Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Use in Taking and Exhibiting Cinematographic Photographic Views.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Use in Taking and
Exhibiting Cinematographic Photographic Views.
I, ERNEST AUGUSTE GEORGE STREET, of 60, Boulevard Haussmann, Paris, in the
Republic of France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This application for a patent relates to improvements in taking and exhibiting
cinematograph pictures which is characterised by views being taken on glass or
rigid plates similar to those used for ordinary photography. The small views are
produced successively on the plate, two rectilinear movements being imparted to
said plate.
The plates used in carrying out my invention may have any desired dimensions
for instance the sizes at present in use, such as, plate etc. but it must be under-
stood that whatever the dimensions of the plate it will always have, in the appara-
tus, two intermittent rectilinear movements the directions of which are at right
angles to each other. A first series of movements, say, in a horizontal plane, will
give a first series of views on the plate. When this first line has been obtained,
a single vertical movement of the plate to the extent of the height of one view
is followed by a second series of horizontal movements of the plate, but in the
opposite direction to the first, thus producing a second horizontal series of views
parallel to the first, and so on.
It is evident that instead of producing horizontal lines of photographs, it is
possible to produce vertical lines, i.e. first to form by a series of vertical move-
ments a first vertical line of images, then move the plate horizontally to the ex-
tent of the width of a view, in order to form, by a new series of vertical move-
ments, a second line of images parallel to the first and so on.
Instead of utilizing horizontal and vertical movements I reserve to myself, the

page_text: right of using movements in directions normal to each other, but inclined rela-
tively to the horizontal line. These movements although less practical, owing to
the arrangement of the driving mechanism, can be used in certain cases.
In order to render the explanations hereinafter as clear as possible, I will
describe, by way of example an apparatus by which the negatives or views are
obtained in horizontal lines.
A glass or other rigid plate rendered sensitive on one of its surfaces, is secured
in a frame, which has at the back a nut through which passes a long horizontal
screw. This screw when rotated produces the horizontal movements of the frame
and consequently of the plate.
The frame just mentioned slides horizontally in a second frame which itself can
move vertically in guides. It has a nut through which passes a vertical screw.
This screw being turned produces the vertical movements of the frame and con-
sequently of the inner frame and plate.
The horizontal screw has at one of its ends a pinion engaging with the teeth of
a rack and a second pinion engaging with the teeth of a second rack. The two
pinions are loose on the screw spindle. Each of these pinions is provided with a
disc or clutch having teeth on its outer surface to engage with similar coupling
parts on the spindle and between the two pinions. The two discs of the coupling
are connected by rods with an intermediate sleeve which, while rotating with the
screw spindle, is longitudinally movable on it.
Between the sleeve and each of the coupling discs is placed a spring giving a
certain amount of elasticity to the connection of each of these parts with the sleeve.
In describing the working of the apparatus I will indicate hereinafter the purpose
of this arrangement.
The sleeve of the coupling is surrounded by a long fork secured at its lower end
to a spindle and pivotted at the top between two rods. The lower spindle can have
a longitudinal horizontal movement. It is supported by a hollow guide or socket
into which it enters its other end resting on a cam on a disc hereinafter referred
to.
The vertical screw producing the ascent and descent of the frame carries at its
lower end a bevel pinion engaging with a pinion mounted on a horizontal spindle.
This spindle has a coupling constituted like that for the horizontal screw by two
pinions and a coupling sleeve. The sleeve is secured to a rod adapted to oscillate
about a fixed point and acted upon by a spring having a tendency to always keep
it applied against one of the ends of a rod supported in a bracket and having its
other end resting against a cam on the disc before referred to said cam being
concentric with that on which rests the other rod.
