Improvements in Animated Photograph Machines,
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Animated Photograph Machines,
I, HARRY HAMILTON MOON, of Osborne House, Alcester Road, Moseley, near
the City of Birmingham, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists of improvements in machines for the production and
displayal of animated photographs, my object being to construct a machine for
imparting the required rapid and intermittent movement to the film, but without
the objectionable vibration usually experienced with such movement.
In constructing a machine in accordance with my invention I fix the sprocket or
film driving rollers upon a spindle carried by a pair of side plates forming the
framing of the machine. On one end of the spindle I fix a ratchet or star wheel
which is operated by a spring pawl mounted on the short arm of a lever pivotted
on the framing. The long arm of the lever is slotted to receive the crank pin of
a plate or disc attached to one end of a spindle which has at its opposite end
a pinion to gear with a driving spur wheel having the operating handle attached
thereto. On the revolution of the handle the crank disc is caused to revolve and
by the pin working in the slotted end of the lever herein before described such
lever is oscillated upon its pivot. Each complete oscillation of the lever produces
a movement of the sprocket or film driving wheels equal to the pitch of the ratchet
wheel teeth. Excessive or irregular movement and vibration of the film is pre-
vented by a brake disc, carried by a spring lever; such disc is forced away by the
ratchet wheel when the latter is under movement by the spring pawl, but is caused
by the action of the spring lever to engage with the ratchet wheel and arrest its
movement during the return stroke of the pawl.
I sometimes cause the crank pin to engage directly with the ratchet or star wheel,
dispensing with the slotted lever carrying the spring pawl as herein before described.
The gearing can be driven by a suitable motor instead of by hand power as
hereinbefore described.
A pair of discs with rubber peripheries are mounted on the side of the film
opposite to the sprocket or driving wheels; and other ordinary and necessary
fittings are provided on the machine for the effective production or displayal of
the photographs.
1
1
1000
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W. C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Animated Photograph Machines.
I, HARRY HAMILTON MOON, of Osborne House, Alcester Road, Moseley, near
the City of Birmingham, Manufacturer, 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 consists of improvements in machines for the production and dis-
playal of animated photographs, my object being to construct a machine for
imparting the required rapid and intermittent movement to the film but without
the objectional vibration usually experienced with such movement.
In the three accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings to be hereinafter
referred to.
Figure 1 is a side elevation and Figure 2 an end elevation of an animated
photograph machine constructed in accordance with my invention.
Figure 3 is a view of the machine on the side opposite to that shown at Figure 1.
The same reference letters in the different views indicate the same parts.
In constructing a machine in accordance with my invention I fit the sprocket
or film driving rollers or the driving barrel as A, upon a spindle B, carried by a
pair of side plates C C of the machine framing. On one end of the spindle B I
fix a ratchet wheel D which is operated by a spring pawl or ratchet E mounted
on the short arm of a lever F pivotted on the framing. The long arm of the
lever F is slotted as shown to receive the crank pin and sliding block of a plate
or disc G attached to one end of the spindle H which has at its opposite end a
pinion J gearing with the wheel K on the spindle L, such spindle being driven by
the gearing of its pinion M with the wheel N on the spindle O which has the
operating handle P attached thereto.
On the end of the spindle B opposite to the end carrying the ratchet wheel D,
I fix the star or like wheel Q and above the same I pivot on the framing of the
machine a spring controlled lever R carrying a brake disc R¹ as illustrated at
Figure 3.
On the revolution of the handle P the crank disc is caused to revolve and by the
crank pin and block working in the slotted end of the lever as hereinbefore
described such lever is oscillated upon its pivot. Each complete oscillation of the
lever produces a movement of the sprocket driving barrel A corresponding with
the pitch of the teeth of the ratchet wheel D. Excessive or irregular movement
and vibration of the film is prevented by the brake disc R¹ carried by the spring
lever R; such disc is forced away by the star wheel when the latter is inter-
mittently rotated by the action of the spring pawl E on the ratchet wheel D but is
caused by the action of the spring lever R to engage with the star wheel and
arrest its movement and that of the driving barrel A and the ratchet wheel D
during the return stroke of the pawl.
Instead of employing a separate star wheel such as Q as hereinbefore described
I sometimes arrange the spring controlled lever R with its brake disc R¹ above the
ratchet wheel D, and thus make such wheel serve as a combined ratchet and
brake wheel.
I sometimes cause the crank pin from the plate or disc G to engage directly
with the ratchet wheel, dispensing with the slotted lever carrying the spring pawl
as herein before described.
The gearing can be driven by a suitable motor instead of by hand power as
hereinbefore described.
On the front side or face of the film S or on the side opposite to the sprocket or

page_text: driving barrel A, I hinge to the machine framing the plate T and mount thereon
film guiding rollers such as T in the manner illustrated. At Figure 1 such hinged
guide plate T is shown in its closed position, being secured thereat by the catch
pieces T2 which are fixed at opposite ends of the one pivot pin, but at Figure 3
the plate is shown at its partly open position.
The usual fittings or appliances employed in the production and displayal of
animated photographs are provided and arranged in the ordinary manner upon or
in connection with my improved machines.
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:-
1. In machines for the production and displayal of animated photograph, the
combination of the mechanism whereby a rapid and intermittent movement is
imparted to the film, with a brake device, substantially as described and as illus-
trated.
2. The improved machine for the production and displayal of animated photo-
graphs, comprised by the film driving barrel as A to which an intermittent rotary
motion is imparted by the oscillation of the lever F operating through the spring
pawl E on the ratchet wheel D, and the brake disc R¹ engaging by the action of
the spring controlled lever R with a star wheel Q, the film S being guided during
its intermittent movement by the rollers T¹ mounted on the hinged plate T, sub-
stantially as described and as illustrated.
Dated this 17th day of September 1898