Improvements in Stereopticons or Magic Lanterns.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 10th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 23rd Feb., 1895
[Communicated from abroad by EDMUND HUDSON, of Boston, Massachusetts,
United States of America, Journalist and Lecturer.]
Improvements in Stereopticons or Magic Lanterns.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object to construct a stereopticon or magic lantern
adapted to be operated from a distant point, whereby the views may be successively
displayed or projected upon the curtain at the will of the operator.
the
In accordance with this invention, a series of slides as they are commonly called,
being transparent plates having pictures thereon adapted to be projected upon a
curtain, are connected together as a chain, and adapted to be folded one upon
other for compactness, and means are provided for moving the said slides inter-
mittingly, but at the will of the operator, between the focussing lens and light,
although the usual condensing lens will be provided and properly located.
A screen is placed in front of the slide which is being displayed, or in front of
the usual display opening, and means are provided for moving or operating said
screen to expose the slide or uncover the display opening, and thereafter conceal
the slide or cover, said display opening while the next slide is being brought into
position, said means being also operated at the will of the operator, from a
distant point.
The means or mechanism employed for moving the slides and for operating the
screen are electro-magnetically controlled. a single electro-magnet is employed,
the circuit of which may be operated by the lecturer or exhibitor. One way of
carrying out my invention consists in providing two spring actuated trains, one for
moving the slides, and the other for operating the screen, the slide-operating train
is released by the screen-operating train, and the screen-operating train is released
by the electro-magnet, so that said electro-magnet directly or indirectly releases or
controls both trains.
The screen operating train is adapted to so move or operate the screen, that it
shall cover the display opening and thereafter uncover it, and the slide-operating
train is designed to move the slide whenever the display opening is covered by the
screen.
The slides each consist of a plate held in position between two side pieces or clips
by means of rubber bands or otherwise said side pieces or clips being loosely
connected at the ends to cross bars above and below the plate.
The cross bars and side pieces or clips thus serve as separable frames or holders
for the plates and new plates may thus be readily substituted whenever desired, but
in lieu of the particular construction of separable frame any other form of frame
may be employed.
These frames or holders for the slides are loosely or flexibly connected together
in a series or chain by links connected to the cross bars or otherwise, and for
compactness said connected slides may be folded one upon or against another.
A quadrangular or many-sided drum, is secured to a shaft having its bearings in
the side plates or frame of the apparatus, the sides or faces of which are of sufficient
case is supported
width and length to accommodate the slides, and a box or

page_text: horizontally adjacent to the top of said drum which contains the folded chain or
series of connected slides, the bottom or floor of said box or case being substantially
in a plane with the uppermost side of the drum when said side occupies a horizontal
plane.
Upon the corners of the drum or points, where the plane sides meet, projections
are formed, adapted to engage the cross bars of the slide frames so that as said
drum is rotated, with the slides in engagement therewith, the said slides will be
drawn out of the box or case, and being loosely connected together will hang by
gravity from the drum before the display opening of the apparatus which is so
located with relation to the drum that whenever said drum is at rest, one of the
slides will be directly in front of the said opening, and as said drum continues to
revolve intermittingly, the slides will pass by said display opening successively,
entering another box or case in which they are folded one upon another.
Secured to, the shaft which carries the drum is a stop wheel having four stop
projections corresponding with the four sides of the drum, a lever is provided
having a hooked end which engages the said stop projections.
The actuating train for the drum consists of toothed wheel connected to a
winding shaft to which the main spring is attached, said wheel engaging a pinion
on the shaft to which shaft is secured a toothed wheel.
A toothed wheel is secured to the shaft carrying the aforesaid stop wheel which
engages the toothed wheel of said spring actuated train.
Another stop wheel is secured to a shaft having a stop projection which is
engaged by a lever, the lower end of which lever is connected with the armature
of an electro-magnet adapted to be included in an electric circuit to be operated
in any usual or suitable way.
The projection which is secured to or formed upon this second stop wheel during
each revolution of said wheel, engages the aforesaid lever, moving it on its pivot
to thereby release the first stop wheel.
