Improvements in or relating to Photographic Cameras.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 13th Jan.,
1900
Improvements in or relating to Photographic Cameras.
I, WILLIAM BRUCE THOMSON, of 7211 Lafayette Street, Chicago, Cook County,
Illinois, United States America, Inventor, 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:-
My invention relates to certain improvements in photographic cameras, designed
for the purpose of providing means for taking panoramic and cycloramic views of
tue objects and scenery surrounding any given position in which the camera may
be placed. It is the purpose of the invention to so construct a camera that a series
of such views may be taken upon a continuous film, positively advanced by
suitable mechanism which also operates the camera to sweep it around to bring
the various objects in focus.
It is also the purpose of the invention to so construct the camera that it may be
used in the manner of the ordinary photographic camera and by a slight adjust-
ment, may be changed into a panoramic camera and vice versa, enabling a series
or ordinary views or a series of panoramic views or a series of alternating views
to be taken upon the same film.
These objects and purposes, and others, are attained by means of certain
mechanism containing novel characteristics or features which will be clearly set
forth in the following description and the essential elements of which will be
pointed out in the appended claims.
In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective of a complete camera mounted in
position upon its turn-table; Figure 2 is a plan of the same with the top cover
removed; Figure 3 is a horizontal section in line 3-3 of Figure 4; Figure 4 is a
vertical section in line 4-4 of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a vertical section in line 5-5
of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrow, 5; Figure 6 is a detail plan of
the end portion of the clock work, disclosed by cutting away the upper portion in
the plane 66 of Figures 4 and 5 and breaking away one corner of the bottom
plate of the clock movement; Figure 7 is a vertical section in line 7-7 of Figure
6; Figure 8 is a horizontal detail section in line 8-8 of Figure 7 and Figure 9
is a detail vertical section in line 9-9 of Figure 6.
Referring to these drawings, A, is the camera box shown as the ordinary rectan-
gular form and having upon the top a cover, A', forming an upward extension in
which is accommodated certain spring actuated clock work adapted to operate
the camera.
The bottom, A³ (see Figures 4 and 5) is removable and carries two upwardly
extending wings, a a, upon the top of which is a horizontal partition, a² (see
Figures 4 and 5), making the frame work upon which is carried the film sup-
porting devices and the devices for adjusting the camera for use, either in the
taking of the ordinary photographic views or the panoramic cr cycloramic.
Looking at Figure 3, two spool, D, E, will be seen mounted upon upright axes
and carrying a film, F, which passes about anti-friction rollers, G, G, at the rear
corners of the camera and passes between two rollers, H, I, upon the left hand side
in the drawing. The spool, 1), is the loose spool and the spool, E, is geared posi-

page_text: tively to the working mechanism to wind up the film. The roller, H, is a friction
roller bearing upon the film and geared to both rotate the camera and operate a
stop to check the clock movement at the proper time. A slotted gate or film
cover, J; is hinged at ; upon a vertical rod provided with a head, j", (see Figure 1)
for operating it from without the case so as to swing it from the position seen in
Figure 3 in full lines to that shown in dotted lines. In the former position, a
vertical slot, j, is the only opening through which the light from the lens can
reach the film. In the latter position, the entire rear portion of the film is exposed
to the light as in the ordinary camera.
When the shutter is thrown forward as
seen in dotted lines, the camera may be used in the ordinary manner to take a
series of views, one after the other of such objects as may be in range at the
time of exposure. When the shutter is thrown back, however, exposing the film
only through the slot; the camera may be rotated and the film simultaneously
advanced to take successively all of the objects surrounding the point at which
the camera is located.
Looking at Figure 2, a clock movement K, will be seen, provided with suitable
springs, winding devices and train of gears which are of common form and not
necessary to describe, but the object of which is to rotate a spool winding gear, e,
to wind up the film upon the spool, E. This gear, e, is fast upon a spindle, e',
(see Figure 7) journalled at the top in the top of the box proper which is seen
at a³, in Figures 4, 5 and 7 and at the bottom in a socket, e, secured in the bottom,
A² of the box. It should be noticed in Figure 7 that the bottom of the spindle, e¹,
can be lifted from the socket, e², in removing the bottom from the box to remove
or replace the film. The spool, E, which winds up the film is provided with a
central bore, e, to receive the spindle, e¹, and at the top with radially extending
slots, e, to receive a winged portion, e, of the spindle which prevents rotation
of the spool upon the latter. The train of gears of the movement, K, also rotates
a spindle, (see Figures 2, 5 and 6) bearing a cross bar, 2, carrying two spring
brake shoes, 3, located within a stationary drum, . The cross bar also has
a pin, , by means of which the movement may be absolutely checked. The
spring brake shoes limit the speed of the movement by coming into frictional
contact with the inside of the drum when the velocity is such as to overcome
their elasticity by the centrifugal force.
A spindle M, (see Figs. 5 and 6) is pivoted in the clock movement extending
above the top cover in the form of a button m. This spindle carries three hori-
zontal arms m³, m² m³. The arm m' is adapted by frictional contact with the spindle
to provide means for preventing the movement of the clock work by means of
the button m. The arm m2 has a horizontal hooked end adapted to engage the
pin and the arm m³ has a down-turned end adapted to enter a notch in a stop
plate N, to be described below. A spring mt (see Fig. 5) tends to keep the arm m²
hooked over the pin and the arm m³ in the notch, thus tending to prevent the
movement of the clock work when in this position and to stop such movement
whenever permitted to return thereto.
In setting the dial disc the button m is first turned to swing the arm m³ out
of the notch in the stop disc N and bring the arm m¹ into frictional contact with
the post of the brake to prevent the unwinding of the clock work while the dial
disc is being set, the turning of said button m, having disengaged the arm m²
from the pin which ordinarily keeps the clock work at rest. When the dial
disc has been properly set, the button in may be released when the arm m¹ will be
swung away from the post by the spring mt, the arm m³ striking the edge of the
disc N and keeping the arm m² out of the path of the pin. The movement is
thus started and continues until the notch in the stop disc N reaches the arm m³,
and the latter swings into the same bringing the arm m² into the path of the pink
and stopping the movement. When the camera is to be used in the ordinary
manner the button is not disturbed at all, but the film cover J, swung into the
dotted lines indicated in Fig. 3. The disc N is adapted to hold the arm m³ to
prevent engagement of the arm m² with the pin whenever the notch in the disc

page_text: is moved away from the down-turned end of said arms m³. Said disc is fast upon a
post mounted upon a spindle o (see Fig. 9) of the gear 0, (see Fig. 6) rotated
by an intermediate gear o, and a pinion h2 turned by the squared upper end h¹
of a shaft h secured against rotation in the friction roller, H. The pinion 2 is
journalled in the lower plate of the clock movement as seen in Fig. 7 so that the
squared end of the shaft may be drawn from it in taking the film carrying devices
from the box. The post 2 fits over the spindle o (see Fig. 9) by means of a
split spring socket the friction between the two parts being sufficient to enable
the spindle to rotate the post but the parts being loose enough to permit of the.
independent rotation of the post by hand to set the stop disc N in any desired
position. At the top of the post is a button n. adapted to be rotated by hand and
between this button and the stop disc is a dial disc arranged to be substantially
flush with the top of the cover as seen in Fig. 1, said dial disc being preferably
provided with a series of figs. around its outer margin marking the desired frac-
tions of its circumference and the cover is provided with a pointer at located at the
zero mark of the scale. In the bottom of the case and in the vertical line of the
lens B is a socket P', (see Fig. 5) fitted to which is a pin Q, rising from a stan-
dard g, and bearing a horizontal friction gear, provided with a
knurled bevelled edge 72. The shaft h of the friction roller H
extends through the bottom of the box and hears a horizontal friction
pinion also provided with a knurled edge bevelled oppositely to that of the
gear and adapted to travel around said gear when the friction roller is rotated
by the film.
In the operation of the camera the clock movement which may have, as shown,
two springs for giving increased driving power, rotates the winding spool E
through its engagement with the gear e winding up the film thereon and drawing
the latter tightly against the roller H, so as to revolve it, thereby revolving the
camera, bodily upon the pin Q and rotating the stop disc N.
The roller H and the gears q q3 are so proportioned that a given movement of
the film will swing the case sufficiently to carry the point of exposure through a
distance equal to such movement thus presenting fresh film to the various objects
brought successively into range. The gears, 0, 0, h² (see Figure 6) are preferably
so proportioned as to make the dial, n³ turn once with each rotation of the camera.
In the rear side of the box is a horizontal slot (see x, Figures 3 and 5) covered by
a red glass, ¹, to expose the numbers upon the back of the film cover. The slot
is an advantage over the ordinary round opening in the center of the back, because
in taking the panoramic views, the end of the film should be started opposite the
vertical slot in the swinging film cover, J, otherwise the portion which passes this
slot will be wasted.
