Improvements in Kinetoscopes and like Apparatus.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Kinetoscopes and like Apparatus.
I, EMIL DÖNITZ, of Thalstrasse, 9, Jena, Grand-Duchy of Saxe-Weimar, German
Empire, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
The invention relates to stereokinetoscopes, that is to say kinetoscopes, in which
stereoscopic series-pictures are used to produce the illusion of real objects moving
in the space. In stereokinetoscopes heretofore constructed the right and left
pictures are arranged in separate rows side by side and made conveniently visible
to the corresponding eyes by means of prisms or lenses as in the common stereo-
scopes. According to the present invention the series of pictures is composed of
single pictures only, the successive stages of motion being represented alternately
by a right picture and a left picture, and these single pictures are arranged in
one single row in the consecutive order of their natural succession, so that the
size of the stereokiñetoscope is reduced and pictures may be employed, the width
of which exceeds considerably the interocular distance. Such a single row may
be formed on a ribbon or the like carrying the pictures either above (below) each
other or side by side, or it may consist of separate pictures arranged behind each
other as in the so-called mutoscope. It will be understood, that the right eye
is to be prevented from seeing the left pictures and the left eye the right pictures,
although both kinds of pictures are exhibited at the same place. For this purpose
any one of the mechanical and optical means may be employed, which have been
suggested in the similar case of stereoscopic projections showing alternately a
right and a left image at the same place of the screen.
For presenting enlarged images to the eyes and diminishing the convergence
of the lines of vision, the same lenticular prisms may be employed as in Brewsters'
stereoscope, but the sharp edges directed outwardly.
In its simplest form the improved stereokinetoscope dispenses wholly with
lenses or prisms, the lines of vision of both eyes intersecting each other imme-
diately at the point, where the pictures are successively exhibited. In this form
the apparatus is always ready for observers of the least as well as of the highest
interocular distance.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatical sketch of a stereokinetoscope arranged according to
the invention.
Fig. 2 is a section perpendicular to the axis through a drum-stereokinetoscope
with pictures arranged side by side.
Fig. 3 is an axial section through another drum-stereokinetoscope having the
pictures arranged as in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 represents a stereokinetoscope of the mutoscope type. The mutoscope
roller is shown in elevation and the rotary shutter in an axial section.
Fig. 5 is another axial section of the shutter taken at right angles to the section
shown in Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is an elevation of the shutter disk.
A stereokinetoscope which realizes the invention above explained may be con-

page_text: structed on the basis of any of the types of kinetoscope which are well-known
under different names.
Fig. 1 shows in a diagram a first example of the novel stereokinetoscope. A
rotary disk shutter is timed, with relation to the feeding speed of the ribbon
carrying the pictures, so as to prevent each eye from seeing others than the
corresponding pictures. Each picture is marked with its numeral of succession
and with an R or L indicating the "right" or "left" quality. The ribbon, on
which the pictures are placed one below the other, is fed in the direction indicated
by an arrow. It will be understood, that for the ribbon shown another ribbon
might be substituted being situated and fed in the same plane but perpendicular
to the first ribbon, that is to say parallel to the line connecting both eyes, and
having the pictures arranged side by side. The angular dimension of the recess 6°
in the shutter b, through which the light passes alternately to one and the other eye,
is only small, if the ribbon is fed continuously, and it may approach to 180°, if
the ribbon has a step by step movement, so that the picture rests while being
regarded.
In the drum-apparatus shown in Fig. 2 the pictures are arranged side by side.
The distance between two adjacent pictures is somewhat less than the distance
between both eyes, and the distance between two consecutive slots 6° is equal to
the double distance between the pictures. These distances may also be reduced
to the third part, but then the pictures are very narrow.
The second drum-apparatus shown in Fig. 3 is provided with a row of pictures
such as in Fig. 1. There are as many slots 6° as pictures, the slots being arranged
alternately in two rows, the distance between which is equal to the distance
between both eyes. The pictures may be made less narrow than shown, if the
slots are placed between the consecutive pictures.
A stationary diaphragm may be combined with both drum-apparatus for the
purpose of concealing all pictures except that in which normally the lines of
vision of both eyes intersect each other. To provide such a diaphragm in the
present drum-stereokinetoscopes is yet more advisable than with the non-stereo-
scopic pictures of the common drum-apparatus, because in the first case the series
of simultaneously perceivable combined images is alternately composed of stereo-
scopic and pseudoscopic images, the latter being the result of seeing at the same
place a left picture through the right eye and a right picture through the
left eye.
In the apparatus of the mutoscope type shown in Fig. 4 to 6 the opening 6°
of the rotary disk shutter extends approximately through 180°, so that nearly
At the same moment
simultaneously one eye begins and the other ceases to see.
the picture is changed in the well-known manner. The shutter is placed before
the eye-openings co of the frame c and is journaled at d on the said frame together
with a pinion e fastened to it. At the frame carries loosely mounted two
rigidly connected spur wheels, a large one f, which engages with the pinion e
and a small one g, which engages with the gear (not shown) turning the roller i
The ratio of the diameters of the wheels e and fis 1:4 and the wheel fis con-
structed with four arms fo Moreover the spur-wheel f is so timed, that,
when the shutter obstructs the opening c° on the side of the wheels f and g, an
arm passes the same opening, so that the said arms do not interfere with the
due visibility of the pictures. The outer edges of the pictures are released from
the bar by the rotation of the roller i after equal intervals, during each of which
the shutter rotates through an angle of 180°.
135
falam 1899

