US2000286A - Motion picture machine - Google Patents

Description

May 7, 1935. A. s. HOWELL 2,000,236

MOTION PICTURE momma Filed Feb. 12, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 4/ I 122 Haw/Z 1" v y 7, 1935. A. s. HOWELL 2,000,286

MOTION PICTURE MACHINE Filed Feb. 12, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mmmm 3. AVflw/Z y 7, 1935. Y A. s. HOWELL 2,000,286

MOTION PICTURE MACHINE Filed Feb. 12. 1931 4 Sheet's-Sheet 3 &

1 602 63 A a/Md! y 1935- A. s.- HOWELL 2,000,286

MOTION PICTURE MACHINE Filed Feb. 12, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 mama May 1, 1935 PATENT 1 OFFICE MOTION PICTURE MACHINE Albert S. Howell, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The Bell it Howell Company, Chioag notation of Illinois o, 111., a cor- Application February 12, 1931, Serial No. 515,248

lzCll-iml.

My invention relates particularly to motion picture projecting machines although not limited to this use alone.

Generally speaking the invention has for its ob- 5 ject the simplification of the operation of motion picture machines, particularly with reference to motion picture projection machines, and particularly with reference to lacing of the motion picture film in the machine and;the control of the machine in the event of abnormal shortening of the compensating loops of the film between the intermittent and constant film feed devices of the machine or breakage or termination of the film.

With this object in view my invention consists in certain features of novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts by which the said object and certain other objects, hereinafter appearing, are attained, all as fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed outin the appended claims.

In the said drawings:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a motion picture projecting machine embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a partial opposite side elevation of the same with parts broken away and shown in section;

Figure 3 is a partial front elevation of the same;

Figure 4 is a partial side elevation similar to Figure l with parts broken away and shown in section and showing parts in different positions than those in which they are shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a partial side elevation similar to Figure 2 with parts broken away and shown in section and showing parts in different positions than those in which they are shown inFigure 2;

Figure 6 is a partial sectional view substantially onthelineO-BofFlgurefa;

Figure 7 is a partial section on the line 1-1 of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a partial section on the'line 8-8 of Figure 3.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings, i designates the body of the machine which is inclusive of a forward frame 2 disposed in a. vertical rearwardly,

Disposed at the rear of the lens mount member 4 is an apertured intermittent feed film guide which is inclusive of a rear face guide member and a front face guide member I carried on the rear end of the lens mount member 4 for facewise movement therewith into and out of film retaining relation with the face guide member 6. The intermediate portion of the guide is apertured, as designated at t, in alinement with the lens mount member 4 for cooperation of a fllm 9 10 in the guide with a lens in the lens mount member in the projection of pictures from the film, projection light being derived from a suitable source, such as an incandescent electric lamp H enclosed within the body I at the rear of the guide. See Figures 1, 3 and 4.

Sliding movement of the lens mount member 4 is controlled by a forwardly disposed manually operated lever l2 pivotally mounted on the frame 2, as designated at l3, and provided with a pivoted crank block l4 slidably engaging a vertical slot I! on the lens mount member.

Arranged, one above and one below the lens mount member 4, are two constant feedsprockets it which feed the film 9 to and from the ends of the intermittent film feed guide in timed relation with the intermittent film feed mechanism, not shown, which intermittently feeds the film in the guide, the film being looped between the sprockets and the ends of the guide, as shown in Figure l, to compensate for the-intermittent feed of the film in the guide and the constant feedof the film by the sprockets.

Mounted for independent movement in a vertical slide I! on the frame 2 immediately inward of the lens mount member 4, are two plates it which carry film retaining devices l9 movable with the plates l8 into and out of film retaining relation with the sprockets. It. See Figures 1 and 4.

Movement of these film retaining devices is controlled by the lever l2 and they are moved into and out of film retaining relation with the sprockets It with corresponding movement of the lens mount member 4 and the face guide member I by means of an inwardly projecting stud 2| on the lens mount member and slidably engaging in transverse cam slots 22 in the plates it, see Figure 4, in a manner fully described and claimed in U. S. Letters Patent #1,624,'l30 granted April 12, 192'! for Motion picture apparatus on application of Albert S. Howell. Figure 1 shows the position of the parts with the film retaining devices I! and the face guide member I in film retaining pofltion with the film laced therein for Cal the operation of the machine and Figure 4 shows the position of the parts with the film retaining devices 19 and the face guide member 1 out of film retaining position for the lacing and uniacing of the film.

