Improvements in Magazine Cameras.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 4th Nov., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Magazine Cameras.
I, ROBERT EDWARD PHILLIPS, of 70, Chancery Lane, London, in the County
of Middlesex, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion, (which has been communicated to me by Harry D. Haight, of the City of
Chicago, in the County of Cook, and in the State of Illinois, Manufacturer), 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 a magazine camera, in which, by means of the novel
mechanism hereinafter described a number of sensitive plates can be stored, then
exposed seriatim, as desired, then released and caused to drop face downwards
out of focus, and then the exposed plates removed without effecting the positions
of the unexposed plates therein.
Reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section of my improved camera.
Figure 2 is a similar section with the releasing devices omitted and showing
the camera open.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the rear portion of the box with the door
thereof open.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the plate releasing mechanism, illustrating
the manner of its application to the top of the camera case.
Figure 5 and 6 are side views of the manipulating devices of the plate releasing
mechanism.
Figure 7 is a top edge view of the plate-holder.
Figure 8 is a front view of the lower broken away portion of the same.
In the drawings A represents a rectangular case having a suitable lens in its
forward end, a suitable trap-door in its bottom, as will hereinafter more fully
appear, and a suitable light-tight door bin its rear end which is hinged at its
lower horizontal edge. Door bis held closed by the vertically reciprocal inverted
U-shape bolt b', which, as shown engages a suitable plate-covered recess 62 in its
upper edge.
Secured to the rear portion of the bottom of the case is a transverse plate B,
which has its correspondingly shaped ends bent vertically to form trams C, the
upper horizontal edges of which are arranged parallel to and slightly removed
from the longitudinal sides of said case, preferably about on the same plane
as the lower edge of the rear door opening. The forward edges of trams C are
provided with sockets C¹ next their upper ends, and below these sockets the
forward edges of the same, are, preferably, undercut. Trams C provide an edge-
wise support for and direct the unexposed sensitive plates to the focal point of
the camera, when placed in suitable holders. These holders D consist of a
rectangular plate of sheet metal of suitable dimensions having its vertical side
edges rolled back to form guides for the reception of the sensitive plate D¹, and
having a central protuberance, near its lower edge which prevents the sensitive
plate from accidentally falling out of it after said plate has been pushed up past
In the lower edge of each holder D are recesses d into which the
the same.
.

page_text: supporting edges of said trams enter. The width of the mouths of these recesses
correspond to the thickness of the trams but their inner proportions are of such
circular proportions as to enable them when they fall forward off of said. trams
to drop over and ring sockets C¹.
+
The plate-holders are placed vertically edgewise on the trams, one back of
the other, and have a spring constantly pressing forward against them so that
when the forwardmost plate is released, the following plates will be moved
forward automatically to bring the next plate into position for exposure.
The releasing devices consist of a sheet of suitable spring metal E of rectangular
shape, which is provided with three longitudinal tongues e e and f, that extend
from the rear edge to near the forward end of the plate where it is permanently
secured to the ceiling of the case. One of these tongues f is slightly longer than
the other, but all of them have their rear ends downturned slightly to form
stops that successively and alternately engage the upper edge of the forwardmost
plate-holders to arrest the forward movement of and then release the forwardmost
plate holder. The central tongue f is curved downwards at about its center of
length and is engaged by the flattened portion of a transverse shaft F which
extends over the same and bears up against and extends under the tongues c.
The width of the flattened portion of shaft F is such that when its major axis
is vertical it pushes tongue f downwards and raises tongues e, thus releasing
the forwardmost plate-holder and stopping the further progress of the next
following plate. When said flattened portion is horizontal the tongues auto-
matically resume their normal positions and cause the downturned end of
tongue f to release the second plate-holder, and the downturned ends of tongues e
to intercept and arrest the forward movement of the same. The forwardmost
sensitive plate being released loses its balance and falls forward, face downwards,
out of the way of the next exposure.
