Improvements in Panoramic Cameras.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Sept., 1892-Accepted, 8th Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Panoramic Cameras.
I, RICHARD WARREN STEWART, Colonel of the Royal Engineers residing at
8 Nelson Villa Devonport do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
A camera stand carries on its top a horizontal circular disc, having a grooved
edge, and capable of being clamped to the stand top: through a socket in the
centre of this disc there passes a vertical tubular arbor having a flange at its upper
end, and capable of turning freely in the socket: This flange carries the base
board of a camera furnished with a lens, and having a "roll-holder" to contain
sensitive tissue: The roll holder contains four vertical rollers, on the first of
which is rolled the sensitive tissue. This roller (called hereinafter the supply
spool) has a friction brake the second roller has its axis continued downwards
through the bottom of the roll holder, and there carries a small grooved pulley in
the plane of the disc: A belt passes round this pulley and round the groove in the
edge of the disc so that rotation of the second roller causes through this belt a
rotation of the camera and arbor in the socket of the disc; the third roller may be
idle, or may also if necessary be fitted similarly to the second and take the same
belt: These rollers act as guides to the sensitive tissue keeping the part between
them in the focal plane of the lens: The fourth roller (hereinafter called the
receiver) is driven by clock-work fixed to the base board of the camera, and
regulated by a fly escapement, the fly being kept from revolving by the arm of a
lever. This lever can be moved by a pneumatic or hydraulic release operated through
the tubular arbor by an elastic tube and ball in a manner well understood: By
squeezing the ball the lever is caused to move out of the way of the arms of the
fly, and the clockwork runs down until the pressure on the ball is relaxed, when the
lever returns to its normal position and stops the fly.
The end of the tissue on the supply spool being passed across the second and
third rollers, and secured to the receiver, when the fly is released the receiver will
turn and wind up the tissue, and the second and third rollers will also be caused to
turn by the friction of the tissue against them (assisted if necessary by a friction
roller) thus causing a rotation of the camera in the opposite direction to the motion
of the tissue.
By constructing the 2nd and 3rd rollers and their pulleys in proper relation to
the diameter of the disc measured on the groove, and the focal length of the lens,
the motion of the tissue can cause the rotation of the camera so that the images
formed by the lens shall be stationary on the tissue during the time they are passing
across the portion of the field of the lens occupied by the tissue the width of this
portion is adjusted by a variable vertical slit or diaphragm in front of the tissue.
By this instrument views in panoramic or cylindrical projection including any
horizontal angle can be taken, a pricker to mark the tissue at the end of each
exposure forms part of the roll-holder and this as well as an internal shutter, or
light obstructor can be arranged to be actuated by the pneumatic release that
controls the fly thus rendering the instrument automatic, when the clock-work has
been wound up.
Dated at Devonport 1st February 1892.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
· Improvements in Panoramic Cameras.
I, RICHARD WARREN STEWART, of 8 Nelson Villa, Devonport, Colonel of the
Royal Engineers, 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 :-
A camera stand carries on its top a horizontal circular disc having a grooved
edge and capable of being clamped to the stand top. Through a socket in the
centre of this disc there passes a vertical tubular arbor having a flange at its upper
end and capable of turning freely in the socket. This flange carries the base-
board of a camera furnished with a lens and having a "roil holder" to contain
sensitive tissue. The roll holder contains four vertical rollers, on the first of which
is rolled the sensitive tissue. This roller (called hereinafter the "supply spool")
has a friction brake. The second roller has its axis continued downwards through
the bottom of the roll holder and there carries a small grooved pulley in the plane
of the disc. A belt passes round this pulley and round the groove in the edge of
the disc, so that rotation of the second roller causes, through this belt, a rotation of
the camera and arbor in the socket of the disc. The third roller may be idle or
may also, if necessary, be fitted similarly to the second and take the same belt.
