Graphic forming device with toggle clamped lamp arm

In a device useful for forming a series of graphics such as letters, symbols or pictures along a strip of radiation sensitive material, said device comprising:

• a frame;
• means on said frame for defining an exposure station;
• means mounted on said frame adapted for moving a said strip through said exposure station to position a predetermined portion of the strip at said exposure station;
• and
• means adapted to be actuated at said exposure station for momentarily irradiating a portion of the strip at said exposure station in a sharply defined graphic pattern, including:
• a template comprising a thin radiation transparent member with a radiation blocking coating having sharply defined open areas corresponding in shape to graphics to be formed to provide radiation transmissive windows through said template;
• means on said frame for mounting said template to register the windows at said exposure station;
• pressing means for releasably clamping said template at said exposure station in intimate contact with the portion of the strip at the exposure station;
• and
• radiation means for briefly irradiating the portion of the strip at said exposure station through the aligned window, comprising flash lamp, an arm supporting said flash lamp at one end and having a second end mounted on said frame for pivotal movement to move said lamp between a normal position spaced from said exposure station to afford visible inspection of said template and the portion of the strip at said exposure station, and an expose position with said lamp closely adjacent the exposure station, and means for operating said flash lamp upon movement of the lamp to its expose position and activation of said pressing means, the improvement wherein:
• said means for defining an exposure station comprises a resilient pad supported on said frame;
• said arm includes a transparent plate having one surface adapted to engage radiation sensitive material at said exposure station on its side opposite said resilient pad and supports said lamp adjacent the surface of said plate opposite said one surface;
• and
• said pressing means comprises a toggle linkage including first and second bars having adjacent ends pivotably joined together to form a knee and opposite second ends, the second end of said first bar being pivotably attached to said frame and the second end of said second bar being pivotably attached to said arm;
• and an activating lever pivotably mounted at one end on said frame and having a portion adapted to engage said knee and straighten said toggle linkage upon pivotal movement of said actuating lever from a raised to a lowered position to move said arm to said expose position and press said plate toward said pad.