One end of shaft F extends through its bearing and has a suspended shield-
shaped plate g pivoted thereto to afford a convenient hand-grasp with which
to revolve the same. Between this shield and its bearings shaft F is provided
with two diametrically opposite cogs h, which are located in a plane at right
angles to the pivot of the said shield g and mesh with the teeth of a registering
cog-wheel G, journaled on a stud projecting from the side of the case below the
center of shaft F. Cog-wheel G is provided with a series of cog corresponding
in number to the number of plate-holders employed in the camera, and has
marked on its outer face at equal intervals apart the numerals "0," "1," "2"
and so on according to the number of plate-holders. Each time the shaft Fis
turned a half revolution it moves the registering cogs forward sufficient to bring
into view and expose the numeral indicating the manner of unexposed sensitive
plates remaining in the camera.
<<
When the forwardmost plate-holder on the trams fall forwards, the recesses d
ring" the eyes C and the posts H, H, the upper ends of which enter said eyes
when the trap-door I from which they project is closed. This trap-door I onto
which the exposed plates fall and are secured closes an opening in the bottom
of the case out through which the exposed plates are removed. It is, preferably,
hinged to the forward transverse edge of said opening, and is locked in its closed
position by means of the dogs J, consisting of flat strips of sheet metal having
their inner ends pivoted to the inner sides of the trams and their lower ends bent
to catch under the rear raised portion of plate ; secured near the rear edge of
said door.
In order to break the fall of the sensitive plates when the holders carrying
the same are dropped forward I have provided a buffer-bar K which is pivoted
near its upper laterally turned end to a vertical cleat K¹, and is kept in such
position that its rear serrated edge will intercept and case the force of the fall
of the plate-holder, by a wire spring suitably connecting its upper end and
supporting cleat as shown.
The spring N for automatically moving the plate holders forward on the

page_text: trams every time the forwardmost plate is released is a crank-shaped wire, the
ends of which are coiled around a stationary shaft P between the sides of the
case and the trams with their extremities secured to said case. The torsional
pressure of the coiled ends of this spring N is such that the horizontal portion
thereof, on which a rubber roller m is journaled, bears constantly forward against
the rearmost plate-holder. When it is desired to load the camera this spring N
is drawn rearward until the parallel branches thereof catch under the hooks rr,
which are secured in suitable manner to the rear of the case so that their hook-
shaped portions will occupy the position shown in Figure 1 to catch and retain
said branches when at the limit of its forward movement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
First. A camera case having a suitably closed opening in its rear end, an
opening in its bottom, and suitable means for closing the same.
Second. A camera case having a suitably closed opening in its rear end, an
opening in its bottom, and suitable means for closing the same, in combination
with means for automatically moving a series of plate-holders into focus, and
means for releasing and dropping out of focus and forwardmost of said plate-
holders, one at a time as exposed, onto the said means for closing the opening
in the bottom of the case.
Third. A camera case having a suitably closed opening in its rear end, an
opening in its bottom, and a door or cover for closing the same in combination
with means for automatically moving a series of plate-holders into focus, and
means for releasing, and dropping out of focus, the forwardmost of said plate-
holders, one at a time, as exposed, and retaining devices for the same connected-
to said door.
Fourth. A camera case having a suitably closed opening in its rear end, and an
opening in the bottom, a door for closing said bottom opening, and longitudinal
parallel trams located in the rear of said bottom opening, in combination with
means for automatically moving a series of plate-holders forward into focus upon
said trams, and means for releasing the forwardmost of said plate-holders, one at
a time, and dropping the same into retentive position upon said door.
Fifth. A camera case having a suitably closed opening in its rear end, and an
opening in its bottom, a door for closing said bottom opening, means for retaining
one or more plate holders thereon, and longitudinal parallel trams located to
the rear of said bottom opening, in combination with means for automatically
moving forward a series of plate-holders into focus upon said trams, and means
for releasing the forwardmost of said series of plate-holders, one at a time after
exposure, into retentive position of said door.
