Improvements in Roll Holders for Photographic Cameras.
Year: 1885

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by E. and H. T. Anthony and Company, a
Corporation incorporated under the Laws of the State of New York, doing
Business in the City, County, and State of New York, United States of
America, Munufacturers.]
Improvements in Roll Holders for Photographic Cameras.
I ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Win. Clark, of
53 Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention (a communication to me
from abroad by E. and H. T. Anthony and Company, a Corporation incorporated
under the laws of the State of New York, doing business in the City, County and
State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturers) to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to roll holders for photographic cameras to contain a roll
of sensitized. paper or tissue and permit of said roll being drawn upon as required
to expose successive portions of its surface for making a series of negatives or
prints.
The invention mainly consists in a combination with such a holder, of removable
light-tight inner cases or boxes for carrying the sensitized paper in the form of a
roll before and after exposure, said boxes being provided with means for supplying
and taking up the paper.
The invention further consists in certain constructions and combinations of details,
substantially as hereinafter described.
The outer casing or holder has an exposing opening in front closed by the
ordinary sliding shutter and fitted with a removable back.
A pair of light-tight boxes or cases are fitted within the holder at opposite sides
or ends of the said exposure opening, to carry the sensitized paper or sheet and to
supply and take up the same as it is drawn from a roll in one box and collected in
a like form in the other, exposing the intermediate portion at the opening when
the shutter is withdrawn. Said boxes are or may be similarly constructed and
when not required for use in the holder may be carried about the person for
supplying sensitized paper as required or when the sensitized paper contained in
them is used up, may be replaced by others containing a fresh supply. Said boxes
which may readily be inserted in and taken out of the holder are of rectangular
Price 8d1

page_text: form corresponding to the interior end portions of the holder and are provided with
a hinged or other lid making a light-tight joint with the body part of the box and
serving when opened to allow of the introduction and removal of the sensitized
sheet. Each of said boxes contains a roller on one of which the sensitive paper is
secured and wound, the free end of the paper being passed out through a longi-
tudinal opening in the face of the case, which opening is made light-tight both when
the paper is wholly within the case and as it is being drawn in or out thereof as
for instance by fitting the case where the paper passes in or out with a soft flexible
lip or flap and a guide or roller between which the sensitized paper passes, another
like lip or flap being applied to the opposite side of the guide roller to make it
light-tight on that side also.
In the invention which is the subject of this Specification, two of such inner
light-tight boxes arranged as described within the outer casing or holder, are used.
Either one may be the paper carrying and distributing box and the other the
take-up box as the paper is intermittently passed across the exposure opening to
take a succession of negatives or prints. When required to use the two boxes for
exposure of a portion of the sensitized sheet, a proper length of said paper is drawn
out from the full box or case and its outer end passed through the light-tight
opening in the other box and secured to the roller therein. This may be done
before inserting the boxes or cases within the outer casing.
The two boxes with the sensitized sheet between them are then inserted in their
places within the holder and after the shutter has been closed and the back of the
holder closed the roller of the empty box is rotated so as to take up the first
exposed portion of the sheet and to draw out from the other or supply box a fresh
portion of the sheet of suitable length for exposure when the holder adjusted to the
camera and the shutter is drawn out. This adjustment of the sensitized sheet
under cover of the outer closed casing or holder may be made repeatedly until the
whole roll of sensitized paper has been exposed without having recourse to a
dark room.
The inner boxes are guided to their places and retained at their proper distance
apart by means of inclined guides.
The removable back of the holder carries on its inner face a back supporting
board or plate serving to keep the paper stretched across the exposed opening
smooth and level.
The face of said paper supporting board is in the same plane as the front faces
of the inner boxes, which thus combine therewith to form a flat even table on
which the sheet is stretched and supported in a flat and even position.
The rollers of the inner boxes have tension put upon them by means of spring
washers interposed between their ends and the ends of said boxes and each of said
rollers has at one or both ends a socket for the engagement of a key whereby the
take up roller is rotated to take up or adjust the sensitized sheet in measured
lengths successively over the exposure opening.
In order to insert the key in the end of the roller it must first pass through and
engage with an angular socket in a ratchet wheel controlled by a pawl outside of
the holder which prevents all back action in taking up the sensitized sheet or roll.
This ratchet wheel is fitted to turn independently of the take-up roller and it only
turns in common with the roller when the key is inserted and engages with both,
so that when the key is withdrawn any accidental or separate turning of the
ratchet wheel has no action upon the take-up roller and the take up box may be
removed without disturbing the ratchet wheel. To this end the ratchet wheel
has an inner tubular bearing around the socket of the roller and an outer bearing.
A registering and indicating mechanism is also used in connection with the roll
holder for determining the feed of the sheet or roll in order that when applying the
key to the take-up roller, only so much of the sensitized paper will be unrolled and
passed over the exposing opening as is necessary for one picture at a time. This
registering mechanism consists in part of a wheel having teeth arranged to register

