US1123664A - Kinetoscope. - Google Patents

Description

G. W. BINGHAM.

KINBTOSGOPE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 24, 1911.

1,123,664. Patented Jan.5, 1915.

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.4 TTORNEY I'Hk NORRIS PETERS c0 PHOTO L/THO WASH/NUTUN D c G. W. BINGHAM.

KINETOSGOPE.

APPLICATION FILED 00'1'.24,1911.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

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' ATTORNEY THE NORRIS PETERS C0 PHOTO L/THo, WAbH/NG roN 0 c UNITED srnrpgpngnnr orrion.

GEORGE w. BINGHAM, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

KINETOSCOPE.

Application filed October 24, 1911.

To all tvhom it may concern.

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. BINGHAM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Kinetoscopes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements in kinetoscopes or moving picture machines, and relates more particularly to the means for advancing and controlling the position of the film.

One of the main objects of my invention is to facilitate the framing of the picture while the machine is in operation and to simplify the framing mechanism and render more efficient this framing mechanism.

To accomplish this object I provide means which temporarily causes the film roller to rotate at a slightly increased speed in respect to the remaining mechanism, and I control this variation in speed by the same handle employed in operating the machine. Thus the operator, while turning the handle in the ordinary way, may at the same time give this handle a secondary movement, which will control the framing of the picture.

In the accompanying drawings, to which reference is to be had, I have shown this embodiment of my invention, but as it is evident that various changes may be made in the construction and within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention, I desire these drawings to be considered in an illustrative rather than in a limiting sense.

In the drawings similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a machine constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a face view of the machine, a part of the wall shown at the left of Fig. 1 being broken away; Fig. 3 is a face view, a portion being shown in section on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4c is a sectional detail on the line 4 i of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 is a face view of a portion of a modified form of slide.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

Serial No. 656,404.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, I provide a suitable frame or casing 10 of any suitable character to serve as a support for the various operating parts of the machine.

The film 7 is delivered to the machine from a roll not shown, and supported in any suitable manner, and the said film passes over a roller 11, thence through guides 12 and 13 on a slide 1 1. The'film then passes between two rollers 15 and 16 to a suitable rewinding roller not shown.

Intermediate the two guides 12 and 13, the film passes a window 17 in the wall of the casing and is held closely adjacent to the wall while passing this window by means of a suitable apertured spring 18. The roller 15 is positively rotated at the desired speed by mechanism hereinafter described, and this roller serves to advance the film at a substantially constant rate. The roller may, if desired, be provided with a series of pins or projections, which engage in apertures in the film so as to maintain the latter in proper registry.

For insuring proper contact of the film with the roller, the roller 16 is mounted upon a lever 19 and is pressed against the roller 15 by the action of a spring 20. The two rollers 15 and 16 are of substantially the same size, so that there is no sharp bending of the film and a sutlicient frictional area is provided to avoid liability of tearing or injuring the film. In threading the machine, the roller 16 may be readily movedaway from the roller 15 by pressing down on the free end of the lever 19.

As previously stated, the roller 15 is constantly rotated, so that there is a constant forward movement of the film at this point.-

One of the main features of my invention relates to the means which I employ for giving the film an intermittent movement past the window 17. This mechanism in its preferred form includes the slide 14 and '1 guides 19. and 13 previously referred to. The slide is held between suitable brackets or cleats 21 and 22, so that its movement is limited to a movement in a plane parallel to the plane of the opening 17.

The slide has a large opening 23 opposite the window 17, so that in no position will the slide cut off the light through the window. In the lower portion of the slide there is an opening 24, within which is mounted a cam 25. The cam is secured to a shaft 26, which latter is driven from a parallel shaft 27 by a pair of intermeshing gears 28 and 29. The gears are preferably eccentric and the cam is of such shape that with the shaft 26 rotating at a uniform speed, the slide 14 will have a very rapid downward movement followed by a comparatively slow upward movement.

