Improvements in and relating to Automatic Photographing Apparatus.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 16th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 16th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Automatic Photographing
Apparatus.
I, HECTOR JOSEPH BONAVENTURE THIROUX, of Boulevard Henri IV Paris
in the Republic of France, Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to photographing apparatus intended on receipt of the
desired coin to automatically expose a sensitive plate and thereafter develope, and
produce a permanent photograph thereon and deliver the saine to the purchaser.
In the improved apparatus the necessary baths into which the plate is dipped
after exposure are arranged in a straight line and the plate is carried while in each
bath by a pivoted carrier operated by a rack movement on or controlled by a carriage
moving along over said series of baths.
Each carrier on lifting the plate from the respective bath holds the same under
a rose while the carriage automatically opens a cock by which water is supplied
from a reservoir to flow over the plate; the plate is then transferred to the next
carrier and immersed in the next bath. When any person desires to be photo-
graphed, that person stands in front of the machine and draws out a handle which
carries back the carriage to its commencing position, lifting the cover from in
front of the dark chamber and so exposing a sensitive plate in the camera, by
a lever action operated by the carriage. On dropping the requisite coin into the
slot the lens is uncovered and at the proper time again covered. The carriage
having been as aforesaid drawn back by hand, on release of the handle moves
gradually forward under influence of a weight and under control of a suitable
speed governor so that the exposed plate dropping into the first carrier is dipped
in the first bath and undergoes the successive operations necessary for producing
a finished photograph by being transferred from carrier to carrier and bath to
bath as before mentioned until the carriage arrives at the end of its course,
when the speed governor and carrier operating racks are thrown out of gear
so as not to be operated when the handle is again drawn out. In connexion
with this apparatus I employ an electric incandescent light of sufficient power
for illumination of the person photographed just at the time of exposure,
causing the mechanism to close and interrupt the circuit exactly at the correct
moments so that the electric supply may not be wasted. I also employ a small
continuous electric light upon the machine sufficient to enable the instructions etc.
to be read.
A further improvement consists in an electric heating device to dry the photo-
graphic plates previous to delivery. This device is also intermittent being supplied
with current at the time only at which the plate to be dried is passing adjacent to
it. It consists of a fabric of wire warp, for instance copper, platinum or other
convenient metal to be heated by passage of the current, and a weft of asbestos
fibre.
Dated this 16th day of February 1809
HERBERT & Co.,
Agents to Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Automatic Photographing
Apparatus.
I, HECTOR JOSEPH BONAVENTURE THIROUX of Boulevard Henri IV, Paris
in the Republic of France, 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 :-
This invention relates to photographing apparatus intended on receipt of the
desired coin to automatically expose a sensitive plate and thereafter develope and
produce a permanent photograph thereon and deliver the same to the purchaser.
In the improved apparatus, the necessary baths into which the plate is dipped
after exposure are arranged in a straight line, and the plate is carried while in
each bath by a pivoted carrier operated by a rack movement on or controlled by a
carriage moving along over said series of baths.
Each carrier on lifting the plate from the respective bath holds the same under
a rose while the carriage automatically opens a cock by which water is supplied
from a reservoir to flow over the plate, the plate is then transferred to the next
carrier and immersed in the next bath. When any person desires to be photo-
graphed, that person stands in front of the machine and draws out a handle which
carries back the carriage to its commencing position lifting the cover from in front
of the dark chamber and so exposing a sensitive plate in the camera by a lever
action operated by the carriage. On dropping the requisite.coin into the slot, the
lens is uncovered, and at the proper time again covered. The carriage having
been as aforesaid drawn back by hand, on release of the handle moves gradually
forward under influence of a weight and under control of a suitable speed governor,
so that the exposed plate dropping onto the first carrier is dipped in the first bath
and undergoes the successive operations necessary for producing a finished photo-
graph by being transferred from carrier to carrier and bath to bath as before
mentioned until the carriage arrives at the end of its course, when the speed
governor and carrier operating racks are thrown out of gear so as not to be operated
when the handle is again drawn out.
In connection with this apparatus I employ an electric incandescent light of
sufficient power for illumination of the person photographed just at the time of
exposure, causing the mechanism to close and interrupt the circuit exactly at the
correct moments, so that the electric supply may not be wasted. I also employ a
small continuous electric light upon the machine, sufficient to enable the instructions
etc. to be read.
A further improvement consists in an electric heating device to dry the photo-
graphic plates previous to delivery. This device is also intermittent being supplied
with current at the time only at which the plate to be dried is passing adjacent to
it. It consists of a fabric of wire warp, for instance copper, platinum or other
convenient metal to be heated by passage of the current, and a weft of asbestos fibre.
The drawings hereto annexed show the construction of the apparatus.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation of the apparatus.
Fig. 2 shows on a double scale a detail of the important part called the
carriage."
Fig. 3 shows a back view of the apparatus.
Fig. 4 is a detail view.
Fig. 5 shows the intermittent lighting arrangement.
Fig. 6 is a plan view of the dryer.
B is a light framework of cast iron supporting the apparatus. C are basins
containing the baths the number of which varies according to the nature of the
develoning and
F

page_text: these carriers is then successively transferred to the following carriers until it
issues from the apparatus through the chute T (Figs. 1 and 3). p are pinions
fixed to the extremities of the arbors a and actuated by means of the racks c c¹
(Figs. 2 and 3).
R (Figs. 1 and 3) is a guide of rectangular section fixed at its two ends on two
brackets on the frame. R¹ (Figs. 1 and 3) is a bar similar to R but movable
in direction of its length and slipping under hard friction through a sleeve c³,
the latter guiding the bar when pulled out by the operator. C³ (Figs. 1 and 3)
is a cross frame fixed on the extremity of the movable bar R and serving at
each operation, first, for bringing back the carriage to its starting point, second
for lifting the feed C³ of the photographic plates, and third, for setting the
shutter O.
A. (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) is a carriage sliding over the two bars R and R¹ and
carrying the two small racks and the system of gear which operates the
flying governor M.
This carriage which is hereinafter described more particularly is one of the
principal parts of the apparatus in that it is the principal operating part which sets
in action in its course the other parts. By moving the carriers P the carriage
transports the plates from one bath to another.
The carriage is composed of a double tubular piece which slides with little friction
over the fixed bar R and very freely also over the movable bar R¹. The carriage
carries a traction hook t screwed into that part which lies between the two bars R
and R. The two exterior faces fe of this tubular piece being prolonged upwards
support the governor M. The latter is composed of a shaft p' (Figs. 1, 2 and 3)
rolling on the rack the latter being fixed with its two ends on the fixed bar R.
On the extremity of this shaft p¹ there is fixed a ratchet wheel (Figs. 2 and 3),
a toothed wheel lies loosely on the same shaft and on it is mounted a pawl c
(Fig. 2) engaging with the ratchet wheel 7. This toothed wheel operates the
pinion p' of the fan of the governor M but only in one direction.
When the carriage A is drawn to its starting point (under the dark chamber)
the ratchet wheel turns freely, but in the opposite case, when coming back, the
same wheel influences the pawl, the latter then revolving the governor M.
Under this gear there are shown in Fig. 2 the two small vertically movable
racks c c and at v the sliding bolt which removes or approaches same, according
as they are to operate on the pinion p or not.
"
Upon each rack cc there is rivetted a pin t't' which exactly fits in the oblique
mortices m m¹ in the bolt (Fig. 2) and the whole (racks and bolt) is kept in
place by means of a covering plate p' which only allows the racks c c¹ and the
pins to move in a vertical course by reason of the vertical mortices & d' in this
plate.
On each end of the fixed bar R is an abutment against which the bolt v strikes,
so that it is stopped while the carriage A continues its course for a slight distance.
On examining Fig. 2 it will be understood that the oblique mortices of the bolt v
guide the pins t¹t, the one upwards and the other downwards so that at one end
of the course the racks c c' are approached the one to the other in order to operate
the pinions p during the travel of the carriage from that end to the other end of
its course. The contrary effect will be produced when the bolt is reversed at the
other end of the course, and the racks moved apart by the slots m m³ (Fig. 2), no
longer operate the pinions p while the carriage is returning to its former position,
viz. to the starting point. The operating weight F need not be more thau about
4 to 12 pounds according to the dimensions and the weight of the plates and of
the greater or less weight of the parts which are to be moved.
By means of the governor, which the carriage carries it regulates the speed of
the different movements; in this respect the carriage is also a regulator.
C' is the dark chamber, P¹ is the chamber carrying the plates furnished with a
slide C³ for removing the foremost plate and with spring pushing the plates
forward.

page_text: The slide C³ moves in two grooves and receives its moving impulse from the
arm C² fixed on the bar R'. When the latter is moved, the movement is trans-
mitted to the slide C³ by intervention of the lever E E' the one arm of which is in
two parts articulated at a².
The movable part e¹ of the arm E remains hanging vertically during the whole
time that the arm C² is not operating upon it, but so soon as the arm meets this
movable part e it will push same in the direction of its own course.
The second part of the lever E E' being movable on pin p is spread out on
the side of its articulation a³ into a fan, upon which there are two gudgeons g g'.
These gudgeons g g¹ receive alternately a thrust from the movable part e¹.
The arm E of the lever rises or descends then according to the movement of e¹
and operates in the same sense upon the slide C³ which is connected with the arm
by the rod b*.
O is the shutter device which consists essentially of a shutter proper V indicated
by dotted lines in Fig. 3, pivoted upon the screw v¹. Eccentrically placed on its
rotation centre the shutter V presents a nose projecting outside of the dark
chamber C. The parts which move the shutter V are mounted upon the outside
of this chamber. A knee E' E' nearly analogous to the knee E E' and formed
like the latter of a rigid part E' E up to the articulation a¹ and of a movable
parte analogous to e in the knee E E is pushed by the arın C. The lever e
by intervention of the gudgeon therein presses against the edge of, and turns, the
knee E E on its centre c until the arm C² passes from under the part e³, the latter
then falling back loosely.
In this moment the arm E of the knee has become locked under the detent c
and is there maintained until a coin is introduced into the apparatus. The detent c
pivoted on the pieces' screwed upon the chamber C¹ carries a horizontal lever
arm upon which slides a counter weight pe intended to retain the arm E² of the
knee under the detent c. This counterweight is movable in order to enable the
detent to be given just the necessary power for retaining the knee, and not-
withstanding for opposing only a weak resistance to the rod which detaches the
same by lifting the extremity of the arm of the lever l.
Upon the arm E of the knee E E³ there is mounted a small flat spring ending
att in a larger head, and it is this head of the spring which when the arm E² of
the knee has been detached and is drawn down by the spring 6' will operate while
descending, upon the projecting arms of the shutter V and will rock the latter and
open the shutter until, atfer having passed this arm, the shutter, being released will
fall back by its proper weight and close the opening over the lens which was
unmasked thereby.
The utility of the spring arises from the circumstance that as the shutter V
is not intended to be opened when the lever E' E' is being set, this spring can at
such time pass back over the projections of the shutter V, the lower part of which
presents an inclined plane, over which the head of the spring slides.
L is the lever for the exposure, mounted in the bracket and maintained hori-
zontally by means of spring fixed at y³.
The arm L' of the lever L carries on its extremity the spoon c which receives
the coin and this piece falling through the chute c presses down the arm L' of
the lever Land consequently raises the opposite arm pushing the rod t*.
The rod on its course lifts the arm of the lever c and unfastens the knee E' E'
which descends under influence of its spring 6, but only slowly, being held back by
a flat brake spring at its centre c in order that the respective person may have
time, after introducing the coin to place himself in a convenient position before the
shutter opens.
R³ is a reservoir of water serving for washing the plates. The water of this
reservoir R² is distributed by a tube T¹ carrying branch tubes t t t furnished with
cocks and roses Z.
The levers of the cocks are placed in such position that the levers i on the
arbors a open and close these cocks at the same time as the rotation of these

page_text: same arbors pass the plate from one carrier to another, and it will be understood
that the lever i for instance fixed on the arbor a of the first carrier P which in
Fig. 1 is represented upwards and to the left, is moved to the right and descends
upon the lever of the first cock æ in order to open the same while the plate will
fall into the second carrier and will place itself in front of the washing jet.
The water run through the rose which terminates the branch tube
between the two first basins washes the plate and is then received into the basin B¹
which occupies the whole bottom of the apparatus.
placed
As soon as the carriage A lifts the carrier upon which the washing is effected
the plate will be transferred into the next following basin, and the lever i moving
with the carrier closes the cock. The same process is reproduced in the same
manner with every cock, until the last washing has been effected; each cock being
always opened at that moment when the plate is placed upon the carrier for being
washed and the same cock closes at the moment when this same carrier moves away
the plate into the next succeeding basin.
The operating of the apparatus is as follows:-In order to be photographed the
respective person first draws forward the movable bar R' in the direction indicated
by the arrow. The arm C' fixed to the bar influences the carriage A, but without
turning the governor M, as the latter is only commanded by the rack on its return
according to the position of the pawl c' and of the ratchet wheel r. In its course
the arm C unmasks the plate by lifting the slide C³.
The foremost sensitive plate being pressed forward under the slide; abandoning
the knee E E' the arm C continuing its way, sets the shutter by pushing also the
movable parte of the lower arm of the knee E' E', catches the upper arm E of
this knee under the detent ce, and abandons then the movable part e' which falls
back into its loosely hanging position.
The movable bar R' which when drawn out passes with considerable friction
through the sleeve c, while it is drawn out to its full extent retains immovably the
carriage A and consequently its governor M, the motive weight which pulls back
the carriage being calculated so as not to have the power to overcome the
resistance of the friction, and consequently only coming into action after the bar R¹
is again pushed in.
The coin is then introduced, and descending through the chute C falls into the
spoon oscillates the lever and lifts the rod t', unlocking the knee E E³ which
begins to descend.
The respective person then places himself before the lens at a predetermined
distance and waits for the opening of the shutter.
As soon as the shutter closes, the person pushes back the movable rule R¹ to
inside of the apparatus. The arm C' fixed on same passes freely under the knee E³ E³,
the movable part e³ being idle.