In the use of the camera for ordinary views, the operation is exactly the same
as that of the ordinary form except that the film is advanced by turning the
button, m, to start the clock work. When the film reaches the desired point the
button is released and the film is checked.
In the panoramic use of the camera, the button, n³, is turned toward the right
through an angle equal to that of the proposed view and released simultaneously
with the opening of the shutter. The turning of the button releases the clock
work and the camera is rotated and the film advanced until the predetermined
angle has been completed when the movement is automatically checked and the
sbutter should be closed simultaneously therewith.
I recognize the possibility of great variation in form and arrangement of the
parts above described and I do not, therefore, limit myself to the specific con-
struction shown.
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: The combination with a suitable stand and a camera pivoted upon the same

page_text: in the line of the lens center, of film holding and advancing devices in the camera,
devices for rotating the camera about its pivot and a motor geared to said film
advancing devices and to said devices for rotating the camera, said motor being
adapted to advance the film through a certain distance and simultaneously rotate
the camera through a predetermined angle; substantially as described.
2: The combination with a rotable camera provided with suitable film
holding and advancing devices, of a film cover slotted transversely of the film
and movable from a position in front of said film to a position away from between
the film and the lens; substantially as described.
3: The combination with a rotatable camera provided with film holding and
advancing devices, of a swinging film cover slotted transversely of the film, said
cover being adapted to swing into and away from a position between the lens and
the film; substantially as described.
4: The combination with a camera pivoted in the plane of the lens and having
a slot in the focus of the lens, of film holding and advancing devices adapted
to move the film behind the slot devices for rotating the camera upon its pivot
and a motor geared to the rotating devices and the film advancing devices adapted
to advance the film and rotate the camera simultaneously substantially as
described.
5: The combination with a camera pivoted in line with the lens center of film
holding spools mounted therein, a motor geared to one of said spools to wind
up the film thereon, a slot transversely of the film in the lens focus, means for
guiding the film behind the slot, a friction roller rotated by the film, a stationary
support upon which the camera is pivoted and suitable friction gearing between
the friction roller and the support to rotate the camera simultaneously with
the movement of the film; substantially as described.
6: The combination with a rotatable camera pivoted in line with the lens
center and containing a slot in the focus of the lens, of a pair of film holding
spools, guides for carrying the film behind the slot, gearing for rotating the
camera, gearing for winding up the film upon one of the spools to advance it
behind the slot, a motor and a stopping device, said motor being connected with
the rotating gear, the film advancing gear and with the stopping device; substan-
tially as described.
7: The combination with a rotatable camera pivoted in line with the lens
center and provided with a slot in the lens focus, of a pair of film holding spools,
guides for carrying the film behind the slot, a motor, gearing between the motor
and one of the spools to wind up the film thereon, a friction roller bearing upon
and rotated by the film, gearing for rotating the camera connected with said
friction roller, a stop device and gearing between said stop device and said fric-
tion roller substantially as described.
8: The combination with a rotatable camera provided with suitable film
holding and exposing devices devices, of a motor adapted to operate the same, an
automatic stop therefor and a hand operated stop therefor, the operation of the
hand operated stop serving to release the automatic stop for setting; substantially
as described.
9: The combination with a camera box, having a lens mounted in the forward
portion of the same, film holding spools in the forward portion adjacent to and
upon opposite sides of the lens, and guides for carrying the film through the lens
focus, of a film cover in front of and slotted transversely of the film and means
for simultaneously rotating the camera and advancing the film; substantially as
described.
10: The combination with a camera having a removable bottom, of film
holding spools and guides supported upon said bottom, a film cover slotted
transversely of the film and supported upon said bottom, a supporting base pivoted
to the camera in line with the center of the lens, gearing supported upon the
bottom of the case for rotating the case upon the support and a motor upon
the box connected by separable connecting devices with the film holding spools

page_text: and the rotating gear and adapted to simultaneously rotate the camera and
advance the film; substantially as described.
11: The combination with a rotatable camera provided with film holding
spools and means for advancing the film and rotating the camera, of a back slotted
longitudinally of the film; substantially as described.
12: The combination with a rotatable camera, of a movable film cover adapted
to reduce the opening through which the film is exposed to a narrow slit; substan-
tially as described.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicant 18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C.