Improvements in Consecutive View Apparatus.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Consecutive View Apparatus.
I, HERMAN CASLER, of Canastota, in the County of Madison, State of New
York, U.S.A., Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of my invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:
My invention relates to consecutive view apparatus, such as the cameras
employed to produce upon a sensitive photographic film a rapid and continuous
succession of views of a moving object, and the reproducing instruments or
apparatus, projecting or direct view, employed to reproduce to the eye the move-
ments of such objects, by means of a succession of views, such as are produced
by a consecutive view camera. And my invention consists in the novel means
employed for maintaining the succession of view carriers optically stationary
with reference to the object photographed, on with reference to the screen upon
which the image is thrown, or the eye, for brief instants of time, without
interrupting the continuous and preferably uniform movement of the view carriers
through the feeding mechanism; and in the novel combination, construction and
arrangement of the parts of the apparatus.
The objects of my invention are, first, to provide means whereby each view
carrier may be maintained optically stationary in the field of the apparatus, for
a brief instant of time, so as to permit adequate exposure or illumination thereof
without interrupting in any way the continuous and preferably uniform feeding
of the view carriers or film; and second, to make the mechanism for accomplishing
this purpose simple, compact, easily constructed, not liable to derangement and
comparatively inexpensive.
These objects are attained in the invention herein described and illustrated in
the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification, in which the
same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts, and in
which:-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the mechanism of a consecutive view projecting

page_text: apparatus embodying my invention, the side of the enclosing case having been
removed;
Fig. 2 is a plan view and partial section of the mechanism, the top of the
enclosing case having been removed; and
Fig. 3 is an elevation of the side of the instrument opposite to that from which
Fig. 1 is taken.
In most consecutive view apparatus heretofore used, the successive views or
lengths of film have been moved intermittently through the field of the apparatus,
each view or length of film being held stationary in said field for a sufficient
interval of time to permit sufficient exposure or illumination; and this inter-
mittent movement of the view or section of film through the field of the apparatus
has usually been obtained by checking its movement absolutely, and then moving
it forward at a greatly accelerated speed. In the apparatus herein described the
film or picture strip is fed forward continuously and uniformly, and its motion is
not interfered with or checked in any way, each view or length of film being held
optically, though not actually, stationary in the field of the apparatus, for a brief
instant, by means of a reflector, which as the view or film moves, follows the
movement in such a manner as to keep the view or length of film momentarily in
optical relationship with and optically stationary with reference to the lens or
observation opening of the apparatus.
In the drawings, I have illustrated my invention as applied to a projecting
apparatus. But since the invention does not reside in any portion of the
mechanism characteristic of a projecting apparatus simply, it is apparent that the
invention is equally applicable to a consecutive view camera, or to a direct vision
reproducing apparatus. The same mechanism, apart from the illuminating
apparatus and lenses, may be used in either of these three classes of consecutive
view apparatus.
In the drawings, I is the enclosing case of the apparatus. 2 is the roll from
which the film is drawn, and 3 is the winding roll. 4 (Figs. 2 and 3) is the driving
pulley. It may be belted to a suitable motor or may be driven in any other
manner. From the pulley 4 a belt 5 runs to pulleys 6 and 71 on shafts 6 and 7, the
belt passing around an idler 8. This idler is so placed that the belt is in contact
with a large portion of the circumference of the pulleys upon the shafts 6 and 7.
The shaft carries the winding spool 3.
The shaft 6 has upon its inner end a gear 9 (Fig. 2) meshing with a gear 10 upon
a shaft 11 which carries the feeding roll 12. The roll 12 is the main feeding
device of the apparatus.
13 is a box or case enclosing the illuminating apparatus of a projecting
apparatus. 14 is the condensing lens, and 15 the objective lens. 16 is a segmental
frame provided on its face with raised edges to guide the film, as shown in Figs. 1
and 2. This segmental frame 16, as shown in Fig. 2, is revolubly mounted upon
a boss 17 which is a part of the frame of the apparatus.
Upon the end of the shaft 6 is a cam 18 and upon opposite sides of this cam
are friction rollers 19 and 20, Figs. 1 and 2, carried by the segmental frame 16,
and which therefore impart a reciprocating motion to the frame 16 as the cam
rotates. The cam is adapted to give a practically uniform circular reciprocating
movement to the segmental frame 16, being a heart-shaped cam.
A shaft 21 is journaled in the boss 17 and carries a light deflector, preferably
a reflector or mirror, 22. The mirror is directly over the film as it passes under
the segmental frame 16. The shaft 21 projects outside of the case I and carries
an arm 23 having friction rollers 24 and 25, Figs. 2 and 3, upon opposite sides of
a cam 26, similar to cam 18 and mounted upon the same shaft 8, and, like said
cam, adapted to communicate a practically uniform reciprocating motion to the
mirror or reflector 22. The cam 26, however, is arranged to move the mirror 22
with but half the speed of movement of the segmental frame 16.
