US1763208A - Light system for photographic-printing machines - Google Patents

Description

June 10, 1930. F. E. ALTMAN 1,753,208

LIGHT SYSTEM FOR FHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINES IN V EN TOR.

Filed Dec. 17, 1926 2 Sheets-sh 1 f El l J5 I x NW N 1 Z4L-- Z5- 1 I w 1 J i I 91 1 17 v d E I 18 N #14 Fred E. Alimazv, BY in ATTORNEYS.

June 10, 1930. FE. ALTMAN 1,763,208;

mem svs'rsm FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 17. 1926 Z'Sheets-Sheet -2 INVENTOR. Fg eg EAZtmaIv, BY MZKATTORNEYS.

mama 1m 10, 1930 UNITED STATES rm in. Amman, or nocxns'rna, new YORK, assrenon 'ro ms'rm xopaxi coni I ..1,763,-zos

PATENT OFFICE rm, OI ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK v LIGHT SYSTEM FOR PEO'IOGRA PHIO-PRINTING MACHINES Application filed December 17, 1928. Serial No. 155,526.

This invention .relates to photography and more particularly to photographic printing machines. One object is to provide a suitable illuminating system fora hotographic printing machine. Another ob]ect is to provide a machine of the class described with a restricted light source from which the light rays pass to the platen with a minimum amount of diffusion. Another object is to rovide a printer with a rinting and a piot lamp optically spaced like distances from the platen. Another object is to provide such a lamp system in which the beams of light rays passing to the platen are of like dimensions difiermg only in actinic quality. Another vobject is to provide a printer in which the light beams from the pilot and printing lam s are parallel to each other as the approac the platen, and other objects wil appear from the followin specification, the novel'features being pointed out in the claims at the end thereof. I

Coming now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote like parts 25 throughout:

Fig. 1 is a part section and part side elevation of a printer constructed in accord-Q ance with and illustrating one form of my invention;

I 80 Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail showin the mirror used in the printer of Fig. 1; an

Fig. 3 is an enlar (1 detail section showing parts of the mirror op'eratin mechanism and the relation of the printing pilot a lamps. I

' I-have shown my invention as applied to a printing machine which may consist. of a top 1, in which there is mounted a printing panel 2 referably of heavy glass, and below 40 which t ere is a frame 3 in wh ch a slideway 4 is provided. This slidewa is adapted to receive a screen 5 which pre erably consists of a sheet of clearglass.

o The table top 1 is supported by legs 6 and a there 'is a front door '7 which may be swung b hinges 8 to access to the chamber 9 which is form by the front door- '7, side wall 10, rear wall 11, and bottom 12.

The chamber 9 is divided into two sections 50 18 and 14 by means of a bent partition plate 15 in which there are two windows 16 and 17. Window 16 lies just above the pilot lamp 18 so that the centralray 19 from this lamp. may pass up through the, window to the center of the platen'2. This pilot lampmay be of orange or red color or it may be a very low power colorless lamp.

The printing lamp 20 is of high power, (500 to 1000 watt being preferable) and is adjustable by means of a setscrew 21 and the relatively slidable members 22 and 23 until the lamp filament 24| lies directly be- I hind the center of the window 17 The central ra' 25 from this lamp ma pass out through the window 17 and may be reflected .by the mirror 26 upwardly towards the center of the-printing panel 2. After being reflected by mirror 26 the light my 25 will coinc'ide with the central ray 19 from the lamp 18.

A reflector 90 is preferably employed to 70 increase the effective light rays. This reflector may be mounted on an arm 91 hinged at 92 to bracket 93. If desired, as shown in v Fig. 3, the reflector may be omitted, in which case the window 17 is made somewhat smaller.

The lamps 20 and 18 are optically spaced a like distance from the printing panel 2, and the size andshape of-the li ht beams are the same, the only difference eing that' the light rays from lamp 18 have not suflicient actinic rays to impress a latent irna e upon hotographic paper; whereas the 11g t rays rom lamp 20 are of high actimc value.

Inside of compartment 13 a second screen 27 is movably mounted upon the parallel links 28, each of which is pivoted at 29 to the printin 'machine frame and at 30 to one arm of the ell crank lever, the other arm of which 32 supports a shaft 33 upon which the screen 27 is mounted and spring 34 is placed between the parallel links to counterbalance .this screen so that it may be moved up or down between the two positions shown in Fig. 1, or the screen 27 may be turnedabout shaft 33 out of alignment with the light beam, as shown in dot and dashed lines. 7

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the light rays from the printing amp 20 are reflected by a mirror 26' which is movably mounted upon brackets inthe following manner. 101

position shown in dashed lines, Fig. 3, by

means of a pair of coiled springs 43, these springs being anchored at one end to a sleeve 44 and being anchored at the other end 46 to the brackets 35. By turning the sleeve 44 and adjusting the set screw 45 the desired tension is provided.

As shown in Fig. 1, the rod 40 is attached to one end 50 of the bell crank lever carried by shaft 51, and having attached at 52 a chain 53, a stop 54 limiting the downward movement of the bell crank lever. Chain 53 is attached to the joint or pivot 55 of a toggle composed of links 56 and 57 The former link being pivoted at 58 to arm 59 and the latter link 57 being hinged at 60 to a platen section frame 61. Link 59 is suitably carried by the bracket 62 upon a shaft 63.

