US1825438A - Photo-electric sound recording or reproducing - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 29, 1931. A. J. CAWLEY Y 2 PHOTO ELECTRIC SOUND RECORDING OR REPRODUCING Filed Sept. 16, 1929 -2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ALOYSIUS J. CAWLEY ATTORNEY p 29, 1931- A. J. CAWLEY 1,825,438

PHOTO ELECTRIC SOUNb RECORDING ORREPRODUCING Fil ed Sept. 16. 1929 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 INVENTOR ALOYSIUS J. (INLET ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 29, 1931 UNITED STATES ALoYsIUs J. CAWLEY, or PITTSTON, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIGNon'ro TIoN or AMERICA, A CORPORATION or DEL WAR PATENT OFFICE RADIO CORPORA- PHOTO-ELECTBIC SOUND RECORDING OB REPBODUCIlNl'G Original application filed January 8, 1921, Serial No. 435,984. Divided and this application filed September 16, 1929. Serial No. 393,071. 7

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 435,984 filed January 8,1921.

The invention relates generally to the method of producing sound records on motion picture films, so that sound and picture records may be synchronously reproduced, although the invention is not necessarily limited to this field.

More particularly the invention is concerned with the recording optically or reproduction of sound photo-electrically on motion picture film.

Arrangements are described whereby any "I desired sound recording speed may be obtained without any increase in the speed of the film, by simply increasing the number and speed of the recording units.

The invention .is perfectly adaptable to. :1; the standard motion picture film as it exists in practice at present, and is concerned with placing sound records on the margin, or margins of such a film. This is particularly feasible if photographic sound records are used. The latter may be placed on one margin only, or be distributed on both. margins, as hereinafter described.

As the sound records are intended to be placed at the margins of the film, there is no interference of picture and sound record as would be the case, if for instance, the latter were placed across the reverse face of the film, as in such case, they would be projected upon the picture screen.

3 The invention, further, is not limited to photographic methods of recording or photo-electric reproduction but is adapted to any mechanical, magnetic, or electric reproduction described in my parent application and the related divisions thereof. Al-

though the invention is not ,limited to any of those methods, reat emphasis is' placed -on the method emp oying the photo-electric reproduction and photographic recording.

It will be noted that there are no abrup' changes in the direction of movingparts, All parts move in a uniform manner, and the apparatus as a whole is very simple. It be'especially noted that, although the re'cording speed is rather high, neither the film carrier nor the recorders move at this speed, the high speed mentioned being due to the relative motion of recorder and film.

picture speedof one foot per inwhich like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the views, and in which,

photographierecording or photo-electric reproducing device.

at the stand- .70 Figure l is an elevational view showing a Figure 2 is a cross sectional view on line BC of the rotatin film carrier.

Figure 3 is an e evational view of an electrically operated, mechanical sound recorder placed on a radial arm.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a photographic sound recorder placed on a radial arm, also illustrating the detachable nature of the latter.

F igure 5 is a side elevation of the wheel of Fig. 1 showing the film thereon.

Figure 6 is a view of the film used.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of a sound reproducer installation in conjunction with a projection screen.

Figure 8 is adiagrammatic illustration of a recording apparatus asarranged for op- 'eration.

Figure 9 corresponds to Figure 1, but

shows an additional means for maintaining serves as a film carrier contact roll 10 holding it in engagement with sprocket teeth 11, as shown in Figure 1. The film then passes over a smaller sprocket 13, to which is rigidly attached the gear wheel 5. It is obvious that sprocket 13 pulls the film forward, Wheel 5 communicates motion through wheel 4 to wheel 3, which is rigidly attached to shaft 14, which carries the radial arms 2, also rigidly attached to it, and bearing recording or reproducing means at their extremities. Toothed gear wheels 3, 4 and 5 are so proportioned that the devices at the extremities of the radial arms move, while in contact with the film surfaces, at a speed which is equal to ployed) that of the film, but in the opposite direction. Obviously, the relative speeds of film and recorder passing over it, will be equal to the sum of their individual speeds.

Consequently, if the speed of the fihn is one foot per second, the recording speed is twice this, or two feet per second. One can readily see that if the gearing is so arranged that the recorders move at a speed double that of the film, and three recorders are used, three records will be impressed, and the recording speed will be three feet per second. Four recorders with a speed of three feet per second would mean a recording speed of four feet per second, 'and so on.

It is obviously necessary to employ some means whereby only that recorder that is actually impressing its own specific record is in actual operation at any given time, all others being 'temporarily eliminated from activity. A very satisfactory method of accomplishing this is b the use of electricity,

and this will now be escribed. Other methods will be described later. For this purpose, the commutator 6, Figure 2, is adjustably attached to the shaft, by means of set screws, or the like in such a position that brush 7 cuts out of circuit the recorder or recorders not functioning, and connecting only the recorder that is flmctioning. The commutator is shown in this case provided with two segments, 6a and 6?) one being attached by wire 9 tothe device at the extremity of one radial arm, and the other attached by wire 8 to' the other recording device. The wire 9 passes through shaft 14 which maybe provided with suitable conducting passages, 9a. In the drawing, the

' radial arms, shaft, etc., form part of the circuit, in which case only one brush 7 is necessary.

In Figures 1 and 2, the radial arms 2 are provided with simple electrical means'for the purpose of electrically reproducing a photographic sound record as hereinafter described. The two contact brushes are shown at 15. Figure 3, however, shows a radial arm provided with an electrically operated, mechanical sound reproducer 17 (when two arms are emprovided with the stylus 18. The wire and the metal body of the apparatus connects this device with the external reproducing circuit.

However, wires may be used throughout the circuit connections, and also more than one brush may be used in connection with the commutator. Besides the adjustment of the position of the commutator on the shaft, obviously the brush 7 may be attached to a movable support 7a, as is usual in electrical machinery, whereby it also maybe moved-to the most favorable position to obtain the best results.

The operation of the apparatus is perfectly simple. A device similar to that shown in Figure 1 may be attached to a camera or projector, and so connected that sprocket 13 is driven at standard motion picture feed, whereupon the recorder or reproducer will move inthe opposite direction at the same speed (if but two recorders are used), with the result that the recordin or reproducing s eed is double that of the lm, or about two eet per second.

' The large sprocket Wheel 1 is not fixed to the shaft 14, but is permitted to revolve freely upon it, and is held in position by the disks 12 and 12', which are fixed firmly to the shaft, and which allow just sufficient play to let wheel 1 revolve freely without vibration. In' the drawing, this wheel is shown as being operated by the film as it is drawn through the picture machine. However, a special gearing could be provided to move it directly, if desired.

Strong emphasis is placed on the recording or reproducing apparatus. This arrangement permits of electrical connections throughout, permitting the use of a commutator, as well as the actual reproduction of the sound record at a distance from the reproducer 54, Fig. 7, such as for instance at a projection screen 51. Moreover, the use of microphones 58 or the like in the camera 57 permits the use of special electrical apparatus 55, not otherwise available, whereby amplification of the sound record may be attained, the recorder being indicated at 56. Such amplifying means 53 are also available in the reproduction of the sound record by the reproducing apparatus indicated at 54. The alternate connecting and disconnecting of the recorders. is also more eflecducting metallic bbdy of the arm. The radia-l arm may be detached from the disk of the corresponding socket. Any type of sound recorder may thus be attached to the 5 radial arm. The term radial member may be construed to mean not only the mechanical device but also a device that is partly made up of a light beam, which is directed by proper apparatus toward the moving film to 10 chemically alter it.

The photographic method of reproducing is used, and the selenium cell 25 or equivalent, is made in the form of-trip arranged in a semicircle, corresponding tothe form of the curved film. The effective part of the cell will be thus in the form of a long, narrow member over which the light recorder v on the radial arm passes longitudinally.

Consequently, as the light is not stationary, a heat-absorbing means will be unnecessary. By making the rotating film carrier 1 of very large diameter, the stylijwould remain in contact with the film for amuch longer period. Also the ossibility of the commutation of the di erent reproducers being 'audibly detected by the audience would be minimized. Each recorder contacts with the precise transverse portion of the film throughout the length of the film. As the latter is held rigidly in position, the proper, sound repro ducer finds its corresponding record with absolute precision.

By making ,shaft 14: sufficiently long and adding one of more extra arms similiar to 2 and 2 and spacing them equidistantly on the shaft, and changing the gearing to rotate them at the proper speed, which is a mul tiple of the film speed, the sound recording speed is thus increased. The electrical con nections and commutator must be also adjusted to correspond. The flexibility of the mechanism is obvious.

In order; to offer a firm support to the film while the recorder is passing over its surface, an endless belt 67 ,asshown in Fig.

9 made of a substance approximating the density of ordinary phonograph record' backing materialysueh as waxed paper, may bearranged so as to' pass around the con-' tact roll 10 and sprocket 13. This belt may be provided with a slack, adjusterconsisting, for instance of a weighted pulley 71,

7 2 indicating the weight. Wheels 3, 4 and 5 are supported on any suitable frame work 30. Power is preferably applied to 5 or 13, 'soas to move the film at standard motion picture speed. The film, however, may be simply pulled through the apparatus by other sprocket wheels.

Photographic sound recording .hasjbeen very successful commercially, andas there is room for manysuch records on themargin of a moving picture film, the invention offers a means of placing several such we ords there and utilizing them to reproduce sounds. Moreover, by this means a recording speed is available that is in excess of that used in commercial sound recording.

An advantage of electrical commutation is that a record can come into contact with the film for a time before it is actually brought into electrical connection.

' Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. A phonographic apparatus comprising a sound record consisting of a film strip having a sound track extending longitudinally thereof and a wheel directly supporting that portion of the film laterally adjacent to the portion of the sound record from which sound is reproduced, the sound record portion being otherwise unsupported film records having a sound track extend ing lon itudinally thereof, in combination,

"means or moving the fihn past an operational point at a uniform speed, and rotary means for supporting the film across a portion only'of the width thereof at the said point and means for transfer of acoustic energy cooperating with a portion of the remaining width of the film. 5. In sound reproducing mechanism for consisting of a film strip havportion being otherwise unsupported film having a portion adapted to be supportedand an optically varying sound record on a portion laterally -of the surface therefrom, a photo-electric reproducer, ro-

tary supporting means for moving the film and means for maintaining the film on the supporting means with the sound record portion extending otherwise unsupported in operative relation to said reproducen' 6. In combination, means including a wheel to carry. a film having a sound record adjacent to the edge thereof with said sound record extending beyond the side of said wheel, and a light-sensitive cell and a light source so arranged as to cooperate with said portion of the film extending from the wheel for the reproduction of the sound record therefrom.

7. In combination, means including a narrow wheel to carry a film having a sound record adjacent to the edge thereof with said sound record extending beyond the side of said wheel, and a light-sensitive cell and a light source so arranged as to cooperate with said portion of the film extending from the wheel for the reproduction of the sound record therefrom.

. 8. In combination, means including a wheel to carry a film having a sound record adjacent to the edge thereof with said sound record extending beyond the side of said wheel, an elongated photo-cell and a light source so arranged as to cooperate with said portion of the film extending from the wheel for the reproduction of the sound record therefrom.

'9. In combination, means including a wheel to carry a film having a sound record adjacent to the edge thereof with said sound record extending beyond the side of said wheel, and a photo-electric cell and a light source arranged in cooperative relation with respectively opposite sides of said portion of the film extending beyond the side of said wheel.

10. In combination, a light-sensitive cell, a light source, and means including a rotary film supporting means to carry a film strip type sound record in an arcuate path between the two first-named means, the sound record portion of-said film extending otherwise unsupported between said two firstnamed means. a

11. In phonographic apparatus in which the sound record is photographically recorded on a film, the combination of a wheel means for rotating said wheel at uniform speed, means for feeding a record film on to said wheel at one point and oil therefrom at another point and causing the film to adhere closely to the wheel without slippage be tween-said point-s, said film record being arranged to overhang one side of the wheel, a photo cell positioned in cooperative relation to the overhanging position of the film and means for directing light through said overhanging portion of the film onto said photo cell.

12. In sound reproducing mechanism for film having an optically varying sound rec-' ord extending longitudinally on the surface thereof, a photo-electric reproducer, rotary supporting means for moving the film and -means for maintaining the film on the supporting means with the sound record por-.

tion extending otherwise unsupported beyond the edge thereof and into cooperative relation with said reproducer.

13. In a sound reproducer for film having a photographic sound record extending longitudinally on the surface thereof, revoluble means for directing light on the film, a rotary means maintaining the film in the path of revolution of said light, a photorevolving the first named means and'moving said fihn. l

14. In sound reproducing mechanism for a film strip having a photographic sound record extending longitudinally thereon, in combination, a photo-cell, means for moving the film past the photo-cell at a uniform speed, a light source, means for moving the light source longitudinally of the film, and means for so supporting the film adjacent to the photo-cell that light from said light source may have unobstructed passage therethrough to the said cell. 4 15. In sound reproducing mechanism for a film strip having a photographic sound record extending longitudinally thereon, in combination, a longitudinally elongated photo-cell, means for moving the film longitudinally past the photo-cell at a uniform speed, a light source, means for moving the light source longitudinally of the film and photo-cell, and means for so supporting the film adjacent to the photo-electric cell that light from said light source may have unobstructed passage therethrough to the said cell.

16. In a sound reproducer for film having a sound record adjacent the edge thereof,

in combination, a wheel to support the filmadjacent to a reproduction point, means for maintaining the film on the wheel with the sound record over-hanging the edge thereof and sound reproducing means to cooperate with the sound record on the overhanging edge of said film.

17. In a sound reproducer for filmhaving a sound record adjacent the edge thereof, in combination, a wheel to support the film adjacent to a reproduction point, means for maintaining the fihn on the wheel with the.

and means for maintaining the film on the wheel with the sound record overhanging the edge thereof. 20. In a sound reproducer for film having a sound record adjacent the edge thereof, in combination, a large wheel to support the film adjacent to a reproduction point, and means for maintaining the film on the wheel with the sound record over-hanging the edge thereof. 1

21. In sound reproducing mechanism for film having an optically varying sound record on the surface thereof, a photo-electric sound reproducer; rotary supporting means adjacent said reproducer for carrying the film past said sound reproducer, and means comprising a yieldable pulley for maintaining said film against said supporting means.

22; In a sound reproducer for film having a sound record adjacent the edge thereof, in combination, a wheel adapted to support the film at a reproduction point, yield record portion of the film extends beyond.

the edge of the wheel, said Wheel being relatively large, and means for moving said film through said apparatus.

ALOYSIUS J. CAWLEY.

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