Improvements in Apparatus for Obtaining and Projecting Chrono- photographic Pictures.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Obtaining and Projecting Chrono-
photographic Pictures.
I, CLAUDE GRIVOLAS fils, of Chatou (Seine et Oise), in the Republic of France,
Electrical Engineer, 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 has for its object an apparatus to take a series of instantaneous
photographs of a subject or an animated scene on a band or strip or sensitive
film, and then to project such images in the same order as they have been taken
on to a screen so as to produce a synthesis of the movement.
The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which,
Figure 1 is a sectional side. elevation of the apparatus ;
Figure 2, a front view;
Figure 3, sectional side elevation of the means for operating the shutter;
Figure 4, a front elevation of one form of drawing rollers for the film;
Figure 5 is a cross section on the line g g¹ of Figure 4 and Figure 6 a cross
section of the roller O¹ on the line e c¹ of Figure 4, showing the rubber covering
of the ends x¹.
Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 are diagrams illustrating the method of obtaining an
intermittent travel of the film;
Figure 11 is a front elevation of another form of drawing rollers;
Figures 12, 13 and 14 are views of different means for effecting an intermittent
drawing action on the film.
In order to obtain the aforesaid result I employ the following arrangement, for
which I claim priority, and which is composed as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of a
spool 13 B round which is wound the band of film B₁ B" perforated near its edges
with small holes. On the spindle S on which this hobbin or spool revolves with
slight friction there is mounted a toothed wheel A. and a crank M M.
The toothed wheel A engages with a wheel C on the spindle of which a cylin-
drical roller R having two rows of teeth is mounted, the teeth being spaced in
such a way as to coincide with the perforations of the band of film Bi B¹¹ which
it will carry with it in its movement.
The wheel C drives in its turn a large wheel D gearing with a small wheel E
which engages with a pinion H.

page_text: On the shaft of this pinion H there is mounted a cylinder O, on the middle of
which but on one part only of its circumference there is fixed a segment of india-
rubber K.
In the same plane as this cylinder 0 a second cylinder P independent of the
first is mounted to revolve freely on a spindle X.
This cylinder P is of larger diameter at its edges r r than in the middle P
(see Figure 11) which enables it to leave a space which corresponds to a little less
than the thickness of the indiarubber segment K of the roller O against which it
bears. This cylinder P is mounted with its spindle X in two arms U oscillating
on a spindle T, and springs N bear energetically against these arms in such a
way as to press the cylinder P strongly against the cylinder O.
In front of and a little higher than the toothed roller R (Figure 1) a fixed
cylinder Y is arranged, held firmly by brackets Q Q and screws i on the front
plate V.
The whole of this arrangement has for its object to impart to the band of
film B B B a rapid movement of displacement followed by a pause of much
greater duration.
The object which I have desired to attain consists in obtaining this intermittent
action of the forward movement of the film without stopping or slackening the
movement of any of the parts which assist therein..
In fact I have endeavoured to secure that the film alone shall stop whilst the parts
which cause it to move, and regulate the conditions of movement and of stoppage,
continue to revolve regularly.
The means that I employ for obtaining this result. consists of the arrangement
formed of the two rollers Ŏ and 1' (Figure 1) pressed one against the other, the
said rollers being also represented by O" and P, Figure 5, and by Op
Figure 11.
On the roller 0 (Figure 1) there is firmly fixed as aforesaid a piece of india-
rubber K or other elastic material, occupying a part (for instance a quarter) of its
periphery over a width corresponding to the gap formed by the reduced part of
the roller P (Figure 11).
This arrangement and all its modifications to which I claim the sole right as
applied to chrono-photographic apparatus and any kind of photographic pictures
allows of the intermittent winding off of any suitable band or strip being obtained
without noise and without stopping the motive parts.
In fact if we impart to the roller 0 (Figure 1 and 0 Figure 5) a movement
in the direction indicated by the arrow, the indiarubber segment K (Figure 1
and K Figure 5) will bear strongly against the roller P (Figure 1 and P"
Figure 5) and will form a roller device.
If the band of film be inserted between the two rollers it will be drawn through
with an energy corresponding to the pressure exerted by the spring N, Figure 1.
This drawing will cease immediately the indiarubber segment K has passed and
no longer presses against the roller P.
At this moment the part of the roller Q which is not covered with india-
rubber will be held away from the roller P by the shoulders r r, thus leaving the
band of film free (Figure 5).
