(UNTITLED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B04747A002100010007-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 14, 2011
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: July 27, 1965
• Content Type: CHART

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July 27, 1965
VACUUM FILM SUPPORT
?
7-SEP1966
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July 27, 1965
Filed April 10, 1963
FIG.5
3,197,170
VACUUM FILM SUPPORT
FIG.6
a,9-\ /Zj
130
116
FIG. 7
I7
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United States Patent Offic
3,197,170
VACUUM FILM SUPPORT
Norman C. Schutt and Floyd W. Flynn, Glen Cove, N.Y.,
assignors to Powers Chcinco, Inc., Glen Cove, N.Y., a
corporation of New York
Filed Apr. 10, 1963, Ser. No. 272,148
5 Claims. (Cl. 248-363)
The present invention relates to a support for a sheet
of film in a photomechanical camera and, more partic-
ularly, to an improved vacuum board for holding a sheet
of film in exposure position.
In large photomechanical cameras, the photosensitive
material is retained in exposure position by means of a
support to which a suction force is applied. The support
generally has a foraminous face plate against which the
sheet is placed with the openings in the face plate com-
municating-with a source of suction through a plurality
'of individual passages leading from a common suction
manifold chamber. Heretofore, these passages from the
manifold have been transverse to the plane of the face
plate. It has already been proposed to control the suc-
tion flow from each of these transverse passages to its
associate openings by means of a gravity-biased ball valve
member as disclosed in Anander Patent 2,910,265, issued
October 27, 1959.
The structure disclosed in said patent operated satis-
factorily in a camera wherein the film was placed against
the support while the support was vertically disposed.
However, in some cameras, the film sheet is placed on
the support while it is in horizontal disposition. In these
cameras, the support with the film placed thereon is then
rotated into vertical exposure position as shown and de-
scribed in Schutt et al. Patent 2,939,371 of June 7, 1960.
In such a film loading arrangement, the transverse passage
and gravity-biased ball valve of the Anander arrange-
ment could not be used since no suction would be applied
to the film-bearing face plate with the support in hori-
zontal disposition.
The present invention is therefore characterized by a
novel passage and ball valve structure for a film vacuum
support which can be incorporated into a photomechani-
cal camera having any desired film loading arrangement.
In accordance with the present invention, the openings
in the face plate of the vacuum support communicate
with a plurality of spaced recesses or valve seats prefer-
ably formed in an intermediate plate contiguous to the
face plate. In turn, each recess is provided with a pas-
sage disposed angularly to the plane of the face plate
and leads to a common manifold chamber connected to
the suction source. The passages are preferably located
adjacent the top of their related recesses when the board
is in vertical position. In each recess there is provided
a suction flow control valve comprising a ball valve mem-
ber freely movable within its associated recess. By pro-
viding angular suction passages for the recesses, in any
position of the film support from horizontal to vertical
planar disposition, the ball valve member is normally
gravity-biased to an open position so that a film sheet
A further objec
proved vacuum fil
ball valve mentbei
the film and a suet
3,19.7,170
Patented July 27, 1965
2
t of the invention is to provide an im-
m support including a freely-movable
for controlling the flow of suction to
ion passage controlled by the ball valve
and disposed at . n angle to the plane of the film sup-
porting face, whcr by suction can be supplied to the face
whether the suppo t is horizontally or vertically disposed.
Objects and ad antages of the invention will be ob-
vious herefrom, o may be learned by practice with the
invention, the sam being realized and attained by means
of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in
the appended claims.
The accompan ing drawings, referred to herein and
constituting a par hereof, illustrate one embodiment of
the invention and together with the description, serve to
explain the princip es of the invention.
FIG. 1 is a plait view of the preferred embodiment of
improved support of the present invention with a portion
of the face plate b oken away to show details of the valve
construct ion.
FIG. 2 is a det fled sectional view of a portion of the
support adjacent t e connection of the board to the suc-
tion conduit, illust ating the details of the valve arrange-
ment with the su port in normal, vertical exposure dis-
position.
FIG. 3 is a det fled sectional view of a portion of the
support illustratin details of the valve arrangement with
the support shown in horizontal disposition.
