US1855884A - Motion picture-sound apparatus - Google Patents

Description

April 26, 1932. I c HOXlE' 1,855,884

MoTI N PICTURE SOUND APPARATUS Filed Feb. 25, 1930 c zz 777017027 Picture Prq c'tor Inventor Char-Les A. HoxLe, bfl WW HLS After-neg.

I CHARLES A. E0113, ALPLAUS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB '20 GENERAL acteristics.

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Patented Apr. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlca PAINT, A CORPORATION OFQN'EW YORK MOTION rrc'ru'nn-sotmn arraaa'rus Application filed February 85, 1830. Serial No.'481,808.

My invention relates to apparatus for producing sound accompanied motion pictures and to that type of such apparatus in which the pictures and the sounds are produced by se arate motor driven units.

he use of separate picture projecting and sound producing units adapted for simultaneous operation and each having its own con stant speed driving motor has certain well known advantages over combined motion picture-sound producing apparatus such as 1s now in common use. The two units of the apparatus are adapted to reproduce from separate records and, having been started to reproduce their respective records synchronously, to continue to do so inasmuch as they are driven by constant speed motors. The two units, however, being of an entirely different construction from each other, impose loads of a different character on their respective motors; moreover the two motors even though they be of the same type and rating, may differ materially in their starting char- I For these reasons it has been found that even thou h corresponding portions of the two recor s are arranged at the reproducing point of the res )ective units preparatory to starting, it o ten happens that one unit will come up to speed before the other and destroy the synchronization. It is the object of my invention, therefore, to provide improved apparatus of this character having means for keeping the two units in proper speed relation at starting.

In carrying out my invention I provide a shaft for connecting together the rotating parts of the two units during the starting interval and provide means for automatically disconnecting the shaft from the units after the units have come up to full speed.

My invention will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the single figure of the drawing which represents in a more or less diagrammatic way an embodiment of my invention, I have shown at 1 a motion picture projector having a synchronous driving motor 2 and at 3 a sound reproducer having a synchronous drivng motor 4-. Between the two motor shafts 1s a connection comprising the flexible shaft 5 which is adapted to be operatively connected with the shaft of motor 2 through the" clutch 6 and to be connected with the shaft.

and 10, t 1e former serving to move the clutch into the engagin position and the latter serving to move the clutch into disengaging position. At some point between the two clutches there is provided a contact operating mechanism comprisin the base 12 having arms 13 and 14 forming s aft bearings. Between these bearin s is the screw 15 shown connected at opposite ends with the shaft 5 and clutch 6 and engaging this screw is the nut 16, a portion of WlllCll slides on the guide rod 17. Projecting from the nut finger 18 which after the nut has been moved a predetermined distance by the screw engages the ,switch20 to cause it to break contact with the fixed contact 21 and to make contact with the fixed contact 22. Circuit connections are made between the switch 20, the contacts 21 and 22 and the electromagnets 9 and 10 whereby current from a suitable source such as the battery 23 may energize either the magnets 9 or the magnets 10. The two motors 2 and 4 are shown connected to the same source 24 through the switch 25.

Supposing that the two machines are to be started for the synchronous reproduction of separate picture and sound film records, the film of each machine willbe set with corresponding portions thereof at the reproducing point of each machine. With the two clutches 6 and 7 in engaging position the circuits of two motors 2 and 4 will simultaneously be closed. Any tendency of one motor to gain or lose speed relative to the other will be checked by the shaft connection so that both motors and hence the films driven thereby will move during the starting operation in absolute synchronism. During the starting movement the nut 16 will be morale 001- b speed the finger' 18 will have moved the speed drivin switch 20 130 'deenergize the clutch closing magnets 9 and. close the circuit of the clutch opening magnets l'0. The clutches, thereupon, are immediately shifted to disconnect positlon and the connecting shaft comes to rest; The two machines, however, continue to operate in synchronism. To reset the nut for a subsequent starting operation the connecting shaft and screw may be rotated in any suitable manner as by hand. If desired, the nut 16 ma be inthe form of a half nut which is yiel in ly held against the screw so that it may be withdrawn and shifted lengthwise of the'screw for resetting.

I have chosen the particular embodiment described above as illustrative of my inven tion and it will be apparent that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, which modifications I aim to cover by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In combination, a motor driven motion picture projector, a separate motor driven sound reproducer, means for connecting together the moving parts of the projector and reproducer, and means operative in response to a predetermined starting mevement of said parts for rendering the connection inoperative.

2. In combination, a motor driven motionpicture projector, a separate motor driven sound reproducer, flexible means for connecting together the moving parts respectively thereof during starting and means responsive to a predetermined rotative movement of said flexible means for interrupting said connection.

3. In combination, a motion-picture projector having a constant speed driving motor, a sound reproducer having a constant motor, means for simultaneously energizmg said motors, rotative means connecting together the moving parts of said projector and reproducer, and means responsive to a predetermined rotative movement of said connecting means for rendering-the connecting means moperative.

4. In combination, a motion-picture projector having a synchronous drivin motor,

a sound reproducer having a sync ronous driving motor, means comprising a flexible shaft and a clutch for connecting together the moving parts of said machines at starting, and means responsive to a predetermined rotative movement of said connecting means for causing the disconnection of said clutch.

5. In combination, a motion-picture projectorhaving a synchronous driving motor, a sound reproducer having a synchronous driving motor, means for simultaneously closing the circuits of saidmotors, a shaft,

clutches for connectin the ends thereof with the res ective motor s afts, electromagnetic means or opening said clutches, and contact means operated by the rotative movement of said shaft for controlling said electromagnetic means.

In witness whereof, I have hereto set my hand this24th day of February, 1930.

. CHARLES A. HOXIE.

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