US2011576A - Method of processing motion picture films - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 20, 1935. G, J. GAGE 2,011,576

METHOD OF PROCESSING MOTION PICTURE FILMS Filed March 5, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IL t 1 1211 GeorgJGa' 2- IN VENT R Aug. 20, 1935. G J GAGE METHOD OF PROCESSING MOTION PICTURE FILMS Filed March 3, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 George 59% 4 1% A ORNEY Aug. 20, 1935. G. J. GAGE 2,011,576

METHOD OF PROCESSING MOTION PICTURE FILMS Filed March 5, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 i 1 1 -fi /F 4l- I 59 11:. 619 21 m 8 3i J3, if -25 I 32 5* 7 1 l l .x

GeorgeJGa 6 IN VE Patented Aug. 20, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF PROCESSING MOTION PICTURE FILMS George J. Gage, Seattle, Wash" assignor of onehalf to George M. Ballentine, Seattle, Wash.

Application March 3, 1932, Serial No. 596,564

Claims. (Cl. 18-56) This invention relates to a method of procthe film. Broadly, this is the purpose of any 68 118 Printed motion picture film. invention.

when an exposed light-sensitive material is Both new and old film have been successfully laced in a developer, the chlorine or bromine treated to close the surface voids in the metallic 6 istaken away from the silver, and the black silver of the emulsion and to make the surfaces "6 metallic silver which remains behind forms the plane or smooth. By new film, I refer to film image. This image is made up of grains, because that has never been run through a projector, as 32%? i i? mm s it? 2? t i fif 3 fi id ti iiiiss m e ormo croscopic crys an w en imes an s a on on 1v 1 it the bromide is taken away from each of these, rder, h wever, to in ba k t l film many W the crystal breaks up and a tiny coke-like mass of of the qualities which it originally possessed, such metallic silver remains behind i exactly th as a high degree of flexibility, in order that the same position as the bromide crystal from which film may be looped r adily without resultin in it was formed, .so that, wherea th original fracturing the emulsion, and to clean the film and Y f5 emulsion consisted of microscopic crystalline correct discoloration thereof, and also to lubri- I5" grains of the sensitive silver salt, th m image cate the film to further insure its free passage consists' of equally microscopic grains of black through the projector, I preferably make use of a metalli il .Chemicauy, thi removal of t cleansing, discoloration-correcting and lubricatbromide ,from the m t lli sflven i known as ing solution such as is described in my abandoned a reduction, A moti picture fil b i no application Serial No. 534,219, filed May 1, 1931. diirerent fr m any th photographic material In order that those skilled in the art may fully with respect to th h i l m of t and satisfactorily practice the method herein image after th d ti process 11; l be claimed, the solution referred to is described preciated that the aforestated microscopicgrains herein as made up of the following parts, Wlti Q" 0! a k m tallic silver combine to form at the chloroform 18fiu1dounces 2s" emulsm side of the m number of Carbon tetrachloride 110 fluid ounces. nmtesimal Voids- I ve discovered that these w t petroleum 5 drams. ds ar s oner or later filled up with wax, mamm wax 4 dram. t on and dust, and in the ordinary movement Victoria blue 2 or more ounces o -o the film thro h a cot machine, the 3 a particles of g, ft are, by This fluid has a very low temperature drop and the heat of th projection arcs, converted mm has no damaging effect, chemically or mechanhard bits of carbon. In time, these bits of carbon E1 the 811111181011 or the celluhid of the k oose Luce, g a g gzfiz a mi 532;: In the above statement of my invention, I have i referred to the existence of carbon deposits in $25, 32:; 2 2:: 2 m iggg g the surface voids of old or used film. Now, it ob- 8 m of c n 1 id b M t n th t viously follows from what has been said that when n M e F g 3 processing old film strips the surface of the emulra g 2 e ows as e sion should be first cleaned and treated with the 40 H as no b e should be med on the mm aforementioned solution and all hard foreign parin its movement through the pmjector' as ticles removed therefrom, after which the loosened the tensile strain placed on the celluloid particles and dirt should be thoroughly collected tends to same to creep away from the in order that thefilmmay be perfectly clean before a enmmm- This filcmmal resistance upon the it is permitted to undergo its final treatment to 5 the tendency the Humid move make smooth the surface of the metallic silver. re ativ y to the emulsion 800D fracture the emlll- An important object, therefore, is to provide a 810D. B y the Sound track and at method of processing printed motion picture film 110118 places in the frames the fi mwhich will not alter the intended or necessary I I have disc ve d a y P op ly P s ng positions of the images and will so prepare the printed film the objections otherwise resulting, such as those above stated, can be entirely eliminated. Proper processing of the fllm includes a step'ofmaking plane or substantially smooth the ll i blaek'metallic silver surfaces on the emulsion of sure area.

