Improvements in Apparatus for Photographing Objects in Motion, and for Reproducing or Exhibiting the Photographs of such Objects.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 25th May, 1897-Accepted, 10th July, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Photographing Objects in Motion,
and for Reproducing or Exhibiting the Photographs of such
Objects.
I, GEORGE FREDERICK REDFERN, of the firm of G. 1. Redfern & Co., The General
Patent Office, No. 4, South Street, Finsbury, in the County of London, Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication to me
by C. W. Schmidt, of 60, Rue Richelieu, Paris, Mechanical Engineer, and André
Christophe, of 46, Boulevard Maillot, Neuilly sur Seine, near Paris, Civil.
Engineer,) to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for photographing objects
in motion and for reproducing or exhibiting the photographs of such objects.
In the various kinds of photographic apparatus, generally known as cinemato-
graphs or kinetoscopes, for photographing objects in motion and for reproducing
the photographs of such objects by luminous projection on screens or as transparent
images, passed rapidly and successively before the eyes, flexible bands of film
mounted on rollers have been used for obtaining thereon photographic impressions
called cliches, negative as well as positive, such bands consisting generally of a
backing of celluloid or gelatine covered by an emulsion obtained by the gelatino-
bromide process or chloride of silver or of other suitable materials.
The use of such long flexible bands of film mounted on rollers for photographing
objects in motion presents many serious disadvantages, and their cost, when
sufficiently long for a great number of positive and negative cliches in a very
short time, is so great as to render them available only to the wealthy as scientific
curiosities.
The difficulty in treating these long flexible films in photographic laboratories
is considerable: holes must be made at exact distances in the flexible bands,
negative as well as positive, to serve for moving the films and as stops to ensure
the accurate register between the two kinds of film; costly and cumbersome
special apparatus is indispensable for developing such long film bands; damage
to even a small portion of a band during the operations of development, washing,
fixing or drying, renders the entire band useless; and further, the bands are so
delicate that as a rule they cannot be used in the apparatus more than a few times
without serious deterioration. Again, it is extremely difficult to obtain in flexible
film bands the perfectly even flat surface necessary for obtaining distinct images
or for projecting the images distinctly in enlarged dimensions.
The object of this invention is to obviate the defects which accompany the use
of long flexible film bands, and to this end impressions of the moving object are
taken with great rapidity on a series of glass plates or other rigid plates covered
with a sensitive preparation each of the plates being arranged to receive a number
of impressions; the plates are then passed across the centre line of an objective
lens by suitable mechanism set in continuous motion by hand or by power. These
plates are advantageously all of the same dimensions and each of them is arranged
to receive the same number of impressions. I sometimes make use of short films,
cut to even lengths and for the same number of impressions; these films are kept

page_text: rigid by being inserted in metal frames in order to keep their surfaces as even and
flut as possible; the metal frames are moved us hereafter described for the glass
plates. When arranged in this manner films can be used without the difficulties
presented by long film bands mounted on rollers,
If for instance the photographic reproduction of an object in motion during 60
seconds were to necessitate 600 impressions, and if each plate or each frame con-
taining a film were prepared for 10 impressions the operator would by a continuous
movemont cause 60 such plates or frames to pass consecutively behind the objective
during the 60 seconds of time. The apparatus cau, moreover, be constructed for
any desired number or size of plates and for any convenient number of impressions
on each plate; it can thus for instance be used with double width of plates and
with two objectives for taking stereoscopic views of objects in motion. The
improved apparatus differs from any apparatus which have hitherto been used for
cinematography; it is also quite different from previously known apparatus for
taking single photographs or double stereoscopic impressions, in which the various
different operations are effected independently by means of separate parts for
bringing the plate in line with the objective for opening and closing the shutter
and for replacing one plate by another and the like.
In carrying this invention into practice the entire apparatus is enclosed in a
suitable outer casing adapted to be supported on a tripod. Within the upper part
of the outer box is placed the upper magazine which contains tho requisite number
of plates or film-frames to be used; the central portion contains most of the
mechanism, and the receiving magazine is placed in the lower part of the case.
To the front face of this case or box is attached the objective leus and at the
side of the box is a crank handle which can be operated by hand or power; all
the movements of the mechanism result from the rotary motion of this crank
handle, which is transmitted with increased speed to an inner main axle fitted
horizontally, and in a transverse position to the direction in which the plates are
moved downwards; this transmission can be effected by friction or other gear or
in any other suitable manner.
On the inner main axle is mounted a crank which engages in an escapement
movement on one end of a sliding bar which thereby receives a to-and-fro
longitudinal movement.
The plates or film-frames on which the images are to be taken are inserted in
the upper magazine, where they are pressed against its front face by springs or
elastic bands.
