Improvements in or relating to Appliances for the Manufacture of Photographic Films.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Mar., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 5th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 19th Jan., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Appliances for the Manufacture of
Photographic Films.
We, THOMAS HENRY BLAIR, Camera Manufacturer, and THE EUROPEAN
BLAIR CAMERA COMPANY LIMITED, both of 9 Southampton Street, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to the apparatus employed in the manufacture or
production of photographic films. Hitherto photographic films in rolls or long
lengths have usually been manufactured by pouring the fluid material from a
suitable hopper on to a table or in some more recent instances applying it to the
periphery of a revolving drum. As however this drum has to be of large diameter
in order to have sufficient distance from the place at which the fluid material of
which the film is formed is applied to the drum and the point at which it is removed
to allow the film to form and dry, only a limited space of the drum can be inspected
without climbing. Also since the solvents employed if not of such a nature that
they will very rapidly evaporate are apt to "run owing to the coating surface
being of cylindrical forin instead of a level surface. some difficulty is experienced
in commercially working such an apparatus.
"
In our invention we dispense with the drum and we employ a belt or band carried
upon suitable drums or pulleys at each end and between which and the belt a
suitable table or other drums or rollers are placed to maintain a level even surface,
over which the belt or band moves and upon which the fluid material is applied.
After the belt has received the fluid material which forms the film and has passed
around the first drum it hangs freely without support the film having become set
while the belt has been maintained in a level position, the length of belt being
governed by the length of level surface required to set the fluid material sufficiently
to prevent running when the band is changed into a cylindrical form by passing
around the pulley the returning side of the belt carrying the film until sufficiently
dry to be removed which is preferably done as the belt turns around the second drum
or pulley.
This band may be formed of any suitable material presenting a sufficiently
smooth and even surface and adapted to pass round the drums; conveniently we
employ thin metal, say for example brass or bronze, connecting the ends in any
suitable manner so as to provide a perfectly smooth joint in order that the material
may be worked continuously although with a long band even if the joint were not
smooth a considerable length of film without a break in it could be obtained.
The periphery of the pulleys or drums may be covered with fibre, rubber or other
suitable substance to ensure the belt from slipping or the inner side of the belt may
be likewise covered with the same material for the same purpose; the belt may be
connected at the sides with a gear chain travelling over cog wheels which ensure a
positive movement.
The drums may be driven by any suitable means.
The band and its appurtenances may be suitably cased in and any necessary
means provided to facilitate the drying of the film and to protect it from dust or
damage.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to. Appliances for the Manufacture of
Photographic Films.
We, THOMAS HENRY BLAIR, Camera Manufacturer, and THE EUROPEAN
BLAIR CAMERA COMPANY LIMITED, both of 9 Southampton Street, in the
County of Middlesex, 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 the apparatus employed in the manufacture or
production of photographic films. Hitherto photographic films in rolls or long
lengths have usually been manufactured by pouring the fluid material from a
suitable hopper on to a table or in some more recent instances applying it to the
periphery of a revolving drum. As however this drum has had to be of large
diameter in order that there might be a sufficient distance between the place
at which the film forming material or
"dope
was applied. to the drum and the
point at which it was removed so as to allow the film time to form and dry, only a
limited space of the drum could be inspected without climbing. Also since the
solvents employed unless of such a nature that they will very rapidly evaporate
are apt to run" owing to the coating surface being of cylindrical form instead of
a level surface, some difficulty is experienced in commercially working such an
apparatus.
.66
One of the important features of our invention is the employment, instead. of a
single drum, of a travelling belt or band carried upon suitable drums or pulleys and
preferably arranged to afford an approximately horizontal surface to receive the
material of which the film is formed, in order that the film may remain undisturbed.
for a period sufficiently long to enable it to become "set" before being wound
around the pulleys. Our invention comprises also other important features and will
now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved film-making machine, constructed
according to this invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan thereof.
Fig: 3 is a view of apparatus forming part of the machine shown in Figs. 1
and 2; it is employed for stripping the film from the belt or band and winding it
into a roll.
Fig. 4 is an elevation of the tank and appurtenances for supplying a uniform
layer of "dope" to the belt or band.
Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4 and
Fig. 6 is a vertical cross section through the belt or band taken between the
drums C C and showing drying-devices employed in combination with the apparatus
illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.
Like: letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
The term "dope" employed herein to indicate the layer or layers of composition
or material, of which the photographic film is wholly or in part composed.
