Improvements in Carrying and Transferring Cases and Dark-slides for Photographic Dry-plates.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 18th July, 1898-Accepted, 27th Aug., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Carrying and Transferring Cases and Dark-slides
for Photographic Dry-plates.
I, JAMES COLUMBUS KIMSEY, of 14, North 52nd Street, Philadelphia, Pennsyl-
vania, in the United States of America, Photographer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention is an improvement in carrying and transferring cases for photo-
graphic dry-plates, the object of the same being to provide an apparatus which will
carry a large number of plates, stacked upon each other, and permit of their being
transferred to a plate-holder without risk of exposure, provision being made for
unloading the plate-holder after exposure of the plates in a camera. The inven- .
tion includes a particular construction of plate-holder by which the photographic
plates are adapted to be handled in pairs and thereby facilitate the operation of
loading and unloading.
In the art of photography numerous attempts have been made, with more or
less success, to provide a magazine camera using the dry-plates and including
mechanism for bringing the plates in place, successively, for exposure; such
contrivances making the proper adjustment of the camera very difficult of accom-
plishment, and do not give the satisfaction had by the ordinary removable plate-
holder. Appreciating the many advantages of the plate-holder, and also its dis-
advantage of limited capacity in carrying plates, I have devised a case or box
in which a number of plates are closely packed, preferably in pairs, and dropped
one pair at a time into the plate-holder which is slipped into the box for the pur-
pose; the particular construction and arrangement of the parts or instrumentalities
entirely preventing the slightest exposure of a plate during its transfer from the
storage-compartment to the plate-holder, and during the unloading of said plate-
holder.
The invention contemplates an apparatus by which but a single plate-holder is
needed in taking a large number of exposures, the unloading and loading of said
plate-holder not requiring the services of a dark-room, nor even so much as a cover
for the box, the light being at all times entirely excluded from the compartment
which contains both the unexposed and exposed plates.
The following specification will give a detail description of the parts constituting
the invention, and what I consider to be novel in the art will be more particularly
set forth in the appended-claims.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a carrying and transferring case constructed
in accordance with my invention, the near side of the enclosing box being partly
broken away to disclose certain features of construction.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the apparatus, the plate-holder shown
in Fig. 1 being removed.
Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view.
Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view illustrating the devices for dropping the plates.

page_text: Fig. 5 is a similar view further illustrating said devices.
Fig. is a plan view of the plate-holder, the front cross-piece being partly
broken away to disclose details of construction.
Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 7--7 of Fig. 6.
Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.
Fig. 9 is an end view of the photographic plates and devices connecting the
same.
Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of said devices.
With reference to the drawings, and particularly to the carrying case or box, A
and A¹ designate the front and rear walls, respectively, of a box which forms the
storage compartment for the photographic plates, the sides of said box being
designated by the letters A2 and A3, while the top and bottom are left open to
permit the plates to be dropped into and out of the compartment through the
intervention of certain devices hereinafter described. In the outer sides of the
side pieces of this box are formed longitudinal recesses a, in which are located wire
springs B which bear upon the inturned ends c of frames C that embrace the sides
and rear wall of the box, the said frames carrying plates D which serve to close
the top and bottom of said box. The tendency of the wire-springs is to bring the
covering-plates normally against the box, while permitting a plate-holder to be
inserted between said covering-plate and box, and in order that the covering-
plates may be readily removed to facilitate the operation of loading and unloading
the apparatus they are removable connected to the spring-actuated frames. To
this end the frames C are provided with inwardly-projecting flanges c¹ and the side
and rear edges of the plates grooved to receive the flanges, the said plates being
slid into engagement with the flanges and thereby supported in connection with
the movable frame.
The four sides of the box hereinbefore described are covered by an outer box
comprising the front and back pieces E and side pieces E', the said outer box
being covered with black cloth, while the edges and interior of the apparatus is
painted black.