These rollers act as guides to the sensitive tissue, keeping the part between them in
the focal plane of the lens. The fourth roller (hereinafter called "the receiver ")
is driven by clockwork fixed to the base-board of the camera and regulated by a
fly escapement, the fly being normally kept from revolving by the arm of a lever.
This lever can be moved by a pneumatic or hydraulic release operated through the
tubular arbor by an elastic tube and ball in a manner well understood. By
squeezing the ball the lever is caused to move out of the way of the arms of the fly
and the clockwork runs down until the pressure on the ball is released, when the
lever returns to its normal position and stops the fly.
The end of the tissue on the supply spool being passed across the second and
third rollers and secured to the receiver, when the Hy is released, the receiver will
turn and wind up the tissue, and the second and third rollers will also be caused to
turn by the friction of the tissue against thein assisted, if necessary, by a friction
roller, thus causing a rotation of the camera in the opposite direction to the motion
of the tissue. If desired milled or toothed wheels may be substituted for the
grooved wheels for giving rotary motion to the camera.
proper
By constructing the second and third rollers and their pulleys in relation
to the size of the disc measured on the groove and the focal length of the lens, the
motion of the tissue can cause the rotation of the camera so that the images formed
by the lens shall be stationary on the tissue during the time they are passing across
the portion of the field of the lens occupied by the tissue. The width of this
portion is adjusted by a variable vertical slit or diaphragm in front of the tissue.
By this instrument views in panoramic or cylindrical projection including any
horizontal angle can be taken. A pricker to mark the tissue at the end of each
exposure forms part of the roll-holder, and this, as well as internal shutter or light
obstructer, can be arranged to be actuated by the pneumatic release that controls
the fly, thus rendering the instrument automatic when the clockwork has been
wound up.
And in order that the invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying drawings, more fully
to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

page_text: Figure II is a sectional plan of the camera.
Figure III shows the lower bearing of the roller N and the pulley P fixed
thereon for giving rotary motion to the camera.
Figure IV shows the lower bearing of the roller S with sprocket wheel fixed
thereon and chain from motor passing around the sprocket wheel.
Figure V is a plan of parts showing the means for rotating the camera.
Figure VI is a front elevation showing the screen, pneumatic apparatus, fly, &c.,
the front of the camera being removed.
Figure VII is a sectional elevation showing the counting apparatus.
Figure VIII is an elevation of the elastic bulb z, stop-cock and tube Z used for
starting and stopping the apparatus.
The upper part of the top A of a camera stand is made circular, and the edge B
is either grooved to take a flexible band or it is milled or toothed, and it is made of
a certain diameter in relation to the other parts which will be hereinafter referred
to. Through the centre C of this disc is formed a socket, see Figure I, to receive a
tubular arbor D at right angles with the plane of the disc. This arbor has a broad
flange F at its upper end with screw holes for attachment to the bottom of the
camera, and the lower end, where it projects through the socket, is provided with
lock nuts G, which secure it from displacement but do not prevent it from turning
freely. The camera is a rigid box secured by its base to the Finnge F and having a
rising front H carrying the photographic lens J, the focal plane K of which, for
distant objects, is a short distance in front of the back L of the camera, see Figures I
and II. The top and bottom of the camera support in suitable bearings the upper
and lower ends of four vertical rollers M, N, Q, S, the use of which is to carry, and
pass along in the focal plane of the lens, a length of photographic sensitive tissue.
The first of these rollers beginning on the left, marked M, carries a supply of tissue,
and the bearings m m' are adapted to fit the ends of the spools carrying the sensitive
tissue; the upper bearing m is carried by a spring, see Figure I, which presses upon the
end of the spool, so as to act as a brake. The second roller, N, in rear of the first,
has the sensitive surface of the tissue held in close frictional contact with it as it is
unwound from the roller or spool M by the pressure of a spring roller O, see Figure II,
the axle of which is carried by two flat springs O¹ fixed against the left side of the
camera. The spindle of the roller N passes down through the bottom of the
camera, as shown at Figure III, and has a pulley P fixed on its lower end. This
pulley lies in the plane of the disc B, and its circumference is grooved, milled or
toothed like the disc B. The third roller Q receives the tissue from the roller N
and serves as a guide to keep the tissue in the focal plane, as also to measure the
length of tissue that passes; it does this latter by means of a pinion R at its upper
end, see Figures II and VII, which gears into the wheels of a counter hereinafter
described. The tissue passes from the roller Q to the fourth roller S, the end of
the tissue being secured to this latter roller in any convenient manner, so that when
the said roller is revolved, the tissue will be wound up on it, preferably with the
sensitive surface inwards. The lower bearing S' of this roller, see Figure IV, has a
sprocket wheel, round which a chain T passes to a sprocket wheel which is driven
by the clockwork U, which latter is represented by a circle in Figure II. This
clockwork is fastened to the base of the camera inside and near the front, and is
driven by a spring that can be wound up from the outside by a key V, see Figure II.
The clockwork is controlled by a fly escapement W, the fly being normally blocked
by an arm X, see Figures I, II and VI. This arm forms parts of the pneumatic
apparatus, which consists of an air-tight bag a communicating through the tube Z,
see Figures I, II and VIII, with the elastic bulb z. This bag lies between the
arms of a sugar tongs spring, the arm u being fixed to the camera, while the
free extremity of the arm is prolonged into the arms X and e, see Figures I
and VI, and carries two pins x and B actuating respectively a link to and a pricker r.
The pricker is a needle lying in guides along the bottom of the camera between
the wings d¹d, and having its point raised a little above the lower end of the
tissue, so as to puncture it when pushed back by the motion of the pin B. The

page_text: link w is connected to an arm t fixed to a door or flap S, see Figures I, II and VI,
hinged to close or open the aperture in the screen." The pneumatic action is as
follows: pressure on the elastic bulb z inflates the bag d and moves the arm v.
This first releases the fly W, secondly opens the door S, and thirdly withdraws the
pricker r. The spring of the tongs is strong enough to reverse this action when
the flexible bulb is allowed to expand; in this way the whole action is automatic.
The edges of the disc B and wheel P are grooved and are encircled by an endless
belt b, see Figure V, and against this belt there presses a friction or tension roller a
held in bearings on the free end of a flat spring a', the other end of which is secured
to the bottom of the camera. As an alternative, instead of the edges of the pulley P,
disc B and roller a being grooved to take a belt, the edges of such parts may be
milled alike and the roller a may press directly against both the pulley P and
disc B, the belt being in such case dispensed with and the roller a acting as an
intermediate wheel through which the motion of the wheel P re-acts on the disc B
and thereby gives motion to the camera.
The action of the apparatus
as follows. The camera is taken into the dark
room, and the roll of sensitive film inserted and fixed in position, as already
indicated, and the camera is closed and locked. The clockwork is wound up, the
roller a is lifted away from contact with the belt b, or with the wheel P, and the
camera is turned round by hand till the lens points towards the left end of
the proposed view; the roller a is then freed and allowed to come into contact with
disc B and wheel P, and the elastic bulb z is compressed by hand. The clockwork
then starts and, by means of the sprocket wheel S₁ and chain T, causes the
roller S to turn and wind up the tissue; the pressure put on the tissue by the
roller O causes the roller N to revolve, and this, through the wheel P, roller a and
disc B, causes the camera to rotate on its axis. It is found that if the radius of the
wheel P, half the thickness of the belt, or + half the depth of the milling or
teeth, has the same ratio to the radius of the roller N that the radius of the disc B
has to the equivalent focal length of the lens, then, as the camera rotates, the
images of objects formed by the lens travel in the focal plane in the same direction
and at the same rate as the tissue and hence they remain stationary with regard to
the sensitive tissue over a vertical space subtending a small horizontal angle; the
result is a perfectly sharp photographic negative in cylindric projection.
Between the lens and the tissue is interposed a vertical screen d with wings d' d
to screen the rollers M, N, Q, S, from diffused light in the camera, and between the
wings is fixed a hollow vertical cylinder having portions of its periphery e cut
away at the front and back parallel to its axis, the openings thus formed extending
far enough in a vertical direction to allow a free passage of the rays through the
lens. Inside this cylinder f is fitted another cylinder g, similarly cut, and the upper
end of this inner cylinder passes through the top of the camera, see Figure I, and
has a milled head and pointer p by which it can be turned round like the plug of a
tap, so as to cut off more or less of the width of the opening through the fixed
cylinder. The amount of effective opening is shown by the travel of the pointer p
over a graduated arc q on the top of the camera. The head is shown fitted with a
circular level . As the light may be cut off by turning the cylinder g in either
direction, advantage is taken of this to adjust the shape of the opening so as to give
a different exposure to the sky than to the foreground if desired. This is done by
cutting one or two of the edges of the cylinder g inclined to the axis, thus giving
a wider opening at one end than the other. Access to the rollers M N Q and S is
obtained by dividing the camera down both sides I I and at the left hand back
corner L' and attaching the hinder portions I IL by hinges 12 to the fixed parts
of the sides, the meeting edges being so rebated that when closed no light can enter.
Besides using clips to secure these parts, I also prefer to use a lock. The fly can be
adjusted by sliding out the rising front and passing the hand through the opening.
The circumference of the "register" roller Q is, by preference, made such that
each two inches of tissue that passes, causes one complete revolution of the roller,
and if the pinion R, see Figure VII, have seven leaves gearing into the teeth of

page_text: two cog wheels R' R' of equal diameters, but the upper wheel having 42 teeth and
the lower 40, both running loose on the same axial pin, then, as the roller Q revolves,
one turn of the upper wheel R¹ will register one foot of tissue, and the lower
wheel R will gain two teeth on the upper. If then the lower wheel R be engraved
on its upper surface into twenty numbered equal divisions, and a hole be cut through
the upper wheel R¹, see Figure II, so as to expose two of these to view, then the
number of feet of tissue run off can be read up to 20 feet. Other numbers of
pinion leaves and teeth may be used provided they bear the proper relations to the
circumference of the roller Q and the length of tissue the instrument is adapted
to receive. It is found convenient to have a stop-cock on the tube Z to relieve the
hand during exposure. A graduated compass, not shown, is fixed on the top of the
camera. Other appliances, such as telescope, &c., could be attached for surveying
purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In panoramic cameras, the combination of the various parts as herein shown
and described to produce panoramic negatives in cylindric projection unlimited, in
horizontal angle.
2. The combination of a train of clockwork regulated by a fly escapement, with
a series of rollers carrying sensitive tissue, by which the tissue is made to transmit
the motion of the clockwork to the camera as a whole, so as to cause a rotation of
the instrument so related to the motion of the tissue and the motion of the images
formed by a lens of given equivalent focus, that the tissue and images move
synchronously, and thus the image remains stationary on the tissue longenough
to produce distinct photographic impressions.
3. In panoramic cameras, the combination with a motor and regulating fly, of
pneumatic or hydraulic flexible bulb, a fixed and a divided moveable spring arm,
a flexible bag placed between such arms, a pipe connecting the flexible bulb with
the flexible bag, a portion of such spring arm acting normally to stop the fly, a
hinged shutter normally closed to prevent light from passing through an aperture
in the screen to the sensitive surface, connections from the moveable spring, arm
to the shutter, and a pricker attached to the moveable spring arm to mark the
lengths of sensitive film used, all operating and arranged substantially as herein
shown and described and for the purpose stated.
Dated this 3rd day of September 1892,
ited this 3rd day of September 1892.
R. W. STEWART,
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.