Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Apr., 1890.
Complete Specification Left, 26th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 18th Oct., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
I, HARRY RANSOM, of 122, Newington Butts, in the County of London, Photo-
grapher, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates to improvements in photographic hand or detective cameras
whereby a number of plates may be successively oxposed in a simple and convenient
manner.
In carrying out my invention I provide a rotating shaft or cylinder to which is
hinged a number of sheaths or holders in which the sensitive plates or films are placed.
The cylinder is adapted to be rotated in a suitable case or box, and is advantageously
formed with as many sides as there are plate-holders say, twelve, for example; the
sheaths or holders are flexibly hinged to the cylinder and a suitable ratchet arrange-
ment is provided to allow of the cylinder being rotated one twelfth of a revolution,
each movement bringing a plate in a proper upright position opposite the lens and
against a flexible frame which helps to retain the plate in a rigid position during
exposure but allows the sheath or holder with the plate to be passed through it when
the cylinder is turned whereupon the plate by its own weight falls down clear of the
lens bringing the next plate into position for exposure.
In practice I find it advantageous to form my sheaths or holders so that they shall
act as springs to clip the plate firmly and to form them in parts adapted to slide one
upon the other, so that they may be used for different sized plates.
I employ a drop shutter with suitable arrangements for operating the same.
In some cases I adopt an auxiliary lens outside the case adjusted and working with
the operating lens whereby I am enabled to accurately focus the object to be
photographed.
TL 171
2 A
זי
1000
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMEIE DIBUIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Cameras.
I, HARRY RANSOM, of 122, Newington Butts, in the County of London, Photo-
grapher, 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
My invention relates to improvements in photographic hand or detective cameras
whereby a number of plates may be successively exposed in a more simple and con-
venient manner than heretofore.
'
In carrying out my invention I provide a rotating shaft or cylinder to which
is hinged a number of sheaths or holders in which the sensitized plates or films
are placed. The shaft or cylinder is adapted to be rotated in a suitable case or
box, and is advantageously formed with as many sides as there are plate-holders
say, twelve, for example; the sheaths or holders are flexibly hinged to the cylinder
and a suitable ratchet arrangement is provided to allow of the cylinder being
rotated in twelfths of a revolution, each movement of one twelfth bringing a plate
in a proper upright position opposite the lens and against a flexible frame which
helps to retain the plate in a rigid position during the exposure but allows the
sheath or holder with the plate to be passed through it when the cylinder is
turned, whereupon the plate and holder by their own weight fall down clear of the
lens, bringing the next plate into position for exposure.
D 077

page_text: To enable my invention to be fully understood L. will describe the same with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
Figures 1 and 2 are side and end views respectively of a camera provided with
improvements according to my invention:
Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but shewing the side of the camera removed
in order to reveal the parts within the camera:
Figure 4 is a section on the line
a Figure 3:
Figures 5 and 6 are views similar to Figures 3 and 4 respectively, illustrating a
modification of my invention; and,
Figure 7 is a view of one side of the same.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
a indicates the box or case of the camera, and the removable door or cover of the
same. c, c are the plate-holders, which are represented as composed of pieces of sheet-
metal bent up to form guides and serving to clip the plates firmly; and d is the
cylinder to which the said plate-holders are jointed or hinged, the said cylinder being
carried upon a shaft d'. In the arrangement of apparatus shewn in Figure 3, the
connection between the plate-holders and the cylinder is effected by means of strips e
of cloth or other flexible material secured to the plate-holders and to the surface of the
cylinder, which, as herein before stated, is preferably provided with a number of flat
surfaces corresponding to the number of holders which the cylinder is adapted to
carry is a knob or handle projecting outside the camera and secured to the shaft d¹
of the cylinder, the said knob serving to move the cylinder from time to time in order
to bring fresh plates in position opposite the lens, (not shewn in the drawing). The
end of the cylinder has upon it a series of numbers corresponding with the several
plates, which numbers are successively exposed through an opening g in the case as
the cylinder d is rotated. This arrangement permits an operator to make an index of
the pictures on the plates.
