US3240490A - Projection offset processors and the like - Google Patents

Description

March 15, 1966 FAlRBANKs ETAL 3,240,490

PROJECTION OFFSET PROCESSORS AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed. Oct. 4, 1963 HE NR Y N. FAIRBANKS DAN/EL H. ROBBINS TTORNEY March 15, 1966 H. N. FAIRBANKS ETAL 3,240,490

PROJECTION OFFSET PROCESSORS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 4, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z/Z/V March 15, 1966 H. N. FAIRBANKS ETAL 3,240,490

PROJECTION OFFSET PROCESSORS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 4, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 HENRY/V. FA/RBA NKS DAN/EL H. ROBBINS Fl 6 4 INVENTORS ATTORNEY March 1956 H. N. FAIRBANKS ETAL 3,240,490

PROJECTION OFFSET PROCESSORS AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Filed Oct. 4, 1963 FIG 5 HE NR Y N. FA IRBANKS DA N/E L h. ROBBINS 1N VEN T 0R5 FIG 6 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,240,490 PROJECTION OFFSET PROCESSORS AND THE LIKE Henry N. Fairbanks and Daniel H. Robbins, Rochester,

N.Y., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Itek Corporation, Lexington, Mass., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 313,946 8 Claims. (Cl. 271-71) This invention is directed to improvements in projection offset processors and the like. More particularly the invention is directed to a receptacle for stacking sheets and in particular, is directed to a sheet delivery system for wet sheets. While the invention is useful to stack sheets or plates it is particularly adapted for receiving photographic emulsion coated sheets as they emerge from a processor in a moist form.

In a copending application Serial No. 314,023, filed October 4, 1963, assigned to the common assignee of this application, there is disclosed and claimed an apparatus and method for making offset plates. In this device, a graphic original is placed on an easel and photographed directly onto an offset plate sensitized with a photographic emulsion. The device automatically processes the offset plate and delivers the plate ready for use on an offset press. The apparatus is capable of producing offset plates at a continuous rate of two plates a minute. For immediate use with an offset press it is desirable that the plates be delivered to the operator in a moistened condition. This eliminates the necessity of remoistening the plate for use on the press. In the copending application there is shown a typical prior art receptacle for receiving sheets emerging from photographic processors. After the sheet emerges from the processor it is no longer supported by the apparatus and falls under gravity to the bottom of a receptacle. It has been found with receptacles of this type that the trailing edge of the sheet tends to strike the back wall of the receptacle. When the sheet is still wet from the processor the sheet tends to stick to the wall, and does not have the ability to slide over one another. As a consequence, the stacker requires close supervision by the operator to prevent emulsion to emulsion contact of the sheets or to prevent interference by one sheet with the sheets following it. These and other disadvantages are solved in this invention by providing a pair of guides to support the sheet as it emerges from the processor. The guides are so positioned that the sheet is bowed as it is driven along the horizontal path. This serves to make the forward portion of the sheet self-supporting during its travel along the path. As the sheet comes to the end of its horizontal travel, the leading edge of the sheet is engaged by a fulcrum. Once the sheet disengages from the driving device it is unsupported and falls under its own weight to the bottom of the receptacle pivoting about the fulcrum. The back wall below the plane of the guides is recessed so as to eliminate interference with the trailing edge of the sheet as it rotates about the fulcrum.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved receptacle for processed moist sheets.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved receptacle for processed moist sheets that prevents folding, bending, or other physical damage to the sheets as they are stacked in the receptacle.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an improved receptacle for moist emulsion type sheets wherein the sheets do not interfere with one another during stacking.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an apparatus for processing emulsion coated sheet material of predetermined width. In the apparatus there is a sheet delivery system. The system comprises transport means for transporting the processed sheet from the apparatus along a substantially horizontal path. Guide means are provided coupled to the transport means for supporting the sheet as it leaves the apparatus and transport means. The guide means include sheet engaging surfaces having a spacing less than the width of the sheet to bow the sheet as it travels along the path beyond the guide means, whereby the portion of the sheet beyond the guide means is self-supporting. Store means are provided, coupled to the guide means, for receiving the sheet. The store means include a substantially horizontally disposed fulcrum for engaging the bottom surface of the sheet in the vicinity of the leading edge of the sheet. The fulcrum engages the sheet after the transport means delivers the sheet trailing edge from the apparatus. A back wall is disclosed below and recessed from the transport means for allowing the trailing edge of the sheet after it leaves the transport means to freely fall under its own weight while the sheet is engaged by the fulcrum. A bottom wall extends along an inclined plane from the fulcrum to the bottom edge of the back wall for supporting the sheet after the sheet is engaged by the fulcrum and falls from the guide means.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the broad principles of operation of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a photographic type sheet processor taken from the rear showing a sheet receptacle embodying the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial rear elevation view taken from the rear of the processor shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view partly in section of another embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 2 through 4; and

FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5. k

The broad principles of operation of the invention for delivering moist processed emulsion coated sheet material from a processing apparatus may be best understood with reference to FIG. 1. In Step A of FIG. 1 a processed sheet 10 emerging from an apparatus 12 is transported along a substantially horizontal path. The horizontal disposition of the sheet is along A. This is accomplished, for example, by progressively momentarily engaging sheet 10 along its length with a drive means exemplified schematically by rollers 20 and 22. In Step B sheet 10 is then longitudinally stiffened as it travels along the horizontal path. The stiffening of sheet 10 is exemplified schematically by decreasing the horizontal spacing between its edges parallel to the direction of travel. The decrease in spacing is achieved by disposing a pair of sheet engaging surfaces 28 and 30, shown in B so that they have a spacing less than the width of sheet 10. This decrease in spacing occurs after the edges are disengaged from the drive means, that is, when the sheet leaves rollers 20 and 22. One method of stiffening is shown at B where the sheet 10 is bowed. By stiffening sheet 10, the portion of sheet 10 beyond the drive and guide means is self supporting. The sheet continues to travel in a horizontal direction. In Step C the bottom surface of sheet 10 in the vicinity of its leading edge is engaged and pivotally supported on a fulcrum 54, shown in C'. Simultaneously, the transporting of sheet 10 is terminated. The trailing edge of sheet 10 is disengaged from the drive means, as shown in Step D. The bottom surface of sheet varied for accommodating varying width papers.

in the vicinity of its. leading edge is simultaneously supported on fulcrum 54, shown in D.

The step of disengaging the trailing edge allows it to fully rotate below the horizontal path with the leading edge supported on fulcrum 54. i A back wall 58 is recessed ,from surfaces 28 and 30 for allowing the trailing edge of sheet 10 after it leaves rollers 20 and 22 to freely fall between guide surfaces 28 and 30. The sheet, as shown in E, contacts a support surface 60 disposed along an inclined plane- The trailing edge of sheet 10 is now below the drive means so as not to interfere with the next sheet to emerge.

While the apparatus which is the subject of this invention has many applications, it will be described in connection with the automatic offset platemaking cameraprocessor disclosed in the above mentioned copending application which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 there is here illustrated a sheet delivery system embodying the present invention in a offset platemaking camera-processor. The offset platemaking camera-processor is generally designated by the numeral 12 in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4.

As' can be seen in FIG. 2, the processed sheet material which is an emulsion coated sheet is designated by the numeral 10. The camera-processor has an exit slit 14 in its rear wall 16.

In addition, the camera-processor is formed with a recess 18 for receiving sheets as they emerge through the slit 14 in rear wall 16. The recess is defined by a back wall 58, side wall 17 (one of which is shown in FIG. 2) and a bottom wall support surface 60. Mounted on rear wall 16 are guide means in the form of sheet surface engaging rollers 38 and 40 for engaging the side edges of sheet 10. Rollers 38 and 40 are preferably made of an inert. material that will not react with the chemicals on sheet 10. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, rollers 38 and 40 are mounted on shafts 32 and 34. Shafts 32 and 34 are slideably coupled to rear wall 16 through slots 46. A

.pair of bolts 48 pass through lugs formed in the ends of shafts 32 ,and 34 and through slots 46. A wing nut 44 1s threadedly coupled to each of bolts 48 so that when tightened, rollers 38 and 40 remain fixed, and when loosened the spacing between rollers 38 and 40 may be The spacing between rollers 38 and 40 along the horizontal line corresponding to the line of tangency of rollers 20 and 22 is less than the width of the sheet causing the sheet to bow as illustrated. Because sheet 10 is bowed, it

is, self-supporting beyond the rollers.

