Improvements in and relating to Automatic Photographing Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Aate of Application, 20th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 19th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 18th Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Automatic Photographing
Machines.
We, James HINES, Engineer, of Dunedin Lodge, Lenzie, Dumbartonshire,
EDWARD HOWELL, House Furnisher, of Inglebank, Lenzie, aforesaid, and
ALFRED HOWELL, Tobacconist, of Ingleside, Pollokshields, Renfrewshire, do
hereby declare the nature of our invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to and comprises new or improved arrangements
and combinations of mechanism or mechanical motions in and relating to automatic
photographing machines, for the taking of photographs of persons and objects on
the insertion of a penny or other coin or coins, being mainly improvements upon
the circular rotating time regulated machine and mechanism for which Royal
Letters Patent No. 5140 April 6 1888 were granted to the present applicants;
and which improvements will make these machines more simple and efficient in
their movements than they have been as heretofore constructed.
The nature and novelty of the improvements consist all as follows:-First, in an
improved mechanical motion or combination of mechanism for giving the circular
motion to the central spindle and the arm which carries the plate, or card on which
the photograph is to be taken round behind the lenses and over the several
chemical and washing baths ranged in a circle under this arm which is hereinafter
termed the rotating plate arm. And in giving the up and down reciprocating
motion to this arm and picture plate for lowering this into and raising it out of the
baths while being turned with its spindle always in one direction. This mechanical
motion or mechanism consists in mounting the central rotating spindle in the form
of a tube for lightness within fixed vertical tubular bearings at top and bottom,
with the plate arm projecting out from the spindle near the upper part through an
annular cylindrical grooved cam supported on or forming part of the outer guide
bearing tubes. This annular cam part is considerably longer or higher than the
arm requires to rise and fall while it and the spindle are turning, and the cam motion
is formed by long vertical parallel cam slots at the lower part at the several radial
divisions round the cam where the arm and plate have to make a pause to grip the
plate and afterwards as it is turned round, where it has to be lowered parallelly down
behind the lenses, and into the baths and raised up out of them, this cam slot
forming a guide for the arm in its up and down and forward rotating motion. For
this turning of the lever and spindle these cam grooves are curved and angled
forward at the top part in the direction the spindle and arm have to be turned, so
as to turn these while being lifted to the highest position of the cam grooves into
other short vertical grooves or recesses in advance of the long lower cam grooves,
while the continuation of the cam groove is formed at this upper part downwards
and forwards at an angle into the next vertical cam slot, and so on throughout the
Thus the mere
series of cam slots round the whole circumference of the cam.
lowering of the spindle from the upper slot in the cam carries the lateral arm by
their own weight down and forward into the advancing curved and angled cam
groove which will turn the arm down into the next long lower vertical slot of the
cam, and so on turning the arm to the several positions by the mere reciprocating
of the central spindle vertically up and down in its guides and cause the arm to
pass from the lower part to the upper part and vice versa from the upper part of
This simple
the cam to the lower-part of the next position and slot of the cam.
reciprocation of the spindle up and down to the extent the plate arm has to be
raised and lowered, may either be done from the under side by a pointed rod,
working up into a hollow conical centre formed in the under end of the

page_text: tube spindle or vice versa a conical centre on the tube working down into a cup in
the rod, the lower end of this rod being jointed to the inner arm of a lever which
would carry the spindle and reciprocate it as the lever was reciprocated by its
outer arm, which would be made shorter to have less up and down motion than
that necessary to be given to the inner arm of the lever and to the rotating
spindle and its plate arm. Or otherwise instead of carrying and reciprocating the
hollow spindle and plate arm from the lever at the lower side, it might be done
from a lever at the top side, connected by a swivel jointed hanging rod, and be
actuated by this lever substantially as by the lower lever, except that the swivel
joint on the hanging rod might be made with fine ratchet teeth which would
prevent the spindle from turning in the backward direction in the escapement at
the top of each of the forward motions of the plate arm in the cam, or this forward
motion might be ensured by fulcruming the arm to the spindle with a slight motion
counterbalanced by a weight, which would press the arm always in the forward
direction as the weight of the pendulum does in a clock, or this might be effected
by a spring such as the hair spring of a watch escapement. In either case this
outer short arm of the lever would be reciprocated by a vertical rod and pulley on
its upper end steadied by a suitable guide so as to be acted upon by projecting
curved or inclined teeth formed on a time regulated disc wheel, that is secured on
one of the spindles of the time regulating mechanism of the apparatus, which made
one revolution for the cycle of operations necessary to be given to the picture arm
and its spindle during one revolution to take a photograph and deliver it, a raised
tooth being formed on this time regulated wheel only at the proper places and
times it was required to raise the spindle and turn the arm in the cam.
