Improvements in Cameras.
Year: 1894

page_text: ULTIVATION,
Improvements in Cameras.
I, THEODORE MINOT CLARK, of Newton, in the County of Middlesex and State
of Massachusetts, United States of America, Gentleman, 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 certain improvements in cameras, and has reference
more particularly to hand cameras, although several of the improvements herein-
after described are equally adapted to other styles of cameras.
The objects of the invention are as follows: To enclose the parts in a case of
reduced size and having a long and narrow shape instead of the square, box-like
form now used; to construct a roll-holder into which the bellows may be removably
fitted to provide means whereby a curtain-shutter may be employed in a hand-
camera, and to utilize said shutter for keeping the film smooth; to provide improved
means for adjusting the bellows, and also the lens-front; to provide an improved
form of finder, whereby the miniature picture is refracted upward to the eye of a
person holding the camera; and to provide improved means for supporting and
manipulating a film. The invention also has in view other minor improvements,
which will be described hereinafter.
To the above ends, the invention consists in the novel features of construction and
combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention,―
Figure 1 shows an exterior perspective view of the camera in closed adjustment.
Figure 2 shows a side elevation of the camera opened and ready for use.
Figure 3 shows a top plan view of the camera in the adjustment shown in
Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the bellows-case and a portion of the
bellows.
Figure 5 shows a top plan view of the roll-holder, with the cover thrown back,
the parts appearing on an enlarged scale.
Figure 6 shows a section on line 6-6 of Figure 5.
Figure 7 shows a section on line 7-7 of Figure 5.
Figures 8 and 9 show sections en lines 8--8 and 9-9 of Figure 3.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
In carrying out my invention, I construct an improved form of roll-bolder,
which comprises an outside casing a, preferably composed of thin sheet metal, and
is formed with rectangular compartments bat opposite ends, for containing the
film-rolls and the curtain-shutter rolls.
The central compartment c, between the two end compartments b, is adapted to
contain the bellows d with its case. A groove e is formed in the bottom and side
walls of the central compartment c, and a rectangular metal frame d', which carries
the bellows d, is formed with ribs d and is adapted to slide down into the compart-
ment " said ribs engaging the groove c¹. The upper side of said frame or
bellows-carrier is projected, as at d³, and formed with a flange, which engages a
corresponding flange formed in the lid of the casing a, as shown in Figure 8, forming
a light-tight closure between the bellows-frame or case and the roll-holder.
The frame d¹ has a groove d' extending around its four walls, and the bellows &
is fastened in said frame by having its edges secured around a cord or wire d³, by

page_text: .
means of stitching or cement, introducing the said cord or wire into the groove d',
and then fitting a band e tightly into the frame and over the said grooves, whereby
it retains the edge of the bellows therein, but at the same time allows a removal of
the same when necessary for repairs or replacing the bellows.
It will be seen that with the arrangement described the bellows and case may be
slipped into and out of the roll-holder at will.
The bellows is adapted, when collapsed, to be contained with its frame d' within
the compartment c; and a cover fis hinged at its bottom edge to the frame d', and
is adapted to be lowered to a horizontal position, in which it is supported by jointed
arms and forms a platform on which the bellows may be drawn out. An extension
of this platform-is provided, in the form of a sliding frame f, whose side arms fit in
slide-ways formed on the platform f. This extension is adapted to be drawn out
in said slide-ways, and its outward movement is limited by catches formed upon
its side arms and adapted to enter holes in the slide-ways f³, as shown in Figure 3.
The movement may be limited by other means, however, as is evident. The side
arms of the extension-frame f2 form slide-ways for a yoke g, which constitutes a
support for uprights g' laterally adjustable on said yoke, and receiving sleeves 92
fastened to the lens-front. By this means, said lens-front is rendered both
laterally and vertically adjustable.
-
The means employed for adjusting the bellows to secure the proper focus are as
follows: Lazy-tongs are connected at one end with the bottom of the frame d' and
at the opposite end with the lens-front support g; jointed rods are connected
with opposite sides of the lazy-tongs and extend forward of the lens-front, where
they are connected by a yoke ²; and an adjusting-screw h³ engages said yoke and
is supported in a bearing on the extension-frame f. It will be seen that by turning
said screw the bellows may be shortened or lengthened, as desired, to adjust it for
:different lenses.
The front end of the bellows is secured in a similar manner to that in which its
rear end is fastened, its front edge being secured around a cord or wire, which
engages a groove i in the lens-front 2, the latter being a rectangular metal frame,
and said cord is secured in said groove by a band 3 surrounding said frame. The
lens-board jis removably supported in said metal frame 2, by means of cleats j
secured within said frame, and a pivoted catch, the lower edge of the said lens-
board being fitted between one of the cleats and the ridge formed by the groove i,
and the catch being engaged behind the other cleat, as shown in Figure 9. This
construction facilitates interchange of lenses. When the camera is closed, the
lens-front support g is slid off its ways on the extension frame f and onto ways g³
provided for it in the bellows-frame d'. When the side fis lowered and the
extension frame drawn out, the lens-front is projected forward onto said frame.
This result is due to the leverage of the lazy-tongs. The extension having a
fixed limit of movement, the extension of the bellows by such movement is fixed.
This movement focuses the camera for distances of forty feet (40') or more, when a
certain size of lens is in use. Thus, when this size of lens is used, no adjustment
for focus is necessary in photographing at forty feet or more. When the lens is
changed, or when photographing at less distance than forty feet, adjustment
for focus is performed by mauipulating the screw h³. This will be regulated by
a scale marked at a suitable place, as upon one of the side arms, of the extension
frame.
The joints in the rods h¹ permit them to be folded up in the frame containing the
bellows.
+
The finder is supported on the upper side of the frame 3, in a metallic casing k
fastened to said frame. This finder consists of a prism m whose thick end is upper-
most and whose front and rear faces m³ are ground into concave form and are
adapted to refract the miniature picture upward to the eye of a person holding. the
camera.
· The inner sides of the end-compartments 6 of the roll-holder do not extend
quite to the rear side of the case, vertical slots a' being thus provided for the film =