The racks have at their lower ends projections engaging with recessed or slotted
portions of a rod adapted to oscillate about a point and acted upon by a spring
having the tendency to always apply its end against a cam mounted on the same
spindle as a pinion engaging with a wheel keyed to the driving shaft provided with
a crank or handle. The crank shaft also carries a pinion engaging with a wheel
the spindle of which carries,
1. A pinion engaging with a wheel causing the rotation of the cam-disc and
(2) a pulley round which passes an endless cord which after having passed over
the guide pulley actuates a pulley mounted on a spindle. On this spindle is
mounted a shutter provided with an aperture for enabling light rays to pass and
impress the portion of the plate which, at the moment of the passage of the aper-
ture is situated behind the objective.
The objective is arranged on the casing and is extended or completed by two
telescopic tubes which can be moved one over the other by means of a milled head
operated from the outside and engaging with a rack mounted on one of the tubes.
Having thus described all the parts constituting the new cinematograph appara-
tus I will describe the way in which it works.
We will suppose that the plate destined to be impressed or exposed is put in
place in the inner frame. First the milled head is operated from the outside so

page_text: as to bring the end of the lens tube in contact with the plate. The edges of the
tube are covered with cloth felt or velvet in order on the one hand not to injure
the sensitive film and on the other hand, to limit exactly on the plate the spot
on which the light falls at the moment when cach view is being taken. We will
suppose that one cover of said plate is placed exactly behind the objective.. We will
suppose moreover that at this movement,
1. That portion of the cam against which rests one of the rods has such a shape
that its sleeve is in its intermediate position that is to say that neither of the
clutch discs is in contact with those secured to the pinions engaging with the
toothed racks.
2. That portion of the cam against which the other rod presses is of such shape
that the sleeve is in the position in which the clutch disc engages with the disc
secured to the pinion engaging with the toothed rack.
If under these conditions the crank is continuously turned, the rotary movement
will be transmitted to the cam by the gears. This cam owing to its shape will
cause the lever with which it is in contact to turn about its pivotal point and the
racks will thereby receive an alternate movement of ascent and descent that is to
say that during the ascent of the one rack the other rack will descend and vice
versa. It may be here stated that in the inoperative position of the coupling
sleeves the movement of the one rack will have no effect on the horizontal spindles
since the pinions are loose on said spindles and the coupling sleeves do not couple
them to said spindles. In the same way the movement of the other rack will have
no effect on the spindle for vertical movement of the plate as the sleeve is in its
intermediate position and does not couple the pinion with the spindle. The only
effect of the movement of the rack will be on the screw for lateral movement of
the plate and this action will be exercised only during the ascent of said rack.
During its descent said rack will, it is true turn its pinion but owing to the in-
clination or form of the teeth of the coupling discs and also owing to the spring
connecting the disc to the sleeve the rotation of the pinion will only push back
the coupling disc as owing to the direction of the rotation the coupling parts tend
to separate instead of engaging with each other.
During the rising of the rack on the contrary its pinion will cause by means of
the coupling discs the screw to participate in its movement and consequently the
frame containing the plate will receive an intermittent horizontal movement as
the screw will rotate only during the ascent of the rack and as each ascent is im-
mediately followed by a descent.
Separate negatives will therefore be taken during the descents of the rack as at
these moments the plate is stationary.
The same phenomena are reproduced as long as the shape of the cams against
which the rods press remain the same.
The lengths of the portions of cams against which the rods press during the time
that the above described movements take place are calculated so as to have the
same movements until the opposite edge of the plate has arrived behind the ob-
jective. In other words for each first horizontal line of views, each ascent of the
rack corresponds to the passage from one view to another while each descent cor-
responds to the time of exposure for taking a view.
When the end of the first horizontal line is reached the shape of the cams
changes so as to cause the plate to move vertically to the extent of the height of
a view in order to enable a second horizontal line of views to be formed by a re-
turn movement of the plate in the opposite direction. This change is possible as
will be easily understood since the disc is continuously rotated by means of its
intermediate gearing.
The end of the rod then enters the lower or inner portion of the corresponding
cam so that the sleeve comes into its central position in which it is not coupled
with either of the pinions. At the same time, the end of the other rod enters a
lower portion of its cam so that the sleeve becomes coupled to the other pinion.

