GB969640A - Improvements in or relating to amusement apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

969,640. Selecting portions of cinematograph films. GEMCO (ELECTRONICS) Ltd. Dec. 20, 1962 [Sept. 25,1961], No. 30808/61. Heading G2E. [Also in Division G5] A sound-film projector which may be coin operated is provided with selection means so that portions of a film strip can be shown as required. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 a cinematographic projector 2 has a reel 3 from which a film 4 passes via rollers 11 and 12 and picture gate 16 to a take up reel 5. For fast winding and rewinding of the film on to reel 3, rollers 11 and 12 may be withdrawn to positions 11a and 12a on energization of solenoid 19 to disengage the film from the picture gate. The diameter of the film on reel 3 is sensed by a rotatable wheel 25 attached to a bifurcate portion 24a of arm 21 pivotally mounted on base 23 at 22. The bifurcate portion 24b of arm 21 has an electrical switch wiper 27 on its free end, the wiper being slidable in groove 28 of base 23. Nine pairs of electrical contacts P1-P9 are positioned along the sides of groove 28 so that they are bridged in turn by wiper 27 as film is unwound from reel 3. An electrical circuit is provided (Fig. 4, not shown) so that on the suitable setting of a dial switch and the insertion of a coin into the machine one of eight portions of film is shown. The film is first unwound at high speed from reel 3 until wiper 27 reaches the pair of contacts corresponding to the beginning of the selected film sequence. The high speed motor driving the film is then stopped and its field winding connection automatically reversed. After a delay to allow the stoppage of reel 3 and the film to be engaged in gate 16, a low speed motor is started to drive the film through the gate at projection speed. As the selected film sequence nears its end the wiper 27 approaches the next pair of contacts and on bridging them causes the low speed motor to cease and the film disconnected from gate 16. After a suitable delay the high speed motor is energized to rewind the film on to reel 3. When wiper 27 reaches the outermost contacts the high speed motor is de-energized and its field winding connections reversed so that the machine is made ready for the next coin insertion. Multiple projectors, showing the same sequence simultaneously, or showing a wider selection of sequences at the same or independent viewing points may be provided in the one cabinet.