A Method of Changing Plates in Photographic Cameras.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 9th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 9th Feb., 1891-Accepted. 14th Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Method of Changing Plates in Photographic Cameras.
EDWARD SCOTT MILLER, Gentleman, 11, Bath Road, Bedford Park, Chiswick,
EDWARD CHARLES HAWKINS, Scientific Instrument Maker, 5, High Street,
Bloomsbury, W.C., do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Our invention provides a simple and effective method by which dry plates or
other sensitive surfaces used in photography may be removed from the position in
which they are necessarily held opposite the lense during exposure into a
position outside the angle of light between the lense & plate: allowing a fresh
plate or other sensitive surface to be brought into position for exposure.
The method we adopt is more particularly useful in hand or detective
cameras.
-
Each plate or other sensitive surface is provided with a carrier of metal,
vulcanite or other substance through which actinic light cannot pass - these
carriers are open at the front and provided at the sides near the top at a uniform
height with short projections or arms. The arms are supported and slide upon
horizontal metal guides with L shaped ends fixed on the side of the dark chamber
or camera, and are pressed forward towards the lense by a spring operating behind
the carrier furthest from the lense-one or more stops in addition to the shaped
cuds of the guides aforesaid are placed at or near the bottom of the carrier so that
the sensitive surface in its containing carrier is held firmly in a vertical position in
the focal plane of the lense.
Just in front and below the foremost plate we provide a bobbin shaped device
on a shaft cominunicating with a handle or key outside the camera by which the
shaft may be turned round. The shaft of the bobbin runs from one side to the
other of the camera and is of a length a little greater than the base of the plate
being used. On the discs which form the ends of the bobbin we provide metal
arias constructed to pivot on axes removed a suitable distance from the main shaft
of the bobbin the extent of movement of the arms in the radius of a circle drawn
from the axes on which they are pivoted being limited by blocks on the discs of
the bobbin aforesaid.
The ends of the metal arms are provided with V shaped ends and lie alongside
the carriers aforesaid in a vertical position with the ỷ shaped ends terminating
just below the projections of the carriers.
It will be seen that by turning the main shaft of the bobbin forward the move-
ment first imparted to the metal arms is upward. The V shaped ends of the arms
engage in the projections of the front carrier and lift it and its contained plate
upwards beyond the retaining L shaped ends of the metal guides e. aforesaid.
The amount of upward movement of the arms is dependent upon the distance of
the axes of the arms from the main shaft of the bobbin and upon the position of the
blocks provided upon the dises of the bobbin. On the continued movement of the
main shaft until the carrier with its contained plate is brought into a horizontal
position when it is deposited.
In the meantime the next following carrier has taken the place of the one just
removed and on the return of the metal arms is ready to be operated on in like
manner and so on till all the plates have been exposed.
Detal this 4th day of Mar 1800
EDWD. SCOTT MILLER.
EDWD. C. HAWKINS.

page_text: A Method of Changing Plates in Photographic Cameras.
We, EDWARD SCOTT MILLER, of 11, Bath Road, Bedford Park, Chiswick, in
the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, and EDWARD CHARLES HAWKINS, of
5, High Street, Bloomsbury, London, W.C., Scientific Instrument Maker, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :
Our invention relates to photographie camera, and consists in mechanism for
bringing successively into position for exposure, and removing therefrom after
exposure, a series of photographie plates, films or other sensitised surfaces.
The plates or other surfaces are separately inserted in carriers of thin
metal, or other suitable material, which ure hung one behind the other, to the
number desired, on two parallel guides, for which purpose each carrier is provided
with two projecting ear near the top, one on either side. The carriers with their
plates are pushed forward by a spring or springs against stops, in such a way that
the foremost plate is always in the focal plane of the lens.
When this plate has been exposel we lift it off the parallel guides, clear of the
stops, by the netion of two metal erms, which are forked at their upper extremities
and engage with the two projecting ears on the sides of the foremost carrier, and
we then move these arms radially and thereby deposit the carrier with its plate
face downwards in a horizontal position at the bottom of the camera, in a space
provided for the purpose, and we retain it there by a device which we call ♬
retiring Imck.