To secure the proper movement of the film, the upper guide 12, through which the film passes, is 'so positioned in respect to the roller. 11, that the inlet end of the slide is at substantially the same distance from the roller in its upper position as when in its lower position. In other words, the slide may move from its upper to its lower position or vice versa without tightening the film between the roller and the slide and without producing any permanent slack or loop. The lower guide 13 is so positioned in respect to the lower edge of the roller 15,

that it will be the nearest to said roller when the slide is in its upper position, as illustrated, and the distance between the guide and the edge of the roller 15 will increase as the slide descends.

The range of movement of the slide and the relative position of the parts is so controlled that while the roller 15 is rotating at a uniform speed, the extremely rapid downward movement of the slide l t will carry the film bodily such a distance that the picture in front of the window will be advanced and the next succeeding one will take its position in proper registry. After the slide reaches its lowermost position and has advanced the film, the slide starts upward slowly and, as the lower guide 13 is below the roller 15, there is produced a slack in the film between the guide and the roller. The roller continues to rotate and acts to take up this slack and prevent the film from being carried upward bodily during the return movement of the slide. The parts are so proportioned and the slide is moved up wardly at such a speed that the film between the slide 13 and the roller 15 remains substantially taut during the entire upward movement of the slide and the portion of the film opposite the window remains stationary. Of course, during this time the film is passing inwardly through the upper guide 12 and outwardly from the lower slide 13.

It will be noted that the slide in moving downwardly carries the film with it without gripping or clamping the film and that the film is held at only the one point, namely, at the roller 15. Even though the film ad vances uniformly at this point, the reciprocation of the slide with a high speed in one :lirection and a low speed in the other gives the portion of the film opposite the window a series of intermittent movements separated by intervals during which the film is T stationary.

I do not wish it to be understood that the accompanying drawing shows the parts in exactly the proper scale and the gears and cam of exactly the right proportions and shapes to give perfect results. ings merely indicate the necessary parts for securing the desired object.

As previously stated, the roller 15 is continuously rotated to advance the film, and this speed of rotation bears a predetermined relationship to the speed of movement of the slide, so that the roller will advance the film a distance equal to the length of one picture during each complete cycle of,n1ovement of the slide. In threading the film into the machine, it usually happens that the pictures on the film when first placed in po sition do not bear the proper relationship to the cycle of movement of the machine; in other words, the picture is not properly framed. It is thus necessary to advance the film in respect to the slide until it does assume the proper position and is properly framed.

One of the main objects of my invention is to facilitate the proper framing of the picture while the machine is in operation, so as to take care of any irregularities in the film and to insure the proper position of the picture at all times. The improved mechanism which I provide for accomplishing this object enables me to frame the picture by a secondary movement of the handle of the crank which operates the machine. The roller 15 is mounted on a shaft 30 carrying a pinion 31 meshing with a large gear Encircling this shaft is a sleeve 33 cars rying a pinion 34 meshing with a gear 35. The gear 32 is loosely mounted on a shaft s13, while the gear 35 is secured to a sleeve 36 encircling the said shaft. The sleeve 36 carries the crank 37 by means of which the machine is operated. The crank has a handle 38 substantially at right angles thereto and the end of this handle engages with a lever 39 pivoted intermediate the ends of the crank and connected to the shaft 13. Upon the extreme opposite end of the shaft 43 is a head or disk 40, which may be moved into engagement with the gear 32 to press the latter firmly against the gear 35 and lock the two together when desired. The pinion 34: carries a series of ratchet dogs 11, as is illustrated particularly in Fig. 5, and these dogs engage with a ratchet wheel 42 on the shaft 43.

In the normal operation the head or disk 40 is out of engagement with the gear 32 and motion is transmitted from the crank to the film roller 15 through the sleeve 36,

