Improved Apparatus for Transporting and Exposing Sensitized Films or Plates.
Year: 1885

page_text: Improved Apparatus for Transporting and Exposing Sensitized
Films or Plates.
I, ALFRED HORACE DAWES, of Kingston Grove, Leeds, in the County of York,
Artist, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVED APPARATUS
FOR TRANSPORTING AND EXPOSING SENSITIZED FILMS OR PLATES to be as
follows: :-
"
The object of this invention is to give increased facilities and safety in the use of
a number of sensitized photographic plates or films, and it is especially suitable for
tourists or other out-door work and may be thus described,--
I first construct a number of flat cases of thin metal or other suitable material, of
a size to fit the plates to be used, and generally double with a division between,
and having a hinged or other door or lid on each side, fitted in a light-proof
manner.
In lieu of the ordinary dark slide as heretofore, I now construct a movable frame
or end for the camera one side of it being open or exposed to the interior of the
camera, when in position and the other side blank. In this frame I fix one of the
before described cases containing one or more sensitized plates or films, and it is
then attached to the camera, by any suitable means or fastening.
The exposure of the plate or film is effected by means of a small shaft or spindle
which is fitted in the before-described frame, passing through one side or both and
having a suitable head or handle on the outside, this shaft generally being under
and parallel with the hinge of the case containing the plate, and having an upright
arm or arms which are connected by a simple catch with that side of the door or
lid of the case which is opposite to the hinge.
To "expose," the spindle head or handle is turned a quarter of a revolution,
which causes the upright arm to open the door or lid of the case, and the same
action reversed after exposure closes it again, when another case may take
its place.
In some cases I employ shafts or spindles along three sides of the frame or end,
with bevil wheels and two or more arms, the lid or door of the case then being a
double hinged one, dividing about the middle.
Da

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Transporting and Exposing Sensitized
Films or Plates.
I ALFRED HORACE DAWES, of Brook Cottage, Windermere, in the County of
Westmorland, Artist, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING AND EXPOSING SENSITIZED FILMS OR PLATES, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this Invention is to give increased facilities and safety in the use of
a number of sensitized photographic films or plates, and it is especially suitable for
tourists or other out-door work, and may be thus described,--
I first construct a number of flat cases of thin metal or wood, or other suitable
material, of a size to fit the plates to be used, and I prefer to construct these cases
for carrying two or more films or plates, with a division between them, and a
hinged or other lid on each side, for the insertion and removal (and exposure as
herein after explained) of the films or plates, the whole being fitted and clothed in
a light proof manner and provided with suitable fastenings.
I next construct, in lieu of the ordinary dark slide as heretofore,-a movable
frame as an end for the camera, one side of it being blank and the other open or
exposed to the interior of the camera when in position which frame I prefer to
attach to the camera by having a flange upon its one side fitting into a corre-
sponding groove in the camera the remaining three sides being tongued and
grooved to prevent the admission of light and having a suitable catch or fastening,
and it is arranged to receive one of the before-described cases, bolding it firmly and
steadily with one of the said lids towards the lens, and by preference, with the
hinge at or near the bottom of the camera. In lieu of the above described special
frame, I sometimes use the ordinary reversing frame or the focussing screen for
carrying the cases, the focussing glass being constructed to give way to allow of
the case being pushed in to the proper level.
The before-described frame or end is so constructed and fitted as to enable the
operator, when it is in or attached to the camera, to open for exposure and after-
wards close the lid of the light proof case it contains, this being attained by the
employment of a small metal or other shaft or spindle, fitted to that portion of
the said frame or end which lies immediately below or parallel with the hinge of
the case then being used, this shaft or spindle having a light upright arm about the
centre of the case, or two spaced as circumstances may require, and sufficiently long
to reach to the top of the lid of the light-proof case, and by suitable connection
with the before named fastening for the same, or an equivalent means, be capable
of opening and closing the said lid; this method of exposure enables the operator
to dispense with the cap of the lens, and also to give a considerably increased
exposure to the foreground of the picture. I generally prefer that the said shaft or
spindle shall pass through a bushed or clothed hole in the movable frame and have
a coil or other spring which will keep the upright arm pressing gently against the
lid of the case, and also have a handle or head for actuating it; in some cases

page_text: I employ shafts or spindles along three sides of the frame or end with bevelled or
mitre wheels and an arm opposite to that first described, the lid of the light proof
case then being opened by one action of the handle or head, or the single shaft and
handle first-described may be applied for each half of the lid, independently.
In any of these arrangements, a quarter turn of the handle or head will open for
exposure, and the same reversed will close, the lid or lids of the case containing the
plate or film; by now reversing the flat case in the frame or end, the second plate
therein can be exposed in a similar manner.
When a plate or film is to be exposed in a camera too large for it, a simple
carrier is employed as heretofore.
In the accompanying illustrations,-
Figure 1. is a view of the thin metal or other case, closed, ready for inserting in
the movable frame or end of the camera. Figure 2 is a front (inside) elevation of
the frame or end, showing the case inserted and the shaft with upright arm ready
for action, and Figure 3. is a sectional elevation, showing position of parts during
action, and in all these, a. is the light proof case, b. the plate contained therein,
c. the movable frame or end, d. the shaft or spindle, e. the upright arm of the same;
f the milled or other head for actuating it and g the spring.
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
First. The use of cases for containing one or more films or plates with hinged
lids so constructed as to enable them to be lowered or opened and closed entirely
within the camera.
Second. The use of a shaft or shafts with arms or levers so constructed as to
enable them to open and close the before described cases in the interior of the
camera.
Third. The combined use of cases for containing the films or plates with hinged
lids and revolving shaft or shafts with lever or arms for opening and closing the
same within the camera.
Dated 24th December 1905