US2603912A - Sound for figures or puppets - Google Patents

Description

July 22, 1952 M. B. GRUBER r 2,603,912

- SOUND FOR FIGURES 0R PUPPIFTS Filed June 26, 1948 I a Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Ma/Aew B.- -6 rube r y 22. 1952 MBG ER 2,603,912

SOUND FOR FIGURES OR PUPPETS Filed June 26, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A Two/awn;

i atented July 22,- 1 952 ThisJinventionrelates to. figures or puppets whichspeakorsingwhile parts of thebody are caused to-bemoved, to a life-like manner and has for its. principal object the provision of a novel-device of this: character to be used, for entertainment or, display advertising wherein the movement of themouth is coordinated with the music or speechbeing delivered by the figure.

-, Another object of the invention is to provide animproved figure of this character wherein the articulated structure will have a compound movement simulating themotion of a singer renderinga song in an animated fashion. v

Another object of vthe invention is toprovide an animatedfigure wherein a single driven shaft will impart a swaying motion to the body and also an oscillating. movement of the head. YetTanOther object of the invention isto pro:- vide an advertising or display device producing both sound and mechanical motion, both being derived fromv a single film having asound track and also having a series of opaque and transparent areas. In the embodiment of theinven- .tionchosen for illustration in the drawing, a single figure is employed although plural figures may also be used, both deriving their sound and m vem nt. co tr l. r m single fi he l li ewise havin o aq a ea on r ll n mov .men of -a part of the fi es su as he nqut :Al m tiv 1v.a-. inel fi u may. e emp oye end eonme ndQmovemen e eo e... cont l by th ngl .film iviiic a s a ries; h sp d traelg, For instance, one band may-he employed c ntrol m em n e y fs; hdla fi e to lcontrolhody motion.

was a sound-on-film apparatus wherein improved means are employed for moving ands'toring anendlessfilm without the necessity ofwinding the mm on reels. The'arrangement permits the iilmfafter leaving the sound head, to be delive'red to a storage area of relatively small size compared with the'length of the, film, the film being vcontinuously withdrawn from storage area .fojr' re-introduction into the sound head.

Another, object of'the invention is to provide Fig. [is a rear'elevation'of ana'nimated, talkfing figure embodying the present invention, parts being "broken away 'to show interior. mechanism. Fig. '2 is 'asecuon taken on line 2T-2foiFig'. 1.

. .;A; still mule? obj ectof the invention is tojprdy rsaigidmt, "the is rigidly secured at the u'p'p'er'end' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE-- l v I I SOUND Refinementamuse.-.,e

Mathew BfQrubfiflSi-ohinNjY.

pplication ru ees,194s, serial-$5 5468 w et-T 8):

ia 8 shows a ir u v. .i :1 V Thepuppet shownin Figs. 1, 2 and B is a ranged to be mounted on the; upper surfacefijy of .a housing ll which may iurther form; a support for aloud speaker [2. The puppet has a head B, a torso llalidafiXed-leg I 5; which also fe m ert. r-the te s :Q r fimav comprise a fiat spring arranged to move gas the body sways. A hand 20 is at theouter extremity of the arm. The other arm 2| isiormed in two hinged sections and the hand 22 issecuredtoa post 23 hingedon the housing at 24 and carrying a simulated microphone 25 at its upper end. Thusas the body sways, arm 2| and post 2.3 als0 are permittedto move. h v The mechanism-ior imparting motion; to-fthe puppet driven by a motor 26 having'a vrtical shaft 30 which.isjOurnalledatits upper end in ab ock 3 fiu portedby leg 15. v I gear 32 keyed to shaft 30 engages a gear 33 keyed at the lower end of a shaft 34 'al'so 'jo'urnalled in: block" 31; I Rotationflof haitfa ia'lsb imparts "rotation to a hub 35 keyedlatthe lower end thereof, such h'ub' having 'a plurality orspaeea radial fingers 36 which successively "engagei ana cause forwardjmovementlto an upperleg Section flllpi'v'oted at'fl. Y'Ifhe lower leg sebum-42 likekicking ac'tionoftheleg. T r

A U.-shaped1f rame 44' is; carried on shaft 38, a collarwhich keyed to the shaft-limiting downward movement of the frame, and av collar 45 limits upward movement of the frame. Shaft 34. is bent approximately 10 from its'axisof rotation' at the point where it enters collar 4sji r'iie torso l4 ismounte'd at the" upper endiof i me 4'4 and accordingly, rotation of the shaft the torsoi disc hinged "at 43. This arrangement causes "a -lif eleccentrically disposed 'pin 49 in the discvconnected with a roller 5| having aresilie'ntouter covering (not shown) and carryingone part 52; are, uniotheripart 53 being keyedto'a. 'shaftill which passes through an opening 55in the shoulder section of the torso. The'head l 13 of such shaft.

