US1395724A - Safety device for moving-picture machines - Google Patents

Description

UNITED j STATE-s Parrain lorifice.

CHARLES F. MEHL, HENRY B. LIEBLER, JABEZ NAL., AND EDWARD Lf.

CLEVELAND, omo.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR MOVING-PICTURE MACHINES.

Application filed June 18,

vprovenient in Safety-Devices for Moving'- icture Machines; and we do hereby declare the following tube a full, clear, and exact A description oi' the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the saine.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in safety devices, and particularly to a device for governing the current supplied to the electric light of a. moving picture machine so that the current will be shut off from the projection light in case the film splits longitudinally or breaks transversely. I

The object of this invention is to provide means forY preventing the film from being set on fire by the projection light used to display the same and is an improvement on the device shown in our pending application.

Our invention therefore consists in the. features of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter described in the speciicaticn, pointed out in the claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Y

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a top plan of a device embodying ourt inventionshowing the rollers held up and out of contact with the film and with switch open. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. F ig. 3 iswfa View corresponding to a central vertical section, s ltowing a roller (in full lines) l aniiig against the film and also showing a .r yiler (in dotted lilies) in its lower positi'on after the iilm has broken. Fig. 4 is a top plan corresponding to Fig. Fig. 5 is a Section on line 5-5, Fig. 3. v

Again referring to the drawings, A represents a portion of a moving picture machine and B represents astrip of film. Our device comprises a box-likecasing 5 preferably formed in a single casting and having an opening 6 at the front end and an opening 'F atthe bottom. Toward the rear end of the casing 5 at each side is formed a bracket arm 8 by means of which the device may be mounted on the frame of a moving picture machine. Within the casing at the rear thereof is mounted a supportl formed Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented 1919. Serial No. 305,204.

of insulating material.v On the upper snrface of this support are arranged two standards 10 and 11 which are held in place by binding screws 12 and 13.- On each standard is pivotally mounted a contact member shown at 14 and 15. To the binding screws are secured the vterminals of an electric circuit which controls switch operating' mechanism for controlling the motor which drives the machine and the projection light (not shown). At the front end of the casing and extending transversely thereof is a small shaft v16. At the center of the shaft 16 is loosely mounted a lever 17, one arm of which is longer than the other,4 and the longer arm extends rearwardly and carries a contact member 18 which is adapted to engage the contact members I14e and 15 and close the circuit. The shorter arm ot' the lever 17 has a cam surface 17",l the object of which will appear later. The lever 1i' is in sulated from the shaft 16 by suitable insulation 19. A pin 20 is mounted on tl-e lever 17 at the rear of its point of support a id extends transversely thereof. 0n the sl ft 16 at each, side of the lever 17 is loosely mounted an arm 21. The free end of each arm 21 is forked as shownat 22, and between tire sidesof the fork is mounted a Small roller Qi on a pin 25. At the pivoted end of each arm 2l is formed an extension or finger *2.6 which is arranged to engage the pin 2O on thelever 17 when the arms swing down to their lower position. It will therefore be understood that when the rollerl carrying arms are inclined upwardly the fingers on the lower ends thereof will "be 'out of contact with the lever 17 and the switch blade l on said lever ll'rwill engage the contact members, and the #electric circuit will be intact, but if either of the arms falls to its lower position the linger on said arm will come in contact with the pin 20 on the lever 17 thereby tip ping up the inner end ci said lever and withdrawing the contact member 18 from the contact members 14 and 15;

The device is mounted on the moving picture machine in proximity to theiilm with the'arms 21 inclined upwardly andthe rollers resting against the strip of film. When ias the arms 21 are in this position the elect lc tore described and extinguishing the projection light, and thereby I'neventing 'the broken ends ot the tllm trom ignting.

brow. as the arms 2l tall by their own gravity it is necessary to provide means tor holding u) the arms while he film is beingI arranged on or taken oii the machine, and this means is'arranged as follows:

On the outside ot the casing at each side near the front is pivotally mounted a link Q7. A rod 28 is supported by said links and extends under theouter ends ot' the arms A spring 2S) is secured to one end of the rod and the other end is 'fastened to a. pin 3() on the side of'the casinc. At one end ot one ot the links Q7 is formed a handle 3l. Now, when it is desired to hold theroller carrying arms 2l in their upper posit-ion, the handle 31 is raised which swings up the rod 28 against the arms 21 and locks them in their upper position. As the rod 28 swings up'it engages the cam vsurface 1T tormed on the forward end ot' the lever 1T, causing the forward end to swing down. The inner end ot' the lever 1T will be raised up and will litt the switch blade i8 away from the cont-act points l0 and ll, thereby breaking the electric circuit- It is therefore. impossible to start the machine before throwing` down the handle 3l which permits the rollers to tall against the tilm and at the sametime trees the lever 17 which cioses the electric circuit. lthe object ot this arrange ment is to prevent the picture machine from being operated 'when the roller `carrying arms are held up and away 'from the film,

vfi'hat we claim iszl. The combination with a. movingx pic-- ture machine andthe motor and light circuit therefor. ot' a switch, automatically operating means tor opening the switch upon the breaking' of the tiim, and moans tor simnltanemisly locking said automatically operating' means in its inoperative position and said switch in its open position.

2. The combination with a 'moving picture machine and the motor and light cirA cuit therefor, of a switch comprising a stm tionary member and a pivotaliy supported member arranged to swing toward and away from the stationary member, automatically operating means for causing the pivotally supported switch member to swing;y away from the stationary switch member upon the breaking of the film, and means for simultaneously locking the automatically operating means in its inoperative l ladapted to engage the pin on the switch lever and lii't said lever when the arm falls to its lower position.

4f. The combination with a moving picture machine and the motor and light circuit therefor, of a casing, astationary switch member mounted at the rear of said casing, a switch lever pivoted in said casing and havingv a. blade to engage said stationary switch member, a pin extending transversely ot' said switch lever, an arm pivotaliy mounti ed at each side of said switch lever, rollers carried by said arms and adapted to rest against the ilm, said arms having fingers adapted to engage the pin on the switch lever and lift said lever when the arms tall to their lower position, links secured on op- ,insite sides of said casing, a rod carried by said links and 'extendingI under said arms, and a spring connected to said rod and said casing, the arrangement being such that when the rod is swung up it;will lock the arms away from the tlim.`

ln testimony whereof, we sign the toref Igoing specification, in the .presence ot two witnesses. i

CHARLES F. MEHL. HENRY B. LIEBLER. JABEZ NALL. EDl/VARD J. NOBBE.

lVitnesses:

V. C?. LYNCH,

J. H. Wooowoarrr

Images