provements in or relating to Apparatus for Taking, Viewing, or Projecting Photographic Images in Rapid Succession
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 20th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 19th June, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPIVIFICATION
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Taking, Viewing, or
Projecting Photographic Images in Rapid Succession.
We, WILLIAM ROUTLEDGE of 46 Low Friar Street, Engineer, AUGUSTUS
ROSENBERG, Featherston Chambers Collingwood Street Merchant, WILLIAM
MC DONALD Featherston Chambers Collingwood Street Merchant all of Newcastle
County Northumberland do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus wherein a series of pictures is presented to the
eye or projected upon a screen in rapid succession with the result that a lifelike effect
is given the the scene thus reproduced, these pictures being imprinted upon a strip
of transparent material which is hereinafter referred to as a film.
Our invention includes an improved device for feeding the film through the
machine and may be shortly described as follows:-The film is drawn through the
machine by a drum or roller having projecting teeth upon its periphery which engage
in perforations in the film, or a pair of indiarubber covered rollers may be used, the
film passing between the two, motion being imparted to one or both. On one end of
this roller is fixed a worm wheel, and in gear with this is a single thread worm of
particular design such that for a part-say half-of its circumference the thread
of the worm is straight i.e. giving no motion to the wheel which gears into it; for
the remaining part of its circumference the worm has a certain pitch. The effect of
this is that while the worm is steadily revolved the wheel which gears into it and
also the drum or roller revolves round a certain way and then halts. This part
revolution of the drum being sufficient to movo the film the space of one picture.
On the same spindle which carries the worm is mounted the driving pulley and also a
circular disc or screen which revolves in front of the film. This disc has a part of
its surface cut away so as to alternately expose the picture while the film is at rest and
cut off the light while the film is moving.
Also an adjustable aperture for alignment of picture combined with clamp for
steadying film.
Also the parts of apparatus are so disposed that the whole apparatus may be slid
out between condeser and lens when using with lantern, the object of this movement
being to facilitate the adjusting of the film.
Also a device for guiding the film out of the machine preventing it adhering to
and being overwound by the drum or roller.
Also a device for winding up the film as it passes out of the machine.
Also the employment of a slide in front of the,condenser, having in it two
apertures, one filled with some transparent heat-absorbing substance, the other
aperture being empty. When the film is at rest and needs screening from the heat
the slide is adjusted to do this, as soon as the film is in motion the slide is drawn
across allowing the light to pass unobstructed through the empty aperture in the
slide, the film being in no danger of burning while in motion.
This machine adapted to a camera is used for preparing the films.
WILLIAM ROUTLEDGE.
AUGUSTUS ROSENBERG.
WILLIAM MCDONALD.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Taking, Viewing, or
Projecting Photographic Images in Rapid Succession.
We, WILLIAM ROUTLEDGE of 46 Low Friar Street, Engineer, AUGUSTUS
ROSENBERG of Featherstone Chambers, Collingwood Street, Merchant and WILLIAM
M DONALD of Featherstone Chambers, Collingwood Street, Merchant, all of
Newcastle, in the County of Northumberland do hereby declare the nature of
this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to apparatus applicable for use in taking in rapid succession
upon a ribbon of sensitized material a series of photographic negatives of moving
objects or for printing in rapid succession a series of photographic pictures from the
negatives thus obtained or for exposing a series of these or similarly obtained
photographic pictures so as to present them in rapid succession either directly to the
eye as in a kinetescope or for projection upon a screen or the like.
The photographic pictures are produced upon a ribbon of transparent material
which is hereinafter referred to as "film."
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings
in which :-
Figure 1 is a front elevation of our improved apparatus,
Figuro 2 is a back elevation with the film-container in section.
Figure 3 is an elevation of the right hand side of Figure 1 and left hand side of
Figure 2, and
Figures 4 and 5 are respectively a side and end view of the worm wheel drawn to
a scale larger than that at which it is shown in Figures 1 and 3.
Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
In carrying our invention into practice we provide a suitable frame A secured to a
plate A whereby the apparatus may be secured to any desired support. At the
front of the frame A are provided two lugs or bearings A in which is secured, for
example by pinching screws A³ a shaft B on which is mounted and free to rotate a
drum B. This drum B, near each edge, is provided with teeth or projections 6 for
engaging with perforations near the edges of the film C Fig. 3; these perforations
are not shown in the drawings. The boss B2 of the drum B is elongated, taking the
form of a tubular shaft, and has secured upon it a kind of worm wheel B³ which gears
with a cam or worm D of such form that for only preferably about one-third part of
its rotation it operates the wheel B³ which remains stationary during the other part
or remaining two-thirds of the rotation of the worm D. For this purpose the
thread d of the worm D is helical or formed as part of a screw for say one-third of its
circumference and straight, or in the same plane, for the remaining two-thirds of its
circumference as shown for example by the parts respectively marked d¹ d in Fig. 5.
The worm is secured on a shaft D' supported in bearings E F formed respectively
in the standard E secured to the plate A' and in front of the frame A, and in the
bracket secured to the back of the frame A. On the shaft D' are also secured a
pulley D2 and a screen or shutter G by the latter of which the passage of light to the
film is periodically interrupted or the pictures already on the film are intermittently
exposed and obscured or hidden.
The frame A is provided with an opening A immediately at the back of which
the film C passes so that it may, at this opening, be exposed to the light for
photographic purposes or so as to admit of the pictures being seen at or projected
through the said opening. At the back of the exposure opening A is provided a
gate H having an exposure opening H' of somewhat smaller size than the opening A*

page_text: which latter is made larger than is actually necessary for the exposure of each
individual picture. The gate H is provided with lugs h by which it is pivotted on a
rod H2, and in one of the lugs is fitted a screw or pin H³ which, by engaging with an
annular groove in the rod prevents the gate from moving along it. Near its upper
end the rod H' is supported in a bearing A', and, at its lower end, it is screw-
threaded as at h¹ to engage with a nut or threaded hearing A which, like the
bearing A, is formed upon or secured to the frame A. At its upper end the rod H
is provided with a milled head H to enable it readily to be rotated for raising or
lowering the gate H so as to bring its exposure opening H' into proper position in
relation to the pictures upon the film, so that in case of variation in the film the
exposure opening can be adjusted and the pictures registered correctly, whilst the
machine is at work. The gate H is provided with a suitable gravity latch or
equivalent H which, by engaging with a catch H' on the frame A locks the gate in
its closed position, while allowing it freedom sufficient to enable it to adjust its
position according to the varying thicknesses of the film passed between it and the
frame A. One of the lugs h is provided with an arm or projection h³ on which
bears a spring H7 secured to the frame A; this spring serves both to retain the
gate H in its fully opened position and to press it towards the frame A when in its
closed position.
The part of the frame over which the film passes or with which it
comes in contact is preferably covered with velvet or equivalent material I to prevent
abrasion of the film, and the upper and lower extremities H8 of the gate H are
preferably bent outwards from the frame A so as to prevent any sharp or abrupt
edges being presented against which the film would be likely to catch.
To the lower part of the frame A is pivotted a frame J carrying at its free end a
roller J which is adapted to he constantly pressed or drawn towards the drum B by
a spring J, the roller being formed with annular grooves j for accommodating the
teeth 6 of the drum; by means of this roller the film is constantly held in close
contact with the drum, and the teeth of the drum are prevented from becoming
disengaged from the film perforations and the film is delivered out at the front of the
apparatus. The frame may be turned downwards away from the drum B, for
example when a new film is to be placed in the apparatus, the spring J' serving
equally well to retain the frame J in either its raised or lowered position until the
operator next moves it.
To the front of the frame A just above the drum B we secure a curved or bent
guard plate K which serves both to strip the film from the drum B and, by
directing it downwards after it has left the drum prevent it from getting in front of
the exposure opening A or lens L which latter is adjustably secured, as by a
boss Land pinching screw L³, on a rod or bar L projecting forwards from the
frame A or the lens may be supported independently of the frame A. On a
spindle A projecting forwards from a bracket A secured to the upper part of the
frame A is pivotted a driving pulley M around which, and the previously described
pulley D, passes a driving band M, and motion may be imparted to the pulley M by
hand, for which purpose it is provided with a handle M³ or in any other convenient
manner, or, if desired, the pulley M may be dispensed with and the worm D rotated
from an electric or other motor. The bracket A8 also supports the film-container N
rigidly connected to it, this container consisting of a cylindrical body having, centrally
within it, a pin N' on which a roller N is free to rotate; this roller prevents the
supply of the film from being interrupted or broken as it might be were the roller
omitted and the film became tightened upon the pin N. The lid or cover N³ of the
film-container is hinged to the body and is preferably lined with india-rubber or like
material N', so that when it is in its closed position, in which it may be retained by
one or more spring clips No, it will make a light-tight joint with the body N. The
film passes out of the container N through a slot in the cylindrical wall provided on
either side with rollers or rounded edges No.
As a convenient point from which to describe the operation of the before described
apparatus let it be assumed that at the commencement of the operation the film is
coiled upon the roller N' in the container its end being drawn out through the slot and

page_text: passed between the exposure openings in the frame and gate and properly engaged
with the drum B, and that the screen or shutter G is in front of the exposure
openings A and H, at which time the helical portion of the thread dis in
engagement with the worm-wheel B³.
