US2480880A - Developer-roll film - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 6, 1949. w; H. RICHARDS DEVELOPER-ROLL FILM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 19, 1945 RNEYS Sept. 6, 1949. w. H. RICHARDS DEVELOPER-ROLL FILM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 19, 1945 INVENTOR. W/ZU/IM 1% 6/0/9805 0L4), w %W 0% ATTORNEYS Sept. 6, 1949. w. H. RICHARDS DEVELOPER-ROLL FILM 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed D60. 19, 1945 1N VENTOR. W/ZZ/AMI #0 15/0 /4505 mmp AZFTORNEY5 Sept. 1949- w. H. RICHARDS 2,480,880

DEVELOPER-ROLL FILM Filed Dec. 19, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l atented ept. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVELOPER-ROLL FILM (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) 8 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a roll film developing device.

In developing roll film of various width and length it is necessary to agitate the film within the developing tank during the process of developing. Where such operations must be conducted in the field or in improvised dark rooms or laboratories considerable difficulty has been experienced in developing film of great length. The apparatus for this purpose at present known to the art have not been found satisfactory for such work, said apparatus being too slow and comprising too many working parts causing serious delays and loss of the film being developed in the event of breakdown.

In accordance with this invention, a framework is constructed to be set within a film developing tank. This framework supports a power motive means, as an electric motor, that is coupled through a torque responsive reversing clutch mechanism to two film reels which are selectively powered for rotation in winding film alternately thereon. The torque responsive clutch mechanism has a shaft that is integral with and extends from a hollow drum to be driven by the motive power means. This shaft has a sprocket journaled thereon which includes a lever arm that projects over the peripheral edge of the drum. The other end of the drum has a similar shaft extension with a gear journaled thereon which gear includes a lever arm projecting over the peripheral edge of the drum. The gear is in mesh with another gear of a gear-sprocket cluster. Within the drum is a spring biased plunger havin two related members with outer cam faces that extend alternately through peripheral openings at diametrically opposite points of the drum. The

plunger is spring biased to be tripped longitudinally over center to force one or the other of the related cammed members radially outward to extend through the respective drum peripheral opening, one cammed member being engageable by the sprocket lever arm projection and the other cammed member being engageable by the gear lever arm projection. A predetermined pressure of one of the lever arm projections on its companion cammed member will force the plunger to shift over center to cause the other cammed member and cooperating lever arm projection to enage. Each sprocket is coupled through sprocket 2 framework. Each sleeve member has a shaft extending therethrough that is coupled to the sleeve member by a clutch and coupled to each one of the film reels by a clutch. By this construction, one or the other of the reels is powered by the motive power means and any great load on the powered reel, as by the end of a film being reached during the developing process, will increase the torque in the coupling from the reel to the motive power means to cause the plunger to shift whereby the other reel will be powered to wind the film. In this manner, a film of great length can be continuously wound alternately on the reels in a developing tank without manual attention providing rapid development of the film in a simple manner with little or no cause for film damage.

in the event of motive power failure, manual actuator means are provided on the shafts extending through the sleeves for use in carrying out the developing process.

It is an object of this invention to provide a roll film developing device that will accommodate films of great length and of various widths.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device of the character described of simple construction and manufacture, of relatively few working parts and that may be easily transported and readily assembled.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device of the character described that may be Jquickly and easily converted to manual operation in the event of power failure or mechanical failure of the driving mechanism without damage to the ,film being developed.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device of the character described having a novel reversing mechanism that will automatically win-d and rewind roll film of considerable length within the developing tanks at a high rate of speed.

The above and other objects will be apparent from the following description and as illustrated .in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical side View, partly in section,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view partly in section of the device shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the reel loader mounted on the framework.

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the reversin mechanism illustrating the means of transmitting rotation to one of the film reels.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the reversing mechanism taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 6,

chains to rotate a sleeve member journaled in the and Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the reversing mechanism shown partly in section.

Referring noW more specifically to the drawings, the numeral I designates the driving mechanism housing having outwardly extended supports 2 which are supported by the side bars of the framework 3 and detachably secured thereto by the bolts 4 .and nuts 5. Said framework comprises said supports. 2,.four side:bars'.3,i,and .the base 6.