A are beds or base plates. On the beds are standards B B₁ in which drums C C
are journalled. C2 is a worm-wheel secured to the drum G. D is a broad endless
belt stretched around the drums C C. E are standards supporting a driving
shaft F operated by belt gearing or otherwise as may be desired. On the shaft F
is a worm to gear with the worm-wheel C2 and thereby rotate the drum C
which drives the belt D. G are standards supporting rolls H I I¹ and J the three
former being in adjustable bearings. The drums I 1 have hollow trunnions or are
otherwise arranged so that a heating or cooling fluid may be circulated through
them to heat or cool the belt D-and the film thereon. The bearings of the

page_text: drums C C¹ are adjustable in the standards B to regulate the height and tension of
the belt. Those of the rolls HI and I are adjustable to regulate the tension put
on the film.
K is the "dope" tank supported above the belt on the standards B¹.
L' L' are shafts supported in bearings on the tank K. On the shaft L' is a chain
pulley L geared by a chain M with a chain pulley C³ on the drum C. L is a
clutch by which the shaft L' on which the pulley L³ is fixed may be disconnected
from the shaft L. L' is a wheel by which after such disconnection the shaft L'
may be turned by hand. Kare guides on the top of the tank K for two screw-
threaded pistou-rods N (see Fig. 5) of a piston N₁ which fits the interior of
the tank and moves vertically therein being operated through the piston rods by
externally toothed nuts N2 which are prevented from having longitudinal travel
upon the rods and are geared with and rotated by screw-wheels L secured on the
shaft. L. N³ is a tappet on one of the rods N; which in any convenient manner
automatically operates the clutch L to disconnect the shafts L1 L2 when the
piston N reaches the bottom of the tank K. K2 is a slit extending across the
lower part of the tank for a distance about equal to the width of photographic film
required. It may be provided with a valve not shown in the drawings to regulate
the amount of opening at the slit. K³ is some of the "dope"; a broad shallow
stream of which is shown issuing from the slit K² in Fig. 5 and lying upon the
belt D.
The roll J (see Figs. 1 and 3) is secured on a spindle J¹, on one end of which is
fixed a disc J2 faced with leather. Between this disc and the upper end of that one
of the standards G in which the spindle J turns is a worm wheel O. With this
worm-wheel is connected a disc P arranged to bear against the leather face of the
disc J. Both the wheel O and disc P are loose on the spindle J and are connected
to each other by means of pins O' in the face of the wheel which enter
corresponding holes in the disc P which latter can move along the spindle J but
cannot turn thereon except with the wheel O. Q is a spring which tends to keep
the contiguous faces of the discs J2 and P in contact.
F2 is a chain wheel on the shaft F. R is a chain wheel on an auxiliary shaft, R¹
journalled on one of the standards G and provided with a worm R2 which
gears with the worm wheel O. S is a chain gearing the wheels F2 and R
together.
The apparatus is preferably encased in a casing such as T (see Fig. 6) in
the lower part of which below the belt are the heating-pipes U or other means
whereby heat is supplied to the interior of the casing. Deflectors T₁ are fixed in
the interior of the casing T between the drums C and C' and slant upwards towards
the centre as shown so that the current of heated air rising from the pipes U or
supplied in any other convenient manner by the lower part of the casing strikes
upon the underside of the lower part of the belt D, passes round its edges on to the
other side of the belt and is then directed up by the deflectors through the opening
between them and thus on to the underside of the upper part of the belt again
dividing laterally and passing round the edges of the belt to its top side before
finally leaving the casing by apertures not shown in the drawing, but placed
centrally in the roof T2 of the casing above the upper part of the belt.
The course
of the air current is suggested by arrows in the drawing and is such that it
is brought into intimate contact with the upper and lower sides of both the top and.
bottom parts of the belt."
Such an arrangement of heating apparatus as is shown in Fig. 6 is particularly
advantageous inasmuch as there is a desirable automatic graduation of the heating
effect therein, for the lower part of the belt by reason of the proximity of the
pipes U receives more, heat than the upper part which is further removed and. is
moreover above the deflectors.
The form and dimensions of the apparatus are such that the film can be easily
inspected during its manufacture, and inspection openings, doors or transparent
panels may be provided to facilitate such inspection.
The apparatus operates as follows;-The driving-shaft F when rotated turns the

page_text: drums C¹ in the direction- indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1 by means of the worm
gear F C This causes the upper part of the belt D to move from the drum C¹
to the drum C and the lower part to move in the reverse direction. Simultaneously
by the operation of the shafts L' L2 geared to the shaft F in the manner
hereinbefore described, the piston rods N depress the piston N1 and deliver a stream
of "dope" on to the belt D at a point just above the drum C' and at a rate exactly
proportioned to the travel of the belt by reason of the connection of the
shafts L' L' and F so that a continuous and uniform layer forms thereon which is
" to'
afforded time, in travelling towards the drum C to become sufficiently "set
In
form a film which will not run or be deformed in passing round the drum.
moving with the lower part of the belt from the drum C to the drum C¹ the film
travels in close proximity to the pipes U by which it is further dried. From the
drum C¹ the film is led over the rolls H I and I¹ in the manner indicated in Figs. 1
and 2, being heated or cooled as the case may be by the fluid contents of the two
latter if necessary and finally wound up on and by the roll J. The worm-wheel O
by which through the discs P and J2 the roll is driven, has a constant velocity
ratio relatively to the shaft F, but the discs P and J2 being kept in frictional
contact only by the spring Q permit the driven disc J2 to slip relatively to
the driving disc P and to have a slower speed of rotation as the circumference of
the film accumulated on the roll J increases; provision for such a difference
of speed is made in order that whilst the film is closely wound on the roll J the
tendency of the increase in diameter of the surface on which the film is received to
cause an increase in the speed of winding and in the tension of the film is
neutralised.
In a prior Specification, No. 814 of A.D. 1894 granted to A. J. Boult is
described speed gear which can be readily adjusted to vary from time to time the
speed of rotation of such a drum as J to compensate for the accumulation of film
thereon. Such apparatus may be applied if desired to the roll J instead of the slip
gear herein described.
Although the belt or band D has been described as being preferably horizontal
it need not be so provided that it is arranged in any manner which enables it to give
the "dope" time to set before being bent upon drums or pulleys.
The belt or band D may be formed of any suitable material presenting a
sufficiently smooth and even surface and adapted to pass round the drums;
conveniently we employ thin metal, say for example brass or bronze, connecting the
ends in any suitable manner so as to provide a perfectly smooth joint in order that
the material may be worked continuously although with a long band even if the
joint were not smooth a considerable length of film without a break in it could be
obtained. The upper part of the belt between the pulleys may if desired be
suitably supported, to ensure a level surface.
The periphery of the pulleys or drums may be covered with fibre, rubber or other
suitable substance to ensure the belt from slipping or the inner side of the belt may
be likewise covered with the same material for the same purpose; or the belt may
be connected at the sides with a gear chain travelling over chain wheels which
ensure a positive movement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is ;-
―
1. In the manufacture of photographic films delivering the dope on to a travelling
belt or band.
2. In the manufacture of photographic films the employment of a belt or band
travelling in a horizontal or approximately horizontal plane and supplied with
a constant stream of "dope" carried in that plane for such a distance as to give the
'dope" time to set.
66
3. In apparatus for the manufacture of photographic films a band such as D of
thin metal, for the purpose described.

page_text: 4. In apparatus for the manufacture of photographic films the combination with
belt-mechanism such as D C C' and a casing of deflectors such as T T'
substantially as and for the purpose illustrated in Figures 6 of the accompanying
drawings.
5. In apparatus for the manufacture of photographic films the combination with
belt-mechanism such as DC C¹ and a casing of deflectors such as T and a heating
device such as the pipes U substantially as and for the purpose illustrated in
Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.
6. The combination with apparatus for the manufacture of photographic films
such as is claimed in Claim 2. of means for accommodating the speed of a roller
such as J driven from the main driving-shaft of the apparatus to the accumulation
of film thereon for the purpose specified.
7. The combination with apparatus for the manufacture of photographic films
such as is claimed in Claim 2 of a roll such as J and driving-mechanism therefor
operated from the driving-shaft of the apparatus and comprising friction discs such
as J2 and P and means such as the spring Q for pressing one disc against the other
substantially as and for the purpose described.
8. The combination with apparatus for the manufacture of photographic films
such as is claimed in Claim 2 of a " dope" reservoir and an ejecting device such as
the piston N' so geared to the mechanism by which the belt or band D is operated
as to maintain a desired ratio between the speed of the belt or band and the rate of
ejection of the dope" substantially as described.
6.
9. The combination with apparatus for the manufacture of photographic films
such as is claimed in Claim 2 of the stripping and winding device comprising the
rolls HII and J with or without means for circulating a heating or cooling fluid
in the rolls substantially as and for the purposes described.
10. The combination with apparatus for the manufacture of photographic films
such as is claimed in Claim 2 of a 66
dope" reservoir a piston and gearing for
operating the piston from the main driving shaft and by hand substantially as and
for the purpose described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
11. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting a complete apparatus
for the manufacture of photographic films substantially as described with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 5th dow of Lan 100
Dated this 5th day of January 1905.
THOMAS HENRY BLAIR.
THE EUROPEAN BLAIR CAMERA COY. LIMITED,
T. H. BLAIR, Director.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicants.