Improvements relating to Photographic Apparatus or Devices for Automatically Registering and Indicating the Number of Exposures.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 17th Oct., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Photographic Apparatus or Devices
for Automatically Registering and Indicating the Number
of Exposures.
A communication from abroad by ELLIS ELMER MOORE, of Syracuse, State of
New York, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E. of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6 Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, 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 :-
The invention relates to devices for automatically registering and indicating the
number of exposures made in a photographic apparatus, adapted to use a continuous
strip or sheet of film, or sensitised paper, of any kind which is mounted upon. rolls,
in a frame which is detachable from the case, or otherwise.
The object is to register the successive exposures and numerically indicate them,
so that the operator can always know the exact number he has remaining, not used,
by means of a geared and numbered disk or dial, and a differential feed gear meshing
therewith and actuated by the rotation of the axis of an idler roll upon which the
feed gear is mounted, and which is frictionally rotated by the contact of the sheet
of film therewith, whenever the sheet is moved by the winding up of it onto the
winding roll, after each exposure.
The invention consists in the several novel features of construction and operation
hereinafter described and which are specifically set forth in the claims hereunto
annexed.
It is constructed as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,
in which,
Fig. 1, is an elevation of the idler roll, the film sheet, a longitudinal section of
part of the casing and of the detachable film holding frame, and an edge view
of the register.
Fig. 2, is an isometrical elevation of a camera, with the register attached thereto.
Fig. 3, is a vertical longitudinal section of the register, detached.
Fig. 4, is a top plan view of the same.
Fig. 5, is a detail of the end of the axis of the idler, and of the screw pin
detachably connecting the differential feed gear to the register.
Fig. 6, is a like view of the same parts, differing somewhat in their construction
from that shown in Fig. 5.
Fig. 7, is a like view of the same parts, showing still another construction.. -
Fig. 8, is a top plan of a register, in which the differential feed gear is mounted
on top of the registering dial and geared pinions, mounted upon the axis of the
idler roll, and engaging with both said gear and said dial, an opening being.cut
through the differential gear to permit the inspection of the figures upon the
registering dial.
*A," is the camera, and 1 is the side of the frame holding the film 2, said frame

page_text: not being shown in full, as it is of ordinary construction, and is not a part of the
invention.
An idler roll 3 is journaled upon the axis 4, in the sides of said frame, and the
film passes over it and bears with frictional contact against it, so that the said roller
is rotated by the winding up of the film after an exposure is made, in the usual
manner. One end of this axis is either drilled and screw threaded to receive the
threaded axial extension 5; or made with an angular mortise to receive an
extension of like form; or with two or more recesses to receive pins or studs upon
the inner end of such extension; and all these forms of such extension are
detachable from the axis.
The outer end of this extension is squared, as shown, for the reasons hereinafter
stated.
"B" is the register, comprising a casing 6, recessed to receive the registering
dial 7, geared on its periphery, and provided with the figures on its outer face,
substantially as shown, and also to receive the differential feed gear 8.
The registering dial is mounted upon a central pivot.
The feed gear is provided with a central opening of proper form and size to fit
upon the angular extension of the axis, or is otherwise secured thereto. An arm 9,
mounted upon the case, extends over the center of the differential gear, and affords
a bearing for the outer end of the axial extension, when desired.
A pointer integral with the differential gear indicates when it has made a full
revolution, and also when the idler roller has made a full revolution, and also when
the paper has been moved the length of one negative, said roller being of a
circumference equal to said length of a negative.
The registering dial as shown has 100 teeth or cogs, and the differential feed
gear has one less, so that when the feed gear makes a full revolution, as indicated
as aforesaid, the registering dial will revolve one cog less than a full revolution,
and thus register one upon it, with each revolution of said feed gear.
When it is wished to remove the frame from the camera, the extension is
removed and replaced when the frame is replaced.
In Fig. 8 the feed gear is on top of the registering dial, and both are mounted.
upon a single central pivot; a geared pinion 10 engages with the feed gear; a
smaller geared pinion under the pinion 10 engages with the registering dial, and
both pinions are mounted upon the axial extension and rotated by its rotation.
1
In this construction there is one less cog upon the feed gear, than upon the dial,
and said gear has a perforation, exposing the figures upon the dial.
Also it requires several rotations of the pinions to rotate the feed gear a full
rotation, and the dial one cog less than a full revolution, and the size of the idler
roller should be reduced in proportion to the difference in the diameters of the feed
gear, and the pinion 10.
Also, both of these pinions should have the same number of cogs.
The effect of this latter differential rotation of the feed gear and the dial, is to
shift the dial one figure each rotation, as in the other construction.
The register is.secured to the camera case by screws, as shown...
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that 1 am well aware that neither the frame
shown in the drawings, nor the winding rolls therein, nor the idler nor measuring.
roll therein, which is rotated by the film passing over it, are singly or in combination
any part of my invention; and that I am also aware of the British Patents-of
Boult, 15,542 of 1884; Boult, 12,972 of 1885; and McKellen 8,722 of 1885, and
of the inventions patented by them respectively, and that neither of them contains
or embraces any invention by me made, and shown or described by me in my
application for Letters Patent of Great Britain; but what I claim is:-
:
1: The combination with the camera: and the frame barrsing that negative film.

page_text: the roller in said frame, and the removable extension of the axis of said roller, of
differential feed and registering gears actuated by the rotation of said roller.
2:-Differential feed and registering gears in engagement, in combination with
an idler engaging therewith and mounted upon and rotated by the rotation of the
emovable outer section of the axis of the film roller in a camera.
Dated this 14th day of September 1891.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.