Improvements in or connected with Film Separating Devices for Use in Magazine Cameras.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Nov., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 22nd July, 1897-Accepted, 28th Aug., 1897
OVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Film Separating Devices for
Use in Magazine Cameras.
I, AUSTIN CLAY EDWARDS, of 7 and 9 Willoughby Lane, Park, Tottenham, in the
County of Middlesex, Photographic Plate and Film Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature this invention to be as follows:-
The invention is intended to simplify the existing method of separating photo-
graphic films in magazine cameras worked on the system now used in the "Frena
Camera" and to reduce the cost of films for use in such cameras.
In these cameras as now used the films are notched at two sides leaving
projections which engage against pins which hold the film in position until such
time as by a lateral movement, the pins are caused to pass from the projections at
the sides of the film to the intermediate apertures when the film ceases to be held
in its position and becomes able to fall into any convenient receptacle provided for
the purpose.
These films being made of costly material and the space required for the notches
being a considerable part of the whole area my invention is designed to dispense
with the notching of the films altogether and to effect this I use notched cards
such as are used in the "Frena" to prevent light passing through more than one
film, and I notch these cards only instead of notching both cards and films, and
coat the cards on one side either partly or over the whole surface with an adhesive
compound or substance so that the back of the sensitive film adheres to the front
of the card and is held in position by the card until the said card is released when
film and card are free to fall together.
It will be seen that instead of using the notched cards merely as a means of
preventing the passage of light as hitherto I use them as carriers for the sensitive
film which latter no longer requiring to be notched may be used. of smaller size and
may be cut to the required dimensions by any ordinary paper or card cutting
machine instead of having to be stamped in a press from larger sheets with great
waste as hitherto.
Instead of using notched and adhesive cards I may use thin plates or frames of
metal or other suitable material notched and capable of acting as a holder for the
sensitive film and of being discharged and separated from the pack by the "Frena"
changing system.
Dated November 5th 1806
HARRIS & MILLS,
23 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.

page_text: Improvements in or connected with Film Separating Devices for
Use in Magazine Cameras.
I, AUSTIN CLAY EDWARDS, of 7 and 9 Willoughby Lane, Park, Tottenham, in the
County of Essex, Photographic Plate and Film 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:-
My invention is intended to simplify the existing method of separating
photographic films in the magazine cameras worked on the system now used in the
Frena camera and to reduce the cost of films for use in such cameras.
In these cameras as now used the films are notched at two sides leaving
projections which engage against pins which hold the film in position until such
time, as, by a lateral movement, the pins are caused to pass from the projections
at the sides of the film to the intermediate apertures, when the film ceases to be
held in its position and becomes able to fall into any convenient receptacle provided
for the purpose.
These films being made of costly material and the space required for the notches
being a considerable part of their whole area, my invention is designed to dispense
with the notching of the films altogether and to effect this I use notched cards such
as are used in the Frena system to prevent light passing through more than one
film and I notch these cards only, instead of notching both cards and films and coat
the cards on one side either partly or over the whole surface with an adhesive
compound or substance, such for instance as printers' roller or "graph"
composition, so that the back of the sensitive film shall adhero to the front of
the card and be held in position by the card until the said card is released by the
lateral movement of the pins or like means, when both film and card are free to
fall together.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a
face view of the notched card, Fig. 2 is a face view of the film and Fig. 3 is a
face view of the notched card and film united, a being the notched card and b
the film.
It will be seen that instead of using the notched cards merely as a means of
preventing the passage of light as hitherto, I use them as carriers for the sensitive
film, which latter by such means no longer requires to be notched and is enabled
to be used of smaller size than heretofore necessary and may be cut to the required
dimensions by any ordinary paper or card cutting machine instead of having to be
stamped in a press from larger sheets with great waste as hitherto.
Instead of using notched and adhesive cards I may use thin plates or frames of
metal or other suitable material notched on its edges and capable of acting as a
holder for the sensitive film and of being discharged and separated from the pack
by the Frena changing system.
Thus a metal or other hard non absorbent plate may be used in lieu of the backing
card and the sensitive film cemented thereto as before described whilst by turning
over a tongue or narrow portion of metal at the base of some of the notches the
said plate may serve as a frame. and the sensitive film be slidden underneath these
turned over tongues and be securely held thereby.
By these means I am also enabled to use thinner films in magazine cameras than
heretofore, thereby reducing their cost, whilst as the film is not required to have
any strength in itself to withstand the strain which according to my invention is
taken alone by the carrier, paper can be substituted for the celluloid hitherto used
to carry the sensitive emulsion.
When using the ordinary celluloid or other comparatively thick support for the

page_text: sensitive emulsion in combination with my improved notched backing cards and
when packs of such carriers with the films attached thereto are subjected to the
pressure of the spring back board in the magazine camera there is sometimes a
disadvantageous tendency of the notched projecting edges of the backing cards to
bend backwards when forced into contact with the sliding sorting teeth or other
equivalent device and further the foremost surface of the sensitive film is not
exactly in the same focal register as the face of the backing card, the notched
projecting edges of which are pressed against the sorting teeth or other support
serving as a guide in this particular, thus it is obvious that the sensitive surface
of the film will be nearer the lens and hence out of focus the exact extent of
the thickness of the film and its celluloid or other such support.
I obviate this difficulty by thickening, actually or effectively, the notched edges
of the card support so that the front of these edges shall be as nearly as possible
in the same plane as the front of the sensitive film while the back of the card support
remains as before.
This thickening of the notched edges of the backing cards can be effected in any
convenient manner. For instance if the backing card be of the same thickness as
the applied film and its support the edges of the backing cards may be simply
turned over or doubled, or a separate thickness of card equal to the thickness of the
applied film may be cemented upon the notched projecting edges of the backing
card, or these latter may be corrugated or embossed in such manner as to give the
required thickness thereto without interfering with the free action of the sorting
teeth or like means.
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. The improvements in or connected with film separating devices for use in
magazine cameras consisting of a notched and adhesive card or sheet of other
material for the purpose of holding the sensitive film in position and enabling each
film to be separated from the pack, thus obviating the necessity for notching the
films themselves substantially as herein set forth.
2. In film separating devices for use in magazine cameras the use of notched
plates or frames of metal or other material arranged to hold the film in position
and, each with its film, to be separated and discharged from the pack by the
method of separating used in the Frena Camera or the like, substantially as herein
set forth.
3. The improvements in or connected with film separating devices for use in
magazine cameras consisting of the combination of a notched card, plate or frame
and a smaller plain edged film carried thereby, substantially as herein set forth
and for the purpose stated.
Dated T1 001100
HARRIS & MILLS,
23 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.