Improvements in Boxes for Containing and Changing Photographic Dry Plates.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Dec., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 1st Aug., 1890--Accepted, 18th Oct., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boxes for Containing and Changing Photographic
Dry Plates.
We GEORGE BRAMLEY and GEORGE BUTTERWORTH of Clay Cross in the County of
Derby Foundry Manager and Foreman of Mechanics respectively do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The improvement is in the means adopted to ensure the delivery into the dark
slide of a single plate and for this purpose we employ the following arrangement.
A rectangular box with two of its opposite sides closed by means of sliding doors,
has fitted inside it a rectangular frame whose outside dimensions are less either in
length or breadth than the interior of box, so as to admit of a reciprocating motion
being communicated to it by a button or push from the exterior of the box. Attached
to one side or end of the frame is a lever pivoted by its centre to the frame and one
end attached to a portion of the box, so that on moving the frame an increased move-
ment is given to the other end of the lever.. This lever is so arranged that when the
frame is at one end of its path it projects into the interior of the frame and when at
the other end is withdrawn underneath the frame.
At the opposite side or end to the lever, there are attached to the box two slips of brass
or other metal which lie under the frame, and when the frame is at that end of its.
path which causes the lever to project they also project into the interior of the frame,
thus forming supports upon which the photographic plates can rest without falling
through the interior of the frame.
Attached to the sides and ends of the box are guides which serve to keep the plates
in such a position that they descend by their weight into the interior of the frame and
rest upon the two slips of brass and projecting end of lever.
The end of frame to which lever is attached must be equal to or slightly in excess
of thickness of one plate and the opposite end of frame must have its edge thinner
than one plate, the reason being that the movement of one end forms a space
for the end of a plate to be moved into, and the other end by the movement of
the frame comes in contact with the lowest plate and moves it, and if too thick would
come in contact with more than one.
With regard to remaining sides of frame the thickness is immaterial.
The opening in frame is not placed exactly to coincide with opening in bottom of
box, but slightly overlaps in the direction of the end where the lever is placed, so
that the edge of lower opening forms a rest for the plates after the end of lever is
withdrawn and while the lever on the return motion of the reciprocating frame is
pushing back the plate so that it may fall through lower opening.
At the same end of box as lever is a small latch of brass or other metal which
being pivoted on end of box, has its loose end lying on frame, and by means of an
inclined path formed in frame, falls when frame is moved to that end of box
and prevents more than one plate being dropped. at once should they vary slightly
in thickness.
The action is as follows, having placed the required number of plates in the box
while in dark room and closed the slides, when you require to remove one, you place
the dark slide of camera in the grooves provided for it in bottom side of changing box,
then press the button home, when the bottom plate is pushed off the projecting pieces
of brass, and on releasing the pressure, the plate is pushed by means of the lever and
springs back under the projecting pieces until it falls upon bottom door of changing
box, so that when this door and that of dark slide are withdrawn, it falls into the dark
slide..
After exposure in camera the dark slide is placed in top grooves of changing box,

page_text: A suitable dark slide for use with the changing box is shewn in plan and section
Figs. 8 and 9.
The back is formed of wood 5" by 4" by 1", on one face of which and flush with
its outer edge, are fastened on two sides and one end, angle pieces " by " as shewn
in section, and at the other end a flat piece 1" by " into which is inserted the spring
catch q for retaining plate in position when slide is drawn.
The door of slide is made of wood. 61" by 31" by 1" and is retained in position by
slips placed round edges which project inwards to retain door or slide and outwards
to form a slide to fit in grooves of changing box.
The distinctive features of our invention are the reciprocating frame with the lever b
and the latch d, and the advantages are that by a single movement one plate is
detached from the remaining plates and prepared to fall into dark slide on opening
doors or slides.
15:21
D
1000
GEORGE BRAMLEY.
GEORGE BUTTERWORTH.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boxes for Containing and Changing Photographic
Dry Plates.
We GEORGE BRAMLEY and GEORGE BUTTERWORTH of Clay Cross in the County of
Derby Foundry Manager and Foreman of Mechanics respectively, 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 :-
The invention relates to boxes used to contain photographic dry plates, and which
are provided with means of transferring the plates (without exposing them to light)
into dark slides for use in the photographic camera, and also of returning them into
the changing box.
The drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification shew the construction of
our improved changing box which we prefer to employ and represent one suitable for
containing twelve quarter plates.
Fig. 1 shews a longitudinal section.
Fig. 2 a sectional plan.
Fig. 3 a cross section through A, B, in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 a cross section through C, D, Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 a sectional plan before reciprocating frame is placed in position.
Fig. 6 a plan of reciprocating frame.
Fig. 7 a longitudinal section of reciprocating frame.
Fig. 8 a plan of dark slide.
Fig. 9 a longitudinal section of dark slide.
Fig. 10 elevation and cross section of guides m.
Fig. 11 elevation and cross section of guides 1.
Fig. 12 elevation and cross section of guides o, and
Fig. 13 elevation and cross section of guides n.
The improvement is in the means adopted to ensure the delivery into the dark slide
of a single plate, and for this purpose we employ the following arrangement.
A rectangular box, with two of its opposite sides closed by means of sliding
doors,f, has fitted inside it a rectangular frame Fig. 6, to which a reciprocating.
motion can be communicated by means of the button or push ; Figs. 1 and 2 and
the spiral springs k k Figs. 1 and 2.
Attached to the opposite end of the frame to the button j is a lever b Figs. 2 & 6
pivoted at or near its centre to the frame as shewn at Fig. 6 and one end working
on a pin or screw in the framing of the box, so that on moving the frame an
accelerated movement as compared to that of the frame is communicated to the
other end of the lever.