page_text: or engage with one of the longitudinal margins of the sensitive sheet on its back as
it passes across the exposure opening between the inner boxes. Said wheel is
pressed in contact with the sheet by a spring attached to the paper supporting
plate and connected with the wheel bearing so that the wheel will be auto-
matically rotated as the sensitized sheet is drawn over or in contact with it. Said
wheel is also provided out of line with or to one side of its teeth with a pricker or
marker on its periphery to perforate the paper where it should be divided to
separate one negative from another on the sheet after removing the sheet or roll
from the holder, the wheel being of a suitable diameter so that two or more
revolutions of it will mark the sheet or paper at the proper places for division.
If desired there may be two of such marking wheels arranged opposite each other
on opposite sides of the holder to simultaneously mark the opposite margins of the
sheet. A sliding indicator capable of operation from the exterior of the holder
engages by its shank with a socket in the wheel, it being pressed inwards for the
purpose by a spring. Upon the exterior of this indicator may be an index that as
the indicator which is a rotary as well as a longitudinally sliding one is turned by
its engagement with the marking wheel causes the index to come opposite a mark
on the outside of the holder, thus indicating that the proper amount of feed or
take-up has been given to the sensitized sheet for a fresh exposure. Instead of the
index, mere marks or other means may be used in connection with the rotating
indicator to determine its extent of movement and feed of the sheet. The
indicator when constructed to have a longitudinal sliding as well as a rotary
motion as described, also serves by its engagement with the marking wheel as a
catch to hold the back of the holder closed so that before removing said back it
will be necessary to slide out or withdraw the indicator from its engagement with
the wheel.
Additional clamps or turn-button fastenings may also be used to hold the back
closed.

page_text: CORI LEIE
.
Improvements in Roll-holders for Photographic Cameras.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention (a communication to me
from abroad by E. and H. T. Anthony and Company Manufacturers, a Corporation
incorporated under the laws of the State of New York doing business in the City
County and State of New York United States of America) 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 roll-holders for photographic cameras to contain a roll
of sensitized paper or tissue and permit of said roll being drawn upon as required
to expose successive portions of its surface for the purpose of making a series of
photographic negatives or prints.
The Invention mainly consists in the combination with such a holder of
removable light-tight inner cases or boxes for carrying the sensitized paper in the
form of a roll before and after exposure, said boxes being provided with means for
supplying and taking up the paper.
The Invention further consists in certain constructions and combinations of
details, substantially as hereinafter described and claimed.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this
Specification in which figure 1 represents a front view in perspective of a roll-
holder for photographic cameras, with its sliding shutter partly drawn out.
Figure 2 is a rear view of said holder and figure 3 a transverse section thereof
upon the line x x in figure 2. Figure 4 is a rear view of the holder with its back
removed. Figure 5 a transverse section upon the line y y in figure 2. Figure 6 a
longitudinal section upon the line z z in figure 2 and figure 7 a like section upon
the line vv in figure 2. Figure 8 is a perspective view of the interior of the outer
case or holder and figure 9 a perspective view of the light-tight cases or boxes,
together with the sensitized sheet carried by the same ready for insertion within
the holder. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the
figures.
A indicates an outer casing or holder, corresponding to the plate holder of the
camera, having an exposing opening b in front closed by the ordinary sliding
shutter B and fitted with a removable back C. D D are a pair of light-tight boxes
fitted within the holder A, at either end thereof. These light-tight boxes serve to
carry the sensitized paper or sheet S, and to supply and take up the same as it is
drawn from a roll in one box, and collected in a like form in the other box, the
intermediate portion being exposed at the opening b when the shutter B is with-
drawn. Said boxes are, or may be, similarly constructed, and when not required
for use in the holder may be removed and carried about the person for supplying
sensitized paper as required, or, when the sensitized paper contained in them is

