Improvements in connection with Photographic Films, and in the Mounting, Storing, and Using of same, and in the Storage Cases and Apparatus connected therewith.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in connection with Photographic Films, and in the
Mounting, Storing, and Using of same, and in the Storage Cases
and Apparatus connected therewith.
I, JOHN EDWARD THORNTON, of Rokeby, Oldfield Road, Altrincham, Cheshire,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention provides a simple and efficient system whereby flat films (as
distinct from rollable films) may be packed and used on what is known as the
daylight" plan, that is to say they may be loaded into or removed from the
camera in open daylight, without recourse to a dark room, and after each film in
the pack has been exposed it inay be readily moved out of the way and a fresh one
brought into position for exposure.
"
The films are each backed with a piece of opaque paper (black for example),
and placed in a pile one before the other in a case or box having an open front,
which said case may be inserted in the camera opposite the lens, either directly,
or by means of a suitable form of dark slide. It is convenient to put one dozen
in a pack, but any other number may be adopted.
The sensitive surfaces of the films are all placed towards the front of the case,
and in front of the first film an opaque cover is placed, such as a piece of black
paper, card, or other suitable material.
To each film and the said cover is attached a long tag; this may advantageously
be an extension of the opaque backing paper.
Each of the tags is brought over the top edge of the pack of films and down at
the back. Here the tags may pass through a light-tight aperture in the bottom
of the case.
This aperture may be a tortuous passage; or lined with velvet, plush, or other
suitable material, as a safeguard against access of light.
Or the tags may instead pass upwards again, through the back of the case,
which is made double thickness for that purpose, or between a loose division and
the back of the case.
The ends of the tags outside the case may be shaped or otherwise arranged
conveniently to show which of them is the tag attached to the foremost film in
the case, and may also be numbered. The tags are preferably made narrower
than the films, so that the films will not pass through the narrow aperture pro-
vided for the tags.
In using the films, after inserting the case in position in the camera, the first
tag is pulled; this draws the foremost opaque card or cover over the top and down
behind the pack, leaving the first film in position ready for exposure, and each
film is changed in like manner.
In some cases I may place a loose block or division (without a tag) in the case,
and draw all the films over and behind this. After exposure of the whole con-

page_text: tents this covers the open front of the case. When it is omitted the first opaque
card or cover answers the same purpose.
When all the films have been exposed, the case may be removed from the
camera without danger to the sensitive films, and a fresh case inserted.
The foregoing illustrate broadly the general principle of the invention, viz.: a
packet of films so mounted and arranged in a cheap form of case, in which they
are issued by the makers, kept stored until required, used, and changed in the
camera, and afterwards stored until required for development, all without access
of light before or after exposure, and also without danger of light injuring the
films behind during exposure of the foremost one.
The case may be made of metal, cardboard, or other suitable material, but I
prefer to stamp it out of very thin metal, which, if desired, may be strengthened
by raised or sunk stiffening ribs. It may, if desired, be provided with a draw out
shutter or cover at the front, like a dark slide, though I prefer to dispense with
this in the film case itself.
For convenience in inserting or removing the pack of films, the case may be
made in two parts that fit closely together and interlock with each other, and
provided with spring snaps formed in any suitable manner, for instance as dents
in each part of the case.
The ready filled case may be sold in a light-tight envelope or wrapper, or may
have a label cemented round it which must be cut or removed before use. The
envelope or wrapper also serves to enclose the case after the films have all been
exposed.
Each tag may be so perforated that the outer end may be readily torn off and
thrown away after it has served its purpose in changing the film. A portion of
the case may be so constructed as to form a knife or edge to assist in severing
the tag easily. The waste end of the tag may be utilized for an advertisement
cr other printed matter.
The tags may, of course, be arranged to pull the films over the end or side of
the pack, instead of over the top or bottom. The films may be placed in the pack
with their faces towards the back of the case, and be transferred from back to
front, instead of vice versa as herein before described.
The films may be kept close up to the front face of the case in correct focus
in various ways; for instance a spring may be placed in the back of the case;
cr a loose division or pressure pad may have sufficient spring in it for the pur-
pose; or any other suitable means may be adopted.
Means may be provided for temporarily removing the pressure of the spring or
pressure pad, in order to allow the films to become more loosely separated in the
case, and thereby facilitate ready transference of the front film to the back. This
may consist of a bent wire handle outside the case, or other suitable device.
As already stated, the film case may be placed directly in the camera, like an
ordinary dark slide, but I sometimes prefer to use an intervening carrier or
dark slide which fits into the camera and receives the film case; this enables the
distance from the face of the film to be made to correspond with that of a plate
used in a slide in the ordinary way. The said dark slide or carrier is provided
with a shutter as usual, which, when closed, permits of the film case being removed
from the camera before all the films have been exposed, and also for focussing
purposes.
The film case may fit into a rabate or well in the camera, or in the dark slide,
and be held in position by buttons, spring catches, or other suitable means.
A light-tight joint between the faces of the film case and camera or slide may
be effected by using plush, velvet, or similar material on the said faces, or by
forming beads on the film case that fit into grooves in the camera or slide, or
vice versa.