page_text: The lever is so arranged that when the button moving the frame is not pushed
inwards, its free end projects into the rectangle formed by the interior of the
frame, and when the button is pushed inwards it is withdrawn underneath the
frame.
The frame has the opening in its centre of sufficient size for a plate to pass
easily through it, and its outside dimensions are such as to nearly coincide with
those of interior of box in one direction, and so much shorter in the other direction
as to permit of the reciprocating motion being communicated to it.
At the opposite end to the lever there are attached to the box two slips a, a, Figs. 1
and 2 of brass or other metal which lie under the reciprocating frame, and when the
button is not pushed in project into the space in the interior of the frame, but when
the button is pushed in, lie underneath the frame. These two slips of brass together
with the free end of lever b, form three points of support for photographic plates. in
the box, when the button is in its normal position or not pushed in..
Attached to the sides and ends of the box are guides l, m, n, o, which serve to
keep the plates in such a position that they descend by their weight into the interior
of the frame and rest upon the two slips of brass a, a, and projecting end of
lever b.
1
The end of reciprocating frame to which lever is attached must be equal to or
slightly in excess of the thickness of a single plate, and the portions c, c, of opposite
end of frame must be slightly thinner on the edge than that of a single plate, for
the reason that, by the movement of the frame, one end leaves a space into which the
end of the bottom plate is pushed, and the other end pushes forward the bottom
plate only.
The thickness of the other sides of frame is not material and they can be made of
either wood or metal.
The opening in frame is not placed to exactly coincide with opening in bottom of
box, but slightly overlaps in the direction of the end where lever is placed, so that
the edge of lower opening forms a rest for the end of bottom plate after the lever is
withdrawn (by pushing in the button) until the frame on its return to its original
position by means of the springs k, k, brings the free end of lever b, against
edge of plate and pushes it back until it falls through bottom opening of box.
The guides n, n, come sufficiently low to only admit as a rule of one plate being
pushed under them, but to provide against more than one being pushed under, if
plates are very thin, a latch & Figs. 1 and 3 is pivoted to end of box and has its free
end resting upon end of frame, in which an inclined groove is formed, so that, as the
frame moves, the end of latch descends and rests upon bottom plate, thus preventing
a second plate being moved forward at same time.
A suitable dark slide for use with the changing box is shewn in Fig. 8, and is
provided with a spring catch q to hold plates in position when the door or slide of
dark slide is withdrawn. The catch 9 consists of a small sliding bolt pressed forward
by a spring and capable of being drawn back by the projecting piece on back of dark
slide.
The method of using the box is as follows,
The box is taken into the dark room, the upper slide of box withdrawn, and the box
filled with dry plates, film side upwards, the bottoni plate resting upon the projecting
pieces a, a, and lever b, and the slide closed.
When a plate is required the dark slide is placed in bottom grooves of changing
box, the button pushed in as far as it will go, which by moving the reciprocating frame
pushes one end of bottom plate off projections a, a, and the other end into space under
latch d, formed by the end of reciprocating frame and lever moving back, the button
is then gently released and the springs k, k, return the frame and button to their
original position, during which return the free end of lever comes into contact with
end of bottom plate,. pushing one end under projections a, a, and the other off the
edge of lower opening so that the plate now rests upon the sliding door fat bottoni
of box. This sliding door is now withdrawn when plate falls upon door of dark slide,
and the door of changing box being closed again and the door, of dark slide opened,

page_text: the plate falls into dark slide, but cannot lie flat upon the bottom of it until the spring
catch g is drawn back, on this being done and released again, the plate lies upon bottom
qi
of dark slide, the door of dark slide can be closed and the dark slide removed with
the plate in it for use in the camera.
After exposure in the camera the dark slide is placed in the top grooves of changing
box, the spring catch drawn back, and while this is held back, the door and that of
changing box withdrawn and the plate falls back into the box.
The sliding doors are then closed and the dark slide is again ready for removal into
bottom grooves to receive another plate.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is.
Constructing changing boxes with a reciprocating frame moveable from the outside
of box and the combination therewith of the lever and latch substantially as herein
described.
GEORGE BRAMLEY.
GEORGE BUTTERWORTH.