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US3685425A - Apparatus for the after-treatment of exposed sheet material - Google Patents

Apparatus for the after-treatment of exposed sheet material Download PDF

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Publication number
US3685425A
US3685425A US87734A US3685425DA US3685425A US 3685425 A US3685425 A US 3685425A US 87734 A US87734 A US 87734A US 3685425D A US3685425D A US 3685425DA US 3685425 A US3685425 A US 3685425A
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United States
Prior art keywords
trough
developing container
container
working table
feed table
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Expired - Lifetime
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US87734A
Inventor
Herbert Fick
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Kalle GmbH and Co KG
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Kalle GmbH and Co KG
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03D—APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING EXPOSED PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03D13/00—Processing apparatus or accessories therefor, not covered by groups G11B3/00 - G11B11/00
    • G03D13/02—Containers; Holding-devices
    • G03D13/04—Trays; Dishes; Tanks ; Drums
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03F—PHOTOMECHANICAL PRODUCTION OF TEXTURED OR PATTERNED SURFACES, e.g. FOR PRINTING, FOR PROCESSING OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; MATERIALS THEREFOR; ORIGINALS THEREFOR; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED THEREFOR
    • G03F7/00—Photomechanical, e.g. photolithographic, production of textured or patterned surfaces, e.g. printing surfaces; Materials therefor, e.g. comprising photoresists; Apparatus specially adapted therefor
    • G03F7/26—Processing photosensitive materials; Apparatus therefor
    • G03F7/30—Imagewise removal using liquid means

Definitions

  • Such a container generally has the form of a vertical or slightly inclined narrow trough into which a plateholder is manually or mechanically introduced and, after a certain developing time, removed again.
  • Such containers permit the performance of developing as an immersion process and thus undoubtedly represent an improvement over conventional apparatus in which the developer liquid is applied to the plate manually be means of a sponge or the like.
  • Plates are difiicult to handle at larger plate sizes and, furthermore, there is the disadvantage that rinsing off the excessive developer and the subsequent correcting treatment must be performed bymeans of separate devices, which requires additional conveying operations.
  • the present invention provides an apparatus by means of which the treatment steps can be performed as economically as possible, with as little space as possible, and with as little effort as possible.
  • an apparatus for the after-treatment of exposed sheet material which includes a trough covered by a fixable, perforated feeding table tiltable about a point of rotation, a laterally adjoining working table, and a developing container arranged laterally beneath the feeding table and inclined at an angle with respect to the horizontal.
  • the feeding table, working table, and developing container preferably are so arranged that the feeding table in the horizontal position is in alignment with the working table and, in the tilted position, in alignment with the container.
  • arresting means only for the two end positions of the feeding table, e.g. in the form of a rod arranged in the trough and a hinged support at the bottom side of the feeding table.
  • the tipping angle for the feeding table may be of advantage to select the tipping angle for the feeding table smaller than the inclination angle of the developing container.
  • the end of the plate to be developed is even bent to such an extent when leaving the feeding table that, for easy immersion of the plate into the container, the feeding table need not be tilted at all.
  • the developing container is so arranged beneath the working table that working in two planes is assured. Wherever it is recommended for the working operation, the container, of course, also may be placed on the side of the feeding table away from the working table.
  • the interior of the container preferably is provided with a movable support onto which the plate to be developed is placed and by means of which it is kept at a sufiicient distance from the container walls during development.
  • the support may be guided in rails, for example, and/or may be provided with spacers.
  • the upper end of the support advantageously is provided with a handle which is not immersed in the developing liquid and by means of which the support can be lifted out of the container after the time of developing; in this manner, the plate can be gripped outside the developer liquid and removed from the bath in a simple and clean manner.
  • the upper end thereof is provided with a cover which may be arranged, e.g., at the bottom of the container and is of such a shape that it is kept closed by a steplike slightly angular lateral projection of the feeding table in the horizontal position. It is swung open by the tipping thereof, by means of its own weight, and is so placed into the steplike projection of the feeding table that a smooth transition between the feeding table and the plateholder in the container is assured.
  • the container is furthermore provided with a lower outlet for the developing liquid, which is connected with a pump.
  • This pump may be either placed beneath the container or elsewhere and permits complete removal of the depleted developing solution from the container also in those cases where an outlet above the discharge level is to be used.
  • a pump which can be changed from suetion to pressure operation, it is possible, of course, to also pass fresh developer solution through the outlet and to dispense with filling from above.
  • a rinsing device which, for example, may be a hand spraying device. It serves for washing away the developer solution superficially adhering to the plate after removal from the container, and it serves also for cleaning a plate which was subjected on the working table to further treatments, e.g. to fixation often usual after development, or to providing it with a protective color.
  • the washing steps are best performed while the plate lies on the perforated feeding. table in the horizontal position so that the washing water flows off through the preferably circular or slitrshaped perforations.
  • the correction of the plate is particularly performed. If desired, there may be a curtain between the feeding table and the working table which prevents sprinkling of the working table by the washing device. 1 A
  • the working table is provided with a movable tion.
  • the feeda ing table 3 has a steplike slightly angular lateral projection 4.
  • the arresting means of the feeding table 3 are the rod 5 in the trough as well as the hinged support 6 at the bottom of the feeding table.
  • the interior of the container contains an exposed plate 12 on a movable support 9 which is conveyed by spacers l0 and 10 and has a handle 11 at its upper end.
  • the outlet is connected with a pump 15 for replenishing the developer solution.
  • the working procedure with the use of this apparatus is as follows:
  • the exposed plate 12 is placed onto the perforated feeding table 3 in the horizontal position and, after the tipping thereof and a simultaneous swinging open of the cover 8, conveyed onto the support 9 which is in the container 7 provided with the developer solution 13.
  • the cover is opened, by again tipping the feeding table, and the support is removed from the container to such an extent that the plate placed thereon can be drawn out and onto the feeding table.
  • the developed plate is rinsed, the desired further treatments, of the plate are performed, and the plate is pushed onto the working table 19 for correction.
  • the apparatus of the invention is not limited to this embodiment. If desired, it is particularly possible without great expenditure to add a fixing station to the working stations. This may be performed,
  • a container which is likewise slightly inclined and receives the plate after the correcting treatment. It is also possible, however, that such a container is so arranged that it is beneath the developing container or symmetrical thereto on the other side of the perforated feeding table which, in this case, must be tiltable in both directions. Also a device suitable for drying the developed and rinsed or the completely fixed plate, such as a warm air blower device, of course, may. be provided in the zone of the trough, if it is desired in the individual case.
  • An apparatus for the after-treatment of exposed sheet material comprising a trough, a tiltable perforated feed table mounted in said trough, a working table adjoining said feed table, and a developing container positioned laterally below the feed table and being inclined with respect to the horizontal, said feed table in the horizontal position being in alignment with the working table and, in the tilted position, being in alignment with the developing container.
  • Apparatus according go claim 1 in which the developing container is provided with removable sup- I porting means for the exposed sheet material.
  • Apparatus according to claim 4 in which the supporting means has a handle at the upper end thereof and spacers on the bottom thereof.
  • An apparatus according to claim 6 including pump means connected to the outlet.
  • Apparatus according to claim 1 including rinsing.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Photosensitive Polymer And Photoresist Processing (AREA)
  • Photographic Processing Devices Using Wet Methods (AREA)
  • Photographic Developing Apparatuses (AREA)

Abstract

An apparatus for the after-treatment of exposed sheet material comprising a trough, a tiltable perforated feed table mounted above said trough, a working table adjoining said feed table, and a developing container positioned laterally below the feed table and being inclined with respect to the horizontal.

