Improvements in Photographic Roller Slides and Cameras.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Apr., 1891-Accepted, 22nd Aug., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Roller Slides and Cameras.
I, GEORGE JONES, of Rochester, in the County of Monroe, and State of New
York, United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the
said 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 relates to that class of photographic cameras in which sensitized
film or paper for a number of pictures is carried upon a roller from which it
is gradually unwound after each exposure, and it has for its object to provide
a camera of simple and convenient construction which shall admit of the strip of
film or paper being easily and safely manipulated, which shall keep the said
strip at proper tension during exposure and which shall accurately mark the
said strip to show where it is to be cut after exposure and previous to developing
the negatives.
With these ends in view, the invention consists in the improved construction,
arrangement and combination of parts which will be herein fully described and
particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings hereto annexed :-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a camera-box equipped with my improvements..
Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken longitudinally and vertically through the rear
end of the box where the parts constituting my invention are located.
Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a perspective detail view of one of the tension wheels and marking
devices.
Like numerals of reference indicate like parts.
1 designates the box or casing of my improved camera which is preferably
rectangular in shape. The front part of the casing which is shown in dotted lines
in Fig. 1 contains the lens carrying frame and the mechanism for adjusting or
focusing the same but these parts are to be of ordinary well known construction
and as they form no part of my present invention they have not been shown in the
drawings hereto annexed.
The rear end of the camera-box is separated from the front compartment by the
transverse frames 2 and 3 which are placed quite closely together and are attached
to the sides of the box. The rear compartment 4 thus formed is provided at its
upper rear end with a sub-compartment 5 formed by a shelf 6 and an approxi-
mately vertical partition wall 7 which is provided at its upper edge with a
horizontal flange 8.
At the bottom of said sub-compartment is hinged a plate 9 actuated by suitably
arranged springs 10 to bear or press against the roll 11 of sensitized paper or film
which is placed in the said compartment 5.
12 designates a shaft which is journaled transversely in the compartment 4 in
front of the partition 7. Said shaft carries at its ends the wheels or drums 13, the
hubs of which 14 have transverse screw-threaded perforations 15 through which
pass the screw threaded pins 16 having sharpened ends or points 17 which may be
adjusted so as to project any desired distance beyond the peripheries of the wheels
or drums. The latter should be of a circumference exactly equal to the length of
film which it is desired to use at each exposure. One end of the shaft 12 extends
through the side of the box and carries a pointer 18 which shows upon a dial 19
when a complete revolution of the shaft 12 has been made. A pair of shafts 20
and 21 provided at their ends with flanges 22 are journaled in the lower part of the
compartment 4 and said shafts carry the drums 23 over which passes an endless
band or belt 24 having an extending flap 25 which is provided at its end with

page_text: several transverse metal strips 26 or other means for the convenient attachment of
the end of the strip of film which is simply passed under one of the said strips as
will be seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings. One of the shafts 21 extends through the
side of the box or casing and is provided with a handle 27 by which it may be
manipulated to wind the film after exposure upon the endless belt 24.
28 designates a plate of any suitable material which is provided with rabbetted
edges 29 by which it is fitted neatly in the corresponding rabbetted frame 3 where
it forms a permanent backing for the film. Said partition frame 3 does not extend
entirely to the top or bottom of the casing, sufficient room being left open for the
passage of the film. At the lower edge of said frame is also arranged a guide
Alange 30 under which the film is guided. Slide covers 31 and 32 are provided for
the top and bottom of the casing.
From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings hereto
annexed, the operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood
by those skilled in the art to which it appertains.
The roll of film having been placed in the box or compartment 5 where it is held
by the spring-actuated plate 9, the end of the strip is passed over the flange 8
under the wheels or drums 13, over the upper edge of the frame 3, down between
the frames and 3 in front of the backing plate 28, under the flange 30 and to the
endless belt 24 to which it is attached as already described. Previous to this,
however, the camera has to be properly focused and it is for this reason that the
backing-plate or partition 28 is not made integral with the frame 3, a ground glass
being first placed in the said frame to enable the operator to properly adjust and
focus the lens, but this having been done, the plate 28 is substituted for the ground
glass and permanently retained.
After each exposure the shaft 21 is rotated by means of the handle 27 to wind a
portion of the film upon the endless belt or band, the pointer 18 indicating upon the
dial 19 when the shaft 12 carrying the drums 13 has made a complete revolution,
which as above stated is necessary to measure off the piece of film required for an
exposure. During the rotation of the shaft 12 the sharp edged pins 16 puncture
the film, it being obvious that said pins are to be so arranged as to puncture
the film between the portions that will be exposed to indicate where it is
afterwards to be cut. Said pins may be adjusted as described to make large
or small punctures as desired. The wheels or drums 13 serve not only to guide the
film but also to keep it stretched with the requisite degree of tension, the several
guide flanges over which the film passes serving to keep it flat and smooth.
The endless belt upon which I wind the film after exposure will hold a large
quantity of the film and will keep it comparatively smooth and in good condition.
By the use of said belt, in combination with the guide rollers or drums 13 tension
devices for keeping the exposed portion of the film smooth and taut may be
dispensed with, the spring-actuated plate 9 being used for the purpose of retaining
the roll of film in its compartment 5 only.
I desire it to be understood that I reserve the right to any changes and
modifications in the construction of the mechanical details of the device which may
be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with the camera-box, of the partition frames or guide frames,
the horizontal shelf and the vertical partition-wall forming the film compartment at
the upper rear end of the casing, the spring-actuated plate arranged in the said
compartment, the horizontal flanges 8 arranged at the upper edge of said vertical
partition and a film-winding device, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination with the camera-box or casing having the partition frames
or guide frames and the film compartment, of the intermediately arranged shaft
having the wheels or drums, the marking pins and a pointer at its projecting

page_text: end, and a dial mounted upon the box under said pointer, substantially as
set forth.
3. In a photographic camera of the class described, the transverse shaft having
the guide drums or tension drums in combination with the transversely adjustable
screw-threaded pins or markers, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. In combination with a photographic camera, the film-winding device con-
sisting of an endless belt or band having a loose extending flap provided with means
for the attachment of the end of the strip of film, substantially as set forth.
5. In combination with a photographic camera, the film-winding device con-
sisting of an endless belt or band having a loose extending flap provided with
transverse strips for the attachment of the strip of film, substantially as set forth.
6. The combination of the film-compartment, the transverse partition frames or
guide frames, the intermediately arranged shaft having the drums and the
adjustable marking pins and the endless belt or band forming the film winding
device, substantially as set forth.
7. In a photographic camera of the class described, the combination with the film
compartment and suitable film guides of the film winding device consisting of a
pair of shafts having rollers and an endless belt or band passing over said rollers
and provided with means for the attachment of the strip of film one of said
shafts being extended through the side of the box or casing and provided with a
suitable handle, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
8. In a photographic camera of the class herein described, the combination of
the box or casing having the partition frames or guide frames and the film
compartment, the spring-actuated plate mounted in the bottom of the latter, the
transverse shaft arranged intermediately between the partition frames and the film
box and having the wheels or drums and the adjustable marking pins, the guide
Hanges arranged at the upper edge of the film compartment and at the lower edge
of the rear partition frame and the film winding device consisting of an endless
belt or band mounted upon suitable shafts or rollers and having means for the
attachment of the end of the strip of film, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
Dated this 21st der of Anil 1801
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.