US1890325A - Photographic developing method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 6, 1932.

J. S. GREENE PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Dec. 28. 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 6, 1932. j s, GREENE 1,890,325

PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPING METHOD AND APPARATUS 44b ATTORNEYS Dec. 6, 1932.

J. E. GREENE PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPING METHOD AND APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 I zb ATTORNEYS Filed D90. 28. 1927 Dec. '6, 1932. J, 5. GRE E 1,890,325

PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed D90. 28, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 I l n I I I I N f v I I INVENTOR C]( I7uL5.6' '8 H 0 42zsATToRNEYS Dec. 6, 1932. J. s. GREENE 1,890,325

'PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Dec. 28, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Dec. 6, 1932. J. s. GREENE PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Dec. 28. 1927 e Sheets-Sheet 6 mvENTo R a mu %z 'sATroRNEYs Patepted Dec. 6, 1932 UNITEDSTATES PATIENT orncs mm s; GREENE, or noonssrm, NEW YORK, AssIeNon 'ro rno'rosrA'r CORPORATION, 01 PROVIDENCE, BHODE IsLAND, A conronA'noN-or axons IsLAND Application 'flIed December as, 1921: '8erla1Ho.248,181.

My present invention relates to photography,'and particularly photographic copying machines of the nature in which a continuous roll of sensitized photographic paper or film is exposed-in sections, the sections severed and the separate prints thus formed, manipulated in baths by which they are developed and fixed, and the invention has for its general object to provide an efiicient and serviceable machine'of this nature wherein the prints will be successively picked up with sureness and precision and rapidly and safely carried through the bath or baths. The improvements are directed in art to the arrangements for presenting t (1- print to the carrier; to the driving andcontrol of the carrierfwhereby the prints will each be ropcr- 1y treated in.the'baths, and to mecanism through which the prints are finally stripped from the carrier and'deposited at the appointed place.

Another object of the invention is the provision of apparatus which will deliver a developed photo raphic print face upwardly in a fixing or readily. accessible-to the operator, so that he may'look at the print to see whether or not it is satisfactory without placing his hands turn the print over to expose its face.

Still another object ofthe invention is the revision of an improved method ofdevelophotographic prints, and particularly of mg one'by which a print may be placed face upwardly in a fixing bath eirposedito actinic light, withoutdanger of spotting or discoloring therprint. I

To these and other ends the invention Ite- -sides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described. the novel features beingpointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings: y I Figure 1 is a side elevation of a photographic copying machine constructed in accordance with and illustrating one embodi ment of my invention;

-Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary-view of a portion of the opposite side of the "mahypo bath which is open and pause it is stripped chine .showing the driving devices and control box;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary centrallongitudinal section through the developing portion of the machine, an adiacent portion of the exposing means beings iown in elevation;

i igure 4 is an enh rged fragmentary view of the upper or fixed pan shown in Figure 3, with the parts in a different position;

' Fi ure .5 is asiriilar view with the parts in still another position;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a portion of this same mechanism, while the parts are in the position of Figure 5;

F1 ure. 7 is a transverse .section taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 5 Figure 8'is a similar section taken on the line 88 of Figure 4,

Figure 9 is an enlarged section through one of the bars of the immersing frame,

Fig.2 10 is an elevation of the driving mechanism with the cover of the gear box to the particular machine illustrated as an embodiment of the invention in the drawings,

and to first give a general idea of the machine there disclosed, I may say that it embodies a usual 'form of camera, the severed prints from which are dropped throu h a chute to a vertical position in which t e advanced edge lies in the path of an endless conveyer, or carrier element, pro vided'with a pluralit of bars having impaling pins. The bars each successivel pick up a print and carry it successively t rough three baths, so that there are three prints in various stages of treatmenton' the carrier at one time. The cycle of travel is divided into three parts between which there is a pause in the movement of the carrier. During the first two auses the print occupies the developin bat and the washin'gbath respectively. uring the last cial mechanism Hg a s and immersed in the nal xing bath. Suit I able mechanism is employed for driving the it at conveyer and, automaticall stopping) ar to the appointed positions 0 the pin brin about this result. Each actuation of the riving mechanism b the o rator takes the carrier through oneird of its cycle, and

.posing member to the developing mechanism one by one by an independent manual operation, and thus by alternately operating his camera mechanism and his develo in mechanism the process is made practica y continuous, an but one print at a time appears at the pick up point in the path of the carrier and the impaling bar that is approachingxthat station..

eferring more particularly to the drawinfis. and particularly to Figure 1 thereof, 1 in icates a camera body slidable for focusing on rollers upon an open frame work table 2 by means of a rack and inion mechanism operated by the knob 3. he body is connected by the usual bellows 4, with a stationary front 5 carrying the lens and prism 6 that carry the image to the focal plane of the camera of an object resting upon a copy board 7 which is usually vertically adjustable, the focusing being accomplished through the aforesaid movement of the camera body 1.

