Improvements in and connected with Stereoscopic and other Photographic Cameras.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 17th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left. 17th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 18th June, 1832
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Stereoscopic and other
Photographic Cameras.
We, ETIENNE RICARD, Doctor, and JEAN BAPTIST JOSEPH LACROIX,
Photographer, of Agen, in the Republic of France, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
The present invention relates to a new and improved photographic camera which
we prefer to term the "Velocigraph."
"
The camera has the peculiarity that while it is in reality a magazine camera or
a camera for a number of plates, it has no changing box or dark-slide, or any
distinct compartment for the plates, these latter being inserted directly into the
camera in a vertical position and fall down horizontally and automatically on to
the bottom of the camera after they have been exposed.
The apparatus is provided with a cap or cover in front which when closed
protects the objective and the mechanism adjacent to it. The back of the camera
is also provided with a second cover or cap to which is fixed or attached a strap
which engages with a hook by means of a loop or buckle. The perfect closure of
the front and back of the camera is ensured by pressing down the hook and so
closing the lock to which it is connected.
The mechanism of the camera consists of a lever arm or handle for setting the
shutter, a catch for liberating it and an arm for regulating the velocity.
The shutter consists of two half shutters or sectors of sheet metal or other
suitable material each having a similar aperture and both placed one upon the other
and moving freely on the same pivot which is further provided with a bent or
curved rod engaging with a part of one of the sectors which is bent back upon the
lower edge of the other sector. The result is that when, the setting handle is
turned in one direction the bent rod turns at the same time carrying with it the
sector with which said rod engages and consequently also the other sector the
notched edge of which engages with a detent. The shutter having been in this way
set without uncovering the objective the setting handle is released and returns to its
original position owing to the action of a spring as also does the bent rod.
To liberate the shutter it is merely necessary to press upon the catch which raises
the detent and liberates or sets free one of the sectors and permits the latter to be
returned to its original position by a spring which preferably winds itself on a
pulley keyed on to an axle. The aperture in one of the sectors passing in front of
the objective allows the light for the instantaneous exposure to enter the camera.
One of the sectors is furnished with two notches in its edge. The first of these
is for time-exposures that is to say when it is held by a detent opposite the
objective fully exposed. The second notch is for instantaneous exposures as has
been explained above.
The velocity of the shutter is regulated by moving the end of the before
mentioned arm along its graduated quadrant. This pointer is provided with a
point, it is drawn forward a little and the point inserted in one of a series of holes

page_text: in the graduated quadrant or plate. This operation having caused the pulley
inside to rotate a greater or less amount of tension is produced in the spring which
is wound on said pulley.
The plates or films are first introduced into a dark-slide of metal or other
material and are placed vertically in the back part of the chamber. They rest
upon two blocks and are constantly pressed forward by a spring controlled rod.
They are kept in position at their top part by a suitable anchor or stop with two
teeth the action of which will be described below.
To fill the apparatus the back end must be raised and the spring-controlled rod
drawn back. For this purpose a pawl is caused to act as a brake by pressing upon
its prolongation; this pawl then assumes a position in which it is retained by a
spring which is in contact with a pin. The spring controlled rod is then drawn
back and when it has arrived at the end of its course, the pawl extension strikes
against a tappet or stud which tips it up.
The whole arrangement remains of itself in the. position it now, occupies.
The apparatus having been filled the spring controlled rod is moved forward by
hand; the pawl disengages with the tappet and falls into the toothed sector.
Each plate is removed as soon as it has been exposed, the spring controlled rod
presses the plates forward until they have all been used, at which time further
forward movement of the rod is prevented by a suitable stop.
The teeth of the sector serve as a brake to prevent backward movement of the
spring controlled rod and consequently of the packet of plates when the camera is
being worked.
The mechanism for changing the plates forming the principal part of our
invention consists' simply of an anchor very like that used in the escapement of a
clock and worked directly and simultaneously with the shutter by means of the
lever arm.
This anchor consists of an axle furnished at one end with a finger and
at the other with two teeth forming the anchor properly so-called. When at rest
one of the teeth keeps the pile of plates in position while the other tooth is sunk in
the top wall of the camera. It is easy to see in what way the change of plates is
effected. The first of the plates having been exposed the apparatus is inclined
slightly forward and the shutter is set by means of the lever arm. The result of
this movement is that a rod presses upon one of the fingers by means of its bent
extremity and in this way causes the axle to turn; the result is that one of the
teeth is inserted between the first and the second plate while the other tooth
sinking into the wall of the camera allows the first plate to escape which turns
forward upon its base and being guided by curved plates falls upon the bottom of
the camera."
"When the shutter has been set the setting arm is allowed to return to its original
position and one of the teeth rises and the other tooth taking up its original
position; supports the plates which are pressed against it by the spring rod, the
axle on which, the latter turns being provided with a toothed sector which causes
an indicator to turn and enables the operator to see at any moment how many
plates are still at his disposal.
