US2555631A - Box for sensitized medium used in photographic reproduction - Google Patents

Description

5 Sheets-Sheet l NE1L.

IUM USED N. BUMSTEAD G. BOX FOR SENSITIZED MED IN PHOTOGRAPHIC REPRODUCTION June 5, 1951 Filed April 19. 1948 G. N. BUMSTEAD BOX FOR SENSITIZED MEDIUM USED IN PHOTOGRAPHIC REPRODUCTION June 5, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 19, 1948 June 5, 1951 G. N. BUMSTEAD 2,555,631

BOX FOR SENSITIZED MEDIUM USED IN PHOTOGRAPHIC REPRODUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 .Filed April 19, 1948 /fz I June 5, 1951 G. N. BUMSTEAD 2,555,631

BOX FOR SENSITIZED MEDIUM USED 1N PHOTOGRAPHIC REPRoDUcTIoN Filed April 19, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 f LW EkL

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5 Sheets-Sheet 5 iff* SED 0N gjuvml D ED MEDIUM u REPRODUCTI N- BUMsTEA SENS oGRA G. BOX FOR IN PHOT June 5, 1951 Filed April 19, 1948 Patented June 5, 1951 BOX FOR SENSITIZED MEDIUM USED IN PHOTOGRAPHIC REPRODUCTION George Newman Bumstead, Bethesda, Md., assignor to National Geographic Society, a corporation of the District of Columbia Application April 19, 1948, Serial No. 21,994

Claims.

This invention has to deal with cameras for photographic reproduction, and more-specifically to a box for containing the sensitized medium upon which the photographic reproduction is made, the invention having for its object to provide such a box and operating mechanism associated therewith, all of which is more efficient in use than those heretofore proposed.

According to this invention a box is provided having a shuttered opening through which an image of an object is transmitted by light rays, and beneath which opening a strip of sensitized medium maybe moved in successive steps to receive a plurality of images sequentially, said strip being held under pneumatic pressure at the area where each image is received thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide a feeding means for the strip of sensitized medium, which means is automatically controlled by the desired size of the reproduced image.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the box may be moved from a dark room to a position where the shuttered opening thereof is in alignment with the image being projected, as well as moved reversely back into the dark room when the strip of sensitized medium has received all of the projected images that it is capable of holding.

With these and other objects in View the invention resides in the novel details of construction and combinations of parts as will be disclosed more fully hereinafter and particularly pointed out by the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a. part of this specification and in which like numerals designate like parts in all the views,

Fig. 1 is a horizontal plan view of the box and its support, said View being taken as on the line I-I of Fig. 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows, said view having parts broken away for a better understanding of the assemblage;

Fig. 2 is a view of the box with the hinged cover thereof in full opened position to show the interior mechanism of the box as well as the shutter mechanism associated with the cover of the box;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken through the box as on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the box and its mountingwith respect to the camera, said view being taken as on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 andvlooking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional View of a portion of the feeding means for the sensitized medium,

said view being taken as on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of another portion of the feeding means for the sensitized medium, said View being taken as on the line B--S of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. '7 is a horizontal sectional View of the parts illustrated in Fig. 6, said View being taken as on the line 1 -'l of said Fig. 6 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view illustrating the mounting of the electrical and pneumatic connections used with reference to the movement of the sensitized medium and its exposure within the box;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the feed roller for the sensitized medium, said view being taken as on the line 9-9 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

, Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view of one of the clutch devices used in connection with the feed roller for the sensitized medium, said view being taken as on the line lil-l0 of Fig. 9 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the mounting of one end of the shaft of said feed roller, said view being taken as on the line ll-ll of Fig. 9 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 12 isa wiring diagram of the electrical connections for motivating the box shutter as well as the feeding means for the sensitized medium;

Fig. 13 is a perspective detail view illustrating the means for automatically controlling the amount of movement of the strip of sensitized medium in accordance with the size of the photographic reproduction of the image;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged detail view, with parts broken away, of the pneumatic chamber employed for holding the strip of sensitized medium in a fixed horizontal plane at the time of receiving the projected image thereon; and

Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view through the pneumatic chamber, said view being taken as on the line 15-15 of Fig. 14 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

The numeral 2 indicates a Vertical wall of a dark room, said wall having the opening 3 therein through which the box may be horizontally reciprocated, said wall having a chamber attached thereto and in registry with said opening, into which chamber the box is moved from the dark room to a position where the shuttered opening of said box is in alignment with a beam of light carrying the projected image and, after the sensitized medium within the box has received the projected images, the box is reversely moved from said chamber back into the dark room for removal of the exposed medium (see Fig. 1). This chamber comprises walls-which are lightproof with the exception of the top wall fl which has the opening therein (see Fig. 4) through which the light beam and the projected image may pass to the shuttered opening of said box. This chamber is of course exterior'with respect to the dark room and may have for its' bottom wall the support E for the camera-'which likewise is exterior of the dark room.

In Fig. 4 the camera is more or less diagrammatically illustrated as comprising the standards 'I and 8 secured to and rising from the camera support 6, a carriage generally identied by the numeral 9 slidably mounted` on said standards, a composing frame generally identified by the numeral' I0 supported on said carriage, and containing the copy or image to be photographically reproduced, a light box (source of light) generally identied by the numeral II attached to Aand movable with said carriage andhdisposed above the'composing frame, and a lens mounting generally identied by the numeral' I2 and carried by the top wall 4 of said chamber. The camera constitutes the subject matter of my separate application for' Letters Patent iiled December 3l, i948, under the Serial No. 63,566; the composing frame constitutes the subject matter of my separate application for Letters Patent filed January 15, 1948, under the Serial No. 2,532, now Patent No. 2,495,887, issued January 31, 1950.

The lens mounting comprises a shield (preferably cylindrical) within which is disposed the lens I3, said lens, said shield and said opening 5 having a substantially common vertical axis upon which the copy matter (image) in the composing frame is substantially centered. The carriage is vertically adjustable on said standards, and the lens is vertically adjustable within its shield, such adjustability of both carriage and lens being with respect to the xed horizontal plane ofthe sensitized medium in the box, whereby the desired size of photographic reproduction may be had.

The box has a base (see Fig. 4) to which are secured a plurality of rollers such as I6 riding on a xed horizontal track such as II secured to the camera support 6 whereby the box may be rolled into and out of the dark room, guide rollers such as I8 also being provided and bearing upon vertical sides of said track to prevent sidewise motion of said box. The base of the box also carries a horizontal rack I9 engaged by a pinion 2'0 mounted upon a shaft 2I having a bearing in a side wall of the box chamber (see Fig. l) said shaft receiving rotation by any suitable means such for example as a reversiblel motor 22 operating said shaft through a clutch 23.

It thus results that when the'motor is energized the pinion will cause the box toA be moved in one direction (as into the dark room) and When the motor is reversely energized'` the box will be caused to move in the oppositedirection. Any suitable limit switches such as indicated at 24 and 25 may be positioned to be engaged by pins 26 and 21 carried by the box and/or rack, when said box reaches the limits of its reciprocation, and the motor may be energized in any suitable manner as through the actuation Aat thelimit of this movement. connection between the companion pairs of coni tactpins may be made yieldable if desired by .nection with companion contact pins 33, 34 and 35 respectively when the box is moved outwardly of the dark room and to the limit of its movement in thenboxrchamben bumpers 36 and 3l being provided if necessary to cushion the box The electrical the provision of a coil spring around a pin in each pair of contacts as shown.

Spaced above the floor of the box and suitably supported therefrom substantially midway the ends of the box, is a pneumatic chamber generally identified by the numeralY 50 (see Figs. 2, 3, 14 and 15) and comprising preferably a solid block of material provided with a pair of parallel horizontal bores. 5I and'52' extending transversely of the box, said bores vhaving their ends tightly closed as by the plugsf53 indicated in Fig. 14. 'I hese bores are interconnected by a horizontal cross bore 54, all of'said bores being'in communication with eachl other and fwith'a nipple 55 (see Fig. 15) connected by a pipe or hose 56 to another nipple 5l (see Figj8) passing through the end wall of the box, the external end of said cup-like member 'icarried at the extremity of va pipe line generallyidentied by the numeral 59 leading to a suitable source of negative pneumatic pressure (vacuum) whereby suction may be produced in the pneumatic chamberv 5|] when the box is at the limit of its travel in the direction away from the dark room.

The upper surface of this pneumatic chamber is disposed in a horizontal plane which is the fixed plane of travel of 'the sensitized mediumV 60 (see Figs. 5. and 9) and the bores' 5I and 52 communicate with the air inthe box by virtue of perforations 6I (see Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 15), so that when said mediumis fed over said surface, the suction just` describedfwill hold said medium in contact with said surface. VThis suction area ls disposed immediately beneath the shuttered openingv provided in' the`V cover of the' box.

Also `'disposed in thehorizontal plane of the pneumatic chamber surfacefjust described, are two plates 62 and 63 extending in opposite directions from said chamber and suitably supported at their edges inthe box to provide a continuous travel 'surface forfthe sensitized medium, posts such as 64 being providedif necessary to support the central portions "of said plates. Preferably the sensitized medium is photographic film in strip form of a length'to extend from an end of the box to and over 'the su'ction area of the centrally disposed pneumatic chamber whereby,

vwhen said medium is in the left end of lthe box as seen in'Fig. 3,the right hand end ofv said medium 'will be disposed in the vsuction. area below the shuttered openingand ready for receiving the `first 'projected image' through said opening, and when said medium' is in the lright end of thebox the Yleft hand end'of said'iedium will be'disposed'in said suction areaand ready Y' for receivingithe last projected image Vthrough said opening.

The feeding means for the sensitized medium or film comprises a main feed roller (see Figs. 2, 3, 9, 10 and 1l) mounted upon a horizontal shaft 1| having suitable bearings supported by the box, the roller so mounted as to be below and tangent to the fixed horizontal plane of film travel so as to bear upon on contact the under surface of said film. A companion pressure roller 12 is provided above the roller 1'0 for contacting the upper surface of said film, said pressure roller 12 being journalled in a bracket 13. A parallel pressure roller 14 (see Fig. 5), freely mounted at its ends in vertical slots in the said bracket so as to function solely under the urge of gravity, operates also on the upper surface of the film, the two pressure rollers being spaced apart on opposite sides of the suction area just described.

The main feed roller 10 has a clutch mechanism at each of its ends, which clutch may be of any suitable type, whereby rotation in one direction only may be given to said roller through one of the clutches, retrograde or reverse rotation of said roller being prevented by the other of the clutches; that is to say the clutches are opposite in their function though they may be of similar construction. In Figs. 9 and 10 simple clutches are shown comprising a drum 15 rigid with the roller, and an actuating member 16 loosely mounted on roller shaft 1| and having cam surfaces such as 11 for pinching a roller or ball 18 between the members 15 and 16 when the latter is given rotation. The balls 18 of each clutch may be spring pressed as indicated in Fig. 10 to urge them into pinching engagement between the members 15 and 1E, and the clearance of said balls between the cam surfaces and the inner surface of said drum is almost negligible so as to make the action of the clutches substantially instantaneous and thereby minimize and/or make impossible any reverse unwanted rotation of the main feed roller. The portion of the actuating member 18 exterior of said drum is formed as a pinion 19 for engagement with a rack 80 carried by a horizontally reciprocable bar 8| motivated in one direction by an electrical solenoid generally identified by the numeral 82 (see Figs. 6 and '1).

The bar 8l passes between two sets of vertically and horizontally spaced guide rollers, said sets indicated generally by the numerals 83 and 84 (see Figs. 2 and 3) for preventing vertical and lateral movement of said bar. The extremity of said bar (opposite the end thereof which is connected to the solenoid) is connected to one end of a coil spring 85 which exerts a pressure capable of moving said bar in a direction away from said solenoid thereby causing the pinion 19 to actuate its clutch member 16 to rotate the main feed roller 10 to feed the lm to the right as seen in Fig. 3, the opposite clutch slipping in this movement.

When however the solenoid 82 is energized, its core (connected to the other end of said bar) will exert a pull on said bar, overcoming the tension of said spring 85 and moving said bar in the opposite direction, in this movement said clutch member 15 slipping and the opposite clutch holding said roller 10, whereby said roller will not rotate but will hold the advanced lm in the position to which it was just moved due to the contact of said film with both the main feed roller 10 and the superposed pressure roller 12.

The action of the solenoid therefore is to "cock or set said bar 8| in its extreme right hand limit of reciprocation whereby the desired amount of feed may be given to the film when said bar is reversely moved by the spring 85. The length of horizontal movement imparted to said bar by said spring is controlled in accordance with the desired size of the image being reproduced, as will now be described.

With particular reference to Figs. 3, 6 and 7, it will be seen that the solenoid 82 is suitably secured in the bottom of the box as by the fence or walls 90, and that the outer extremity of the solenoid core 9| is connected to an end of bar 8| by the coupling 92 which latter has a lateral extension 93 adapted to contact one face of a depending lug .94 of a collar 95 rigidly mounted upon a horizontal rock shaft 96 supported in bearings 91 and 9S interconnected by brace 99 and secured to the floor I5 of the box. Also secured to said floor is a bracket |00 threadedly receiving the screw l0! manually adjustable in said bracket and adapted to contact the opposite face of lug 94 for limiting the rocking movement thereof in one direction.

The rock shaft 9B is extended through a wall of the box (see Figs. 1, 2 and 13) and to its outer end is secured a crank |02 the free end of which carries a roller |03 adapted to engage the upper surface of a cam arm |04 rigidly mounted upon the inner end of a horizontal rock shaft |05 journalled in the bearing |06 carried by a side wall of the chamber constituting the extension of the dark room and into which the box is reciprocated, the crank |02 and the cam arm |04 occupying the space between said box wall and said chamber wall. To the outer end of the rock shaft |05, outside of said chamber, is rigidly secured the lower end of a vertical crank |01 whose upper end (not shown) is adapted to be operated in any suitable manner to rock the shaft |05 and thus position the cam arm |04 to give the desired throw of crank |02 which through rock shaft 96 moves lug 94 to a position controlling the amount of horizontal movement of rack bar 8|. Preferably, the upper end of vertical crank |01 is controlled by a cam associated with the vertically slidable carriage 9 of the camera as disclosed in said application Serial No. 68,566, whereby the movement of said vertical crank is automatically controlled by the position to which said carriage is moved (for focusing purposes), and this is in accordance with the desired size of the reproduced image, but obviously the vertical crank could be moved or adjusted manually.

Thus it will be understood that if small reproduction is desired, the film feed will be in short sequential steps governed by a corresponding short pull of bar 8| by its control spring (due to cam arm |04 being elevated). On the other hand if large reproduction is desired, the film feed will be in long sequential steps governed by a corresponding long pull of bar 8| due to cam arm |04 being lowered. To prevent too quick a pull on bar 8| by its spring 85, said bar is provided with a lateral extension |08 to which is pivoted one end of a link |09 the other end of which has pivotal connection with a lever ||0 controlled by any retarding device such as the dashpot indicated at and secured to the floor of the box (see Figs. 2 and 3). The manually adjustable screw |0| is provided on the side of safety, to contact depending lug 94 and thus prevent crank |02 dropping 7 when it rides off of Vcam arm- |04I as; When the box is rolled back into the dark room.

The lid ||5 as best seen in Figs. 2 and 3 is mounted on the box in light-tight relation as by the piano type hinge ||6 and the rabbeted intertting edges Il'f. A shutter opening HS is provided in said lid at such a posi'tion as to be in registry with the light rays passed by thev lens I3 from the light boxl, said opening preferably being rectangular and of such area as to make possible the largest reproduction on the sensitized medium of which the camera is capable of making, said opening adapted to be opened and closed by virtue of the shutter ||9 slidable in suitable guides carried by the lid. Movement of the shutter is effected by a solenoid |26 rigidly secured to the under surface of said lid, the outer extremity of the core of said solenoid having a coaxial extension comprising the rod |2|Ywhose far end is connected to the under surface of said shutter as at |22, wherefore when the solenoid is energized the shutter will be moved to uncover the shutter opening HS.

rivhe rod l2! isencircled by a coil spring i2?,- operating at one end against a xed abutment |2151l to exert a pressure tending to move said rod to the right as seen in Fig. 3 and thereby move said shutter to its closed position, the tension of said spring being such as to be overcoi e by the action of the solenoid when energized. On the side of safety said rod is provided with a collar forming one member of a latch device for holding the shutter in closed position, the other member of said latch comprising a detent life carried at the free end of an armature |21` of an electrcmagnet |28 mounted on the under surface of saidA lid, said armature being adjustable as by the set screw |25 to provide the proper amount of engagement of said detent with said collar. The electromagnet |28 may be connected in the same electric circuit with the solenoid |2il so4 that the armature |21 will be attracted and move the detent |2 from its normal position behind the collar |25 so that the shutter will be opened by the action of said solenoid. Electric current is supplied to the electromagnet and the solenoid through the pro vision of contact members |39.. and I3! carried by the lid and which are engageable (when the lid is closed) respectively with companion contacts 32 and |33 carried by the bottom portion of the box.

With particular reference to Figs. 2 and 5 there is illustrated a means for maintaining contact between the sensitive medium or film and the means for feeding said film past the shutter. As heretofore described there is provided a bracket 13 carrying the pressure rollers 12 and 'Hl under which the film 60 feeds. One end of said bracket has a cross bar |46 carrying a lug |4| against which is disposed one end of a coil spring |42 the other end of which bears against one Arend |43 of a bell crank the other end Mill of which is'adapted to receive the thrust of a horizontally disposed rod |45 the other end of which extends into or through the front wall U15 of the film box in alignment with and adapted to con-tact with a pin |41 mounted in the `front wall of the chamber in whichsaidbox reciprocates, a coil spring it encircling said rod between a fixed abutment m9 and a collar |58 carriedby said rod. It thus results` that. after the film has been placed in the box and the box has` been moved tov the limit; of its travel out of. the dark room, contact will be made .between thepin. |41 .and the,rod. |45, to

move thelatter against the tension-of its spring, to the right as seen in Fig. 5, thus oscillating the bellcrank and in turn pivotally moving the bracket 13 to bring the, upper pressure roller 12 into contact with the iilm and pressing the film against the main feed roll 15J, the spring |42 constituting a yieldable connection whereby unduepressure on the nlm is prevented. With the lm thus pinched between rollers 10 and 12,l the lmwill be subsequently fed in sequential steps uponactuation of the main feed roller 10 as heretofore described,v without damage to the nlm by virtue of said yieldable connection. When the box is moved back into the dark room, pin |41 will no longer control rod |45 whereupon its spring will move it axially to the left as seen in Fig. 5, thus releasing the bracket 13 from said control and permitting the pressure roller 12 to rise from out of contact with the lm, whereupon said` film may be abstracted from the box without impairment of its surface.

With specic reference to Figs. 2 and l2, means are disclosed for delaying the deenergization of the film control solenoid 82 until after the shutter has moved to closed position. This means comprises a time delay relay provided with the armature 53 and a front contact |51. Said re lay is of conventional construction and designed 'to give a suiiicient time delay in the release of its armature to permit the closing of the shutter before the release or opening of the circuit energizing the solenoidb all as will be made clear from the following description of the wiring diagram illustrated in Fig. 12.

Current from a suitable source is constantly supplied over wire to the pair of contacts B13-3d and thence over wire Ii to the point |62 where the current divides, one portion thereof passing over wire i6@ to the pair of contacts |33| 3| thence over wire |64 to and through the coil of solenoid l2@ controlling theshutter, thence over wire |55 to and through the electromagnet |28, over the wire lfiy tothe companion pair of contacts Nil-|32, thence over wire |61 to the point V63 thence over wire |69=to the pair of contacts 3|'3ll, thence over wire |10 to one side of a switch ill, the other side of said switch being connected to wire H2 which conducts the current back to the source. At the point |62 the other portion of this current passes over wire |13 to the point |14 where it divides, one portion passing over wire |15 to the front contact |51 of the time delay relay |55, the other portion of said current passing to and through the coil of said relay and thence over wire I'ii to point |63 and thence back to source over wires its, 51e, switch |1|, and wire |12.

When the time delay relay is energized its armature |55 will be attracted to close with its frontr contact |51 whereupon current from wire |15 will then pass through said armature, over wire |11 to and through the solenoid 82 associated with the lm feed mechanism, thence over wire llS to and through a pair oi' contacts 32-35 and over wire |12 back to the source. It therefore results that when the switch |1| is closed current will be supplied to solenoids 82 and |20 as wellas to the time delay relay |55 by virtue of -the attraction of armature |56 of said relay, the so1enoidv82 thereupon cooking the nlm feed rack bar `8| but not actuating the film feed roll 10 due to the slippage of its clutch 15-16. Simultaneously therewith the latch |25|26 is disengaged by the attraction of armature |21 of the electromagnet |28, whereupon thecoineident pressure relative the other cameras.

energization of solenoid |20 opens the shutter and the exposure of the film is made. The switch |1| is then `opened thereby breaking the circuit through the shutter-opening solenoid |20 permitting the shutter to close and simultaneously breaking the circuit to relay |55. However, in spite of the open condition of said switch the time delay in coil |55 maintains contact between front contact |51 and armature |56, after switch |1| is opened, thus maintaining for approximately 1% of a second, a flow of current through wires |60, |6|, |13 and |15, solenoid 82, and wires |18 and |12 back to source, wherefore it will be understood that said iilm feed rack bar 8| is still maintained in its cocked position and will be so maintained until the relay releases its armature |56. At the end of the time delay period, the relay will release its armature and permit it to drop out of contact with its front contact |51 thereby breaking the circuit through solenoid 82, thereby permitting spring 85 to draw the film feed rack bar 8| in which movement the main feed roll 10 will be rotated by virtue of the engagement of its clutch -16, this accomplishing l| to a manifold 202 having a plurality of walved nipples such as 203, 204, 205 and 206, the hose 59 Vbeing connected for example to the nipple 206,

the other nipples being connected as by the hoses '201, 208 and 209 leading to separate and different cameras, whereby a, plurality of cameras may be simultaneously operated. In each nipple foi` example there is provided a bore having a diameter which is less than the diameter of the hose to which itis connected, said restricted diameter, relative to the power of the pump, being such as to maintain in the hose connection a vacuum equal for example to two inches of mercury when the hose connection to any camera is broken or opened as when a film box is moved from its exposure position back into the dark room. Consequently, when operating plural cameras, the such breaking or opening of one hose connection will not materially affect the vacuum A control or cut-off valve (not shown but readily understood) may be provided in each hose connection and/or in the pipe 20| It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details of construction and :arrangements of parts `without departing from the spirit of this invention, Wherefore it is desired not to be limited to the exact foregoing disclosure eX- cept as may be required by the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. For ia camera, a film-containing box pro- Nided with anvfaperture through a wall thereof and a, shutter movable to open and close said aperture, means for actuating said shutter to expose a portion of the film to the action of a light ray to obtain a photographic reproduction, means for feeding the film in said box in sequential steps past said aperture, said feeding means comprising a feed roller, a reciprocable member for imparting rotation thereto, and clutch mechanism mounted on said roller for making the such rotation effective in one direction only, said feeding means controlled by a time-delay element which is energized simultaneously with the shutter actuating means, and pivoted cam means for regulating the amount of the stepping movement of said feeding means in accordance with the size of photographic reproduction desired.

2. For a camera, a film-containing box provided with an aperture through a wall thereof and a shutter movable to open and close said aperture, means for actuating said shutter to expose a portion of the film to the action of a light ray to obtain a photographic reproduction, and means for feeding the film in said box in sequential steps past said aperture; said feeding means comprising a feed roller and a reciprocable member for imparting rotation thereto, a one-Way clutch coupling said member to said feed roller, a spring for moving said reciprocating member in that direction which engages said one-way clutch, a solenoid for moving said member in the opposite direction to reset the same for its next operative movement, said solenoid controlled by a time-delay element which is energized simultaneously with the shutter-actuating means, and pivoted cam means for regulating the amount of the stepping movement of said feeding means in `accordance with the size of photographic reproduction desired.

3. For a camera provided with a support, a focusable lens, a source of light and a copy holder adjustably mounted with respect to the focusable lens, the combination of a film-containing box adapted to receive an illumined image of the copy in the copy holder, said chamber provided with an aperture through a wall thereof and a shutter movable to open :and close said aperture, means for actuating said shutter to expose a portion of the film to the action of thereceived image to obtain a photographic reproduction thereof of a size in accordance with the adjusted position of the copy holder `and the focus of the lens, means for feeding the film in said box in sequential steps past said aperture, said feeding means controlled by a time-delay element which is energized simultaneously with the shutter actuating means, and cam means for regulating the amount of the stepping movement of said feeding means in accordance with the size of photographic reproduction as governed by the adjusted position of the copy holder, said cam `means comprising a, box-carried member and a companion member carried by the camera support.

4. For a camera, a film-containing box provided with an aperture through a Wall thereof and a shutter movable to open and close said aperture, means for actuating said shutter to expose a portion of the film to the action of a light ray to obtain a photographic reproduction, means for feeding the film in said box in sequential steps past said aperture, said feeding means comprising a feed roller and clutch mechanism for permitting unidirectional rotation only thereof, said clutch mechanism comprising a clutch unit mounted on each end of said roller, one clutch unit being a drive unit for rotating said feed roller in one direction and the other clutch unit operating to hold said roller against retrograde movement, said feeding means controlled by a time-delay element which is energized simultaneously with the shutter actuating means, and means for regulating the amount of the stepping movement of said feeding means in accordance ywith the size of photographic reproiduction desired.

.5..fFor Ya camera, ar film-containing box provided. with an aperture Vthrough a wall thereof and ashuttermovable to open and close said aperture, means for actuating said shutter to exposea portion of the nlm to the action of a light ray to obtain a photographic reproduction,

:means for feeding the nlm in said box in sequen- `tial steps past said aperture, said feeding means .comprisinga feed roller carrying a rack gear, a 4reciprocable rack in .engagement with said rack gear.' for imparting rotation thereto, a dashpot 'device for slowing the action of said member in litsY rotation imparting. movement, `and clutch mechanism for making the such rotation effective In. one direction only, saidv feeding means controlled by. a time-delay element which is ener- .lens, the copy holder and light source each being .centered inthe axis of the lens, the combination of anim-containing .box provided with an aperture through a wall thereof and a shutter mov- ,able 4,to `open and close said aperture; means for moving .said box to and from a position where the .shuttered aperture is in registry with the lens .axis;.electrically responsive means for actuating Jsaid shutter to expose a. portion of the nlm to thefaction `of a ray from the light source; electrically controlled means for feeding the' iilm in sa'idbox in sequential steps past said aperture and .including a time-delay element which is energized simultaneously with the shutter actuating means; .electrical .connectionsincluding a source of current, a manually operable circuit closing device, and terminals stationarily mounted on the camera support; and electrical connections carried by said box and including terminals engageable with and disengage'ablefrom .the terminals onthe camera support when said chamber is moved respectively to and from the position of registry of the shuttered aperture with the ,lens axis, said last named connections for .energizing the' shutter actuating means and the time-delayed' i'llm feeding means upon operation .of .said circuit closing device.

'7. For a camera provided witha support, a focusable Ylensand a source of lightdisposed on ...the axis vofV the lens, the combination-of azlm- .containing box provided with an .i aperture 'through a Wall thereof and a shutter .movable toppen .and close said aperture; means for moving said box' to and from a position Where ythe shuttered aperture isV in registry with the lens axis; electrically responsive means for actuating said lshutter to expose a portion of the lm to the action of va ray from the light source; electrically .controlled means for feeding the lmin said b ox in sequential steps past said aperture; a suction box over which the nlm is fed, said suction boxv in registry with said aperture and adapted to maintain the nlm in a, xed plane while being exposed; an air conduit leading from said box through, and openly terminating at the outer surface of, a wall of `said nlm-containing box; a valved pipe line connected to a source of subatmosphericpressure and openly terminating on thecamera vsupport at a position tor communicably register with said air conduit when said film-containing box .is moved to establish registration of the shuttered aperture with the lens axis; electrical connections including a source of current, a manually operable circuit closingY device, and terminals stationarily mounted on the camera support; and electrical connections carried by said nlm-containing box and including terminals engageable `With and disengageable from the terminals on the camera support when said nlm-containing box is moved respectively ,to and Yfrom .the position of registry of the shuttered aperture with the lens axis, said lastnamed connections for energizing the shutter actuating means and the nlm feeding means upon operation of said circuit closing device.

8. For a camera provided. with a support, a focusable lens and a source of light disposed on the axis of the lens, the combination of a lmcontaining box provided with anaperture through a wall thereof and a shutter movable to open and close said aperture; means for moving said box to and from a position where the shutteredaperture is in registry with the lens axis; electrically responsive means for actuating said shutter to expose a portion of the iilm to the laction of a ray from the light source; electrically .controlled means for feeding the nlm in said box in sequential steps past said-aperture, said feeding Ameans comprisinga main feed roller and a superposed pressure roll between which the lm passes, a pivotally mounted bracket carrying said pressure roll, means including a spring and a movable member carried by said box for movement .between end positions in .which it stresses oralternatively relieves the stress of said spring to adjust said bracket between end positions- .in which it is. yieldingly pressed against a iilm` on said feed roller or alternatively may move freely away from the film, and means carried by the camera support in position for engagement by said movable member to shift the same into said spring-stressing end position on movement of said box to locate said shuttered aperture on said lens axis; electrical connections including a source of current, a manually operable circuit vclosing device, and terminalsstationarily mounted on the camera support; and electrical connections carried by said chamber and-including terminals .engageable with and disengageable from the terminals on the camera support when said chamber is moved respectively to and from the position of registry of the shuttered aperture Awith .the lens axis, said last named .connections for energizing the shutter actuating means and the film feeding means upon operation of. said circuit closing device.

9. For use with a camera exterior to a dark room and'including a light-tight chamber opening into said dark room, the .camera including an object support and a lens for. focusinganimage of an object carried by said support upon` a plane within said chamber; a nlm box having an aperture through one wall thereof, a shutter 'carried by said box and movable to open and close said aperture, solenoid means Vcarried by said box for actuating said shutter, means for moving said box between an end position-within said dark .room .into an alternative end position within-said chamber to position a nlm carried by said box in the image plane of said camera, and ay circuit for energizing said -solenoid means; said circuit including a current source external to .said.box, and circuit elements for connecting said .current source to said solenoid means, said circuit elements including cooperating sets of contact members carried respectively by said box and said chamber in positions for engagement upon movement of said box into end position within said chamber.

10. The invention as recited in claim 9, in comu bination with nlm-feed means within said box for advancing a lm between successive exposures; said film-feed means including a feed roller, a solenoid having a reciprocating plunger, a, spring for moving said plunger in one direction on dee energization of the solenoid, means actuated by said plunger and including a one-way clutch for imparting unidirectional rotation to said feed roller, and means for adjusting the length of reciprocation of said plunger, thereby to determine the amounts of lm advance at each nlm-feeding operation; said last means comprising cooperating elements icarried by said chamber and said box respectively in positions for operative engagement upon movement of said box into said end position within said chamber.

11. The invention as recited in claim 10, wherein said film-feed means includes 1an idler roller, a bracket carrying said idler roller and angularly adjustable to move said idler roller towards `and away from said feed roller, and cooperating members carried respectively by said box and said chamber for moving said bracket angularly to press said idler roller into engagement with a film on said feed roller when the box is in said end position within said chamber.

12. The invention as recited in claim 10, in.

combination with circuit elements for connecting said current source to said solenoid; said circuit elements including said cooperating sets of contact members mounted respectively on said box and chamber.

13. The invention as recited in claim 10, wherein said one-way clutch drives said feed roller upon movement of said plunger by said spring, and said circuit elements include a delayed drop-out relay between said current source and said solenoid; in combination with spring means for closing the shutter on de-energization of said solenoid means; and wherein said circuit elements include a switch for simultaneously energizing said solenoid means and said relay from said current source, whereby said solenoid of the nlm-feed means remains energized for the timedelay interval of said relay upon the opening of said switch to deenergize said relay and said solenoid means kwhich opens the shutter, thereby to delay ia film-feed movement of said plunger by said spring until said shutter is closed by said 55 spring means.

14. In a camera, a lm box for holding a nlm upon which successive exposures may be made, a film-feed roller and a cooperating idler roller between which a lm may be positioned, and electrically energized means Within said box for actuating said film-feed roller; said means comprising a rack bar mounted for reciprocation, a one-way clutch connecting said rack bar to said feed roller and including a member provided with a pinion in mesh with said rack bar, a spring connected to said rack bar for moving the same in nlm-feeding direction, a solenoid having an armature plunger connected to said rack -bar for moving the same in the opposite direction, and a feedadjusting means including an arm at the exterior of the box and cam means adjustable angularly to limit movement of said rack bar by said spring for determining the extent of the rotation of said film-feed roller at an `actuation of the same.

15. In a camera, the invention as recited in claim 14, wherein said lm box includes `a ilat plate for supporting a lm, said plate having openings in the nlm-supporting surface thereof, and means for reducing the pressure at said opening to sub-atmospheric to maintain a lm in close surface engagement with said at Plate.

GEORGE NEWMAN BUMSTEAD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,204,098 Watson Nov. 7, 1916 1,756,111 Wisner Apr. 29, 1930 1,816,290 Klimis July 28, 1931 1,963,095 Petit et al June 19, 1934 2,056,279 Kulick Oct. 6, 1936 2,099,681 Draeger Nov. 23, 1937 2,158,039 Wenczler May 9, 1939 2,166,419 ONeill July 18, 1939 2,184,222 Koppe Dec. 19, 1939 2,217,120 Liebman Oct. 8, 1940 2,232,240 Jones Feb. 18, 1941 2,351,399 Caracciolo et al. June 13, 1944 2,415,424 Gaebel Feb. 11, 1947 2,419,836 Holbrook Apr. 29, 1947 2,422,354 Holbrook June 17, 1947 2,482,596 Rattray Sept. 20, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 553,949 Great Britain June 11, 1943

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