Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS of 23 Southampton Buildings in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, a
communication to me from abroad by Louis Lumière of 21 and 25 Rue Saint-Victor
Lyon-Mont plaisir in the Republic of France, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
The invention is particularly applicable to portable photographic apparatus and has
for its object to present successively and at will behind the lens a certain number of
plates previously enclosed in the apparatus, and to shut them up one by one as they
have been used in the bottom of the camera from whence they are withdrawn only in
the dark room.
This result is obtained by a very simple apparatus worked from the exterior.
The accompanying drawing shows clearly the application of the system.
The plates are mounted in sheet-iron frames A, Figure 1. formed of a plain piece
the edges of which are bent up on three sides, the upper sides serving for the
introduction of the plate.
Each of these frames is furnished with four small trunnions a. a¹ in prolongation
of the upper and lower edges. The frames can be constructed of other material than
sheet iron.
Figures 2 and 5 are longitudinal sections of the camera, Figure 3 is a cross section,
and Figure 4 is a horizontal section of the same.
This camera is open at the back sufficiently wide for the introduction of the framed
plates, which are placed therein as follows: The frame being held by the hand see
Figure 2 the upper trunnions a are introduced between two horizontal slides c. c made
in the upper part of the camera, it is then allowed to fall vertically, the plate being
turned towards the lens B.
The first frame when placed in position leans by its lower trunnions on the
prolongation b, of two vertical slides d. d, its upper trunnions engage in two notches
of the small discs e. e. mounted on a cross shaft f, provided at the outside of the
camera with a button or hand wheel g. The following frames are placed against the
first and remain suspended in the horizontal slots c. After having placed the desired
number of frames in position in the camera, the opening is shut by the door D
furnished with bolts or with other suitable hermetic closing ineans and carrying at its
centre a coiled spring E, which bears against the last frame as seen at Figure 5. The
first plate can be then exposed and made to disappear in the following manner.
In turning the button g in the direction shown by the arrow, the notches in the two
discs e. e in which the first frame is suspended are lowered and finally leave the frame
which then falls and in doing so follows the vertical grooves d in which its lower
trunnions a¹ are engaged see Figure 5 then being pushed by the following frame
which takes its place, it swings and falls horizontally on the bottom H of the camera.
On continuing to turn, the discs e soon present a new noich to the upper trunnions
of the second plate which come forward to rest therein and this new plate is then
ready to be exposed in its turn, after which by the manipulation already described, it
comes to rest on the bottom H, above the first.
In order to check the fall of the plates to the bottom of the camera, springs r. r.
may be placed on the lateral sides which will press against the edges of the frames.
These springs are also intended to allow of the turning upside down and the
transport of the camera, without the frames carrying the exposed plates being able to
leave the bottom of the camera, against which they are placed.
It is sufficient then, when the camera is prepared, to turn the button g a part of a

page_text: turn determined by the number of the notches in the discs e, in order to make each
plate after it has been exposed, to disappear and to place in position a now one for the
next operation.
When desired the plates can be removed from the camera by opening the bottom El
which is moveablo.
Divisions marked on the button g and a fixed stud allow of its being always stopped
in the desired position.
This operation could he facilitated by operating it by a pawl which would prevent
the backward return. Also by using only one notch to each dise the action could be
controlled by a button or hand piece which would stop always at a fixed point. The
movement of the button or of the hand piece gean also be connected to that of the
lens cap so as to secure first and then unlatch this latter at the same time that the new
plato arrives in its place.
One is thus able to obtain by the continued movement of the button g a series of
instantaneous views at longer or shorter intervals.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
An arrangement of camera in which a number of plates contained in frames
furnished with trunnions, are suspended one behind the other in front of the lens, and
are pushed by a spring, the first frame, and in succession the following ones, being
capable of removal by a notelied disc operated from the exterior, and then of swinging
on to the bottom of the camera by turning on their lower trunnions, substantially as
herein shown and described.
Dated Biny oil 1990.
B. J. B. MILLS.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.