Improvements in or relating to Photographic Apparatus applicable to a Camera.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Nov., 1899-Accepted, 17th Nov., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Photographic Apparatus applicable
to a Camera.
We, ANNIBAL JEAN BAPTISTE LÉGÉ, Engineer, of 31 and 32, Kirby Street,
Clerkenwell, in the County of London, and WILLIAM HENRY ENGLAND, Photo-
grapher, of 23, Amesbury Avenue, Streatham Hill, in the County of Surrey,
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 particular reference to improvements in apparatus for
colour photography, as described in the Specification of Letters Patent No. 10318
dated 16th May 1899, granted to Annibal Jean Baptiste Légé and William.
Henry England, and also has for its object the construction of a device for auto-
matically timing photographic exposures.
According to this invention the sensitized layer and the colour filter may be
arranged at opposite ends of the camera, the former being as usual at the rear
of the same and the latter in close proximity to the lens. This arrangement.is
of considerable advantage as it permits a smaller colour filter to be used than
when both elements are placed together or in close proximity to one another.
In order that the colour filter and sensitized layer may be simultaneously operated
by a common releasing device they are connected by a rack and pinion
mechanism.
The timing device comprises a cam-plate revolved by any convenient motive
mechanism, and a detent lever engaging the cam-plate so that the lever is made
to rise and fall and either force or admit compressed air into the pneumatic
operating device or devices with which the camera is provided. The timing
device is also provided with a stopping mechanism by which it is automatically
stopped after a complete cycle of operations has been performed.
A further improvement in the camera for colour photography consists in the
arrangement of the exposure shutter mechanism and the releasing device for
the sensitized layer and colour filter in such a manner that they may be operated
by one pneumatic device in place of each having its own pneumatic device as
before. A convenient form of film carrier is also described together with
mechanism by which it may he adapted to be operated in the same manner as
the sliding sensitized layer.
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one method of carrying out
these improvements,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a camera for colour photography having the
sensitized layer and colour filter arranged at opposite ends;
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the rear portion of the camera, showing the
mechanism on the far side of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is an end elevation of the timing device;
Figure 4 is a horizontal section of the timing device on the line 4 of
Figure 3; and
Figure 5 is a side elevation of the timing device shown in Figure 3;

page_text: Figure 6 is a side elevation of the film carrier in part section;
Figure 7 is a vertical section of the same on the line 7-7 of Figure 6;
Figure 8 is a detail view of a modified form of pneumatic operating device;
and
Figure 9 is a perspective view of a modified construction of a pneumatic
shutter-operating device.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
Referring first to Figures 1 and 2: the rear part of the camera A is arranged
to receive the sliding frame or dark slide B, within which is the sensitized
layer, and a detent C, operated by a pneumatic device D, is arranged to
engage and release the frame B. A dash-pot E with a plunger E¹ is attached
to the side of the box or camera body A to prevent shock when the slide B
descends under the action of gravity. The colour filter F (Fig. 8) is arranged
to slide in the lens holder F1 at the head of the camera in close proximity to
the lens with its pneumatic operating mechanism .G, and has secured to it a
rack F2. A similar rack may be formed on the plunger rod E¹ of the sensitized
layer frame B and the two racks are geared together by pinions H I, con-
nected by a telescopic shaft J carried in bearings K K', at the head and tail
of the camera, respectively.
It is obvious that with the colour filter and sensitized layer arranged in the
manner described, if both are normally raised they will simultaneously descend
when the part B is released from its engagement with the detent C, and in order
that each may descend the required amount relatively to one another the pinion I
is made smaller than the pinion H, the part F having less distance to travel
than the part B. In place of the rack for the sensitized layer frame being formed
upon the plunger rod E¹, it may obviously be secured to the part B within
the box A, if desired, and the pinion H made to project through the box or
camera body to engage with it.
The arrangement of the part B in the box A, the detent C, pneumatic
device D and shutter-operating pneumatic device G is the same as those described
in the specification cited above, and therefore requires no further description in
this specification.
