Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Taking Photographic Pictures of Objects in Motion, and for Exhibiting such Pictures.
Year: 1896

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Taking Photographic
Pictures of Objects in Motion, and for Exhibiting such Pictures.
I, HORATIO JOHN HEINZE, Mechanical Engineer, of 16 East Road, City Road,
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for use in taking or reproducing animated
photographic pictures and the invention may be carried out in the following manner,
alteration in details being if desired made without departing from the spirit of the
invention.
The apparatus may be applied for photographic purposes to a camera of substantially
ordinary construction and for reproduction purposes to any suitable lantern or source
of light with the necessary condenser and lenses.
The apparatus consists of a suitable plate or framework in or upon which is a
channel through. which the film is passed and moved along with an intermittent
motion by the mechanism to be presently described. At one part of this channel is
an opening through which the light can have access to the film, the opening being
in the case of reproductions alternately covered and uncovered by a perforated screen
and in the case of photographing the image upon the film by an opaque shutter.
At a suitable part of the channel I provide preferably two rollers which may be
carried upon a spindle having a milled head or other means by which it may be
turned or set by hand when necessary; this spindle is carried in bearings upon a
frame which is reciprocated in the direction of the length of the channel by any
convenient mechanism say for example a connecting rod operated by a crank upon a
shaft driven by the motor or power which operates the whole apparatus. The crank
shaft by suitable gearing-bevel wheels and an intermediate shaft for example-imparts
the movement to the rotating screen and a cam or equivalent device upon or in
connection with the crank shaft operates a detent which serves to hold the film
during the forward stroke of the reciprocating frame and axle, but is withdrawn and
llows the film to travel during the backward movement of the frame and its parts.
To enable the rollers or equivalent to take hold of the film during the back stroke,
hey may be provided with points which engage with corresponding perforations in
he edges of the film. During the forward stroke the rollers rotate merely travelling
ver the film, but during the backward stroke the rollers are prevented from turning,
nd their points engaging with the film pull it along as will be well understood.
This alternate movement and stoppage of the rollers may be effected in various ways,
suitable mechanism consisting of a spring pawl or detent engaging with a ratchet
rother wheel upon the axle which carries the rollers; or two of these may be
mployed one upon each roller. Instead of having actual perforations in the edges of
he strip I may provide the rollers with points which would engage with the film and
raw it along without actually entering perforations in it, or again, the teeth may be
D

page_text: dispensed with and the rollers roughened or provided with rubber or other covering
or other means may be used to cause the rollers to efficiently grip the film, and draw
it along. Instead of two rollers as above described one roller may be used pressing
upon the whole of the face of the film or it may be recessed so as only to engage
certain parts of the film.
To conveniently adjust the exposure opening to the position of the pictures upon
the film I may employ a frame or equivalent, the precise position of which could be
adjusted conveniently by a nut and screw, lever and spring or by other suitable
means.
The film preferably in the form of a roll may be carried in a drum or cylinder, one
of the ends of which may operate as a lid and be opened to admit the insertion or
withdrawal of the film; an opening is made in the periphery of the drum closed by a
spring lid with velvet or equivalent material for the film to pass between to prevent
damaging it. I may have an axial pin in the drum with a tube or roller upon it to
facilitate the turning of the roll of film should the latter become tight thereon.
With the exception of the perforated or opaque shield the apparatus is the same
whether for originally photographing on the film or for reproducing the pictures.
For enlargement purposes I prefer to project the image on to a mirror or equivalent
reflector so as to alter the angle and obtain a larger image upon the screen which is
used to receive the pictures.
In some cases I employ one or more screens bearing one or more colours for the
purpose of imparting the desired shade or tone to the whole or a portion of the
picture; this may be operated by hand only, or where it is necessary to rapidly
change the tone it may be in connection with the mechanism so as to automatically.
vary the shade.
