A New or Improved Mechanical Photographic Camera, also applicable for Projecting Purposes.
Year: 1897

page_text: TRUVIDIONAL SIMULTICATION.
A New or Improved Mechanical Photographic Camera, also
applicable for Projecting Purposes.
I, THEODORE VAN HEEMSTEDE OBELT, of 140, Rokin, Amsterdam, in the Kingdom of
Holland, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved mechanically operated Camera for taking
very rapidly upon a passing sensitized strip of celluloid or film photographic pictures
of the movements or evolutions of persons or objects within the focus or range of
saine, the same apparatus (in combination with a suitable artificial light and lens)
being also applicable for projecting the said or like pictures upon a distant screen or
other vertical surface.
My invention is based upon the same principle as that of the now well known
Kinetograph, and the pictures taken thereby may conveniently be used in connection
with a Kinetoscope, or the said camera may be conveniently employed for projecting
its own or other pictures in the same way as a Cinematograph, Cineamatoscope,
Animatograph and like machines.
In the following description of my invention I provide for several ways of carrying
the same into effect, and I wish it understood that I may employ either or any desired
combination of the said ways without departing from the principle involved.
According to one method of arranging my invention I provide a suitable wood or
other case preferably but not imperatively divided into three parts, the upper of
which may be constructed to carry one or more suitable lengths or strips of narrow
thin celluloid, pegamoid or the like, each wound upon a wheel or its equivalent, the
outer surface of which said length or lengths has or have been previously coated with
sensitized emulsion after the manner of photographic plates or films.
The outer end of one of the said lengths would be led downward through a slot in
the bottom of its container into a compartment below, (which may be the second or
middle part of the said case) and through a suitable guide, and past an exposure
aperture formed in a fixed partition and facing an adjustable lens carried upon a
hinged flap, the said aperture being provided with a slide or its equivalent, arranged
to operate as a view finder, and shutter for partly or wholly darkening or obscuring
the said aperture. In this compartment I mount a spindle or shaft, with means
upon the outside of the case for rotating the same by hand or other power at a high
speed. The said shaft or spindle carries a suitable cam or its equivalent adapted to
actuate at suitable intervals the rise and fall of a metallic or other plate carried
vertically in suitable guides fixed upon the said partition. The said plate has an arın
or member projecting horizontally therefrom, which rises and falls therewith, and
upon this is mounted a bracket forming a carrier and part guide for the heel of
a T shaped piece having upon its members two projecting pointed pins, adapted to
pass through a pair of slots in the said partition and engage with holes or perforation's
arranged at a suitable distance apart, and from the edges of the said film or strip.
The said shaft carries a disc or wheel which may or may not be connected to the
said cam, and upon the said disc or wheel is formed a graduated surface adapted to.

page_text: intermittently make contact with a projection upon the said T piece and withdraw
its pins out of contact with the said film or strip. The said pins are normally held
in contact with the said strip or film by the tension of a suitable spring during the
time that the before mentioned cam is operating the downward travel of the before
named plate and its arm or member, which provides that the said strip or film is
thereby pulled downward a distance equal to the height of one of the pictures to
be photographed thereon. At the moment of the finish of the said downward travel
of the said film or strip the graduated surface upon the before mentioned disc or
wheel engages with the said T piece and withdraws the pins of this out of contact
with the strip or film, and permits the latter to remain stationary during the time
that the said T piece is being again carried up by the action of the said can upon the
before mentioned plate, and at the finish of the said up stroke of the plate, the
said T piece slips off the graduated surface upon the said wheel or disc, and again
engages with strip or film, to operate upon this as before upon its next downward
travel.
The moment at which the film or strip is at rest would be the moment of exposure,
and by varying the shape of the cam employed and the rate at which the same is
rotated I am enabled to vary the duration of the exposure to any time desired, which
may be as short as one thirtieth of a second, or in other words I may take thirty
photographs of a moving object in one second.
