Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Separating and Manipulating Sheets or Cards, more especially applicable to the Separation and Manipulation of Sensitized Sheets or Films in Photographic Cameras.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 29th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 29th Jan.. 1891-Accepted, 21st Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Separating and Manipulating
Sheets or Cards, more especially applicable to the Separation
and Manipulation of Sensitized Sheets or Films in Photographic
Cameras.
1. JOSEPH THACHER CLARKE, of Boston, United States of America, but at
present residing at 3, College Road, Harrow, in the County of Middlesex,
Architect, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
My invention has for its object to provide means whereby sheets or cards can
be readily and with certainty separated one after the other from a pack or series
of such sheets or cards, and deposited in another pack or series.
My invention is more especially adapted for manipulating the sensitized surfaces
in photographic cameras so that they can be exposed one after the other for
photographic purposes and after exposure be arranged and securely held so as not
to be exposed to light, the operations being effected within the camera without.
opening it. I will describe my invention as applied to this purpose from which its
application to other analogous purposes will also be readily understood.
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According to my invention the films are arranged one behind the other with their
sensitized faces presented towards the lens, the series of films being pressed forward
by means of springs against selecting and separating devices which select and
separate the forward one of the series after exposure and deliver it onto a frame or
carrier by which it is turned at or about right angles to the series of unexposed
films and thus the exposed films are formed into another series with their sensitized
faces downwards, this series being held in position by a presser or fingers. I do not
limit myself to precise details by which my invention is to be carried into effect
but a convenient arrangement consists of a quadrantal centered rack provided with
two series of teeth one of which series engages with a toothed wheel on the axis
which carries the presser or fingers which under the action of a spring press upon
The other set of teeth gears with wheel by
the series of exposed films.
which the selecting devices are operated and with a wheel by which the
receiver of the exposed film is so operated as to lay it into position upon the
series of exposed films. The selecting and separating devices consist of discs
mounted at the edges of the films and having a tongue set back from the face of
the disc to a distance equal to the thickness of one film. The receiver of the
exposed film preferably consists of bars or strips hinged at its lower side and having
upon them notched pieces which receive the edge of the film separated by the
selecting devices from the series of unexposed films. The presser which bears
upon and holds the series of exposed films is centered on a rod which carries the
aforesaid wheel which operates them, the said wheel having a stud for bearing on
and lifting the presser by moving it up against the action of a spring which tends
to press it downwards. A light spring keeps the teeth of this wheel in engagement
with the rack teeth. After a film has been exposed the aforesaid quadrantal rack
is operated by a device projecting to outside the camera and the wheels are
operated upon thereby so that the selecting and separating devices separate the
foremost film which has been exposed from the series of unexposed films and passes
it into the notches of the receiver; the presser is raised and then the receiver is
turned down to deposit the film upon the series of exposed films. When the rack
is released it returns to its normal position the receiver rising and the presser
bearing on the back of the exposed film and removing it from the receiver so that
the said film is deposited upon the series of exposed films and there held by the
presser the receiver returning to its normal position to receive the next film. The
gear by which the selecting and separating devices are operated is such that
the said devices do not turn back when the rack returns to its normal position.

page_text: The aforesaid selecting devices may be used for selecting or separating sheets or
cards from a pile or series of them for other purpose than that described.
Dated this 20th day of July 1800
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Separating and Manipulating
Sheets or Cards, more especially applicable to the Separation
and Manipulation of Sensitized Sheets or Films in Photographic
Cameras.
I, JOSEPH THACHER CLARKE, of Boston, Suffolk, County Massachusetts, in
the United States of America, but at present residing at 3, College Road, Harrow,
in the County of Middlesex, Architect, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention has for its object to provide means whereby thin and flexible sheets
or cards, such as negative paper or films can be readily and with certainty separated
the one after the other from a pack or series of such sheets or cards and be turned
down by a positive movement and deposited in another pack or series and this
without the use of a frame or support for each such sheet or card. My invention
is more especially adapted for manipulating the sensitized surfaces in photographic
cameras (called films) so that they can be exposed one after the other for photo-
graphic purposes and after exposure be arranged and securely held so as not to be
exposed to light, the operations being effected within the camera without opening
it. I will describe my invention as applied to this purpose from which its applica-
tion to other analogous purposes will also be readily understood.
According to my invention the films are arranged in a pack or series one behind
the other with their sensitized faces presented towards the lens of the camera the
said pack or series being pressed forward by means of springs against selecting and
separating devices which after exposure select the forward one of the series of films
from the other films and cause it to be turned or deposited at or about right angles
to the series of unexposed films and thus the exposed films are formed into another
series with their sensitized surfaces downwards this series being held in position by
a presser or fingers or like retaining device. I am well aware that various photo-
graphic cameras have been devised for the purpose of exposing glass plates in such
wise that they are removed from one receptacle of unexposed plates and deposited
or caused to fall seriatim into another receptacle of exposed plates "cut or single
sheets of photographic negative paper or films have, on the other hand, been hitherto
employed only when retained during exposure in separate carriers. My invention
has for its chief purpose to provide means for the direct manipulation of a pack of
such cut sheets or films, as received from the manufacturer, without the interven
tion of differentiating carriers, and without previous separation of the films of the
pack by the photographic operator.
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And in order that my invention may be well understood I will describe with
reference to the accompanying drawings, systems, modes, or manners in which it
may be practically carried into effect.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal view, with the right hand wall of the camera removed,
Figure 4 is a back view with the end of the camera removed, and Figure 5 a
vertical transverse section on the line 1-2 Figure 1 of an apparatus constructed
according to my invention.
In the wall W of the camera is mounted a quadrantal rack R centred at C
upon an arbor which projects to outside the wall W and is there provided with a
handle or other means for turning it. The said rack R is provided with two series
of teeth R1 R2 one of which series (R¹) engages with a toothed wheel P² (shewn
in the drawing as part of a wheel) on the axis P' of which is carried the presser

page_text: foot P which under the action of a spring P presses upon the series of films which
This
have been exposed (E) and removed from the series of unexposed films F.
presser foot may be made in the form of an open frame, as shewn in Figure 15, or
in the form of an opaque sheet which shields the backs of the exposed films from
the rays admitted through the lens. The other set of teeth R of the rack R gears
with a wheel by which the selecting devices are operated as hereinafter described
and with a toothed quadrant 13 by which the receiving holder H' of the exposed
film is so operated as to lay it into position upon the series of exposed films E.
The unexposed films F are contained in the holder H open at front and they are
pressed forward by the spring H. The selecting and separating devices consist in
this arrangement of discs D (shewn on a larger scale in Figure 2) mounted on
axis D turning in bearings D2 and situated at the edges of the films and having a
tongue D³ set back from the face of the disc to a distance equal to the thickness of
one film together with its backing of paper, or other non-actinic material. The
axes D' carry at their rear ends pinions D' gearing with the indicator wheel I with
which the compound wheel I also engages. The receiving holder of the
exposed film consists of bars or strips hinged at the lower side at H² and having
upon them notched projections H, similar to saw teeth which receive the edge of
the film separated by the selecting devices D from the series of unexposed films F.
The frame has a projecting tail at H with which is connected the spring H7 tending
to raise the receiving holder H and keep it in the raised position. The presser
foot P which bears upon and holds the series of exposed films is free to turn with
the rod upon which turns the aforesaid wheel P2 the said wheel having a
stud for bearing on and lifting the presser by moving it up against the action of
the spring P which tends to press it downwards. A light spring 1 keeps the
After a
teeth of the wheel P in engagement with the teeth R' of the rack R.
