Animated Photographic Pictures.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 10th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 16th Nov., 1888
Animated Photographic Pictures.
I, LOUIS AIMÉ AUGUSTIN LE PRINCE of New York, United States of America,
at present of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows :-
In order to carry out my method I provide an apparatus consisting of a receiver or
photo camera and a deliverer or stereopticon adapted to throw the transparent
pictures obtained by means of the said camera or receiver in the same order and time
in which they were taken as will be hereinafter fully described.
The transparent pictures, thrown in succession on a finely ground plate glass or
other suitable material will produce on the eye of the spectator the same effect or
impression as the object themselves when in motion in front of the "Camera Receiver."
A suitable subject having been found, the photo camera or receiver is brought in
front and focussed.
The receiver is composed of three parts.
1st the objective.
2nd the supply and motor box.
3rd the stand.
1st. The objective is a system of preferably 3, 4, 8, 9, 16 or more lenses of equal
focus secured in a vertical plate provided with instantaneous shutters working
automatically and consecutively by means of gearing, a system of electro-magnets
corresponding to the lenses and controlled by a commutator fixed on a driving shaft
placed in the supply and motor box as described hereafter or by other suitable means.
I will here describe the electric motor apparatus.
The front plate supporting the lenses is connected by bellows with a similar plate
which we may call the back plate provided with as many openings as there are lenses
and this back plate is securely fixed on a horizontal bed or board provided with slides
or grooves in which the front plate may slide backwards or forwards by rack and
pinion or lever action to allow accurate focussing.

page_text: 2nd. The supply and motor box fits at the back of the objective and is provided
with openings corresponding with those of the back plate of the objective and a
sliding shutter is provided to close the communication of the whole set of lenses
previous to exposing the films or to removing the supply box to dark room after
exposure.
In the particular apparatus I am describing the supply and motor box contains two
superposed sets of drums loose on two horizontal shafts. The sensitive films are stored
on the two lower drums, and are carried over small guide rollers carried horizontally
above and below the openings provided in front of box. From thence they are
carried over to the upper set of drums so that between the two small rollers they
present a flat surface facing the lenses for exposure.
The two upper drums are provided on their outer faces or discs with gearing wheels
gearing alternately with mutilated gear wheels set fast on a horizontal main or
motor shaft mentioned above as carrying a commutator connected with a battery and
commanding the instantaneous shutters of the lenses by means of electro-magnets.
The outer end of the main shaft is provided with a square head to carry a crank for
hand or other power such as a weight and blocks, spring and clockwork, compressed
air electricity etc.
The length of the unmutilated gear will have to be sufficient to pull in one revolution
of the main shaft, a length of film equal to or greater than the total height of the
square openings in front of the lenses.
The main shaft carries also two cams which press forward during one half of their
revolution two blocks and pads held by two springs at the back of the films so as to
press and hold the films flat and tight against the openings in front of the box during
exposure and release them immediately after so that the mutilated gears revolving
cach set of drums alternately present one film for exposure and store the exposed
part of the other.
3rd. The stand may be a strong tripod provided with a friction socket and hinge
so as to revolve easily in all directions.
The deliverer is an apparatus similar to the receiver but the lenses are a little
further apart and convergent toward a point at the distance required to show the
picture.
The drums are carried further apart so as to allow the throwing of powerful lights
through condensers and positive pictures and the reproduction of them successively on
the screen of ground glass or other suitable material placed for the purpose. The
sensitive film for the negative may be an endless sheet of gelatine or paper coated
with bromide emulsion or any convenient ready made, quick acting film such as
Eastman's paper films. The sensitive film for the transparencies
or positives must be
on a transparent flexible material such as gelatine, mica, horn &c. Once well
developed and toned the transparencies may pass through the hands of artists who
will tint them in transparent colors etc. as the subject may require ; and they will be
ready for mounting and adjusting between metallic or other ribbons which will bind
them together the whole being wound around the drums of the deliverer.
I may perforate the ribbons and draw the band of transparencies round by means
of a pitch wheel whose teeth engage in the perforations; but the drums may be
positively driven if necessary.
Doted this 10th dose of 1000

page_text: Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Producing
Animated Photographic Pictures.
I, LOUIS AIME AUGUSTIN LE PRINCE, of New York, United States of America,
at present of 323 High Holborn 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 is based upon the hypothesis that the impression produced upon the
retina by objects in motion is approximately the same as that which would be produced
by presenting to the eye in rapid succession a great number of pictures representing
the successive positions of the object at exceedingly short intervals of time; such
pictures I herein term "animated" pictures.
