Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Apr., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 11th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 17th Feb., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
I, WILLIAM RICE of 86 Fleet Street in the City of London, Publisher, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention has for its object improvements in photographic cameras and
relates primarily to means whereby those rays of light which enter the camera through
the lens and which are extraneous to or extend beyond the range of the desired
picture are prevented from striking against the inner surface of the body of the
camera in such a way as to be reflected on to the sensitive plate or film thereby
enabling a much sharper and more brilliant picture to be obtained than when
reflected light arising from such extraneous rays is permitted to strike the
photographic or sensitive surface.
For this purpose I employ a bellows bodied camera and I interpose in such
bellows at a suitable distance from the camera front a diaphragm which may be
carried by the bellows alone or which may be supported in a frame capable of
regulation in position on the base board and which is used to connect the two
sections or parts of the bellows body.
In carrying my invention into effect I preferably interpose between two parts of
the hellows body a frame to which each of such parts is connected light tight and I
mount such frame on the base board with capability of being shifted lengthwise
thereof in relation to the lens and of being fixed in the required position.
Or such frame may be a fixture on the base board and either the front or the
back of the camera or both may be made moveable in relation thereto.
This frame has formed therein a slot into which a diaphragm is placed which has
either a single rectangular aperture therein for use when producing single pictures
or two of such apertures when producing stereoscopic pictures.
These apertures are of the requisite proportions to admit all the rays of light to
the sensitive surface which are required to produce the picture but will exclude
those which are extraneous or unnecessary from that portion of the camera body
carrying the sensitive plate or film.
In some cases the diaphragm is made with a circular or oval shaped aperture by
which vignetted negatives can be produced thereby avoiding the necessity for
vignetting when printing and in other cases a colored screen may be inserted in the
diaphragm for use with color sensitive plates.
I also use this diaphragm frame for the purpose of supporting a shutter which
may be used for instantaneous or time exposures.
WILLIAM RICE,
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
I, WILLIAM RICE of 86 Fleet Street, in the City of London, Publisher, 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 has for its object improvements in photographic cameras, and

page_text: The drawing shows a photographic camera with one form of my invention applied,
part of the bellows a being shown broken away in order to show the diaphragm, or
frame, in position.
Instead of the bellows connecting the front b and the back c, being in one-piece
as usual, it is divided into two parts a and a' by the frame d carrying the diaphragm d',
the bellows a and a' being connected to d in a light tight manner. The diaphragm d'
has an opening into which a removable frame or carrier e-somewhat similar to a
"reversing back"-with a suitably shaped opening f, generally rectangular, may be
secured by clips g or it may be a spring or springs or button. The opening will
generally be proportionate to the size of plate for which the camera is intended
to be used, but in some cases it may be square or of other shape, the object being
to cut off or intercept all the rays of light proceeding from the lens, which are not
required to act upon the sensitive surface.
The operation is as follows. The frame d is moved up towards the front and
the object focussed in the usual manner, the frame is then moved backwards until
the diaphragm d', or diaphragm and frame e, cuts off all those rays not required to
form the picture on the sensitive surface, the frame is then secured in position by
the clamp nuts h, or in any other usual manner.
For different sized pictures, carriers or frames with various sized openings may.
be applied to the diaphragm d¹.
In some cases I may dispense with the outer frame d, and place or secure the
diaphragm d¹ between the folds of the bellows, and I may secure it in position by
means of clips or clamps attached to two upright rods, one on either side of the

page_text: bellows, which rods may be secured firmly to the baseboard at any suitable.
position, by means of screw clamps or springs or in any other convenient manner.
In cases where the front of the camera racks or draws out, the method of securing
the diaphragm and frame in position may be varied, such as by means of a vertical
rod passing down each side of the frame into or through the baseboard, a clamping
screw at the top (similar to that shown at ) securing the frame in position.
The diaphragm or carrier may also in some cases carry a colour screen or line.
screen; and a shutter may be applied over the aperture; the rod, cord or tube for
the release and the setting of the shutter being brought preferably through the
framed in any light tight manner.
I am aware that it has been proposed to lodge or place a piece of carboard or
similar substance having a hole in it, between the folds of the camera bellows, but
such an arrangement is awkward and incapable of exact regulation.
Having now particularly described 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. In a photographic camera, a diaphragm (having a suitably shaped opening or
openings) interposed between the lens and the sensitive surface or back of the
camera, and means of securing it in position, at the desired distance from the lens.
or sensitive surface, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. In a photographic camera, an intermediate frame, to which the bellows are
attached, between the front and back of the camera, having a diaphragm with a
suitably shaped opening, substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. In a photographic camera, an intermediate diaphragm, or frame and diaphragm,
in combination with a colour screen, substantially as set forth.
4. In a photographic camera, an intermediate diaphragm, or frame and diaphragma
(having a suitably shaped opening or openings) as described, in combination with a
photographic shutter, substantially as described.
5. In a photographic camera, the combination of a frame d, diaphragm d', carrier
or inner frame such as e, and means of securing in position as described,.
substantially as set forth.
Dated the 10th day of January 1894.
STANLEY G. O. DICKER,
Agent for Applicant.