Year: 1899

page_text: follows:-
The object of this application is an apparatus for taking photographs on metal
plates of persons and the like, and for developing and fixing them, the whole
being operated automatically upon certain sintple initial movements being
given by the operator.
The annexed drawing represents in,
Fig. 1a vertical side elevation of the apparatus.
Fig. 2 a vertical section in the axis of the apparatus.
Fig. 3 a plan.
Fig. 1a vertical front elevation and a plan of a metal carrier for holding a
sensitive plate.
Fig. 4 à part of the elevation in section on the line V-X of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 an end view in elevation of the movement actuating the valve for
clean water.
Fig. 6-7 a vertical front elevation and a horizontal projection of the move-
ment of the basket in its lower position.
Figs. 8-9 a front elevation and a horizontal projection of the movement of
the basket in the upper position.
Fig. 10 a side view of the basket overturned in order to let fall the carrier
holding the finished photographic plate.
The letters and figures of reference indicate the same objects in the different
figures.
The apparatus is arranged in a box so as to be entirely protected from the
light, this box is mounted on a hollow support with reception drawer for the
finished photographs and a receiver for the water which has served for the
washing. The operator having filled his developer bath 1, fixing bath 2, and
washing bath 3, now places protected from the light in a holder E a rectangular
tube T of about 25 c.m. height ending at the upper end with a cover containing
the carriers with sensitive plates, the said tube being provided with two lugs at
its lower end to engage in slots in the holder and provided on one side with a
slot for the passage of the pusher a and on the other side for the passage of a
photographic plate carrier.
The operator then winds up by fitting a key on the square end of axle 6 which
projects outside the box, a strong clock-work with spring barrel B giving
movement to a train of wheels, one of which c carries a grooved rim. On the
axle of the last wheel a regulating fly R is fixed.
The different organs receive their movement from the wheel and pinion
on the axle of which latter there is the bevelled wheel d which drives by means

page_text: of bevelled wheel d' the vertical shaft A carrying the support e of the basket
movement, the tappet L for opening the clean water tap and the lever for the
moving of the shutter.
The explanation of the manner of working will include description of the
parts.
The operator poses the subject at a desirable distance in front of the objec-
tive O; he presses the button D the axle of which carries a plate h masking the
sensitive plate placed in the small camera C behind the objective and which
plate has a hole of the size of the objective.
By pressing the button the hole aforesaid is brought in alignment with the
objective and the sensitive plate is exposed; then the operator releases the
button and the plate, pushed back by a spring i, resumes its normal position
masking the photograph. The operator then presses the button Farranged
likewise outside the box and holds it a moment. By this movement the bent
bar j pushes aside the pin k of a plate on which the exposed plate stands upright
in its carrier and the plate being thus moved against the tension of spring f
the carrier holding the exposed plate falls into the basket P. At the same time
as the inclined plane moves the lever m the other arm which was engaged in
a recess in the rim of the wheel e and the upper bent part of which carries a
fingern bearing on the regulator fly. By the said movement, the upper end of
the lever rises, the finger n rises also, sets free the fly and the apparatus is put
in motion, the point of the lever sliding on the rim of wheel c.
On releasing the button p the bar j pushed by a spring goes back to its
former position.
The basket which was lifted being held by the knee of lever q one end of
which abutted against the antifriction roller on pin o and the other arm of
which bears on the wiper s, now falls, by the lever q quitting the pin o and the
basket thus dicps into the developing bath 1 where it remains, being upheld by
a point fixed to the wiper and abutting under the bracket e keyed on the vertical
shaft A. The basket remains in its lower position whilst turning about the
axis A.
When the lower knee of the lever q meets the second pin o¹ the other arm of
lever q bears on the wiper and lifts the basket for its passage from the developing
bath into the fixing bath 2.
The same movements take place for its passage from the fixing bath to the
washing bath and for the exit from this latter, whence being still lifted the
basket abuts against a slide way G which it follows being progressively over-
turned until it is reversed above an inclined passage H and the carrier falls
into a drawer arranged at the lower end of the passage.
The basket arm continues its movement and the basket escapes from the slide
way, taking its lowermost position. As this fall gives the basket oscillatory
movement an abutment I is provided for damping this movement.
The basket then rises again, the lower knee of the lever q being pushed by
pin o and the arm of the lever leaning on the wiper lefts the basket arm and
the basket comes under the camera C where it is stopped because the wheel c
having now made one turn the point of the lever m has entered the recess and
the finger n bears on the regulator fly thus stopping the clock movement.
The vertical shaft A carries on its upper end a crank J with connecting rod u
by which it moves a slide block or pusher sliding in the holder of the tube T.
When put to motion from the position of rest shown in Fig. 3 the crank
makes a revolution and causes slide-block to push forward a carrier holding a
sensitive plate and when the block is at the end of its course the said carrier
tips and falls into a guiding chute and thus into the camera C ready to be
exposed. In case the carrier in consequence of bulgings on its edges or from
any other reason should remain hooked in the opening of the rectangular tube
and should not tip over a small spring ¹ is arranged carrying a button inclined
on the one side and grooved on the other, which is pushed back on the passage

