Improvements in Kinetoscopes for Advertising and Exhibition Purposes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Oct., 1895 Accepted, 23th Dec., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in Kinetoscopes for Advertising and Exhibition
Purposes.
I, WILLIAM CARLTON FARNUM, of the Town of Arlington, in the County of
Bennington and State of Vermont, U.S.A., Inventor, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The mechanical principle the application of which is embodied in this invention
is as follows:-If an endless band of a given length is wrapped around a cylinder
of less circumference than the length of the band, the excess of length of band over
the circumference of the cylinder forms a slack section which, if the band be drawn
to one side of the cylinder will constitute a loop or wave. Now if this wave in
the band is caused to travel around the cylinder without slip of the band on the
cylinder the effect produced on the contact relationship existing between the band
and cylinder will be, that any given point of the band, as the wave involves it,
will be lifted from the cylinder elevated to the crest of the wave and after it has
passed will be laid down on the cylinder at a point distant from that it previously
occupied by just the difference between the length of the band and the circum-
ference of the cylinder.
I have shown embodiments of this principle in three modifications of the
instrument illustrated in this application. In one of them this wave movement is
applied through the medium of a flexible band which encircles the periphery of a
cylinder so that the slack loop is taken up on a roller which i have called a
transfer roller and by it can be carried completely around the cylinder very
much as the tides move around the earth, and as the wave takes up each part of
the band seriatim, lifts and drops it, it deposits it in a position on the surface of
the cylinder in advance of its last previous position. Thus an apparent movement
of the band over the cylinder by an actual step by step movement is effectuated.
In the second instance, instead of a fiexible band I have taken a hoop and
placed it over or around a stationary cylinder with its interior on one side in
actual contact with the exterior of the cylinder. In this case the loop or interval
which constitutes the "wave" embraces the whole included area between the
inside of the hoop and the exterior of the included cylinder, and commences at
the line of contact between the two and extends entirely around to the same live
again. In the third instance a flexible band is placed within the interior of a
stationary hoop mounted on a reel as it were, upon which the transfer roller is
mounted so that the wave-loop protrudes inwardly, and is propelled or carried around
by the transfer roller inside the stationary; hoop.
I have designated that element in my instrument which carries the designs or
pictures as the picture carriage, whether it be a hoop or band which is flexible,
and the stationary element as its support.
My invention relates to, that class of optical instruments known as zootropes,
thaumatropes, kinetoscopes etc., and has for its object the presenting to the eye of.
a series of pictures representing one or more moving objects in such a manner as
apparently, to reproduce, the motion of said objects. Pictures of the moving
objects at regularly successive periods of their movements are used as in the
present zootrope. Instead, however, of these successive pictures being in a state.
of continuous motion and depending upon moving mirrors or other devices to make
the proper impression upon the eye, they are placed on a hoop or endless band

page_text: which is subjected to the manipulation of the wave-movement above described,
whereby that part of the picture carriage involved in the wave-loop is set along
one step or space at each revolution of the transfer roll thereby making the
apparent action directly visible upon the hand from any direction.
accomplish this by means of the various devices shown in the drawings, in
which:
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the complete machine ;
Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the picture carriage with the stationary support
and transferring roll;
Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the transferring roll;
Fig. 5 shows a plan view of the machine when a rigid picture carriage is
employed;
Fig. 6 is a plan view; and
Fig. 7 an elevation of a modification of my invention;
Fig. 8 is a partial sectional elevation of the modified picture moving head, taken
on the line — of Fig. 6; and
Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation of one of the rolls used in this modification.
Similar letters and figures refer to similar parts in the several views.
As illustrated the invention shows a stationary cylinder or drum in connection
with a larger cylinder or endless band mounted thereon, which I have called the
picture carriage and which carries a series of pictures representing active objects
at successive stages of their movements, the length of the picture carriage exceeding
the circumference of the drum which supports it, by the length of the space through
which it is necessary to move the picture carriage ench time to produce the proper
visual effect. Thus, when the picture carringe is placed over its support, this
surplus length of the carriage will form a slack or loop which is supported and
carried by a roller which revolves about the support to produce an intermittent
traveling motion in the pictures on snid cylinder or band as hereinafter
described.
The carriage for carrying the pictures may be either a rigid hoop or cylinder,
a resilient hoop or cylinder, or a flexible band all of which give good results. The
machine is shown with the flexible band in Figs. 1 and 3 and with the rigid cylinder
or hoop in Fig. 5.
In Figs. 1 and 2 the stationary drum or support A is shown mounted upon a
suitable standard or pedestal K. An upright shaft J is fixed on the top end of
the standard K and supports the drum A besides serving as a spindle or arbor for
a pair of ruller-carrying arms D and E. To give the picture carriage the necessary
movement the transfer roll C is made to revolve about the drum A. by means of a
pair of bevel friction gears and the arms D and E. Of the bevel gears the larger
one carries a crank handle and the smaller one G is connected to the arm D,
which carries the transfer roll C. The arm E is intended to resist the centrifugal
force of the revolving roll and is connected to the same by the pin which
passes down through the arm E, roll C and arm D respectively. The picture
carriage is placed around the drum A and roll C. An extra belt or band M may
be used inside the picture carriage as a support therefor. The inner band may be
made smaller than the picture band to fit snugly over the roll and drum, thus
insuring the revolution of the roll C about its own axis, and preventing any
sliding friction between the roll and the picture carriage. By sliding the
picture carriage upward it may be removed from the machine and new designs
substituted.
Figs. 1 and 2 show a picture-corringe having twelve pictures but this number
may be varied. The picture band travels at each revolution of the transfer roll
over a space equal to the excess of the distance around the carriage over the
circumference of the drum support. Therefore the distance between the pictures
is made equal to the travel of the carriage when the whole or any part of the
picture is to appear stationary. When the spacing of the pictures is more or

page_text: less than the length of the wave loop under the transfer roll, the pictures
appear to have either a retreating or progressive crawling motion around the
same.
The transfer roll C is considered as being revolved about the drum A in the
direction of the arrow a. As the roll advances the band is gradually lifted from
the drum a certain distance in advance and is relaid upon the drum a certain
distance in the rear of the roll. The points at which the band leaves and
returns to the drum are designated as a and all respectively and advance around
the drum in conjunction with the revolution with the roll. Thus it is seen that the
band is in stationary contact with the drum over about two-thirds the circumference
of the latter. As the roll passes any one of the several pictures it lifts the same
from the drum and replaces it one space forward in the direction of the arrow, this
action being repeated in the case of each picture. If there are twelve pictures on
the carriage it is obvious that twelve revolutions of the transfer roll will complete
the apparent action of the picture, the number of changes presented to the eye
corresponding to the number of revolutions of the roll.
The rate of motion of the wave loop is variable, gradually increasing from
zero at a to the maximum rate at the outside of the roll C and thence gradually
decreasing to zero at a". This gradual starting and stopping is of value in
overcoming the inertia and momentum of the band during the rapid revolutions of
the transfer roll.
In Fig. 3 the stationary drum or support A is made in skeleton form to permit a
view of the inner side of the picture carriage which in this case is provided with
an extra series of pictures. When this feature is embodied, the pin F is mado
fast in the arm D, and the top arm E and upper end of shaft J are dispensed
with.
In Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 is shown a modification of my invention in which the
afore mentioned slack or wave-loop in the picture band or carriage is taken up by a
roll within the periphery of the stationary portion of the carriage. The intermittent
travel of the carriage in this modification is the same as in the previously described
form. Fig. 7 shows a picture band of considerable width, having the pictures
thereon arranged spirally. This arrangement gives the pictures an apparent
motion either up or down upon the band or from side to side across the line of
vision in case the apparatus is reclined horizontally.
This modified machine is mounted upon a pedestal W and consists of two parallel
horizontal circular disks P and Q held together by two upright studs Y. These
disks carry between them a set of perpendicular rolls N near their periphery for
about two thirds the distance around, and the transferring roll Olet in from the
periphery sufficiently to take up the necessary slack in the band. The lower
disk Q is mounted upon an upright shaft T with which it and the other attached
parts carrying the picture band are made to revolve by means of the bevel triction
gears S and U and crank V. The picture band X passes around the outside of
the rolls N above flanges n and inside of the transfer, roll O as shown in Fig. 6.
A segment cut is made in the upper disk over the loop of the picture band to
facilitate the removal of said band, and the top bearing of the transfer roll is
hinged to lift up for the same purpose. Around the lower disk Q and in contact
with the lower ends n', of the rolls N is an upright annular rim R which is
stationary and forms a fixed part of the pedestal. The rolling contact of the
rolls N with the rim K and the picture band serves to keep the picture band
stationary except when passing over the transfer roll.
It is obvious that my kinetoscope may be adapted for advertising purposes by
placing suitable advertising matter on the endless picture carriage.
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. In instruments of the character described, the combination with the endless

page_text: picture carriage and the stationary support about which it rotates, of mechanism
interposed between said carriage and support adapted to propel a wave loop in said
carriage around said stationary support, substantially as specified.
2. The combination in a kinetoscope or similar instrument, of a stationary
support having a suitable tablet surface over which a picture carriage can be
supported and passed, a picture carriage of a length somewhat greater than is
necessary to surround the stationary support, having a slack section of the carriage
termed a wave-loop, a device adapted to distend such wave loop; and to travel
around the support, and means connected with said distending device, whereby
rotary motion may be imparted to it, substantially as specified.
3. The combination of the stationary support, flexible picture carriage of greater
length than the circumference of the support, the transfer roll adapted to rotate
around the support and means connected with the roll for propelling it, substantially
as specified.
4. A perforated cylindrical supporting hoop and a circumambulating flexible
picture carriage adapted to carry designs on its opposite sides in combination with
the wave-loop propelling device and means for actunting such device, substantially
as specified.
5. The combination of the stationary drum, picture carrying band, and the
transferring roll and arm, mounted on the centrally fixed shaft, substantially as
specified.
6. The combination of the stationary drum, the picture band, the transferring
roll and arm, the central shimit, and the pedestal, with means, substantially as
described, for rotating the transfer roll around the drum, substantially as specified.
7. The combination of a picture band mounted upon a cylindrical support of less
circumference than the length of the band, with a rotating loop carrying device
for transferring the band, as the roll C and arins D and E substantially as
specified.
8. A kinetoscope hand bearing a series of designs of the character described,
means for supporting it and separate means for propelling a wave-loop throughout
its extent, such mechanism being su constructed and arranged that in operation all
parts of the band not involved in the wave-loop shall remain stationary.
Dated this 15th day of October 1895.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97 Newgate Street, London, E.C., Agent for Applicant.