Improvements in Apparatus for Taking and Exhibiting Photographs in Series.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 30th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 1st Sept.. 1896-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1895
· PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Taking and Exhibiting Photographs
in Series.
We, JULES TERME, and ARSENE DE MAROUSSEM, both of 15 Rue des Halles,
Paris, France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to mechanism for producing upon photographic films
series of pictures capable of being seen directly or of being projected upon a
screen, in such a way as to give a more successful illusion than heretofore possible
of an object or objects in motion.
Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, are respectively an elevation and a
plan showing the general arrangement of the mechanism,
Figs. 3, 4, and 5 show the different positions of the spring jointed lever
hereinafter referred to, and
Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a shutter.
A is a sleeve which is provided with a cam H and rotates continuously on a
stationary axle G mounted on a support J, which forms one piece with the
framing of the apparatus. It is in rigid connexion, with a toothed wheel L and a
pinion K, which is rotated by means of a train of gear-wheels that serves to impart
to it the desired speed of rotation.
Against the projecting face p p of the sleeve A there is pressed by the
graduated pressure of a spring Q, the cylinder or roller B, of which the face that
is turned towards the sleeve A has inserted in its edge three equidistant pins 1, 2,
and 3. A lever C, of which one end is provided with a spring z bearing against
the support J, rocks at j about an axis c, and bears at its other end against the
sleeve A opposite to the cam H and also to the pins. For the purpose of reducing
the impact of the cam H against the end of the lever and of facilitating the
passage of the said cam, this end is cut to a bevelled form or inclined surface c¹,
and is provided at the rear with a cavity or depressed portion which allows of a
more prompt return of the said lever to the sleeve A. The cylinder B, whose
rotary motion is regularly intermittent, rotates against a free eylinder or roller D,
which is subjected to graduated pressure.
Between these two rollers passes the sheet or film of gelatine upon which the
photographs are taken in succession. The edges of the film are pierced with holes
in line, into which enter the ends of teeth y provided at each end of the roller B.
These teeth serve to feed the film forward and to keep it in exact register.
A second roller D' may be arranged to bear against the roller B. The ends of
the teeth y enter and fit into cavities that are provided in the rollers D and D'
opposite to the said teeth in the form of two rings.
The sleeve A is provided with an extension E forming a long socket or bash
(hereinafter referred to as a bush) which rotates on the stationary axle G. Upon
this bush, whose outer end is screw-threaded, there is mounted so as to be capable
of being tightened up more or less by means of a nut or tapped washer O, the
helical spring Q which presses the roller B against the face of the sleeve A in
such a manner that, when the lever C does not oppose it, the roller B is moved by
the sleeve A. A nut P, screwed upon the end of the shaft G, serves to retain in
place the hush E of the sleeve A

page_text: The bevel-wheel L gears into a similar bevel-wheel M of equal diameter
mounted on a shaft N on the opposite end of which there is fixed a disc F, which
has the same rotary motion as the sleeve A, and acts as shutter to the objective T,
in front of which it moves. For this purpose two thirds of the periphery of the
disc F are cut away, as shown in Fig. 6. Further, a hole t is made on the side of
the circular projection F F", in such a manner that the disc, which is made very
thin so as to be very light, is perfectly equilibriated.
The film x, duly wound on a bobbin, passes from the latter over a guide-roller R
and through the back portion of the dark-chamber S, travelling, for instance, in
the direction indicated by the arrows when the photographs are to be taken, and
in the opposite direction, when it is desired to project the photographs, when
taken, upon a screen.
Whilst it is being unwound from the bobbin, the film is wound upon a similar
bobbin having practically the same velocity, the two bobbins being loose on their
respective axles and being only slightly held back in their free rotation by the
lateral pressure of a spring, such as is effected by the spring Q in the case of the
roller B.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
The pinion K receives the requisite rotary motion from the train of spur
gear-wheels, and transmits this continuous motion to the wheel L, the sleeve A,
and the bush E, which are rigidly connected therewith. At the same time, this
motion is transmitted by the wheel L to the wheel M and the disc F. During this
time the film x moves intermittently with a velocity equal to the peripheral velocity
of the roller B when this roller revolves, being carried along by the friction
produced by the pressure of the spring Q against the roller B and against the
sleeve A.
For the purpose of showing the necessary relation existing between the
continuous rotation of the sleeve A and the intermittent motion of the roller B
and the film a, the apparatus is illustrated in three successive positions or phases
in Figs. 3, 4, and 5.
In the first position, (Fig. 3) the pin 1 is stopped in front of the lever C, but the
cam H, in rotating in the direction of the arrows, comes against the inclined or
bevel surface c', and passes over the pin 1. The lever C is pushed back as shown
in Fig. 4, and then the pin 1 passes, immediately behind the cam H. But in
consequence of the action of the spring, the lever bears again with its upper end
against the sleeve A, so that when the pin 2 moves into the position which was
occupied just before by the pin 1, striking against the front eud of the said lever
and being stopped until the cam H, which continues to rotate, moves so as to push
back the lever and open a free path for the pin 2. In the position shown in Fig. 5
the lever has moved back to the sleeve, which it does as soon as the pin, preceded
by the cam, has passed by.
As soon as a pin, in striking against the front end of the lever, is stopped, the
roller B, and with it the movement of the film, also stops. At this instance the
disc F uncovers the objective T and leaves it uncovered until the cam allows
the pin stopped by the lever C, to pass. It will be seen that the period of the
exposure of the film is double the period during which the film is shifted and
during which the film travels through a distance equal to the development or
peripheral travel of the roller B, which distance constitutes the "height" of the
photograph.
The relation existing between the period of exposure to light-that is to say,
the period during which the film is stationary-and the period of non exposure-
that is to say, the period during which the film is moved rapidly can be varied at
will by varying the number of pins inserted in the face of the roller B, and, it may
be, correspondingly varying the ratio of the cut-out portion of the periphery of the
dise F to the portion thereof not cut out.
The arrangement is such as to allow of the use of very light, small and perfectly
equilibriated parts, which, notwithstanding the intermittent nature of the rotary

page_text: motion of the roller for advancing the film allows high speeds of rotation to be
attained, and whilst allowing a comparatively long duration of exposure of the
film, enables the period during which the film is shifted to be reduced in length.
This enables the successive photographs to follow more closely upon one another,
and ensures a continuity which serves to increase the illusion of motion when
the pictures thus obtained are subsequently projected upon a screen in the
ordinary way.
Dated this 30th day of May 1896.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.
Improvements in Apparatus for Taking and Exhibiting Photographs
in Series.
We, JULES TERME, and ARSENE DE MAROUSSEM, both of 15 Rue des Halles,
Paris, France, 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 :-
This invention relates to mechanism for producing upon photographic films
series of pictures capable of being seen directly, or of being projected upon a
screen, in such a way as to give a more successful illusion than heretofore possible
of an object or objects in motion.
Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings filed with our Provisional Specification are
respectively an elevation and a plan showing the general arrangement of the
mechanism,
Figs. 3, 4, and 5 show the different positions of a spring lever hereinafter
referred to, and
Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a shutter.
A is a sleeve which is provided with a cam H and rotates continuously on a
stationary axle G mounted on a support J, which forms one piece with the framing
of the apparatus. The sleeve A is in rigid connexion with a toothed wheel L and
a pinion K which is rotated by means of a train of gear wheels (not shewn) that
serves to impart to it the desired speed of rotation.
Against the projecting face p p of the sleeve A there is pressed by the graduated
pressure of a spring Q, a roller B, of which the face that is turned towards the
sleeve A has inserted in its edge three equidistant pins 1, 2, and 3. A lever C, of
which one end is provided with a spring Z bearing against the support J, rocks
atj about an axis c, and bears at its other end against the sleeve A opposite to both
the cam H and the pins. For the purpose of reducing the impact of the cam H
against the end of the lever and of facilitating the passage of the said cam, the end
of the lever is cut to a bevelled form or inclined surface c', and is provided at the
rear with a cavity or depressed portion which allows of a more prompt return of
the said lever to the sleeve A. The roller B, whose rotary motion is regularly
intermittent, rotates against a free cylinder or roller D which is subjected to
graduated pressure.
Between these two rollers passes the sheet or film z of gelatine upon which the
photographs are taken in succession. The edges of the film are pierced with holes
in line into which enter the ends of the teeth y provided at each end of the
roller B. These teeth serve to feed the film forward, and to keep it in exact
register. A second roller. D' may be arranged to bear against the roller B. The

page_text: ends of the teeth y enter and fit into cavities that are provided in the rollers D
and D opposite to the said teeth in the form of two rings.
The sleeve A is provided with an extension E-forming a long bush which rotates
on the stationary axle G. Upon this bush, whose outer end is screw-threaded,
there is mounted so as to be capable of being tightened up more or less by means
of a nut or tapped washer O, the helical spring Q which presses the roller B against
the face of the sleeve A in such a manner that, when the lever C does not oppose
it, the roller B is moved by the sleeve A. A nut P, screwed upon the end of the
shaft G, serves to retain the bush E in place.
The bevel-wheel L gears into a similar hevel-wheel M of equal diameter mounted
on a shaft N on the opposite end of which there is fixed a disc F, which has the
same rotary motion as the sleeve A and acts as a shutter to the objective T, in
front of which it moves.
For this purpose two thirds of the periphery of the disc F are cut away, as
shown in Fig. 6. Further, a hole t is made, therein at the side next the circular
projection Fi F, in such a manner that the disc, which is made very thin s as to
be very light, shall be perfectly balanced.
