System of Mechanism for the Automatic Change of Plates in Photographic Apparatus.
Year: 1890

page_text: Complete Specification Left, 18th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
System of Mechanism for the Automatic Change of Plates in
Photographic Apparatus.
I, ALBAN TOBY, Electrician, of No. 47 Rue de l'Hopital, Brussels, Belgium,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The present invention has for its object a mechanism for automatic change of
the plates in photographic apparatus in general, which then receive in accordance
with the system an arrangement more or less special, forming a complete photo-
graphic apparatus called "The Triumph."
This system of change of plates is especially advantageous for apparatus for
instantaneous photographing, in which it is frequently necessary to withdraw a
plate rapidly from the object and to substitute a fresh plate; moreover, all persons
engaged in photography know the difliculties in effecting this change of plates
which always requires a certain time in old apparatus, whilst in the apparatus
called "The Triumph" it can be done with great ease and rapidity.
The invention therefore consists essentially in a mechanism which, in order to
effect this change, causes the plate presented vertically to the object to make a
quarter turn which places it first horizontally above, whence it is withdrawn back-
wards parallel to itself to take position above a pile of other plates, while at the
same time a fresh plate is advanced from below this pile, to be then turned up
vertically before the object and to follow the same course as the preceding plate
when the operator has taken the picture.
The mechanism effecting these different movements consists of two parts, the
one giving the turning movement and the other the rectilineal movement. It is
shewn in the accompanying drawings, of which,
Figure is a longitudinal section shewing the plate in its vertical position
before the object screen in the apparatus, as well as the mechanism for the turning
motion in the corresponding position.
Figure 2 shews the positions of the plate and mechanism half turned towards
the horizontal position above.
Figure 3 is the same longitudinal section shewing the plate turned to its hori-
zontal position above with the corresponding condition of the turning mechanism.
Figure 4 this same view shewing the position of the mechanism for rectilineal
horizontal movement.
Figure 5 the same view showing the mechanism in its position after movement,
the lowest plate being advanced to be then raised to front the object.
Figure 6 is a horizontal section shewing the catching tappets for the horizontal
movement of the plates by the mechanism for rectilineal motion.
Figure 7 is a side view taken on the side opposite to Figure 4 shewing the safety
catch to prevent erroneous movements.
The whole of the mechanism is applied to a rectangular box B of plate, divided
into two compartments, the hinder one containing the pile of plates, whilst the

page_text: front compartment contains the turning mechanism, the mechanism for rectilineal
motion being applied outside the box B.
The turning mechanism consists essentially of two parallel frames C which at
one of their edges are jointed by links M to the opposite ends of two parallel
levers LL connected by bars tt so as to form a middle frame C¹.
To the middle of this frame or of the levers L are applied pivots or pins p
which turn in the side walls of the box and are turned by a button B' outside.
In grooves formed in these pivots are passed springs bent to S form, the ends
of which are fixed to the middles of the side bars of the slide frames C, and
tend thus to push these frames outwards against the guides G, whether horizontal
or vertical, allowing nevertheless approach together of the frames C in certain
parts of their turning movement.
Under these conditions it may be seen that the middle frame C' cannot turn
towards the left being prevented by the links M, but it can turn towards the
right in the direction of the arrow (in consequence of the described jointings)
when the button B is turned whereby the whole of the mechanism with the
plate P is caused to turn from the position which they occupied in Fig. 1 through
that of Fig. 2 to that of Fig. 3.
This movement is effected, as has been stated above, when the plate P placed
vertically to front the object has served to receive the picture to be photographed.
The plate P having come to the position of Fig. 3, having served to receive
a picture has to be withdrawn from the frame C now placed horizontally above
as shewn.
This straight movement is effected by the mechanism for rectilineal motion,
which serves at the same time to introduce in the opposite frame C a fresh
plate P placed for this purpose below exactly in line with the slide groove of the
lower frame.
The mechanism of this rectilineal motion consists essentially of two levers L'L'
connected at their centres by transverse spindle a and worked by a small handle M
outside the box on the same side as the button B¹.
To the ends of the levers L'L' placed diagonally on the walls of the box are
jointed links M² connected to the extremities of transverse slide bars G G each
provided with two tappets 7', serving for the rectilineal movement of the plates P,
provided for this purpose with a slight lip on which the tappets 99' act,
below to push a fresh plate into the frame, and above to withdraw the used plate
on to the pile in the hinder compartment.
These two movements of equal length therefore take place in opposite directions,
that is to say while the lower plate advances into the frame for moving it coming
from below the pile, the upper plate is moved back to the pile coming from the
opposite frame.
This movement effected by the handle M' being completed, the mechanism for
rectilineal motion is stopped by a catch a fixed on one of the levers L¹ and
engaging on a stud fixed on the box.
In this way nothing can be deranged if inadvertently the handle M' should
be turned uselessly or too soon so as to advance a second plate upon the one
already in the frame.
The catch c is not disengaged until the plate in the frame below has been
withdrawn above, because in this movement of the turning mechanism a finger d
fixed externally to the spindle of the middle' frame C₁ comes to raise the catch
from its stud pl, so that the levers L' can then make their back stroke when the
handle M' is turned in the desired direction.
When the mechanism for rectilineal movement has reached this position it
prevents the turning mechanism from acting because the double finger d'is stopped
against the elbow formed by the lever L' and the link M*; it is therefore necessary
to bring it back to its position of movement in order that the plate in the lower
frame may be raised to front the object first, and into the upper horizontal position
afterwards.

page_text: This catch mechanism combined with the finger d of the turning mechanism
therefore prevents any erroneous movement being made, by erroneously moving
the button B' or the handle M'.
The grooves of the frames C are furnished with bent blade springs which bear
against the plates to hold them during motion.
The action of the apparatus in moving a plate which has served in front of the
apparatus (Fig. 1) may be thus summed up.
Turning to the right the batton B moves the plate P to the upper horizontal
position (Fig. 3).
Turning to the left the handle M of the mechanism for rectilineal movement
withdraws the upper plate on to the pile of plates in the compartment and pushes
a lower plate into the frame C corresponding of the turning mechanism; turning to
the right or raising the handle M' to disengage the finger d from the elbow L' M',
then turning again to the right the button to raise the lower plate to front the
object to make it serve to take a view, and the same action is repeated.
When the plates are piled in the hinder compartment there is placed on the last
a plate with lateral lips but not a hind lip so that the tappets qg' slide below it
and do not draw any more plates into the frame C, this shewing that all the plates
have been used.
It is to be understood that the mechanism described and of it specially the
tunning mechanism could also be employed in other apparatus in which similar
movements may be necessary.
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 [
claim is :-
:-
1. A photographic apparatus called "The Triumph" provided with a system of
change of plates consisting essentially in the combination of turning mechanism
with mechanism for rectilineal motion, a system whereby the plate having served
to receive a picture is moved on to the pile of plates contained in the apparatus,
while a fresh plate is withdrawn from below the pile to take the place of the
preceding plate.
2. The turning mechanism consisting in the combination of two grooved
frames C with a turning frame C' to which they are connected in alternate
manner by links M, whilst S shaped springs bear them against the horizontal
and vertical guides of the compartment in which it is arranged, this compart-
ment of the box B of the apparatus being situated exactly in front of that containing
the pile of plates.
3. The mechanism for rectilineal movement consisting in the system of
levers LL' connected by links M2 M² to upper and lower slide bars G G¹
acting by tappets 9 g¹ on the plate P P in opposite directions, so as to move
the one (which has served) back on to the pile in the hinder compartment, and
to push the fresh plate forward into the frame placed exactly facing the lowest
plate of the pile.
4. The combination of the double finger d on the spindle of the middle frame C¹
with the spring catch c on the lever L' of the mechanism for rectilineal movement,
to prevent erroneous movements by the button B' or the handle M'.
5. The photographic apparatus called "The Triumph," as a whole substantially
as described and shewn in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 10th day of Nawamber 1800
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
System of Mechanism for the Automatic Change of Plates in
Photographic Apparatus.
