Improvements in and relating to Automatic Apparatus for succes- sively presenting to view Photographic or other Pictures or Slides, in Stereoscopes, Optical Lanterns and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Oct., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 5th July, 1900-Accepted, 25th Aug., 1900.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Automatic Apparatus for succes-
sively presenting to view Photographic or other Pictures or Slides,
in Stereoscopes, Optical Lanterns and the like.
We, Louis JOSEPH EMMANUEL COLARDEAU, of 29, Avenue Trudaine, Professor
at the College Rollin, and JULES RICHARD, of 8, Impasse Fessart, Manufacturer
of Philosophical Instruments, both of Paris, in the Republic of France, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in automatic apparatus for consecu-
tively presenting to view photographic or other pictures or slides in stereoscopes,
optical lanterns and like apparatus so as to permit the inspection of the pictures
or slides of a methodically arranged collection, and the direct extraction of
any desired view, without changing the order in which the pictures or slides
are arranged.
Our improved apparatus is essentially characterized by the combination and
particular arrangement of the following parts:
1st. A movable carriage mounted in a horizontal guide-way and arranged to
receive the box containing the collection of pictures or slides.
as to
2nd. A frame, movable in a vertical direction, guided in lateral guide-ways
and provided with two vesical arms traversing, at the time of the upward
movement of the frame, the box containing the pictures or slides, so
lift the plate which they meet; a catch adapted, when the frame arrives at
the lower end of its course and the arms are completely disengaged from the
box containing the plates, to engage with a lever, which by turning about its
axis, causes the carriage to move through a distance equal to the distance from
centre to centre of two adjacent plates; and a stop permitting the movement
of the carriage only when the arms of the movable frame are completely dis-
engaged from the box containing the pictures or slides.
3rd. A fixed frame provided with two vertical grooves in which the picture
or slide, thrust by the arms of the movable frame, engages, the said vertical
grooves being adapted to efficiently guide this plate during its upward move-
ment and a horizontal screen for cutting off the reflected rays of light entering
from below.
4th. A device for controlling the movements of the carriage so that the latter
can be brought to the necessary position to permit the inspection of a par-
ticular picture or slide, and characterized by the combination with a direct-
acting controlling device for moving the carriage without putting the other
parts of the apparatus in movement, of an automatic controlling device
operated by the movable frame when the latter reaches the lower end of its
path of motion.
Our improved apparatus is moreover provided with an optical arrangement
supported by the fixed frame and permitting, when this is desired, the subject.
or title of the picture or slide under examination, to be read.
In the accompanying drawing, we have shown as an example only, one form
of our improved apparatus applied to a stereoscope.

page_text: Figure 3 a side elevation, looking from the left, or our improved automatic
apparatus.
Figure 4 is a plan of the apparatus.
Figure 5 shows the apparatus applied to the inside of a stereoscope, looking
from the right.
Figures 6 to 8 show a modified form of that part of our invention which
relates to the control of the movements of the carriage."
Figure 6 is a side elevation,
Figure 7 a rear view and
Figure 8 a plan.
Figures 9 to 11 are detail views of the optical device for exposing the sub-
jects or titles of the pictures or slides under inspection.
Figure 9 is an elevation with the parts in the position of rest,
Figure 10 a corresponding plan, and
.
Figure 11 a horizontal section on the line A-B, Figure 9, showing the
movable part of the device brought into position to permit the reading of the
inscription.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
Our improved apparatus essentially comprises a carriage a, movable on a
horizontal guide-way and adapted to receive the box which contains, for
example, a collection of photographic pictures or slides d (for example, posi-
tives on glass) to be inspected.
The bottom of the carriage a is hollowed out and the bottom of the box e is
constructed with two longitudinal openings c¹ for the passage of the part which
lifts out the picture or slide to be examined.
The said picture or slide is seized at its lower part by two vertical arms sup-
ported upon the lower traverse part of a frame f adapted to move vertically
and guided laterally by guide-ways g.
The frame f is linked, by means of a small connecting rod h, to the extremity
of a bent lever i keyed upon the controlling axis j at one end of which is
mounted the operating lever k.
The shorter arm of the bent lever is acted upon by the restraining spring/
which constantly tends to maintain the movable frame f at the upper end of
its path so that the apparatus. in its position of rest, always supports a picture
or slide in front of the optical device.
The frame fis prolonged at its upper part to form a complete screen to inter-
cept the passage of all light during the changing of the pictures or slides.
The picture or slide lifted by the arms e of the movable frame f engages
in the two vertical grooves of the fixed frame o which efficiently supports
the said picture or slide in the desired position.
This fixed frame o carries a horizontal screen p adapted to cut off the luminous
rays which are reflected from the lower part.
The movable frame f, is moreover provided with a catch q adapted, when
the frame arrives at the lower end of its course and when the arms & are com-
pletely disengaged from the box c, to operate upon the parts governing the
movement of the carriage a.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 1 to 5, the catch is adapted to
engage with the pin or projection r fixed upon a lever s attached by means of a
connecting-rod s to the lever s² which carries the pawl 3; this pawl operates
upon a ratchet wheel t keyed upon the controlling spindle which carries a
pinion engaging with a rack u fixed at the lower part of the carriage a.
•
In order that the carriage a may not receive any movement of translation
before the arms are completely disengaged from the box c, the lever s, con-
trolled by a restraining spring. 4, carries at its free extremity a pin or projec-
tion which engages in the spaces between two adjacent teeth of the. ratchet

page_text: wheel in such a manner as to arrest the motion of the latter; moreover, this
lever is held immovable, until the movable frame has reached the lower end of
its path, by an arm s fixed on the levers and terminating in a pin or projec-
tion which is brought into contact with a stop carried by the movable
frame should the levers tend to become disengaged from the ratchet wheel t.
When this frame arrives at the lower end of its course, the stop y, having also
descended, no longer prevents the movement of the pin or projection 7 and
the levers can turn to permit the rotation of the ratchet wheel tand, in conse-
quence, the movement of the carriage a.
A spring counter-pawl a restrains the ratchet wheel t so that the said wheel
may always have the same angular displacement in order that the carriage a
can advance each time by a distance equal to the distance from centre to centre
of two adjacent pictures or slides.
One complete revolution of the ratchet wheel t corresponds to the length of
the path of the carriage a; when the latter has arrived at the end of its path,
that is to say, when the ratchet wheel has completed one revolution, an enlarged
tooth of the wheel t is brought into engagement with the counter-pawl. The
enlarged tooth prevents any further rotation of the ratchet wheel in the 'same
direction so that the movements imparted to the operating lever have no more
action on the movement of the carriage a when this last has arrived at the end of
its path.
The backward movement of the carriage a is obtained by operating the milled
button mounted at the extremity of the spindle t¹ after first depressing the
operating lever k to completely disengage the arms e of the movable frame f
from the carriage a and from the box c.
The spindle carries a pointer which moves over an index or scale attached
to the box of the apparatus and divided or marked to correspond to the order
in which the pictures or slides contained in the box c are arranged, in such
a manner that the particular division of the index or scale indicated by the
pointer corresponds to the serial number of the picture or slide which is
resting above or is lifted by the arme of the movable frame f.
In our improved apparatus, when the frame f has been previously completely
depressed, the carriage a can be moved in either direction. The carriage can
therefore be placed directly in the required position so as to bring the picture
or slide which it is desired to inspect into the path of the arms e of the movable
frame for example, if it is desired to inspect the picture or slide number 8
it is only necessary to press down the operating lever k to the end of its travel,
so as to completely disengage the arm e, and to turn the milled button
such a manner that the pointer is brought in front of the division S on the
index or scale. By releasing the lever the movable frame f under the
action of the spring 7 and the arms e moves upwards and lifts the picture or
slide number 8 which thus engages and slides in the grooves n of the fixed
frame o.
.
in
When the different pictures or slides of the collection are successively in-
spected it is only necessary, in order to pass from one to the other, to depress
the operating lever which causes the movable frame f to descend; in this
movement the frame f replaces within the box the picture or slide previously
inspected, by the engagement of the pawl g with the levers, the pin or pro-
jection is disengaged from the teeth of the ratchet wheel t and moves the
pawl so as to cause the ratchet wheel t to be advanced one tooth. The
carriage a is thus moved through a distance equal to the distance between the
centres of two adjacent plates. By then permitting the frame f to rise under
the action of the spring 7 the arms e are also raised carrying with them the
succeeding picture or slide.
In order to prevent the apparatus being strained the milled button #and
the pointer to, which are preferably made in one piece, are frictionally mounted
upon the spindle in such a manner that the said button and pointer can slip

page_text: when any resistance is encountered, but can be restored to their position in
front of the proper tooth of the ratchet wheel by means of any convenient
spring operated-device.