Mounted within the housing I is a suitable driving element (not shown) such asat c nyentional electric motor, which impartspower to the sprocket 7 through the chain 8, thesh'aft '1' of the sprocket 1 being inte rallmconn t d with the drum 9. Within the drum 9 is mounted a reversing mechanism, to be hereinafter *morespecifically described. Freely. mounted .on :the shaft 1' adjacent the opposing sides .ofthe drum ,1! are the driven arms H, |2,- which extend outwardly and have the projectinglugsor fingers 1,3 l 4, said finger l3 extending downwardly .and said finger l4extending upwardly with relation to the position of the drum.

On opposite sides of the drum 9, are the pivotally mounted alternately retractable driving arms 26,21. Said driving arms 26, 21 are gradually reduced toward the outer end thereof forming .dog faces. As the drum 9 rotatesone of the driving arms 26, 21 will contact one .of the projecting fingers l3, M, of the driven arms .I I, 12, depending on the direction of rotation of the reels to be hereinafter described, and impart rotation thereto. To reverse the mechanism, when arm .I l or l2, whichever is beingdrivemcis stopped due tothe end of the roll of film being-reached, this driven arm will no longer turn and the driving arm in contact with the driven arm will be forced inwardly in a transverse direction forcing the opposing driving arm to move outwardlye moving the said driving arm into position to contact:the

.wheel 35. The shaftof the wheel .35is in integral connection with the sleeve 36 which rotates on suitable bearings 31, .31. Mountedon-thelower end of the sleeve 36 is a splash baffle 38 {and ,mounted on the framework adjacent said baffle 38 in the outer splash baffle ,3 9..designed .to keep the developing fluid in-the tanksfrom splashing .into the driving mechanism. hereinabovesdescribed during the developing .process. Rotatably mounted within said sleeve 36fis an innertubular shaft A40. The shaft 40 has a squared vportion of reduced diameter at which is fitted in'the aperture .l 0 of the handle 4!. This apertureis shaped to form an elongated slotadapted to-permit transverse movement of the handle. 4| ontheshaft 40. Ihe handle 4f-has the projection .lBadapted to engage the pin l I on the sleeve, through which rotation is imparted, to' the shaft 40. Mounted on thehandle 4| isithe spring. 42, .one end of said spring being secured. to the handle 4| by means of a set screw43 and'theother end of the spring 42 extending overthe aperture I0 in the handle through which theupper end of the shaft 40 extends. A conical 'shap'ed lug=44 on the spring 42 fits into a corresponding groove .in the-shaft 40 when the-handle-is-in engaged position and moves out of said groove and outiof lof-awfla-t hook -shaped member knurled at the free zendgthe hook-thereof adapted .to fit closely against and partially enclose the shaft 40. Mounted on -=the lower end of the shaft 40 is the head 47 which ;.;is:slo,tted at 48 to receive a drive pin 49 which is mounted in the reel shaft head 50 of the reel shaft-51. -='=Ihe reel shaft 51 is externally threaded Hat-.53 to ;receive ,the knurled internally threaded hood 54 which is provided for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. The reel shaft 51 has a squared portionhaving an elongated aperture 52 to receive a locking member 55 having an elongated thin spring arm-forming a reel clamp 56 adaptedto fit into a notch 58' in the .reel..58, which looks the reel in engagement with the shaft 51. The lower surface of said locking member 55 being notched to receivethe lower surface .of the aperture52. When'the locking member 55 is in looking position, the knurled hood 54 may .bescrewed downwardly forming a locking. means for holding the locking member .55 inengaged position.

i'Ihe reel 58, and reelishaft 51, which formjthe subject matter of a copending application having Serial No; 635,815,.filed by me on DecemberlB, 19.45, grantedon May l6,..19.4.7. and bearing the Patent Number 2,425,344, will now be moreparticularly described. The reel 1.58 comprises. a tubular housing of noncorrosive metal, or.similar material, with apertures 5| therein at spaced intervals to receive the clamps 59 for the adjustment of the loosely mountedfilm guides .lawto .filmsof Varying size. The shaft .51 is inserted .intothe reel -58. through. suitable aperturesprovided therefor, and has, the axial bearing .60 seated in the depression 6|,of the..base 5. .The .filmtobe developed is mounted on the reels .58,

