Improvements in the Production of Prints by Photography, and in Apparatus for the purpose.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 11th July, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 9th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 30th May, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Production of Prints by Photography, and in
Apparatus for the purpose.
I, WILLIAM FRIESE-GREENE of 39 King's Road, Chelsea, in the County of
London, Photographer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference to the production of prints by photography and its
chief object is to effect a very rapid production where a large number of copies of
the same picture, design, letter press or other object is required. The invention is
particularly applicable to the printing of illustrated newspapers, catalogues, wall
papers and the like.
According to my invention I print successively by means of photography a
number of impressions from the same photographic or other negative or from
the same series of negatives upon a continuous band of sensitized paper or other
Beusitized material as this is caused to travel continuously in contact with a
translucent cylinder which bears or carries the negative or negatives, the said
cylinder being lighted internally preferably by one or more incandescing electric
lamps.
In carrying out the invention when the negative or negatives employed are
photographic negatives,I use negatives which have been taken upon a flexible
translucent, material such as a thin sheet of celluloid and I place this sheet upon a
supporting cylinder of glass in such manner that the sheet bearing the negative or
series of negatives surrounds the cylinder. Within this cylinder I place one or
more lamps. Over or under the cylinder and in contact with the celluloid sheet
thereon I carry a band of sensitized material from a roll or otherwise, this, band
being so guided that there is always a part, say several.inches, of its length in
contact with the celluloid sheet, and, this part of the band being maintained taut.
Rotary motion is given to the cylinder and forward 'motion at the same surface
speed to the band with the result that every section of the band equal to the
circumference of the cylinder, has printed upon it by means of the light a positive
impression from the negative or negatives on the cylinder the same picture or
pictures, being produced upon every successive section of the band. On leaving the
cylinder the band is carried to and through fixing and developing baths. Or if it
be required to print upon both sides of the band, it goes from the first cylinder to
a second and similar cylinder where it is printed in like manner upon its second side;
it then passes on to, the fixing and developing, baths.
When the negatives employed are not photographic negatives they may for
example, be transparencies or sheets having the parts that do not constitute the
design in black, red or other non-actinic color and the other parts that is, to say the
design, transparent, or vice versa.
It is not essential to employ the glass cylinder described if the sheet that bears
the, negative or negatives is strong enough to, be self supporting.
Dated this with day of T1. 1905
"
J., C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
65 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered, Patent Agents.

page_text: 0
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Production of Prints by Photography, and in
Apparatus for the purpose.
I, WILLIAM FRIESE-GREENE of 39 King's Road, Chelsea in the County of
London, Photographer, 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 has reference to the production of prints by photography, and its
chief object is to effect a very rapid production where a large number of copies of
the same picture, design, letterpress or other object is desired. The invention is
particularly applicable to the printing of illustrated newspapers, catalogues, wall
papers and the like.
The invention consists in printing successively and continuously by means of
photography a number of impressions from the same photographic or other negative
or from the same series of negatives upon a continuous band of sensitized paper or
other sensitized material as this is caused to travel continuously in contact with a
translucent cylinder which bears or carries' the negative or negatives, the said
cylinder being lighted internally and preferably by one or more incandescent
electric lamps.
The invention also consists in the combination for the purpose of carrying out
the method or process of printing above described, of a translucent cylinder for
carrying circumferentially the negative or negatives, means for lighting this
cylinder internally, a device for holding and continuously delivering to the
cylinder a sensitized band of paper or other material, guides for conducting this
band so that it comes in contact with the required extent of the surface of the
negative or negatives which surround the cylinder, and means for imparting rotary
motion to the cylinder and forward motion at the same surface speed to the
band.
The invention also comprises other improvements which will be understood by
the description hereinafter given.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a side elevation and Figure 2 an elevation of the front or leading
end of an apparatus in which my improvements are embodied;
Figure 3 is a plan, one of the negative-carrying translucent cylinders being shown
in mid-section.
Figure 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Figure 3, one of the translucent cylinders
being however shown in section on the line 4*4* of Figure 3.
Figures 5 to 8 are detail views on a larger scale illustrating the means of securing
the ends of the negative sheet to the translucent cylinder, Figure 5 being an end
view and Figure 6 a face view of a fragment of the cylinder, Figure 7 a section on
the line 77 of Figure 6 and Figure 8 a section on the line 88 of Figure 6.
The apparatus shown is provided with two negative-carrying translucent
cylinders and is adapted for printing upon both sides of the sensitized band.
a a are side frames which carry the rest of the apparatus. 662 are two trans-
lucent cylinders preferably of glass; they are closed at the ends and have sockets
or bearings cc which turn on fixed axles or pins d d. Within each cylinder 61 bis
an opaque cylindere of brass or other material fixed to the axles dd. The cylinder e
has a longitudinal opening f extending from end to end and the width of which is
determined by the length of time it is desired to expose each particular part of the
negative to the light. g is a sheet of glass fixed in the cylinder e opposite the
opening f. h is a frame or bent bar fixed to the axles d d and carrying two incan-
descent electric lamps jj the number of which is optional. The conducting wires k k
for these lamps are led in through one of the axles d which is made hollow for the
purpose. is a roller carrying the sensitized band (Figures 1 and 4). m is a
T