Sixth. A camera case having a suitably closed opening in its rear end, and an
opening in its bottom, a door for closing said bottom opening, retaining posts
located near and projecting upwards from the rear end of said door, and longi-.
tudinal parallel trams located to the rear of said bottom opening, in combination
with means for automatically moving a series of plate holders forward into
focus, and means for releasing the forwardmost of said series of plate-holders
after exposure one at a time and dropping the same into said door whereon they
are retained from independent displacement by said posts.
Seventh. A camera case having a suitably closed opening in its rear end, and an
opening in its bottom, parallel trams located to the rear of said bottom opening
the forward edges of which are provided with suitable vertical eyes near their
upper ends, a door for closing said bottom opening and posts secured to and
projecting therefrom and adapted to enter said eyes, in combination with means
for automatically moving a series of plate-holders forward into focus, and.
means for releasing the forwardmost of said series of plate-holders after exposure

page_text: one at a time whereby the same falls forward onto said door and is retentively
held from independent displacement thereon by said posts.
Eighth. A camera case having a suitable closed opening in its rear end and an
opening in its bottom, longitudinal parallel trams located to the rear of said
bottom opening, a door for closing the same, and posts projecting therefrom in
such position as to aline with said trams, in combination with means for auto-
matically moving a series of plate-holders forward into focus upon said series
of plate holders after exposure one at a time whereby they fall forward onto and
are retentively held from independent displacement upon said door by said posts.
Ninth. In a camera the combination with longitudinal parallel trams, and
means for automatically moving a series of plate holders forward upon the same
to the focal point, of longitudinally arranged tongues of slightly different length
having their free ends downturned and successively and alternately engaging
the upper edge of the forwardmost of said plate-holders.
Tenth. In a camera the combination with longitudinal parallel trams, and
means for automatically moving a series of plate holders forward upon the same
to the focal point, of longitudinally arranged spring sheet metal tongues of
slightly different length having their forward ends rigidly secured and their
rear ends downturned and successively and alternately engaging the upper edge
of the forwardmost of said series of plate-holders.
Eleventh. In a camera the combination with longitudinal parallel trams, and
means for automatically moving a series of plate holders forward upon the same
to the focal point, of longitudinally arranged tongues of slightly different lengths
having their forward ends rigidly secured and their rear ends downturned, and
a transverse shaft adapted to engage said tongues and cause the downturned
ends of the same to successively and alternately engage the upper edge of the
forwardmost of said series of plate holders.
Twelfth. In a camera the combination with longitudinal parallel trams, and
means for automatically moving a series of plate-holders forward upon the same
to the focal point, of longitudinally arranged tongues of spring sheet metal of
slightly different lengths the forward ends of which are rigidly secured and the
rear ends of which are downturned, and a transverse shaft having a flattened
portion which passes over and bears down upon one of said tongues and passes
over and bears up against the other of said tongues so that when turned it causes
one of the tongues to move downwards and the other of said tongues upwards,
as set forth.
Thirteenth. In a camera, a plate holder having recesses in its lower edge the
mouth of which is less in width than that of its inner portion, as set forth.
Fourteenth. In a camera, the combination with the camera case having a
suitably closed opening in its rear end, an opening in its bottom, suitable means
for closing the same, and means for automatically moving a series of plate holders
into focus, of longitudinally arranged tongues of slightly different lengths
arranged above said plate holders which are of slightly different length and have
their ends downturned and successively and alternately engaging the upper
edge of the forwardmost of said series of plate holders, as and for the purpose
set forth.
focus on
Fifteenth. In a camera the combination with a case having a suitably closed
opening in its rear end, and an opening in its bottom, suitable means for closing
the same, parallel longitudinal means located to the rear of the bottom opening
of said case, and means for automatically moving a series of plate holders into
said trams, of longitudinally arranged tongues of slightly different
length having their conterminous ends rigidly secured and their free ends
downturned and successively and alternately engaging the upper edge of the for-
wardmost of said series of plate holders whereby the same is held in focus and
released to drop into retentive position on said door.