page_text: Improvements in Kinetoscopes and like Apparatus.
I, EMIL DÖNITZ, of Jena, Thalstrasse 9, in the Grand-Duchy of Saxe-Weimar,
German Empire, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
The invention relates to kinetoscopes in which as in the so-colled mutoscopes
the pictures of the series are separately arranged one behind the other and this
row of pictures moves in its own direction either away from the observer the
picture to be looked at entering into the front place of the row--or towards the
observer-the picture just exhibited escaping from the front place of the row-and
it relates particularly to such apparatus of the said type, in which stereoscopic
series-pictures are used to produce the illusion of real objects moving in the
space. In stereokinetoscopes of this kind heretofore constructed the right and
left pictures are arranged in separate rows side by side and made conveniently
visible to the corresponding eyes by means of prisms or lenses as in the common
stereoscope.
According to the present invention the series of pictures is composed of single
pictures only, the successive stages of motion being represented alternately by a
right picture and a left picture, and those single pictures are arranged in one
single row in the consecutive order of their natural succession, so that the size
of the stereokinetoscope is reduced and pictures may be employed, the width of
which exceeds considerably the interocular distance. It will be understood, that
the right eye is to be prevented from seeing the left pictures and the left eye the
right pictures, although both kinds of pictures are exhibited at the same place.
For this purpose any one of the mechanical and optical means may be employed,
which have been suggested in the similar case of stereoscopic projections showing
alternately a right and å left image at the same place of the screen.
For presenting enlarged images to the eyes and diminishing the convergence of
the lines of vision, the same lenticular prisms may be employed as in Brewster's
stereoscope, but the sharp edges directed outwardly. In its simplest form the
improved stereokinetoscope dispenses wholly with lenses or prisms, the lines of
vision of both eyes intersecting each other immediately at the point, where the
pictures are successively exhibited. In this form the apparatus is always ready
for observers of the least as well as of the highest interocular distance.
In the drawings left with the Provisional Specification:-
Fig. 4 represents a stereokinetoscope of the mutoscope type constructed accord-
ing to the invention. The mutoscope roller is shown in elevation and the rotary
shutter in an axial section.
Fig. 5 is another axial section of the shutter taken at right angles to the section
shown in Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is an elevation of the shutter disk.
In Fig. 4 the consecutive order of the pictures has been indicated by the
numerals of their natural succession. To each numeral either the letter L or the
letter R has been affixed referring to the "left" or "right" quality of the picture
respectively. The opening 6° of the rotary disk shutter extends approximately
through 180°, so that nearly simultaneously one eye begins and the other ceases
At the same moment the picture is changed in the well-known manner.
The shutter b is placed before the eye-openings c° of the frame c and is journaled
at on the said frame together with a pinion e fastened to it. At the frame
carries loosely mounted two rigidly connected spur-wheels, a large one f, which
engages with the pinion e, and a small one g, which engages with the gear (not
to see.

page_text: shown) turning the roller i. The ratio of the diameters of the wheels e and f
is 1:4, and the wheel f is so timed, that when the shutter obstructs the opening e°
on the side of the wheels f and g, an arm f° passes the same opening, so that the
arms do not interfere with the due visibility of the pictures. The outer edges
of the pictures are released from the bark by the rotation of the roller i after
equal intervals, during each of which the shutter b rotates through an angle
of 180°.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. In a stereokinetoscope a series of alternately right and left stereoscopic
pictures arranged on separate sheets one behind the other in one single row in
the consecutive order of their natural succession, means for moving the sheets,
means for separating them at the point, where the pictures are to be exhibited,
and means for making the right pictures invisible to the left eye and the left
pictures to the right eye, substantially as described.
2. The combination with a rotary mutoscope roller of a series of alternately
right and left stereoscopic pictures radially arranged on the said roller one behind
the other in one single row in the consecutive order of their natural succession
and means for making the right pictures invisible to the left eye and the left
pictures to the right eye, substantially as described.
3. The combination with a rotary mutoscope roller of a series of alternately
right and left stereoscopic pictures radially arranged on the said roller one behind
the other in one single row in the consecutive order of their natural succession
and a rotary disk shutter adapted to make the right pictures invisible to the left
eye and the left pictures to the right eye, substantially as described.
Dated this 31st day of October 1899.