page_text: brake applied to a pulley n on the shaft of the roller 1. p² p² are guide rollers for
rr are pressure
the sensitized band. 9 is a drawing or feed roller for the band.
t is a toothed wheel on
rollers which are forced against the roller g by springs ss.
the shaft of the roller g; this wheel t gears with a pinion on the driving shaft v;
on this same shaft is a sprocket wheel w over which passes a chain & for driving the
rotating parts of the fixing and developing apparatus. This apparatus does not
constitute any part of my present invention and is not shown in the drawings.
When the negatives employed are photographic negatives they should be those
that have been taken upon flexible translucent material such as thin sheets of
celluloid. The negative sheets are placed round the cylinders ¹³ and secured
thereto; this is preferably effected by the means illustrated in Figures
bar =.
to 8, that
is to say, a longitudinal opening is made in the cylinder or 62 and a strip of
metal is fixed therein having a groove with inclined sides to form a bed to a
The negative sheet which is cut to the required length is passed round the
cylinder and its ends are then turned down against the inclined sides of the groove,
the sheet being pulled taut; the bar'z is then fitted into the groove and fastened by
screws as shown so as to hold the ends of the sheet securely.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-The negatives having been secured
around the cylinders and the sensitized band i from the roller having been led
under the guide roller p' then over cylinder 6' then under the cylinder 62 then over
the guide roller p2 and then under the drawing roller and over the pressure
rollers rr, and the lamps jj being lighted, the driving shaft is rotated; the
pinion and wheel t transmit the motion to the drawing roller 9 which conse-
quently draws the sensitized band forward continuously at a uniform speed whilst
the band itself as it travels forward imparts rotary motion to the cylinders b¹³
at the same surface speed. Consequently every section of the sensitized band
aqual in length to the circumference of one of the cylinders & travels around a
large part of the cylinder in contact with the negative or negatives on that
cylinder and has printed on one of its faces by means of the light that passes
through the opening a positive impression of such negative or negatives, the
same picture or pictures being produced upon every successive section of the band.
On leaving the cylinder 'the band i passes under the cylinder and then over
the guide roller p² and while passing under the cylinder 62 it has printed upon its
other face a successive series of positive impressions from the negative or negatives
on the cylinder 62. The band i goes from the roller p² under the roller q and then
to the fixing and developing baths. In order to ensure that the two cylinders b² 62
may move at the same speed and to obtain "register" between the printings on the
two sides of the band i I provide one of the cylinders with a tooth or projection A
to engage at the end of every rotation between two teeth or projections B B on
the other cylinder.
When with the apparatus shown in the drawings it is required to print on only
one side of the band i, one of the cylinders bis left unlighted.
It is obvious that the apparatus may he constructed to print upon only one side
of the band; in this case the second cylinder 2 will be dispensed with and the
band will pass direct from the cylinder to a suitably situated guide roller and
thence to the drawing roller 9.
When the negatives employed are not photographic negatives they may for
example be transparencies or sheets having all the parts that do not constitute the
design in black, red or other non-actinic color, and the other parts that is to say
the design, transparent or vice versa.
If the sheets that bear the negative or negatives are strong enough to be self-
supporting they will themselves constitute the cylinders b¹ b².
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 method or process of producing prints by photography which consists in

page_text: -causing a band of sensitized material to continuously travel in contact with part of
the periphery of a negative-carrying internally lighted translucent cylinder which
rotates at the same surface speed as the forward motion of the band, whereby a
succession of impressions of the photographic or other negative or negatives
carried by the cylinder is continuously printed upon the band, substantially as
:set forth.
2. In apparatus for producing prints by photography, the combination of a
negative-carrying internally-lighted translucent cylinder, a sensitized band holder
continuously delivering the band to the said cylinder, guides compelling the band
to travel in contact with part of the circumference of the cylinder, and means for
imparting continuous forward motion to the band and rotary motion at the same
surface speed to the cylinder, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In apparatus for producing prints by photography, the combination of two
negative-carrying internally-lighted, translucent cylinders, a sensitized band holder
continuously delivering the band to the said cylinders, guides compelling the band
to travel first with one of its faces in contact with part of the circumference of one
of the said cylinders and then with its other face in contact with part of the circum-
ference of the other of the said cylinders, and means for imparting continuous
forward motion to the band and rotary motion at the same surface speed to the
cylinders, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. The combination with the rotating translucent negative-carrying cylinder b¹
of the fixed opaque cylinder e having an opening fand lighted internally substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
5. The projection A on the cylinder in combination with the projections B B
on the cylinder & substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
6. The apparatus constructed and working substantially as herein before described
and represented in the accompanying drawings for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 8th day of April 1896.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.