Photographic printing apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for exposing photosensitized plates comprising an endless conveyor having an upper reach movable in a predetermined path and a lower return reach, means for intermittently driving the conveyor intermittently to convey a plate carried by said upper reach together with a film on the upper face of said plate along said path from a first station at which the plate and film may be applied to the conveyor to a second station at which the plate is exposed to light through the film and thence to a third station, means for pressing the plate and film at the second station, said pressing means comprising means movable upwardly and downwardly above said upper reach adapted to be raised from the upper reach to permit the conveyor to move a plate with a film thereon from the first to the second station and to move an exposed plate with a film thereon out of the second station to the third station, and adapted to be lowered for pressing a plate and film at the second station for exposure of the plate while the conveyor is stopped, and a light source for exposing the plate at the second station to light through the film while pressed by said pressing means.

Claim 3

Apparatus for exposing photosensitized plates comprising an endless conveyor movable intermittently to convey a plate with a film thereon from a first station at which the plate and film may be applied to the conveyor to a second station at which the plate is exposed to light through the film and thence to a third station, means for pressing the plate and film at the second station, said means being adapted to be opened to permit the conveyor to move a plate with a film thereon from the first to the second station and to move an exposed plate with a film thereon out of the second station to the third station, and adapted to be closed for pressing a plate and film at the second station for expOsure of the plate while the conveyor is stopped, and a light source for exposing the plate at the second station to light through the film while pressed by said pressing means, and control means acting automatically to close said pressing means when the conveyor has moved a plate with a film thereon from the first to the second station and then acting to operate said light source to expose the plate at the second station for an exposure interval.

Claim 4

Apparatus for exposing photosensitized plates comprising an endless conveyor movable intermittently to convey a plate with a film thereon from a first station at which the plate and film may be applied to the conveyor to a second station at which the plate is exposed to light through the film and thence to a third station, means for pressing the plate and film at the second station, said means being adapted to be opened to permit the conveyor to move a plate with a film thereon from the first to the second station and to move an exposed plate with a film thereon out of the second station to the third station, and adapted to be closed for pressing a plate and film at the second station for expOsure of the plate while the conveyor is stopped, and a light source for exposing the plate at the second station to light through the film while pressed by said pressing means, and control means acting automatically to close said pressing means when the conveyor has moved a plate with a film thereon from the first to the second station and then acting to operate said light source to expose the plate at the second station for an exposure interval.

Claim 5

Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the control means acts automatically to open said pressing means on completion of exposure of a plate at the second station, and then acts to operate the conveyor for an interval to move the exposed plate with a film thereon out of the second station to the third station.

Claim 6

Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said control means includes means for varying the length of the exposure interval.

Claim 7

Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the conveyor is adapted to bring another plate with a film thereon from the first to second station when it is operated for its said interval, and wherein said control means acts automatically to close said pressing means when the conveyor stops at the end of its said interval and then acts to operate said light source to expose the plate at the second station for an exposure interval.

Claim 8

Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said control means includes means for detecting whether or not a plate has been applied to the conveyor at the first station and stopping operation of the apparatus if a plate has not been applied.

Claim 9

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said plate-detecting means acts to stop the apparatus after completion of exposure of the plate at the second station and conveyance of the latter plate to the third station.

Claim 10

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pressing means when closed forms a vacuum chamber and wherein means is provided for evacuating said chamber.

Claim 11

Apparatus for exposing photosensitized plates comprising an endless conveyor movable intermittently to convey a plate with a film thereon from a first station at which the plate and film may be applied to the conveyor to a second station at which the plate is exposed to light through the film and thence to a third station, means for pressing the plate and film at the second station, said means being adapted to be opened to permit the conveyor to move a plate with a film thereon from the first to the second station and to move an exposed plate with a film thereon out of the second station to the third station, and adapted to be closed for pressing a plate and film at the second station for exposure of the plate while the conveyor is stopped, and a light source for exposing the plate at the second station to light through the film while pressed by said pressing means, said pressing means comprising a light-transmitting panel movable between an open retracted position and a closed position engaging the film on the plate at the second station.