The side and back walls of the inner box are provided near their upper and
lower edges with horizontal grooves or saw kerfs f forming guideways for slides F
which are passed through transverse slits f¹ in the front of the apparatus. The
slides form in connection with the box a light-tight storage compartment for the
plates, and the slits through which the slides pass are provided with flexible strips
or shutters G, seated in recesses opening into the slits and actuated by helical
springs 9, let into the front wall of the inner box, as shown, the said shutters or
strips entering grooves or recesses g' to effectually close the slit or opening when
the slide is removed. The shutters and actuating springs therefor are placed in
position before the strips a¹ forming the upper and lower portions of the front
wall A are attached, the said strips being provided with grooves a² to receive the
ridges h at the forward end of the plate-holder.
Interiorly the box or case is provided in its side walls with vertical recesses a³,
and above the lower slide, at a distance hereinafter specified, the said side walls are
each provided with a horizontal groove or recess a passing through the front wall
and at its inner end terminating beyond the vertical recesses a³. In these horizontal
recesses are pivoted plates I, the inner ends of which are adapted to be projected
into the vertical recesses, and the said plates are operated by rods J sliding in
recesses in the front of the inner box and provided with bent ends j which extend
through a slot e in the front wall of the outer or enclosing box and are located
close together in order that they can be manipulated by the thumb and finger of
one hand to operate both plates. The operating-rods are not connected directly to
the outer ends of the pivoted plates, but to spring wires i located in vertical
recesses in the ends of the front wall of the inner box and attached to said plates
to serve to project their inner ends normally into the recesses a³, and the operating-
rods being connected to said springs are also actuated thereby.
In filling the box or case, the upper covering-plate D and slide F are removed

page_text: and the photographic dry-plates are stacked in the box resting upon the project-
ing ends of the pivoted plates I, after which the slide and cover are replaced.
This operation is of course performed in a dark-room, but after the slide and
cover have been replaced the apparatus is ready for use and the subsequent operation
of loading and unloading the plate-holder can take place in daylight without any
risk of the slightest exposure of the plates. In the operation of loading a plate-
holder the same is slipped into the apparatus between the lower covering-plate D
and bottom of the box, the spring pressure upon the said plate, through the inter-
vention of its carrying-frame, causing the plate-holder to fit snugly against the box
and exclude the entrance of light, which is further prevented by the said carry-
ing-frame C. The pivoted plates I are now operated to drop the plate or plates
upon the lower slide F and released to again engage the stack and leave one or two
plates supported only by said slide, the pivoted plates being located a distance
above the slide according to the number of plates it is desired to feed at a time.
Then by withdrawing the lower slide F the plates supported thereby are dropped
into the plate-holder, the upper slide thereof having been previously withdrawn,
and after both slides have been replaced the plate-holder can be removed for use
in connection with a camera. In unloading the plate-holder it is inserted beneath
the upper covering-plate D to rest upon the box or case, and upon the withdrawal-
of the lower slide of said plate-holder the plates will drop upon the upper slide of
the transferring case, and upon the withdrawal of said slide will be deposited upon
the unexposed plates. The exposed and unexposed plates are separated by a
plate K having lips k of the same width as the recesses a³ in the box and adapted
to engage studs projecting into said recesses below the pivoted plates, and thereby
prevent the exposed plates being fed into the plate-holder again.
It is my intention to feed two plates at a time, the said plates being separated
by a septum M connected by prongs m to strips N, the latter being bent to
embrace the edges of said photographic plates and provided with projecting lips n
which enter the recesses a³ and are engaged by the pivoted supporting-plates I,
and in order to receive and properly hold and handle the photographic plates so
connected in pairs I have devised a plate-holder of particular construction, which
I shall now proceed to particularly describe.
The body or frame of the plate-holder is made up of the longitudinal side
pieces 00, rear cross-piece 01, and forward cross-piece 02, the latter having an
extension or handle 03, forming an open rectangular frame similar to the ordinary
double plate-holder, with the exception that being designed to receive both plates
through one side it is not divided longitudinally into sections. This frame is pro-
vided with slits in the forward cross-piece and guideways in the side and end
pieces to receive the upper and lower slides P P, which cover the plates to protect
them and are withdrawn in making an exposure. In the inner side of the cross-
piece is a longitudinal recess o, while the side pieces 00 are provided with
recesses o extending below the upper slide to form shoulders o², for the purpose
hereinafter specified.