film has been exposed the aforesaid quadrantal rack R is operated by the handle or
device projecting at C to outside the camera and the wheels P2 and I are directly
operated upon by the series of teeth R' and K² respectively so that the selecting
and separating devices are operated by the wheel I partly rotating the indicator
wheel which rotates the pinions D₁ and so rotates the selecting devices D that
the tongues thereof D³ pass behind the foremost film at the several points as shewn
and separate it from the rest of the films behind it and pass it into the notches H³
of the receiving holder H. The stud P3 on the wheel Praises the presser foot l'
into the position shewn in dotted lines and then by the teeth R' engaging with the
toothed quadrant H³ the receiving holder is turned down, to deposit the film
which it holds upon the series of exposed films E. When the rack R is released
it returns by the action of the springs H' and P to its normal position the
receiver H rising and the presser P bearing on the back of the exposed film and
removing it from the receiver H' so that the said film is deposited upon the series
of exposed films E and there held by the said presser P the receiver H' returning
to its normal position to receive the next film when the quadrantal rack R is
operated as hereinbefore described. The gear by which the selecting and
separating devices D are operated is such that the said devices do not turn back
when the rack returns to its normal position. This may be effected as shewn in
Figure 3 by making the wheel I compound that is a combination of three wheels
on one spindle or axle one of which wheels (13) gears with the indicator wheel I
and is free to turn on the spindle whilst the wheel which turns with the spindle
gears with the teeth of the rack R. The wheel I which also turns with the
spindle and the wheel I'drives (when turned in one direction) through a spring
detent or disk I the wheel [3 and through it the indicator wheel I. The wheel 1³
is thus rotated when the rack is turned as aforesaid but remains stationary when
the rack returns to its normal position the teeth on the wheel I then slipping
past the engaging end of the spring detent. The spring P1 is attached to the
projecting tail of the presser foot by a slip ring P so that the ring when the presser
is raised runs along the tail P' towards the axis P¹ so as to lessen the extension of
the spring and the force of leverage with which it acts upon the presser P.

page_text: When the pack of negative paper or films introduced into the camera for
manipulation is not so thick as to render the revolving of the holder H inconvenient
the entire series of unexposed films may be turned down in the holder H. when the
one last exposed is to be added to the series of exposed films. This is shewn in
Figures 6, 7 and 8, Figure 7 being a view corresponding to Figure 1, Figure 6
being a section on the line 3-4 of Figure 7 and Figure 8 a view from above of part
of the holder shewing the mode of operating the selecting devices in this arrange-
ment. These devices D' are shewn on a larger scale in Figure 9 as being moved
in one direction to select and then back in the reverse direction to return to their
normal position instead of being completely rotated as in the arrangement D¹
Figure 1. The selecting devices D and wheels D need therefore not be com-
pletely circular. When the holder H is turned down a projection or fixed
buttress B at the lower part of the case acts on a stud D' which through the bell
crank D moves the rack D' which through other bell cranks D at each corner of
the holder H similarly act on racks and selecting devices at each side. The
racks D turn the quadrants or wheels De which similarly turn the selecting
devices D³ on the same axes and separate the exposed film which falls upon the
series of exposed films E. The holder H is turned down by prolonging the
arbor C on which it turns to outside the camera and providing it with a handle or
the like. When the bell crank D8 leaves contact with the projection or fixed
buttress B in rising the spring D" returns the parts to their normal position. As
the apparatus is operated from the centre C the rack R by which the presser P is
operated is straight and is attached to the frame of the holder II.
The arrangements above described have been more particularly devised for the
manipulation of such sensitized photographic films as, by reason of their translucent
character, require a backing, or interposition between each film of some opaque or
non-actinic material, such as paper.
For such films as may themselves be rendered impermeable to actinic rays
during exposure a simpler application of the separating device is practicable.