Description

United States Patent Fick [451 Aug. 22, 1972 1541 APPARATUS FOR THE AFIER- [56] References Cited TREATMENT OF EXPOSED SHEET v UNITED STATES PATENTS MATERML 3,555,990 1/1971 Dittman et al ..95/95 Inventor: Herbert Fick, g fl- Carin- 3,528,358 9/1970 Pickard ..95/89 R Statt, Germany 2,902,914 9/1959 Dye et a1 ..-...95 89 R x 3,418,913 12/1968 Snarr ..95/94 R [731 Assgnee' g 'z g ggfi 2,877,700 3/1959 Keller ..95/97 Y 3,166,999 l/1965 Dement ..95/98 x 22 Filed: Nov. 9, 1970 3,334,567 8/1967 Benson ..95/5
[21] Appl' No: 87734 Primary ExaminerSamuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner-Fred L. Braun 301 Foreign Application Priority Data Attorney-1911198 Bryan NOV. 12, 1969 Germany ..P 19 56 840.2 57 ABSTRACT 52 us. (:1 ..95/89 R, 118/425, 134/134 M aigparams after-treatment of exposed Sheet 51 Int. Cl ..G03d 3/10 mammal 9 8 9 Unable Perforated [58] Field of Search ..95/89 R, 89 F, 95, 96, 97, feed Said trough, a able 95/98, 99; ll8/425; l34/l34' adjoining said feed table, and a developing container positioned laterally below the feed table and being inclined with respect to the horizontal.
12 Clains, 1 Drawing Figure APPARATUS FOR THE AFTER-TREATMENT OF EXPOSED SHEET MATERIAL This invention relates to an apparatus for developing, rinsing, correcting, and, if desired, fixing exposed sheet material.
It is known to develop exposed sheet material, e.g. printing plates, in containers. Such a container generally has the form of a vertical or slightly inclined narrow trough into which a plateholder is manually or mechanically introduced and, after a certain developing time, removed again. Such containers permit the performance of developing as an immersion process and thus undoubtedly represent an improvement over conventional apparatus in which the developer liquid is applied to the plate manually be means of a sponge or the like. Plates are difiicult to handle at larger plate sizes and, furthermore, there is the disadvantage that rinsing off the excessive developer and the subsequent correcting treatment must be performed bymeans of separate devices, which requires additional conveying operations.
In order to overcome this drawback, automatic developing devices have been constructed in which the exposed plates are laid onto a conveying belt which conveys them past rotating brushes applying the developer, then to rinsing and drying stations, then to the correcting table and, if desired, to further aftertreatment stations, e.g. a fixing station. Such machines, however, have not found practical use, primarily because of their high price, but also because of their large size and their high developer consumption, resulting from the relatively rapid oxidative decomposition due to foaming at the brushes.
The present invention provides an apparatus by means of which the treatment steps can be performed as economically as possible, with as little space as possible, and with as little effort as possible.
In accordance with the invention, this is achieved by an apparatus for the after-treatment of exposed sheet material which includes a trough covered by a fixable, perforated feeding table tiltable about a point of rotation, a laterally adjoining working table, and a developing container arranged laterally beneath the feeding table and inclined at an angle with respect to the horizontal.
The feeding table, working table, and developing container preferably are so arranged that the feeding table in the horizontal position is in alignment with the working table and, in the tilted position, in alignment with the container. In this case, it is sufficient to provide arresting means only for the two end positions of the feeding table, e.g. in the form of a rod arranged in the trough and a hinged support at the bottom side of the feeding table.
Occasionally, e.g. in the treatment of thin material having a sagging tendency, it may be of advantage to select the tipping angle for the feeding table smaller than the inclination angle of the developing container. Under certain circumstances, the end of the plate to be developed is even bent to such an extent when leaving the feeding table that, for easy immersion of the plate into the container, the feeding table need not be tilted at all.
In a preferred, particularly compact construction, the developing container is so arranged beneath the working table that working in two planes is assured. Wherever it is recommended for the working operation, the container, of course, also may be placed on the side of the feeding table away from the working table.
For the angle at which the container is inclined with respect to the horizontal, values between 10 and 25, particularly between 12 and 18, have proved suitable.
The interior of the container preferably is provided with a movable support onto which the plate to be developed is placed and by means of which it is kept at a sufiicient distance from the container walls during development. For this purpose, the support may be guided in rails, for example, and/or may be provided with spacers. Furthermore, the upper end of the support advantageously is provided with a handle which is not immersed in the developing liquid and by means of which the support can be lifted out of the container after the time of developing; in this manner, the plate can be gripped outside the developer liquid and removed from the bath in a simple and clean manner.
Introducing the plate into the container, removing it therefrom, passing it onto the perforated feeding table, and therefrom onto the working table, in the simplest case, may be performed manually; this is even possible in the case of large plate sizes without excessive expenditure of force since the container is only slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal. However, gripping devices and mechanical moving means may be employed which permit the mechanical performance of the individual conveying steps.
If the container is to be kept closed during the developing process or in the unused but filled state, the upper end thereof is provided with a cover which may be arranged, e.g., at the bottom of the container and is of such a shape that it is kept closed by a steplike slightly angular lateral projection of the feeding table in the horizontal position. It is swung open by the tipping thereof, by means of its own weight, and is so placed into the steplike projection of the feeding table that a smooth transition between the feeding table and the plateholder in the container is assured.