It is not the same however with the knee E E¹; the arm C' pushes the
part e and this influences the knee by supporting itself upon the gudgeon g'.
The arm E descends, the slide C³ driving the exposed plate into the first basin.
During this time the carriage A begins to move under the influence of the motive
weight F, because, when the rod R is pushed back, the carriage is not further
retained by the friction of this rod in its sleeve c³; the racks c c¹ having approached
the upper rack operates first, when it meets the first pinion, turning this pinion
from the left to the right, the plate is lifted with the carrier P, and falls upon the
following carrier in order to be there washed; the cock having opened during this
moment in consequence of the lever i. The lower rack c¹ now begins to operate
softly to move back to its first place the carrier which has just been lifted. For
this reason, as soon as the upper rack c has left the pinion p, this latter will be
returned by the lower rack c. This disposition is necessary since if the
carriers were allowed to fall back abruptly into the basins, the baths would be
splashed over.
The plate thus successively developed, fixed etc., leaves the apparatus through

page_text: the chute T whence the respective person takes it. The carriage A continuing its
course a short distance further, reverses the bolt v and moves apart the racks c c.
In this position of the carriage, the racks being out of action, the apparatus is ready
for another operation.
To obtain an intermittent electric lighting suitable for lighting the person
photographed and only working during the time of exposure.
In the base of my
apparatus I place any suitable electric battery, accumulator or equivalent unless
connection can be made with electric mains.
From this source I lead a first circuit n, the intensity of its traversing current
being regulated by a rheostat G this circuit including a small incandescent
lamp el to give a continual lighting, relatively of slight intensity and consequently
of minimum expense, to show in the darkness the exterior details of the apparatus
and enable persons to read the directions written thereon.
A second circuit n³, much more important but which is only traversed in an inter-
mittent manner by the current, feeds only at the moment of taking the photograph
an arc lamp S, the latter being provided with a reflector, directing the light on the
person photographed.
Finally a third circuit n likewise with intermittent current, into which is inter-
posed the plate drying apparatus D with great resistance, gives current to the
drying apparatus D and heats it sufficiently to rapidly dry the plate at the moment,
when the plate arrives to its contact.
One of the wires of circuit n Fig. 5 communicates with the knee E' E' and the
other wire starts from a plate of platinum q, maintained over the plate of the
shutter, but insulated from the latter by means of an ebonite plate o, and proceeds to
the electric source by passing through the arc lamp S. It is easily to be under-
stood that, when the shutter is working, the lamp will light up during the
time of taking the photograph, and will become extinguished as soon as the
shutter is closed.
The third circuit n³ employed for drying the plate, makes use of the current in
the following manner :
A plate-dryer D is arranged on a continuation of the last washing carrier P
and above the hopper T. This plate dryer is mounted with rocking motion
and is maintained horizontally, it has the form (see Fig. 6) of a metallic wire of
copper, iron or platinum folded a certain number of times. The two extremities
of the so formed metallic wire-work are bound on two conductor wires ff. The
fine wires for great resistance, composing this wire-work, and being interpolated in
the circuit n³, at moment of the passage of the current gets hot or reddens, if
necessary.
Over this wire-work of metal there is woven asbestos fibre (see Fig. 6)
transforming same into a web, the asbestos of which forms the weft, and insures
insulating of the folds of metallic wires the one from the other.
A contact switch placed above the carriage and operated by the movement
thereof closes the circuit at the moment when the plate is overturned by the last
washing carrier upon the drier, and again opens the circuit at the moment, when
the carriage, nearly terminating its course, rocks the plate-dryer, which will then
let fall the dried plate into the chute T.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I hereby declare that what
I claim is
1. The straight arrangement of baths serving for the different operations to which
the plates are to be subjected.
2. The method of transferring the plates from bath to bath by a series of
carriers following one another, the transfer of these plates being effected by a
rotating movement of the said carriers which afterwards return automatically to
their first position.

page_text: 3. The method of distributing power and regulating the various movements
similar to those described, by means of a carriage operating substantially as
described.
4. The arrangement substantially as shown of rods RR' permitting the operator
to set in action all parts by a simple pull to be exerted upon a handle outside the
apparatus.
5. The arrangement described for moving the sensitive plates before and after
exposure.
6. The arrangement of washing cocks adapted to be opened and closed by means
of levers moved together with the transferring carriers of the plates, substantially
as described.
7. In an automatic photographing apparatus the arrangement for producing an
intermittent electric lighting during exposure of the plate.
8. The method of drying plates continuously or intermittently, based upon the
heating produced by an electric current by its traversing a metallic wire of great
resistance.
9. The combination of the apparatus with or without the methods of electric
lighting and of electric plate drying substantially as illustrated and described.
Dated this 16th day of November 1892.
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicant.