A New Magazine Camera.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 30th Jan., 1893-Accepted, 28th Mar., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New Magazine Camera.
I, SAMUEL DICKINSON WILLIAMS of Moorlinch House, Clytha Park Newport,
in the County of Monmouth Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
According to my present invention I form my camera with a double bottom
that is to say with a platform stretching about half the length of the camera &
raised parallel above the floor thereof so as to leave a space between sufficient to
enable a sensitised film or sheet to pass along. The films or sheets or other
sensitised surfaces hereinafter referred to for brevity as films are packed & rest
with their edges downwards upon this platform & are maintained in this upright
compact order & position by means of spring pressure applied at the front & on
top. On the sides of my camera I arrange a system of wheels or pulleys with
endless chain bands or cords passing over them & I connect the pulleys & bands
on one side with similar pulleys and bands on the other side by cross pieces or
carriers bearing spring hooks clips or grippers. The system of pulleys and bands
occupies on each side of the camera a rectangular shaped position or approxi-
mating thereunto so that when set in motion the above cross pieces travel in
continuous rotation right round the body or pack of films as they rest or stand on
the platform that is to say starting at the back passing under the platform then
round the front over the top & on the back again. The spring grippers take hold
of the bottom edge of the film but I prefer to use films with holes in at the bottom
edge into which the spring hooks or grippers carried by the cross pieces engage at
the proper moment by being made to pass over a ledge or guide piece situated at
the required point on the inside in the back at the bottom of the camera.
continued motion in the same direction of the travelling band enables the cross
piece thus to carry the film under the bottom of the platform & up into a vertical
position in the front when, having arrived thereat, the spring hook or gripper is
again made to pass over a corresponding ledge or guide situated at the required
point on the inside in the front at the top of the camera, & thus becomes disengaged
leaving the film in the front in proper position for exposure, the spring pressure at
the front & the springs at the top of the films adjusting same in their place &
preventing the front film from becoming deranged in position.
The
.
I prefer to furnish my system of pulleys & bands with four of the cross pieces
referred to as by that means I am enabled to have a film which has been already
drawn from the back always waiting at the bottom of the camera ready to be
drawn up in front. I provide for the separation of the films or sensitised sheets in
order that the hooks or grippers of the carriers may take to one & one only each
time by the following device. At the end of the platform which supports the
general body of the films I arrange on a suitable shaft a screw consisting of a
cam shaped thread with knife edges such thread being of a pitch just fine enough
to admit only one thickness of the film or sheet which is being used the travel of
the thread beginning from nothing increases by reason of its cam shape so as to
gradually insert itself automatically between the last film at the back and the
general body of the films and at the same time by reason of the natural angle of
the thread pushes the film so separated outwards and over the edge of the platform
where it is in a position to become engaged by the hooks or grippers of the cross
carrying pieces. For the protection of the body of films during exposure of the
one in position I arrange in front of the general body of films a dark curtain or
flexible dark slide or screen working on rollers mounted upon or in conjunction
with an endless band which forms a sort of skeleton or hollow frame alternating

page_text: with the dark slide in such a way that for a certain travel of the rollers the dark
slide is behind the film when in position for exposure, and for a certain further or
reverse travel after exposure, the dark slide is withdrawn therefrom to a position
in front of the film and the skeleton or hollow frame aided by the spring pressure
referred to permits the exposed plate to join the general body of the films & the
next movement brings another film up in front but at the same time the screen
rollers have also made a further travel and brought the dark slide into position
behind. it.. The .screen rollers. are geared with the system of pulleys and driving
bands so that the motion derived therefrom connects the screen in a manner
suitable to produce the effects required. I arrange my camera with suitable shutter
mechanism & this also I connect by contacts or gearing or other mechanical
connection with the shaft of the screw cam or system of pulleys & screen rollers
so that when a film is about being changed after exposure the fact of the same
being done shall automatically set the shutter I arrange a suitable spring catch for
releasing the same by hand either for instantaneous or time exposure or where
necessary I omit such device for independent working & make the continuous
travel of the system of pulleys and cross carriers or the general action of the
mechanism as described set the shutter and release it as fast as the films are
brought into position. I arrange a driving band on a driving wheel or pulley on
the side of the camera gearing into the system of pulleys & cross. carriers, or I
drive the general movement from the screw shaft by suitable gearing from which
it will be seen that the continuous rotary motion. of the driving handle and' the
general arrangement and mechanism as described will enable the films to be
exposed in rapid succession until the charge of films or sheets in the camera be
.exhausted.
Dated this Thirtieth day of March 1892.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New Magazine Camera.
I, SAMUEL DICKINSON WILLIAMS of Moorlinch House, Clytha Park Newport,
in the County of Monmouth Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of my present invention is to provide a new magazine camera where
the films can be successively separated for use, then exposed or used without the
employment of dark, slides as carriers or separate opaque backings for each film,
and then transferred back into the same chamber as previously contained them all
by the one general mechanical movement.
