Improvements in Photographic Apparatus.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 24th June, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 17th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Apparatus.
I WILLIAM JOSEPH GREATOREX, Marine Store Dealer, of 8 Amelia Street,
Walworth in the County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention for improvements in photographic apparatus has for its object to
enable a photographer to expose an unlimited number of dry plates in succession
and to remove the same after exposure; and consists essentially in a dark box for
dry plates provided at one end with a slot or outlet covered by a slide and through
which a dry plate can pass, in forming the dark slide at the top and bottom with
corresponding outlets covered by slides and in arranging the dark box and dark
slide so that the slot of the dark box can be readily placed and fixed over either
slot of the dark slide.
In order to insert a dry plate in the dark slide for exposure a feeder dark box is
placed and fixed over the dark slide with its slot corresponding to the top slot of
the slide, the slide plates covering the two slots are withdrawn and a dry plate
drops into the dark slide and the two slide plates are replaced over the slots. To
remove the plate after exposure a receiver dark box is placed and fixed below the
dark slide with its slot corresponding to the lower slot of the slide and the slide
plates withdrawn when the exposed plate drops into the receiver box and the slide
plates are again closed. The feeder and receiver boxes may be replaced by a
single box, one end serving as a feeder and the other as a receiver. The plates can
be fed and received without removing the slide from the camera.
Dated this 23rd day of June 1893.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Apparatus.
WILLIAM JOSEPH GREATOREX 8 Amelia Street Walworth in the County of
Surrey Marine Store Dealer 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 for improvement in photographic apparatus has for its object to
enable a photographer to expose an unlimited number of dry plates in succession
and to remove the same after exposure; consists entirely in a dark box for dry
plates, provided at the top and bottom, with slots, covered by slides, and through
which a dry plate can pass, the dark slide is so constructed that when shut is
perfectly light tight, so that the most sensitive dry plate cannot be fogged by the
light and the box can be made to carry any number of dry plates and of any size
from lantern plates, quarter plates, whole plates, twelve by tens and larger if
required. This apparatus can be made of wood of any kind, or metal or aluminium
for its lightness, as described in the accompanying drawings A and G.
Figure 1 shows the two slides that open top and bottom grooves.
B and D in Figure 1 shows slots for dark slide.
C in Figure 2 shows carrier.
O shows the plate box or divider that keens the exposed plates from unexposed.

page_text: F is spring for keeping dry plate tight against the frame of the slide.
E shows the sliding rib, which is attached to spring.
Figure 4 slide closed. H is the shutter.
Figure 5 is the bottom of box with spring for moving carrier.
K is the plate fixed for spring marked L to travel on, to allow the carrier
marked C in Figure 2, to move one groove at a time and so allow a dry plate to
fall upon plate or stage marked M in Figure 5. N shown in Figure 5 is the slot for
dry plates to pass through into dark slide, which is placed under slot marked N.
THE DESCRIPTION OF THE WORKING OF THE APPARATUS.
The box is so constructed to hold dry plates and is put in working order in a
dark room. 1st pull out the bottom slide shown in Figure 1 marked A as far as
groove. This has the effect of taking the ratchet L out of the groove in the inner
side of the carrier, push down pin R above into groove marked S, then remove
carrier to the left hand, then remove pin R and close slide, marked A in Figure 1.
The box is then ready for filling with plates. Care should be taken in placing the
plates into the grooves, shown in the inner sides of the carrier, and to see that the
films are all put one way, the sensitized surface being towards the right. Leave
three grooves without plates at the right hand side of the box, so as to enable the
divider at the top marked O to fall into the carrier shown in Figure 2. The used
plates will be allowed to fall to the right of this divider, while the unused plates
will be removed in succession from the left of the same carrier, and thus the
division separating the two sets of plates, being moved one step, through the
ratchet Leach time the slide A is closed, on a plate having been dropped into
the dark slides. Now close box and it is ready for working. To use the dark
slide, push the dark slide into groove at the top of the box marked B (shown
in Figure 1) so that the rib E of the slide pushes out; then push end of the
dark slide which has been opened by the withdrawal of the rib E into the
bottom groove of the box marked D in Figure 1; then pull out slide shown in
Figure 1 marked A, then one of the plates from the carrier will fall into the
dark slide then push in the rib of the dark slide (shown in Figure 3) marked E.
Care should be taken in closing the rib right back before drawing out the slide
from the box; the plate is now ready for exposure and tight against the frame
of the slide which is held by the spring of the dark slide, shown in Figure 3
marked F, then the dark slide is placed into the camera for exposure-diaw up
shutter then close same as shown in Figure 4 marked H. After it has been
exposed, to replace the exposed plate in the charge box, push the dark slide into
groove at the top of the box (shown in Figure 1 marked B) which will push out
the rib and the plate will be released from the spring, shown in Figure 3 marked F
and will fall into the box, when the slide shown in Figure 1 marked G is withdrawn.
Thus the plate already exposed will fall into one of the grooves of the carrier and
so on till all the plates in the carrier has been used.
Figure X is a side view of the slide.
Having now particularly described the nature of my said invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is
An improvement in photographic apparatus to enable a photographer to carry
any number of dry plates for photographic purposes, and to be able to expose, and
store in a box for that purpose any number of plates; and by the aid of only one
dark slide, which is one part of the apparatus herein before described.
Dated this 28th day of December One thousand eight hundred and
WILLIAM JOSEPH GREATOREX,
8, Amelia Street, Walworth, S.E.