Improvements in Cinematographs and like Instruments for the Projection of Kinetoscopic Pictures.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cinematographs and like Instruments for the
Projection of Kinetoscopic Pictures.
I, WILLIAM CHARLES HUGHES, of Brewster House, Mortimer Road, Kingsland,
London, N.E., Manufacturing Optician, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
-
My invention relates to improvements in cinematographs and like instruments
for projecting kinetoscopic pictures upon a distant screen, such for instance as
that constituting the subject matter of my previous Patent No. 681 of A.D. 1898,
my present invention while based upon the same principle of motion and operation
as that of my said previous patent, consists of certain improvements upon, modifica-
tions of, and additions to the details thereof, viz., Firstly, of the application of
a fly wheel or additional fly wheel to the spindle of the handle by which motion
is imparted to the apparatus, the object of which is that such motion may be
steadied thereby. Secondly, of an improved spring device upon the spindle of the
drum for receiving and holding the cylinder or spool upon which the film is
wound. Thirdly, of an improved surface for the interior of the film guide, the
object of which is to prevent the sensitized or picture surface of the film from
becoming scratched while passing through the said guide. Fourthly-of an
improved method of, and motion for, adjusting the position of the sight aperture
of the film guide, and the lens of the apparatus, the benefits derived from which
are that both may be operated from outside the case of the machine. Fifthly-of
an attachment to the film guide lever of the sprocket-wheel, by means of which
-when the said lever is raised-the gear wheels are locked while a new film is
being placed in position. Sixthly-of an improved ball bearing spool and cage
for carrying abnormally long films, and a self actuated winding drum for receiving
the said film after use. Seventhly-of an improved form of shutter. Eightly, of
an improved means for automatically operating the movements of a frame carrying
a picture to be thrown in and out of focus for projection upon the screen while
the door of the apparatus is open for fixing a fresh film in position. Ninthly-of
an improved bath or heat screen for shielding the film from the heat given off
from the lantern or other source of light:
My said previous Patent No. 681 of 1898, consists of a box or case having a
hinged door, upon which is mounted a carrier for the film or strip, the latter
being arranged to pass down through a suitable guide plate having an exposure
aperture, and from this down and partly around a sprocket wheel and beneath the
roller of a guide lever and out of the apparatus, intermittent travel being im-
parted to the said strip or film by the means of a piston-motion, operated by a
train of wheels, the spindle of the first or leading wheel of which said train is
:

page_text: actuated by a handle or wheel outside the said door, several forms of shutters
being provided for obscuring the light at the moment at which motion is given
to the film or strip and the picture is being changed, a suitable lantern and lens
or other source of light being employed for projecting the pictures upon the said
strip or film on to a distant screen.
For, the purposes of my present invention I mount upon the said main-spindle
of the wheel train a fly wheel or wheels, upon the outer, or inner and outer sides
of the said hinged door, in order that a more steady motion may be imparted to
the said train of wheels and moving parts actuated thereby, when the said spindle
is being rotated by hand.
When short or ordinary films containing prints of pictures are used, I wind
the said film upon a hollow or cylindrical spool, and the said spool or cylinder
when filled I place upon the spindle of a drum mounted upon the said. hinged
door, the said spindle having a spring or springs adapted to recede into a recess
or recesses in the said spindle, while the said spool or cylinder is being placed
thereon and removed therefrom, the same operating to keep the said spool or
cylinder in position upon the spindle while the film is being wound therefrom.
The said film is led outwardly through an aperture in the said drum, and down-
wardly therefrom through a guide plate, which said guide plate, for the purposes
of my present invention is of abnormal length, the two inner surfaces of which,
instead of making contact with the whole of the front and back surfaces of the
passing film as hitherto, (and by which scratches were unavoidably made in the
pictures upon the said film,) I provide at each side of both the inner faces of the
said guide-plate a row or rows of silk, cotton, worsted, or other cords, or metal,
bone, vulcanite or other pipes, tubes, or rods, adapted to engage with, and tightly
grip the two edges or perforated portions of the said strip, so that the picture
portion thereof passes through without being touched by the said guide plate. In
order to compensate errors in the fixing of the said strip or film in the said guide-
plate, by which the pictures thereon-when at rest-may not be facing the
exposure aperture, I arrange a plate at the side of the said guide-plate having
therein an exposure aperture of approximately the same size as that of the
pictures, but less in height than the aperture in the guide-plate, and I arrange
for moving and adjusting the said aperture-plate vertically by connecting thereto
an extension piece, adapted to slide vertically in a suitable guide, fixed upon the
said hinged door, the vertical movements of the said aperture-plate being effected.
