New or Improved Method and Means of Changing (either Rapidly or otherwise) the Sensitive Surfaces in Taking Photographs or for Displaying the Views in Rapid Succession in Animated Photo- graphy or the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 15th June, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 14th Apr., 1900-Accepted, 15th June, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Method and Means of Changing (either Rapidly or
otherwise) the Sensitive Surfaces in Taking Photographs or for
Displaying the Views in Rapid Succession in Animated Photo-
graphy or the like.
I, ROLAND HUGH EDWARDS, of 37, Queen's Road, Brownswood Park, South
Hornsey, London, N., Draughtsman, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to new or improved method and means of changing
(either rapidly or otherwise) the sensitive surfaces in taking photographs and
also for displaying in rapid succession the views in animated photography.
This changing action, whether employed for taking photographs singly in
the usual way, or whether employed for taking photographs in rapid succession
for the purpose of display in animated photographic apparatus or the like or
similar apparatus, or whether employed for the purpose of displaying views in
rapid succession in animated photography or the like or similar apparatus,
being effected by the action of a friction roller or friction device (or roller
with pins burrs or spikes projecting therefrom advantageously towards the
ends only of said roller) adapted to be revolved or otherwise operated and against
which the series of sensitive surfaces or pictures to be displayed are pressed in
any suitable manner or vice versa (or both) so that by the motion imparted to
said friction device thereby said sensitive surfaces or pictures are drawn down
or moved one by one; and in order that a short interval of time may be
allowed to clapse between the movement of each picture for this purpose
employ either a mutilated roller or a roller partly covered with a friction
material and the other part smooth and adapted to slide against said surfaces
or pictures or avoid moving same at such point or I may employ an endless
belt with a projecting or other friction surface on only part of the length
thereof or equivalent or other suitable devices or arrangements in suchwise
that one part of said roller or device will serve to draw down or move one
picture or one sensitive surface only while during the remainder of the rotation
or movement of said roller or device it will have no action upon the sensitive
surfaces or pictures or I may attain my object by means of a roller (or belt
running round two rollers) mounted in rocking bearings or mounted in bearings
adapted to be rocked slid or swung towards and away from the group of sensi-
tive surfaces or pictures to be operated-suitable means being provided in all
cases to impart motion to said roller or belt.
I
For instance in carrying out my invention for the purpose of displaying a
series of pictures in rapid succession so as to produce an animated photo-
graphic effect the series of pictures are arranged (printed towards the upper
part of a series of sheets or leaves which sheets or leaves are connected at one
of their edges in any convenient manner) somewhat after the manner of a book
this pack or series of pictures being kept pressed forward steadily against the

page_text: aforesaid changing roller or equivalent device such pictures and changing
apparatus being arranged in such wise as to produce an appearance or effect
similar to that produced in animated photography. In a similar manner this
apparatus may be used for taking photographs for the purpose of display as
above or for any other suitable purposes or to be displayed in any other suit-
able manner for which purpose a number of sensitive surfaces (cut films which
may be of a flexible character or may be rigid with a flexible connection)
would be arranged as a pack or series in place of the aforesaid pictures and
such sensitive surfaces provided with means to prevent the light passing beyond
the front film for instance said cut films may be backed by means of thin
light-tight paper fastened thereon or a separate sheet or leaf of light-tight
paper or other suitable material may be inserted loose between the films all
through the pack (i.e. films and "backs" alternately) the changing device in
which case would be arranged to draw down or remove the front film and its
back and then go out of action momentarily and then again draw down
or remove another film and its back and so on.
"
":
If desired the top of the pictures or sensitive surfaces may be notched in
suchwise that said notches alternate with the notches on each succeeding
picture or surface and arrange fingers or catches adapted to engage with
such notched edge and arranged to be operated synchronously with the friction
roller so that just at the moment when the latter will begin to act the front
pictures will be released by the aforesaid finger or catches so that said friction
device can readily draw said front picture down while the rest of the pack are
held firmly by said finger or catches which in turn release the next picture
at the moment when same is to be moved and so on; or in place of fingers
or catches I may employ a roller or device (adapted to be synchronously
revolved with the film operating roller aforesaid) part of which will bear on
the edge of each film between the notches.
According to a modified arrangement instead of having the aforesaid muti-
lated or specially constructed friction roller or belt so as to intermittently act
as aforesaid I may use a plain and complete friction roller the tendency of
which will continuously be to draw down the picture or surface against which
same resis and in order to only allow the pictures to be moved intermittently
I provide a gripping device or pressure finger adapted to bear against the upper
edge of the front part of the pack against which same is pulled by a. suitable
spring and I furthermore provide in conjunction with the friction roller
operating mechanism suitable mechanism or means whereby the pressure of
said pressure finger is intermittently removed from the front of the pack at
which moment the continuously acting friction roller is then free to act on
the front film and draw same down the rest of the pack being now again
gripped and held by said pressure finger before the friction roller can act on
the next film and so on.
For use in a photographic apparatus i.e. for taking photographs-provision
would of course have to be made for the exposed sensitive surfaces (after same
have been exposed drawn down, or removed) to be protected from light reaching
them during the exposure of the succeeding sensitive surfaces: and of course
any usual or suitable lens, shutter, etc., would be used as is well understood.
Dated this 15th day of June 1800
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
31, Southampton Buildings. Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant

page_text: New or Improved Method and Means of Changing (either Rapidly or
otherwise) the Sensitive Surfaces in Taking Photographs or for
Displaying the Views in Rapid Succession in Animated Photo-
graphy or the like.
I, ROLAND HUGH EDWARDS, of 37, Queen's Road, Brownswood Park, South
Hornsey, London, N., Draughtsman, 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 new or improved method and means of changing
(either rapidly or otherwise) the sensitive surfaces in taking photographs and
also for displaying in rapid succession the views in animated photography.
This changing action, whether employed for taking photographs singly in
the usual way, or whether employed for taking photographs in rapid succession
for the purpose of display in animated photographic apparatus or the like or
similar apparatus, or whether employed for the purpose of displaying views in
rapid succession in animated- photography or the like or similar apparatus,
being effected by the action of a friction roller or friction device (or roller
with pins burrs or spikes projecting therefrom advantageously towards the
ends only of said roller) adapted to be revolved or otherwise operated and against
which the series of sensitive surfaces or pictures to be displayed are pressed in
any suitable manner or rice versa (or both) so that by the motion imparted to
said friction device thereby said sensitive surfaces or pictures are drawn down
or moved one by one; and in order that a short interval of time may be
allowed to elapse between the movement of each picture for this purpose I
employ either a mutilated roller or il roller partly covered with a friction
material and the other part smooth and adapted to slide against said surfaces
or pictures or avoid moving same at such point or I may employ an endless
belt with a projecting or other friction surface on only part of the length
thereof or equivalent or other suitable devices or arrangements in suchwise
that one part of said roller or device will serve to draw down or move one
picture or one sensitive surface only while during the remainder of the rotation
or movement of said roller or device it will have no action upon the sensitive
surfaces or pictures or I may attain my object by means of a roller (or belt
running round two rollers) mounted in rocking bearings or mounted in. bearings
adapted to be rocked slid or swung towards and away from the group of sensi-
tive surfaces or pictures to be operated—suitable means being provided in all
cases to impart motion to said roller or belt.