With particular reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 there is illustrated the disposition of the transport means for driving sheet 10 from apparatus 12 along a substantially horisheet 10 emerges from exit slit '14 in a substantially horizontal direction. As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 3 the rear wall 16 has a recessed portion 18 formed therein and the bottom wall support surface 69 has a fulcrum 54 in the form of angle afiixed to it at one end. Fulcrum 54 and the'bottom wall support surface 60 are further supported'by attachment 56 to the rear vertical wall 16 of apparatus12. Fulcrum 54 has a horizontal support surface or plane in the same plane as the line of tangency of rollers 20 and 22 or in a plane lying below the line of tangency.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 4, in operation, the camera-processor apparatus 12 delivers a moist sheet 10 to the transport means in the formof rotating rollers 20 and 22. Sheet 10 is driven along a substantiallyhorizontal path disposed in the plane of the line oftangency of rollers 21 and 22.. As the sheet leaves rollers 20 and 22 it engages the guide means sheet engaging surfaces in the form of rollers 38 and 40. Rollers 38 and 40 engage the edges of sheet 10 parallel to the direction of its travel. As heretofore stated the spacing of rollers 38 and 40 is set at a distance less than the width of the sheet so as to cause the sheet to how. The bowed sheet beyond the guide means is self supporting. Sheet If) is transported in the horizontal path .until a portion of the surface inthe vicinity of its leading edge contacts fulcrum 54. Fulcrum 54 is preferably constructed of a smooth material such as stainless steel. Because of the moisture of sheet 10 and the smoothness of the surface of fulcrum 54 a high coefficient of friction is developed between the sheet and fulcrum 54. When the trailing edge of the sheet emerges from between rollers 20 and 22 the inertia of the sheet is sufficient to carry it through slit 14 whereby the trailing edge portion is only supported by rollers 38 and 40. The sheet then drops due to its own weight between rollers 38 and 40 onto bottom wall 60. Sheet 10 pivots about fulcrum 54 as it drops. Bottom wall 60 is preferably a roughened surface so as to allow an air cushion to develop between the sheet and the bottom wall. Since the bottom wall area is sufiiciently greater than the area of the fulcrum the sheet will tend to slide down to the bottom wall and come to rest against recess 18 formed in rear wall 16. Recess 18 prevents the trailing edge from engaging wall 16 as it pivots down.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, it is here illustrated another embodiment of the invention. This embodiment is similar to the previous embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through'4 therefor similar parts are referred to by the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 1 through 4. The primary difference between the two embodiments is that in this embodiment the bottom wall of the sheet receiver is made removable to facilitate transporting the delivered sheets to a utilization device such .as an offset press.

Thus, the apparatus for processing emulsion coated sheet material of predetermined width is again shown generally by numeral 12. The transport means for driving a processed sheet 10 from apparatus 12 through exit slit 14 along a substantially horizontal path includes rollers 20 and 22. Sheet surface engaging rollers 38 and 40 of the guide means are coupled torear wall 16, as in FIGS. 1 through 4, andfunction in the same manner; that is, they engage the sheet edges causing the sheet to bow as it is transported horizontally. The store means include back wall 58 disposed below and recessed from rollers 38 and 40 of the guide means. A pair of vertical brackets 76 are mounted on the back Wall 58. The brackets each have an elongated slot 74. A tray 62 having a pair of pins 72 extending therefrom for engaging slots 74. When in position, the back wall 64 of the tray is parallel and in contact with the back wall 58 of apparatus 12. On the opposite end of tray 62 is a substantially horizontally disposed fulcrum 54 for engaging the bottom surface of the'sheet 10 in the vicinity of the leading edge of the sheet.

This embodiment of the apparatus operates similarly to the device described in FIGS. 1 through 4. When the leading edge of the sheet is engaged by fulcrum 54, the trailing edge is disengaged from rollers 20 and 22 and pivotally drops between rollers 38 and 40 into tray 62. For transportation to another location the entire tray 62 is removed by pulling it in the direction of slots 74. It should be noted that in this embodiment the possibility of having the fulcrum below the horizontal planein which the line of tangency of the rollers lie is illustrated.

While the guide means surfaces have been disclosed in terms of rollers it will be readily apparent that fixed guides may be used for longitudinal stiffening of the sheets. Furthermore, other transportation means other than a roller drive may be used with the device, i.e. a perforated edge positive drive.