by the means of a milled headed screw, passing through a fixed lug and attached
to the said extension piece, and extending above the top of and outside the
apparatus when the said door is closed, and so conveniently within the reach of the
operator.
The said film after passing down through the said guide-plate, and passing the
piston and partly around the sprocket-wheel (as described and shewn in my said
previous patent) is kept in contact with the said sprocket wheel by the means of
one or a pair of rollers, mounted upon a lever-arm, which said lever-arm and
rollers has to be raised when a new film is being placed in position, and one of
the improvements, constituting my present invention, consists in placing upon the
said lever-arm, a projection, having a ridge or toothed surface thereon, adapted to
(when so raised) engage with one or more of the teeth of one of the wheels forming
the driving gear, thus locking the said train of wheels and gear while the film
is being placed in position, such locking of the gear materially facilitating the
accuracy of such fixing of the film.
When abnormally long films are being used, I dispense with the film-drum
before mentioned, and mount in place thereof a circular cage, one side of which
opens like a door, and upon the axial centre of the fixed side of the said cage
is placed a stationary spindle, upon which is mounted a hub adapted to rotate
thereon by the means of ball bearings, the said hub being arranged to receive
and carry a spool upon which the said abnormally long film has been wound,
an aperture being made in the periphery of the said cage through which the film

page_text: "
is fed to the film-guide before mentioned, the object of the said cage being to
dispense with the need of a second sprocket-wheel and gear for operating the same,
as obtains in like machines hitherto employed when long films are used. In
order to collect such abnormally long films after passing through the apparatus,
and to prevent the same from becoming injured, I provide upon the front or
other part of the outer case a double flanged drum, mounted upon a ball borne
hub, carried upon a detachable arm, the said hub being adapted to be rotated by
a band, operated by and from the handle or wheel by which the initial motion is
imparted to the machine, and upon the said drum the film is collected as used.
A like motion to that employed for operating. the adjustment of the exposure
aperture (previously described) I employ for focussing the lens of the apparatus,
and in the latter case the milled head of the screw for operating the same extends
through the case and is conveniently within the reach of the operator.
In order to deceive the eye of the audience while the film is moving, and in order
to comply with the L.C.C. rules for preventing the heat of the lantern or other
source of light from igniting the film, I provide a suitable shutter, placed between
the film and the source of light, the said shutter being mounted upon a spindle in
alignment with the film guide-plate, and receiving motion from one of the train of
gear wheels before mentioned:
In order that the screen may not be kept idle or in darkness while the films are
being charged, I provide within the said case a suitable frame, adapted to carry
a picture, the said frame and picture being automatically placed in focus by the
means of a suitable lever or levers, and a spring or springs, when the door of the
case is opened, the same being by like means automatically placed out of focus by
and during the closing of the said door, when ready to expose a new film.
In order to more effectually prevent the heat of the lantern or other source of
light from reaching the celluloid strip or film, it is usual in such apparatus to
employ a bath of water, or alum in solution, interposed between the source of
light and the projecting apparatus, but great inconvenience has hitherto been
experienced by the use of such baths by reason of evaporation of and the presence
of lime in the water. I obviate these inconveniences by providing (for the purposes
of my present invention) a bath of glycerine, pure or otherwise, the said bath
consisting of a metallic or other frame with glass or other transparent panels
and the said bath I fix at the back of the apparatus in any suitable position
between the before mentioned strip or film and the lantern or other source of light
employed.
I may also find it convenient to provide suitable means by which the operator,
before placing in position a new film, may know that the before mentioned shutter
is in a position to shield the same from the heat from the source of light as
described.
· Improvements in Cinematographs and like Instruments for the
Projection of Kinetoscopic Pictures.
