Improvements in Panoramic Cameras.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 7th Mar., 1891
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Panoramic Cameras.
I, GEORGE GARDNER ROCKWOOD, of 17, Union Square, New York, in the
County of New York and State of New York, United States of America, Photo-
grapher and Doctor of Philosophy, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN PANORAMIC CAMERAS, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement
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My.invention relates to a method of and apparatus for photographing extended
or panoramic views.
The special object of the invention is to provide means for photographing an
extended view by a single operation, as will more clearly appear hereinafter...
The method, stated in general terms, consists in exposing successive portions of
a sensitized plate or film to successive portions of the view to be photographed by
directing light-rays from the different portions of the view toward successive portions
of the plate or film through a lens so moved as to bring successive portions of the
plate or film in the path of the light-waves simultaneously with the exposure of that
lens to successive portions of the view. The apparatus and method will, however,
be particularly described in connection with the accompanying drawings.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a plan, partly, in section, of a camera for carrying the method into
operation.
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Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, also partly in section.
Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate certain details.
Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 are enlarged views illustrating the construction of a shutter
for use with the caméra.
↓
Referring to the figures, A. represents a camera box or case, which is semi-
cylindrical-in form and provided with a lid or cover A. It is contructed with two
roll-boxes aa, one at each side, for holding a sensitized film upon which the
pictures are to be taken. They may be of any desired size, so that any required
number of pictures may be taken without recharging the camera.
The general use and operation of roll-holders are now well known, and it will be
necessary only to state that any of the usual indicators may be applied for
determining when one exposed section of the film. has been replaced by a fresh
portion. I have shown similar rolls a a at the two ends for receiving the film, and
two guide-rolls a³ a, over which the film passes. One of these a¹ is shown as being
of greater size than the other a³. This is a convenient but not a necessary con-
struction. The boxes a¹ a² containing the rolls a may have removable ends or
sides a³ aº.
The film is represented at B. It is caused to pass from one roll to the other
along the inner cylindrical surface of the box A, being held in guide-šlóts bb.
These cause the film to occupy an arc of a circle whose centre is at or very near
the centre of a lens C. The lens is mounted upon a pivot or axis c in such manner
that it may be directed toward the different portions of the arc of the film'in
succession, preserving the focal distance in all positions. The lens C is provided
with a box D having side walls extending from the lens to the back and top and
bottom walls, constituting in effect an inner camera-box, and this swings or turns
with the lens about the pivot c.
•
Q;
In operating the apparatus it is designed that the camera-box D be first set in
the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig: 1 and at the proper 'moment

page_text: released and allowed to sweep across the entire surface of the film under the
influence of a spring E, stopping in the position indicated by the full lines in Fig. 1.
It will be observed that during this operation the lens will be directed toward
successive portions of the view as the box D uncovers successive portions of the
film, and the box D will exclude the light from all other portions of the
film.
The end of the box D adjacent to the film may be provided with an opening into
which diaphragms or plates R, having slits of different widths, may be inserted to
vary the length of the exposure. The length of exposure is of course further
determined by the tension of the spring E.
For the purpose of further insuring that the film shall be at the proper distance
from the lens when exposed, the box D may be provided with small rolls ff, one of
which is shown on an enlarged scale in Figs. 3 and 4. Springs f1 may be employed
for pressing the rolls against the film, they being suitably mounted for that purpose,
as indicated.
For the purpose of allowing freedom of motion on the part of the lens, the box A
may be constructed with a solid front, with the exception of that portion imme-
diately about the lens, and this latter portion may be of flexible cloth or rubber, as
indicated at d d.
For the purpose of examining a view and adjusting the camera, a plate R² of
ground glass may be inserted at the back of the box A, and a lid R¹ provided for
shutting out the light, except when it is desired to use the glass. When this
glass is used, it will be necessary to temporarily remove the film in front of it.
•
It will be apparent that in order that an even exposure should be given to every
part of the film the lens should be uncovered when it starts to move from one limit
and that it should be recovered when it reaches the other limit. Various means
may be employed for this purpose. That illustrated in Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 I have
found to serve excellently in practice. This consists of a plate F, having an
opening in front of the lens and provided with a slide 3, which is first set in the
position shown in Fig. 5 and there held by a detent and latch g' until the lens is
released. The slide is then drawn suddenly downward into the position shown in
Fig. 6. The manner of accomplishing this is as follows: The lens-box D, having
been turned into the position required to place the spring E under tension, a
locking-pin G is dropped through an opening in a plate g² upon the shutter. The
pin strikes the tail of the latch g' and holds it in engagement with its detent
against the tension of a spring g³. A latch & engages the pin G by entering a slot k
and thus-holds-the pin down. An-elastic-band or-spring-mis-stretched from a
stud mupon the slide f³ to a stud m² at the lower end of the shutter-frame. When
now the latch is caused to release the pin G, the camera box D and lens Care
released and respond to the pressure of the spring E, and at the same time the
slide is released and responds to the clastic band m. The band m, as its tension
is removed, releases itself from the stud m². The lens is thus uncovered, as shown
in Fig. 6, and the camera-box D moves through its arc.
When it reaches its limit
k
g
of motion, a stop n upon the frame of the box A trips a latch ¹ at the bottom of
the shutter-frame, and this releases a lever p, which passes beneath the stud m³ or
some other suitable portion of the slide. A band or spring m³ immediately tends to
draw the lever pupward, and this restores the slide to its former position, as indicated
in Fig. 7. The trip n may be placed in such position that the slide will be released
immediately before the lens is brought to rest, if desired, to insure that the exposure
at the end of the arc shall not be longer than at other portions.
It is evident that very many other different forms of shutters may be employed
and other portions of the apparatus may be considerably modified without departing
from the spirit of the invention.
For the purpose of preventing any rays of light from being reflected from the
sides of the diaphragm-box D, light-intercepting walls t t may project inward.
These serve to cut off any rays which might tend to fog the image..

page_text: 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. In a panoramic camera, the combination of a roll-holder, guides for guiding a
flexible film from one roll to the other through a cylindrical plane, a lens pivoted in
the axial line of the cylinder for directing light-rays against different portions of
the cylindrical plane in succession, a shutter for exposing and covering the lens, a
releasing device for automatically opening the shutter at one limit of the movement
of the lens, and a tripping device automatically closing the same at the other limit
of the movement of the lens.
2. The combination, with the pivoted lens, of a panoramic camera, a stationary
curved back plate, and an automatically-operating shutter exposing the lens at
one limit of its movement and concealing it at the other limit, substantially as
described.
3. In a panoramic camera, the combination of a stationary camera-box having a
semi-cylindrical back, a revolving camera-box pivoted in the axial line, and the
stationary box and rollers at the end of the pivoted box pressing toward the back,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. In a panoramic camera, the combination of a stationary camera-box having a
curved back, a completely-closed pivoted inner camera-box, a lens at one end.of the
pivoted box, and light-intercepting walls projecting inward from the walls of the
inner pivoted box, substantially as described.
5. In a panoramic camera, the combination of a stationary camera-box having a
semi-cylindrical back and an inner lens-carrying box pivoted in the axial line of
the semi-cylindrical back, and having side walls extending from the lens to the back
and top and bottom walls, closing the space between the side walls, and contacts
moving with the inner box for holding the film at any time exposed to the lens at
the end of the box against the back, substantially as described.
6. In a panoramic camera, the combination of a stationary camera-box having an
opaque curved back for receiving the film, and a plate of ground glass inserted in
said back.
7. In a panoramic camera, the combination of a stationary camera-box having a
curved back, a plate of ground glass inserted therein for use in adjusting the camera,
and an opaque cover for the same.
Dated this 23rd day of December 1890.
F. W. BARKER,
Applicant's Agent.