Improvements in Photographic Apparatus for Tourists and Travellers.
Year: 1889

page_text: :
Date of Application, 13th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Left. 13th Jan.. 1890-Accepted, 15th Feb., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Apparatus for Tourists and Travellers.
I, SAMSON ALBERT DARIER-GIDE, of 4 rue Bellot, Geneva, Switzerland, do hereby
declare the nature of said Invention, to .he as follows :-
My photographic apparatus is peculiarly characterized by an improved arrangement
of instantaneous shutter, and by a very portable arrangement of the camera.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a side view, an Fig. 2 a front view, of
my improved apparatus..
Figs. 3, 4 and 5 shew details of the mechanism acting upon the instantaneous
shutter.
Figs. 6, 7 and 8 represent in cross section three different positions of the
instantaneous shutter.
Figs. 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 shew separately one arrangement of the rollers for
the use of film-reels, and
Figs. 14, 15, 16 and 17 shew an arrangement of roller slide for the same purpose.
Figs. 18 an 19 shew an apparatus of the same system in which the shutter is of
cylindrical, instead of spherical, form.
Figs. 20 and 21 shew an apparatus of my system combined with mechanism for
producing the automatic win ling off of the film.
Fig. 22 shews the same appparatus with extensible camera for lenses of long focus.
In all the figures simi ar letters refer to similar parts or pieces.
Upon a butt end A, like that of a pistol, I mount the camera B. the front part of
which contains the instantaneous shutter D (fig. 1). This latter is formed as a bollow
sphere, and is provided with two pivots d. d. Said sphere D is cut out so as to allow
the rays projected by the lens, fixed to the front of the camera, to fall upon the film
or dry-plate placed in the camera, when the sphere D is placed in its middle position,
as shewn in fig. 7, and to intercept them when said sphere is in one of the positions
shewn in figs. 6 and 8. The exposure takes place during the passage of the sphere D
from one of the latter positions to the other, and this passage may be effected more or
less rapidly. The sphere D is acted upon by one of its pivots d, either by means of a
spring, as shewn in the drawings, or by means of an elastic band, or by any suitable
means whatever. The arrangement is so disposed as to cause the spring to be wound
by turning the pivot d, that is to say, the sphere D in one direction, so as to have it
returning automatically backward, more or less rapidly, according to the tension of
the spring, or elastic band. The axis or pivot d is provided with any hooking arrange
ment destined to fasten the same in the position shewn in fig. 6, but liable to be
unhooked, by any means whatever, when the exposure is to take place.
But it is evident that if the shutter D exposes the film or dry-plate to the light
when it is passing from the position shewn in fig. 6, to that of fig. 7, until it reaches the
position in fig. 8, the exposure would also take place by turning the sphere D backward
from the position, fig. 8, into that of figures 7 and 6, that is to say when the shutter
is being turned or revolved. To avoid this, I provide the spherical shutter D with a
sliding shutter d', which works automatically like an eye-lid, covering the front
opening of the sphere D as soon as the shutter reaches the position, fig. 8, remaining shut
while the sphere assumes the position fig. 7, and opening again when the sphere D
takes up again the position fig. 6. This is obtained by means of a button d" with
which is provided, and which strikes against suitably disposed catches on the
spherical box containing the sphere D.
Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 shew one arrangement of mechanism which can be adopted
for acting upon the sphere D. A spring barrel E contains a main spring which may
be wound more or less by the help of a click e, and acts upon the pivot d of the

page_text: sphere D. This axis or pivot d carries a pinion F and a butterfly nut G, the latter being
intend to turn or revolve the shutter. This pinion Fengages with a rack H having a
projection which hooks into a spring J located in the butt end A, and acted upon by
a trigger or tumbler I. By pressing upon this trigger or tumbler the rack is disengaged
which then allows the sphere D to be turned by the spring contained in the barrel E,
and the instantaneous exposure takes place. The rack H is provided with a suitable
longitudinal recess into which engages the end of the screw K, when it is desired to
maintain the shutter in the open position.
The axis of rotation of D may be placed vertically, or horizontally, and the shutter
itself may be made cylindrical instead of being spherical, as shewn by figures 18 and 19,
without changing the system of the combination of the shutter D, and slider d. The
same combination of shutter D and slider d' might also be made so as to place the
lens in the centre of the shutter, instead of placing it on the front, or on the back of
the same.
