Improvements in Kinematographs.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Kinematographs.
I, LUCIEN REULOS, Engineer, of 9 bis, Rue Demours, Paris, in the Republic
of France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to produce a simple kinematographic apparatus
in which the film is unrolled continuously, but is moved and rolled up inter-
mittently, notwithstanding the fact that all the parts of the apparatus are moving
continuously.
The apparatus, which is contained in a suitable box or casing, will consist of
a film-carrying roller or drum, a sprocket wheel, a rotating shutter, an objective,
a film guide, and a winding-on drum, all of which are geared together in any
convenient manner, the moving parts being operated by a handle outside the
box or casing.
So far, the parts are common to apparatus of this class.
The essential feature of novelty consists in the means employed for moving
the film at the right moment, and in the construction of certain parts of the
apparatus.
The winding-on drum is mounted on an axle in such a manner that the friction
will be sufficient to rotate it under certain conditions, but will not be great
enough to break, or cause any shock to, the film, when winding up.
The drum is mounted between two discs, which have on their inner faces a
rib or projection. This rib is concentric for about three fourths of the circle,
and is more or less excentric for the remaining fourth. The ends of the rib
pass one another slightly, and are made chisel-shaped, to ensure their entering
notches formed in the edges of the film. The distance between the ends will
correspond to the distance between the notches, and also to the distance the film
has to travel, to bring a fresh picture in line with the objective at the right
moment.
While the concentric part of the ribs is in the notches, no movement of the
film will take place, but directly the excentric part bears on the edges of the
notches, the film will be drawn forward.
The rotating shutter consists of two cylinders, having corresponding openings
placed one inside the other, & capable of being rotated separately, so that the
size of the openings may be altered according to the requirements.
Instead of placing the moving discs parallel on the same shaft they may be
placed in the same plane, that is to say, edge opposite edge. The rib will be
placed on the edge of each disc, and a portion will be so formed as to present a
helical portion.
On rotation being given to the discs in any convenient manner, no movement
of the film will take place until the helical portion comes into operation, when
the film will be rapidly moved the required distance.
Of course, in both forms the concentric part may be dispensed with, if desired,
as its chief rôle is merely to support the film.

page_text: An arrangement for taking positives may also be adapted to the apparatus;
thus, in front of the sprocket cylinder is placed a device in which an opening
is made which will allow light to strike on a film passing the cylinder.
The negative film is, as before, rolled on the proper drum, while the positive
film is rolled on another drum or bobbin, arranged on the top of the apparatus.
The two films are drawn by the same sprocket wheels, and the positive film
passes out through a suitable opening in the side of the box, below the device
above named.
It will be evident that the mechanical details may be changed without depart-
ing from the nature of the invention.
Dated this 1st day of November 1898
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, LUCIEN REULOS, Engineer, of 9bis, Rue Demours, Paris, in the Republic
of France, 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:-
The object of this invention is to produce simple kinematographic apparatus
in which the film is unrolled continuously, but is moved and rolled up inter-
mittently notwithstanding the fact that all the parts of the apparatus are moving
continuously.
In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a vertical section of the apparatus,
Figure 2 being a transverse section of the same. Figures 3, 4 and 5 represent
a modification in an essential part of the apparatus, Figure 3 being a front
elevation, Figure 4 a plan and Figure 5 a side elevation. Figures 6, 7 and 8
show a further modification of my kinematographic apparatus in which a single
plate with rib to move the film is employed. Figure 6 representing an interior
sectional view of the chamber in which the apparatus is mounted for the purpose
of taking views or pictures.
Fig. 7 is a section taken at right angles to the last named and Fig. 8 is an
elevation of a lantern with the apparatus adapted thereto.
The apparatus Figs. 1 and 2 consists essentially of two circular rotating
plates A, A, mounted on an axle a which may receive rotary motion in any
convenient manner for instance by means of a train of gearing operated by the
handle b.
The plates A have, on their inner faces a projection or rib C of special form.
This rib for about three quarters of its length takes a circular course and then
it curves inwards towards the centre stopping at a point c slightly beyond a
vertical line drawn through the point of departure at c. These plates A A are
keyed on the axle in such a manner that the ribs correspond exactly.
The film D employed with this apparatus is formed with notches d, d, at
equal distances apart, and this distance d' must correspond with the distance
apart of the two ends of the rib C.
The plates are set at a suitable distance apart so that the film D will pass readily
between them the point of the rib being chisel shaped to ensure its entering or
engaging with the notches d d.

page_text: On the axle a and between the plates A A is mounted (with slight friction)
the bobbin E.
The film D which is wound on a bobbin or roller F passes round a cylinder G
mounted on an axle g, and provided with teeth or pins g₁ which engage with
the notches d of the film D. The film then passes through a guide H having
a suitable opening so that the light emanating from the objective I can play upon
the film and is wound upon the bobbin E. A rotating shutter J intended to
periodically intercept the light is operated by a train of gear B the same as
the cylinder G with which the shutter J is connected by a chain 9 or in any
othe convenient manner.
The working of the apparatus is as follows:-
The plates being driven (which movement is also communicated to the shutter J
and cylinder G as before mentioned) the film is drawn forward by the latter and
is rolled up on the bobbin E. This rolling up is, however, intermittent and
this result is obtained by means of the rib or projection C.
While the circular part of the rib C is passing through the notches & of
the film no movement of the film takes place and the light is free to act on the
film, the shutter J being also withdrawn, but when the other part y of the
rib. C comes into operation the film is drawn briskly forward and is rolled up
on the bobbin E. The amount rolled up corresponds with the distance between
the extremities C¹ and C of the rib C, a distance which also corresponds with
the width of the particular picture.
During this time of rolling up, the shutter J will be closed and when the
film stops the shutter opens again and so on.
It may be remarked that as the cylinder G moves continuously, there will
be at one time a loose portion of the film, which thus provides for the almost
instantaneous rolling up of the film during the moving phase and without strain
on the film, the fact that the bobbin E is mounted with but slight friction on
the axle a being also conducive to this end.
The film also moves freely in the guide H so that there is no friction and
the film will not cut or be otherwise injured and will therefore last a much
longer time than is now usual.
The rotary shutter J consists of two cylinders ; j¹ each provided with two
openings and capable of turning one on the other so as to regulate the size of the
opening through which the light passes according to requirements.
The essential part of this apparatus, that is to say, that represented by the
two plates provided with ribs, may be carried out in other ways, thus two
plates K, K, (Figs. 3, 4, and 5) instead of being parallel are placed in the same
plane at a distance apart corresponding to the width of the film, see d². A rib k
on the edge of each plate plays the same part as the rib C on the face of the
plates A.
Each plate is cut for a part of its circumference so as to form a tongue
which is of sufficient length and is bent downwards a distance equal to the
distance between two notches of the film forming a portion of a helix so that as
these, plates K rotate the tongues working in the notches & serve to move
the film forward the required distance.
It may be here remarked that the plates may be replaced by cylinders on
the outside of which the ribs are secured.
It will of course be obvious that as it is the bent part of the ribs which acts
on the films, the remaining portions of the ribs may if desired be dispensed
with.
I can adapt to my apparatus an arrangement for taking positive pictures. To
this end a piece L (see Fig. 1) is arranged in front of the cylinder G such piece
being provided with a suitable opening through which light may strike on the
film as it passes over the cylinder. The negative film is rolled upon the
cylinder F and a positive film is wound on the bobbin M.
From the bobbin it passes to the cylinder G where it comes into intimate

page_text: contact with the negative film being drawn forward with the latter by the
teeth and it passes out of the apparatus at m. The positive impression can
thus be effected very simply.
'
When a negative film is to be made the opening L and m will of course be
closed.
Referring now to Figs. 6, 7 and S, a single plate A is set slightly obliquely
so that the film will be moved by the rib C on one of its sides the film descending
vertically on the guide H which has an opening has before in front of which
rotates the shutter.
The gearing B operates the plate and the shutter simultaneously.
In this arrangement the pin or toothed cylinder G is absent and the film
passes direct to the drawing plate.
The film comes from the bobbin which is placed in a small box p fixed to
the box or case P containing the mechanism and it is rolled up on the bobbin E
placed in another box p fixed to the main box or case.
These boxes constitute thus the frame of the photographic apparatus. Each
of them is provided with a sliding shutter p that is withdrawn to uncover the
openings by which the film passes when the apparatus is ready for use.
The axle of the receiving bobbin E is driven by a band or chain from a pulley
on the axle of the plate A.
In these boxes the film is not directly attached to the axles but to a ring
or sleeve mounted with slight friction on the axle. Fig. 8 as before mentioned
shows the apparatus adapted to a projecting lantern P*.
It may be here remarked that the pin or toothed cylinder G above referred to
may be replaced by any other suitable mechanism for giving a continuous
forward motion to the film.
I would here remark that I do not wish to confine myself to the particular
details of construction shewn and described, which may obviously be varied
within considerable limits.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my Baid
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim isi:
1. Mean's for effecting the intermittent advance of kinematographic films and
consisting essentially of two ribs forming part of a device to which continuous
rotary movement is given such ribs being arranged on two parallel plates or
two cylindrical surfaces or equivalent arrangement placed at a certain distance
apart and between which the film passes the said ribs entering the regularly
spaced notches in the edges of the film and having such a path that the film shall
remain stationary for the greater part of the rotation of the plates and shall
receive a forward motion during the remaining portion of the rotation, thus effect-
ing an intermittent forward motion of the film, notwithstanding the continuous
rotary motion of the plates or their equivalent as above explained with reference
to the drawings annexed.
2. A kinematographic apparatus consisting of means for intermittently advanc-
ing the film and comprising two parallel plates A, A, provided on their internal
faces with ribs C, C, having a path as described in Claim 1, a receiving bobbin
mounted on an axle with slight friction, a guide H a toothed cylinder G a dis-
tributing bobbin F and a rotary shutter J as above described with reference to
the annexed drawings.
3. In kinematographic apparatus as described in Claim 2 a rotary shutter con-
sisting of two concentric cylinders having symmetrical openings, and arranged
to rotate one within the other in order to regulate the size of the opening as
above explained with reference to the drawings.
4. The inode of carrying out the modification in the film moving device referred
to in Claim 1 which consists of two plates K K placed in the same plane at
sufficient distance apart to allow of the passage of the film, these plates having
a portion of their circumference cut and bent downwards to form a portion of a

page_text: helix, which portion effects the advancement of the film, as above described with
reference to the drawings.
5. In the different modifications that can be given to the arrangement of the
ribs, either on a plain surface or cylindrical surface, and intended to effect the
intermittent advancement of the film according to the principle which forms the
subject of Claim 1 the arrangement by which that portion only of the rib which
operates the film is retained, as above described with reference to the drawings.
6. An arrangement for producing the intermittent advancing of a kinemato-
graphic film consisting of a single drawing plate provided with a rib according
to Claim 1 acting on the film by one only of its sides as above explained with
reference to the annexed drawing.
7. An arrangement for producing the advancement of a kinematographic film
consisting essentially of a single drawing plate as mentioned in Claim 6, a
distributing bobbin for the film which passes direct from this bobbin to the plate
a receiving bobbin, a shutter and a gear operating both the plate and the shutter
and means for driving the receiving bobbin as above explained with reference
to the annexed drawing.
8. The arrangements of the whole apparatus and the details described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.