The timing device L, illustrated in Figures 3 to 5, may conveniently be secured
to the part F at the head of the camera, as shown in Figure 1, and the device
comprises a revolving cam-plate L' against which one end of a lever L2, formed
to act as a detent, is made to bear. The lever L2 is pivotted at L³ and controlled
by a spring L which tends always to keep the detent end of the lever in contact
with the cam-plate. Within close proximity to the lever L2 is a cylinder M.
with which communicate conduits M¹ M³, the former being connected with the
pneumatic devices D G and the latter with a source of air under pressure,
such as a chamber into which a store of air has been compressed. The con-
duits M1 M² communicate with the cylinder at opposite sides, so that they face
one another and within the cylinder is a piston M³ connected by a link M to
that end of the lever L remote from the cam-plate L. The piston M³ is bored
transversely at M5. The cam-plate L' is provided with three sets of recesses 7 11 12,
respectively, and each set comprises three separate recesses, which are of such a
depth that when the detent end of the lever L2 descends into any one of them
the piston M³ is raised in its cylinder M until the transverse boring or orifice M³
is brought in line with the conduits M¹ M². Any convenient motive mechanism
may be used to drive the cam-plate LI, but a clock-work train N mounted in
a frame N¹ and controlled by a fly N2 is preferred. Means may be provided to
regulate the speed at which the cam-plate L¹ is rotated relatively to that of the
mechanism by which it is driven.
In the timing device shown in the drawings the cam-plate L¹ is carried at the
end of a spindle N³, free to revolve in bearings formed in the framing N1, and
a roller Nis mounted upon the spindle N3 and is free to move longitudinally
with the same, though compelled to revolve with it. The roller N carries a

page_text: clutch ring N³, with which a shifting device N6 engages, so that the position
of the roller N may be adjusted upon the spindle N by sliding the shifting
device No in a slot N in the framing N'. The roller N bears against a disc No.
carried by one of the wheels of the clock-work train.
The operation of this timing device is as follows:-
The various parts of the camera having been placed in position for an exposure,
the mechanism. N is set in movement. The disc N8 will thus be made to revolve
and will drive the roller N with the spindle N³ and cam-plate L'. Assuming
the cam-plate to be in the position shown in the drawings and to revolve in
the direction indicated by the arrow, the last of the recesses will shortly be
brought under the detent of the lever L2 so that the latter drops into it and
momentarily raises the piston M³. This allows a discharge of compressed air
from the reservoir through the conduit M², orifice M and conduit M¹ to the
pneumatic devices 1 G. This first discharge of air causes the pneumatic
device G to open the exposure shutter which remains open until the first recess
of the set is brought under the detent of the lever L2, when a second discharge
of air is permitted to pass to the pneumatic devices so that the shutter is closed.
The second recess of the set will next engage the detent of the lever L2 causing
another discharge of air, when the sensitized surface together with the colour
filter will be made to drop; the last recess of the same group will again open the
exposure shutter. This order of operations is repeated with the set of recesses (2
until the sensitized layer and colour filter are finally dropped by the second recess
of the set . If desired, the second recess of the set may be dispensed with,
the sensitized layer and colour filter being in this case left in position for ex-
posure opposite the lens, but it is generally preferred that the sensitized layer
should be removed from this position in case the exposure shutter should by any
accident be again opened.
The cycle of operations being now completed it is desirable that the driving
mechanism should be stopped whilst a fresh sensitized layer is placed in the
part B, and the parts B B raised into their former position. To effect this auto-
matically an auxiliary cam O may be secured to the cam-plate L' after the last
recess of the set 2, so that as the cam-plate continues its rotation the detent
of the lever L will rise upon the auxiliary cani O, thus depressing the opposite
end of the lever. A pin O (Figs. 4 & 5) is secured to this end of the lever L²
and may conveniently serve to secure the link M to the lever, and projects.
through the case or frame N' of the clock-work train. On the fly-wheel №2 is
secured an arm 02 which normally avoids the pin O', but the latter when
depressed as described above is brought into the path of the arm 02 which it
engages, thus stopping the revolution of the fly-wheel N2 and the whole of the
mechanism N.
The speed of the cam-plate L' relatively to that of the mechanism N is regu-
lated by sliding the roller N on the shaft N3 by means of the shifting device N",
thus placing it nearer to or further from the centre of the revolving disc N8
and causing it to perform a smaller or greater number of revolutions per revolu-
tion of the disc. In cases where it is not desired to regulate the speed of the
cam-plate in this manner, the cam-plate may be driven direct from the mechan-
ism N and if convenient may be substituted for the disc Nº.
To permit the free movement of the piston M³ in its cylinder M the latter may
be provided with an orifice m by which the interior of the cylinder is allowed to
communicate with the external atmosphere, and to allow the escape of air under
pressure from the pneumatic devices D and G after they have performed their
work, the piston M³ may, if desired, be provided with a passage m', so that when
the piston has returned to its normal position the conduit M' may be thrown into
communication with the atmosphere by an outlet m² formed in the side of the
cylinder M.
It is obvious that the recesses in the cam-plate may be arranged in any con-
venient manner to suit different requirements, or in place of recesses projections

page_text: may be used, and the auxiliary cam O may be made as part of the cam-plate or
secured eccentrically to the same by a screw (Figure 3) to allow of its being
adjusted.
In place of the valve M M³ admitting air from a reservoir to the pneumatic
devices the piston M³ and cylinder M may be made in the form of a force pump to
drive air into the pneumatic devices when operated by the lever L².
In place of the sensitized layer being in the form of plates carrying the dark
slide B any convenient form of film serving device, such as that shown in
Figures 6 and 7, may be adapted to be operated in a similar manner to the
part B. The film P is wound upon a supply roller P¹ and is carried over feed
rollers P3 P3, between which it is exposed to the action of the light from the
lens, and is finally received on a roller Pt. The receiving roller 1+ carries a
pulley P5 geared by a rubber or other band PG to a pulley Pi mounted free on an
extension of the roller P. A spring P8 is arranged between the pulley P7 and the
end of the roller ", which forces the pulley P against a shoulder P9 with which
the extension of the roller P1 is provided. The whole of this mechanism is
enclosed within a box or chamber Q, which may be readily secured within the
part A of the camera, so that the film P may be made to travel past an opening Q¹
in the chamber Q. The aperture Q₁ registers with a similar opening A¹ in the
camera body, through which light is admitted from the lens. When it is
required to remove the chamber Q in order to renew the film P or otherwise
inspect it, the aperture Q is closed by a shutter Q, when the whole chamber Q
may be detached from the camera without fear of admitting light to the film.
To operate the film so that different portions of the same shall be presented.
as required at the apertures Q1 A¹ to the action of the light from the lens, one
end of the feed roller P2 is carried through the wall of the chamber Q and
provided with a pinion R. The pinion R is mounted free on the end of the
roller and carries a part S of a clutch. The second part $1 of the clutch
is free to slide longitudinally on the extension of the feed roller P2, but revolves
with it and a spring S2 tends always to keep the part S¹ in engagement with the
part S. The pinion R engages a rack R¹, which may be secured to. or form one
side of a frame T free to slide in a vertical plane upon the part A of the camera.
The frame T is normally raised and engaged by a detent C in the same manner
as the part B so that when released by the pneumatic operating device it descends
a given distance and is again caught by the detent C. The frame is caught and
released in the same manner as the part B, in order that the three impressions
required for colour photography may be obtained, and as with the part B it may
either be engaged and released directly by the detent C or may carry a second
rack R2 with which the pinion H may gear so that it may be operated together
with the colour filter if the latter is placed at the head of the camera.
The feed rollers P2 P3 may be provided with pins or projections
perforations p¹ in the film 1.
engaging
The operation of this mechanism is as follows:-
When the frame T is released from its engagement with the detent it descends
until caught again by the detent, and whilst descending the rack R¹ revolves
the pinion R in the direction indicated by the arrow (Figure 6). When the
pinion R is revolved in this direction the parts S S¹ of the clutch engage one
another so that the roller P2 is revolved. The roller P2 thus revolved draws
film from the supply roller P1 by means of its projections p engaging with the
perforations in the film and thus revolves the roller P¹. The pulley P' being
held between the shoulder P9 and spring P8 of the roller P₁ will drive the receiv-
ing roller P4 by means of the band P6, so that the roller P will draw the film P
over the last feed roller P³ and wind it upon itself. When the frame T has
made its last descent, completing one cycle of operations, and it is desired to
make another set of impressions it is raised by hand, the film during this opera-
tion not being disturbed as the pinion R when revolved in the opposite sense to that

page_text: indicated causes the part S of the clutch to force the part back against its
spring S so that it does not drive the roller.13.
As,
The pulley P5 is made smaller than the pulley P7 because the roller P¹ when
charged with film will discharge more film during one revolution than the empty
roller P will be able to take up, unless made to revolve more than once.
however, the bulk of film increases upon the roller P it will not require to be
revolved so many times, and will finally require to be revolved a less number of
times than the roller P to take up a given amount of film, so that the pulley P
is only frictionally held upon the roller 1" in order that as this stage is reached
it may slip. By this means the film P is always kept tight and made to present
a smooth surface before the apertures Q¹ A¹.
To ensure the proper descent of the frame T and rack R¹ it may be weighted,
if desired, or a spring may conveniently be arranged within a barrel and secured
to some part of the camera, preferably near the base of the frame, and a cord
attached to the frame T and arranged to be wound on the barrel as the same
is allowed to be revolved by the spring whenever the frame T is released from
its engagement with the detent C.
When the arrangement of colour filter and sensitized layer described with
reference to Figure 1 is used, it is obvious that the detent C may be placed at the
head of the camera so that it engages the colour filter.
In this case the pneu-
matic device D may be dispensed with and the cams with which it is provided as
described in the specification cited above may be placed upon the ratchet G¹ of
the mechanism G. This arrangement is shown in Figure 8 of the accompanying
drawings, and may be used either with a hand bulb or the timing device
described above.
Again, whether the colour filter is placed at the front or rear of the camera
the detent C may be arranged at the rear and provided with an extensible
arm to engage the cams when placed on the ratchet G₁ of the pneumatic
mechanism G, or the ratchet G¹ may be geared by any convenient means to a
wheel carrying the cams and arranged to operate the detent C at the rear of the
camera.
It will be understood that the timing device L may be used in conjunction
with any photographic camera and may be used in conjunction with the camera
described whether having one or two pneumatic operating devices and in the
latter case it may, if desired, be provided with two cam-plates and two operating
levers L each engaging a valve connected with a compressed air chamber and
each communicating with one of the pneumatic devices so that the latter need
not be always simultaneously operated as is the case in the arrangement described
in the prior specification cited above.
The film serving device may also be used either with the colour filter arranged
directly before it and preferably secured to the sliding frame T, or at the head
of the camera and geared to the frame T as described.
It is obvious that in the timing device in place of regulating the speed at which
the cam travels relatively to that of the driving mechanism, the speed of the
latter may be varied by any convenient means, such as, for instance, providing
the fly wheel with adjustable vanes so that when the speed of the clockwork
train is varied that of the cam will be correspondingly altered.