As a means of-regulating the speed at which the machinism rotates I prefer when
the instrument is driven by means of the electric. current to employ a switch plate
and switch and a series of resistences so that by throwing these in and out of the
circuit I can increase or diminish the speed.
In order to make announcements I make an opening to the channel through which
I can insert a transparency containing the necessary announcement, advertisement or
the like which will be projected on to the screen the same as the pictures so as to be
able to state for example the subject of the next series of pictures after one has been
completed. Or the announcement made be made by this means without actually
placing the transparency in the channel.
Dated this 14th day of July 1896
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Taking Photographic
Pictures of Objects in Motion, and for Exhibiting such Pictures.
I, HORATIO JOHN HEINZE, Mechanical Engineer, of 16 East Road, City Road,
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 relates to apparatus for use in taking or reproducing animated
photographic pictures and the invention may he carried out in the following manner,
alteration in details being if desired made without departing from the spirit of the
invention,

page_text: The apparatus may be applied for photographic purposes to a camera of
substantially ordinary construction and for reproduction purposes to any suitable
lantern or source of light with the necessary condenser and lenses.
The apparatus consists of a suitable plate or framework in or upon which is a
channel through which the film is passed and moved along with an intermittent
motion by the mechanism to be presently described. At one part of this channel is
an opening through which the light can have access to the film, the opening being
in the case of reproductions alternately covered and uncovered by a perforated
screen and in the case of photographing the image upon the film by an opaque
shutter.
At a suitable part of the channel 1 provide preferably two rollers which may be
carried upon a spindle having a milled head or other means by which it may be
turned or set by hand when necessary; this spindle is carried in bearings upon a
frame which is reciprocated in the direction of the length of the channel by any con-
venient mechanism say for example a connecting rod operated by a crank upon a
shaft driven by the motor or power which operates the whole apparatus. The ecrank
shaft by suitable gearing-bevel wheels and an intermediate shaft for example-
imparts the movement to the rotating screen and a cam or equivalent device upon or
in connection with the crank shaft operates a detent which serves to hold the film
during the forward stroke of the reciprocating frame and axle, but is withdrawn and
allows the film to travel during the backward movement of the frame and its
parts.
To enable the rollers or equivalent to take hold of the film during the back stroke,
they may be provided with points which engage with corresponding perforations in
the edges of the film. During the forward stroke the rollers rotate merely travelling
over the film, but during the backward stroke the rollers are prevented from turning,
and their points engaging with the film pull it along as will be well understood. This
alternate movement and stoppage of the rollers may be effected in various ways, a
suitable mechanisin consisting of a spring pawl or detent engaging with a ratchet or
other wheel upon the axle which carries the rollers; or two of these may be
employed one upon each roller. Instead of having actual perforations in the edges
of the strip I may provide the rollers with points which would engage with the film
and draw it along without actually entering perforations in it, or again, the teeth
may be dispensed with and the rollers roughened or provided with rubber or other
covering or other means may be used to cause the rollers to efficiently grip the film,
and draw it along. Instead of two rollers as above described one roller may be used
pressing upon the whole of the face of the film or it may be recessed so as only to
engage certain parts of the film.
To conveniently adjust the exposure opening to the position of the pictures upon
the film I may employ a frame or equivalent, the precise position of which could be
adjusted conveniently by a nut and screw, lever and spring or by other suitable
means.
The film preferably in the form of a roll may be carried in a drum or cylinder, one
of the ends of which may operate as a lid and be opened to admit the insertion or
withdrawal of the film; an opening is made in the periphery of the drum closed by a
spring lid, faced if desired with velvet or equivalent material for the film to pass
under on its way out of the drum. I may have an axial pin in the drum with a tube.
or roller upon it to facilitate the turning of the roll of film should the latter become
tight thereon.
"With the exception of the perforated or opaque shield the apparatus is the same
whether for originally photographing on the film or for reproducing the
pictures.
