Improved Apparatus for Taking Photographs in Rapid Series.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 21st June, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 13th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 10th May, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Taking Photographs in Rapid Series.
We, WILLIAM FRIESE GREENE, Photographer, of 92, Piccadilly, in the County of
London, and MORTIMER EVANS, Civil Engineer, of Savile Club, Piccadilly aforesaid,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows;-
Our Invention has for its object the formation of Photographic Pictures, and
relates chiefly to the production of such pictures as are necessary to illustrate and
register the movements of animals, insects or moving objects either taken singly or
in masses as may be desired.
For this purpose we construct an apparatus by which with a single camera and
lens a rapid series of such pictures may be taken and by which a series of fresh
photographic sensitive films or portions of such photographic film may be substituted
for those which have been exposed to the action of light with sufficient rapidity for
the desired end.
To carry out our Invention we provide a main shaft which is actuated either by
a winch turned by hand, clock-work or otherwise, to this shaft is attached wheel
work and counter shafts by which the whole apparatus is driven and the necessary
cycle of motions performed.
By the rotation of this shaft the prepared film is paid out and placed in position
to receive the photographic impression and it is then automatically exposed to the
action of light, the light is then cat off, and the exposed film is passed on and wound.
up on a receiving roller, fresh film being at the same time paid out to receive the
succeeding impression which is after exposure again passed on and wound up as
before. All these movements go on so long as the main shaft is rotated and there
is film on which to operate, the number of such pictures being limited alone by the
length or amount of film provided.
a
To provide for the production of many pictures such as would constitute
lengthened series of such pictures and to enable three hundred or more to bo taken
successively and in rapid series, we arrange a long roll of sensitive photographic film
on one of the spindles or counter-shafts before mentioned and this spindle is so
arranged that as it rotates under the driving action of the main shaft it pays out
the film as fast as it is needed. To another spindle or counter shaft the free end of
the film is attached, and the arrangement is such that by means of the main shaft
this second counter shaft is caused to rotate in a reverse direction to that of the
former or paying out spindle and its action consequently is to wind the film up as
fast as it is paid out.
Intermediate of these two rollers or counter shafts we arrange an exposure screen
over which the sensitive film passes on its way to the rolling up shaft and it is whilst
the film rests on this exposure screen that it is subjected to the action of the
photographic image.
As both paying out and rolling up rollers have a continuous motion communicated
to them by the driving shaft and as it is desirous that the film during its exposure
to the light should be at rest we provide an arrangement to effect this which is as
follows. Immediately beyond the exposure screen and between it and the up-
winding roller we place an intermittently acting drum of such a diameter and
circumference as that each turn thereof will take up or roll forward the exact
amount of film that is required for each picture, and in passing this film forward
the drum also draws into the exposure position a fresh length of film ready to be
exposed.
To effect this intermittent motion we provide the aforesaid drum with a single
long escapement tooth which when the drum is not in motion rests on the cylindrical
7

page_text: surface of a slotted pinion which gears into and is driven by the main shaft with a
continuous motion. The slot in this pinion is so arranged that once only during each
revolution of the pinion does it allow the escape tooth to pass and when this occurs
the drum under the action of a driving spring with which it is provided makes one
full turn when the escapement-tooth coming round again rests on the cylindrical
portion of the slotted pinion as before.
The spindle on which the drum revolves also gears into and is driven with a
uniform motion from the main shaft, and to this shaft is attached the one end of a
coiled spring the other end of which is fixed to the inner circumference of the drum
itself. As the spindle revolves this spring winds up and on the release of the escape
tooth and drum the spring unwinds carrying both the drum and escape tooth with it.
Thus the film is passed forward between winding and unwinding rollers at this point
only with the necessary intermittent motion.
