Patent US1589783A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3593641A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for developing photolithographic plates
Assignee: JOHN STARK LAB Inc
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Filing: 1968-11-01
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Granted: 1971-07-20
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Expires: 1988-11-01
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for performing the developing sequence on exposed photolithographic plates wherein a photolithographic plate is advanced through the apparatus by a series of drive and nip rolls and wherein the plate is treated with a developing emulsion which is uniformly spread over the surface of the plate by a revolving developer bar, rinsed in a water wash and treated with a gumming solution by the action of an oscillating wiper sponge.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Adams
- 👤 Ferdinand Lukasik
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 18:20
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03D; G03D5/00; G03D5/06; G03D5/065; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/26; G03F7/30; G03F7/3042
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
226 words
An apparatus for developing a photolithographic plate comprising in combination a first pair of rollers for initially advancing an exposed photolithographic plate into the apparatus, means for applying a developer emulsion to the exposed surface of said photolithographic plate, revolving means for uniformly distributing said developing emulsion evenly over the surface of said photolithographic plate including a developer head disposed above and perpendicular to the travel of said photolithographic plate through said apparatus and a developer bar supported for gyrating motion in contact with said photolithographic plate by said developer head, means for removing excess developer emulsion from said photolithographic plate, a second pair of rollers to remove said photolithographic plate from the developing station and advance it to the excess developer removing station, means for supporting said photolithographic plate in said developing station disposed between said first and second pair of rollers, means for applying a gumming solution to said photolithographic plate, a third pair of rollers for transferring said photolithographic plate to the gumming station, means for supporting said photolithographic plate disposed between said second and third pair of rollers, an oscillating wiper bar for spreading said gumming solution uniformly on said photolithographic plate, a fourth pair of rollers for removal of the photolithographic plate from said apparatus and supporting means for said photolithographic plate disposed between the third and fourth pair of rollers.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
226 words
An apparatus for developing a photolithographic plate comprising in combination a first pair of rollers for initially advancing an exposed photolithographic plate into the apparatus, means for applying a developer emulsion to the exposed surface of said photolithographic plate, revolving means for uniformly distributing said developing emulsion evenly over the surface of said photolithographic plate including a developer head disposed above and perpendicular to the travel of said photolithographic plate through said apparatus and a developer bar supported for gyrating motion in contact with said photolithographic plate by said developer head, means for removing excess developer emulsion from said photolithographic plate, a second pair of rollers to remove said photolithographic plate from the developing station and advance it to the excess developer removing station, means for supporting said photolithographic plate in said developing station disposed between said first and second pair of rollers, means for applying a gumming solution to said photolithographic plate, a third pair of rollers for transferring said photolithographic plate to the gumming station, means for supporting said photolithographic plate disposed between said second and third pair of rollers, an oscillating wiper bar for spreading said gumming solution uniformly on said photolithographic plate, a fourth pair of rollers for removal of the photolithographic plate from said apparatus and supporting means for said photolithographic plate disposed between the third and fourth pair of rollers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
84 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for applying the developer emulsion to said photolithographic plate includes a drip tube disposed across said apparatus perpendicular to the travel of the photolithographic plate through said apparAtus, a developer emulsion reservoir for supplying the developer emulsion to said drip tube, valve means for controlling the flow of said developer emulsion from said reservoir to said drip tube and switch means for actuating said valve means in response to the photolithographic plate traveling through said apparatus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
84 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for applying the gumming solution to said photolithographic plate includes a drip tube disposed across said apparatus perpendicular to the travel of the photolithographic plate through the apparatus, a gumming solution reservoir for supplying the gumming solution to said drip tube, valve means for controlling the flow of said gumming solution from said reservoir to said drip tube, and switch means for actuating said valve means in response to the photolithographic plate traveling through said apparatus.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
152 words
