Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Oct., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 23rd July, 1894-Accepted, 1st Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by NICOLAI HANSEN, of 7, Rue du Pot de Fer, Paris,
in the Republic of France, Manufacturer.]
Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
•
I, HENRY HARINGTON LEIGH, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., Fel. Ch. Inst. P.A.,
F.I. Inst., practising as Phillips and Leigh at 22 Southampton Buildings, Chancery
Lane, in the Administrative County of London, Engineer and Patent Agent, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in photographic cameras.
In carrying it into effect, the frame of the camera is of the ordinary construction.
It is provided with an internal box pivotted transversely upon trunnions. This
box is adapted to receive the sensitive plates and may be provided with an opaque
one closing it to prevent light getting at the others. An external handle is pro-
vided to turn the box upon its axis. The box has two openings, one through
which a plate is expelled and the other through which it is returned. One side of
it also opens to permit of access to the plates. There is an opening in the camera
through which the box can be passed and this opening is fitted with a covering
plate to exclude light.
In front of the box and on each side of the camera are series of rails or inclines
adapted to serve as ways for the plates while the latter are being moved from and
back into their box. The top way of the series has a spring finger. At the
bottom of the camera there is a rod which can be turned about its axis and slid to
and fro. It carries two arms at right angles with itself and with each other.
When the box full of slides has been introduced into the camera it is turned by
the handle already mentioned up into a vertical position with the open side of it
towards the lens. After the exposure, the box is turned through a quarter of a
circle down into the horizontal position. The rod above mentioned is then moved
till one of its arms, horizontal up till then, is vertical and enters the box behind
the front plate. A pull on the rod brings this plate into the lower ways, the.
spring finger supporting it, and the plate sliding horizontally. When it is quite
out of the box, the plate is balanced by the spring and rests against the upper
ways. The box is then turned further through 45° and the rod as much, so that
one of its arms is in front of the plate. When the rod is pushed, the plate guided
by the ways, is returned to the box behind the others. The box is then turned
into its original position. When the box has the opaque plate above mentioned,
the latter is shifted to the rear of the others before the first exposure is attempted.
A box full of exposed plates is removed from the camera and replaced by one
full of fresh ones.
This invention does not limit me to the precise details of construction mentioned
above. For example, the inclined ways may be replaced by horizontal ones at the
levels of the respective openings in the front of the box, modifying the spring
fingers accordingly. And any other of the above mentioned details or parts may
be replaced by any other detail or part, respectively its functional equivalent.
Dated this 21st day of October 1893.

page_text: provements in Photograpnic Cameras.
1, HENRY HARINGTON LEIGH, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., Fel. Ch. Inst. P.A.,
F.I. Inst., practising as Phillips and Leigh at No. 22 Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the Administrative County of London, Engineer and Patent
Agent, 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 improvements in photographic cameras.
Up to the present, in magazine cameras, the change of the sensitive plates has
been attended by certain drawbacks. The mechanism was too complicated: many
of the plates were lost and frequent repairs of the apparatus were necessary, and
the complication of the mechanism made it impossible to reduce the size of the
camera as much as was desirable. Further, with the old apparatus, the artist was
obliged when he had exposed all his plates to return to his laboratory to recharge
his camera.
Referring to the accompanying figures which are to be taken as part of this
Specification and read therewith:
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a portable camera fitted with my improve-
ments. The frame which serves as the magazine, occupies in this figure, a
horizontal position, which allows of the last exposed plate (the first of the series,
in the figures) to pass out of the magazine as hereinafter described.
Figure 2 is also a longitudinal section in which the frame is inclined to make the
plate in question re-enter the magazine.
Figure 3 is a section on the line -y of Figure 1.
A is the box forming the ordinary camera. It may be fitted with lens, shutter
and the like addenda as heretofore, which are, therefore, not part of the present
invention. O is the opening adapted to receive the lens.
B is the frame which forms the magazine and may contain any number of
sensitive plates P. The first sensitive plate in the frame may, if desired, be
replaced by an opaque plate Po adapted to keep the light altogether from the other
plates, and that at the moment when, on the ground, the frame is either removed
from or put back into the camera. In the figures, the plate P° is represented in
the position which it occupies in the frame after the change of the plate P¹ which
is the first sensitive plate of the series. The frame B pivotted upon its axis pro-
vided by the trunnions b, 6, and its oscillatory motion, are controlled by the milled
head M outside the camera. It has two openings, one b¹ through which a plate P
comes out of and the other, through which it is returned into the camera. It is
also open on the side 63 to provide for the exposure of the plates. An opening N
made in the side of the box A allows of the frame with the plates being lifted out
and replaced by one charged with fresh plates. There is also a moveable slide N
mounted in grooves, or in other equivalent way, on the face of the box A. Its
function is to mask the opening N after the frame B is in position, and so
thoroughly prevent the entrance of light into the camera. On two sides of the latter,
and in front of the frame B, there are fitted the rails or slides. R', R', R* which
serve as ways or guides for the plates P during the time that the latter are coming
out of and returning into the frame B. The top rail R³ is provided with a spring
which acts as described further on.
On the bottom of the box A there is provided a sliding and pivotted rod T
provided with two arins at right angles with each other-see Figure 3.

page_text: The invention acts as follows :--
Let it be supposed that a frame B charged with sensitive plates P has been
introduced into the camera. By means of the head M, the frame B is first
placed in the vertical position I (Figures 1 and 3), the side 6' being turned
to the front against the fens hole. After the first plate P' has been exposed, the
frame B is turned through a quarter of a circle into the horizontal (position II of
Figures 1 and 3). The rod T is then turned so as to bring the arm t¹ vertical
with the end of it penetrating the frame B behind the rear edge of the plate P¹.
The said rod is then drawn forward in the direction of the arrow (Figure 1), the
plate P being thus carried through the opening 6' and slipped on to the lower
rail R', and down it under the spring r. At the moment when the plate leaves the
frame, the plate P' is tipped up by the spring r and assumes the position illustrated
in Figure 2. The frame B is turned again till it assumes position III indicated in
Figure 2. At the same time the rod T receives a quarter turn so as to lay the
arm down and bring the arm up before the front edge of the plate Pl. When
the rod T is pushed, the plate P' guided by the rails R R* returns through the
opening into the frame B behind the other plates. This done, it only remains to
turn the head M to return the frame B into the vertical (position I) and to make a
new exposure and so on.
When the frame B contains an opaque plate Pº covering the opening 6', it is
evident that operations are commenced by the change thereof, which is effected
in the way described above and which therefore need not be further enlarged
upon.
After all the sensitive plates P which a frame B holds, have been exposed, the
latter with its plates is lifted out at the opening N of the box A and replaced by
one charged with fresh plates.
It must be distinctly understood that my invention does not limit me to the
precise details described above but that the same may be varied without departing
from the principle of the invention.
For example, instead of using inclined rails R, I may use two horizontal rails,
one on a level with the opening 6' and the other with the opening 6, and make the
plate P¹ travel horizontally from one rail to the other, for instance by means of
coiled springs.
It is to be clearly understood, that is only by way of example, that the
constructions above described are specified, and that the one illustrated is the one
which I regard as the most practicable, but I expressly claim the right to use any
other system which allows of the same result being achieved.
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. A camera provided with a pivotted frame forming a magazine B and with a
system of rails R, R³, R³ serving as guides at the moment of changing a plate, for
the exposed plates; the frame B (furnished with a discharge opening 6' and with a
return opening for the plate to pass through) mounted on trunnions b, b, in the
box A and capable of being taken out of the latter and replaced therein; the
oscillatory motions of the said frame being controlled by a head M or its equivalent,
outside the box; the lower rails R' R' forming together a bent rail on to the top
of which the exposed plate P slides at the moment of change and after its issue
from the opening 6' swings up under the action of a spring thereby taking the
position which allows it to re-enter the frame through the opening 6³, as herein-
before set forth.
2. A camera fitted in the manner indicated in the preceding claim but in which
the converging rail system R¹ R' R³ is replaced by a system of parallel rails
between which the exposed plate goes through the act of changing under the action
of a spring or equivalent device, as set forth.

page_text: 3. A. camera characterised by the combination of a pivotted frame forming a
magazine, with a system of rails serving as guides for the exposed plates, the
various members being connected so as to facilitate the change of the said plates.
Dated this 23rd day of July 1894.
HENRY H. LEIGH, C.P.A.