Improvements in and relating to Photographic Frames or Apparatus for Use in the Reproduction of Drawings.
Year: 1895

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Photographic Frames or
Apparatus for Use in the Reproduction of Drawings.
I, JEAN BILLARD, of 41 Faubourg du Temple, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Contractor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
My invention relates to photographic frames or apparatus for use in the
reproduction of drawings.
In a photographic frame or apparatus constructed according to my said invention
I utilize a vacuum in the reproduction of industrial and other drawings by the
action of light.
Such apparatus is substantially composed of an outer frame mounted on pivots in
a suitable support arranged upon a chariot, an inner frame with a panel forming
the bottom of the frame and enclosing hermetically between its interior surface
and the glass plate of the frame the drawings to be reproduced and the sheets, of
paper on which the reproduction is to be effected. A pump fitted below one of the
sides of the outer frame serves to establish a vacuum between the glass plate and
the bottom of the frame.
By producing a vacuum in the space occupied by the drawings and the sheet or
sheets of paper used for the reproduction I obtain not only a perfect contact of the
superposed sheets and their complete and regular application to the bottom of
the frame, but I also realize the advantage of stretching these sheets in an
absolutely correct manner, and suppressing any folds, creases, and also the dull
places, spots and other defects inherent in the apparatus and methods employed up
to the present time.
In carrying my said invention into practice I assemble the sides of the outer
frame by tenons and mortises, the corners of this frame being strengthened with
the aid of metallic squares. This outer frame carries a glass plate held in its place.
by beads secured to the aforesaid sides.
The long, sides of the outer frame are provided in the middle of their length
with journals which fit in corresponding holes of two cast-metal bearings or
supports fastened to a bed plate. This bed plate may be provided with rollers in
order to constitute a chariot which enables the apparatus to be displaced at will.
One of the said journals has secured to it a disc perforated with a series of
concentric holes which serve for placing the outer frame in any desired position and
which for this purpose are presented in front of a hole in the support for receiving
a fastening pin.
The inner frame has its sides assembled by tenons and mortises so as to fit as
exactly as possible in the recess formed in the sides of the outer frame. The sides
of the inner frame are mortised for fixing a thickness of cardboard which
constitutes the bottom of the frame. Upon this bottom is stretched an indiarubber
sheet which is firmly held to, the sides of the frame by strips. The mortise in the
sides of the inner frame for applying the cardboard is provided only at one part of
their width; the other part receives an indiarubber band of comparatively great
thickness. The elastic bands are designed to ensure in an absolutely certain manner
the tightness of the joint between the sides of the inner frame and the glass plate
when these parts are pressed one against the other by the means hereinafter
described

page_text: At certain places of the sides of the outer frame I provide pressing devices
which are composed of a kind of crank turning about an axis permanently fixed to
the sides of the outer frame; 'the crank has a roller intended to roll upon a metallic
plate with which the inner frame is covered at corresponding places. This plate
presents as a rolling surface two inclined planes which intersect in the middle.
The crank is provided with a handle which serves for its operation.
When the inner frame is fitted in the outer frame, occupying preferably the
horizontal position, the glass plate being below, it is sufficient to turn the handles
for bringing to the interior each of the presses which by their rollers exert a
pressure upon the metallic plates of the inner frame which progresses until the said
rollers arrive at the intersection of the inclined surfaces of these plates.
The pressure exerted by the presses may be regulated at will by means of nuts
and counter-nuts on the axes or by the employment of any other suitable device.
Below one of its long sides the outer frame receives an air pump designed for
producing a vacuum in the space between the indiarubber sheet at the bottom and
the glass plate of the outer frame. In this space are placed the drawings to be
reproduced and the papers for the reproduction. The said pump comprises a
cylindrical body closed by the two covers, a piston provided with a chased leather
packing and mounted upon the extremity of a hollow rod. This rod is prolonged
exteriorly by a handle by which the desired movements are imparted to the
piston.
One of the covers of the pump is provided with the suction valve having a
spring it terminates in a socket upon which is fixed the extremity of a flexible
pipe. The other extremity of this pipe is fitted in a similar manner upon the
socket of a bell. This bell in the production of the vacuum covers an adjutage
attached to the centre of the inner frame and furnished interiorly with a retain-
ing valve having a spring. The adjutage made in one piece with an interior
shoulder is permanently fixed by the tightening of an exterior nut which presses
between its base and the bottom cardboard an indiarubber disc forming also the
bearing surface of the bell.
Placing the frame in the horizontal position I arrange in an appropriate manner
the drawings to be reproduced and the paper designed for the reproduction.