The said strip or film as exposed and passed downward as stated may be collected in
the bottom chamber of the case, or fed out into a light-proof bag, or otherwise as
may be found convenient, suitable means being provided in any case for obscuring
the light from the said strip or film until developed and fixed in the ordinary way.
According to a second or alternative method of arranging my said invention I
employ a plate in the shape of the letter T (in lieu of the sliding plate mentioned
in the foregoing arrangement) which I cause to slide vertically in suitable guides
fixed upon the before named partition its downward movements being effected by the
means of adjustable springs, while its upward movements are attained by a suitably
shaped can mounted upon a like, rapidly rotated shaft or vice versa. The arms or
upper members of the said T shaped plate carry a pair of sharp pointed pins, which
pass through slots in the said partition and engage with the holes or perforations in
the said strip or film, in a manner equivalent to that of the pins mentioned in the
previous arrangement. According to this method the strip or film is led from its
container down the face of a depending metallic or other plate, and behind a guide
roller or its equivalent mounted thereon, the upper end of the said depending plate
being pivotally suspended or hinged at a point conveniently below the exposure
aperture, and provided with suitable recesses for permitting the before mentioned
pins to engage with the strip or film thereon, the said depending plate being
normally held in a vertical position, and close to the said partition, by the tension of
a suitable spring, at which moment the said sliding plate is in its highest position
and the said pins in contact with the strip or film, and by the downward travel of
the said sliding plate the said strip or film is drawn down by the said pins past the
exposure aperture the required distance, or that equal to the height of one of the
pictures to be photographed thereon, which may be adjustable by the formation of
the before named cam, and at the moment preceding the rise of the said sliding plate,
a second cam or equivalent device upon the said shaft, engages with the lower end
of the said depending plate and pushes this away from the said partition, and the
strip or film out of contact with the said pins, so that during the upward travel of the
sliding plate the said strip or film is stationary and at rest, the duration of such rest
being the moment of exposure, (which may also be adjustable by the formation and
other conditions of the cam operating the sliding plate) but at the moment preceding
the next downward travel of the said sliding plate, the said depending plate is
released from its cam and flies back to the said partition, when the said pins again
engage with the strip or film and carry this down as previously stated. In this or
the previous or following arrangements when used as a camera, I may find it
convenient or desirable to provide a shutter (hereinafter described) for closing the

page_text: exposure aperture during the travel of the strip or film, suitable means being provided
for operating the said shutter.
According to a third or alternative method of carrying my invention into effect, I
may dispense with the foregoing means for operating the tilting of the said depending
plate and arrange that the operations of this may be attained electrically. For this
purpose I mount at the back of the said depending plate a suitably shaped soft
iron armature, and at a convenient distance from, and in front of the said depending
plate I provide a pair of electro magnets, which may be arranged to travel up and
down coincidentally with the said sliding plate, as may also the said soft iron
armature, and I so arrange the electric contacts that during the downward travel of
the said sliding plate the circuit is broken and the magnets inoperative, which
permits the said depending plate to lic close to the said partition with the said sharp
points in contact with the strip or film, so that this may be carried down thereby
and therewith as before described, but at the moment preceding the rise of the said
sliding plate the electric circuit would be closed, when the magnets, by attracting
the said armature, would pull the depending plate towards them and so release the
film or strip from the said pins, that the said sliding plate may rise while the strip-
or film remains stationary as previously explained.
It is obvious that by this method I may entirely dispense with the said sharp
points upon the sliding plate, by reversing the moment at which the electric circuit
is closed and the magnets rendered operative, that is to say, if the circuit be closed
at the moment preceding the fall of the sliding plate, and kept closed during the said
fall, the film or strip may be gripped between the armature and the magnets and be,
carried down thereby, in proportion to the throw of the cam, and by opening the
circuit at the moment preceding the rise of the said sliding plate, the armature would
be released and the strip or film be freed, so that this may remain stationary and at.
rest during the rising of the sliding plate.