For instance in carrying out my invention for the purpose of displaying a
series of pictures in rapid succession so as to produce an animated photo-
graphic effect the series of pictures are arranged (printed towards the upper
part of a series of sheets or leaves which sheets or leaves are connected at one
of their edges in any convenient manner) somewhat after the manner of a book
this pack or series of pictures being kept pressed forward steadily against the
aforesaid changing roller or equivalent device such pictures and changing
apparatus being arranged in suchwise as to produce an appearance or effect
similar to that produced in animated photography. In a similar manner this
apparatus may be used for taking photographs for the purpose of display as
above or for any other suitable purposes or to be displayed in any other suit-

page_text: "
able manner for which purpose a number of sensitive surfaces (cut films which
may be of a flexible character or may be rigid with a flexible connection)
would be arranged as a pack or series in place of the aforesaid pictures and
such sensitive surfaces provided with means to prevent the light passing beyond
the front film for instance said cut films may be backed by means of thin
light-tight paper fastened thereon or a separate sheet or leaf of light-tight
paper or other suitable material may be inserted loose between the films all
through the pack (i.e. films and backs" alternately) the changing device in-
which case would be arranged to draw down or remove the front film and its
"back" and then go out of action momentarily and then again draw down
or remove another film and its "back" and so on.
If desired the top of the pictures or sensitive surfaces may be notched in
suchwise that said notches alternate with the notches on each succeeding
picture or surface and arrange fingers or catches adapted to engage with
such notched edge and arranged to be operated synchronously with the friction
roller so that just at the moment when the latter will begin to act the front
picture will be released by the aforesaid finger or catches so that said friction
device can readily draw said front picture down while the rest of the pack are
held firmly by said finger or catches which in turn release the next picture
at the moment when same is to be moved and so on: or in place of fingers
or catches I may employ a roller or device (adapted to be synchronously
revolved with the film operating roller aforesaid) part of which will bear on
the edge of each film between the notches.
According to a modified arrangement instead of having the aforesaid muti-
lated or specially constructed friction roller or bell so as to intermittently act
as aforesaid I may use a plain and complete friction roller the Mendency of
which will continuously be to draw down the picture or surface against which
same rests and in order to only allow the pictures to be moved intermittently
A provide a gripping device or pressure finger adapted to bear against the upper
edge of the front part of the pack against which same is pulled by a suitable
spring and I furthermore provide in conjunction with the friction roller
operating mechanism suitable mechanism or means whereby the pressure of
said pressure finger is intermittently removed from the front of the pack at
which moment the continuously acting friction roller is then free to act on
the front film and draw same down the rest of the pack being now again
gripped and held by said pressure finger before the friction roller can act on
the next film and so on.
Or this continuously acting friction roller may be employed in conjunction
with longer leaves (i.e. leaves with a larger margin or part clear of the views)
so that the roller as soon as it has removed one leaf will immediately come
against and immediately commence to remove the next leaf the longer leaf
giving the required interval of time between the disappearance of one view
and the removal of the next view.
For use in a photographic apparatus i.e. for taking photographs-provision
would of course have to be made for the exposed sensitive surfaces (affer same
have been exposed drawn down, or removed) to be protected from light reaching.
them during the exposure of the succeeding sensitive surfaces; and of course
any usual or suitable lens, shutter, cc., would be used as is well understood.
And in order that my invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into practice I will proceed to describe same with reference to the drawings
hereunto annexed in which:-
Fig. 1 is a front elevation-with the case broken away to show the interior
mechanism of an apparatus designed to show the picture in stereoscopic
relief.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1 with part of the casing broken away to
Ehow the interior mechanism.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the book or series of leaves separate from

page_text: the apparatus said leaves having if desired a hole cut out at = to render
same more flexible at this point.
Figs. 4 and 5 show a modification-of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1
and 2-in order to effect a more rapid changing action; Fig. 4 being a local
side view similar to Fig. 2 and Fig. 5 being a local front view of this modified
apparatus.
Fig. 6 is a local side view and Fig. 7a perspective view of two further
modified arrangements of the changing devices.
Fig. 8 is a local side view and Fig. 9 a local front view of still another
modification showing an alternative method of allowing the leaves to escape
one by one. Fig. 10 shows another modification.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2:
u are leaves (bound like a book).
is a sliding support for same.
e is slide-way (fixed to lower part of the casing d) on which the support
slides and is guided.
cis upper part of casing (with aperture therein for light etc. as is well
understood) hinged at at and adapted to be opened in order to replace the
leaves a after they have been drawn away or turned over.
