Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 7th June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 7th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 13th Apr., 1895:
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
I MARSHALL ARTHUR WIER of Elm Place, Thames Bank, Lower Ham Road,
Kingston-on-Thames, in the County of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that class of photographic camera in which a number
of sensitized films are placed in a box or receptacle, and moved one by one from
one part thereof to another either after or before exposure, and it consists in the
following arrangements :-
A box or receptacle is provided of dimensions suitable for holding a number of
films. A semicircular piece is provided at one side of this box or receptacle over
A channel or
which the films are caused to travel from front to rear or vice-versa.
groove is formed on each, end of the said semicircular piece in which grooves the
ends of the clips carrying the films are caused to travel. These clips are attached
to the edges of the films by sliding them thereon. This may be done by a special
apparatus which holds the film and guides the clip while it is being slid on to the
edge thereof. The clips are made somewhat longer than the edge of the film to
which they are attached in order that their ends may run in suitable guide grooves
or channels in the aforesaid box or receptacle, and those on the semicircular piece
when passing from one side of the box or receptacle to the other; and also to
prevent the face of each film from rubbing against or being scratched by any part
of the apparatus.
The part in which the films are placed is made somewhat narrower or shorter
than the films themselves by thicknesses of velvet pile or other suitable means, so
that the films are caused to stand at an angle to the exposure opening.
The transference of the films. from one position to another is effected by one, or
more sliding shutters. A door is provided at the back of the box through which
the films are inserted. A pair of spring arms with a cross piece is provided for
pushing the films forward by pressing against the aforesaid clips. The front
shutter closes the exposure opening and has.a projecting ledge or studs on its inside
face which, when the shutter is drawn out, lifts or lift the film, forcing it to pass
round the semicircular piece into a position where the lower end of the back
shutter takes hold of the clip of the film by its two projecting ends, and when the
said back shutter is pushed in it forces the film downwards behind the unexposed
films. The front shutter therefore transfers the exposed film partly from the front
to the rear, and the back shutter completes that movement.
When filling the compartment with films a dummy film may be first placed next
the front shutter and the sensitized, but, unexposed films, next to it. The shutters
(which may be connected so as to work together) being pushed home no film is in
pcsition for exposure, but when the shutters are next drawn out the dummy film is
transferred part of the way to the rear by the front shutter, and when the shutters
are pushed in the dummy film is taken hold of by the back shutter and passed to
the rear, and a film is placed in position for exposure by the front shutter passing
between the first film, and the next.. When the film is exposed the shutters are
again drawn out, but before being pushed in again the front film is pressed away
from the exposure opening by suitable means so that the front shutter, when closed
in, will pass in front of the said film and the change box may then be taken off the
'camera; but if instead of taking off the camera the operation is to be repeated

page_text: the shutters are again drawn out and this causes the last exposed film to be carried
over the semicircular piece towards the back, then on pushing the shutters in again
a new film is brought into position opposite the exposure opening.
When the invention is applied to a hand camera a single shutter may be
employed which is slid in and out once for each exposure. The ledge on the studs
or other equivalent devices are placed on the front face of the shutter and the exposed
film is transferred thereby to a separate compartment in front of the films instead of
to the rear, the ends of the film clips sliding along suitable channels or guides
arranged for that purpose.
Dated the fith day of T 1004
M. A. WIER,
Per W. H. Beck,
Agent.
бобларите Сашeras.
I, MARSHALL ARTHUR WIER, of Elm Place, Thames Bank, Lower Ham Road,
Kingston-on-Thames, in the County of Surrey, 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 that class of photographic cameras in which a number
of sensitized films are placed in a box or receptacle, and moved one by one from
one part thereof to another after exposure; and it consists of arrangements and
devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a change box for a camera
constructed in accordance with my invention in which the films are transferred one
by one after exposure from the front to the back of the box ;
Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section on line X X of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of a camera in which the films are
transferred one by one, after exposure, from the front of the film compartment to
a receptacle in the upper part of the body of the camera; and
Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal, section of the film compartment for a folding
camera in which the receptacle for receiving the films after exposure can be folded
down to enable the body of the camera to be collapsed.
Similar letters relate to like parts in all of the figures of the drawings.
