Improvements in and connected with Photographic Cameras.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Nov. 1889
Complete Specification Left, 30th July, 1890-Accepted, 18th Oct.. 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Photographic Cameras.
FRANK MIALL Manufacturer of Photographic Apparatus 13 Shelgate Road
Battersea Rise Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My improvements in photographic cameras consists of an outer box or case
preferably of a rectangular shape, within which are two boxes and a traversing
carriage and fitted with suitable view finders.
The top box which is placed in a horizontal position I call the discharging box
which has formed on or in its inner surface suitable grooved recesses to receive
the studs or projections which are on the exterior surface of suitable carriers which
contain the sensitive plates or films to be exposed. On the outside of the discharging
box are one or more pieces on which are formed studs or projections which project
into the inner sides or ends of the box to engage with and hold each carrier alternately
as required the outer portion of such pieces to be fashioned so as to be actuated by the
traversing action of the carriage, on the top of the discharging box is a sliding lid
which has on its under or inner surface a spring, and on the bottom of the box is a
hinged or pivoted bottom on the inner surface of which is formed suitable guides to
receive the carriers containing the sensitive plates or films
The lower box which is placed in a vertical position I call the receiving box and has
on or in its inner surface grooved recesses to correspond with the discharging box and
is fitted with a sliding lid, on the inner surface of which is a spring and on the exterior
has suitable catches to retain the carriers with the sensitive plates or films after having
received them.
The traversing carriage is formed so that it may engage in suitable runners or
grooves formed in or on the inner surface of the outer box or case and so travel in a
limited direction backward and forwards, on the sides of which carriage are pivoted
one or more levers the other ends of such levers being pivoted on the outer surface of
the hinged bottom of the discharging box, or these levers may be dispensed with and
the lid or bottom allowed to fall by gravity.
The traversing carriage is actuated by a stud or other suitable method from the
outside.
The inner surface of the outer case is also provided with suitable guides to receive
the projections on the plate or film carriers so as to guide them in the passage from
the discharging to the receiving box.
A box similar in construction to these boxes, which I call the store box is also
formed with grooved recesses on its inner surface to correspond with the grooves in
the other boxes, and furnished with a sliding lid this box serves to convey the sensitive
plates or films each in its carrier, into the discharging box and when empty to receive
the exposed plates from the receiving box.
In the front end of the rectangular outer case is placed the lens which can be
adjusted from the outside for focussing purposes by either a rack & pinion, cam, levers,
or other suitable method.
The covering and uncovering of the lens is effected by a segment of a circle having'
an opening in the centre and opaque ends so that the lens is always covered except at
the moment of exposure the segment of a circle which may be made of metal or other
suitable material is pivoted at the centre from which the radius is struck and actuated.
by either rack and pinion or levers, pivoted at suitable distances from such centre that
will cause it to oscillate at will.
Plates or films that are not contained in carriers can also be used in this camera

page_text: if simply backed with paper or other opaque material the side grooves on the
rectangular case in this method are so formed so that at one portion of the passage
of the traversing carriage they can be partially withdrawn to allow the plate to
pass into the receiving box and also no grooyes are required in the several
discharging, receiving, and store boxes.
An arrangement by means of cam, or lever, or screw motion can be adapted to the
bottom of discharging box & to the edges of receiving box whereby a motion can be
given to the plate to throw it out of the perpendicular and actuated from the exterior
if required.
The lens or front containing the lens can also be made to change its position
either by means of screws levers or cams or the like and actuated from the outside.
A toothed or ratchet wheel having on one portion of its circumference figures, thus
forming an indicator to register the number of plates exposed, is affixed to the side or
ends of discharging box and a pawl which is actuated by the opening and closing
of this box engages with this wheel causing its revolution tooth by tooth.
A finder or finders and also a focussing indicator fixed on that part which contains
the lens completes the camera taken as a whole the exterior being covered with any
material and take such external appearance as may be desired by the user.
The to & fro motion of the traversing carriage is utilised for the setting and
releasing of a suitable exposing shutter by means of levers, rack & pinion cam
motion or the like.
The mode of using the camera is thus. After the plates by the withdrawal of
the several lids are transferred bodily and in a mass from the store box which is
temporarily fixed to the discharging box in a horizontal position to the axis of the
lens, are then conveyed by the action of the traversing carriage to the vertical position
and placed in the front of the receiving box, which retains them ready for exposure
and such action to be repeated plate after plate until all be transferred from the dis-
charging box into the receiving box and can then be removed from thence into
the store box.
