Improvements in Photographic Roll Holders.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Sept., 1897
Date of Application, Fitn Sept., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 13th June, 1898—Accepted, 30th July, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Roll Holders.
We, THE EASTMAN PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS COMPANY LIMITED, of 115 and
117, Oxford Street, in the County of London, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention (which has been communicated to us from abroad by George Eastman, of
Rochester, in the County of Mcuroe, and State of New York, in the United States
of America, Manufacturer) to be as follows:
This invention has for its object to provide an improved roll holder for use in
connection with photographic cameras for holding rolls, or spools, of film, known
as cartridge" rolls, that is to say those adapted to be placed within a camera,
or roll, holder in daylight, and consisting of a strip of flexible sensitive film, pre-
ferably transparent, and a strip of black paper, or similar material, wound with the
film upon the spool, or roll, and adapted to cover, or protect, the back of the film
while it is in the camera, the longer ends of the black paper, or the like which are
wrapped around the spool, or complete package, covering the film and protecting
it from light before and after exposure.
In the use of spools, or rolls, of film of this character it has been customary to
place the spools in the camera or holder, forward of the back of the exposing
chamber, or aperture, so that the face of the film would be in contact with the
edges of said aperture, while being wound from one spool to the other. When
the film is used in this manner there is little, or no, difficulty in properly rolling
and unrolling the spools, because the film itself is in contact with the frame, or
surface, tending to retard it, and the film is drawn directly upon the winding
spool, or reel, and kept flat against the edge of the exposing aperture, and it matters
very little whether, or not, the black covering paper or the like moves at pre-
cisely the same speed as the film, that is the paper may be, and usually is, loose at
the back of the film, or between one spool and the other.
While this form of apparatus will work well, great difficulty has been experienced
in using the "cartridge" rolls in holders in which the table, or support, for hold-
ing the film during exposure is forward (i.e. toward the lens) of the spools them-
selves, because in drawing from one spool to the other, as the black paper or the
like is interposed between the film and the table, or support, it draws over the
edges of the same, while the drawing strain is brought to bear on the paper, and
the latter will become wrinkled between the film and the plate, or surface, on which
it is held, or the tension of the film and paper will so vary that, when the paper
wrinkles beneath the film the film will not maintain that parallel plane which is
necessary in order to obtain a good negative. On the other hand, when the tension
is not equal at both ends of the spool, the film and paper will wind on the receiving
roller, or reel, crooked, and having once started in this way, in a very short time
it will overlap the edge of the spool, or catch. in the front frame of the holder, or
both and become torn at the edges. Our foreign correspondent has found that if
one of the ordinary film rolls, or cartridges, with the paper wound on the outside

page_text: of the film be used as the supply spool, and the film and paper be wound on the
receiving spool after passing over the support with the film side outward, or at the
periphery, the objections heretofore pointed out are obviated and the drawing
strain coming upon the film itself, instead of on the paper, will cause the film and
paper to be wound smoothly upon the receiving roller or spool; and by having the
longer end of the black paper or the like upon the supply spool of increased length
so as to wrap several times around the film when on the winding spool, or roller,
it effectually covers the roll, or spool, of exposed film, and the latter may be re-
moved from the holder in daylight in the same manner that spools, or cartridges,
are ordinarily used in the cameras of the class in question.
This invention consists in a roll-holder adapted and arranged to perform the
. functions mentioned, and also consists in certain improvements in construction
and combinations of parts, as hereinafter described.
The frame, or casing, of the holder has, at the front, the usual opening adapted
to be closed by a slide, or door, the said casing being'adapted by suitable flanges,
rebates, and the like, to be applied to the back of a camera, after the manner of an
ordinary plate, or roll, holder. Within the casing is arranged a frame, consisting
of a top board and a bottom board; both being connected to the back, or cover,
board, to which latter are also connected partitions forming, at each end of the
frame, chambers, or receptacles, in one of which placed the supply spool and in
the latter of which is placed the receiving spool, or winding reel. The film platen,
or support, is attached to, and forms part of, the holding frame, and is arranged
forward of the chambers, or recesses, for the spools; and co-operates with the
partitions so as to close the inner, sides of the spool receptacles, or chambers, and
form a third chamber, which is open at the back of the holder to permit the
operator to view the indications on the back of the black, or covering paper, or the
like, of the spool through an aperture in the support, preferably covered, by a pieco
of ruby glass. Small rollers are arranged at the ends of the film support over
which the film and paper pass. Situated at one end of the chamber, containing
the supply spool, is a stationary spool-centering stud, and, at the other end of the
said chamber, is a plate hinged at its rear edge to a bracket and having mounted
upon it a ratchet wheel connected to a stud passing loosely through the plate and
having upon its inner end an angular or equivalently shaped spool centering and
holding head, adapted to engage a correspondingly shaped aperture in one end of the
spool. The spools can be composed of a longitudinally perforated and slotted
spindle having flanges, or heads, at the ends for protecting the edges of the film.
