An Improved Hand Camera.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Hand Camera.
I, OTTO VOLKMANN, of 26 Montague Place, Russell Square, London, W.C.,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists in a novel hand camera by means of which I can obtain
negatives of the same size as those obtainable by one of the usual hand cameras
of double its dimensions; it also enables me to employ a lens of much longer focus
and to make a series of exposures without any external adjustment or setting.
In order to explain my invention I refer to the accompanying drawing, which
represents in closed lines the mechanism in the state of exposure of the film, and
in dotted lines the state of non-exposure.
The camera is divided lengthways into two. parts connected by a bellows.
G. G. show in outline these two halves of the camera, but for the sake of clearness
the bellows is not indicated in the drawing. The roll A holds the film I which
is passed over the small rollers B and C to roll E, where it gets wound up after
exposure. Against roller C presses an india rubber covered small eccentric
roller D, provided with a short spike near its ends. Roller C has a ring groove
near each end into which the spikes fit in order to mark the film at each exposure.
Roller D is acted upon by a spring not shown in the drawing. Roll E has a
jagged tooth wheel at one end and a powerful spiral spring at the other. Findi-
cates the position of the lens, and K. K. are two pins on which the two halves of
the camera turn.
A, B, C, D and E show the position of the rolls A, B, C, D and E when the
camera is folded up, I' the film, and G, G', are the two halves in that condition
of the camera.
In order to take a photograph I open the bellows by moving the two halves
apart at the back, or lower end in the drawing. In doing so the roller D presses
the film tightly against roller C and forces the spikes into the film, which latter
at the same time unrolls from the reel A, which is pressed against by a strong
spring in order to prevent the reel unwinding of its own accord and thereby
slackening the film This spring must be strong enough to resist the continuous
pull exercised by the spiral spring of roll E, and to allow the film to unwind only
by the superior force of the hands in opening the bellows.
After exposure the two halves G. G. are closed and roller D releases its pressure
against roller C, by which roll E gets enabled to wind up the slack of the film.
The action of the spiral spring, which can be wound up from outside, turns the
roll E in the direction of the arrow, and the check L prevents the roll from being
turned the reverse way by the strain on the film in opening the two halves.
When the reel of film is all paid out or the exposed portion is to be cut off
the rolls A and can be taken out and replaced by opening two doors in the sides
of the camera.
The internal parts with the exception of the exposed portion of the film are
covered in light tight.

page_text: The field of light is shown by the two dotted lines H. H.
An automatic shutter may be so arranged that it opens at the moment the film
is fully extended for exposure.
יד-
11:5
Dated this 22nd day of December 1896
*..
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Hand Camera.
I OFTO VOLKMANN formerly of 26 Montague Place Russell Square, at present
domiciled at 42 Narcissus Road, West Hampstead, London, Gentleman do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My invention consists in a novel hand camera by means of which I can obtain
photographic negatives of the same size obtained by one of the usual hand
cameras of double its dimensions and by which I am enabled to make a series of
exposures through opening out and closing the bellows without external adjust-
ment for each exposure..
In order to make my invention clear I refer to accompanying drawings and to
that left with my Provisional Specification.
A
Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the mechanism and camera without the bellows,
representing in closed lines the state of exposure of the film, and in dotted lines
the state of non-exposure.
Fig. 2 is a top view of the exterior of the camera when opened, and
Fig. 3 when closed.
Fig. 4 shows in section in dotted lines the front or head piece with lens and
the two halves of the outer casing of the camera while the closed lines represent
part of the film and mechanism, and the shaded lines the light tight chambers of
the film reels as well as a mask and film support in the state of extension.
Fig. 5 & 6 represent in reduced scale the frame or mask to be described here-
after.
Fig. 7 indicates in reduced scale the inner side of either half of the camera casing
in order to explain hereafter the fixing of the bellows of the camera.
Fig. 8 shows the construction of the rolls for unwinding and receiving the film,
and the manner in which the latter is attached to them.
