Multisurface continuous printing apparatus

Claim 2

A multisurface continuous printing apparatus, comprising: a plurality of printing frame supports; rotation means, to which said supports are attached, for constantly and slowly rotating said supports at a constant rate about a common, generally vertical axis; frame supports being held away from said vertical axis for easier access to the frames; a plurality of printing frames; each said frame having two oppositely facing printing surfaces; each said printing surface comprising thin sheet material to which is applied a photosensitive liquid and which is capable of having a photographic pattern exposed thereon; each said frame being carried on one of said printing frame supports and each being oriented generally horizontal with respect to said vertical axis such that said frame printing surfaces are horizontal; each said frame being rotated about a circumference whereby exposure of a plurality of said frames is performed by constantly and slowly rotating said plurality of printing frame supports; light sources disposed both above and below said frames over an arcuate portion of said circumference less than the whole thereof to simultaneously expose both said frame surfaces.

Claim 3

A multisurface continuous printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a rotary joint of vacuum piping communicating with a vacuum source; means for selectively connecting said piping with said frames for evacuating same before each passes said light sources.

Claim 4

A multisurface continuous printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a circular rail carried on said rotation means; each said printing frame support being connected with one of a plurality of rollers that engage said rail; said rotation means comprising a drive means which generates torque that is transmitted to said frame supports through a variable speed transmission device comprising a variable speed gear system, said rail and said rollers.

Claim 5

A multisurface continuous printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said printing frame comprises an upper and a lower frame; hinges foldably connecting together said upper and lower frames; said lower frame having an upper side; a lower glass dry plate disposed on said upper side of said lower frame; said lower glass dry plate having an upper side that carries a pattern to be transmitted to a photosensitiVe plate; a photosensitive plate placed over said lower glass dry plate; an upper glass dry plate having a lower side which also carries a pattern to be transmitted to said photosensitive plate; said upper glass dry plate being placed on said photosensitive plate with its said lower side being placed over said photosensitive plate; said upper and lower plates including complementary pins and bushes which register with each other so as to arrange the said plates in a predetermined relative orientation; a transparent flexible sheet attached to said upper frame; another transparent sheet placed on said upper frame to maintain air tightness thereof; said upper and lower plates having side edges around their peripheries, a sealing rubber gasket near said side edges of said plates and disposed between said plates to maintain air tightness; a lever operated closing means for securing said upper and lower frames together.

Claim 6

A multisurface continuous printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said light source comprises a plurality of lamps arranged in the form of a circular arc less than a full circle; the lamps of each said light source being disposed in an enclosed exposure chamber; means connected with said plurality of lamps for selectively extinguishing or lighting the lamps to vary the exposure presented thereby; each said exposure chamber having heat insulating, light transmitting glass on the side thereof facing said printing frame, thereby forming an exposure tunnel between the said glasses of said chambers; each said exposure chamber including an inlet and an outlet permitting circulation of cooling air therebetween.