An Improved Apparatus for Exhibiting or Displaying a Series of Cinematographic or other Pictures.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Nov., 1893-Accepted, 30th Dec., 1899
An Improved Apparatus for Exhibiting or Displaying a Series of
Cinematographic or other Pictures.
1, OSKAR MESSTER, of Friedrichstrasse, No. 94, Berlin, in the Empire of
Germany, Engineer, 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 relates to an improved apparatus for exhibiting or displaying
a series of cinematographic or other pictures in which the moving of the band
on which the pictures are mounted close together and the adjustment or holding
back of the pictures is done in a simple manner. The band travels for a short
distance in a guiding channel formed by two fixed plates through which it is
conducted by means of a driving strap or the like. The known apparatus for
exhibiting cinematographic pictures or photographs in which the pictures are
arranged on an endless band which can be sharply curved, are provided with a
pin or the like for adjusting or holding back the pictures whilst the picture
band moves over a sharp edge or roller. According to the present invention the
picture band lies loosely on a driving strap or the like mounted on two rollers,
the picture band being moved on when the main roller is turned. Between the
two rollers immediately under the driving strap a stationary plate is arranged
whereon the driving strap, when moved, easily slides. Above this plate at about
half the height of the pictures a further stationary plate or the like is arranged
so that the pictures when the picture band is moved on, are guided through this
guiding channel formed by the two stationary plates being partially laid flat as
they enter the guiding channel. The exit opening of the guiding channel is
over the front or small roller so that the picture of the ribbon about to pass out
is still held at its upper part whilst its point of attachment on the ribbon pro-
jects beyond the small roller. At this spot a bending of the band is effected by
its own weight and the last picture as it is set free will overhang so far as to
form a sufficiently large angle with the picture about to be set free. In the
drawing A and B are the guiding rollers for the tightly spanned driving
strap C. By the stationary arranged plate D under the driving strap and the
stationary plate above the same a guiding channel is formed for the picture
band F the exit opening of which is over the roller B. When the pictures enter
this guiding channel they lie more or less flat according to the height of the
channel. At the exit opening the picture G.is held by the edge of plate E
whilst the fastening spot of the picture G on the picture ribbon F is a little
beyond the roller B and consequently only at this point can a bending of the
ribbon take place. But the preceding picture H which is at the bending spot
will overhang so far, partially by its own weight and partially by the weight
of the ribbon which may be increased by a separate weight J so as to form a

page_text: large angle with the picture G so that it in no way hinders the eye in viewing
the display.
It may be mentioned that the band cannot be properly moved forward by
pulling but only by pushing the pictures from the entrance side of the channel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it to be
understood that it has been previously proposed to use in mutoscopes an arbor
having elastic picture cards arranged radially thereon and rigidly attached
thereto, and means for holding the outer edges of the cards rearwardly under
tension during a portion of the revolution; and I make no claim to such arrange-
ment but I declare that what I claim is :-
An improved apparatus for exhibiting or displaying a series of cinemato-
graphic or other pictures in which the pictures are fastened close together on a
band and are partially laid flat when passing through a guiding channel and
on leaving same the picture which has been entirely released forms with the
picture still held back in the channel a wide angle, and in which the band
carrying the pictures is stiffened by the guiding channel and on issuing there-
from projects freely and has no support in order that a perfect unhindered view
of the picture may be obtained.
Dated this 21st day of November 1899
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicant,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C., London.