In order that my invention may be better understood: I, refer to the annexed
drawings.
C Fig. 1, & Fig. 2 Sheet is an inner or double bottom which I construct on
the floor of the camera so as to leave a space sufficient to enable a sensitized
sheet or film to pass along. This double bottom forms with the sides of the
camera a cubical chamber for containing the films which, are packed therein,
the same being maintained in order & position by means of spring pressure such as
at N and L and N. The form of my invention now being described supposes it
to be turned towards the lens in the direction of the dotted lines Q'³
On the sides of the camera I arrange a system of wheels or pulleys P¹ & P'
with endless chain bands or cords passing over them, said pulleys being placed at
four corners in the sides of the camera as shewn.
1 connect the pulleys & chain bands on one side with those on the other side
by cross pieces or carriers K. & K' Fig. 3. Sheet 2 for transporting the films.
The former K of these cross pieces bears spring hooks clips or grippers or
claws S which hook into holes in or otherwise engage with one edge of the film

page_text: whilst the latter K¹ engages with the bottom or opposite edge of the film by means
of a similar device S.
The system of pulleys & bands as already indicated occupies on each side of the
camera a rectangular shaped position or approximating thereto so that when set in
motion the cross pieces travel in continuous rotation right round the body of films
as packed on the double bottom C. so that the grippers S. on the cross pieces K.
& K engage at the proper moment with the film with which they come into
effective contact at the point G₁ in the casing G of the film chamber Fig. 2
Sheet 1 & the film is thus carried up into a vertical position in the front when
after having arrived thereat and been exposed, on the forward general movement
being made the grippers S. pass over corresponding ledges or guides & at the
proper time to enable it to rejoin the pack. G are openings in the casing of the
film chamber to admit of the film in process of separation having sufficient "play"
for same.
I prefer to furnish my system of pulleys & bands with four of the cross
pieces K & K¹ as by that means I am enabled to have a film always ready &
waiting to be drawn up in front.
I provide, for the separation of the films, in order that the grippers S. may
take hold of them one only at each time, the device A either single or in duplicate
shewn at Fig. 2 Sheet 1 at the end D of the platform C. I mount on the
shaft E Fig. 1 Sheet 2 a screw or cam E with a knife edge beginning from
nothing & increasing by reason of its cam shape so as to gradually insert itself
between the film to be separated & the pack.
Immediately behind this cam is a circular boss B³ the back face of which is cut
into an irregular inclined plane terminating in a drop acting upon a fixed stop F
against which it is kept in contact by a spiral spring G surrounding the shaft
upon which it is mounted.
This device of a circular boss attached to the separating cam includes a circular
wedge shaped piece P enveloping the boss B³ for one third of its periphery.
The portion of the shaft referred to at J is telescoped into a square socket Q in
connection with the bevel wheel shewn at W which driven by angular gearing;
with the proper number of teeth, from the shaft H in connection with the system
of chain pulleys P & P & P Sometimes I give to the cam the shape or section
shewn at R Fig. 3 Sheet 1 in which case of course it is obvious the other attach-
ments just above referred to are unnecessary.
When the pack of films rests with the edges upon the bottom C I arrange in
front of the general body of films a screen shewn at H Fig. 2 Sheet 2 working
on the rollers H' in conjunction with the band H' running thereon.
This band & screen H form a skeleton or hollow frame & by a connection of
gearing well understood in this branch of small mechanism & therefore unnecessary
to be shewn; the action is produced that for a travel of the carriers K & K₁
bringing the film up in front, the screen is then behind it & for a further travel of
the carriers K & K' after having become disengaged from the film the screen is
then in front of it. Figs. 1 & 2 Sheet 1 shews my invention constructed separately,
that is, apart from combination with lens or shutter or any particular form of
camera proper; and in this respect the drawings may be considered as representing
a change box for use in a camera and not the camera itself. Considered as a
change box it admits of the following adaptation :
If the platform with the films packed thereon & the attached separating device.
be turned towards the lens as indicated by the dotted lines at Q' Fig. 1 & Fig. 2
Sheet the moveable screen as shewn at H can be omitted as said platform of
itself then suffices for that office, the travel & the general action of carriers K :
&K' in taking the films one at a time from what now becomes the bottom of the
pack & after exposure transferring them to what now becomes the top of the pack
remaining otherwise relatively the same as before.
In this arrangement, on the top of the camera B is a transverse bar & I place
another at B these bars bear devices for releasing the films from the cross

page_text: carriers K & K¹ & they consist of inclined planes or wedge rails P³ over which.
the springs of the grippers S pass in the motion of the cross carriers. L & L are
spring claws for the purpose of holding each preceding film in position whilst the
succeeding film is being deposited. These claws are actuated by the cross carrier
which in sliding over them depresses them to an extent to enable them to bear
down with their tips upon the edge of the film just previously deposited and the
succeeding film which is then in the carrier is thus enabled to pass into its deposited.
position without the edges coming into collision.