The drawgear 35, dogs 41,- ratchet 42 and shaft 30. When it is desired to advance the film so as to properly frame the picture, the operator, While turning the crank, presses the handle endwise, that is, toward the left from the position shown in Fig. 3, and this looks the gears 32 and 35 together. As the gear 32 is very slightly larger than the gear 35, the shaft 30 will be caused to rotate through the gear 32 and the pinion 31 at a slightly higher speed than it would be rotated with the motion transmitted through the gear 35 and pinion 34. This will cause the dogs 41 to slip over the ratchet 42, and the film roller will be rotated at an increased speed. At the same time the sleeve 33 will continue to rotate at the same speed as before, and it is from this sleeve that the other mechanism of the machine is operated. Any suitable means may be employed for securing this operation but, as shown, I provide the sleeve with a beveled gear 44 meshing with a beveled pinion 45 on the shaft 27 and the beveled gear is provided with a peripheral row of teeth for meshing with a pinion 46 for operating the shutter and flywheel. The slide and shutter will thus maintain in their regular motion, while the film will increase its speed until the picture is properly framed. By pulling outwardly on the bandle, the gear 32 will be released and the operation of the machine will then continue with the picture properly framed.

I do not claim any improvement in the shutter in this application, but I have illustrated a shutter 47 operated by a connection 48 on the same shaft as the pinion 46, and this shaft also carries a flywheel 49. At any time during the operation of the machine, if it is found that the picture is getting out of the frame, mechanism may be brought to bear by the operator without stopping the machine and by means of the same handle which operates the machine.

As previously stated, I do not wish to be limited to any particular form of mecha nism for giving the slide the desired move ment. In Fig. 6, I have illustrated a modified form of slide 50 mounted in exactly the same manner as the slide illustrated in the other figures, but in the lower portion of this slide there is a diagonal slot 51 through which extends an eccentric pin 52 on a crank disk 53. The shape of this slot and the position and size of the pin may be so varied as to give the slide the desired quick down movement and slower return movement.

The form of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings is especially adapted for home or school use and is designed to be operated by hand, but it is, of course, evident that the invention may be embodied in other forms of machines and that power may be employed if desired for operating the machine.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a kinetoscope the combination'of means for continuously advancing a portion of the film, means for intermittently advancing another portion of said film, a handle operatively connected to both of said means and gearing controlled by said handle for varying the speed of said first mentioned means in respect to said second mentioned means.

2. In a kinetoscope the combination of a continuously operating film advancing roller, means for intermittently advancing a portion of the film, a handle operatively connected to said roller and said means for operating them in synchronism and said handle having means carried thereby for increasing the relative rate of speed of said roller.

3. In a kinetoscope the combination of a film advancing roller, a handle, gearing interposed between said roller and said handle for driving the roller at one speed, auxiliary gearing interposed between said handle and said roller and driving said roller at a different speed and means carried by said handle for throwing one of'said gearings into and out of operation.

4. In a kinetoscope the combination of a film advancing roller, a shaft for rotating the same, two independent sets of gears for rotating said shaft, a rotatable member for driving both of said sets of gears and means carried by said rotatable member for throwing one of said sets of gears into or out of operation.

5. In a kinetoscope the combination of a film advancing roller, a crank, two sets of gearing interposed between said crank and said roller for rotating the latter at different speeds and selective means carried by said crank for controlling said gearing.

6. In a kinetoscope the combination of a film advancing roller, a shaft, gearing connecting said shaft to said roller, a sleeve encircling said shaft, gearing connecting said sleeve and said roller and driving means for rotating said shaft and said sleeve at the same or at different speeds.

7. In a kinetoscope the combination of a shaft, a film advancing roller carried thereby, a second shaft, a pair of intermeshing gears carried by said shafts, the gear on said secondmentioned shaft being loosely mounted, sleeves encircling said shafts, a pair of intermeshing gears carried by said sleeves, pawl and ratchet connections between said first-mentioned shaft and the gear of the sleeve encircling said shaft and manually operated means for securing together the gear on said second-mentioned shaft and the gear on the sleeve encircling said shaft.

8. In a kinetoscope the combination of a film advancing roller, a crank including a handle, gearing connecting said crank and said roller, a second set of gearing for rotating said roller at a different speed and means controlled by said handle for bringing said last-mentioned gearing into operation.

9. In a kinetoscope afilm advancing roller, a crank including a handle, gearing connecting said crank and said roller and means controlled by said handle for varying the speed of said roller in respect to said crank.

10. In a kinetoscope the combination of a shutter, a film advancing roller, means for operating said shutter and said roller in synchronism, a crank for driving said operating means and means controlled by said crank for driving said roller and shutter out of synchronism to frame the picture.