In either of the latter arrangements I may so arrange the said sliding plate and
the cam operating the same, that the latter may serve to raise and lower the former
without the use of the before mentioned springs.
According to a fourth or alternative method, I may arrange that the said strip or
film is led down the face of the said depending plate, and under a suitably constructed
sprocket wheel or wheels, having teeth adapted to engage with the holes or perfora-
tions in the same, the primary end of the said strip or film being connected to a reel
continuously rotated by hand or other suitable means. At suitable intervals around
the said sprocket wheel or wheels are radiating rods or pins adapted to periodically
collide with the said depending plate, and push this outwardly, each of which would
have the effect of imparting a downward pull upon the said strip or film and unwind
a certain portion of this from its primary reel or spool, such downward pull and
unwinding being an equivalent to the downward travel of the said strip in the fore-
going arrangements, and directly the said rod or pin slips past the end of the said
plate, the latter would be pulled back by the tension of its spring to its normal
position, thus leaving a slack in the said strip or film, until pulled up or tightened
by the before mentioned rotating reel, and the interval between such downward pull
upon the said strip or film and the again tightening of same, would be the moment
at which this would be stationary and at rest at the part facing the exposure aperture,
and such intervals and the duration thereof may be adjusted by the length of the..
said rods or pins, and the number of these upon the sprocket wheel or wheels.
From the foregoing description it will be understood that either of the said
arrangements may be rendered operative for projecting the said pictures upon a
distant screen by the employment of a suitable light and condenser behind, and a
lens in front of the said exposure aperture and although I may find it desirable to
provide a shutter (as before mentioned) when employing my invention as a camera,
the same may not be always necessary when employed as a reproducer, as the down-
ward movement of the strip or film usually occupies about one third less time than
that of the exposure of the picture, and the projection of this upon the screen, but
in cases where I may find it desirable to employ a shutter, I prefer to construct this..
*

page_text: of sheet metal, and of circular formation, of which so much would be cut away as
would represent the actual dwell of the picture, the remainder, (or so much thereof
as may face the exposure or projecting aperture during its rotation) I perforate in
such a way as to provide sufficient obscurity to deceive the eye while the picture is
being moved, without shutting out so much of the light as would cause a dark wave 5
upon the screen, of appreciable duration.
Dated this 16th day of January 1897
A New or Improved Mechanical Photographic Camera, also
applicable for Projecting Purposes.
I, THEODORE VAN HEEMSTEDE OBELT, of 140, Rokin, Amsterdam, in the Kingdom
of Holland, Engineer, 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:--
My invention relates to an improved mechanically operated Camera for taking very
rapidly upon a passing sensitized strip of celluloid or film, photographic pictures of
the evolutions or movements of persons or objects within the range or focus of same,
the said apparatus (in combination with a suitable artificial light and lens) being
also adapted for projecting the said or like pictures upon a distant screen or other
vertical surface.
My invention is based upon the same principle as that of the now well known
kinetograph, and the pictures taken thereby may conveniently be used in connection
with a kinetoscope or the said camera may be conveniently employed for projecting
its own or other like pictures in the same way as a Cinematograph, Cineamatoscope,
Cinimatograph and like machines.
In order that my said invention and the several ways in which I purpose carrying
the same into effect may be fully understood I have hereunto appended three sheets
of drawings, of which;
Figs. 1, 2 and 3, sheet 1 are side, front, and back elevation respectively of an entire
apparatus according to one method of construction, in each of which said views the
side of the outer case facing the observer has been wholly or partially removed to
show the internal mechanism.
Fig. 4, sheet 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 without the outer case, illustrating a
modification in which certain parts are operated electrically.
Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but illustrating a further modification.
Fig. 6 is a front view of the tilting plate, forming part of Fig. 4, shewing the
prefered formation of the armature, while Fig. 7, is a back view of the electro
magnets that attract the said armature.
Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating one of many ways in which the electric circuit may
be opened and closed automatically for purposes hereinafter explained.
Fig. 9 is a view of my improved shutter when such is used.
Fig. 10, sheet 3, is a view similar to Fig. 4 bat illustrating a further modification.
Fig. 11 is a front view of the tilting plate and sensitized film or strip shewn
in Fig. 10, while Fig. 12 is a detached view of the said tilting plate as I prefer to
construct it in this arrangement.
Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the sprocket wheel or wheels shewn in position
in Figs. 10 and 11.

page_text: In paragraphs 4 to 8 inclusive of my provisional specification, I foreshadow a
method of carrying this invention into effect, in which I mention the use of a
metallic plate, having a projecting horizontal arın or member upon which is formed
a bracket carrying a T shaped piece, having pins or projections adapted to move both
horizontally an vertically, the former movement being effected by the action of a
disc or wheel having a graduated surface, but I have since found that the T shaped
piece which I then had in my mind for imparting motion, to the film or strip, and
the graduated dise for imparting horizontal motion to the said T piece form part of
the subject matter of an invention prior to my own, and therefore having no claim
to such a movement for the purposes stated I have eliminated them from my complete
specification, and I mention this at this stage of the description of my invention lest
their omission may appear to constitute disconformity between my provisional and
complete specifications.
.
According to one method of carrying my invention into effect by purely mechanical
means as illustrated by Figs. 1, 2, and 3, 1 provide a suitable wood or ther case or
box A of dimensions suitable for the purpose, which I prefer to divide into two parts,
by the means of a partition a, the upper part being covered by a hinged lid 6, to shut
out the light and constructed to carry one or more lengths or strips of narrow
celluloid, pegamoid or other thin transparent material suitable for the purpose, each
wound upon a reel or spindle, or any suitable equivalent therefor, the inner face or
faces of which said length or lengths has or have been previously coated with
sensitized emulsion, after the manner of photographic rapid plates or films.
Assuming for illustration that one only of such strips or lengths is employed as
shewn by B in Fig. 1, the end of the outer convolution of this may be led down
through a slot in the partition a into the compartment below, and down past an
exposure aperture c formed in a fixed vertical partition C, facing an adjustable lens D,
and having rollers & which form a guide for the said strip B, and serve to keep this
flat against the said aperture.
In the lower end of the case A I mount a shaft E with suitable means upon the
outside of the case for rotating the same at a high speed by hand or power, such for
instance as that of a grooved pulley or wheel e, adapted to be rotated by a band or
strap from an adjacent motor or engine or by a larger wheel rotated by hand.
Upon the front face of the partition C, I provide a metallic or other plate F in the
shape of the letter T which I cause to slide vertically in suitable guides a¹, fixed
upon the partition C, its downward movements being effected by the means of
springs B', the upper ends of which are connected to the horizontal members B2, of
the said plate, while their lower ends may be attached to wires or cords b', connected
to thumb screws such as c¹, the tightening and loosening of which may serve to
regulate the tension of the said springs. The upward movements of the said plate E
are attained by the means of a cain D', fixed upon the shaft E, the shape of which
said cam may vary according to the throw desired, but I prefer to employ one the
shape and configuration of which is substantially that shewn in Figs. 1 and 2 by
which I obtain a very rapid lowering of the plate F. The members B2 of the plate F
carry a pair of sharp pointed pins , which pass through slots e¹ in. the partition C,
and, are adapted to periodically engage with two rows of equisdistant holes or
perforations in the stip B.