page_text: This movement takes place at the end of the ascent of the rack after it has brought
the other edge of the plate behind the objective.
Owing to this change of cams the next following descent of the other rack causes
owing to the sleeve being coupled to the pinion the rod and the screw to turn and
consequently imparts a vertical movement to the plate. Then the lower section of
the plate comes into position behind the objective. As soon as this movement is
finished that is to say as soon as the rack has descended the shapes of the cams
acting on the rods change again. The ball or point terminating the rod descends
into a still lower cam-portion, so that from its central position the sleeve comes to
engage the other pinion. On the contrary the extremity of the rod rises on a
higher cam portion and the sleeve returns into its central position. Under these
conditions the movement of the crank will turn through the intermediary of the
rack when it descends and of the pinion the horizontal screw but in the opposite
direction than that of the first movement. The plate will therefore return to the
right always be intermittent movements and thus in this movement a second line
of views is obtained. When the lens arrives at the opposite side of the plate and
as soon as the rack has finished its last descent a new change will take place in
the position of the cams and consequently in that of the couplings the one sleeve
will return into its central position while the other sleeve will again engage its
pinion. The plate will therefore receive a new vertical movement in the same
direction as the first as this movement is obtained like the first by the same means.
From this point all the phenomena already described will be produced always in the
same order and the plate can be covered with images in series of horizontal lines.
Instead of placing the parts actuating the screws producing the movements of
the frame, on the side of the casing I reserve to myself the right of placing
them behind the frame itself on the opposite side of the objective, in order to re-
duce the dimensions of the apparatus. In this case it will be obviously necessary
to use a suitable transmission gear for connecting the driving screws with the
spindles of the coupling sleeves which could not then form extensions of the
screws.
In some cases chiefly for photographs taken at a considerable distance the plate
may be stationary and the objective may be moved in two directions at a right
angle to each other similarly to that described for the plate.
In the preceding description I have assumed that the plate was introduced into
the frame in a dark chamber or room the casing in which the mechanism is
arranged being hinged either at the top or at the side so as to enable it to opened.
This may present certain inconveniences in practice and I may change in a dark
chamber the frame or dark slide which is afterwards put in place in ordinary light
in the frame or holder. Curtains or shutters provided in front of the sensitive
plate can be withdrawn from the outside by means of hooks or by any other means.
It will be evident that the apparatus by slight and obvious alterations can be
used for projecting or exhibiting positive images (obtained in the usual way from
the negative) on to a screen.
Totad this 10th
1000
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Use in Taking and
Exhibiting Cinematographic Photographic Views.
I, ERNEST AUGUSTE GEORGE STREET, of 60, Boulevard Haussmann, Pau, in the
Republic of France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and

page_text: in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This application for a patent relates to improvements in taking and exhibiting
cinematograph pictures which is characterised by views being taken on glass or
rigid plates similar to those used for ordinary photography. The small views are
produced successively on the plate two rectilinear movements being imparted to
said plate.
The plates used in carrying out my invention may have any desired dimensions
for instance the sizes at present in use such as plate etc. but it must be under-
stood that whatever the dimensions of the plate it will always have in the appara-
tus two intermittent rectilinear movements the directions of which are at right
angles to each other. A first series of movements, say, in a horizontal plane, will
give a first series of views on the plate. When this first line has been obtained,
a single vertical movement of the plate to the extent of the height of one view
is followed by a second series of horizontal movements of the plate, but in the
opposite direction to the first thus producing a second horizontal series of views
parallel to the first, and so on.
It is evident that instead of producing horizontal lines of photography it is
possible to produce vertical lines i.e., first to form by a series of vertical move-
ments a first vertical line of images then move the plate horizontally to the ex-
tent of the width of a view in order to form by a new series of vertical move-
ments a second line of images parallel to the first and so on.