Dated this 31st day of October 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Photographic Cameras.
I FRANK MIALL 13 Shelgate Road Battersea Rise Surrey Manufacturer of Photo-
graphic Apparatus 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 Improvements in and connected with Photographic Cameras consists of an outer
box or case preferably of a rectangular shape within which are two grooved boxes and
a traversing carriage. The top box A placed in a horizontal position I call the
discharging box and which has formed in or on its inner surface suitable grooved
recesses A to receive the studs or projections V which are on the exterior of suitable
carriers which contain the sensitive plates or films:
On the outside of the discharging box are one or more pieces W on which are
formed studs or projections w. which project into the inner sides or ends of the box
and engage
with and hold each carrier alternately as required, the outer portion shewn
at W to be so fashioned so as to be actuated by the traversing action of the carriage
by the projection on the traversing carriage and marked P₁ Figs. 1 and 5. On the
top of the discharging box is a sliding lid E Figs. 1. 2. 3 and 5 which has on its inner
surface a spring G Figs. 2. 3 and 5 and on the bottom of this box is a hinged or
pivoted bottom F Figs. 1. 2. 3 and 5 on the inner surface of which are formed suitable
guides to receive the carriers containing the sensitive plates or films.
The lower box B Figs. 1. 2. 3 and 5 which is placed in a vertical position I call the

page_text: receiving box and has formed in or on its inner surface grooved recesses A*
Figs. 1. 2. 3 and 5 to correspond with the discharging box and is fitted with a sliding
lid Figs. 1. 2. 3 and 5 on the inner surface of which is a spring 1 Figs. 1. 2. 3
and 5 and on the exterior of this box are suitable catches J Figs. 1. 2. 3 and 5 to
retain the carriers containing the sensitive plate or film after having received
them.
The traversing carriage C Figs. 1. 2. 3 and 5 is so formed that it may engage with
suitable runners or grooves K Figs. 1. 2. 3 and 5 formed in or on the inner surface of
the outer box or case and so travel in a limited direction backwards and forwards.
On the sides C of which carriage are pivoted one or more levers L Figs. 1. 2 3 and 5
the other ends of such levers being pivoted to the outer surface of the hinged bottom F
of the discharging box shown at M Figs. 1. 2. 3 and 5 or these levers may be
dispensed with and the bottom allowed to fall by gravity. The traversing carriage is
actuated by a stud N Figs. 1. 2. 3 and or other suitable method from the outside.
The inner surface of the outside box or case is provided with suitable guides O
Figs. 1. 2. 3. and 5 to receive the projections on the carriers so as to guide them in the
passage from the discharging to the receiving box.
A box similar in construction to these boxes (i.e. the discharging and receiving
boxes) and which I call the store box D Figs. 1. 5. and 6 is also formed with grooved
rocesses A³ in or on its inner surface to correspond with the grooves in the other boxes
and furnished with a sliding lid P Figs. 1. 5 and 6 and serves to convey the sensitive
plates or films (each in its carrier) into the discharging box and when the store box is
empty to receive the exposed plates from the receiving box.
In the front of the rectangular outer case or box is placed the lens Q Figs. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5
which is fixed in a moveable case R. Figs. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5 and can be adjusted for focussing
purposes, shown at S Figs. 1. 2. 3. 4 and 5 by either rack and pinion T Figs. 1. 2. 3. 4
and 5 or other suitable methods.
The covering and uncovering of the lens is effected by a segment of a circle having
an opening in the centre and opaque ends so that the lens is always covered except
at the moment of exposure, this segment of a circle which may be made of metal or
other suitable material is pivoted at the centre from which the radius is struck and
actuated by levers pivoted at suitable distances from such centre as will cause it to
oscillate at will.
Plates that are not contained in carriers can also be used in this camera, if they are
simply backed with paper or other opaque material the side grooves or guides on the
rectangular case are in this method so formed that at one portion of the passage of
the traversing carriage they can be partially withdrawn to allow the sensitive plate to
pass into the receiving box and also that no grooves are required in the several
discharging, receiving, and store boxes.
An arrangement by means of cam or lever or screw motion can be adapted to the
bottom of the discharging box, and to the edges of the receiving box, whereby a motion
can be given to the plate to throw it out of the perpendicular if required and actuated
from the exterior. The lens or front containing the lens can also be made to change
its position either horizontally or vertically either by means of screws, levers, cams or
the like and actuated from the exterior.