I, WILLIAM CHARLES HUGHES, of Brewster House, Mortimer Road, Kingsland,
London, N.E., Manufacturing Optician, do hereby declare the nature of this

page_text: 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 cinematographs and like instruments
for projecting kinetoscopic pictures upon a distant screen, such for instance as
that constituting the subject matter of my previous Patent No. 681 of A.D. 1898,
my present invention while based upon the same principle of motion and operation
as that of my said previous patent, consists of certain improvements upon, modifica-
tions of, and additions to the details thereof, viz., Firstly, of the application of
a fly wheel or additional fly wheel to the spindle of the handle by which motion
is imparted to the apparatus, the object of which said extra fly wheel is that such
motion may be steadied thereby. Secondly of an improved spring device upon
the spindle of the drum for receiving and holding the cylinder or spool upon
which the film or strip is wound. Thirdly of an improved surface for the interior
of the film guide, the object of which is to prevent the sensitized or picture surface
of the said film or strip from becoming scratched while passing through the said
guide. Fourthly of an improved method of and motion for adjusting the position
of the sight aperture of the film guide, and the lens of the apparatus, the benefits
derived from which are, that both may be operated from outside the case of the
machine. Fifthly of an attachment to the film guide lever of the sprocket wheel,
by means of which, when the said lever is raised, the gear wheels are locked while
a new film is being placed in position. Sixthly, of an improved ball bearing
spool and cage for carrying abnormally long films or strips, and a self actuated
winding drum for receiving the said film or strip after use. Seventhly, of an
improved form of shutter. Eightly, of an improved means for automatically
operating the movements of a frame carrying a picture to be thrown into focus for
projection upon the screen, while the door of the apparatus is open for fixing a
fresh filma or strip in position. Ninthly, of an improved bath or heat screen for
shielding the film from the heat given off from the lantern or other source of
light.
My said previous Patent No. 681 of A.1). 1898 consists of a box or case having
hinged sides or doors C and C¹, the former of which carries the major portion of
the mechanism constituting the apparatus, consisting of a carrier L for the film
or strip K, the latter being arranged to pass down through a guide plate J, having
an exposure aperture provided with a plate N2, adapted to be adjusted when the
door is open only, the said film or strip passing down through the said guide
plate, and from this partly around a sprocket wheel H, and beneath the roller N
of a guide lever N¹, and out of the apparatus, intermittent travel being imparted
to the said strip or film by the means of a piston motion F, G₁, and G², operated
by a train of wheels E, E, and G, the spindle of the leading wheel E being
actuated by a handle or wheel c, outside the door C, shutters such as n¹ and P
being provided, both of which are arranged to operate across the path of the light
from a lantern or other source, a device s, s¹, t, t¹, 2, and 3 being provided for
automatically placing a picture upon the screen while the filin or strip is being
renewed, the lens H³ employed being arranged for adjustment by the ordinary and
well known means.
With a view that the improvements constituting my present invention may be
fully understood, I have hereunto appended three sheets of drawings, and in
order that the said improvements may read consistently with the same or equivalent
parts of my said previous patent, I have endeavoured to use, where practicable,
in the drawings hereunto appended the same reference letters as were used in the
drawings of my said previous patent.
Fig. 1 Sheet 1 is a perspective view of the inner surface of the hinged door of
the case, and on which is mounted the major portion of the apparatus
Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of my improved film guide open, while
Fig. 3 is a section upon the line A B of Fig. 2, shewing the same closed, Fig. 4
being a back view of the said guide when so closed.

page_text: is a perspective view or my improved nim guide lever.
Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating the form and means of motion of my improved
shutter.
Figs. 7 and 8 Sheet 2 are elevation and plan respectively of one form of my
improved automatical picture frame, Fig. 9 being a plan view of an alternative
method of constructing and operating the same.
Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of the adjustable sight aperture of the film guide,
and the means for operating the movements of same.
Fig. 11 is an enlarged view of the projecting lens of the apparatus, and the
mechanism for focussing the same.
Fig. 12 is a perspective view of my improved drum for carrying films or strips
of ordinary or normal length.
Fig. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of my improved bath for containing
glycerine or other liquid, for shielding the film from the heat of the light
employed.