page_text: Improvements in connection with Photographic Films, and in the
Mounting, Storing, and Using of same, and in the Storage Cases
and Apparatus connected therewith.
I, JOHN EDWARD THORNTON, of Rokeby, Oldfield Road, Altrincham, in the
County of Chester, 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 deals with an improved method of storing and using flat sensi-
tive photographic films.
Hitherto in dealing with flat films in separate sheets it has been necessary (in
a dark room or like convenience) to remove the sensitive. films from the case or
envelope in which they have been packed and place them in a changing box or
holder fitted to the camera or in a camera specially designed and made for the
purpose in order to use or expose them as desired and when the films thus loaded
into the camera have been used, recourse must be had to a dark room or like con-
venience to remove and re-charge.
My invention consists of a sealed packet of flat films comprising a frame or
structure on which the flat films are mounted as a pack with a rounded end
piece over which the films can be drawn and a number of light tight apertures
at the opposite end formed of separate strips through each of which an attach-
ment to the film can be passed, an opaque envelope or covering to protect the
films from light and a number of flat films each provided with an opaque backing
packed therein by the manufacturer for sale and storage and so arranged that they
can be successively exposed, the said frame and packet being of a size and shape
to fit direct into a camera or into an adapter or holder without removing the films
packed therein.
Thus as a new article of manufacture a light tight cheap packet containing
films is provided by this invention and such packet may be stored, loaded into
and used, and removed from the camera all in daylight and the films retained
there until required for development and the case cannot conveniently be refilled
but will be discarded and useless after the films have been subsequently removed
therefrom.
The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying
drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the frame in which the pack of films are
mounted.
Fig. 2. Front elevation of sealed pack in position in holder.
Fig. 3. Transverse section on line x-x
Fig. 1.
Fig. 4. Transverse section showing a modification.
Fig. 5. Transverse section on line y-y Fig. 2, showing pack of films in holder.
Fig. 6. Transverse section showing a modified arrangement.
Fig. 7. Transverse section of same showing the second flexible sheet in another
position.
Fig. 8. Longitudinal section on line - Fig. 2.
Fig. 9. Transverse section of one form of envelope or cover.
Fig. 10. Transverse section of another form of envelope or cover.
Fig. 11. Transverse section showing another form of same.
Fig. 12. Perspective view of another modification.
Fig. 13. Transverse section on line - Fig. 12.
Fig. 14. Transverse section of same without diaphragm.

page_text: -
Fig. 15. Perspective diagram showing arrangement of flat films and opaque
backing in Figs. 12 and 13.
Fig. 16. Perspective view showing another modification of construction.
Fig. 17. Longitudinal section of same.
Fig. 18. Transverse section of same.
Fig. 19. Perspective view of single film back-sheet and tag.
The flat films A are each attached or secured to a sheet or backing B of opaque
material such as black paper to prevent the light penetrating from one to the
next and the backing B is formed with an extension piece or tag b which projects
to provide a means for manipulating the film.
The flat films A with their opaque backings B are mounted upon a frame C on
which they are held flat and straight in position for exposure. The frame C
is constructed with two flanges c one on either side and a bar or rounded end
piece D near one end round which the extension pieces b and films attached are
successively drawn, each after exposure from the front to the back. At the other
end the flanges care joined by an end piece c¹ included in the construction of
which are a number of suitably shaped strips e placed side by side and separated
from each other by distance pieces so as to form altogether a number of narrow
light tight openings E one of such openings being provided for each opaque
backing extension or tag 6 which may be necessary to complete the packet.
If desired a diaphragm d Fig. 4 may be secured between the guide pieces D),
flanges c and end piece e¹ and one side of such diaphragm may be turned round
to form the guide piece D.
The flanges c may be formed in one piece and in such case they are connected
together at the end of the frame remote from the light tight apertures and beyond
and clear of the guide piece D.
The
The pack composed of the flat films A and opaque backing when mounted in
position on the frame C is enclosed in an opaque envelope or covering which may
fit between the flanges c and which may be made of black opaque paper (several
thicknesses if required) thin sheet metal or other suitable material.
envelope or cover as shown in Fig. 5 comprises a sheet of opaque paper F (the
part protecting the films having two extra sheets attached to it) passed over the
front of the films A round the guide piece D and through one of the light-tight
apertures E. Upon the projecting end being pulled the opaque cover is with-
drawn from the face of the films. This is only done when the packet is in the
camera. The envelope or cover is drawn to the back of the case and the films as
they are exposed are drawn round into a like position behind it so that when all
the films have been exposed they are in their new position still covered and pro-
tected from the light by the said opaque envelope.
The extension picces 6 of the backing sheets B are placed behind the strips e
during the constructing of the case, one being laid in position and then the other.
In order to bring each successive film into position so that the image is correctly
focussed upon it the pack of films is pushed forward by the pressure of a spring
so as to bear along two or more edges of a fixed frame. For this purpose either
a loose pressure board upon which the films are mounted is thus moved in the 4
case or the whole case is so attached to the adapter or to the camera as to carry
forward the films in a similar manner.
In the modification in Figs. 6 and 7 the case is made with a top piece ² extend-
ing across from the flanges c and a second flexible opaque sheet K is placed behind
the pack of films. This is provided at the end with a roll or enlargement k. This 5
opaque sheet is drawn over the guide piece D after the last flat film has been
exposed and drawn over the enlargement k closes the passage around the guide
piece D through which the films have passed making it light-tight.
In the modifications shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11, the cover or envelope is made
of thin sheet tin or other metal. In Fig. 9 it is made in two parts one f at the
front and the other f' at the back of the frame C either of which can be removed
as required. In Fig. 10 it is made of one piece of tin or other metal which
5