strains on the emulsion are removed and it is possible to maintain considerably better association of the pictures with the optical system of the projector and insure better and clearer projection of the pictures and to retain the sound tract more correctly co-ordinated with the light cell of the sound circuit and the sound tract made clear so as to allow more faithful reproduction of sound.

My present invention comprises the novel method herein disclosed and claimed, and as will be more particularly defined by the claims which terminate the same.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a typical form of apparatus for carrying out my method.

Figure 1 illustrates my mechanism in elevation, the film guiding and engaging members being shown in section for better illustration.

Figure 2 is a general plan view of the machine.

Figure 3 is a vertical axial section through the drum forming part of the machine.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the machine.

Essentially my method consists in passing the film strip F between two smooth surfaces pressed together uniformly over a considerable area, that is to say, throughout a considerable length of the film stripadvancing the film strip and the smooth surfaces, uniformly pressed together throughout their contact area, simultaneously at identical rates of speed, whereby a continued pressure effect is obtained equal throughout all portions of that part of the film strip which is between the contacting surfaces, ultimately leading the film strip out after it has been pressed between the two surfaces for a period of time. In order to accomplish all the ends in view. as heretofore outlined, the method preferably includes the step of supplying a liquid, such as that disclosed in my aforementioned abandoned application, to the surfaces of the film prior to its entering the pres- It is also preferred to apply heat to the film when in the pressure area, especially when such a liquid is employed. Thus the contact zone becomes also a heated zone.

I prefer that the temperature of the film be raised and maintained within this heated zone at perhaps 190 Fahrenheit or higher-up to about 210 F. The temperature in the heated zone determines, to some extent, the time during which it remains in this zone, or vice versa. Especially when the liquid substance mentioned is employed, I have found that the film may be properly processed by continuing it into the contact and pressure zone for from two to three seconds traveling at a rate of about feet a minute, with the temperature between the limits mentioned above. If the film is processed at higher speeds, the temperature may be increased considerably over the maximum named, hence I do not wish to be understood as naming 210 F. as a critical or maximum temperature, nor as limting the process to such a temperature factor. This is merely the temperature which experience has demonstrated to be a safe temperature, operating at the speed given, and. without provision for cooling the film or preventing access of air thereto.

A mechanism for carrying out this processing of the film conveniently comprises a hollow drum l of sufficient peripheral extent to give contact through the period and at the speed mentioned, or an equivalent contact at some different speed. An endless belt 2 is wrapped partly about the periphery of the drum. This belt may be of various materials. I have found flexible brass to be most suitable. It is of about the width of a strip of film,

and the drum preferably is flanged, as indicated at IU, whereby the film F is exactly positioned between the belt and the periphery of the drum. Thus it may not move laterally. The belt is guided by guide rollers 20, 2!, 22 and 23. One of thesefor instance, the roller 23-may be a drive roller connected to a suitable source of power such as the motor M, and another pulleyfor instance, the pulley 2l-may be connected with a tightening means such as the tension spring 24 and bell crank lever 25, so that an amount of tension, determined by the adjusting nut 26 used in connection with the spring, may be applied to the belt such as to cause the proper amount of pressure to be applied to the periphery of the drum.