The constant uniform motion of the paying out spindle as it unwinds causes a
certain uniform length of the film to pass forward towards the exposure screen when
it collects into a kind of loop in readiness for use, it cannot, however, pass into the
position for actual exposure until. that portion of the film occupying such position
has been withdrawn; as soon, however, as the detont tooth attached to the drum
escapes through the slot in the pinion the drum makes a single revolution and in so
doing both removes the exposed film from the screen and at the same time draws
the loop of fresh film which has been gathering into the exposure position and at
the same time passes forward the already exposed film into the form of another loop
in readiness to be wound up on the winding roller, which being provided with a
similar uniform continuous motion from the main shaft as the paying out roller
proceeds gradually to wind hip this loop so that it is wholly taken up by the time
the oscapo tooth again rotates whon a fresh loop of film is passed forward.
The shutter for exposing the film to photographic action is made in two portions
each provided with an aperture or slot which in one position only allows the light
from the lens to pass and it is only by the simultaneous action of these two shuttere,
that is, when the apertures in each coincide at a given moinent, that any action of
light on the film can take place.
One portion of this shutter is caused to revolve with a uniform motion as it is
driven from the main shaft, the other portion is worked by a rocker or slide actuated
by a cam. To this latter portion of the shutter is attached a spring with a tension
screw to regulate its speed of action. In this way the duration of exposure is
rendered entirely independent of the speed of the driving shaft, as by the turning of
this screw a long or short exposure (within limits) can be ensured, whatever the
number of exposures per minuto may be.
The moment the aperture in the revolving shutter comes into position with the
lens, the cam lets the sliding shutter go and by means of its attached spring the
aperture in the sliding shutter, also crosses and the exposure is effected.
The action of this shutter is so arranged that each exposure occurs simultaneously
with the at-rest position of the drum. escape tooth and the film on the exposure
screen.
Dated this 12th day of October 1889.
DAV NAVIG
זזז .
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Taking Photographs in Rapid Series.
We, WILLIAM FRIESE GREENE, Photographer, of 92, Piccadilly, in the County of 50
London, and MORTIMER EVANS, Civil Engineer, of Savile Club, Piccadilly, aforesaid,
do hereby declare the nature of the said 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 consists in so arranging the mechanism of a camera so as to cause 5:

page_text: the cycle of operations necessary for the obtainment of a latent photographic
representation or of a series of such representations, to be automatically effected in
proper sequence, by means deriving their actuation from the rotation of a common
shaft to which motion may be imparted by hand or by any other suitable means and
so that such cycle of operations may be effected repeatedly so long as such shaft is
kept in rotation and with a rapidity dependent upon that of such rotation, while
allowing of the period of exposure being varied as may be required, the number of
representations capable of being obtained being limited only by the length of the
sensitized strip with which the camera is or may be provided.
The Invention is of special advantage in enabling such cycle of operations to be
repeated in and with a single camera and lens in sufficiently rapid series to enable
the obtainment of such representations of the consecutive movements of animals,
insects and moving objects generally, whether singly or in groups; but the improved
camera may also be used in obtaining a succession of photographic representations
of different objects, taken at different times, on adjacent following portions of a
sensitized strip.
In accordance with the Invention, let off and take up devices, which at each
operation respectively let off and take up a portion of a sensitized strip of the length
required for each representation, are combined with a device which at each operation
advances into position for exposure to the action of the lens the portion of the strip
supplied by the let-off device,and advances from the position of exposure towards the
take-up device the portion of the strip lastly exposed, and which, between such times
of operation, arrests the portion of the strip in position for exposure or allows of its
being so arrested and with an exposure device which is timed to operate while the
portion of the strip in position for exposure is arrested as aforesaid, but which can
(if desired) be independently adjusted so as to regulate the period of exposure as may
be required; and such devices are so connected to and operated by a common shaft
as that the rotation thereof will cause the complete cycle of operations to be effected
or to be caused to be effected repeatedly as long as such shaft is kept in rotation and
there is sensitized strip on which to operate, and with a rapidity dependent upon that
of such rotation.
