Improvements in Photographic Shutters.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Sept., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 13th June, 1898-Accepted, 30th July, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Shutters.
We, THE EASTMAN PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS COMPANY LIMITED, of 115 and 117,
Oxford Street, in the County of London, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion (which has been communicated to us from abroad by Frank Alexander
Brownell, of Rochester, in the County of Monroe, and State of New York, in the
United States of America, Manufacturer) to be as follows:-
This invention relates to photographic shutters which are particularly adapted
for use in cameras which contain film in rolls which can be loaded or set and
released without the necessity of opening the lens aperture during the setting,
and it has for its object to provide a shutter capable of being operated by successive
movements of a single part, or operating, member in one direction, and also to
provide a shutter in which successive time exposures may be made by the operation
of a single operating part, or member, and further to improve and simplify the
construction and operation of the parts.
The oscillating disc or shutter member is constructed preferably of sheet metal
and is pivotted centrally upon a stud, or pin, and adapted to vibrate in opposite
directions alternately, so that the exposing aperture will pass across the lens, or
exposing opening, in the support, or plate. The shutter member is provided with
a laterally extending flange having time shoulders at the ends thereof, and is also
provided with lugs arranged on opposite sides of the time shoulders, and at about
equal distances therefrom, and is also provided with ears, constituting limiting
stops arranged to co-operate with a stationary stop arranged upon the support or
plate, and is also provided with a time stop; and upon the face of the disc, or
shutter member, is a perforated ear; a reversible actuating spring co-operates
with the perforated ear for throwing the shutter alternately in opposite directions
so as to cause its aperture to pass the lens opening. The said spring is connected
to a switch block, or plate, pivotted upon a pin and having an ear through which
the spring extends. The extreme end of the spring can be conveniently coiled around
a pin. The said plate pivotted on the support constitutes a switch block and is
provided with a pointed upper end on opposite sides of which are inclined surfaces,
or shoulders. A moveable actuating member in the form of a plate is guided to
move vertically by a flange operating in a groove in the support and held by a cleat
the said member being moved vertically away from the shutter by means of a
second spring. This member is provided with an aperture through which passes
the pivot of the plate pivotted on the support and carrying the first named spring.
and upon it is mounted a flexible spring tongue, or latch, having its lower end
bent downward to co-operate with the pointed end of the plate, pivotted on the
support, and, when the member is moved down, to engage one or other of the
aforesaid inclined surfaces or shoulders depending on the direction in which said
plate was last moved. The said moveable actuating member is also provided with
a lug, or projection, constituting a detent and extending over the face of the shutter
member and adapted to co-operate with the time shoulders on the shutter member

page_text: flange, and the lugs on the shutter meinber and with the laterally extending flange
on the shutter member as hereinafter described.
These devices are sufficient for throwing the shutter to make instantaneous
exposures, and in order that this may be accomplished, it is only necessary for
the operator to press upon the flanged upper end of the actuating member when
the downward movement will cause the spring latch, or tongue, to engage with the
shoulder on the switch block or plate pivotted on the support and turn the said
switch block or plate and flex the first named spring, putting it under tension
with a tendency to move the shutter, but the lug or projection on the moveable
actuating member engages one of the lugs on the shutter member, holding it
stationary until, by the continued downward movement the detent moves below the
lug when as the spring is under full tension, it will throw the shutter to
the position in which the exposing aperture has crossed the lens opening, and the
shutter member is arrested by contact of the ear on the shutter member with the
stationary stop on the support. When the pressure on the moveable member is
released, the second spring will raise it until the lug on the moveable actuating
member is in the path of the other of the lugs on the shutter member the first
spring having assumed such a position that the next downward movement of the
moveable actuating member will cause the latch thereof to engage the shoulder
on the oscillating switch block or plate pivotted to the support thereby flexing the
first spring in the opposite direction and causing the aperture in the shutter to
move across the lens opening in the opposite direction when the detent or lug on
the moveable actuating member is disengaged from the said stop on the shutter.
