Improvements in Roller Holders for Photographic Cameras.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 22nd May, 1891-Accepted, 27th June, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Roller Holders for Photographic Cameras.
I HERMANN GUSTAVE RAMSPERGER of 180 Pearl Street New York United
States of America Merchant do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention has reference to improvements in roller holders, for exposing
sensitive photographic films, and has for its object to improve the construction of
such devices by providing novel means for facilitating the insertion and removal of
the several rolls, also by providing improved means for perforating or slitting the
filmn, as a guide for its subsequent division and means for measuring off the proper
length for exposure and for arresting the motion of the receiving roll after the
proper length of the filin for exposure has been reeled off. Furthermore my inven-
tion consists in certain novel means for indicating the number of exposures made
also in new constructions for the receiving roll and the friction devices for
straining the film upon its support.
For this purpose a case is arranged so adapted as to contain the supply and
receiving rolls, the film support and the operating mechanism, said case being
provided with a cover removably secured thereto by any suitable means.
The front
of the case as usual is open and provided with a closing slide fitted into grooves or
ways in the case.
The
A supply roll and a receiving roll are located on opposite sides of the case.
film passes from the supply roll in front of the film support and to the receiving
roll. The said film support is removably secured to the case by means of turn-
buckles and forms a base for the several devices for slitting the film, for measuring
the film, for arresting the motion of the receiving roll and for the device for
actuating the counter, all said devices being arranged and secured thereon and
removed therewith.
A device is arranged for perforating or slitting the film which may consist of a
sharp blade or knife arranged in proximity to the edge of the film supported and
pivotted so as to swing across the path of the film directly above the said support,
when turned about its pivot. The knife is provided with an arm adapted to be
engaged by one arm of a tumbler pivotted to the film support. When the tumble
is turned in a certain direction the knife is caused to slit the paper from point to
point. A spring returns the tumbler to its normal position and another spring
returns the knife to its position against a stop.
In proximity to the opposite edge of the film support a measuring device is
arranged which may be in the form of a lever pivoted to the film support and
provided with a blunt blade arranged in line with the slits formed in the film by the
knife and is constantly pressed against the film by a spring. When a slit is brought
opposite the blade of the measuring device i.e., when the filin has been advanced by
the proper length for an exposure, the blade passes through the perforation or slít
until its motion is arrested by a stop and locks the film from further movement.
The lever by its contact with a metallic stop gives audible evidence of such locking
or measurement; a visible indication of the position of the measuring device is also
given as will be subsequently explained.

page_text: To prevent the film from being torn by inadvertently turning the receiving roll
after the film is locked by the measuring device I provide an additional device
which locks the receiving roll said lock device being actuated by the movement
of the film measuring device and acting to lock the receiving roll simultaneously
with the passage of the measuring device through the perforation in the film. To
this end a slide is mounted upon the film support and provided with a tooth
arranged to engage with a toothed wheel connected with the receiving rolls and
rotating in unison therewith. The slide is engaged by an arm of the measuring
lever said arm playing between two pins on the said slide. When the lever is in a
certain position it has moved the slide to bring a tooth out of contact with a toothed
wheel when however the lever, snaps into the perforation in the film, the slide is
drawn forward to cause the tooth thereof to engage with the toothed wheel thereby
checking the motion of the receiving roll, until the lever has been withdrawn from
the slit by turning the tumbler in the proper direction.
It will be seen that the measuring device co-operates with the perforating device
to set off, in each instance a determined length of film for exposure, thereby
dispensing with the use of the usual measuring roll or rolls.
To indicate the number of exposures inade I make use of a counter located
advantageously at the top of the ene and consisting of a gear wheel having
thereon a concentric series of numbers arranged to be brought successively in line
with an opening in the case. The gear wheel is engaged by a small pinion mounted
upon a common shaft with a toothed wheel. This latter wheel is engaged by a star
wheel or other suitable spring pressed pawl carried by a lever pivotted to the film
support and having its opposite end in a pin and slot connection with an
projecting from the knife so that whenever the latter is oscillated to cut the film
the lever is turned about its pivot to actuate the counter.
arm
To actuate the tumbler from the exterior of the case it is provided with a hub
having a slot into which enters a key secured to the cover. The key is permanently
secured so as to be capable of rotation and a movement in the direction of its length,
in the cover and is supported upon a spiral spring neireling its shank. The lower
end of the key is provided with a flat extension which enters a slot in the tumbler
it being guided to enter said slot by the cam shaped walls of the hub no matter
what position it may be in when the cover is applied. The upper end of the key
has a head playing within a suitable recess in the cover of the case.