Our improved apparatus moreover comprises an arrangement adapted to give
a warning when the movable frame f lifts the last picture or slide, that is to
say, when the carriage a has arrived at the end of its course. This warning
apparatus consists of a spring blade a fixed upon the carriage a and provided
with a small projection a² arranged to correspond in position with the last
plate. The said spring blade a¹ carries a small hammer a³ adapted to strike
on a gong at when the projection a² of the spring blade a' comes in contact.
with a stop mounted upon the movable frame f.
The gong is thus sounded to give a warning each time that the carriage
arrives at the end of its course.
To withdraw a box containing a series of pictures or slides which have been
inspected and to replace it by another box containing a new series the side y
of the apparatus which carries the eye-pieces is opened; this side or panel y
is connected by means of a connecting rod y¹ to a lever y³ attached to the
sleeve. The said sleeve is keyed upon the spindle j, and which carries a
lever provided with a pin adapted to be brought into engagement with
the controlling lever, of the frame f. Under these conditions, the opening
of the side or panel y causes the frame f to descend SO that any plate
which happens to be lifted from the box c is restored to its respective grooves
in the said box and the arms e are also completely disengaged from the box.
Figures 6, 7 and 8 show a modified form of the mechanism for controlling
the movements of the carriage a.
In this modification the catch 7 operates, when the movable frame f has
arrived at the lower end of its course, upon a levers carrying a pawl which
engages with the teeth of a rack fixed upon the side of the carriage a. Thus,
each time that the frame f arrives at the lower end of its course, the catch q
turns the levers and the pawl 3 causes the carriage a to advance by a division
corresponding to the distance between the centres of two adjacent pictures or
slides.
In order that the carriage may be restrained from movement until the arms e
of the movable carriage fare completely disengaged from the box c the carriage
is provided with a series of laterally projecting pins z spaced at intervals, corre-
sponding to the distance apart of the pictures or slides contained in the box c.
One side of the movable frame f is always engaged in one of these spaces so
as to form a stop and to thus oppose all movement of the carriage a during
the whole of the time that the arms e are engaged in the box c. In order to
permit the longitudinal movement of the carriage a when the arms e are dis-
engaged from the box c, the side of the frame f, which forms the stop, is pro-
vided with a recess f¹ which is placed in front of the teeth and thus permits
them to pass, when the said frame reaches the lower end of its path.
When the carriage has arrived at the end of its travel, its retrograde move-
ment is controlled by the bent lever 1 the shorter arm of which is acted upon
by a rod 2 which passes through the wall of the apparatus and is provided.
at the exterior, with an operating button. A suitable index or scale is marked
upon this rod 2 which thus permits any picture or slide, designated by its serial
number in the order of arrangement of the collection, to be immediately
brought in front of the extracting arms of the movable frame f.
As hereinbefore set forth the retrograde movement of the carriage can only
he effected after the operating lever k has been depressed. This action causes
the movable frame f, in its descending movement, to disengage the arms a from
the box c and the pawl s³ from the rack t by the engagement of the stops q¹
and 8.
The carriage is also provided with a second rack with a counter-pawl 59 sup-

page_text: ported upon the movable frame f for the purpose of absolutely regulating the
movements of the carriage and preventing the setting free of more than one
tooth at a time, as a consequence of the impetus which it receives from the
pawl $3.
We can also, if desired, dispense with racks and employ only the projec-
tions in this case the said projections take the place of the rack and
receive the direct action of the pawl and counter-pawl.
In our improved apparatus the fixed frame carries an optical arrangement
permitting the subject or title of the picture or slide, which title is written
between the two views of the stereoscopic picture or slide, to be read at will.
This optical arrangement comprises, in principle, a vertical mirror 3, mounted
at about the middle of the fixed frame and inclined at an angle of 45 degrees
to this latter. We also provide a second mirror 4 movably mounted on a
horizontal axis 5 and capable of being brought parallel to the first mirror in
such a manner as to catch the luminous rays reflected by the first mirror and
direct them towards the eye-pieces of the stereoscopic apparatus; this second
mirror is combined with a concave lens 6 of any convenient focal length so
as to permit the title or description written between the two stereoscopic pic-
tures on the plate or slide to be very clearly read at the corresponding eye-
piece of the apparatus.
The mirror 4 and the lens 6 are mounted upon the same frame 7 keyed upon
the horizontal spindle 5. This latter carries a screen 8 arranged to cut off the
luminous rays from the second eye-piece while the title or inscription is read.
The horizontal spindle 5 is controlled by a restraining spring intended to
maintain the parts carried upon this spindle in their upper position, so that
they form no obstruction to the inspection of the two views of the stereoscopic
picture or slide. On the contrary, when the observer desires to know the sub-
ject or title of the picture or slide under inspection, the handle 9 is depressed;
this handle is keyed upon the end of the axis 5 and, by turning, interposes
the mirror 4 so that the image of the inscription or title written upon the
picture or slide, already reflected a first time by the fixed mirror, is brought
into the line of vision of the corresponding eye-piece.