The apparatus that I employ consists firstly, of a photographic camera or receiver,
hereinafter referred to as the receiver, for obtaining the negatives or original pictures ;
and secondly of a projector or lantern hereinafter referred to as the deliverer, for
projecting the pictures obtained by the camera on to a suitable surface in the order in
which they were photographed ; whereby the successive impressions on the eye of
the spectator will convey a true idea of the changing appearance of the objects within
range of the camera during the exposure.
In the accompanying drawings, illustrative of the apparatus:
Fig. 1 is a front elevation and fig. 2 a horizontal section of the receiver; Fig. 2ª is
a diagram illustrative of the working of parts of the same; Fig. 3 is a vertical section
of the same; Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal section and Fig. 5 an enlarged vertical
section of parts of the same; Fig. 6 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in
vertical section, of the deliverer and Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrative of a modification
of part of Fig. 5.
Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
At fig. 1 I have represented a receiver which has a series of sixteen objectives L
fitted to the shutter box L' in front of the bellows S supported by the table L* and
inovable upon feet U by means of the lever V. In the lower part of the figure the
joint K and friction sleeve W are represented in vertical section the arrangement
being such as will allow the receiver to be rotated upon the pivot L³ and to be
inclined backwards or forwards by slackening the wing nut K¹. X indicates a
spirit level.
The two lenses P at the upper part serve for focussing purposes the necessary means
of adjustment being provided by the before mentioned lever V. By having one or
more lenses such as P independent of the photographic lenses L solely for focussing
purposes the operator is enabled to adjust the focus to the object whether it be in
motion or not and even while the exposures are being made. His a sliding shutter
in the box containing the mechanism.
At fig. 2 is represented the arrangement of the objectives and their tubes Q which
are movable in the tubes R for focussing purposes. In the case L is mounted the
driving shaft A provided at its extremities with two toothed segments or mutilated

page_text: wheels B B which transmit motion alternately by means of the wheels CC to the
lower drums D D movable upon the stationary shaft E.
Fig. 2 shows the transmission of the movement by the wheel A' and the gear
wheels A³ A³ to the bevel wheels A* A and from them by means of the square
telescopic shaft A to the principal wheel A in the shutter box L, the details of which
are shown in figures 4 and 5.
In Fig. 3 is shown in end elevation one of the winding-on drums D and its
corresponding storing drum D' the film being shown passing around the rollers F F
in front of the corresponding panel J. As shown at fig. 2 there are two of these
panels J both of which are covered with cloth or caoutchoue and press the films
alternately against the inner ends of the openings R R by means of the blocks B¹
operated in one direction hy the cams O and drawn back in the opposite direction by
the springs a a. Each of these springs in any suitable manner is fixed to the ends
of one of the panels and also by pins aa (fig. 3) to the two rods II which are
securely fixed across the case L. The pins a pass through slots formed in the
spring a so that the said spring can yield sufficiently under pressure of its cam 0
to enable the block B¹ to bear directly against the back of the panel J. When the
pressure of the cam is withdrawn from the spring the said spring in assuming its
normal condition draws the panel J back from the film f. Fig. 3 also shows the
section of the focussing lenses or "finders" P, of the ground glass d and eye
pieces e as also the means for actuating through the lever Vits sleeve u which acts
upon the front part of the objective when focussing. It is to be observed that the
ground glass d is in the same plane as the sensitive filin when it is moved into position
for the exposure and the focal length of the lenses P and L being the same, the
pictures represented upon the ground glass d, will in all particulars practically be the
same as those being taken by the objectives L. The spring or clip G8 keeps the
case L' firmly against the objective and allows it (the case) to be readily withdrawn
and replaced by another after the exposure of all the film wound upon the drums, D.
Fig. 4 shows the mechanism for transmitting motion from the driving shaft A to
the wheel A. In this view it must be observed that the section of the lenses is taken
at a lower level than that showing the transmitting mechanism in order the better to
show the position of the shutters G, G', G, G³ and H1, H2, H³, 11 with their
connecting rods M, M1, M2, Ms.
Fig. 5 illustrates the system of shutters and shows how the motion is transmitted
from the wheel A₁ to runners B2 B3 B4 B, gear wheels C¹³ ³ and mutilated
gear wheels JJ J3 J4 to doublo pinions and mutilated gear wheels E¹ and D, E
and D³, etc. to double shutters G H¹, G¹ H², G² H³, G3 H, which are provided with
springs 111* to bring them back to their first position as soon as the teeth of
the wheels D D D D cease from operating them. This view shows also the
rods M M M M³ which transmit motion vertically from shutter to shutter for each
vertical set of lenses.
In fig. 6 the objective being the same as in the receiver only the outside frames
and bellows S thereof are shown. The back part of the figure is a section through
the centre and shows the film transparencies mounted on two ribbons of metal or
other suitable material punched with holes H' fitting on the pins P₁ of the guide
rollers Go Go, the said transparencies being stored on drums D D which run loosely
on shafts having square ends and which shafts are supported in grooves M M
provided in the frame-work Co. The weights and cords WW2 rolled on sumall
pulleys P2 P3 rigidly secured to drums D and D¹ maintain the necessary tightness
and steadiness of the films. At the back of the films is the reflector R with sixteen
or more incandescent lights supported by the rod E' sliding in socket ; other
lights may however be used in any number from one upwards. In front of the
reflector are sixteen double condensers K K throwing the light through the sixteen
pictures, and mounted on a frame 1 grooved at 1' so that they may slide in and out
of the frame C laterally when required. The lower of the guide rollers G carries
a pinion gearing in wheel N supported by the frame and provided with the
crank handle Q or any other device for transmitting power.

page_text: for long exposures, the dark lines showing the full bearings and the cogs of
the mutilated gear wheels.
A suitable subject having been found, the photo-camera or receiver is brought in
front and focussed. The receiver is composed of three parts.
1st. The objective.
2nd. The supply and motor box.
3rd. The stand.
The objective is a system of preferably 3, 4, 8, 9, 16 or more lenses of equal focus
secured in a vertical brass plate or frame Z. Two light brass plates fixed in front
of Z form a boxing in which the instantaneous shutters work automatically as
explained hereafter. The drawings show as an example an objective of 16 lenses.
On the back of the plate Z cach lens is provided with a light tube sliding in and
out of a corresponding set of tubes R slightly larger and fixed on the front of
the back plate Y; this arrangement of tubes however is only necessary where
more than one lens is employed the object being to prevent the light from one lens
reaching the portion of film appropriated to another lens.
The other four sides of the box S are made of the form of rubber bellows so that no
light can penetrate except through the lenses.
The back plate Y is provided with 16 preferably square openings and securely fixed
at T (figure 3) to a horizontal bed or board provided with two slides or grooves in
which the lower corners U of the front brass plate Z can be moved backward and
forward by means of a rack and pinion or lever arrangement to allow of accurate
focussing. Figures 1 and 3 show such a lever arrangement in which the lever V
presses on an eye hole in the square rod u on the transverse bare which is connected
with the corners or feet U U of the front plate and pushes or pulls it forward and
backward as required. Under the bed plate L2 is a knee joint K allowing inclination
backward and forward upon a strong pivot rod L3 which is capable of revolving in a
split clamping socket W fixed in the upper part of the stand which is also provided
with a small spirit level X. By this last mentioned arrangement the objective may
be inclined backward and forward, revolved upon the pivot rod L³ and be brought to
face any object around the operator, without interference with the inner action of the
motor box or case or the focussing of the moving objects at varying distances whilst,
at the same time, the lateral sides of the pictures remain vertical.
The case I is formed so as to overlap the objective at the top and sides and this,
with the spring catch G insures its fitting accurately against the back plate Y of the
said objective.
The front portion of the box is perforated with sixteen openings L L corresponding
to those formed in the plate Y and a shutter H enables the operator to shut out the
light either before the exposure or for the removal of the motor box LA.
The films may be wound upon the two lower drums mounted on the spindle E upon
which they can turn freely when necessary, tension on the films being obtained by
means of springs e fixed to the spindle E and acting upon an interiorly toothed wheel
fixed to the end of the drum D as shown in figure 3. The films pass round guide
rollers F F and F F (see figure 3) in such manner as to present a flat surface facing
the lenses for exposure and are lastly wound upon the upper rollers D' mounted upon
the spindle E and provided with gear wheels upon their outer faces or discs. These
wheels CC gear alternately with two half-toothed or mutilated wheels B B (see
figure 3) fixed on the driving shaft A which extends across and is supported in the
sides of the motor box L and is squared at one end to receive a crank which may
either be turned by hand or by any other suitable motive power.