Claim 12

Apparatus for exposing photosensitized plates comprising an endless conveyor movable intermittently to convey a plate with a film thereon from a first station at which the plate and film may be applied to the conveyor to a second station at which the plate is exposed to light through the film and thence to a third station, means for pressing the plate and film at the second station, said means being adapted to be opened to permit the conveyor to move a plate with a film thereon from the first to the second station and to move an exposed plate with a film thereon out of the second station to the third station, and adapted to be closed for pressing a plate and film at the second station for exposure of the plate while the conveyor is stopped, and a light source for exposing the plate at the second station to light through the film while pressed by said pressing means, said pressing means comprising a light-transmitting panel movable between an open retracted position and a closed position engaging the film on the plate at the second station.

Claim 13

Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said panel when closed forms a vacuum chamber and wherein means is provided for evacuating said chamber.

Claim 14

Apparatus for exposing photosensitized plates comprising an endless conveyor movable intermittently to convey a plate with a film thereon from a first station at which the plate and film may be applied to the conveyor to a second station at which the plate is exposed to light through the film and thence to a third station, a flexible presser pad at the second station, the plate with the film thereon being conveyed from the first station onto said pad, a light-transmitting panel above the pad, means mounting said panel for movement between a raised retracted position spaced from the pad and a lowered closed position in peripheral sealing engagement with the pad forming a vacuum chamber, means for evacuating said chamber for pressing of the plate and film in said chamber by the pad against the panel for exposure of the plate, said panel when in retracted position permitting the conveyor to move a plate with a film thereon from the first station onto the pad at the second station and to move an exposed plate and the film thereon off the pad and out of the second station to the third station, and a light source for exposing the plate at the second station to light through the film thereon via said panel while pressed against said panel.

Claim 15

Apparatus for exposing photosensitized plates comprising an endless conveyor movable intermittently to convey a plate with a film thereon from a first station at which the plate and film may be applied to the conveyor to a second station at which the plate is exposed to light through the film and thence to a third station, a flexible presser pad at the second station, the plate with the film thereon being conveyed from the first station onto said pad, a light-transmitting panel above the pad, means mounting said panel for movement between a raised retracted position spaced from the pad and a lowered closed position in peripheral sealing engagement with the pad forming a vacuum chamber, means for evacuating said chamber for pressing of the plate and film in said chamber by the pad against the panel for exposure of the plate, said panel when in retracted position permitting the conveyor to move a plate with a film thereon from the first station onto the pad at the second station and to move an exposed plate and the film thereon off the pad and out of the second station to the third station, and a light source for exposing the plate at the second station to light through the film thereon via said panel while pressed against said panel.

Claim 16

Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 having control means for automatically raising said panel on completion of exposure of a plate at the second station and then operating the conveyor for an interval to move an exposed plate with a film thereon off the pad and out of the second station to the third station.

Claim 17

Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein the control means acts automatically to lower said panel when the conveyor has moved a plate with a film thereon onto the pad at the second station, then acts to operate said evacuating means, and then acts to operate said light source to expose the plate at the second station for an exposure interval.

Claim 18

Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein the control means acts automatically to stop the operation of said evacuating means and to raise said panel on completion of exposure of a plate at the second station, and then acts to operate the conveyor for an interval to move the exposed plate with a film thereon off the pad and out of the second station to the third station.

Claim 19

Apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein the conveyor is adapted to bring another plate with a film thereon from the first station onto the pad at the second station when it is operated for its said interval, and wherein said control means acts automatically to lower said panel when the conveyor stops at the end of its said interval, then acts to operate said evacuating means, and then acts to operate said light source to expose the plate at the second station for an exposure interval.

Claim 20

Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 having means for detecting whether or not a plate has been applied to the conveyor at the first station and stopping operation of the apparatus if a plate has not been applied.

Claim 21

Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein said plate-detecting means acts to stop the apparatus after completion of exposure of the plate at the second station and conveyance of the latter plate to the third station.

Claim 22

Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said conveyor comprises a pair of endless chains having upper reaches extending along opposite sides of said pad, and bars extending transversely between said chains spaced at intervals along their length, each of said bars having means thereon for attachment of a plate and film thereto.

Claim 23

Apparatus as set forth in claim 18 having a tabletop member at the first station and a tabletop member at the third station, the pad being between said tabletop members and generally flush with the top surfaces thereof, the bars passing over said tabletop members and said pad.

Claim 24

Apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said light-transmitting panel is mounted for up and down movement in a frame spanning the apparatus above the pad at the second station.

Claim 25

Apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein the light source is carried by means extending up from said frame.

Claim 26

Apparatus as set forth in claim 20 having cam means actuated by an air cylinder on said frame for moving said panel up and down.

Claim 27

Apparatus as set forth in claim 22 having an electric motor for driving said conveyor, a solenoid valve controlling said air cylinder and control means for actuating said valve to cause said cylinder to raise said panel on completion of exposure of a plate at the second station and then energizing said motor to operate the conveyor for an interval to move an exposed plate out of the second station to the third station and to bring another plate with a film thereon from the first to the second station, and including a switch operable by a bar of said conveyor as It brings a plate to the third station for deenergizing said motor to stop the conveyor, and means for actuating said valve to cause said cylinder to close said panel when the conveyor stops and then operating said light source to expose the plate at the second station for an exposure interval.

Claim 28

Apparatus as set forth in claim 23 having a switch with an operating arm projecting up through an opening in the table top member at the first station for detecting whether or not a plate has been applied to the table top member at the first station and stopping operation of the apparatus if a plate has not been applied.

Claim 29

Apparatus as set forth in claim 24 wherein said plate-detecting switch acts to stop the operation of the apparatus after completion of exposure of the plate at the second station and conveyance of this plate by the conveyor to the third station.

Claim 30

Apparatus for exposing photosensitized plates comprising conveyor means movable intermittently to convey a plate from a first station at which the plate may be applied to the conveyor means to a second station at which the plate is exposed to light through a film and thence out of the second station, means for pressing the plate and film at the second station, said pressing means being adapted to be opened to permit the conveyor means to move a plate from the first to the second station and to move an exposed plate out of the second station, and adapted to be closed for pressing a plate and film at the second station for exposure of the plate while the conveyor means is stopped, a light source for exposing the plate at the second station to light through the film while pressed by said pressing means, and control means acting automatically to close said pressing means when the conveyor means has moved a plate from the first station to the second station, and then acting to operate said light source to expose the plate through the film at said second station for an exposure interval.

Claim 31

Apparatus for exposing photosensitized plates comprising conveyor means movable intermittently to convey a plate from a first station at which the plate may be applied to the conveyor means to a second station at which the plate is exposed to light through a film and thence out of the second station, means for pressing the plate and film at the second station, said pressing means being adapted to be opened to permit the conveyor means to move a plate from the first to the second station and to move an exposed plate out of the second station, and adapted to be closed for pressing a plate and film at the second station for exposure of the plate while the conveyor means is stopped, a light source for exposing the plate at the second station to light through the film while pressed by said pressing means, and control means acting automatically to close said pressing means when the conveyor means has moved a plate from the first station to the second station, and then acting to operate said light source to expose the plate through the film at said second station for an exposure interval.

Claim 32

Apparatus for exposing photosensitized plates comprising an endless conveyor movable intermittently to convey a plate from a first station at which the plate may be applied to the conveyor to a second station at which the plate is exposed to light through a film and thence out of the second station, a flexible presser pad at the second station, the plate being conveyed from the first station onto said pad, a light-transmitting panel above the pad, means mounting said panel for movement between a raised retracted position spaced from the pad and lowered closed position in peripheral sealing engagement with the pad forming a vacuum chamber, means for evacuating said chamber for pressing of the plate and film in said chamber by the pad against the panel for exposure of the plate, said panel when in retracted position permitting the conveyor to move a plate from the first station onto the pad at the second station and to move an exposed plate off the pad and out of the second station, and a light source for exposing the plate at the second station to light through the film thereon via said panel while pressed against said panel.

Claim 33

Apparatus for exposing photosensitized plates comprising an endless conveyor movable intermittently to convey a plate from a first station at which the plate may be applied to the conveyor to a second station at which the plate is exposed to light through a film and thence out of the second station, a flexible presser pad at the second station, the plate being conveyed from the first station onto said pad, a light-transmitting panel above the pad, means mounting said panel for movement between a raised retracted position spaced from the pad and lowered closed position in peripheral sealing engagement with the pad forming a vacuum chamber, means for evacuating said chamber for pressing of the plate and film in said chamber by the pad against the panel for exposure of the plate, said panel when in retracted position permitting the conveyor to move a plate from the first station onto the pad at the second station and to move an exposed plate off the pad and out of the second station, and a light source for exposing the plate at the second station to light through the film thereon via said panel while pressed against said panel.