Improvements in and relating to Automatic Photographing Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 14th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 16th Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Automatic Photographing
Machines.
We, JOHN MACINTOSH MACKAY MUNRO, of 136 Bothwell Street Glasgow,
Electrical Engineer, and JAMES MACFARLANE, of 9 Holland Place, Glasgow
aforesaid, Works Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows :-
This invention which relates to improvements in automatic photographing
machines, has for its object to make the action of such machines more simple and
durable and requiring less attention than hitherto.
The action of this improved machine is as follows:-The person to be photo-
graphed stands in front of the machine, and uncovers the lens, or the coin slot, or
both, by pulling or pushing aside a handle or lever. This movement is transmitted
by cord, chain, metal rod, or other device, so as to wind up the weight or spring
which actuates the mechanism to an extent sufficient for delivering at least one
card. This arrangement of the winding appliance so as to uncover the lens or coin
slot or both, ensures its being properly attended to, and that without the operator
being aware that he is winding up the machine.
An alternative method of securing this semi-automatic winding up of the machine,
would be to place the head-rest with or without a reflector on a lever or metal rod,
so that the act of folding or pulling it down or up into position, would wind up the
machine. To ensure the proper use of this head-rest-winding arrangement, it
would be fitted with an attachment so that it could not be pulled down till the coin
was put in the slot, and so that the finished card could not be delivered till it was
replaced.
With the first method of semi-automatic winding the dropping in of the coin
would preferably allow the machine to start; with the second, this object would be
preferably accomplished by a small press button or pull.
Another alternative method would be to enclose the space between the reflector
and the pillar, leaving a part next the machine in the form of a little gate and so
connecting the gate with the clockwork that the opening and shutting of the gate
by the people entering or leaving during the use of the machine would by the
movement of the gate accomplish the winding of the machine. To provide against
interference with the mechanism by undue or illtimed movement of the gate it is
necessary to provide arrangements so that the action of the gate and indeed of all
the self winding devices on the clockwork will cease when it is fully wound up, and
also so that the clock can be wound while the clockwork is going. We prefer to
do this last by using a spring instead of a weight as the driving force, the winding
arrangement being attached to the one end of the spring and the clockwork to
the other, so that the action of the winding does not interfere with the movement.
Another alternative method is to arrange the machine so that the finished card
cannot be withdrawn from the delivery chamber until the cover is drawn aside, and
the performing of this act winds the clockwork.
Another alternative method is to provide a strong pointer with a handle with the
directions that if not already there it be placed opposite the mark "Clear" or
"Dull," according as the day is clear or dull. Besides uncovering the lens and
increasing or diminishing the light aperture, this movement would wind the clock-
work. The handle would of itself go back to zero when the photographic exposure
was complete.
When the first-mentioned method of uncovering the lens is adopted the details
usually preferred are as follows:-A penny must be dropped in the slot before the

page_text: lens cover is unlocked. The lens cover is then pulled aside. This alone may
allow the mechanism to start, the cover remaining down until exposure is complete
and then replacing itself, or to secure the greatest steadiness of the person being
photographed the penny dropped into the slot may after the lens cover is with-
drawn re-appear at a lower slot too small however to allow it to come out
altogether. The actual starting of the clockwork would then be effected by
pushing this same penny inwards.
We find it sometimes advantageous in carrying out the above to use the principle
of the wheel and axle or other mechanical method to make the pull easier by
increasing its travel relatively to the distance through which the weight is lifted.
A pawl and ratchet is also sometimes provided to let the weight be wound without
moving the clockwork as in winding of clocks, and a second pawl and ratchet may
be provided so that levers or handles may be replaced without any effect on the
clockwork, or weight. A stop is provided so that when the clockwork is fully
wound up any further movement or working of the levers is spent upon a spring-
tight, or other slipping arrangement, which while firm enough to lift and sustain the
weight without slipping is yet loose enough to slip before any injury can be done to
the apparatus by improper use of the levers or pulls, or the same purpose may be
effected by arranging so that the winding appliance is thrown out of gear when the
weight is wound up, and not restored until it is run down or partly run down.
As one of the chief objects of making the above winding arrangements, instead of
using ordinary clockwork periodically wound in the manner adopted in such
machines hitherto, is to lengthen the time which the machine can work without
attention, some provision is necessary for renewing the developing and other solutions.
We accomplish this by having supply reservoirs of fresh solution, with overflow
reservoirs for exhausted solution.
A tube from the fresh supply is led over or into the vessel containing the working
solution, an air valve or stop-cock being opened and closed at intervals by the
clockwork driven mechanism so as to permit any desired quantity of fresh solution
to pour into the working vessel. The old solution may either overflow at the
surface into a suitably arranged receptacle, or the lower part of the working
solution may communicate by a tube with a small reservoir arranged to keep at
same level as the working solution and to overflow when it rises beyond the desired
level. The receptacle into which it overflows must in either case be of such size
and shape that it may receive the overflow safely although the vessel containing
the working solution be rotating or otherwise moving, or alternatively a siphon
may be employed to remove the used solution, in which case it must be provided
with a stop-cock or valve periodically opened by the clockwork mechanism.
If the machine is thus to be left for a considerable period without attention,
there must be a large reserve of photographic sensitized plates, ferrotypes, or
paper, as the case may be, with a delivery box. If very many plates are used, the
weight of these plates pressing upon the slide interferes with its smooth working.
To obviate this, the slide box may be made as an inclined plane or spiral, or other-
wise, for all or part of its length, so that cards may be partially supported by the
sides of the box, or alternatively a number of the plates may be supported by a
special support which may be gradually lowered but will be finally drawn aside by
action of the clockwork.
Or instead of using a slide box delivery, the cards may be so arranged as to
alternately overlap each other to, say about a third of their length or breadth, and
be upheld by two pins or rods placed one a little nearer each end than the over-
lapping part. When one of the pins is withdrawn or folded down, the card on its
side drops down into position opposite lens, being guided thereto by the shape of
the passage leading from below box to this position. The next card is sustained
by the other pin which remains underneath it, and as this card overlaps the one
above it, no other card can fall. So soon as the first card is delivered, the rod
which first moved is replaced. When another card is wanted, the second rod
similarly moves and releases a card. In this way the rods being all moved

page_text: alternately by the clockwork, the cards are delivered one by one.
Another method
would be to construct a circular box within which the card would be laid spirally,
so that each one would overlap for a part of its length and breadth the preceding
card; the process being continued till the required number is placed in the box.
Projections from the inner side of the outer surface of the box would be fixed so as
to assist in placing the cards properly and to prevent them moving out of position
till wanted. This box would rotate on its axis over a plate or series of balls or
rollers which would be so placed as to sustain all the cards except one.
this one card fell into delivery channel the card immediately above it in the spiral
would be sustained by the overlapping of the cards next to it, and so on till the
whole were exhausted.
When
Another alternative method would be to place the cards (ferrotype metal usually)
standing upright on and across an inclined plane leading to the proper position
before lens. The cards would be placed close one against another except that a
very thin plate, preferably of metal, would be between each. This supporting
plate would be so attached to an arm that each plate would support a card. These
arms with their plates are lifted one by one by the clockwork, beginning at the
end next lens. As each card is thus freed from its supporting plate it falls down
on the inclined plane, sensitized side uppermost, and so passes to position opposite
lens.
Dated this 9th day of January 1891.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicants' Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Automatic Photographing
Machines.
We, JOHN MACINTOSH MACKAY MUNRO, of 136 Bothwell Street, Glasgow,
Electrical Engineer, and JAMES MOFARLANE of 9 Holland Place, Glasgow
aforesaid, Works Manager, 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 :-
Our invention relates to improvements in automatic photographing machines, and
is a further development of Patent No. 5140 A.D. 1888 and it has for its object to
make the action of such machines more simple and durable and requiring less
attention than hitherto.