Referring to Figures 1, and 2 A is a box or receptacle forming a change box of
dimensions suitable for holding a number of films, and adapted to be secured to
the back of the camera body in any suitable or well known manner. B is the
opening in the front of the box through which the exposure of the films to the
action of light takes place, and C is a door at the back of the box through which
the films D can be inserted into or withdrawn from the box A.
metal or other suitable material curved into a more or less semicircular contour,
E is a piece of
which, with the somewhat similarly shaped surface F forms a guide way G along
which the films D are caused to travel as hereinafter described. G₁ are curved
channels or grooves in the sides of the box A (see Figure 2) forming continuations
of the guide way G; and G' are horizontal channels or grooves also formed in
the sides of the box A as shown. These chancels or grooves G' G' serve to
receive the projecting ends of the clips D₁ as the films are caused to travel from
the back of the box A in a horizontal path to the front, and thence in a curved
path to the back therof, as hereinafter described.
The clips D which are formed of strips of metal bent into a U shape as shown,
are attached to the upper edges of the films D by sliding them thereon; they serve
to facilitate the separation of the films from one another, and are made somewhat
longer than the edge of the film D to which. they are attached (as shown in

page_text: Figure 2) in order that when the films D are placed in the box A the ends of the
said clips may take into the channels or grooves (G2 in the sides of the box A.
The lower edges of the foremost films rest against the pad H, composed of velvet
pile or other suitable material, at the bottom of the box A. A pair of spring
arms I with a cross piece J, or any other suitable device, may be provided for
pushing the films forward by pressing against the aforesaid clips D'.
The transference of the film which has just been exposed, from the front of the
box A to the back thereof, is effected by a sliding shutter K which passes through
a slit L in the top of the box, suitable means being provided to prevent the
entrance of light through the said slit. For example, a spring slide M provided
with a velvet-lined slit M may be employed which, while allowing the sliding
shutter K to be moved slightly to and fro in the direction of the arrows, (Figure 1)
effectually prevents the admission of light to the interior of the box A. The
shutter K is adapted to close the exposure opening B when required, and is
provided with one or more projecting ledges or hooks N on its lower inside edge
adapted to pass under the lower edge of the front film when the shutter is closed
and to lift the film, as the shutter is drawn out, and to force it to follow the semi-
circular path G and to be deposited, with its clip D¹ downwards, in the space at
the rear of the box A as shown at D' for example.
When filling the box with films the shutter K should be closed and the
sensitised, but unexposed, films placed therein, with the ends of their clips D¹
taking into the horizontal guide grooves or channels G2 at the sides of the
box A.
It will now be understood that when the shutter is drawn upwards its ledge or
book N will draw up the first film and force it round the semicircular guide way G,
thereby transferring it to the rear of the box A. The front sensitised film is then
pushed forward at the top by the springs I and cross bar J, and the shutter being
now pressed downwards, passes between the first film and the next, and forces the
lower edge of the front film to spring over the pad H bringing the whole of
the front film into position next the exposure opening B, the interposition of
the shutter K between the frout film and the next preventing access of light
which might otherwise pass through the front film to the next behind it.
When
the front film has been exposed, the shutter is again drawn out, its ledge or
hook N not catching the lower edge of the second film because the latter is still
held back by the pad H. When the shutter bas been raised so that its lower
edge is clear above the clips D' of the films D its said lower edge can be pressed
forward by pressing its upper part backwards in the direction of the plain
arrow, so that when the shutter is again pressed downwards its lower edge passes
in front of the exposed film and its ledge or hook N takes under the lower edge
thereof; then on again drawing up the shutter K the film is raised with it, and
is. pushed round the semicircular guide way G, the ends of the clip D' passing
round the guide grooves G' until the film springs or drops into the space at the
rear of the box A. as shown at D2. The removal of the front film gives room for
the next-film to be pushed forward by the springs I and cross bar J, and when
the shutter K is next pushed down (its upper part being pressed forward slightly
in the direction of the feathered arrow if necessary) it passes between the fresh
front film and the next, and presses the said fresh front film against the exposure
opening, and the same operations are repeated, the shutter being pressed in and
drawn out twice in order to effect the transfer of a film from front to back. When
it is desired to remove the change box from the camera, assuming it to contain
sensitised films, the shutter K is to be closed down so as to pass in front of the
foremost film and the box A can then be removed without fear of the entrance
of light.