To set the shutter without changing a plate a case which necessarily occurs when
the first plate after the filling of the camera is to be exposed, the setting arm is
turned until the second notch in the shutter sector is engaged with by the detent
and it can easily be heard when this takes place and the pointer is allowed to turn
backwards. By this action the anchor operating rod not having been moved
sufficiently to let one of the teeth escape none of the plates can fall.
To prevent the plates which have been exposed from moving about in the bottom
of the camera when it is being carried the setting arm is turned in the opposite
direction the prolongation of the bent rod on the shutter pivot then pushes a
cushion which being jointed presses on the edge of the plates and keeps them in
position between the cushion which may be of thick soft leather and blocks
covered with soft leather!
Our system is 'equally applicable to stereoscopic cameras.
Then the partition

page_text: which divides the camera longitudinally into two equal portions is rendered
moveable to enable the plates to fall, this partition is soldered to the axle carrying
the anchor or teeth in such a way that when the shutter is worked the said axle is
caused to turn the partition rises at the same time and cannot prevent the plate that
has been exposed from falling to the bottom of the chamber.
Dated this 9th day of June 1891.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicants..
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Stereoscopic and other
Photographic Cameras.
We, ETIENNE RICARD, Doctor, and JEAN BAPTIST JOSEPH LACROIX,
Photographer, of Agen in the Republic of France, 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 :-
The present invention relates to a new and improved camera which we prefer to
term the "Velocigraph."
The camera has the peculiarity that while it is in reality a magazine camera or
a camera for a number of plates, it has no changing box or dark-slide or any
distinct compartment for the plates, these latter being inserted directly into the
camera in a vertical position and falling down horizontally and automatically on
to the bottom of the camera after they have been exposed.
Figure 1 is an external perspective view of the camera.
Figure 2 is an inner perspective view.
Figure 3 shows the plate exchanging mechanism.
Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 show the spring controlled rod in various positions; which
rod serves for pushing forward the pile of plates and for preventing them from
moving backward whatever the position of the camera, and
Figure 8 illustrates the manner in which this invention may be applied to
stereoscopic cameras.
As shown in Figure 1 the apparatus is provided with a cap or cover X in front
which when closed protects the objective and the mechanism adjacent to it. The
back of the camera is also provided with a second cover or cap to which is fixed
or attached a strap Y which engages with a hook by means of a loop or buckle.
The perfect closure of the front and back of the camera is ensured by pressing
down the hook and so closing the lock to which it is connected.
The operating mechanism of the camera consists essentially of a lever arm or
handle A for setting the shutter, a catch B for liberating it, and an arm C for
regulating the velocity.
The shutter consists of two half shutters or sectors D and D' (Figure 2) of sheet
metal or other suitable material each having a similar aperture and both loosely
passed one upon the other on the same pivot E which is further provided with a
bent or curved rod F engaging with a part D" of one sector D and bent back
upon the lower edge of the other sector D. The result is that when the setting
handle A is turned in the direction shown by the arrow (Figure 1) the bent rod F
turns at the same time carrying with it the sector D' and consequently also the
other sector D the notched edge of which engages with a detent B. The shutter
having been in this way set without uncovering the objective the setting handle A
is released and returns to its original position as also does the bent rod F owing
to the action of a spring f
To liberate the shutter it is merely necessary to press upon the catch B which
causes the detent B¹ to rise and to set free the sector D so that it may return to
its original position under the action of a spring preferably wound on a púlley H¹

page_text: keyed onto an axle E. The aperture of the sector D passing in front of the objective
allows the light for the instantaneous exposure to enter the camera.
It will be observed in Figure 2 that the sector D is furnished with two notches
in its edge. The first of these is for time-exposures that is to say when it is held
by the detent B¹ the objective is fully exposed. The second notch is for
instantaneous exposures as has been explained above.
The velocity of the shutter is regulated by moving the end of the arm C along
its graduated quadrant, which end of the arm, being provided with an index point,
is drawn forward a little and the point inserted in one of a series of holes in the
graduated quadrant or plate. This operation having caused the pulley C' inside
to rotate, a greater or less amount of tension is produced in the spring H.
The plates or films are first introduced into a frame-holder of metal or other
material and then placed vertically in the back part of the chamber as is shown
in Figure 2. They rest upon blocks I I' and are constantly pressed forward by a
spring controlled rod T. They are kept in position at their top part by a pallet
with two teeth and s the action of which will be described below.
To fill the apparatus the back wall or cover must be removed and the spring
controlled rod T drawn back so as to occupy the position shown in Figure 7. For
this purpose the pawl N is by pressing upon its extension P caused to assume the
position shown in Figure in which it is retained by a spring R which is in
contact with a pin J. The spring controlled rod T is then drawn back .and when
it has arrived at the end of its course, the pawl extension P strikes against a
tappet or stud R' (Figure 6) which tips it up and the pawl N falls upon it
(Figure 7).
The whole arrangement remains of itself in the position it now occupies.
The apparatus having been filled, the spring controlled rod T is moved
forward by hand; the pawl N disengages from the tappet R' and falls into the
toothed sector L (Figure 4).
Whenever a plate is removed after exposure the spring-controlled rod T under
the action of the spring of the shaft K presses the remaining plates forward until
they have all been used at which time further forward movement of the rod is
prevented by the piece M bearing against the rod m.
The teeth of the sector L serve as a brake to prevent backward movement of
the spring controlled rod T and consequently of the pack or row of plates while the
camera is being worked.
The mechanism for changing the plates forming the principal part of our
invention consists simply of a pallet much like that used in a clock-work escapement
and worked directly and simultaneously with the shutter by means of the external
lever arm or handle A. This pallet consists of a spindle o furnished at one end
with a finger o¹ and at the other with two teeth and s forming the pallet properly
so-called. When at rest one of the teeth s keeps the pile of plates in position
while the other tooth r is sunk in the top wall of the camera. It is now easy to
see in what way the change of plates is effected. The first of the plates having
been exposed the apparatus is inclined slightly forward as shown in Figure 2, and
the shutter is set by means of the handle A. The result of this movement is that
the rod F presses upon the finger o¹ by means of its bent extremity and in this way
causes the spindle o to turn; the result is that one of the teeth r is inserted
between the first and second plates while the other tooth s sinking into the wall of
the camera (Figure 3) allows the first plate to escape which turns forward upon
its base and being guided by the curved plates Q'and Q' falls flatwise upon the
bottom of the camera (Figure 2).
When the shutter has been set the setting arm or handle A is allowed to return
to its original position, the tooth r rises, and the other tooth s taking up its original
position, supports the plates which are pressed against it by the spring rod T,
the pivot Kon which the latter turns being provided with a toothed sector / which
causes the pinion k' connected with a graduated quadrant to turn and enables the
operator to see at any moment how many plates are still at his disp
1
disposal.

page_text: To set the shutter without changing a plate a case which necessarily occurs when
the first plate after the filling of the camera is to be exposed, the setting arm or
handle A is turned until the second notch in the shutter sector D is engaged by
the detent B as will be readily understood, and the pointer is allowed to turn
backwards. As by this action the pallet operating rod o¹ has not been moved
sufficiently to disengage the tooth s none of the plates can fall.
To prevent the plates which have been exposed from moving about in the bottom
of the camera when it is being carried, the setting handle A is turned in the
opposite direction to that indicated by the arrow in Figure 1 the extension F¹ of
the rod F then pushes a pad or cushion V which being pivotted at U turns so as to
press on the edge of the plates and keep them in position between it and the blocks I I¹
covered with soft leather; the said pad V being also preferably made of thick soft
leather.
As shown in Figure 8 our arrangement is equally applicable to stereoscopic
cameras, in which case the partition which divides the camera longitudinally into two
equal portions should be movable to enable the plates to fall.
For this purpose
this partition Z is soldered or otherwise secured to the spindle o carrying the pallet
teeth and s in such a way that when the shutter is operated, the said spindle o is
thereby so turned that the partition Z rises at the same time as shown by the dotted
lines of Figure 8 and cannot prevent the plate that has been exposed from falling
to the bottom of the chamber.
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 a portable photographic camera an arrangement for exchanging plates
consisting of a horizontal spindle o provided with two teeth such as rand's the
tooth being adapted when the spindle o is turned to enter the space between the
first and second plates, while the tooth s in rising at the same time allows the first
plate to descend to the bottom of the camera substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In a photographic camera an external handle such as A secured to a shaft E
integral or connected with a bent rod such as F and arranged in such a manner
that when the said handle is turned in one direction the shutter is set while at the
same time the rod F in pushing a lever arm o¹ causes the spindle o to turn so as
to change the negative plate after exposure and when the said handle is turned in
the opposite direction the branch F1 of the rod F pushes the pad or
cushion V so as to cause the descending plates to be gripped between the
stationary blocks I I¹ and the said pad substantially as described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
3. In a photographic camera a spring controlled pressure rod T adapted to press
upon the back of the pile of plates and push it forward whenever one of the plates
of the pile drops when the pivotted catch N acts as a brake or stop in conjunction
with the toothed sector L to prevent the recoil of the plates while at the same
time it is so arranged as to be capable of a tilting motion on a stationary pin or
pivot R' whereby the rod T is held back for charging substantially as described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In a stereoscopic camera a movable partition Z dividing the camera
longitudinally into two compartments the said partition being secured to the
spindle o so as to turn with it and to enable the negative plates having the
photographic impressions upon them to fall to the bottom of the camera
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
1000
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicants.