US1243507A - Method and apparatus for projection of matter explanatory to moving pictures. - Google Patents

Description

L. GERMAIN.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROJECTION 0F MATTER EXPLANATORY T0 MOVING PICTURES. APPLICATION FILED AUG-28.1913.

"1,243,507. Patented Oct. 16,1917.

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LOUIS GERMAIN, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROJECTION 0F MATTER EXPLANATORY TO MOVING- PICTURES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 16, 1917.

Application filed August 28, 1913. Seria1No. 787,160.

descriptive synchronism with the appearance of the pictures projected.

In all motion picture apparatus, so far as I am aware, it is necessary to interrupt the continuity of the story in order to display a caption, title or sub-title or any of the so-called' spoken lines of the actors,

and all other explanatory matter. This interruption not only tends to destroy artistic illusion but it greatly handicaps the scenario writer and the stage manager in setting the scenes. Captions and sub-titles which are now necessary, sometimes take the place of scenes which could form connecting links between the scenes at the point of interruption, and therefore, it is the object of my invention to relieve the producer of this handicap and enable him to present, a continuous and connected reel with such sequence as he may command and without regard to any explanatory matter, the latter being run in on the film, or during projection, in such descriptive synchronism with the appearance of the pictures as to explain any ambiguity which may occur and permit of an entire story being presented without physical or inartistic interruption.

- A further object is to display descriptive matter in a running line along the screen, preferably from right to-left and maintain the same in full view while it advances from the right to the left of the picture thereby In the drawing Figure l is a plan view of a motion picture apparatus embodying the preferred form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a view illustrative of a modified form of the invention showing an embodiment thereof in a film.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a section of the film showing one of the pictures.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 5.

Like characters of reference designate similar parts throughout the different figures of the drawing.

For the purpose of illustration, I have shown the simplest possible form of my invention in which 1 indicates a picture tak ing or projecting apparatus provided with the usual operating crank 2. A screen is diagrammatically indicated at 3 and the projection rays at 4, extending from the picture machine to the screen.

I interpose in the projection rays, matter which is descriptive of the pictures on the filin being run in the machine or apparatus 1, for projection on the screen. In pro ecting pictures, matter descriptive thereof will be run in descriptive synchronism with the pictures which it describes, and such matter will appear upon the screen simultaneously With the appearance of the pictures.

In the preferred form, I provide a carrier or tape 5, the ends of which are wound about rollers 6 and 7. I preferably operatively connect the rollers-6 and 7 by providing the spindles 8 and 9, respectively,

thereof with pulleys 10 and 11. A belt or cord 12 is shown trained about said pulleys.

The spindles 8 and 9 may be mounted in any suitable manner upon a base 13. The tape 5 may have its descriptive matter perforated or slotted thereinor the tape may be formed of transparentmaterial so that the projection rays passing therethrough will project the matter upon the screen.

In order to provide for an intelllgible projection of the descriptive matter in harmonic synchronism with the appearance of the pictures, I employ means Whlch may be in the form of a motor 14, suitably connectnected with any suitable source of supply of current by conductors lfx-and 1.6. -I .-interpose or bridge in conductor 16 a magnet switch,-,:which .latter' is: provided with conductors 17 and 18 having any suitable form of switch, not shown. When the magnet is energized, a magnet portion 19 will bebrought into electrical contact with a core 20 to close circuit through conductor 16.

However, the particular manner in which drive of the tape is effected is not a part of the invention and therefore only the' most diagrammatic showing is made.

The main object is to move the tape along at such a rate of speed with respect to the rate of speed of the film, and to position the subject-matter or descriptive matter on the tape so that it will be projected in a running line across the screen in such synchronism Withrespect to the projection of the pictures as to describe the latter when they appear upon'the screen. 'The motor 14' may be switched into or out of circuit as the reel is being run to project the descriptive matter in sequential an'ddescriptive synchronism with the appearance of the pictures.

As will be seen by the arrow in Fig. 1, the tape 5 is moved from right to' left, in cases where the descriptive matter is in any language which is read from left to right, it being understood that Where the apparatus is used in connection with anyIlanguage which is otherwise read, it would be a simple matter to modify the apparatus accordingly.

In view of the proximity of the strip 5 to 'the 'projecting machine, and also to intensify'interest, I preferably project a fragment or fragments of a complete descriptive sentence or phrase in readable sequence upon the screen. Thus in' the position shown in Fig. 6, there would be projected upon the screen the words A street in New, the completed' sentence reading,A street'in New York. The projection of this sentence might occur throughout the projection of a series of pictures andthereforeit' will be understood that absolute synchronism in the apparatus of my invention is not essential, it' being only essential that the matter should be. projected in descriptive or harmonic synchronism Withthe appearance of the pictures and therefore it is not essential that the tape should be driven in any precise or specified order with respect to the film, within certain limits, it being understood ofcourse that the words A'street in New York, should appear during depiction of at least one or more successive pictures showing such street.

It-will be. seen that during a succession of projections necessitating a relatively long sentence or sentences of descriptive matter that "fragments thereof may be projected successively as the incident or situation is -developed-so'thatvan-ticipation will not in any sense destroy the element of surprise in 'the'mind of -the'auditor. In'any case, how- ;eVer, the descriptive matter will be visible in a running line across the screen from one side of the picture until it disappears at the other side thereof. I regard this feature of my' inven'tion of prime importance, as with the tape 5, the latter could be driven slowly enough to permit the matter in view clear across the screen, of being read witlrease, and so as not to detract the gaze of the auditor from the picture in an undesirable manner.

It will be seen that this form of my inventionprovides for attachment'to any kind of machine now in use without alteration in any particularand that the attachment can be located so as to project" the descriptive matter within the field ofthe picture and along'the bottom orborder portions thereof so as not to interfere with the picture.

Fig. 3 illustrates a modified form of the invention whereinthe descriptive matter isdisposed upon the film itself'and' wherein the objectiveis' to expose'thefilm to such matter when the picture is being' taken so that when the picture is subsequently projectcd, descriptive matter will'appear upon the screen in absolute synchronism with respect to the appearance of the pictures.

In the form shown, I 'have disposed the printed matter on the'film at points between the pictures, the sections of the'film having pictures being indicated at 19 and those sections between the pictures having printed matter being indicated at 20. 'Itwill be seen by reason of the disposition of 'the printed matter on thefilm that fragments of such matter will appear in a running line across the film from right to lift so that the audiencemay read it from left to right, the matter being in full view completely across the screen.

One of the special features which I desire to emphasize'is the'facility with'which a spoken line of a moving pictureactor can be made to appear either simultaneously with, or slightly'subscquent to the particular action or incident which the actor is p01- traying so as to avoid the present inartistic method of displaying a spoken line or caption in an anticipatingly advanced order with respect to the action described, thereby eliminating surprise, or, in any such subse quent relation to the action as to confuse the mind of the auditor in fixing the spoken line in his mind. with respect'to what has preceded and in view of the succeeding pictures which instantly follow.

It will'be seen that in oneform of'myinvention, namely, where the*film"shown in Fig. 3 is used, I can, with one picturepromy invention will be clearl understood both as regards its utility an advantages and 'while I have herein shown and described specific forms of my invention, T do not wish to be limited thereto, except for such limitations as the claims may import,

T claim 2- I 1. The method of projecting pictures which consists in passing a single concentrated light stream through a pair of independent films one of which has pictorial matter thereon and the other having read ing matter, and causing movement of the film having the reading matter-thereon to thus accomplish changing of the same.

2. The method of projecting subjects which consists, in passing a light stream through a film having printed subject matter thereon and in moving the film in a progressive path through the light stream in a line with the line of printed subject matter and in a direction obverse to the direction followed in the reading of the same so to cause changing of the printed subject matter as projected.

3; The method of motion picture projection WlllOh consists in passing a film through a light stream to project a series of pictures collectively depicting an incident or story, and in passing a second film having printed subject matter thereon through the light stream for successively projecting connected fragments of matter relative to the picture.

at. The method of projecting motion pictures which consists in moving a film through a light stream to project a series of pictures, and passing a second film. having lines of printed matter thereon through the light stream ,in a path at an angle to the path of movement of said first film to project the printed subject matter upon the screen and to cause changing of the same as the pictures are changed.

5. In a projecting apparatus, means whereby a light stream is projected, and a film having continuous lines of printed subject matter thereon mounted to be given progressive movement through said light stream nae-taco? which a light stream is projected, a film hav-- ing changing subject matter throughout its length, means by which said film is mounted to be moved through the light stream, a second film having .changing subject matter throughout its-length, and means by which saidsecond film is also given movement, said films being arranged to each carry a part of the subject matter which on the screeni orms the completed subject.

8. The method of pro ecting pictures 7 which consists in passing a concentrated light stream through a transparency having a portion of the subject to be projected thereon and in placing a second transparency in the path of the light stream having the remainder of the subject matter thereon to complete the subject as shown.

9.'Tn a motion picture projecting apparatus, means by which a concentrated light stream is thrown upon a screen, a film having a plurality of pictures thereon to be taken collectively to depict an incident or story and having transparent spaces between each picture of the series, means by which said film is mounted to be carried carried through the lightstream in such a registered relation that the printed subject matter will be shown upon the screen by the rays of light passin through the transparent portion of said rst film.

in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS Gunman.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature Witnesses:

CAROL O. Dnornn, C. Wmmuson.

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