An Improved Hand Camera.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 30th July, 1892-Accepted, 10th Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Hand Camera.
We, ARTHUR CHARLES SMITH Patentee, and ALBERT ARTHUR SMITH
Bookseller, both of 258 Albert Road Peckham in the County of Surrey, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A camera made according to this invention consists of an outer case of wood
or metal, in one end of which is the lens, and in this case a reservoir to contain
the sensitised plates is formed, consisting of an upper and a lower chamber, grooved
or otherwise.
The unexposed plates are fitted with suitable sheaths and stored vertically in
the upper part of the magazine, in the space between the plane containing the focus
of the lens and the front of the camera. Exposure takes place in the lower part
of the camera, and the plates are dropped, one by one, through a narrow opening
into the required position.
When the top half of the magazine is full of plates, the back of the lower half
As the
is in a line with the opening, or slot, through which the plates fall.
plates pass into the lower half of the magazine the whole reservoir is caused to
move backwards, and the lower chamber increases in depth while the upper
chamber decreases, until all the plates are in the lower part, when the end of the
upper part of the magazine nearest the front of the camera takes its place over
the slot.
The plates are supported in the upper chamber by a loose floor which, when
a plate is required, is slid back so as to form a narrow opening large enough for a
plate to drop through into the lower part of the camera.
After the plate has fallen the opening is closed by replacing the sliding floor,
and the plate is pushed against the back of the lower chamber; the pressure is
continued and the magazine, containing the whole of the plates, recedes from the
lens a distance equal to the thickness of the plate.
This
An efficient method of releasing the unexposed plate, pushing it against the
back of the lower chamber, and giving motion to the magazine, is provided
by the use of a frame which slides in the lower part of the camera.
frame is really a small trunk open at both ends, and is so placed that the light may
pass through it from the lens, and act upon the sensitised plate.
The top of this frame serves as the loose floor to the upper chamber, and one
end is utilised to press against the plate opposite the lens. The use of the frame
renders the changing of the plates a very simple operation. By means of an attach-
ment on the outside of the camera, the sliding frame is moved forward and the
opening is made for the plate to drop through; and by bringing the frame back to
its normal position the plate is pressed into the correct position for exposing, and
the magazine travels backwards.
To ensure each unexposed plate falling in front of the exposed ones, the bottom
edges of the plates in the upper chamber are arranged a little below the top edges
of those in the lower half of the magazine.
Instead of storing the plates vertically as described, they may be placed
horizontally in the upper chamber, and the opening arranged so that the plates
may swing into the vertical plane opposite the lens. In this case the sheaths con-
taining the plates have trunnions attached to the upper corners, and these trunnions
are placed in vertical grooves formed in the sides of one end of the chamber. The
magazine is made to travel in a manner similar to that adopted when all the plates
are disposed vertically, namely, by pushing it along the thickness of a plate at

page_text: To indicate the number of the plate about to be exposed, a series of numerals is
placed on the side of the magazine, and these figures can be seen through a small
aperture in the side of the camera.
A shutter, which works behind the lens, is provided consisting of a piece of metal,
or wood, containing the necessary aperture, fixed at right angles to the outer edge
of a sector of a circular plate so centred, that by means of a rod, or rods, the
aperture may be moved across the lens from side to side.
: Dated this 16th day of March 1892.
ARTHUR CHARLES SMITH.
ALBERT ARTHUR SMITH.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Hand Camera.
We, ARTHUR CHARLES SMITH Patentee, and ALBERT ARTHUR SMITH
Bookseller, both of 258 Albert Road Peckham in the County of Surrey 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:—
A camera made according to this invention is illustrated in the accompanying
sheets of drawings of which Figure 1, is a vertical section on line c. c. Figure 2;
Figure 2, a horizontal section on line a. a, Figure 1; Figure 3, a horizontal section
on line b. b. Figure 1, and Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the shutter.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
The camera consists of an outer case A, of wood or metal in one end B, of
which is the lens; and in this case a reservoir of which C, are the sides, to contain
the sensitised plates or other material, is formed cousisting of an upper and lower
chamber, grooved or otherwise. The unexposed plates D, are fitted with suitable
sheaths and stored vertically in the upper part of the magazine in the space
between the blocking pieces S, and the front of the camera. Exposure takes place.
in the lower part of the camera, the plates being dropped, one by one, through an
opening into the proper position. When the top half of the magazine is full of
plates the back E, of the lower half is in a line with the opening through which
the plates fall. As the plates pass into the lower half of the magazine the whole
reservoir is caused to move backward, step by step, and the lower chamber increases
in depth while the upper decreases, until all the plates are in the lower part when
the front F, of the upper half of the magazine takes its place over the opening and
close to the blocking piece S.
The plates D. are supported in the upper chamber by a loose floor G, which,
when a plate is required, is slid back so as to form a slot through which the plate
may fall into the lower part of the camera.
After the plate has fallen the opening is closed by replacing the sliding floor
and the plate is pushed against the back E, of the lower chamber; the pressure
is continued. and the magazine, with the whole of the plates, recedes from the lens
a distance equal to the thickness of the sheath containing the plate.
An efficient and convenient method of releasing the unexposed plate and pressing
it against the back of the lower chamber and so giving motion to the magazine is
provided by the use of a frame J, which slides in the lower part of the camera.
This frame J, is really a small trunk open at each end, and is so placed that light
from the lens may pass through and act upon the sensitised plate.
The top of the frame serves as the sliding floor to the upper chamber and the
end is utilised to press against the plates opposite the lens. The use of the frame
renders the changing of the plates a very simple operation. By means of an
attachment K, which protrudes through the bottom of the camera, the sliding
frame.J, is moved forward and the opening made for the plate to drop through;
and by bringing the frame back to its normal position the plate is pressed

page_text: into the correct position for exposing, and the magazine caused to travel backward
one step.
To retain the magazine in the desired position a locking device is provided
consisting of a spring latch L, working into a ratchet M. An aperture N. is made
in the back of the magazine through which the finger may be thrust and the latch
disengaged from the ratchet M.
To ensure each unexposed plate falling in front of the exposed ones the bottom
edges of the plates D, in the upper chamber are arranged a little below the top
edges of those in the lower half of the magazine.
Springs P. act against the back of the magazine; and the frame J, is pressed
against the plates D', by the spring R. The magazine slides on the runners H.
Instead of storing the plates vertically as described they may be placed
horizontally in the upper chamber and the opening in the floor arranged so
that the plates, suitably sheathed, may swing into the vertical plane. In this
case the sheaths containing the plates have trunnions attached to their upper
corners, and these trunnions rest in vertical grooves formed in the sides of the
rear end of the chamber. Only the trunnions attached to one sheath are placed
in one pair of grooves, and the first plate is connected with the first pair of grooves
and the second plate with the second pair, and so on. The magazine is made
to travel in a manner similar to that adopted when all the plates are disposed
vertically.
Instead of giving motion to the magazine by means of the plates as described, it
is permissible to obtain the desired result by any other convenient method, such as
by means of a screw introduced through the back of the camera.
To indicate the number of the plate about to be exposed a series of numbers is
placed upon one side of the sliding magazine, and these figures may be seen through
a small aperture made in the side of the camera.
A shutter shown in Figure 4, which works behind the lens, is provided, consisting
of a covering piece 1, of any suitable material, containing the necessary aperture 2,
fixed at right angles to the outer edge of a circular plate or sector 3, so centred
that by means of a rod, or rods, operated from the outside of the camera, the
aperture may be moved across the lens.
When two rods are used to actuate the shutter they may be attached to a crank
pin 4, as shown, or be connected to two pins situated one on either side of the
pivot 5, on which the sector 3, turns. A spring 6, works against the crank pin 4,
and causes the shutter to remain wide open or completely closed, and prevents the
making of accidental exposures while the camera is in transit.
To reduce the size of the camera it is sometimes advisable to slightly modify
the shutter by taking away the upright covering piece 1, and to make the
aperture in the sector, or circular plate, itself. In this case the shutter is attached
to the lens board B, and is operated in a manner similar to that adopted in the
former casc.
Figure 5. shows the modified form of shutter with a circular plate 3, actuated
by one rod 8. The crank pin 4, works between two springs 6. and 7, and it is
possible to continuously rotate the disc 3, by merely drawing out and returning the
rod. The object of the springs 6. and 7, is to so act on the crank pin as to cause
the disc 3. to assume one of two positions, and the aperture 2, is so placed that in
either of these positions the lens is covered by a blank portion of the disc.
It is not necessary to use two springs as shown, as it must be obvious that
one or more of suitable shape and disposition may be used to attain the same
result.
Pulling out the rod 8, draws the crank pin 4, against the spring 6, causing it
to bend outward and the disc to pass through a little more than a quadrant. The
crank pin having passed the centre 5, of the disc, is then acted on by the spring 6,
which causes the disc to complete one half of a revolution, and the crank pin takes
up its second position at 4*, while the aperture comes over to 2ª. Pushing home
the rod causes a similar action to take place in the opposite direction, in connection

page_text: with the spring 7, and the aperture 2, passes the lens aperture 2b, on its way to its
normal position at 2.
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:
1. In the construction of cameras, the use of a magazine, formed as herein
described and illustrated, in the upper part of which the sheaths containing the
plates, or other sensitised material, are stored; and in which the plates drop, on
the operating of a sliding floor, or its equivalent, one by one, from the upper into
the lower part.
2. The use of a magazine having grooves in the upper part, intended to
receive trunnions attached to the sheaths containing the plates which are stored
in a horizontal position, and swung into the vertical plane upon the said trunnions,
constructed and operated substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
3. The locking device attached to the magazine, as described and illustrated.
4. The use of the sliding frame J, operated as herein described, or by any other
convenient method, the top of which serves as a floor to the upper part of
the magazine, and one end of which is used to press the plate against the back
of the magazine and so cause motion to ensue, or any mere modification thereof.
5. A shutter consisting of a covering piece attached to a sector, or circular
plate, actuated by a rod, or rods; and the modified form in which the aperture
is made in the sector, or circular plate itself, as herein described and illustrated.
6. The method of retaining the shutter in a closed or open position by springs;
and the method of rotating the disc by means of one rod, as herein described and
illustrated.
Dated this 30th day of July 1892.
ARTHUR CHARLES SMITH.
ALBERT ARTHUR SMITH.