As indicated in dotted lines, the body 1 contains a film roll 8 which is drawn into the focal plane as at 9 by feed rolls 10. When a section is exposed it passes down to the developing part of the apparatus in the position shown at 11 in Figure 3, and bein severed by the knives indicated genera y at 12in that figure becomes a separate exposed print.

As before stated the camera body 1 is slidable on the frame 2, andcarries with it the entire developing apparatus, they together forming a unit as s own in Fi re 3. Before describing this unit in whic my invention principall resides and to complete the brief general escription of the machine as shown in Figure 1, 13 indicates a tank compartment or casing depending from the body 1, and supported on the to rail of the frame 2, which casing encloses t e developing a paratus. Access is had thereto at the si e through a door 14 through which the fixing bath or tank maybe removed as will be later referred to, and the under portions 15 and 16 constitute respectively the developer tank and the water tank wherein the prints are washed before passing up for fixation. These two tanks ma be emptied when desired by means of coc s 17 and 18 into a drainage trough 19 which runs the length of the machine. On the camera ,body, ing feed handle and 21 isthe cut off handle, whereas on the developing casin 13', 22 is the handle which, when depresse tri s the driving means for the carrier before re erred to and later to be described in detail.

Referring to Figure 3, when the print 11 as before described, reaches tee position of 20 is the wind-' that ii re it is held in a chute 23 dependin from t e camera body. The lower end 0 this chute is open rearwardly with an inclined bottom 24 between rearwardly extended side ortions 26 that terminate in an abutment p ate 26 extending across the chute from side to side. The advanced or lower end of the print is arrestedby this abutment plate, so that the tip of it is curled or partialborizontally disposed. The endless carrier provided with the impaling devices that pick up the print passes between the extended side portions 25 of the chute and between the body of the latter and the abutment plate 28. \Ve will call this the pick up point A.

The conveyor consists in the present instance of two endless chains 27 arranged one near each side of the casing, and running over a number of sprockets, rolls, or similar devices '28,, carried by transverse shafts 29, or on studs 30 on the side walls. The character and arrangement of these sprockets is too clear from an inspection of Figure 3 to warrant specific description, the ob]ect being of collxse merely to guide the conveyor in a certain path that will be described as such. At equal intervals the chains are spanned and connected by print carrying bars 30 (see Figure (3) rovided with im aling pins 31 projecting 1n the direction 0 travel of the conveyor which is indicated by the arrows. The path of these pin bars during a cycle of movement of the conveyor is as follows:

.At the pick up point A at the end of the chute the pin bar which has reposed at station D starts downwardly upon the depression of lever 22, and for reasons hereinafter described, impales the lower end edge of the exposed and severed print 11in the chute, which print has projected itself between the chains underthe pin bar. The pin bar drags the print into the developing tank 15, where it oes. around the lower-sprocket therein anti after rising a short distance, stops at what we will call station. B as indicated.

The print having trailed'behind it is thus submerged in the contents of the tank and developed. If long enough, it will be in a doubled condition, the tank being separated into two parts by a central wall 32 to segregate the downwardly and upwardly moving elements. Upon the next actuation the pin bar travels upwardl roll 33, in connection with which operates a y out ofthe tankand 'over' squeegee roll 34 that wrings the excess de- 2 v'eloper from the print and draws it back into the tank. It thencepasses beneath a jockey roll 35 and down into tank 10 in crossin which it travels upwardly over a'raised roi 36. acting in conjunction with which is a roll 37 used to prevent any overrun'of the rint due to inertia as the pin bar stops sud enly at station C and is more important because the print is now in tank 16 in which the rolls are submerged, and subject to floating action. The pin bar finally comesto rest at the point indicated and which we will call light, while the sucrcedingyrint is held submerged at developing station B. Upon the next actuation the pin bar travels straight upwardly and then forwardly over the ele-.

vated fixing tank 38 to the forward end of which it proceeds, tr ailing the print behind it in the hypo or liking solution contained in tank 38. It finally makes an abrupt turn aroundthe forward one of two'closely associated sprockets 28a and 28b and comes to rest between them with liti impalmg pins reversed to a rearwardly and downwardly projectingposition. At this point th print is stripped off in a mannerhereinafter described, while the pin bar is stationary at what we will call stripping station I). Upon the negt actiiation the point it as before an print as it goes by.

sin bar returns to pass to pick up-another It is to be understood that the pin bar B, C'and D...

comes to-rest only atsta'tions A, but this point has,'f or convenience, been included in the series because of its in-iportance in the cycle, and in order'to logically tracein the description the progress of the print'froni the time it is picked up to the time that it I is deposited.