Figs. 14 and 15 are side and edge views, (the latter partly in section) of my
improved ball-borne cage for films or strips of abnormal length, Fig. 16 being
an enlarged sectional view of the ball borne hub of same.
Fig. 17 is an edge view of my improved ball-borne reel for receiving after use
the film or strip carried by the cage Fig. 14, Fig. 18 being a side view of the
bracket for carrying Fig. 17.
Fig. 19 is an enlarged sectional view of the ball-borne hub of same.
Similar letters of reference are used in all the views when referring to the same
or like parts.
Referring to my said previous Patent No. 681 of A.D). 1898, the first improve-
ment thereon constituting a part of my present application for a patent, consists
in mounting upon the spindle b¹ a pair of wheels c and c¹, one upon the inner
and the other upon the outer sides of the door C of the case A, A, B, B¹ of the
apparatus, the rims of the said wheels being of heavier metal, that these may
collectively operate as fly wheels for imparting a steady and even motion to the
train of wheels E, E, and G, and consequently the piston motion F, F, G₁ and G²,
and the sprocket wheel H and other moving parts of the machine mounted upon the
doors C, when actuated by the handle c² in connection with the wheel c.
The second improvement illustrated by Fig. 12 consists in providing the drum L
(for carrying the film or strip K when of ordinary length) with a hollow spindle
such as L, adapted to form a spring L³, capable of being compressed into the
cavity L of L to allow the hollow spindle of the spool upon which the strip or
film K has been wound to be placed upon L2, the turned up end L of the said
spring then engaging with the outer end of the said hollow spindle of the spool,
for the purpose of retaining the same in position upon L2, while the strip or
film K is being unwound therefrom, the said drum being mounted upon the door ('
by a bracket L as shewn in Fig. 1 of my said previous patent, the said film or
strip being led outwardly from the said spool through a slot L, and downwardly
therefrom, through a guide plate J, shewn in position upon the door C in Fig. 1,
while the details of same are shewn by Figs. 2, 3 and 4, Sheet 1, and the method
of adjusting the sight aperture thereof more particularly by the enlarged view
Fig. 10 Sheet 2 of the appended drawings.
The said guide plate is composed of front and back plates J and J³, hinged to
each other at J, and provided with sight apertures J5 and J6 respectively, through
which (when J and JB are closed as at Fig. 3) the light from the lantern or other
source passes, for projecting the pictures upon the strip or film K, on to the distant
screen. It has hitherto been customary to construct each plate of such guide-
plates, with an internal lining of cloth, felt, or other soft fabric, occupying the
entire width of same, and between which the said film or strip has passed, but I
have found in practice that such lining when occupying the entire width of the
guide plate, and being of the same width as the film or strip, have, after long use
become hard, or impregnated with hard particles of dust, which has operated to

page_text: scratch the faces of the said strip, such scratches being painfully visible upon the
screen' when the pictures are projected. The third improvement according to my
present invention consists in forming the plates J and J³ of abnormal length,
upon each side of the inner surfaces of both of which I place and fix by cement or
other suitable means, one or more silk, cotton, worsted, or other cords a, or metal,
bone, vulcanite or other pipes tubes, or rods, in lieu of said cords, these being so
arranged that when une plates J and J³ are closed together as at Fig. 3; the edges
or perforated portions only of the said strip or film K, are gripped between the
cords or the like on J and those on J3, as shewn in the same figure and also by
Fig. 2, thus leaving the picture portion or centre of the said strip or film, absolutely
untouched by the said guide and by this means the pictures upon the said strip
are preserved.