Sixteenth. In a camera the combination with a case having a suitable closed
opening in its rear end, and an opening in its bottom, suitable means for closing

page_text: the same, longitudinal parallel trams, and means for automatically moving a
series of plate holders successively into focus thereon, of longitudinally arranged
tongues having their conterminous ends downturned, and a transverse shaft
adapted to engage said tongues and cause the downturned ends of the same to
successively and alternately engage the upper edge of the forwardmost of said
series of plate-holders whereby the same are brought into focus and successively
released and dropped into retentive position upon said door.
Seventeenth. In a camera the combination with the case having a suitably
closed opening in its rear end, and an opening in its bottom, a door for closing
said bottom opening having retaining posts secured to and arising therefrom,
and longitudinal parallel trams with the forward edges of which the top of said
posts engage, of longitudinally arranged tongues of slightly different length
having their conterminous ends rigidly secured and having their free ends down-
turned and adapted to successively and alternately engage the upper edge of
the forwardmost of said series of plate holders to hold the same in focus and
release the same whereby they fall into retentive position over said posts upon
said door.
Eighteenth. In a camera the combination with a case having a suitably closed
opening in its rear end, and an opening in its bottom, a door for closing said
bottom opening having retaining posts secured to and arising therefrom, and
longitudinal parallel trams, with the forward edges of which the top of said
posts engage, of longitudinally arranged tongues of slightly different lengths
having their conterminous ends rigidly secured and having their rear ends.
downturned, a transverse shaft adapted to engage said tongues and causes the
downturned ends of the same to successively and alternately engage the upper
edge of the forwardmost of said series of plate holders of said trams whereby
they are consecutively held in focus and then released to drop into retentive
position over said posts on said door.
Nineteenth. In a camera the combination with the plate-holder releasing device
and a transverse shaft for actuating the same one end of which extends beyond
its bearings and has suitable cogs projecting therefrom, of a registering cog-
wheel engaged by the cogs on said shaft and having a series of concentrically
arranged numerals on its outer face, as and for the purpose set forth.
Twentieth. In a camera the combination with a series of longitudinally
arranged tongues the conterminous ends of which are rigidly secured and the free
ends of which are downturned, and a transverse shaft engaging said tongues so
that when turned it causes the downturned ends of the camera, one end of said
shaft extending beyond its bearings and having cogs projecting therefrom, of a
registering cog engaged by said shaft and having a series of concentric graduations
arranged on its outer face, as and for the purpose set forth.
Twentyfirst. In a camera the combination with longitudinally arranged tongues
the conterminous ends of which are rigidly secured and the free ends of which
are downturned, a transverse shaft adapted to engage said tongues so that they
alternately engage the plate holders in said camera, and having one end extended
beyond its bearings and provided with cogs projecting therefrom, and a shield
shape pendent hand-grasp pivotally connected to the outer end of said shaft, of
a registering cog engaged by the cogs on said shaft and provided with a series
of graduations on its outer face which as it is moved are exposed, one at a time,
through a suitable opening in said pendent shield.
Twentysecond. In a camera the combination with a case having a suitably
closed opening in its rear end, longitudinal parallel trams, and means for consecu-
tively retaining in and releasing from the focal position on said trams each of
a series of plate holders movable on the same, of a crank shape torsional normally
forwardly pressing spring for automatically moving said plate holders inter-
mittently forward, as and for the purpose set forth.
Twentythird. In a camera the combination with a case having a suitably
closed opening in its rear end, longitudinal parallel trams, and means for consecu-

page_text: tively retaining in and releasing from the focal position on said trams each of
a series of plate holders movable on the same, of a crank shape torsional normally
forwardly pressing spring for automatically moving said plate holders inter-
mittently forward, and hooks secured in suitable position adjacent to the lower
edge of the opening in the rear of said case which are adapted to engage and
hold said spring when the same is moved to the limit of its rearward movement
and held out of engagement with said plate-holders, as and for the purpose set
forth.
Dated the 10th day of Aust 1900