Instead of utilizing horizontal and vertical movements reserve to myself the
right of using movements in directions normal to each other, but inclined rela-
tively to the horizontal line. These movements although less practical owing to
the arrangement of the driving mechanism can be used in certain cases.
In order to render the explanations hereinafter as clear as possible I will
describe by way of example in the accompanying drawings an apparatus by which
the negatives are obtained in horizontal lines.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the apparatus viewed from the back.
Figure 2 is a cross section, and
Figure 3 a plan.
The glass or other rigid plate A rendered sensitive on one of its surfaces is
secured in a frame B which has at the back a nut 6 through which passes a long
horizontal screw b¹. This screw when rotated produces the horizontal movements
of the frame B and consequently of the plate A.
The frame B just mentioned slides horizontally in a second frame C which itself
can move vertically in guides. It has a nut c through which passes a vertical
screw c¹. This screw being turned produces the vertical movements of the frame C
and consequently of the inner frame B and plate A.
The horizontal screw 61 has at one of its ends a pinion D engaging with the teeth
of a rack d and a second pinion D₁ engaging with the teeth of a second rack 'd¹.
The two pinions D and D¹ are loose on the screw spindle b¹. Each of these pinions
is provided with a disc or clutch having teeth on its outer surface to engage with
similar coupling parts on the spindle and between the two pinions. The two discs
EE of the coupling are connected by rods FF with an intermediate sleeve f
which while rotating with the screw spindle b' is longitudinally movable on it.
Between the sleeve f and each of the coupling discs EE is placed a spring
giving a certain amount of elasticity to the connection of each of these parts with
the sleeve. In describing the working of the apparatus I will indicate hereinafter
the purpose of this arrangement.
The sleeve of the coupling is surrounded by a long fork G secured at its lower
end to a spindle g and pivotted at the top between two rods g'. The lower
spindle g can have a longitudinal horizontal movement. It is supported by a
hollow guide or socket H into which it enters its other end resting on a cam on a
disc H hereinafter referred to.

page_text: The vertical screw c producing the ascent and descent of the frame C carries
at its lower end a bevel pinion engaging with a pinion h¹ mounted on a hori-
zontal spindle h". This spindle has a coupling constituted like that for the
horizontal screw b₁ by two pinions D D and a coupling sleeve f¹. The sleeve f¹
is secured to a rod I adapted to oscillate about a fixed point and acted upon by
a spring having a tendency to always keep it applied against one of the ends
of a rod ¹¹ supported in a bracket and having its other end resting against a
cam on the disc H¹ before referred to, said cam being concentric with that on which
rests the other rod g.
The racks dd have at their lower ends projections KK' engaging with recessed
or slotted portions of a rod k adapted to oscillate about a point k¹ and acted upon
by a spring having the tendency to always apply its end against a cam L
mounted on the same spindle as a pinion / engaging with a wheel keyed to the
driving shaft provided with a crank or handle L¹. The crank shaft " also
carries a pinion engaging with a wheel m the spindle m¹ of which carries (1) a
pinion m engaging with a wheel m¹ causing the rotation of the cam disc H₁
and (2) a pulley O round which passes an endless cord o which after having
passed over a guide pulley o' actuated a pulley o mounted on a spindle oll. On
this spindle o is mounted a shutter Of provided with an aperture for enabling
light rays to pass and impress the portion of the plate A which at the moment of
the passage of the aperture is situated behind the objective.
The objective is arranged at P. It is extended or completed at P¹ by two telescopic
tubes P P which can be moved one over the other by means of a milled head p
operated from the outside and engaging with a rack mounted on one of the
tubes P¹.
Having thus described all the parts constituting the new cinematograph appara-
tus I will describe the way in which it works.