An apparatus for developing a photolithographic plate, comprising in combination a sink, a plurality of transfer plates for supporting said photolithographic plate over said sink, means for advancing said photolithographic plate through said apparatus, means for applying a developer emulsion to said photolithographic plate, a developer head disposed above one of said transfer plates and perpendicular to the travel of said photolithographic plate through said apparatus, said developer head including a plurality of support shafts vertically disposed and rotatably mounted in said developer head, a counterweight eccentric disposed on the lower end of each of said support shafts and a shaft depending from each of said counterweight eccentrics having their lower ends affixed to said developer bar wherein said counterweight eccentrics provide an offset relationship between said support shafts and said shafts depending from said counterweight eccentrics whereby rotating motion of said support shafts transmits a revolving motion to said developer bar.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
152 words
An apparatus for developing a photolithographic plate, comprising in combination a sink, a plurality of transfer plates for supporting said photolithographic plate over said sink, means for advancing said photolithographic plate through said apparatus, means for applying a developer emulsion to said photolithographic plate, a developer head disposed above one of said transfer plates and perpendicular to the travel of said photolithographic plate through said apparatus, said developer head including a plurality of support shafts vertically disposed and rotatably mounted in said developer head, a counterweight eccentric disposed on the lower end of each of said support shafts and a shaft depending from each of said counterweight eccentrics having their lower ends affixed to said developer bar wherein said counterweight eccentrics provide an offset relationship between said support shafts and said shafts depending from said counterweight eccentrics whereby rotating motion of said support shafts transmits a revolving motion to said developer bar.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein means for powering the developer bar includes an electric motor operably connected to at least one of said support shafts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said developer head also includes means for raising and lowering the level of said developer bar relative to said developer head.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
88 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for raising and lowering the level of said developer bar includes a bushing for each of said support shafts having a vertical slot therein, a sleeve slidably mounted in each of said bushings for rotatably receiving and centering said support shaft, means for maintaining said sleeve in a single position relative to said support shaft, a rack disposed on said sleeve so as to extend into said slot in said bushing and a pinion engageable with each of said racks.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
128 words
An apparatus for developing a photolithographic plate comprising in combination a sink, a plurality of feed and nip roll pairs disposed throughout the length of said apparatus above the bottom of said sink for advancing said plate through said apparatus, transfer plates disposed between said feed and nip roll pairs, means for applying a developer emulsion to said photolithographic plate, a revolving developer bar disposed across said apparatus for rubbing said developer emulsion uniformly on said photolithographic plate, means for powering said developer bar, a water wash for rinsing excess developer emulsion from said photolithographic plate, means for applying a gumming solution to said photolithographic plate, an oscillating wiper bar for uniformly spreading said gumming solution on said photolithographic plate and means for powering said oscillating wiper bar.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
128 words
An apparatus for developing a photolithographic plate comprising in combination a sink, a plurality of feed and nip roll pairs disposed throughout the length of said apparatus above the bottom of said sink for advancing said plate through said apparatus, transfer plates disposed between said feed and nip roll pairs, means for applying a developer emulsion to said photolithographic plate, a revolving developer bar disposed across said apparatus for rubbing said developer emulsion uniformly on said photolithographic plate, means for powering said developer bar, a water wash for rinsing excess developer emulsion from said photolithographic plate, means for applying a gumming solution to said photolithographic plate, an oscillating wiper bar for uniformly spreading said gumming solution on said photolithographic plate and means for powering said oscillating wiper bar.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
85 words
The apparatus of claim 8 which further includes a first switch for actuating said means for applying the developer emulsion to said photolithographic plate and for actuating said means for powering said developer bar, and a second switch for actuating said means for applying the gumming solution to said photolithographic plate and for actuating said means for powering sAid wiper bar, wherein said first switch and said second switch are in turn actuated by said photolithographic plate as said photolithographic plate travels through said apparatus.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-19 | 1975-01-18 | 1975-07-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-19 | 1979-01-18 | 1979-07-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-19 | 1983-01-18 | 1983-07-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |