Improvements in Oinematographic Apparatus.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 9th June, 1898-Accepted. 2nd June, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Oinematographic Apparatus.
I, BIRT ACRES, of Wrotham Cottage, Hadley, Barnet, in the County of Hertford,
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 relates to apparatus so arranged that it can be used for taking,
projecting or viewing a series of photographs in rapid succession.
A number of cameras have been made in such inauner that they are capable
of being used either for taking or for projecting a senes of animated views o
that it is necessary to employ a separate apparatus for each purpose
Now my
invention has for its object to overcome this objectionable feature and has reference
to certain arrangements of apparatus whereby I am enabled with but slight
alteration of the parts to both take a series of photographs and to project same
For the purposes of my invention I employ apparatus which I will describe with
reference to the accompanying drawings of which
Fig is a plan ahewing the mechanism within the casing
Fig. 2 1 a side elevation of similar mechanism arranged as a camera
Fig. 3 is a side elevation shewing the apparatus arranged for projecting photo-
graphs.
Fig 4 is an elevation of the front end of the apparatus the lens holder being
removed
Fig. 4 is a detached side view of the shutter and its connection with the driving
gear
Figs 5 and 5 are respectively an elevation and section of the case for con-
taining the film.
Fig 6 is a view of the driving handle detached.
The same reference letters are emploved in all the figures.
A is the casing having apertures A¹ A in the front end and A3 at the back en
B is a winch handle connected as hereinafter described with the driving spindle C
which caries a toothed wheel D) and a grooved pulley E as well as the sprocket
wheel F The toothed wheel D drives the pinion (fixed on the spindle H which
carries the crank arm I and the besil pinion J The grooved nulley E by means
of a band or cord E¹ drives a hobbin K upon which the film is wound after
exposure The bevil pinion J actuates anothei bevil minion J¹ fixed to the spindle
J which has also fixed upon it the shutter S Mounted above and below the
sprocket wheel F are rollers L L' which serve the purpose of keeping the film in
correct position on the sprocket wheel. T is the lens and V a view finder of
ordinary construction
Fig 2 shews my invention arranged as a camera, the openings Aª A³ bein
closed by sliding shutters a 0 as indicated by dotted lines The operation of
the apparatus is as follows A short length of film is drawn from the roll
cang N passed over the roller 0 under spring plate P and rolle 01 under the
roller on the crank arm I over the sprocket wheel F under the guide muller Q
and the end fixed on the bobbin K The handle B is placed on the spindle C with
SD

page_text: its slot B engaging with the pin C¹ On turning the handle from right to left
the crank arm on its first movement draws the film from the casing Ñ past the
roller O, plate P, lens aperture A' and roller O'. On its further revolution the
crank am leaves the film and the slack portion which has been thus formed_18
taken up by the sprocket wheel and bobbin K During the time that the film
is not being moved by the crank I the shutter apertures is brought opposite the
lens opening A¹ and the exposure made
Used for projection the parts of the apparatus remain the same with the excep
tions that the lens is mounted in the interior of the casing as shown at Fig 3.
the handle B is put on the spindle C in the reverse way as shewn in the plan
Fig 1 and the sliding shutters a³ and a³ are drawn up. In this case the film
with the series of pictures printed upon it takes the following course ---From the
casing N it passes over the roller O, past light aperture A³, under sping plate P
and roller 01, over roller I' on crank arm I, under sprocket wheel F, over guide
pulley and on to bobbin K On turning the handle from left to right, the
crank arm I in rising gives a rapid pull on the film M causing the length of a
picture to pass into position before the opening A which, as soon as the movement
of the film ceases, is uncovered by the parts of the shutter S and remains wo
uncovered until the crank arm again moves the film During the time that the
film is at rest light from any suitable source enters the opening A³ passes through
the picture on the film to the lens T whence it passes through the opening A
and is projected on to a screen.
The reasons for giving the film the different courses are that for taking photo-
graphs a short period of exposure 18 given and a longer period of rest thus adding
to the steadiness of the apparatus whilst at the same time the sensitised side of
the film is kept free from scratching or damage from friction against the crank
pin 1oller. For projecting the pictures the film is changed over so that it may
have the longest period of rest and exposure thus obliterating the flicker due to
the change from one picture to another
The slots B and B of the winch handle B are of such curved form that should
the operator inadvertently attempt to turn the handle in the wrong direction it
would immediately be released from the pin C¹ and thus prevent an improper
movement being given to the film
The shutter S has an opaque central parts and attached to this a segmental
piece of opaque or semi-opaque material The central part has an aperture 3.
When a great length and weight of film is used and the strain on the same
might be injurious, it is of advantage to interpose an extra feeding arrangement
between the spool N and roller O and for this purpose I prefer to use a sprocket-
wheel feed similar to that described in the Specification to my Patent No 10474
of 1895 such sprocket wheel being driven by gearing from the spindle C
The film casing N is preferably constructed as shewn in Figs 5 and 5* in
which is the outer case and N3 the interior case which fits into the former.
N has an opening N3 and N has an opening N which 18 partially closed by a
spring piece N covered with velvet or other soft fabuc. On the casing N being
placed in the outer case N¹ and their respective openings being made to partially
coincide the spring piece N5 and its soft covering will form a shutter allowing of
the movement of the film through the slot but preventing passage of light
Above the flanged bobbin K is suspended a roller K¹ which bears on the film M
so that when the free end of a film passes through the machine it 19 kept tightly
wound round the bobbin k The roller K is kept from 118ing too far by coming
against a stop K³
In picparing sensitised films for use in the above described camera we attach
to each end of same a length of opaque material so that when a roll of film has
been exposed the camera may be opened in daylight and a fresh length of film
substituted without danger to the sensitised portion The flanged bobbin K when
filled with exposed film will, according to this, have wound round it several tuins

page_text: of opaque material and, thus protected, may be safely removed in daylight and
an empty bobbin substituted
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-Cinematographic apparatus constructed so that it may be used for taking
or projecting photographic pictures substantially as described with reference to
the accompanying diawings
2-In combination with cinematographie apparatus the herein descubed con-
stiuction of shutter for controlling two openings, one of which openings is used
for giving short exposures such as are required for taking photographs, the other
being used for giving longer exposures suitable for projecting pictures of animated
subjects
3-The construction of case for containing a roll of sensitive material sub-
stantially as described with reference to Figs 5 and 5 of the drawings
T
1
1000
HAROLD IMRAY,
Agent for the Applicant
5, Quality Court, London, WC
HAROLD IMRAY,
Agent for the Applicant
5, Quality Court, London, WC