L
The whole operation for removing an exposed plate, and thereby allowing a fresh
plate to take up its position for exposure, is effected within the camera by the
partial rotation of a shudi, by means of a key inserted through the camera side,
which shaft is made to communicate motion to the arms and to the retiring back '
by means that are described hereunder.
"
In the accompanying drawings we have shown how our invention may be con-
veniently carried into practice.
Figure 1. is a side clavation of the mechanism we have învented, illustrating the
general arrangement of the parts.
Figure 2. is a plan view of the same mechanism.
Figure 3. is a side elevation of the mechanism with parts removed, to show more
clearly the action of the arms, which are represented in the horizontal position.
Figure 4. is a front view of one of the thin metal carriers.
Figure ā, is a transverse section of the retiring back." showing the end plate in
elevation, and the means whereby it receives motion from the shaft.
Figure 6. is a front view of the spring by which the carriers are forced
forwards.
Figure 6 is a side view of the same spring.
Figure 7. is the key.
The same letters are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the
whole of the drawings.
A and B are respectively the back and bottom of a camera to which this
invention may be applied. The line CD represents the prolonged axis of
the lens.
We preferably support our mechanism on a wooden frame E, E, having upright
checks F, F, and a transverse piece G, forming the forward side of the well in
which the exposed plates are deposited, and also constituting a screen for excluding
light from them. The backward side of this well is a movable piece H, which is
the retiring back already mentioned.
The two metal cheeks 1, 1, form the other two sides of the well.

page_text: Date of Application, 9th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 9th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 14th Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Method of Changing Plates in Photographic Cameras.
EDWARD SCOTT MILLER, Gentleman, 11, Bath Road, Bedford Park, Chiswick,
EDWARD CHARLES HAWKINS, Scientific Instrument Maker, 5, 1ligh Street,
Bloomsbury, W.C., do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Our invention provides a simple and effective method by which dry plates or
other sensitive surfaces used in photography may he removed from the position in
which they are necessarily held opposite the lense during exposure into a
position outside the angle of light between the lense & plate: allowing a fresh
plate or other sensitive surface to be brought into position for exposure.
The method we adopt is more particularly useful in hand or detective
cameras.
Each plate or other sensitive surface is provided with a carrier of metal,
vulcanite or other substance through which actinic light cannot pass — these
carriers are open at the front and provided at the sides near the top at a uniform
hight with short projections or arms. The arms are supported and slide upon
horizontal metal guides with L shaped ends fixed on the side of the dark chamber
or camera, and are pressed forward towards the lense by a spring operating behind
the carrier furthest from the leuse one or more stops in addition to the shaped
ends of the guides aforesaid are placed at or near the bottom of the carrier so that
the sensitive surface in its containing carrier is held firmly in a vertical position in
the focal plane of the lense.
Just in front and below the foremost plate we provide a bobbin shaped device
on a shaft communicating with a handle or key outside the camera by which the
shaft may be turned round. The shaft of the bobbin runs from one side to the
other of the camera and is of a length a little greater than the base of the plate
being used. On the discs which form the ends of the bobbin we provide metal
arms constructed to pivot on axes removed a suitable distance from the main shaft
of the bobbin the extent of movement of the arms in the radius of a circle drawn
from the axes on which they are pivoted being limited by blocks on the discs of
the bobbin aforesaid.
The ends of the metal arms are provided with V shaped ends and lie alongside
the carriers aforesaid in a vertical position with the V shaned ends terminating
just below the projections of the carriers.
It will be seen that by turning the main shaft of the bobbin forward the move-
ment first imparted to the metal arms is upward. The V shaped ends of the arms
engage in the projections of the front carrier and lift it and its contained plate
upwards beyond the retaining L shaped ends of the metal guides etc. aforesaid.
The amount of upward movement of the arms is dependent upon the distance of
the axes of the arms from the main shaft of the bobbin and upon the position of the
blocks provided upon the discs of the bobbin. On the continued movement of the
main shaft until the carrier with its contained plate is brought into a horizontal
position when it is deposited.
In the meantime the next following carrier has taken the place of the one just
removed and on the return of the metal arms is ready to be operated on in like
manner and so on till all the plates have been exposed.