From this stage the operation of the apparatus may be described as follows:-
When the worm-shaft I) is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrows d³ in
Figs. 1 and 2 the shutter G is also rotated in the same direction and the worm-
wheel B and consequently the drum B are rotated in the direction indicated by the
arrow in Fig. 3, hy which means the film is moved onwards so as to present the
next succeeding picture to the exposure-opening A' and the shutter is rotated so as
to be ready to expose this picture when the film is next at rest, which result
immediately thereafter is brought about by the straight portion of the thread d
engaging with the worm-wheel B whereby the drum B ceases from rotating. The
shutter G which rotates without interruption, then moves from in front of the
exposure opening A' whereby the picture then at rest behind this opening is exposed,
this exposure coutinuing until the shutter again obscures the opening A' at which
juncture the helical portion d' of the thread d is once more in engagement with tho
worm-wheel B3 so that the latter will be rotated to enable the druni B to move the
film onward. In this manner the film is intermittently operated so as to present
the pictures at the exposure-opening A' in rapid succession, the shutter allowing the
pictures to be seen or oxposed at this opening only when they are at rest.
The before described apparatus may be modified without departing from the
essential features of our invention for example instead of employing the toothed
drum Bb for operating the film C we may for this purpose employ a pair of rollers,
one or both of which would be covered with indiarubber, cork, or other equivalent
material, the rollers being either geared together, or one rotating against the other by
frictional contact, the film produced by spring pressure being gripped between them,
or we may employ a rubber or like covered roller and a spring blade or plate,
thereby doing away with the necessity of perforations in the film and teeth on the
drawing off drum.
Instead of the construction of gate or adjustable aperture for the alignment of the
pictures, we may employ a lever pivotted on the frame, one end of which is pivotted
to the gate, the other end being adjustable in a vertical direction by means of a
screw or the like, the gate being supported so as to be capable of vertical adjustment
by means of the lever, or the top of the gate may be in the form of a screw threaded
rod provided with a milled head or nut, the rod, when the gate is closed, engaging
between a fork formed on or attached to the frame and forming a bearing or abutment
for the milled head or nut, the rod extending high enough to be clear of the
rotary screen, so that the exposure opening can be regulated whilst the machine is
in use.
The various parts of the mechanism may be so arranged that the whole apparatus
may be readily moved out between the condenser and the lens L when using the
lantern to facilitate the adjustment of the film.
We may also provide a reel or other device for winding up or receiving the film
after it leaves the drum B and further we may provide, in front of the condenser, a
slide having two apertures one empty and the other filled with a suitable transparent
heat-absorbing medium. When the film is at rest and requires to be protected from
the heat of the light used for projection, the slide is adjusted so as to bring the
aperture with the heat-absorbing medium between the condenser and the film,
and when the film is in motion and therefore is not liable to be damaged by the
beat the slide is moved so as to bring the empty aperture between the condenser
and film.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
In annanation for

page_text: having a helical thread or surface and a toothed wheel fixed on the shaft of the film-
driving drum and having a series of teeth gearing with the worm or cam which is so
formed as to give it intermittent rotation.
2. In apparatus for exposing photographic film the combination with a drum or
device for moving the film and a continuously rotating screen or shutter of a worm
on the shutter shaft having a helical thread or surface and a toothed wheel operatively
connected to the film-driving shaft and having a series of teeth gearing with the
worm or cam which is so formed as to give it intermittent rotation.
3. In apparatus for exposing photographic film a perforated gate for the exposure
opening, adjustable relatively thereto.
4. In apparatus for exposing photographic film the combination with the exposure
opening of a spring-controlled perforated hinged gate with or without a catch
substantially as described.
5. In apparatus for exposing photographic film the combination with the exposure
opening of a perforated hinged gate and means such as a rod carrying the gate and
screw threaded to engage a nut or screwed projection on the frame, for adjusting the
gate relatively to the exposure opening substantially as described.
6. In apparatus for exposing photographic film the combination with a perforated
hinged gate such as H H and means such as the screw-threaded rod H2 and nut A° for
adjusting its position, of a spring such as H' arranged and operating substantially as
and for the purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
7. In apparatus for exposing photographic film the combination of a film-driving
drum or roller covered with elastic material and a spring plate, or plates, or a second
roller pressed against it by a spring or springs, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
8. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the apparatus for
exposing photographic film in rapid succession substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated CHIS
AUGUSTUS ROSENBERG.
WILLIAM MCDONALD.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicants.
AUGUSTUS ROSENBERG.
WILLIAM MCDONALD.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicants.