Improvements in or relating to Operating the Films for Animated Photography and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Oct., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 20th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 20th Oct., 1898
Improvements in or relating to Operating the Films for Animated
Photography and Apparatus therefor.
I, ROLAND HUGH EDWARDS, of 37, Queen's Road, Brownswood Park, Highbury,
London, N., Draughtsman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in or relating to operating
the films for animated photography and apparatus therefore and is as
follows:-
The film may be of the usual or any suitable character length width etc. and
has endwise motion imparted thereto or is caused to travel by any suitable means
such for instance as any of the well-known appliances or means at present
employed for advancing the film, either when taking a series of photographs in
rapid succession or when exhibiting same by projecting same in rapid succession
on a screen etc. and also any suitable shutter or shutters may be employed and same
may be operated by or arranged to act in conjunction with such film-operating
mechanism in any well-known or suitable manner.
Between the winding roller or equivalent and the unwound portion of the film
according to my present invention I pass the film around or partially round two
fixed or stationary guide rollers (which may if desired be the sprocket or film
advancing rolls) arranged on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the lens or
projected rays and then I lead said film round two or other suitable number of
interposed and movable rollers drums or equivalent adapted to be bodily recipro-
cated which rollers for brevity I will term the "movable rollers "-these latter
being so arranged as to cause the film to make a circuitous or divergent course in
passing from one said stationary guide roller to the other.
These movable rollers are reciprocated or motion is imparted to same in
such wise that same will carry the film or the loop or lap thereof bodily with same
so that by imparting to these movable rollers a speed in one direction equal to that
of the speed of travel or lengthwise motion of the film (i.e. equal to the lengthwise
speed of the film over the stationary rollers) therefore when the reciprocating movable
rollers (and with same the aforesaid loop or lap of film thereon) are swinging or
moving in the opposite direction to the lengthwise motion of the film consequently
at such period or moment that part of the film stretched between the two (or other
number of) movable rollers is stationary with regard to the longitudinal axis of the
lens or projected rays of light; while when said movable rollers move or are moved
in the opposite direction thereby the speed of advance or travel of the
film is at such moment very greatly accelerated and at such moment the shutter
acts i.e. is closed.
Reciprocatory movement may be imparted to the movable rollers in any suitable
manner and by any suitable means such for instance as mounting two such movable
rollers in a reciprocating rocking or sliding frame the line of motion of which latter
is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the lens or of the projected rays and then

page_text: I may impart reciprocatory movement to said frame by means of a cam or
multi-cam fixed on or operated by or from the film-winding drum such multi-cam
having a number of prolonged curves (to move the frame and consequently that
part of the film between said movable rollers at a speed exactly equal to the travel
of the whole film itself) and then short or sharp curves which return the sliding
frame (and with same its movable rollers) very rapidly.
Or I may arrange two movable rollors to reciprocate in opposite directions to one
another and the film is led round four guide rolls arranged in pairs one movable
roller operating between the two rolls of one pair so as to depress the
film more or less and the other movable roller being arranged to depress the film
between the other said pair.
By the use of my present invention the advance of the filin over the stationary
rollers (that is the motion imparted to the-film lengthwise) is continuous instead of
intermittent which is a great desideratum.
Dated this 20th day of October 1897.
Improvements in or relating to Operating the Films for Animated
Photography and Apparatus therefor.
I, ROLAND HUGH EDWARDS, of 37, Queen's Road, Brownswood Park, Highbury,
London, N., Draughtsman, 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 improvements in or relating to operating the
films for animated photography and apparatus therefor and is as follows:-
The filin may be of the usual or any suitable character length, width, etc., and
has endwise motion imparted thereto or is caused to travel by any suitable means
such for instance as any of the well-known appliances or means at present employed
for advancing the film either when taking a series of photographs in rapid
succession or when exhibiting same by projecting same in rapid succession on a screen
etc. and also any suitable shutter or shutters may be employed and same may be
operated by or arranged to act in conjunction with such film-operating mechanism
in any well-known or suitable manner.
Between the winding roller or equivalent and the unwound portion of the film
according to my present invention I pass the film around or partially round two
fixed or stationary guide rollers (which may if desired be the sprocket or film
advancing rolls) arranged on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the lens or
projected rays and then I lead said film round two or other suitable number of
interposed and movable rollers drums or equivalent adapted to be bodily
reciprocated these rollers being so arranged as to cause the film to make a
circuitous or divergent course in passing from one said stationary guide roller to
the other.