Arranged, one above and one below the lens mount member 6, at the front of the frame 2 are two transverse shafts 23 which extend through and arepivotally engaged in bores through the frame. See Figure 3.

Secured on the ends of the shafts 23 adjacent the sprockets it; are two arms 24 which extend rearwardly from the shafts and have film engaging rollers 25 mounted on their rear ends, these rollers lying within the film loops between the sprockets and the intermittent film feed guide for engagement therewith. See Figures 3., 3 and Secured on the opposite ends of the shafts 23 are two arms which extend toward each other and have their free ends pivotally and slidably engaged with each other, as designated at 2?, whereby the arms 22 are connected for movement together in opposite directions to simultaneously engage the aforementioned film loops and to disengage therefrom. See Figures 2 and 5. A spring plunger device 26 on the frame 2 engages the upper arm 28 to yieldably urge the arms 24 to their inner positions disengaged from the aforementioned film loops as shown in Figure l.

Pivotally mounted on the upper shaft 23 between the upper arm 24 and the frame 2 is an arm 25 which extends downwardly therefrom and has its'lower end engaged with a cam formation 3! on the lever I2 for actuation of the arm 29 with movement of the lever 2.

The upper arm 24 is provided with an extension arm 32 projecting downwardly from the upper shaft 23 and overlying the arm 28, and a,

stud 33 on the lower end of the extension arm 32 engages in a relatively large aperture 34 in the arm 29 to form a lost motion connection therebetween. See Figures 1, 3, 4 and 8.

A torsion spring 35 encircles the upper shaft 23 adjacent the arm 28 and lies within an enlargement of the bore of the frame 2 in which this shaft is engaged, and has one end angularly secured with this shaft and the other end angularly secured with the arm 29, and yieldably urges the arms 24 in the direction of their outer positions with reference to arm 29, the spring 35 being stronger than the spring device 28 so that normally the arms 24 are positioned in their outermost position with reference to the arm 29, which position is determined by engagement of the stud 33 against the corresponding side of the aperture 34. See Figures 1, 3, and 8.

The arms 24 can be moved, against the influence of the spring 35, a limited extent in the direction of their inward position, that is until the stud 33 engages against the opposite side of the aperture 34.

The spring device 28 yieldably urges the arms 24 and arm 28 in the direction to maintain the arm 29 in engagement with the cam formation 3| on the lever [2, so that this lever controls the position of the arms 24 in addition to controlling the position of the lens mount member 4, the front face guide 1 and the retaining devices 18. The arrangement is such that, in the position of the lever l2 as shown in Figure 1, the face guide member 1 and the retaining devices I! are in their film retaining positions for operation of the machine, and the arms 24 in their inward positions with the film engaging rollers 25 spaced inwardly from the loops of the film 8 between the sprockets l6 and the intermittent film feed guide.

When the lever I2 is in the opposite position of its movement, as shown in Figure 4, the face guide member 1 and the retaining devices I8 are out of their film retaining positions for the lacing and unlacing of the film, and the arms 24 and the film engaging rollers 25 are disposed in their outer or film loop forming positions, that is in the positions where the rollers 25 engage the film to form predetermined loops thereof between the sprockets i 8 and the intermittent film feed guide, with obvious convenience in lacing of the film.

In the lacing of the film, the face guide member 1 and the retaining devices 18 are out of film retaining position and the arms 2-5 and the rollers 25 are in their outer or loop forming positions as shown in Figure 4. The film is then laced on one sprocket and is then trained over the rollers 25 and then engaged on the other sprocket, the film being tensioned against the spring 35 to engage the perforations of the film on the teeth of the second sprocket.

Then the lever i2 is operated to move the face guide member 1 and the retaining devices l9 into film retaining position as shown in Figure l, the arms 24 and the rollers 25 being moved to their inner positions during this operation by means of the cam formation 3|.

The' mechanism of the machine is driven from an electric motor 38 through a releasable clutch 31, see Figure 2, and the clutch is controlled as follows.

A lever 38 is arranged on the side of the frame 2 on which the arms 26 are arranged and is pivoted on the frame, as designated at 38. See Figures 2 and 5. This lever 38 is connected with the clutch 31 for controlling it, as designated at 4|, and is yieldably urged into clutch released position, as shown in Figure 5, by means of a spring plunger device 42.

Pivoted on the lower shaft 23 for movement independently thereof is a latch lever 43 arranged alongside the lower arm 28, and this latch lever is provided with a latch formation 44 adapted to engage a cooperating latch formation 45 on the lever 38 to maintain the lever 38 in clutch engaged position, as shown in Figure 2, against the influence of the spring device 42, release of the latch lever permitting the spring device 42 to operate the lever 38 to clutch released position as shown in Figure 5.

A spring 46 yieldably urges the latch lever 43 into engaged position so that it automatically locks the lever 38 in clutch engaged position as the lever 38 is moved into such position.

A manually actuated lever 41 is pivotally mounted intermediately, as designated at 48, on the lever 38 adjacent its upper end, movement of the lever 41 with reference to the lever 38 being limited by stop pins 48 on the lever 38.

Forward movement of the lever 41 from the position shown in Figure 5 causes forward movement of the lever 38 to engage the clutch 31 by reason of the engagement of the lever 41 with the lower stop pin 48, the latch lever 43 automatically locking the lever 38 in clutch engaged position as shown in Figure 2.

Rearward movement of the lever 41 from the position shown in Figure 2 causes pivotal movement of this lever with reference to the lever 38 to cause the lower end of the lever 41 engaging the latch lever 43, as designated at 5| in Figure 2, to move the latch lever and release the lever eetherehomwhereimonthespringdevioeh ac- .Juatestheleverltrearwardivtoreleasethe Secured on the latch lever 4s a a pin as which is engaged for movement in an angularly arranged slot I! in the lower arm 2!, so that movement of the arms 24 inwardly from their normal inward position effects movement of the latch lever 43 to release theleve'r ll to release the clutch 81 to stop operation of the machine, this movement being eilected by engagement of one end oi the slot 58 with the pin II. Movementof the pin 52 in the slot it permits movement of the latch lever into released position independently of the arms 24 and permits movement of the arms 24 to their outer or loop forming position independently ofthe latch lever.

As a result of the operative connection between the lower arm "and the latch lever 48 movement of the arms 24 inwardly from their normal inward position causes release of the latch lever 48 from the lever to and consequent release of the clutch 31 and stoppage of the machine.

Accordingly, if either loop of the film between the intermittent feed guide and the sprockets ll becomes abnormally shortened as by failure of the feed the him in the intermittent i'eed guide, the corresponding roller 2' is engaged by the abnormally shortened loop and moved inwardly with resultant stopping of the machine.

In such case the lever I2 is moved tonlm released position, causing the film loops to be reformed by the movement of the rollers 2| to their outer or loop forming position, after which the lever i2 is returned tonlm retaining position and the machine is started by forward manual,

movement of the lever 41 to engage the clutch.

The lower roller 25 functions to stop operation of the machine when the end of the film is reachedbyreasonofthefactthattheendof the dim becomes stationary in the guide after it passes out of the range of the intermittent feed mechanism, not shown, operative on the iilm in the guide, with. resultant shortening of the lower iilm loop by feeding of the ilim by the lower sprocket l6.

Referring to Figure 6, a lever l4 is pivotaily mounted within the body I, as designated at 85, and the lower end of this lever is provided with a safety shutter or screen 4 in the form of a frosted glass mounted in a frame II on the lever, as shown in Figures 6 and 7.

In the pivotal movement of the lever 54, the shutter 56 is movable from a position intercepting the projection light between the lamp II and the aperture I of the intermittent illm feed guide for reducing the intensity of the light on-the tilm, see Figure 8, to a position out of the path of the projection light is indicated by broken lines in Figure 6.

The lever 54 is'urged in the direction of its. projection light in intercepting position by aspring 58, and a transversely extending rod 50 slidabiy mounted within the frame 2 engages the lever 64, as designated at II, for operating the lever out'of projection light intercepting position.

A spring-device s: operates on the slide rod so to actuate the lever into projection lightintercepting position, this spring device being stronger than the spring II and the spring ll aeting'to cause the lever 84 to follow the movement of the rod it and to permit manual opera themanipulationoftheupperendof'thelever.

which projects upwardly through an opening in the frame I for this purpose. as designated at II.

8. extends through andis slidablyengaged in aborethroushtheframelandissodispoud thatwhentheleverllisinclutchreleasedposition, as shown in Figure 5, a cam formation 04 on the upper end of this lever overlies the adiacent end of the rod, and when the lever II is in clutch engaged position, as shown in Figure 2, the cam formation is spaced forwardly of the rod.

Thus, when the lever I! is in clutch engaged position, the spring device It maintains the lever l4 and shutter ll out of projection light intercepting position for the operation of the machine. when the lever is is moved to clutch released position to stop operation of the machine, the cam formation 04 engag s the adjacent end of the rod and moves the same to position the lever I and shutter I in light intercepting position-to prevent damage to the film Accordingly, stoppage of the machine either by hand or automatically by abnormal shortening of the compensating iilm loops causes the safety shutter to functim. 1

WhileIhavedescribeda-ndshownthepreferred embodiment of my invention I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction as changes may readily be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. but having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following:

i. In a motion picture machine the combination with a ilim engaging member movable into position to form a compensating iilm loop and into another position to be engaged and moved by the film upon abnormal shortening of said loop, of means for predeterminately positioning said film engaging member in either of said positions, and means under the control of said film engaging member and adapted to stop operation of the machine upon movement of said iilm engas ns member by said film from said second mentioned position.

2. In a motion picture machine the combination with a dim engaging member movable into position forming a predetermined compensating film loop and into'another position to be engaged and moved by the film upon abnormal shortening of said loop, of means for predeterminately positioning said nlm engaging member in either of said positions, a releasable driving clutch for operating the machine, and means under the control of said fllm engaging member and adapted to release said clutchupon movement of said nlm engaging member by said film from said second -mentioned position.

3. In a motion picture machine the combination with a fllm engming member mounted on the machine for movement into position forming a predetermined compensating film loop and into another position to be engaged and moved by the film upon abnormal shortening of said loop, of means for predeterminately positioning said illm engaging member in either of said positions, a releasable driving clutch for operating the machine and yieldably urged into released position, a releasable latch for maintaining said clutch in engaged position, and a connection between said latch and said film engaging member whereby 'lheendofthesliclerodlladjacentthelever movement or said film engaging member by said film from said second mentioned position releases said latch.

4. In a motion picture machine the combination with a film engaging member mounted on the machine for movement into position forming a predetermined compensating film loop and into another position to be engaged and moved by the film upon abnormal shortening of said loop, of means for predeterminately positioning said film engaging member in either of said positions, a releasable driving clutch for operating the machine and yieldably urged into released position, a releasable latch yieldably urged into position for maintaining said clutch engaged, a manually operable member operable in one direct-ion for releasing said clutch to release said clutch and in the opposite direction to engage said clutch and engage said latch to maintain the clutch engaged, and a connection between said latch and said film engaging member for releasing said latch to release said clutch upon movement oi said film engaging member by said film from said second mentioned position.

5. In a motion picture machine the combination with an intermittent film feed guide and constant film feed sprocket means for feeding a film to and from said guide, of two film loop forming members movable into position to form compensating film loops between said guide and said constant film feed means and into other positions to be engaged and moved by the film upon abnormal shortening of the corresponding loop, means whereby said loop forming members are predeterminately positioned together in either of said positions, and means whereby operation of the machine is stopped upon movement of one of said loop forming members by said film from its second mentioned position.

6. In a motion picture machine the combination with an intermittent film feed guide and constant film feed sprocket means for feeding a film to and from said guide, of film loop forming members movable into position to form compensating film loops between said guide and constant film feed means and into other positions to be engaged and moved by the film upon abnormal shortening of the corresponding loop, means whereby said loop forming members are predeterminately positioned together in either of said positions, means for stopping operation of the machine and yieldably urged into stopping position, a releasable latch for maintaining said last mentioned means in position for operation of the machine, and means whereby movement of one of said loop forming members by said film out of its second mentioned position releases said latch.

.7. In a motion picture machine the combination with an intermittent feed film guide and a cooperating constant film feed sprocket device one of which is inclusive of a film retaining member movable into and out of film retaining position, of a film loop forming member movable into position to form a compensating film loop between said guide and said sprocket device and into a second position to be engaged and moved by the film upon abnormal shortening of said loop, means whereby said loop forming member is predeterminately positioned in loop forming position with movement of said retaining member out of retaining position and in said second position with movement of said retaining member into retaining position, and means under the control of said loop forming member and adapted to stop operation of the machine upon movement of said loop forming member by the film from said second position.

8. In a motion picture machine the combination with an intermittent teed film guide and a cooperating constant film teed sprocket device each of which is inclusive of a film retaining member movable into and out of film retaining position, of a film loop forming member movable into position to form a compensating film loop between said guide and said sprocket device and into a second position to be engaged and moved by the film upon abnormal shortening 01! said loop, means whereby said retaining members are operated together into and out of retaining position, means whereby said loop forming member is predeterrninately positioned in loop forming position with movement of said retaining members out of retaining position and in said second position with-movement of said retaining members into retaining position, means controlling operation of the machine and yieldably urged into position to stop operation of the machine, a releasable latch ior maintaining said controlling means in position to operate the machine, and means whereby movement of said loopforming member by said film out of said second position releases said latch.

9. In a motion picture machine the combina tion with an intermittent feed film guide and a cooperating constant film feed sprocket device each of which is inclusive of a film retaining member movable into and out of film retaining position, of a film loop forming member movable into position to form a compensating film loop between said guide and said sprocket device and into a second position to be engaged and moved by the film upon abnormal shortening of said loop, means whereby said retaining members are operated together into and out of retaining position, means whereby said loop forming member is predeterminately positioned in loop forming position with movement of said retaining members out of retaining position and in said second position with movement oi. said retaining members into retaining position, a releasable clutch for operating the machine and yieldably urged into released position, a releasable latch yieldably urged into position for maintaining said clutch engaged, a manually operable member operable in one direction for releasing said latch to release said clutch and in the opposite direction to engage said clutch and engage said latch to maintain the clutch engaged, and a connection between said latch and said loop forming member for releasing said latch to release said clutch upon movement of said loop forming member by said film from said second position.

10. In a motion picture machine the combination with a compensating film loop forming member mounted on the machine for movement into position to form a loop and out of such position in a direction inwardly of said loop, means yieldably urging said forming member out of said position, an actuating member, a lost motion operating connection between said forming member and said actuating member, a cam member operative upon said actuating member to operate said forming member into said position, and means yieldably urging said forming member in the direction of said position with reference to said actuating member and overcoming the influence of said first mentioned yieldably urging means.

11. In a motion picture machine the combination with a pivotally mounted compensating film loop forming member mounted on the machine iortintopoaitiontoiormaloopandout oi such position in a direction inwardly oiaaid loop. spring means yleldably urgingsaid tormingmembermitotsaidpositiomanactuating member pivotaliy mounted coaxiallgwith-said iorming member, a lost motion operating connection between said iorming member and said actuating member. a pivotaliy mounted cam member operative upon said actuating member to operate said forming member into said position. and spring means operative between said ionning member and said actuating member and urging said i'orming member in the direction oi said position and overcoming the influence of said ilrst mentioned spring means. h

12. In a motion picture projecting machine the combination oi a releasable clutch ior operating the machine and yieldably urged into released position, a saiety shutter movable to a position disposedacrossthepathoiproiectionlighttoanlm inthe machine andyieldably urgedintosaidposition. a releasable latchy'ieldably urged into positioii for maintaining said clutch engaged and said shutter in operative position, a manually operable member operable in one direction or releasing said latch to release said=clutch and render said shutter operative and in the opposite direction to engage said clutch and render said shutter inoperative and engage said latch to maintain the clutch engaged and said shutter inoperative, and means under the control 0! said him for releasing said latch.

ALBERT S. HOWELL.

Images