On the above mentioned sliding bar are two spring pawls which engage
successively in notches or holes or engage with stops formed in the plates or frames,
when the sliding bar is moved parallel to the direction of the descending movement
of the plates, one such to-and-fro movement taking place during each rotation of
the inner main axle. The spring pawls by one movement extract the plate or
frame from the upper magazine and by the next movement move the plate or
frame downwards one step, with a dwell between each step when the space for
receiving an impression has arrived opposite the lens.
Such downward movement continues until the plate reaches the bottom of the
case, when the pawls immediately engage in the next plate or frame moving it
downwards, and so on as long as any plates or frames are in the upper magazine
and as long as the crank handle is turned.
One or more springs bearing on the plate or frame hold it in position during the
time it is to remain at rest for taking the image, beforo the pawls again commence
to draw the plate or frame downwards another step.
As each plate or frame descends it enters the lower magazine in which the plates
or frames which have been previously lowered are pushed back against springs
or elastic bands; this pushing back of the previous plates in order to make room
for a fresh plate is offected by a roller on levers, pivoting round a subsidiary axle
parallel to the inner main axle, from which it receives its motion at the desired

page_text: moment by means of a worm wheel and an intermediate cog wheel provided with
cams, or in any other suitable manner.
Behind the lens on the front of the case is placed within the case a disc serving
as a shutter and provided with an aperture near its circumference. This disc is
kept in constant rotation by means of conical gear from the inner main axle, the
rotation being so regulated that the aperture passes behind the lens once for each
revolution of the disc, at the moment when the descending plate or frame is at
rest behind the aperture.
I sometimes draw the plate or frame downwards by means of rollers pressing on
both sides; the rollers one side are covered with india rubber and those on the
other side receive a rotary movement from the inner main axle and are provided
with cams in such a manner that they pull down the plate or frame during art
of each revolution but allow it to remain at rest when the cam is not in contact
with it. In this case the bar which otherwise is sliding has uo longitudinal
movement, but receives a transverse movement from a cam on the inner main axlo
in such a manner that a hook on the bar engages in the notches, holes or stops
on the plate or frame, and keeps it at rest while the image is boing received, after
which the hook is again withdrawn when the roller cam again commences to draw
the plate or frame downwards.
It will thus be easily understood that in both the above mentioned arrange-
ments, the mechanism set in motion by the crank handle effects the following
operations, vizit withdraws successively a number of plates of sensitive glass,
or of film held rigid in metal frames (each prepared for a series of photographic
impressions) from the upper magazine in which they have been previously placed;
it passes the plates or frames downwards step by step corresponding to the space
for each impression while controlling their movement in such a manner that they
are kept at rest while each successive image is taken; it introduces the plates or
frames one by one into the lower receiving magazine making room for each by
pushing back the plates previously put into such magazine; it opens the shutter
by bringing the aperture in line behind the lens while the plate or frame remains
at rest for the purpose of taking an impression on it, and closes the shutter during
the time when the plate or frame is moved downwards each step.
When all the plates of glass or film have been placed by the mechanism within
the lower receiving magazine, they have to be developed and positives taken on
plates of exactly similar dimensions in the photographic laboratory; this is
effected by placing all the plates in a larger frame which is immersed in the bath,
where all the plates can remain during the same time, as they have all been
exposed during the same length of time; the plates should be numbered so that
they can be easily kept in the order in which the impressions were taken.
The apparatus can also be used for reproducing the images in such a manner as
to give the impression of real motion, either by transparency or by luminous
projection on a screen.
For displaying the images by transparency, the objective which has served for
taking the negatives is replaced by a ground glass for diffusing the light striking
the positives; in some cases a magnifying glass is employed in order to give an
enlarged picture.
When the images are to be projected on a screen we replace the lens used for
taking negatives by another suitable lens, and place a light behind the apparatus
the rays of which pass through the transparent positives and the pictures are
thrown by the lens on to the screen.
In both cases the operator has only to turn the crank handle after having placed
the positives in the upper magazine in the order in which the negatives were
taken.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Photographing Objects in Motion,
and for Reproducing or Exhibiting the Photographs of such
Objects.
I, GEORGE FREDERICK REDFERN, of the firm of G. F. Redfern & Co., The General
Patent Office, No. 4, South Street, Finsbury, in the County of London, Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication to me
by C. W. Schmidt, of 60 Rue Richelieu, Paris, Mechanical Engineer, and André
Christophe of 46, Boulevard Maillot, Neuilly sur Seine, near Paris, Civil
Engineer) 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 improvements in apparatus for photographing objects
in motion and for reproducing or exhibiting the photographs of such objects, the
object of the said invention being to obviate the defects which accompany the
use of long flexible film bands in apparatus of this class.
According to the said invention the pictures are produced upon a series of
sensitized plates of glass or other suitable material held in rigid frames or borders,
each of which plates is adapted to receive a number of pictures, and mechanism
is provided for moving the said plates intermittently distances corresponding to
the lengths of the pictures to be produced or exhibited and for causing the several
plates of the series to be moved in regular succession past the lens.
To enable the said invention to be fully understood I will describe it as applied
camera or apparatus for taking photographs and by reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which :-
to a
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of apparatus; and,
Figure 2 is a section looking in the direction of the arrow 1 Figure 1:
Figure 3 is an elevation of a photographic plute placed in a metal frame; and,
Figure 4 is a seotion on the line 4-4 Figure 3:
Figure 5 is a detail view of the mechanism for moving the plates; and,
Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 Figure 5:
Figures 7 to 9 are views hereinafter described illustrating a modification.
n is an outer casing adapted to be supported on a tripod or other suitable stand
and b, b' are upper and lower magazines for containing respectively the plates to
be exposed and the plates which have been exposed the said magazines being
provided with guido ribs, which enter grooves in the casing a and permit of
their ready removal from and replacement in the said casing. The sensitized
plates are carried in metal frames c, c having notches c, c' at the edges and are
moved from one magazine to the other past the lens d by pawl mechanism here-
inafter described. Instead of the notched frames notches may be formed in the
edges of the sensitized plates.
The plate frames c, care of less width than the magazines b, 6 and are guided
therein by suitable strips e, e between which slide also the movable backs f, f.
Two elastic bands g, g arranged in the spaces in each magazine between the plates
and the sides of the said magazine act as springs to push the back f towards the
front of the magazine, the said bands passing over pulleys h, h upon the magazine
walls and over other pulleys h', h' upon the movable back f
In the bottom of the magazine is a slit i through which the plates are drawn
and in the top of the other magazine 6 is a slit through which the plates are
introduced. The tension of the band g in the magazine b keeps the foremost plate
in the said magazine over the slit i and the tension of the band g in the magazine b
is such that whilst it tends to press the plates therein towards the front of the

page_text: magasine it will yield to allow of the several plates being introduced into it after
exposure.
Adjacent to the lower magazine is a roller j carried by an arm acted. upon
by a spring; this roller projects through an opening in the front of the
magasine and presses against the plates therein with sufficient pressure to overcome
the pressure of the elastic band in the magazine 6' and hold the plates at such a
distance from the front of the same that space is left beneath the slit i¹ for the
introduction of the plate being moved from the upper magazine.
After all the plates contained in the top magazine have been exposed behind
the lens, this upper and empty magazine can be put in place of the lower ones
and serve as receiver of the plates from a fresh top magazine.
To permit of the magazines being thus interchangeable each has an opening
formed in it and is provided with a shutter for closing the said opening to
exclude light when required
The means for effecting the removal of the plates from the upper magasine
stopping them for exposure and inserting them into the lower magazine are as
follows:-
A slide shewn detached in Figures 5 and 6 is carried in suitable guides in
the casing and has an up and down movement imparted to it by the crank / formed
in the shaft and the connecting rod 3.
On the slide are fixed spring pawls m, m' which engage in the notches c, o
cut at even distances apart on the edges of the metal frames c so that as the crank
is rotated, the foremost plate from the upper magazine is moved down a certain
distance during: the rotation of the crank and allowed to remain at rest for
exposure whilst the crank is making its other half revolution preparatory to the
re engagement of the pawls. A spring pawl fixed to the casing prevents the
downward movement of the plate by gravity during the time the pawls are moving
up for re-engagement. This pawl n is disengaged from the notch c' with which
it is in engagement just prior to the completion of the upward stroke of the slide/
by a wedge or cam o which engages with a pin o' on the pawl n.
The object of providing two pawls m, m is that when one plate has been moved
out of the upper magazine and another taken its place immediately over the slit i
the upper pawl shall engage with the latter and cause it to follow close after the
one in front so that there is no break between the plates.
Instead of the crank and the rod, the shaft might be provided with a
crank which operates an escapement movement on the slide or any other suitable
mechanism may be employed for traversing the plates past the lens.
On the shaft is fixed a bevel pinion which, through the medium of another
pinion p', transmits a continuous rotary motion to the disc q serving as a shutter.
An aperture or slot g' on this disc passes between the lens and the sensitized plate
at the moment when the descending plate is at rest, whereby each part of the
plate gets exposed successively as the plate is passed step by step behind the lens.
From the foregoing description it will be understood that the continuous rotary
motion of the shaft transmits the required motion to the mechanism. This
shaft is set in motion, either directly or as shewn in Figures 1 and 2, by a crank
handle outside the casing a the said handle being mounted on a shaft ri
connected by a belt or chain and pulleys to the shaft 7.
During the transmission of the plates from one magazine to the other, they are
guided by grooves in the extensions of the plate s' and pressed by the springs,
against the surface of the said extension which forms an opening determining the
Bize of the image. By this arrangement, the plates are always kept in focus aud
in a suitable position with regard to the pawls on the slide.
In l'igures 7, 8 and 91 shew another arrangement for moving the plates from
one magazine to another, these views being respectively a horizontal section, and a
Fide and an end elevation of the same. In this modification rollers t, u, are used
covered with indiarubber and pressing on both sides of the plates or frames. The

page_text: rollers, are mounted on the main shaft to aud cut in the shape of cams, as
shewn on Figure 8, in such a manner that they will pull down by friction during
part of each revolution the plate or frame a distance corresponding to the height of
one image. In Figures 8 and 9 is shewn a spring catch which will enter the
notches c¹ of the frames and keep them stationary whenever allowed by the
cam ', which is formed upon one of the rollers t. This happens at the moment
the rollers t, cease to advance the plate. The rollers u, u turn loosely on the
shaft 10 and the axis of the roller v is parallel to the shaft w. .
Instead of allowing the catch to engage in notches on the plates or frames,
it may, for the same purpose, engage in notches on the rollers u or v or on both. A
slide similar to the one previously described and shewn on Figures 1, 2 and 5 or
other suitable arrangement would be used to bring the plates or frames in between
the rollers.
It will thus be easily understood that in both the above mentioned arrange-
ments, the mechanism set in motion by the crank handle effects the following
operations, viz. it withdraws successively a series of sensitized glass plates or of
films held rigid in metal frames (each prepared for a sories of photographic im-
pressions) from the upper magazine in which they have been previously placed;
it passes the plates or frames downwards step by step corresponding to the space
for each impression, while controlling their movements in such a manner that they
are at rest while each successive image is taken; it introduces the plates or frames
one by one into the lower receiving magazine making room for each by pushing
back the plates previously put into such magazine; it opens the shutter by bring-
ing the aperture in line behind-the lens while the plate or frame remains at rest
for the purpose of taking an impression on it, and closes the shutter during the
time that the plate or frame is moved downwards each step.
When all the plates of glass or films have been placed by the mechanism within
the lower receiving magazine, they have to be developed and to exhibit the pictures
positives have to be taken on plates of exactly similar dimensions. This is effected
by placing all the plates in a large frame which is immersed in the bath for
receiving all the plates so that they all receive the same treatment. The plates
should be numbered so that they can be easily kept in the order in which the
impressions were taken.
The apparatus can also be used for reproducing the images either as
transparencies or by luminous projection on to a screen.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In an apparatus for photographing objects in motion and for reproducing or
exhibiting the photographs of such objects the use of a series of flat photographic
plates of glass, or other suitable material in combination with means for success-
ively extracting the said plates from a magazine in which they are piled, stopping
them during exposure and finally inserting them into a receiving magazine,
substantially as described.
2. In apparatus for photographing objects in motion and for exhibiting the
photographs of such objects the use of a series of sensitized plates having holes
notches or projections placed at as nearly as can be equal distances apart in these
plates or in metal borders or frames fitted on the said sensitized plates to permit
of moving these plates to pass them before a lens and to retain them stationary
for the purpose of successive exposures or illumination at predetermined distances,
substantially as described.
3. In an apparatus for photographing objects in motion and for reproducing or
exhibiting the photographs of such objects and of the kind wherein a series of
plates are employed, means for causing the travel of the said plates consisting of a
slide receiving a to-and-fro movement by the continuous rotary movement of a

page_text: crank handle, spring pawls fixed to this slide and a spring catch or spring catches
fixed on the stationary framework, substantially as described.
4. In apparatus of the kind hereinbefore described a shutter or obturator
receiving a continuous rotary movement from a crank handle, substantially as
described.
5. In an apparatus for photographing objects in motion and exhibiting the
photographs of such objects, wherein a series of picture platos is employed, a
magazine in which the plates are placed one against the other and pushed towards
the front by a movable back acted upon by elastic bands or springs so that those
plates placed therein may be brought one after the other in position to be ex-
tracted and passed behind the lens and another magazine for receiving the plates
in the same order, the movable back of this magazine being pressed back against
the elastic bands by a roller acted upon by a spring in order to allow the entrance
of the plates, substantially as described."
6. The modification of the invention wherein rollers press on both sides of the
plates or frames to give them the requisite movements and stoppages, these rollers
being covered with an elastic substance and receiving a rotary movement from a
main shaft and being formed in such a manner that they move the plates or frames
during a part of each revolution but allow them to remain at rest at another part
of each revolution, substantially as described.
7. An apparatus for photographing objects in motion and for reproducing or
exhibiting the photographs of such objects, substantially as hereiubefore described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 25th dow of War 1907
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.