I will now proceed to describe the means for supporting the rolls and for inserting
and removing the same.
In the top and bottom of the case in the correct position to correspond to the
ultimate position of the supply rolls, are formed guide ways into which are fitted
hearing plates which can slide freely in the same and are provided with suitable
heads for moving them in and out. These hearing plates are provided with centres
adapted to enter suitable suckets in the opposite ends of the roll and a centre is
in addition provided with a sliding follower acted upon by a spring. On one of the
centres a disc is loosely mounted provided with a pin which enters a slot in the roll
for turning the latter to adjust the film. Between the said disc and the interior
face of a bearing plate are located two rubber friction dises, one of which is
attached by a pin to one of the dists and the other to the said bearing plate by
a più.
The bearing plates are hinged to followers moving in the same guide ways as the
former, so that by drawing the bearing plates outward until the hinges are on a
level with the edge of the ease said plates can be swing outward about their hinges
for the removal or insertion of the roll. Suitable stops limit the outward movement
of the followers.
The receiving roll is mounted in similar bearing plates and is rotated by means
of a handle which passes through one wall of the casing and the bearing plate and
is provided with a threaded portion engaging with a nut secured in the roll.
It will be observed that the rubber friction discs subject to the pressure of springs
have a tendency to rotate the rolls in a direction opposite to that in which they

page_text: are rotated when the film is shifted for a new exposure thereby causing the film to
be drawn taut.
To secure the free end of the film to the receiving roll a longitudinal groove is
forined in the latter and to one end of the same is secured the head of a spring clip
which extends throughout the length of the groove its opposite head being secured
by a pin.
The end of the roll where the clip is permanently fastened is cut away to
facilitate the introduction of the film and the opposite end of the roll is cut away
to permit the clip to be depressed for its insertion in the fastening pin. To secure
the roll to the toothed wheel the head of the clip is provided with a narrow
portion or neck which fits between two checks formed on the face of the wheel.
In larger cameras where the friction of the film in passing over the edges of the
film support might be excessive I make use of guide rolls said rolls being advan-
tageously equal in diameter to the thickness of the film support so that the
perforating and measuring levers can pass over the same in their operation. When
the rolls are larger in diameter, they are cut away to afford clearance for the
perforating and measuring devices.
In the operation of the roll holder, assuming the parts to be in their normal
position the film being perforated by turning the key to the right. The key is then
turned to the left to the full extent of its motion thereby causing the measuring
device to be withdrawn from the filin and the locking device to free the receiving
roll. The receiving roll is now turned to move the film to bring the perforation
behind the lever of the measuring device whereupon the key may be released and
the roll turned until again locked by the locking device to set off a new length of
film for exposure.
It will be seen that when several operating devices are in their normal positions
when the receiving roll is lockel the head of the key is vertically disposed and
when the measuring device is bearing upon the film, it is in an oblique
position. When the measuring device snaps into a perforation, the key is again
turned into the vertical position thereby giving visible indication of the locking
of the film.
It is evident that the measuring and perforating devices could be arranged to
slide toward and from the film instead of oscillating about a pivot, and that the
general details could be changed without departing from the spirit of the
invention.
DLL
P
1000
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Roller Holders for Photographic Cameras.
I HERMANN GUSTAVE RAMSPERGER of 180 Pearl Street New York United
States of America Merchant 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 :-
My invention has reference to improvements in roller holders for exposing
sensitive photographic films and has for its object to improve the construction of
such devices by providing novel means for facilitating the insertion and removal of
the several rolls and also by providing improved means for perforating or slitting
the film as a guide for its subsequent division and means for measuring off the
proper length for exposure and for arresting the motion of the receiving roll aft.r
the proper length of the film for exposure has been reeled off.
My invention furthermore consists in certain novel means for indicating the

page_text: number of exposures made and also in new constructions for the receiving roll and
the friction devices for straining the films upon its support all of which are fully
pointed out in the following Specification and claims and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 represents an elevation of the roller holder with the cover removed and
part of the supply roll broken away.
Figure 2 is a transverse section in the plane.
proper position.
Figure 1 the cover being in its
Figure 3 is a face view with the cover and rolls removed.
Figure is a transverse section in the plane gg Fig. 1 with the cover on.
Figure 5 is a plan or top view.
Figure 6 is a similar view part of the easing being broken away.
Figure 7 is an elevation taken from the rear of the holder.
Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11 are detail views illustrating the construction of the
receiving roll.
Figure 12 is a sectional elevation of a detail part.
Figure 13 is a transverse section in the plaue
Figure 14 is a section in the plane Figure 3.
Figure 1.
Figure 1 is a transverse section in the plane' Figure 3.
Figure 16 is a transverse sertion illustrating a malification.
Figure 17 is a face view of a portion of the film.
Similar letters of reference indicate carresponding parts throughout the several
views.
In the drawings referring at present to Figures 1, 2, and 3 the letter A designates
a en: e adapted to contain the supply and receiving rolls the film support and the
operating incchanism said ease being provided with a cover A removably secured
thereto by any suitable means. The front of the case as usual is open amĭ provided
with a closing slide A fitted into proves or ways in the ease.
is the supply roll and (is the receiving roll located on opposite sides of the
care. The film P passes from the upp by roll in front of the film support D and to
the receiving roll. The said film support is removably secured to the case by means
of the turn buckles a a Figures 1 and 3 and forms a base for the several devices for
slitting the film for me suring the film for arre-ting the motion of the receiving roll
and for the device for actuating the counter all said devices being arranged and
secured thereon and removed therewith (see Figure 3 especially),
Referring to Figure 1 E represents device for perfor uting or slitting the film which
may consist of a sharp blade or knite arranged in proximity to the edge of the fila
support D and pivoted at & so as to swing across the path of the film directly abovo
the said support when turned about its pivot. The knife is provided with an arm e
adapted to be engaged by one arm of a tumbler F pivoted at d Figures 1 and 3 to
the film support. When the tumbler is turned in the direction of arrow 10 Figure 1
the knife is caused to slit the paper from point 1 to point 2 as shown in Figure 17
its final position being shown by full lines in Figure 3. A spring returns the
tumbler to its normal position and a spring returns the knife to its position against
stop h.
In proximity to the opposite edge of the film support I) is arranged a measuring
device which may be in the form of a lever pivoted at to the film support and
provided with a blunt blade arranged in line with the slits formed in the film by
the knife E and is constantly pressed against the film by a spring . When a slit
is brought opposite the blade of the mensuring device when the filin has been
advanced by the proper length for an exposure-the blade passes through the
perforation or slit until its motion is arrested by a stop and focks the film from
further movement. The lever by its contact with the metallic stop gives audible
evidence of such locking or measurement. A visible indication of the position of
the measuring device is also given as will be subsequently explained.
To prevent the film from being torn by inadvertently turning the receiving roll
after the film is locked by the measuring device (I provide an additional device

page_text: which locks the receiving roll said locking device being actuated by the movement
of the film measuring device and acting to lock the receiving roll simultaneously
with the passage of the measuring device through the perforation in the film. To
this end a slide H. is mounted upon the film support D and provided with a tooth m
arranged to engage with a toothed wheel n connected with the receiving rolls and
rotating in unison therewith. (See Figures 1, 3, and 4.) The slide H is engaged
by an arm o of the measuring lever G said arm playing between two pins p and 7 on
the said slide. When the lever G is in the position indicated by broken lines in
Figure 3 it has moved the slide H to bring the tooth m out of contact with the
toothed wheel n. When however the lever snaps into the perforation in the film
the slide is drawn forward to cause the tooth m thereof to engage with the
toothed wheel thereby checking the motion of the receiving roll until the lever
has been withdrawn from the slit by turning the tumbler F in the proper
direction.
It will be seen that the device G co-operates with the perforating device to set off
in each instance a determined length of film for exposure thereby dispensing with
the use of the usual measuring roll or rolls.
To indicate the number of exposures made I make use of a counter located
advantageously at the top of the case A and consisting of a gear wheel J* having
thereon a concentric series of numbers arranged to be brought successively in line
with an opening in the case. The gear wheel J* is engaged by a small pinion s
Figure 6 mounted upon a common shaft with a toothed wheel Figure 2. This
latter wheel is engaged by a star wheel or other suitable spring pressed pawl
carried by a lever pivoted at w to the film support and having its opposite end in
a pin and slot connection with an arm e projecting from the knife E so that
whenever the latter is oscillated to cut the film the lever vis turned about its pivot
as seen in Figure 3 to actuate the counter.
To actuate the tumbler I from the exterior of the case it is provided with a hub a'
having a slot a² into which enters a key I secured to the cover A'. (See
Figures 2, 7 and 12 especially.) The key I is permanently secured so as to be
capable of rotation and a movement in the direction of its length in the cover and is
supported upon a spiral spring encircling its shank. The lower end of the key
is provided with a flat extension e' which enters the slot a' in the tumbler it being
guided to enter said slot by the cam shaped walls of the hub a¹ (see Figure 2)
no matter what position it may be in when the cover is applied. The upper
end of the key has a head 11 playing within a suitable recess in the cover of
the case.
I will now proceed to describe the means for supporting the rolls and for inserting
and removing the same.
In the top and bottom of the case in the correct position to correspond to
the ultimate position of the supply rolls are formed guide ways c² ² into which are
fitted bearing plates JJ' which can slide freely in the same and are provided with
suitable heads for moving them in and out. These bearing plates are provided with
centres d and d adapted to enter suitable sockets in the opposite ends of the roll
and the centre d' is in addition provided with a sliding follower e acted upon by a
spring. On the centre is loosely mounted a disk provided with a pin
which enters a slot in the roll for turning the latter to adjust the film. Between
the said disc and the interior face of the bearing plate Jare located two rubber
friction discs 2 one of which is attached by a pin to the disc g' and the other
to the said bearing plate by a pin & Figure 14.
The bearing plates JJ are hinged to followers moving in the same guide-
ways as the former so that by drawing the bearing plates outward until the hinges
are on a level with the edge of the case said plates can be swung outward about
their hinges as shown in Figures 3, 14 and 15 for the removal or insertion of the
roll. Suitable stops as m² m² limit the outward movement of the followers.
The receiving roll is mounted in similar bearing plates JJ and is rotated by
means of the handle K which passes through one wall of the casing and the bearing

page_text: plate and is provided with a threaded portion a³ engaging with a nut e' secured in
the roll Figure 13.
It will he observed that the rubber friction discs subject to the pressure of
the springs have a tendency to rotate the rolls in a direction opposite to that
in which they are rotated when the film is shifted for a new exposure thereby
causing the film to be drawn tant.
To secure the free end of the film to the receiving roll Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11
a longitudinal groove p is formed in the latter and to one end of the same is
secured the head of a spring clip q' which extends throughout the length of the
groove its opposite head heing secured by the pin . The end of the roll where
the clip is permanently fastened is cut away as ats to facilitate the introduction
of the film and the opposite end of the roll is cut away as at to permit the clip
to be depressed for its insertion in the fastening pin A. To secure the roll to the
toothed wheel a the head of the clip is provided with a narrow portion or neck a²
which fits between two checks a forined on the face of the wheel n.
In larger cameras where the friction of the film in passing over the edges of the
film support might be excessive I make use of guide rolls such as L L Figure 16
said rolls being advantageously equal in diameter to the thickness of the film
support Do that the perforating and mewuring levers can pass over the same in
their operation. When the rolls are larger in diameter they are cut away to afford :
clearance for the perforating and measuring devices.
In the operation of the roll holder assuming the parts to be in their normal
position as shown in Figure 1 the film is perforated by turning the key I to the
right Figure 7. The key is then turned to the left to the full extent of its motion
thereby causing the measuring device to be withdrawn from the film and the locking
device tu free the receiving roll. The receiving roll is now turned to move the film
to bring the perforation behind the lever of the measuring device whereupon the
key may be released and the roll turned until again looked by the locking device to
set off a new length of film for exposure.
It will be seen that when the several operating devices are in their normal
positions—ie, when the receiving roll is locked the head of the key I is vertically
disposed Figures 1 and 7 and when the measuring device is bearing upon the film it
is in an oblique position as shown by dotted lines in Figure 7. When the measuring
device snaps into a perforation the key is again turned into the vertical position
thereby giving visible indication of the locking of the film.
It is evident that the measuring and perforating devices could be arranged to
slide toward and from the film instead of oscillating about a pivot and that the
general details could he changed without departing from the spirit of the
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I would remark that
I am aware of Letters l'atent granted to Boult No. 15542* of 1884, McKellen
No. 8722 of 1883, and Holliday No. 5536 of 1888 and do not claim anything
described and claimed therein but I declare that what I do claim is:
1. In a roller holder a perforating device adapted to penetrate the film and a
measuring device adapted to enter the perforations substantially as described.
2. In a roller holder a perforating device adapted to penetrate the Glm and a
measuring device held in contact with the film by spring pressure and adapted to
enter the film substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3. In a roller holder a perforating device arranged to penetrate the film and a
device co-operating with the perforating device to measure off' the film and to lock
the same substantially as described.
4. In a roller holder a perforating device arranged to penetrate the film a
mensuring device co-operating with the perforating device and a lock engaging with
one of the rolls substantially as described.
5. In a roller holder a perforating device a measuring device co-operating with

page_text: the perforating device and a lock constructed to act simultaneously with the film
measuring device substantially as described.
6. In a roller holder a perforating device a measuring device co-operating with
the perforating device and a lock actuated by the movement of the measuring
device to lock one of the rolls substantially as described.
7. The combination with the supply and receiving rolls and the film support of a
perforating and measuring device acting at the opposite edges of the film support
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
8. The combination with the supply and receiving rolls and the film support of
a perforating device a measuring device and a common tumbler or its equivalent
for actuating the perforating device and for withdrawing the measuring device sub-
stantially as described.
9. In a roller holder a perforating device a measuring device co-operating with
the perforating device and a counter substantially as described.
10. In a roller holder a perforating device a measuring device co-operating with
the perforating device and a counter actuated by the movement of the perforating
device substantially as described.
11. In a roller holder the supply and receiving rolls in combination with sliding
plates for supporting said rolls capable of being moved in and out independently of
the film support substantially as described.
12. In a roller holder the supply and receiving rolls in combination with the
hinged sliding bearing plates substantially as described.
13. In a roller holder a sliding bearing plate provided with a hinged follower and
a centre substantially as described.
14. In a roller holder a detachable film support provided with attached perforating
and measuring devices all removable with sairi film support and bearings for the rolls
guided in the casing and separate from the filin support said bearings remaining
in the casing on the removals of the film support substantially as described.
15. In a roller holder a perforating device a measuring device a tumbler engaging
with the same as described and a key for engaging and actuating said tumbler
substantially as described.
16. In a roller holder a perforating device a measuring device a tumbler and a
spring supported key secured to the cover of the case substantially as described.
17. In a roller holder the slotted tumbler for engaging the perforating and
mensuring devices in combination with the spring supported key having flat
termination c¹ and head I substantially as described.
18. In a roller holder a case provided with opposite guideways bearing platos
fitted into the guideways followers hinged to said bearing plates and stops for
limiting the movement of the followers substantially as described.
19. In a roller holder a counter consisting of gears J and S toothed wheel and
lever provided with a spring pawl z substantially as described.
20. In a roller holder the combination of the receiving roll the sliding lock H
provided with tooth m wheel and lever G engaging with the lock H substantially
as described.
n
21. In a roller holder the combination of a roll the rubber friction discs bearing
against each other and secured respectively to the roll and to a stationary part of
the holder and a spring substantially as described.
22. The combination with a bearing plate having a projecting centre of the
friction discs and plate arranged upon said centre and a bearing plate
arranged opposite and provided with a projecting centre and a spring substantially
as described.
23. The roll provided with longitudinal groove p' in combination with the
spring clip capable of being swung about its end to permit the insertion or
removal of the film substantially as described.
24. The roll C provided with longitudinal groove p' in combination with the
spring clip 7 secured to one end of the roll and pin and recess for securing the
free end of the clip substantially as described.

page_text: 25. The roll C provided with longitudinal groove p and recesses
in combination with the spring clip g substantially as described.
26. The roll (provided with spring clip having neck
plate having cheeks substantially as described.
Dated this 22nd day of May 1891.
and t'e'
in combination with
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, ('hancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Patentee.