At one end of the chamber containing the winding spool, or reel, is a plate
hinged to a bracket, the said plate constituting the end of the chamber, and having
upon it a rotatable stud the inner end of which is provided with an irregularly
shaped head adapted to enter one end of the winding spool. The said stud has a
threaded aperture and upon its outer end is secured a ratchet wheel, with which
co-operates a spring operated pawl for preventing backward rotation of the
ratchet wheel, and permitting its rotation only in a direction away from the end of
the film support. The winding spool is centred for rotation by a spindle, or
arbor, passing through an aperture in the casing, and a similar one in the end of
the frame, and longitudinally through the spool and having a screwed end for
engaging with a correspondingly threaded aperture in the stud.
The frame is held within the casing by a suitable locking, or bolt, device, which
may for example consist of a sliding plate extending around the aperture in the
rear of the frame and having a downwardly projecting end and angular perforated
lugs, the said end being adapted to enter a recess in the lower edge of the casing
and the lugs co-operating with pins, or studs, upon the exterior of the casing.
Arranged upon one side of the casing and in proximity to the detent, or ratchet
wheel, on the supply spool is a detent, or lever, pivoted upon a stud, and having
one end adapted to engage with the said ratchet wheel, it at the other end, being
provided with a stud projecting through a suitable slot in the casing, the lever
being wider than the slot to prevent the entrance of light. There is a stop plate,

page_text: preferably of spring metal, held upon the pin of the said detent or lever at one end
and having, on opposite sides of the rear end of the said detent or lever, small lugs,
or spurs, entering the edge of the casing; the said stop plate having apertures
with which co-operate a projection on the said lever, serving to hold the lever in
engagement with, or disengaged from, the ratchet wheel of the supply spool. This
detent, or lever, serves as a means for holding the supply spool, so that by winding
forward the film, it can be stretched tightly over the support.
In using the device described, the operator places, within its chamber, an
ordinary cartridge spool containing a strip of film, with which is wound a strip of
black paper, or the like, the film and paper being wound together with the paper
on the outside. The free end of the paper, or the like which covers the spool with
several convolutions, is drawn over the table, or support, and its end is secured to
the receiving spool, or reel. These operations can be performed in daylight. The
frame containing the spools is then placed within the casing and the winding arbor
passed through the casing and spool, and screwed into the stud therefor and then
the operator winds paper and film forward until the indication, or number, placed
upon the back of the paper, or the like, is visible through the aperture in the back
of the support. He then moves the detent to the proper position to hold the
ratchet wheel on the supply spool and turns the arbor a partial rotation, thereby
drawing the film tightly down on the support, in which position it is held while the
exposure is made in the usual manner. When it is desired to wind forward another
portion of film, the detent lever is moved to a position to release the supply spool
and permit another portion of film to be wound over the support and further
exposures to be made in the manner described.
By reason of the fact that the film is drawn from the inside of one spool to tho
outside of 'the receiving spool, it will be kept taut, and flat, or practically flat, upon
the table, and it is immaterial that the slack of the paper between the roller on the
film support and the surface of the spool, is within the receiving spool chamber as
this does not in any way interfere with the rolling, or the maintainance of the film
in a flat position on the support. When the end of the film passes on to the receiv-
ing roller and the last exposure is made, the operator turns the winding arbor, or
spindle, until the last end of the covering paper, or the like, is wound several times
around the film, thereby enclosing it and permitting its removal in daylight.
When the winding spool, or roller, is removed from the holder by removing the
spindle and swinging out the hinged plate care should be taken to prevent the
accidental unwinding of the film, as it is more, or less, elastic, and is then wound
in the reverse direction from the direction in which it was wound on the supply
spool.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Roll Holders.
We, THE EASTMAN PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS COMPANY, LIMITED of 43,
Clerkenwell Road, and of 115 and 117, Oxford Street, both in the County of
London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has been com-
municated to us from abroad by George Eastman, of Rochester, in the County of
Monroe, and State of New York, in the United States of America, Manufacturer)
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has for its object to provide an improved roll holder for use in

page_text: connection with photographic cameras for holding rolls, or spools, of fila, known
as "cartridge" rolls, that is to say, those adapted to be placed within a camera,
or roll-holder, in daylight, and consisting of a strip of flexible sensitive film, pre-
ferably transparent, and a strip of black paper, or similar material, wound with the
film upon the spool, or roll, and adapted to cover, or protect, the back of the film
while it is in the camera, the longer ends of the black paper, or the like, which are
wrapped around the spool, or complete package, covering the film and protecting
it from light both, before and after exposure.
In the use of spools, or rolls, of film of this character it has been customary to
place the spools or rolls in the camera or holder, forward of the back of the exposing
chamber, or aperture, so that the face of the film would be in contact with the
edges of said aperture, while being wound from one spool to the other. When
the film is used in this manner there is little, or no, difficulty in properly rolling
and unrolling the spools, because the film itself is in contact with the frame, or
surface, tending to retard it, and the film is drawn directly upon the winding
spool, or reel, and kept flat against the edge of the exposing aperture, and it matters
very little whether, or not, the black covering paper, or the like, moves at pre-
cisely the same speed as the film, that is the paper may be, and usually is, loose at
the back of the film, or between one spool and the other.
While this form of apparatus will work well, great difficulty has been experienced
in using the "cartridge" rolls in holders in which the table, or support, for. hold-
ing the film during exposure is forward (i.e., toward the lens) of the spools them-
selves, because in drawing from one spool to the other, as the black paper, or the
like, is interposed between the film and the table, or support, it draws over the
edges of the same, while the drawing strain is brought to bear on the paper, and
the latter will become wrinkled between the film and the plate, or surface, on which
it is held, or the tension of the film and paper will so vary that, when the paper
wrinkles beneath the film, the film will not maintain that parallel plane which is
necessary in order to obtain a good negative. On the other hand, when the tension
is not equal at both ends of the spool, the film and paper will wind on the receiving
roller, or reel, crooked, and having once started in this way, in a very short time
it will overlap the edge of the spool, or catch, in the front frame of the holder, or
both, and become torn at the edges. Our foreign correspondent has found that if
one of the ordinary film rolls, or cartridges, with the black paper or the like wound
on the outside of the film, be used as the supply spool, and the film and black paper
or the like be wound on the receiving spool after passing over the support with the
film side outward, or at the periphery, the objections heretofore pointed out are
obviated and the drawing strain coming upon the film itself instead of on the black
paper or the like will cause the film and black paper or the like to be wound
smoothly upon the receiving roller, or spool; and by having the longer end of the
black paper or the like, upon the supply spool of increased length so as to wrap
several times around the film when on the winding spool, or roller, it effectually
covers the roll, or spool, of exposed film, and the latter may be removed from the
holder in daylight in the same manner that spools, or cartridges, are ordinarily used
in the cameras of the class in question..
This invention consists in providing a roll-holder adapted and arranged to per-
form the functions mentioned, and also consists of certain improvements in the
construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter described, with reference to
the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan of the upper side of a
holder constructed in accordance with this invention. Figure 2 is a back eleva-
tion. Figure 3 is a section on the line of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a section
on the line y-y of Figure 1. Figure 5 is a detail view of one end of the holding
frame removed from the casing. Figure 6 is a section on the line - of Figure 4,
looking in the direction of the arrow. Figure 7 is a section on the line a-b of
Figure 6, and Figure 8 is a perspective view of the receiving spool, or roller the
film and the black paper, or the like.
Similar reference numerals indicate similar parts in all the figures.

page_text: 1 indicates the frame, or casing, of the holder having at the front the usual open-
ing closed by a slide, or door 2; the said frame or cusing being adapted by suitable
flanges, rebates, and the like, to the back of a camera, after the manner of an
ordinary plate, or roll-holder. Within the casing is arranged a frame comprising
the top board 3 and the bottom board 4; both being connected to the back, or
cover board, 5, to which latter are also connected partitions 6, as in Figures 3 and 4,
forming, at each end of the frame, chambers, or receptacles, 7 and 8. In the
chamber 7 is placed the supply spool and in the chamber S is placed the receiving
spool or winding reel. 9 indicates the film platen, or support, attached to, and
forming part of, the holding frame, and arranged forward of the chambers, or
recesses, for the spools. This support and the partitions 6 close the inner sides of
the spool receptacles, or chambers, and form a third chamber 10, which is open at
the back of the holder to permit the operator to view the indications on the back
of the black covering paper or the like of the spool through an aperture in the
support 9, preferably covered by a piece of ruby glass 11. Small rollers 28 are
arranged at the ends of the film support 9 over which the film and black paper or
the like pass. Situated at one end of the chamber 7, containing the supply spool,
is a stationary spool-centering stud 12, and at the other end of the said chamber,
is a plate 13, hinged at one edge to a bracket 14 and having mounted upon it a
ratchet wheel 15 connected to a stud 16 passing loosely through the plate and
having upon its inner end a spool centering, and holding, head, 17, engaging in an
aperture in one end of the spool. The spools can each be as usual, composed of a
longitudinally perforated and slotted spindle having flanges, or heads, 19, at the
ends for protecting the edges of the film.
At one end of the chamber 8 containing the winding spool, or reel, is a plate 20
hinged to a bracket, 21 the said plate 20 constituting the end of the chamber 8,
and having upon it a rotatable stud 22, the inner end of which is provided with a
non-circular head 23 adapted to enter one end of the winding spool. The said
stud has a threaded aperture, and upon its outer end is secured a ratchet wheel 25
with which a spring-operated pawl 26 engages for preventing backward rotation
of the ratchet wheel, and permitting its rotation only in a direction away from the
end of the film support 9. The winding spool is centred for rotation by a spindle,
or arbor, 27, passing through an aperture in the casing, and a similar one in the
end of the frame, and axially through the spool and having a screw-threaded end
for engaging with a correspondingly threaded aperture in the stud 22.
The frame is held within the casing by a suitable locking, or bolt, device, which,
in the example shewn in the drawing, consists of a sliding plate 30 extending around
the aperture in the rear of the frame and having a downwardly projecting end 31,
and angular perforated lugs 32; the end 31, being adapted to enter a recess in the
lower edge of the casing and the lugs 32 to engage with pins, or studs, 33 upon the
exterior of the casing, as shewn clearly in Figures 1 and 2.
Arranged upon one side of the casing and in proximity to the ratchet wheel, 15
on the supply spool is a detent, or lever, 34, pivoted upon a stud 35, and having
one end adapted to engage with the said ratchet wheel 15, as shewn in Figure 6.
The other end of the lever 34 is provided with a stud 36 projecting through a
slot in the casing, the lever being sufficiently wide to cover the slot in any position
to prevent the entrance of light. 37 is a stop plate, (preferably of spring metal)
mounted upon the pin 35 and having on opposite sides of the rear end of the
catch 34 small lugs, or spurs, 38, entering the edge of the casing. The said stop
plate has also apertures 39 with one or other of which projection 40 on the lever 34
engages to hold the said lever in engagement with, or disengaged from, the ratchet
wheel 15, as shewn respectively in full and dotted lines in Figure 6. This detent,
or lever, 34 serves as a means for holding the supply spool, so that by winding for-
ward the film, it can be stretched tightly over the support.
In using the device described, the operator places, within the chamber 7 an
ordinary cartridge spool containing a strip of film 41, with which is wound a strip
of black paper or the like 42, the film and black paper or the like being wound

page_text: together with the latter on the outside as shewn more particularly in Figure 3.
The free end of the black paper or the like which covers the spool with several
convolutions, is drawn over the table, or support, and its end is secured to the
receiving spool, or reel, mounted at one end upon the stud 22. These operations
can be performed in daylight. The frame containing the spools is then placed
within the casing and the winding arbor 27 passed through the casing and spool,
and screwed into the stud 22; then the operator winds paper and film forward
until the indication, or number, placed upon the back of the paper or the like is
visible through the aperture in the back of the support. He then moves the
detent 34 to the position shewn in full lines in Figure 6, so as to engage the ratchet
wheel 15 on the supply spool and turns the arbor a partial rotation, thereby draw-
ing the film tightly down on the support, in which position it is held while the
exposure is made in the usual manner. When it is desired to wind forward another
portion of film, the detent lever 34 is moved to the position shewn in dotted lines
in Figure 6, to release the supply spool and permit another portion of the film to
be wound over the support and further exposures to be made in the manner
described.
By reason of the fact that the film is drawn from the inward of one spool to the
outward of the receiving spool, it will be kept taut, and practically flat, upon the
table and it is immaterial that the slack of the paper between the roller 28 and
the surface of the spool, as shewn in dotted lines in Figure 3, is within the spool
chamber 7, as this does not in any way interfere with the rolling, or the main-
tainance of the film in a flat position on the support. When the end of the film
passes on to the receiving roller and the last exposure is made, the operator turns
the winding arbour, or spindle, until the last end of the covering paper or the
like 42 is wound several times around the film, thereby enclosing it and per-
mitting its removal in daylight. When the winding spool, or roller, is removed
from the holder by removing the spindle and swinging out the hinged plate 20,
care should be taken to prevent the accidental unwinding of the film, as it is more,
or less, elastic, and is then wound in the reverse direction from the direction in
which it was wound on the supply spool.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. In a photographic roll-holder, the combination with an open fronted casing of
the film support having the observation aperture therein, the receiving and supply
spool chambers in rear of the support, and near opposite ends thereof, and spool-
centering and retaining or arresting devices in the said spool chambers, and film
supply and receiving spools, all arranged substantially as herein before described,
so that the black paper or the like is outside the film on the supply spool and inside
the film as it passes over the film support and around the winding spool as herein-
before described.
2. In a photographic roll-holder, the combination with the casing, the remove-
able frame embodying the film support, provided with an observation aperture, the
cover 5 having an aperture coinciding with that in the film support, and the
partitions 6 forming spool chambers, the ratchet wheel and pawl in the supply
spool chamber, and the removable spool operating head connected to the ratchet
wheel, substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. In a photographic roll-holder, the combination with an open fronted casing,
of a removeable frame comprising a film support, and supply and winding spool
chamber s in rear of the said support, a hinged plate at the end of the winding spool
chamber, a ratchet wheel and pawl on the plate, a spool-engaging stud on the
wheel, and a removeable spindle extending through the casing into the receiving
spool chamber and engaging the ratchet wheel, substantially as herein before
described.
4. In a photographic roll-holder; the combination with an open fronted casing,
of a removeable frame comprising a film support and supply and receiving spool

page_text: chambers in rear thereof, a hinged plate at the end of each of the chambers, a detent
wheel on one plate having a projection for engaging the supply spool, and a move-
able detent for co-operating therewith, a ratchet wheel on the other plate, a pawl
co-operating therewith, a spool engaging projection on the said ratchet wheel,
and a removeable spindle for passing through the receiving spool and engaging the
ratchet wheel, substantially as hereinbefore described.
5. The combination with an open fronted casing and the pivoted spool detent
mounted therein and provided with means for operating it from the exterior of the
casing, of a removeable frame having the spool chambers, the hinged plate at the
end of the receiving spool chamber, the ratchet wheel and pawl mounted thereon,
the removeable spindle passing through the casing and spool and engaging the
ratchet wheel, the hinged plate at the end of the supply spool chamber, the rotat-
able detent wheel thereon having the spool engaging stud, and the spool engaging
stud at the opposite end of the said chamber, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
6. The combination with the open fronted casing of a removeable frame having
the film support provided with the aperture, the spool chambers at opposite ends
of the rear side of the said support, and spool centering and holding devices therein,
a moveable locking plate on the frame having the projecting end engaging the
casing, and the perforated ears, and the pins on the casing with which the said
ears co-operate, substantially as herein before described.
7. The arrangement and combination of parts constituting the photographic
roll-holder herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 13th day of June 1898.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX.
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.