Apparatus for Obtaining and Viewing Chrono-photographic or Zoetropic Pictures.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 10th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 11th Jan., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Obtaining and Viewing Chrono-photographic or
Zoetropic Pictures.
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of 23 Southampton Buildings, in the
County of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(a communication to me from Auguste Lumière and Louis Lumière, both of
21, 23 and 25 Rue Saint Victor, Lyon-Montplaisir, in the Republic of France,
Manufacturers of Photographic Products and Materials) to be as follows:-
--
It is known that chrono-photographic pictures give the illusion of movement by
the rapid succession before the eyes of the observer of a series of photographs,
taken at close intervals, of objects or persons in movement.
The invention consists in a novel apparatus for obtaining and viewing these
pictures.
The essential character of the mechanism of this apparatus is to act intermittently
on a riband perforated at regular intervals, so as to impart to it successive motions
separated by times of rest during which the exposure is effected or the pictures are
viewed, each of these movements being further obtained with a variable speed,-
nil at the commencement and finish of the motion and maximum at its centre-in
order not to deteriorate the riband by a too sudden impulse or by a too abrupt
cessation.
These conditions are practically realized by the apparatus represented in the
accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a sectional front view, Fig. 2 is a horizontal section drawn on the
liney of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a vertical section at right angles to that of
Fig. 1.
The mechanism contained in the chamber C is operated by a single shaft A which
receives its motion from the outside of the chamber from any kind of motor. On
the shaft A is mounted an eccentric B, giving a to and fro movement to a vertical
slide D moving in guides E E.
On a lateral prolongation of this slide is mounted a small very light fork F,
(drawn to a larger scale in Fig. 5) the two points a a of which pass through the
partition G in two slotted openings bb. The fork F, guided by a small support f,
slides horizontally and carries on its central rod an arm or projection d moved first
in one direction and then in the other by two arms 9 g fixed to the shaft A and
carrying at their two extremities two portions of helices inclined in contrary
directions.
Behind the partition G is a vertical passage, through which the perforated
riband R descends, said riband being previously wound and freely suspended in a
box H at the upper part of the apparatus; the perforations of this riband, which
are arranged at equal distances along the two edges, are traversed by the two
points a a when the fork is pushed towards the interior by one of the arms 9; at
this moment the descending motion of the slide commences, which carries with it
the perforated riband. At the end of this motion, the second arm g pushes the fork
backwards and disengages it from the perforations, so that the slide rises alone and
leaves the riband at rest during its ascending motion.
The result of this arrangement is :-
1st. That the riband is drawn downwards during the descending motion of the
points a and that it remains at rest during their ascending motion.

page_text: 2nd. That the points enter and leave the perforations of the riband at the dead
points of the eccentric when their speed is nearly at zero whatever may be the
rapidity of the movements.
3rd. That these same points come into contact with and leave the riband without
shock and consequently without deteriorating the perforations.
The riband further unwinds very freely from the box H where it is simply
supported on a fixed axle.
The partition G is provided with a window or eye piece I of the dimensions of
one of the successive images; this window or eye piece is alternately covered and
uncovered by a screen formed of a simple disc segment J, whose shape is shown by
the dotted lines in Fig. 1. The missing segment of the disc corresponds with a
sector of an angle which it is only necessary to vary to modify the time of exposure,
and which may be as much as about 170 degrees, which would be too much for the
obtaining of sharp images, but which constitutes a very favorable condition for the
viewing of images when the apparatus serves for this purpose. It is arranged so
as to uncover the window or eye piece I whilst the riband is at rest, that is to say,
during the upward motion of the points a.
The mechanism just described is utilized, either in the same apparatus or with
different apparatuses :-
1st. For the obtaining of negative images by the direct exposure of the scenes to
be reproduced.
2nd. For the obtaining of positive prints.
3rd. For the direct viewing or for the projection on a screen of photographs in
movement.
The printing of positives is also effected upon a sensitive transparent or
nou-transparent riband perforated exactly like that above described.
The two ribands, superposed, pass through the apparatus as above described with
a speed which can nevertheless be less according to the degree of sensitiveness or
of light.
Finally the same mechanism, or a similar mechanism, will also serve for direct
vision or for the projection of positive images.