The camera consists of an oblong box, open at one end and divided longitu-
dinally into two equal parts G. G. and GI G., connected round the top, back and
bottom by a bellows, leaving the open end unconnected. Into this open end is
inserted the head piece or front X provided with lens and shutter and hinged to
both halves of the divided box in such a manner that when the bellows is opened
out the casing of the camera forms a V shape. A roller film I passes from a
paying out roll or spool A in one half of the box over two small extension
rolls B and C, between which the exposure takes place, to a receiving roll E in
the other half of the box.
Both the spool and the receiving roll, are enclosed in light tight chambers G
having velvet lined slits through which the film band passes; access to these
chambers is gained from outside by two light tight doors or covers Q which may
be secured by means of clasps, hooks or catches. Against one or both ends of the
spool or its spindles presses a strong spring attached to the casing, which spring
allows the roll to unwind the film only while the latter is pulled by force.
Against the extension roll C is held by means of a weak spring
an eccentric

page_text: india rubber coated roll 1) provided with spikes hidden in the 'coating near the
ends. The momout the film is pulled in the direction of the spool this eccentric
roll and the extension roll C turn slightly inward with the result that the rubber
gets pressed, the spikes discovered and the film between these two rolls pierced;
the spikes penetrate through the film into corresponding grooves cut round the
extension roll. On pulling the film in the direction of the receiving roll the
eccentric roll is turied away from roll C, the elasticity of the india rubber
liberates the film from the spikes and leaves it free for winding up.
The receiving roll E revolves by the action of a spiral spring attached at one end
which spring can be wound up from outside by means of a key. The force of
this spring turns the roll in the direction of the arrow (see Fig. 1) so that the
film is pulled away from the eccentric and corresponding extension roll after
exposure and reeled
up..
To prevent the receiving roll turning the reverse way during the winding up
of the spring, or in consequence of the strain on the film, a ratchet wheel L is
connected with the other end of the receiving roll, see Fig. 1.
The film is backed between the two extension rolls by a broad band N of a
flexible thick material such as extra stout black coated macintosh, of which one
end is fixed to one half of the camera box at the point V and the other end to
a roll M opposite. To this is attached at one end a spiral spring or an elastic
cord, to the effect, that when the band is pulled out for extension by opening the
camera it winds up the spring, and when the camera is folded up the roll winds
up the hand.
Against the face of the film and attached hy hinges W., W. to the two halves
of the camera box is a square frame or mask 0 made to fold up by hinges T, só
that when the two extension rolls are brought together the frame folds up in the
direction of the lens, Fig. 6, and spreads out upon the extended film. Fig. 5, when
the extension rolls are moved apart. In that position the band at the back of the
film is also extended and the film is held flat between the frame and the band.
The object of this arrangement is chiefly to keep the edges of the film from
curling. The band may be passed over a guide roll which is best placed
closely behind the extension roll B.
The camera is extended for exposure by forcing the two halves of the divided
box apart at the back thereby unfolding the bellows. By this action the resisting
force of the spring pressing the spool is overcome, and the film unrolls to the extent
of the distance opened out, the strain during this time causing the eccentric roll
to firmly hold and mark the film as before described.
On account of the strong spring pressing on the spool the strain on the film is
sustained while the back of the camera is extended, and in order to maintain
this position a folding stretcher S, Figs. 2 and 3, is connected with the two halves
of the camera box outside. This stretcher also adds to the rigidity of the camera
when opened. After exposure has been made the two halves are bright
together, the exposed portion of the film slackens, thereby releasing the strain
which causes the grip by the eccentric roll, and allowing the spring of the receiving
roll E to pull the film and wind it up as before mentioned.
This constitutes the automatic action of the mechanism, induced by opening
and closing the back of the camera and bellows.
The stability of the lens board or head piece is secured in the following
manner:
The front board must be made very thick, or for the sake of lightness it may
be made in the shape of an open box, of which X Fig. 4 forms the base and X
one of the four sides; or the box may be closed, leaving a hole for the lens. Tho
outer casing of the camera has two curved slots R., R. at the top as shown in
Fig. 4, and two similar ones at the bottom. In each slot slides a pin or screw S¹
which is fixed in the head piece. When the camera is closed these pins are at
the for end of the slots, and during extension of the camera they slide to the end
near the front. It will be easily seen that this arrangement keeps the sides of the

page_text: camera in equal angles to the centre line indicated in Fig. 1, and consequently
the lens in the position shown in the same drawing, that is to say: directed upon
the centre of the exposed film. The slots and pins or screws must have a light
tight covering.
The head piece is hinged to the sides of the casing of the camera either by
pins K., K. as in Fig. 1, or by hinges going the whole breadth of the sides, which
latter plan is preferable on account of its adding steadiness to the lens board.
Especial care must be taken to make the connection of head piece and casing
perfectly light tight by any suitable device, such as for instance a diaphragm of
dense material like india rubber or leather through which the lens passes and
which has folds to allow of the necessary amount of expansion.
The film is attached to the spool A in the following manner: the film end or
paper elongation is laid across a longitudinal groove G in the spool; at the ends
of the spool are metal bands or rings R3; a pin Pa is passed into the groove
through the rings and over the film, thereby holding the latter ughtly wedged
in the groove; the film end is then doubled over and the film band wound up the
roll.
The other or outer end of the film is passed over the extension rolls B and C
to the receiving roll E and attached thereto in the same way as to the spool.
Of course other methods of attaching the film may be used.
Any suitable lens and shutter may be used, and an automatic shutter may be
arranged so that it snaps the moment the camera is fully extended.
As an external control of the action of the receiving roll E a small hand outside
the camera and connected with the spindle inside could be attached, chiefly to
Indicate when the spiral spring or clock work, requires winding up.
The dark chambers for the reels are shown in Fig. 2 in section by the shaded
lices P in combination with the doors Q; they may be shortened in length as
shown by the dotted lines P. P. This latter arrangement has the advantage of
allowing access to the interior of the camera, provided the lids extend as far as
shown in the drawing. The reel-chambers may be constructed so that they can
be bodily taken out with the reels and their bearings, springs and ratchet."
Instead of the spiral spring and ratchet mentioned before, the receiving roll E
could be worked by a small clockwork fixed in the camera; the film might also
be reeled up by means of a key from outside.
It might be found useful to connect the eccentric roll with a button outside, so
arranged that a pressure thereon would force the eccentric away from roll C, as
a corrective in case of jamming of the rolls or similar accident.
The dotted lines H in Fig. 1 outline the cone of light coming from the lens.
The bellows is fixed to the camera in the following manner: each side of the
divided box has an inner casing with about half an inch space Y between, as
shown in section in Fig. 7. In this space is a flat bottom sunk between a quarter
or half an inch, from the edges, in depth; to this bottom the ends of the bellows
are glued, or secured in any other way, so that when the camera is closed the
folds of the bellows are pressed in this space and cannot be seen from outside.
A dial indicating the number of exposures made can be fixed to the outside of
the camera and connected by gearing with roll M which makes a certain number
of revolutions every time the camera is opened for exposure, and can be geared
so that the dial turns one figure on at each exposure.
The camera may be provided with a view finder or other accessories.
It is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the precise details
herein described, as the same may be varied without departing from its essential
features.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said.
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A photographic camera in the shape of an oblong box divided longitudinally

page_text: into two equal parts, these parts being connected by a bellows round the top, back
and bottom, and in front by a lens board hinged to both sides to the effect that
when the bellows is opened out the parts of the case stand out in equal angles to
the lens board and enable a roller film to be unrolled, stretched and wound up,
substantially as herein described.
2. In a camera such as mentioned in claim one, the device of gripping and
marking the film by means of an india rubber coated eccentric roll provided with
spikes, substantially as herein described.
3. In a camera as described in claim one, the arrangement of automatic action
of unrolling, stretching, marking and reeling up the film, the moving power
being the opening and closing of the bellows, substantially as herein described.
4. In combination with a camera as described in claim one, the devices of
backing and masking the film, the mode of attaching the film to the rolls, and the
arrangement of steadying the head piece by means of slots and pins, sub-
stantially as herein described.
Dated this 21st day of September 1897.