The modified shutter-operating device shown in Figure 9 is in some cases
preferred to that described in the prior Letters Patent cited at the commence-
ment of this case, and may be used in conjunction with the mechanism shown
in Figure 8. The object of this construction is to prevent the overrunning of
the ratchet by the impetus of the exposure shutter when opened, as should the
ratchet overrun in this matter it is likely to become disengaged from the shutter
pinion and so allow the shutter to again close. To prevent this overrunning
that part which carries the pneumatically operated pawl is provided with a
projection Ga which advances with the pawl when the latter is operated, and

page_text: the teeth on the ratchet G are so formed that when the pawl is at the end of
its stroke one of the other teeth of the ratchet is made to butt against the
projection G2 and thus prevent any further forward movement of the ratchet.
The moment a tooth of the ratchet strikes the projection G2, the shutter has
been deprived of its impetus, so that as the pawl retires together with the
projection G2 there will be no tendency to overrun, and the ordinary retaining
device with which the ratchet is provided as before will prevent the shutter from
closing. Figure 9 shows the pawl in its advanced position with the shutter
closed, and the shutter-operating wheel in position to engage the shutter pinion
at the next operation of the pawl and the retired position of the pawl with the
projection G2 is indicated by dotted lines.
It is obvious that the teeth on the ratchet operated by the pawl need not be
used to butt against the projection G³ as another set of teeth or a series of pro-
jections on the ratchet may be made to serve the same purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. In a timing device for a photographic camera, the combination with a
clockwork or other motive mechanism, of a valve or a force pump automatically
operated intermittently by that mechanism for the purpose described.
2. In a timing device for a photographic camera, the combination with a
clockwork or other motive mechanism, of a cam and a lever which is operatively
connected to a valve or a force pump for the purpose described.
3. In a timing device for a photographic camera, the combination with a cam
of an auxiliary cam and mechanism co-operating with the latter at the completion
of a cycle of operations, substantially as and for the purpose described.
4. In a timing device for a photographic camera, the combination with a
clockwork or other motive mechanism, of a valve or force pump operatively con-
nected therewith by a rotating member and means for varying the angular
velocity of that member, substantially as described.
5. In a timing device for a photographic camera, the combination with a cam
of a roller by which it is driven and a revolving disc or other member in relation
to which the roller is adjustable, substantially as and for the purpose described.
6. In a camera for colour photography the combination with the pneumatic
shutter-operating device and a pneumatic releasing device for the sensitised
layer and colour filter, of a time mechanism to admit or force air under pressure
intermittently into either of the pneumatic devices separately, or into both
simultaneously.
7. In a camera for colour photography, pinions geared with the sensitised
layer and colour filter and operatively connected by mechanism which maintains
that connection whilst permitting movement of the layer and filter towards and
away from each other.
8. In a camera for colour photography a releasing mechanism for the sensi-
tised layer and colour filter operated from the pneumatic shutter-operating
device.
9. In a camera for colour photography, the combination with a sliding colour
filter of a film-serving device geared to it and a clutch, substantially as and
for the purpose described.
10. In a camera for colour photography a film-serving device provided with a
shutter and having driving mechanism which is so disposed in relation to the
part by which it is operated as to permit it to be readily disengaged therefrom
without the use of tools, substantially as described.
11. The complete timing device for a photographic camera with or without the
stopping mechanism substantially as described or illustrated in Figures 1, 3, 4
and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
12. The complete camera for colour photography with or without the timing

page_text: device operating substantially as described or illustrated in Figures 1 and 2
of the accompanying drawings.
13. In a photographic camera having a pneumatic shutter-operating device
the combination with a pneumatically operated pawl and ratchet of a stop such
as G2 advanced with the pawl and teeth on the ratchet to engage the stop and
prevent overrunning of the ratchet substantially as described.
14. In a camera for colour photography the complete film-serving device
arranged and operating substantially as described, and illustrated in Figures 6.
and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
15. In a camera for colour photography the complete releasing mechanism
co-operating with the shutter-operating mechanism, substantially as described
and illustrated in Figure 8 of the accompanying drawings.
SID
part
Toth tay
TO
NOVEM Der
1039.
A. LÉGÉ.
Boult, Wade & Kilburn,
Agents for the Applicants.