Thus it will be observed that by means of the electromagnet, through the inter-
vention of the second stop wheel, the spring-actuated train for the drum will be
released, permitting said drum to rotate one quarter of a revolution, and advancing
the slides correspondingly.
A screen is provided for the display opening and may be suspended from the end
of a cord which passes through an eye, thence through other eyes and connected to
a stud on the aforesaid second stop wheel and at each revolution of said stop wheel
it operates to lower and thereafter raise the screen.
The train for operating the second stop wheel consists of a toothed driving
wheel connected with the winding shaft to which the main spring is connected,
said toothed driving wheel engaging a pinion on the shaft which carries the second
stop wheel.
A toothed wheel is secured to said shaft carrying the second stop wheel which
engages a pinion on another shaft, to which shaft is secured a toothed wheel, which
in turn engages a pinion on a shaft to which is secured a toothed wheel,
which engages a pinion on a shaft carrying a fan escapement.
Whenever the second stop wheel is released, and makes one complete revolution
the screen will be lowered and thereafter raised.
Instead of employing a screen adapted to move vertically, it is obvious that it
may move in any other way, or by other mechanism than that described.
As a retractile spring for the releasing levers, a coiled spring is interposed
between and connected at the ends to said levers.
The apparatus will be provided with any usual or suitable light, and also with
any usual or suitable condensing lens and also with any usual or suitable
focussing Jens.
In lieu of the particular construction of spring-actuated trains herein described,
any other form of train or equivalent motor mechanism adapted to be released or
operated from a distant point, as by an electro-magnet, may be employed, which
possesses the necessary functions of moving the screen to cover the display opening

page_text: and thereafter returning it to its nor nal position, and during such time operating
the slide.
The electrically controlled actuating mechanism for the chain or slides, and
screen are applicable to ordinary stereopticons or magic lanterns.
One of the most important uses to which my invention is applicable, and for
which it is especially designed, is for lecturers who desire to illustrate their lecture
with views of different kinds, and it will be seen that the lecturer may place the
apparatus in the hall in proper position for use, and then, while standing upon the
platform delivering his lecture, may illustrate the same as he may desire, and that
the entire apparatus is under his own control. When he desires to bring the next
picture to view he may simply press an electric button which he may hold in his
hand, or he may operate any other form or construction of circuit controlling device
to thereby operate the circuit of the electromagnet which controls the operation
of the slide and screen actuating mechanism.
He thereby avoids the necessity of an assistant which is now imperative for
operating the apparatus.
تيمد
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$11901
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Stereopticons or Magic Lanterns.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 has for its object to construct a stereopticon or magic lantern
adapted to be operated from a distant point, whereby the views may be successively.
displayed or projected upon the curtain at the will of the operator.
In accordance with this invention, a series of slides as they are commonly
called, being transparent plates having pictures thereon adapted to be projected
upon a curtain, are connected together as a chain, and adapted to be folded one
upon the other for compactness, and means are provided for moving the said slides
intermittingly, but at the will of the operator, between the focussing lens and light,
although the usual condensing lens will be provided, and properly located.
A screen is placed in front of the slide which is being displayed, or in front of
the usual display opening, and means are provided for moving or operating said
screen to expose the slide or uncover the display opening, and thereafter conceal
the slide or cover said display opening while the next slide is being brought into
position, said means being also operated at the will of the operator, from a distant
point.
The means or mechanism employed for moving the slides and for operating the
screen are electro-magnetically controlled, a single electro-magnet is employed, the
circuit of which may be operated by the lecturer or exhibitor.
One way of carrying out my invention consists in providing two spring actuated
trains, one for moving the slides, and the other for operating the screen, and the
slide-operating train is released by the screen-operating train, and the screen-
operating train is released by the electro-magnet, so that said electro-magnet
directly or indirectly releases or controls both trains.
that it
The screen operating train is adapted to so move or operate the screen,.
shall cover the display opening and thereafter uncover it, and the slide-operating

page_text: the screen.
Figure 1, shows in side elevation a stereopticon embodying this invention.
Figure 2, an end view of the same.
Figure 3, an enlarged detail of the series of connected slides and actuating drum
therefor.
.
Figure 4, a plan view of two of the connected slides.
Figure 5, a cross section of one of said slides, and
Figure 6, a detail of the stop wheel and releasing lever therefor, and releasing
lever for the slide-operating mechanism.
Similar letters of reference indicate.corresponding parts in the several figures of
the drawings.
The slides each consist of a plate a held in position between two side pieces or
clips al a', by means of rubber bands as a², or otherwise, said side pieces or clips
being loosely connected at the ends to cross bars a', above and below the plate.
The cross bars a' and side pieces or clips a¹ thus serve as separable frames or
holders for the plates a, and new plates may thus be readily substituted whenever
desired, but in lieu of the particular construction of separable frame thus shown
any other form of frame may be employed.
These frames or holders for the slides are loosely or flexibly connected together
in a series or chain by links a*, connected to the cross bars a³, or otherwise, and
for compactness said connected slides may be folded one upon or against another as
represented in Figure 3.
A quadrangular or many-sided drum b, is secured to a shaft having its
bearings in the side plates or frame of the apparatus, the sides or faces of which
are of sufficient width and length to accommodate the slides, and a box or case b¹
is supported horizontally adjacent to the top of said drum which contains the
folded chain or series of connected slides, the bottom or floor of said box or case
being substantially in a plane with the uppermost side of the drum when said side
occupies a horizontal plane.
Upon the corners of the drum b, or points where the plane sides meet,
projections are formed, adapted to engage the cross bars a³ of the slide frames,
so that as said drum is rotated, with the slides in engagement therewith, the said
slides will be drawn out of the box or case 6', and being loosely connected together
will hang by gravity from the drum before the display opening of the apparatus,
which is so located with relation to the drum that whenever said drum is at rest,
one of the slides will be directly in front of the said opening, and as said drum
continues to revolve intermittingly, the slides will pass by said display opening
successively, entering another box or case 6³, in which they are folded one upon
another.
Secured to the shaft which carries the drum b'is a stop wheel c having as
shown in Figure 1 four stop projections el corresponding with the four sides of the
drum. A lever is pivoted at having a hooked end which engages the said stop
projections c³.
The actuating train for the drum consists of toothed wheel d connected to a
winding shaft d to which the main spring is attached, said wheel d engaging a
pinion on the shaft to which shaft is secured a toothed wheel ď.
A toothed wheel d' is secured to the shaft carrying the aforesaid stop wheel c,
which engages the tooth wheel d³ of said spring actuated train.
which
Another stop wheel e is secured to a shaft e, having a stop projection
is engaged by a lever e pivoted at et, the lower end of which lever is connected
with the armature of an electro-magnet e adapted to be included in an electric
circuit, to be operated in any usual or suitable way.
The projection which is secured to or formed upon the stop wheel e, during
each revolution of said wheel, engages the aforesaid lever e, moving it on its pivot
to thereby release the stop wheel c.
Thus it will be observed that by means of the electro-magnet e, through the

page_text: intervention of the stop wheel e, the spring-actuated train for the drum will be
released, permitting said drum to rotate one quarter of a revolution, and advancing
the slides correspondingly.
A screen f, is provided for the display opening f¹, it being represented in
Figure 1 as suspended from the end of a cord f which passes through an eye f³,
thence through the eyes and Figures 1 and 2 and connected to a stuli on the
aforesaid second stop wheel e, and at each revolution of said stop wheel it operates
to lower and thereafter raise the screen.
The train for operating the stop wheel e consists of a toothed driving wheel o,
connected with the winding shaft o' to which the main spring is connected, said
toothed driving wheel o engaging a pinion on the shaft el which carries the stop
wheel e.
A toothed wheel o², is secured to said shaft e¹ which engages a pinion on the
shaft o, to which shaft is secured a toothed wheel of, which in turn engages a
pinion on a shaft o' to which is secured a toothed wheel o³, which engages a pinion
on a shaft o', carrying a fan escapement o³.
Whenever the stop wheel e is released, and makes one complete revolution the
screen will be lowered and thereafter raised.
Instead of employing a screen adapted to move vertically as shown, it is obvious
that it may move in any other way, or by other mechanism than that specifically
herein shown.
As a retractile spring for the releasing levers c³, e, a coiled spring g, is interposed
between and connected at its ends to said levers.