FiG. 4 is a detailed sectional view of a portion of the
support illustrating details of the valve arrangement with
the support shown disposed in a position intermediate the
position illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.
FIG. 5 is a detailed view of a modified form of valve
for use in the prese it invention.
FIG. 6 is a detailed view of another modified form of
valve for use in the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of a
photomechanical camera embodying the present inven-
tion.
Referring to th drawings and specifically to FIGS.
1 and 2, the support of the present invention is desig-
nated generally 10 Support 10 comprises a smooth, flat
face plate 12 having a plurality of regularly-spaced open-
ings 14. Plate 12 is adapted to have the sheet of photo-
sensitive material such as film F placed thereagainst and
held in firm conta t therewith by application of suction
through openings 14. Overlying the back of plate 12
and in intimate contact therewith is an intermediate
plate 16 cemented to plate 12 along the outer matching
margins 18 and 19 of plates 12 and 16 respectively. The
support 10 include a back plate 20 spaced from the rear
face 21 of plate 6 to form a suction manifold 22 in
support 16. Mani old 22 is enclosed by a pair of side
plates, one of which, side plate 24 is shown, and top and
bottom plates, bot om plate 30 is shown cemented to
intermediate plate 16 and back plate 20 to complete
support 10.
To furnish suction to support 10, a connector 32 is pro-
vided which comm nicates at one end thereof with mani-
fold chamber 22 t rough back plate 20 and at its other
end with a suction conduit 34 leading to a source of suc-
tion (not shown).
To control the fl w of suction from manifold chamber
22 to opening 14 i face plate 12, intermediate plate 16
is provided with a plurality of spaced recesses or valve
seats 36 which co municate directly with openings 14.
can be retained against the face plate of the support by 60
vacuum. Thus, the present invention permits the utility
of a freely movable ball valve member in photomechan-
ical cameras in which the film support is rotated to hori-
zontal disposition for placement of film thereon.
OBJECTS
The object of the present invention, therefore, is to pro-
vide a new and improved vacuum film support for photo-
mechanical cameras.
Another ohiect of the invention is to nrnvidp_ im-
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3
and the rear face of face plate 12, as shown best in
FIGS. 2-4.
To provide communication between recess 36 and mani-
fold chamber 22, there is provided for each recess 36
a bore or passage 40 extending from surface 37 to cham-
ber 22. Passage 40 is angularly disposed relative to the
plane of face plate 12. As shown best in FIG. 2, when
support 10 is in vertical disposition, each passage 40
communicates with the upper portion of surface 37 of its
related recess 36 and extends upwardly away therefrom.
Ball valve member 38 is always in contact with surface
37, resting on the lower portion thereof as shown in
FIG. 2 when support 10 is vertical. When support 10
is horizontal, ball valve 38 generally rests on the portion
thermoplastic or met
Recesses 36 may be ';!2" deep and generally dome-shaped
with a semi-spherical ection of a radius of Recesses
36 may be in staggere rows t/i" on centers in each direc-
tion while ball valve 8 may also be of plastic and shaped
as a sphere '/4" in diameter and passages 40 are cylindrical
10
of a diameter of ";;Se"
the intermediate plate
circular openings 118
trol the flow of suctio
In operation the support 10 is mounted in its associated
camera in any desired manner. Preferably the support
is mounted on a support frame pivotally secured to por-
tions of the camera frame. A suitable mounting frame
and associated mechanism is disclosed in the aforesaid
Schutt et al. Patent 2,939,371. Further description is
therefore omitted in the interests of brevity.
In exposure position, support 10 is disposed vertically
as shown in FIG. 2 with the flexible sheet of photo-
fit snugly in opening
drical section 126 co
communicate with m
posure. With suction applied to the support 10 through
conduit 34 and connector 32, in each recess 36 over which
the sheet F lies, ball valve member 38 remains in its
open or non-valving position resting on the lowermost
position of surface 37 as shown in FIGS. 2-4. Thus the
suction is applied through manifold chamber 22, and its
related passage 40 into said recess 36 and hence to its
associated openings 14 and is effective to draw the sheet
into firm, intimate contact with face plate 10.
preferred embodimen
operate as ball valve
suitably control the a
118, thus decreasing
In the case of those recesses 36 whose associated open- 8.5
ings 14 are not covered by the sheet of film F, when
suction is applied to support 10, the flow of air through
these uncovered openings 14 causes the ball valves 38s
in their associated recesses 36 to roll up the arcuate sur-
face 37 thereof into its closed or valving position at 40
passage 40, as shown in FIGS. 2-4. This interrupts the
further flow of air through that particular recess 36.