In figures 18 and 19 the pivot d of the cylindrical shutter D carries an arm g, which
hooks into a suitable catch in a lever L (whose pivot is 1) when the shutter is turned
or revolved by the aid of the butterfly nut G. The lever L is acted upon by a slider M
connected to a trigger or tumbler N; by pressing upon this latter the unhooking of the
arm is effected, that is to say the instantaneous exposure takes place. The
second arm i, of the pivot d, is intended to hook the shutter into the open position.
The camera B may, of course, be combined with dry-plate holders of every kind, but
generally, I prefer to use film-ree's which a low of a hundred exposures without
re-charging the apparatus. Figs. 9 to 13 shew one arrangement of the camera
intended for such purpose.
O is the film reel whi h is fixed to the lateral walls of the
camera B, by means of two springs b, b, having suitable recesses for receiving
the pivots of the reel. From the film passes, as shewn in fig. 10. upon a small
oscillating board O', upon which it is extended for the exposure.
From here the film
is wound upon a roller Q. acted upon by means of a screw-key R.
The board O' oscillates on its pivots o', o the first of which carries a disc Pl
having two notches, into one of which takes the hook of a spring g' fixed to the
outer surface of the lateral wall of B, so as to ensure the board 01 being always
placed in a vertical position after it has been turned. The turning takes place when
the film is wound upon Q and unwound from O. The board O is then caused to
torn until it attains the horizontal position. As it is necessary to bring it again into
the vertical position when the film is continued to be wound upon Q, and as this
would not take place when the board has reached the horizontal position or dead
point, I further provide its pivot o' with a gear wheel p' and the axis of Qwith a
wheel p, and I combine these two wheels with two intermediate wheels p" and
which transmit the rotation of the key R to the pivot o', and hence to the board O¹.
But as the roller Q is of varying diameter, its rotation is not exactly proportional to
that of the board O and I have been obliged to so arrange the above described
eléments as to avoid tearing the film. For this purpose, and in order to establish
a fixed proportion between the rotation of the key R, and of the board 01, notwith-
standing the diameter of Q increases at each revolution of the roller, I fix Q to its
axis by friction, either, as shown in figs. 11 and 13, by means of a compressible
collar, or by any means whatever. The friction of the ruller Q upon its axis must be
regulated according to the tension which is to be given to the film. Thus, when the
key R is turned for the purpose of setting the board O' into the vertical position, the
corresponding length of film being already wound upon Q, the axis of Q, to which
the key R is screwed, turns without its roller Q. A vertical shutter B¹ and a
horizontal shutter B allow of the camera B being opened for changing the film-
reel O, or for cutting off the exposed film. Figs. 14, 15 and 16 shew two side views,
and a horizontal section, of a roller slider intended to be combined with the
camera B.
Fig. 17 shews a vertical section of the same when placed in the camera B. Here
the film passes from the reel O over a guide roller to a fixed board O¹, and thence
over a second guide roller to the roller Q upon which it is wound.

page_text: The paper is fixed to the roller Q by means of a half cylindrical socket 9, whose
rim qengages into a longitudinal groove in the roller Q. Both the described film-
which
holders may be combined with an indicator shewing the number of exposures
have taken place.
The legs X and Y, with extensible slides x and y, allow of the apparatus being
placed in any desired standing position, said legs forming, with, the point a of the
batt end A, a suitable tripod.
Figs. 20 and 21 shew in what manner the apparatus may be completed by a
mechanical arrangement for effecting at the same time the automatic advance of the
film and the turning or revolving of the shutter D.
For this purpose the rollers O and Q are placed vertically in the camera B, and the
pivot of Q is provided with a click-wheel Q₁ which is acted upon by a rack S'. This
In
rack is placed in a recess of a slide T and pressed towards Q¹ by a spring s.
throwing the slide T backward the rotation of the roller Q is effected, and when the
slide T is pressed forward the rack is disengaged and acts like a click without
turning the wheel Q. This slide T has a projection t which works in a slot in the
rack H during a portion of the stroke of T, but withdraws H at the end of its stroke
so as to turn or revolve the shutter D until the spring J takes into the notch j of the
rack H. The spring E causes the backward motion of the shutter as soon as the
trigger or tumbler is pressed upon.
Fig. 22 shews a modified arrangement in which the rack H is replaced by a gut
cord U wound on a pulley W fixed to the pivot d of the shutter D. In this arrange-
ment the camera B is extensible so as to be used with lenses of long focus.
In the other apparatus described the lens is supposed to be fixed in a tube having a
projection engaging in a helicoidal slot on the outer tube in which it slides, it is
thus able to be removed from, or brought nearer to, the film.
ERNEST DE PASS,
68, Fleet Street, London, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Apparatus for Tourists and
Travellers.
I, SAMSON ALBERT DARIER-GIDE, of 4 rue Bellot, Geneva, Switzerland, do hereby
declare the nature of this Invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and
figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My invention, which relates to improvements in photographic apparatus for tourists
and travellers, is peculiarly characterized by an improved arrangement of instanta-
neous shutter, and by a very portable arrangement of the camera.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a side view, and Fig. 2 a front view of my
improved apparatus.
'
Figs. 3, 4, and 5 shew details of the mechanism for acting upon the instantaneous
shutter. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 represent, in cross section, three different positions of the
instantaneous shutter.
Figs. 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 shew separately one arrangement of the rollers for the
use of film-reels, and Figs. 14, 15, 16 and 17 shew an arrangement of roller-slide for
the same purpose.
Figs. 18 and 19 shew an apparatus of the same system in which the shutter is of
cylindrical instead of spherical form.
Fig. 20 shews an apparatus of my system combined with a mechanism for effecting
the automatic winding off of the film.
In all the figures similar letters refer to similar parts or pieces.
Upon a butt-end A, like that of a pistol, 1 mount the camera B, the front part of
which contains the instantaneous shutter D (Fig. 1). This latter is formed as a

page_text: hollow sphere and is provided with two pivots d, d. Said sphere D is cut out so as
to allow the rays projected by the lens (fixed to the front of the camera) to fall upon
the film or dry plate placed in the camera, when the sphere D is placed in its
middle position, as shewn in Fig. 7, and to intercept them when said sphere is in one
of the positions shewn in Figs. 6 and 8. The exposure takes place during the
passage of the sphere D from one of the latter positions to the other, and this passage
may be effected more or less rapidly. The sphere D is acted upon by one of its
pivots d, either by means of a spring, contained within the barrel E, as shewn in
Fig. 1 of the drawings, or by means of an elastic band, or by any suitable means
whatever. The arrangement is so disposed as to cause the spring to be wound by
turning the pivot d, that is to say the sphere D, in one direction so as to ensure it
returning automatically backward more or less rapidly, according to the tension of
the spring or the elastic band. The axis or pivot d is provided with any hooking
arrangement for the purpose of fastening the same in the position shewn in Fig. 6,
but free to be unhooked by any means whatever when the exposure is to take
place.
But it is evident that if the shutter D expose the film or dry plate to the light
when it is passing from the position shown in Fig. 6, into that of Fig. 7 until it
reaches the position in Fig. 8, the exposure would also take place by turning the
sphere D backward from the position in Fig. 8, into that in figures 7 and 6, that is
to say when the shutter is being turned or revolved. To avoid this, I provide the
spherical shutter D with a sliding shutter d', which works automatically like an eye-
lid, covering the front opening of the sphere D as soon as the shutter reaches the
position, Fig. 8; remaining shut whilst the sphere assumes the position in Fig. 7,
and opening again when the sphere D is restored to the position in Fig. 6. This is
obtained by means of a button ", with which the sliding shutter is provided, and
which strikes against suitably disposed catches on the spherical box containing the
sphere D.
Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 shew one arrangement of mechanism which can be adopted
for acting upon the sphere D. A spring barrel E, contains a main spring which may
be wound niore or less by the help of a click e (figs. 3 and 5) and acts upon the
pivot d of the sphere D. This pivot of axis d carries a pinion F, and a butterfly
nut G, the latter being intended to turn or revolve the shutter. The pinion F
engages with a rack H having a projection h which hooks into a spring J (fig. 4)
located in the butt end A, and acted upon by a trigger or tumbler 1. By pressing
upon this trigger or tumbler the rack H is disengaged, which then allows the
sphere D to be turned by the spring contained in the barrel E, and the instantaneous
exposure takes place. The rack H is provided with a suitablo longitudinal recess
into which the end of the screw K engages when it is desired to maintain the shutter
in the open position.
The axis of rotation of the sphere D may be placed vertically, or horizontally, and
the shutter itself may be made cylindrical instead of spherical, as shewn by figs. 18
and 19, without changing the system of combination of the shutter D and slider d¹.
The same combination of shutter D and slider d¹ might also be made so as to place
the lens in the centre of the shutter, instead of placing it on the front or on the back
of the same.
In Figs. 18 and 19 the pivot d of the cylindrical shutter D carries an arm 9. which
books into a suitable catch in a lever L (whose pivot is 1) when the shutter is turned
or revolved by the aid of the butterfly nut G. The lever L is acted upon by a
slider M connected to the trigger or tumbler N; by pressing upon this latter the
unhooking of the arm g, is effected, that is to say the instantaneous exposure takes
place. The second arm i of the pivot d is intended to book the shutter into the open
position. The camera B may, of course, be combined with dry-plate holders of every
kind, but genera ly I prefer to use fim-reels which allow of a hundred exposures
without re-charging th apparatus. Figs. 9 to 13 shew one arrangement of the camera
intended for such purpose. O is the film reel which is fixed to the lateral walls of
the camera B by means of two springs b, b, having suitable recesses for receiving
'

page_text: the pivots of the reel. From O the film passes, as shewn in Fig. 10, on to a small
oscillating board O¹ upon which it is extended for the exposure. From here the film
is wound upon a roller Q acted upon by means of a screw-key R.
The board 0 oscillates on its pivots o¹, oll, the first of which carries a disc P¹
having two notches into one of which takes the hook of a spring q¹ fixed to the outer
surface of the lateral wall of B, so as to insure the board 01 being always placed
in a vertical position after it has been turned. This turning takes place when the
film is wound upon Q and unwound from O. The board O' is then caused to
turn until it attains the horizontal position. As it is necessary to bring it again
into the vertical position when the film is continued to be wound upon Q, and as this
would not take place when the board has reached the horizontal position, or dead
point, I further provide its pivot o' with a gear wheel pl and the axis of Q with a
wheel p, and I combine these two wheels with two intermediate wheels p³, and p³,
which transmit the rotation of the key R to the pivot o', and hence to the board O'.
But as the roller Q is of variable diameter, its rotation is not exactly proportional
to that of the board O' and I have been obliged to so arrange the above described
elements as to avoid tearing the film. For this purpose, and in order to establish a
fixed proportion between the rotation of the key R and of the board O¹, notwithstand-
ing the diameter of Q increases at each revolution of the roller, I fix to its axis by
friction, either, as shewn in figs. 11 and 13, by means of a compressible collar, or by
any means whatever. The friction of the roller Q upon its axis must be regulated
according to the tension which is to be given to the film. Thus when the key R
is to be turned for the purpose of setting the board 0₁ into the vertical position,
the corresponding length of film being already wound upon Q, the axis of Q, to
which the key R is screwed, turns without its roller Q. A vertical shutter B and
a horizontal shutter B¹¹ (figs. 9 and 10) allow of the camera B being opened for
changing the film-reel O, or for cutting off the exposed film. Figs. 14, 15 and 16
shew two side views and a horizontal section of a film reel or roller-slider intended to
be combined with the camera B.
Figure 17 shews a vertical section of the same when placed in the camera B.
Here the film passes from the reel O over a guide-roller to a fixed board O', and
thence over a second guide-roller to the roller Q upon which it is wound.
The paper is fixed to the roller Q by means of a half cylindrical socket 9, whose
rim q engages into a longitudinal groove in the roller Q. Both the described film
holders may be combined with an indicator shewing the number of exposures which
have taken place.
The legs X and Y, with extensible slides and y, allow of the apparatus being
placed in any desired standing position, said legs forming with the point a of the butt
end A, a suitable tripod.
Fig. 20 shews a modified arrangement in which the rack His replaced by a gut
cord U wound on a pulley W fixed to the pivot d of the shutter. In this
arrangement the camera is extensible so as to be used with lenses of long
focus.
In the other apparatus described the lens is supposed to be fixed in a tube having
a projection engaging in a helicoidal slot on the outer tube in which it slides, it is
thus able to be removed farther from, or brought nearer to, the film.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :
1. The combination of the butt end A, the camera B, the extensible legs X, Y, and
the spherical or cylindrical shutter D, substantially as described.
2. The combination of the camera B with the reel O, oscillating board O¹, and
roller Q, substantially as shewn and described.
3. The half cylindrical socket 9 having a rim q", engaging into a longitudinal slot
in the roller Q, substantially as described.
4. The combination of the camera B with the shutters B' and B", substantially as
shewn and described.

page_text: 5. The spherical shutter D with slider d', substantially as shewn and described.
6. The cylindrical shutter D with slider d', substantially as shewn by Figs. 18
and 19.
7. The mechanism acting upon the instantaneous shutter D, substantially as shown
by Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
8. The mechanism acting, upon the instantaneous shutter D, substantially as shewn
by Figs. 18 and 19.
9. The combination of the mechanism acting upon the instantaneous shutter D,
with the mechanism acting upon the roller Q, substantially as shewn and described..
10. The combination of an extensible camera B, with the butt end A, and the
instantaneous shutter D, substantially as shewn by Fig. 20.
Dated this 13th day of January 1890.
ERNEST DE PASS,
68, Fleet Street, London, Agent for the Applicant.