In some cases I employ one or more screens bearing one or more colours for the
purpose of imparting the desired shade or tone to the whole or a portion of the
pictures; this may be operated by hand only, or where it is necessary to rapidly
change the tone it may be in connection with the mechanism so as to automatically
vary the shade.

page_text: As a means of regulating the speed at which the mechanism rotates I prefer when
the instrument is driven by means of the electric current to employ a switch and a
series of resistances so that by throwing these in and out of the circuit I can increase
or diminish the speed.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings in which :-
Figures 1 and 2 are elevations of two respectively opposite sides of one form of my
improved apparatus; of these two figures, Fig. 1 is herein regarded as a back, and
Fig. 2 as a front elevation.
Figure 3 is a section on the crooked line 3-3 of Fig. 1 with portions of the
apparatus omitted.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the film container or drum and
Figures 5 and 6 are elevations, as seen from positions at right angles to each other,
of a modified form of the film-gripping mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 3.
Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the apparatus consists of a suitable plate or frame-
work A in or upon the front side or face of which is provided a channel A¹ through
which the film B (Fig. 3) is passed and along which it is intermittently moved, as
hereinafter described. At one part of the channel A' is an opening A through which
the light can have access to the film B, the opening A2 being alternately covered and
uncovered by a revolving screen or shutter C.
To the front of the plate A is hinged a door D adapted to close in the front of the
channel A and retain the film in proper position therein, this door being provided
with an opening I coinciding with the before mentioned exposure-opening A². The
door D is provided with a preferably spring-controlled latch D for retaining it in its
closed position, which latch when raised, admits of the door being opened so that
free access may be had to the film within the channel A'.
At a suitable part of the plate A and within the channel A¹ I provide preferably
two openings or slots A through which project, from the back of the plate A, the
rollers E secured upon a spindle E' having a milled head E2 or other device by which
it may be turned by hand when it is desired to adjust the film B. The spindle E¹ is
carried in bearings F formed or provided in or upon a frame F which is reciprocated
on guide rods F2, in the direction of the length of the channel A¹, by any convenient
mechanism, say for example, as shown in the drawings, by a crank G upon a shaft G
and a rod or link H pivotally connected to the frame F and crank G. The crank
shaft G may be rotated by any convenient means the motion being transmitted to it
through a pulley G2 or in any other desired manner. Through two pairs of bevel
wheels C C and an intermediate shaft C³ the crank shaft G transmits rotary motion
to a shaft C on which is secured the before-mentioned screen or shutter C, suitable
bearings A+ being provided for supporting the crank shaft G and intermediate shaft C.
I is a cam secured on the crank shaft G and adapted to periodically raise or
operate on the free end of the nearly-horizontal arm or a two-armed or bell-crank
lever J pivotted between lugs A' at the back of the plate A. To the second or sub-
stantially-vertical arm j¹ of the lever J is pivotted a detent J the operative end of
which, faced with india-rubber or other suitable material J3, projects through a hole A
in the plate A so as to enable it to act upon the film B, and by pressing the
latter against the door D temporarily arrest the longitudinal motion of the film. A
spring J is interposed between the lever arm j¹ and detent J so as to allow the
latter to accommodate itself to suit the varying thicknesses of film passing between
it and the door D; J is a pin, screw or equivalent stop, which may be adjustable in
the lever arm j¹, for limiting the backward movement of the detent J'independently
of the arm j'and which may also serve for supporting the spring J³.
