three separate endless bands one in each section of the machine are
provided so that the washing fluid, the rinsing water, and the distilled water or
substratum are kept separate from each other.
By these means I am enabled to clean and prepare glass plates and filins for
photography more perfectly and with greater speed and economy than heretofore.
When applying my invention to very thin flexible films I may arrange the cleaning
brushes and rollers horizontally instead of vertically, the flexible film being made to
assume a waved or serpentine form as it passes through the various operations of
cleaning, rinsing, and preparing.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how my invention may be
advantageously carried into practice:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of apparatus for cleaning glass plates.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section on the line e, a Figure 1, and
:
Figures 3 and 4 are vertical sections on an enlarged scale taken on the
line y, y and y y respectively of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a side elevation of a machine for cleaning thin flexible films, and
Figure 6 is a plan of said machine.
Referring to Figures 1 to 4, A is the frame of the machino; B is an endless elastic
travelling band for feeding the plates forward to the cleaning part of the apparatus ;
C, C are vertical guide rollers. D, D are balls arranged in cages D', Di for the
purpose of preventing the plates from falling away from the rollers (. These balls
admit of the plates being placed in position against the rollers from the side without
having to push them end wise so that each plate to be cleaned can be easily and
expeditiously placed in position behind the preceding plate without risk of injury to
the travelling band by the edges of the plates. The balls are loose in their cages and
project from holes in the bottom of said cages as clearly indicated in Figure 3. They
rise when the plate is being pushed under them and then fall at the side of the plate
and maintain it in position. The cages D' are carried by a bar D2 which can be
raised and lowered by means of a screw D³ to admit of adjusting the height of the
balls to suit plates of different widths. On arriving at the end of the band B the
plates are seized by revolving feed rollers E arranged in pairs and covered with india
rubber or provided with elastic bands E¹ to afford a firm grip of the plates. The
rollers may be driven by worm gear E at the top as shown or they may be driven in any
other suitable manner. E3 E3 are rollers upon which the lower edges of the plates rest
when passing through this part of the apparatus. Between the first and second pair
of feed rollers E is a revolving cylindrical brush F on one side of the plates and a
bearing roller F on the other side and between the third and fourth. pair of feeding
rollers is a second brush and a bearing roller but arranged reversely so that one brush
will clean one side of the plates and the other will clean the other side of the plates.
If desired more revolving brushes may be provided, and they may be arranged in
pairs with the plates passing between them, that is to say, the bearing rollers may be
replaced by revolving brushes.
The washing water or cleaning fluid is discharged by taps or nozzles G in continuous
streams on the brushes or on the plates at or near their upper edges and is collected
in a trough placed below the rollers. It may be used over again, or may run to waste
by a suitable outflow. Covers or shields are provided around the brushes to prevent
the water or fluid being splashed about. The frame H which carries the revolving
cleaning brushes and rollers is made in two parts, that part which carries the brush F
the bearing roller F and the feeding rollers E on one side of the plate being hinged

page_text: at H' so that it can be turned about said hinge to afford access to the interior of this
part of the apparatus. H2, H2 are screws for holding the binged part of the frame in
position when closed. A catch or other suitable fastening may be provided in lieu of
a screw.
Upon leaving the cleaning part of the apparatus the plates pass on to another
travelling endless band J which carries them between pairs of inclined squeegees K,
or other suitable guides. The frame at this part is also preferably formed in two
parts, one side being hinged so as to open when required. The rinsing water is
delivered through nozzles K' on the edges of the plates while passing through the
squeegees. The plates are kept firmly pressed upon the band by a series of grooved
rollers L, which rest upon the upper edges of the plates. The spindles of the said
rollers work in slots L in a frame L2 and the rollers are lifted when the plates pass
under them so that their weight is borne by the plates. The frame L is adjustable
and can be raised and lowered by a screw L³ to accommodate plates of differeut
widths. The rinsing water may be collected in a trough below the squeegees or may
be allowed to run to waste.
The plates next pass on to a third endless band N and preferably between
squeegees O, after which a final wash of distilled water, or a fluid substratum is
allowed to flow from a nozzle O' down the plates as they are carried by the band to
the end of the apparatus. The fluid substratum or distilled water which flows from
the plates is collected in a trough P, whence it can be pumped up and filtered into a
reservoir and again delivered on to the plates by the nozzle O'. The plates are
pressed on the band by grooved rollers similar to those used in the rinsing section of
the apparatus. On arriving at the end of the apparatus the plates are removed and
stored in racks to dry. By constructing the apparatus in sections and providing.
separate endless bands and troughs as above described the cleaning fluid, the rinsing
water, and the distilled water or fluid substratum are kept separate from each other
so that if desired one or more of thein may be used over again. I prefer to drive the
second endless band slightly faster than the first, and the third slightly faster than
the second, so that the plates will not tend to crowd on each other. The grooved
guide rollers are arranged to cant the plates slightly on arriving at the end of the
machine so that the plates may not fall but will lean with their upper edges against
a piece of india rubber or other pad provided to support them. The surfaces are thus
kept from contact with any part of the machine and the plates are delivered quite
clean. By this apparatus and method of cleaning and preparing the plates, both sides
of the plates are treated alike and are left perfectly clean at the end of the operation.
Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, Q is the thin flexible film to be cleaned, the
same being passed by feed rollers E between the first cylindrical brush F and its
bearing roller F1 and then carried forward by another pair of feed rollers E between
the second brush and bearing roller, the said brushes being arranged on opposite
sides of the film as above described with reference to the vertical machine. G, G are
pipes by which the cleaning fluid or water is directed on to the film or on to the
cleaning brushes. On leaving this part of the machine the film passes between feed
rollers and then under a guide bar R¹ arranged to deflect the film and to direct it
into a trough S containing the rinsing water which is supplied by a pipe K and
which runs away through an outflow pipe. The trough has a curved bottom so that
the film may slide freely along it and pass out over the farther edge without being
ampeded. S is a roller for keeping the film immersed in the water while passing
through the trough.
On leaving the trough S the film passes between another pair of feed rollers T and
under a guide bar T by which it is deflected again and directed into another
trough V containing distilled water or a fluid substratum according to the manner in
which the filins are to be finished. This trough also has a curved bottom, and is
furnished with a roller V₁ to keep the films immersed. On leaving the trough V the
films are removed and hung up to dry; a convenient mode of seizing the ends of the
films is by means of a spring clip.
In both the above described machines I may use cleaning rollers covered with

page_text: felt or formed of discs of felt or other suitable material in lieu of the cylindrical
revolving brushes.
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. A cleaning machine constructed to clean, rinse and coat with distilled water or
a fluid substratum, plates or films for photographic purposes, or for performing any
one or two of these operations, while the said plates or films are supported in a.
vertical position upon one edge, for the purpose specified.
2. In a machine for rinsing, and coating with distilled water or fluid substratum,.
plates or films while the same are in a vertical position, delivering the rinsing water-
and the coating water or fluid upon the upper edges of the plates or films in streams.
which are divided and flow down both sides of the plates or films, substantially as, and
for the purposes, specified.
3. In a machine such as that herein described for cleaning plates or films while.
the same are supported in a vertical position upon one edge, the balls and cages that:
allow of placing the plates or films in position from the side, substantially as, and for-
the purpose, specified.
4. The combination, with the endless travelling band for carrying the plates or
films, of rollers resting on the upper edges of the said plates or films and serving to
keep them pressed, tightly on the band, substantially as, and for the purpose,.
specified.
5. The herein described method of cleaning and preparing plates or films for
photographic purposes which method consists in first passing the plates or films
between revolving cylindrical brushes while water or cleaning fluid is supplied thereto,
then through a stream or bath of rinsing water, and then through a stream or bath of
distilled water or fluid substratum, and delivering the plates or films without contact.
of their surfaces with any part of the machine.
6. A. machine composed of three sections applicable respectively for cleaning,
rinsing and preparing plates or films, and furnished with separate troughs for
collecting the fluid so that one or more of the fluids may be employed again for the
same purpose as before, substantially as described, and for the purposes specified.
7. A machine for cleaning and preparing thin flexible films, which is composed of
three sections and is furnished with means for deflecting the films and with revolving
cylindrical cleaning brushes and feeding rollers, substantially as, and for the purposes,.
specified.
8. A machine constructed substantially as set forth with reference to either of the
forms described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and for the purposes.
specified.
ted this 4th day of May 1897.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant..