US2690696A - Automatic projection printing machine - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 5, 1954 K. w. ASHTON AUTOMATIC PROJECTION PRINTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Shee l Filed Jan. 51, 1951 `m Nhmwhm 1N V EN TOR.

AT TO RNEY Oct. 5, 1954 K, w. ASHTON AUTOMATIC PROJECTION PRINTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 3l, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 .num 1 flllml INVENTOR.

ilI/-QNNETH W. ASHTO N ATTORNEY Oct. 5, 1954 K, w. ASHTON 2,690,696

AUTOMATIC PROJECTION PRINTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 3l, 1951 IS'Sheets-Sheet 5 ON N IN J/I R6 mm wm 0T m Mmm d J m, TH JIH/ 6m MS WA I `M m: .m m/n W M 7 \J, Tum Jill. m:\ el N E .K \w (mm @W Aww@ O@\ m0 0 W@ \N H n@ Nw .VN wn m m. N 2 M j Q M m. wb mv n AT TORNEY Patented Oct. 5, 1.9574' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC PROJECTION PRINTING MACHINE 2 Claims. l

This invention relates to improvements in automatic projecting printing machines, which are particularly adapted for making photographic prints from projected. images.

The primary object of the invention is to pro-4 vide an automatic printing machine wherein a series of prints can be automatically made, one after the other from a projected image on a single large sheet of photographic paper.

This machine is so designed as to receive a large sheet of photographic paper so that a series o f exposures can be made throughout the width of the sheet. rIhen by moving the sheet transversely of the line of printing the width of a single exposure, the paper can be moved across under the projected image exposing still another row of pictures for any desired number of rows of prints, or until the entire sheet has been exposed to the projected image.

'My new and improved printing machine pro.- vides an automatic printer for the photographer wherein he can use a large sheet of paper making a series of exposures thereon instead of using small sheets with one exposure being made on each sheet. This eliminates the handling of individual prints in exposing, developing, drying and sorting. By using a large sheet having a series of exposures thereon, no more handling is necessary than was` required when one exposure was made on a small sheet by the old method.

These and other incidental objects will be apparent in the drawings, specification and claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan View of my new and improved automatic printing machine.

Figure 2 is a side sectional view, taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indi-y cated.

Figure 3 is an end sectional View, taken on line `."1---3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated.

Figure 4f is an enlarged fragmentary view of the secondary carriage locking device, taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a side View of Figure 4, taken on line 5,-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary end sectional view of the feed mechanism for moving the carriage, taken on line 6-6 of Figure 8.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary perspective view of part of the platform feed mechanism shown in perspective for conveience of illustration.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the machine, having its cover or light shield removed therefrom for convenience of illustrating the various Darts.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatical wiring layout of the electric controlsystem.

Figure 10 is a sectional View` of the automatic timer mechanism taken on line Iii-Eil of Figure 9.

Referring more specifically to the drawings:

My new and improved automatic printingmachine comprises a table including a platform I, mounted on supporting legs 2. primary care riage 3 is mounted upon the platform I by way of trunnion wheels 4; running on V-shaped rails 5 fixed on said platform I and extending lon. gitudinally thereof. These trunnion wheelsare securely journalled on the carriage 3 so that there will be no looseness or side play developed in the movement of the carriage over the rails.

A secondary carriage 6 is mounted upon the primary carriage 3 by way of the trunnion wheels 1 running on transverse V-shaped rails 0. The said rails 8 are iixedly secured to the primary carriage 3, best illustrated in Figures 2 and 8. These trunnions and rails are also of precision design for preventing any side movement oi the secondary carriage 6 in operation.

The carriages 3 and Il5 operate underneath a cover 9 acting as a light shield, which. completely covers the machine excepting that an opening IIJ is located in the said shield through which. the image being projected from the projection lamp II passes, best illustrated in Figures l, 2 and 8, on to the upper surface of the secondary carriage 6 as indicated by the broken lines I2. The printing paper is indicated at I3 and is held in place on top of the secondary carriage 6 by the guide-` ways i4, which are secured to the top of the secondary carriage.

Cables I5 are deadfended to the carriage 3 at I6 at one of their ends and trained over the sheaves Il, best illustrated in Figures 2 and 8, having counterweights I8 affixed to their opposite ends. These counterweights pull the primary carriage in the direction of the arrow C (Fig. 8) at all times.

A holding dog IYQ is associated with a core 20 of the solenoid 2| which is fixedly secured at 2 2 to the carriage 3. The dog I9 engages the locking latch 23 and holds the carriage 3 in the position shown in the drawings, best illustrated in Figure 2,. The said latch 23 is in the form. of a bell crank 23A and is pivotally connected to the platform I at 24. The bell crank 23A is also connected to the core 25 of the solenoid 2S. The ope eration of which will be more fully described later on.