Dated this 9th day of May 1890.
EDWD. SCOTT MILLER.
EDWD. C. HAWKINS.

page_text: A. Method of Changing Plates in Photographic Cameras.
We, EDWARD SCOTT MILLER, of 11, Bath Road, Bedford Park, Chiswick, in
the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, and EDWARD CHARLES HAWKINS, of
5, High Street, Bloomsbury, London, W.C'.. Scientific Instrument Maker, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention. and in what ummmer the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :--
Our invention relates to photographie camera, and consists in mechanism for
bringing accessively into position for exposure, and removing therefrom after
exposure, a series of photographie plates, films or other sensitised surtuet,
The plates or other surfaces are separately inserted in carriers of thin
metal, or other suitable material, which are hung one behind the other, to the
number desired, on two parallel guide-, for which purpose each carrier is provided
with two projecting ears near the top, one on either side. The carriers with their
plates are pushed forward by a spring or springs against stops, in such a way that
the foremost plate is always in the focal plane of the lens.
When this plate has been exposed we lift it off the parallel guides, clear of the
stops, by the action of two metal arms, which are forked at their upper extremities
and engage with the two projecting ears on the sides of the foremost carrier, and
we then move these arms radially and thereby deposit the carrier with its plate
face downwards in a horizontal position at the bottom of the camera, in a space
provided for the purpose, and we retain it there by a device which we call a
retiring back."
The whole operation for removing an exposed plate, and thereby allowing a fresh
plate to take up its position for exposure, is cilvetel within the camera by the
partial rotation of a shaft, by means of a key inserted through the camera side.
which hatt is made to communicate motion to the arms and to the retiring back
by means that are described hereunder.
In the recompanying drawings we have shown how our invention may be con-
veniendy prried into practice.
Figue 1, is a sale elevation of the mechanism we have invented, illustrating the
general arrangement of the parts.
Figure 2. is a plan view of the same mechanism.
Figure 3. is a side elevation of the mechanism with part removed, to how more
clearly the action of the arms, which are represented in the horizontal position.
Figure 1. front view of one of the thin metal carriers.
Figure 5. i transverse section of the retiring back, showing the end plate in
elevation, and the meaus whereby it receives motion from the shaft.
Figure 6. is a front view of the spring by which the carriers are forced
forwards.
Figure 6 is a side view of the same spring.
Figure 7. is the key.
The same letters are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the
whole of the drawings.
A and B are respectively the back and bottom of a camera to which this
invention may be applied. The line CD represents the prolonged axis of
the lens.
We preferably support our mechanism on a wooden frame E, K, having upright
checks F, F, and a transverse piece G, forming the forward side of the well in
which the exposed plates are deposited, and also constituting a screen for excluding
light from them. The backwaril side of this well is a movable piece EI, which is
the retiring nek' already mentioned.
The two metal cheeks I, I, form the other two sides of the well.

page_text: That part of the frame (J. J) which lies between the two uprights F, F is thick
and solid, and constitutes a rigidl connection between them.
At K it is cut away sufficiently to allow full play for the spring L.
On the forward edge of J are two stops M, M, the purpose of which will
presently appear.
At the top of the two uprights F, F, on the inside, are two parallel metal
guides N, N of the form shown in the drawing Figure 1, and upon these guides
the carriers with their plates, to the desired number, are hung, being secured
against up and down movement by the special form of the carriers at the
points 0, 0, so long as they remain upon the parallel part of the guides.
The compound spring L'is preferably attached to the back of the camera, and it
serves to keep a forward pressure upon the plates. This spring consists of two
metal blades, one of which is slotted and receives the T-shaped end of the other
in the manner that will be clearly understood with reference to Figures 6 and 64.
The upper spring is rigidly fixed at its upper end to the camera back, and the
lower spring is hinged to the camera back in the manner shown. The effect of
this combination is to provide a greater useful range of movement than could be
obtained with a single spring of ordinary type.