It will be understood that each downward movement of the moveable actuating
member will cause the oscillation of the shutter so as to give an instantaneous
exposure, the switch block, carrying the spring being oscillated in opposite direc-
tions alternately, and the lugs on the shutter member engaging with the lug on the
movable actuating member alternately.
68
To make time exposures, it is necessary that the aperture in the shutter shall
be maintained coincident with the lens opening, and, in order to accomplish this
by simple mechanism, and by the reciprocation of a single actuating portion, there
is provided a time" member in the form of a lever pivotted to the support,
moved upwardly by a spring and having a projection adapted, when moved down,
to project in the path of, and co-operate with, the time stop on the rear side of the
shutter member. The free end of the said lever is provided with a thumb piece
and an upwardly extended end provided with an aperture in which operates a
tongue formed upon the moveable actuating member. The connection between
the time member and the moveable actuating member is a loose one, so that the
latter may be manipulated to cause instantaneous exposures without operating
the former, but when the time member is moved, it will operate the moveable
actuating member to cause the flexing of the spring and release of the shutter.
If the operator desire to open the lens opening he presses upon the outer end of
the time member thereby bringing the projection thereon into the path of the time
stop on the shutter member, this movement operating the moveable actuating
member downwardly, flexing the first spring and withdrawing the lug on the said
member from the lug on the shutter member and causing the shutter to move to
a position in which the flange is above the lug on the moveable actuating member
and upon the release of the time member the spring thereof will move the latter
upward and releasing the time stop on the shutter member and the lug on the
moveable actuating member will engage one of the time shoulders on the shutter
member flange holding the shutter with the aperture in line with the lens opening.
In this position the lug on the moveable actuating member is beneath the laterally
extending flange on the shutter member and the moveable actuating member is
not permitted to move upward far enough to release the switch block from the latch
which latter is therefore held so that the next downward movement of the moveable
actuating member will move the first spring in the same direction as before. To
close the shutter from this position, it is only necessary to move the moveable

page_text: actuating member downward far enough to disengage the lug thereon from the
time shoulder on the shutter member Hange and allow the first spring to throw
the shutter to the proper position.
This releasing operation is preferably accomplished by moving the time member
downward, in order that both the operations necessary for a time exposure shall
be accomplished by the movement of a single part, thus preventing confusion on
the part of the operator.
This shutter particularly adapted for use on cameras used by amateur photo-
graphers because there are no parts to be set, or manipulated, when time
exposures follow instantaneous exposures, or vice versa, it being only necessary to
press upon the instantaneous member once to make an instantaneous exposure,
and to press the time member once to open, and again to close the shutter no
matter in what position the shutter was left after the last operation.
It is not necessary that the moveable actuating member be in the form of a
sliding plate, or that the time member be in the form of a lever, as these construc-
tions could be changed, or reversed. Other modifications will also readily occur
to those skilled in the art, and we therefore do not confine ourselves to the precise
details of construction described.
T
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111
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1
100%
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
We, THE EASTMAN PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS COMPANY LIMITED of 43, Clerken-
well Road, and of 115 and 117, Oxford Street, both in the County of London,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has been communicated to
us from abroad by Frank Alexander Brownell, of Rochester, in the County of
Monroe, and State of New York, in the United States of America, Manufacturer)
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 photographic shutters which are particularly adapted
for use in cameras which contain film in rolls which can be loaded, or set, and
released, without the necessity of opening the lens aperture during the setting;
and it has for its object to provide a shutter capable of being operated by successive
movements of a single part, or operating member, in one direction, and also to
provide a shutter in which successive time exposures may be made by the operation
of a single operating part, or member, and further to improve and simplify the
construction and operation of the parts of such shutters. The invention will be
clearly understood from the following description with reference to the accom-
panying drawings of which :-
Figure 1 is an elevation of a shutter constructed in accordance with this inven-
tion shewing in dotted lines the position of the parts after an instantaneous
exposure has been made.
Figure 2 is a similar view shewing the position of the parts when opening the
lens aperture for a time exposure.
Figure 3 is a similar view shewing in dotted lines the position of the parts at the
moment of the release of the shutter after a time exposure has been made.
Figure 4 is a view shewing the position of the parts when making a time exposure
with the shutter moving from the position shewn in full lines in Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a plan of the moveable shutter member removed.

page_text: Figure 6 is a section on the line of Figure 1.
Figure 7 is a section on the line y-y of Figure 1.
Figure 8 is a section on the line of Figure 1, and Figure 9 is a view of a
modification.
Similar reference numerals indicate similar parts in all the figures.
1 indicates the shutter support, or plate, and 2 the oscillating disc, or shutter-
member, constructed preferably of sheet metal pivoted centrally upon a stud, or
pin, 3, and adapted to vibrate or move on its centre in opposite directions alter-
nately, so that the exposing aperture 4, will pass across the lens, or exposing
opening, 5, in the support, or plate. The disc, or shutter, 2, is provided with a
laterally extending Hange 6, having time stops, or shoulders, 7, 71, at the ends
thereof, and with lugs, or stops 8, 81, arranged on opposite sides of the time stops,
or shoulders, 7, 71, and at about equal distances therefrom, and with stops, or
ears, 9, 91, constituting limiting stops arranged to 'co-operate with a stationary
stop 10 upon the support, or plate, 1, and it is also provided with a lug, or time,
stop 11, and upon the face of the shutter. is a perforated ear 12. 13 is a reversible
actuating spring engaging with the perforated ear 12 for throwing the shutter
alternately in opposite directions so as to cause its aperture 4, to pass the lens
opening; the said spring is connected to a plate 14, pivoted upon a pin 15, and
having an ear 16, through which the spring passes, the extreme end of the spring,
in the arrangement illustrated, being coiled around the pin 15. The plate 14,
constitutes a switch block and is provided with a pointed upper end 17 on opposite
sides of which are inclined surfaces, or shoulders, 18 and 19. 20 is a moveable
actuating member in the form of a plate, guided to move vertically by a flange 20*
operating in a groove in the support 1 and held by a cleat 40, the said member
being moved vertically away from the shutter by means of a spring 21. This
member is provided with an aperture 22 through which passes the pivot 15 of
the plate 14 carrying the spring 13, and upon it is mounted a flexible spring
tongue, or latch, 23, having its lower end bent downward to co-operate with the
pointed end of the plate 14, and when the member is moved down, to engage either
the shoulder 18 or 19, depending on the direction in which said plate was last
moved. The member 20 is also provided with a lug, or projection, 24 constituting
a detent and extending over the face of the shutter and adapted to co-operate
with the stops 7, 71, 8, 81, and with the flange 6, as hereinafter described.
These devices are sufficient for throwing the shutter to make instantaneous
exposures, and in order that this may be accomplished, it is only necessary for the
operator to press upon the flanged upper end of the actuating member 20, when,
(assuming the parts to be in the position shewn in full lines in Figure 1,) the
downward movement will cause the spring latch or tongue 23 to engage with the
shoulder 18 on the switch block 14, (the point 17 being to the right of the tongue),
turn the plate 14 and flex the spring 13 putting it under tension with a tendency
to move the shutter in the direction of the arrow in Figure 1, but the detent, 24,
engages the stop 8, on the shutter, holding it stationary until, by the continued
downward movement, the detent 24 moves below the stop 8 when the spring 13
being under full tension, the shutter will be thrown by it to the position shewn
by dotted lines in Figure 1, the exposing aperture 4 therein having crossed the
lens opening, 5, and the shutter being arrested by the contact of the stop 9 with
the stationary stop 10. When the pressure on the moveable member 20 is released,
the spring 21 will raise it until the detent 24 is in the path of the stop 81 on the
shutter, and the spring 13 having assumed the position shewn in dotted lines in
Figure 1, it will be seen that the next downward movement of the member 20
will cause the latch 23, to engage the shoulder 19 on the oscillating switch block 14,
thereby flexing the spring 13 in the opposite direction and causing the aperture
in the shutter to move across the lens opening in the opposite direction when the
detent 24 is disengaged from the stop 81 on the shutter.