By releasing the handle 9, the whole arrangement is restored to its initial
position by the action of the controlling springs.
Our improved apparatus for successively presenting to view photographic or
other pictures or slides, by the combination of its constituent parts solves the
following problem -
Given a collection of photographic pictures or slides methodically arranged in
grooved boxes and each corresponding to a number in a catalogue, to extract
and automatically replace, without error, any one of these pictures or slides
when its serial number is known.
This automatic operation will be of great service in numerous cases. We
point out the following:-
Firstly. Considering a collection composed of negative photographic plates.
it is desired to instantly find one of them, to extract it from the collection and
then restore it to its place. If other plates have already been extracted from
the same grooved box the absence thereof is notified by the empty space: it
will evidently be very difficult and occupy a considerable time to find and to
put back in place, without error, in the corresponding groove, the particular
plate which is required. On the other hand, if a plate is missing from the
collection, the ordinary operation of the apparatus will immediately notify the
fact together with the order number of the missing plate.
Secondly. If a collection of positive photographic plates upon glass is to be
inspected, one by one, in a stereoscopic apparatus or by means of an optical
lantern, either in their ordinary order of classification or in any other order
whatever. The apparatus can be reversed for the purpose of re-inspecting either
the whole collection or any particular picture or slide. Any particular one of

page_text: the pictures or slides in a numerous collection, can be immediately found with-
out it being necessary to make the whole number of the pictures or slides which
precede the one it is desired to inspect, to pass, one by one, in front of the
eye-pieces of the apparatus.
The different parts, of which we have hereinbefore given a description, are
intended to assure the regularity of the successive movements necessary for
the proper action of the apparatus.
The carriage carrying the plates, in its position of rest, is always retained
in one position so that the arms of the movable frame, when they are raised,
always come in contact with a picture or slide and can never seize more than
a single picture or slide, neither can they pass between two adjacent pictures
or slides. The said pictures or slides are therefore preserved from the liability
of being broken or even scratched, moreover, as has hereinbefore been stated,
the combination of two controlling devices for regulating the movement of the
carriage permits this latter to be moved in such a manner as to bring the
picture or slide it is desired to inspect directly in front of the extracting arm.
Our improved apparatus can also be employed for the purpose of extracting
from a collection of photographic plates any one thereof to be printed.
For example, the photographic plate to be removed is lifted by the extract-
ing arms and the operator can then readily take hold of it and lift it out at
the upper part of the fixed frame: when the operator wishes to restore this
photographic plate to its proper situation it is only necessary to bring it into
engagement with the grooves of the fixed frame and the extractor arm will
carry this photographic plate to its original position.
Our improvements can be applied to stereoscopes, to optical lanterns of all
kinds and the like, and we can, if desired, modify the form, sizes and accessory
arrangements according to the different applications of our said invention.
Dated thin o6th dow of Ontabo 1900
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants,
Improvements in and relating to Automatic Apparatus for succes-
sively presenting to view Photographic or other Pictures or Slides,
in Stereoscopes, Optical Lanterns and the like.
We, LOUIS JOSEPH EMMANUEL COLARDEAU, of 29, Avenue Trudaine, Professor
at the College Rollin, and JULES RICHARD, of 8, Impasse l'essart, Manufacturer
of Philosophical Instruments, both of Paris, in the Republic of France, 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 follow-
ing statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in automatic apparatus for consecu-
tively presenting to view photographic or other pictures or slides in steroscopes,
optical lanterns and like apparatus so as to permit the inspection of the pictures
or slides of a methodically arranged collection, and direct extraction
any desired view, without changing the order in which the pictures or slides
are arranged.
of
Our improved apparatus is essentially characterized by the combination and
particular arrangement of the following parts:

page_text: 1st. A movable carriage mounted in a horizontal guide-way and arranged to
receive the box containing the collection of pictures or slides.
2nd. A frame, movable in a vertical direction, guided in lateral guide-ways
and provided with two vertical arms traversing at the time of the upward
movement of the frame, the box containing the pictures or slides, so as to
lift the plate which they meet; a catch adapted, when the frame arrives at
the lower end of its course and the arms are completely disengaged from the
box containing the plates, to engage with a lever, which by turning about its
axis, causes the carriage to move through a distance equal to the distance from
centre to centre of two adjacent plates; and a stop permitting the movement
of the carriage only when the arms of the movable frame are completely dis-
engaged from the box containing the pictures or slides.