Just before the plate reaches the stops on the forward ends of the guides, i.e.
after passing beyond the point P, it becomes partly freed from the guides, and by
making the position of the vertical edge P slightly to the rear of the forward stops
of the guides, we provide means to ensure only one carrier and plate being freed at
a time.
When so freed the carrier can be lifted off the guides by the action of the
forked arms Q, Q.
The carrier (Figure 4) is made with two cars R, R, with which these forked
arms engage. The crossbar T ties together the two arms, ensuring their forked
ends being parallel and opposite, and constituting a third support to the carrier
whilst it is being carried forwards and downwards.
The arms Q, Q are pivotted to the two flanges U, U of the shaft by the
Screws S, S.
The springs W, W, attached to the lower projecting ends of the arms keep these
arms normally in the position shown by the full lines in Figure 1.
Before the arms can make the radial movement, it is necessary that their upper
forked ends should rise sufficiently to lift the carrier clear of the stops M, M, and
of the stops on the guides, and this motion (see dotted lines in Figure 1) is pro-
vided for, by shaping that part of each arm which bears against the shaft, in the
way shown in the drawings and most clearly in Figure 3.
The metal cheeks 1, I carry at their forward upper corners two triangular
projections Y, Y, formed so as to act upon the carrier ears R, R and eject them
from the forked ends of the arms as they are brought to the position shown in
Figure 3, thereby freeing the carrier and allowing it to drop into the well.
·
The shaft V, which for preference we make of hollow tube, is supported in
bearings X, X, and, in addition to actuating the arms in the manner just described,
it is also employed to operate the retiring back H, by means of the rod Z,
which bears against the edges of suitably shaped openings in the two plates
forming the ends of the 'retiring back."
In Figure 5 the rod Z is shown at its highest position, i.e. when the arms stand
vertical, as in Figure 1, and when the shaft is turned to the right, so long as Z
traverses the circular concentric path the retiring back remains stationary, but
by the time the action of the arms has brought the carrier and plate within a short
distance of the trip pieces Y, the rod Z will have reached the vertical surface a,
and the further movement necessary for completing the travel of the arms will
draw back H, thereby allowing sufficient space for the plate and carrier to fall
freely into the well.
As the arms return to the vertical position the action of the 'retiring back' is
reversed, and it advances and presses on the edges of the plates already deposited
in the well, and holds them securely.

page_text: •
To more effectually ensure this we provide the face of the retiring back' with
pere of india-rubber or other suitable material 6. Figures 1 and 2.
The shaft is furnished internally with a cross-pin e to engage with the slotted
key, shown in Figure 7. by which the whole of the mechanism is operated from the
outside of the camera through a small aperture.
From the foregoing it is seen that the cycle of operations required to remove
ench plate, after it has been exposed, and to deposit it, and secure it in a position
where light can have no further access to it, is elected by the single motion given
to the shaft in the manner just referred to, and this being simple, and occupying
little time to perform, constitutes an important feature in our invention.
Although we have described in detail a method of carrying out our invention, it is
obvious that we can somewhat modify the construction of our mechanism without
departing from the essential nature of our invention.
For instance we may make our shaft solid, instead of hollow, and adapt the key
accordingly or we may employ different materials to those mentioned for the
various parts and we may alapt our invention to cameras of other descriptions
than hand camera',
Having w particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we wish it under-
stood that we claim:
First.
carrier for photographie plates, films or other surfnees, of metal or
other suitable material substantially as above described and illustrated in reference
to Figure 4.
Second. The compound spring as described with referener to Figures 1, 6
and GA
Think. The arms with forked ends, operated in the manner described and for the
purpose specified,
Fourth. The retiring back described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 5, and
operated in the manner described.
Fifth. The shaft and flanges for the purposes described.
Sixth. The combination of the shaft and flanges with the arms and with the
retiring back or with either one of these two devices, for the purposes and in the
manner described.
Seventh. The tripping device described with reference to Figures 1. 2 and 3 for
the purpose specified.
Eighth. The complete mechanism described with reference to Figures 1. 2.
3. 5. 6. and GA for the purposes specified and operated in the manner herein
set forth.
Dated this 9th day of February 1891.
EDWARD SCOTT MILLER.
EDWARD CHARLES HAWKINS.