It will be understood that each downward movement of the member 20 will cause
the oscillation of the shutter so as to give an instantaneous exposure, the switch

page_text: block carrying the spring being oscillated in opposite directions alternately, and
the stops 8, 8 on the shutter engaging with the detent 24 on the member 20
alternately.
To make time exposures, it is necessary that the aperture in the shutter shall
be maintained coincident with the lens opening, and, in order to accomplish this
by simple mechanism, and by the reciprocation of a single actuating portion,
there is provided a "time" member in the form of a lever 30 pivoted to the support
at 31, moved upwardly by a spring 32 and having a projection 33 adapted when
moved down to project in the path of and co-operate with the lug 11 on the rear side
of the shutter. The free end of the lever 30 is provided with a thumb piece 34
and an upwardly extended end provided with an aperture 35 in which operates a
tongue 36 formed upon the moveable actuating member 20, as shewn particularly
in Figure 7. The connection between the time member 30 and the actuating
member 20 is a loose one, so that the latter may be manipulated to cause instan-
taneous exposures without operating the former, but when the time member 30
is moved, it will operate the actuating member 20 to cause the flexing of the
spring and release of the shutter.
Assuming the shutter to be in the position shewn by dotted lines in Figure 1;
if the operator desire to open the lens opening, he presses upon the outer end 34
of the member 30, thereby bringing the projection 33 into the path of the stop 11
on the shutter member, this movement operating the member 20 downwardly,
flexing the spring 13 and withdrawing the detent 24 from the stop 81 and causing
the shutter to move to the position, shewn by dotted lines in Figure 2 with the
flange 6 above the detent 24, and upon the release of the member 30 the spring 32
will move the latter upward thereby releasing the stop 11 and the detent 24 will
engage the stop 7, holding the shutter with the aperture in line with the lens
opening, as shewn in full lines in Figure 2. In this position, it will be noted,
the detent 24 on the member 20 is beneath the flange ti on the shutter, and the
actuating member 20 is not permitted to move upward far enough to release the
switch block 14 from the latch, which latter is therefore held so that the next
downward movement of the actuating member 20 will move the spring 13 in the
same direction as before. To close the shutter from this position, it is only
necessary to move the actuating member 20 downward far enough to disengage the
detent 24 from the stop 7 and allow the spring 13 to throw the shutter to the
position shewn by full lines in Figure 3.
This releasing operation is preferably accomplished by moving the time
member 30 downward, as shewn in dotted lines Figure 3, in order that both the
operations necessary for a time exposure shall be accomplished by the movement of a
single part, thus preventing confusion on the part of the operator.
If the shutter should be in the position shewn by full lines in Figure 1, when it
was desired to make a time exposure, the first downward movement of the time
member 30 will flex the spring 13 to the right, as shewn by dotted lines in
Figure 4, the stop 8, and detent 24, co-operating until the spring 13 is under
tension, the stop 33 projecting in the path of the stop 11 on the shutter, arresting
the latter with the flange 6 over the detent 24, and when the member 30 is released
the shutter will be held by the engagement of the stop 71 with the detent 24, as
shewn by full lines in the said figure, the flange 6 preventing the release of the
detent and maintaining the switch block with the latch on the same side. The
shutter may be closed from the position shewn, by manipulating the member 20,
or member 30, to release the detent 24, as before described.
This shutter is particularly adapted for use on cameras used by amateur photo-
graphers because there are no parts to be set, or manipulated, when time exposures
follow instantaneous exposures, or vice versa, it being only necessary to press upon
the instantaneous member once to make an instantaneous exposure, and to press
the time member once to open, and again to close the shutter no matter in what
position the shutter was left after the last operation.
It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise details

page_text: .
shewn for example it is not necessary that the member 20 should be in the form
of a sliding plate, or that the time member 30 should be in the form of a lever,
as these constructions could be changed or reversed.
In Figure 9, there is shewn a modification of the invention in which figure both
the member 20, and the time member 30 are in the form of levers, the, operations
in this arrangement being the same as are those in the preceding arrangement the
stop 11 being removed to above the flange 6 owing to the changed position of the
lever 30.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention'
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim
is:―
1. The combination with an oscillatory photographic shutter, of. a reversible
shutter-actuating motor, for moving the shutter in opposite directions, a moveable
member, and a spring for actuating it in one direction, connections between the
said member and the motor for operating the latter in opposite directions alter-
nately when the member is moved in one direction only, and a detent controlled
by the member for engaging the shutter and releasing it by the continued move-
ment of the member in one direction, whereby successive operations of the member
in one direction will cause the oscillation of the shutter in opposite directions
alternately.
2. The combination with an oscillatory photographic shutter, of a reversible
motor spring, a moveable member, a spring for actuating it in one direction, con-
nections between the said member and the spring for putting tension on the latter
upon opposite sides of the shutter alternately when the said member is moved in
one direction only, and a detent controlled by the member for engaging the shutter
and releasing it when the member is moved in one direction.
3. The combination with an oscillatory photographic shutter, of a reversible
motor spring engaging the shutter, a moveable member, a latch and switch block
arranged between the member and motor spring for causing the reversal of the
spring by successive operations of the member in one direction, and a detent con-
trolled by the member for holding and releasing the shutter.
4. The combination with an oscillatory photographic shutter, of a reversible
motor spring engaging the shutter, a moveable member, a switch block connected
to the spring, a latch on the member co-operating with the switch block, and a
detent for holding and releasing the shutter operated by the moveable member.
5. The combination with an oscillatory photographic shutter, of a pivoted switch
block, a spring thereon operating on the shutter, a moveable member having a
spring latch thereon co-operating with the switch block, and a detent for holding
and releasing the shutter actuated by the moveable member.
6. The combination with an oscillatory photographic shutter having the stops 8
and S1, of the moveable member having the detent 24, the spring for moving the
member in one direction, a reversible motor spring engaging the shutter, and a
switch connection between the said member and spring for putting tension on the
latter in opposite directions by successive movements of the member in the same
direction.
7. The combination with an oscillatory photographic shutter, of a reversible
actuating spring connected thereto, a pointed switch block to which the spring
is connected, a moveable member, a spring latch carried by the member and co-
operating with the block to oscillate it in opposite directions alternately, and a
detent engaging the shutter and controlled by the moveable member.
8. The combination with an oscillatory photographic shutter, of a reversible
actuating spring connected thereto, a pivoted support connected to the spring, a
moveable member, connections between the member and support for operating
the latter in opposite directions alternately by the successive movements of the
member in the same direction, and a detent for the shutter controlled by the
moveable member.

page_text: 9. The combination with an oscillatory photographic shutter, of spring actuating
devices for rating the shutter in opposite directions alternately, a moveable
member, connections between the moveable member and actuating devices for
causing the latter to co-operate with opposite sides of the shutter alternately by
successive movements of the member in the same direction, and holding devices:
for the shutter released by the movement of the member.
10. The combination with an oscillatory photographic shutter having the
stops 8, 81, the reversible actuating spring, and the pivoted pointed switch block
connected to the spring, of the moveable member having the spring latch co-
operating with the switch block, and the detent operated by the moveable member
and co-operating with the stops on the shutter.
11. In photographic shutter apparatus the combination with a support having
a lens opening and an apertured oscillatory shutter, of spring actuating devices
for operating the shutter in opposite directions alternately, a moveable member,
connections between the moveable member and the spring-actuating devices for
causing the latter to co-operate with opposite sides of the shutter alternately by
successive movements of the member in the same direction, holding devices for
the shutter released by the movement of the member, a time member connected
to the moveable member to actuate it in one direction and co-operating with the
shutter for arresting the latter with the aperture in line with the lens opening.
12. In photographic shutter apparatus the combination with a support having
a lens opening and an apertured oscillatory shutter, of a reversible shutter actua-
ting motor for moving the shutter in opposite directions, a moveable member,
a spring for actuating it in one direction, connections between said member and
the motor for operating the latter in opposite directions alternately when the
member is moved in one direction only, a detent controlled by the member for
engaging the shutter and releasing it by the continued movement of the member
in one direction,, a time member connected to and actuating the moveable member
and having a portion co-operating with the shutter to arrest it with the aperture
in line with the lens opening.
13. The combination in a photographic shutter apparatus, of an actuating spring
for operating it, a moveable member, connections between the said member and
the spring for setting the latter, and a detent, controlled by the member, for hold-
ing and releasing the shutter, and a moveable time member co-operating with the
first mentioned member to move it, and connections between the said tinie member
and the shutter for holding the latter open.
14. The combination with an apertured oscillatory photographic shutter of a
reversible actuating spring co-operating therewith, a moveable member, connec-
tions between the said member and the spring for flexing the spring in opposite
directions alternately at each movement of the member in one direction, and a
detent operated by the member for engaging and holding the shutter against the
tension of the spring and releasing it, and a moveable time member adapted when
operated to arrest the shutter between the extremes of its oscillations, and connec-
tions between the said time member and the first mentioned member for operating
the latter when the time member is operated.
15. The combination with an apertured oscillatory photographic shutter, of a
reversible actuating spring co-operating therewith, a moveable member, and a latch
and switch connection between the member and spring for flexing the spring in
opposite directions at each movement of the member in one direction, and a detent
actuated by the member for holding and releasing the shutter, a moveable time
member co-operating with the shutter to hold it between the extremes of its
oscillations, and connections between the first-mentioned member and the time
member for actuating the former by the movement of the latter.
16. The combination with a moveable and apertured photographic shutter, of
a spring for operating it, means for placing the spring under tension, a detent for
holding the shutter, and a time member co-operating with the shutter to arrest
it between the extremes of its movements, and connections between said time

page_text: member, the spring tensioning device and the detent for putting tension on the
spring and releasing the detent when the time member is operated to arrest the
shutter.
17. The combination with a moveable apertured shutter having the stops 7, 7,
8, 81, and 11, and the flange 6, of the spring 13, the moveable member having the
detent co-operating with the stops, the spring for moving the member in one
direction, connections between the moveable member and the spring for putting
tension on the latter in opposite directions alternately, the time member co-opera-
ting with the stop 11, and having the loose connection with the moveable member
to operate it.
18. The combination with an apertured oscillatory photographic shutter, of
spring motor devices for operating the shutter in opposite directions alternately,
a moveable member, a shutter detent operated thereby, and connections between
the said member and the motor devices for placing the latter under tension on
opposite sides of the shutter alternately, and releasing the detent at each successive
movement of the member in one direction, and a time member having a loose
connection with the first-mentioned member, and adapted to co-operate with the
shutter to arrest it intermediately of the extremes of its movement.
19. The combination with the apertured oscillatory photographic shutter having
the stops 7, 7, 8, 81, and 11, and flange 6, of the moveable member having the
detent, the shutter spring 13, and the switch and latch connection between the
spring and member, and the pivoted lever 30 having the arm 33, the spring for
operating the lever, and a loose connection between the lever 30 and the moveable
member.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.