The Application of Photography to Automatic Sale and Delivery Machines, and the Utilization of Automatic Sale and Delivery Machinery for the Production, Sale, and Delivery of Photographs.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Nov., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 18th May, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 9th Nov, 1888
The Application of Photography to Automatic Sale and Delivery
Machines, and the Utilization of Automatic Sale and Delivery
Machinery for the Production, Sale, and Delivery of Photographs.
EDWIN JENNINGS BALL, 39 Aynhoe Road Hammersmith, W., in the county of
Middlesex, Assistant in Metallurgy at the Normal School of Science and Royal
School of Mines, London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The application of photography to automatic sale and delivery machines and the
utilization of automatic sale and delivery machinery for the production sale and
delivery of photographs.
This
The prepared photographic plate, of whatever kind, that is to receive the impression,
rests on a framework suspended from a travelling carriage, crane or armi.
framework is placed in a definite position behind a photographic lens. A coin or
coins having been inserted into the machine the photographic plate may be suitably
exposed either by the removal of a shutter covering the lens or by any other suitable
mechanical arrangement. It is then carried by the carriage, crane, or arm, over
tanks or reservoirs containing the necessary solutions and is lowered into and lifted
out of each of these in succession, and is finally ejected from the machine. The
carriage, crane, or arm, and the framework suspended from it, return to their
former positions, and a fresh photographic plate is automatically placed in the frame-
work from a receiver. By this means I can produce either a negative or a positive
picture according to the nature of the plate and of the solutions I employ.
But I do not confine myself to the use of this or of any other particular form of
machine, nor to the use of any particular process of photography, but claim the
application of processes of photography and the utilization of automatic sale and
delivery machinery generally, for the purposes stated in the title.
EDWIN JENNINGS
NGS
DALL.

page_text: The Application of Photography to Automatic Sale and Delivery
Machines, and the Utilization of Automatic Sale and Delivery
Machinery for the Production, Sale, and Delivery of Photographs.
I EDWIN JENNINGS BALL of 39 Aynhoe Road Hammersmith, in the County of
Middlesex, Analytical Chemist, 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 consists of certain arrangements and combinations of mechanism
whereby the same will automatically take, develop and deliver a photograph by the
ferrotype or similar process in exchange for a given coin or coins.
The prepared photographic plate of whatever kind that is to receive the impression
rests on a framework suspended from a travelling carriage, crane or arm.
This framework is placed in a definite position behind a photographic lens.
A coin or coins having been inserted into the machine, the photographic plate may
be suitably exposed by the removal of a shutter covering the lens. It is then carried
by the carriage, crane or arm over the tanks or reservoirs containing the necessary
solutions or other liquids and is lowered into and lifted out of each of these in
succession and is finally ejected from the machine.
The carriage, crane or arm, and the framework suspended from it return to their
former positions, and a fresh photographic plate is ready for the next exposure. By
this means either negative or positive pictures can be produced according to the
nature of the photographic plate and of the solutions employed. The mechanism is
enclosed in a box or outer casing with a projecting arm mounted on a pedestal of such
a height that the object or person to be photographed is in focus when resting against.
the said projecting arm.
The outside of the box is provided with an indicator by means of which the exposure
can be adjusted to suit the light, the said indicator being marked somewhat as
follows: (1) "Sunshine," (2) "Diffused Light," (3) "Dull," (4) "Very Dull,"
(5) "Gloomy" and so on.
The weight of the coin or coins put into the money slot acts upon the long end
of a bent lever, and causes the short end to vertically raise a hinged piece and adjust
it behind a pin working in a slot in a guide.
The said hinged piece is connected by levers to a handle or knob projecting outside
the case of the machine. By pulling the handle or knob the person desiring the
photograph actuates the pin by means of the said hinged piece, and causes the said
pin to open a door in the bottom of the plate box, and allow a photographic plate to
fall through into a plate-carrier arranged to catch and hold the said plate vertically
for exposure.

page_text: The time of exposure is regulated as follows:-The indicator is in connection with a
square horizontal shaft from which a short arm hangs vertically over a wheel. The
said wheel is provided with partial ribs or collars, that is to say, the said ribs or
collars only partially extend round the circumference of the said wheel; these ribs
or collars are equal in number to the graduations marked on the indicator, one reaching,
say three-quarters round the circumference, another five-eighths, a third one-half, and
so on. If the wheel is made to revolve it is obvious that by adjusting the indicator
so that the said vertical short arm is over the longest partial rib or collar the plate
will be exposed for a longer time than when over one of the shorter partial ribs or
collars, since the said ribs or collars will act on the lower end of the short arm, and
keep it out of its normal perpendicular position. Now, the wheel provided with
these partial ribs or collars is made to revolve by the action of gravity on a weight
attached to a string fastened to the circumference thereof, the weight being released
by a catch attached to the lever worked by the before-mentioned handle or knob
projecting outside the case.
Power is also taken from this wheel to actuate two catches and release the plate-
carrier and a train of wheels. This is effected by an eccentric on the shaft on which
the exposure wheel works. When the exposure is completed a bell or similar device
is sounded, intimating that the time of exposure has expired.
The said plate-carrier slides upon a square shaft by the action of gravity on a
weight attached to the end of a string running over a pulley. The extremity of the
said square shaft is provided with a horizontal lever which rests against oue side of
a wheel furnished with blocks by means of which the said horizontal lever is depressed
when the wheel is revolved. The plate-carrier will travel along the square shaft until
its progress is barred by a stop, the said stop being so arranged that it holds the plate-
carrier just at the very moment that the block on the revolving wheel actuates the said
lever revolving the said square shaft.
By this action the plate-carrier will be dipped into the trough immediately under
the said stop. The motion of the plate-carrier is impeded by any suitable number of
these projecting stops according to the number of developing solutions or other liquids
into which it is required to dip the plate.
The plate-carrier having finished its travel a catch thereon impinges against a pro-
jection on the side of the case whereby the plate is released and falls into a slot made
to receive it. When it falls into this slot a second bell or similar device is sounded
intimating that the photograph has been through all the developing solutions or other
liquids and is ready for delivery.
To obtain the photograph it is necessary that the person desiring the same shall
actuate a lever, the said lever being so arranged that it winds up the different wheels
which have run down, and adjusts the catches thereon, pushes forward the plates
in the plate-box, and allows the said photograph to fall out of the said slot.
And in order that my invention may be more fully understood and carried
into practice I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which similar letters indicate corresponding parts in all
the figures.
Figure 1 is a sectional plan of my invention.
Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is a sectional front elevation of the same.
Figure 4 is a sectional end elevation of the same, and
Figures 5 to 7 shew details of construction.
The outer casing A' is provided with a projecting arm not shewn in the drawings,
and mounted on a pedestal to such a height that the object to be photographed is in
focus when resting against the said projecting arm.
The projecting arm is provided with a knob which the person desiring the photo-
graph must press so as to release one of the two catches on the exposure wheel E.
The block O forms part of the indicator for adjusting the exposure to suit the
light. When the said block O is moved in the slot O, it actuates the series of levers
and connecting rods N M and D.

page_text: The connecting rod D carries the short arm P (see Figure 2) and brings it
vertically over one of the partial ribs or collars n. n2, n3, etc. on the exposure wheel E.
When the exposure wheel E is revolving one of the partial ribs or collars n₁ ng ng etc.
thereon will turn the short arm P out of its normal vertical position. The short
arm P is attached to a rod g and disc S (see Figure 3). It will be seen that if the
exposure wheel E is revolving in the direction of the arrow shewn in Figure 3 the
disc S will be raised vertically so as to expose the focussing lens L, which is imme-
diately behind the said disc S (see Figure 1). When the exposure is completed
the disc S will fall, and can be so arranged as to sound a bell or similar device, not
shewn in the drawings, intimating that the exposure is completed.
The coin or coins when dropped into the slot h (Figure 2) fall upon the long arm
of the bent lever V to the short arm of which the piece T is attached. The piece T
is hinged at X, and is brought into a horizontal position by the action of the coin
or coins on the lever V. The said piece T is now ready to enter the guide W and
move the pin P, along the slot therein. If the knob or handle A be now pulled out
it will actuate the connecting rods and Qand cause the piece T to travel
horizontally in the opposite direction along the guide W and actuate the pin P,
working in a slot in the guide W as shewn in Figure 1.
The rod C is rigidly connected in any suitable manner to the trough nest Z, so that
each time the rod C is actuated the solutions are agitated.
The bottom end of the pin P, is connected to a door sliding horizontally on the
bottom of the plate-box B. The top end of the pin P2 is connected to a rod, not
shewn in the drawings, which releases one of the catches on the exposure wheel E.
If now the second catch is released by the person desiring the photograph the exposure
wheel E will revolve by the action of a weight attached thereto, hence the horizontal
motion of the pin P, will allow the prepared photographic plate to fall into the plate-
carrier X1, (see Figure 3) and will also allow the wheel E, regulating the time of
exposure thereof, to be started when the button at the end of the arm outside the box
is pressed. The said plate-carrier X, is connected by means of a long arm to a dise Y
(hereinafter called the carrier Y) working on the square shaft S
Figure 5, is a sectional elevation of the first trough T₁, and shews the carrier Y
impinging against the first stop K.
Figure 5B is a plan of the first stop K. and carrier Y.
The carrier Y is actuated in the following manner :-
When the catch K₁ (see Figure 1) is released as will be explained hereafter, the
carrier Y is caused to travel along the square Shaft S, by the tension on cords
attached to the said carrier Y, the other end of the cords being led over a pulley and
fastened to a weight W,
10 as shewn in Figure VIIB.
The carrier Y will travel along the shaft S, until it impinges against the stop K
attached to the shaft S, (see Figure 1). The said Shaft S, is horizontal, and parallel
to the square shaft S₁, is circular in cross section, and is provided with any suitable
number of these projecting stops K, K, K, K,.
The apparatus as illustrated shews the invention fitted with four stops K., K., K.
and K, and four troughs of developing solutions or other liquids T₁, T,, T, and T,
but I do not confine myself to these or to any other number, as it is obvious that the
invention is equally applicable for any nuinber of troughs, and the stops on the
shaft S will be made to correspond.
To the front end of shaft S₁, and secured to it is a ratchet wheel R, shewn in
plan in Figure 1 and in elevation in Figure 6 fitted with a horizontal pawl J₁.
This pawl is attached at right angles to a lever L, swinging horizontally on a
fulcrum f. The ratchet wheel R, is provided with five teeth where there are four
stops, six teeth where there are five stops, and so on, the number of teeth being always
one more than the number of stops. On the back end of the shaft S, is fitted a
wheel W.shewn in elevation in Figure 6p having one end of a
string attached to
its circumference, the other end being attached to a weight O. The said shaft S is
also provided with a star wheel W, (See Figure 4) the radiating arms of which are
equal in number to the teeth on the ratchet wheel R, in this case five. These

page_text: 2°
4
radiating arms are acted on separately by pins P3, P4, etc. on the back of the
wheel W.. A front elevation and plan of the wheel W, are shewn in Figures 5F
and 56. The front side of this wheel carries the blocks V₁, V., V., V., which act on
the lever L₁ rotating the shaft S₁ (See Figures 1 & 4). The pins upon the wheel W,
are so placed that when the blocks on the front side of the wheel W, allow the
lever L to assume its normal horizontal position one of the pins (say P₂) will act on
one of the radiating arms of the star wheel, and cause the same to revolve through
about one-fifth of a revolution when there are five arms, about one-sixth of a
revolution when there are six arms, and so on. The revolution of the star wheel W
will cause the shaft S, and all its attachments to revolve also.
I will describe the invention with reference to the drawings which shew the
shaft S, fitted with four projecting stops. The shape and position of these stops are
shewn in Figures 6p to 6 and it is assumed that the carrier Y is starting from the front
end of the shaft S, and that the first stop K, is in gear. It will be seen that when
the shaft S, moves through one-fifth of a revolution the first stop K₁ moves out and
the second stop K, moves into gear, and when the shaft S, moves through another
one-fifth of a revolution the second stop, K,, moves out, and the third stop, K,
moves into gear, and so on. It will also be seen that the second stop, K,, is partially
in gear when the first is in full gear, the third stop K, is partially in gear when the
second, K, is in full gear, and the same with the fourth and third; and also
that when the fourth stop, K, is out of gear all the other stops are likewise out
of gear.
When the shaft, S., is rotated by the star wheel, W., the weight O, attached to
wheel W is wound up, and is kept so by the action of the ratchet wheel, R,,
(See Figures 6 and 6). The action of the gear is as follows
When the Catches, K₁, Figure 1, and K,, Figure 4, are released by the action of
the exposure wheel E, the carrier Y slides along to the first stop, K₁, the wheel W,
commences to revolve, and one of the blocks V1, V2, V3, V4, thereon depresses the
horizontal lever L₁ rigidly fixed to the shaft S₁ causing the same to revolve in the
direction indicated by the arrow shewn in Figure 5A and to dip the plate and plate-
carrier, X1, into the trough, T₁, underneath the first stop, K. When the arm of
the carrier, Y, again becomes horizontal the pin P, on the back of the wheel, W
has acted on one of the arms of the star wheel, W., rotating the shaft S, and the
stops attached thereto through one-fifth of a revolution. This rotation causes, first:
the first stop, K₁, to be thrown out of gear; second: the second stop, K., to be
thrown into gear; third: moves the ratchet wheel, R., on one tooth; fourth winds
up a little the weight, O2, attached to the wheel W, and, fifth: allows the carrier Y
to continue its progress until it impinges against the second stop, K. The same
operations are repeated at every stop, the pin, P, acting on the star wheel, W,, and
allowing the carrier, Y, to go as far as the third stop, and so on.