The inner side of the front cross-piece of the frame is recessed to receive a
movable cross-piece or sliding-plate R having an extension that passes through
the handle 03 and is bent abruptly at its outer end to present a grasping portion
and also limit the inward movement of the plate. The inner portion of the
extension of the sliding-plate is reduced in width to form a hooks which engages
the outer edge of the handle 03 and holds the said plate against the action of
flat-springs S S which are attached to the cross-piece of the frame and bear upon a
depending flange s at the inner edge of the plate. Where the extension of the
sliding plate passes through the handle 03 the latter is provided with a bushing T
which serves to prevent light passing into the plate-holder. At the ends of the
sliding-plate or cross-bar R are formed projecting fingers 2 which are adapted to
5 engage the photographic plates and hold them against movement in the plate-
holder, the said fingers being located on a line with the shoulders o² herein before
referred 'to.
1

page_text: The plate-holder described is adapted to receive two photographic plates separated
by the septum M and connected together by the binding-strip N, the plates so
connected being inserted in the plate-holder after withdrawing the upper slide
and moving the sliding-plate R into the recesses in the front cross-piece, the
plates being turned to bring the flanges or lips n at the upper edge thereof in
order that when the plates are passed into the plate-holder said lips will enter the
recesses in the side pieces and rest upon the shoulders o². The plates are then
pushed rearward into the recess o either manually or by the sliding plate R, which
is released to engage the forward end of said plates, the fingers overlapping
the upper edge to prevent an outward movement of the plates while the opposite
movement is prevented by the lips n engaging the shoulders 02. The plates are
thereby held firmly in the plate-holder, and after replacing the slide the device is
ready for use in connection with a camera. It will be noted that this plate-
holder is peculiarly adapted for use in connection with the carrying and trans-
ferring case, for by its use the photographic plates can be loaded and unloaded
two at a time.
In order to more effectually prevent the entrance of light through the slits which
receive the movable slides, particularly when a corner of the slide is introduced
during the operation of inserting the same, I have devised a flexible shutter
actuated by springs to close the slit by closely fitting the edges of the slide. This
shutter consists of a piece of fabric U, which is cemented to the forward edge
of the cross-piece 02 of the plate-holder and the ends formed into a double fold uu
between which is held a strip of paper, felt or other flexible material, designated
by the letter V, the said strip being preferably cemented to the fabric. To receive
these shutters the forward cross-piece of the plate-holder is provided with recesses w
communicating with the slits, and to force said shutters across the slits against
the opposite walls thereof, holes x are drilled through the cross-piece 02 and helical
springs X inserted therein to bear at their ends against the shutters. There are
a number of springs which bear against the shutter at intervals along its length
in order that they will be pressed around the edges of the slide when a corner
thereof is inserted, the flexible nature of the shutter thereby insuring an effectual
closing of the slit."
It will be noted by reference to the box of the carrying and transferring case"
that the springs B bear upon the forward portion of the frame that holds the plate-
holder in the apparatus, in order that the unprotected end of said plate-holder
will be brought in close contact with the box, the rear portion thereof being
protected by the movable frame. It will also be noted that the said frame prac-
tically forms aprons around three sides of the plate-holder to effectually exclude
the entrance of light into the apparatus when the slides F are withdrawn in the
operation of loading and unloading the plate-holder.
The apparatus herein shown and described is very compact, the box being but
very little larger than the bulk of the plates stored therein, and by providing said
box with movable covering-plates and protecting aprons the plate-holder can be
readily slipped into place and light prevented from entering between said plate-
holder and the box, and when the plate-holder is removed the covering-plates
return to their normal position reducing the size of the apparatus and making the
same dust-proof. It is apparent that instead of having the covering-plates movable
to and from the ends of the box the latter could be closed at its ends and have
openings through one side to provide for inserting the plate-holders therein, but
the movable covering-plates are preferable, as they reduce the bulk of the box.
