Improvements in and relating to Kinetoscopes and Means for observing Objects and Machinery in Motion.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 25th May, 1897-Accepted, 28th Aug., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Kinetoscopes and Means for
observing Objects and Machinery in Motion.
I, CHARLES MILTON CAMPBELL, of 1343 Harvard Street, in the City of
Washington, and District of Columbia, United States of America, Manufacturer,
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: ―
The invention relates to optics and consists in the method of and apparatus for
causing rays of light from a moving object, each to be held stationary through a
given point. One means for accomplishing this object is fully described hereafter
and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of one form of an
instrument embodying the invention.
Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, and
Figs. 3, 4, and 5, are detail views.
Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1, indicates the box or casing in
which a wheel or roller 2 is mounted. Over this wheel is caused to pass a
transparency 3, or other continuous strip of material provided with objects,
pictures or negatives, 4. 5, indicates a reflector which is arranged in the box in
such relative position to the wheel or roller as that the rays of light from the strip
may be seen through the window or aperture 6, in the side of the box. These
parts may be of such size and shape, and arranged in such relation to each other
as to secure the desired result. When it is desired to show a long series of
pictures the box may be made of sufficient capacity to receive the entire length
of the strip or the box may be provided with slots or apertures 7, and 71, through
which the strip may pass into and be stored in a separate compartment 8 shown
only in dotted lines, or it may be permitted to run loosely upon the outside of the
box.
The pictures or objects may be secured to or arranged upon the strip at intervals
so that as the wheel or roller is rotated by means of the crank 9, or any other
suitable motor, they will pass a given point at such times and with such speed as
to produce the desired effect. The strip may be made to move uniformly with
the periphery of the wheel in any desired manner, as, by means of spurs or spikes
10, which may project through holes 11 in the strip.
To prevent the strip from becoming disconnected from the pins or spurs on the
periphery of the wheel a thin strip 12, of steel or other suitable material may be
secured at one side of the box with its free end extended over a portion of the
periphery of the wheel. When the spurs 10 are used upon the wheel it may be
desirable to use strippers 13, to disengage the strip from the wheel by passing
between it and the periphery of the wheel and forcing it from the pins, should
it adhere thereto, and have a tendency to be carried around with the wheel. In
the drawings the spurs are shown arranged substantially centrally to the periphery
of the wheel and the ends of the strippers lying within grooves, near the edges of
the wheel. This will cause the strippers to lie substantially tangential to the

page_text: periphery of the wheel and in a line with the movement of the strip, and between
the wheel and the slot 7 in the casing, where the strip passes out of the box.
In passing the strip to the wheel it may be found desirable to place it under
tension which can be done by passing it under a suitable brake. This brake can
be located in the slot 7', as, for instance, a cushion 15 on one or both sides of the
strip and an adjusting wedge 16, inserted under one of the cushions to graduate
the pressure of the brake.
To cause the pictures of the series to appear at the same place it is necessary
that such movement be given to the reflector upon its axis, or otherwise, as will
hold the direction of each of the rays of light stationary through a given point,
whatever may be the angle of the incident rays from the object to the reflector.
As the objects or pictures must succeed each other with sufficient rapidity to
continuously impress the eye, it is evident that the reflector can only follow each
picture a certain distance when it must resume its initial position and follow the
succeeding pictures. As the return movement of the reflector does not assist the
correct representation of the pictures, it should be made as quickly as possible,
and, if desired, the rays of light from the pictures might be intercented for that
instant so that there would be no reflection except auring the forward movement
of the reflector. A plurality of reflectors may be arranged to successively reflect
the succeeding picture, one form of which is shown in Figure 4.
In the drawings which illustrate a machine which has but one reflector 5, it
is shown as secured with pivots 18, and provided with an arm 19, the free end of
which engages with a series of pins 20, forming shoulders upon the wheel or
roller 2. The parts are so arranged that one picture will pass a given point or
be exposed to view for each time that the reflector is oscillated, or moved forward.
The return movement of the reflector may be accomplished by any suitable
mechanism, as for instance, by a weight or spring 21, which will draw the arm 19,
back into its initial position to be engaged by the succeeding pin or shoulder.
Instead of the arms and pins above referred to the reflector and wheel or strip may
be connected and caused to move synchronously in any desired manner, the only
requisite being that the return movement of the mirror be so quick as to come
as near making a continuous or unbroken reflection as possible. The size of the
reflector may be made to correspond with the size of the pictures, and the
apertures or slots through the side of the casing through which the pictures are
cbserved may be made accordingly.
When the parts are enclosed in a box as shown with the reflector below the
strin it is necessary to provide some means for illuminating the pictures which can
be done by an ordinary reflector 22, arranged in such manner as to reflect the
light passing through an aperture 23, in the side of the box upon the picture, or
an ordinary lamp or incandescent or other light, can be arranged within the box
so as to illuminate the picture either by reflection or transparently, that is, by
light transmitted through the transparency. But when the parts are arranged
in an open frame work, or the reflector is located above the strip, and the top of
the box removed, the means for illumination may be dispensed with.
In using the machine one of the sides of the box is preferably made removable
so that the strip or objects to be used may be placed upon the wheel under the
spring and the brake properly adjusted. The removed portions are then replaced
the wheel is rotated and the objects are seen in the reflector.
If desired, the pictures may be placed directly upon the periphery of the wheel
in which case, the pins 10, strippers and spring may be dispensed with. Lenses
24, may also be placed between the reflector and the pictures or the eye whereby
the apparent size of the picture may be changed, and by using two visual
openings and properly arranged pictures or objects the stereoscopic effects can
be produced.
嘴
In addition to the foregoing adaptations and use, the invention may be applied
to and used in the observation of any moving objects, as for instance, machinery.
In this construction it is only necessary that the reflector be moved at such