.Mounted on one side of the framework lbetween the posts 3, 3 is the .removable .camera spool holder It comprising a post having alateral .bar 1* mounted on the lower .end ther of, said bar 'Hmhaving .anupstanding spindle .12 on .the :free end thereof adapted to receive .the socket .ofacamera film spool, Asimil-ar bar 13. isad- ,justably mounted on-saidpost 70 having a down- Wardly extending camera film spool-spindle. .14 on'the free end thereof. -The bar 13 ,is secured to thepost :10 by means of the clamp 75,:comvprising a-pairofv plates embracing said post .10

,andthe handle flfieccentrically fulcrumed on said -plates,:the offset projection of said handle fitting .into one-of several spaced depressions .63 inthe ..post 10. The-postlll has .an outwardly flared pro- .jec-tionqllton the-lowernnd thereof for-mine a '\n9tCh1 '1 :tO'fit intothe notch-1130f the cross plate .19 ,mounted ,on thelower end of -the-framework .l. -The upper end :of-the'post 510; is receivedby anembracingspringclamp means mountedon the upperportion of'theframework vI between the posts 3, 3.

.In -operationythe construction above described and; shown in detail isthat portion'of-the mechani sm operated when drivenby the arm l.--W.hen

the'film' has been entirely wound on the reel :58, the reversing; mechanism will function and the --p owerwill; be :transmitted QIthe; driven arm J 2 17-5 which-wil1- transmit pqwer throughwthe gear 58A to the gear 02 and sprocket wheel 83 and chain I9 to the driving mechanism 94 of the reel 05. The driving mechanism and construction of the reel 05 substantially identical to that above described for the reel 58.

- When it is desired to remove or replace a reel in the mechanism, the hook 46 is moved out of locked position and the handle M is raised lifting the driving mechanism off of the shaft 51, then the reel assembly is capable of being removed from the tank. In the event it is desiredto remove the shaft 51 from the reel fornthe purpose of removing torn film, or for any other reason, the hood 54 may be unscrewed and the locking member 55 removed and the shaft 51 withdrawn from the reel through the apertures therein.

Referring now more particularly to the reversing mechanism as illustated in Figs. 5 and 6, within the drum 9 is the actuator 9| seated in a depression in the walls of the drum shaped to permit the actuator to rock. The actuator has the concentric bore 92 in which is mounted the adjusting screw 93. The coil spring 94 is limited in its longitudinal movement by the shoulder 95 in the bore 92, and is in contact at one end with the washer 95 and adjusting screw 93, and at the other end with the base of the actuator arm 91, said actuator arm 91 having the elongated extension 98 extending from the base thereof through the axes of the coil spring 94 to maintain alignment of said spring. Mounted on the actuator arm 91 is the notched head 99 in which is positioned the free end of a pivotally mounted compression lever I00. The fixed end of said compression lever is mounted in the wall of the drum 9 diametrically opposite the rocking end of the adjusting screw 93, and said lever provides a snap action for fast, positive movement of the actuator, assuring movement of the actuator into full transverse position. Pivotally mounted in the drum and positioned on opposing sides of the actuator 9| are the dog levers 26, 21. Channels IOI in the dog levers 26, 21, and on opposing sides of the actuator 9I receive the ends of the link connections I02, I03, tying the dog levers to the actuator. Apertures I04, I04 in the side wall of the drum permit the dogs of the dog levers to move in and out of the drum 9. All of the mechanism within the drum is seated in a depression in the drum walls formed as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing.