page_text: used up, may be replaced by other like boxes carrying a fresh supply of sensitized
paper. Said boxes, which may readily be inserted in and taken out of the holder;
are of rectangular form corresponding to the interior end portions of the holder and
are provided with a hinged, or other, lid s¹ making a light tight joint with the
body part of the box, and serving, when opened, to allow of the introduction and
removal of the sensitized sheet. Each of said boxes contains a roller c on one of
which the sensitive paper is secured by one end and wound, the free end of the
paper being passed out through a longitudinal opening d in the face side of the
box, which opening is made light-tight both when the paper is wholly within
the box, and as it is being drawn in or out thereof, as for instance, by fitting the
case where the paper passes in or out with a soft flexible lip or flap e and a guide
or roller between which the sensitized paper passes, another like lip e¹ being
applied to the opposite side of the guide roller f to make it light-tight on that
Bide also.
In the Invention which is the subject of this specification, two of such inner
light-tight boxes D D, arranged as described within the holder A, are used. Either
of these boxes D may be the paper carrying and distributing box, and the other
the take up box, as the paper is intermittently passed across the exposure opening b
to take a succession of negatives or prints. To use the apparatus a proper length of
said paper is drawn out from the full box D and its outer end passed through the
light-tight opening d in the other box D and secured to the roller therein. This
may be done before inserting the boxes D D within the holder A. If this is done
in the open light it of course will destroy the sensitiveness of such first-drawn
portion of the sheet, but this will bear such a small proportion to the entire length
of the sheet or roll that the loss is of little, or no, account. The two boxes with
the sensitized sheet extending between them are then inserted in their places
within the holder A, and, after the shutter B has been closed and the removable
back C inserted and secured, the roller c of the empty box D is rotated so as to
take up the first exposed portion of the sheet and to draw out from the other, or
supply box D a fresh portion of the sheet of suitable length for exposure at the
opening of the holder, when the latter is adjusted to the camera and the
shutter B is drawn out. This adjustment of the sensitized sheet under cover of
the closed outer holder may be made repeatedly, to take any number of pictures in
succession, until the whole roll of sensitized paper is used up, without having
recourse to a dark room. The inner boxes D are guided to their places and
retained at their proper distance apart by means of inclined guides E E having
sloping ends g g secured to opposite sides of the interior of the holder A,
the back C when closed holding the said boxes in their places with the unrolled
or flat portion of the sensitive paper extended between them opposite to the
exposure opening b in the holder The removable back C carries on its inner face
a. board or plate F for supporting the paper between the boxes D D, said plate
being of a suitable size and arranged at a suitable distance from the inner face of
the back C for the purpose and serving to keep the paper smooth and level over
the opening b. Said paper-supporting board may be connected with the inner face.
of the back C by side pieces h h. Being an attachment to the back C it will be
inserted in its place by the act of placing the back in its place, and its face will be
in the same plane as the front faces d¹ of the boxes D D, which thus combine with
the board or plate F to form a flat, even, table on which the sheet is stretched and
supported in a flat and even position. The rollers c of the boxes D D have tension
put upon them by means of spring-washers i interposed between their ends and
the ends of said boxes, and each of said rollers has at one or both of its ends a
square or other socket k for the engagement of a key G. This key is inserted in.
one of the sockets k of that one of the rollers c which happens to be the take-up
one, for the purpose of rotating said roller to take up or adjust the sensitized
sheet S in measured lengths successively over the exposure opening 6 of the holder.
In order to insert the key G in the end of the roller it must first pass through and

