Improvements in Shutters for Photographic Cameras.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 4th July, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 4th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 4th May, 1835
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Shutters for Photographic Cameras.
I, EDGAR PICKARD, of Altrincham, in the County of Chester, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention is designed with the object of providing a noiseless shutter or one
which will open to effect an exposure without any click or rattle specially suitable
for use in studios and for photographing animals so that the attention of the person
or animal will not be attracted until after the shutter has closed.
It consists essentially in constructing the shutter with two blinds meeting
together to cover the aperture mounted so as to roll up towards the opposite ends
of the case or box both blinds being rolled up simultaneously by a lever attached to
a cord wound on the spindle of the rollers and closed simultaneously and
automatically by springs or spring rollers to which the free edges are connected by
means of cords.
In carrying out the invention I place inside the case or box of the shutter two
blind rollers at opposite ends. To each of the rollers I attach a blind each blind
being of such a length as to reach a short distance beyond the centre of the
aperture so that when both are pulled down they overlap to close the shutter and
produce a light proof joint. No opening or slit is formed in either blind.
In addition to the two rollers upon which the blinds are rolled two additional
spring rollers are provided, one at each end, to which the free ends of the blinds
are connected. The free ends of the blinds are connected to these spring rollers or
to springs by means of cords attached to them. The cords are connected to the
rollers by holes drilled in them and countersunk to receive a knot, and to the ends
of the blinds by passing over or through a strut placed therein to keep the edges
straight. The springs which actuate the rollers are preferably coiled or spiral
springs one end being attached to the roller and the other fixed to the case to
prevent rotation. As the blinds are wound up on the blind rollers to draw these
edges apart and open the shutter the springs are tightened by the cords being
drawn off the spring rollers and when the blind rollers are released the spring
rollers wind up the cords again and draw the edges of the two blinds together and
close the shutter.
The cords of the two opposite blinds on their way from the edges of the blinds
cross each other which when the blinds are closed tend to hold the edges pressed
together rendering them more light proof or less liable to admit any rays
of light.
A lever is attached to the edge of the case or box on the outside raised by
a pneumatic bulb. A cord from one end of each blind roller is attached to the
lever. Each cord is wound round the spindle or pulley of the blind roller..
The raising of the lever and cords with it causes the rollers to rotate rolling the
blinds thereon and causing the shutter to open the ends of the flexible blinds which
meet in the centre receding from each other. When the lever is released the
springs draw the blinds together again until the edges overlap and thus close
the shutter.
A clip or catch is provided for attachment to the pneumatic tube by which the
tube can be bent or doubled in two and so held for any length of time to prevent

page_text: the passage of air through it after it has been compressed and thus keep the shutter
open for a prolonged exposure. The clip is made of a form or shape to grip the
tube and to hold the two adjacent parts together when one is doubled down upon
the other.
Dated this 29th day of June 1894.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.
Improvements in Shutters for Photographic Cameras.
I, EDGAR PICKARD, of Altrincham, in the County of Chester, Manufacturer, 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 is designed with the object of providing a noiseless shutter or one
which will open silently to effect an exposure without any click or rattle specially
suitable for use in studios and for photographing children and animals so that the
attention of the subject will not be attracted until after the shutter has closed.
It consists essentially in constructing the shutter with two flexible blinds meeting
together to cover the aperture mounted so as to roll up towards the opposite ends
of the case or box both blinds being rolled up simultaneously by a lever attached to
a cord or tape wound on the spindle of the rollers and closed simultaneously and
automatically by springs or spring rollers to which the free edges of the blinds are
connected by means of cords or tapes.
The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Fig. 1. Elevation with the back of box removed showing blinds closed.
Fig. 2. Elevation with the back of box removed showing blinds open.
Fig. 3. Transverse section on line x-x Fig. 1.
Fig. 4. Transverse section on line y-y Fig. 2.
Fig. 5. Back clevation of modified arrangement-blinds closed.
Fig. 6. Back elevation of same-blinds open.
Fig. 7. Transverse section of Fig. 5.
Fig. 8. Transverse section of Fig. 6.
The box or case A of the shutter is constructed in the ordinary way and inside the
box at opposite ends (or sides) 1 place two blind rollers C and D to which I attach the
two blinds E and F each being of such a length as to reach from the rollers to a
little beyond the centre of the opening B and when both are pulled down they
overlap with a light tight joint and thus close the shutter. No opening or slit is
formed in either blind and the shutter is opened by the edges of the blinds moving
asunder or receding from one another.
The blinds E and F are drawn asunder and wound up upon their respective
rollers C and D simultaneously by means of the cord c or the cords c and d which
are wound round the axles of one or both of the rollers, by drawing out which the
rollers are caused to rotate. The other end of the cord is preferably attached to a
lever J by which it is drawn out the lever being pressed outwards by a pneumatic
bulb K or otherwise.
When the cord or cords are released the blinds are drawn back again the rollers
being caused to rotate in the opposite directions by a spring g or springs g and h to
which the free edges of the blinds are connected by cords or tapes e and f
Where a single spring g is employed (see Figs. 1 to 4) it is placed in the interior
of the blind roller D and the blinds are connected with the roller and with the

page_text: spring by the tapes e and f connected to the free ends of the blinds E and F. The
blind E is attached to and winds up on the roller C and the tapes connected to
the edge of the blind E are attached to and wound up on the ends of the spring
roller D. The blind is attached to and winds up on the roller D and the tapes/
are carried from it to the ends of the roller C winding up thereon on the opposite
side to the blind E. It will thus be seen that as the blinds are wound up upon
their respective rollers the tapes unwind and vice versa as the tapes are wound up
the blinds are unwound and drawn off. The spring g tends or acts to close or keep
the blinds shut and in normal position the blinds remain so. To open the blinds the
cord c is drawn out by the lever J which causes the roller C to rotate and wind up
the blind E thereon at the same time the tapes e are drawn off the roller D causing
it to rotate and the blind F is drawn up onto the roller D the tapes being at the
same time released from the roller C. When the cord c is released the reverse
action takes place the spring g rotates the roller D and winds up the tapese thereon,
the blind F being released, the pull of the spring roller on the tapes e as they are
wound up thereon draws the blind E off the roller C and rotates it thereby causing
the tapes to be wound up upon it and drawing the blind F to its closed position.
The edges of the blinds are pressed together by the inwardly projecting sides
of the front and back of the shutter.
The spring g or where two springs are employed the springs g and instead of
being place inside one of the blind rollers-may as in Figs. 5 to 8 be mounted on
separate rollers G and H one at each end of the box or case A. In this arrangement
to the free euds of the blinds E and F are attached the cords e and f which are
carried forward to the spring roller at the opposite end of the box that is :-the
cords attached to the edge of the blind E are carried forward and fastened to the
spring roller H and the cord attached to the blind F are carried to the spring
roller G the free ends of the blinds are thus by these cords connected to the spring
rollers. The cords and fare secured to the rollers G H by holes drilled in them
and countersunk to receive a knot and to the ends of the blinds E and F by passing
over or through a strut placed therein to keep the edges straight. The springs g
and which actuate the rollers G and H are preferably coiled or spiral springs
one end being attached to the roller and the other fixed to the case to prevent
rotation.
e
The cords e and f of the two opposite blinds on their way from the edges of the
blinds to the spring rollers cross each other which when the blinds are closed tend
to hold the edges pressed together rendering them more light proof or less liable to
admit any rays of light.
The lever J to which the cords c and d are attached is hinged or pivoted to the
bottom edge of the box A and may be raised by a pneumatic bulb K or by other
suitable means. A catch L hinged or loosely attached to the box may be placed
behind the lever J to prevent it closing when the pressure upon the bulb K is
released and thus keep the shutter open for a prolonged exposure or for focussing.
The blinds are opened as before described by the action of the lever J and when
this is released are closed or drawn together by the springs rollers G and H.
It will be obvious the positions of the springs or the rollers carrying them may
be altered or arranged as found desirable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is :-
1. A shutter for photographic cameras constructed with two flexible blinds the
edges of which overlap to cover the aperture mounted to move in opposite directions
to open or close the shutter in combination with springs or spring rollers connected
to the blind by cords or tapes by which the blinds are drawn together when
released and a lever connected to the blind rollers by a cord or cords by which the
blinds are simultaneously drawn apart and the shutter opened substantially as
described.

page_text: 2. A shutter for photographic cameras constructed substantially as described and
shown.
Dated this 3rd day of April 1895
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.