Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Mar., 1898-Accepted, 7th May; 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
We, ANDREA ANGEL (Undergraduate), and LORENZO VALENCIA ANGEL (Chemist),
both of 34, Balliol Road, Bootle, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, 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: -
This invention relates to improvements in magazine cameras for storing and
successively exposing a series of sensitized films separated by backing cards
alternated with the films in the usual manner, and the invention consists essentially
in the mechanism whereby the films are prevented from buckling and are held
perfectly flat during exposure and whereby the release of the films in succession
and the disposal of the exposed films and their backing cards is effected, a special
object of the invention being to dispense with notching the films or otherwise
adapting them for the action of the releasing mechanism.
The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings
forming part of this specification wherein Figure 1 is a longitudinal section shew-
ing the mechanism in position to retain the foremost film in position for exposure,
the pack of films and cards and the spring-pressed backing plate being omitted to
avoid obscuring the mechanism. Figure 2 is a similar section shewing the
mechanism after being operated to release the exposed film and retain its backing
card. Figure 3 is a cross section of the magazine, looking backwards, and Figure 4
a similar cross-section, looking forward, the mechanism in both figures being in
position to retain the foremost film in position for exposure. Figure 5 is a
sectional plan and Figure 6 a cross-sectional elevation of the means of actuating
the film-releasing mechanism. Figures 7 and 8 shew a film and a backing card
respectively and illustrate how the film and card successively escape from the
retaining pins during the opposite movements of the latter. The samé letters
of reference denote like parts in all the figures.
The magazine chamber (A) which is a fixture within the upper part of the body
of the camera (B) has guides (a, a¹) in the form of broad bars offset from and
extending from front to back of the top and bottom of the magazine. The films
are of plain rectangular form as shewn at (F) Figure 7 and fit between the opposing
faces of the said guides whilst the backing cards (C) are of the same width as the
films but of greater height and have notches (c, c¹) cut in them to fit over the said
guides so that the corner portions of the cards project above and below the top
and bottom edges of the films represented by the dotted lines (f) in Figure 8.
The cards are also provided with pairs of notches (c²) in the side edges thereof.
The pack of alternated films and cards rests upon the lower guide (a¹) and is
pressed towards the exposure plane by a spring actuated pusher plate in the usual
manner.
The means by which the requisite flatness of the film is ensured during exposure
consists of a rectangular frame (D) pivoted on a horizontal axis (d) at the upper
part so that it may close against the front of the magazine as shewn in
Figures 1, 3, 4, or be raised as shewn in Figure 2. The internal dimensions of

page_text: the frame are slightly less than the dimensions of the film (F) and the frame when
in the position shewn in Figures 1, 3, 4, at the front of the magazine chamber, pro-
jects inwards beyond the walls of the same at all four sides so as to form a continuous
marginal abutment for all four edges of the foremost film which is pressed up
against the same by the spring presser at the back. By this means the buckling
of the film under the pressure from behind, by reason of its bearing against
detents or other retaining devices only at isolated points is avoided. The abut-
ment face of this frame (D) therefore coincides with the exposure plane for the
film, and in said face are notches (d) to admit pairs of escapement pins (e e, el e¹,)
that project inwards beyond the two opposite sides of the magazine so as to form
temporary abutments for the foremost film when the frame (D) is raised. These
pins are carried by oppositely moving sliding plates (EE, EE,) fitted to work
in guide grooves in plates (E2) at the sides of the magazine, the pins projecting
through slots (e²). In their normal position, shewn in full lines in Figure 7 the
pins are situated in front of the foremost film so that when the frame (D) is raised
the film will be prevented by the pins from moving forward, until by the move-
ment of the slides (E E, E E,) in opposite directions the pins (e e, e¹ e¹,) are moved
from the full line position Figure 7 to the dotted line position shewn in the same
figure, whereupon the film is free to fall forward if the camera be held at a slight
inclination. In that position of the pins they come in front of the projecting or
offset corner portions of the backing card (C) immediately behind the film, as
shewn in Figure 8 in full lines (which position corresponds to the dotted position
in Figure 7) whereby the card is retained. By the inward movement of the
plates (E,E) the pins (e, e¹) are returned to normal position and coming then
opposite the notches (2) in the card, as shewn in dotted lines in Figure 8, the
card (C) is then free to fall forward also, thus completing the operation of
changing a film.
The means whereby the plates (E, E¹) are operated are as follows:-it being
understood that the plates (E, E¹) are alike at both sides of the camera and are
operated simultaneously and by the same means, so that the following description
applies equally to the plates at both sides of the camera. The pin-carrying
plates (E, E¹) are guided so as to be capable only of rectilineal sliding motion
in the up and down direction and they, as well as the swinging frame (1) are
operated by a longitudinally sliding cam plate (G). For this purpose the cam
plate has formed in it a cam slot (g) which engages with a stud (3) on the side of
the frame (D) and also other cam slots (g', g²2) which engage with studs (e³, e¹)
respectively attached to the sliding plates (E, E¹). The cam slots (g, g', g²) are so
shaped that during the first portion of the forward motion of the cam plate (G)
in the direction of the arrow 1, Figure 1, the frame (1) alone will be moved to
the position shewn in Figure 2, the plates (E, E¹) and pins (e, e¹) remaining
stationary in the position shewn in Figure 1; whilst during the latter part of said
forward motion of the cam plate (G) the frame (D) will remain stationary in the
raised position Figure 2 during the movement of the plates (E, E¹) and
pins (e, e) from the position shewn in Figure 1 to the position shewn in Figure 2.
This alternate movement of frame (D) and plates (E, E¹) is obtained by providing
the slots (g, g) with straight inactive portions coinciding in direction with the
direction of motion of the cam plate (G) so that the plate (G) may move relatively
to the studs (e³, e) without acting on them whilst the active part of the cam slot (g)
is acting on the stud (3) of frame (1) and conversely, the slot (g) has a straight
portion coinciding in direction with the motion of cam plate (G) so that the latter
may move relatively to the stud (3) without acting on it, whilst the oppositely
inclined active portions of the slots (9¹, g²) are acting on studs (3, 4) to move the
plates (E, E¹) and pins (e, e¹) in opposite directions. The order of the movements
is reversed on the return motion, the pins being first moved and then the frame (D)
the latter on completing its motion being firmly held at the plane of exposure.
The cam plates (G) at opposite sides of the camera are united by a cross bar (G¹)

page_text: at the front of the camera body provided with a thumb piece (G2) by which the
cam plates may be moved forward simultaneously. The reciprocating movement
of one of the cam plates (G) may be made to actuate in any well known way a
counter consisting of a numbered ratchet wheel or other similar device to indicate
how many exposures have been made.
In order on the return movement to delay the descent of the frame (1) for a
sufficient time, after the pins (e, e¹) have returned to normal position, to allow
the backing card to fall, a pin (/) projecting from the cam plate (G) engages with
a spring pressed latch (H) and arrests the movement just as the frame is about to
be lowered, so as to necessitate a pause whilst pin (h) is released, a notch (¹) in
the latch being caused (by pressing in the button H¹) to register with said pin.
The edge of notch (h¹) is so bevelled as to allow the cam plate (G) to move freely
in the opposite direction.
In order to prevent all possibility of the film being displaced in the upward or
the downward direction by the movement of the pins (c, e) the guides (a, a¹) are
extended slightly forward by broad tongues (a², a³) the lower one entering a slot
between the two lower members of the frame (D) when the latter is in its normal
position.
To the lower edge of the frame (D) is attached a flexible blind of opaque cloth (I)
extending the full width of the camera body, the other end of the strip being made
fast at the rear lower part of the camera body below the magazine chamber (A)
so that when the frame (D) is raised as shewn in Figure 2 the blind will not only
serve to protect the unexposed film from accidental exposure in setting the lens
shutter and adjusting the diaphragm, but will also form an incline on which the
films and cards will slide down and by which they will be conducted to the space
beneath the magazine. When the frame (D) is lowered to operative position as
shewn in Figure 1 the exposed films are partly enfolded by this blind (I) and are
thereby protected from light during the subsequent exposure of the succeeding
fiims.
As no notching or preparation of the films is required it will be evident that
the camera although primarily intended for films may also be used for glass plates
and that wherever in this specification the term film is used a plato is intended to
be included.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:
―
1. In a magazine camera the combination with the magazine, of a forwardly
swinging frame pivoted at the upper part of the camera body and adapted by its
dimensions to form a continuous marginal support to the film at all four sides
thereof substantially as specified.
2. In a magazine camera the combination of oppositely movable pairs of detent
or escapement pins projecting in front of the foremost film at two opposite edges
so as to retain the film at the exposure plane the said pins being adapted to be
moved beyond the other two edges of the film so as to permit it to escape
substantially as specified.
3. In a magazine camera the combination with pairs of detent pins oppositely
movable as described adapted to engage and release the films as described, of
un-notched films and of backing cards alternated therewith and provided with
corner extensions and with notches whereby to cause the retention or permit the
escape of the cards according as the detent pins are in their outermost or inner-
most position substantially as and for the purpose specified.
4. In a magazine camera the combination with a film abutment frame hinged
to swing as described and with pairs of detent pins oppositely movable as described,
of a pair of cam-slotted sliding plates coupled together and moving as
one, the said cam plates engaging with the swinging frame and with
sliding plates on which the detent pins are carried, the cam slots being so formed

page_text: and arranged that the frame will first be swung forward and then the plates will
be moved in opposite directions and conversely, substantially as specified..
5. In a magazine camera the combination with a film abutment frame hinged
"to swing as described, with pairs of oppositely movable detent pins, and with a
pair of sliding cam plates actuating the swinging frame and detent carrying plates a
as, described, of a latch engaging the one cam plate on its return motion so as to
ensure the necessary pause to permit the backing card to fall as described.
$
770
6. In a magazine camera the combination with a film abutment frame hinged
to swing as described, of a flexible blind attached to the said swinging frame and
to a fixed point so as to act as an inclined guide for the falling films, as well as t
a means of enfolding and retaining the films after they have fallen as described.
י
739
Dated this 28th day of February 1898.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.