The secondary carriage 6 has cables 21 `secured 3 thereto at 23 and passing over the sheaves 23 with counterweights 35 afxed thereto. These cables and counterweights pull the secondary carriage in the direction of the arrow D (Fig. 8). This carriage is held against the pull of these weights by the locking pawl 3l, referring to Figures 4 and 5, which forms part of the bell crank 32, the said crank is pivotally mounted at 33 to the bracket 34. The said bracket 34 is lixedly secured to the carriage 6 as best illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. The operation of this pawl is controlled by the solenoid 35, which will be more fully described later on.

I will now describe the operation of my new and improved automatic printing machine, referring to Figure 9. The carriages 3 and S are positioned as illustrated in the drawings. The image of the negative within the enlarger II is projected through the opening I9 on to a piece of paper 35, which is secured to the secondary carriage and has the same thickness of the print paper I3. The image is indicated by the broken lines I2. This allows the photographer to focus the image without destroying any of the print paper I3.

The image from the negative located in the enlarger lamp I I is focused on the test paper 3S by closing the switch 3'I within the timing unit 38. An electric circuit will be completed from the supply line B, conductors 39, 39A switch 31, conductor 39B, lamp IIA within the enlarger and back to the main line A.

The printer is next set into automatic operation by pressing the button 49 manually. The button 49 will cause the lever 4I to pivot about its pivot support 4IB engaging the plunger 42 of the switch 43, closing the contacts 44 completing an electric circuit from the main line B, conductor 39, switch 43, conductor 45, conductor 43, conductor 39B, projection lamp IIA back into the line A.

When the lever 4I was pushed down by the bottom 45 the end 45A of the lever contacted the bell crank 41, which is connected to the switch bar 31 and the switch bar 31A by way of the link 49. This opened the switch 3i and closed the switch 31A completing an electric circuit through the switch 43, conductor 45, conductor 5, switch 31A, conductor 59, solenoid 5l, conductcr 52 back to the main line A. Energization of the solenoid I raises its core 53 to the dotted position where it will remain.

Electric energy also is delivered from the switch 43, conductor 45, conductor 54 to the inotor 55, which will begin to rotate the worm wheel by way of the worm 51 in the direction of the arrow. Electric energy also is delivered from the conductor 54 by way of the flexible conductor Si to the solenoid 53. The solenoid 53 is `mounted to the circuit breaker arm 59, best illustrated in Figures 9 and l0.

Referring to Figures 9 and l0, the circuit breaker arm 55 is rotatably mounted on the stationary stub shaft EG. A coil spring 5i has one of its ends connected to the arm 59 at 52, while its opposite end passes through the sha-it at 33. This spring is so mounted so as to rotate the breaker arm 55 in theopposite direction of rotation to that of the worm gear 5S. The position of the breaker arm 59 will be determined by the stop pin E4, which is i'ixedly secure-:l to the crank arm 35. The hub 56 of the crank arm 55 rotates on the shaft 5B and within the bearing 6'.' or the case 59 of the timing unit. A hand knob 89 is keyed to the hub '53 and-has 4 a pointer l0 forming part thereof, referring to' Figures 8 and 10. The position of the stop pin G4 is determined by the operator revolving the hand knob G9 and the pointer 'I0 over the dial 1l.

In the operation of the timer, the operator revolves the knob 53 so as to position the stop pin 64, as for instance in the position illustrated in Figures 8, 9 and 10. This will allow the spring 5I to rotate the breaker arm 59 to the position shown against the stop 54. When the solenoid 58 was energized it caused its core 'i2 to engage the notches or depressions 'I3 formed on the side of the worm wheel 55, therefore when the motor 55 was started by being energized it will rotate the gear wheel 56 in the direction of the arrow, together with the breaker arm 59.

When the breaker arm 59 reaches the trigger lever i4 it will unlatch the dog l5 from the end 'i5 oi the plunger 42 o1" the switch 43, allowing the spring il to raise the switch 43 to the open position shown in the drawing, breaking the electric circuit through the contacts 44, turning oi the enlarging lamp I IA and stopping the motor 55 and releasing the tip oi' the core I2 of the solenoid 52 from the depressions T3, which allows the spring 6I to return the breaker arm 59 to its starting position against the stop pin 34, The position of the stop pin 64 will determine how long it will take for the breaker arm 59 to reach and open the switch 43, thereby governing the time of exposure.

Returning back now to when the switch 43 was closed and the solenoid 5I was energized, I will describe what happens when the switch 43 was opened as above described. When the switch 43 was opened the solenoid 5I was demagnetized, allowing the spring '16 to return the core 53 to the position illustrated in the drawings. l/Vnen the head 53A of the core engaged the tip 'i9 of the pivotally mounted switch operating bar 35, it caused the said bar to close the switch 3| momentarily. This delivered electrical current from the main line conductor B through the switch 8l, conductor 82 into the solenoid 2| causing its core 23 to disenga-ge the holding dog I9 from the locking latch 23. This permitted the carriage 3 to be inoved in the direction of the arrow until the locking dog I9 engaged the switch 83.

This switch performs a dual purpose, it provides a stop for holding the further movement of the carriage by the action of the counterweights I9, and also closes an electric circuit from the main line B by way of the conductor B4, into the solenoid 35. This causes the end 86 of the core 8"? of the solenoid 85 to strike the end 88 of the bar 4I, pivoting it about its pivot point lB and causing it to force the plunger 42 of the switch 43 down again closing the contacts 44, which will energize the projection lamp IIA starting the motor 55, engaging the core 'l2 of the solenoid 53 with the notches 'i3 termed on the side of the worm gear 55, causing the breaker arm to again travel towards the trigger latch 14 when it will reopen'the switch 43, at which time the exposure will have been made 'on the paper I3 indicated by the broken line 89, referring to Figure 8.

When the switch 43 is opened4 it will again cause the solenoid 5I to close the switch 9| energizing the solenoid 2l unlatching the locking dog i9 from the switch 83,'a1lowing thecarriage 3 to again move in the direction of the arrow until the dog I9 engages the switch 9U, repeating another cycle of operation.

In regards to the operation of the switches 3T and 37A, the switch bar 31A will remain closed during automatic operation until the operator opens the same by way of the switch arm 31B for further testing and focusing of the images.

Referring to Figure 9, when the carriage 3 reached the end of its travel, or having completed the last print indicated by the broken lines 9i, it will have come against the stops 92 on the tracks 5, stopping its further movement. Simultaneously therewith the switch operating arm 93 will engage the switch bar 94 causing it to take the dotted position indicated in Figure 9, which will close an electric circuit from the main line B through the conductor 35, motor 96, conductor el, through the switch bar 94, conductor 98 and back to the main line A. The motor 96 rotates the threaded shaft 99 by way of the driving belt IIlIl and its associated pulleys, referring to Figures 2, 3 and 8.

When the switch Sri was closed another electric circuit was completed from the conductor 91, through the conductor IGI, solenoid IEi2, conductor m3 back to the main line A by way of the conductor $38. The solenoid I02 is connected to a clutch element Iilt which consists of an internal threaded head MI5, referring to Figure 7, forming part of the plunger Idd. This element is mounted to the forward edge IIll of the carriage 3, referring particularly to Figures 7 and 8 by way of the bearing support |98.

The core IGS of the solenoid 32 is connected to this threaded unit by way of the link I I When the solenoid m2 is energized it pulls the threaded head m5 of this clutch unit into engagement with the threaded shaft 99, and as the shaft 99 is rotated it will move this threaded head along the shaft, moving the carriage 3 in the opposite direction to the arrow C, until the carriage reaches the position illustrated in the drawings, when the dog I9 will engage the locking latch 23, or will re-engage the switch 83 instead.

In the event of continuous operation, the carriage will not be arrested by the locking latch 23, which will be more fully described later on. When the carriage has reached the position illustrated in the drawings, a oating switch operating bar I II will open the switch 94. The switch operating arm I I I floats on the spring mounting I I2, the object of which is to permit the carriage to overrun slightly in its movement after the motor 9E is de-energized.

On the return of the carriage 3 towards its starting position, it is desirable to allow the secondary carriage 6 to move in the direction of the arrow D, referring to Figures 3 and 8, so as to bring the broken line positions II3 under the opening I0 of the light shield and the projected image being printed. This is accomplished by the switch operating arm 93 closing the switch I III, which energizes the solenoid 36 by way of the conductor H5, which is connected to the conductor 98, switch I I4, solenoid 36, conductor llt, conductor II'I, back to the main line B.

When the solenoid 36 is energized it will pull the core 36A, pivoting the bell crank 32 about its pivot 33 unlatching the pawl 3I from the stop I I8, the stop I I3 being part of the primary carriage 3. This will allow the carriage 6 to be moved in the direction of the arrow D by its counterweights 3S, until the pawl 3I strikes the switch I I9, which acts as a stop for the carriage.

When the carriage 3 reaches the end of its return travel in the opposite direction of the arrow by the action of the rotation of the screw 6 thread 99 within the nut |05, it can be held in the position shown in the drawings by the action of the dog I3 against the latch 23, or the same may pass the latch 2:3 when the-latch is in the dotted position, referring to Figure 2f, and contact the switch 83 as above described. In case the movement of the carriage is not arrested by the latch 23, the printer will go on printing as indicated by the broken lines I I3.

Referring to Figure 9, in the event of continuous printing operation the manual switch im is opened as shown, therefore when the dog 3l contacted the switch IIS in the movement of the carriage an electric circuit will not be completed through the solenoid Z6, therefore the latch 23 will remain in the dotted position allowing the dog I9 to pass the same by the action of the counterweights on the carriage 3, the dog I9 engaging the switch 83 which will close an electric circuit through the solenoid 85, causing the arm I to start the timing unit as above described, turning on the projection lamp resetting the solenoid 5I and causing the motor 55 to operate the timing unit until the breaker arm 59 releases the switch d3, breaking the circuit therethrough, which will allow the solenoid 5I to close the switch BI unlocking the dog I3 from the switch 83 and allowing it to contact the switch 99 again completing a cycle of operation.

In the event it is desirable to print but one row of pictures, the switch I2il would be closed so that when the pawl 3! closed the switch IIS electric energy would flow from the main line conductor B through the conductor II'I, conductor Ii, switch IZS, switch I I9 through the conductor Iii', solenoid 2d, conductor IES, back to the main line A. This will move the stop latch 23 from the dotted position to the full line position where it will arrest the movement of the carriage 3 by way of the stop dog IS, as illustrated in the drawings.

S0 long as the solenoid 2S is not energized the latch will remain in the dotted position out of registry with the dog I9, which will go past the same on the return of the carriage 3 until it strikes the rst switch 83, which will arrest the movement of the carriage and cause the timing unit 38 to again go into operation.

When the pawl 3l of the carriage 6 reaches the switch |24 it will operate the solenoid 26, stopping the operation of the machine, which would be the position indicated by the broken lines IE5, referring to Figure 8.

While I have illustrated a specific mechanical and electrical apparatus for moving the printing paper under a projected image printing on the paper rows of prints, I 'do not wish to be limited to this exact mechanical and electrical layout as other methods may be employed to move the sheet under the projected image, but the layout that I have illustrated is admirably adapted to carry out this particular movement of the photographic printing paper for the desired number of prints on the sheet.

Also, the embodiment described comprehends the movement of the projection lamp II and cover 9 with its opening I0, or other suitable opaque member having such an opening, and a support or carriage bearing the printing paper and thus, the printing paper itself relatively as described or otherwise, to intermittently present successive rows of sections of the printing paper for exposure and successively expose successive sections of each row for projection and printing of the image on the paper. In the form described, the paper is moved under the exposure opening in rows covering the entire sheet of paper with exposures on the printing paper, but broadly, the lamp and opening, and the paper, are moved relatively. Thus, the invention comprehends moving the paper relative to or beneath the lamp or lamp and opening, or the lamp and opening relative to or over the paper, so that, fundamentally, the invention really consists of printing a series of exposures over one piece of printing paper so that all exposures can be developed at one and the same time and similarly or otherwise handled or dried.

What I claim is:

1. In an automatic projection printing machine, a projection lamp for projecting an image, a support for a sheet of printing paper of a size embodying a plurality of rows of sections each the size of the projected image to be reproduced on the paper, means over the sheet having an exposure opening through which the image is projected onto the paper, means to automatically turn the lamp on and ofi, means for producing intermittent relative movement between said support and said exposure opening to intermittently present successive sections for exposure, and means operable in sequence with the intermittent relative movements between said support and opening to energize said lamp between such movements to successively expose successive sections fcr projection and printing of the image on thc paper.

2. In an automatic projection printing ma* chine, a carriage movably supported, means for successively moving the carriage in one direction in degrees equal to one dimension of a projected image to be printed, a second carriage movable across the first carriage and adapted to support a sheet of print paper of a size embodying a plurality of rows of sections the size of the projected image to be printed thereon, means for moving the second carriage across the rst carriage in degrees equal to the other dimension of the projected image and any space between the images to successively expose a plurality of sections of the print paper in a row for printing, means for returning the second carriage to its initial position, and means actuated by said first carriage upon completion of its movement in the one direction for returning the first carriage to its initial position, said means for successively moving said first carriage comprising means for moving said carriage in one direction, a series of spaced means for successively stopping said carriage for each image area of a row on the print paper, a retractible stop device aligned with and spaced from said series of spaced stopping means for stopping said carriage with the exposure area beyond the print sheet area, whereby the image may be projected on a piece of test paper in advance of the print paper to obtain the proper exposure and focus of the image prior to exposure and projection thereof onto the print paper, and means for retracting said stop to release and prevent stopping said carriage during successive passages to permit movement of the rst carriage together with the second carriage and print paper thereon to regular exposure position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,525,798 Boedicker Feb. 10, 1925 1,805,202 Boedicker May 12, 1931 2,172,283 Kirby Sept. 5, 1939 2,348,457 Drehs May 9, 1944 2,369,981 Reyniers Feb. 20, 1945 2,441,919 Lockrey May 18, 1948 2,573,278 Rowev Oct. 30, 1951

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