page_text: of the slide block but returns as soon as the slide returns and which engages
between the wall of the tube and the carrier.
On the lower end of the vertical shaft A is fixed a tappet L which in position
of rest projects in the direction of the basket.
When the apparatus is in motion and the basket tumbles into the clean water
the tappet meets a crank a¹ carried by a horizontal shaft N carrying an elbowed
crank b.
In the rocking movement given by the tappet to the crank a¹ the crank b¹ lifts.
a lever c with support carrying a funnel which has inside a cross-bar abutting
under the valve spindle of the tube of the water vessel R¹ which receives water
through a rubber pipe from a reservoir placed on the top of the box.
The water runs through the beak of the funnel into the bath 3 so long as the
tappet L touches the crank a and any excess escapes through an overflow
pipe a leading at its lower end to an outlet.
The tappet having passed the abutment, the weight of the lever c and of the
funnel etc. causes the shaft N to return to its original position and the valve
closes.
The carrier holding the developed plate being taken out of the drawer where-
into it has fallen, the two sides of the carrier are lifted in order to remove the
plate which is then dried and mounted in a small frame. All the operations
from opening the objective to the putting into a frame usually take no longer
than 30 seconds.
Dated this 14th day of December 1899.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicant.
Improvements in Apparatus for Taking Photographs.
I, FRANCOIS DE PAULA ROMANI, of Rue Ferrandiere 34, Lyon, in the Republic
of France, Chemist, 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:-
The object of this application is an apparatus for taking photographs on metal
plates of persons and the like, and for developing and fixing them, the whole
being operated automatically upon certain simple initial movements being
given by the operator.
Referring to the drawings filed with my Provisional Application:—
Fig. 1 is a vertical side elevation of the apparatus.
Fig. 2 a vertical section in the axis of the apparatus.
Fig. 3 a plan.
Fig. 1b a vertical front elevation and a plan of a metal carrier for holding a
sensitive plate.
Fig. 4 a part of the elevation in section on the line V---X of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 an end view in elevation of the movement actuating the valve for
clean water,
Fig. 6-7 a vertical front elevation and a horizontal projection of the move-
ment of the basket in its lower position.
Figs. 8-9 a front elevation and a horizontal projection of the movement of
the basket in the upper position.
Fig. 10 a side view of the basket overturned in order to let fall the carrier
holding the finished photographic plate.

page_text: The letters and figures of reference indicate the same objects in the different
figures.
The apparatus is arranged in a box so as to be entirely protected from the
light, this box is mounted on a hollow support with reception drawer for the
finished photographs and a receiver for the water which has served for the
washing. The operator having filled his developer bath 1, fixing bath 2, and
washing bath 3 now places protected from the light in a holder E a rectangular
tube T of about 25 c.m. height ending at the upper end with a cover containing
the carriers with sensitive plates, the said tube being provided with two lugs at
its lower end to engage in slots in the holder and provided on one side with a
slot for the passage of the pusher a and on the other side for the passage of a
photographic plate carrier.
The operator then winds up by fitting a key on the square end of axle b which
projects outside the box, a strong clock-work with spring barrel B giving
movement to a train of wheels, one of which e carries a grooved rim. On the
axle of the last wheel a regulating fly R is fixed.
The different organs receive their movement from the wheel r and pinion 1
on the axle of which latter there is the bevelled wheel d which drives by means
of bevelled wheel the vertical shaft A carrying the support e of the basket
movement, the tappet L for opening the clean water tap and the lever for the
moving of the shutter.
The explanation of the manner of working will include description of the
parts.
The operator poses the subject at a desirable distance in front of the objec-
tive O; he presses the button D the axle of which carries a plate h masking the
sensitive plate placed in the small camera C behind the objective and which
plate has a hole of the size of the objective.
By pressing the button the hole aforesaid is brought in alignment with the
objective and the sensitive plate is exposed; then the operator releases the
button and the plate, pushed back by a spring i, resumes its normal position
masking the photograph. The operator then presses the button F arranged
likewise outside the box and holds it a moment. By this movement the bent
bar pushes aside the pin K of a plate on which the exposed plate stands upright
in its carrier and the plate being thus moved against the tension of spring f
the carrier holding the exposed plate falls into the basket P. At the same time
as the inclined plane 7 moves the lever m the other arm which was engaged in
a recess in the rim of the wheel and the upper bent part of which carries a
fingern bearing on the regulator fly. By the said movement, the upper end of
the lever rises, the finger n rises also, sets free the fly and the apparatus is put
in motion, the point of the lever sliding on the rim of wheel c.
On releasing the button F the bar j pushed by a spring goes back to its
former position.
The basket which was lifted being held by the knee of lever one end of
which abutted against the antifriction roller on pin o and the other arm of
which bears on the wiper s, now falls, by the lever q quitting the pin o and the
basket thus drops into the developing bath 1 where it remains being upheld by
a point t fixed to the wiper and abutting under the bracket e keyed on the vertical
shaft A. The basket remains in its lower position whilst turning about the
axis A.
When the lower knee of the lever 7 meets the second pin o¹ the other arm of
lever q bears on the wiper and lifts the basket for its passage from the developing
bath into the fixing bath 2.
The same movements take place for its passage from the fixing bath to the
washing bath and for the exit from this latter, whence being still lifted the
basket abuts against a slide way G which it follows being progressively over-
turned until it is reversed above an inclined passage H and the carrier falls
into a drawer arranged at the lower end of the passage.