The film a, duly wound on a bobbin, passes from the latter over a guide roller R
and through the back portion of the dark-chamber S, travelling, for instance, in
the direction indicated by the arrows when the photographs are to be taken, and
in the opposite direction when it is desired to project the photographs when taken,
upon a screen.
Whilst it is being unwound from the said bobbin, the film is wound upon a similar
bobbin having practically the same velocity, the two bohbins being loose on axles
that have equal velocities of rotation and being hindered from freely rotating
thereon merely by the lateral pressure of springs arranged and operating
analogously to the spring Q in the ease of the roller B, to that whilst the two
bobbins are given equal velocities of rotation either can slip when required by the
speed of the film.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
The pinion K receives the requisite rotary motion from the said train of gear-
wheels and transmits this continuous motion to the wheel L. the sleeve A, and the
bush E, which are rigidly connected therewith. At the same time, this notion is
transmitted by the wheel L. to the wheel M and the disc F. During this time the
film a moves intermittently with a velocity equal to the peripheral velocity of the
roller B when this roller is rotated in consequence of the friction produced between
the roller B and the sleeve A by the pressure of the spring Q.
For the purpose of shewing the necessary relation existing between the continuous
rotation of the sleeve A and the intermittent motion of the roller B and the film,
the apparatus is illustrated in three successive positions or phases in Figs. 3, 4,
and 5.
In the first position (Fig. 3) the pin 1 is stopped in front of the lever C, but the
cam H, in rotating in the direction of the arrows, comes against the inclined or
bevel surface of the lever, and passes over the pin 1. The lever C is pushed
back as shown in Fig. 4, and then the pin passes, immediately behind the cam H.
But in consequence of the netion of the spring Z, the lever bears again with its
upper end against the sleeve A, so that when the pin 2 arrives in the position
which was occupied just before by the pin 1, it abuts against the front end of the
said lever and is stopped until the cam H, which continues to rotate, moves so as to
push hack the lever and open a free path for the pin 3. In the position shown in
Fig. 5 the lever has moved back to the sleeve which it does as soon as the pin,
preceded by the cam, has passed by.
As soon as a pin, in striking against the front end of the lever, is stopped, the
roller B, and with it the movement of, the film, also stops. At this instant the
disc F uncovers the objective T and leaves it uncovered until the cam allows the pin
stopped by the lever C, to pass. It will be seen that the period of the exposure of
the film is double the period during which the film is shifted and during which the

page_text: film travels through a distance equal to the development, or peripheral travel, for
the time being, of the roller B, which distance constitutes the height of each
photograph. In the case of the example illustrated, as there are 3 pins in the
roller B the height of each photograph will be equal to of the periphery or total
development of the said roller.
The relation existing between the period of exposure that is to say, the period
during which the film is stationary-and the periol of non-exposure--that is to
say, the period during which the film is moved rapidly-can be varied at will by
varying the number of pins inserted in the face of the roller B and correspondingly
varying the ratio of the cut-out portion of the periphery of the disc F.to the
portion thereof not cut out. Thus if 4 pins be inserted into the roller B instead
of 3, and, instead of 3, of the periphery of the disc F be cut away, the
period during which the film will be exposed and stationary will be 3 times instead
of twice, that during which it is unexposed and moved rapidly.
The arrangement is such as to allow of the use of very light, small, and
perfectly balanced parts, which, notwithstanding the intermittent nature of the
rotary motion of the roller for advancing the film, allows high speels of rotation
to be attained, and, whilst allowing a comparatively long duration of exposure
of the film, enables the period during which the film is shifted to be reduced in
length. This enables the successive photographs to follow more closely up in one-
another, and ensures a continuity which serves to increase the illusion of motion
when the pictures thus obtained are subsequently projected upon a screen in the
ordinary way.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. Apparatus for taking and exhibiting photographs in series, comprising a
sleeve A provided with a cam H and arranged to be continuously rotated about.
an axle G, an intermittently rotatable roller B that is pressed endways into
frictional driving contact with the end of the sleeve, and is arranged to bear
against a roller D, or rollers D, D and is provided at the end next the sleeve
with pins, a spring lever C arranged to act successively, under the operation of
the cam H, as a stop to the several pins of the roller B, and a disc F mounted to
rotate opposite the objective of a chamber S through which the film passes, the
said disc being arranged to be rotated continuously and with the same angular
velocity as the sleeve A, and having its periphery cut away to an extent corre-
sponding to or dependent upon the number of pins on the roller B, substantially as
hereinbefore described for the purposes specified.
2. Our improved apparatus for taking and exhibiting photographs in series
constructed arranged and operating as hereinbefore described with reference to and
shown in the drawings herein referred to.
For the Applicants,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.