The platen frame consists of two sections 61 and 63'hinged together at 64, section 63 being pivotally supported at 65 by a link 66 which may also be supported upon shaft 51. Each section of the platen is preferably faced with a transparent material, such as pyroxylin as indicated at 67 and 68. I prefer to color this pyroxylin orange or red so that the printing operation may be viewed through the platen without blinding the eyes of the oper- ,ator because of the brilliancy of the lamp.

The toggle link 57 is extended to form a curved arm 69 to which is afiixed an operating handle 70. Each time this handle is moved to lower the platen upon the printing panel the closing movement of the toggle pulls up chain 53 which through the bell crank lever and rod 40 swings mirror 26 against the action of sprin s43 and turn it to the position shown in igs. 1 and 3, in which the mirror rests upon the bracket 71. This bracket locates the mirror so that the restricted beam of light from the printing lamp 20 will. be passed to the printing panel 2.

When the handle'70 is raised to remove the platen from the printing panel, chain 53 is released and springs 43 may thus turn mirror 46 until it lies in the position shown in broken lines, Fig. 3. In this position the pilot lamp 18 illuminates the printing panel by means of a beam of the same size and shape as the light beam from lamp 20.

It is important to have thelamps arranged to provide light beams of the same dimensions, the central rays of which are parallel through a part of the distance between the printing panel and lamps; because if they were spaced differently a vignette placed by means of the light from the pilot lamp would not register properly when the printing lamp is used. By arranging the lamps as above described vignetting material may be placed through the door 7 2 hinged at 73to the printing machine frame upon the clear glass screen 5. When so placed because of the point light source a sharp image of the vignette will result.

If, however, it is desired to soften the edges of the vignette, a ground glass screen 27 may be employed, and the degree of diffusion of vignetting material carried upon screen 27 can be controlled by moving the screen upon links 28. The closer the screen is to the lamp, the more diffusion may be obtained.

Since the platen holds the printing paper and negative in contact, the diffusion resulting from screen 27 will not destroy a sharp reproduction from a shar negative. However, screen 27 may, as above described, be swung beyond the light beam so that only direct light rays are used for printing. If such is the case, it is not necessary to obtain perfect physical contact between the paper and negative because the parallel light rays are used.

Certain features shown in the drawings andmachine and photographic printer vignetting apparatus, Serial Numbers 153,882 and 153,881 filed December 10, 1926.

While I have described my invention as being particularly suited for the printing machine shown and described, it is obvious that it may also be applied to printing machines of widely different types, and, I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the machine shown and described, but claim as within the scope of my invention all such printing apparatus as may come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. In a photographic printing machine, the combination with a printing panel, of a platen movably mounted thereover, a transparent face on said platen, a printing lamp spaced from the panel, a pilot lamp spaced from said panel, means for reflecting the light from one lamp into the path of light from the other lamp, whereby the light beams from both lamps may pass through the same path before reaching the printing panel, and means confining the light rays from both lamps to a beam of predetermined size.

2, In a photographic printing machine, the

combination, with a printing panel, of a window.

til)

1 thereover, a printing lam panel, a pilotlamp space from the panel a -to move to and rom the panel, a

, into the path of light from theother lamp,

whereby the li ht beams from both lam s may ass through the same path before reac ing t e printing panel, connections between the reflecting means and the platen whereby these parts may be moved in timed relation, both lamps being positioned tn ilh minate the platen with light beams difl'ering only in photographic intensity, and means confining the light rays from both lamps to a beam of predetermined size.

3. In a photographic printing machine, a printing window. two sources of light. and a. movable shutter for controlling the exposure having two alternative positions, in one of which it shuts oil light from one source from saidwindow and in the other of which it shuts of! light from the other source from said 4. Ina photographic printing machine,-a

. printing window, a source of actinic light,

a source of non-actinic. light, an opaque movable reflector constituting a shutter for con,-'

from one source to the windowv and shuts ofl light from theother source from the window,

and in the other of which it permits light from; said other source to reach said window. and

shuts ofl. light from the one source therefrom.

5. In a printing machine,- the combination with a printing panel, of a platen movable.- thereover, a printing lamp spaced from the panel, means spaced from the panel for passing alight beamof limited area upon the printing panel, a pilot lam and means spaced from the panel for limiting the light beam from the pilot lamp to. the printing panel to the same area as that from the printin lamp, whereby the light beams from t 0 two lamps difi'er only in actinic intensity. I

6. In a printing machine, the combination with a printingpanel, of a platen movable spaced from the distance substantially equal to the spacing of the printing lamp, means for controlling a beam of light rays from each lamp to pass through a limiter angle toward the printing am], a movable reflector by which the light am from both lamps is controlled, and means for operating the reflector.

