provements in and relating to Optical Lanterns.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Mar., 1894-Accepted, 9th June, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in and relating to Optical Lanterns.
1, WILLIAM FREDERICK SMITH of 7 Blenheim Street W. in the County of
Middlesex, Electrical Engineer and GEORGE HARMAN of The Nook Ranelagh Road
Ealing W. in the County of Middlesex Gentleman 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 an improved automatic projecting machine.
The chief object of this machine is to automatically project and enlarge subjects
printed or photographed on small transperancies.
I will now proceed to describe my invention by the aid of the accompanying
drawings.
Fig. 1. shows a front view of the machine without the lenses.
Fig. 2. shows the starting and stopping mechanism.
Fig. 3. a section view with lenses attached.
Fig. 4. shows the system of automatically changing transperancies and at the same
time breaking and again making electric contact.
Similar letters of reference denote similar parts in all the figures.
Fig. 1. A. is a revolving carrier pivotted to revolve on centre V. in a frame D' D².
Attached to the carrier A. are a series of transparencies B1 to B3, on which are
printed or photographed the subjects to be projected and enlarged. A condenser C.
is used for the purpose of concentrating the light of an incandescent electric_lamp
on the transparency that is in position to be projected as B1 (by refering to Fig. 3
the positions will be better understood of incandescent lamp I. condenser C.
transparency B' and lenses L. L.). On the left hand side of Fig. 1. are shown the
means whereby the machine is set in action, or, stopped also the manner of
completing or breaking the electric circuit to the incandescent lamp. P is a
conducting wire from the electric generator (dynamo or battery) in sliding contact
with a press-piece P¹ said press being held in position shown, by the spiral spring G.
At the lower end of P₁ a groove is made for the purpose of engaging a small
catch M. M is fixed to an ebonite piece F. by a stud screw m, and is free to
revolve sufficient to snap into the aforesaid groove, on. Pl being pressed down.
Fig. 2 shows this in detail, on P¹ being pressed down until in the position P2 the
catch M snaps into the groove and thereby retains P. A conducting wire is
attached as shown to m and the opposite end is fixed to one loop of the incandescent
lamp, (all the foregoing parts being made of metal it will be understood that the
electric circuit is now complete to the incandescent lamp, the return current will be
fully explained in the description of Fig. 3).
R. Fig. 2 is a rock-shaft pivotted at R, one end of which engages the lever / of
the escapement for regulating the period of time a transparency is kept in position
to be projected. The opposite end of R engages between two pins in the press-piece
and as seen by the dotted position of R, would prevent the lever working, this
position is as in Fig. 1. before the press-piece is pressed down and locked by M.
On P' being presssed down to position P2 and the rockshaft being withdrawn from
the lever the escapement is set in motion, as can been seen the two pins in P³ are
for this purpose. A cord b is shown attached to one end of catch M for the purpose
of releasing P2 when it is desired to extinguish the lamp and stop the machine. The
spiral spring G. will bring P2 Fig. 2 into the position Pi Fig. 1 thereby breaking
the electric circuit and the rock-shaft being at the same time, by the action of the

page_text: pins, brought into the position of the dotted lines the escapement of the regulating
movement will be stopped.
Fig. 3. In the frame E. are two trains of wheels, one train for the purpose of
revolving A. to which it is connected by the arbor of wheel W. at S, and terminating
at the pinion. d. on the arbor of which is fixed a fly Z with extended wings r, r.
The second train is a time keeping train with a lever escapement, and on the
arbor of its minute wheel C, is fixed a commutator K having two slots cut
diametrically opposite as shown, through which the wings r. r may pass alternately.
The commutator K is a metal sleeve, insulated from the frame and wheels by
having its centre made of a non-conducting material, such as ebonite which is fixed
to the arbor of wheel C. The return circuit from the second loop of the
incandescent lamp is carried as shown by a conducting wire through the spring
contact T¹ to commutator K. and then through the metal fly Z to spring contact T
which is connected direct to the electric-generator. The wheel W. and the pinion d
in the train for revolving A. have their teeth in the proportion of four to one so
that d. making a half turn allows W. to make one eight of a turn thereby placing
the transparency B2 in the position occupied by B'.
Fig. 4. shows the commutator and the fly Z. enlarged for the purpose of more
clearly showing their respective actions.
The motive power for driving the train of wheels are either coiled springs or
falling weights. Only sufficient of the parts are shown to clearly explain the
invention.
To set the machine in action, the springs or weights having been wound up. pl is
pressed downwards until locked by M, this closes the electric circuit and sets the
regulating train of wheels in motion as described in Fig. 2.
The light I. is concentrated by C on B the transparency that is at the time being
in position and the figure or printed matter that is printed or photographed on said
transparency is then projected and enlarged through the lenses L L on to a
prepared surface either direct or it may be redirected by the well known means of
interposing a reflecting body such as a mirror to redirect the said projection at any
suitable angle that may be desired. As will be understood the commutator K is now
revolving with the wheel C. to which it is fixed, and on its completing a half turn
of its circle, one wing of the fly Z is free to pass through its corresponding slot in
commutator K see Fig. 4. As before stated the teeth on wheel W. and the teeth on
pinion d are in the ratio of 4 to 1, therefore if the pinion, to which the fly is attached,
revolves half a turn of its complete circle, wheel W. to which carrier A. is fixed
will revolve one eigth of a circle, thereby placing next transparency in position to
be projected. As will be understood on wing of fly Z passing through slot in K.
the electric circuit is broken and the lamp extinguished.. On the next transparency
coming into position, the opposite wing of the fly will be in contact with K, thereby
closing the electric circuit, and lighting the lamp, this action gives the effect of a
dissolving view while the transparencies are being changed.
T
The arrows show the direction of the electric current.
From the foregoing description it will be seen, that the wings of the fly are free
to pass alternately, as the commutator revolves thereby allowing carrier to revolve
and place each consecutive transperency in position to be projected at regular
periods of time.
By pulling cord b. M. releases p, and spring G. acts to "quick break" the
the electric circuit extinguishes the light 1. and stops.the machine by rockshaft R.
detaining lever l.
This machine may be used for other purposes beside the one exactly specified in
the title, for instance, in connection with a musical box, it may be used to project
photographed scenes from a popular play or opera, and made to retain the
transparency on which said scene is photographed or printed in position during the
time an air is being played by said musical box. The starting and stopping
arrangements would be the same, the press rod pl being extended to engage with
fly of musical box train of wheels.
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page_text: 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. A press button, rod, spiral spring and rocking shaft combined, said combination.
of parts acting as follows: Said press button being pressed in a certain direction,.
closes an electric circuit, and at the same time and by the same action, mechanically
sets a regulating train of wheels in motion for the purpose specified, and described.
herein.
2. A revolving fly with projections, said projections alternately passing through.
slots in a revolving insulated commutator, by this action placing a series of
transperencies in position to be projected through a lens, and at the same time and
by same action extinguishing and again relighting an electric incandescent lamp,.
for the purpose specified and described herein.
3. The combination of above Claims 1 and 2 in same machine, for the purpose.
specified and described herein.
W. F. SMITH.
GEORGE HARMAN..