The action of this improved machine is as follows:-The person to be photo-
graphed stands in front of the machine and uncovers the lens or the coin slot or
both by pulling or pushing aside a handle or lever. This movement is transmitted
by cord, chain, metal rod, or other device so as to wind up the weight or spring
which actuates the mechanism to an extent sufficient for delivering at least one
card. This arrangement of the winding appliance so as to uncover the lens or coin
slot or both ensures its being properly attended to and that without the operator
being aware that he is winding up the machine.
An alternative method of securing this semi-automatic winding up of the machine
would be to place the head rest with or without a reflector on a lever or metal rod,
so that the act of folding or pulling it down or up into position would wind up the
machine. To ensure the proper use of this head rest winding arrangement it would
be fitted with an attachment so that it could not be pulled down till the coin was
put in the slot and so that the finished card could not be delivered till it was
replaced.
With the first method of semi-automatic wirding the dropping in of the coin
would preferably allow the machine to start; with the second this object would be
preferably accomplished by a small press button or pull.

page_text: Another alternative method would be to enclose the space between the reflector
and the pillar, leaving a part next the machine in the form of a little gate and so
connecting the gate with the clockwork that the opening and shutting of the gate
by the people entering or leaving during the use of the machine would by the
movement of the gate accomplish the winding of the machine. To provide against
interference with the mechanism by undue or illtimed movement of the gate it is
necessary to provide arrangements so that the action of the gate and indeed of all
the self winding devices on the clockwork will cease when it is fully wound up,
and also so that the clock can be wound while the clockwork is going. We prefer
to do this last by using a spring instead of a weight as the driving force, the
winding arrangement being attached to the one end of the spring and the clock-
work to the other, so that the action of the winding does not interfere with the
movement.
Another alternative method is to arrange the machine so that the finished card
cannot be withdrawn from the delivery chamber until the cover is drawn aside, and
the performing of this act winds the clockwork.
ני
or
Another alternative method is to provide a strong pointer with a handle with the
directions that, if not already there, it be placed opposite the mark "Clear"
"Dull," according as the day is clear or dull. Besides uncovering the lens and
increasing or diminishing the light aperture this movement would wind the clock-
work. The handle would of itself go back to zero when the photographic exposure
was complete.
When the first mentioned method of uncovering the lens is adopted, the details
usually preferred are as follows:-A penny must be dropped in the slot before the
lens cover is unlocked. The lens cover is then pulled aside. This alone may allow
the mechanism to start, the cover remaining down until exposure is complete and
then replacing itself, or to secure the greatest steadiness of the person being photo-
graphed the penny dropped into the slot may after the lens cover is withdrawn
reappear at a lower slot too small however to allow it to come out altogether. The
actual starting of the clockwork would then be effected by pushing this same penny
inwards.
We find it sometimes advantageous in carrying out the above to use the principle
of the wheel and axle or other mechanical method to make the pull easier by
increasing its travel relatively to the distance through which the weight is lifted.
A pawl and ratchet is also sometimes provided to let the weight be wound without
moving the clockwork as in winding of clocks, and a second pawl and ratchet may
be provided so that levers or handles may be replaced without any effect on the
clockwork or weight. A stop is provided so that when the clockwork is fully
wound up any further movement or working of the levers is spent upon a spring-
tight, or other slipping arrangement, which while firm enough to lift and sustain
the weight without slipping, is yet loose enough to slip before any injury can be
done to the apparatus by improper use of the levers or pulls; or the same purpose
may be effected by arranging so that the winding appliance is thrown out of gear
when the weight is wound up and not restored until it is run down or partly
run down.
As one of the chief objects of making the above winding arrangements, instead
of using ordinary clockwork periodically wound in the manner adopted in such
machines hitherto, is to lengthen the time which the machine can work without
attention, some provision is necessary for renewing the developing and other
solutions. We accomplish this by having supply reservoirs of fresh solution with
· overflow reservoirs for exhausted solution.