There is no positive drivingconnecti'on between gle .5%??91 te s-Heed a t-' 4. bit wer cause the head to rotate continuously in one direction but is prevented from doing so by friction devices 60 and 6| carried by frairi'eaflian'd which:

Thus, in one engage the roller as it passes.

planetary revolution of roller 5| the; head turns in one direction when moving-fromniembefi: 60;: i

to 6| and as the roller contacts memberjl re verse rotation is set up due to friction."

tinuing, the head again rotates in the first direc- I'kififivhi-Irolli 5| travels rronr-sl teat me-again ftatsifithoppo's'il'i di-i etin-wvh ilst -1"01Ie1' $1i traverses 60 r a i 7 I: t fash' urchins sway ng actiqn'isji mparted to the-figure, the latter -havingjappropriate clothing. The head is fitted with the iis'ual hinged-Jaw section ea-ans movement tnereor is controlled by a centrally-pivoted levers? carrymg a armamre B4; asse'c'iatd -witlr an; electrometres or solenoid '653- V -"oririall y-closedand isgarranged to be opened wile} the" cir'euiw closed? This arrangement, may; (if-course; be-- reversed; A Hook 6 6 -c"arrie'd-' by the frame supports 1 the wire (not show-n) leadingfto themag'net-anjd may-also rate with membeHi-I toproduce-reversejroa tation of' the'head;

to an -sr nd sawhimh; r sna di t a d nceslightlymore:tharrthe width'jofthefilm 'in-order to retainan sectionsof the rum invertia s me asz l s back and rennin t e-film htgl b M .t-pld idied ante upwe d ysxtend n i r qni I00 dfifie. e. "i nd: I02 m d, thgbimg itee d s ns ii wan-(03 1s provided; Aaer eavmgtne c arme the is drawn pwardly by' .rollejrsi as ans: '9

hicveaupwardiy byrollrs and 9| faster than semis it moves through the sound heads, it accumulates as shown at 91' ina supplemental chamber 98' defined by walls I03 and 99.

A short section of the film II is shown in Fig. 6, the film being like any standard motion picture film which has been previously processed by recording on one side thereof the usual sound track I06 and the other side a series of opaque areas IO'I separated by transparentareas, to control Inechanicalaction. By using the -fric-ti'on drive of the present invention the sprocket holes are not needed. Film I09 shown in Fig. 7 is similar except that it has plural sound tracks H0 and pluralbaridsof opaque areas III. This arrange- I, ment isuseiul wherein plural figures are used or when compound synchronized motions are desired;

Referring now to the circuit shown in Fig. 8,

' thesound head 19 is placed with lamp 83, optical slit I4 and. photo-electric cell 84. A condensing lens I15 may be:used forgreateri light efil'eiency. 'l hissound -headis of the=sametype of arrangement' -found in the majonity:ofi -projectors used for showingmotiompictures; Arr-amplifier 41:6 is; connected:between.--the photo electricicehs284 and i' felay" coil '1' I 1 The-amplifier maybe-om rela el inse'risiti-ve ty e 'but-must be capaclao: ampiir-ymg direct current; it-uhas been found that a single stage-is; 'su'flicient -'especia1-1y where a -hign' impedericere1a is used;- Relay cont'acts I [s are-connected in se r w-itl i -solnoid fifi aiid a'power line in sii-pplying unit I201 armature 64 is controlled -lo'ysolenoid fil'r a-nd proyides mechanica1-power- -for =the puppets *ja- The same power line which is-connected to solefield also runs m tor-lawman pro ides power: for the body'motion of the puppetgi The other sound head 68 :whicnmaybe shbstahtiallyidentiealwith 'the 'first-iis placed-adjacent tothe -fi r'st such maiinerthatthe filmds run-through bQtHaS-WES 'earliei 'des'cribei This sound-headylikethefifst, iueluues the-1ignt soure-15 andphctmemcmc cell 17. Thus; the components orthis soundness are the-same as g the firstexceptthat the 'cell lfi is-adjustedto coven a difilent part-'dfath 'fllih area and hence picks -up the -var i-ations in-ith second-*band The "recorded soungi may-be put on thefilm by the'variabledensity-or variable areame'thbm Amplifier lu is connected between fillioto electric cell -I'I 'and'loud' speaker *--I 2?- The "amplifiermust be relativel y sensitivegand contain a power output; stage-since the loud? speaker should prduce enough so'und -to be heard-manaverage-sizedroom? It has beenfound that lamps I5 and 83 may be smallsix' volt automobile headlight lamps as they are; ug'ge d' and rovide "a sm concentrated poin source of ligh 1 A trans or r-i h ihei l j l r eu p ied w t l 'in ;|3j9i;on., asimmer-512s: Axlowi ssispfilte I31 I is employed to filter the high voltage anode supply current and keep the hum from'tlle lo ud speaker, Switches [32,133 and 'IH areplaced T iith gpnppet' tqf i 'p itrth. amuse ower pal ui fend1t d e i he opration ofthunit is as follows Switch 7. I33 is first closedtoallow thetube'heater to reach the operating temperature.- Switch-I34 isthen closed to light the sound lamps and switch I32 is simultaneously, closed to start O eration.