We will suppose that the plate destined to be impressed or exposed is put in
place in the inner frame B. First the milled head is operated from the outside
so as to bring the end of the lens tube P¹ in contact with the plate A. The edges
of the tube P1 are covered with cloth felt or velvet, in order on the one hand not
to injure the sensitive film and on the other hand to limit exactly on the plate the
spot on which the light falls at the moment when each view is being taken. We
will suppose that the point X of said plate is placed exactly behind the objective P
We will suppose moreover that at this moment,
1. That portion of the cam against which rests the rods has such a shape
that the sleeve f' is in its intermediate position, that is to say that neither of the
clutch discs is in contact with those secured to the pinions D, D₁.
2. That portion of the cam against which the other rod g presses is of such shape
that the sleeve f is in the position Fig. 1, i.e., the clutch disc E engages with
the disc e secured to the pinion D.
If under these conditions the crank L' is continuously turned the rotary move-
ment will be transmitted to the cam L by the gears. This cam owing to its
shape will cause the lever to turn about its pivotal point and the racks d d¹
will thereby receive an alternate movement of ascent and descent that is to say
that during the ascent of the rack d the rack will descend and vice versa. It
may be here stated that in the inoperative position of the coupling sleeves f and f¹
the movement of the rack will have no effect on the spindles b¹ and h" since
the pinions D¹ D¹ are loose on said spindles and the coupling sleeves f f¹ do not
couple them to said spindles. In the same way, the movement of the rack will
have no effect on the spindle as the sleeve is in its intermediate position and
does not couple the pinion D' with the spindle h. The only effect of the move-
ment of the rack d will be on the screw b' and this action will be exercised only
during the ascent of said rack. During its descent said rack will, it is true,
turn the pinion D but owing to the inclination or form of the teeth of the coup-
ling discs e and E and also owing to the spring connecting the disc E to the

page_text: sleeve the rotation of the pinion D will only push back the coupling disc E as
owing to the direction of the rotation the coupling parts tend to separate instead
of engaging with each other.
During the rising of the rack d on the contrary its pinion D will cause by means
of the coupling discs c and E the screw b¹ to participate in its movement and con-
sequently the frame containing the plate A will receive an intermittent horizontal
movement as the screw 6' will rotate only during the ascent of the rack and as
each ascent is immediately followed by a descent.
Separate negatives will therefore be taken during the descents of the rack d
as at these moments the plate A is stationary.
The same phenomena are reproduced as long as the shape of the cams against
which the rods g and 2 press remain the same.
and press
The lengths of the portions of cams against which the rods
during the time that the above described movements take place are calculated so
as to have the same movements until the point Y of the plate A: has arrived be-
hind the objective P. In other words for each first horizontal line of views each
ascent of the rack d corresponds to the passage from one view to another while
each descent corresponds to the time of exposure for taking a view.
When the end of the first horizontal line is reached the shape of the cams
changes so as to cause the plate to move vertically to the extent of the height of a
view in order to enable a second horizontal line of views to be formed by a return
movement of the plate in the opposite direction. This change is possible as will
be easily understood since the disc H¹ is continuously rotated by means of its inter-
mediate gearing m m m M.
The end of the rod g then enters the lower or inner portion of the corresponding
cam, so that the sleeve f comes into its central position in which it is not coupled
with either the pinion D or D¹.
At the same time, the end of the rod enters a lower portion of its cam so
that the sleeve f₁ becomes coupled to the pinion D. This movement takes place
at the end of the ascent of the rack after it has brought the point Y behind the
objective.
causes
Owing to this change of cams the next following descent of the rack
owing to the sleeve f being coupled to the pinion D the rod and the screw c
to turn and consequently imparts a vertical movement to the plate A. Then the
point of the plate A comes into position behind the objective P. As soon as
this movement is finished that is to say as soon as the rack has descended the
shapes of the cams acting on the rods g and i change again. The ball terminating
the rod descends into a still lower cam-portion so that filom its central
position the sleeve f comes to engage the pinion D¹. On the contrary the
extremity of the rod rises on higher cam portion and the sleeve
ft returns into its central position. Under these conditions the move-
ment of the crank L' will turn through the intermediary of the rack d" when it
descends and of the pinion D₁ the horizontal screw b but in the opposite direction
than that of the first movement. The plate A will therefore return to the right
(Fig. 1) always by intermittent movements and thus in this movement a second
line of views Y' is obtained. When the lens arrives at the opposite side of the
plate and as soon as the rack has finished its last descent a new change will
take place in the position of the cams and consequently in that of the couplings;
the sleeve f will return into its central position while the sleeve f¹ will again en-
gage the pinion D¹. The plate A will therefore receive a new vertical movement
in the same direction as the first as this movement is obtained like the first by
means of the pinion D. The point X will then be behind the objective. From
this point all the phenomena already described will be reproduced always in the
same order and the plate A can thus be covered with images in series in horizontal
lines.
Instead of placing the parts actuating the screws producing the movements of
the frame on the side of the casing I reserve to myself the right of placing

page_text: them behind the frame itself on the opposite side of the objective in order to re-
duce the dimensions of the apparatus. In this case it will be obviously necessary
to use a suitable transmission gear for connecting the driving screws with the
spindles of the coupling sleeves which could not then form extensions of the
screws.
In some cases, chiefly for photographs taken at a considerable distance the plate
may be stationary and the objective may be moved in two directions at a right
angle to each other similarly to that described for the plate.
In the preceding description I have assumed that the plate was introduced into
the frame in a dark chamber or room the casing in which the mechanism is
arranged being hinged either at the top or at the side so as to enable it to be opened.
This may present certain inconveniences in practice and I may change in a dark
chamber the frame or dark slide which is afterwards put in place in ordinary
light in the frame or holder B. Curtains or shutters provided in front of the
sensitive plate can be withdrawn from the outside by means of hooks or by any
other means.
It will be evident that the apparatus by slight and obvious alterations can be
used for projecting or exhibiting positive images (obtained in the usual way from
the negatives) on to a screw.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
-
1. Apparatus for use in taking or exhibiting a series of photographic views
characterised by the employment of a sensitive plate and means for imparting to
it or alternatively to the lens the required movements in horizontal vertical or in-
clined rows in the manner described for the purpose of effecting successive light
impressions or for projecting such views.
2. Apparatus for use in taking or exhibiting a series of photographic views on
plates the views being made side by side in horizontal vertical or inclined lines the
plate being mounted in a frame having a movement in one direction said frame
being carried in another frame having a movement at right angles to the plate or
the plate being stationary and the objective movable in two directions at right
angles to each other the views however being always taken or exposed at the
moment when that part of the apparatus which is movable (plate or objective) is
at rest.
3. In apparatus of the kind described two screws at right or other angles to
each other and imparting motion to two frames by means of nuts secured to these
frames the extension of one of the screws carrying two pinions mounted loosely
on it but adapted to rotate it by means of couplings and a coupling sleeve
rotatable on the screw and movable longitudinally on its extension, said sleeve
being supported by a fork suspended at the top and secured at the bottom to a
tappet held applied by a spring against a cam which causes one or the other of
the pinions to be alternately coupled the other screw operating a rod parallel to
the first and having similar loose pinions and clutch coupling sleeve tappet and
spring applying the latter against à cam the four pinions engaging in pairs with
two racks which a lever operated by a cam moves in opposite directions by means
of slides and pins the parts being so arranged so that only one screw turns whilst
the other is at rest and vice versa substantially as described.
4. In apparatus of the kind described a set of gears which in order to produce
the movements indicated operates the cams and the shutter of the objective by a
single crank all the driving parts being placed as desired either to the right or to
the left of the plate or behind it on the side opposite to the objective substanti-
ally as described.
5. In apparatus of the kind described an objective the mount of which is ex-
tended towards the back by two telescopic tubes one of which carries a rack by
means of which it can be operated from the outside by a milled head so as to

page_text: enable its end covered with cloth felt or velvet to be brought in contact with the
sensitive plate substantially as and for the purpose described.
6. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete appara-
tus for use in taking or exhibiting photographic images substantially as described
5 or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.