Thus, the suction is only applied to those openings 14
against which the sheet of film F is positioned.
As described hereinabove, in some cameras such as 45
in the aforementioned Schutt et al. patent, support 10 is
rotated to a generally horizontal position so that cut
film may be readily positioned on the face plate 12. In
this film loading position, the cut film is placed on face
plate 12 by the operator and suction applied. In those 50
recesses 36 over which the film is disposed, the ball valve
member 38 remains in open or non-valving position and
according suction is applied through their associated open-
ings 14. In those recesses 36 having no film disposed
thereover, the ball valve member is rolled along surface 55
37 to its closed position.
In like manner, during any intermediate position of
support 10 between horizontal loading position and ver-
tical exposure position with passages 40 located as shown
in FIG. 4, ball valves 38, though freely mounted in their
associated recesses 36, cannot inadvertently move to a
closed position against their related passage 40. Thus,
in any disposition of support 10, ball valves 38 are oper-
ative to properly control the flow of suction to face
plate 12.
When the sheet of film material is ready to be removed,
the suction is relieved and the film sheet removed with
the support in either vertical or horizontal position as
desired, after which the support is ready to receive the
next sheet of film.
In a typical arrangement of a support embodying the
preferred form of the present invention, the support 10
may have overall dimensions of 26" in height and 23
Turning to FIG. 6,
ment, section 126 is r
120 located, as was s
section 122. Opening
of valve 120 and wit
associated ball valve
Thus there is disclo
inexpensive vacuum s
ing a sheet of film b
planar disposition of t
What is claimed is:
1. In a photomech
foraminous flat face
individually communi
tively connecting sai
seat, and its associat
and arranged at an a
4
16 which may be of any suitable
and 30 and back plate 20 may
of the invention shown in FIG. 5,
116 is provided with a plurality of
completely therethrough. To con-
n through openings 118, each open-
ith a valve member 120 comprising
in 122 of a diameter slightly larger
cylindrical section 124 adapted to
118 with the flange 123 connecting
positioned against the back surface
ve 120 also includes a second cylin-
imunicating at one end thereof with
122 and adapted at its other end to
nifold chamber 22. Section 126 is
the plane of face plate 12 as shown
me manner as passage 40 of the
cludes a ball valve member 128
n and constructed and arranged to
38 of the preferred embodiment to
plication of suction to face plate 12
port 10.
this embodiment permits pre-form-
ch may be of moldable plastic and
rtion into their associated openings
fabricating time and costs in the
?t 10.
it will be understood that valve 120
shout section 126. In this arrange-
;placed by an opening 130 in valve
action 126, in the upper portion of
130 communicates with the interior
h manifold chamber 22 to form a
ion therebetween controlled by its
28 in like manner to the ball valve
ibodiment.
sed a single, efficient and relatively
upport structure for suitably hold-
' means of suction or any desired
ie support.
tnical camera, the combination of
of photosensitive material, means
rt for movement to and from a
feet-loading position to a generally
position, said support including a
plate against which a sheet to be
, a plurality of valve seats, each
sating with a group of openings in
an manifold chamber, means selec-
chamber to a source of suction,
vay for each valve seat forming a
on between said chamber and valve
:d opening to retain said sheet in
plate by suction applied to said
id passageways being constructed
ute angle to the plane of said face
nber freely disposed in each of said
ie flow of suction through its asso-
ciated passageway, said ball valve member being of a
diameter and said acute angle being of such size that the
ball valve member in its equilibrium position, in the ab-
sence of applied suction, will not block its associated
passageway when the support is disposed in any disposition
wide. The hole in the face plate which may be a phenojic frc m said horizontal loading position to said vertical
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move into closed valuing engagement with its r 1
g e ated bled relationship, a suction manifold chamber, means
passageway when, upon application of suction to said selectively connecting
c amocr its rcl ttcd openings are unrestricted y b a sheet an individual passageway for each indentation forming a
material therca ainst.
of g restricted communication between said chamber and in-
Ina photomechanical camera, the combination of 6 dentation, and its
associated opening to retain said sheet
a support for a sheet of photosensitive material, means in contact with said face plate by suction applied to said
mounting said support for movement to and?from a gen- openings, each of aid passageways being constructed and
orally horizontal sheet-loading position to a generally ver- ;arranged at an act to angle to the plane of said face plate,
tical sheet-exposure position, said support including a a ball valve men; et? freely disposed in each of said in-
foraminous flat face plate against which a sheet to 'ic 10 dentations for controlling the flow of suction through its
exnosed is positioned, a parallel back plate secured in associated passage vay, said ball valve member tieing of
_!::,l-tight spaced relationship with said face plate, a a diameter and said acute ankle being of such size that the
1 ._trality of arcuate valve scats, each individually con:- ball valve membe in its equilibrium position, in the ab-
:m..: icating with a group of openings in said face plat--, sense of applied suction, will not block its associated pas-
;uon manifold chamber defined by said opposed face 15 sapeway when the support is disp osed in any disposition
.lack plates, means selectively connecting said chain- from said horizon al loading
g
to a source of suction, an individual position to said .vertical ex-
passageway for posure position, sa d ball valve member being adapted to
valve seat forming a restricted communication be- move into closed valving engagement with its related
;,n said chamber and valve seat, and its associated passageway when, upon application of suction to said
ing to pet.:;.: said sheet in contact with face plate by 20 --;:amber, its relate openings are unrestricted by a sheet
n applie,: to said openings, each of said passage- of material thcrea ainst.
:t: being cor.,tructed and arranged at an acuate angle The invention as defined in claim 1, including an
t,, the plane o;' said face plate, a ball valve member intermediate plate ecured contiguously to said face plate
freely disposed in each of said seats for controlling the _ii..' spaced from s id back
flow h
of sucti,:n through its associated 2 J plurality plate, said intermediate plate
passageway said r : vtng a f openings therethrough and wherein
1-all valve being of a diameter and said acute said valve scats comprise individual valving units asso-
angle being o such size that the ball valve member i:~ ciated w'th said openings and having an arcuate body
its equilibriua position, in the absence of applied portion enclosing said ball valve member, a tubular lo-
tion, will not :-lock its associated passageway when ::.e eating section extending from said body support is dis;-. td in any disposition from said her;- 30 adapted to be inserted into one of said openings for
zor.tal loading- ,osition to said vertical expos,;:-- position, communicating said face plate openings with said valving
sae-: ball valve member being adapted to roll along the unit and means Co municating said body portion of said
t-- surface of its valve seat into closed valving on- units with said suction manifold.
-.sent with i s related passageway when, upon applica- The invention as defined in claim 4, wherein said
of suction to said chamber, its related openings are 35 last-named valving unit suction communicating means is
ricted by a sheet of material thereagainst. disposed in the up er section of said body portion when
in a photomechanical camera, the combination of said support is in ve tical exposure position.
iport for a shcet of hotos ?t?
p ensi
J
we material, means
ruing said support for movement to and from a g
horizontal sheet-loading position to a generally 40
. ai
sheet-exposure position, said support including a
~aminous flat face plate against which a sheet to '>e
-zpased is positioned, an intermediate plate secured con-
u uously to said face plate and having a plurality of
indentations partially therethrou
g
h and
eac
h i
ndentation 45
UNIT
D STATES PA . g
2,638,308
5/53
Kell -------- ...__ _ 137-519
5
2,910,265
10/59
.
Anander ------ .._____ 248-363
2,916,042
12/59
Brady -------------- 137-519.5
FRANK L. ABBOT
communicating with a group of openings in said face plate
when said face plate and intermediate plate are in assent- CI AUDE A. LE R
Primary Examiner.
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