It will be seen that the invention accomplished its objects and while it has been herein disclosed by reference to the details of a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that such disclosure is intended in an illustraguide means coupled to said transport means for supporting said sheet as it leaves said apparatus and said transport means, said guide means including a pair of guide rollers having their axes of rotation tive, rather than a limiting sense, as it is contemplated 5 disposed in a plane perpendicular to said path, each that various modifications in the construction and armember pair of said pair of rollers so disposed so rangement of the parts will readily occur to those skilled as to guide a side edge of said sheet in said path and in the art, within the spirit of the invention and the scope said axes of rotation describing an acute angle with of the appended claims. said path and means for moving said guide rollers What is claimed is: 10 in said plane to vary the sparing between said guide 1. In an apparatus for processing emulsion coated sheet rollers less than the width of said sheet to bow said material of predetermined width, a sheet delivery syssheet as it travels along said path beyond said guide tem, comprising: means, whereby the portion of said sheet beyond said transport means for driving a processed sheet from guide means is self supporting; and

said apparatus along a substantially predetermined store means coupled to said guide means for receivpath; ing said sheet, said store means including a fulcrum guide means coupled to said transport means for supfor engaging the bottom surface of said sheet in the porting said sheet as it leaves said apparatus and vicinity of the leading edge thereof, a back wall dissaid transport means, said guide means including, posed below and recessed from said guide means sheet engaging surfaces having a spacing less than for allowing the trailing edge of said sheet after it the width of said sheet to corrugate said sheet as it leaves said transport means to freely fall between travels along said path beyond said guide means, said surfaces with said sheet in the vicinity of the whereby the portion of said sheet beyond said guide leading edge thereof in engagement with said fulmeans is self supporting; and crum, and a bottom wall extending along an inclined store means coupled to said guide means for receiving 2 plane from said fulcrum to the bottom edge of said said sheet, said store means including a fulcrum for engaging the bottom surface of said sheet in the vicinity of the leading edge thereof and for pivotal ly back wall for supporting said sheet after engagement by said fulcrum and fall from between said surfaces.

supporting said sheet at a point inward of said lead- 6. In an apparatus for processing emulsion coated ing edge, a back wall disposed below and recessed sheet material of predetermined width, a sheet delivery from said guide means for allowing the trailing edge system, comprising:

of said sheet after it leaves said transport means to transport means for driving a processed sheet from freely fall between surfaces with said sheet in the vicinity of the leading edge thereof in engagement said apparatus along a substantially predetermined path, said transport means including with said fulcrum, and a bottom Wall extending along a pair of squeegee rollers having their axes of rotation an inclined plane from said fulcrum to the bottom disposed in a plane perpendicular to said path for edge of said back wall for supporting said sheet disposing the line of tangency of said rollers along after engagement by said fulcrum and fall from bethe intersection of said plane and said path; tween said surfaces. guide means coupled to said transport means for sup- 2. The sheet delivery system of claim 1, wherein said porting said sheet as it leaves said apparatus and fulcrum is a substantially smooth surface. said transport means, said guide means including a 3. The sheet delivery system of claim 1, wherein said pair of guide rollers having their axes of rotation bottom wall is provided with a substantially rough surdisposed in a plane perpendicular to said path, each face. r member pair of said pair of rollers so disposed so 4. In an apparatus for processing emulsion coated as to guide a side edge of said sheet and said axes sheet material of predetermined width, a sheet delivery of rotation describing an acute angle with said path system, comprising: and means for moving said guide rollers in said transport means for driving a processed sheet from said plane to vary the spacing between said guide rollers apparatus along a substantially predetermined path, less than the width of said sheet to bow said sheet said transport means including as it travels along path beyond said guide means, a pair of squeegee rollers having their axes of rotation whereby the portion of said sheet beyond said guide lying in a plane perpendicular to said path for dismeans is Self pp and posing the line of tangency of said rollers along the store means coupled to said guide means for receiving intersection of said plane and said path; said sheet, said store means including a substantially store means coupled to said guide means for receiving 811100911 Surface for engaging the bottom Surface of said sheet, said store means including a fulcrum for Said Sheet in the Vicinity 0f the leading edge thereof, engaging the bottom surface of said sheet in the a back wall disposed below and recessed from said vicinity of the leading edge thereof, a back wall disguide means for allowing the trailing edge of said posed below and recessed from said guide means sheet after it leaves said transport means to freely for allowing the trailing edge of said sheet after it fall between Said guide rollers with Said Sheet in leaves said transport means to freely fall between the vicinity of the leading edge thereof in engagesaid surfaces with said sheet in the vicinity of the m w said smooth Surface, and a bottom w ll leading edge thereof in engagement with said fulhaving Substantially rough surface extending along crum, and a bottom wall extending along an inan inclined plane from said smooth surface to the clined plane from said fulcrum to the bottom edge of said back wall for supporting said sheet after engagement by said fulcrum and fall from between bottom edge of said back wall for supporting said sheet after engagement by said smooth surface and fall from between said guide rollers.