In order that our invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect we have hereunto appended two explanatory sheets of drawings which we
will now proceed to describe.
Figure 1 shows the slots and guide rails in which the coin passes down to unlock
the weather guard and start the machine.

page_text: Figure 2 is a side view showing the weather guard with unlocking levers and
winding-up gear.
Figure 3 is an end view of Figure 2 showing winding-up gear.
Figure 4 is a side view of the weather guard pulley.
Figure 5 is a sectional view of the reservoirs for containing fresh solutions, the
working solutions and the overflow.
Figure 6 is a section of the box for containing the sensitized plates.
In operation, the penny when placed in the upper slot a, Figure 1 passes down
the guide rails 6 and weighs down a small pivoted shutter c with a lever or arm c¹
attached to it. This lever when moved tips over another lever 1, Figure 2, with
a weight at its end which falls upon and pushes down the bolt i turning it clear of
stud thereby unlocking the weather guard j, and so allowing this guard j to be
pulled down and the clockwork wound up. When the clockwork is fully wound
the penny which has been resting on a second small pivoted shutter d, Figure 1,
is now freed by the tilting of this shutter caused by the upward movement of the
rod k, Figure 2.
up
The penny now reappears at a lower slot g, Figure 1 which is too small to allow
of its coming completely out, and it remains there till pushed in for starting the
machine.
The winding up of the clockwork is by means of a chain or cord 1, Figure 2,
attached to the weather guard at one end and to a large pulley m at the other
end, one turn of this pulley being sufficient to wind up the clock. This pulley has
attached to it a smaller pulley a a. Figure 3, with a chain or cord and weight n
sufficient to rewind up the chain attached to weather guard j, and so replaces the
same when liberated.
The pulley bb, Figure 3, with weight o and chain for driving the clockwork is
thrown out and into gear with this set of pulleys by means of a sliding bar P which
is pushed up out of gear and down into gear by the weight n attached to the
weather guard pulley a a when wound up to top or when fully run down.
The weight o which drives the clockwork when fully wound up lifts by means of
an arm o¹ Figure 2 a replacing rod k which replaces the weighted lever used for
unlocking weather guard. When weighted lever h is replaced the bolt i falls back
to its normal position by being weighted at end which comes in contact with
stud; the bolt being pivoted at i'. This rod k has also a lateral projection not shown
in drawings which locks the weather guard when down, by getting under end of bolt q,
Figure 2, and preventing it moving downwards clear of and is only liberated after
the clock has been set in motion. A cam wheel c c on clock lifts the levers r and s
which move a quadrant t with a slot in it until the slot is under the replacing rod k.
The replacing rod dropping into this slot liberates the weather guard and allows
the same to slide up into former position. To prevent more than one penny at a
time being put into guide rails b, Figure 1 a small stopper e actuated by lever ƒ
and by the weighted lever h, Figure 2, closes the passage which remains so until
the clockwork makes one revolution, when lever u, Figure 2 is depressed by cam
on wheel cc which moves lever f, and reopens it. To prevent any coin or other
article less in size than a penny from unlocking the weather guard or starting the
machine the guide rails are cut away on underside all but a small ledge on either
side, thus allowing a free passage for such articles to fall freely through without
doing any harm.
P
We provide a small spring piston W, Figures 2 and 3, which comes between
weight n and bar p, and makes the pushing up of bar p out of gear more certain.
v, Figures 2, & 3 is a rod which pushes down into gear the sliding bar
rod v
being pushed down by weight a descending upon and tipping over the weighted
lever y which falls with less violence than weight n upon the end of v.
weight n begins to ascend at the next operation the weighted lever y is replaced in
former position. z is a lever which stops the descent of weight o and consequently
the clockwork in the event of anyone holding down weather guard j. When it is
When

page_text: liberated and ready to slide up into normal position, is thrown back from weight o
as soon as weight n descends and tips over lever y which presses against bottom
end of lever a.