When the carrier Y has passed the fourth stop K, it has been pointed out that all
the stops are out of gear, the object of this being that the said carrier Y may be
returned along the shaft without coming into contact with any of the stops after the
plate has been released from the plate carrier X₁. The carrier Y is returned along
the shaft S₁ in the following manner reference being had to Figs. 7a and 76 which
shew respectively plan and elevation of the apparatus with the plate-box B removed
and to Fig. 7c. The carrier Y is provided with a flange Y, and with a collar Y,
An arm Y, provided with a circular hole for the purpose, fits over the carrier Y.
and is placed close against the flange Y₁ being kept in position by the ring or
collar Y, which also fits over the carrier Y. This arm Y₁ is pendant from a
sleeve Y upon the shaft S, which acts as a stay for the arm Y₁. The shaft S, is
vertically above the shaft S, and is parallel and equal in length thereto.
6
10
Upon each side of the arm Y₁ a hook Y, is affixed to which the cords are affixed,
one leading to the weight W₁, which actuates the carrier Y. See Fig. 76 and the
other leading by suitable pulleys to the drum W, upon which it is wound See
Fig. 7a. If now the drum W, be revolved in the opposite direction to the hands of
a watch it will wind up the cord attached to the arin Y₁, and hence will return the

page_text: carrier Y to its initial position on the shaft S₁. Just before the carrier Y reaches
its normal position on its return the front side presses up against the lever L,
(see Figure 1) and throws the pawl J, out of gear. The weight O₂ on the wheel W
now runs down and revolves the shaft, S., "star wheel W. and stops and ratchet
wheel, R, attached thereto in the opposite direction until the first stop, K, again
comes into gear.
'
A pin is so placed on the ratchet wheel R, that it will come into contact with a
stop on the standard d and check the revolution of the said ratchet wheel R3 at this
point bringing the first tooth of the said ratchet wheel opposite to the pawl, J₁, so
that when the carrier Y. starts upon another journey the pawl J, gears into the first
tooth of the ratchet wheel R., and this part of the apparatus is ready to perform its
alloted work.
57
It will be seen that the stops K, K, etc. the ratchet wheel, R3, the star wheel W,
the pins P3, P, etc. and the blocks, V1, V2, V3, and V., upon the front side of the
wheel W, are all arranged so as to correspond with the number of troughs into which
it is required to dip the plate.
When the exposure wheel E is revolved it has been stated that power is taken from
this wheel to actuate two catches K₁, Figure 1, and K2, Figure 4, one of which
releases the carrier Y and the other releases a train of wheels W2, W₁, etc. The
wheel W, is provided with a weight attached to its circumference, and will revolve
immediately the said catch K, gearing into wheel W, is released. The release of the
catches K, and K, is effected in the following manner:
2
Attached to the front standard G of the exposure wheel E is an arm which carries
the bell-crank lever C₂ on the fulcrum f, (See Figure 3). One arm of this lever rests
on the periphery of the eccentric H₁ attached to the shaft S2.
The other end of the lever C₂ is attached to the connecting rod Ms, the further end
of which is attached to the shaft S, whose end rests in the bearing Ga
It will be observed that if the exposure wheel E be now revolved in the direction
of the arrow shown in Figure 3 the eccentric H₁ will raise the end of the bell-crank
lever C, which by means of rod M¸ and crank I will rotate the shaft S, through a
portion of a revolution in the same direction.
The lever C, is shewn in Figures 2 and 3. To avoid complication in Figure 1 the
end of the connecting rod M3 is broken off, and the lever C₂ is not shown.
The shaft S is carried along underneath the trough rest Z and the other end carries
a crank L3, (See Figures 2 and 4) which is connected by means of the rod M, to the
bell-crank catch K. (See Figure 4.)
It will be noticed that if the shaft S, moves in the same direction as W, which it
will do owing to the eccentric H₁, the catch K, will be thrown out of gear.
Next as regards K₁. Figures 6 and 6 shew respectively side and front
elevation, and figure 6 shews a plan of the catch K₁. Just inside the support (d)
fixed to the shaft S, is a crank Le connected by the rod N, to the crank L, on the
shaft S, swinging in bearings G, G¸ parallel to the shaft S. The shaft S, carries an
arm L, whose end presses on the pin P, and is attached to the vertical rod M. The
bottom end of the rod M, fits into a shoe A, containing a spring Sg. The upper end
of M, is attached to the catch K₁, swinging on the fulcrumn A.. It will now be seen
that if the shaft S, revolves in the direction shewn by the arrow in Figure 6 H the
catch K, will be pulled down, and will return to its normal position by the action of
the spring Sg.
Also if the carrier ✗₁ be returned along the shaft S₁ it will press K₁ down till it
passes over it, when K₁ will assume its normal position.
The carrier Y having finished its travel it impinges against a projection on the side
of the case thereby sounding a second bell or similar device intimating that the
photograph is ready for delivery.
A projection m₁ on the catch m on the plate carrier X₁ (shewn in sectional elevation
in Fig. 5c) now abuts against the end of a lever H, affixed to the eccentric H, on the
shaft actuated by the lever L, see Fig. 7B. When the said lever L, is revolved, the
end of the lever H. presses against the projection.m₁ and so releases the plate, which

page_text: falls into the tube K and through it to the outside of the machine into a suitable
receptacle attached thereto.
The person desiring the photograph will now actuate the lever L, so arranged that
(1) it winds up the different weights that have run down on the wheels E and W, by
means of H and W, (2) It pushes forward the plates in the plate box and (3) allows
the photograph to fall out of the said slot or tube K.
These three results are effected in the following manner :-
Outside the case A₁ (see Fig. 1) is a lever L, swinging on a shaft which goes
through the side of A, and has the drum or pulley W, and the eccentric H, attached
to it inside.
The two wheels H and W3 (Fig. 1) are made so that they are of equal diameters,
and that diameter such as to give a circumference of the same length as the distance
the carrier Y slides along the shaft S₁. The pulley W, has the strings leading
from the pulleys H and W, and the carrier Y wound on it and a revolution or part
of a revolution given to the said pulley W, by L, will then wind them all up
simultaneously, see Figs 7a and 7b.
rotate
The eccentric H3 is connected with the rod N, by similar mechanism to that already
described by means of which the shaft S, is revolved hence the rotation of the
Lever L, will by means of the ratchet arm A, pawl J, and ratchet wheel W
the shaft S, and the worms w₁ and which have left and right-handed threads
thereon and will therefore turn the wheels W, and W, and the spindles B, and Bs
in opposite directions (see Figs. 1 and 2). The opposite movement of the
spindles B, and B3 will advance the plates in the plate-box B the arrangement of
which is as follows:-
8
The platebox is provided with four horizontal pulleys over which two bands work.
The outer circumference of the said bands is provided with projecting pieces of
tinned iron or any other suitable material, between which the plates are held
vertically so that it is only necessary to revolve the pulleys a short distance corre-
sponding to the thickness of the plate, as will he readily seen by reference to
Figures 5 and 5 which shew respectively end sectional elevation and partly
sectional plan of the plate box B; and to Figure 5 which shews the method of
attaching the metal clips to the leather straps.
The spindle B, carries pulleys w, and w, and the spindle B, carries pulleys w
and we; the spindles B₁ and B. carry similar pulleys. The top pulleys on B, and
B. carry an endless strap or band qi The top pulleys on B, and B. carry an
endless band . The bottom pulleys on B₁ and B, carry an endless band 939 and
the bottom pulleys on B and B carry an endless band Q4. These bands have
metal clips attached to them in the manner shewn in Figures 5 and 5ш, and
are so arranged as to carry the plates P1, P2, P3 etc. as shewn in Figure 5
s is a slot in the bottom of the plate box. If now the spindles B, and B, be
rotated in the direction of the arrow shewn in Figure 5 the plates will all
move till the plate p₁ comes over slots; P, has taken the place of p₁ and so
on.
Now, when the shutter covering the slots is withdrawn the plate p₁ falls into
the plate carrier X₁, and when the spindles B, and B3 are again rotated the plate pa
comes over the slots and so on.
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. An Apparatus for automatically taking, developing and delivering a photograph
in exchange for a given coin or coins, constructed substantially as hereinbefore set
forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
II. The automatic exposure of the plate by the exposure wheel E provided with
collars or ribs n₁, na, n3, etc. thereon, substantially as herein before set forth and
illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

page_text: III. The arrangement of the stops and shafts S₁ and S. for the purpose of dipping
the plate into the solutions substantially as herein before set forth, and illustrated
in Figures 1, 2, 5A 5B, 5F 5G, 6A, 6B, 6c, 6D 6E and 6F.
IV. The arrangement of the plate box B substantially as described and illustrated
in Figures 1. 5D and 5E.
V. The arrangement of the coin lever V with attachments T, P, and W for the
purpose of uncovering the slots by means of the rod C, substantially as described
and illustrated in Figures 1. 2. 3 and 4.
CASTLE SMITH,
Inventions" Office,
54, Fleet Street, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.