EP1317690B1 - Machine and method for restoring motion pictures cinematographic films - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a machine and a method for automatically restoring cinematographic films comprising connections produced by adhesive tapes, by unwinding the film in front of means (28) detecting the connections, stopping the unwinding, holding the film on either side of the detected connection with clips (30), cutting the film in the middle of the connection, eliminating the bits of adhesive tape, cleaning the film and fixing a new connection, then proceeding with the unwinding, eliminating with means (34) the overlapping lateral portions of the new connection and visually controlling the new connections with means (36). The invention enables to automatically restore films comprising connections consisting of adhesive tape.

Description

The invention relates to a machine and a method for restoring cinematographic films, in particular to replace the end-of-film fittings which have been made by means of adhesive tape.

Adhesive tapes used to make cinematographic film connections, especially 16mm films, age poorly and become fairly quickly dry and friable for example, or relatively greasy and sticky, which prohibits in practice the projection of films comprising fittings of this type. type having a certain seniority.

We are therefore obliged to proceed to a restoration of these films, which is currently done by hand by staff who scrolls each film, mark the fittings and, trying not to damage the film, remove the pieces of tape , cleans as much of the tape-coated portions of the film as possible, reconstitutes the fitting with pieces of new adhesive tape, perforates the fitting in correspondence of the lateral perforations of the film, and optionally cuts off the portions of tape that would protrude laterally from the movie.

This work is tedious, repetitive and extremely long and requires taking precautions when handling solvents used to remove old adhesives, which are usually toxic. It currently takes between 10 and 20 hours of work to restore a film length corresponding to one hour of projection. 16mm films including fittings made with tape adhesive which are archived in national institutes, represent tens of thousands of hours of projection. Their complete restoration would require in each institute more than one million hours of work at a cost of more than 350 million francs over a period estimated at more than 30 years using for this task twenty people full-time. Such a program is therefore impractical in practice, for lack of adequate means.

Examples of apparatus for cutting and joining cinematographic films and adhesive tapes are disclosed in US-A-4,155,516 and US-A-4,247,582, respectively.

The present invention is intended to meet this need.

It relates to a machine for restoring cinematographic films comprising connections made by means of adhesive tape, which makes it possible in an automated manner to eliminate the old connections and to replace them with new connections.

It proposes for this purpose a machine for restoring cinematographic films according to the rev. 1

The machine according to the invention operates fully automatically and does not require the permanent intervention of an operator. A single operator can therefore monitor several machines and intervene on one or the other of these machines whenever necessary. The work of restoring a large number of films is greatly simplified and facilitated.

According to another characteristic of the invention, this machine comprises a first module formed of a chassis carrying means for guiding a mobile carriage equipped with at least film scrolling and connection detection means and controlled displacement means. of the carriage, and a second independent and removable module, comprising means for removing the connections and cleaning the film.

This arrangement, which separates the mechanical means of displacement and treatment of the film from the chemical or other means used for the removal of the pieces of adhesive tape and for cleaning the film, makes it possible, if necessary, to use different means of eliminating the connections. and cleaning the film for different types of films and fittings and thus easily adapt the machine to different modes of restoration.

In a first embodiment of the invention, the means for eliminating the connections comprise means for mechanically attacking the pieces of adhesive tape by projection of erosive microparticles, such as, for example, particles of glass, starch, plastic material, or watery or carbonic snow.

In another embodiment of the invention, the means for eliminating the connections comprises means for etching the pieces of adhesive tape with a solvent, such as example only trichlorethylene or methyl chloride.

The parts of the film previously covered by the pieces of adhesive tape are cleaned by means of a solvent of the same type, by spraying the solvent onto the film or by immersing the film in a solvent bath. Optionally, the action of the solvent on the film can be enhanced by an ultrasound generator.

Cleaning can also be completed with gentle, non-aggressive brushing.

Drying of the cleaned parts of the film is then performed, for example by blowing hot air, then the cleaned parts of the film are joined together and a new connection is made by means of a gluer of a suitable type, which lays pieces tape on the spliced portions of the film and form the necessary perforations in the fitting.