7. Ina printing machine, the combination with a printing anel, of a platen'adapted ripting lamp and a pilot lamp. eachspaced rom the anel at substantially the same distance there'- rom', means for restricting the light beam anel at an angle from the first of each lamp to a predetermined'degree, and means for permitting a light beam to pass from only one lamp at a,t1me to the panel, said light beams being of like dimension and direction.

8. In a printing machine, the combination with a printing panel, of a platen adapted to move 'thereover, a printing lamp spaced from the printing anel, a pilot lamp optically spaced at su stantially the same distance from the printing? panel, and a reflector hingedly mounted .neath the panel and (mitioned to lie in the path of light rays rom at least one lamp and'constituting an exposure shutter whereby the light rays from the two lamps may transverse-like paths toward the printin r panel through a art of their course, an may traverse di erent paths through another part of their course toward the printing panel.

9. In a printing machine, the combination with a printing panel, of a platen adapted to move thereover, a printing lamp spaced from the-printing panel, a pilot lamp optically spaced at substantially the same distancefrom the printing panel, a shutter for controlling exposure including a reflector to bend the rays from one lamp towardthe printing panel, and means for moving the reflector to shut off the rays of one lamp. at a time.

' 10. In a printing machine, the combination with a printing panel, of a laten adapted to move thereover, a printing amp spaced from the printing panel a pilot lamp optically spaced at substantially the same distance from the printing panel as the, rinting lamp, a reflector hingedl mounted in the machine near the lamps or directing the rays from one lamp toward the printing anel, said reflector constituting a shutter m controlling exposure, said reflector being positioned to pass light rays from one lamp only to the printing panel. I

11. In a printing machine, the combination with a printing panel, of a platen adapted to move thereover, a rinting lamp spaced from the printing panel a pilot lamp optically spaced at substantially the same distance-from the printing panel as the printing lamp, a reflector, a movable mount therefor, connections between said mount and the platen whereby the reflector may be moved in timed relation to the platen to pass light rays from either lamp to the printing panel. 12. In a printing machine, the combination with a printing panel, of a platen adapted to move'thereover, a printing lamp spaced from the printing panel, a pilot lamp opti cally spaced at substantially the same distance from the printing panel, means to, bend the light rays from one lamp into the pathtraversed by light rays from the other lamp, and means including the light bending means for controlling the emission of light rays from a lamp to the platen.

13. In a printing machine, the combination with a printing panel, of a platen adapt- 5 ed to move thereover, a printinglamp spaced from the printing panel, a pilot lamp optically spaced at substantially the same distance from the printing panel as the printing lamp, a reflector for directin the rays from one lamp towards the printing panel, said reflector being positioned to pass li ht rays from one lamp only to the printing panel, connections between the last named means and platen whereby movement of the platen controls the light rays falling on the printing panel.

14:. In a printing machine, the combination with a printing panel, of a platen adapted to move thereover, a printing lamp spaced from the printing panel, a pilot lamp optically spaced at substantially the same distance from the printing panel, a shutter movable to two positions for controlling exposures, in one of which the rays of a lamp is may be obscured from the printing panel and in the other of which the rays of a lamp may be passed to the printing panel, and a reflector associated with the shutter adapted to bend light rays from one lamp toward the printing panel when the shutter is in one position.

15. In a printing machine, the combination with a printing panel, of a platen adapted to move thereover, a printing lamp spaced 33 from the printing panel, a pilot lamp optically spaced at substantially the same distance from the printing panel, a shutter for controlling exposure movable to two posi- -tions to control the light rays from the two 40 lamps.

16. In a printing machine, the combination with a printing panel, of a platen adapted to move thereover, a printing lamp spaced from the printing panel, a pilot lamp optically spaced at substantially the same distance from the printing panel, a shutter movable to two positions for controlling exposure, in one of which the rays of a lamp may be obscured from the printing panel and in the other of which the rays of a lamp may be passed to the printing panel, and a, re-

flector associated with the shutter ada ted to bend light rays from one lamp towar the printing panel when the shutter is in one position, a reflecting surface on said shutter pdapted to bend the light beam from one amp.

17. In a printing machine, the combinalamps, a reflecting surfacemovable with said shutter adapted to bend the light beam of one lamp towards the printing panel when the lamp is in one position, and to bend the light rays away from the platen when moved to another position.

18. In a photographic printing machine, the combination with a printing panel, of a platen movable thereover, a printing and pilot lamp optically spaced at substantially equal distances from the printing panel on the same side thereof, and a shutter for-controlling exposure including means for controlling the light beams passing between the lamps and the printing panel.

19. In a photographic printing machine, the combination with a printing panel, of a platen movable thereover, a printing and pilot lamp optically spaced at substantially equal distances from the printing panel on the same side thereof, and a shutter for con trolling exposure including means including a movably mounted reflector for controlling the passage of light rays from the lamps .to the printing panel.

20. In a photographic printing machine, the combination with a printing panel, of a platen movable thereover,-a printing and pilot lamp optically spacedat substantially equal distances from the printing panel on the same side thereof, and a shutter for controlling exposure including means movably mounted between the lamps and printing panel for permitting light rays from one lamp at a time to pass to the printing panel.

Signed at Rochester, New York, this 13th day of December, 1926.

FRED E. ALTMAN.

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