Improvements in or applicable to Photographic Cameras,
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 8th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 10th Jan., 1891
PROVIDIUNAL DE DUITICATIOA
Improvements in or applicable to Photographic Cameras,
I, MORTIMER EVANS, of Savile Club, Piccadilly, in the County of London, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in or applicable to photographic
cameras of the kind described in the Specification accompanying application for
Letters Patent No. 10,131 dated the 21st day of June, 1889, made by William Friese
Greene, and myself, in which cameras the consecutive movements necessary for the
obtainment of a latent photographic representation or of a series thereof are caused
to be effected automatically and if required in rapid series by means dependent
for their actuation upon the rotation of a common shaft or its equivalent (hereinafter
referred to as the "main shaft") to which motion may be imparted by any suitable
means?
The objects of the present invention are to simplify the means by which the
successively adjacent or following portions of a sensitized strip (upon which successive
or following representations are taken) are caused to be presented in position for
exposure, arrested in position during exposure and removed from position after.
exposure, and to lessen the period of each arrestment of the strip so as to allow of and
cause the strip to be more gradually advanced into and from such positions between its
successive times of arrestment.
To this end I cause the advance of the strip to be effected directly from the main
shaft or by parts operated thereby, in lieu of causing such advance to be effected by:
intermittently operating escapement devices independently, and momentarily operating
when released from the control of such shaft as described in the aforesaid
Specification.
In such lastly referred to means the portion of the strip in position for exposure is
stationary during the whole or nearly the whole of the period between the successive
operations of the escapement device and the strip is momentarily shifted; but by the
present improvements the portion of the strip in position for exposure is arrested in
position only for the period required to effect the exposure, and the whole of the
period between such successive times of arrestment is utilized in shifting the strip so
that it is more gradually advanced.
I can effect this object by various modifications of suitably arranged devices.
According to one modification, I mount a take-up roller and a winding-on roller in
opposite side rocking levers on the pivot or connecting spindle of which I mount a
roller guiding the strip from a suitably mounted let-off roller in alignment for
exposure to the take-up roller, partly around which the strip passes on to the winding-on
roller and I drive the latter by a frictional hub and by connecting gearing from the
spindle of the take-up roller at a relatively higher speed such as may be practically
most advantageous, such parts being so arranged as that the motion of the several
rollers and consequently the advance of the strip is dependent upon the motion of the
take-up roller. I impart the necessary movement to this latter roller from the main
shaft (which may be continually rotated) by driving it by frictional surface contact
with a drum or such shaft, and I cause such movement of such roller to he inter-
mittent by disconnecting such roller and its actuating drum at the time the arrestment
of the strip and the exposure thereof is required to be effected. I can also effect this
object by various arrangements of suitable means, as for example, by mounting a pin
or pins in the ends of the said drum and by mounting disconnecting spring or gravity,
levers in arms extending from the said rocking levers, so constructing and arranging
such disconnecting levers as that they will be automatically actuated by the said pin
or pins at the times required so to be caused to be effective in rocking the levers

page_text: into position and holding the strip in position for and during exposure, and until
(immediately after the exposure) the actuating pin passes beyond the range of the
disconnecting levers, which thereupon fall or are caused to fall into position ready for
the next actuation of the pins, the take-up roller and its actuating drum being
simultaneously automatically thrown into gear by a suitably disposed spring acting
upon the rocking levers.
According to another modification, the winding-on roller is applied directly to the
main shaft, being driven frictionally from the hub. Its winding on and advancing
action upon the strip is caused to be arrested when required as aforesaid by pins or
discs connected to the shaft which intermittently engage with a conveniently mounted
brake-lever and cause the same to arrest the strip by nipping it against an opposite
fixed part, until the pins have passed beyond the range of the brake-lever, when the
latter is automatically released by a spring and the rotation of the roller and advance
of the strip proceeds.
According to a further modification the take-up device consists of a pair of rollers
between which the strip is passed and which receive a continuous feeding-motion from
a drum mounted on the main shaft, and are mounted in rocking arms which by a
suitable arrangement of actuating parts are caused to receive a reciprocating
traversing motion equal to the speed of rotation of the rolls. Such means are effective
in causing the rollers in their backward traverse (during which the portion of the
strip in position for exposure, is required to be stationary) to roll over the strip
without effecting any movement thereof, and in causing the rollers during their
forward traverse both to roll forward and to pull forward the same amount of strip;
the strip being consequently advanced equal to the sum of the gathering motion of the
rollers plus the traversing motion of their carrying levers.
Dotal this 7th Val 1800-
DAY DAVIES & HUNT,-
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or applicable to Photographic Cameras.