Automatic control means of the lateral perforations of the film can advantageously be provided on the machine, for the detection of parts of the film whose perforations are damaged, destroyed or malformed and allow the possible intervention of an operator.

The invention also proposes a method for restoring cinematographic films according to the rev. 13.

The invention now makes possible the complete restoration of cinematographic films including tape taps, which are archived in large numbers in most countries of the world.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en élévation d'une machine selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue de dessus de la machine de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue correspondant à la figure 1 et représentant la machine pendant une phase d'élimination d'un raccord ou de nettoyage ou de séchage des parties de film préalablement couvertes par le raccord ;
• la figure 4 est une vue correspondant aux figures 1 et 3, mais représentant une partie de la machine basculée pour une intervention de l'opérateur ;
• les figures 5 et 6 représentent schématiquement deux modes de réalisation des moyens de détection de raccord utilisés dans la machine selon l'invention,
• les figures 7 et 8 sont des vues de dessus et en élévation respectivement des moyens de prise de film ;
• les figures 9 et 10 sont des vues en élévation et de dessus respectivement des moyens de coupe des parties latérales débordantes d'un nouveau raccord ;
• la figure 11 est un organigramme des principales opérations du procédé selon l'invention.

The invention will be better understood and other characteristics, details and advantages thereof will appear more clearly on reading the description which follows, given by way of example with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic elevational view of a machine according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a top view of the machine of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 and showing the machine during a phase of removing a connection or cleaning or drying portions of film previously covered by the connector;
• Figure 4 is a view corresponding to Figures 1 and 3, but showing part of the machine tilted for operator intervention;
• FIGS. 5 and 6 schematically represent two embodiments of the connector detection means used in the machine according to the invention,
• Figures 7 and 8 are views from above and in elevation respectively film-taking means;
• Figures 9 and 10 are views in elevation and from above respectively cutting means of the flanking side portions of a new connector;
• Figure 11 is a flow diagram of the main operations of the method according to the invention.

The machine according to the invention, which is schematically represented in FIGS. 1 to 4, is more particularly intended for the restoration of cinematographic films in 16 mm, which comprise connections made by means of an adhesive tape such as for example that sold under the name J-LAR PERMACEL. These connections are made by laying an adhesive tape on each side of the film, on either side of the connecting line of the lengths of film which are placed end to end, the width of these adhesive tapes to cover exactly two images of the film. In such a cinematographic film, which may comprise a single perforation side row or two perforation lateral rows, the replacement of the old connectors with new ones must not degrade the film or alter the quality of the image or sound. The duration of the shots must be kept, to maintain the synchronization between the image and the sound. Consequently, any removal of an image of a piece of film due to the degradation of the film at this location must be accompanied by a replacement of this image by a black image.

The machine according to the invention essentially comprises a first module designated by the reference 10, formed of a frame 12 and a trolley mobile 14 comprising a number of mechanical or electromechanical means which will be described in more detail in the following, and a second module 16 which is independent of the first module 10 and which is movable relative thereto, the second module 16 comprising a number of film processing means, which can be modified or adapted to the nature of the films to be treated and those of the fittings to be replaced. Means not shown are provided to ensure accurate positioning of the second module relative to the first and to immobilize it in position.

The carriage 14 is movably mounted in translation on the frame 10 by means of slides 18 and is movable by motorized means, comprising for example a direct-current geared motor and a beltless transmission.

The carriage 14 carries a plate 20, for example made of light alloy, arranged in a vertical plane and on which are mounted two motorized hubs for receiving a film supply reel 22 and a film receiving reel 24 as well as a certain number of rollers for guiding the film 26 unwound from the reel 22, these rollers defining a horizontal U-shaped loop leading to the receiving reel 24 and passing through coupling detecting means 28, film taking means 30, means 34 lateral cutting new fittings, and means 36 visual control.

