An Improved Apparatus for Keeping Dishes Containing Liquids in Regular Motion, specially for use in the Practice of Photography.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 18th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 17th Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Keeping Dishes Containing Liquids in
Regular Motion, specially for use in the Practice of Photography.
I, JOHN WILLIAM HUNTER of 28 Norwood Road, Herne Hill, London, S.E.,
Manufacturer of Photographic Apparatus do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
-
The appliances hitherto employed for this purpose have consisted of a platform
supported on centres like a scale-beam, to which a rocking motion has been imparted
by the momentum of a swinging weight, or some form of motor.
My invention consists in the adoption of a level table or platform, mounted on a
stem which is supported in a vertical position, and free to oscillate on its axis.
The stem carrying the platform is provided with an arm or lever, and this lever
is connected with a heavy pendulum, or with a clockwork or other notor by means
of a fork or connecting-rod, and is thus made to oscillate on its axis through, say,
one sixteenth of its circumference, or any other convenient distance; and at such
a speed as to keep the contents of the dish on the platform in regular motion. The
dish to be kept in motion may be placed either directly over the centre of oscillation,
or at a greater or less distance from it, at the discretion of the user.
The advantages of this arrangement are as follows :-(1) The dish is always
maintained in a horizontal position, and, in the case of photographic development,
the plate under treatinent is always covered by the solution. (2) The movement
of the liquid contained in the dish is much more regular and better distributed than
by the up-and-down motion hitherto employed for the purpose.
Dated this 18th day of November 1890.
J. W. HUNTER.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Keeping Dishes Containing Liquids in
Regular Motion, specially for use in the Practice of Photography.
I, JOHN WILLIAM HUNTER of No. 28 Norwood Road, Herne Hill, London, S.E.,
Manufacturer of Photographic Requisites 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 apparatus for keeping dishes containing
liquids in regular motion, and belongs to the class commonly known as automatic
rockers."
In order to define more clearly the essential features of my invention, it may be
advisable to state that appliances hitherto employed for the above purpose have
consisted of a table or platform mounted on trunnions or centres, and having an up
and down, sce-saw motion.
The disadvantages attending this form of apparatus are, that the motion imparted
to the liquid is all in one direction: that a considerable driving power is required
to overcome the resistance caused by the unequal distribution of the liquid in the
dish at each end of the swing: and that when such an apparatus stops working,
either by reason of the propelling mechanism having run down, or from any other
cause, the stoppage will always take place when one end of the dish is at its lowest
point, thus leaving the surface under treatment only partially covered by the
chemical solution.

page_text: The object of my invention is to provide a means whereby the disadvantages
associated with the old system may be avoided, and to impart to the dish and its
contents a better distributed motion.
This is effected by providing a level table or platform mounted on a vertical
stem supported by suitable bearings, and free to oscillate on its axis, such oscillating
movement being produced by a running down mechanism regulated by a fly or
heavy wheel, and acting on a forked lever projecting from the stem which carries
the oscillating platform.
The manner in which my invention is practically carried out is shown in the
accompanying drawing, which represents a convenient form of the apparatus in
transverse vertical section.
A is a table or platform which may be of any suitable material, and of any
convenient form, for supporting the vessel containing the liquid to be kept in
motion. On the under side of this platform is a projecting piece, or boss (which
may either be near the edge as shown, or in any convenient position between that
and the centre) by means of which it is mounted on the supporting stem, and
secured by a set screw.
B shows the axis or stem on which the oscillating table is mounted, supported in
a vertical position by the brackets C. C. attached to the wall of the outer casing,
and free to move axially only.
D shows the slotted arm or lever by which the movement of the stem and its
platform is controlled. This arm is fixed in a suitable position on the stem, and
has attached to its other extremity a slotted plate, the fork of which passes over
a pin fixed on the crank plate E of the driving mechanism.
F. G. H. indicate the position of the running movement with its winder and
regulating fly. This motor is not shown in detail, as it does not, in itself, form a
part of my claim, but only in combination with the general arrangement herein
described. This combination of parts is supported by, and enclosed in a suitable
casing, as shown in the accompanying drawing.
It will be seen that when the mechanism is started by winding, the crank plate
is caused to revolve, and the crank pin which engages the slotted lever imparts to
it a reciprocating motion by which the stem which carries the platform is made to
oscillate on its axis.
If it is thought desirable, the crank pin may be connected with the lever by
means of a link, or a cam may take the place of the crank plate.
The advantages attaching to this improved form of rocking apparatus are as
follows: (1) The dish, being supported on a level platform, the plate or other
surface under treatment is always covered by the contained solution, and this
whether the apparatus is in motion or at rest. (2) The nature of the movement
calls for less driving power than the old see-saw plan, consequently larger dishes,
and greater quantities of solution can be kept in motion by a given impulse.
(3) Another result of this arrangement is that a better distributed motion of the
contained solution is secured, which may be varied by placing the dish more or
less over the centre of oscillation.
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 :-
:
First An automatic rocking apparatus consisting of a level table or platform
mounted on a vertical stem supported by suitable bearings, and free to move on
its axis in a horizontal plane.
Secondly-A level table or platform mounted on a vertical stem or axis in the
manner aforesaid, and caused to oscillate in a horizontal plane by means of a
forked arm or lever fixed thereto, and engaging the pin of a crank plate (or other
equivalent device) forming part of a running movement.
"Thirdly :-The combination of a spring motor regulated by a fly, with the level

page_text: platform mounted on a vertical stem, aforesaid, to which an oscillating motion is
imparted by means of a cam or crank acting on a lever, or by means of a link or
other equivalent device, and supported by a suitable casing, as herein described
and illustrated.
Dated him 17th J
1001