Improvements in Photographic Cameras and Shutters for use in connection therewith.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 16th July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 16th May, 1890-Accepted, 12th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in Photographic Cameras and Shutters for use in
connection therewith.
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH EDWARDS of The Grove Hackney in the County of
Middlesex, Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
It relates to improvements in the shutters used for exposing the sensitive plates or
films, and in the appliances for changing then, also in the holders or sheaths used for
carrying such plates or films. My objects are first, to facilitate the regulation of the
time of exposure so that the same instrument may be successfully used for extremely
rapid or for prolongued exposures and that better protection may be afforded from the
light previous to exposure.
Second to combine in one operation the setting of the roller blind shutter and the
removal of the plate after exposure.
Third to provide a means for holding flexible sensitive films so that they may be
curved to form the arc of a circle of any required radius thus bringing the sides of
the picture which is formed on the hollow side more into focus of the rays from
the lens so obtaining better definition than is possible with films used in the ordinary
way.
In carrying out the first part of my invention I combine the shutter known as the.
"roller blind shutter" which was described and shown by me in 1882, and which has
since been extensively used for what are known as instantaneous exposures, with an
ordinary pivoted or flap shutter, in such a manner that both may be used in
combination or the flap shutter may be employed separately. The mechanism which
I employ for working the shutter or shutters may be hand, pneumatic, hydrostatic, or
other convenient style, and is so arranged that when the flap is lifted a catch which
holds the roller (the spring of which has been previously wound up) shall be released
and the shutter allowed to descend: when the pivoted shutter is to be used alone for
time exposures the roller shutter is set so that it shall be open and is fixed in that
position by a clamp catch or other convenient arrangement. I do not confine myself
to any particular position for the roller shutter which may be in front of or behind
the lense, but I prefer to place it immediately in front of the sensitive plate. The
use of the two shutters in combination forms an additional protection to the plates
previous to exposure, the flap covering the lense, while the roller shutter is set and
until it is brought into use.
In carrying out the second part of my invention I combine with the roller blind
shutter, used separately or in combination with the flap shutter, an arrangement for
exposing a succession of plates by removing the plate which has been exposed, thereby
leaving the next plate in position for immediate use, this I do by securing in a suitable
position on the flexible blind one or more projections or hooks which fall with the
shutter when the plate is exposed and engage with the plate, or its frame or carrier,
thus when the roller shutter is again set or wound up the plate is drawn or raised
with it. In adapting my camera which may be of the type known as the "Detective"
to suit this part of my invention I divide it into two compartments longitudinally,
each of which will hold a number of plates, each plate being fitted into a sheath or
carrier, of paper, wood, metal or other suitable material and these I place one behind
the other and keep in position by means of a spring or other contrivance in one of
the compartments (preferably the lower one) after having wound up or set the shutter.
On releasing the shutter the plate is exposed & the hooks or projections engage with
it, ready to draw or lift it into the second compartment when the blind is again set,

page_text: the operation being repeated untill all the plates are used, and removed to the second
chamber, when they are taken out and a new set placed in the first.
In carrying out the third part of my invention I do away with the flat surface now
used as a support for the flexible film or sensitive paper and I make the holder or
sheath or support curved to the required radius, or I leave a sufficient space at the
back of the flexible film to allow of its being bent to the required curve and held in
such position by pressure at the edges, when continuous bands or separate pieces of
sensitive paper or films are employed they may be placed or drawn round a curved
plate of glass and thus held to the required radius the photograph being taken through
the glass.
The other parts of the camera may be of any convenient form or type such as are
at present in use.
Dated this 15th day of Inly 1880
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Cameras and Shutters for use in
connection therewith.
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH EDWARDS of The Grove Hackney in the County of Middlesex
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be perforined, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
It relates to improvements in the shutters used for exposing the sensitive plates of
films, and in the appliances for changing them also in the holders or sheaths used for
carrying such plates or films.
My objects are first, to facilitate the regulation of the time of exposure so that the
same shutter may be successfully used for extremely rapid or for prolonged exposures
and that better protection may be afforded from the light previous to exposure.
Second to combine in one operation the setting of the roller blind shutter and the
removal of the plate or film after exposure.
Third to provide a means for holding flexible sensitive films so that they may
be curved to form the arc of a circle of any required radius thus bringing the
sides of the picture which is formed on the hollow side more into focus of the rays
from the lens so obtaining better definition than is possible with films used in the
ordinary way.
In describing my invention I shall refer to the accompanying drawings in which
similar letters refer to similar parts throughout.
In carrying out the first part of my invention I make use of the shutter known as
the roller blind shutter" shewn in Figures 1 and 2 and lettered A which was
described and shown by mne in 1882, a drawing and description of which appears in
the almanac for 1882 of the British Journal of Photography, and which has since
been extensively used for what are known as instantaneous exposures and I combine
it with an ordinary pivoted or flap shutter B, in such a manner that both may be used
I work the
in combination or the flap shutter may be employed separately.
shutter or shutters by hand as shown or by pneumatic, hydrostatic, or other convenient
power.
