Patent · US Expired

Contact printing method and apparatus

US4360266A · kind A · utility

16Cited by
4References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 19, 1980
Grant dateNov 23, 1982
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 19, 2000

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03B27/20
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

For contact-printing an original such as a photographic negative on a light-sensitive material a vacuum printing frame is provided which comprises a first vacuum chamber between a light-transmitting plate and an elastic diaphragm, and a second vacuum chamber opposed to the first vacuum chamber across the diaphragm. The two vacuum chambers are evacuated simultaneously, with the original and sensitive material mounted in superposition in the first vacuum chamber. Upon subsequent introduction of atmospheric pressure into the second vacuum chamber the original and the sensitive material make close, uniform contact with each other, thereby making themselves ready for exposure. Another embodiment employs a third vacuum chamber disposed opposite to the first vacuum chamber across the light-transmitting plate. Evacuated simultaneously with the first and second vacuum chambers, the third vacuum chamber makes possible the use of a thinner light-transmitting plate, which normally is of glass. The invention is also disclosed as adapted for continuous printing operation.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.