3rd. A fixed frame provided with two vertical grooves in which engages the
picture or slide thrust by the arms of the movable frame, the said vertical
grooves being adapted to efficiently guide this plate during its upward move-
ment and a horizontal screen for cutting off the reflected rays of light entering
from below.
4th. A device for controlling the movements of the carriage so that the latter
can be brought to the necessary position to permit the inspection of a par-
ticular picture or slide, and characterised by the combination with a direct-
acting controlling device for moving the carriage without putting the other
parts of the apparatus in movement, of an automatic, controlling device
operated by the movable frame when the latter reaches the lower end of its
path of motion.
Our improved apparatus is moreover provided with an optical arrangement
supported by the fixed frame and permitting, when this is desired, the subject
or title of the picture or slide under examination, to be read.
In the drawings accompanying our Provisional Specification, we have shown,
as an example only, one form of our improved apparatus applied to a stereoscope.
Figure 1 is a front view,
Figure 2 a rear view and
Figure 3 a side elevation, of our improved automatic apparatus, looking
from the left.
Figure 4 is a plan of the apparatus.
Figure 5 shows the apparatus applied to the inside of a stereoscope, looking
from the right.
Figures 6 to 8 show a modified form of that part of our invention which
relates to the control of the movements of the carriage.
Figure 6 is a side elevation,
Figure 7 a rear view and
Figure 8 a plan.
Figures 9 to 11 are detail views of the optical device for exposing the sub-
jects or titles of the pictures or slides under inspection.
Figure 9 is an elevation with the parts in the position of rest,
Figure 10 a corresponding plan, and
Figure 11 a horizontal section on the line A-B, Figure 9, showing the
movable part of the device brought into position to permit the reading of the
inscription.
a
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
Our improved apparatus essentially comprises a carriage a, movable on
horizontal guide-way b and adapted to receive the box which contains, for
example, a collection of photographic pictures or slides d (for example, posi-
tives upon glass) to be inspected.
The bottom of the carriage a is hollowed out and the bottom of the box c is
constructed with two longitudinal openings c¹ for the passage of the part which
lifts out the picture or slide to be examined.
The said picture or slide is seized at its lower part by two vertical arms e sup-

page_text: ported upon the lower traverse part of a frame f adapted to move vertically
and guided laterally by guide-ways g.
The frame f is linked, by means of a small connecting rod h, to the extremity
of a bent lever i keyed upon the controlling axis j at one end of which is
mounted the operating lever k.
The shorter arm of the bent lever i is acted upon by the restraining spring!
which constantly tends to maintain the movable frame f at the upper end of
its path so that the apparatus, in its position of rest, always supports a picture
or slide in front of the optical device.
The frame fis prolonged at its upper part to form a complete screen m to inter-
cept the passage of all light during the changing of the pictures or slides.
The picture or slide lifted by the arms e of the movable frame f engages
in the two vertical grooves n of the fixed frame o which efficiently supports
the said picture or slide in the desired position.
This fixed frame o carries a horizontal screen adapted to cut off the luminous
rays which are reflected from the lower part.
The movable frame f, is moreover provided with a catch q adapted, when
the frame arrives at the lower end of its course and when the arms e are com-
pletely disengaged from the box c, to operate upon the parts governing the
movement of the carriage a.
In the arrangement shown in Figure 1 to 5, the catch is adapted to
engage with the pin or projection fixed upon a lever s attached by means of a
connecting-rod s to the lever 2 which carries the pawl ; this pawl operates
upon a ratchet wheel t keyed upon the controlling spindle which carries a
pinion engaging with a rack u fixed at the lower part of the carriage a.
In order that the carriage a may not receive any movement of translation
before the arms are completely disengaged from the box c, the lever s, con-
trolled by a restraining springs, carries at its free extremity a pin or projec-
tion which engages in the spaces between two adjacent teeth of the ratchet
wheel in such a manner as to arrest the motion of the latter; moreover, this
lever is held immovable, until the movable frame has reached the lower end of
its path, by an arm so fixed on the levers and terminating in a pin or projec-
tions which is brought into contact with a stop carried by the movable
frame should the lever s tend to become disengaged from the ratchet wheel t.
When this frame arrives at the lower end of its course, the stop y, having also
descended, no longer prevents the movement of the pin or projection 7 and
the levers can turn to permit the rotation of the ratchet wheel tand, in conse-
quence, the movement of the carriage a.
A spring counter-pawl a restrains the ratchet wheel so that the said wheel
may always have the same angular displacement in order that the carriage a
can advanee each time by a distance equal to the distance from centre to centre
of two adjacent pictures or slides.
One complete revolution of the ratchet wheel t corresponds to the length of
the path of the carriage a; when the latter has arrived at the end of its path.
that is to say, when the ratchet wheel has completed one revolution, an enlarged
tooth of the wheel is brought into engagement with the counter-pawl.
The enlarged tooth prevents any further rotation of the ratchet wheel in the
same direction so that the movements imparted to the operating lever & have no
more action on the movement of the carriage a when this last has arrived at the
end of its path.
The backward movement of the carriage a is obtained by operating the milled
button mounted at the extremity of the spindle after first depressing the
operating lever to completely disengage the arms e of the movable frame f
from the carriage a and from the box c.
The spindle carries a pointer which moves over an index or scale attached
to the box of the apparatus and divided or marked to correspond to the order
in which the pictures or slides contained in the box c are arranged, in such

page_text: a manner that the particular division of the index or scale indicated by the
pointer corresponds to the serial number of the picture or slide which, is
resting above or is lifted by the arme of the movable frame f.
In our improved apparatus, when the frame f has been previously completely
depressed, the carriage a can be moved in either direction. The carriage can
therefore be placed directly in the required position so as to bring the picture
or slide which it is desired to inspect into the path of the armis e of the movable
frame f; for example, if it is desired to inspect the picture or slide number S
it is only necessary to press down the operating lever k to the end of its travel,
so as to completely disengage the arm e, and to twin the milled button in
such a manner that the pointer is brought in front of the division 8 on the
index or scale. By releasing the lever the movable frame f under the
action of the spring and the arms e moves upwards and lifts the picture or
slide number 8 which thus engages and slides in the grooves n of the fixed
frame o.
When the different pictures or slides of the collection are successively in-
spected it is only necessary, in order to pass from one to the other, to depress
the operating lever k which causes the movable frame f to descend; in this
movement the frame f replaces within the box the picture or slide previously
inspected, by the engagement of the pawl q with the levers, the pin or pro-
jection is disengaged from the teeth of the ratchet wheel t and moves the
pawl so as to cause the ratchet wheel t to be advanced one tooth. The
carriage a is thus moved through a distance equal to the distance between the
centres of two adjacent plates. By then permitting the frame f to rise under
the action of the spring the arms e are also raised carrying with them the
succeeding picture or slide.
In order to prevent the apparatus being strained the milled button and
the pointer, which are preferably made in one piece, are frictionally mounted
upon the spindle in such a manner that the said button and pointer can slip
when any resistance is encountered, but can be restored to their position.
front of the proper tooth of the ratchet wheel by means of any convenient
spring operated-device.
in
Our improved apparatus moreover comprises an arrangement adapted to give
a warning when the movable frame f lifts the last picture or slide, that is to
say, when the carriage a has arrived at the end of its course. This warning
apparatus consists of a spring blade a fixed upon a carriage a and provided
with a small projection a arranged to correspond in position with the last
plate. The said spring blade a¹ carries a small hammer a³ adapted to strike
on a gong a when the projection a² of the spring blade a¹ comes in contact
with a stop 2 mounted upon the movable frame f.
The gong is thus sounded to give a warning each time that the carriage
arrives at the end of its course.
carries a
To withdraw a box containing a series of pictures or slides which have been
inspected and to replace it by another box containing a new series the side y
of the apparatus which carries the eye-pieces is opened; this side or panel y
is connected by means of a connecting rod y¹ to a lever y² attached to the
sleeve . The said sleeve is keyed upon the spindle j, and
lever provided with a pin adapted to be brought into engagement with
the controlling lever i of the frame f. Under these conditions, the open-
ing of the side or panel y causes the frame f to descend so that any plate
which happens to be lifted from the box c is restored to its respective grooves
in the said box and the arms e are also completely disengaged from the box.
Figures 6, 7 and 8 show a modified form of the mechanism for controlling
the movements of the carriage a.
has
which
In this modification the catch operates, when the movable frame
arrived at the lower end of its course, upon a lever s carrying a pawl
engages with the teeth of a rack t fixed upon the side of the carriage a. Thus,

page_text: each time that the frame f arrives at the lower end of its course, the catch
turns the levers and the pawl causes the carriage to advance by a division
corresponding to the distance between the centres of two adjacent pictures or
slides.
In order that the carriage may be restrained from movement until the arms e
of the movable carriage fare completely disengaged from the box e the carriage
is provided with a series of laterally projecting pins z spaced at intervals, corre-
sponding to the distance apart of the pictures or slides contained in the box c.