To enable the rollers or equivalent to take hold of the film during the backward or
downward stroke of the frame F, they may be provided, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3
with points e which engage with corresponding perforations in the edges of the film B;
these perforations are not shown in the drawing. During the forward or upward
stroke of the frame F the rollers E rotate and merely roll over or upon the film B

page_text: which at that time is retained in position by the retarder J, but, during the backward
or downward stroke, the rollers E are prevented from turning, and their points
engaging with the film, pull it along, as will be well understood. This alternate
movement and stoppage of the rollers may be effected in various ways, a suitable
mechanism being that represented in Figs. 1 and 3 which consists of a spring-
controlled paw! E pivotted to the sliding frame F, and a ratchet wheel E secured
upon the spindle E. Instead of having actual perforations in the edges of the film B
1 may provide the rollers E with points which would engage with the film and draw
it along without actually entering perforations in it, or again, the teeth may be
dispensed with and the rollers E roughened or provided with rubber or other covering,
or other means may be used to cause the rollers to efficiently grip the film B and.
draw it along. Instead of two rollers as above described one roller may be used
pressing upon the whole face of the film B, or it may be recessed as hereinafter
described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6, so as only to engage certain parts of
the film.
To conveniently adjust the exposure opening to the position of the pictures upon
the film I make the openings A Di larger than they actually require to be for the
mere exposure of the pictures, and at the back of the plate A I provide a frame or
equivalent K which is capable of being adjusted in guides A' by a lever K', so that it
may be raised or lowered in relation to the openings A2 D' the effective size of which
will thereby be increased or decreased. The lever K' may be bent so that a portion k
thereof extends round the front of the plate A as shown in Fig. 2 and a blade spring K¹
may be secured to the lever K' so that it will press upon or against the plate A with
force sufficient to prevent any accidental displacement of the frame after the latter
has been adjusted.
The film preferably, as shown diagramatically in Fig. 3, in the form of a roll, may
be carried in a drum or cylinder L (Fig. 4), the end I of which may operate as a lid
and be opened as shown to admit of the insertion or withdrawal of the film; the
lid L may be retained in its closed position by a spring catch L². An opening L³
for
the passage of film to the channel A', is made in the periphery
of the drum L of which a portion L adjacent to the opening L is
connected to the main portion of the cylindrical wall L' by a spring or spring
hinge 1, so that the portion L by pressing upon the film acts as a brake thereon
and prevents it from being unwound too quickly. The surfaces of the portion or
brake 1 and other portions of the drum L. against which the film is brought into
contact may be lined with velvet or other suitable material to prevent any abrasion of
the said film. Within the drum L I may provide an axial pin 1 with a tube or
roller L thereon to facilitate the rotation of the roll of film should the latter become
tightened thereon.
Instead of employing the before described devices for moving forward the film I
may employ the mechanism shown in Figs. 5 and 6 which comprises a singlé recessed
roller E, such as that previously referred to, mounted by its spindle E in the sliding
frame and a swinging frame or yoke M adapted to be alternately pressed into
engagement with and moved away from the film B. For this latter purpose the
swinging yoke M which is pivotted on a pin M, is provided with an arm M carrying on
its end an anti-friction roller M³ which is adapted to engage with a cam or guide N.
The guide N which is rigidly mounted on a fixed bracket O has three operative
faces n n' n of which the first is vertical or parallel with the guide rods F2 on which
the frame F slides, and the two last named are inclined in relation to the guide rods F².
At the back of the upper part of the guide N I provide a spring N¹ which pushes forward
the anti-friction roller M3 when it reaches the upper end of its travel. The inside of
the swinging yoke M where it acts on the film is preferably lined with India rubber
to enable it to properly grip without abrading the film.
The operation of the last described device is as follows ;-
When the frame F commences its downward stroke the anti-friction roller M³
travels down the short downwardly inclined face n² at the top of the guide N and the
yoke M is thereby pressed firmly against the film B which is thereby gripped between

page_text: the said yoke and the roller E; during the remaining portion of the downward stroke
of the frame F the yoke is retained in its gripping position by the anti-friction roller
which is prevented from swinging backwards from the film by the guide face n and
the film is thereby moved along with the frame F. As soon however as the anti-
friction roller M descends below the guide N the pressure is withdrawn from the yoke M
which is thereby free to move independently of the film which consequently remains
stationary. When the frame F ascends the anti-friction roller M³ travels over the
inclined face w¹ and the yoke is thereby moved forward out of contact with the film
which at this part of the operation remains stationary. When the anti-friction roller
passes over the upper end of the guide N the spring N¹ pushes it forward ready for
the next descent of the frame F.