It not infrequently happens that in the hurry of removing a used strip, and
placing a new one in position in the said guide plate, that the pictures upon the
strip or film when at rest, are not absolutely true with the exposure aperture, to
compensate which I arrange a plate N³, (shewn in position by Fig. 1 Sheet 1 and
for detail of construction and movement by Fig. 10 Sheet 2) adapted to slide
vertically upon the outer face of the plate J, and having an exposure aperture J
of approximately the same size as the picture upon the strip or film K, but prefer-
ably less in height than the aperture J5 in J, and the fourth portion of my present
invention consists in means by which the said plate N2 may be operated. when the
door is closed, which does not obtain in the means provided in my said. previous
patent. For the purposes of this part of my invention I arrange that the said
plate Na has an attached piece N³, adapted to slide in a vertical guide N', fixed
upon a plate N5 attached to the door C, the upper end of N5 having a return
end No, for the reception of which, when C is closed, a slot N7 is formed in the
roof A of the containing case of the apparatus, the said return end №6 being
arranged to carry a screw N8, the lower end of which is loosely connected to a
lug No, formed upon the upper extremities of the sliding plate N³, motion being
imparted to N3 by the rotation of the screw N8, by the means of a milled head
. thereon, when the door C is closed.
I also employ the same motion for focussing the lens H₁ of the apparatus, as
illustrated by Fig. 11. For the purposes of this portion of my invention I screw
or otherwise connect to the back plate of the lens H¹ an angle plate H³, connected
to a plate H³, adapted to slide in a horizontal guide H, fixed upon the inner
surface of the front B of the case of the apparatus, the said plate H2, also carrying
an internally threaded boss H, with which engages a mill-headed screw H6,
passing through the front B, the rotation of which from outside the said case
enabling the operator to focus the lens when the door Û is closed.
In my said previous Patent No. 681 of 1898 I describe and shew a lever N¹,
having a roller N, which operates to keep the film K, in close contact with the
sprocket drum H, the said lever and roller being raised out of position when the
film or strip K, is being placed in position, and I have found in practice, that
much inconvenience is experienced, by reason of the possible movement of the
gear wheels, while the strip or film is being placed in position, such movement
being sometimes brought about by the operator inadvertenly moving the wheels c.
The fifth portion of my present invention, consists in forming the said lever N¹
as at Fig. 5 Sheet 1, (shewn in position by Fig. 1) with preferably two such
rollers N, while the opposite end of N' has a connecting piece 2 provided with
teeth ³, adapted to engage with the teeth of the wheels E, when the said lever is
raised, as indicated by the dotted outline thereof, such engagement between the
teeth of g² and E, serving to lock the driving gear while the lever is so raised, and
the film or strip K is being adjusted.
When abnormally long films or strips K, are used, it becomes necessary to
provide some means for preventing a drag upon the same, and for receiving this
after leaving the instrument, and the sixth improvement according to my present
invention consists in providing, in lieu of the drum L before mentioned, a circular

page_text: cage R.(Figs. 14, 15 and 16 Sheet 3) having a hinged front R₁, and solid back R²;
the latter carrying a fixed spindle R³; and adapted to be mounted by the means of a
bracket L' upon the door C. The spindle R³ carries a hub R, arranged to rotate
freely thereon by the means of suitable ball bearings such as R. Upon the outer
surface of R is mounted the spool Re, upon which the abnormally long film or
strip, Kis wound, the said spool, when in position, being thereon retained, and
prevented from rotating upon R, by the outward pressure of a spring R7, upon
the outer surface of the hub R. The film or strip would pass outwardly and
downwardly from the fixed case R, through a slot Rs, therein, to the film guide J
in the usual way, and in order to collect this after passing from the sprocket
drum H, outwardly through the front of the apparatus, I provide a double flanged
drum or spool S (Figs. 17, 18 and 19) fixed upon a hub S¹, mounted by the means
of suitable ball bearings $, upon a spindle S3, in fixed connection with a bracket St,
having upon its base, stud headed pins S5; adapted to engage with like shaped
slots upon the front of the case, by means of which the said drum may be mounted
upon the front of the apparatus in such a position that the initial end of the
film K may be caused to engage therewith and be wound thereon after leaving the
apparatus, motion being imparted to the said drum or spool by the means of a
band or strap, engaging with a pulley S6 in connection with the hub S', and receiv-
ing motion from one or the other of the fly wheels c or c¹, preferably c, and by a
due consideration of the relative diameters of the spool R, of the cage R, and
the drum or spool S, and the size of the pulley S, the strip or film may be
automatically wound upon S at the same rate or approximately so as that at which
it leaves the spool R³.