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. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination, of a box having
covers at its ends with openings at its front adjoining said covers, the openings
being adapted to receive a plate-holder, slides forming a storage-compartment in

page_text: the body of the box between the openings, movable plates or supports located a
slight distance above the lower slide, and means for operating said plates or sup-
ports, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.
2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination, of a box open
at its lower end, a plate adapted to cover said lower end and drawn against the
box by springs which permit a movement of the covering-plate away from the box,
a horizontal slide forming a partition in the box near the lower end thereof, movable
plates or supports in the sides of the box and located a slight distance above the
slide, and means for operating said plates or supports, substantially as shown and
for the purpose set forth.
3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination, of a box open
at its lower end, a plate adapted to cover said lower end and drawn against the
box by springs which permit a movement of the covering-plate away from the
box, a horizontal slide forming a partition in the box near the lower end thereof,
plates pivoted in the sides of the box with their inner ends projected normally
into the box, springs acting upon said plates, and operating-rods for the plates
provided with bent ends projecting through a slot in the front of the box, sub-
stantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.
4. In a carrying and transferring case for photographic dry-plates, the com-
bination, of a box open at its lower end, a plate adapted to cover said lower end
and drawn against the box by springs which permit a movement of the covering-
plate away from the box, an apron attached to the covering-plate and extending
from the sides and back thereof, a slide forming a partition in the box near the
lower end thereof, movable plates or supports in the sides of the box a slight dis-
tance above the slide, and means for operating said plates or supports, substantially
as shown and for the purpose set forth.
5. In a carrying and transferring case for photographic dry-plates, the com-
bination, of a box open at its upper and lower ends, frames or aprons extending
around three sides of the box, covering-plates attached to said frames or aprons,
and springs serving to draw the plates normally against the open ends of the box;
together with slides forming upper and lower partitions, plates or supports located
in the sides of the box a slight distance above the lower slide, and means for
operating said plates or supports, substantially as shown and for the purpose set
forth.
6. In a carrying and transferring case for photographic dry-plates, the com-
bination, of a box open at its upper and lower ends, frames or aprons extending
around three sides of the box and provided with inwardly-projecting flanges;
covering-plates having channels or recesses in their edges to receive said flanges,
and springs serving to draw the covering-plates normally against the open ends
of the box, together with slides forming upper and lower partitions, plates or
supports located in the sides of the box a slight distance above the lower slide,
and means for operating said plates or supports, substantially as shown and for the
purpose set forth.
7. In a carrying and transferring case for photographic dry-plates, the com-
bination, of a box open at its upper and lower ends and provided with vertical
recesses in its side walls, slides forming upper and lower partitions, plates or sup-
ports adapted to project into the aforesaid recesses, and means for operating said
plates or supports; together with devices connecting two photographic plates and
provided with projecting flanges or lips that extend into the vertical recesses of
the box; the supports being located a distance above the lower slide equal to the
combined thickness of the photographic plates and connecting means therefor,
substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.
8. In a carrying and transferring case for photographic dry-plates, the com-
bination, of a box open at its upper and lower ends and provided with vertical
recesses in its side walls, slides forming upper and lower horizontal partitions,
plates or supports adapted to project into the aforesaid recesses, and means for
operating said plates or supports, lugs projecting into the sides of the recesses

page_text: below the supports, devices connecting two photographic plates and having pro-
jecting flanges or lips of less width than the aforesaid recesses, and a division.
plate having flanges wider than the aforesaid flanges, substantially as shown and.
for the purpose set forth.
9. In a carrying and transferring case for photographic dry-plates, the com-
bination, of a box open at its upper and lower ends, frames extending around the
sides and back of said box and vertically-movable with respect thereto, springs
bearing upon the forward ends of the frames, covering-plates attached to said
frames and adapted to bear normally against the open ends of the box; together
with slides forming upper and lower horizontal partitions, plates or supports in
the sides of the box a slight distance above the lower slide, and means for operating
said plates or supports, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.