For convenience in applying liquid from the tank 3 to the surfaces of the film, and to spread the liquid, I provide guide rollers 4, 40 and 4| about which the film strip passes and whereby its direction is reversed. In passing from the wind-off reel 50, the film passes first about the roller and in this run one surface may be coated by liquid from the discharge spout 3| depending from the bottom of the tank 3. Its direction is then reversed between the rollers 4| and 4, and liquid from a second discharge spout 32 coats this surface. The liquid upon the surface first coated is spread by the roller 4 about which it passes, and excess liquid, dirt upon the surface, such as dust, carbonized matter, machine oil, and the like, all loosened and carried by the excess liquid, comes off on the soft felt or cloth surface of the roller 4, this soft surface being indicated at 42. Similarly, the roller 40 has a surface of like character, indicated at 43, which acts upon the opposite face of the film.

The several rollers and the reel 50, together with the wind-on or receiving reel 5, are in alignment with the drum l and with the belt. 2, and properly guide the film strip into position between the belt and the periphery of the drum, and when it reaches the pulley 23, the film strip passes directly about this pulley and upon the wind-on reel 5.

The drum, as has been stated, is preferably heated, and to heat it I may employ an electric heating element 6 supported within and insulated from brackets 60 inside and preferably close to the periphery of the drum, the heat from this heating element being transmitted to a liquid such as oil, filling the interior of the drum. Insulated leads El and 62 through the trunnion 63 of the drum permit the transmission to the heating element of electric current, while a thermostat 84, connected in circuit with the heating element and in communication with the liquid to be affected by its heat, controls the temperature of the drum.

The various parts heretofore described are suitably supported upon a frame 1'. The motor M drives the pulley 23 through such means as reduction gearing contained within the gear box 10, the vertical shaft H, and the pair of bevel gears 12, one of which is connected to the shaft 2! which supports the pulley 23. Thus the belt I is driven, and by its bearing upon the drum I, it causes the latter to rotate at precisely the same speed.

To rotate the wind-on reel 5 it is supported upon a spindle 55 carrying a clutch element 5'6 with which is lightly engaged a clutch element 51 rotatable with a sprocket wheel 58, over which runs a chain 59. This chain is driven from a sprocket wheel 75 upon the shaft 21, and because ol tho clutoh oolmeetionat 58, 51, the reel 6 is driven 'alwayaat a/speed sufficient to take up the m it leaves'thepulley and the drum I. The reel N b-supported upon a spindle 52, and a clutch device 5; exertssumcient drag on the rotaticli o'fthis rel to prevent it overrunning at the usual operating speeds of the machine Current is supplied from mains 8 through switches 80 and 8|. From the switch 80 leads 82 extend to the motor M. From the switch 8| leads II and 84 extend to binding posts 85 and 88, respectively, one of these leads including a .warning light 81 which indicates when the current is passing through these leads. Associated with the terminal posts 85 and 86 are brushes II and 89, respectively, the one contacting with a ring 68 connected to the lead 6| and the other contacting with a disk 69 connected to the lead 62, and thus current is supplied to the heating element 6 while the drum I supporting the same is rotating.

Such details may be varied to suit the desire or convenience of the designer, the important principles of the machine being embodied in the two smooth surfaces which press together uniformly over a considerable area, represented by the periphery of the drum I and the belt 2, and which receive between them the film strip so that as it travels along it is subjected to pressure and to heat supplied while in the pressure zone. Pressure and heat, thus applied to the film, flatten the silver deposit on the emulsion while the latter is slightly soft, so as to greatly, if not entirely, close the voids in the cellular structure of the silver.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. The method of processing motion picture films comprising the continuous passage of the film through a zone wherein heat and pressure are applied thereto simultaneously and equally, over a considerable length of the film.