い
Figure 4 shows the sliding bar p with small friction spring z which prevents it
travelling more than the required distance by falling into a small hole in bar p,
when the bar is pushed up and into another small hole when bar is pushed down.
is a pin attached to p, which comes against another pin 6' attached to pulley bb
when bar p is down. In this way the two sets of pulleys m, a a, and bare
geared into each other for winding up clockwork. When bar P is pushed up and
out of gear the two pins p' and b₁ 6' pass each other. This takes place when
weather guard j is sliding up into normal position.
A tube from the fresh supply g g is led over or into the vessel og con-
taining the working solution, an air-valve or stop-cock h h being opened and closed
at intervals by the clockwork driven mechanism (which being no part of our inven-
tion, we need not herein describe) so as to permit any desired quantity of fresh
solution to pour into the working vessel. The old solution may either overflow at
the surface into a suitably arranged receptacle, or the lower part of the working
solution may communicate by a tube ii with a small reservoir jj arranged to keep
at same level as the working solution and to overflow through tube k k when it
rises beyond the desired level. The receptacle e e into which it overflows must in
either case be of such size and shape that it may receive the overflow safely
although the vessel containing the working solution be rotating or otherwise
moving; or alternatively a siphon may be employed to remove the used solution,
in which case it must be provided with a stop-cock or valve periodically opened by
the clockwork mechanism.
If the machine is thus to be left for a considerable period without attention
there must be a large reserve of photographic sensitized plates, ferrotypes, or
paper, as the case may be, with a delivery box. If very many plates are used the
weight of these plates pressing upon the slide interferes with its smooth working.
To obviate this the slide box ll, Figure 6, may be made as an inclined plane mm,
or spiral, or otherwise, for all or part of its length, so that cards may be partially
supported by the sides of the box.
Or, instead of using a slide box delivery, the cards may be so arranged as to
alternately overlap each other to say about a third of their length or breadth, and
be upheld by two pins or rods placed one a little nearer each end than the over-
lapping part. When one of the pins is withdrawn or folded down the card on its
side drops down into position opposite lens, being guided thereto by the shape of
the passage leading from below box to this position. The next card is sustained
by the other pin which remains underneath it, and as this card overlaps the one
above it, no other card can fall. So soon as the first card is delivered the rod
which first moved is replaced. When another card is wanted the second rod
similarly moves and releases a card. In this way the rods being all moved
alternately by the clockwork the cards are delivered one by one.
Another
method would be to construct a circular box within which the card would be
laid spirally, so that each one would overlap for a part of its length and
breadth the preceding card, the process being continued till the required
number is placed in the box. Projections from the inner side of the outer
surface of the box would be fixed so as to assist in placing the cards properly
and to prevent them moving out of position till wanted. This box would rotate
on its axis over a plate or series of balls or rollers which would be so placed
as to sustain all the cards except one. When this one card fell into delivery
channel the card immediately above it in the spiral would be sustained by the
overlapping of the cards next to it, and so on till the whole were exhausted.
Another alternative method would be to place the cards (ferrotype metal
usually) standing upright on and across an inclined plane leading to the proper
position before lens. The cards would be placed close one against another
except that a very thin plate, preferably of metal, would be between each. This

page_text: supporting plate would be so attached to an arm that each plate would support
a card. These arms with their plates are lifted one by one by the clockwork
beginning at the end next lens. As each card is thus freed from its supporting
plate it falls down on the inclined plane, sensitized side uppermost and so passes
to position opposite lens.
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 :-
1. In coin freed photographic machines the use of a semi-automatic winding
appliance substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described & shewn
on Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
2. In an automatic photographing machine, the general arrangement and com-
bination of the parts for operating the mechanism, substantially as and for the
purposes hereinbefore described and shewn on Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the
accompanying drawings.
3. In an automatic photographing machine the arrangements for supplying a
reserve supply of sensitized plates and of working solutions, substantially as
described and shewn on Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 13th day of October 1891.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicants' Agents.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicants' Agents.