4 mechanism contained While the carrier chains 27 are traveling horizontally the longdistance'over thefixmg pan 38, they are prevented from sagging by being supported upon tracks 39(Figs. 3, 7,

and 8) which are formed by inturned flanges on the sides of the casing 13.

upon a shelf 40 within the casing, and is removable as can be clearly seen from igs. 7 and 8 through the door 14 shown in and previously described with reference to Fig. 1. The prints, however,- are removed through the open top. I

Power for 'driving' the conveyeris derived from a motor 41 (Fig. 2) suitably mounted on one side of the tank coin artment 13.. It drives the shaft 29a which is just above the developing tank 15 through an automatic stop in the casing 42.(' This mechanism maybe of any suitable form, 'such for example as that shown in the copending applicationof Arthur W. Caps, filed December 28, 1927, for timing 'mecha nism, Serial 1,7 91.555, issued February 1Q,.-1.)31..- Referonce may be had to this patent for a more complete, description of one suitable form of tiiiiin or automatic stop mechanism.

Re erring now to Fig. 10 of the present drawings, the stop mechanism may comprise- No. 243,081, now Patent No.

the motor 41 and carrying a worm 66 meshing with a worm gear 67 secured to a vertical shaft 68 to which is splined'a vertically movable clutch jaw 69. The shaft 43 of the tripping crank 22 (Fig. 1) extends through to the left side ofthemachine and carries an arm 44 (Fig. 2) overlying a plunger 45 mounted in the gear box 42 so that oscillation of the shaft 4-3 by the crank 22 results in depressing'the plunger 45.

The plunger 45 is normally held in elevated -pos tion by a spring 70, but when it is depressed by oscillation of the arm 44, it causes downward movement of a clutch shifter 71 secured to the plunger, which in turn causes a downward movement of the clutch jaw 69 splined to the shaft 68 and brings this clutch jaw into engagementwith a lower clutch jaw 72 formed on a sleeve 73 rotatably mounted on the shaft 68. In this way, the

' force of the'driving motor causes rotation of the sleeve 73 and through the spiral gear 74, formed on this sleeve. it drives a spiral gear 75 on the shaft 29!: (l igs. 2. 3. and 10) which thus drives the conveyer mechanism.

When the clutch shifter 71 is depressed to engage the clutch, it is automatically held in this depressed position by a shoulder 76 on a latch member 77 pivoted at 78 and normally urged to latching'position by a spring 79. Thus the clutch is held engaged even though the actuating crank 22 be immediately released. After the conveyer has been driven a predetermineddistance, however, so

as to carry a print from one' station to the next station, this distance being equal 'to the spacing from one of the print carrying bars. 30 to the next bar 30, the clutch is automatically opened so that the driving of the conveyer'ceases until the driving. mechanism is The pan 38 for the fixing bath is supported I once more actuated. This opening of the clutch is accomplished by suitable timing mechanism, as for example, the pin 80 on the metering gear 81 which, as the gear rotates, engages a nose 82 on the latching lever 77 and moves'this lever against the tension of.

the spring 79 to release the clutch shifter 71 so that the clutch is opened by the spring 70. The metering gear 81 may be driven by the worm or spiral gear 82 formed on the sleeve 73. The proportions of the gears 81 and 82 are so chosen with respect to the gears 7 4 and 75 that the releasing pin 80 on the gear 81 will makeone complete revolution when the conveyer has been driven through one stage of its motion to carry any given conveying bar-30 Tom one station to the next station.

Thus after eachactuation of the: conveying mechanism, as'by oscillating the crank 22, thqmechimism will 'be driven automatically through ,the distance from one station to the next station, and will then automatically come to rest. In this way, a print which is in the developing bath immediately prior to in general a shaft 65-,constantly driven by, ono actuation of the conveying mechanism will be carried to the washing bath, and will come to rest therein, a print from the washing bath will be carried to the-fixing bath an deposited therein, and a print in the chute 23 immediately prior to the actuation of the conveying mechanism will be withdrawn from this chute and carried to the developing bath where it will come to rest.

I will now describe the stripping mecha nism for disengaging the print at station D and depositing and submerging it in the fixing bath 38. At the top of the tank compartment 13 which is left open (the shelf acting as a partition to sufiicientlycut off light from the develo )ing chamber below) there is arranged a yoi-ze 46 turning on a rearward pivot 47, and embodying a pair of normally forwardly extending arms 481(Figs. 3 and (3). These arms. rest at their forward ends upon small stop brackets 49 above the chain' tracks 39. Extending between them and across the tank are two rock shafts 50 and 51 carrying respectively two pairs of depending rock arms 52 and 53. Pivotally supporte by the lower ends of these arms is a grille or frame consisting of longitudinal bars 54 through which the pivot rods 55 extend, and

cross rods 56. The frame is thus capable of which it rises a parallel upward and forward motion in high up from the position of Figure 5 to that of Figure "4. There is also pivoted to the forward pivot bar 55 the arms 5? of a yoke 58, which normally projects forwardly beyond the frame, and rests in a substantially horizontal position upon a stop rod 59.

As shown in the cross sectional views, the

arms 52 at the rear normallyhang in the path "ill of the pin bars 30, with the frame 54 below, this position being maintained and a tendency to return thereto being assisted by sprin s 60, coiled about the ends of the rock sha t 50. It will be observed'that the ends of the frame have .a sled-like curve, which is tangent at all times to'the rear sides of the arms 52.

When, during the last increment .of the cycle, a pin bar travels from washing station C towards stripping station D, itengages the arms 52 at the rear, and carries them-forward, raising the frame 54 forwardly and u wardly, and. the pin bar then passes beneath ti'i itself, and holds it in this position as shown in Figure 4. The paper 11 trails a ter it, and

drops into the bath though still attached. It will be observed that during this travel over the bath .the impaling pins-of the in bar are projecting forwar'dlyor in the direction of travel. \Vhen the pin bar reaches the fornard end of the frame a very rapid action occurs. As it' gets to the yertical median of the sprocket 28a, the end of the frame slips from it and, assisted by its spring 60, drops downwardly and rearwardly with a sweeping movement u on the paper or print ll, and into the bath. owever, the pin bar is, still besprocket.

' the swinging surface aids n the strippin action, andmay vrapid access of upwar e frame.

out the necessity of neath the forwardly projectin yoke 58-, whichit knocks u wardly as it quic y encircles the y the time the pin bar'oomes to rest at the station D between the two sprockets, as shown in- Fig. 5, the main frame has swun back sufliciently to release the yoke 58 therefrom. It slides rear-wardly and downwardly inidoin so, and-scrapes the ed ,of the paperoff 0 the impaling pins, the irection of which has now been reversed to a rearward and downward inclination, facilitating the diseng'a ing action. Figure 5 shows the position 0 the elements just at this point. A

' The paper is submerged by the frame and contact of the latter with its at times be sufficient in itsel but the stripper yoke 58 makes sure of this by scraping the paper off of the ends of the pins.

The yoke 46 as before stated is pivoted at 47 and may be raised to the dotted line. position of Figure 3 to carrythe entire immersing and stripping mechanism out of the tank 38, as forthe purpose ofremoving prints from the machine and when removing. the hypo tank. In thisraised position a gravity latch til-catches into anedge of the yoke as shown in Figures 3 and 4 to hold it in position.

When the immersin frame 54 drops down upon the paper, the latter is usually fioatin on the surface, and in order to give freean the solution to the upper-side of the paper, the longitudinal bars of the frame are provided with aseries of o nings as shown at 62 "in Figure 9, and in ct er fig ures.

- It will benoted from Fig. 3 that when the print 11 is in the chute 23 the face or exposed side thereof is toward the front of themachine or toward the right when viewed as in this figure, and that afterit has been drawn throu hthe develo in bath 15'and' washin bat' 16, it will be elivered face y to the fixing or hypo bath 38. This fact of delivery to thefixmg bath with the face of the print upwardly, and the fact that the fixing bath need not be in a dark chamber, but may be uncovered and freely accessible to the operator, are important features of the resent apparatus. They result in"enabling t e operator to observe the print to see whether or not'it is satisfactory as soon as itisdelivcred to the hypo bath, without the necessity of removin any covering or light screen from the hypo% putting his hands into the bath to turn a print over.

