US578147A - Screen-shutter for color photography - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) F. J. HARRIS ON. SGREBN SHUTTER POR COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY.

No. 578,147. Patented Mar. 2, 1897.

INVENTOH ATTORNEY J WWWHWIHIIIIIIIIWifllllmlllflIlllllllllllllllllllflllliiIIIIIIIINIIIIIIIlllllllllllllllillllllllllllllllfll I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK J. HARRISON, OF ORANGE, NEWV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE E. (it H. T. ANTHONY & COMPANY, OF NEW YORK.

SCREEN-SHUTTER FOR COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 578,147, dated March 2, 1897.

Application filed August 5, 1896. Serial No. 601.706. (No model.)

T0 00% whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK J. HARRI- SON, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, and a resident of Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Color Photography, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for use in the photographic art, having special reference to that branch thereof known as color photography. In the practice of this art it is desirable for the production of certain kinds of pictures that the light which acts upon the sensitized plate should pass through glass plates or equivalent transparent material which are interposed between the lens and the sensitized surface and which are colored to such tints or shad es as required, as now well understood, and, furthermore, for the production of pictures having certain special characteristics it is desirable that the portions of the sensitized surface which are exposed under the same color should be separate from each other, and that portions exposed under different colors should be interspersed with them in such manner that the several portions of differing colors shall lie closely adjacent to each other, yet not overlap, thus securing the blending of the colors to effect the desired optical illusion.

My invention relates to an apparatus for producing this last-named character or class of pictures.

Briefly described, my invention consists in a transparent movable screen adapted to be located within a plate-holder close to the sensitive surface, and this transparent screen is divided into separate sections of such areas as desired, and each section is lined or ruled in such manner that a portion of its surface is opaque, yet having the alternate sections transparent, and each section is dyed or stained in a differing color, so that the transparent portions thereof have different color Values, and the opaque parts or rulings on adjoining sections are so arranged as that they break joints with each other, so that when the apparatus is used the opaque rulings in one section cover the portions which are exposed in the adjoining section, so that after the screen has completed its transit all portions of the sensitized surface will have been exposed, but all adjoining parts will be in differing colors. The movement of the device may be effected by clockwork or in any other suitable manner, and it is to be regulated to such speed as the quickness of the plate requires, and by its use a very great advantage is secured, because the picture as a whole is taken at one exposure, and absolute accuracy in the relative location and arrangement of the exposed port-ions so that the desired color effects are secured is attainable.

In order that the invention may be better understood, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 illustrates a portion of a photographic camera, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, embodying the invention. Fig. 2 illustrates a face view of the colorvalue screen. In it the width of the opaque and transparent parts has been very greatly exaggerated, but the length of the color-value screen shortened, owing to the requirements of Patent Office drawings. Fig. 3 illustrates a front view of the apparatus in position for operation,but detached from the plate-holder. Fig. I illustrates a modification, greatly reduced in size.

A illustrates the rear of a cam era-box, B being the bellows thereof. 0 indicates a plate holder, which is attached to the rear of the camera-box A by the usual supports D and spring-clip E. F is the ordinary dark slide. G is the sensitized surface, shown in this instance as being an ordinary glass plate, for which film or other suitable support for the sensitized surface may be substituted. These parts are or may be of any preferred material and construction.

Referring now to the features especially constituting the invention, Ct is a band or ribbon of transparent material, preferably a very thin flexiblesheet of celluloid.

b is a roller supported in the sides of the plate holder, upon which the ribbon a is woundin the first instance. cis another roller at the other side of the plate-holder, inclosed within a suitable casing. d is a clockwork for rotating the roller 0 at such speed as may be desired.

0 is a latch which engages with a detent f in the edge of a disk g, which is attached to the roller 1). The latch 6 extends to the outside of the plate-holder and is pivoted at 7t and is spring-actuated, as by spring The ribbon a passes from the roller Z) over a guideroller j, across in front of the sensitized surface and immediately in contact with it to the other side of the same, thence over another roller 71;, and thence to the driven roller 0.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the ribbon a is divided into sections of such length as may be desired, and each section is stained, dyed, or otherwise colored to such tint or shade as may be preferred. The colors most frequently desired are red, green, blue, violet, yellow, and any desired number of these colors may be employed, there being, of course, a separate section of the ribbon for each color. The sections are made of such length as may be desired for the following reasons: It requires eight or ten times as long an exposure to properly get the color value of red as of blue or violet, and the other colors also differ in the time required for the exposure through them. Consequently in a color-value screen or ribbon in which red, green, and violet are used the red section would be eight or ten times as long as the violet section, and the green would be of a suitable intermediate length.

After the ribbon has been dyed or stained in sections, as above stated, and in differing colors or shades of color, then each sectionis ruled longitudinally by opaque lines, as seen in the left-hand section in Fig. 2 at Z Z, and between the opaque rulings the transparent longitudinally-extending portions of the ribbon appear, as at m on, &c., and in the adjoining section, as seen immediately at the right, this same practice is duplicated, exceptingthat the opaque parts Z Z, &c., break joints endwise with the opaque sections Z Z in the left-han d section, so that the longitudinally-extending transparent portions 077, on, &c., abut against the opaque portions in the left-hand section, and the opaque portions Z abut against the transparent portions m an in the left-hand section, and this same system is again reproduced in the remaining section, to wit, the one at the right. In it the opaque sections 1" are set still farther upwardly, and the transparent portions m m, &c., break joints, respectively, with the transparent and opaque portions in the adjoining or intermediate section. At each end of the color-value screen or ribbon there is an opaque portion having the necessary longitudinal extension to entirely cover the exposure-aperture of the apparatus, so as to act as a dark slide, if desired. \Vhen these end sections are present, the slide F (see Fig. 1) may be done away with.

The arrangement and operation of the device are as follows: The color-value ribbon,

sectionally colored and lined with opaque lines, as above stated, is arranged within the plate-holderso that its major portion is wound upon the roller 7), the end of it, however, extending over the rollers j and 7.; and attached to the roller 0, and the roller 1; is prevented from rotation by reason of the latch e engaging with the detent f, so that the stress of the clockwork, which actuates the roller 0, is restrained. The sensitized plate 9 or its equivalent, as above stated, is then placed in position, so that its sensitized surface is immediately adjacent to the color-value ribbon ct, and the clockwork is adjusted at such tension and is provided with such retarding means as may be necessary to secure the movement of the color-value ribbon at the proper speed, and when the parts are in this position if the ends of the color-value ribbon are made opaque, so as to act as a dark slide, then such opaque portion covers the face of the sensitized surface. The focus having now been secured, and the subject properly within the field of the sensitized surface, the latch e is manipulated by pressure upon the exposed portion, whereupon the roller Z) being liberated the clockwork immediately operates, and the flexible color-value ribbon is wound up upon the roller 0 at the requisite speed, and in its transit over the sensitized surface its opaque portion at that end first passes away from in front of the sensitized surface, and thereafter the sensitized surface is exposed to the action of light through the differently-colored transparent portions of the several sections of the ribbon, and in such manner that the red, green, and violet exposures are parallel with each other, and yet accurately spaced and arranged side by side, and at the conclusion of the transit of the ribbon the other opaque portion at its other end passes in front of the sensitized surface and shields the same from further light action. If the ends of the ribbon are not made opaque, so as to act as a dark slide, then. the slide h will be manipulated in the usual manner.

In Figs. 1 and 3 I show a screen located in front of the color-value ribbon, which is preferably composed of a number of fine wires arranged either vertically or horizontally or in both directions or at any desired angle, which partially obstruct the passage of the light, so as to produce a stippled effect. This stipple-screen is marked I and may be made and arranged in any preferred manner.

I11 Fig. at I illustrate a modified construction of the color-value ribbon, by which I secure the same result as when the stationary line-screen I is employed. In this construction the ribbon is in all respects the same as that above described, but upon the back side of it from end to end of the colored sections it is lined crosswise by very fine opaque lines. (Seen at a.) The two end sections 11 II may be opaque, as before, to act as dark slides. These lines a a are exceedingly fine and may run longitudinally instead of transversely of the ribbon or in both directions. Indeed, they may run at any desired angle crosswise of the ribbon instead of longitudinally or vertically.

Although I prefer that the color -value screen be in the form of a flexible ribbon adapted to be wound upon rollers and operated as above stated, I do not limit myself to this construction, because it is perfectlypossible to practice my invention by the employment of a rigid color-value screen, such, for example, as a differently colored or tinted glass plate, which is made to move across the face of the sensitized surface either manually or by the operation of suitable mechanism, and, moreover, it is not necessary that the color-value ribbon should be all in one piece. The differently-colored sections may be separate in the first instance and suitably connected together either in the flexible or in the rigid form. I prefer, however, that it should all be in one piece, and the end sections, whether they are opaque to act as dark slides or not, may be made of the ordinary rubber cloth used extensively in photographic apparatus; also, the devices employed for moving the color-value screen either in the flexible or rigid form may be different from the clockwork indicated in the drawings. Indeed, it will be obvious to those who are familiar with this art that various modifications may be made in the details of construction without departing from the essential features of the invention. I therefore do not limit myself to the special construction shown and described.

It is desirable, but not under all circumstances essential, that the color-value screen should be closely adjacent to the sensitized surface, because, if separated therefrom by any considerable distance, the diffusion of the light-rays will preclude the sharp definition of the colored exposures, giving an unsatisfactory result. For some classes of work,however, the separation may be greater than for other classes.

It will be observed that the relation between the opaque lines and the transparent portions are shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings as bearing the relation of two to one, the opaque portions being twice as wide as the transparent portions. This is because three colors are supposed to be used in the instance illus trated. If two colors only were used, then the transparent and opaque portions would be of equal width. If four colors, then the opaque portion would be three times as wide as the transparent portion in each section, and so on.

I claim 1. A color-value screen comprising a transparent medium interposed between the light and the sensitive surface, the ends of said medium being opaque, and the intermediate portions sectionally colored, and ruled with opaque lines, the lines in adjoining sections breaking joints, and means to move said medium, for the purposes set forth.

2. A color-value screen comprising a flexible, transparent medium interposed between the light and the sensitized surface, said medium being sectionally colored and ruled with opaque lines, the lines. in adjoining sections breaking joints with each other, and means to move the said medium, for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination in a photographic apparatus, of a color-value screen, comprising a movable, transparent medium sectionally colored and ruled, substantially as set forth, and a fixed line-screen, which partially obstructs the light, both of said devices being interposed between the lens and the sensitive surface, for the purposes set forth.

4. The combination in a photographic apparatus of a color-value screen, composed of a flexible ribbon, the ends whereof are opaque and the intermediate portions sectionallycolored and ruled, substantially as set forth, and a fixed line-screen, which partially obstructs the light, both of said devices being located between the lens and the sensitive surface, for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination in a photographic apparatus of a color-value screen, composed of l a flexible ribbon, the ends whereof are opaque and the intermediate portions sectionallycolored and ruled, substantially as set forth, a fixed line-screen, which partially obstructs the light, both of said devices being located between the lens and the sensitive surface, and means to move said flexible ribbon, for the purposes set forth.

6. The combination in a photographic apparatus of a frame embodying rollers, a flexible, transparent ribbon, portions whereof are sectionally colored and ruled, substantially as set forth, supported upon said rollers, means applied to one of said rollers whereby it is positively rotated, means applied to the other thereof, to control the action of said motor, and a fixed, line-screen, which partially obstructs the passage of the light, said line-screen, and said color-value screen being located between the lens and the sensitized surface, for the purposes set forth.

7. A color-value screen, comprisingatrans parent medium adapted to be interposed between the light and the sensitive surface, said medium being sectionally colored and ruled on one side with opaque lines, leaving exposed spaces between them and lined upon the back side with fine lines, for the purposes set forth.

8. A color-value screen, com prisingatransparent medium interposed between the light and the sensitized surface, the ends whereof are opaque, and the portions between the ends sectionally colored and ruled on one side in such manner as that the rulings break joints, and fine, opaque lines on the back thereof, for the purposes set forth.

9. A color-value screen, comprising a flexible, transparent medium, sectionally colored and ruled on one side with opaque lines, which in adjoining sections break joints with each other, and fine, opaque lines produced on the rear thereof, for the purposes set forth.

10. A color-value screen comprising a movable, transparent medium, interposed be tween the light and the sensitive surface, said medium being sectionally colored transversely, and ruled with opaque lines which run in the direction of its movement, the lines in the diiferently-colored sections breaking joints with each other, for the purposes set forth.

11. A color-value screen, comprising a transparent medium interposed between the light and the sensitive surface, the ends of the said medium being opaque and the intermediate portions sectionally colored transversely and ruled with opaque lines, which run in the direction of its movement, the lines in the differently-colored sections breaking joints with each other, for the purposes set forth.

12. A plate-holder having rollers at opposite sides to which is attached a flexible colorvalue screen composed of transparent material, which is sectionally colored transversely, the diflerent-ly-colored sections being ruled with opaque lines, running in the direction of its movement, and which break joints with said lines in the adjoining sections, and guiding devices to direct said flexible screen across the face of the said sensitive surface, for the purposes set forth.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 28th day of July, A. D.- 1896.

FREDERICK J. HARRISON.

Vitnesses:

PHILLIPS ABBOTT, E. SIMPSON.

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