The plate 20 is articulated on the carriage 14 around a horizontal axis and can be tilted manually outwards as shown in FIG. 4, for operator intervention, this tilting being facilitated by gas springs 38. platen 20 is locked in its position of service on the carriage 14 by appropriate means, for example latching means 40.

An embodiment of the connection detection means 28 is shown schematically in FIG.

The presence of a connection formed by two pieces of adhesive tape 42 on the film 26 results in a local excess thickness of about 8 to 10 μm on the film whose thickness is about 15 microns. The film 26 is driven between two freely rotatable rollers 44, one of which is mounted on a fixed axis and the other on an oscillating axis 46 hinged by means of a leaf spring 48 on an element 50 integral with the plate 20. The passage of the connector 42 between the rollers 44 results in a displacement of the roller carried by the oscillating axis 46 to a capacitive sensor 52 whose resolution is preferably less than 1 micron.

In the variant embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the film 26 passes over a roller 44 free to rotate and mounted on a fixed axis in position, laser scanning detection means 54 being provided for detecting the radial position of a generator of the Roller 44 over which the film passes 26. The passage of the connector 42 on this generator causes an increase in the radial length detected by the laser scanning.

In both cases, an appropriate signal processing (rising edge detection, pulse width and amplitude) enables the detection of a connection and stops the movement of the film when the connection is in a position. precise geometric in which the means 30 for gripping the film can be clamped on the film on either side of the connector, this position being that shown in FIG.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, these means 30 comprise pneumatically operated grippers each consisting of two planar jaws 56 arranged on either side of the film 26, one of these jaws comprising teeth 58. on its side facing the film 26, intended to engage in the perforations 60 of the film. The other jaw 56 comprises, on its side turned towards the film 26, cavities 60 intended to receive ends of the aforementioned teeth 58 when clamping the clamp on the film 26.

The two jaws 56 are extended, on the side of the other clamp forming part of the means 30, by a pointed tip 62 extending parallel to the film 26 and along the latter towards the connection 42.

The jaws 56 of the film-taking means 30 are pivotally mounted on the plate 20 about horizontal axes in order to be turned 90 ° downwards, as shown schematically in FIG. 3, when the connector 42 located between the aforementioned clamps has been cut in half.

The cutting means 64 are mounted on the frame 12 in a transverse alignment with the engagement means 30 with respect to the plate 20 so that the translation of the carriage 14 on the slides 18 can bring the piece of film held between them. clamps 30 at the cutting means 64 to allow the latter to make a clean cut of the film and the fitting in the middle of the connection, that is to say just between the two images of the film joined by the pieces of tape adhesive 42. The cutting means 64 are known means, such as paper cutter.

The cutting means 64 are on a branch of a U-shaped portion of the frame 12, on the other branch of which is means 66 for laying a new connector on the film, these means 66 including a gluer of a known type.

Between the branches of the U-shaped portion of the frame 12 are means for removing the pieces 42 of adhesive tape and cleaning and drying the film, which are part of the second module 16 of the machine.

In a first embodiment of the invention, the means 68 for eliminating pieces of adhesive tape 42 comprise nozzles for spraying a solvent such as trichlorethylene, making it possible to dissolve the adhesive used in the old fitting and therefore to take off the pieces 42 of adhesive tape and to drive them into a tank provided in the second module 16. For the removal of these pieces of adhesive tape, the clamps 30 are oriented vertically to let hang down the two parts of the film The spray nozzles are oriented substantially vertically downward so that the sprayed solvent can be collected with the pieces of adhesive tape in the holding tank of the second one. module 16.

Then, by moving the carriage 14, the film portions extending downwardly from the clamps 30 are fed to the cleaning means 70 provided in the second module 16 and which comprise, for example, a bath of the aforementioned solvent, in which the parts of film are immersed. The solvent cleaning action can be enhanced by combining an ultrasonic generator with this solvent bath. In addition, cleaned film parts can be moved between soft brushes to eliminate by slight friction the remaining adhesive possibly on the film parts, without damaging them.