If a photographic rint be conveyed diath and withrectly from a developing bath-to a fixing or hypo bath, the latter bath must be within a dark chamber, since even very slight exposure of the print to 1' ht before it is unmersed in the fixing bat will result in bad i 'from the fixing bath or to discoloration thereof, spoiling the print. It h..s been discovered, however, that if the developer be washed off of the print, such as by the use of the washing bath 16 of the present apparatus. then the print is no longer discolored by momentary exposure to light and it may safely be placed in a fixing bath which is not in a--dark chamber but which is uncover-t1. and accessible to light and to the operator of the apparatus. Thus, according to the present invention, .thc developing bat 15 and washing bath 16 are within a dark chamber so that no light reaches the print after it is developed until it has passed through the washing bath 16. After being.

washed. however, temporary exposure to light whileit is being placed in the uncovered fixing bath 38 is not detrimental. Accordingly, thewashing bath 16 may be considered as a means for rendering the print tem orarilyvimpervious. to or unaffected by lig t, and 1t is an important feature of the invention in that it ermits the use of an apparatus in which t ie print is delivered face upwardly to a fixing bath which is not in a dark chamber, but which is-accessible to the operator. 'whereas heretofore it has been usually considered; necessary to exclude light deliver a print face downwardly to the fixing bath so that it would not be affected by light.

It should be noted that in order to accomplish the purposes above set forth the print must remain in .the washing bath for a substantial length of time. Merely running the print rapidly through a water )ath does not have the desired effect of rendering it temporarily unaffected b safely be placed face upwardly in an exposed fixing bath. In the present machine it will'be obvious from the preceding detailed description that the print remains in the washing bath for substantially the same length of time as it remains in the developing bath. and in actual use this is found to give satisfactory results. Such immersion in the washing bath of about the same length of time as required for developing the )rint renders it temporarily unaffected by lig t so that it will not be fogged or discolored by the light entering the fixing bath for the few seconds which elapse before the fixing solution begins to act.

lt should further be noted that the endless conveying mechanism in the present apparatus does not at any point come into contact with fixing solution, and thus does not carry any fixing solution into the developing bath,

so that contamination of the developer by the important fixing solution is entirely. avoided. This is been use the developing solution and the fixing solution chemically react with each other in such a waythat the. developing; solution is substantially deteriorated if fixing solution is introduced thercinto.

.and to carry. t

y light 'so that it could I claim as -my invention:

1. In a phot0 aphic print treating apparatus, the com ination with an exposing mechanism and a fluid bath located below the same, of a vertically dis osed light tight chute extending downward y from the exposing mechanism, said chute being substantiall straight for the ma'or portion of its lengtii provided with an a utment against which atter the end edge of aprint standing vertically in .the chute is ada ted to rest, means for feeding rints into t e chute from the exposing mec anis'rn and, a conveyer havinga rint carrier thereon movable'downwardly su stantially parallel with the major portion of the chute and provided with impaling pin's age the said end 0 the print e latter from the chute to the bath. p

2. In a photographic print treating apparatus, the combination with a light tight vertically disposed print feeding chute substantiall straight throughout its major portion and having lateral y projecting extensions of its side portions at itslower end, said extensions carrying an abutment against which" the end edge of a print occup ing the chute is ada ted to rest, of a tl'exi 1e conveyer movab e in a downward path parallel with the chute and passing between the said extensions thereof and between the chute and the said abutment and a carrier bar spanning the. conveyer and provided with impaling pins adapted to engage the print and draw it from the chute.

3. In a photographic print treating apparatus, the combination with a frame an a fluid bath supported thereby, of a conveyor arranged to travel over the bath and to introduce a print therein, said conveyer including means for' holding a print, and an immersing device for su merging the print actuated automatically by t e conveyer, said immersing device embodying depending rock arms, in the path of travel of and actuated by said means for holdin a print and a frame carried thereby and having a arallel motion out of and into the bath as it is re.- spectively actuated and released by the conveyer.

4. In a photographic print treating up aratu's, the combination with a frame an a fluid bath su ported thereby, said framebeing provide with tracks at opposite sides of the bath, of a conveyor arranged to travel over the bath upon the tracks, and to'introduce a print therein, said conveyor including means for holding a print and a swinging immersing device mounted on the frame and depending between the tracks and immersing device being raised out of the bath by an actuating contact with said means for holding a print.

5. In a photographic print treating apadapted to en 'direction of travel across paratus, the combination with a frame and a ported thereby, said frame being provide with traclts at opposite sides of the bath, of a eonveyer arranged to travel over the bath upon the tracks, and to introduce'a print therein, a swinging immersing device. mounted on the frame, and embodyin rock arms depending between the tracks and carrying a frame, and a print engaging, arrier bar on the conveyer adapted, during the travel of the latter, to engage the arms and raise theframe and to then pass in, contact with the frame and hold it elevated.

6. In a photo raphic print treating ap paratus, the com ination with a bath and a conveyer arranged to travel across the same, and embodying two flexible elements on op osite sides of the bath, of acarrier bar havmg impaling pins thereon rejecting in the tlie bath, said bar extending between the conveyer elements to span the bath, means near the end of the bath for reversing the travel of the conveyer and reversing thereby the direction of projection of the pins, and means for stripsing a print from irection of the,pins is thus reversed.