In a preferred embodiment, the container is furthermore provided with a lower outlet for the developing liquid, which is connected with a pump. This pump may be either placed beneath the container or elsewhere and permits complete removal of the depleted developing solution from the container also in those cases where an outlet above the discharge level is to be used. When using a pump which can be changed from suetion to pressure operation, it is possible, of course, to also pass fresh developer solution through the outlet and to dispense with filling from above.
In the interest of a working procedure occupying as little space as possible, it has proved advantageous to provide the trough with a rinsing device which, for example, may be a hand spraying device. It serves for washing away the developer solution superficially adhering to the plate after removal from the container, and it serves also for cleaning a plate which was subjected on the working table to further treatments, e.g. to fixation often usual after development, or to providing it with a protective color. The washing steps are best performed while the plate lies on the perforated feeding. table in the horizontal position so that the washing water flows off through the preferably circular or slitrshaped perforations.
It is of advantage to provide the trough at the bottom or'atanother suitable place with a discharge aperture so that the washing liquor does not accumulate in the interior of the trough but flows off or, if required, can be pumped off.
On the working table, the correction of the plate is particularly performed. If desired, there may be a curtain between the feeding table and the working table which prevents sprinkling of the working table by the washing device. 1 A
In another embodiment of the apparatus of the infvention, the working table is provided with a movable tion.
A trough 1 provided with a discharge aperture 16, a water connection 18, and a rinsing device 17 connected therewith'has a cover consisting of a fixable, perforated feeding table 3 tiltable about a point of rotation 2. Laterally adjoining this table, there is a working table 19, having a movable arm support 20. The feeda ing table 3 has a steplike slightly angular lateral projection 4. The arresting means of the feeding table 3 are the rod 5 in the trough as well as the hinged support 6 at the bottom of the feeding table. Beneath the working table 19, there is a developing container 7 tilted through an angle a with respect to the horizontal, which container is provided with a cover 8 and an outlet 14 for the developer solution 13. The interior of the container contains an exposed plate 12 on a movable support 9 which is conveyed by spacers l0 and 10 and has a handle 11 at its upper end. The outlet is connected with a pump 15 for replenishing the developer solution.
In the simplest case, the working procedure with the use of this apparatus is as follows: The exposed plate 12 is placed onto the perforated feeding table 3 in the horizontal position and, after the tipping thereof and a simultaneous swinging open of the cover 8, conveyed onto the support 9 which is in the container 7 provided with the developer solution 13. As soon as the plate has passed the cover, the latter is closed by returning the feeding table into the horizontal position. After the desired developing period, the cover is opened, by again tipping the feeding table, and the support is removed from the container to such an extent that the plate placed thereon can be drawn out and onto the feeding table. After the feeding table has been returned to the horizontal position, the developed plate is rinsed, the desired further treatments, of the plate are performed, and the plate is pushed onto the working table 19 for correction.
The apparatus of the invention, of course, is not limited to this embodiment. If desired, it is particularly possible without great expenditure to add a fixing station to the working stations. This may be performed,
working table, which is likewise slightly inclined and receives the plate after the correcting treatment. It is also possible, however, that such a container is so arranged that it is beneath the developing container or symmetrical thereto on the other side of the perforated feeding table which, in this case, must be tiltable in both directions. Also a device suitable for drying the developed and rinsed or the completely fixed plate, such as a warm air blower device, of course, may. be provided in the zone of the trough, if it is desired in the individual case.
It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modifications may be made within, the scopeof the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.
What is claimed is: Y
1. An apparatus for the after-treatment of exposed sheet material comprising a trough, a tiltable perforated feed table mounted in said trough, a working table adjoining said feed table, and a developing container positioned laterally below the feed table and being inclined with respect to the horizontal, said feed table in the horizontal position being in alignment with the working table and, in the tilted position, being in alignment with the developing container.
2. Apparatus according to claimcl in which the i developing container is positioned beneath the working table.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the developing container is inclined at an angle between 10 and 25.
4. Apparatus according go claim 1 in which the developing container is provided with removable sup- I porting means for the exposed sheet material.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which the supporting means has a handle at the upper end thereof and spacers on the bottom thereof.
6. Apparatus according to claim 1' in which the developing container has an outlet for developer solu-' tion and a pivotally mounted cover. l
7. An apparatus according to claim 6 in which the feed table has a steplike, slightly angular projection thereon for receiving the pivotally mounted cover.
8. An apparatus according to claim 6 including pump means connected to the outlet.
9. Apparatus according to claim 1 including rinsing.