page_text: The rollers and 2, which carry the film, are contained within the compart--
ments respectively, being stepped at their lower ends in bearings on the bottoms-
of the said compartments and journalled at their upper ends in plates z³ suitably
supported in the compartments. These plates also provide bearings for auxiliary
rollers located in the outer rear corners of the compartments and stepped at.
their lower ends in bearings on the bottom of the case, the film passing from the
roller around one of the said auxiliary rollers, and thence across the central'
compartment close to the rear wall of the casing, around the other auxiliary
roller, and winding on the other roller ', said auxiliary rollers maintaining it
parallel with the said rear wall notwithstanding the changing diameters of the
film-rolls. These auxiliary rollers may also be so journalled as to place friction 0:1.
the film to insure tautness thereof.
Near the rear ends of the inner sides of the compartments band within.
said compartments, are rollers y which find bearings at their upper ends in the
plates 23 and are stepped at their lower ends in bearings on the bottom of the
casing. Said rollers y carry a curtain-shutter a adapted to be moved back and
forth by being wound up alternately on the rollers and provided with the usual
slit or elongated aperture, which successively exposes different portions of the film..
The said curtain-shutter passes out over the ends of the inner side-walls of the
compartments, and extends across the central compartment in close proximity to.
the film, so that it supports the same in such a manner as to prevent its crinkling.
The means here shown for operating the curtain comprise a pulley w supported
within one of the compartments 6 on one end of the casing, and operated by a
milled knob w on the exterior of the casing, and a cord w² engaging the groove
of the pulley and carried through guides to the rollers y, to which the opposite
ends of the cord are attached and upon which the said cord winds.
readily understood that by turning the knob w¹ the shutter will be rolled up on
one roller and unrolled from the other, and vice versa, by the action of the cord w²..
The pulley is preferably located at the upper part of the case, and one stretch of
the cord passes therefrom to the upper end of one roller y, while the other stretch.
of cord is carried to the bottom of the casing and extends along the same across.
the central compartment and winds on the lower end of the other roller y.
It will be
The means here shown for running off the film are as follows: A crown-gear
is affixed to the journal of the roller ', preferably at the bottom, and meshes with
a gear supported on the side of the casing, and a milled knob 3 on the exterior
of the casing is fast with said gear. By turning said knob, the film may be fed.
along.
It will be observed that by my construction the camera and roll-holder are
brought to an elongated thin form, much more convenient than the square box-
like form at present in vogue, and capable of being contained in places not adapted
for the latter.
A plate-holder may be employed when it is desired to use a plate; a back for
carrying the plate-holder, ground glass, and other necessaries, with suitably
grooved connection to receive the bellows-frame, being substituted for the roll-
holder, and a shutter of different type being used instead of the curtain-shutter.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, it is declared that what.
is claimed is :
1. A camera comprising in its construction a roll-holder having a compartment.
at each end for film-rolls and a central compartment for the bellows and its case,.
and a bellows and case therefor fitted removably into said central space, said case
having a hinged side adapted when let down to form a platform on which the
bellows may be extended.
2. A camera comprising in its construction a horizontal platform for the bellows,.
a sliding extension of said platform, a bellows secured at one end to a stationary
support, a sliding support on the platform extension for the lens-front, lazy-tongs

page_text: connected with a stationary support at one end and with the sliding lens-front-
support at the opposite end, and a connection between the lazy-tongs and sliding
platform-extension.
3. A camera comprising in its construction a horizontal platform for the bellows,
a sliding extension of said platform, a bellows secured at one end to a stationary
support, a sliding support on the platform-extension for the lens-front, lazy-tongs
connected with a stationary support at one end and with the sliding lens-front
support at the opposite end, rods connected with the central portion of the lazy-
tongs, a yoke joining said rods, and an adjusting-screw connecting said yoke with
the platform-extension.
4.In a camera, a finder consisting of a prism supported with its thick end
-uppermost and concaved on opposite sides, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
5. In a roll-holder for cameras, the combination of enclosed end-compartments,
a central compartment open at one side and adapted to receive and contain the
camera, rollers in the end-compartments and carrying the film with a stretch
thereof extending across the centre compartment, rollers in said end-compartments
carrying a curtain-shutter with a stretch thereof extending across the central
compartment in close proximity to the film, an operating drum or pulley having a
knob, and a cord engaging said drum or pulley and having its ends attached to the
curtain-rollers.
Dated this 14th day of May 1894.