One side of the movable frame f is always engaged in one of these spaces so
as to form a stop and to thus oppose all movement of the carriage a during
the whole of the time that the arms e are engaged in the box c. In order to
permit the longitudinal movement of the carriage a when the arms e are dis-
engaged from the box c, the side of the frame f, which forms the stop, is pro-
vided with a recess f¹ which is placed in front of the teeth and thus permits
them to pass, when the said frame reaches the lower end of its path.
When the carriage has arrived at the end of its travel its retrograde move-
ment is controlled by the bent lever 1 the shorter arm of which
acted upon
by a rod 2 which passes through the wall of the apparatus and is provided,
at the exterior, with an operating button. A suitable index or scale is marked
upon this rod 2 which thus permits any picture or slide, designated by its serial
number in the order of arrangement of the collection, to be immediately
brought in front of the extracting arms of the movable frame f.
As hereinbefore set forth the retrograde movement of the carriage can only
be effected after the operating lever has been depressed. This action causes
the movable frame f, in its descending movement, to disengage the arms e from
the box e and the pawl from the rack by the engagement of the stops
and 8.
The carriage is also provided with a second rack with a counter-pawl sup-
ported upon the movable frame f for the purpose of absolutely regulating the
movements of the carriage and preventing the setting free of more than one
tooth at a time, as a consequence of the impetus which it receives from the
pawl $3.
We can also, if desired. dispense with racks and employ only the projec-
tions in this case the said projections take the place of the rack and
receive the direct action of the pawl and counter-pawl.
a
In our improved apparatus the fixed frame carries an optical arrangement
permitting the subject or title of the picture or slide, which title is written
between the two views of the stereoscopic picture or slide, to be read at will.
This optical arrangement comprises, in principle, a vertical mirror 3, mounted
at about the middle of the fixed frame o and inclined at an angle of 45 degrees
to this latter. We also provide a second mirror 4 movably mounted on
horizontal axis 5 and capable of being brought parallel to the first mirror in
such a manner as to catch the luminous rays reflected by the first mirror and
direct them fowards the eye-pieces of the stereoscopic apparatus; this second
mirror is combined with a concave lens 6 of any convenient focal length so
as to permit the title or description written between the two stereoscopic pic-
tures on the plate or slide to be very clearly read at the corresponding eye-
piece of the apparatus.
The mirror and the lens 6 are mounted upon the same frame 7 keyed upon
the horizontal spindle 5. This latter carries a screen S arranged to cut off the
luminous rays from the second eye-piece while the title or inscription is read.
The horizontal spindle 5 is controlled by a restraining spring intended to
maintain the parts carried upon this spindle in their upper position, so that
they form no obstruction to the inspection of the two views of the stereoscopic
picture or slide. On the contrary, when the observer desires to know the sub-
ject or title of the picture or slide under inspection, the handle -9 is. depressed;

page_text: this handle is keyed upon the end of the axis 5 and, by turning, interposes
the mirror 4 so that the image of the inscription or title written upon the
picture or slide, already reflected a first time by the fixed mirror, is brought
into the line of vision of the corresponding eye-piece.
By releasing the handle 9, the whole arrangement is restored to its initial
position by the action of the controlling springs.
Our improved apparatus for successively presenting to view photographic or
other pictures or slides, by the combination of its constituent parts solves the
following problem
Given a collection of photographic pictures or slides methodically arranged in
grooved boxes and each corresponding to a number in a catalogue, to extract
and automatically replace, without error, any one of these pictures or slides
when its serial number is known.
This automatic operation will be of great service in numerous cases.
point out the following:-
IFe
Firstly. Considering a collection composed of negative photographic plates,
it is desired to instantly find one of them, to extract it from the collection and
then restore it to its place. If other plates have already been extracted from
the same grooved box the absence thereof is notified by the empty space; it
will evidently be very difficult and occupy a considerable time to find and to
put back in place, without error, in the corresponding groove the particular
plate which is required. On the other hand, if a plate is missing from the
collection, the ordinary operation of the apparatus will immediately notify the
fact together with the serial number of the missing plate.
Secondly. If a collection of positive photographic plates upon glass is to be
inspected, one by one, in a stereoscopic. apparatus or by means of an optical
lantern, either in their ordinary order of classification or in any other order
whatever, the apparatus can be reversed for the purpose of re-inspecting either
the whole collection or any particular picture or slide. Any particular one of
the pictures or slides in a numerous collection can be immediately found with-
out it being necessary to make the whole number of the pictures or slides which
precede the one it is desired to inspect to pass, one by one, in front of the
eye-pieces of the apparatus.