2. The method of processing motion picture films comprising the continuous feeding of the film into and through a heated zone of considerable length maintained at a temperature of about F., and at a rate to pass from said zone in a few seconds, and applying to the film during its passage through such zone pressure substantially equalized throughout.

3. The method of processing motion picture film which comprises the application to the films surface of a substance having lubricating qualities, and the subsequent application of pressure to the film to distribute the substance uniformly there- 4. A method of acting upon the metallic silver image formed in the emulsion of a printed photographic film to make substantially plane the exposed side of the emulsion, comprising simultaneously applying heat and surface pressure to a predetermined length of film to slightly soften and flatten the emulsion, while retaining the length against longitudinal and transverse movement, and progressively acting on like lengths of the film as preceding lengths thereof are released from such conditions and while preventing relative movement between the length being acted on and the surface pressure media.

5. The method of processing printed motion pitcure film comprising removing foreign matter from the surface of the emulsion thereof, then applying uniform surface pressure to the film throughout a predetermined length thereof to thereby flatten the silver deposit and reduce the depth of the voids contained therein.

6. The step in the method of reducing the depth of the voids in the metallic silver on tin emulsion of a printed photographic film; com prising applying uniform pressure to the surface of the film throughout a predetermlned' length thereof, while preventing relative movement between the film and the surface pressure media.

'7. The steps in the method of reducing the depth of the voids in the metallic silver on the emulsion of a printed photographic film, comprising pressing the surface of the film while holding the film against movement relatively to the surface pressure media and while heating the film to maintain the emulsion in a uniformly soft state until the pressure is released.

8. The method of making substantially plane the surface of the metallic silver on the emulsion of printed photographic film comprising interposing a predetermined length of the film between co-operable movably supported pressure surfaces within a zone in which the length being acted upon is maintained at a relatively fixed, emulsion-softening temperature, and moving the pressure surfaces and said length at identical rates of speed and while acting upon the surfaces to maintain uniform pressure thereof against the opposite sides of the length, then leading the length from between the surfaces and from said zone.

9. The method of processing printed motion picture film comprising cleaning the film of foreign matter, interposing same between movably supported pressure surfaces within a zone in which the film is heated to slightly soften the emulsion and moving the pressure surfaces and the film at identical rates of speed while maintaining pressure of the surfaces against opposite sides of the film which is equal throughout the portion thereof being acted upon.

10. The method of processing printed motion picture film comprising cleansing and lubricating the film, then interposing same between co-operable movably supported pressures surfaces, within a zone in which the film is heated to slightly soften the emulsion, moving the pressure surfaces and the film at identical rates of speed while maintaining uniform pressure of the surfaces against opposite sides of the film, whereby to flatten the exposed surface of the emulsion. then leading the film from between the surfaces and from said zone.

11. The method of processing printed motion picture film comprising treating the film to cleanse, lubricate and correct discoloration thereof, heating the film to slightly soften the emulsion; and advancing and maintaining surface pressure against the film for a predetermined period of time while the emulsion is soft.

12. The method of processing printed motion picture film comprising interposing a length of a continuous strip of film between co-operable movably supported pressure surfaces, moving the surfaces and the strip at identical rates of speed while establishing and maintaining uniform pressure of the surfaces against opposite sides of the length being acted upon, then releasing the length from between the surfaces at the expiration of a predetermined period of time.

13. The method of processing printed motion picture films comprising cleansing the film and applying a lubricating substance thereto, and applying to a predetermined area thereof heat to slightly soften and pressure to flatten the emulsion.

14. The method of processing clean printed motion picture film which comprises the application of a fluid light-filtering substance thereto, and the uniform application of surface pressure to ithe film to cause equal distribution of the substance over the surface of the film.

15. The method of processing printed motion picture film to correct discoloration thereof which comprises cleansing the film to remove foreign deposits and viscous substances therefrom, then uniformly spreading a fluid lightfiltering substance over one side of the film.

GEORGE J. GAGE.

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