Improvements in Photographic Film Roll Holders.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Nov; 1899-Accepted, 30th Dec., 1899
2
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION."
Improvements in Photographic Film Roll Holders..
91°
I, WILLY BEUTLER, of 32, Landsbergerstrasse, Berlin, N.O., in the Empire of
Germany,,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 relates to photographic film boxes and its object is to provide
a film box which is simple and at the same time convenient and easy of manipu-
lation.
Since the introduction of film rollers, attempts have been made to so arrange
the film box that the changing of the rollers may be accomplished as conveniently
as possible. Making the back plate of the film box removable has not answered
the purpose well as the operator has not enough room for manipulation in fixing
and unfixing the rollers, and also because the guiding of the films in lateral
grooves, which is of great importance for smooth working, is rendered very diffi-
cult. For this reason the operator has had recourse to a more complicated
arrangement in which the roller bearings together with the gearing and film
draw-table are capable of being taken, out of their box. But arrangements of
this kind are not only complicated and heavy, but the handling of them is not
so easy as is desirable. The adjustment of the film rollers when entering them
into the box is very inconvenient and requires an action to which the operator
must be accustomed in order to put into gear the handle for turning the rollers,
the handle being situated outside the box.
These inconveniences are obviated by my invention, according to which the
roller bearings, gearing and draw-table are inseparably connected to the film
box, and are rendered accessible by the opening of the sides, and, it may be, of
parts of the back of the film box. By shaping the box to suit the rollers the
latter may be given plenty of room while a considerable saving is effected in
the weight of the box.
Referring now to the accompanying drawings which illustrate my invention:-
Figures 1 and 2 are diagrammatic views showing the opening of the sides of
the film box according to two modifications of my invention.
Figures 3 and 4 are respectively plan and elevation of a third modification of
my invention, the lid g being removed in Figure 3.
The same letters represent the same parts in all views.
c is
In Figure 1, a is the box frame and 6 is the interior space of the box.
the dark slide which can be drawn back to expose the film and d and e are the
film rollers. f and g are the sides of the box which can be slid back either
horizontally or vertically when it is desired to obtain access to the rollers and
mechanism. By this arrangement the rollers can easily be fitted in or extracted
and the film may readily be placed in guiding grooves to enable it to run
smoothly.
Figure 2 differs from Figure 1 only in the fact that the sides ƒ and g open on
hinges at hand i instead of sliding open, parts 7 and m of the back of the box
anening at the same time.

page_text: In Figures 3 and 4 the box is shaped to avoid all useless spaces, the back being
curved round the rollers. By this means a favourable position is obtained for
the hinges h and i so that when the lids f and g are folded back the film rollers
and mechanism are very much exposed and can readily be got at for manipu-
lation. The lids are provided with any suitable spring or other catch K. The
lids ƒ and g are preferably made of metal, say, light plates of aluminium whilst
the rest of the box can be made of wood. By this arrangement it is quite
possible to provide from outside or from the dark slide a handle which operates
to indent the film so as to facilitate cutting it at a later period at the desired
place.
The remaining arrangement of the box, the mechanism for fixing in and
revolving the rollers, the shape and guiding of the dark slide and other details
can be of any kind desired. I claim no novelty in any of these.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. A roller film box characterized by the fact that the roller bearings and
mechanism are immovably fixed to the frame and that lids at the sides of the
box can be opened to facilitate the fitting in and extracting of the rollers, sub-
stantially as described.
2. A constructional modification of Claim 1 in which the back of the box is
curved round the rollers for the purpose of obtaining a favourable position for
the hinges of the lids and of reducing the size and weight of the box, substan-
tially as described with reference to Figures 3 and 4.
Dated this t
1000
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, and 25, Cross Street, Manchester,
Agents.