I, MORTIMER EVANS, of Savile Club, Piccadilly, in the County of London, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said 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 certain improvements in or applicable to photographic
cameras of the kind described in the Specification of Letters Patent No. 10,131 dated
the 21st day of June 1889, granted to William Friese Greene and to myself, in which
cameras the consecutive movements necessary for the obtainment of a lateni photo-
graphic representation or of a series thereof are caused to be effected automatically,
and if required in rapid series, by means dependent for their actuation upon the
rotation of a common shaft or its equivalent (hereinafter referred to as the "main
shaft) to which motion may be imparted by any suitable means.
The objects of the present invention are to simplify the means by which the
successively adjacent or following portions of a sensitized strip (upon which
successive or following representations are taken) are caused to be presented in
position for exposure, arrested in position during exposure and removed from position
after exposure, and to lessen the period of each arrestment of the strip so as to allow
of and cause the strip to be more gradually advanced into and from such position
between its successive times of arrest.ment.
To this end I cause the advance of the strip fo be effected directly from the main
shaft or by parts operated thereby, in lieu of causing such advance to be effected by
intermittently operating escapement devices independently and momentarily operating
when released from the control of such shaft as described in the aforesaid Specification.
In such lastly referred to means the portion of the strip in position for exposure is

page_text: stationary during the whole or nearly the whole of the period between the successive
operations of the escapement device and the strip is momentarily shifted, but by the
present improvements the portion of the strip in position for exposure is arrested in
position only for the period required to effect the exposure, and the whole of the
period between such successive times of arrestment is utilized in shifting the strip so
that it is more gradually advanced.
Such being the nature and objects of the said invention I will now proceed to
describe in detail various modifications of the manner in which the same is to be or
may be performed or carried into practical effect, and in order that the same may be
distinctly comprehended I have annexed hereunto drawings illustrative thereof and
have marked such drawings with figures of reference corresponding with those in the
following description of such devices.
On the accompanying drawings like figures indicate like parts wherever repeated.
According to the modification illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, a take-up roller 7, and
a winding-on roll 8, are mounted in opposite side rocking levers 9, on the pivot or
connecting spindle 10, of which is mounted a roller 11, guiding the sensitive strip 12,
from a suitably mounted let-off roll 13, in alignment for exposure to the take-up
roller, partly around which latter the strip 12, passes onto the winding-on
roll S.
The roll 8, is driven from the roller 7, at a relatively higher speed (such as may
he practically most advantageous) by gearing 14-15, the forner of which turns with
the roller 7, and the latter of which is formed with a split or frictional hub 16, upon
which the roll 8, is mounted so as to be driven by frictional contact therewith without
liability of being overwound, such parts being so arranged as that the motion of the
several rolls and rollers and consequently the advance of the strip are dependent upon
the motion of the take-up roller 7.
Motion is imparted to the roller 7, from the main shaft 17, (which may be
continuously rotated by a handle 18, or otherwise in any suitable manner) by means
of a drum 19, which is mounted on such shaft and has frictional contact with the
roller 7, and such motion is caused to be intermittent by disconnecting such roller
and its actuating drum at the time the arrestment of the strip and the exposure
thereof are required to be effected (cide Fig. 1), so that, during such time, the parts
actuated from the roller 7, remain stationary. The disconnection and arrestment
may be effected by various arrangements of suitable means. In the modification
represented, spring, gravity or other automatically operating levers 20, fitted with
brake-blocks 21, are mounted in the rocking levers 9, so as normally to remain out of
engagement with the roller 7, and pins 22, are adapted to the ends of the drum 19,
such levers, brake-blocks and pins being so arranged as that, at the times required.
the pins 22, engage with the levers 20, pressing them towards the roller i, and
causing the brake-blocks 21, firstly to press against the strip 12, and arrest its motion,
the continuance of the motion of the pins 22, into engagement with the adjacent
concave sides of the brake-blocks pressing back the levers 9, and all the parts they
carry against the resistance of suitably supported springs 23 (which cause the
rollers, 19, normally to remain in frictional contact) separating the rollers 19, 7,
(during the continuance of which separation the whole feeding device remains at rest)
and selfing back the strip in position for exposure (eide Fig. 1.) and causing it to be
retained therein while the shutter is caused to act by the continuance of the rotation
of the main shaft and the exposure is affected, and until (immediately after the
exposure) the pins 22, pass beyond the range of the brake-blocks 21, whereupon
(eide Fig. 2) the levers 20, fall or are caused to fall into position ready for their next
actuation by the pins 22, the springs 23, simultaneously acting upon the rocking
levers 9, and causing the take-up roller 7, and its actuating drum 19, to be again
thrown into engagement, whereupon a fresh gathering up of the exposed strips, and
feeding of a fresh portion thereof into position for exposure takes place, such cycle of
operations be continuously effected so long as the handle is kept in rotation and
there is strip on which to operate.