The seventh improvement forming part of my invention relates to an improved
form of shutter, and the direction of movement of same, in order to deceive the
eye of the audience, while the pictures are moving, and in order to comply with
the London County Council rules. In the forms of shutters hitherto employed by
myself and others, these have invariably been arranged to cross the rays of light,
given from the lantern or other source, but I find in practice that the transition
from light to shadow and vice-versa, is attained more gradually, and consequently
with less perceptable flicker upon the screen, if the said shutter is caused to operate
at right angle to the direction above explained, or in other words, if the direction
of motion of the shutter is in the same plane as the rays of light. For the purposes
of this part of my invention, I construct the said shutter of any suitable opaque
material, and either curved as shewn by full lines at P, or straight as shewn by
dotted lines in Fig. 6, which I mount and fix upon a spindle P¹, one end of which is
carried in suitable bearings upon or connected to the door C, above and extending
across the piston motion before mentioned, the said spindle carrying a pinion
wheel P2, in gear with, and receiving motion from, the wheel E', the said shutter
being mounted in any convenient position between the guide plate J, and the
source of light coming through an aperture in the back B of the apparatus, but
preferably at or about the position shewn in Fig. 1, the direction of the rays of
light being indicated by the straight arrow, and the direction of motion of the
shutter P, by the curved arrow in Fig. 6.
To facilitate the proper manipulation of the apparatus, it is essential that the
operator should know when the apparatus is at rest, the exact position of the said
shutter, partly for the protection of the film or strip K and partly for shutting
off the light from the screen, and in order that this may be known at a glance, the
gear wheels E, E, and P2 are so arranged, that one revolution of P2 represents some
aliquot part of the periphery of the fly wheel c, such parts being indicated by
studs or pins 3, (Fig. 1) and the operator would know that when either of these
was facing a certain mark upon the outer face of the door C, (not shewn), that
the said shutter was down, and obscuring the light.
In order that the screen may not be kept in darkness while the films or strips K
are being changed, I provided in my said previous patent, a frame carrying a picture,
and means by which the said picture was automatically placed in focus, to be pro-
jected upon the screen, by the opening of the door C, and the eighth portion of my

page_text: present invention relates to an improved position for, and method of operating the
said frame and picture. For the purposes of this portion of my invention, I pro-
vide of metal or other suitable material, a plates (Figs. 7, 8 and 9) having a sight
aperture s, through which the light may pass to project the transparent picture
when mounted in a recess 2, upon the back of the said plate. The said plate is
connected to a plate 3, having a preferably square holes, and hinged at 5, upon
a third plates, the latter arranged to slide horizontally in guides 7, fixed upon
a small door & formed in the door or fixed side C¹, of the containing case of the
apparatus, the said plate s being caused to slide in the guides s, by the means
of a toothed wheels, actuated by a milled head $10, engaging with a toothed
racks, formed in the plates, a suitable spring such as 12, fixed upon the plates,
and passing through the hole in s³, serving to force the plates s and into the
position shewn by dotted outline in Fig. 8, when the door is opened. Referring
to Figs. 7 and 8, in this arrangement the door C carries a spring arm $13, having
upon its free end a wheel or rollers, which normally engages with a crescented
surface 15, fixed upon the plate s, the action being, that when closing the door C,
the rollers of the arm s first comes in contact with the surface 15, at the poin
shewn by dotted outline in Fig. 8, the action of closing the door C, causing the
roller to pass along the surfaces, so that when the said door fully closed,
the plates and its connections has been closed back against the door 8 of the door
or side C¹, as shewn by full lines in Figs. 7 and 8, the said plates and the picturé
thereon being then out of the rays of light, but directly the door C is opened to
place a fresh film or strip K in position, the plate s with its picture is immediately
placed in the position shewn by dotted outline in Fig. 8, by the tension of the
springs, the picture in s² of s being then in the path of the rays of light, indicated
by the arrow in Fig. 8, a block si upon the plates, serving as an abutment for
the plates, while in this position, and the rack and pinion sands may now be
operated (if necessary) by the head 10, to place the picture in the frames in focus.