10. In a carrying and transferring case for photographic dry-plates, the com-
bination of a box open at its upper and lower ends, frames extending around the sides
and back of said box and vertically movable with respect thereto, flanges at the
upper and lower edges of said frames, plates having recessed edges engaging one
set of flanges and springs bearing against the opposite set; together with slides
forming upper and lower partitions in the box, plates or supports a slight distance
above the lower slide, and means for operating said plates or supports, substantially
as shown and for the purpose set forth.
11. In a carrying and transferring case for photographic dry-plates, the com-
bination, of a box open at its upper and lower ends, plates adapted to cover the
open ends of the box and provided with aprons extending into the same, springs
acting against the movement of the covering-plates away from the box, and slides
forming upper and lower horizontal partitions; together with plates pivoted in
recesses in the sides of the box, wire springs let into the forward end of the box
and attached to the outer ends of said plates to project their inner ends into the
box, and operating-rods let into the horizontal recesses in the front of the box and
provided with bent ends extending outward through a slot in the center of the
front of the box, said rods being connected to the wire springs and their outer ends
located adjoining each other, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.
12. A carrying and transferring case for photographic dry-plates, comprising
an inner box having horizontal recesses in its sides and open at its top and bottom,
frames embracing three sides of the box and having flanges extending into the
recesses; springs located in the recesses and bearing upon the flanges, covering-
plates removably connected to the frames, and an outer box enclosing the four
sides of the inner box; together with slides forming upper and lower partitions,
plates or supports located above the lower slide, and means for operating said sup-
ports, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.
13. A photographic plate-holder, for the purpose set forth, comprising an open
frame having shoulders therein at opposite sides, a sliding-plate mounted in the
frame and provided with projecting fingers, in combination with binding-strips for
the plates provided with projecting flanges, the plate-holder having the usual
slides, substantially as shown and described.
14. A photographic plate-holder for the purpose set forth, comprising a frame
having a longitudinal recess in the rear cross-piece and recesses in the side pieces
thereof, upper and lower slides mounted within the frame, and a sliding-plate
provided with projecting-fingers, the recesses in the sides of the frame extending
slightly below the upper slide; in combination with strips for the photographic
plates having projecting flanges, substantially as shown and described.
15. A photographic plate-holder for the purpose set forth, comprising a frame
having a longitudinal recess in the rear cross-piece and vertical recesses in the side
pieces, a sliding-plate located in the plate-holder and having an extension passing
through the same, engaging fingers projecting from the sliding-plate, and springs
actuating the sliding-plate, in combination with binding-strips for the photo-
graphic plates provided with projecting flanges, the plate-holder having removable
slides, substantially as herein shown and described.

page_text: 16. A photographic plate-holder for the purpose set forth, comprising a frame
having a longitudinal recess in the rear cross-piece and vertical recesses in the
side pieces, a sliding-plate located in the plate-holder and having an extension
passing through the same, the outer end of the extension having a grasping portion
or hook, fingers projecting from said sliding-plate, and springs actuating the slid-
ing-plate; in combination with binding-strips for the photographic plates pro-
vided with projecting flanges, the plate-holder having removable slides, sub-
stantially as shown and described.
17. In combination with a plate-holder constructed substantially as shown, said
plate-holder having slits to receive the slides and recesses communicating with
said slits, of a shutter composed of a fabric secured to the plate-holder and folded
upon itself, a felt strip enclosed within the folds, and a plurality of springs bearing
against the folded part of the shutter along its length, substantially as shown and
for the purpose set forth.
18. In combination with a plate-holder constructed substantially as shown and
described, of a septum adapted to separate the photographic plates, binding strips
attached to the septum, and flanges projecting from said binding strips, sub-
stantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.
19. In combination with a plate-holder constructed substantially as shown and
described, of a septum adapted to separate the photographic plates and provided
with projecting tongues, binding strips overlapping the edges of the plates and
having recesses through which the tongues or prongs are passed and bent upon
said strips, and flanges projecting from one edge of the binding-strips, substan-
tially as shown and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 18th day of July 1898.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.