page_text: engage with an angular socket in a ratchet-wheel H controlled by a pawl l'and
arranged on the outside of the holder A opposite the socket in the take-up roller c
with which the key engages. The ratchet and pawl prevent all back action in
taking up the sensitized sheet or roll. This ratchet wheel is fitted to turn
independently of the take up roller c and it only turns in common with the roller
when the key G is inserted and engages with both, the key turning freely within
any intervening parts, so that when the key is withdrawn any accidental or
separate turning of the ratchet wheel has no action upon the take
up roller
C, and
the box carrying the take up roller may be removed without disturbing the ratchet
wheel. To this end, the ratchet wheel H has an inner tubular bearing around the
Bocket of the roller, and an outer bearing in a bracket or cross-bar m.
A registering and indicating mechanism of peculiar character is also used in
connection with the roll-holder, for determining the feed of the sheet or roll of
. sensitized paper, in order that when applying the key to the take up roller only so
much of the sensitized paper will be unrolled and passed over the exposing
opening b as is necessary for one picture at a time. This registering mechanism
consists, in part, of a wheel I having teeth n arranged to register or engage with
one of the longitudinal margins of the sensitive sheet on its back, as it passes
between the boxes D D. Said wheel I is pressed in contact with the sheet by a
bent spring J attached to the back of the paper-supporting plate F and connected
at its free end with the wheel bearing so that the wheel will be automatically
rotated as the sensitized sheet is drawn over or in contact with it. Said wheel I
is also provided out of line with, or to one side, of its teeth n, with a pricker or
marker o on its periphery to perforate the paper at the point where it should be
divided to separate one negative from another on the sheet, after removing the
sheet or roll from the holder, the wheel I being of a suitable diameter so that two,
or more, revolutions of it will mark the sheet or paper S at the proper places for
division. If desired, there may be two of such marking wheels arranged opposite
each other on opposite sides of the holder, to simultaneously mark the opposite
margins of the sheet. K is a sliding indicator, capable of operation from the
exterior of the holder A and engaging, by an angular shank, with an angular
socket in the centre of the wheel I it being pressed inwards for the purpose by a
spring r. Upon the exterior of this indicator K may be an index 8¹ that, as the
indicator, which is a rotary as well as a longitudinally sliding one, is turned by its
engagement with the marking wheel I, causes the index 8 to come opposite a
mark a¹ on the outside of the holder, thus indicating that the proper amount of
feed or take up has been given by the key G to the sensitized sheet for a fresh
exposure. Instead of the index 8 mere marks or other means may be used in
connection with the rotating indicator to determine its extent of movement and
feed of the sheet. The indicator K when constructed to have a longitudinal
sliding, as well as a rotary motion as described, also serves by its engagement with
the wheel I as a catch to hold the back c closed so that before removing said back
it will be necessary to slide out, or withdraw the indicator K from its engagement
with the wheel I. Additional clamps or turn button fastenings M may also be
used to hold the back C closed.
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. The combination with the sensitized sheet-holder of the independent,
removable, light-tight boxes, constructed as described to carry the sensitized
paper and permit the same to be rolled and unrolled, and passed from one box
to the other in front of the opening of the holder, substantially as specified.
2. In combination with the holder A having a front opening b, and a shutter
controlling said opening the removable light-tight cases or boxes D D adapted to
tit within opposite ends of said holder and provided with light tight openings d

page_text: for passage of the sensitized sheet in and out of said boxes, also fitted with supply
and take up rollers c adapted at their end or ends to receive a key, essentially as
and for the purpose herein set forth.
3. The guide plates or boards E E on the inside of the holder A in combination
with the removable boxes D D for carrying and supplying the sensitized sheet or
roll, substantially as specified.
4. The combination with the holder A and boxes D D, of the back C provided
with an inner board or plate F flush on its front surface with the faces of said
boxes and adapted in conjunction with the boxes to support the sensitized sheet
at its back in rear of the exposing opening in the holder, essentially as described.
5. The combination with the holder and with the take up roller constructed to
engage with a key from the outside of the holder, of an independently rotating
ratchet wheel H having its axis in line with said take up roller, and adapted to
also engage with the key which actuates said roller and a pawl engaging with said
wheel, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
6. In a roll-holder for photographic cameras, the registering wheel or roller I
forced outward by a spring against the sensitized sheet, and provided with a
pricker or marker o, substantially as specified.
7. The combination with the holder and with the registering and marking wheel
or roller I of the sliding and rotatable indicator K adapted to engage with said
roller for indicating the movement of the paper, essentially as described.