I construct the flap shutter B which is hinged at B 3 with a catch B 1 so placed
that when the flap is lifted by the milled wheel B 2, it engages with a catch A 1 on
the roller A 3 of the shutter A (the spring and shutter having been previously wound
up by the milled wheel A 2 in the ordinary way) ready for action, and which in so
engaging releases the roller and the shutter is allowed to descend, a brake may be
applied to the roller of the shutter A to regulate the speed with which it falls. When
the shutter B is to be used alone for time exposures the roller blind shutter A is set
by means of the wheel A 2, which after raising it to the required position is screwed

page_text: up against the case C and so fixes it; then the flap B is raised until the lever B 1
passes under the end of the catch A 1 which thus holds the flap B open as long as
may be desired.
I do not confine myself to any particular position of the combined roller and flap
shutter, as it may be arranged so that both work in front of the lense on to which the
shutter inay be fixed by means of the opening D in the usual way or one or both may
be made to work behind the lense, and in some cases I prefer to place the roller blind
shutter immediately in front of the sensitive plate or film, while the flap is arranged
to work in front of or behind the lenses. The use of the two shutters in combination
forms an additional protection to the plate previous to exposure, the flap B covering
the lense while the roller shutter A is set and until it is brought into use.
In carrying out the second part of my invention I combine with the roller blind
shutter used separately or in combination with the flap shutter an arrangement shown
in Figures 3. 4. and 6 for exposing a succession of plates by removing the plate which
has been exposed, or when films, or a continuous film is used an arrangement shown in
Figures 7 and 8 for removing it or the part used thereby leaving the next, in position
for immediate use. This I do when using plates by securing in a suitable position on
the flexible blind or shutter A, one or more projections or hooks E which rise and fall
with A and I construct the sheath which holds the plate as shown in Figures 3 & 4
and I also construct interchangable boxes for containing them as shown in Figures 5 & 6.
The sheaths F are constructed of a thin sheet of vulcanite, the sides F 1 being made
of the same material or of wood, as is also the projecting stop F 2, the opposite edge
being bent or curved as shown. The prepared plate is slid into the recesses F 1 and
is held in this position by the projection F 2 the curved edge forming a stop on the
opposite side. The springy nature of the vulcanite allows the plate to clear the
stop F 2 when being inserted or removed. When using these sheaths in combination
with my improved roller blind shutter I cut away the sides F 1 as shown at F 3 to
form notches or catches with which the hooks E engage, by means of which the sheath
containing the plate is removed. The boxes which contain the sheaths H, H1 are
easily placed in the camera or removed and are interchangable. When in use they
are placed in juxtaposition either one above the other or side by side, the sides of the
boxes which coine next to each other are cut away at H 2 so as to form a communication
between the two boxes through which the sheaths carrying the plates pass, and the
other sides are fitted with projecting edges or flanges H 3 forming a continuous grove
beneath which the sheaths slide from one box to the other. Any convenient number
of sheaths carrying the plates are placed in one of the boxes and are held pressed
against the open side of the box by means of a spiral spring H. 4. Lightight sliding
covers I and II are provided which are actuated in the same way as the sheaths two
being required for each box, one, I, to cover and exclude the light from the full box
before exposure and the other II which is placed in the box before it is filled. Both
these covers are provided with notches or catches I 2 similar to those on the sheaths,
and also with sliding selfacting bolts 13 which serve to keep them in position in
the full box, but other selfacting fastenings may be employed if preferred or other
light tight lids inserted by band may be used. In operating I preferably place
the box containing the plates in the lower part of the camera and the empty box
above it, now on first winding up the shutter A shown in Figure 5 the hooks E
come into position and engage with the catches 12 in the light tight cover I
which is thus drawn up into the empty box, in the same operation the bolts I 3
are withdrawn so that the cover can pass freely into the interior of the box. The
shutter A may be now released and the exposure made, the resetting of the shutter
withdraws the exposed plate into the upper box and the next plate is left ready
for exposure, these operations are repeated until all the plates have been exposed
and the second cover 11 is drawn lastly into its position and there automatically
bólted to serve as a cover to the exposed plates. The upper or full box being
now a light tight package may be removed and the lower or empty box turned upside
down put in its place and another box containing a fresh supply of unexposed plates
being placed beneath it, any number of boxes may be employed, all being exactly

page_text: alike in pattern and interchangable in this way an indefinite number of plates inay
be used without the necessity of using a dark room for changing the plates, as is
necessary in the ordinary way. In the drawing Figures 5 & 6 the lower box is
shown empty, the cover I I being ready to be raised to form the light tight lid of
the upper box and the other cover I as shown in the upper box is at the back of
the exposed plates. When using a flexible sensitive film in one continuous length
I employ two rollers shown in Figures 7 and 8 on one of which K the flexible
film is wound, they are placed at any convenient distance apart, and the picture is
taken upon that part which is stretched between them, after which the film is
wound up onto the roller K 1 the operation being repeated until the whole length
of film is used, the rollers are then removed and a fresh pair inserted, or if
preferred the empty roller is shifted to the place from which the full roller has
been taken and a new full roller inserted the rollers being made interchangable for the
purpose and easily detachable. In order to facilitate the changing of the rollers and
avoid the necessity of using a dark room for that purpose, I enclose each roller in a
light tight case or box K 2 in which the rollers turn freely, one end of the rollers is
arranged so that it may be actuated from the outside of the case, or attached to
the winding gear or handle K 3 which may remain fixed to the apparatus.
These cases K 2 may be made of cardboard and are by preference rectangular in
shape, each being provided with a light tight slit or groove K 4 through which the
film is drawn as required, this slit may be made to give the requisite tension during
the unwinding of the film, and as a further protection against light and to avoid
scratching the film one or both edges may be covered with a strip of velvet. I provide
and attach to the roller which is to receive the film a short length of paper gummed
at the end which projects through the slit of the case in order to attach it easily to a
similar piece of paper attached to the end of the sensitive film on the other roller
which projects through the other slit, then when these are joined the tissue may be
wound from one roller to the other as the apparatus is used. In order that the proper
quantity of film may be provided for each picture I by preference make the
rollers K, K 1 or handle by which they are actuated so that one complete turn shall
give the required length of film and I employ a pawl or ratchet lever which falls into
a notch or catch and prevents the further unwinding. These interchangable
collars K, K carry the sensitive film in their light tight cases & may be used in any
existing camera and with any form of shutter a succession of full rollers in their light
tight cases being provided for use as required. When I use the rollers K, K 1
encased as described in combination with any roller blind shutter A I connect the
roller K1 by means of the gearing N, N 1, N 2 with the roller O of the shutter and
for convenience I make the catch M 2 on the lever M release the shutter A before a fresh
portion of film can be used, this I do as follows, referring to figure 7 which shows the
mechanism wound up ready for making an exposure.
The handle or nilled knob K 3
for winding is attached to the spindle of the wheel N which has some of its teeth cut
away as shown at N 4 so that the wheel N 2 may revolve freely when the lever M is
raised and the shutter released, the length of the blind A which is attached to the
roller on the spindle of which is the gear wheel N 2, being so arranged that the
wheel N 1 does not quite make a complete turn as the shutter descends consequently
the end of the ratchet lever M cannot fall into the notch M 1 and the roller K 1 is
left free to be wound by the handle K 3 thus bringing forward a fresh portion of film
and at the same time winding up the shutter by means of the remaining teeth on
the wheel N which came into gear with the teeth on wheel N 1, after which the
gearing again assumes the position shown on the drawing; this operation is repeated
after each exposure. I do not however confine myself to the gearing described as
any mechanical equivalent may be employed for the purpose.
In figures No. 7 & 8 which show the apparatus above described in a camera Q of
the detective forin, the roller shutter A is shown in front of the sensitive film and at
a short distance from it, while the flap shutter B works in front of the lense R, they
are actuated by the button S and the rod S 1 placed within the case as shown; and
by means of a stud or pin S 2 on S 1, I work the lever T pivotted at T 1 which is

page_text: connected with the lever U on the flap B by means of the connecting wire or rod V.
As soon as the shutter B is open the rod S 1 comes into contact with the lever M
above described and the shutter A is released. An elastic cord or spring W 1, passing
over the pulley W serves to close the flap B and bring the levers into their original
position, ready for the shutter A to be again reset.
In carrying out the third part of my invention I place the rollers K, K 1 sufficiently
apart and insert between them blocks or guides curved to the required radius, or I use
a curved or bent plate of glass over or behind which the flexible film is drawn. When
separate sheets of flexible film are used I press them against the curved surface of the
glass or guides to make them assume the desired shape.
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
1. The combination of the flap shutter with the spring roller blind shutter for use
in connection with photographic cameras substantially as shown and described.
2. In the combined shutter as claimed in claim No. 1 the clamping or fixing of the
roller blind shutter open so that the flap shutter alone can be used for time exposures
substantially as described.
3. The sheaths for the sensitive plates for use in photographic cameras substantially
of the form and for the purposes shown and described.
4. The removable interchangable boxes for holding sensitive plates or films before
and after exposure.
5. The sheaths and boxes in combination with the roller blind shutter substantially
as shown and for the purposes described.
6. The combined flap and roller shutter in combination with the sheaths and inter-
changable and removable boxes.
7. In the interchangable and removable boxes the light tight lids or covers
arranged to work automatically or by hand substantially as described.
8. The interchangable and removable light tight cases for containing the sensitive
flexible film provided with a light tight slit through which the film is drawn.
9. The rollers on which the sensitive flexible film is wound arranged to be
nctuated from the outside without removal from the case substantially as described.
10. The combination of the interchangable light tight cases with the rollers on
which the film is wound substantially as shown and for the purposes described.
11. The combination of the two cases containing the rollers with the roller blind
shutter.
12. The combination of the two cases containing the rollers with the combined
oller blind and flap shutters substantially as shown and described.
13. In a photographic apparatus the curved guides or bent glass for holding the
lexible film at the required radius substantially as described.
Dated this 16th day of May 1890.
B. J. EDWARDS.
A. H. Reed,
Agent for Applicant.