Figures 10, 11 and 15 shew in side view, in a section on line 5-6, Figure 10 and
in plan an arrangement modified in this sense wherein the selecting devices upon
the sides of the holder instead of rotating upon an axis are moved to and fro in a
lateral direction. To conform with this the sheets or films are provided with
projections or apertures each alternate film having them in the same position that
is to say the projections L, (or the corresponding apertures) in the first, third and
fifth film Fin Figures 12 and 13 and so on, are in the same position, and the
projections L¹ (or the corresponding apertures) in the second, fourth and sixth
film F and so on are in the same position but this position is different from that in
which the projections or apertures are situated on or in the first, third, and fifth
filins and so on. The pointers passing the projections of one sheet or film will thus
bear upon the projections of the sheet or film next succeeding, and retain it in
position for exposure. The unexposed films F are contained in the holder H and
are pressed towards the front by a spring H' so that the foremost film bears against
the pointers or stops of the selecting device D12 which consists of strips on all sides
of the holder H, these being connected by flexible bands D passing over
rollers D and guided by slots and guide pins the latter secured to the frame of
the holder H. The top strip carries a stud of triangular section D1 which when
the holder is lowered comes against one side or the other of the inclined projection
or shifting buttress B¹. At each operation of the holder this shifting buttress B¹
is moved sideways so that the stud Ds comes in contact at each alternate descent
of the holder with one side of the shifting buttress B and at each other descent
with the other side of the said shifting buttress so that at one descent the pointers
of the selecting device D come opposite the apertures in the foremost sheet or
film at the next descent they come opposite the apertures in the next sheet and so
on the sheets falling from the holder when the apertures therein are opposite the
pointers D, therefore as the apertures are only coincident in position in alternate
sheets only the front sheet falls out when the holder H has descended and the

page_text: pointers D have been moved in one direction or the other by the shifting-
buttress B' bearing on the stud of triangular section D. The shifting buttress B₁,
before mentioned is moved sideways at each ascent of the holder H by means of
a catch or click I³ on the arbor C which yields in one direction so that it rides over
the studs on the indicator wheel I as the holder H. descends but as the holder
ascends the said catch 15 bears on the stud 16 which it passed in its descent and
partially rotates the indicator wheel so as to give a semi rotation to the wheel 13³
which through the connecting rod B³ moves the cranked lever B upon its centre B
so that it pushes the shifting buttress B' along its guides B and brings the said
shifting buttress into a position on the side of the line of the stud of triangular
section D on the top strip of the selecting device D so that the said stud Dat.
the next descent moves the pointers D12 into a position to correspond with the
apertures in the foremost sheet to be deposited. At the next rise of the frame H.
the same action occurs by the catch 1 bearing on the next stud I° so that the
indicator wheel gives a further semi rotation to the wheel B' and through the
rod B and bell-crank or lever B the shifting buttress B' is moved into position to
cause the stud of triangular section D at the next descent to move the selecting
device D in such a direction as to cause the pointers of the selector to come
opposite the apertures in the sheet which is now foremost and cause it to be released
and deposited.
In order to indicate the number of exposures one of the wheels such as the
indicator wheel I may be marked with numbered divisions visible successively from
outside the camera. In photographic cameras of the arrangement shewn in
Figures 7 and 10 the holder H is retained in a perpendicular position during
exposure by a pressure spring V. This spring may be withdrawn from the outside
of the camera by a screw Vor other device so that when the axis of lens and
camera is inclined from the horizontal the holder H can nevertheless be placed in
a vertical position. The exact verticality of the holder may be determined by a
small spirit level K Figure 8 and Figure 15 temporarily or permanently attached
to the handle of the arbor C outside the camera.
In the arrangement shewn in Figure 1 the pack of unexposed films Fis intro-
duced end wise from the bottom of the camera box the casing of the box sliding in
grooves or being otherwise removable. In the arrangement shewn in Figure 7
and Figure 10 the pack is introduced from the back. In all the arrangements the
exposed films are presumed to be withdrawn from the bottom of the camera box.
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. In apparatus for separating sheets or films from a pack or series of such sheets
or films a frame or holder carrying the said pack or series of sheets or films to
be separated and simultaneously acting selecting devices by which the sheets or
films are one after the other caused to be deposited and retained in another series
all substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In apparatus for the purpose described selecting and separating devices such
as D D and D capable of operating conjointly on more than one side of the
sheets or films to separate such sheets or films by the simultaneous movement of"
the said devices substantially as herein before described.
3. Packs or series of sheets or films provided with differentiating projections
(and their corresponding apertures) such as L and L' to allow of their selection
and separation by a selecting device such as D" substantially as hereinbefore
described.
4. In apparatus for the purpose described the combination of the frame or
holder H selecting devices D, D or D" and means for operating the same as
described and a retaining device or presser foot P which is raised when a sheet or
film is to be deposited from the holder and is afterwards returned to retain the

page_text: deposited sheets or films the whole operating conjointly substantially as hereinbefore
described.
5. In a photographic camera the combination of a movable holder for depositing
sheets or films and an automatic stop or buttress for actuating the separating
devices substantially as hereinbefore described.
6. The several arrangements and combinations of parts constituting the apparatus
for the purpose explained as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the several
figures of the accompanying drawings.
Deted this 28th day of January 1901
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents.