PROVIDIONAL DITIVATION
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVIDIONAL DITIVATION
Improvements in Animated Picture Machines and the like.
I, ALFRED SCHOELLER, of 24, Oestliche Merianstrasse, Frankfurt on Main, in
the Empire of Germany, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this in-
vention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in animated picture machines, and
has for its object the construction of an apparatus in which a phonographic re-
production of speech or music accompanies the life-motion depicted by means
of the animated picture machine; such phonographic and animated picture re-
productions being capable of regulation in respect of each other, so that practi-
cally a simultaneous working of both is attained. The apparatus can be put in
operation by a coin-freed mechanism or any other suitable device.
For the sake of brevity, I have named the combined appliance, the
"Visaphone."
In order to effect the result above referred to, I place, in a suitable ornamental
case, a revolving spindle driven by an electric or other motor having an adjust-
able break with which to regulate the speed of the spindle, and arranged so that
the motor can be reversed when desired.
Upon the above named spindle, or working in connection therewith, I place
a series of instantaneous photographs taken rapidly one after the other, which
may be arranged as a circular book with curved leaves radiating from the centre,
or as a band with or without ends, in similar manner to one or the other known
forms of animated picture machines.
As the spindle is made to revolve in a forward direction by means of the
motor, the pictures are rapidly brought in consecutive order before the eye,
giving to the beholder the impression of objects in life-like motion.
Underneath the portion of the apparatus containing the animated picture
machine or in any other convenient portion of the ornamental case, place a
motor-driven phonographic apparatus preferably of the type more fully described
in Schoellers Patent No. 9947 A.1). 1898 in which the speed of the phonographic
cylinder or record can be exactly regulated by means of an adjustable break,
(the sound so produced being conveyed to the hearer by suitable tubes and ear
pieces) and in which the machine sets itself at the end of each tune or speech,
so that it can be started afresh at any time.
As there is at present great difficulty in getting a clear and satisfactory phono-
graphic record form, for instance, a comic singer continually changing his
position or from a regiment of soldiers on the march headed by its band of music
it becomes a necessity, in order to get a pleasing result in the Visaphone, to
have the pictures and the records taken at separate times and under conditions
exactly suited to each.
For this reason I have arranged the animated picture machine and the phono-
graphic machine, in my Visaphone "though both will be driven by the same
motive force, to work independently of each other and to be capable of the

page_text: most delicate adjustment of speed, so that they can be made to work in unison
as if the pictures and record had been taken together.
In the event of it being necessary to employ a single motor to drive both
machines I attach to the main driving shaft and to the respective-shafts of each
machine cone pullies or other suitable devices by which the speed of the machine
shafts can be regulated independently of the speed of the main shaft.
In certain types of animated picture machines it is necessary, when the last
picture of the series has been shown, to revolve the spindle in the reverse direction
with the view either to relieve the strain on the curved leaves of the circular
book or to rewind the band of photographs to its original position, ready for
starting again.
To effect this, I employ a reversing electric motor, and on, or connected with
the driving wheel attached to the revolving spindle I place a moveable adjustable
slide or bolt which, at the proper moment, engages with a spring, pawi.and causes
an armature to be released breaking the original circuit between the battery and
the motor and establishing a second circuit which causes the motor and spindle
to revolve in a reverse direction.
This reverse motion is continued so long as may be desired and is then stopped
by the action of a second adjustable bolt, cam or slide connected to the driving
wheel, which comes into contact with another pawl and .so breaks the second
circuit.
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The apparatus is then in its original position, ready to start forward again on
the completion of the first circuit by the insertion of a coin or by any other
device.
The phonographic-apparatus-sets-itself-at-the-end-of-each-tune-or-record,
independently of the animated picture, machine in the manner set forth in
Schoellers-Patent-No.-9947 A.D. 1898.
Both animated picture and phonographic machines in the "Visaphone
started simultaneously on the completion of the first circuit.
T
are
"
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Animated Picture Machines and the like.
I, ALFRED SCHOELLER, of 24, Oestliche Merianstrasse, Frankfurt on Main, in
the Empire of Germany, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this in-
vention 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 improvements in animated picture machines, and has
for its object the construction of an apparatus, (either with or without an
attachment whereby it is put in operation by the insertion of a coin on the penny-
in-the-slot principle), in which a phonographic reproduction of speech or music
accompanies the life motion depicted by means of the animated picture appliance,
such phonographic and animated picture reproductions being capable of regu-
lation, the one with the other so as to obtain practically concordant working. To
this combined appliance is given the name of "Visaphone."
In order to effect the above named result, I arrange the apparatus as I shall
describe referring to the accompanying drawings.
Figs. 1 and 2 are vertical sections of the casing on planes at right angles to
each other shewing the mechanism within, in elevation.

page_text: In the upper part of the casing a is accommodated an animated picture ap-
paratus of known kind which is driven by an electric motor b. In the lower part:
of the casing is accommodated a phonograph c, which might be driven by band
or by other gear from the motor 6 but which is preferably driven by a separate
motor d receiving its energy from the same source of electricity as the motor b.!
A worm on the shaft of the motor b gears with a wheel e on the shaft of which'
is fixed the disc that carries the leaves f forming the animated picture, each of
which, as the disc revolves in the direction of the arrow is bent back by the fixed
folder g so as to be illuminated by the electrical glow lamp h and to be seen by
the observer through the lens i. On the axis of the wheel e is a pinion gearing
with a wheel the gearing being such that the wheel j revolves
once while the wheel e with the leaves f revolves once or several,
say three times as shewn. On the wheel is fitted a radially sliding
tappet which in revolving around a fixed eccentric is thrust outwards and:
operates as will presently be described. m is an electromagnet, the armature:
of which is fixed on a rocking spindle having an arm attached to a spring o
which pulls the armature up, and having another arm in line with the armature
carrying a pin p which arm is held down by a spring catch t. There are also on
the spindle switch contacts at q, suitably connected with the source of electricity,
the lamp h, and the motors band d. For the motor b there is a second switch:
indicated diagrammatically at r for a reversing current having its contacts
broken by a cam s fixed on the wheel e. The electrical connections are not shewn
in the drawings as they would complicate them, and as they are all arranged in
the known way, so that the mechanism operates in the following manner.
The speed of each of the motors band is regulated by adjustable brakes u or
otherwise so that the music from the phonograph suitably accords in its time
with the succession of pictures presented to the eye. The starting of the mech-
anism is effected by bringing the operating current into circuit by a contact
made by a coin inserted or by a button or other appliance pressed by the finger.
The first effect is to energise the magnet m which draws down its armature and
the pin both being then held down by the catch t. The contacts at q are thus
moved so as to cut the magnet m out of circuit and close the circuit of the
lamp and the motors band d which are thereupon both driven, the wheel e
revolving in the direction of the arrow and the wheel and slide tappet * in
the opposite direction.
When the wheel e has turned several times round, say three times as determined
by the gearing of j to its pinion, the wheel j has turned only once and the
tappet having been pushed out by passing over the eccentric comes over the
pin which is down and pushes aside the catch whereupon the armature is
raised by the spring o and with it the pin p pushing the tappet k inwards. By
this movement of the spindle the contacts at g are broken cutting both dynamos
and the lamp out of circuit and the switch ris brought into circuit, whereby the
dynamo is reversed, moving the wheel e backwards until the cam s breaks the
contact at the switch r the whole mechanism being thus stopped. On starting
again the several operations are repeated, the switch and cam s being inopera-
tive until the tappet k again comes into action on the catch t.
The object of reversing through a short movement is to take the stress off the
leaves which are strained backwards by the direct movement. During this
reversal of the photographic part of the apparatus, the phonograph resets itself
ready for a fresh motion, that is to say the diaphragm is released from its ad-
vancing screw and is brought back to its starting position by the weight w.
As it is often difficult to get a satisfactory phonographic record, at the same
time as an animated photograph is taken because persons acting and singing or
soldiers marching and having the band playing, move from place to place, it is
preferable in order to get a pleasing effect in a Visaphone or combined animated
photograph and phonograph, to take the phonographic record by itself under
the best conditions, independently of the photograph.

page_text: It is also preferred to work the phonographic and photographic mechanism, by
separate motors, each capable of delicate adjustment of speed so as to make them
work in accord as if the sight and sound records had been taken at the same time
Although I have described animated photograph apparatus of the known kind
having the pictures on successive leaves forming a kind of circular book, ob-
viously when the apparatus is of the other known kind in which the pictures
are on a continuous band or film, a phonograph may be combined with the latter
to, operate as described.
-Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what'manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In combination with an animated picture apparatus worked by an electric
motor an electrically worked phonograph having its switches for starting and.
stopping moved in accord with those of the animated picture apparatus, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. In animated picture apparatus of the kind set forth, with or without a
phonograph combined therewith, gearing and switches, so arranged that. after
the whole picture. has been displayed once. or several times, the movement ir
for a time reversed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 9th day of April 1900.-
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.