The strip or film B is led from its place of suspension behind the said rollers d,
and down the face of a depending plate G, and behind a guide roller or rollers d
carried in suitable brackets thereon, the upper end of the said plate being hinged o
otherwise pivotally suspended upon an extension piece f¹, fixed. upon or formed
integrally with the partition C, the said extension being to permit the said plate to
lie close up against C, under certain conditions hereinafter explained and shewn by
dotted outline in Fig. 1. The plate G is recessed or cut away at each side at g, to
coincide with the slots e' in C, to provide a clearance for the pins d', and permit
these to engage with the holes f in B, when G is perfectly vertical. The said
plate G is normally retained close up against the partition C, by the tension of a

page_text: spring g', at which moment the sliding plate F is in its highest position as at Fig. 2,
to which it has been raised by the cam D', when the pins d¹, would be in contact
with the perforations or holes f in the film or strip B, as shewn by dotted outline
in Fig. 1, but directly the cam D¹ has passed the lower end of the plate F in the
direction of the arrow Fig. 2, the said plate would be instantly lowered by the
tension of the springs B¹, until its lower end reaches and rests upon the boss of
the cam G, and its members B2 upon the upper guide a¹, as shewn by dotted
outline in Fig. 2, and by means of the pins d¹ engaging with the holes fin B,
such lowering of the plate F, would draw down the strip or film B, past the
exposure aperture c, a distance equal to the fall of the said plate F, which would be
the height of one of the pictures to be photographed thereon. At the moment
preceding that at which the cam G would commence to raise the plate F, a second
cam G¹, fixed at a suitable angle upon the shaft E, would engage with the lower end
of the plate F, and by pushing this away from the partition C, into the position
shewn by full lines in Fig. 1, the strip or film B, would be taken out of contact with
the pins d', so that during the upward travel of the plate F, the strip or film B would
be stationery and at rest, the duration of such rest being the moment at which the
picture would be photographed upon the portion of the strip B, then facing the
aperture c and lens D, but the said duration of exposure may be lengthened or
shortened by altering the formation of the cam D' so as to lengthen or shorten the
time taken to raise the plate F. The cam G', is preferably circular, having a cut
away or flat portion G2, and at the moment preceding the next downward travel of
the plate F, the said flat or cut away portion G2, would be beneath the lower end of G
and so cease to push it outwardly when G would be immediately brought back against
the partition C by the tension of the spring g', when the pins d' would again engage
with the holes or perforations f in B, and again carry this down as before described,
and so on until the whole, or such portion as desired, of the length of B is
covered with pictures, and as the lower end of B issues through a suitable
aperture such as g² in the case A, it may be collected in a light-proof bag or box
(as suggested by dotted outline in B3 in Fig. 1) to be conveyed away for
development.
In order to fully appreciate the operations of the said apparatus it must be
remembered, that the film or strip B has been photographically prepared for rapid
exposure, and that the time necessary for exposure (or that at which the strip B may
be stationery in front of the lens D and aperture c) may be as little as 1/30th of a
second and as an exposure takes place and the strip B is moved once to every
revolution of the shaft E, it is obvious that the said shaft must be rotated, the plate F
raised and lowered, and the depending plate & deflected, as many times per second as
there are to be pictures taken upon the strip B.
According to a second or alternative method of carrying my invention into effect,
I dispense with the means herein before described for operating the tilting of the
depending plate G, and arrange that the operations of this may be attained electrically
as illustrated by Figs. 4 to 8 Sheet 2.