99 are springs to force the sliding support towards the changing device.
it are cams (on the shaft ) to operate the pairs of pressure ängers ff
and ff. The form and relative position of said cams being such that they
force the inner pair f'f¹ and outer pair ff of said fingers alternately against
The leaves a.
are spur wheels meshing with the gear wheels and thereby rotating
the mutilated rollers kk fixed to said gear wheels and revolving on studs
or axle m.
is main shaft revolved by the handle on which shaft the said cams ii
and spur wheels are fixed.
Of the mutilated rollers kk the operative part * alone comes in contact with
the leaves a to thereby turn over one leaf only at each revolution of the said
rollers kk.
The front leaf a (see Fig. 3) is notched at a¹ towards, the middle of its free
edge (i.c. has the central portion cut away at a¹) opposite the point where said
inner pair of fingers flf act and consequently said fingers f¹f hold the
second leaf and the rest of the pack while allowing the front leaf to be removed
or turned over by the changing device; the next succeeding leaf has the
central portion a of its free edge intact while towards each side said leaf is
notched or cut away at 2 opposite the points where the pair of outer fingers ff
act; and consequently the said outer fingers ff hold the third leaf and the
rest of the pack while the second leaf is being removed and so on.
Thus it will readily be seen that upon the rotation, of the shaft by means
of the handle thereby the rollers kk will be rapidly revolved and the pairs
of pressure fingers f and f¹ alternately pressed against the notched leaves as
aforesaid and consequently each leaf is in rapid succession removed or turned
over (with an interval between the turning over of each leaf) so as to thereby
produce the effects of the so-called "mutoscope or animated photography.
23
In place of the rollers kk as shown in Figs. 1 and 2-L may employ four
(or other suitable number of) flexible arms as shown in Fig. 10, on the ends
of which arms I provide friction surfaces such as rubber pads; which latter
come in contact with the fixed striking plate and slide off same between
arms or extensions thereof into contact with the pack a and thereby each
arm as it comes round will quickly remove one leaf a at a time.
Referring now to Figs. and 5-
In this modified arrangement a segment is employed instead of a muti-
lated roller k, said segment being rigidly fixed to a sleeve o revolving on the

page_text: stud or axis m which sleeve o passes loosely through the pinion and terminates
in or has fixed on the end thereof a crank with crank pin thereon q.
The large toothed wheel (on the shaft revolved by the handle a as described
in Figs. and 2) meshes with the pinion which latter can rotate freely on and
independently of said sleeve o and carries a stud or pins adapted in its path of.
travel to come against the crank q on said sleeve o.
is a spring attached at one end to the crank and at its other end to a
fixed part of the casing.
In operation, when the pinion is revolved thereby the pins comes in contact
with the crank and rotates it against the force of the spring until past the
dead centre whereupon in consequence of the re-action of the spring the
remainder of the revolution of the crank will be greatly accelerated and con-
sequently the rotation of the sleeve and segment are similarly accelerated
at which moment the segment comes in contact with and removes or turns over
the next leaf a and so on.
Referring to Fig. 6 in this case the friction device consists of the roller (not
mutilated) which is journalled in a V-shaped rocking frame a pivoted at u', the
other arm of said rock frame being provided with an anti-friction roller
which rides over the cam surface on the cam wheel fixed on the axis on
which latter is also fixed a spur wheel c. This spur wheel gears with the spur
wheel of the train of wheels c¹² whereby the said friction roller is rotated.
Thus it will be seen that when the shaft is revolved the roller will be
quickly revolved and at the same time the cam surface will alternately lift
and lower the arm of the V-shaped rock-frame whereby the roller will
alternately be rocked into and removed from contact with the front leaf of the
series of leaves --such roller k remaining in contact with the leaves only a suffi-
cient time to draw down one leaf and then said roller goes out of contact with the
leaves and so on.
In the arrangement shown in Fig. the changing device consists of an endless
belt y running over rollers yly towards each side edge of the leaves a, said belt y
being provided with a raised friction surface which latter as it comes round
at cach revolution of the belt y will thereby draw down one leaf only.