Then I cover the same with the inner frame, whereupon the tightness of the
peripheral joint is ensured by operating one after the other the presses with the
nid of their handles. 1 cover the adjutage of the frame by the said bell and
operate the piston of the pump. By the effect of the suction the before-
mentioned valves are raised and the vacuum is produced below the glass plate;
in the return movement of the piston the two valves return to their seats and
the air previously drawn escapes all around the piston whose leather packing
yields to the counter-pressure. After some piston strokes a perfect vacuum is
obtained, and if the frame is turned back it is found that the drawings and the
sheets for the reproduction are regularly and completely stretched and exactly
applied one against the other. For the reproduction it remains to operate in the
well-known manner.
The vacuum may be maintained for some time, but for a comparatively long
period I may remove the said bell and apply to the rod of the retaining valve a
strong plate spring which is movable about its point of attachment situated upon
a transverse bar which connects the sides of the inner frame in the middle.
Dated this 29th day of January 1895
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Photographic Frames or Apparatus
for Use in the Reproduction of Drawings.
I, JEAN BILLARD of 41 Faubourg du Temple, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Contractor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
The subject of this invention is a pneumatic frame for photographic purposes,
that is to say an apparatus adapted to utilise vacuum in the reproduction, by the
action of light, of trade and other designs and drawings.
My pneumatic frame mainly consists of framework pivotted in a suitable stand
and fitted on to a carriage; further, of a frame comprising a solid panel and
arranged to form the bottom or ground surface of the complete framework, as
well as to enclose hermetically, between its inner surface and the glass, the designs
to be reproduced and the sheets of paper whereon the reproduction is to take place.
A pump, mounted on one side of the framework, serves to produce a vacuum between
the glass and the bottom of the frame.
Owing to the vacuum thus produced within the space occupied by the drawings
or designs and the sheet or sheets of paper whereon such drawings or
designs are to be copied, not only is perfectly close contact ensured between the
interposed sheets, as well as their tight and uniform adhesion to the bottom surface
of the frame, but the further advantage is at the same time obtained, that the
sheets are stretched out perfectly flat, without any folds or creases, or any flaws or
other defects inherent in the employment of the methods and apparatus hitherto
known. By raising one of the corners of the bottom of the frame, which is hinged,
it may at any moment be ascertained whether the impression of the design has
come out satisfactorily or not, without the vacuum being in any way interfered with,
or the sheets of paper in the least disarranged.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a rear view of my improved pneumatic frame, arranged in its vertical
position;
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus, with the frame represented in the
horizontal position, and the glass underneath it ;
Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse section on line 1-2, Figure 1, showing the
relative position of the framework and bottom frame;
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of the pump;
Figure 5 illustrates the connection between the framework and the movable
frame;
Figure 6 is a section along the line 5-6, Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of the tube arranged in the centre of the
frame; and
Figures 8 and 9 show, respectively, a vertical section and a plan of one of the
hand presses whereby the joint between the framework and the frame proper is
controlled or operated.
The framework enclosing the frame proper consists of sides such as a a, a, a¹.
fitted together by means of tenons and mortices, and having square metal fittings b
attached to their angles to strengthen them. This framework carries the glass 9,
retained in position by means of rods g' screwed to the sides a a', Figure 3.
The large sides a the frame are provided in the centre of their length with
journals a fitting into corresponding apertures or recesses provided in two side

page_text: castings cc which constitute the standards or supports of the frame stand. This
stand is further supplemented by a bed plate c¹. The bed-plate c may rest upon
rollers or castors, so as to form a carriage enabling the apparatus to be shifted
at will.
One of the journals a² has a disc a³ permanently attached to it, such disc having
a series of concentric perforations a' made in it, which serve to guide or direct the
framework as required and which, for this purpose, take up their position in front
of an opening of the standard c, so as to receive a fixing or retaining pin a³.
The bottom frame comprises the sides d d and d' d', fitted together by means of
tenons and mortices and so arranged as to fit as closely as possible the recess
formed by the sides a a¹ of the framework. The sides d d' are slotted so that a
thickness of cardboard e, which constitutes the bottom of the frame, may be
rigidly fixed therein. The lower side and the left side, d d', are cut along an oblique
line d . These sides, thus cut, are connected by a bevelled cross-piece d, while
the portions cut as before stated and forming the angle d d are simply bevelled
and connected to the cress tie d by hinges d' which enable the angle thus formed
to turn and describe a certain are of a circle in the upward direction. Over the
bottom or ground surface d d' is stretched a sheet of indiarubber 7, preferably
affixed to a piece of it extensible canvas, firmly retained on the sides dd', d³ de by
rods (Figure 3). It will be seen from the drawing that the slot in these
sides d d d and do, for the insertion of the sheet of cardboard e, is made to extend
for a portion only of their width, the remaining portion being adapted to receive
an india rubber band or strip h of rather considerable thickness, comparatively
speaking; which strip also follows the said cross piece or tie d¹. The flexible
strips have for their object to ensure with absolute certainty the maintenance of
an air-tight joint between the sides of the frame, d d' d' d' do, and the glass g, when
these parts are compressed by mechanism presently to be described.
The sides a a, a a¹, of the framework, at predetermined pointe, receive pressure
devices consisting of a species of crank with a handle k³ revolving about a spindle
or pivot rigidly fixed to the sides of the framework. The said crank k is
provided with a roller adapted to travel along a metal plate m with which the
frame d d', is fitted at predetermined parts of it; the said plate m, thus acting as a
rolling surface, being inclined.
When the frame d d', is fitted within the framework a a¹ (such framework
preferably occupying the horizontal position shown in Figure 2 with the glass
downwards), it is only necessary to turn the handles 2 to bring each of the hand
presses up to the interior of the apparatus, so that they may, as they move
inwardly, exercise pressure by means of their rollers upon the metal fittings m
of the frame, which will advance until its rollers arrive at the upper ends of the
inclined surfaces of these fittings. The pressure exercised by means of these
devices may be controlled or regulated at will by means of nuts passed on to
screw threaded portions of the spindles or by any other suitable adjusting
mechanism.
The frame d d' d³ a fits within the framework a a', or moves away from such
framework, by turning about one of its large sides. For this purpose the large
side of the frame is provided at each end with a metal piece a of peculiar shape,
fixed to the frame by means of a lug or tongue a¹; such metal piece forming a
journal at a in the plane forming an extension of the large side of the frame; and
it is further provided with a lug or flap situated practically at right angles to the
plane of the frame. The journals a², at each end, revolve in a special bearing
secured to the framework aa. This bearing comprises a metal case y permanently
connected to the framework by screws ylyl and provided on one side of the frame
with an aperture 2 extending over the whole of its height. Moreover a rod z,
terminating at its upper part in a flat cap or head ' and surrounded by a spiral
spring 22 serves as a direct support for the corresponding journal a³. This rod z is
adapted to slide within an aperture 23 provided in the framework, the spring 2
however constantly tending to draw it upwardly. When the frame is fitted within

page_text: the framework and retained in this situation by means of the combined handles and
rollers, the journals are at the lowest limit of the movement of which they are
capable, as are also the headed rods ; and the springs 2² are compressed. Now
if the handles be turned in the direction of the said aperture, the springs 2³, being
no longer balanced on that side, raise the frame, which is a very important result
as it facilitates the disconnection of the frame proper from the enclosing framework,
which otherwise would only be feasible with great difficulty on account of the
adherence resulting from the suction or vacuum. As soon as the plane of the
frame turning about one of its sides has passed beyond the vertical position,
the flaps or lugs bears upon the framework and thereby retains the frame proper
in the properly balanced position. The design which has been photographed is then
removed, a fresh sheet inserted, and the apparatus brought back to the operative
position by turning down the frame and causing each crank to turn the required
distance.
It will be seen that one of the pressure devices k is especially designed to form the
lower left angle of the frame. By operating this press in the required direction,
that angle of the frame may at any time be raised, i.e., made to turn on its pivots or
hinges d', so that the impression of the design may be inspected, in order to
ascertain if it is satisfactory.
Below the large sides a, the framework is provided with an air-pump adapted to
produce a vacuum in the space between the conductor f, at the back, and the glass g
of the framework, in which space are placed the designs or drawings to be
reproduced and the paper whereon the reproductions or impressions are to be
taken. The said pump comprises a cylindrical body p, closed by the end
plates pl and p², the piston n fitted with a leather cap or washer ², and mounted
upon the end of a hollow rod n². This rod is extended on the outside by the
handle n³ which serves to displace the piston or plunger of the pump as required.
The cylinder wall or plate p' is provided with a suction valve q fitted with a spring q',
and it terminates in a nipple to which is fitted and tied the end of a flexible tube o.
The other end of this tube o similarly fits the flange of a branch tube or nozzler,
secured to the bottom of the apparatus.
The nozzle r, screw-threaded externally, is fitted at one end with a wide base-
plate or flange fitting the bottom or rear surface of the frame, while at the other
end it has a series of small perforations 2, through which air is drawn in. A species
of suction valve or cock s is secured to the said nozzle or branch tube in such a manner
that its lower flange forms a joint with the frame through the medium of an india-
rubber washer interposed between. The cases of the said cock is formed like a nut
at its upper part, fitting the valve rod s¹, and has formed, on one side, a short tube or
nozzles, to which the flexible indiarubber tube o may be fitted. The rod s is
screwed at its lower part into a ring s* with an indiarubber plug so forming a valve for
the tube . Moreover, upon the rod s¹, is placed an indiarubber washer s6, retained
in position by the metal nut s'.
In order to produce a vacuum within the apparatus, the screw s¹ is first turned
in the desired direction until the washers, on being flattened underneath the
upper wall of the case s, shuts out the air from the said case; which air would be
admitted through the space which would be left around the screw-threaded rod, if
the provision just mentioned were not made to form the joint. When the desired
partial or total vacuum has been obtained, the rod s¹ is turned in the opposite
direction, and the valve s is closed hermetically against the orifices of the tube or
nozzle.
After this no air can find its way below the frame, and a vacuum may
be maintained within the apparatus undisturbed for a number of days.
Pieces of brass wire t, arranged in the shape of spiders' legs, under the movable
bottom constituted by an indiarubber plate, start from the tube r, radiating on all'
sides so as to enable the air readily to escape.
The operation is as follows:
After the bottom or rear frame dď has been raised and the drawings to be

page_text: reproduced and the paper which is to receive the representations or impressions
thereof, have been placed upon the glass g in the proper position, the frame d d¹ is
turned down and the hand-presses k are operated each in succession. The piston
or plunger of the pump is then operated so as to form a vacuum underneath the
glass 9, after which it is ascertained whether the drawings to be copied and the
paper they are to be copied on are uniformly stretched throughout; and finally
the photographic operation is proceeded with in the usual way.
For the purpose of producing the aforesaid vacuum the screw s' is turned in the
desired direction so as to lift the valves, whereby the chamber r is placed in
communication with the interior of the chambers and the discharge pipe o and
nozzles to the pump. If then the pump piston is drawn back, the suction valve q
of this pump leaves its seat and a portion of the air contained between the plate g
and the indiarubber, passes into the pump body p, on the return of the piston, the
valve 9 returns to its seat and the air compressed below the piston escapes between
the walls of the cylinder and the cup leather n¹ of the piston. After a few strokes
an almost perfect vacuum is obtained.
The screws (Figure 7) is then operated in such a manner as to close the
valves upon the outlet orifices of the chamber in order to preserve the aforesaid
vacuum.
The sheets of the design and of the reproduction are then completely stretched
and exactly applied against one another without atmospheric pressure.
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. A pneumatic photographic frame, comprising a framework whereon is hinged
a bottom or ground surface cut at an angle and made of cardboard and indiarubber,
which carries a tube communicating with a pump secured to the framework by
means of a flexible tube.
2. In a photographic frame such as referred to in the first claim, framework
provided with a glass which is to cover the drawings or designs to be reproduced
and the sheets of paper which are to receive the reproduction, and adapted to turn
ou pivots or hinges within a stand erected. upon a carriage.
3. In a photographic frame such as referred to in the first claim, a frame proper
fitted within the framework and mounted on pivots or hinges which spiral springs
constantly tend to raise ; the bottom or ground surface of such frame being formed
of a sheet of cardboard and a sheet of indiarubber fixed to an inextensible sheet of
canvas under which there radiate lengths of brass wire; the sides of such bottom
or back being, moreover, fitted with comparatively thick strips of indiarubber
adapted to ensure the tightness of the joint between the frame proper and the
glass.
4. In a frame for photographic purposes, such as referred to in the third claim,
an angle suitably bevelled and connected by hinges to the frame so as to enable
the process of reproduction to be watched without interfering with the position of
the designs or images to be reproduced (or the sheets receiving the impressions).
5. In a photographic frame such as referred to in the first claim, pressure devices
pivotted on to spindles secured in the sides of the framework and exercising the
required pressure; such devices being adjustable upon special metal fittings with
which the sides of the frame are provided at corresponding parts.
6. In a photographic frame, as claimed in the first claim, a pump with its accessory
parts secured underneath one of the sides of the framework, and adapted to com-
municate by means of a flexible tube and a nozzle or junction tube with the space
comprised between the bottom or back of the frame and the glass of the framework;
the junction tube secured in the centre of the bottom or back being, moreover,
intended to ensure the maintenance of a vacuum in the apparatus by means of a
special arrangement operated by hand.

page_text: 7. A pneumatic photographic frame for the reproduction of trade and other designs,
fitted together and combined as above described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawing.
Dated this 29th day of October 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.