These movable rollers are reciprocated or motion is imparted to same in such.
wise that same will carry the film or the loop or lap therefor bodily therewith and
therefore when these reciprocating movable rollers (and with same the aforesaid
loop or lap of film thereon) are swinging or moving in the opposite direction to the
lengthwise motion of the film consequently at such period or moment that part of

page_text: the film stretched between the two (or other number of) movable rollers is
stationary with regard to the longitudinal axis of the lens or projected rays of
light; while when said movable rollers move or are moved in the opposite
direction thereby the speed of advance or travel of the film is at such moment
very greatly accelerated and at such moment the shutter acts i.e. is closed.
Reciprocatory movement may be imparted to the movable rollers in any suitable
manner and by any suitable means such for instance as mounting two such movable
rollers in a reciprocating rocking or sliding frame the line of motion of which latter
is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the lens or of the projected rays and then
I.may impart reciprocatory movement to said frame by means of a cam or multi-
cam fixed on or operated by or from the film-winding drum such cam having a
number of prolonged curves (to move the frame and consequently that part of the
film between said movable rollers at a speed exactly equal to the travel of the
whole film itself) and then short or sharp curves which return the sliding frame
(and with same its movable rollers) very rapidly.
Or I may arrange two movable rollers to reciprocate in opposite directions to one
another and the film is led round four guide rolls arranged in pairs one movable
roller operating between the two rolls of one pair so as to depress the film more or
less and the other movable roller being arranged to depress the film between the
other said pair.
By the use of my present invention the advance of the film over the stationary
rollers (that is the motion imparted to the film lengthwise) is continuous instead of
intermittent which is a great desideratum.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1 is side view of the apparatus in its casing the side of said casing being
removed.
Fig. 2 is a front end view of said apparatus with the front of said casing
removed.
Fig. 3 is a "local" view-viz.: side sectional view on a greatly enlarged scale of
the film-operating mechanism according to the present invention.
Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are diagrammatic views illustrating three modified arrangements
as hereinafter described.
a is the case.
b is lens.
c is revolving shutter of the usual (or any suitable) type this shutter being
operated as hereinafter described.
d is the driving crank fixed on the shaft d¹ on which is fixed the main driving
toothed wheel d² which latter gears with the toothed wheel e on the shaft B¹.
On the said shaft e¹ is rigidly fixed a large gear wheel e² which in turn gears with
the small toothed wheel f on the shaft f¹ on which latter shaft f¹ is fixed another
toothed wheelf which engages with the large toothed wheel g fixed on the shaft g¹
on which latter is fixed the small toothed wheel g² which gears with the idle
intermediate wheel h gearing with the toothed wheel i on the hollow shaft i¹ which
latter is flexibly connected to the spindle 2 passing through said hollow shaft i¹
and through the sprocket roller is the latter being rigidly fixed to said spindle 2²
so that rotary motion imparted to the said wheel i will through the said flexible
connection be transmitted to said spindle and sprocket roller i* thereon for
instance the hollow shaft may extend (as shown in Fig. 2) to the right throngh
the frame a supporting the mechanism and terminating in a crank arm is which
by means of a short length of spring it is connected to the spindle 2 so that when
the crank is is revolved the latter will through the medium of its flexible
connection revolve said spindle 2 and sprocket roller on the latter.
On the said shafts g¹ and i² respectively are mounted the film advancing rollers
known as sprocket rollers g* and * provided with sprocket teeth as shown for
entering the perforations ** in the film z.
On the aforesaid shaft e² is fixed a bevelled wheel e³ which gears with a bevelled
wheel on a shaft A which latter terminates in a sleeve k² said shaft and sleeve k²

page_text: being so combined as to permit longitudinal movement of the sleeve k² on said
shaft but in suchwise that the sleeve is always revolved by and with the
shaft k¹.
This sleeve 2 has oppositely disposed bevelled wheels the inner one of which
viz. is adapted (when said sleeve is moved towards the bevelled wheel k) to gear
with the bevelled wheel m on the shaft m¹ which at its upper end has the bevelled
wheel m² gearing with the bevelled wheel n fixed to or having formed thereon the
flange the inner face of which bears against a corresponding flange o¹ formed on
or fixed to the end of the drum o which carries the detachable reel p on which the
film z is wound.
The said bevelled wheel n and flange n¹ being carried on a sleeve (not shown)
which passes laterally through or into the drum over the pin or axis p¹ on which
said drum o (and with same the reel p) revolves.
q is a spring on said pin or axis p¹ by which said drum o is forced against the
flange n¹ and kept pressed against same whereby said drum o is revolved by means
of the bevelled wheel n (although free to revolve independently of same) by means
of the frictional contact between the opposing faces o¹ and n¹.
r is a second and similar reel or drum viz.: For winding the film z thereon
during the exposure of said film. This winding reel being similarly arranged and
mounted to the arrangement just described with respect to the reel p that is to say
said reel is revolved by means of the aforesaid outside bevelled wheel gearing
with the bevelled wheel on the sleeve 2 free to revolve on the pin or axis r³ and
with similar frictional driving arrangement so that said drum r whilo winding the
film z thereon is by means of said frictional driving gear revolved at varying speed
as the amount of film z rolled up thereon increases.
The film z in its path between the holding reel p and the winding reel passes
first under the spring or tension roller s then around or partly around the sprocket
roller and then over the small loose roller t¹ which latter is mounted in the
reciprocatory frame t (see Fig. 3) said frame t at its lower end having a second and
similar idle roller t2 around which the film passes on its way to the 2nd sprocket
roller g* and thence said film passes around the second spring or tension roller s¹
and thence to the winding reel r.
The aforesaid reciprocatory frame t is mounted and arranged to slide in guide-
ways t carried on some fixed part of the mechanism and said frame at the lower
part thereof is provided with a pair of rolls t3 t3 mounted on the same spindle t
(see Figs. 2 and 3) this said pair of rollers 3 resting upon and riding against a
pair of cams u u fixed on the aforesaid shaft f¹ on which latter is also fixed the
bevelled wheel f³ which gears with the bevel wheel c² on the shaft c¹ on which
latter is fixed the shutter c so that the movement imparted to the frame t and the
revolution of the shutter c are synchronous.
vvare springs the upper end of which v¹ v are fixed to the reciprocatory frame t
while the lower ends are attached at v² to studs or pins or fixed part of the apparatus
so that as cam u lifts the frame t the springs vv are thereby extended and pull
down the frame t again immediately the cam u permits this.
w is the front or guide frame through which the film z passes one of the objects
of said frame being to hold said film in a perfectly flat state.
is a lever pivotted at ¹ to the main frame the end 2 of this lever I being con-
nected to the aforesaid sleeve 2 so that by pulling up said lever same will be
turned at the point and thereby the aforesaid bevelled toothed wheel will be
drawn out of engagement with the bevelled wheel r¹ and thereafter and by the
same movement the bevel ³ will be put into gear with the bevelled wheel m and
thereupon the film z can be wound back on to the reel p.
Referring now to the modifications shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6-Fig. 4 is a
diagram of an arrangement in which the film passing round the sprocket roll ix
and the idle rollers t¹ t2 in the reciprocatory frame tas before thence passes round
a stationary guide roller and thence to the sprocket roller g* mounted in this
arrangement on the same shaft on which the cam n is mounted the latter in this

page_text: case being a quadruple cam instead of a single cam as in the arrangement shown
in Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of an arrangement in which the film z passing round
the sprocket wheel ix then passes over two pairs of stationary fixed rollers A A.
and B B on its way to the 2nd sprocket roll gx which latter is mounted similarly
to the arrangement just described in Fig. 4 with respect to the cam u.
Between the pair of rolls A A an idle roller A¹ is mounted on the reciprocatory
frame A2 while a second and similar idle roller B₁ is mounted on a similar
reciprocating frame B² said frames A2 and B2 being reciprocated horizontally but
always in opposite direction to one another by means of the rocker C the film z
coming from the sprocket roller passing round the first roller A then round the
movable roller A¹ and back to the 2nd roller A and thence across the frame w
(i.e. across the lens aperture) to the 1st roller B and round the movable roller B¹
thence round the 2nd stationary roller B and thence to the sprocket roller g* and
thence to the winding reel (not shown) suitable mechanism being arranged
advantageously by direct connection with the shaft so as to suitably rock the
lever or rocker C whereby the roller A¹ and B¹ will be moved from the position
shown in full lines to the position shown in dotted lines and vice-versa respectively
thus alternately bringing the film to rest at point w and advancing samme at an
accelerated speed at such point as in the arrangement previously described.
In the arrangement shown in Fig. 6 the film z passes around the stationary
roller D thence around the two idle rollers E and F mounted on the radial frame G
and thence round the 2nd stationary roller H and sprocket wheel gx on the shaft on
which latter is fixed the large toothed wheel G³ gearing with the toothed wheel F
on the shaft f¹ carrying the double cam small idle wheels or rollers G¹ being
provided on the radial swinging frame or quadrant G adapted to ride against said
cam u whereby said radial frame G is alternately and rapidly lifted and lowered
whereby it follows that as said radial frame G is being lifted the film z at such
point will be at rest with respect to the frame w-the source of illumination being
of course arranged to the left of the frame wi.e. between said frame and the
point on which the radial frame G swings.
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 animated photography causing the advancing film to take a divergent or
circuitous course of such a nature as to form in effect 2 variable loops one imme-
diately in advance and one at the rear of that part of the advancing film lying
across the lens aperture and operating this said part of the film by means of said
loops in suchwise that the film is kept in a state of tension while the advance of
the said part of the film lying across the lens aperture is alternately accelerated
and arrested with respect to said lens for the purposes set forth.
2. The herein-described method of operating the advancing film for animated
photography which consists in bodily reciprocating the advancing film-at the point
where the film crosses the lense aperture-in suchwise that the advance of that
part of the film opposite the lens is alternately accelerated and brought to rest
with respect to said lens without stopping the advance of the whole film.
3. The herein-described method of operating the films for animated photography
which consists in forming in such films two laps or loops (one ou either side of the
lens axis and adjacent thereto) adapted to be varied in size or position and having
reciprocating rollers arranged to act in said loops in suchwise that as one said loop
diminishes the other said loop correspondingly increases while that part of the film
between said loops is always held firmly stretched across the lens axis whereby the
advance of said part of the film is alternately arrested and accelerated with respect
to said lens substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.
4. In animated photographic apparatus the combination with the film-advancing
rollers or spocket rollers and the film unwinding and winding rolls of two or more

page_text: movable rollers adapted to be reciprocated at right angles to the lens axis and by
means of which two loops are formed in said film and means to synchronously
operate said movable rollers and the shutter substantially as and for the purposes
herein before described.
5. In animated photographic apparatus-the combination with the film-advanc-
ing rollers and the film unwinding and winding rolls of two (or more) idle rollers
upon or around which the film is guided the part of the film stretched between said
rollers being opposite the lens axis and means to reciprocate said idle rollers.
synchronously with the shutter substantially in the manner and for the purposes
herein before described.
6. In animated photographic apparatus the combination with the film advancing
rollers and the film unwinding and winding roller of two rollers such as t¹ t² carried
in a vibratory frame such as t means to reciprocate said frame and rolls t¹ and t
therein in suchwise that that part of the film between t¹ and 2 is held stationary
with respect to the lens axis during the upward movement of said frame t while the
speed of travel of said part of the film is accelerated on the return movement of
said frame and a shutter adapted to operate (shut) at the latter moment substanti-
ally in the manner and for the purposes herein before set forth.
7. In animated photographic apparatus-the combination with the film-advancing
rollers and the film unwinding and winding rolls of two movable rollers such as A¹
and B¹ adapted to be reciprocated in opposite directions and means to operate same
as shown in Fig. 5 arranged and acting in conjunction with two pairs of stationary
rollers such as A A and B B whereby that part of the film between said rollers is
held stretched across the lens and is intermittently held stationary with respect
thereto and such part intermittently caused to advance at an accelerated speed and
a shutter adapted to act (shut) at such moment substantially as and for the purposes
herein before set forth.
8. The improved arrangement and construction of apparatus for taking or
displaying animated photographs substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings hereunto annexed.
9. The improved arrangement and construction of apparatus for taking or dis-
playing animated photographs substantially as and for the purposes herein before
described and illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings hereunto annexed.
10. The improved arrangement and construction of apparatus for taking or dis-
playing animated photographs substantially as and for the purposes herein before
described and illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings hereunto annexed.
11. The improved arrangement and construction of apparatus for taking or
displaying animated photographs substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings hereunto annexed.
YO
Daved this 20th day of August 200
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.