M & M are retaining or overlapping flanges or guide frames for enabling the
film to maintain its flat condition during exposure & otherwise to control its
passage. N is the system of spring pressure for the purpose of adjusting the films
in their place when deposited on release from the grippers S.
On the magazine receiving its proper charge of films the action generally on
motion being imparted by turning a handle or otherwise is the following
The cam E revolves & its knife edge becomes inserted behind the first film at
the same time as the lower part of the boss B' commences to give a forward motion
pushing the film outwards. The wedge shaped piece P then also begins to insert
itself in such a way as to interpose its own bulk between the film just separated
& the one immediately behind & thus prevents the latter from following too soon.
At this point the cross carrier K arrives & the spring claws S sliding off the
casing G which up to this point resisted them, take into the edge of the film which
is then drawn up to the position for exposure.
After exposure the continued forward movement of the chain band & carriers
brings the film on to the top of the camera C³ the claws S are then in their
passage up the inclined plane or wedge rail device P³ disengaged & the film is
deposited in its proper position in the space occupied by the general pack. The
passage of the film may be aided by small friction pulleys inserted at the requisite
points.
The cam E after having separated & pushed out the first edge of the film
continues its motion & passes the wedge P' round to its thin end & in so doing
boss B also travels out of the range of the fixed stop F & the spiral spring G is
then brought into play & takes the shaft J back into the socket Q the cam being
thus rendered ready for commencing the work of separating the next film from the
rest of the pack.
I arrange my camera with suitable shutter mechanism & this also I connect by
contacts or gearing or other mechanical connection with the shaft of the screw
cam or system of pulleys & screen rollers so that when a film is about being
changed after exposure the fact of the same being done shall automatically set the
shutter.
I arrange a suitable spring catch for releasing the same by hand either for
instantaneous or time exposures, or where necessary I omit such device for
independent working & make the continuous travel of the system of pulleys &
cross carriers or the general action of the mechanism as described set the shutter
& release it as fast as the films are brought into position.
I arrange a driving band on a driving wheel or pulley on the side of the camera
gearing into the system of pulleys & cross carriers, or I drive the general move-
ment from the screw shaft by suitable gearing from which it will be seen that the
continuous rotary motion of the driving handle & the general arrangement &
mechanism as described will enable the films to be exposed in rapid & continuous
succession until the charge of films or sheets in the camera be exhausted.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of this invention &
in what manner the same is to be performed it is to be understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise parts & methods herein described as the same may be
varied without departing from the general principle of my invention but what I do
claim is ;-
1. In apparatus for exposing a succession of sensitised sheets or films (herein

page_text: after referred to simply as films) a system of flexible bands, pulleys, & carrying
devices, in conjunction with a simultaneously worked separating mechanism for
bringing the bare films themselves to the same point for exposure & afterwards
depositing & retaining them in the chamber from which they have been withdrawn
all substantially as herein before described.
2. In apparatus for the purpose described a separating device such as shewn
at R Fig. 3 Sheet 1 consisting of a wedge shaped cam by itself or in connection
with an attached boss & block as shewn at A. Fig. 1 Sheet 2 mounted on a
telescopic spring shaft & a fixed stop all operating on one edge of the film by the
simultaneous movement of the gearing with the spindle connecting the system of
flexible bands & pulleys substantially as hereinbefore described & illustrated in the
drawings.
3. In apparatus for the purpose described such devices as the cross carriers K
& K with their hooks & grippers constituting in combination with the over-
lapping flanges or guides M a hollow frame or holder for each film such frame or
holder retaining said film on all four edges or sides & yet capable of a continuous
rotary motion for transporting the film from the film chamber to the point of
exposure & then depositing same back into the said chamber all operating sub-
stantially as herein before described & illustrated in the drawings.
4. In apparatus as described the use of only one opaque backing or screen
whether moveable as shewn at H Fig. 2 Sheet 2 or stationary as at C Figs. 1 & 2
Sheet 1 at a fixed point to which the bare films are successively brought for
exposure all operating substantially as herein before described & illustrated in the
drawings.
5. The several arrangements & combinations of parts, constituting the apparatus
for the purpose explained as herein before described & illustrated in the several.
figures of the drawings, whether same be used in the manner indicated by the
dotted lines Q' or Q
6. The plan described where the continuous travel of the system of pulleys and
cross carriers sets and releases the shutter as fast as the films are brought into.
position so as to enable, in apparatus as described, the operations of exposure &
change of film to be carried on continuously and automatically by the one general
motion imparted to the driving mechanism all substantially as herein before:
described.
Dated this 27th day of January 1893.
SAMUEL D. WILLIAMS.