Improvements in or Applicable to Optical or Magic Lanterns.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 30th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 4th Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Applicable to Optical or Magic Lanterns.
I, ALFRED WRENCH, of 50, Grays Inn Road, in the county of London, Manu-
facturing Optician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in or applicable to optical or magic-lanterns,
whereby both mounted and unmounted slides can be more conveniently and easily
exhibited than hitherto, the unmounted slides being automatically registered; by
these improvements also a curtain or screen is operated between the exhibition of the
slides as hereinafter more particularly described.
In carrying out my invention I form the lantern with two compartments in the
stage or receptacle for the slides. One of these compartments is adapted for the
reception of mounted slides, and the other compartment is provided with guides in
which works a carrier operated by a rack and pinion or other arrangement, and
adapted to receive and exhibit unmounted slides, and to register such slides
automatically. The guides are furnished with spring lugs which yield to the
upward pressure of the slide and immediately it has passed thein they spring outwards
and hold the slide in position for being exhibited.
The said carrier also actuates a screen or shutter in such a manner as to produce
the effect of a curtain falling after the exhibition of one slide, and rising to exhibit to
view a new picture.
In a modification of my invention I employ a shifting stage operated by a rack
and pinion or other arrangement whereby mounted slides and mechanical slides can
be exhibited and registered automatically in the same way as unmounted slides and
which shifting stage also actuates a screen or shutter to produce the curtain effect
hereinbefore mentioned.
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11
1
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Applicable to Optical or Magic Lanterns.
1, ALFRED WRENCH, of 50, Grays Inn Road, in the county of London, Manu-
facturing optician, 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 optical or magic-lanterns, and has for its chief object to
provide means whereby both mounted and unmounted slides can be con-
veniently and easily exhibited in the same lantern, the unmounted slides being auto-
matically registered or adjusted relatively to the lenses; and whereby a curtain or
screen is operated between the exhibition of the slides, all as hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawings-
Figure 1 is an elevation of a lantern-front having my improvements applied thereto;
and,
Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same on the line.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the lines y y figures 1 and 2 ; and,
Figure 4 is a vertical section on the line = z
figure B.
a is iha front-plute of the lantern and 1 1 ora rabated sides sooured tharata in

page_text: vertical position and adapted to receive unmounted slides between them, the said
guides being arranged at a short distance from the plate a by means of packing-
pieces, for a purpose hereinafter described.
C
cc is the rear-plate of the ordinary stage upon which mounted slides are
exhibited the said plate extending over the guides as shown in figure 3. d is
the lens-carrying tube, connected to the plate e by the pillars e, e; and is a spring-
plate for pressing the mounted slides against the plate c. The mounted slides are
introduced into the compartment between the plates c and in the ordinary manner,
being supported upon a bar 1.
In order, however, to introduce unmounted slides into the compartment in which
they are exhibited, I provide in connection with the guides b, ba carrier g adapted to
slide in the spaces between the guides b, b and the plate a, as shown most clearly in
figure 3; the said carrier having attached to it racks h, h, with which engage pinions i, i
mounted on a shaft journalled in brackets I, I secured to the plate a, the said
sbaft being provided with a crank-handle m, so that it can be rotated to raise and
lower the carrier. n is a stage or support secured to the carrier g, upon which
stage the unmounted slides are placed in such a manner, that, when the carrier is
raised, the slides will also be raised in the guides. The lower portions of the guides b, b
are cut away, as shown in figure 1, in order to allow the introduction of the
slides into the same.
b
To support the slides in their proper positions relatively to, or so as to register
with. the lenses, I arrange spring-lugs or catches o, o figure 4, in the guides b, b.
These catches are adapted normally to spring outward into the grooves of the guides b,
but to yield when a slide is forced upwards between the same; when, however,
the bottom edge of the slide has passed above the said catches, the latter spring out-
wards and prevent the slide from falling, as indicated by dotted lines in figure 4.
The carrier can then be lowered to receive another slide, which, as it is raised to the
position for exhibition, lifts the slide previously introduced sufficiently to enable it to
be grasped from the top and removed.
.
The carrier is made of such height that, after the exhibition of one slide and
during the raising of another to the position for being exhibited, it serves as a curtain
or shutter passing in front of the slide, in such a manner as to produce the effect of a
curtain falling over the said slide.
I sometimes modify my invention by adapting the stage upon which mounted slides
are exhibited to be raised vertically and to be automatically registered in the same
manner as herein before described, the carrier serving for lifting such slides also
actuating a screen or shutter to produce the curtain effect herein before mentioned.
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 :-
1. In an optical or magic-lantern, the combination with the stage or compartment
upon or in which mounted slides are placed for exhibition, of a second compartment
adapted to receive unmounted slides and a carrier working in conjunction with the
said compartment and adapted to convey the pictures to the position for exhibition, all
substantially as described.
2. In an optical or magic-lantern provided with two compartments adapted to
receive mounted and unmounted slides respectively, the arrangement of spring-lugs
or catches adapted to support the slides, during their exhibition, in a position
registering with the lenses, substantially as described.
3. In an optical or magic-lantern provided with a carrier for raising the slides into
position for exhibition, the arrangement of a screen, shutter or curtain in conjunction
with the said carrier, substantially as, and for the purpose, described.
4. An optical or magic-lantern, the stages of which are adapted to be raised and
lowered for the purpose of moving the slides into position for exbibition, substantially
as described.

page_text: 5. The manufacture and use of optical or magic-lanterns provided with a movable
stage or stages, substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
Dated the 30th day of November 1889.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.