7. Ina photographic print treating apparatus, the combination with a bath and a conveyer arranged to travel acrossthe same, and embodying two fiexible-elements on opposite sides of the bath, of a carrier barhavmg impaling pins thereon projecting in the direction 'of travel across the bath, said bar extendin between the conveyer elements to span the ath, meansnearthe end of the bath for reversing the travel of the conveyer and reversing thereby the direction of projection of the pins, means for stripping a print from the carrier bar, and means actuated b the eonveyer for carrying the striping evice into operative position;

8. In a photographic print treating ap aratus, conveyer arranged to travel across the same, and embodyin two flexible elements on opposite sides 0 the bath, of a carrier bar avingfimpalin pins thereon 'pro'ec'ting in the direction ot travel'across the ath, said bar extending between the conveye-r elements to span thebath, means near-the end of the bath for reversing theitravel of the'con cyer and reversing thereby the direction of projection of the pins, and means for stripping a print from the carrier carrier bar itself during itsyreversing movement.

*9. In a photo raphic print treating apparatus, the com ination with a frame, andafluid bath supported thereby, of a conveyer arranged to travel across the batlnand pro; vided with a print carrier a'swinging immersing device normally de ending into the bath but ada ted to be raised by the conveyer while t e print carrier passes beneath the carrier bar while the the combinationwith a bath an a bar operated by the while the print carrier passes beneath it,'

and a stripping device on the immersing device adapted to engage and strip the carrier when the immersing device is released, said stripping device comprising a pivoted member projecting forwardly beyond the immersing device, and adapted to engage the carrier with a scraping sliding motion.

11.- In aphotographic print treating apparatus, the cpmbination with a frame, and :1 fluid bath supported thereby. of a conveyer arranged to travel across the bath and provided with a print carrier, consisting of a bar havingjmpaling pins thereon projecting in the direction of travel, a swinging immersing device normally depending into the bath but adapted to be raised bv the eonveyer'while the print carrier passes beneath it, means near the end of the bath for reversing the travel of the conveyenand carrier, and a pivoted strip ping device project ng forwardly from the immersing device and adaptedto be engaged by the carrier bar during its reversing movement, as the immersing device is released.

12. In aphotographie print treating apparatus,'t-he combinat on with a frame and a fluid bath supported thereby, of a yoke pivoted on the frame and carrying 11 depending swinging immersing device normally occupy-- ing the bath, said yoke being stationary during normal operating swinging movement of sa'dimmersing devlce and being adapted to 'be swung to an upright position to carry the immersing device to an accessible position out of the, bath;

a 13. In a photographic print treating apparatus, the combination with a frame and a fluid bath supported thereby, of a conveyer arranged to travel over and across the bath, a print carrier: on the conveyer having print impaling pins projecting in the direction of travel of the conveyer, means near the end of 'the bath for reversing the direction of travel of the conveyer, and reversing the direction ofiprojection of the pins, and a swing'ng device on the frame actuated by the conveyer to wipe against the print in the said reverse direction to disengage it from the carrier as the latter 'is;reversed.

14'. In a photpgraphicprint treating machine having a developing bath,.a water bath and 'a hypo bath, an intermittently movable conveyer for carrying a print through said baths,-and a retarding roll in said water bath for preventing displacement of the print holding means and said aths,

from said conveyer when said conveyer stops I movin 15. in a photographic print treating apparatus, the combination with a plurality of baths, of endless conveying mechanism movable repeated] through an endless path of travel and 'inchiding a. plurality of print enagin devices traversing said baths, means or dedivering successive prints to said conveying mechanism to be picked up by said engaging devices, a continuousl running motor, means including a clutch or connecting said motor to said conveying mechanism, means for closing said clutch to drive said conveying mechanism to carry successve prints forwardly from said delivering means through said baths, means for automatically opening said clutch to halt movement of said conveying mechanism when prints engaged by certain of said engaging devices are mmersed in certain of saidbatlis.- and means for disengaging prints from said engaging devices. 7

16. In a photographic print treating apparatus, the combination with print holding means for supporting a print in position to be picked up, of a pluralityof print treating baths, of an endless'member movable through an-endless path of traveL assing adjacent'said a plurality of print engaging devices mounted on said end less member at substantially uniform intervals, the distance between two of said devices being substantially equal to the distance along the path of travel of said endless member from one of said baths to another of said baths, said endless member being normally at rest in position such that a print en aged by one of said devices will be in one bath and a print engagedvby another of said devices will be in a second bath, mechanism including a motor and a clutch cngageable. at will for moving said endless member, and means for automatically opening-said clutch to stop movement of said endless member when said member has moved through a distance substantially equal to the distance from one of said engaging devices to another of said devices, so that the first mentioned print will be moved into and brought to rest in the second bathand a fresh print may be moved into and brought to rest in the first bath.