For this purpose I fix upon the back of the plate G a soft iron armature H, of such
formation as to present at each side of G a flat surface H¹, level with or rising slightly
above the outer face of same, and at a suitable distance in front of G I fix by any
suitable means (such for instance as that of brackets H') an electro magnet having
like shaped poles surrounded by bobbins J¹ and J2, adapted to attract (when excited)
the armature members H1, H¹ of the armature H, and for exciting the magnet J, I
provide anywhere within the case A a primary or other electric battery K in electrical
connection with the said magnet, and so arrange the contacts for opening and closing
the circuit, that during the downward travel of the plate F, the circuit is broken and
the magnet inoperative, which permits that the depending plate G may be kept close
up against the partition C by the tension of the spring g¹, with the pins d¹ in contact
with the holes f in B, (as shewn by dotted outline in Fig. 4) so that the latter may be
carried down by the lowering of the plate F as previously described, but at the

page_text: moment preceding the rising of the plate F, the current would be close!, when the
magnet J, by attracting the armature H, would pull the plate G away from
the partition C (as shewn in full lines in Fig. 4) and so release the film or strip from
the pins d, that the plate F may rise, while the strip B remains stationery as before
described, but at the moment preceding the downward movement of the plate G the
circuit would be again broken when the plate G would be brought against the
partition C, and contact be again made between the pins d¹ and the holes fin B, that.
the latter may again be lowered with the plate F.
It is obvious that the electric circuit may be opened and closed at the desired
moment by various means well known to any experienced electrician, and I therefore
do not confine myself to any particular means for effecting this, but for preference I
provide upon the shaft E a copper or other disc L, and arrange a suitable brush h
resting upon the periphery of same, the said brush being in electrical connection
with one pole of the battery K by a wire j, so that the current may pass through the
shaft E, to the cam D¹, and by this to the sliding plate F, and by a wire j', from F
to the bobbins J and J1, and from the latter by a wire back to the battery, as shewn
in Fig. 4. By this arrangement the circuit would be closed and the magnets be
excited immediately the plate reaches its lowest position and makes contact with
the boss of the cam G, and would remain so closed while the plate is rising, or while
the cam is passing from the position shewn in dotted outline to that shewn in full
lines in Fig. 8, but in order that the circuit may be broken a sufficient time before
the plate cominences to again lower, so that the plate G, may return to its vertical
position, I provide upon certain portions of the said cam an edging of vulcanite,
wood, or other non-conducting material, so that while the plate F is in contact:
therewith, the circuit is open and the magnet J inoperative.
By a slight modification of the cores of the magnet J and the armature members H¹,
I may arrange the electric circuit so as to dispense with the sharp points d¹, upon
the sliding plate F by reversing the inoment at which the circuit is inade and broken,
that is to say, by closing the circuit at the moment preceding the fall, instead.
of the rise of the plate F.
Referring to Fig. 5, upon the upper end of the plate F, I provide a vertical
extension piece F1, at each side of the upper end of which I screw or otherwise fix a'
horizontal plate M, the two said plates after passing through slots in the partition C,
forming a bearing for the ends of a pivot at the upper end of the depending
plate G, the latter in this case being preferably of lesser length than in the
preceding arrangements, and carries (as in Figs. 4 and 6) an armature H, the
members H¹ of which are formed substantially as at Fig 5, while the yoke-piece J of
the magnets J and J2 are carried by a horizontal rectangular extension frame N
(which may if desired be formed integrally with the said yoke-piece J) the ends of
which may be screwed or otherwise firmly connected to the members B2 of the
sliding plate F. In order that the electric circuit may be closed at the moment
preceding the fall of the sliding plate F, I reverse the position of the non-conducting
strip upon the cam D¹ from that shewn by solid black lines k to that shewn by a
double dotted line at ¹ in Fig. 8, which provides, that the circuit would be closed in
this arrangement at the moment it was cut off in the previous arrangement, and
would remain so closed during the fall of the plate F, and such closing of the circuit
would excite the magnet J and pull towards it the armature H, and consequently
the plate G, (as shewn by dotted outline in Fig. 5) when the film B would be gripped
between G and the said magnet, and as the magnet, the armature, and the plate G,
in this arrangement are all connected to and travel up and down with the sliding
plate F, such gripping of the strip B would draw this down a distance equal to the
fali of the said plate, as in the previous arrangement, but immediately preceding
the rise of the plate F, the lower end of this would have made contact with the
non-conducting surface ', of the cam D', when the current would be broken and the
plate G, and armature H would fall back against the partition C, by the spring glas
shewn by full lines in Fig. 5, thus releasing the grip upon the strip B, and allowing
the plate G to rise. with the plate F without taking with it the said strip, and in

page_text: order to effectually prevent the possibility of the strip rising with the said plate G,
I may provide a weak spring drum (not shewn) around which the lower end of B
may be automatically wound, as pulled down in the manner stated.