According to the modification represented in Fig. 3, the winding-on roll 8, is

page_text: applied directly to the main shaft 17, being driven frictionally therefrom by a
frictional hub. Its winding on and advancing action upon the strip 12, is caused
in be arrested when required as aforesaid, by pins 22, projecting from discs 24, fast
on the shaft, and which intermittent engage with conveniently mounted brake-
levers 20, and cause brake-blocks 21, carried thereby to arrest the strip by nipping it
against opposite hixed parts whereupon the exposure is caused to be made by
means operated by the continuance of the motion of the main shaft, which, during
such time, slips inside. the roll S, having an insufficient frictional hold thereon to over-
come the frictional hold of the brake-blocks upon the strip, until the latter is released
by the pins 22, passing beyond the range of t the brake levers, whereupon the latter
are automatically released by springs 26, and the rotation of the roll 8, and advance
of the strip 12, immediately proceed.
...
According to the modification represented in Fig. 4, the take-up device consists of
a pair of rolls 27, 28, between which the strip, 12, is passed, and which receive a
continuous feeding motion from a drum 29, mounted on the main shaft 17, and also
a reciprocating traversing motion equal to their speed of rotation and about the main
shaft as a centre, the rolls being mounted in rocking fúrnis 30, which are centred on
the main shaft and are connected by links 31, to levers 32, which are centred at 33,
and connected to excentrics 34, mounted on the main shaft. Such means are effective
in causing the rolls 27, 28, during their backward traverse (during which the portion
of the strip in position for exposure and being exposed is required to be stationary),
to roll over the strip without effecting any feeding movement thereof, and in causing
the rolls, during their forward traverse (subsequently to the exposure), both to roll
forward and to pull forward a like amount of strip so that the strip is consequently
advanced equal to the gathering motion of the rolls 27,428, plus the forward traversing
motion of their carrying levers 30%
...
According to the modification_represented in Figs. 5 and 6, the feeding device
consists of freely turning independent rollers 35, 36, partly around which the strip 12,
is passed as represented, and which are mounted in levers 37, oscillating on a suitably
supported centre 38, and actuated by levers 39, which are centred at 40, and connected
to the levers 37; at 41. The levers 40, are provided with pins 44, against which
suails 45; fast on the main shaft 17, operate, during the greater part of the revolution
of such shaft, so as to gradually cause the aforesaid parts 35, 36, 37, 39, 41, to be
shifted from the position indicated in Fig. 6, to that indicated in Fig. 5, which is
operative in feeding the strip 12. When the points of the snails pass the pins 44,
springs 46, secured to any convenient fixed points 47, and to the levers 39, cause the
latter and the connected parts 35, 36, 37, 41, to immediately resume the position
indicated in Fig. 6, whereupon, by the continuance of the rotation of the main shaft,
the shutter is caused to be operated and the exposure made.
The roll 8, is mounted on the main shaft 1 by the rotation of which the slack of
the strip represented in Fig. 6, consequent upon the altered position of the feed
rollers 35,36, is also caused to be taken up. Or the roll 'S may be mounted on a frictional
hub and be driven, from the shaft 17, by accelerating gearing so as to cause it to take
up the slack immediately it is released, the frictional hold between the roll and its
actuating hub being sufficient to prevent the feeding movement of the rollers 35, 36,
from unwinding any portion of the exposed strip from the roll 8. The let-off roll 13,
may be suspended by links 48, connected to an adjacent part 49, of the camera-frame
and fitted with springs 50; tending to cause the roll to bear with its plain side
against the frame 49, with a sufficient frictional contact to allow of the strip 12, being
evenly fed by the aforesaid motion of the rollers 35, 36..
'
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim, is:
I
1. So arranging the feed mechanism of a camera of the nature herein before
referred to as to cause the sensitized strip to be gradually removed from position' after
exposure (as regards the lastly exposed portion) and to he gradually shifted into

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position for exposure (as regards the portion to be next exposed) by means operated
directly by or from the aforesaid main or common shaft and operating during the
whole of each of the periods between the successive times of arrestment of the strip
for the period required to effect the exposure.
2. The herein before described several modifications of means designed for attaining
the object of the present improvements.
Dated this 8th day of December 1890.
DAY. DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.