page_text: The basket arm continues its movement and the basket escapes from the slide
way, taking its lowermost position. As this fall gives the basket oscillatory
movement an abutment I is provided for damping this movement.
The basket then rises, the lower knee of the lever q being pushed by
pin o and the arm of the lever leaning on the wiper lifts the basket arm and
the basket comes under the camera C where it is stopped because the wheel c
having now made one turn the point of the lever m has entered the recess and
the finger n bears on the regulator fly thus stopping the clock movement.
The vertical shaft A carries on its upper end a crank J with connecting rod u
by which it moves a slide block or pusher sliding in the holder of the tube T.
When put in motion from the position of rest shown in Fig. 3 the crank
makes a revolution and causes slide-block to push forward a carrier holding a
sensitive plate and when the block is at the end of its course the said carrier
tips and falls into a guiding chute and thus into the camera C ready to be
exposed. In case the carrier in consequence of bulgings on its edges or from
any other reason should remain hooked in the opening of the camera
and should not tip over a small spring is arranged carrying a button inclined
on the one side and grooved on the other, which is pushed back on the passage
of the slide block but returns as soon as the slide returns and which engages
between the wall of the tube and the carrier lifting the latter.
On the lower end of the vertical shaft A is fixed a tappet L which in position
of rest projects in the direction of the basket.
When the apparatus is in motion and the basket tumbles into the clean water
the tappet meets a crank a¹ carried by a horizontal shaft N carrying an elbowed
crank b¹.
In the rocking movement given by the tappet to the crank a¹ the crank b¹ lifts
a lever c¹ with support carrying a funnel which has inside a cross-bar abutting
under the valve spindle of the tube of the water vessel R¹ which receives water
through a rubber pipe from a reservoir placed on the top of the box.
The water runs through the beak of the funnel into the bath 3 so long as the
tappet L touches the crank a¹ and any excess escapes through an overflow
pipe leading at its lower end to an outlet.
The tappet having passed the abutment, the weight of the lever c¹, and of the
funnel etc. causes the shaft N to return to its original position and the valve
closes.
The carrier holding the developed plate being taken out of the drawer where
into it has fallen, the two sides of the carrier are lifted in order to remove the
plate which is then dried and mounted in a small frame. All the operations
from opening the objective to the putting into a frame usually take no longer
than 30 seconds.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is: —
1. The system of automatic and instantaneous apparatus for the production of
completely finished photographs, enclosed in a box so as to be protected from
light, actuated by clock-work mechanism, with fly regulator, comprising among
other parts a wheel having a rim in which there is a recess forming a catch,
upon which rim while the apparatus is in motion the point of a bent lever m
rests, held there by its weight, the said lever m having a finger and falling at
the end of each revolution of the said wheel into the recess beforementioned,
carrying with it the said finger which bears on the regulator fly and thus arrests
the motion, the re-starting of the apparatus being effected from outside the box
by means of an inclined bar which bears upon the lower part of the bent lever
and causes it to rise in order to release the regulator fly; a vertical shaft operated
by the clock-work mechanism carries at its upper end a crank with connecting

page_text: rod for the purpose of pushing a sensitive plate into the camera; lower down is
articulated a basket for receiving the exposed plate.
2. In the apparatus described in Claim 1, a rectangular tube T containing a
large number of carriers made of thin metal with bent edges for the purpose of
holding the sensitive plates, the said tube being placed in a hollow holder
provided with a support, in which holder a pusher with a projection slides, the
said pusher being operated by a connecting rod connected with a crank on the
main shaft and passing underneath the tube causing a carrier to tip over into the
camera C towards the objective; a basket P for carrying the exposed plate
which is caused to fall out of the camera by pushing a bent bar j against a
grooved plate which supports the said exposed plate, the said basket, provided
with an arm with a cam, mounted on an axle, being lifted by means of a lever
arm in order to pass between the partitions of each bath, the lower bent end of
the said lever abutting against rollers, the other end bearing against the cam
of the basket holder, upon which cam is a pin for retaining the basket in the
lower position.
3. The slide way G upon which the basket lets the exposed plate fall into a
passage out of which the said plate is received in a drawer.
Dated this 6th day of Santamban 1000
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicant,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C., London.