These images will succeed each other absolutely in the same manner and will
return absolutely to the same place as the impressions received at the exposure;
they will be seen separately in the state of complete rest and during a time almost
equal to the interruption between two consecutive images, which conditions are
very favorable to the sharpness and continuity of the vision.
Negatives are obtained upon a riband of sensitive transparent paper, or better on
A sensitive film perforated along its edges as above explained.
The chamber C being closed and furnished with a lens in front of the window I,
the successive phases of the animated scene which is in front of the lens, are
reproduced upon the ribaud whilst it is at rest and uncovered by the screen, and
the descent of the riband takes place whilst the window I is covered by the
screen.
Very sharp impressions can be thus obtained, succeeding each other rapidly,—
twenty times per second for example-with a time of exposure which may reach in
this case about 3 of a second on a surface completely motionless.
The exposed band descends freely into a dark chamber below the apparatus,
where it is taken for development.
Further, by the employment of conveniently shaped cams, for example, the
triangular cam represented at Fig. 4, the time of rest of the riband can be
increased to of the total time, which condition is very favorable for vision either
direct or in projection, and for obtaining images with times of exposure relatively
large.
For viewing either direct or by projection, a segment of a disc is employed which
is made of translucent material, such as oiled paper, paraffined paper, celluloid, etc.,
the effect of which is to diminish the scintillation due to the periodic suppression of
the light.
1

page_text: I would have it understood that the arrangements of detail of the mechanism
above described may be modified according to requirements, particularly to replace
the eccentric B by a crank, cam, or other organ giving to the points a an alternate
motion with dead point, and to effect the escapement of these points during their
ascending motion by any suitable organ fixed upon the shaft A.
Dated this 8th day of April 1895.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.
Apparatus for Obtaining and Viewing Chrono-photographic or
Zoetropic Pictures.
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of 23 Southampton Buildings, in the
County of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
a communication to me from Auguste Lumière and Louis Lumière, both of 21, 23
and 25 Rue Saint Victor Lyon-Montplaisir in the Republic of France, Manu-
facturers of Photographic Products and Materials, and in what manner the same
is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
It is known that chrono-photographic or zoetropic pictures give the illusion of
movement by the rapid succession before the eyes of the observer, of a series of
photographs, taken at close intervals of objects or persons in movement.
The invention consists in a novel apparatus for obtaining and viewing these
pictures.
The essential character of the mechanism of this apparatus is to act intermittently
on a riband perforated at regular intervals so as to impart to it successive motions,
separated by times of rest, during which the exposure is effected or the pictures
are viewed.
Each of these movements being further obtained with a variable speed, nil_at
the commencement and finish of the motion and maximum at its centre, in order
not to deteriorate the riband by a too sudden impulse or by a too abrupt
cessation.
These conditions are practically realized by the apparatus represented in the
drawings accompanying my Provisional Specification.
Fig. 1 is a sectional front view, Fig. 2 is a horizontal section drawn on the
line XY of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is a vertical section at right angles to that of
Fig. 1.
The mechanism contained in the chamber C, is operated by a single shaft A
which receives its motion from the outside of the chamber, from any kind of
motor. On the shaft A is mounted an eccentric B, giving a to and fro movement
to a vertical slide D moving in guides E E.
On a lateral prolongation of this slide is mounted a small very light fork F
(drawn to a larger scale in Fig. 5) the two points a. a of which pass through the
partition G through two slotted openings b. b. The fork F guided by a small
support slides horizontally and carries on its central rod an arm or projection d
moved first in one direction and then in the other by two arms g.g fixed to the
shaft A and carrying at their two extremities two portions of helices inclined in
contrary directions.
Behind the partition G is a vertical passage through which the perforated
riband R descends, said riband being previously wound and freely suspended in a
box H, at the upper part of the apparatus; the perforations of this riband which
are arranged at equal distances along the two edges, are traversed by the two
points a. u, when the fork is pushed inwards by one of the arms g at this moment

page_text: the descending motion of the slide commences which carries with it the perforated
riband. At the end of this motion, the second arm g pushes the fork backwards
and disengages it from the perforations, so that the slide rises alone and leaves
the riband at rest during its ascending motion.
The result of this arrangement is :-
1st. That the riband is drawn downwards.during the descending motion of the
points a, and that it remains at rest during their ascending motion.
2nd. That the points enter and leave the perforations of the riband at the dead
points of the eccentric when their spead is nearly at zero whatever may be the
rapidity of the movements.
3rd. That these same points come into contact with and leave the riband
without shock and consequently without deteriorating the perforations.
The riband further unwinds very freely from the box H, where it is simply
supported on a fixed axle.
The partition G is provided with a window or eye piece I, of the dimensions of
one of the successive images, this window or eye piece is alternately covered and
uncovered by a screen formed of a simple disc segment J whose shape is shown
by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. The missing segment of the disc corresponds with
a sector of an angle which it is only necessary to vary to modify the time of
exposure and which may be as much as about 170 degrees, which would be too
much for the obtaining of sharp images, but which constitutes a very favorable
condition for the viewing of images when the apparatus serves for this purpose.
It is arranged so as to uncover the window or eye piece I whilst the riband is at
rest, that is to say, during the upward motion of the points a. The mechanism
just described is utilized, either in the same
apparatus or with different
1st. For the obtaining of negative images by the direct exposure of the scenes
to, be reproduced.
apparatuses..
2nd. For the obtaining of positive prints.
3rd. For the direct viewing or for the projection on a screen of photographs in
movement.
The printing of positives is also effected upon a sensitive transparent or non
transparent riband perforated exactly like that above described.
The two ribands superposed pass through the apparatus as above described
with a speed which can nevertheless be less according to the degree of sensitiveness
or of light.
Finally the same mechanism or a similar, mechanism, will also serve for direct
vision or for the projection of positive images.
These images will succeed each other absolutely in the same manner and will
return absolutely to the same place as the impressions received at the exposure,
they will, be seen separately, in the state of complete. rest, and during a time-
almost equal to the interruption between two consecutive images, which conditions
are very favorable to the sharpness and continuity of the vision.
Negatives are obtained upon a riband of sensitive transparent paper or better
on a sensitive film perforated along its edges as above explained.
The chamber C being closed and furnished with a lens in front of the window I
the successive phases of the animated scene which is in front of the lens, are
reproduced upon the riband whilst it is at rest and uncovered by the screen, and
the descent of the riband takes place whilst the window I is covered by the said
screen.
Very sharp impressions can be thus obtained, succeeding each other rapidly,
twenty times per second for example, with a time of exposure which may reach in
this case about 3 of a second on a surface completely motionless.
The exposed band descends freely into a dark chamber below the apparatus,
where it is taken for developement.
Further by the employment of conveniently shaped cams, for example the
triangular cam represented at Fig. 4 the time of rest of the riband can be increased

page_text: to of the total time, which condition is very favorable for vision either direct or
in projection, and for obtaining images with times of exposure relatively large.
For viewing either direct or by projection, a segment of a disc is employed
which is made of translucent material such as oiled paper, paraffined paper,
celluloid &c. the effect of which is to diminish the scintillation due to the periodic
suppression of the light.
I would have it understood that the arrangements of detail of the mechanism
above described may be modified according to requirements, particularly the
eccentric B may be replaced by a crank, cam, or other organ giving to the points a,
an alternate motion with dead point and effecting the escapement of these points
during their ascending motion by any suitable organ fixed upon the shaft A.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what mannor the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:―
1. An apparatus for obtaining and viewing chrono-photographic or zootropic
pictures, in which a riband to receive or having received successive prints or
pictures has given to it intermittent movements separated by intervals of rest, by
means of points or catches entering regular perforations made in the edges of the
riband, the said riband receiving or exhibiting the successive pictures through a
window or eye piece alternately covered and uncovered by a disc segment serving as
a screen, the uncovering of the window or eye piece corresponding to the moments
of rest of the riband, substantially as herein shown and described.
2. In apparatus for obtaining and viewing chrono-photographic or zoetropic
pictures a mechanism consisting of a single shaft carrying the screen disc, the
eccentric, cam or crank giving a to and fro motion to the points and the arrange-
ment for removing these points during the period corresponding with the repose
or rest of the riband.
3. In an apparatus for obtaining and viewing chrono-photographic or zoetropic
pictures when used for viewing either direct or by projection the substitution of a
translucent disc segment screen for an opaque disc segment employed in the
obtaining of pictures, substantially as herein described.
4. The novel combination and arrangement of apparatus for obtaining and
viewing chrono-photographic or zoetropic pictures, substantially as herein shown
and described.
Dated December 10th 1905
HARRIS & MILLS,
23 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.