In the face of the segmental frame 16 is a view aperture 27, of the width and

page_text: length of a picture upon the film. In passing across this aperture the film is
kept taut and straight by the tension upon it.
A suitable shutter 28, driven by shafts and gearing from the cam shaft 6, may
be used if desired, though I do not limit myself to the use of a shutter.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
When the driving wheel 4 is rotated the feed drum 12 and the shaft 7, upon
which the winding roll 3 is mounted are revolved uniformly, and the segmental
The peri-
frame 16 and reflector 22 are likewise reciprocated about their center.
pheral speed of the frame 16, while it moves with the film, is the same as the
speed of the film, and therefore the picture remains in registry in the opening 27
while the frame 16 is moving toward the drum 12. The light passing through
the view carrier is reflected by the mirror 22 through the objective lens upon the
screen. The rate of movement of the mirror 22, being half that of the frame 16,
is such as to keep the view stationary upon the screen in spite of the movement of
the film.
When the frame 16 has moved forward to the limit of its travel it is moved
backward by the cam 18, slipping over the film, until the opening 27 is in registry
with a new picture on the strip. At the same time the mirror 22 is moved
backward by the cam 26 so that when the opening 27 is again in registry with
a picture, the mirror is in a proper position to project this picture through the
objective lens upon the screen.
To allow for the gradual increase in diameter of the winding roll as the film
is wound upon it, the belt wheel 71, by which the shaft 7 of this roll is driven, is
not keyed to the shaft but is mounted loosely thereon, and is held thereto by the
frictional connection shown in Fig. 2, and consisting of a spring 29 and a nut 30
This
which may
be screwed up so as to increase the pressure of the spring.
frictional connection permits the belt wheel to slip somewhat upon the shaft 7 as
soon as the film is taut.
I do not limit the application of my invention to consecutive view apparatus
employing long strips of film. The invention, consisting in the use of the movably
mounted light deflector and mechanism for moving the same at a speed correspond-
ing at all points in its travel to the speed of the view carrier passing through the
field of the apparatus, is not limited in its application to any particular type of
mechanism for passing through the field of the apparatus a series of views or
of light sensitive surfaces or to any particular type of view carrier. So far as
this invention is concerned, it is, broadly speaking, immaterial whether the views
or sensitive surfaces are upon a strip of considerable length, or whether they
are upon independent carriers or any other form of carrier. The invention merely
requires that a series of views or of sensitive surfaces, or lengths of a continuous
In the
sensitive surface, shall be passed through the field of the apparatus.
to denote either
following claims I employ the term "series of view carriers
a strip of film, which may be considered to be divided into lengths or sections,
each of which is a separate view carrier mechanically connected with the others,
or any other device by which a series of views or of light sensitive surfaces may
be passed through the field of the apparatus. I intend also that this term shall
include carriers having light sensitive surfaces as well as carriers which have
views imprinted upon them before passing through the apparatus, for whether the
function of the carrier be to present a view in the field of the apparatus, or to
receive photographically the impression of a view in the field, it is a view carrier.
I intend the term reflector herein used to include not merely a mirror, but also
a reflecting prism, which is recognized as the equivalent of a mirror.
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 a consecutive view apparatus, the combination, with a feeding mechanism

page_text: adapted to feed a series of view carriers through the field of the apparatus, of
a movably mounted reflector so mounted and adapted to be so moved as to hold
each view carrier, as it passes through said field, in optical relationship with and
optically stationary with reference to a fixed point, and means for so moving said
reflector.
2. In a consecutive view apparatus, the combination, with a feeding mechanism
adapted to feed a series of view carriers through the field of the apparatus, and
a lens, of a movably mounted reflector so mounted and adapted to be so moved as
to hold each view carrier, as it passes through said field, in optical relationship
with and optically stationary with reference to said lens and the object upon which
it is focussed, and means for so moving said reflector, as each view carrier passes
through said field.
3. In a consecutive view apparatus, the combination, with a strip feeding
mechanism adapted to feed through the field of the apparatus a view carrying
strip, of a movably mounted reflector so mounted and adapted to be so moved as
to hold each length of said strip, as it passes through said field, in optical relation-
ship with and optically stationary with reference to a fixed point, and means for
so moving said reflector, as successive lengths of the view carrying strip pass
through the field of the apparatus, substantially as described.
4. In a consecutive view apparatus, the combination, with a strip feeding
mechanism adapted to feed through the field of the apparatus a view carrying
strip, and lens, of a movably mounted reflector so mounted and adapted to be so
moved as to hold each length of said strip, as it passes through said field, in optical
relationship with and optically stationary with reference to said lens and the object
upon which it is focussed, and means for so moving said reflector, as successive
lengths of the view carrying strip pass through said field of view, substantially
as described.
5. In a consecutive view apparatus, the combination, with a view carrying strip
carrying a regularly spaced consecutive series of views of a moving object, and
a strip feeding mechanism adapted to feed said strip through the field of the
apparatus, of a movably mounted reflector so mounted and adapted to be so moved
as to hold each view passing through said field in optical relationship with and
optically stationary with reference to a fixed point, and means for so moving said
reflector synchronously with the passage of views through said field, substantially
as described.
.6 In a consecutive view apparatus, the combination, with the lenses and
illuminating apparatus of a projecting apparatus, a view carrying strip carrying
a regularly spaced consecutive series of views of a moving object, and a strip
feeding mechanism adapted to feed said strip through the field of the apparatus,
of a movably mounted reflector so mounted and adapted to be so moved as to
hold each view passing through said field in optical relationship with and optically
stationary with reference to the objective lens and the object upon which the
lens is focussed, and means for so moving said reflector synchronously with the
passage of views through said field, substantially as described.
7. In a consecutive view apparatus, the combination, with the lenses and
illuminating apparatus of a projecting apparatus, a view carrying strip carrying a
regularly spaced consecutive series of views of a moving object, and a continuously
moving strip feeding mechanism adapted to feed said strip at a uniform speed
through the field of said projecting apparatus, of a movably mounted reflector so
mounted and adapted to be so moved as to hold each view passing through said
field in optical relationship with and optically stationary with reference to the
objective lens and the object upon which said lens is focussed, and means for so
moving said reflector synchronously with the passage of views through said field,
substantially as described.
8. In a consecutive view apparatus, the combination, with a strip feeding
mechanism, a movably mounted frame provided with a view aperture, past which
said strip passes, and means for moving said frame in the same direction and at

page_text: the same speed as said strip, of a movably mounted reflector so mounted and
adapted to be so moved as to hold each length of strip in registry with said view
opening in optical relationship with and optically stationary with reference to a
fixed point, and means for so moving said reflector, substantially as described.
9. In a consecutive view apparatus, the combination, with a strip feeding
mechanism, a rotatably mounted segmental frame over which the strip may pass,
having a view aperture past which said strip passes, and means for vibrating said
frame alternately forward in the direction of and with the speed of movement of
said strip, and then backward, of a movably mounted reflector at the center of
rotation of said frame, adapted likewise to rotate about said center, and arranged
to reflect the image on that portion of the strip in registrv with the view aperture
at any instant, and means for vibrating said reflector back and forth synchronously
with but at half the angular speed of rotation of said frame, whereby while said
frame is moving with said strip said reflector is caused to retain the portion of the
strip in registry with the view aperture optically stationary with respect to a fixed
point, substantially as described.
10. In a consecutive view apparatus, the combination, with a uniform speed strip
feeding mechanism adapted to feed a view carrying strip through the field of the
apparatus, a rotatably mounted segmental frame over which the strip may pass,
having a view aperture past which said strip passes, and a uniform speed cam for
vibrating said frame alternately forward in the direction of movement of the
strip, and then backward, of a rotatably mounted reflector at the center of rotation
of said frame, adapted likewise to vibrate about said center, and a uniform speed
cam for vibrating said reflector back and forth synchronously with said frame, and
adapted to communicate to said reflector in its forward movement a uniform speed
equal to half the angular speed of the segmental frame in its corresponding move-
ment, substantially as described.
11. In a consecutive view apparatus, the combination, with a supply roll having
thereon a flexible view carrving strip, a winding roll, a main strin feeding device
adapted to feed the strip from the supply to the winding roll, and means for
driving said winding roll and for operating said main feeding device so as to
move the strip at a uniform speed, of a rotatably mounted segmental frame over
which the strip may pass, having a view aperture past which said strip passes, a
movably mounted reflector at the center of rotation of said frame, adapted likewise
to vibrate about said center, and uniform motion cams for vibrating said frame
and reflector, adapted to vibrate the frame and reflector forward and back, to move
the frame forward with a peripheral speed equal to the speed of the strip and to
move the reflector forward with an angular speed equal to half the angular speed
of the segmental frame, and means for rotating said cams, substantially as
described.
12. The combination of a consecutive view carrier, a feeding mechanism there-
for, and a reflector adapted to move in synchronism with the view carrier,
substantially as described.
13. The combination of a lens, a consecutive view carrier, a feeding mechanism
therefor, and a reflector adapted to move in synchronism with the view carrier,
substantially as described.
14. The combination of a consecutive view carrier, a continuously acting uniform
speed feeding mechanism therefor, and a reflector adapted to move in synchronism
with the view carrier, substantially as described.
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S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Agent for Applicant.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Agent for Applicant.