Claims (12)

1. An apparatus for the after-treatment of exposed sheet material comprising a trough, a tiltable perforated feed table mounted in said trough, a working table adjoining said feed table, and a deveLoping container positioned laterally below the feed table and being inclined with respect to the horizontal, said feed table in the horizontal position being in alignment with the working table and, in the tilted position, being in alignment with the developing container.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the developing container is positioned beneath the working table.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the developing container is inclined at an angle between 10* and 25* .
4. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the developing container is provided with removable supporting means for the exposed sheet material.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which the supporting means has a handle at the upper end thereof and spacers on the bottom thereof.
6. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the developing container has an outlet for developer solution and a pivotally mounted cover.
7. An apparatus according to claim 6 in which the feed table has a steplike, slightly angular projection thereon for receiving the pivotally mounted cover.
8. An apparatus according to claim 6 including pump means connected to the outlet.
9. Apparatus according to claim 1 including rinsing means positioned adjacent said trough.
10. Apparatus according to claim 1 including discharge means at the bottom of said trough.
11. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the working table has a lateral movable arm support.
12. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the working table is inclinable.
US87734A 1969-11-12 1970-11-09 Apparatus for the after-treatment of exposed sheet material Expired - Lifetime US3685425A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19691956840 DE1956840A1 (en) 1969-11-12 1969-11-12 Device for post-treatment of exposed plate-shaped material

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US3685425A true US3685425A (en) 1972-08-22

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US (1) US3685425A (en)
AT (1) AT309206B (en)
BE (1) BE758715A (en)
CA (1) CA935692A (en)
DE (1) DE1956840A1 (en)
ES (1) ES193018Y (en)
FR (1) FR2069331A5 (en)
GB (1) GB1327434A (en)
NL (1) NL7016004A (en)
SE (1) SE353405B (en)

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2877700A (en) * 1955-08-01 1959-03-17 Calumet Mfg Company Print washer
US2902914A (en) * 1952-09-12 1959-09-08 Pako Corp Apparatus for treating photographic sheets
US3166999A (en) * 1962-03-28 1965-01-26 Dement Gridley Apparatus for treating photographic film
US3334567A (en) * 1965-03-19 1967-08-08 Nuarc Company Dot etch and clearing table
US3418913A (en) * 1967-02-10 1968-12-31 Picker Corp Film processor
US3528358A (en) * 1966-04-19 1970-09-15 Ball Corp Printing plate processing apparatus
US3555990A (en) * 1968-04-29 1971-01-19 Egon A Dittman Apparatus for processing photographic prints

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2902914A (en) * 1952-09-12 1959-09-08 Pako Corp Apparatus for treating photographic sheets
US2877700A (en) * 1955-08-01 1959-03-17 Calumet Mfg Company Print washer
US3166999A (en) * 1962-03-28 1965-01-26 Dement Gridley Apparatus for treating photographic film
US3334567A (en) * 1965-03-19 1967-08-08 Nuarc Company Dot etch and clearing table
US3528358A (en) * 1966-04-19 1970-09-15 Ball Corp Printing plate processing apparatus
US3418913A (en) * 1967-02-10 1968-12-31 Picker Corp Film processor
US3555990A (en) * 1968-04-29 1971-01-19 Egon A Dittman Apparatus for processing photographic prints

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Publication number Publication date
FR2069331A5 (en) 1971-09-03
SE353405B (en) 1973-01-29
NL7016004A (en) 1971-05-14
ES193018U (en) 1974-10-01
DE1956840A1 (en) 1971-05-27
AT309206B (en) 1973-08-10
CA935692A (en) 1973-10-23
BE758715A (en) 1971-05-10
GB1327434A (en) 1973-08-22
ES193018Y (en) 1975-01-16

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