By causing the rotary movement of the rubber coated roller O to be continued
in the direction of the arrow, the band will advance at each revolution an amount
equal to the length of the surface of the rubber K and its speed of displacement
will be proportionate to the diameter of the roller O and to the speed of its rotation.
The arrangement of the rollers O and P (Figure 1) as well as their form, size,
and number may be varied, and I reserve more particularly the right to employ
the following contrivances and arrangements which will produce results similar
to those herein before described.
1. The roller P (Figure 1) may become the drawing roller in place of the roller O.
2. The roller P may be entirely or partially covered with indiarubber or other
suitable material for producing the winding off.

page_text: 3. The rollers O and P may be connected by gearing or trains of gearing
adapted to cause them to revolve both together in order to better ensure the
winding off of the film.
4. The rollers O" and Pª (Figure 12) may be mounted on fixed spindles and
each have a projecting part n n of indiarubber or of other material or even of
the same substance as the rollers O themselves.
5. The rollers O and P may have partial projections of any suitable material
suitable for producing an intermittent winding off of the film.
6. The rollers O and P may differ in their relative diameters and in their
form.
7. The rollers O and P which may or may not be covered with an elastic material
may have either on their ends or on their spindles one or more eccentrics, cams or
other suitable projections for separating them one from the other at certain
moments so as to cause them to work in the fashion of a pair of jaws approaching
one another and separating, whilst at the same time revolving on themselves, thus
producing an intermittent drawing action on an object passing between the said
rollers (Figures 13 and 14).
8. Finally I reserve to myself the exclusive property and the right of employing
any one of these arrangements or forms each in combination with one or more of
them.
The organs comprising my apparatus, and the action of the principal part and
its derivatives having been described, I will now explain the general working of
the whole of the apparatus.
The sensitive band B1 B containing two rows of perforations is wound on the
spool B (Figures 1 and 2) which is revoluble freely on its spindle S, and a certain
length of this band is unwound and passed round the toothed roller R in such a
way as to cause the teeth dd³ d of this cylinder to engage in the holes formed
in the band. The band B is then passed round the fixed cylinder Y and caused to
descend in a vertical guide of the width of the band. This guide is comprised
between s and t and consists of a fixed front h h¹ and a movable back or cover J J¹.
These two parts h¹ and J J are covered internally with a flexible fabric in
order not to injure the band and are perforated at a a¹ with an opening of the size
of the pictures 7 (Figure 2) which are to appear on the band. The movable
cover JJ is pressed against the front hh by springs and the band passing
between these two parts J J1 h h¹ is maintained immovable by the action of these
springs u u¹.
At the end of this guide the band is introduced between the two winding or
drawing rollers O and P (Figure 1) and from thence may be wound on a spool or
bobbin, which is not shown in the drawing, or fall into a box or basket according
to circumstances.
VV represent a front plate on which the wheels and parts hereinbefore mentioned
are mounted, and a window or opening corresponding to the openings a a¹ is
formed at the point all in order to give passage either to the image coming from
the outside when it is desired to take an impression on the sensitive band or for
the projection of the positive images figured on the band when it is a question of
throwing the latter on a screen.
If a rotary motion be now imparted to the crank M M (Figure 1) in the direction
of the arrow, the wheel A revolving with the spindle S will drive the wheel C
and the toothed roller R. The wheel C will in its turn drive the large wheel D
which transmits its movement to the wheel E and the latter will drive the pinion H
and the whole will revolve in the directions indicated by the arrows.
In Figure 1 the band after having passed round the roller R occupies the
position q q¹ q² 93 g and on the movement of the rollers and P continuing in
the direction of the arrows, the band will be sharply drawn from the top to the
bottom and will then occupy about the position indicated by the dotted
line b b¹ b² þ³ b¹. There are produced in fact three successive phases as indicated
respectively by the diagrams in Figures 7, 8 and 9, and as the roller ✪ makes

page_text: four revolutions whilst the cylinder R makes one there is produced at the moment.
indicated by the diagram (Figure 9) a strain on the film which is thus strongly
stretched. The indiarubber on the roll O (Figure 9) will slip for a very short
period of time without drawing off more band than the cylinder R can wind off
and the band will then be let go as shown in the diagram Figure 10.
The stationary position of the band of film being regulated by the position which
the cylinder R occupies at the moment when the indiarubber K leaves this band,
and the speed with which the band is unwound from the toothed cylinder R being
in the case shown four times smaller than the speed with which the indiarubber
draws off this band, the roller O will draw off at each revolution a length of the
band of film exactly equal to a quarter of the circumference of the cylinder R. It
may be stated that this speed may vary according to the proportion of the gearings
and the respective diameters of the cylinder R and the roller O.