The parts
of the periphery of the wheel between the teeth would be concentric or circular,
and of different lengths to give the proper time pauses the plate arm was required
to remain in each lower slot and division of the cam to take the photograph in
front of the lense or give the chemical or other action required in the respective
baths.
A further improvement consists in a simple arrangement of clip for gripping
the plates or cards for securing at the end of the plate carrying lever, formed of a
-light oscillating lever or hanging stem fully longer than the depth of the photo-
graphic plates to be held by it, and hinged near its upper end to the plate arm,
and with a spring always tending to keep the stem clip against a stop vertically,
and with a bevelled catch on its lower front end, and with a corresponding slightly
sliding catch mounted on its upper end with a light spring tending to press it
always down to catch the plate. This upper catch might be the whole width of
the plate, or have two catches at its outer edges. Thus when this clip was brought
down with the arm, in its top position over each plate to be lifted and gripped, the
lower end of the clip stem would yield and the lower catch glide down the back of
each plate until the upper catch or catches came down and caught the upper edge
of the plate, when the lower catch would spring in and grip the plate also at the
lower edge between the two catches as the plate arm rose in its cam grooves as
before described.
A further.improvement consists in the modes and means for arranging the photo-
graphic plates in quantities or magazine form so that each plate in succession
would be caught by the plate clip as the previous ones were used up.
One arrange-
ment of the plates consists in mounting them in a vertical parallel column over
each other on two vertical sliding frames with carrying and delivering strips at
their lower ends on which the plates would rest at their outer ends, while their
inner ends would overlap each other to the extent of a fourth of the length of the
plate or so between the said strips, and under these carrying and delivery strips a
curved or conoidal shoot would be fitted, and a motion would be taken from the
gearing of the clock mechanism to an oscillating arm spindle fitted and linked to
the said sliding frames, so as to oscillate these the one up and the other down
alternately just before the plate arm had come round to pick up a plate. This
oscillation would allow the lower plate to fall off the carrying strips vertically from

page_text: In like
one side or the other into the angled shoot, so as to be delivered vertically into
a V-shaped receiver below the shoot, just under where the plate clip would come
down and grip it and raise it in its upward movement as hereinbefore described.
By another arrangement the plates would be mounted horizontally or parallelly at
an angle by their edges in slots in the close sides of a long vertical or angled
arrangement of traversing box at about a sixteenth of an inch or so apart, the box
being open on the other two sides for the removal of the plates which would be
effected by the pushing of the box downwards by a weight, or the rolling of it
downwards over horizontal rollers on an inclined endless band, always as the
previous plate was removed from the lower end of the box, the last plate always
forming the stop for the lower position where the plate would be successively
removed by a reciprocating pusher actuated by the time mechanism acting on the
upper end of the plate, or it might be an india rubber roughened or other friction
pusher acting on the outer surface of the plate, either of which would push the
plate down into the conoidal shoot and V-steadying holder ready for the plate
clip to take hold of each plate as it was delivered as before described.
manner the plates might be so fitted nearly close to each other in slits radially in
a horizontal rotated wheel frame placed in the upper part of the dark box, which
would be turned round by a light weight until each last plate not used would come
up to a stop, where it would be pushed or pulled downwards by the time mechanism
into the angled shoot below and V-steadying guide so as to be picked up by the
plate clip all as before described. Or in some cases the plates might be thus
carried and fitted in close sets in slits formed in strips ranged horizontally on
an endless band passed round two horizontal pulleys, so that the band and plates
would be traversed vertically to bring each plate up and forward as required against
a stop to the vertical position for the plate clip to pick them up direct by the
down and up motion of its reciprocating and rotating arm, and without requiring.
to be delivered into the shoot and steadying guide described in the former
arrangements. A further improvement consists in giving a motion to the baths,
or the liquid in the baths while the plates are immersed in these for their respective
purposes. One arrangement for so effecting this consists in mounting or fixing the
bath on the top of a rotating disc, or it might be an oscillating disc, on or at the
top of a spindle mounted in an easy working journal bearing and jointed footstep
at top and bottom respectively of the spindle, and in giving this spindle either a
rotary or oscillatory motion by a light pulley and band or lever action from any
rotating shaft of the time mechanism, put in action by the rotating plate arm while
a photograph was being taken, or while the arm was in its lower position with the
plate in the bath, and in the rotating arrangement the bath might be made with
an angled vane in it to ensure the agitation of the liquid by the rotation of the
bath. Or by a converse arrangement the baths might be left stationary in the
rotating circle of the plate and its arm, and have a small rotating or reciprocating
vane mounted on a spindle and portable bracket fixed in the bath, with a small
pulley or lever on it to be actuated in the manner described for rotating or
oscillating the bath, which spindle arrangement might be easily screwed portably
to the side of the bath for removal when cleaning and renewing the bath. Or
this agitation of the liquids might be done by blowing a jet of air into the baths
from a fan or other equivalent set in motion by the time mechanism while a photo-
graph was being taken. And a jet of this air might also be used for drying the
photograph by being blown through a tube or duct heated or not by a gas jet to
act on the surface of the photograph which gas jet would also be set on and off
by the time mechanism just before and after the photograph was taken.
Another improvement consists in the mounting of two, three or more sets of
lenses in the front of the case and picture plate, to take two, three, or more
small photographs on the same plate, instead of one larger photograph filling the
plate as hereinbefore described, in these automatic photographic machines, having
the light shutting off diaphragms of the whole of the lenses opened and closed by

page_text: the automatic mechanism, all substantially as described, in reference to the
diaphragms of the single lenses in these automatic photographic machines.
A further improvement consists in mounting in the front or central upper part
of the case of these automatic photographic machines a powerful incandescent or
glow electric light within a close separate box or chamber which would emit the
light outwards to shine on the person or object to be photographed, but not emit
light within the photographing case, or through from the outside. The electric light
would be supplied by any of the electric light companies, and the current put on
at night and when the daylight was insufficient. The electric light arrangement
would have a switch automatically put on and off by a lever actuated and set on
by the time mechanism started by the insertion of the coin, a little before the lenses
had to take the photograph on the plate, or this would be done by the insertion of
the coin itself moving a switch lever to put on the light. Or otherwise this
switching on and off of the electric light might be effected by the insertion of the
coin in a different slot and by a different automatic coin lever mechanism than that
used for the taking of the photographs by daylight, and made to control its setting
on time mechanism, by the greater number or weight of coin required in the electric
light arrangement.
In the improvements of our said former Patent, a special electric bell mechanism
was brought into action just before the light diaphragms of the lenses were opened,
to notify to the person to put himself in position and stop the mechanism for a few
minutes before the lenses would open automatically or by the person putting his
hand on a handle to set the mechanism going again. By a further improvement
this automatic bell mechanism might be made to only give the alarm sufficiently
early to give the person time to place himself, before the machine automatically
opened the diaphragms of the lenses, and take the photograph and shut the
diaphragms and move on without requiring to be touched or interferred with by the
operator, in the same manner as the time mechanism automatically places the plates
into the baths and removes them without stoppage, the stopping of the ringing
of the bell or the shutting of the diaphragms indicating to the person that his
photograph was taken.
Dated the 10th Max 1890
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Automatic Photographing
Machines.
We, JAMES HINES, Engineer, of Dunedin Lodge, Lenzie, Dumbartonshire,
EDWARD HOWELL, House Furnisher, of Inglebank, Lenzie, aforesaid, and
ALFRED HOWELL, Tobacconist, of Ingleside, Pollokshields, Renfrewshire, do
hereby declare of our invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement in
writing, reference being had to the accompanying two sheets of drawings, and to
the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
Our invention has reference to and comprises new or improved arrangements and
combinations of mechanism or mechanical motions in and relating to automatic
photographing machines, for the taking of photographs of persons and objects on
the insertion of a penny or other coin or coins, being mainly improvements upon the
circular rotating time regulated machine and mechanism for which Royal Letters
Patent No. 5140 April 6 1888 were granted to the present applicants; and which
improvements will make these machines more simple and efficient in their movements
than they have been as heretofore constructed.
And in order that our said invention, and the manner of performing or carrying

page_text: the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, we have hereunto.
appended two explanatory sheets of drawings, in which the same reference letters
are used to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown.
Figure 1 on Sheet 1, is a front elevation of our complete automatic photographing
machine to a small scale.
Figure 2 shows a right hand side elevation at right angles to Figure 1, of the
upper two chambers 1-1 and 2-2 of the case A2 with the ornamental top cover A³
removed, in which the lenses and the plate revolving mechanism and chemical baths
are placed and time motive gearing or.mechanism respectively, all as will hereinafter
be described.
Figures 3 and 4 are horizontal sections taken near the lines 3-3 and 4-4
respectively in Figure 2 of the said upper and lower chambers 1-1 and 2-2 to
show the arrangement of mechanism in each.
Figure 5 is a sectional side elevation corresponding to Figure 2 to a larger scale
to show more clearly the details of the lenses and magazine of plates a on which the
photographs are taken, with the arrangement of mechanism and conductor d, d', for
leading one plate down to the lenses D at each cycle of motions, and the carrier I², I³,.
and lever and cam mechanism for gripping the plate a and rotating it round over
and into the different chemical and washing baths e¹.
Figure 6 shows an enlarged view of the receiving conducting slide K and open.
pocket K, for delivering the completed plate and photograph to the customer.
Figure 7 is a side and edge view of the cam wheel H of the motive time
mechanism for raising the lever I' and spindle 1, with the plate a through its
differential cycle of motions.
Figure 8 is a side and edge view of the cam disc G2, G3, which raises and.
lowers the lever g*, g³, and rod 9 and slide D² for opening and shutting the
lenses D¹.
Figure 9 shows a side and edge view of the locking disc G of the actuating
gearing and starting and stopping lever C2, C3, which receives the coin.
Figure 10 shows a side and edge view of the mill-headed disc G, G5, which
actuates the lever of the bell G' for letting the person know when the photograph
is taken.
And Figure 11 shows a side and edge view or diagram of the disc wheel c c¹,
which actuates the lever 62, 63, of the mechanism for delivering a plate a for receiving
the photograph, at each up and down movement.
Figures 12 and 13 on Sheet 2 are an elevation and plan respectively of the
actuating and time mechanism shown in the lower compartment 2-2 of Figures 2
and 4, but to a larger scale to show the construction and details more clearly.
Figure 14 shows an elevation of the new stationary slotted cam mechanism J', J²,
for turning the lever I' and plate holder I2 I³.
And Figure 15 is a front view corresponding to Figure 14 of the arm lever I¹
and holder 12 13 showing a plate a gripped in it.
Figure 16 is a horizontal section of the photo plate magazine a to a³ as taken on
the lines 5-5 in Figure 5, but to a very much larger scale.
Figure 17 is a horizontal face view of the delivery slide a² a³ under the photo.
plates a for delivering one plate at each reciprocation to or fro.
And Figure 18 is a view of the segmental shutter D D with differential
diaphragms on inner end of spindle D' of outside hand lever D for admitting more
or less light to the lenses, according to the clearness or dullness of the daylight or
weather.
Referring to these drawings:-A is the main pedestal part of the frame, made
of a hollow octagonal shape of thin cast iron, with snugs A' at the bottom for
screwing it to a basement stone or other foundation, with a hinged and locked door
part A in front for opening up and getting at the weight W and wire cords or
chains W, which actuate the mechanism. The upper part A² of the frame is also
. made octagonal, and of thin cast-iron larger than the lower part A secured on its
upper moulding at A to contain the working mechanism in two chambers 1-1

page_text: and 2-2, seen in Figures 2 to 4, with divisional bottom plates B, B¹, to each; the
lower plate B being supported on inner flanges on the top moulding A of the
lower column part A, and the upper bottom plate B being secured to this by columns
at B", the whole frame being surmounted by a hollow ornamental top A³. The
upper case A2, is formed with hinged and locked doors at A', A', respectively, for
getting into the mechanism or works of the upper and lower chambers 1-1
and 22 respectively, as seen more particularly in Figures 3 and 4. In Figure 1
the slit is shown at C for the insertion of the coin, leading by a spout C₁ to the
receiver C, on to one arm C2 of the counterweighted starting lever C2, C3,
fulcrumed on a bracket at C₁ and both secured on the basement plate B' so that the
weight of the coin tilts this lever to unlock and start the mechanism all as will
hereinafter be described and as seen more particularly in Figures 12 and 13.
Dis
the opening through the front of the case leading the rays of light from the person
to be photographed standing or sitting two feet or so out from the front of the case
with the back of his head leaning up against a steadying ring secured to a plate or
standard in front of the case A2. The rays of light pass in through the lenses D
secured in a case D on the inside of the opening D, and this case D" is fitted with
a sliding opening and closing shutter D2, actuated by a rod g³ as shown in Figures 2
and 5, by the motive mechanism, as will hereinafter be described. In front of the
lenses D¹ a segmental shutter D³ is also fitted, with differential holes or dia-
phragms D, as seen in Figure 18, secured by an eye on the inner end of a
spindle D passed out through the case A2 in front, with a hand lever D³ on it for
being turned by the person to any of the three positions to suit the strength of
light as "Dull," "Clear," or "Sunshine," marked on the outer plate of the index
lever D, and the different sized diaphragms D, just before putting the coin into
the slit C, the lenses being made to take the photograph instantaneously or in a few
seconds immediately after the coin is put into the slit and which will be indicated
by the tingling of a bell G7 as hereinafter described. The one end of the actuating
cord or chain W' before mentioned is attached to a hook at W, secured to the
under plate B', as shown in Figure 2, and the other end of the cord W' is carried
up from the pulley on the top of the weight W and wound round the cord barrel W2
of the actuating mechanism, to turn its wheel gearing and spindles E, to E,
and F, to F³, all as indicated by the arrows in the enlarged views Figures 12 and 13,
all the spindles of the gearing being carried in two side frames W³, secured together
by cross stays W₁, all screwed to the lower bed plate B', the barrel W2, and cord W
being wound up from time to time by a key on its spindle W. The wheel E on the
barrel W², actuates a pinion E2 on the main cam spindle E', to actuate the cams and
cam gear mounted on its front end shown in Figures 7 to 11 detached, on Sheet I, as
will hereinafter be described. The spindle E¹ has also a spur wheel El gearing
into a pinion on the horizontal spindle E3 which by a crown or face wheel E
actuates a spur pinion E4 on a vertical spindle E³, carried by a bracket E, bolted
to one of the side frames W³ of the driving mechanism with a number of bands or
cord pulleys
e mounted on it, for actuating the spindles e² of the chemical and
washing baths, as will hereinafter be described. The spindle Es by a double train
of spur gearing F F, F' F', and intermediate spindle F2 actuates a fly spindle F³
with an overhung flyer F" on it, for regulating the speed of the mechanism when
started, as seen particularly in Figure 13. An endless band e¹ passes from each
pulley e of the spindle E to a pulley el on each of the four vertical spindles e²
carried in neck journal and footstep bush bearings in the plates B, B' respectively,
as shown particularly in Figures 2 to 4. On the top of each of these spindles e a
disc is secured, with two holes in it, on which a double rimmed cup ea is mounted
and rotated, by pins taking into the holes in the disc. In the centre of each of
these driving cups a tumbler et or other preferably chrystal or transparent vessel
is mounted, to be filled with the chemical liquids and washing water, as indicated in
position in Figure 3, by e to e" for the photographic plate to be inserted in each as
hereinafter described. e shows the position of the first chemical or washing bath,
e the position of the second, e' the position of the third, and e8 the position of the

page_text: 17
fourth. A U-shaped open gutter is formed all round the driving cups e³ to receive
any drips of the chemicals or water which may fall over the bath or from the photo
plate in its movements round from one bath to the other. The ferrotype or other
plates or cards a on which the photograph is to be taken are by a special improve-
ment of this invention piled horizontally over each other zigzag-ways, with their
sensitized surface upwards as dry plates, and an air space between each, in a parallel
close vertical dark chamber a', as shown more particularly in Figures 2, 5, and 16,
a weight a being inserted over them. In Figure 16, it will be seen that the
magazine chamber a¹ has two corner pieces at all at opposite ends and sides, which
retain the plates a in in two zigzag piles vertically over each other, led in through the
side door overlapping at the centre, the lower one always resting on the bar a*
and alternate sides a³ of the slide door or shutter a² fitted to reciprocate in the
lower part of the case a', with two openings in it at a to allow the lowest plate
always to fall simply by gravitation through one of these openings as this shutter a²
was reciprocated inwards or outwards to the one side or the other by the bell-
crank b, instead of being drawn out as is common in card magazines, and pass into
a conoidal shoot a³ in the lower chamber or case a of the magazine a¹ which is
supported on an upper cruciform plate B2, and by the standards B from the
division plate B. The bellcrank b, which actuates the delivery shutter a² is
fulcrumed at to the before mentioned plate B2, and has its vertical arm connected
by a slot and pin, or it might be a link, to the end of the actuating arm of the
shutter a²; while the horizontal arm is attached to the upper end of a connecting
rod, linked at its lower end to the free arm of a double or forked lever /³
fulcrumed at 6 to a bracket b, screwed to the lower plate B¹, as seen in Figures 2
and 12 and 13. These forked arms 63 are actuated by a pin c in the spur wheel c¹
mounted on a spindle c³ carried in the bracket el bolted to the front side W³ of the
motive time mechanism. This wheel c is shown detached in side and edge views in
Figure 11, and is actuated by a pinion c³, of half its size, dotted in in Figures 9
and 10 mounted on the front end of the cam spindle shaft E' of the cam mechanism
all so as to reciprocate the plate shutter a² to and fro and deliver one plate a at
each revolution of the cam shaft E' and last part of its motion, down into the curved
shoot formed of guide slides d & down into the chamber fitted on a case " on
the inside of the lenses D' ready for a picture to be taken on it when the shutter D
of the lenses D' is opened by the insertion of the coin as hereinafter described with
the upper sensitized surfaces of the plates always next the lenses, as the lowest
plate a of either set falls upon a ledge at a* at its inner end, which turns it with
the upper side out towards the lenses, as dotted in in the act of falling in Figure 5.
Referring to the starting of the mechanism of the machine by the weight of the
coin falling on the arm C² of the counterweighted lever C2, C3, this tilting down of
the lever C² removes a catch lever C³ out of a slit G', in the disc wheel G, shown
detached in Figure 9, mounted on the cam spindle E', which immediately allows
this cam shaft to start and all its motive gearing and flyer F1 at the same time
relieving the flyer F" by the lateral arm Č× on the lever C2, and this downward
motion of the lever C2, delivers the coin down a spout C into a receiving
pocket C below the plate B, the lever C² being held down for a time by the
weighted catch lever dotted in at C'; and by another arm C oscillates the hori-
zontal lever g, g, fulcrumed at gl on a bracket screwed to the front end and
side of the gearing frame W³ to the dotted position shown in Figure 13 so as by its
locking arm g' to disengage the lower hook end 2 of the rod g³, which by its upper
end actuates the outer diaphragm shutter D2 of the lenses to open and shut it by
the action of the free end of a counterweighted lever g, fulcrumed on a
bracket screwed to the upper part of the front frame W³ of the working
mechanism, as soon as the single cam pawl G2 of the cam disc G³, shown in
Figure 8, comes round along with the disc G, and raises the arm 9 of the lever g', g',
giving time for the person putting in the coin to put himself in position in front of
the lenses D, D', the time of taking the photograph being almost instantaneous,
while the cam G² keeps the lever and shutter D2 up and open, this shutter falling

page_text: down immediately the cam G2 passes the arm g³ of the lever by which time a pin G*
on the small gnarled disc G', shown in Figure 10, secured on the outer end of the
spindle E¹, comes round and strikes the lever Go of a signal bell G' to let the
person know that the photograph has been taken, and that he does not require to
stand opposite the lenses any longer. This turning of the cam spindle E' also brings
round the cam disc H, shown in side and edge view detached and indicated by the
arrows in Figure 7, so as to depress the lever H' mounted under it, each time one
of the six cam teeth h¹ to comes round, riding over an antifriction pulley h
fulcrumed on a spring bracket at h* on the lever H. This lever H¹ is fulcrumed
on a bracket at H", screwed to the front end and side plate W³ of the gearing, and
has its inner counterweighted free end connected to the lower end of a link H²
having its upper end connected to the short arm H³, of a horizontal lever H³, H*,
fulcrumed at H to a standard H, screwed to the plate B', the long arm H,
being connected to the lower end of a rod H³, the upper end of which is pointed
and supports the lower end of a spindle I, guided in a hollow column J, and at its
upper end by antifriction rollers at B3 secured on the top plate B2 supporting the
magazine of plates a a as seen particularly in Figures 2 and 5. This spindle I
carries near its central part a lateral arm I¹ both preferably made tubular for
lightness and strength with improved spring clip and gripping finger rod I³, I³, for
catching and releasing the photo plate a as it is raised and lowered by its arm I'
treated in the several chemical and washing baths e as it is turned round over them
to the positions indicated from esto es, by a new or improved annular cylindrical
vertically grooved cam arrangement J₁, J2, mounted concentrically over the top of
the column J, all as seen to a large scale in Figures 14 and 15. This annular
duplex cam part J, J2, is considerably longer or higher than the arm l' and its
spindle I have to rise and fall, the lower part J being secured on the top of the
stationary hollow column J, while the upper part J2 is secured to the under side of
the upper plate B2 concentrically over the lower part J' and to the spindle I
reciprocating vertically within them, and the cam motion is obtained by a series of
long vertical parallel cam slots j at the lower part at the several radial divisions
round the cam J' where the arm I' and plates a have to make a pause while the
arm J is in the first short slit j¹ to first grip the plate a in the recess in front of
the lenses after the picture has been taken as so far described, and afterwards as it
is turned round intermittently, where it has to be lowered parallelly down into the
baths in the several positions es, to es, and raised up out of them these cam slots j
being deepest opposite the several baths et, and form guides for the arm I¹ in its up
and down and forward rotating motion, the arm I preferably having a small anti-
friction roller I" to work in these cam guides j. For this turning of the lever I'
and spindle I these cam grooves are curved and angled forward at j at the top
part J in the direction the spindle I and arm I have to be turned, so as to turn
these while being lifted to the highest position of the cam grooves into other short
vertical grooves or recesses 2 in advance of the long lower cam grooves ; while the
continuation of the cam groove is formed at this upper part downwards and forwards
at an angle at 3 into the next vertical cam slot j, and so on throughout the series of
cam slots j round the whole circumference of the cam J¹, the slots in the upper
part of the cam J2 being intermediate between the slots j, j, in the lower cam
parts J. Thus the mere lowering of the spindle I from the upper slot 72, in the
cam part J2 carries the lateral arm I' by their own weight down and forward into
the advancing curved and angled cam groove 3, j, which will turn the arm I¹ down
into the next long lower vertical slot of the cam, and so on in succession turning
the arm I¹ to the several positions of the baths e, indicated by e to e³, by the mere
reciprocating of the central spindle I in this way vertically up and down in its
guides by the action of the cam H and levers H' to H* and carrying spindle H³ all
as before described, as each cam tappet h¹ to he comes round and causes the arm I¹
to pass from the lower part to the upper part, and nice versa from the upper part of
the cam to the lower part of the next position and slot of the cam each time the
lever H¹ is depressed by one of the cam teeth ' to hº, fitted or screwed on the time

page_text: regulated disc wheel H, which makes one revolution with its spindle E' for the
cycle of operations necessary to be given to the picture arm I¹ and its spindle I
during one revolution to take a photograph and deliver it, a raised tooth ' to hº
being formed on this time regulated wheel only at the proper places and
times it is required to raise the spindle I, and turn the arm I in the cam.
The parts of the periphery of the wheel between the cam teeth to
are concentric or circular, and of different circumferential lengths between
the teeth to give the proper time pauses the plate arm I is required to remain
in each lower slot j and division of the cam to take the photograph in front
of the lense or give the chemical or other action required in the respective baths.
The position in which the cam wheel H is shown in Figures 7 and 12 and the
lever H', is the normal or last position of the cam when the mechanism is stopped
with the arm I' delivering the plate a from its spring clip grippers I2 I³ into the
shoot K and open pocket K' for the person to receive it on the outside, as indicated
in Figure 6. The relative positions to each other of the cams G, G³, G³, and H,
which start and stop the mechanism, open the lenses, and ring the bell, and move
the card carrying arm I', with the picture through its cycle of operations and
delivers it, are all ensured by screw and stud pins ff", and holes 2 in these fitting
one another. While after the mechanism is started by the insertion of the coin
as before described, the cam tooth h¹ will have passed over and depressed the roller
hand lever H' and fallen into the space between the teeth and during the time
of giving the exposure of the plate as before described, and have brought the lever
arm I' and its spring clip 12, 13, into the position shown in Figures 2 and 5 to grip
and lift the plate out of the pocket when it will be lifted by the tooth and
carried round to the position over the first bath et indicated at where it will
have the long circumferential pause of the cam disc H from the cam tooth ² to
the tooth 3 giving sufficient time to treat the picture in this bath, when the cam
tooth will then depress the roller and lever H' and carry the arm I¹ round
to the position et over the next bath, and give time for treating the picture, while
the disc H is passing to the tooth, and which in like manner will raise the
arm I and plate a, and carry it round to the next bath et in the position e' where
the plate and photograph taken will be treated, and then by the tooth be carried
over into the following bathe in the position e, the baths revolving all the time,
as before described, by their pulleys, bands, and spindles e to e³, to agitate the
From the last bath,
water and liquids against the surface of the photo plate a.
the last cam tooth will remove the photo plate and bring it and its arm l' and
gripping clips I, 13, down over the shoot K to the position indicated in Figure 6,
and deliver the plate a into the open pocket K' for the person to receive, and leave
the roller and the lever H' in their last normal position, ready for a new start anl
cycle of operations, the lever C2 having been previously freed by the pin G4 and its
catch lever C, in which position the catch lever C³, of the lever C², will enter the
notch G of the disc G, and at the same time the arm Cx will stop the fan
mechanism to take the strain off the moving weight W, and gearing E to E and F
to Fwithout shock, a friction or brake disc Ex being fitted on the back of the
face wheel E³, to allow of this latter, and the pulleys e to revolve with the baths
gently until their momentium is absorbed by the friction of the brake Ex. This
same upward motion of the lever C2 also raises the arm C, which shifts the locking
lever to lock the lower end of the rod of the outer slide D2 of the lenses,
all so that no motion can take place until the insertion of a new coin. In some
cases the baths might be fitted with an angled vane to ensure the agitation of the
liquid by the rotation of the baths.
Referring specially to Figures 6, 14, and 15, the new or improved construction
and arrangement of the parts of the spring clip 12, 13, for gripping the photo plate.
and carrying it round the baths e', and releasing it, all as described, consists of a
light oscillating lever or hanging stem 13 fully longer than the depth of the photo-
graphic plate a to be held by it, and hinged or secured by a spring near its upper
B

page_text: a.
Thus
end to the outer end of the plate carrying arm I' and with a blade or other
spring i always tending to keep the upper sliding part 12 of the stem clip I³ down
against a stop collar i on the stem 13, this sliding part 12 having two light projecting
arms with notches in their lower ends to take on to the upper edge of the plate,
and with a bevelled catch 3 on its lower front end, the light spring i always tending
to press the sliding catch I2 12 down to catch the upper edge of the plate
when this clip 12 13 is brought down with the arm I', in its top position over each
plate a to be lifted and gripped as indicated in Figure 5 in the chamber d' the
lower catch end 3 of the clip stem 1³ would yield forward and the lower catch
glide down the back of each plate a until the upper catch or catches 2 come down and
catch the upper edge of the plate a when the lower catch 3 would spring in and
grip the plate also at the lower edge between the two catches 2 as the plate arm I'
rose in its cam grooves j, that is, the upper spring catches would come down by
its spring and grip the plate a as the arm I ascended and carry it up and round
by the action of the cam J', all as described. Then when the arm I came round
with its clip 12 13 and plate a over the delivery spout k, as indicated in Figure 6,
the descent of the arm I would cause the plate a to descend over the inside of the
lip and press it off the lower catch 3 and a back finger on the lower end of the
stem I³ to take over a central spring k, on the upper outside of the spout k², and
hold or withdraw the catch ³ from under the plate a when it would fall down the
guide slide k, into the open pocket A', all as hereinbefore described.
Although only one set of lenses D' has been shown and described, two, three,
or more sets of lenses may be mounted in like manner within the front of the case
and picture plate, to take two, three or more small photographs on the same plate,
instead of one large photograph filling the plate, as hereinbefore described, in
these automatic photographic machines having the light shutting off diaphragms
of the whole of the lenses opened and closed by the automatic mechanism, all
substantially as described, in reference to the diaphragms of the single lenses in
these automatic photographic machines.
A further improvement consists in mounting in the front or central upper part
of the case of these automatic photographic machines a powerful incandescent or
glow electric light within a close separate box or chamber which would emit the
light outwards to shine on the person or object to be photographed, but not emit
light within the photographing case or through from the outside. The electric light
would be supplied by any of the electric light companies, and the current put on at
night and when the daylight was insufficient. The electric light arrangement
would have a switch automatically put on and off by a lever actuated and set on by
the time mechanism started by the insertion of the coin, a little before the lenses
had to take the photograph on the plate, or this would be done by the insertion of
the coin itself moving a switch lever to put on the light. Or otherwise this
switching on and off of the electric light might be effected by the insertion of the
coin in a different slot and by a different automatic coin lever mechanism than that
used for the taking of the photographs by daylight, and made to control its setting
on time mechanism, by the greater number or weight of coin required in the electric
light arrangement.
In the improvements of our said former Patent, a special electric bell mechanism
was brought into action just before the light diaphragms of the lenses were opened,
to notify to the person to put himself in position and stop the mechanism for a few
minutes before the lenses would open automatically or by the person putting his
hand on a handle to set the mechanism going again. But as herein described no
action by the person is now required as this automatic bell mechanism may be
made to only give the alarm sufficiently early to give the person time to place
himself, before the machine automatically opened the diaphragms of the lenses, and
take the photograph and shut the diaphragms and move on without requiring to be
touched or interfered with by the person and also ring the bell after the photograph
was taken in the same manner as the time mechanism automatically places the

page_text: plates into the baths and removes them without stoppage, the ringing or the stopping
of the ringing of the bell or the shutting of the diaphragms indicating to the person
that his photograph was taken.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
First. The construction or general arrangement and combination of the parts and
mechanical motions of a coin-freed automatic photographing machine in which the
photo plate or picture is rotated on an arm by a vertical slotted cam and time
regulated mechanism round rotating chemical and washing baths ranged in a circle,
substantially as and in the manner herein described, in reference to and shown in
the accompanying drawings.
Second. In an automatic photographing machine, the giving of an intermittent
circular rotating and vertical up and down cycle of motions to the central spindle
and arm carrying the photo plate or picture to and down to and out of the several
baths by an annular vertical slotted cam and a cam toothed time regulated disc
wheel, substantially as and in the manner herein described in reference to and shown
in the accompanying drawings.
Third. In an automatic photographing machine, the construction and use of a
rotating lever arm carrying a spring gripping clip provided with catches for
gripping traversing and delivering each photo plate, substantially as herein
described in reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. In an automatic photographing machine, the construction and use of a
gripping clip provided with spring catches for gripping each photo plate, substan-
tially as herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Fifth. In an automatic photographing machine, the arranging of the plates, on
which the photographs are to be taken, horizontally in magazine form of super-
imposed vertical columns, with a retaining and releasing slide actuated so that the
lowest plate will be delivered by gravity at each action for the plate clip to grip,
substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying
drawings.
Sixth. In an automatic photographing machine, the construction and use of a
retaining and releasing slide under a vertical column of horizontal superimposed
photo plates for allowing at each action of the slide the lowest plate to fall out by
its own weight, substantially as herein described, in reference to and shown in the
accompanying drawings.
Seventh. In an automatic photographing machine, the arrangement and com-
bination of mechanism for giving a motion to the baths or the liquid in the baths,
consisting in mounting the baths each on rotating spindles which receive motion
from any rotating shaft of the moving time mechanism, substantially as herein
described in reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Eighth. In an automatic photographing machine, the use of two or more lenses
within the front of case to take two or more photographs on the same photo plate
substantially as herein described.
Ninth. In an automatic photographing machine, the use of an electric light
within a dark box above lenses with opening to shine on person being photographed,
and automatically switched on and off by the insertion of the coin or by a lever
controlled by the time mechanism, substantially as and in the manner herein
described.
1001
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.