page_text: can be withdrawn from the frame C and in Fig. 11 it is made of sheet metal or
other material in two parts the back part 2 of which will be secured to the
frame C and the front part F can be withdrawn from the pack when required.
A holder or adapter G is provided which fits the camera and into which the
sealed packet of films is inserted for use in the camera or the sealed packet may
be made to fit direct into the camera.
In the modification Figs. 12 to 15 the cover to enclose the pack of flat films
and opaque sheets is stamped or pressed of sheet metal, cardboard or other similar
light inexpensive material and of a size and shape to fit direct into the camera.
It is divided into two compartments by the diaphragm d and provided with an
exposing aperture a at the front through which the films A placed therein are,
when required, successively exposed. At or near the top of the cover F³ is fitted
the bar D over which the flat films with their opaque backing 1 can be drawn
from one compartment to the other after exposure to uncover another film so that
it is ready for exposure. In the lower edge of the cover F3 are formed the light-
tight apertures E of corrugated form through which are inserted the ends or an
extension of the opaque backing material B. In addition to the apertures E.
there are towards the front of the case a number of similar apertures E' into which
the ends of the flat films are placed when being packed and by which they are
held extended and perfectly flat until they are drawn away after exposure. An
additional opaque sheet B is placed in front of the films to cover the exposing
aperture a.
The opaque sheet B₁ may, if found desirable, be thicker than the intermediate
opaque sheets B, that is, may consist of several sheets superimposed, to make the
pack perfectly light proof at the outside. The flat films are secured at one edge
to the opaque sheets B and each opaque sheet B extends at the back of the flat
film over the bar D to the withdrawal slit E to provide means for manipulating
the flat film without withdrawing it from the case,
In Figs. 16 to 19 the opaque sheets B at the back of the sensitive flat films A
are each provided with a narrow tag 6 which extends over the top rail D) to a
single light-tight opening E through which they project. A single opening only
is required as the tags 6 are narrow and extend in a series of steps from the films
so as to project side by side as shown in Fig. 16. The extensions or tags bare
numbered consecutively or otherwise marked to indicate which film is nearest to
the exposing aperture. By pulling one tag 6 the corresponding film after exposure
is drawn from the exposing aperture to the back compartment of the case with
the opaque back turned towards the aperture.
A sealed packet of flexible sensitive films so arranged and packed in a cheap
packing case is thus issued by the makers, kept stored until required and used and
changed in the camera in daylight and afterwards stored until required for
development all without access of light before or after exposure and also without
danger of light injuring the films behind during the exposure of the front one.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. A sealed packet of flat films so constructed and arranged that the case or
envelope serves as the original packing case as a holder during the exposure of
the films and as a case for subsequent storage prior to development which may
be placed into and removed from the camera in daylight substantially as
described.
->
2. A light-tight packing and exposing case containing a packet of flat films in
position for exposing comprising in its construction a frame or structure in or on
which the flat films are mounted, a guide piece or rail over which the films can
be drawn from front to back of the case, means for bringing each film into correct
focussing position for exposure, light-tight apertures formed of a number of
strips of material through which the transferring tags or opaque backings of the
L

page_text: films are drawn and an opaque covering or envelope to enclose and protect the
films from light the whole being of such size and construction as to fit into a
camera or holder and be placed in position and removed in day-light substantially
as described.
3. A sealed packet of photographic films constructed with a number of flat
films each with an opaque backing and transferring strips or tags and a corre-
sponding number of light-tight slits or apertures through each of which one of
the transferring strips or tags are passed for the purpose of manipulating the
films in the case substantially as described and shown.
4. In a sealed packet of flat films the combination with a case containing the
flat films and a frame upon which they are mounted so as to be transferred from
front to back of an opaque flexible covering of paper fabric or other similar
material to protect the foremost film and which can be transferred to the back
of the case to admit of the exposure of the films substantially as described.
5. A sealed packet of flat photographic films constructed and arranged sub-
stantially as and for the purpose described with reference to either of the figs. of
the drawings.
800
1
P
T
1
1900
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.