To prevent the cylinder from being inadvertently moved and to ensure each plate
occupying its proper position during exposure, I mount on the shaft d' a detent-wheel h
with which engages a detent spring-pawl i. k is a rod sliding in a slot in the case and
arranged to act upon the said pawl to move it out of engagement with the detent-
wheel, when it is desired to bring a fresh plate in position. The said rod also carries
a spring which presses against the detent-wheel / sufficiently to act as a brake for
preventing the cylinder d from being moved under the weight of the plate-holders and
plates, during the time that the said pawl i is out of engagement with the said detent-
wheel.
m is a bar against which the upper edge of the plate in position for exposure bears,
as shewn in Figures 3 and 4, which bar also serves for preventing the rays of light
from penetrating through the space between the case and the top of the frame;
and n, n. are flexible pieces which serve to prevent the admission of light around the
ends of the plate, and also assist in holding the same rigidly.
o is a spring which serves to prevent plates, after exposure, from inadvertently
getting in the focus of the lens.
p is an instantaneous shutter which I advantageously use in conjunction with
my camera as this shutter, however, forms the subject matter of my application
for Letters Patent dated 19 June 1890, No. 9549, I make no claim to it in
the present application. This shutter is in the form of a portion of a disc as
represented in dotted lines in Figure 2, and has in it an opening q which, during
the partial rotation of the shutter, is adapted to pass the lens and to allow the
rays to penetrate to the camera. The shutter is moved by means of a belt or
band running upon pulleys s, s, one of which is connected to a knob or handle t
on the exterior of the apparatus.
u, u are lenses and reflectors for focussing, which lenses and reflectors being of
ordinary construction require no description.
In the modification of my invention shewn in Figures 5, 6 and 7 the construction of
the camera is substantially the same as that herein before described, the essential
difference being that the plate-holders are engaged or jointed to a segment of a

page_text: cylinder carried on the shaft d¹. The advantages of this arrangement are that the
plates may be fitted more closely together, and that a camera adapted to receive a
certain number of plates of any given size may be made of smaller dimensions than a
camera of the kind herein before described. The plate-holders in this modification are
carried upon pins or pivots v, v entering holes or bearings in two plates v₁, v¹ on the
ends of the segment.
The plates are advantageously brought into position for exposure by means of a
finger w mounted upon the shaft and working in conjunction with a scale y, a pin w¹
on the end of the said finger being adapted to enter holes z, z in the said scale y to
ensure the plates remaining immovable: a spring serves to press the plates
successively forward into position for exposure; and a second spring serves to
support the cylinder-segment d when several plates have been exposed and thereby
prevent the weight of the said plates from tending to inadvertently move the cylinder-
segment too far.
In this arrangement, the bar m is hinged to the case, as shewn at m³, so as to enable
it to yield when the plate-holders c are moved back into the position shewn in Figure 5,
after having been operated to expose the sensitized plates.
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 1
claim is
1. A photographic camera in which a series of plate-holders are mounted upon a
shaft or cylinder moving upon an axis in such a manner that the several plates con-
tained by the plate-holders may be successively moved into position for exposure,
substantially as described.
2. A photographic camera having a series of plate-holders hinged or jointed to a
cylinder, substantially in the manner hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 3
and 4 of the drawings.
3. The modification of my invention wherein a series of plate-holders are mounted
upon the segment of a cylinder, substantially as described with reference to Figures 5
and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
4. In a camera of the kind hereinbefore described having a series of plate-holders
arranged around a common centre, the bar m and flexible pieces n, n, substantially as,
and for the purposes, described.
5. The manufacture and use of the improved cameras herein before described and
illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, and in Figures 5, 6 and 7 of the accompanying
drawings.
D
320
1
0
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.