Means for exposing normally covered plate while moving it to exposure situation

Claim 2

In combination with a plate having a surface to be exposed when the plate is in a defined exposure zone and which should be protected from exposure at certain other times: A. a cover for the plate movable parallel to said surface to and from a position covering said surface; B. a carriage having a portion on which the plate, with the cover thereon, can be supported, said carriage being movable back and forth to carry its said portion between the exposure zone and a defined loading zone, through an intermediate zone; C. cooperating means on said portion of the carriage and on the plate, operative when the plate is on said portion of the carriage to constrain the plate to move with the carriage; D. means connected with the cover providing a first abutment engageable with a fixed part upon movement of the carriage to carry its said portion to the intermediate zone from the loading zone, and by which the cover is restrained against further motion with the carriage that carries the plate to the exposure zone and out of underlying relationship to the cover; and E. means connected with the cover providing a second abutment engageable with a fixed part upon movement of the carriage that carries its said portion to the intermediate zone from the exposure zone, and by which the cover is restrained against further movement with the carriage that carries the plate back to the loading zone and to underlying relationship with the cover.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1, further characterized by: A. means defining an isolation chamber in which said exposure zone is situated, said means comprising a wall with an aperture therein through which the carriage is slidable and which provides the fixed part engageable with said first abutment; and B. means fixed with respect to said wall and spaced from it in the direction that the carriage moves to carry its said portion from the exposure zone to the intermediate zone, the last-mentioned means providing a stop engageable with said second abutment.

Claim 4

to confine the holder against movement with said portion of the carriage as the same is moved from the intermediate to the loading zone, to effect recovering of the plate.

Claim 5

to confine the holder against movement with said portion of the carriage as the same is moved from the intermediate to the loading zone, to effect recovering of the plate.

Claim 6

marginal portions which embracingly slidably engage longitudinal edge portions of the platelike member, and

Claim 7

marginal portions which embracingly slidably engage longitudinal edge portions of the platelike member, and

Claim 8

finger portions which project above the platelike member to engage the cover and releasably confine the same against motion relative to the holder.

Claim 9

finger portions which project above the platelike member to engage the cover and releasably confine the same against motion relative to the holder.

Claim 10

In combination with a plate having a surface intended to be exposed only under prescribed conditions, and means defining an isolation chamber in which the plate is intended to be exposed, means for moving the plate to and from a predetermined situation in said chamber, for protecting the plate against undesired exposure when it is out of said chamber, and for exposing it when it is in said situation, said last-named means comprising: A. a cover member lengthwise slidable to and from an assembled relationship with the plate in which the cover member protectively overlies said surface of the plate; B. a carriage confined to motion in opposite directions along a defined path to carry a portion of the carriage between said situation in the isolation chamber and a loading zone outside the chamber through an intermediate zone, the isolation chamber having an aperture through which said portion of the carriage passes in so moving; C. a holder supported by the carriage for motion relative to the carriage in said directions of carriage motion; D. means on the holder for detachably securing the cover member thereto to constrain the cover member to move with the holder and by which the cover member is disposed lengthwise parallel to said directions of carriage motion; E. cooperating means on the plate and on said portion of the carriage for constraining the plate to move with the carriage, the last-mentioned means being engageable upon securement of the cover member to the holder with the plate in assembled relationship to the cover member; and F. cooperating abutment means on the holder and on the isolation chamber means for restricting motion of the holder relative to the chamber means and with the carriage said abutment means being arranged

Claim 11

In combination with a plate having a surface intended to be exposed only under prescribed conditions, and means defining an isolation chamber in which the plate is intended to be exposed, means for moving the plate to and from a predetermined situation in said chamber, for protecting the plate against undesired exposure when it is out of said chamber, and for exposing it when it is in said situation, said last-named means comprising: A. a cover member lengthwise slidable to and from an assembled relationship with the plate in which the cover member protectively overlies said surface of the plate; B. a carriage confined to motion in opposite directions along a defined path to carry a portion of the carriage between said situation in the isolation chamber and a loading zone outside the chamber through an intermediate zone, the isolation chamber having an aperture through which said portion of the carriage passes in so moving; C. a holder supported by the carriage for motion relative to the carriage in said directions of carriage motion; D. means on the holder for detachably securing the cover member thereto to constrain the cover member to move with the holder and by which the cover member is disposed lengthwise parallel to said directions of carriage motion; E. cooperating means on the plate and on said portion of the carriage for constraining the plate to move with the carriage, the last-mentioned means being engageable upon securement of the cover member to the holder with the plate in assembled relationship to the cover member; and F. cooperating abutment means on the holder and on the isolation chamber means for restricting motion of the holder relative to the chamber means and with the carriage said abutment means being arranged

Claim 12

The combination of claim 3 further characterized by: A. the carriage comprising an elongated platelike member having an upper surface which the specimen plate can flatwise overlie and which comprises said portion; B. the holder having