. a lurality of dist'ancealon the path gaged 17. In a photogra hic print treating apparatus, the combination with a plurality of print treating baths, of an endless membermovable through an endless path of travel,

rint'eng'aging devices mounton saiden less member at substantially uniform intervals, the distance between two of said. devices being substantially ual to the of. travel iq said endless me'mber rom one of said baths to another of sad baths,said endless member being nor mally at rest in'position such-that a print enbyone of said devices will be in one said bath, a

ratu's, the combination with I conveying mechanism includin bath and a rint'engaged by another of said "devices will e in a'second bath, driving means for said endless member including a co tinu-- ouslyrunnin motor and a clutch, mec anism operable at will for closin said clutch to render said driving means e ective to move said endless member, and means for automatically opening said clutch to stop movement of said endless member when said member has moved through a distance substantially equal to the distance from one of said-devices to another of said devices, so that the first mentioned print will be moved into and brought to rest in the second bath and a fresh print may be moved into and brought to rest in the first bath. l

18.. In a photographic print treatin apparatus, the combination with f a lura ity of print treating .baths, of an end ess'member movable through an endless path of travel, a

plurality of print engaging devices mountrd on said endless member at substantially uniform intervals, each of said engagi'ng devices comprising print iinpaling pins normally extending in agenerally forwarddirection rela- I tive to the direction-of movement of said ends less'meniber,'means' for reversihg the direction of said pins at one point to provide a print removing station, the distance between two of said engagindevices being substantially equal to the distance along the path of travel of said endless member from one of said baths tosaid print removing station and from one of said baths to another; ofpsaid baths, and means for driving saidiendless memberand for automatically stopping movement of said member 'when said member has moved through a distance substantially equal to the distance from one of said devices to another of saiddevi'ces, so that at each movement of said endless member, a print carried by one of said engaging devices will be moved from one of said baths to said print removing station and a print carried by another of said en aging devices willbe moved from oneof sai baths to another of said baths.

19. In aphotographic print treating a paratus, the combination with a liquid bat of conveying mechanism includin gaging device having a path 0 rint submerging in its efiective submerging' said path of travel, and a lin travel. above member havmounted for oscillation about an axis above saidv path of traveland pivotally connected to said submerging member, so that said engaging device during its movement will contact with said link and oscillate it to raise said member to a position above said path of travel; 20. 'In a photographic print treating appaa liquid bath, of

a print entravel above gaging devic'e having a path 0 said bath, a ing its effective submerging osition below rint submerging member havposition below a print en said path of travel, said su'bmerging member having a curved end, and a link mounted for oscillation about an axis above said path of Q travel and pivotally connected to said submargin member adjacent said cprved end,

said lin having a uiding surfaeesubstantially tangent to snir curved end in one position of said link relative to said member, so that'said engagingdevice durin its movement will contact with said linc and ride alon the guiding surface thereofto oscillate the ink to raise said member to a osition above said path of travel, and will ride smoothly from said guiding surface to said member and alon the bottom thereofto hol'd said member in eiivated position.

21. In a photographic print treating a paratus, the combination with a liquid bat of conveying mechanism includin a print engaging device having a path of travel above said bath, print submerging means mounted for movement from a position above said .path of travel to an ellect-ive submerging position, and print disengaging means mounted on said submer ing means for disengaging a print from said print engaging means.

22 In a photographic printtreating apparatus the combination with a liquid bath, of conveying mechanismincluding a print engaging device having a path of travel above said bath, printsubmer ing means including a member mounted or movement from adposition above said path of travel to an e ective submerging position below said path of travel and a supporting'link pivoted to said member and mounted for, oscillation about-an axis above said path of travel, and print disengaging means pivotally ,mounted on said submergmg, means for disengaging a print from sald print en 'aging means.

23. In a photogi aphic print treatin appa-' ratus, the combination with aliquid print treating bath, of asupport mounted for move-f ment relative to said mg a normal stationary position, and a print su merging device'm ova ly' mounted on said ath, said support havsupport, said submerging device when saidsupportis in said' normal position being mov'-. able to and from an effective. rint submer ing position, said supporteing movabe from said normal stationary osition to a position in which the print su merging device mounted thereon is re ovedrom sai ly accessible. 24. In aphotographic print treatin apparatus, the combination with a li U55 treating bath, of a supportpivotal y mounted for movement relative to said bat-h, said support having a normal stationar'ypofiition, a pair of links pivotally mounted on sai sup; port, and a print submerging member mounted on said links, said submerging member when s'aidsupport is in said normal position being movable to and from an effective print tending from said h print submerging osition byswinging said links, said support eing osci latable from said normal stationary position to a position in which said links and print submergin member are removed from said bath to ren er said member and said bath freely accessible.

25. Photographic print treatincg apparatus comprising, in combination, a eve oping bath, a washing bath, a fixing bath, and conveying mechanism for passin a print succesivel through said develo 1n and washing baths and to said fixing at said eonveying mechanism having a ath of travel entirely out of contact with xing solution.

,26. Photographic print treating apparatus comprising, in combination, means for holding a print, a developing bath, a washing bath, a fixing bath, and endless conveying mechanism havingl a. path of travel ex- 0 ding means through said developing bath and said washing bath and over said fixing bath and back to said holding means, said path of travel being entirely out of contact with fixing solution and said conveying mechanism being eflective to carry a print from said holding means suc- I said print immersed in said washing bath for a substantial length of time suiiieient to render said print temporarily unaffected by light and then to deliver said print to said exposed fixing bath.

28 Photographic print treating apparatus comprising, in combination, a. dark cham- .'/er, a developing bath within said dark chamber, a 'washing bath also within said no dark chamber,a fixing bath exposed to light, and conve ing mechanism effective to convey a photographic print from said developing bath to said washing bath and to maintain said print immersed in said washing bath for substantially the same length of time that said print was-in said developing bath to rendersaid print temporarily-unaffected by bath to render said device a d said'bath freemechanism havinga pathsof travel extending from-said holding means through said .developing and water baths and to said fixing bath and back to holding means, 'sai conve mechanism bein efiectivetoc a rin g along said path of travel from h ding means throu h said developing bath and into said water b th and to maintam said rint in said water bath for a substantial ength of time suflicient to render said print teinporaril unafi'ected by light and then to dehver all print to said exposed fixing bath.

.80. Photographic print treating ap aratus comprising, in combination, a dark amber, a developing bath within said .dark chamber, a washmg'jbath also within said dark chamber, a fixing bath to light, and conveyin mechanism effective to convey a photogra hic rint from said developing bath to sai was in bath and to maintain said print imme in said washin bath fora substantial length of time sufficient to render said print tem oraril unaffected b light and then to deliver said print to sai exposed fixing bath, said conveyi mechanismhavin a ath of travel entire y out'of contact wit fixing solution. 4

31. Photographic print treating a paratus comprising in combination, means or holding a rin a dark chamber, a develo in bath within said dark chamber, a .water at also within said dark chamber, a fixing bath exposed to light, and endless conve ing mechanism having a'path of travel exten ingfrom said holding means through said de-.

, veloping and water baths and to said fixin bath and back to .said holding means, sai

path'of travel being entirely out of contact with fixing solution and said conveying mechanism being effective to carry a rint along said path of travel from said'ho ding means through said developing bath and into said water bath and to maintain said'print in said water'bath for a substantial length oftime sufiicient to render said rint temorarily unaffected by lightjand t en' to deiver said print to and exposed fixing bath.

32. The method of treatin a photographic print which comprises deve oping the print, washing theprint b placing it mescently-in a washing bath wi in a dark amber for a substantial length of time, and depositing the print face upwardly in a fixing bath exposed to 'actinic light.

The method of treating a photographic print which comprises deve oping the print, immersing the print quiescently for a substantial len h of time in a water bath, and :depositing t e print in a fixing bath exposed to actinic light.

' 84:. Photogra hi'c print treating ap ar'a'tus comprisin a. c ute for loosely ho ding 'a print, sai

chute extending in a generally downward direction and being substantially strai ht throughout-the major portion of its lengt and'bei'ng turned at an an le closely adjacent its lower end, means for eliverin a photographic print-to the up .said lower end arm I chute so that the printtends all by gravity (Over) uan) lcitirig'mbrdiim brpf r te' gq.

cmmcgm ojcomma.

Patent no. 1,890,325. 4 December a, 19:52.

John' 8, Graeme.

It in hereby certified that Irrpr appear: in the painted specification of the 'a'bov'c 'mzmbcrod. patent requiripg c'orrect'ioz 1110110": In the drawings, Shoot 1, I'ig.v 10 should appeqr as lhd'n b'olow inutebd of at shown in the patentj L.i i 29. 9

and thaf gnu um Lottofa 1mm 'ah ould be re with ph ae corrections therein-that the same may cOtiftprm toihe re'cord pf tho can. in the Ia'g'enflOffice. i

815;). amine 510d thia, 17th da fhmm 193a.

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