When the apparatus is to be used for photographing the image upon the film the
screen or shutter is opaque throughout its length and when it is to be used for
reproducing the pictures the screen or shutter may be perforated throughout a
portion of its length, these perforations being graduated so that the pictures may be
gradually brought into and withdrawn from view. With the exception of this
difference the apparatus may be the same whether it be intended for originally
photographing on the film or for reproducing the pictures.
The shutter C, see Figure 2, is mainly composed of two thicknesses P1 P2 of wire
gauze, one thickness P being fixed to the plate P, which in turn is fixed to the
shaft C, and the other thickness P¹ being fixed to the plate Pt which is adjustable
upon the plate P³, being pivotted thereto at P. P is the head of a screw which
passes through the plates P2 P3 so as to lock the two thicknesses of wire ganze P P
in any position to which they may be adjusted in relation to each other. By moving
one thickness upon the other it is possible to vary the amount of light obstructed by
the shutter from a minimum, which would be obtained when the wires of the two
thicknesses are exactly superposed, to a maximum which would be obtained when the
wires of the one thickness of fabric lie opposite the interstices of the other thickness.
It is found advantageous to be able to vary the amount of light obstructed in this
manner, for with a series of faint pictures upon the film it is sufficient to obscure the
latter during the change of pictures without absolutely blotting it out, such
obscuration producing a less unpleasant effect upon the observer than the occurrence
of a complete eclipse after each exposure; and by varying the amount of light
obscured the degree of obscuration can be proportioned to the density of the pictures
being shown. It is convenient to have a perforated shutter with certain densities of
picture on the film, even though the shutter may not possess means for varying the
degree of obscuration. If desired the shutter may be differentially-perforated; that
is to say, the perforations may be so spaced that light can pass more readily through
the leading edge than through the following edge:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In apparatus such as described feeding the film intermittently by means of a
roller engaged therewith, and prevented from rotating during a feeding stroke but
released during a return stroke for the purpose described.
2. In apparatus such as described the combination with a reciprocating frame such
as F, of a film-engaging roller such as E thereon, and mechanism which locks the
.roller on the down-stroke of the frame and releases it on the up-stroke, or vice versa,
for the purpose described.
3. In apparatus such as described the combination with a reciprocating frame such
as F and one or more rollers such as E mounted therein of a yielding detent such
as J¹ J' and a cam or other device for operating the detent substantially as and for the
purpose described.
4. In apparatus such as described the combination with a reciprocating frame of a
film-gripping device comprising one or more rollers such as E, a swinging yoke such
as M M, and control apparatus for. the yoke, all arranged and operating
substantially as and for the purpose described.

page_text: 5. In apparatus such as described the combination with a reciprocating frame of a
filmn H-gripping device comprising one or more rollers such as E, a swinging yoke such
as M M2, a fixed cam or guide such as N, and spring N' operating substantially as
and for the purpose described.
6. In apparatus for taking or exhibiting photographic pictures, the use of coloured
screens for imparting the desired tint to the whole or a portion of the picture.
7. In apparatus for taking or exhibiting photographic pictures, a film-box with a
central roller for the purpose described.
8. In apparatus for taking or exhibiting photographic pictures, a film-box with a
yielding braking-device such as 1 for the purpose described.
9. In film-exposing apparatus a perforated shutter for the purpose described.
10. In film-exposing apparatus a shutter comprising two or more layers P1 P2 of
perforated material adjustable relatively to each other substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
11. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete
apparatus for use in taking and exhibiting photographic pictures substantially as
described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
12. A differentially-perforated shutter substantially as described.
A 19th day of April 1807
HORATIO JOHN HEINZE.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.