The toothed portion of each of the wheels B B is continued far enough round its
periphery to unwind at each revolution of the shaft A a length of filin equal at least
to the full height of the openings L' which are opposite the objectives L. Each of
the two cams O (figures 2 and 3) presses during a part of its revolution against one
of the two blocks B B fixed to two springs a a screwed to two light spindles I I
which extend across the motor box. These springs are also fixed at their extremities

page_text: to the two vertical panels JJ which together have a somewhat larger surface than that
of the exposed portions of the films so as to hold said films tightly against the
openings L formed in the motor box. During a half of the revolution of the cams 00
one of tlie panels is drawn back from the film by its spring a while the drum D
corresponding thereto operated by its half toothed or mutilated wheel rolls on to it
the surface which has last been exposed and brings a fresh sensitized surface into
position to be exposed, after that then being exposed is wound upon the other of the
drums D.
The movement is communicated to the shutters by the wheels A° A" (figures 2, 2ª
and 4) and the wheels A¹ A2 A3. A square spindle fixed to the wheel A° revolves the
socket A' into which enters the square spindle of the wheel A (figures 2 and 4)
which operates the shutters which arrangement permits of the adjustment of the
focus being effected without interrupting the working of the apparatus.
The wheel A gears with the wheel B2 and through it with the wheels C B³ C B C³ B³
and C which are all alike. The wheels C¹ 02 03 and C4 are fixed to wheels J1 J2 J3 J4
which are of larger diameter and toothed only on one quarter of their periphery each
operating a pair of pinions E E E E provided with the same number of teeth as the
quarter toothed wheels. These pinions are fixed to another system of quarter toothed
wheels of a larger diameter the teeth of which turn the double pinions F F F F³
fixed to the shutters G and H, G¹ and H2 etc., figure 5.
Four rods M M1 M2 M3 vertically connect the four systems of double shutters and
each of the 16 pinions F201 T etc., is provided with a spiral spring I¹ 12 etc., which
returns the shutter to its normal position against the stop K³ Q etc., as soon as it
has passed the toothed part of its corresponding quarter toothed wheel.
In this manner during the first quarter of the revolution of the wheel A' the toothed
quarter of the wheel J₁ communicates an entire revolution to the pinion E' and during
the first quarter of this revolution it will operate the pinions of the shutters G and H¹
in such a manner that the shutter G will open the aperture L while H will take its
place and close it As however the quarter of the wheel which gears with the pinion
of the shutter H¹ has one or more teeth less than the one operating the shutter G the
shutter H will be liberated so much sooner and drawn down by the spring I
thus producing the exposure which is terminated by the subsequent fall of the
shutter G.
The second quarter of the revolution of the pinion E will produce the same result
for the shutters P5 and R³ by means of the connecting rod M. The third and fourth
quarters operate the two pairs of shutters situated underneath in the same manner
thus completing one of the vertical series. The second quarter of the revolution of
the wheel A will operate in the same manner upon the gearing of the next vertical
system through the quarter toothed wheel J2. The third quarter operates the quarter
toothed wheel J³ and the fourth J. In this manner 16 exposures are obtained for
each revolution of the wheel A¹.
As during one half of the revolution of the wheel A' the exposed film of one drum
has been replaced by the unrolling of a fresh surface the first exposed part being rolled
up on its corresponding higher drum and as it is the same with the other pair of
drums D D during the other half revolution there will be no interruption in the
exposure.
The speed of one revolution of the wheel A per second will give 960 pictures per
minute and in this manner it will be seen that by increasing the rate of motion of the
wheel A it is easy to produce several thousands in the same time, and with drums of
large diameter and a few reserve boxes at hand to be fixed behind the objective it will
be possible with a suitable light and by means of the projector to reproduce the aspect
of animated scenes such as meetings, processions, races and the like.
The before mentioned stand is provided with a strong tripod and may be also pro-
vided with weights and chains or the like to increase its stability.
The objective of the projector (figure 6) is of similar construction to that of the
receiver. The shutters are single and remain open until the next shutter is opened.
This result is obtained by constructing the before described quarter toothed wheels

page_text: as half toothed wheels as shown in the diagram Fig. 7.
The motor box of the
receiver is in the projector replaced by the frame C and reflector R¹ provided with as
many incandescent electric lamps as there are objectives; these lamps being supported
on the rod E' which is capable of sliding in the socket F. The incandescent electric
lamps may be replaced when desirable by lime lights made incandescent by means of
common gas, hydrogen or water gas in combination with a blow of air or oxygen;
or by magnesium lights or any other means of producing a powerful light or a series
of powerful and compact lights.
Between the reflector and the transparent film, a frame Le containing the con-
densers K can be introduced or withdrawn at will by means of slides and grooves I³.
The transparencies are carried by a pair of ribbons of metal or other suitablo
material provided with holes H' in which engage the teeth P of the driving and
guide drums G so that after the ends of the said ribbons are connected to the drum D
the transparencies are brought into position alternately by the wheels N³, O' and the
crank Q, one set of the drums D D feeding the transparencies at the desired speed
and the other set receiving them after exposure.
When the transparencies are of glass the drums G, D and D' are preferably
formed with facets so as to accommodate them without risk of breakage.
The necessary tension is obtained by means of weights W1 W2 suspended on cords
wound round the pulleys P2 P3 fixed to the ends of the drums.
From the driving wheel No motion is communicated to the wheel A* by means of
the wheels A* A*.
The sensitive film for the negatives may be an endless sheet of insoluble gelatine
coated with bromide emulsion or any convenient ready made quick acting paper such
as Eastman's paper film. The exposure will be given as before described and
development carried out as usual; care being taken to mark the negatives in their
regular order before cutting them when such cutting is required.
The sensitive film for the transparencies or positives must be on a transparent
material such as gelatine, mica, horn, glass etc. Once well developed and toned the
transparencies may pass through the hands of artists who will tint them in transparent
colors, dyes, or lacquers, as the subject may require; and they will be ready for
mounting and adjusting between the metallic ribbons which will bind them together.
When the "animated" pictures to be taken are of long duration the receiver has
to be provided with one or more supply and motor boxes ready to be fixed to the back
of the objective as soon as the films on the supply drums of the first box are exhausted,
the boxes containing the latter being taken to the dark room or tent to have new
drums inserted by an assistant, whilst the operator attends to the receiver.
When the receiver is provided with only one lens, as it sometimes may be, it is so
constructed that the sensitive film is intermittently operated at the rear of the said
lens which is provided with a properly-timed intermittently operated shutter; and
correspondingly in the deliverer when only one lens is provided the band or ribbon of
transparencies is automatically so operated as to bring the pictures intermittently and
in the proper order of succession opposite the said lens.
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:-
1. The method herein described of producing "animated" pictures and consisting
(a) in the successive production by means of a photographic camera of a number
of images of the same object or objects in motion and
(b) in reproducing the same in the order of taking by means of a "projector" or
"deliverer" thereby producing on the eye of the spectator a similar impression
to that which would have been produced by the original object or objects in
motion, substantially as described.
ני
2. In an apparatus for producing "animated pictures the continuous alternate
operation of the film and its corresponding shutter or series of shutters, substantially
as described.

page_text: "
3. As a means of producing "animated" pictures a photographic camera or
receiver provided with a series of lenses in combination with a series of shutters
operating successively and in regular rotation substantially as described.
4. As a means of producing "animated" pictures a photographic receiver provided
with one or more lenses and one or more shutters, in combination with one or more
intermittently operated film drums substantially as described.
5. In an apparatus for producing "animated" pictures the combination with an
intermittently moving film f of an intermittently operated panel such as J sub-
stantially as and for the purpose described.
6. In an apparatus for producing "animated" pictures and having more than onc
lens the combination with said lenses of tubes such as R to prevent the light from
one lens reaching the portion of film appropriated to another lens substantially as
described and illustrated.
7. The combination with a receiver for producing "animated" pictures of one or
more focussing lenses such as P which while separate from the photographing lenses
move therewith substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
8. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting the complete
receiver for producing animated" pictures substantially as herein described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
9. In an apparatus for producing "animated" pictures the combination in the
deliverer with a lens or series of lenses and shutter or shutters and condenser or
condensers to correspond of an intermittently moving band or series of transparencies
substantially as described.
10. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting the complete
"deliverer for projecting "animated" pictures substantially in the manner and for
the purposes herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
11. The complete apparatus for producing and delivering animated pictures
comprising a receiver and deliverer each constructed and operating substantially in
the manner and for the purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 9th day of October 1SSS