Improvements in and relating to Changing Boxes for Photographic Cameras.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Aug., 1892-Accepted, 15th Oct., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Changing Boxes for Photographic
Cameras.
1, AUGUST STEGEMANN, of 151 Oranienstrasse Berlin S., in the Empire of
Germany Manufacturer, 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 relates to a changing box for photographic cameras, which is
arranged in combination with a case designed for depositing the exposed plates.
After every photographic exposure this depositing case is fixed to one side of the
changing box. In the adjoining walls are two slots ordinarily closed by slides, so
that the exposed plate, when the two slides are in the proper position, can slide from
the changing box to the depositing case. The slide may be actuated either by
hand through the medium of a special mechanism or automatically. In order that
the sliding of the plate may take place after uncovering the slots the mechanisms
provided on the two receptacles, when the latter are put together, set free the
foremost exposed plate and separate it from the others, so that it can drop into the
depositing case. The two receptacles are in this instance so close together that
during the sliding movement no rays of light can fall upon the plates. If then, the
depositing case is removed from the box, after the slots have been closed again by
the slides, the next plate is automatically put in the proper position in the box for
the fresh exposure.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a front view of the changing box.
Figure 2 is a side view of the same.
Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line I-I of Figure 1 with the pressing
plate p drawn back.
Figure 4 shows the interior of the changing box with the front removed.
Figure 5 is a similar transverse section as Figure 3 but with the pressing plate p
released.
Figure 6 is a transverse section on the line II-II of Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a view of the sliding wall of the changing box.
Figure 8 shows a front view of the changing box with the depositing case attached
thereto.
Figures 9 and 10 represent side views of the changing box and the upper part of
the depositing case in two positions in order to show the lever mechanism for
actuating the slide shaft.
Figures 11 and 12 represent sections through the sides of both receptacles on the
line III-III of Figure 8 showing the releasing mechanism.
Figure 13 shows the disengaging rod h in detail.
Figures 14 and 15 represent sections on the line IV-IV of Figure 8 showing in
two positions the locking device for holding the two receptacles together.
Figure 16 shows a longitudinal section of the changing box, with the depositing
case secured thereto.
Figures 17 and 18 are sections on the broken line V VI VII VIII of Figure 16
of the box in two positions to show the devices for disengaging the slides.
Figures 20 and 21 show the slide wall of the depositing case with the slide in the
two terminal positions.
Figure 19 is a transverse section on the line IX IX of Figure 16.
Figures 22 and 23 show parts of Figures 16 and 18 to a larger scale.
The changing box A, Figures 1 to 7 is slid in the customary manner into a
1
11 Chia
On its front are

page_text: inserted the sliding cover band the glass plate c. Behind these are placed the
plates e to be exposed. The sliding cover is not quite drawn out during the
exposure, as shown in Figure 5, but in order that it may not protrude laterally it is
adapted for turning at by means of hinges. The rear wall a of the changing box
is formed by the door, after the opening of which the plates e are put in. The lock
for the door is provided at 1. The plates e are held in their place in the changing
box by the edges 3 formed on the metallic strips 2 secured to the inner sides, so
that they cannot be displaced laterally, Figure 5. The edges 3 do not quite reach the
plater, through the intermediate space 4, Figures 3 and 5, the foremost plate, after
the exposure has taken place, can slide along the glass plate and through the slot 5
in the wall of the changing box to leave the latter. The slot is closed by a
slide & Figure 7, which is guided on the outside of the box by the plates 35.
In the changing box is arranged a spring plate p which presses the plates e
forwards against the glass plate e. It is fixed by hinge flaps 6 or similar means
upon, the rear wall or door a and is forced by one or more springs against the
plates e. On opening the door a, when new plates are to be put in, the plate p is
pulled back and held against the rear wall, as shown in Figure 3. For this purpose
it is connected with a cord 7 which passes over small pulleys arranged in the rear
wall and extends to the end of the lever 8, Figures 1 and 4. This lever 8 turns
upon the pivot 9 on the inside of the door a. The cord 7 is preferably concealed in
the groove a so that the spring plate p may be drawn close to the rear wall. This
takes place by turning the lever 10 fixed upon the same pivot 9 as the lever 8 but
on the outside of the rear wall a Figure 1. Above the pivot 9 is arranged a spiral
spring mechanism which acts in opposition to the pull of the cord 7 and always
keeps the cord 7 stretched tight. Now when the lever 10 is turned from
the position indicated by the chain lines in the direction of the arrow to the
position shown in full lines the lever 8 on the inside of the door a passes
from the position shown in full lines in Figure 4 to the position indicated
in chain lines, the cord 7 being pulled and the plate p turned back from the position
Figure 5 to the position Figure 3. In order that the plate p may not of itself dart
forward I provide a locking device 11 which retains the lever 10 in the position
Figure 1. When the plates e have been put in the box and the door a has been
closed the locking device 11 is disengaged whereupon the plate p darts forward and
presses against the plates e. In proportion as the plates e are used the plate p
moves forward under the pressure of the springs, the levers 8 and 10 turning
gradually in the opposite direction to that of the arrow indicated in Figures 1 and 4.