This cylinder R, having in the case herein described 16 teeth, exactly four teeth
will pass at each revolution of the roller and if each image occupies the space
comprised between four perforations, an image will pass in front of the corre-
sponding openings a a¹ all each time that the roller O makes one revolution.
The cylinder R has therefore for its object to unwind first the band from off the
bobbin B and then of only permitting this band to be wound up by the roller O to
an extent corresponding to the length of the band which it winds up during the
time that the roller O makes one complete revolution.
The indiarubber K fixed on part of the circumference of the roller O must be
of a width about equal to that of the band which is to be drawn off and of an
extended length a little greater than that corresponding to the length of the band
which is to be drawn off so as to produce a drawing movement which ensures the
perfect tension of the band without destroying it, because the indiarubber will slip
without scratching the band.
After the indiarubber coated roller O has quitted the band of film it continues
its rotation as in the diagram (Figure 10) and the toothed cylinder R, continuing
also to revolve, unwinds a portion of the band of film which forms a fresh loop, as
shown in diagram Figure 7, and thus prepares again a certain length of free
band which will be sharply drawn forward as soon as the indiarubber coated
part K of the roller O presses upon it, and this action is repeated at each revolution
of the roller O until the whole of the band has passed.
The fixed cylinder Y has for its object to direct and keep the band in the axis
of the guidest and to allow of the formation of the loop. The roller P' does not
rub on the band of film nor on the roller O but is carried round by both and thus
has a rotary movement on its axis X.
This roller P has for its object to press the band of film against the indiarubber
coated part of the roller O and thus to ensure the adherence necessary for the
regular and intermittent drawing off or unwinding of the band of film. This
pressure is adjustable and is produced by the spring N. It must vary according to
the speed given to the apparatus.
In order to diminish the noise of the rotation of the rollers O and P one on the
other, and to ensure their relative positions, I have given to the roller O the form
shown in Figure 11 at 0. The two projecting ridges or collars n n¹ ensure the
regular lateral movement without slipping, and by covering the ends each
with a ring of indiarubber or other flexible substance as in Figure 4, the ends ³
and of the roller P¹ travel without noise on a soft surface.
In Figure 1 two little rollers a³ a are shown forming guide rollers to maintain
the film pressed against the toothed cylinder R in order to ensure its regular
drawing off and unwinding. Figure 3 indicates the mounting on the shaft of the
wheel E, of a bevel wheel L to engage a bevel pinion Z on the shaft of which bevel
pinion a disc f is mounted, said disc being slotted at one part of its surface to act
as a shutter in front of the window all in order to obstruct the passage of the light,
or the passage of the projected image, whilst the movement forward of the band
of film is being produced. This shutter revolves at the same speed as the roller O

page_text: or at a greater speed according to the combination of the gearings, and will produce
one or more shuttings off at each change of the images projected.
After the preceding explanation I would now state that the apparatus for which I
request the grant of a Patent is distinguished from those already existing by:
1. All the parts in movement revolve freely without shock and consequently
without noise.
2. None of the parts in movement are either stopped suddenly or slackened in
their movement which ensures a great regularity of working without shaking or
abnormal wear of the movements.
3. None of the parts are actuated by an alternating movement.
4. The toothed cylinder which draws off the band, at the same time regulates
the length of the pictures without stopping in its movement which is continuous
and thus avoids vibrations in the apparatus.
5. The cylinder regulating the length of the pictures being the same as that
which prepares the loop, the hands of film are better preserved.
6. The picture being stretched before each stoppage a greater precision as to
the place occupied by the picture is obtained, and the play which might exist between
the teeth of the guide cylinder and the perforations of the film is of no importance
seeing that the band is always drawn taut.
7. It is easy to increase or diminish the speed of the movement of the band by
increasing or diminishing the diameter of the drawing roller without changing
anything in the other parts of the apparatus.
8. This faculty enables the shutter to be dispensed with as the picture dis-
appears at such a speed that the eye cannot follow the movement.
9. The band being completely left to itself whilst stationary, which corresponds
precisely to the projection, it does not undergo any vibration arising from the
parts of the apparatus which continue their regular movement.
10. In my apparatus the band alone receives an intermittent movement.
11. By varying the diameter and the length of the drawing roller, films of
larger dimensions may be employed than with other apparatuses so as to be able
to obtain projected pictures of a much larger surface.
