Apparatus for photo etching

Claim 2

An etching apparatus for etching a predetermined pattern on a resist coated metallized web, said apparatus comprising an exposure unit, web feeding means for continuously feeding said web along a web feed path which extends through said exposure unit, an endless film transparency bearing the master image of the desired pattern which is to be etched on said web, storage means for storing said endless film transparency within said exposure unit, said storage means compRising a pair of racks positioned on one side of said web feed path, said racks being adjustably movable towards and away from each other, a plurality of fingers extending from each of said racks, said fingers extending parallel to each other and the fingers of one of said racks being offset relative to the fingers of said other rack, rollers carried in said fingers, said rollers supporting said film, transparency feeding means for continuously feeding said transparency along a transparency feeding path which extends from said storage means to, and beside said web feeding path through an exposure zone, thence away from said web feeding path to said storage means, and exposure means in said exposure zone for exposing said web through said transparency.

Claim 3

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said exposure means comprises a pressure roll, a clear glass exposure roll, means for resiliently biasing said pressure roll against said exposure roll, said web feed path extending over said pressure roll, between said pressure roll and said exposure roll, and over said exposure roll.

Claim 4

Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, said film and said web having perforations along corresponding sides thereof, said apparatus further having sprocket roll means in engagement with said web and said transparency with sprocket teeth on said sprocket roll means extending through said perforations to ensure proper registration of said transparency with said web.

Claim 5

Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, said sprocket roll means comprising a first sprocket roll located upstream, relative to the direction of feed of said web, from said pressure roll and said exposure roll, and a second sprocket roll located downstream from said pressure roll and said exposure roll.

Claim 6

Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, said exposure roll having a light source therein, a pair of concentric angularly and relatively rotatable sleeves surrounding said light source, slots in said sleeves to jointly define an exposure aperature.

Claim 7

Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, said exposure roll having therein hollow tubes extending parallel to the axis thereof between said sleeves and said light source, and means for directing liquid coolant to dissipate heat from said light source.

Claim 8

Apparatus for selectively exposing both sides of a continuous web, said web having a central layer of insulating material and having metallic foil on each side of said central layer, said layers being coated with resist material, said apparatus comprising: first and second exposure rolls, said rolls each having a light source therein, said rolls being mounted on parallel spaced-apart axes, means for continuously rotating said rolls in opposite directions, means for feeding said web along a web feeding path, said web feeding path extending adjacent to both of said rolls, first and second endless film transparency storing means, said first endless film transparency storing means being on one side of said web feeding path and said second endless film transparency storing means being on the other side of said web feeding path, first transparency feeding means for feeding a first transparency along a first transparency feeding path which extends from said first storing means towards said web feeding path, thence along said web feeding path and between said web feeding path and said first exposure roll, thence to said first storing means, second transparency feeding means for feeding a second transparency along a second transparency feeding path which extends from said second storing means towards said web feeding path thence along said web feeding path and between said web feeding path and said second exposure roll, thence to said second storing means, and registering means for precisely registering said first and second transparencies with said web whereby, elongated patterns are exposed on both sides of said web are precisely located with respect to each other.

Claim 9

Apparatus for selectively exposing both sides of a continuous web, said web having a central layer of insulating material and having metallic foil on each side of said central layer, said layers being coated with resist material, said apparatus comprising: first and second exposure rolls, said rolls each having a light source therein, said rolls being mounted on parallel spaced-apart axes, means for continuously rotating said rolls in opposite directions, means for feeding said web along a web feeding path, said web feeding path extending adjacent to both of said rolls, first and second endless film transparency storing means, said first endless film transparency storing means being on one side of said web feeding path and said second endless film transparency storing means being on the other side of said web feeding path, first transparency feeding means for feeding a first transparency along a first transparency feeding path which extends from said first storing means towards said web feeding path, thence along said web feeding path and between said web feeding path and said first exposure roll, thence to said first storing means, second transparency feeding means for feeding a second transparency along a second transparency feeding path which extends from said second storing means towards said web feeding path thence along said web feeding path and between said web feeding path and said second exposure roll, thence to said second storing means, and registering means for precisely registering said first and second transparencies with said web whereby, elongated patterns are exposed on both sides of said web are precisely located with respect to each other.

Claim 10

Apparatus as set Forth in claim 7, said first and second exposure rolls having external surfaces which are spaced apart, said web feeding path extending adjacent to said first exposure roll thence to said second exposure roll, then adjacent to said second exposure roll, then from said second exposure roll, said registering means being between said first and second exposure rolls.

Claim 11

Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, said first transparency feeding path extending to said web feeding path at a location upstream relative to the direction of web feed, from said first exposure roll, and said first transparency feeding means extending to said first storing means at a location downstream from said registering means, said second transparency feeding path extending to said web feeding path at a location upstream from said registering means and extending from said web feeding path and to said storing means at a location downstream from said second exposure roll.

Claim 12

Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said registering means comprises sprocket means having sprocket teeth extending through perforations in said web and in said first and second transparencies.