Referring now to Figs. 8 and 9:
These figures show a modified arrangement for allowing the leaves to escape
one by one when acted upon by any of the foregoing friction devices for remov
ing or turning over each said leaf in succession.
In this case the leaves A are all notched alike throughout the series the notched
part of each leaf being shown at A*.
The parts A and A outside of said notches A* are acted upon by the pair of
fingers CC while the central portion A is acted upon alternately by the
fingers C C and the rubber or friction device 1 on the shaft B which latter is
cut away at B1 B3 opposite the fingers C₁ C and is also cut away at B3 opposite
the fingers C; so that when the cut away portions 1 come round and release the
fingers CC at this moment the fingers are holding the corner pieces A'A'
and at the same time the surface 13 rubs against the now released portion. A
of the leaf and sweeps this part A³ from under the fingers C and clear of same
and then when said fingers C C have engaged the portion A3 of the next succeed-
ing leaf then the fingers CC will at the same time have released the side por-
tions AA of the front leaf and thereupon any of the aforesaid changing devices
comes into operation as aforesaid. and completes the removal of the front leaf
and so on.
16
II
It will thus be seen that that part of each leaf on which is the view etc., a** is
according to my invention moved in a direction parallel with the plane of said
part of the rest of the pack until said part of each said leaf is out of the
line of view; whereas so far as I am aware hitherto in all apparatus of this
class the leaves have had a circular motion imparted thereto as distinguished
from my parallel motion by which I obtain many benefits and advantages.

page_text: 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-
.II
1. The herein described method of rapidly changing one by one a series of
surfaces or views arranged like the leaves of a. book which consists in selecting
and then moving each front leaf in turn in a direction parallel with the plane of
the part of the rest of the pack until said part of the said leaf is out of
the line of view.
2. The combination in apparatus for rapidly changing one by one a series of
surfaces or views arranged like the leaves of a book, with means to select each
said leaf in turn, of means to move the view-bearing part a** of each front leaf
in turn in a direction parallel with the plane of the said parts a** of the remainder
of the pack of bound up leaves until said part a** of said leaf is out of the line
of view substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. The combination in apparatus for rapidly changing one by one a series of
surfaces or views arranged like the leaves of a book, with means to select each
said leaf in turn, of a sliding platform or support for said book adapted to slide
towards the said selecting devices, a spring to force same against said selecting
devices, and a friction device operating towards each side edge of the pack-
adapted to come into contact with the front leaf of the pack for a sufficient time
to move only said front leaf and then to go out of contact and again come in
contact to remove the next leaf and so on substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore set forth.
4. The herein described means for changing one by one a series of surfaces or
views arranged like the leaves of a book substantially in the manner and for the
purposes set forth.
5. Apparatus for changing one by one a series of surfaces or views arranged
like the leaves of a book constructed combined and arranged to act substantially
as herein before described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2
of the drawings hereunto annexed.
6. Apparatus for changing one by one a series of surfaces or views arranged
like the leaves of a book constructed combined and arranged to act substantially
as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5
of the drawings hereunto annexed.
7. Apparatus for changing one by one a series of surfaces or views arranged
like the leaves of a book constructed combined and arranged to act substantially
as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 6 of the
drawings hereunto annexed.
S. Apparatus for changing one by one a series of surfaces or views arranged
like the leaves of a book constructed combined and arranged to act substantially
as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 7 of the
drawings hereunto annexed.
9. Apparatus for changing one by one a series of surfaces or views arranged
like the leaves of a book constructed combined and arranged to act substantially
as herein before described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9
of the drawings hereunto annexed.
10. Apparatus for changing one by one a series of surfaces or views arranged
like the leaves of a book constructed combined and arranged to act substantially
as herein before described with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 10 of the
drawings hereunto annexed.
1011
1 1000
ed this 10th day of April 1900.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Birkbeck Bank Chambers, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.