In either of the foregoing arrangements I may provide a cam D¹ of such formation
as to effect the rise and fall of the plate F without the use of the springs B¹.
According to a third or alternative method I may arrange that the operations of
the film may be effected by mechanical means other than that described and shewn
by Figs. 1 to 3. Referring to Figs. 10 to 13, Sheet 3, for the purposes of this
arrangement of my invention, I mount upon the partition C a pair of brackets m.
which serve as bearings for the spindle n, of sprocket wheels P, P1, P2 and P³ fixed
thereon, (shewn detached at Fig. 13). Upon the peripheries of the wheels P2 and P3,
or one broad wheel in lien thereof, at intervals corresponding with that of the holes fin
the strip B, I provide radiating studs or pins p, and at suitable intervals around the
peripheries of the wheels P and P1, radiating arms or rods r, all of which, and
the peripheries of the said wheels, extend through slots or a wide opening in the
partition C as shewn in Fig. 10.
The outer end of the strip or film B, passes down the front of the plate G, and
under a roller 8, at the lower end of same, and from this beneath, but close up to
the periphery or peripheries of the wheel or wheels P2, P3, so that the pins p thereon
engage with the holes f therein, and from this the said strip is connected to, and
wound around a reel R, continuously rotated at a given speed by hand or an adjacent
inotor or any other convenient means, the rotation of R serving to impart to B, a
continuous but gentle, even pull. The plate G in this case is constructed
substantially as at Fig. 12, and has two slots t and t through which may pass
the pins pupon P2, P3, when the said plate is close up against the partition C,
as shewn by dotted outline in Fig. 10, and outside each of the said slots the said
plate is extended in width at w and w¹, the lower ends of the said extensions
Terminating some distance above the roller s, and with these collide the outer
ends of the rods, which for the prevention of friction may have a small wheel v
in end of each as shewn, and the manner of operation is as follows.
1"
201
The said sprocket wheels being continuously rotated by the passing film B,
their arms or rods would periodically engage with the depending flap G, and
push this outwardly from C, as shewn in full lines at Fig. 10, and by reason of
the lower end of B, being always taut by reason of the pull of the reel R, such
pushing out of G, would impart a downward pull upon, and unwind a certain
portion of B from its primary reel or spool above (, such downward pull and
unwinding of B, being equivalent to the downward travel of this in the foregoing
arrangements, and directly each pair of rods have passed below the extensions w,
the plate G would fly back against C, by the tension of the spring or springs g¹,
thus leaving a slack in the strip B until pulled up or tightened by the reel R,
and the interval between such downward pull upon the strip B, and the again
tightening of the same, the portion facing the exposure aperture c would be
stationary and at rest, and such periods of rest would be the moment of exposure,
and the length or duration of such rests and their frequency may be adjusted by
the length and number respectively of the arms or rods r.
I may find it convenient to construct a camera of the type described by a suitable
combination of either of the foregoing arrangements, and I reserve to myself the
right to do so, so long as the same principal is involved.
From the foregoing description and by reference to the drawings it will be under-
stood that either of the said arrangements may be rendered adaptable for projecting
its own or other pictures upon a distant screen, by providing in the case A, a door
or other opening such as S (Fig. 1) facing the exposure aperture c, when, by the
means of a suitable lantern and condensor placed near the said opening so as to shed
its light upon the strip facing c, and a suitable projecting lens in the place of D,
such projection may be carried out.
I do not confine myself to the use of a shutter either in using my invention as a
camera or reproducer, as such shutter may not always be necessary, as the downward

page_text: movement of the strip B, usually occupies about one third less time than that
required for exposure and projection, but in cases where I may find it desirable to
employ a shutter, I mount this upon a spindle carried by the case A, in the position
shewn by in dotted outline in Fig. 1, and provide any suitable means such for
instance as a wheel or pulley x adapted to be rotated by a band or cord operated by
and from the shaft E in the case of Figs. 1, 4 and 5, or from the reel R in the case
of Fig. 10, such shutter being constructed substantially as at Fig. 9, that is to say,
having a cut away portion V for about two thirds of its area, or so much as would
represent the dwell of B, and a solid portion W of the remainder, such solid portion
having any number of small holes or perforations y so that such solid portion may
provide sufficient opacity to obscure the light and deceive the eye while the picture
or strip B is moving, without shutting out so much of the light as would cause a
dark wave upon the screen of perceptible or appreciable duration.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1st. In a camera or apparatus for rapidly taking photographic pictures of moving
objects, and reproducing or projecting the same or the like upon a distant screen,
the construction, use, and application of the herein described apparatus, and the
several alternative methods of arranging the same to operate by mechanical or
electrical means, or any desired combination of such means, substantially as herein
set forth and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
2nd. In a camera or apparatus for taking rapid photographic pictures upon a
passing strip or film and projecting the same or the like upon a distant screen the
combination of a case or container A, adapted to carry a photographic or projecting
lens such as D, and having a door such as S, and central partition such as C, provided
with an aperture c and slots e and e', and arranged to carry a sliding plate such as F,
adapted to be raised by a suitable cam such as D¹, mounted upon a rotating shaft E,
and lowered by springs such as B¹, the said plate F having pins such as d' passing
through the said slots e and e¹, and adapted to periodically engage with holes f in a
sensitized film or strip B, adapted to travel under suitable guides or rollers over the
face of a depending plate G, actuated by a cam such as G, G2, also mounted upon the
shaft E the whole connected, combined and operating, with or without a shutter such
as T, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and shewn by
Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.
3rd. In a camera or apparatus for taking rapid photographic pictures upon a
passing strip or film, and projecting the same or the like upon a distant screen, the
combination of a case A, lens D partition C, aperture c, opening S, shait E, cam D¹,
sliding plate F, having springs B1, and with or without pins d'; as set forth in the
preceding claim, with tilting plate G, having rollers d d¹ and d² and forming a guide
for, and actuating the movement of a strip or film such as B, the said plate G being
operated by the opening and closing of an electric circuit influencing a magnet such
as J, and armature such as H, the said magnet being influenced at the fall of the
plate F, as at Figs. 4, 6 and 7, or at the rise of same as at Fig. 5, the whole connected,
combined and operating, with or without a shutter T, substantially as and for the
purposes herein described and shewn by Figs. 4 to 9 inclusive of the accompanying
drawings.
4th. In a camera or apparatus for taking rapid photographic pictures upon a
passing strip or film, and projecting the same or the like upon a distant screen, the
combination of a case A, lens D, partition C, aperture c, and opening S as set forth
in the preceding claims, with tilting plate G, having rollers d, d' and d² and forming
a guide for, and actuating the movements of a strip or film such as B, the said plate
being operated by arms or rod such as 7, upon a pair of rotating sprocket like wheels
such as P and P¹, connected to or formed integrally with one or a pair of sprocket
like wheels such as P2 and P3, the latter having teeth or pins such as p, adapted to
engage with holes f in the said strip B, the said wheels being mounted upon one
B

page_text: common spindle n carried on brackets m and rotated by engagement with the passing
strip B, impelled by a roller or reel such as R, the whole connected, combined and
operating, with or without a shutter T substantially as and for the purposes herein
described and shewn by Figs. 9 to 13 inclusive of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 16th day of November 1897.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
Agent for the Applicant, 1, Broad Street Buildings, London, E.C.