I, ALBAN TOBY, Electrician, of No. 47 Rue de l'Hopital, Brussels, Belgium,
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 present invention has for its object a mechanism for automatic change of
the plates in photographic apparatus in general, which then receive in accordance
with the system an arrangement more or less special, forming a complete photo-
graphic apparatus called "The Triumph."
This system of change of plates is especially advantageous for apparatus for
instantaneous photographing, in which it is frequently necessary to withdraw a
plate rapidly from the object and to substitute a fresh plate; moreover, all persons
engaged in photography know the difficulties in effecting this change of plates
which always requires a certain time in old apparatus, whilst in the apparatus
called "The Triumph it can be done with great ease and rapidity.
::
The invention therefore consists essentially in a mechanism which in order to
effect this change causes the plate presented vertically to the object to make a
quarter turn which places it first horizontally above, whence it is withdrawn back-
wards parallel to itself to take position above a pile of other plates, while at the
same time a fresh plate is advanced from below this pile, to be then turned up
vertically before the object and to follow the same course as the preceding plate
when the operator has taken the picture.
The mechanism effecting these different movements consists of two parts, the
one giving the turning movement and the other the rectilineal movement.
It is shewn in the drawings accompanying my Provisional Specification, of
which
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section shewing the plate in its vertical position before
the object screen in the apparatus, as well as the mechanism for the turning motion
in the corresponding position.
Fig. 2 shews the positions of the plate and mechanism half turned towards the
horizontal position above.
Figure 3 is the same longitudinal section shewing the plate turned to its
horizontal position above with the corresponding condition of the turning
mechanism.
Fig. 4 the same view shewing the position of the mechanism for rectilineal
horizontal movement.
Fig. 5 the same view shewing the mechanism in its position after movement, the
lowest plate being advanced to be thereafter raised to front the object
Fig. 6 is a horizontal section shewing the catching tappets for the horizontal
movement of the plates by the mechanism for rectilineal motion.
Fig. 7 is a side view taken on the side opposite to Fig. 4 showing the safety catch
to prevent erroneous movements.
The whole of the mechanism is applied to a rectangular box B of plate, divided
into two compartments, the hinder one containing the pile of plates, whilst the front
compartment contains the turning mechanism, the mechanism for rectilineal motion
being applied outside the box B.
The turning mechanism consists essentially of two parallel frames C which at
one of their edges are jointed by links M to the opposite ends of two parallel
levers L L connected by barstt so as to form a middle frame C¹.
To the middle of this frame or of the levers L are applied pivots or pins p
which turn in the side walls of the box and are turned by a button B' outside.
In grooves formed in these pivots are passed springs bent to S form, the ends of

page_text: which are fixed to the middles of the side bars of the slide frames C and tend thus
to push these frames outwards against the sides of the compartment, whether
horizontal or vertical, allowing nevertheless approach together of the frames C in
certain parts of their turning movement.
Under these conditions it may be seen that the middle frame C¹ cannot turn
towards the left being prevented by the links M, but it can turn towards the right
in the direction of the arrow Fig. 5 (in consequence of the described jointings)
when the button B₁ is turned whereby the whole of the mechanism with the plate I'
is caused to turn from the position which they occupied in Fig. 1 through that of
Fig. 2 to that of Fig. 3. This movement is effected, as has been stated above,
when the plate P which had been placed vertically to front the object as shewn in
Fig. 1 has served to receive the picture to be photographed.
The plate P having come to the position of Fig. 3, after having served, has to be
withdrawn from the frame C now placed horizontally above as shewn in Fig. 3.
This straight movement is effected by the mechanism for rectilineal "motion,
which serves at the same time to introduce in the opposite frame C a fresh plate P
placed for this purpose below exactly in line with the slide groove of the lower
frame.
The mechanism of this rectilineal motion consists essentially of two levers L' L'
connected at their centres by transverse spindle a and worked by a small handle M³
outside the box on the same side as the button B¹.
To the ends of the levers L' L' placed diagonally on the walls of the box are
jointed links M² connected to the extremities of transverse slide bars G G¹ each
provided with two tappets y g' serving for the rectilineal movement of the plates P,
provided for this purpose with a slight lip on which the tappets act, below to
3
push a fresh plate into the frame, and above to withdraw the used plate on to the
pile in the hinder compartment.
These two movements of equal length therefore take place in opposite directions,
that is to say, while the lower plate advances into the frame C coming from
below the pile, the upper plate is moved back to the pile coming from the opposite
frame C.
This movement effected by the handle M' being completed, the mechanism for
rectilineal motion is stopped by a catch a fixed on one of the levers L' and
engaging on a stud p' fixed on the box as shewn at Fig. 7.
In this way nothing can be deranged if inadvertently the handle M² should be
turned uselessly or too soon so as to advance a second plate upon the one already in
the frame.
The catch c is not disengaged until the plate in the frame below has been with-
drawn above, because in this movement of the turning mechanism a finger d fixed
externally to the spindle p of the middle frame C' comes as indicated by the arrow
to raise the catch from its stud p', so that the levers L' can then make their back
stroke when the handle M is turned in the desired direction.
When the lever L' of the mechanism for rectilineal movement has reached this
position indicated by the dotted lines Fig. 7 it prevents the turning mechanisın
from acting because the double finger d is stopped against the elbow formed by the
lever and the link m; it is therefore necessary to bring the lever back to its
position of movement L³ in order that the plate in the lower frame may be raised
to front the object first, and into the upper horizontal position afterwards.
This catch mechanism combined with the finger d of the turning mechanism
therefore prevents any erroneous movement being made, by erroneously moving the
button B or the handle M¹.
The grooves of the frames C are furnished with bent blade springs which bear
against the plates to hold them during motion.
The action of the apparatus in moving a plate which has served in front of the
apparatus (Fig. 1) may be thus summed up.
Turning to the right the button B¹ moves the plate P to the upper horizontal
position (Fig. 3).

page_text: Turning to the left the handle M' of the mechanism for rectilineal movement
withdraws the upper plate on to the pile of plates in the compartment and pushes
a lower plate into the lower frame Ĉ of the turning mechanism; turning to the
right or raising the handle M' disengages the finger d from the elbow I'm Fig. 7,
then turning again to the right the button B' raises the lower plate to front the
object as shewn in Fig. 1 to make it serve to take a view, and the same action
is repeated.
When the plates are piled in the hinder compartment there is placed on the last
a plate with lateral lips but not a hind lip so that the tappets' slide below it
and do not draw any more plates into the frame C, this shewing that all the plates
have been used.
It is to be understood that the mechanism described, and of it specially the
turning mechanism could also be employed in other apparatus in which similar
movements may be necessary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A photographic apparatus provided with a system of change of plates, con-
sisting essentially in the combination of turning mechanism with mechanism for
rectilineal motion, a system whereby the plate having served to receive a picture is
moved on to the pile of plates contained in the apparatus, while a fresh plate is
withdrawn from below the pile to take the place of the preceding plate.
2. The turning mechanisni consisting in the combination of two grooved franies C
with a turning frame C¹ to which they are connected in alternate manner by
links M, whilst S shaped springs bear them against the horizontal and vertical
guides of the compartment in which the turning frame is arranged, this compart-
ment of the box B of the apparatus being situated exactly in front of that containing
the pile of plates.
3. The mechanism for rectilineal movement consisting in the system of
levers L' L' connected by links M* M² to upper and lower slide bars G G¹ acting
by tappets g¹ on the plates P P in opposite directions, so as to move the one
(which has served) back on to the pile in the hinder compartment and to push the
fresh plate forward into the frame placed exactly facing the lowest plate of
the pile.
4. The combination of the double finger d on the spindle 7 of the middle frame C¹
with the spring catch c on the lever Lof the mechanism for rectilineal movement,
to prevent erroneous movements by the button B or the handle M'.
5. The photographic apparatus as a whole, substantially as described and shewn
in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 18th day of August 1891.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.