US2726317A - Photographic reproducing lamp - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 6, 1955 D. B. ROGERS 5 3 PHOTOGRAPHIC REPRODUCING LAMP Filed June 14, 1952 9 INVENTOR.

Dona/a' 5. Rogers LKJ ri 2,726,317 Patented Dec. 6 1955 PHOTOGRAPHIC REPRODUCING LAMP Donald B. Rogers, Seattle, wash.

Application June 14, `1952, Serial No. 293507 3 Claims. (Cl. 240-1) The present invention relates to improvements in photographic apparatus principally intended for making photoprint reproductions of printed or typewritten sheets, usually referred to as copy.

More particularly, my invention relates to apparatus of the character described in which a movable source of light is passed over a sheet of sensitized `paper supermposed on the copy for photographing the copy on the said sheet.

'The principal object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character described that is compact, extremely simple in Construction and operation, portable, and may 'ne readily carried in a brief case for immediate availability wherever it may be required to take photographs of documents, letters or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carrier or housing for the source of light, the housing being formed with an elongated window opening and with a window arranged in the opening in such a manner that the outer or contact surface of the window projects beyond the housing so that the window may be readily guided over the sheets without being in any way obstructed by any part of the housing.

It is further proposed to provide means in connection with the housing whereby the latter is well ventilated and the light is subject to immediate and almost automatic control to limit the time of lighting substanially to the time of exposure whereby all unnecessary heating effects are eliminated.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the specification proceeds, and the new and novel features of 'my photographic apparatus will be `fully defined in the claims attached hereto.

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 shows a rear View of .my light housing, parts being broken away;

Figure 2, an end view of the same; and

Figure 3, an enlarged section through the light housing and the copy mounting means, taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1.

While 1 have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the claims hereto attached, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, my light housing may be approximately twelve inches long and square in cross-section, with the walls approximately two inches in width. The housing is made of relatively light, metallic material and comprises a front wall 2, a top wall 3, a rear wall 4, and a pair of narrow flanges 5 defining the bottom opening extending throughout the length of the housing.

The ends of the housing are open, and it will be understood that the dimensions and weight of the housing are such that the latter may be readily grasped in' one hand of the operator for guiding over a flat surface.

A luminous tube 6 substantially coextensive in length with the housing, and approximately one inch in diameter, is mounted in suitable brackets '7 in the ends of the housing and may be connected to any suitable source of electric current by any suitable means, including a switch member S' mounted in the rear wall of the housing, substantiaily midway the length thereof. The member 8' is in the form of a button and is made to close the tube circuit when pressed upon and forced inwardly.

The significant feature of the switch member 8' or button is, that when an operator grasps the entire housing for pulling the latter over a surface (that is, to the right, in Figure 2) his middle finger Will automatically come to rest on the button, with the result that on a pulling movement to the right, there will be an automatic impulse or reflex to close the switch, while on stopping there will be an automatic impulse to release the button and to open the circuit.

This arrangement almost automatically limits the light periods to the exposure periods and prevents all unnecessary heating, which again allows the light system to be compacted into a very small and convenient unit.

The window opening in the bottom of the housing is closed by the plate glass Window 8, which has tapered side edges 9 resting on the fianges 5 and held thereto in any suitable manner, as by brackets 11.

The piate or window is of sufcent thickness to bring its outer or bottom face PLZ entirely below the housing, so that when the bottom face rcsts on a fiat surface, no other part of the housing will contact said surface. Furthermore, the tapers 9 also clear the housing in part, so that when the housing is moved to the right or to the left (as seen in Figure 2) the tapers will have a smoothing etiect and will tend to crowd out any air or bubbles that may be present between the sheets of paper over which the housing passes.

The light housing thus far described may be used in connection with any suitably positioned copy and sensitized paper, but I find that the specially designed mounting means shown in the drawing is particularly effective in producing best results. j This mounting means comprises a suitable base 13 which may be in the form of a rectangular metal plate adapted to hold the copy 1 and the sensitized paper 15 thereon, and leaving a free edge 16, on which is mounted a strip 17 of somewhat heavier material, the thickness of the strip 17 being preferably such as to slightly exceed the combined thicknesses of the copy and the sensitized paper. This strip is of a width to support the light housing thereon, and will be referred to as the starting platform.

A third sheet 13 of translucent and preferably plastic material has one edge Secured upon the bottom face of the base below the platform and is adapted for folding over the platform and the assembled sheets 14 and 15, so as to form a cover for the latter and to hold the same in place during the printing operation.

The third sheet also serves as a filter. The tube 6 and the plate 3 are also preferably made of ground glass, so there are really three light-filtering media interposed between the source and the sensitized paper.