As power is transmitted through the gear 'I the drum 9 is rotated. One of the dog levers 26, 21 will be extended outside of the drum housing through one of the apertures I04 and will be contacted by the lug of one of the driven arms I I, I2. If the dog 26 is extended the lug I3 of the driven arm I! contacts the dog 26 and imparts rotation through the driven arm II to the sprocket wheel 33, said wheel 33 carrying the chain 34 which drives sleeve 36 and the film reel 58 in one direction. When the film being wound is entirely wound on one reel, the opposing end of the film being locked in the other reel, the reels will stall holding the driven arm II immovable, and the torque of the drum 9 will force the dog 26 to move inwardly to clear the lug I3 of the driven arm I I. The inward movement of the dog forces the actuator through the link connections I02, I03 to swing past center. The transverse movement of the actuator 9I causes actuator arm 91 to be placed under greater tension by moving the actuator through dead center position with the compression lever I00 compressing the coil spring 94, which after passing dead center the snap action of the lever I 00 forces the actuator to the new position quickly and will force the dog 21 to its fully extended position, the dog face thereof projecting outwardly through the aperture I04. The newly extended dog 21, upon completion of a partial rotation of the drum, will come in contact with the lug I4 of the driven arm I2 and rotation will be imparted to the gears BI and 82 and thence through the sprocket wheel 83 and chain I9 to the sprocket wheel 94 which in turn drives the opposing reel 85 in a reverse direction, causing the film being developed to be re-wound on said reel. This reversing action is repeated each time the film is exhausted from one of the reels, the torque of the drum and immobility of the driven arm. causing the driving arm to move inwardly and forcing the opposing driving arm outwardly into driving relation with the respective driven arm.

The film to be developed is usually received by the operator while it is still on the camera spool. The camera spool is mounted on the spool holder I0 by placing one end of the spool on the spindle I2 and adjusting the bar I3 and spindle I4 to the Width of the spool so that spindle I4 holds the opposing end of the spool. The clamp I5 is then moved into clamping position, holding the bar I3 immovable on the post I0. The spool holder is then mounted on the developing device by fitting the notch 1'! into the notch I8 of the cross plate I9 and the upper end of the post I0 urged into engagement with the clamp on the framework I. The free end of the film is then threaded through an aperture (not shown) in the reel housing 50 and an aperture (not shown) in the core of the reel shaft 51 looking the film thereon as more particularly described in the copending application above referred to. The locking member 55 is then inserted into the aperture 52 of the reel shaft 51, and fitted int-o locking position, locking the reel 58 and shaft 51 in rotatable relation. The hood 54 may be manually screwed down onto the locking member 55 holding same in locked position. The driving mechanism may then be activated either through activation of the motor or by moving the handle 4| out of engagement with the sleeve 36 and turning the reel manually through the shaft 40. Afte the film has been transferred from the camera film spool to the reel, the spool holder I0 may be removed from the framework of the developing device, the free end of the film threaded into the empty reel in the same manner as above described, the empty reel locked to the shaft as above described and the reels immersed in the developing tanks and the motor activated, and the developing process thus commenced. In the event of failure of operation of the driving mechanism due to motor failure or similar reasons, such as are often encountered in the field, the handle 4I may be moved out of engagement with the sleeve 36 by a transverse movement of the handle and the inner shaft 40 manually rotated by rotating the handle M and the film thus developed as above described. When the film is entirely wound on one reel, the handle of the empty reel will be used to reverse the wind, which procedure will be repeated until the film is developed.

The embodiments of the invention herein shown and described are to be regarded as illustrative only, and it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible to variation, modification, and change within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a film developing device for roll films and the like the combination of a power driven rer winding and reversingiamechanismr ands: a pair of film reeis,fsaidmechanism being adapted to alternately drive said'pair' or filmt-lo'aded reels, said driving imechanismnhaving zdriving 'c onnections with a: pair of driven sleeves; 1011211311611 nal ly slidable shafts Within: said sleeves "having clutch membersxm'olmte'd on one:-.end:. .thereoi, reel; shafts 'in'. said ereel's having: driving connections-on one end thereot adaptedtobe engaged by said clutch members, transversely 1 movable handles on one end oflsaid :slidable shaitsihaving :clutch members adapted to engage cooperating clutchmem-berson saidsieevess'manually operable locking means for locking'saidnslidahlesshaits and reel shafts in clutched: position and adapted to be moved out of locking position. toipe'rmit the slidable shafts to" be longitudinally moved into and out of clutching relation with said reel shafts.

2'; In apparatus of the character describ'edda "drivin unitin'cludin a-motonand, onvopposite sides thereof, substantially similarmechanisms each comprisingsa rotatable sleeve, means for driving the sleeve from the driving unit; a vertically movable shaft within the sleeve, clutching means adapted to impart rotation from-the sleeve to the shaft, a film loaded reel; clutching adapted toimpart rotation from the shaft 'to' the reel, locking means maintaining" the shaft and reel in: engagement, said locking ineans belng adapted to be moved ontof locking position to permit the shaft to be manually'moved vertically within the sleeve and outer engagement with the reel.