said surfaces. 7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said path is 5. In an apparatus for processing emulsion coated substantially horizontal. sheet material of predetermined width, a sheet delivery 8. In an apparatus for processing emulsion coated sheet system, comprising: material of predetermined width, a sheet delivery system,

transport means for driving a processed sheet from comprising:

said apparatus along a substantially predetermined transport means for driving a processed sheet from said path; apparatus along a substantially predetermined path;

guide means coupled to said transport means for supa back wall coupled to said guide means and disposed below and recessed from said guide means for allowing the trailing edge of said sheet after it leaves said transport means to freely fall from between said surfaces; and a tray removably coupled to said guide means for receiving said sheet, said tray including a fulcrum for engaging the bottom surface of said sheet in the vicinity of the leading edge thereof, a tray back wall disposed such that when said tray is in position for receiving said sheet said tray back wall is flush with said fulcrum to the bottom edge of said tray back wall for supporting said sheet after engagement by said fulcrum and fall from between said surfaces; and

means for removably coupling said tray to said guide means, said last named meansincluding a pair of brackets mounted to said back wallfor receiving between the member pair of said pair of brackets said tray, each member pair of said pair of brackets bearing an open ended slot anda pair of sidewalls for joining said tray back wall and said bottom wall, each member pair of said pair of sidewalls bearing a pin disposed to slide in said slot in said bracket to position said tray with respect to said guide means;

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,472,225 6/1949 Muddirnan 2717l 3,052,468 9/1962 Cutaia et a1. 27171 M. HENSON WOOD, ]R., Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING EMULSION COATED SHEET MATERIAL OF PREDETERMINED WIDTH, A SHEET DELIVERY SYSTEM, COMPRISING: TRANSPORT MEANS FOR DRIVING A PROCESSED SHEET FROM SAID APPARATUS ALONG A SUBSTANTIALLY PREDETERMINED PATH; GUIDE MEANS COUPLED TO SAID TRANSPORT MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID SHEET AS IT LEAVES SAID APPARATUS AND SAID TRANSPORT MEANS, SAID GUIDE MEANS INCLUDING, SHEET ENGAGING SURFACES HAVING A SPACING LESS THAN THE WIDTH OF SAID SHEET TO CORRUGATE SAID SHEET AS IT TRAVELS ALONG SAID PATH BEYOND SAID GUIDE MEANS, WHEREBY THE PORTION OF SAID SHEET BEYOND SAID GUIDE MEANS IS SELF SUPPORTING; AND STORE MEANS COUPLED TO SAID GUIDE MEANS FOR RECEIVING SAID SHEET, SAID STORE MEANS INCLUDING A FULCRUM FOR ENGAGING THE BOTTOM SURFACE OF SAID SHEET IN THE VICINITY OF THE LEADING EDGE THEREOF AND FOR PIVOTALLY SUPPORTING SAID SHEET AT A POINT INWARD OF SAID LEADING EDGE, A BACK WALL DISPOSED BELOW AND RECESSED FROM SAID GUIDE MEANS FOR ALLOWING THE TRAILING EDGE OF SAID SHEET AFTER IT LEAVES SAID TRANSPORT MEANS TO FREELY FALL BETWEEN SURFACES WITH SAID SHEET IN THE VICINITY OF THE LEADING EDGE THEREOF IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FULCRUM, AND A BOTTOM WALL EXTENDING ALONG AN INCLINED PLANE FROM SAID FULCRUM TO THE BOTTOM EDGE OF SAID BACK WALL FOR SUPPORTING SAID SHEET AFTER ENGAGEMENT BY SAID FULCRUM AND FALL FROM BETWEEN SAID SURFACES.

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