Finally, the above apparatus might be combined with another apparatus of the
same pattern or of a different pattern and organised in such a way as to take two
views simultaneously or non-simultaneously with the object of then projecting these
views separately or together on the same screen and producing at the same time
the illusion of movement and the sensation of relief. The apparatus thus combined
or separate may be provided with coloured glasses in order to give to the views
projected the necessary shades which it may be desired to obtain.
The apparatus may be provided with objectives placed in front of the window all
and they may be enclosed in boxes in such a way as to protect the films intended to
receive the impressions from the action of light whilst allowing the mechanism to be
actuated from the outside.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In an apparatus for taking or projecting views or chrono-photographic
pictures, the arrangement of one or more rollers only partially covered with a
strip of indiarubber or other like material, for the purpose of winding off inter-
mittently a band of film substantially as described.
2. In an apparatus for taking or projecting chrono-photographic pictures, the
combination of a drawing device formed of a roller partially covered with india-
rubber and a smooth roller, with a toothed cylinder for producing the forward
movement of the film and limiting its extension so as to only allow it to advance
the desired length at each revolution of the drawing roller, substantially as
described.

page_text: a
3. In an apparatus for taking or projecting chrono-photographic pictures,
drawing device having one of its rollers partially covered with a band of india-
rubber, and a toothed cylinder adapted to produce and limit the advancement
of the band of film, in combination with a fixed and immovable roller placed in
the track of the band of film between the toothed cylinder and the drawing device
with the object of suitably directing the band of film and acting as a brake to it
when the latter is drawn in such a way that the traction exerted by the drawing
device on the band causes no alterations in the perforations of the film substantially
as described.
4. In an apparatus for taking and projecting chrono-photographic images, a
drawing device having one of its rollers partially covered with a band of india-
rubber, a toothed cylinder producing and limiting the advancement of the band of
film and a fixed immovable roller guiding the band of film and serving as a brake,
in combination with a guide or frame of the width of the film having its rear
part movable and the pressure of which is adjustable, said guide serving to guide
during its movement and to render stationary the band of film whilst at rest at
the moment when it is released at the bottom and the top substantially as described.
5. In an apparatus for taking or projecting chrono-photographic pictures, a
drawing device having one of its rollers partially covered with a band of india-
rubber, a toothed cylinder producing and limiting the advancement of the band of
film, a fixed and immovable roller directing the band and serving as a brake to it,
and a guide or frame serving to guide and render stationary the film during its
stoppage, in combination with a shutter disc placed between the film and the
objective and arranged in such a way that, by its movement of continuous rotation
actuated by the mechanism which operates the other parts, it shuts off the projection
or the arrival of light during the time that the film is in motion and allows the
light to pass during the time that the film is stationary, substantially as described.
6. In apparatuses for taking or projecting chrono-photographic pictures the
means for obtaining an intermittent traction of the band of film comprising essen-
tially a toothed roller adapted to draw the band of film and limit its movement, a
fixed roller to direct the film and serve as brake, a drawing device having one of its
rollers partially covered with indiarubber and a guide or frame for guiding and
rendering stationary the film during its stoppage substantially as described.
7. The method of obtaining an intermittent traction or travel of the band of
film in apparatuses for taking or projecting chrono-photographic pictures comprising
'the following steps ; —
(a) Feeding a portion of the band a little shorter than the extent of a picture
by means of a toothed cylinder (Figure 7).
(b) In drawing this portion of the band free by the action of the indiarubber
coated part of the drawing device which passes in front of the compressing roller
(Figure 8).
(c) In then stretching strongly the band by the continuation of the movement
of the drawing roller, the indiarubber coated part of which is longer than the
part of the band moved forward by the toothed cylinder and which then slips
over the stretched part of the film (Figure 9).
(d) In drawing off, during this period of travel, the amount of film that the
toothed cylinder continues to unwind.
(e) In simultaneously releasing the film at the top and at the bottom and letting
it go free by the indiarubber coated part of the drawing roller leaving its point
of pressure against the film, the latter being therefore no longer drawn by the
bottom and remaining free between the two rollers, whilst at the top the toothed
cylinder continuing always its unwinding action feeds a fresh portion of the band
thus giving liberty to the upper portion of the band which is held taut and
immovable in the guide in the middle of which the projection window or aperture
is arranged; the whole substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
8. The general construction and combination of parts taken as a whole forming

page_text: the improved apparatus for obtaining and projecting chrono-photographic pictures
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
Dated this 17th day of November 1897.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.