Year: 1889

page_text: I, CARL PAUL STIRN, of 20 Park Place, in the City, County, and State of New
York, United States of America, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in anu by the following statement:-
My invention relates to that class of photographic instruments in which the camera
is made to revolve during exposure so as to obtain a panoramic view of the entire
scene encircling the camera or of any desired portion thereof.
It consists in improved devices for moving the camera and in a novel construction
and arrangement of its parts as hereinafter described and claimed, and has for its
object to simplify the apparatus and render it more compact and efficient.
In the accompanying drawings :-
:-
Figure 1, is a vertical central section of my improved photographic camera.
Figure 2, a horizontal section in line of Figure 1.
Figure 3, a similar section in line
y-y.
Figure 4, a similar section in line 2-z but looking upward so as to obtain a bottom
view of the instrument and its lower gear.
Figure 5, a detached sectional view of the upper and lower ends of the supply-spool
and winding-reel.
Similar letters indicate like parts in all of the Figures.
My improved camera is constructed of a suitable case A, A, embracing an exposing-
chamber B, of a depth somewhat greater than the focal distance of the lens to be used
and of a height exceeding somewhat the diameter of its field, and having a space C
above said chamber to contain the spring-actuated mechanism by which the revolution
of the camera is produced.
Within the case A A is fitted a frame carrying the film-supporting and guiding
This frame consists of an upper and lower
rollers and the motive mechanism.
plate a, a³, and an intermediate, parallel plate a', which separates the exposing-chamber
from the compartment to contain the motor, the three plates being supported and
confined in the customary manner by rods c, c, c, c, at the four corners thereof..

page_text: The lens D is centrally mounted in the front of the camera at the outer end of a
narrow compartment formed by two vertical partitions b, b, fitted, one on each side of
the lens and which extend from the front plate of the camera nearly to the rear end of
the exposing-chamber and from top to bottom thereof, said compartment being closed
by a vertical rear plate 6, in which is pierced a narrow, longitudinal slit d, in align-
ment with the centre of the lens.
Within the spaces left on each side of this lens-compartment are fitted the supply-
spool or roller E on which is wound a sensitized, flexible photographic-film W, in
readiness for exposure, and the reel or roller F upon which the film is wound up after
exposure, and on each side of the rear end of the lens-compartment are mounted guide-
rollers G and G' over which the film is led from the film spool E to the reel F, these
guide rollers being so located as to carry the film in a vertical plane in close proximity
to the other face of the slitted plate 4, closing the rear end of the lens-compartment
The guide rollers are fixed to rotate each upon end spindles having bearings in the
top and bottom plates a and a² of the exposing-chamber.
The spool E and reel F are severally mounted in manner to permit of their ready
detachment and removal or replacement in the camera.
The supply-spool E is provided with a central socket at each end and a stud-pin e is
fixed to project from the inner side of the top-plate a¹ to engage the socket in the
upper end of the spool, whilst its lower end is normally engaged by a pin projecting
upward through the bottom plate a² from a flat spring-plate g whose free end extends
out beyond the edge of the bottom-plate to permit of being depressed so as to release
the pin from the spool.
Although I prefer to cause the lower pin to be pressed inward to engage the end of
the spool by means of a flat spring-plate g serving as a lever for its withdrawal as
described. it is evident that the pin may be actuated by other well known devices
which will permit of its ready withdrawal to release the spool.
The film-winding reel or roller F is in like manner confined in its place and left
free to rotate by means of a spring-actuated pivot-pin engaging its lower end but
which admits of being readily withdrawn to set free the roller, and its upper end is
provided with one or more holes at one side of its axis to engage a counterpart pin i
or pins i, i, projecting from a head H secured to a rotating spindle H projecting into
the exposing-chamber. This reel-spindle His mounted in suitable bearings in the
upper plate a and partition-plate a', and is fitted at its outer end with a pinion
meshing with a toothed-wheel I turning loosely upon a winding-spindle I' but geared
thereto by means of a spring-actuated pawl K' carried thereby to engage a ratchet-
wheel K fixed on the spindle. This ratchet wheel K is attached to one end of a coiled
spring L whose opposite end is fixed to the frame, so that by turning the spindle I' by
means of a key, the spring will be wound up, and when left free will operate to cause
a revolution of the ratchet-wheel K and with it the toothed-wheel I and thereby drive
the reel-spindle H¹. The movement of the wheel I is prevented, when desired, after
the spring is wound up, by means of a stop consisting of a dog L pivoted to swing
into engagement with the teeth of said wheel to lock it, and which is operated from
above by means of a knob L" on the outer end of its axial shaft.
A series of sharp-pointed pins m, m, are fitted to project radially from the periphery
of one of the guide-rollers, G, near each end thereof, to engage the two edges of the
sensitized film or roll W passed over it from the spool to the reel, and the lower axial
spindle of said roller is extended through the bottom-plate a² of the frame and is fitted
with a pinion N to engage a toothed-wheel O secured upon or otherwise fixed to a
central head P adapted to be secured in any suitable manner to the top of the stand or
tripod P¹ for the camera.
A circular plate R, of a diameter corresponding with that of the wheel O, is made
fast to the bottom of the camera with its centre in exact alignment with the optical
centre or transverse axis of the lens, and the centre of this plate R is fitted upon a
pivot-pin projecting centrally from the head P so as to revolve freely thereon in
contact with the upper face of the rim of the fixed wheel O which thus serves as an
aunular bearing therefor.

page_text: The plate R is confined upon the wheel O by means of a screw 7" screwing into the
upper end of the pivot pin 1, and by an underlying washer of a diameter large enough
to overlap the central portion or hub of the plate, as shown in Figure 1.
Two elastic, radial arms S, S¹, are pivoted upon the head P, to revolve freely
thereon. The outer end of each is fitted with a pin n, to bear upwardly, with. a
pressure due to the elasticity of the arm, against the rim of the fixed wheel Ö. Four
holes v, v, v, v, are pierced through said rim at equal distances apart in position to
receive the pin n when it is swung into register therewith, and the pin is of such
length as that when it drops into either of said holes it will bear against the overlying
rim of the annular plate R-as shown in Figure 1-and will drop into engagement
with a single hole v¹ pierced in said rim, when brought opposite thereto, and thereby
serve to lock said plate R and consequently prevent a revolution of the camera.
having two of these arms S and St, if, when the camera is locked by one of them, the
pin on the second arm is allowed to drop through either of the remaining holes in the
wheel and thereby bear against the rim of the annular plate R, said second pin will
operate to arrest the revolution of the camera so soon as said pin reached the stop-
hole in the annular plate, and this will occur at the first, second, or third quarter of
its revolution according as the pin was placed in the first, second or third hole from
that engaged by the first arm
By
The arms are made to project far enough beyond the rim of the wheel to permit
them to be readily depressed when required for disengagement or adjustment.
A perforating-bar T is fitted vertically immediately within the rear-plate of the
camera and in line with the slit d, in the lens-compartiment, upon a spring-actuated
push-pin T projecting through said rear-plate. The inner face of said bar T is
provided with a series of sharp-pins t, t, of such length, as that when the bar is pushed
inwardly against the stress of the spring encircling the push-pin, the points will pierce
the film C stretched over the slot. By means thereof, so soon as an exposure has
been made, the division of the picture from that next to follow it may be marked upon
the film by punctures therein.
An auxilliary guide-roller U is mounted detachably in proximity to the driving-
roller G between it and the film-spool to ensure the perforation of the film by the
driving pins m, m, on said roller G.
In the use and operation of this improved, panoramic camera, a spool E carrying a
sensitized photographic-film C wound up thereon, is inserted in the camera, and the
end of the film is carried around the first guide-roller G so as to be engaged by
the pins m, m, projecting therefrom, thence over in front of, and in close proximity
to, the slit d, in the rear plate of the lens-chamber, and then around the second
guide-roller G to the reel or winding-roller F, to which it is made fast in the
customary manner.
The spring L is then wound up, and is locked by the engagement of the dog I
with the toothed-wheel I.
The pins n, n, on the arms S, S¹, may then be both made to rest on the rim of the
fixed wheel O so as to permit of a revolution of the camera upon its stand until it
is brought to the desired initial point of view, whereupon one of the pins is allowed.
to drop through one of the apertures v, in said wheel into engagement with the
underlying aperture ¹ in the annular bearing-plate P carrying the camera, so as to
lock it.
If now the spring L be set free, it will exert its tension by means of the
intervening gear as described, upon the wind-up roller or reel F to cause it to.
revolve in the proper direction to exert a tension upon the filin C, and as the film: is
engaged by the teeth m, m, upon the roller G, this tension will be exerted upon said
roller to cause it to revolve and by means of the engagement of its pinion N with
the teeth of the fixed wheel O, to cause the pinion, and with it the camera, to revolve
about said wheel. So long as the camera remains locked by the engagement of the
pin n on the arm S with the annular-plate R as described, the tension of the
spring will be resisted by said lock and will operate simply to keep the film.

