An Improved Photographic Apparatus.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Photographic Apparatus.
I, JULES DAMOIZEAU, of 52 Avenue Parmentier, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention 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 a photographic apparatus operated by a clock-
work movement, the camera box of which is pivoted to a centre I, Figure 3 of the
accompanying drawings, in such a way that it can, if desired, successively cover
all the points of the horizon, whilst a sheet of sensitive material is unwound at a
proportionate speed and reproduces the exact image of the panorama as a whole.
The improvements, having for their object to render the apparatus simple, light
and of reduced dimensions, relate more particularly to the mounting of the camera
box, the arrangement of a magazine of fresh rolls of material to be printed on, the
arrangement for drawing off the sensitive sheet; and, finally, an arrangement
allowing of the passage of the light being intercepted and the sensitive sheet being
perforated and the motive mechanism of the apparatus being stopped by manipulating
a single lever.
In order to allow of the nature of these improvements being thoroughly
understood, I have shown them on the accompanying two sheets of drawings, in
which :-
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of my apparatus closed and ready for being
carried about.
Figure 2 is the same apparatus mounted on its stand and ready for work.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through the axis of the apparatus.
Figure 4 shows a horizontal section on the line of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a horizontal section through the line y z, Figure 3.
The apparatus is formed of a rectangular box A, the sides a a' may be removed,
if desired, to allow access to the interior.
This apparatus has a lens box O mounted in a hinged plate B and arranged in
such a way that the objective can be shut into the box A by folding down the
plate B as shown in Figure 1; the sun shade shutter B' then closing the opening
of the chamber; or, when it is desired to use the apparatus, the plate B is raised
and the said lens box is then held and covered by the sun shade shutter B'.
At the rear part of the apparatus is a frame for carrying the rolls M containing
the roll or bobbin of fresh film K' and a receiving roll K on which the film which
has received the impression is rolled, passing in front of the slot C, as shown in
Figure 4.
The film is wound directly by means of a single cylinder D forming part of the
clock-work movement and touching throughout its entire height the receiving
roll K to which it transmits its rotary motion for the rolling up of the film which
has received the impression. This bobbin K is constantly pushed against the roller
by means of a spring d. By the same process, the charged bobbin K¹ is constantly
pressed by means of the spring d' against the roller D which serves as a check
for the unrolling of the film and maintains the latter constantly within the plane of
the focus. It is, of course, understood that the axes of the rollers D D¹ have a
ixed position.
The opening C is fixed in apparatus of small dimensions, like the one shown, and
he shuttering is produced by means of a single shutter E, which is operated from
he outside by means of a lever e (Figures 1, 2 and 3). The above named lever
ulfils, besides, two other functions, at the moment of closing the opening C: 1st. It

page_text: stops the mechanism by means of the cam f keyed on the axis of the shutter E, this
said cam pushing at that moment a spring y having a spur p, which stops the fan
wheel of the clock-work mechanism, and consequently all the movement; 2nd. It
perforates the film by means of the points fixed on the shutter E, which pass
through the film at the moment of the closing in such a way as to form joints.
+
My apparatus, which is arranged on a fixed stand G, has in its lower part a
clock-work mechanism operated by a drum H, which serves not only for causing
the whole apparatus to revolve on the fixed foot G in such a way as to cause the
objective to pass over all the points of the horizon, but further for unrolling the
film in proportion to the distance covered. The axis of rotation I may be at any
suitable point of the focal length, this point being determined by the synchronism
which must exist between the space traversed on the horizon by the objective
according to its focus and the length of the film unwound during the same time.
The bobbins which I employ are preferably provided at the commencement and
the end of the film with a strip of paper, of non-actinic material, so that without
inconvenience the bobbin thus formed may be left exposed to the light, and also to
allow of these bobbins being inserted into and drawn out of the apparatus in full
daylight.
The non-actinic substance is of a different colour at the commencement to what
it is at the end in order to allow of the fresh bobbins being distinguished from
those on which impressions have been taken. This arrangement allows me to place
at each side of the chamber itself and internally, a series of bobbins S, the number
of which is determined by the length of the box. These bobbins being covered
with non-actinic material, the light which penetrates into the chamber through the
lenses cannot deteriorate them. These bobbins may be easily removed by releasing
their pivots which are held by a simple spring.
The working of the apparatus will now be easily understood.
After the frame carrying the rollers M has been removed, it being held in place
by hooks or bolts m, a full bobbin K' is put in its place in full daylight; the ends
of the non-actinic part are fastened on the receiving bobbin K and the frame M
which carries the rollers is replaced.
The apparatus being mounted on its foot or pedestal G, it is revolved by hand on
the above named pedestal, in order to compress the spring of the cylinder of the
drum H.
The sliding trap t, which covers the opening by which the unwinding of the
paper from the bobbin K¹ and its winding on the bobbin K may be inspected, is
then opened by hand. The apparatus is set in motion by moving the lever e in the
direction of the arrow, as shown in Figures 1 and 2: it is necessary in any case to
place the finger on the fan wheel q and to look through the opening, after the
removal of the trap t, in order to be able to stop the movement the moment
the sensitive film commences to appear. The trap is then shut and the needle of the
counter is placed at zero and the chamber allowed to rotate, care being taken to
place the lenses in place as shown in Figure 2.
The apparatus revolves on itself, whilst the film unrolls.
When it is desired to stop, the lever e is turned to its former position which stops
the movement by means of the spur p, the opening C is closed by the shutter E
which in closing perforates the film, as has been hereinbefore explained. Each
time that it is thought to be necessary, the chamber or the box is taken hold of by
hand, and caused to rotate in an inverse direction to the movement of rotation in
order to wind up the drum H, and to maintain the spring at a uniform tension.
When the bobbin K' is exhausted and the bobbin K is filled and has been covered
by the non-actinic paper or fabric, the frame M carrying the rolls is removed, the
bobbin K is withdrawn and surrounded with an india rubber band and it is
exchanged for one of the bobbins S in the magazine.
The empty bobbin K' comes to K and the fresh bobbin S replaces the bobbin K¹.
It is quite evident that all the bobbins must be interchangeable.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In a photographic apparatus, a lens holder mounted on a binged plate
allowing it to be folded into the apparatus for transportation, substantially as
described.
2. In a photographic apparatus, a series of recharging bobbins S placed inter-
nally in such a way as to allow of their being taken hold of at a suitable moment,
substantially as described.
3. A system of mechanically winding off of a film by means of two rollers D
and D' operated by means of a clock-work movement.
4. A combination of parts operated by means of an external levere and con-
sisting of a closing shutter E, which in closing intercepts not only the passage of
the light but at the same time perforates the film by means of points and
stops the motive mechanism by means of a cam f which presses a spur p against the
fan wheel g of the clock-work mechanism, substantially as described.
5. The general arrangement and construction of parts forming the improved
photographic apparatus substantially as herein before described and shown.
Dated this 17th day of March 1893.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.