page_text: angular rate of speed with reference to that of the moving objects to be observed
as will cause the image of the object to stand still when seen in the reflector.
This may be accomplished in any suitable manner, as by connecting the reflector
with the moving object as shown in Fig. 5, in which 25, indicates the reflector,
26, a walking beam of an engine, the object to be observed, and 27 and 28, the
means for connecting the two together. In this construction when the beam is
moving in one direction the reflector is moved such a distance and at such a rate
of speed that the reflection of the virtual image of the portion of the beam being
observed will appear at the same place during the entire length of the stroke,
and as soon as the beam starts in the opposite direction the movement of the
reflector is changed accordingly and moved at such a rate of speed as will cause
the image to still remain stationary.
In view of the wide use and scope to which the invention may be applied, it is
to be understood that it is not limited to the construction herein shown or described
but includes all such changes and alterations as will come within the scope and
spirit of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim, is:
1st. The herein described method of directing light rays consisting in holding
cach of the rays of light from a series of moving objects stationary through a
given point, substantially as set forth.
2. The herein described method of forming an impression upon the eye, consisting
in causing the rays of light from a series of rapidly moving objects, each to be
held stationary through a given point, substantially as set forth.
3. In combination, with a movable object, of a movable reflector connected
therewith, whereby the relative positions of the one to the other are changed, so
that the rays of light from the object will each be held stationary by the reflector
through a given point, substantially as set forth.
4. In a kinetoscope, the combination with a series of movable objects, of' a
movable reflector, and means for changing the relative positions of the objects
and the reflector to each other, so that the rays of light from each succeeding
object will each be held stationary by the reflector through a given point,
substantially as set forth.
5. In a kinetoscope, the combination, with a series of movable pictures, of a
movable reflector, and means for changing the relative positions of the pictures
and the reflector to each other, so that the rays of light from each succeeding
picture will each be held stationary by the reflector through a given point
substantially as set forth.
6. In a kinetoscope, the combination, with a series of movable pictures, of an
oscillating reflector, and means for changing the relative positions of the reflector
and the pictures to each other so that the rays of light from each picture will
each be held stationary by the reflector through a given point, substantially as
set forth.
7. In a kinetoscope, the combination, with a series of movable objects, of a
movable reflector, and means for moving the reflector at such an angular rate of
speed relatively to that of the objects that the rays of light therefrom, each will
be held stationary by the reflector through a given point, substantially as set
forth.
8. In a kinetoscope, the combination, with a series of movable pictures, of a
movable reflector, and means for moving the reflector in one direction at a greater
rate of speed than in the other, so that the time of exposure will be greater than
the time of change, substantially as set forth.
9. In a kinetoscope, the combination with a support, of a wheel journaled therein,
an oscillating reflector, a series of pictures upon the wheel, and means for moving
the wheel and the reflector in such relation to each other that the rays of light

page_text: from the object will each be held stationary through a given point, substantially
as set forth.
10. In a kinetoscope, the combination, with a support, of a wheel journaled
therein, an oscillating reflector, radially projecting pins upon the periphery of
the wheel, a perforated strip upon the pins and provided with pictures, a retaining
device upon the strip on the periphery of the wheel, and means for moving the
pictures and the reflector in such relation to each other that the rays of light will
each be held stationary through a given point, substantially as set forth.
11. In a kinetoscope, the combination, with a support, of a wheel journaled
therein, an oscillating reflector, the periphery of the wheel being grooved and
provided with radially projecting pins, strippers within the support, the free end
of which fit within the grooves of the wheel, a retaining device, and means for
moving the wheel and the reflector in such relation to each other that the ray of
light from each succeeding picture will each be held stationary by the reflector
through a given point, substantially as set forth.
12. In a kinetoscope, the combination, with a support, of a wheel journaled
therein, an oscillating reflector, a series of pins arranged in one side of the wheel,
an arm from the reflector, the free end of which is adapted to be engaged by said
pins, means for returning said arm and reflector to their initial position, and a
series of pictures upon the wheel, substantially as set forth.
13. In a kinetoscope, the combination, with a support, one wall of which is
provided with two slots, of a wheel and an oscillating reflector journaled within
the support, a brake in one of the slots, and strippers extending from the other
slot to the periphery of the wheel, a strip through said slots and extending around
the periphery of the wheel, and means for moving the pictures and the reflector
in such relation to each other that the rays of light from each succeeding picture
will each be held stationary by the reflector through a given point, substantially
as set forth.
14. In a kinetoscope, the combination, with a support, of a movable object
therein, a source of illumination, and means for holding each of the rays of light
therefrom stationary through a given point, and lenses for changing the apparent
size of the object, substantially as set forth.