Photographic Camera Stands.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 31st May, 1898-Accepted, 16th July, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Photographic Camera Stands.
I, MAX LEVY, of No. 1213 Race Street, in the City of Philadelphia, County of
Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, one of the United States of America,
Manufacturer of Engraved Gratings for the Half Tone Process and Specialties
for Photo-Engravers and Etchers, 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 appertains to improvements in camera-stands of that class which
are used for photographic purposes in copying, the invention being designed to
provide a camera and object support which may be moved in unison so that they
may be maintained in the same relative position with respect to each other not-
withstanding that the position of the support may be varied with respect to the
base, also to provide means for connecting the frame by which the camera and
object is carried with the base or supporting frame so that said parts will be
insulated from each other, to obviate difficulties incident to vibrations caused by
jarring the base or supporting frame. A further object of my invention is to
generally improve the construction and organization of the parts so as to permit
the greatest range of movement and adjustment and to simplify in practice the
use of such a stand. The invention consists in the construction and arrangement
of the parts whereby the base and support for the camera and object are
mechanically connected so as to be insulated from each other, so as to prevent
vibrations which are imparted to the frame, from being communicated to the
support for the camera and object.
The invention also consists in the novel means for adjusting the movable support
with respect to the base.
The invention also consists in the construction and arrangement of the parts as
will be hereinafter fully set forth and specifically pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated my invention as applied to
a photo-copying apparatus.
Figure 1 being a side elevation showing a camera-platform positioned above the
base and when used in such position the camera will be provided with a hood and
prism.
Figure 2 is a rear elevation showing the parts arranged as in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional view showing the parts arranged in position for use
with a copying camera of ordinary construction.
Figure 4 is a detail view looking down upon the movable frame when in the
position shown in Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3, and—
Figure 6 is a detail view, partly in section of one of the bearings for the main
supporting shaft which forms the pivotal connection between the camera and
object support and the frame.
In many branches of photo-copying, it is customary to make so called reverse
negatives, the reversal of the image being brought about by the use of a reflecting
prism or mirror in connection with the lens, and under these conditions the body
of the camera from the center of the lens to the center of the ground glass must
be in a direction at right angles to a line drawn from the center of the lens to the
center of the object, whereas, if no reversing apparatus is used, a line from the

page_text: vided for adjusting the slides and holding them in rigid engagement with the
platform D. The free ends of the arms dd are provided with notches or recesses d³
which will engage with the pins 69 which project from the side pieces of the
frame B so that the camera-platform may be maintained by said arms in the
position shown in Figure 3, of the drawings. In practice, the camera-platform D
may be supported in two positions with respect to the frame B or object-support C,
that is, it may be parallel therewith as shown in Figure 1, or at right angles thereto
as shown in Figure 3, the adjustment or change of position is manually made and
when the camera-support is not held by the arms d, it will rest upon the ends B¹
of the adjustable frame B, as shown in Figure 1.
Between the side pieces of the frame which carries the camera-platform D and
object-holder C, is secured a cross piece E, from which projects pulley supports e e
between which are journalled grooved pulleys or rollers, and this cross piece also
carries a bearing in which is journalled a stub shaft to which is affixed a wheel E¹
having teeth for engagement with a worm mounted on a shaft F, said shaft having
a suitably operating crank handle. The stub which carries the wheel E' also
carries a disk E2 provided with a continuous spiral groove around which passes a
flexible connection. One end of said connection is led from the disk over a pulley e¹
carried by the cross piece E, thence downward over a pulley carried by the shaft
which supports an adjustable frame B, through an aperture in a bracket G, and
around a pulley eat the lower end of the adjustable frame, thence upward to an
apertured lug g' on the bracket G, where it is made fast. The other end of the
connection passes from the grooved disk over a pulley e carried by the cross piece E,
and from thence through a central aperture in the bracket C, to the plate g
where it is made fast.
It will be observed by reference to Figure 3, that the bracket G, is rigidly
secured to the rectangular frame c and has a projecting flange through which
passes a set screw 93 bearing upon the upper side of the plate g. The plate g
carries a set screw g³ which engages with the underside of the flange on the
bracket G. By this construction, the plate can be adjusted to regulate the
tension of the flexible connection, one end of which is fastened to the plate g.
By the construction shown the object-holder C, may be moved upon the frame B,
by simply turning the crank arm carried by the shaft F, the worm thereon engag-
ing with the worm-wheel will hold the disk E over which the flexible connection
passes, locked.
Between the side pieces of the base or main supporting frame A, is journalled
a shaft H, which carries a spirally grooved drum h positioned adjacent to one of the
side frames and said shaft beyond the side frame carries ratchet wheels h¹² the
teeth of which project in opposite directions and are engaged by gravity pawls
attached to the side pieces A¹ A³. A rope or flexible connection is wound or
wrapped several times around the drum h one end thereof being guided over a
pulley or roller h³ which is mounted on a support projecting from one of the
side pieces of the adjustable frame B; the flexible connection extends from said
pulley to the shaft or cross bar upon which is mounted the pulley e³, the con-
nection with the shaft being made preferably by a spring h. The other end of
the flexible connection is attached to the opposite side of the frame B, by a similar
spring which engages with a block or plate 45, the springs are of sufficient tension
to permit the changing of the position of the frame B, by drawing upon one
end of the connection and paying out the other end. In adjusting the frame B, one
of the pawls is dis-engaged from its ratchet wheel, and when so dis-engaged, the
operator can move the adjustable frame to the desired angle, varying from an
upward inclination of the base of the object-holder to a position beyond a vertical
To lower the frame, one of the pawls is dis-engaged, and to raise the frame,
the one on the opposite side of the frame therefrom is dis-engaged. It will be
noted that but a slight manual effort is required to move the frame B, as the camera
and its platform will counter-balance the end of the arm carrying the object
holding support.
one.

page_text: 7th. In a photo-copying camera-stand, the combination with a camera-platform
and an object-support carried by an adjustable frame, a base to which said frame
is pivotally connected, a shaft carried by the base, a flexible connection attached
to the adjustable frame an intermediate portion thereof engaging with the drum,
and means for moving the shaft to effect a change of position of the adjustable
frame with respect to the base, for the purpose set forth.
8th. In a photo-copying camera-stand having a pivotally supported frame whichi
is insulated from its base, an object-support carried by the frame so as to be
adjustable longitudinally thereon, and a camera-platform pivotally attached to
said frame and provided with means for changing its position or angle with
respect to the object holder, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.
9th. In a photo-copying apparatus, the combination of a pivotally supported
frame connected to a supporting base, means embodying flexible connections,
guides therefor, a drum over which the flexible connection passes, means for
turning said drum attached to the pivotally supported frame and an object-support
mounted on the pivotally supported frame, the flexible connection engaging with
said object-support to effect a longitudinal movement thereof upon the frame when
the drum is turned, for the purpose set forth.
10th. In a photo-copying apparatus, the combination with a base or main sup-
porting frame, of a frame pivotally connected thereto and insulated therefrom,
means for moving the frame upon its pivot embodying a flexible connection the
ends of which are attached to the movable frame, a shaft mounted on the base and
provided with a drum about which the flexible connection is wound and means for
holding the shaft against rotation, substantially as shown and for the purpose set
forth.
11th. In a camera-stand; the combination of a base having spring supported
journal boxes, a shaft journalled between the side pieces of the base, ratchet wheels
mounted on said shaft, pawls carried by the base, a drum mounted on the shaft
between the side pieces of the base, of a frame which engages with the journal
boxes, a flexible connection which is attached thereto and engages with the drum
on the shaft herein before mentioned an object-support and a camera-holder carried
by the pivotal frame, substantially as shown, so that the angle of the pivoted
frame may be varied by dis-engaging one of the pawls from its ratchet wheel, for
the purpose set forth.
12th. In a camera-stand the combination with a base having spring supported or
insulated journal boxes, a frame having a shaft which engages with said journal
boxes, a shaft journalled to the base and provided with a drum, means for holding
said shaft against rotation; together with a flexible connection which passes over
the drum the ends thereof being connected to the frame carried by the base, an
object-support and a camera-platform connected to the frame, substantially as
shown and for the purpose set forth.
13th. In a photo-copying apparatus, a camera-platform and an object-support
mounted upon a frame, said frame being pivotally connected to and insulated as
to vibrations from its supporting base, means for connecting the camera-platform
to the frame so that it may be positioned parallel with or at right angles to the
object-support, and means for moving the frame to which the camera-platform and
object-support are attached with respect to the base, substantially as shown and
for the purpose set forth.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
Chartered Patent Agents,
62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents for the Applicant.