A slight alternative method of placing the said frame in and out of use by the
opening and closing of the door C, is shewn by Fig. 9. In this arrangement a wire
or rod is bent to form three fourths of an oblong figure T, the smaller or minor
side of which is pivotally mounted at To, upon the plates, as indicated by dotted
outline at Fig. 7, and by full lines in Fig. 9, the free end of the upper member T
of which said frame is always in rubbing contact with the plate s, while its lower
member T4, terminates in the form of, or has connected thereto, a spring or spring
like surface T5, which normally engages with a pin or its equivalent To, upon the
upper or lower surface of the free end of a rod or plate T, rigidly fixed upon the
inner face of the door C, at or about the position shewn in Fig. 1, the operation
of this being, that when the door C is opened, the rod or plate T7 recedes therewith,
and allows the plate s and its accessories, to leave the position shewn in full lines,
and by the tension of the spring 12 to take the position indicated by dotted lines
in Fig. 9, or until arrested by a fixed spring or spring plate T8, and in again closing
the door C, the pin or stud T would first make contact with the spring T5, at or
about the position shewn in the dotted outline, and by pushing upon this during
the closing of C, would cause the spherical end of T to push back the plate s into
the position shewn by full lines in Fig. 9.
The ninth and last improvement, constituting my present invention, relates to
an improved bath for containing water, alum-water, or glycerine, to be interposed
anywhere between the lantern or other source of light employed, and the aperture
in the back B of the case of the apparatus, or in other words between the lens of
the lantern or other source of light, and the shutter P, in order to absorb some of
the heat given off from such source of light, and to prevent such heat from injuring
the film or strip K when the said shutter is in a horizontal position, the object of
my said improved bath being to prevent evaporation of the liquid therein, as
obtains with the baths in present use. For the purposes of this part of my inven-
tion I construct of metal or other suitable material a narrow and preferably
rectangular liquid tight case Fig. 13, the sides of which V, are each provided with

page_text: a-liquid tight circular glazed panel 'V, facing each other, and through which the
light is passed, the upper surface or top of the said case being, provided with an
opening through which the same is charged with glycerine or other liquid
employed, the said opening being surrounded by, a raised rim-V3, and a lid or
cover V, adapted to shut down upon the said rim; the said lid or cover being
hinged at a point V to the top of the case, and provided upon its under and con-
cave surface with a facing or pad of rubber, leather, cloth or other resilient or
yielding material- V6, which presses upon the rim V3, and hermetically closes the
opening when the said cover or lid is shut down, and fastened by, any suitable
means, which may be by that of a thumb'screw V7 in the end of V, engaging:with
an internally threaded hole V8 in the top of the said case and by this means the
liquid therein is prevented from evaporating and will last for an almost indefinite
period.
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:-
Ist. In a cinematograph,¨ cinematoscope or like apparatus for the projection of
kinetoscopic pictures; of the type described and shewn in my previous 'Patent
No. 681 of A.D. 1898, the combination therewith of a pair of fly. wheels; both
mounted upon the same driving shaft. An improved guide plate having cords,
wires or tubes; adapted to engage with the edges or perforated sides only. of tlie
passing strip or film. An improved drum for containing the said strip, or film
and having a spring in its spindle for engaging the spool, upon which the said
strip or film is wound, when of normal length. For films' or strips of abnormal
length a circular cage, having a central spindle carrying a ball-borne-hub; upon
which the spool of the said film or strip is mounted, with a ball-borne- pulley for
receiving the said film after use. A device or means for adjusting the sight
aperture in the before mentioned guide' plate, and a like uevice for adjusting the
projecting lens of the apparatus. A guide lever for locking the moving parts
of the apparatus when renewing the said film or strip. An improved form of
shutter and the direction of the movements of same, and an improved air tight:
bath for containing glycerine or other liquid, the whole connected, combined and
operating substantially as herein described and shewn...
2nd. In an apparatus for projecting kinetoscopic pictures, such as that described
and shewn in my previous Patent No. 681 of 1898, consisting of a case or container
having a door such as C, carrying the mechanism or apparatus for imparting
intermittent motion to the film or strip in use, the combination therewith of a
pair of fly wheels such as c and. c, upon the driving spindle 61 of the train of
wheels giving motion to the said mechanism; substantially as herein described
and shewn.
3rd- In an apparatus for projecting- kinetoscopic pictures as characterized by
the preceding claims, the combination therewith of a drum such as L, having a
hollow spindle L2, in which is formed a spring L³ for retaining upon La spool
containing a strip or length K of kinetoscopic pictures, substantially as herein
described and shewn by Fig. 12' of the appended drawings.
4th. In an apparatus for projecting kinetoscopic pictures, as characterized by
Claims 1 and 2, the combination therewith of a guide plate such as J and J¹; for
the passing strip or length K, of kinetoscopic pictures, the said guide plate having
upon its inner surfaces, cords; wires, rods, or tubes such as-a (Figs. 2 and 3) for
gripping the edges only of K, when passing therethrough, the said portion J
having an adjustable sight-aperture J, formed in a plate N2, connected to a
plate N³, adapted to slide vertically in guides N4, operated by a mill headed
crew N8, from the outside of the case of the apparatus, substantially as and for
he purposes stated and shewn by Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 10 of the accompanying
Irawings.
5th. In an apparatus for projecting kinetoscopic pictures, as characterized by

page_text: Claims 1 and 2, the combination therewith of a projecting lens such as H¹, con-
nected to a plate H2, in fixed connection with a plate H, adapted to slide in a
horizontal guide such as H+, by the means of a mill-headed screw H, engaging
with an internally threaded boss H³, upon the plate H, and operated from the
outside of the case of the apparatus, substantially as herein described and shewn
by Fig. 11 of the drawings.
6th. In an apparatus for projecting kinetoscopic pictures as characterized by
Claims 1 and 2, the combination therewith of a film or strip guide-lever such as
N', pivotted at a point gl, and having a pair of rollers such as N, adapted when
lowered to keep the passing strip or length K, in close contact with the sprocket
drum H of the apparatus, the said lever having at its pivotted end a projection g³,
provided with a toothed surface g³, adapted to engage with the teeth of the
wheel E of the driving train of the apparatus, when the said lever is raised, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein set forth and shewn by Figs. 1 and 5 of
the accompanying drawings.
7th. In an apparatus for projecting kinetoscopic pictures as characterized by
Claims 1 and 2, the combination therewith of a straight or curved shutter such
as P, mounted upon a spindle P¹, placed between the guide plate JJ' and the
source of light employed, and adapted to take motion in the same plane as the
rays of such light, the said spindle carrying a pinion 1 in gear with, and
receiving motion from, the wheel E of the driving train of the apparatus, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein described and shewn by Figs. 1 and 6 of
the appended drawings.
8th. In an apparatus for projecting kinetoscopic pictures as characterized by
Claims 1 and 2, the combination therewith of a picture-carrying device, consisting
of a plate such as s s³, having a rack or slide 3, for receiving a transparent picture,
and a sight aperture st for exhibiting such picture, the said plate being pivotally
mounted upon a focussing plate s6, adapted to slide in guides s upon a door 8, by
the means of a rack and pinion, the latter being mounted upon a spindle
actuated by a milled head or other finger hold s10, the said plates and picture
being automatically placed in focus within the rays of light from the source
employed by the tension of a spring such as s2, when the door C is opened, but
automatically placed out of use when the said door is closed, by the means of a
spring arm 13, engaging with a surface such as 15 on s as at Fig. 8, or by the
means of an arm or rod T7 engaging with the lower member T5 of a rectangular
frame, pivotted at T2 upon so, the upper member T3 of the said frame impinging
upon the plates, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and shewn
by Figs. 7, 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.
9th. In an apparatus for projecting kinetoscopic pictures as characterized by
Claims 1 and 2, the combination therewith of a heat-shielding bath, for containing
glycerine, water, alum-water or other liquid, consisting of a fluid tight case having
sides V; with glazed circular panels V₁, and top provided with an aperture V2, and
lid or cover V hinged to the said top at V5, and having a resilient or yielding
lining V6, adapted to hermetically seal the aperture V2, when secured down by a
thumb screw V7, engaging with a threaded hole V8 in the said top, or by any other
suitable means, substantially as and for the purposes described and shewn by
Fig. 13 of the drawings.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1, Broad Street Buildings, Liverpool Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.