Patent GB-191114623-A (GB)
Title: Automatic Photographing Machines.
Inventor: ELLIS GEORGE BELOE
IPC: G03B17/53
Filed: 1911-06-20
Granted: 1912-02-22
Abstract: 14,623. Ellis, G. B., [Doyle, H.]. June 20. Automatic and coin-freed apparatus.-A coinfreed photographic machine comprises a single rotary operating-lever H, which in its motion actuates a series of levers or cams connected with the various mechanisms of the apparatus. The lever H is driven by an electromotor h<1> and, having been set in motion by the insertion of a coin, first engages by means of one of two pin h<3> a cam-surface i<4> on a lever i<2> having a pin-and-slot connexion i<7> with a spring-returned plate I, which feeds a photographic plate from a container E fitted with a light - excluding sliding plate e<2> for charging purposes. The plate drops into a conduit F, and in the meantime the operating-lever encounters a camsurface k<1> on a lever K, which moves an arm k<3> so as to bring a pin k<5> thereon into the conduit and arrest the plate. On the arm H reaching a projection k<7> on the lever K, this lever is further deflected so as to bring a pin k<6> against the back of the plate now in position before the shutter. The operating-lever then engages a cam on the exposing-lever L, which opens the shutter through the action of a pin l<3>. At this moment, the user of the machine is notified of the exposure of the plate by the ringing of an electric bell m<1>, the circuit of which is completed by the contact of the operating-lever H with a plate M. The plate is released, after exposure, when the end of the cam-surface k is reached and drops into the developing tank G, which has an horizontal perforated bottom g and a sloping side g. The plate lies in the tank with its sensitized face uppermost and the developing-liquid is discharged thereon through a pipe O having a valve o opened by the engagement of the operating-lever with the cam end n<4> of a spring- returned lever N, which may also operate a registering-indicator n<1>. The plate may have a rim to assist in retaining the developing-fluid on its surface. The developing-fluid remains in contact with the plate until the operating-arm reaches a lever P controlling a valve g in the water-pipe Q. The washing continues until the lever H reaches the end of the cam lever P, whereupon the valve g is closed by a spring p<3>. The operating-lever next encounters a camsurface r<1> on a lever R mounted on a rod r<6>, which is thereby rotated and acts through a lever r<2>, and link r<3>, upon a discharging-arm r<4>, which moves in a slot in the bottom g and discharges the plate up the slope g and into a hopper S, whence it passes to a receptacle u<2> in the delivery tube V. The delivery arm X is finally operated by the lever H and rocks the shaft x<1>, which acts through an arm x<3> and link x<4> to rock a bell-crank lever x<5>, the free end of which lies behind an extension v<2> of a detent v<1>, and lifts the detent from engagement with a block u<3> on the delivery slide. The slide is then propelled forward by a spring, and the holder and picture are presented outside the casing. Two or more photographic machines may be supplied from common developer and water tanks and may have a common waste tank arranged outside the casings.