'3'. In apparatus of the characterdescrihedya driving unit including a motor, and, on opposite sidesthereof, subst'antially similar-mechanisms each comprising a rotatable'sleeve adapted to be driven by thedriving unit, a vertically movable shaft within the sleeve; clutchmeans on the sleeve and the shaft consisting of a handle'mou'nted on said shaft and adapted to impart rotation thereto and being movable transversely of the shaft, and a projection on the handle adapted to be carried into and out of engagement "with a corresponding projection on the sleeve, a" reel,

clutching means'on' the shaft adapted to'eiTgage the reel toimpart rotation from the shaft to the reel.

4. An apparatus of the character described having an automatic torque responsive reversing mechanism comprising an input shaft, admin driven by said shaft, interconnected"clutching elements carriedbysaid drum and adapted to be extended and retracted from operative clutching position; cooperatingdriven elementsr'nount ed for free rotation concentric"with said drum, snap action means within sai'd'drum and responsive to predetermined torquethereon" "for urging said interconnected clutching "elements into and out of' clutching engagement with the respective driven elements, ando'pposit'el'y r0- tatabl'e output drives actuated bythe respective driven elements.

5. A reversing mechanism-forroll" film develop; ing' devices comprising a drive" shaft, a drum mounted on said shaft, a pair'oi" drivenmernbers freely mounted on said shaft concentricwith' said drum, a pairv of driving members'pivotally mounted within said drum; apertures in' theside walls of'said drum through which the contact'ends'of said' driving members move into drivingposition, means for moving said driving membersalternately into driving relation, each with 'i'tsresp'ective driven member.

8 GliAir apparatnssof theacharactercdescribed halving an; automatic torque responsive reversing mechanism "comprising an "input shaft; andrum drivens-by said shaftginterconnectedclutching elements carried by said drum and v-adapted 'to heels-tended and retracted from operative clutching-position;cooperating drivenelements mounted for free-rotation eoricentricr with said drum, snap a'ctionmeans withinsaid: drum responsive to api edetermined. tor'que thereon: for urging said interconnected clutching elements into" and out QfiiGlutchi-ngr:engagement with the: respective d'riveni elements, -means' on said driven elements for moving the engaged 'clut'ch' elementswinwaraly of elutching engagement; and 1 oppositely ro tatable outputidrivesl actuated: by the respective driven elements.-

5 apparatusxor the character 6 described having: an: automatictorque responsivereversing mechanism? comprising an input shaft, a drum driven by said shaft, interconnected clutching elements carried: by saiddrum: and adapted to be extendedand retracted from operative clutching *posi-tion, cooperating driven 7 elements Z mounted for free rotation concentric with said drurn snap action" means withinsaid drumresponsive I to? a predetermined torque thereon for urging said interconnected clntcl'iing elements into and out of chitchi-ng engagementwith the respective drivenelements; dog faces on saidclutching el'e' ments adapted to engage lugs on said driven elements; and'opposi't'el y rotatable output drives actuated by the respective driven elements;

8E apparatus of= the character "descriiied having anautomatic torque responsive reversing mechanismcomprisingan in'putshaft, a drum driven" by said shaft,interconnected clutching elements carried hy said drum and adapted to'be extended and retracted from operative clutching position; cooperating driven elements mountedfor free rotation concentric with said i drum, snap action means within said drum" responsive to a predetermined torque thereon for urging said interconnected clutching elementsinto and-out ofohtching engagement" withthe respective driven elements, comprising an actuator adapted to rockzi'n adepressiorr in said drum; acoil spring "mounted in said actuator; an adjustable screw in contact with and determining the torque" of said spring, a" movablehead guiding the movement of 'said actuator in" contact with said spring at'one end and notched'iat the other end, a pivotally mounted? compression lever positioned diametricallyioppo'site the base of said actuator, 'thefiee end thereof s'e'atingin said notch on said head adapted" to urge said actuatorvinto its respective lateral ositions'means connecting said actuator with said blutching elements, and oppositely r0"- tatable outputdrives actuated by -the respective driven elements. 7

WILLIAM HI RICHARDS".

i anrsesncns cream The following references: are of record ln-the file of: this patent r umrnn=-srs'rns= eAT'ENTs

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