page_text: tightly stretched. So soon however as the locking-pin n is disengaged, the tension
of the spring will operate to wind up the film on the roller F and by producing
thereby a rotation of the roller G will cause the camera to revolve upon its axis,
said axis being coincident with the focal axis of the lens.
As the locking-pin n, when disengaged from the hole v¹ in the bearing-plate R, is
left free to bear upon and slide over the face of said plate, it will re-enter the hole and
arrest the camera so soon as the one complete turn is effected, the pin n¹ on the
second arm S¹ having been in the meanwhile left to rest upon the rim of the fixed
wheel O so as to be inoperative.
If it be desired to take a view involving only a quarter, half, or three-quarter turn
of the camera, the second pin n' is adjusted to drop through the first, second or
third hole v, of the fixed wheel O, as described, before releasing the camera, so that
this second pin, by reaching the stop-hole v in the overlying plate R, in advance of
the pin n¹, will arrest the movement at the quarter, half or three-quarter turn as the
case may be.
After the movement of the camera is arrested and the proper exposure consequently
made for one view, the perforating-bar T is pushed in to pierce the film and thereby
mark the limit of the picture thereon in anticipation of its development.
Having now particularly describe 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. The combination with a photographic camera revolving upon a pivotal axis, of
a motor mounted upon the instrument to produce its revolution, substantially in the
manner and for the purpose herein set forth.
2. The combination with a photographic camera revolving upon a pivotal axis and
motive mechanism actuating the same to produce its revolution, of an automatic stop
to arrest its movement at each complete revolution thereof, substantially in the
manner and for the purpose herein set forth.
3. The combination with a photographic camera revolving upon a pivotal axis and
motive mechanism actuating the same to produce its revolution, of an automatic
stop to arrest its movement at each complete revolution and an auxiliary adjustable
stop to arrest it when it has made a partial revolution after being released from
the first stop, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.
4. The combination with a photographic camera revolving upon a pivotal axis and
motive mechanism actuating the same to produce its revolution, of the film-supply
spool and the film-winding reel mounted within said camera, an intermediate guide-
roller geared to revolve in unison with the instrument and over which the film is
carried in passing from the spool to the reel for exposure, and pins on said roller
made to engage the film to prevent its independent movement over the same,
whereby the film is moved in synchronism with the movement of the camera,
substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.
5. The combination with a photographic camera revolving upon a pivotal axis and
with a film-supply spool and a film-winding reel mounted therein, an intermediate
guide-roller over which the film is carried and by which it is engaged, and a
wheel fixed upon the pivotal axis of the camera and geared to said guide-roller, of a
motor geared to the film-winding reel to turn it, whereby the movement of the film,
automatically produced by the motor, will cause a simultaneous revolution of the
camera, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.
6. The combination of the winding-spindle, the coiled spring attached thereto at
one end and to a fixed support at the other, a ratchet fixed upon said spindle, a
toothed-wheel revolving loosely thereon, a pawl carried by said wheel and engaging
said ratchet, a stop to lock the wheel, the reel-spindle mounted parallel with the
winding-spindle, the pinion upon said reel-spindle gearing with the toothed-wheel on
the winding-spindle, the head carried by said reel-spindle, the detachable filin-winding
reel adapted at one end to be coupled to said head in alignment with the spindle,

page_text: and the longitudinally-adjustable pivot-pin engaging the opposite end of the reel
to serve as a prolongation of its axis, all substantially in the manner and for the
purpose herein set forth.
7. The combination with the head of a camera-stand or tripod and with a toothed-
wheel fixed thereon, of a plate mounted to revolve upon the axis of said fixed
wheel, a camera mounted upon said plate with the optical centre or transverse axis of
the lens directly in line with the pivotal axis of the plate, a film-carrying roller
mounted in the camera having devices for engaging the film led over it, a pinion
fixed to the shaft of said roller to gear with the fixed-wheel on the stand, a film-
supply spool on one side of said roller, and a film-winding reel on the other side
thereof, whereby, as the film is moved by the action of the winding-reel, the
camera will be simultaneously revolved upon its axis, substantially in the manner and
for the purpose herein set forth.
8. The combination with the head of a camera-stand or tripod, the toothed-wheel
fixed thereon, the revolving plate pivoted to turn upon the axis of said wheel in
proximity thereto, the camera secured upon said plate, a pinion mounted upon the
camera and meshing with said toothed-wheel, and a motor carried by said camera and
geared mediately to said pinion, of the elastic radial arms pivoted to turn
independently upon the axis of the toothed-wheel beneath the same, and the pins
projecting from said arms to pass severally through either of a series of holes in the
rim of said toothed-wheel and into engagement with a single hole in the face of
the overlying revolving plate, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein
set forth.
9. The combination in a photographic camera with the exposing slit and the
film guiding-rollers by which a senzitised film is held tense over said slit, of a
perforating-bar mounted to reciprocate transversely to and from the line of movement
of the film and having perforating points projecting therefrom to penetrate the film
when the bar is pressed towards it,,substantially in the manner and for the purpose
herein set forth.
1 1000