The accompanying drawings represent an embodiment of our Invention in a camera
suitable for taking photographic representations of quarter-plate size.
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of the camera mechanism removed from the
enclosing case.
Fig. 2 represents the same in plan view.
Fig. 3 represents a view in the plane of Fig. 1, partly in section and partly in
elevation of the sensitized strip operating devices.
And Fig. 4 represents a sectional elevation through the plane indicated by the
line, a, b, looking on the direction of the arrow, c, Fig. 2, illustrating an especially
suitable arrangement of shutter mechanism.
5, represents the aforesaid common or main shaft upon the rotation of which the
operation of all the parts is dependent. It is supported in opposite carrying frames, 6,
but may be otherwise arranged,and may be rotated by a winch-handle inserted through
a tubular light-shield, 7, inserted through the side of the enclosing case, 8, (part of
which is indicated in dotted lines), and screwed on to the seating. 9, secured to the
adjacent frame, 6. Or the shaft, 5, may be otherwise rotated as aforesaid.
10, represents a roll of any convenient length of sensitized paper or the like, 11,
which passes from between such roll and a feed roller, 12, under a guide-roller, 13,
between exposure screens, 14-15,between rollers, 16-17, to a take-up roller, 18, which
derives its motion directly from the shaft, 5. and imparts simultaneous and a
corresponding extent of motion to the roll, 10, through the roller. 12.
The roll, 10, can freely rotate' on a supporting pin, 19, which is screwed into or
otherwise suitably supported by the frames, 6. It is driven by frictional contact with
the roll, 12, the surface of which is preferably roughened, and which in turn may be
driven by frictional contact with the roll, 20, of the exposed strip, which accumulates

page_text: on the flanged take-up roller, 18, or may be independently driven directly from the
sliaft, 5.
In the firstly referred to of such modifications, the roller, 12, is supported in slotted
rocking bearings, 21, pivoted to the frames. 6, and it is borne into constant contact
with the rolls, 20, 10, by springs, 22, which may, if required, be adapted with any
suitable means of adjusting their tension, and are connected to lever arms, 23, which
are also pivoted to the frames, 6, and when in operative position are borne against
pins, 24, projecting from the frames. 6. The lever-arms can turn about their centres
so as to permit of the roller, 12, being withdrawn from its bearings, 21, to facilitate
the placing or removal of the roll, 10. or its core. In the secondly referred to of such
modifications (illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 3). the roller, 12, is supported in a
fixed position on a spindle carried by the frames, 6, and is driven by the wheel, 29*,
from the wheel, 28, hereinafter referred to, at a surface speed which (by its frictional
contact with the roll, 10, which is borne thereagainst by the arms, 23, which support
it, and the springs, 22), will cause the roll to let off the length of strip required ready
for each operation of the roller, 16. The roller, 12, may, however, be otherwise
supported and actuated in any suitable manner.
'The roller, 18. is mounted on a supporting pin, 24*, which is screwed into or
otherwise suitably supported by the frames. 6. It is driven by frictional contact with
a split tubular hub, 25, projecting into the hollow axis, 26, thereof, vide Fig. 3, from
a toothed pinion, 27, mounted on the pin 24*. and which is driven from the toothed
wheel, 28, on the shaft, 5, by suitably supported connecting gearing, 29, 30, by which
it is caused to receive a relatively increased speed ofrotation which is effective through
the frictional contact of its hub, 25, with the hollow axis, 26, of the roller, 18, in
causing the latter to take up the slack of the exposed strip immediately it is
advanced by the operation of the rollers, 16, 17, as hereinafter described.
The roller, 13, is supported in the frames, 6, in position to guide the strip between
the screens, 14, 15, and it can freely rotate in its bearings.
The exposure screen 14 is screwed to or otherwise suitably secured between the
frames, 6, and is opaque, and prevents any light from reaching the sensitized strip
behind it, and the screen, 15, is made with a through aperture, 31, of any desired
shape and size, through which the photographic representation can be projected on to
the portion of the sensitized strip supported between the screens. The screen, 15, is
slotted at its base at, 32, to permit of its being set away from the screen, 14, to
facilitate the adjustment of the strip. 11, when first placing it, or of its removal for
replacement by a screen with a differently shaped or sized aperture, and to permit of
its being subsequently secured in juxtaposition to the screen. 14, so that the strip can
freely move between the screens, by set-screws, 33, working in a cross plate. 34,
connecting the frames, 6. The screens. 14, 15, may, however, be otherwise suitably
supported.
The
The roller, 16, is provided with end caps, 35, vide Fig. 2, and with projecting
pointed discs, 36, and is made fast at the one end to an escapement tooth, 37, and is
connected by a spiral, spring, 38. vide Fig. 4. to a spindle, 39, by which the roller and
such attachments are supported. The spindle. 39. is carried in bearings in the
frames, 6, and has pinned thereon a toothed pinion, 40. which gears with the
wheel, 28, and is continuously rotated from the shaft 5. The gearing, 28, 40, is so
proportioned that one revolution of the winch-handle will effect two complete cycles
of the herein described operations, but it may be otherwise proportioned.
pinion. 40. gears with another like-sized pinion, 41, fast on a spindle, 42, which
is carried in bearings in the frames. 6, and carries a hollowed escapement hub. 43, on
the circular circumference of which the tooth, 37, normally rests. While the
tooth, 37, thus rests on the hub, 43, the roller, 16, remains stationary, and the portion
of the strip. 11, between the screens, 14, 15. is arrested and the exposure is effected:
and meanwhile the continuing rotation of the shaft. 5. causes the unwinding of the
spring, 38, and the rotation of the hub, 43, the recessed part, 44, of which, once in
each revolution, permits the tooth, 37, to pass, whereupon, the spring, 38, causes the

page_text: roller, 16, to complete a revolution (the motion of the roller being then again arrested
by the tooth, 37, again coming into contact with the circumferential part of the
escapement hub, 43), which revolution is effective in advancing the strip, 11, the
required length, advancing the exposed portion towards the take up roller, 18, and
drawing the next following portion, let off from the roll, 10, into position for exposure,
as aforesaid.
As each of the aforesaid operations of the roller, 18, is limited to the extent of the
portion advanced by the said operation of the roller, 16, to be taken up, and as such
advanced portion is equal to the length of the strip required for each of the said
photographic representations, it follows, in the modification hereinbefore referred to,
wherein the roller, 12, is actuated from the roll, 20, that the winding up of each such
portion will cause the roll, 10, to simultaneously unwind a corresponding length
ready for the next photographic representation, and that this will always occur not-
withstanding the continually decreasing diameter of the roll, 10, and the continually
increasing diameter of the roll, 20.
The roller, 17, is supported by lever arms, 45, which are pivoted at, 46, in the
frames, 6, and it is borne against the end parts of the roller, 16, by adjustable
springs, 47, hooked at, 48, to the frames, 6. It is formed with raised rims, 49, which
prevent its intermediate part from injuring the sensitized face of the strip, and with
intermediate grooves, 50, which allow of the projecting rims, 36, of the roller, 16,
getting an effective hold of the edges of the strip. The roller, 17, may, however, be
otherwise suitably supported, and it may be positively driven from the pinion, 40, at
the same surface speed as the roller, 16, in which modification the edges of the strip
will be nipped between two driving surfaces.
One or more of the points of one or each of such discs, 36, may be omitted to
indicate the places where the divisions of the strip should subsequently be effected, if
such should be required to be done before development of the latent photographic
representations obtained.
