Abstract: Method and apparatus for automatically producing finished lithographic plates from supplies of blank plates and negatives. The apparatus provides automatic sequential steps of coating and punching the blank plates, exposing the plates through the negatives, developing and bending the plates, and delivering them to an exit station. Vacuum locks are utilized for registration throughout the apparatus to provide positive registration and prevent injury to the plates or negatives. A vacuum locked registration carriage provides positive registration between a plate to be exposed and a negative and vacuum locks are provided in the exposure station which cooperate with the carriage. The apparatus is completely enclosed to prevent contamination by dust or the like.

Abstract: A guide means is provided for guiding diazotype copy sheet material through a developing apparatus over and in contact with a pair of rotatable applicator rollers positioned in axially spaced apart parallel relation. Developer liquid is supplied to the surface of the rollers for developing the copy sheet. The guide means includes a first and a second set of fine, filament-like guide wires strung taut across the rollers in the direction of movement of the sheet material through the developing apparatus. The guide wires of each set are positioned in spaced apart parallel relation, and the wires of one set are offset axially from the wires of the other set. The guide wires prevent the sheet material from becoming wrapped about the applicator rollers during passage of the material through the developing apparatus.

Abstract: A developing station for developing microfiche includes a pair of closely spaced walls, an inflatable tube defining the developing region of the station, a system for inflating the tube to seal the region, and a member for transporting a copy sheet into the region. The transporting member is withdrawn from the region during the developing step and moved back into the region subsequent to the developing step to transport the copy sheet from the developing region.

Abstract: A portable low-cost copier comprises a housing having a bottom surface at which a photosensitized sheet and an original can be disposed. Disposed within the housing is a chemical flashlamp which is ignited to make the copy.

Abstract: A process of forming a picture image information such as a manuscript, etc. on a dry treated roll film and developing the same is disclosed. The process comprises successive steps of preparing a film segment having a given length and formed thereon with said picture image information and hot developing said image information formed on said film segment under a flat state without applying tension thereto. An apparatus for practicing the process is also disclosed. The apparatus comprises a cutting block, a photographic block and a hot developing block arranged in succession along a path, said hot developing block having at least one flat surface for attracting a film segment having a given length, and a film carriage provided at its one end with a holding head for attracting and holding said film segment formed thereon with said picture image information and movable along said path to carry said film segment in succession to a position opposed to each of said blocks.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for producing a photopolymer plate having relief images thereon. Successive portions of a continuous length of a protective film material are travelled in a horizontal elongated plane defined by a pair of parallel and spaced guide rollers. A layer of liquid photosensitive material is applied to a length of the horizontal web of the protective film material. A length of backing material is then laminated onto the upper surface of the layer to form an assembly. The assembly is moved by the protective film material into a relief exposure station for the exposure of the lower surface of the layer through an image-bearing transparency and the protective film material to an actinic radiation. The laminated portion of the backing material is separated from the remaining continuous web of the backing material. The image-bearing transparency is fed to the relief exposure station by a continuous length of another film material.

Abstract: A duplicator for making copies of a microfiche master. The master is positioned at a transfer station and a copy film is stored on a supply roll and incrementally advanced to the transfer station by a film drive disposed upstream of the transfer station so that fresh copy film is pushed downstream into registration with the master. Pressurized air supply conduits are disposed between the film drive and the transfer station and are activated so that the copy film moves downstream on an air cushion to minimize copy film drag and sticking. A film cutter is disposed immediately downstream of the transfer station in substantial registration with a downstream edge of the master to eliminate copy film waste. Exposed copy film is transported past a developing station and a curing station to a copy film discharge station.

Abstract: Automatic equipment is described for making multiple plate copies for an offset printing process from a single negative. A stack of plates having prepunched locating openings is provided with the emulsion side facing down and with the pile being automatically raised so that the top plate is at a particular location. A parallelogram linkage makes vacuum connection to the back of the plate, and moves the plate immediately on top of and in registry with a negative which is installed on a negative carrier plate. The plate is then exposed through the negative, and the parallelogram linkage and plate carrier then move back to the plate stack to pick up a new plate. A plate transfer mechanism then makes vacuum connection to the back surface of the exposed plate and rotates the plate, and inverts it onto a delivery belt system for delivering the exposed plate to a plate processor.

Abstract: A microfilm card duplicating machine is arranged to feed master cards sequentially to a copying station. The master cards have images thereon for duplication by the machine. Copy cards are fed by the machine one by one to the copying station for producing a required number of copies. The copy cards and master cards are routed to a receiving station after copying while the master card is delayed such that it arrives at the receiving station only when its duplicate copy card(s) have been delivered thereto. The sequential delivery enables the formation of an interleaved stack of master and copy cards arranged with the copy card(s) being preceded in each case by the associated master card.

Abstract: The invention is a high speed automatic platemaking process and apparatus for making photopolymer relief printing plates from photo transparencies. The invention eliminates lost time and motion by performing critical platemaking functions such as photopolymer printing plate lamination and back exposure in one continuous pass. Other platemaking procedures are likewise performed in combined steps and in a particular sequence to expedite plate preparation.

Abstract: A contact exposure unit having a transparent contact surface and a liquid development unit having means for preventing leakage of a developer are, respectively, constructed as independent units. The exposure unit and the development unit are adapted to be releasably combined with each other thereby to form a portable copier. Outer housings of the exposure and the development units constitute in combination the housing of the portable copier.

Abstract: A film developer-fixer for diazo, vesicular or similar film in which the exposed film is developed by subjecting it to high temperature. The film is moved continuously at a constant speed past a developing station defined by a pair of opposing, spaced apart heating platens; the spacing between the platens exceeds the thickness of the film. Heated air is blown against the film emulsion to generate an air bearing for the film. Downstream of the developing station is a film cooling station and downstream of the cooling station a fixing station where the developed emulsion is subjected to light to permanently fix the images thereon. The cooling and the fixing stations are disposed in cavities defined by a supporting structure and they communicate with a source of cooling air for cooling the film and the components of the apparatus. Transport means is defined by a plurality of roller sets having polished surfaces.

Abstract: A camera/processor for, in a preferred mode, continuously exposing and developing photographic film, and preferably, photographic migration imaging film. The versatility of the apparatus is demonstrated by its ability to perform either heat or meniscus development and, optionally, film overcoating. After the film is exposed, it travels along a predetermined path, which path may include a plurality of separate film developing and film drying stations, toward a takeup reel.

Abstract: Document images recorded upon microfilm using a first film transport are moved to a position to have an image thereof recorded upon a film carried by a second film transport thereby permitting the recording to be applied to the second film in accordance with the positioning of that film rather than in sequence.

Abstract: A device for the processing of uniquely combined thermally developable, photosensitive layers with illuminating means for imagewise exposing one of the photosensitive layers while it is being heated to development temperature and also exposing with another illuminating means another of the photosensitive layers from the image exposed and developed in the first photosensitive layer, the last exposed layer being developed by the same heating imparted thereto for development of the first exposed layer to obtain an image which can be transferred in the same operation to a receiving medium.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing photopolymer plates includes an exposure unit, a washing unit, and a drying unit. The plate, which has a water-developable photopolymer surface, is continuously conveyed through each unit so that the functions therein performed, are done automatically. More particularly, exposure is accomplished by bringing a negative photographic image into alignment with the water-developable photopolymer plate, and then passing light through the negative and onto portions of the plate. Unexposed areas of the plate are then washed away in the washing unit, thus producing a relief surface necessary for letter-press printing. Finally, the photopolymer plate is conveyed to the drying unit where drying and postcuring take place.