Then, by a new displacement of the carriage 14, the film portions held by the clamps 30 are fed to drying means 72 comprising nozzles for blowing hot air.

After drying, the tongs 30 rotate 90 ° to return to their horizontal position where they are oriented toward each other, the cut portions of the film, cleaned and dried, then being substantially horizontally aligned and placed end to end, which allows the formation of a new fitting by laying a piece of tape on each side of the film in the aforementioned means 66.

When the fitting of the film is reconstituted, perforations are formed in the pieces of new adhesive tape, corresponding to the lateral perforations of the film 26.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the cutting means 64, the means 68 for removing the pieces of adhesive tape, 70 for cleaning, 72 for drying and 66 for fitting a new connector are independent of the plate 20 and transversely aligned with respect thereto, the translational displacement means of the carriage 14 acting as transfer means of the film end held by the clamps 30 between the aforementioned means 64, 68, 70, 72 and 66.

When a new connection has been placed by the means 66 and the necessary perforations have been made, the running of the film resumes driving the coils 22 and 24 in rotation until another connection is detected by the means 28.

The means 34 provided on the plate 20 and an exemplary embodiment of which is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, eliminate the laterally projecting portions of the new fitting formed on the film. These means 34 comprise two rollers 74 for guiding the film 26 and two rotary cutting blades 76 placed along the edges of the film in order to eliminate the portions of the adhesive tapes 78 of the new coupling which protrude laterally from the film 26.

The film then scrolls to the visual control means 36 where the scrolling is stopped when the new connector is in the field of view of these control means. The operator can be warned by any signal that he must visually check the new fitting. When this is done, a local command, for example by push button, allows it to restart the scrolling of the film. When an old connection is detected by the means 28 before a new connection reaches the level of the visual control means 36, the scrolling of the film is stopped for replacing the new connector detected, and is resumed until the previously replaced fitting reaches the means 36 visual control.

In addition, means for automatically controlling the lateral perforations of the film may be provided on the plate 20 to signal the operator any abnormality found in these perforations and allow it to perform a repair if necessary.

When the solvent used in the means for removing pieces of tape and cleaning is toxic, the tanks which contain this solvent in the second module 16 have free surfaces and communication openings with the outside atmosphere which are also reduced than possible. Once a tank is no longer used, it is always closed by means of a watertight shutter. In addition, point suction means, supported by the plate 20, allow the extraction of solvent vapors released by the open tanks in which the removal of pieces of adhesive tape and the cleaning of the film.

In a second embodiment of the invention, the pieces of adhesive tape are removed by means of mechanical attack by projection of erosive microparticles on these pieces of tape. These microparticles can be particles of glass, starch, plastic, or even water or carbonic snow. The advantage of the dry ice is its immediate evaporation after projection on the pieces of ribbon to eliminate.

A central control unit comprising information processing means (a microcomputer or a microprocessor-specific card) is integrated in the chassis 12 of the first module for controlling and controlling the various processing means of the computer. film of the machine.

• une opération 80 de défilement du film,
• une opération 82 de détection d'un raccord,
• une opération 84 d'arrêt du défilement du film et de prise du film au moyen des pinces 30 de part et d'autre du raccord détecté,
• une opération 86 de déplacement du chariot 14 pour amener le raccord au niveau des moyens de coupe 64,
• une opération 88 de coupe du raccord au milieu de celui-ci,
• une opération 90 d'élimination des morceaux de ruban adhésif qui, comme déjà décrit, peut être réalisée par voie mécanique ou chimique,
• une opération 92 de nettoyage et de séchage des parties de film préalablement recouvertes par les morceaux de ruban adhésif,
• une opération 94 de pose d'un nouveau raccord et de perforation de ce nouveau raccord,
• une opération 96 de reprise du défilement du film,
• une opération 98 de coupe des parties débordantes du raccord, et
• une opération 100 de contrôle visuel.

FIG. 11 schematically shows the flowchart of the main operations of the method according to the invention which comprises:

• a scrolling operation 80 of the film,
• an operation 82 for detecting a connection,
• an operation 84 for stopping the movement of the film and taking the film by means of the clamps 30 on each side of the detected connection,
• an operation 86 for moving the carriage 14 to bring the coupling to the level of the cutting means 64,
• an operation 88 cutting the connection in the middle thereof,
• an operation 90 for removing pieces of adhesive tape which, as already described, can be carried out mechanically or chemically,
• an operation 92 for cleaning and drying the portions of film previously covered by the pieces of adhesive tape,
• an operation 94 for fitting a new connection and perforation of this new connection,
• an operation 96 for resuming the scrolling of the film,
• an operation 98 of cutting the protruding parts of the coupling, and
• an operation 100 of visual control.

Optionally, an additional operation of automatic control of perforations can be performed between operations 98 and 100 above.

In general, the machines according to the invention can restore films in an automated manner at a rate that is at least equal to that of an operator performing this restoration by hand. When the operator monitors four machines and performs the necessary interventions on each of these machines, which is quite realistic in practice, the use of the machines according to the invention makes it possible to divide by four the time necessary to the restoration of a large number of films and to divide by a coefficient at least equal to two the corresponding costs.

Claims (13)

1. Machine (10, 16) for restoration of cinematographic film (26) containing splices formed of pieces of adhesive tape (42), characterized in that it comprises:

   - means for detecting the splices;

   - means (22, 24) for unwinding the film in front of the means for detecting the splices (28);

   - means (30) for grasping the film on both sides of a detected splice,

   - means (64) for cutting the film essentially in the middle of the splice,

   - means (68) for eliminating the pieces of adhesive tape forming the splice,

   - means (70) for cleaning the parts of the film previously covered by the pieces of adhesive tape, and

   - means (66) for applying a new adhesive tape on the cleaned and joined parts of the film.
2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means for controlling the unwinding of the film connected to the means (28) for detecting the splices so as to stop the unwinding upon detection of a splice and to recommence the unwinding after elimination of the detected splice and application of a new splice.
3. Machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises transfer means installed between the film unwinding means and the means for cutting (64), elimination (68), cleaning (70) and application of a new splice (66).
4. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a first module formed by a frame (12) bearing means (18) for guiding a mobile carriage (14) equipped at least with means for unwinding films and detecting splices and means for controlling displacement of the carriage (14), and a second independent, removable module (16) comprising the previously mentioned elimination means (68) and cleaning means (70).
5. Machine according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises means for positioning and immobilizing the second module (16) on the first module.
6. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for eliminating the pieces of adhesive tape comprise means for mechanically attacking these pieces of tape by spraying erosive microparticles.
7. Machine according to claim 6, characterized in that the sprayed microparticles are microparticles made of glass, starch, plastic or of water ice or dry ice.
8. Machine according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the means (68) for eliminating the pieces of adhesive tape comprise means for the chemical attack of the adhesive tapes by a solvent, such as, e.g., trichloroethylene or methyl chloride.
9. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning means (70) comprise means for spraying a solvent or means for immersion in a solvent, optionally combined with an ultrasound generator and means for gentle, nonaggressive brushing.
10. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning means (72) also comprise means for drying the film, for example by blowing hot air.
11. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means (66) for applying a new splice also comprise means for perforating the pieces of adhesive tape applied on the joined parts of the film.
12. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it also comprises means (34) for elimination of the protruding lateral parts of the new splice and means (36) for visual quality control of the new splices.
13. Process for the restoration of a cinematographic film (26) containing splices formed by means of adhesive tape (42), characterized in that it consists of:

    - detecting a splice optically, mechanically or electrically during the unwinding of the film,

    - stopping the unwinding of the film upon detection of a splice,

    - grasping the film (26) at the splice level and transferring it successively to stations (64, 68, 70, 72, 66) for cutting, eliminating the pieces of adhesive tape, cleaning and reconstitution of the splice by application of a new adhesive tape, and

    - restarting the unwinding of the film until detection of another splice.

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