As the variabledensity patches on the sound track 'passthe sound head68- the variations in light intensity on the photo-electric cell produce variation in voltage at the amplifier input. These variations are amplified and transmittedto loud speaker '12, where they are transformed into i. i v I the film passes the slit in sound head 19 variations: in density on another part of film 1| supply intermittent illumination to the'photoelectric cell 14: Theseyariations; are iampl'ified by; amplifier "l l 6, transmittej to relay j'coil l I which caus'es contacts H8 tops-made on'bro'ken in synchronism with the film density. The contacts central operation of solenoid 65 and the jaw is successively opened and closed. Thus the operation is continuous for as long a period as is desired.

The use of the film of Fig. '7 will depend upon the particular type of figure or figures employed. For instance, if a single figure is used and compound movements are required one of the sound tracks may be eliminated. If two figures are employed, one talking to the other, the arrangement of two sets of tracks may be used.

While three forms or embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein for illustrative purposes, and the construction and arrangements incidental to specific applications thereof have been disclosed and discussed in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is limited neither to the mere details or relative arrangement of parts, nor to its specific embodiments shown herein, but that extensive deviations from the illustrated forms or embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the principles thereof.

What I claim is:

1. In a sound on film control system, an endless film having plural longitudinal rows of indicia recorded thereon, one of said indicia rows being representative of a sound track, the remaining rows of indicia being discriminately disposed opaque patterns, photo-electric film sensing means for converting said second track indicia into electrical impulses, amplifying and sound reproducing means responsive to said impulses, a second photo-electric film sensing means including an amplifier arranged and adapted to sense said opaque patterns, aswitching relay responsive to said second sensing means, an external circuit including said relay switching means and arranged to be completed by the actuation thereof, a power source and a motor for driving said film past the plural sensing means.

2. In a sound on film control system, an endless film having plural longitudinal rows of indicia recorded thereon, one of said indicia rows being representative of a sound track, the remaining rows of indicia being discriminately disposed opaque patterns, plural light sources disposed relative to said indicia, photo-electric film sensing means for converting said sound track indicia into electrical impulses, amplifying and sound reproducing means responsive to said impulses, a second photo-electric film sensing means including an amplifier arranged and adapted to sense said opaque patterns, a relay having switching means responsive to said second sensing means, an external circuit including said relay switching means, a solenoid and a motor, said circuit arranged 'to' be completedby -theiactua tionof said switching' means to energize-said solenoid and said motor, a power source and-electrically operate'd driving means-for continuously moving said film past the plural 'sensing-means.

In-a sound on film control system, 'aii'en'd less film having plural longitudinal rows "of "in dicia recorded thereon, film-guide and driving means for "moving said filmin a circuitous p'ath, one of-said'indicia rows being representative of a sound track, the remaining rows of indicia' 'being discriminately disposed-opaque patterns, "-a'iight source disposed relative to said "indici'a,-- photo electricfilm sensing means "for converting said sound track indicia into electrical impulses, am plifying and sound reproducing means responsive to said impulses, a "second photo-electric film sensing means disposed apart from the first sensing means on said circuitous film path and including an amplifier arranged and adapted to sense said opaque patterns, a switching relay responsive to said second sensing means, anexternal circuit including the switch of said relay and arranged to be completed by the actuation thereof, a power source and a motor for continuously driving said film past the plural sensing means whereby said opaque patterns intermittently operate said switching relay in accordance with the pattern thereof.

4. In a sound on film control system for effecting movement of a mechanical figure simultaneously with the reproduction of sound, an endless film strip having longitudinal rows of indicia recorded thereon, one of said rows being representative of a sound track, the other of said rows consisting of intermittently disposed opaque dots, means for individually sensing the respective rows of indicia comprising plural photo-electric cells, a sound reproducing mechanism responsive to one of said photo-electric cells including an amplifier and a reproducer, an amplifier associated with the other of said cells, a switching relay actuable by said latter amplifier, a power source, driving means for moving said film continuously past said photo-electric cells whereby mechanisms for moving said figure are responsive'to the actuation of said switching relay and controlled by said opaque dots in coordination with the sound reproduced by said sound track.

' 5. In a sound on film control system, an endless film having plural longitudinal rows of indicia recorded thereon, one of said indicia rows being representative of a sound track, the remaining rows of indicia being discriminately disposed opaque patterns, photoelectric film sensing means for converting said sound track indicia into sound, a second photoelectric film sensing means including an amplifier arranged and adapted to sense said opaque patterns, a switching relay responsive to said second sensing means. an external circuit including said relay switching means and arranged to be completed by the actuation thereof, a power source and a motor for driving said film past the plural sensing means.

6. In a sound on film control system, an endless film having plural longitudinal rows of indicia recorded thereon, one of said indicia rows being representative of a sound track, the remaining rows of indicia being discriminately disposed opaque patterns, photo-electric film sensing means for converting said sound track indicia into electrical impulses, amplifying and sound reproducing means responsive to said impulses, a. second photoelectric film sensing and amplifying means for converting said opaque patterns

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