The apparatus will be provided with any usual or suitable light A, and with any
usual or suitable condensing lens not shown, and also with any usual or suitable
focussing lens.
In lieu of the particular construction of spring-actuated trains herein, any other
form of train or equivalent motor mechanism adapted to be released or operated
from a distant point, as by an electro-magnet, may be employed, which possesses
the necessary functions of moving the screen to cover the display opening and
thereafter returning it to its normal position, and during such time operating the
slide.
The electrically controlled actuating mechanism for the chain or slides, and
screen are applicable to ordinary stereopticons or magic lanterns.
One of the most important uses to which my invention is applicable, and for
which it is especially designed, is for lecturers who desire to illustrate their lecture
with views of different kinds, and it will be seen that the lecturer may place the
apparatus in the hall in proper position for use, and then while standing upon the
platform delivering his lecture may illustrate the same as he may desire, and that
the entire apparatus is under his own control. When he desires to bring the next
picture to view he may simply press an electric button which he may hold in his
hand, or he may operate any other form or construction of circuit controlling
device to thereby operate the circuit of the electro magnet which controls the
operation of the slide and screen actuating mechanism.
He thereby avoids the necessity of an assistant which is now imperative for
operating the apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a device of the kind described, a series of transparent slides, and actuating
mechanism for moving them successively between the light and lens, a controlling
lever for said actuating mechanism, aud an electro-magnet governing the operation
of said controlling lever, the circuit of which is operated from a distant peint at
the will of the operator, substantially as described.
2. In a device of the kind described, several transparent slides loosely connected
together, one after another, and actuating mechanism for moving them successively

page_text: between the light and lens, a controlling lever for said actuating mechanism, and
an electro-magnet governing the operation of said controlling lever, the circuit of
which is operated from a distant point at the will of the operator, substantially as
described.
3. In a device of the kind described, a series of loosely connected transparent
slides, a drum over which they pass and by which they are held suspended between
the light and lens, motor mechanism for rotating said drum for successively
advancing said slides, a controlling lever for said motor mechanism, and an electro-
magnet governing the operation of said controlling lever, the circuit of which is
operated at will from a distant point, substantially as described.
4. In a device of the kind described, a series of loosely connected slides, a drum
over which they pass and by which they are held suspended between the light and
lens, motor mechanism for rotating said drum for successively advancing the slides,
a controlling lever for said motor mechanism, and an electro-magnet governing the
operation of said controlling lever, the circuit of which is operated at will from a
distant point, the upper compartment containing the folded slides from which they
are drawn by said drum, and the lever compartment which receives the slides
folded as they are advanced by the drum, substantially as described.
5. In a device of the kind described, the transparent plates a, having pictures
thereon adapted to be projected upon a curtain, two metallic end clips for each
plate, extensible connections for said clips, whereby they may be separated to
disengage the plate, and flexible connections connecting each pair of clips to the
pair next it, to thereby form a series of loosely connected detachable slides,
substantially as described.
6. In a device of the kind described, a series of slides, and a screen, and actuating
mechanism for successively moving the slides between the light and lens, and
simultaneously operating the screen, a. releasing lever therefor, an electro-magnet
controlling the operation of said releasing lever, the circuit of which is operated
from a distant point, substantially as described.
7. In a device of the kind described, a series of loosely connected slides, a drum
over which they pass and by which they are held suspended between the light and
lens to be displayed, a screen normally held at one side of the particular slide
which is being displayed, motor mechanism for moving said screen into position
between said light and lens and thereafter restoring it to its normal position, and
for rotating said drum to advance the slides during the time the said screen is in
its normal position, the controlling lever for said motor mechanism, and an electro-
magnet governing the operation of said controlling lever, the circuit of which is
operated at will from a distant point, substantially as described.
8. In a device of the kind described, a series of slides, an actuating train therefor,
a screen and an actuating train therefor, a releasing device for the slide-actuating
train controlled by the screen-actuating train, and a releasing device for the
screen-actuating train, an electro-magnet controlling its operation, the circuit of
which is operated from a distant point, substantially as described.
Dated this 10th day of Januar 1895
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.