It will be understood that the pad H serves to hold back the second film and
prevent damage to the sensitised surface thereof while the shutter K is being
interposed between it and the first film, and in order to further guard the said
sensitised surface from damage, the shutter K is preferably provided at the lower

page_text: part of its two vertical sides with raised surfaces or swells O (Figures 1 and 2)
which, when the shutter is being passed between two adjacent clips D', press the
films back against the resistance of the spring-urged cross bar J. These swells O
which project slightly beyond the hooks N also serve to prevent the said hooks
from engaging with the edge of the clip of the second film when passing upwards
between it and the first film. In order that the sensitised surface of the exposed
film shall not be damaged while being transferred along the curved guide way G,
I prefer to form a recess in the curved surface F, as shown, whereby the sensitised
and exposed surface of the film is not allowed to touch the surface F except at its
side edges.
In the arrangement shown in Figure 3 the ledge or hook N is placed on the
front face of the shutter K and the exposed film is transferred thereby to a
separate compartment P situated in the upper part of the camera in front of the
films D. In this case the upper ends of the films D are guided by the curved
piece and the films are deposited in the storage compartment P with their
clips D' towards the front of the camera as shown, and these films can be removed
from the storage compartment P through the door A* in the top of the camera.
The action of the shutter K is similar to that described in respect of Figure 1 but
in this case only one inward and one outward movement of the shutter is required
for the transfer of each film from the film compartment A to the storage com-
partment P. When the shutter K is pressed down it passes between the front film
and the next bringing the former into position next the exposure opening B in
manner as described in reference to Figure 1, the ledge or hook N
taking under the edge of the front film, and on drawing up the shutter the front
film is raised with it and transferred to the storage compartment P. The spring I
forces the pack of films forward, and the shutter K at its next descent passes
between the fresh front film and the next, and so on.
the same
The arrangement shown in Figure 4 is very similar to that shown in Figure 3,
but instead of the storage compartment P being fixed, it is arranged to be turned
on a centre P by means of an arm or handle outside the case, or by a link or
other attachment to the front B* or other convenient moving part. When the
camera body is opened out, as shown in dotted lines, the storage compartment P
can be raised into the position, also shown in dotted lines, and is then in position
to receive the exposed films from the film compartment, but when it is desired to
fold up the camera the storage compartment P is turned into the position shown
in full lines, and the body of the camera can then be closed up against it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. In a photographic camera the means for transferring the films from the
front part of the box or creceptacle containing them to the back part thereof,
which consist of a sliding shutter provided with one or more ledges or hooks
adapted to engage the lower edge of the film to be transferred, a curved guide-way
for guiding the upper ends of the said films during their transfer from front to
back and guide ways at the sides of the box for guiding the upper ends of the
films during their passage from back to front, combined, and operating substantially
as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.
Second. In a photographic camera the means for transferring the films from the
front of the box or receptacle containing them to a separate storage receptacle in
the upper part of the body of the camera which consist of a sliding shutter
provided with one or more ledges or hooks adapted to engage the lower edge of
the film to be transferred, a curved guide-way for guiding the upper ends of
the said films into the said storage receptacle, and guides at the sides of the box
for guiding the upper ends of the films during their passage from back to front,
combined and operating substantially as described with reference to Figure 3 of
the drawings.

page_text: Third. In a photographic camera having a storage receptacle for exposed films
in the upper part of the body thereof, as herein described in reference to Figure 3
of the drawings the arrangement of the said storage receptacle so that it can be
turned down opposite to the exposure opening when it is desired to close or
collapse the body of the camera substantially as described with reference to
Figure 4 of the drawings.
Fourth. In a photographic camera in which the films are transferred from one
part of the box or receptacle containing them to another part of the same box, or
to a separate storage receptacle, by means of a transferring shutter, holding the
front films at an angle to the plane of the exposure opening, or to the plane of
motion of the transferring shutter, substantially as described with reference to
Figures 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings and for the purposes specified.
Fifth. The improved means or method of transferring photographic films from
one part of the box or receptacle containing them to another part of the same box
or receptacle, or to a separate storage receptacle, substantially as described.
Sixth. In a photographic camera or change box in which the films are
transferred from one part of the film compartment to another part thereof, or
from one part of the film compartment to a separate storage compartment, the use
of clips applied to the upper edges of the films for the purpose of facilitating
the separation of the films from one another, the ends of such clips projecting
beyond the sides of the films for the purpose of guiding the said films, substantially
as described.
3
100-