The extent of the turning movement of the lever 10 may serve for counting the
finished plates for this purpose a graduated sector is provided in Figure 1.
After each exposure the depositing case B is fixed to the changing box A as
shown in Figures 9 to 15. Both receptacles are connected by hinges with one edge
of the sliding walls to be fixed together. These edges are provided with strips f
and f which engage with cach other like hooks and are rolled up a little. The
two are hooked together and then serve as a hinge. But these hooked strips may
also be dispensed with or replaced by other devices they have chiefly for their
object to facilitate the proper fitting together of the two receptacles.
When the two receptacles are joined in the aforesaid manner they are held
together by a locking device the arrangement of which is shown in Figures 9 to 15.
On both sides of the depositing case B are arranged the metallic plates 14 extending
with their upper bent extremities over the sides of the box, they are moreover
provided with small holes 15 into which take the spring pins 16 arranged on the
box, thereby uniting the two receptacles. The spring pins 16 are in the casing g
Figures 14 and 15 and are connected by lazy tongs 17 the spring 19 forces the
pins 16 outwards. With one of the said pins is connected the knob 18; by forcing
this knob back the two pins recede. In this manner the locking device is
disengaged, and the depositing case B can then be taken off again.
In the adjoining walls of the two receptacles are, the two sheet metal slides d
and adapted to be displaced with their narrow edges between the guide

page_text: plates 35, 35.. In the position shown in Figures 7 and 20 the slides cover the
slots 5 in the changed box and 26 in the depositing case. Ordinarily the slides are
in the locked position, wherein they are keped by locking devices as hereinafter
described. When the two receptacles are joined Figures 9 to 12 one lies exactly
upon the other. One slide is moreover provided with pins 22, 22, Figure 7, which
when the two receptacles are joined fit into suitable holes 12, 12, in the other slide
Figure 20. The pins couple as it were the two slides with each other so that when
one slide is displaced the other is carried away. In lieu of the coupling pieces any
other suitable means may be employed for fulfilling the same object.
For enabling the foremost plate immediately behind the glass plate c to fall
after the exposure through the coinciding slots 5 and 26 when the slides have been
pushed back it must be loosened from the other plates, that is to say set free; for
during the exposure the foremost plate e is firmly held in its position by the pressure
of the plates behind and of the plate p. To permit the plate to fall after the
exposure, I provide four noses adjustable in the walls of the box by means of
spring levers i Figures 9 to 12, 16 to 18. The movement of the levers i takes
place by the displacement of the spring rods h arranged in the sides of the
box Figures 11 and 12 when pressure is brought to bear upon the case B the
metallic plates 14 press with their edge against the protruding noses of these
rods and push them a little into the box in opposition to the action of
the springs 19. Under these circumstances the noses are first so forced by the
projections of suitable shape on the rods towards the interior of the box that
they pass in the direction of the arrows 20 indicated Figures 16 and 19 between
the two foremost plates. At the same time the levers are turned from the
position Figure 11 to the position Figure 12, their noses forcing back all the
plates behind the foremost plate e in the direction of the arrows 21, Figure 19 so
that pressure will no longer be exerted upon the foremost plate the latter can then
drop through the opening 4 and slots 5 and 26 Figure 18.
The opening and closing of the slides must of course only take place when the
two receptacles are joined because light would otherwise enter the receptacles
through the slots 5 and 26. For this reason the slides are connected with locking
devices so arranged that on the two receptacles being joined they will be auto-
matically disengaged. The locking of the two slides may for instance take place
in the manner shown in Figures 17 and 23. Here the locking springs 27 are on
both sides of the slides below the guide plates 35 and serve for locking the noses 28
of the slides Figures 22 and 23. The disengagement of these locking springs takes
place by the pins 29 on the guide plates 35 which when the receptacles are joined
pass through openings 30 in the opposite plate and press against the springs 27,
Figures 18, 23, thereby disengaging the slides. The reciprocal disengagement of
the slides may also be effected in a different manner. In all arrangements the
release of the slides shall take place automatically on the two receptacles being
joined.
The displacement of the slides d, d' is effected by means of the shaft 23 placed
below the slide in the depositing case B and having toothed wheels 24 which
engage with the teeth provided on the underside of the slide d. The shaft is
operated either through the medium of a crank by hand or through the medium of
a mechanism automatically, as hereinafter, described. As the slide d' carries away
the slide d the two pass simultaneously from the position Figure 17 to that of
Figure 18, whereupon the plate used drops through the uncovered slot 26 into the
depositing case B.
When the exposed plate has been conveyed to the depositing case B in the
described manner the shaft 23 must be turned back again in order to close the
slides, which takes place by hand or automatically by means of the mechanism to
be described. Pressure is exerted upon the knob 18, and the two receptacles. are
taken apart again. Then the devices for locking the slides d, are automatically
engaged again, so that these slides will be, securely kept in their locked position.

page_text: As moreover the noses are also released the noses i¹, which have liberated the
foremost plate e and retained the others, move back and the spring plate p forces a
new plate p against the plate e so that a fresh exposure can take place.
C
The displacement of the slides d d¹ is by preference effected automatically like
the other movements which take place when the depositing case B is joined to the
box and removed. Such a device is illustrated in Figures 9, 10, 16, 22. With the
shaft 23 are connected, on both sides of the case B, mechanisms consisting of a
kind of crank link 33 which has its fulcrum at 32 and is actuated by the lever 31.
When the case B is put in its place the noses 34 on the box A force these
levers 31, 31 back, thereby turning the shaft 23 and displacing the slides. The
two positions are shown in Figures 9 and 10.
The return movement of the slides on the removal of the case B takes place by
the spring 13, Figures 16 and 22. The levers are suitably covered over by the
plate 14.
If the shaft 23 is to be actuated by hand the levers and the spring 13 connected
with it are dispensed with and in lieu thereof it receives a small crank or turning
knob. Of course the turning by hand may be likewise effected only after the slides
are disengaged, that is to say when the two receptacles are joined.
In order that in the opening of the slides no light shall pass through the
slots 5 and 26 into the receptacles, a protecting strip is provided which covers
the opening between the two receptacles as soon as the slides commence their
movement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. A changing box A for several plates e in combination in a case B for the
reception of the exposed plates, the removal of the latter taking place by connecting
the two receptacles with each other by means of a locking device Figures 14 and 15,
in the sides of the changing box being at the same time actuated by a lever
mechanism Figures 11 and 12 which forces noses between the two foremost
plates e in order to press back the plates behind the exposed plate, so that the latter
becomes free and can slide into the depositing box after the opening of the
slots 5, 26, Figures 18, 21, provided in the sides put one against the other, these
slots being opposite each other and closed by slides d d'.
Second. In the apparatus characterized in the first claim the arrangement, on
the two slides d d of locking devices 27, 28, Figures 17 and 18 which ordinarily
prevent the displacement of the slides and on the two receptacles being joined are
disengaged by noses or pins 29 for enabling the slides to be opened.
Third. In the apparatus characterized in the first claim the arrangement of the
slides in such a manner that they are coupled by pins 22, noses or otherwise, and
are therefore moved together, which takes place by turning a shaft 23 having
toothed wheels which engage with the corresponding teeth on one of the slides,
either by hand through the medium of a crank or the like or automatically by a
lever mechanism 34, 31, 32, 33, Figures 9 and 10 on the two receptacles being
pressed together.
Fourth. In the changing box A with a depositing case B characterized in the
first claim the arrangement of the locking device for connecting the two in such a
manner that the pins 16 of one receptacle snapping into the holes 15 in the lateral
plate 14 of the other receptacle, are connected by a lazy-tong mechanism 17; so
that when one pin is pushed back the other will also be pushed back.
Fifth. The arrangement of the changing box A with a case B characterized in
the first claim in such a manner that the two receptacles are connected with hooked
strips, at the opposite edges of the sides to be united and are joined like hinges.
Sixth. In the changing box characterized in the first claim, the combination,
with the spring plate p, of a pulling device consisting of the cord or 'chain 7.
1

page_text: suitably guided and of the lever mechanism 8, 9, 10 supported in the rear wall in
combination with a locking device 11 for securing the spring plate in the backward
position, a counter being provided if desired for registering the number of plates
used according to the position of a lever 10.
Dated this 27th day of August 1892.
HASELTINE, LAKE, & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.