11. In a kinetoscope means for intermittenty advancing the film, a roller for drawing the film through said means, driving means for said roller and said means and means for varying the speed of one in respect to the other while the machine is in operation.

12. In a kinetoscope the combination of means for intermittently advancing the film, a roller for drawing the film through said means, a crank, interposed mechanism for operating said means and said roller from said crank and in synchronism and means carried by said crank for moving said firstmentioned means and roller out of synchronism to frame the picture.

13. In a kinetoscope the combination of reciprocating means for intermittently advancing a portion of the film, a roller for drawing the film therethrough and means for varying the speed of said roller in respect to said first-mentioned means.

14. In a kinetoscope the combination of a film advancing roller, a shaft supporting the same, a sleeve encircling said shaft, a shutter, a film advancing device, means for operating said device and said shutter from said sleeve, a gear carried by said sleeve and through which the sleeve may be driven, pawl and ratchet connections between said sleeve and said shaft and means for rotating said shaft faster than said sleeve to frame the picture.

15. In a moving picture machine the combination of an operating member, means operated thereby for effecting the normal advancement of the film and means also operated thereby for eifecting an abnormal advancement of the film.

16. In a moving picture machine the combination of an operating crank, means driven thereby for effecting the normal advancement of the film and means also driven thereby for effecting an abnormal advancement of the film to frame the picture.

17. In a moving picture machine the combination of an operating member, a movable film advancing member driven thereby and means whereby said second mentioned member may be operated by said first mentioned member for effecting either the normal advancement of the film or an abnormal advancement of the film to frame the picture.

18. In a moving picture machine the combination of an operating crank, means for advancing the film at a normal rate, a roller, means for rotating said roller by said crank at such a speed as to give the film an abnormal advancement and frame the picture.

19. In a moving picture machine the com bination of an operating mechanism, means driven thereby for normally advancing the film and means also driven by said operating mechanism to give the film an abnormal movement to bring it into proper registry.

20. In a kinetoscope the combination of means for continuously advancing a portion of the film, means for intermittently advancing another portion of said film, a handle operatively connected to both of said means and gearing controlled by said handle for varying the speed of said first-mentioned means in respect to said secondanentioned means.

21. In a kinetoscope the combination of a continuously operating film advancing roller, means for intermittently advancing a portion of the film, a handle operatively connected to said roller and said means for operating them in synchronism and said handle having means carried thereby for varying the relative rate of speed of said roller.

22. In a kinetoscope the combination of a film advancing roller, a handle, gearing interposed between said roller and said handle for driving the roller at one speed, auxiliary gearing interposed between said handle and said roller and driving said roller at a different speed and means carried by said han- (lie for throwing one of said gearings into and out of operation.

In a kinetoscope the combination of a film advancing roller, a shaft rotating the 1 same, two independent sets of gears for rotating said shaft, a rotatable member for driving both of said sets of gears and means carried by said rotatable member for throwing one of said sets of gears into or out of operation.

M. In a kinetoscope the combination of a circling said shaft, gearing connecting said sleeve and said roller and driving means for rotating said shaft and said sleeve at the same or at different speeds.

26. In a kinetoscope the combination of a shaft, a film advancing roller carried thereby, a second shaft, a pair of intermeshing gears carried by said shafts, sleeves encircling said shafts, a pair of intermeshing gears carried by said sleeves, pawl and ratchet connections between said first-mentioned shaft and the sleeve encircling the same and manually operated means for r0- tating said second-mentioned shaft independently of, or at the same speed with its sleeve.

27. In a kinetoscope a film advancing roller, a crank including a handle, gearing connecting said crank and said roller and means controlled by said handle for varying the speed of said roller in respect to said crank.

28. In a kinetoscope the combination of a shutter, a film advancing roller, means for operating said shutter and said roller in synchronism, a crank for driving said operating means and means controlled by said crank for driving said roller and shutter out of synchronism to frame the picture.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

GEORGE W. BINGHAM.

Witnesses:

CLAIR W. FAIRBANK, ELEANOR T. MINOGUE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C."

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