The shutter or exposure device is, as aforesaid, timed to operate during each of the
times the portion of the strip in position for exposure is arrested in such position. It
is preferably composed of two reciprocating portions. 51, 52, both operated from the
shaft, 5, but the latter of which, when released from the operation thereof, is
independently and automatically operated for effecting the exposure, as hereinafter
described.
The part, 51, serves principally as a light-screen, and reciprocates on a spindle, 53,
supported by an end plate, 54, and is operated from the shaft, 5, by the bevil
pinion, 55, pinned on the spindle, 39, gearing with a like-sized bevil pinion, 56, fast
on a spindle, 57, which is supported in a bearing, 58, projecting from the adjacent
frame, 6, and in the end plate. 54, and by a toothed pinion, 59, also fast on the
spindle, 57, and which gears with a like-sized pinion, 60, supported by a stud, 61.
projecting from the end plate, 54, and which pinion is made fast to a disc. 62, adapted
with a projecting pin, 63, which engages with a slot, 64, in an arm, 65, which is made
fast to the shutter, 51, such gearing being proportioned so that each revolution of the
spindle, 39, imparts one complete reciprocation to the shutter. 51.
The shutter, 52, is made with an aperture, 66, and also rocks on the spindle, 53,
and it is raised, together with the shutter 51, from the position indicated in full lines
in Fig. 3 (where the shutter, 52, abuts against a rubber stop, 67,) to the position
indicated in dotted lines (which position the shutters assume immediately preceding
the moment of exposure) by the pin, 63, engaging with the arm. 65, of the shutter, 51,
and with an arm, 68, made fast to the shutter, 52. Immediately the pin. 63. passes
beyond the range of the arm. 68. the shutter, 52, is actuated by the contraction of a
spring, 69, which is connected to an arm. 70, projecting therefrom, and its aperture
is thus caused to cross an aperture, 71 (the position of which is indicated in dotted
lines) made in the case. 8, and into which the lens is inserted, thus permitting of the
necessary exposure of the then stationary portion of the strip, to the momentary action
of the lens, immediately following the occurrence of which, both shutters, 51, 52,
assume the positions indicated in full lines in Fig. 4,

page_text: The speed of action of the shutter, 52, can be adjusted, as may be required, by
regulating the tension of the spring, 69, which may be effected by means of a
lever, 72, pivoted at, 73, to the end plate, 54, and to one end of which the spring is
connected, the lever being capable of being set into different positions by a snail, 74,
on a pin, 75, passing through the front of the case and operated from the exterior by
a thumb nut, 76, adapted with an index and pointer, 77, so that any desired definite
tension may be readily given to the spring for regulating the period of exposure as
may be required.
The camera may, however, be adapted with any other suitable arrangement of
shutter mechanism, operated from the shaft, 5, and so arranged as that it should be
timed to operate at each of the times aforesaid.
78, represents a ratchet wheel, and, 79, a spring pawl, which prevent the shaft, 5,
from being reversely rotated..
The whole of the aforesaid mechanism is enclosed in a suitably shaped case, the
actuating handle (if worked by hand), the lens and the exposure regulator alone
projecting or being visible from the exterior.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that we claim
as our invention :-
1. So arranging the mechanism of a camera as to cause the cycle of operations
necessary for the obtainment of a latent photographic representation or of a series of
such representations to be automatically effected in proper sequence, by means
deriving their actuation from the rotation of a common shaft or its equivalent, to
which motion may be imparted by hand or otherwise, with or without means for
allowing of the period of exposure being varied as may be required.
2. In a camera, the combination of an intermittently opening shutter with
mechanism for giving an intermittent movement to a sensitized strip, the whole being
actuated from a common shaft or its equivalent, in such manner that the opening of
the shutter takes place during a period of rest of the strip.
3. In a camera, in combination. a device which at each operation advances into
position for exposure to the action of the lens a portion of a sensitized strip fed
thereto and simultaneously advances from the position of exposure towards a take-up
device the portion of the strip lastly exposed and which between such times of
operation arrests the portion of the strip in position for exposure or allows of its being
so arrested, an exposure device (which may or may not be capable of independent
adjustment to regulate the period of exposure as may be required) timed to operate
while the portion of the strip in position for exposure is arrested, and a shaft to
which such devices are so connected as to be caused to operate in proper sequence
upon the rotation of such shaft.
4. In a camera, in combination, a device which at each operation advances into
position for exposure to the action of the lens a portion of a sensitized strip fed thereto
and simultaneously advances from the position of exposure towards a take-up device
the portion of the strip lastly exposed and which between such times of operation
arrests the portion of the strip in position for exposure or allows of its being so
arrested, and a shaft to which such device is so connected as to be caused to operate
upon the rotation thereof.
5. In a camera, in combination, let-off and take-up devices, which at each operation
respectively let off and take up a portion of a sensitized strip of the length required
for each representation, a device which at each operation advances into position for
exposure to the action of the lens the portion of the strip supplied by the let-off device
and advances from the position of exposure towards the take-up device the portion of
the strip lastly exposed and which, between such times of operation arrests the portion
of the strip in position for exposure or allows of its being so arrested, an exposure
device (which may or may not be capable of independent adjustment to regulate the
period of exposure as may be required) timed to operate while the portion of the strip
in position for exposure is arrested, and a common shaft to which such devices are so

page_text: connected as to be caused to operate in proper sequence upon the rotation of such
shaft.
6. In a camera, in combination, let-off and take up devices which at each operation
respectively let off and take up a portion of a sensitized strip of the length required
for each representation, a device which at each operation advances into position for
exposure to the action of the lens the portion of the strip supplied by the let-off
device and advances from the position of exposure towards the take-up device the
portion of the strip lastly exposed and which between such times of operation arrests
the portion of the strip in position for exposure or allows of its being so arrested, and
a common shaft to which such devices are so connected as to be caused to operate in
proper sequence upon the rotation of such shaft.
7. In a camera, in combination, the spindle, 39, means for operating it, the roller, 16
and connecting spring, 38, the escapement-tooth, 37, the escapement-hub, 43, and
gearing connecting the latter with the spindle, 39.
8. In a camera, in combination, the spindle, 39, means for operating it, the roller, 16,
and connecting spring, 38, the escapement-tooth, 37, the escapement-hub, 43, and
gearing connecting the latter with the spindle, 39, the let-off roll, 10, the take-up
roller, 18, the connecting feed roller, 12, the shaft, 5, and gearing connecting the
shaft with the rollers, 16, and, 18, respectively.
9. In a camera, in combination, the spindle, 39, means for operating it, the roller, 16,
and connecting spring, 38, the escapement-tooth, 37, the escapement-hub, 43, and
gearing connecting the latter with the spindle, 39, the let-off roll, 10, the take-up
roller, 18, the feed roller 12, the shaft, 5, and gearing connecting the shaft with the
rollers, 16, 18, and, 10, respectively.
10. In a camera, in combination, the automatically acting roller, 16, the frictionally
driven roller, 18, the shaft, 5, and gearing connecting the shaft with such rollers
respectively, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
11. In a camera, in combination, the automatically acting roller, 16, the frictionally
driven rollers, 18, and, 10, the shaft, 5, and gearing connecting the shaft with such
rollers respectively, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
12. In a camera, in combination, the automatically acting roller, 16, the frictionally
driven rollers, 18, and, 10, the connecting feed roller, 12, the shaft, 5, and gearing
connecting the shaft with such rollers, 16, and, 18, respectively, substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
13. In a camera, in combination, the roller, 18, the shaft, 5, means for frictionally
actuating the roller from the shaft, the roll, 10, and the connecting feed roller, 12,
for frictionally actuating the roll, 10, from the roll, 20, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
14. In a camera, in combination, the roller, 18, the shaft, 5, and means for
frictionally actuating the roller from the shaft, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.