The different parts, of which we have hereinbefore given a description are
intended to assure the regularity of the successive movements necessary for
the proper action of the apparatus.
The carriage carrying the plates, in its position of rest, is always retained
in one position so that the arms of the movable frame, when they are raised,
always come in contact with a picture or slide and can never seize more than
a single picture or slide neither can they pass between two adjacent pictures
or slides. The said pictures or slides are therefore preserved from the liability
of being broken or even scratched, moreover, as has hereinbefore been stated
the combination of two controlling devices for regulating the movement of the
carriage permits this latter to be moved in such a manner as to bring the
picture or slide it is desired to inspect directly in front of the extracting arm.
Our improved apparatus can also be employed for the purpose of extracting
from a collection of photographic plates any one thereof to be printed. For
example, the photographic plate to be removed is lifted by the extracting arms
and the operator can then readily take hold of it and lift it out at the upper
part of the fixed frame; when the operator wishes to restore this photographic
plate to its proper situation it is only necessary to bring it into engagement
with the grooves of the fixed frame and the extractor arm will carry this
photographic plate to its original position.
Our improvements can be applied to sfereoscopes, to optical lanterns of all
kinds and the like, and we can, if desired, modify the form, sizes and accessory
arrangements to the different applications of our said invention.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
_
1. The improved apparatus for the purpose specified, comprising a carriage
movable in horizontal guide-ways, means for moving the said carriage forward,
a vertically movable frame provided with extractor arms, a fixed frame provided
with vertical grooves to receive the photographic slide or plate carried by the
extractor-arms, and a catch arranged to actuate a lever, when this frame arrives
at the lower end of its course, which lever, in oscillating, advances the carriage
through a distance equal to that between the centres of one plate and the adja-
cent plate, substantially as described.
2. An apparatus of the kind or class hereinbefore described in which the
carriage receives its motion of translation from a horizontal spindle capable of
being moved either directly by the hand or automatically by the descent of
the movable frame carrying the photographic slide or plate, the said horizontal
spindle being provided with a ratchet-wheel actuated by a pawl controlled by
a lever oscillating under the action of the said movable frame when this latter
arrives at the end of its path, and being held immovable, during the whole
time the extractor arms are engaged in the box containing the plates, by a
stop provided on the said movable frame, substantially as described.
3. In apparatus of the kind described, the horizontal screen to cut off from
the eye-pieces the luminous rays reflected from the lower part of the apparatus,
substantially as described.
4. The means of direct control for effecting the movement of the carriage
without putting the other operative parts into motion, substantially as described.
5. The combination, with apparatus such as is hereinbefore described, of an
index which can be moved in front of the divisions of a scale marked on the
casing of the apparatus, and corresponding to the order of classification of the
plates, substantially as described.
6. An apparatus of the kind or class claimed in Claim I, in which the direct
control of the carriage is effected by means of a push-button acting on one
of the arms of a bent lever the other arm of which actuates the said carriage
by means of a lever oscillating at the time of the descent of the movable frame
carrying the photographic slide or plate, and carrying a pawl which operates
on a rack fixed upon one of the longitudinal sides of the carriage, the carriage
being held immovable during the movement of the said movable frame by one
of the sides of this frame engaging between pins or projections set in one of
the sides of the carriage and which correspond to the plates contained in the
collection, that side of the frame which acts as a stop being provided with a
recess which arrives in front of the pins, when the frame arrives at the lower
end of its course, in such a manner as to permit them to pass and thus permit
the movement of the carriage, substantially as described.
7. An apparatus such as is claimed in Claim 1, in which the fixed frame
'carries an optical arrangement comprising a fixed vertical mirror mounted on
the said fixed frame, and inclined at an angle to this latter, and a second mirror
movable about a horizontal axis and capable of being placed parallel to the
first mirror so as to direct the luminous rays reflected by the latter in the
direction of one of the eye-pieces of the apparatus, substantially as, and for
the purpose specified.
8. The combination, with apparatus such as is claimed in Claim 7, of a
divergent lens, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
9. The combination, with apparatus of the kind or class herein before
described, of the optical device for the purpose specified, arranged substantially
as described with reference to Figures 9 to 11.
10. The improved apparatus constructed substantially as described with refer-

page_text: ence to Figures 1 to 5, or to Figures 6 to 8, operating as, and for the purpose,
set forth.
Datad this 5th dor of Tule 1ana
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.