Patent GB-428981-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to plate cameras particularly for aeronautical use
IPC: G03B17/34
Filed: 1934-07-03
Abstract: 428,981. Photographic cameras. SANTONI, E., 89, Viale Cadorna, Florence, Italy. July 3, 1934, No. 19603. Convention date, July 4, 1933. [Class 98 (i)] A plate camera, particularly for use on aeroplanes, has an annular magazine 9, in which the plates are arranged radially and which is given an intermittent rotary movement to position the plates successively over a slot connecting the exposure chamber with the magazine ; and an extractor 25 is provided, acting in timed relation with the rotary movements of the magazine, for positively withdrawing the plate therefrom and returning it thereto after exposure. In the construction described all the operative parts of the camera are actuated from a common shaft through cams and levers. The rotary movements of the magazine 9, which is housed in and runs on ball bearings in a fixed casing 6, are derived from a toothed member 18 formed on a frame 19 which slides into and out of engagement with teeth 14 on the magazine, and rocks on a guide post 5 co-axial with the magazine. Between the movements, the magazine is locked by a spring controlled pawl 16 engaging an annular row of teeth 15 on the magazine and disengaged by a lever 17. The extractor comprises a resilient arm 25 with a nose 27 adapted to engage the upper edge of a plate for withdrawing it from the magazine, and a projection 26 for engaging the other edge of the plate for returning it thereto. The necessary movements are derived from a slide 23 which is reciprocated on the post 5 by a lever 24. After the extractor has placed a plate in the guides 29 of the exposure chamber, and the presser has been operated, it is given a slight rotary movement about the shaft 5 equivalent to a step movement of the magazine by engagement with the frame 19. On the return movement after exposure, the projection 26 replaces the exposed plate in its original position and the arm 25 slides over the back of the next plate in succession till the nose 27 snaps over its upper edge. The magazine and extractor then execute a feed movement to position this plate in readiness for the next sequence of operations. The plates are held in the magazine between slips 11, 10 on the outer and inner annular walls. The slips 11 are disposed in pairs to form channels with permanently flared lower ends. The inner slips 10 are merely plate separators, and are spread apart to admit the entrance of a returning plate by a wedge member 22 carried by the frame 19 and engaging between extensions 28 of the slips. The wedge member is pivotally mounted on the frame and is spring controlled so as normally to move away from the parts 28, but in the tooth engaging movement of the frame a tail piece on the wedge member engages an abutment on the casing which drives the wedge between the extensions 28. The rotary feed movement of the magazine and its driving members, clears the tail of the wedge member from the abutment and it is thereupon withdrawn by its actuating spring. A duplex arrangement is described in which two cameras disposed with converging axes are employed and each is fed automatically with plates from one of two co-axial drums.