Patent GB-320052-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to coin-freed photographic apparatus
IPC: G03B17/53
Filed: 1928-05-30
Abstract: 320,052. Allen, A. R., Bourne, F. H., and Allen, R. May 30, 1928. Automatic and coin-freed apparatus.-In a coin-freed automatic photograph apparatus, a sensitized card is transferred automatically after exposure to a receptacle which is supplied for each photograph with a separate predetermined quantity of a combined developing and fixing solution and is tilted to empty the contents immediately after use. The card is then transferred to a carrier in which it is held during the washing operation and from which it is delivered to a drying apparatus. The apparatus is enclosed in a box or casing a, Fig. 1, and comprises a camera b, a magazine c for holding sensitized cards c<1>, a tank d containing the developing and fixing solution, a water-supply tank e, a washing tank f, Fig. 3, and an electric motor g. The motor drives a feeding-shaft (not shown) and a parallel shaft j the speed of which is adjusted to approximately one revolution a minute. The feeding-shaft drives pairs of pinions m<2>, m<3> and m<1>, m<4> which rotate the rollers that feed the sensitized cards into and out of the developing and washing receptacles. The shaft j operates three electric switches j<1>, j<2>, j<3> that close the circuit of electromagnets operating the different parts of the mechanism. The switches have their contacts enclosed in casings in order to prevent illumination of the interior of the box a by sparking. The shaft j also carries cams for operating the developing and washing receptacles. Plates, storage and changing. The sensitized cards c<1> are fed forwards in the magazine c either by means of a spring or by means of a pusher rod c' which is urged forwards by a weight c<2>. The front card is kept pressed against the focal plate b<2> of the camera, and after exposure it is moved by a sheet metal slide b<1> which is located between the magazine and the focal plate b<2> and is connected to the armature b<3> of an electromagnet b<4>. When the magnet is energized by the closing of the switch j<2>, the slide is pulled downwards and withdraws the exposed card which it delivers into a shoot t. The slide b<1> is drawn upwards again by a spring b<5> after the circuit of the magnet b<4> is broken. Coin-freed mechanism. This mechanism comprises a shoot v, Fig. 1, which receives a coin or coins inserted in a slot v<1>, and a lever w having one arm w<1> projecting through a slot in the shoot into the path of the coins. The other arm w<2> of the lever engages a notch in a plunger bar w<4> to lock the bar against longitudinal movement. When the lever is tripped by a coin, the bar is released and is moved longitudinally by a cam w<8>, or an electromagnet, which is operated by the person posing in front of the camera. The movement of the bar closes switch contacts w<6> and starts the motor g, which continues running until the bar is restored to its normal position by a snail cam x rotated by the shaft j. According to the Provisional Specification, several coins may be placed in the shoot v to obtain a number of exposures, and a green light may be shown to indicate that the machine is in operation. A red light may also be shown when an exposure is taking place. Shutter operation. The bar w<4> carries a bracket y<1> having a cam tooth y which lifts a vertical bar y<2> as the bar w<4> is moved forwards. The bar y<2> is connected to a lever y<3> which opens the camera shutter and makes the the necessary exposure as the bar w<4> moves forwards. The bar y<2> is also connected to a lever y<4> pivoted to a dashpot y<7> which controls the closing of the shutter and thus regulates the time of exposure. A photo-electric cell may be arranged to regulate the current flowing through the coil of an electromagnet that controls the vent or leak passage of the dashpot y'. The exposure may thus be timed automatically according to the lighting conditions. When artificial lighting is used to illuminate the sitter, the lamps are switched on and off by means of the lever y<4>, and the photo-electric cell may be arranged to bring lamps into operation when daylight becomes inadequate for photographic purposes. Developing and washing. The developing and fixing bath consists of a receptacle p, Fig. 3, secured to a shaft n<5> journaled between parallel side plates m, a torsion spring on the shaft tending to swing the receptacle into the inverted position shown in Fig. 4. A cam n, Fig. 1, on the shaft j draws down a rack n<3> to swing the receptacle into the upright position. After an exposed card has been fed into the shoot t, it is gripped by a pair of parallel rollers p<1>, Fig. 3, which are journaled in the mouth of the receptacle p and are rotated by one or the other of the pinions m<2> m<3>. The rollers feed the card into the receptacle, and a cock d<2>, Fig. 1, is opened by an electromagnet d<1> and allows a quantity of developing solution to flow from the tank d through a tube d' and spout d' into the receptacle. After a suitable interval, the cam n allows the rack n<3> to rise and the receptacle is turned into the position shown in Fig. 4, the liquid being emptied into a shoot u whence it flows through a pipe u<1> into the waste. In the inverted position, the feed rollers p' are driven in the reverse direction by the pinion m<3> and draw the developed card out of the receptacle. A loose weight p<3>, contained in an enlargement of the lower end of the receptacle, ensure that the card is gripped by the rollers. The card on leaving the receptacle is guided by edge-guides r and passes into another receptacle q, which, in its upright position, stands within a tank f that contains the water for washing the cards. The receptacle q is similar to the receptacle p except that its sides are perforated to allow the water to have access to the card. The water may be circuited in the tank, the level being kept constant by known means. After the time allowed for washing has expired, the receptacle q is inverted by a cam on the shaft j and the card is extracted by feed rollers q<1> and is fed down a shoot s to drying and delivering rollers s', s<2>, whence it is conveyed to a. drying-chamber and is delivered to the sitter. Continued movement of the shaft j causes the snail cam x to move the locking-rod w<4> back to its original position, thus opening the switch w<6> and stopping the motor g. Studio arrangement. The sitter may occupy a stool 8, Fig. 18, and may be illuminated by mercury vapour or other lamps 6 arranged around, but screened from, the lens of the camera, and other lamps 7 may also be used. The apparatus may be housed in a cabinet 9 divided into two compartments 10, 11, the apparatus proper being housed in a metal box 13 with a removable top 14. Electric leads are carried through the pedestal 16 to insulated contacts 17 for co-operating with contacts on the underside of the casing a containing the apparatus.