In use, the operator first places the copy on the base 13, then the sensitized paper on top of the copy and then folds the sheet 18 over the platform and the sensitzed paper. Next, he grasps the light housing with one hand, and preferably midway the length thereof, with one finger resting on the button 8', and places the housing on the platform, with the glass plate or window testing on the third sheet.

With pressure applied on the button to start the light,

2,72e,s17 I he then pulls the housing over the copy and the sensitized paper with one even stroke, and the photoprint is finished. Upon finishng, the operator Will almost automatically release pressure on the switch button 8' which will then open the crcuit.

The slight elevation of the platform with respect to the sheets 14 and 15 allows of a smooth, gliding travel from the platform upon the sheets. The projecting face of the Windows may be firmly pressed upon the sheets and will eliminate all bubbles or air pockets during the period of exposure, and the slanting or tapered approaches 9 cooperate in smoothing out the uuderlying papers.

Since the light is lit before the housing enters upon the sensitized paper, the operation will be effective from the very border of the copy, and there is no dimmed area along the border. The papers are completely smooth and in close contact at the exposed area and the photoprint, therefore, Will be of uniform intensity as long as the stroke is uniform, and there is no danger of the sheets 14-15 shifting with respect to one another, since they are held in place by the overlying sheet 18.

I claim:

1. A photographic reproducing device comprising, a housing having a pair of spaced vertical walls interconnected along their upper edges by a top wall, said housing being open along its bottom and the width of all the walls being substantially equal with the length of the housing being materially greater than the width thereof, an elongate illuminating device disposed lengthwse in said housing, a narrow elongate, flat plate of light-transmitting material disposed between the lower edges of said vertical walls, means for securing said plate to the vertical walls with the fiat lower surface of said plate projecting a substantial distance below the lower edges of such walls to present a smooth fiat pressure surface for holding a superposed sheet of document and photosensitive paper in intimate physical contact with each other in that area directly below said illuminating device.

2. In a photographic apparatus of the character described, an elongate housing having vertical front and rear walls disposed in spaced relation and interconnected at their upper ends by a top wall member, the housing being open at both ends and there being an elongate illuminating tube disposed within the housing between the front and rear walls substantially co-extensive therewith and in spaced relation to the lower edges thereof, the lower edges of said front and rear walls terminating in inwardly directed ange portions, an elongate plate of light-transmitting material extending entirely between the opposite ends of the housing, said plate having a fiat upper surface spaced below said illuminating tube, the plate having a flat under surface portion of substantial area disposed medially, longitudinally thereof and the under surface terminating at opposite sides in upwardly inclined porticns extending to the side edges of the plate, said plate being disposed between the front and rear walls with said inclined portions resting upon corresponding flange portions and with said flat under surface portion projecting below the lower edges of the front and rear walls to present a smooth, flat pressure surface for holding a sheet of light-sensitized paper and a superposed copy sheet in intimate physical contact in that area directly below said illuminating tube, and elongate bracket members secured to the inner surfaces of the front and rear walls including portions hearing against the upper surface of the plate to secure the same to the housing.

3. In a photographic apparatus of the character de scribed, an elongate housing having vertical front and rear walls disposed in spaced relation and interconnectcd at their upper ends by a top wall member, the housing being open at both ends and there being an elongate illuminating tube disposed within the housing between the front and rear walls substantially co-extensive therewth and in spaced relation to the lower edges thereof, the lower edges of said front and rear walls terminating in inwardly directed flange portions, an elongate plate of light-transmitting material extending entirely between the opposite ends of the housing, said plate having a fiat upper surface spaced below said illuminating tube, the plate having a fiat under surface portion of substantial area disposed medially, longitudinally thereof and the under surface terminating at opposte sides in upwardly inclined portions extending to the side edges of the plate, said plate being disposed between the front and rear walls with said inclined portions resting upon corresponding fiange portions and with saidfiat under surface portion projecting below the lower edges of the front and rear walls to present a smooth, flat pressure surface for holding a sheet of light-senstized paper and a superposed copy sheet in intimate physical contact in that area directly below said illuminating tube, said fianges being relatively narrow and the edges of said plate being disposed closely adjacent the inner surfaces of said front and rear walls whereby the width of said plate is substantially the same as the width of said housing, and elongate bracket members secured to the inner surfaces of the front and rear walls including portions bearing against the upper surface of the plate to secure the same to the housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,251,076 Mauch Dec. 25, 1917 2,204,297 Brunk June 11, 1940 2,292,668 Sheridan Aug. 11, 1942 2,294,444 Boroughs Sept. 1, 1942 2,431,520 Streich Nov. 25, 1947 2,514,892 Miller et al. July 11, 1950 2,567,561 Hoifmann Sept. 11, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,162 Great Britain Dec. 31, 1904

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