A toothed or ratchet wheel X Figs. 1. 2. 3 and 5 having on one portion of its
circumference figures thus forming an indicator to register the number of plates
exposed, is affixed to the side of the discharging box and a pawl Y Figs. 1 2. 3 and 5
which is actuated by the opening and closing of the hinged bottom engages with this
wheel causing its revolution tooth by tooth.
A finder Z and also the handle S which serves as a focus indicator visible from the
outside and fixed on that part which contains the lens completes the camera as a whole,
the exterior of the rectangular case or box being covered with any material and take
such external appearance as may be desired by the user.
The to and fro motion of the traversing carriage is utilized for the setting and
releasing of any suitable exposing shutter as for instance the blind shutter shown

page_text: at X Fig. 4 (which forms no part of my invention) by means of levers, rack and pinion
or cam motion or the like.
The method of using this camera can be plainly seen by reference to the accom-
panying drawings, in Fig. 1 which is a side elevation the store box D (already full of
sensitive plates each in its carrier) is superposed upon the discharging box A and
there retained by the catches (the respective lids of the store and discharging boxes
are now withdrawn and the carriers U containing the sensitive plates then fall bodily
and in a mass from the store box into the discharging box the projections V on the
carriers being guided in the transit by the grooves A and A³ on the interiors of the
respective boxes, the lids of these boxes are then closed, the catches released, and
the store box now being empty is removed.
Fig. 2 shows the passage of the plate U from the horizontal position of the
discharging box into the vertical position of the receiving box. The carriage moving
in the direction of the arrow opens by means of the pivoted lever L the hinged
bottom F of the discharging box the studs or pivots on the carrier then engaging in
the grooves O formed on the rectangular case allows the carrier to slide gently, off the
bottom F of the discharging box till it reaches the point 02 Fig. 2 and 3 when the
return action of the traversing carriage shown in Fig. 3 pushes it into the vertical
position, the carrier in so doing pivoting on its projections V at 02 Figs. 2 and 3
the traversing carriage still advancing then pushes the carrier containing the sensitive
plate into the receiving box, where it is retained by the catches J ready for exposure.
Fig. 6 shows the construction of the store box, D being the box, P the sliding lid
and A³ the grooves formed on the inside.
Figs. 7 and 8 show the formation of the studs or projections V. V. on the carrier
they may be affixed in any manner or method so that they shall project from the sides
or ends of the carrier so as to engage or pivot in suitable grooves or recesses in the
various boxes or guides, an easy method of forming such projections or pivots is to
affix by soldering or other method a length of wire to the sides or ends of the carriage
so that the ends of such wire do project as in the drawing F. 7 U being the carrier
and V the wire.
In Fig. 5 is shown the action of withdrawing the exposed plates from the receiving
box being the store box attached to the receiving box B by the catches C the
lids of the receiving and store boxes are then withdrawn and the exposed plates or
films each in its carrier falls bodily and in a mass from the from the receiving box into
the store box the lids are then closed, the catches C2 released and the store box now.
containing the exposed plates, removed.
The action of charging the camera with sensitive plates or films is not restricted
to one store box as by using a number of these store boxes and using them as
herein described many hundred of plates without having recourse to the dark
room as the operations of charging the discharging box and also removing the
exposed plates can and do take place in the open air without the aid of a dark
room a convenience to be desired by tourists.
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
(1st) In photographic cameras constructed substantially as described the use of a
store box constructed substantially as described to convey sensitive plates or films into
the camera and to receive them after exposure, these several operations to be performed
in the open air and without the aid of a dark room.
(2nd) In photographic cameras the removal or reversal of a sensitive plate or film
from the horizontal into the vertical position by means of projections or pivots which
are formed on the carriers containing the sensitive plates or films.
(3rd) In photographic cameras the use of a hinged or pivoted bottom to a recepticle
containing sensitive plates or films and constructed substantially as described whereby
a plate or film can be removed from beneath a number of others.

page_text: (4th) In photographic cameras the use of a traversing carriage actuating a
hinged or pivoted bottom of a plate recepticle and constructed substantially as
described.
(5th) In photographic cameras the use of a carrier to contain sensitive plates or
films having formed on its sides or ends, studs projections, or pivots and constructed
substantially as described.
FRANK MIALL.