Patent US2536609A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3635138A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3635138A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photocomposing machine
Assignee: FORREST S MABRY
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Filing: 1970-10-15
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Granted: 1972-01-18
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Expires: 1990-10-15
Abstract
Abstract A machine for producing lines of predetermined length, angularity and thickness on photographic film or paper with precision. The machine employs a film-receiving platform and means to drive this platform along a linear path and to turn it on a rotational axis. A portable film holder serves to transport film to and from the machine with the film protected from exposure to light and serves the dual purpose of constituting a closure for the lighttight body of the machine while the film is released onto the movable platform. Readily interchangeable units are mountable on the main body of the machine for producing lines and indicia characters, respectively. A separate device is employed by a draftsman to produce a program upon which a given sequence of operations of the machine is based. The machine is useful in the production of business forms, charts, printed circuits and similar articles where a master film is used directly in the manufacturing process.
Inventors
- 👤 Forrest S Mabry
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 19:47
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41B; B41B17/00; B41B17/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A machine for producing lines on photographic film and the like comprising a base unit, a film supporting platform in the base unit, means to drive the platform in opposite directions on a rectilinear path, means to turn the platform on a rotational axis substantially normal to the plane of the platform, a relatively stationary projection unit removably mounted on the base unit and having projection light means, adjustable means on the projection unit defining a variable width light slit in the bottom of the unit beneath the projection light means, adjustable shutter means associated with the last-named means on the projection unit to vary the length and starting and ending points of the light slit, said base unit having an access opening and said platform movable to a position adjacent the access opening, and a carrier for a piece of sensitized film or the like adapted to transfer the film to a position over the platform and to release the film onto the platform, the carrier then serving as a closure for the access opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
A machine for producing lines on photographic film and the like comprising a base unit, a film supporting platform in the base unit, means to drive the platform in opposite directions on a rectilinear path, means to turn the platform on a rotational axis substantially normal to the plane of the platform, a relatively stationary projection unit removably mounted on the base unit and having projection light means, adjustable means on the projection unit defining a variable width light slit in the bottom of the unit beneath the projection light means, adjustable shutter means associated with the last-named means on the projection unit to vary the length and starting and ending points of the light slit, said base unit having an access opening and said platform movable to a position adjacent the access opening, and a carrier for a piece of sensitized film or the like adapted to transfer the film to a position over the platform and to release the film onto the platform, the carrier then serving as a closure for the access opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The structure of claim 1, and a second projection unit removably mountable on the base unit in replacement of the first-named projection unit and having adjustable means to project indicia characters of varying form onto said film or the like at various predetermined locations on the film.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
The structure of claim 1, and said film carrier embodying rotary latches which serve in one position to secure said film to the bottom of the carrier and in a second position to secure the carrier to a wall of the base unit in covering relation to the access opening, said fasteners in said second position releasing the film onto said platform in the base unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The structure of claim 3, and a paramagnetic film supporting plate on the side of the film remote from the carrier, and magnet means on the platform adapted to attract the film supporting plate to the platform and to secure the film against movement relative to the platform during adjustment of the platform.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The structure of claim 1, and manually operable means on the base unit to lower the platform and film thereon relative to said projection unit preparatory to moving the platform in the base unit, the platform normally biased upwardly to a projection position in close proximity to said light slit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The structure of claim 5, and meAns in the base unit normally releasably locking the means to drive and the means to turn said platform and releasing such means for further adjustments of the platform when said manually operable means is utilized to lower the platform.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The structure of claim 1, and said means to drive the platform comprising a carriage upon which the platform is mounted, rectilinear ways for the carriage, and a rotatable lead screw having threaded engagement with the carriage to drive it in opposite directions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
The structure of claim 7, and said means to turn the platform comprising a spindle carrying the platform, a rotary gear on the carriage and turning relative to said spindle and carriage, driving connecting means between the gear and platform, and additional gearing connected with said gear to turn the same in opposite directions a full 360* .
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
The structure of claim 8, and said additional gearing including a long pinion gear having its rotational axis parallel to the rectilinear path of movement of said carriage, and a spur gear on the carriage and movable therewith and continually meshing with said long pinion gear in all adjusted positions of the carriage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The structure of claim 9, and said rotary gear on the carriage comprising a worm gear, a worm on the carriage meshing with the worm gear and driven by said spur gear.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
81 words
The structure of claim 1, and said adjustable means on the projection unit defining said variable width light slit including a pair of laterally movable bars having opposing parallel straight edges, and rotary screw-threaded means connected with said bars to move them laterally toward and away from each other, said adjustable shutter means comprising a pair of independently operable flexible tapelike shutter elements on the projection unit and riding on said bars longitudinally in opposing relationship and covering said light slit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
72 words
The structure of claim 1, and said base unit including a relatively shallow lighttight housing including a top wall transverse opening, and said projection unit having a substantially lighttight housing adapted to rest on said top wall in registration with the transverse opening, and a pair of spaced locator elements on said top wall on opposite sides of the transverse opening and adapted to receive the housing of said projection unit therebetween.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
74 words
The structure of claim 2, and said second projection unit adjustable means including a rotary disc having plural circumferentially spaced indicia character projection windows, a light projecting head carrying said disc rotatably and allowing selected windows of the disc to be shifted into alignment with an optical projection axis above said film, and means to shift said projection head and said disc bodily transversely on said second projection unit and relative to said film.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The structure of claim 1, and a light collimator in said projection unit between said projection light means and variable width light slit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The structure of claim 14, and said collimator comprising a plurality of equidistantly spaced parallel baffles defining separated parallel light passages which direct light rays from said projection light means onto the film normal to the plane of the film and said platform.
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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) | 1975-01-17 | 1975-07-19 | 1976-01-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-17 | 1979-07-19 | 1980-01-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-17 | 1983-07-19 | 1984-01-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |