US2117828A - Film-treating device - Google Patents

Description

May 17, 1938. SOMAN 2,117,828

FILM TREAT ING DEVICE Filed April 11, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 l I4 ,24 34 INVENTOR.

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May 17, 1938. 1.. SOMAN FILM TREATING DEVICE Filed April 11, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 \& LJ i a Wm WW A I NVENTOR.

May '17, 1938. L. SOMAN FILM TREATING DEVICE Filed April 11, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet f5 Patented May '17, 1938 v mill-TREATING DEVICE Lester Somali, New York, N. Y., assignor to Film- Treatiaor Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application April 11,

1 Claim.

My invention relates to film-treating devices which are adapted to be employed in association with motion picture projection machines and refers particularly to such devices as are adapted to 5 clean the traveling film while applying a cleansing,'preserving and fireproofing liquid dressing to both sides of the film immediately adjacent to and preceding the film intake feed 01' the projector.

In accordance with my invention, all parts and 10 elements of the complete device as a whole'constitute a coordinated assemblage which in its entirety is mounted directly upon the usual top platform plate of the casing of the projection machine so as to form in efiect a functioning part 15 of the projector.

My present invention includes: a removable carrier for the film-guiding rollers; a special form of inclined bearings which automatically cause the guide rollers to be pressed against the m interposed film; a mounting arm for the liquid container mounted upon the projection machine; a spacer'memher through the intermediary 01' which the upper reel-containing film magazine is supported in suitable relation to other parts or u my device; a liquid container or supply tank adapted to retain a reserve supply of the treating liquid subject to the demands oi an automatic fire extinguisher embodied in my device: special distributing valve means in control of the treating liquid; and special means adapted to separate the opposed cleaning pads without disturbing their adjustment.

The device of my invention also includes various features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be evident from the following particular description and appended claim.

One form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which similar parts are designated by similar numerals.

Figure 1 is a broken side elevation showing one form of the device of my invention as mounted upon the top of the casing of a motion picture projecton- Figure 2 is a broken horizontal section on the line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is an enlarged broken vertical section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2. 1

Figure 4 is an enlarged plan view, partly in horizontal section, of the film-treating part of the device. 1

Figure 5 Ba side elevation of the same.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line H' of Figure 4.

figure 7 is a transverse vertical section on the line 1-] oi Figure 4.

1935, Serial No. 15,773

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the removed roller carrier, as viewed in section in Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a horizontal sectlomon the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

It is well known to projectionists and others versed in the practice of the art that a soiled film will result in dlmness and lighting irregularities, such as spots and streaks, in the picture on the screen, as well as also disconcerting disturbances in the reproduced sound from a record carried by the film. v

Furthermore, as a soiled film enters the pro jector head gate, some of the grease and dirt will be wiped off, where it will accumulate and harden around the gate entrance, until the entering film is subjected to so much friction as to cause it to break.

It has been found by experience that the only way to assure a clean film in the projector is to cleanse it thoroughly immediately before it reaches the projector intake feed as it travels thereto. were the film to be cleaned at its takeoil from the projector head, then it would accumulate oil and dirt prior to its projection, such' as in rewinding, inspecting, cutting and splicing. in Similar objectionable results would follow from cleaning the film at some remote point, such as upon a rewinding bench.

It has also been found that the film can be most easily and thoroughly cleaned by wiping it between relatively soft absorbent pads moistened with a suitable liquid, and that the latter can be of a nature which at the same time will render the film more. pliable and stronger, while also rendering it less, liable to ignition, when thus applied to the film at the projector intake.

A projection machine, irrespective of my invention, commonly has a cradle mounted upon the top plate of 'itsicasing 'just 'beneaththe upper film magazine. Asthe film is drawn from a reel in this magazine'fby the continuously rotated intake sprocket of the projector, it passes between guide rollers journaled in the cradle. Thence, the film forms an upwardly directed loop, irom which 'the film is taken directly by the intermittent feed of the projector.

The partially illustrated projector, many elements and parts of which are not shown, has a commonly employed form of intake feed sprocket ll, intermittent feed sprocket l2, lamp house l3, fiat top plate or platform It, magazine-supporting bracket l5, and upper film-containing magazine it, from which the film I1 is continuously drawn by the intake sprocket ,Petween the u liquid-applying cleaning pads embodied in the film-treating device of my invention.

In carrying out my invention,1 employ a cradle l5 which is in general similar to the mentioned usual cradle. It similarly has three apertures IS, I9, I!) in its base or bottom portion by which it is adapted to be similarly secured upon the projector platform plate l4, without the necessity of drilling any new screw holes in the latter for the usual attaching screws. This cradle It; is of somewhat greater height than the usual cradle, in order to provide adequate space for the clean= ing and fire extinguishing elements of my device.

Because of the mentioned height of the cradle iii, a spacer block is interposed between the platform plate Hi and the foot flange of the magazine-carrying bracket 85. A tank-carryin arm 2| has a fianged attaching end abutteol upon the top of the foot flange of the bracket E5. The bracket l5 and the arm 2i are fixedly secured in place by means of bolts 22 and 23 which at their lower ends screw into the usual internally formed bosses 24-24 of the platform plate l t, in the same manner as the bolts which have been commonly used for securing the br cket l5 directly to the top plate Id of the proje tor, so that thus no new bolt holes or other changes in this top plate are required. q

The tank-supporting arm 2| extends rearwardly at an upward inclination and is capable of being swung on the bolt 22 and clamped thereby at different positions of lateral adjustment. The elevated end of the arm 2| carries a tank adapted to contain a supply of suitable liquid having cleansing, preserving, fire resisting and fire extinguishing properties, as to the film.

This tank has a bottom 25, an upright transparent body 26, and a cover 21 indicated as secured to the bottom 25 by means of a tie rod 28, the top 21 having a filling opening closed by a plug 29 carrying a depending ring 30 toprevent its loss.

Thetank bottom 25 has a lug 3| by means of which and a pair of similar bolts 32--32 the tank is mounted upon the rear end of the arm 2|. These bolts are parallel, horizontal and extend transversely to the arm 2|. One of these bolts forms a pivot for the tank on the arm 2|, while the other passes through a slot 33 shown as formed in the arm 2|. This arrangement enables the tank to be pivotally adjusted so as to maintain it in an operative upright position with the projection machine tilted to a greater or less extent forwardly and downwardly as usual.

A fire plug 34 is carried by and opens upwardly through the forward margin of the tank bottom 25 closely adjacent to the body 26. This plug 34 forms a connector nipple from which a flexible tube 35 leads downwardly and forwardly to a fire extinguishing nozzle carried by the cradle |8, as will be noted later. It will be noted that the tank can be completely drained of liquid through the connector plug 34.

The tank bottom 25 carries another connector plug 36, shown as disposed at its rear margin and having a tubular inner extension 31 rising to a suitable desired height above the bottom 25. This plug 36 is a service outlet for liquid to be applied to the film. A flexible tube 38 connected thereto leads downwardly and forwardly and is connected to a distributing valve element carried by the cradle I8 and to be described later.

It is to be noted that liquid cannot run out of the tank through the plug 36 after the level of such liquid has descended to the top of the extension tube 31. Thus an emergency supply of the liquid, available for use for fire extinguishing purposes, will always be otherwise retained within the tank. This is indicated by a line 39, which desirably encircles 'the transparent tank body 26, for convenient observation ,of the amount of liquid available for film-treating purposes.

A fire extinguishing chamber 40 is formed in the rear and lower portion of the cradle |8. This chamber is open only at the bottom, as will be clear from Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 taken together, and contains the upper portion of an upwardly directed loose loop of the film ll, as indicated in Figures 1 and 6.

The lower and forward end of the fire extineuisher tube 35 carries a connector M by means of which it is attached to the outer end of a fire extinguishing nozzle d2 which extends forwardly through the rear end wall of the cradle it into the upper portion of the fire extinguishing chamber ill, where it is shown as removably retained in place by means of a cotter pin Q3.

The extinguisher nozzle 42 may be of any known or other suitable internal construction. Suffice it to state that'this nozzle contains a temperature-controlled valve mechanism adapted. upon a predetermined rise in temperature, to cause the fire extinguishing liquid to be discharged through a plurality of nozzle openings 44-44. The inner end portion of the nozzle 42 is shown as carrying a heat-sensitive element 45 which is in control of the mentioned valve mechanism. This element can be highly combustible, or readily fusible, or of other suitable temperature-responsive nature.

Should the film become'ignited at the projector head, the fire will be extinguished while it is small and prevented from spreading to the film within the magazine It. In order to assure the quick development of sufficient heat to cause the operation of theme nozzle 42, a ventilating opening 46 is provided for the fire chamber 40.

The lower and forward end of the tube 38 for the film-treating liquid carries a connector 41 by means of which it is attached to a valve body 48 having a turn-cock valve plug 48 provided witha handle 50 by means of which the supply of treating liquid can be quickly and conveniently turned on or shut off.

The valve body 48 is fixedly carried by and shown as extending into a distributing valve body block 5| which is shown as detachably mounted upon the upper portion of the rear end of the cradle l8 by means of a pair of similar bolts 52-52. The valve body member 5| has therein a central passage 53 in communication outwardly with the turncock valve body 48 and closed at its inner end. A pair of smaller similar branch passages 54-54 lead angularly outward laterally from the inner end portion of the main passage 53.

A pair of similar needle valves adjustably control the fiow of liquid through the respective branch passages 54--54. For each of the needle valve constructions, a tubular valve casing 55 is fixedly carried by and extends into the main valve body 5|, with its bore 56 in communication with a branch passage 54.

The inner end portion of the casing 55 is reduced to form a small annular chamber 51 within the body 5|, into which small passages 58-54 through the shell 55 lead from its bore 56. A downward outlet from the annular chamber 51 is formed -by means of a drip nipple 59. Flow of liquid through the valve shell 55 can be conveniently adjustably regulated by means of a needleyalve stem 66 and provided with a finger piece 6|.

Thus the supp y of treating liquid can be controlled by means of the valve plug 66 while preserving the adjustment of the needle valve stems 66-66.

A bottom piece 'drawn upwardly main valve body Si by means of a screw bolt 66. This bottom piece 62 clamps in place and forms bottoms for a pair of similar small upright glass 62 is secured to and may be sight-feed cylinders 6446, with their upper ends abutting the lower face of the valve body 6! and surrounding the drip nipples 69-66.

Outlet bores 66-65 lead forwardly from the bottoms of the cylinders 66-66 respectively to the outside of the front of the bottom piece 62.

connectors 66-66 respectively connect the rear ends of small service tubes'6'l and 66 to the front of the sight-feed bottom piece 62 in communication with its bores 65-66.

These tubes 61 and 66 extend toward the forward-end of the cradle l6 within its uppe portion. These tubes are of difi'erent lengths, the tube 61, adjacent the near sid f the cradle 16, being shorter than the tube 6 which is adjacent the far side of the cradle 16. These tubes have open discharge ends turned inwardly and downwardly and serve to deliver the treating liquid at desired points, as described later. The longer tube 66 rests in a notched recess 69 in the inner side of the upper edge of the adjacent side wall of the cradle l6 and is held in place by means of an eye Ill carried by this wall.

The traveling film IT, as it is drawn from the I magazine i6 by the continuously rotated projector the back of the upper stationary pad holder 16 the passageway I6 at about a intake sprocket ll, passes downwardly between and in wiping contact with a pair of opposed similar absorbent pads II and 12 which are disposed within the cradle l6. These pads are kept moistened by the film-treating liquid, which they apply to and at the same time clean the film ll. Also fire in the film cannot pass them, should it ever reach that point.

The pad H is seated in a recess or pocket in a cradle l6. The pad holder I3 has through it an upwardly open funnel-shaped e 16 which terminates downwardly and forwardly against portion of the pad II. This passageway I6 extends laterally from side to side of the pad holder 16, as is evident from Figures 4 and 6. The shorter liquid-conveying tube 61 discharges into the flaring upper end of.

middle point transversely of the cradle l6.

The other pad 12 is similarly carried by a movably mounted pad holder 16 having a substantially similar funnel-shaped passageway 16 terminating against the upper portion of the back of this pad I! and into which the longer liquid-conveying tube 66 is adapted'to discharge.

In the particular illustrated form of my device, the movable pad carrier or holder 16 is rigidly fixed upon the inner or rear ends of stifi rods or stem II and I6 which are supported in and slidably extend through similar bearing bomes 16 and 66 provided upon the front end of the cradle i6. Within the cradle l6, the 11 and I6 carry similar which act between thefo cradle l6 and the movable pad its pad 16 against the film against the backing Pad II.

end wall of the carrier 16 to press l1 and the latter threaded into its bore 56 'thepads'll toward the lower face of the.

outer side of the front end wall shown as bolted to the Thestem'lliashownasdisposed adjacentthe remote side of the cradle i6 and the stem I6 adjacent its near side. The latter stem is longer and outwardly of its bearing 66 carries an adjusting nut 66, by means 01'. which the pressure of and 12 upon the interposed film II can be regulated. Adjustment means of a jam nut 66 for the adjusting nut 62, Both of these nuts 62 and 63 are shown as being similar fiat finger nuts. The other stem 11 is shown as having an outer head 66.

By reason of the stems l1 and I6 being freely slidable through their supporting bearings 16 and 66, it is evident that the pad 11 carried by the pad holder can be freely drawn away from the film l'l against the force of the springs 6i--6|, without disturbing the adjustment of the nut 62. This of course not only removes the pressure of both pads H and 12 upon the film I! but provides an open space between these pads. If desired the pad holder I5 can be thus moved until its flared upper portion abuts against the forward end wall of the cradle iii.

In carrying out my invention, means are provided adapted to maintain the movable pad holder I5, together with the pad 12 carried thereby, at a suitable withdrawn nonoperative position, and providing conveniently for its quick return to its operative position, as shown in the drawings. This provides for readily inserting, or adjusting, or removing the film 11.

The illustrated device has, in the near side wall of its cradle l6 a large opening 65 opposite to the pads ll-I2 and their holders 13 and 15. This opening extends to the forward end of the cradle and down to the bottom below the holders l6 and 15. The portion of the cradle wall above the- .opening 65 is provided with a film slit 65A. A door 66 for the opening 65 is hinged upon vertically aligned pintles 81 and 66, carried upon the of the cradle i6. more closely adjacent to the near side of the cradle than the nearby slidable stem 16.

At its hinged end, the door 66 has fixed thereon an outwardly angled projecting finger 66 which extends beyond the hinge pivots 61 and 66. The finger 66 forms a pivotally swinging catch or detent adapted, during the terminal part of the opening movement of the door 66, to be swung thereby into the return path of the adjusting nut 62, at. the back thereof, after the pad holder 15 has been drawn a predetermined distance toward this end of the cradle i6, such as by means of the stems I1 and 16. The pad holder can be set free merely by' a closing movement of the door 66, which frees the holding catch 66 from the nut 62. Thus it will be seen that the door 66 forms an operating handle for the catch 66. It is evident that the catch 69 could be of a difierent form and that if desired it could have a different handle, independently of the door.

is maintained by the cradle I8, is guided to the pads 1| and 12 by a pair of opposed similar upper rollers 92 and 93 just above the pad holders 13 and 15, and is guided away from the pads by a similar pair of opposed lower rollers 94 and 95 which are disposed just beneath the pad holders. These guide rollers carryremovable studs 96-96 by means of which they are mounted in a roller carrier 91, shown as being in the form of a skeleton-like frame.

One of the upper rollers and one of the lower rollers, shown as the rollers 93 and 95, at the right of the film I1 in Figures 4 and 6, have their studs 96-46 journaled in bearing slots 98--98 which incline'downwardly and inwardly toward the opposed rollers 92 and 94, thereby causing the downwardly drawn traveling film 11 to draw the opposed guide rollers together upon it, as well as also providing for easier insertion and removal of the film.

The roller carrier 91 is mounted within the cradle l8 for quick and easy removal and: replacement, together with the rollers carried thereby, thereby greatly facilitating the cleaning or repairing of the device.

The stationary pad holder 13 is provided with similar upper and lower guide grooves 99-99 forming a horizontal transverse slideway. The roller carrier 91 has opposed upper and lower edges IOU-I00 respectively slidably fitting into thelgrooves 99-49. The roller carrier 91 is shown in Figure 6 as extended slightly below the bottom of the cradle I8, through a bottom opening ill, where it is further slidably guided.

The near outer end of the roller-carrying frame 91 is provided with a large opening I02 through which the pads 1i and 12 may be inspected or removed, without removing the roller carrier 91 from the cradle l8, if so desired. Vertical slits l03-l03 for the removal of the film l1 are provided above and below the opening I02.

When the roller carrier 91 is to be removed from the cradle l8, it is simply slid out through the cradle opening 85, after the movable pad carrier 15 has been latched at retracted position, by the catch 89, with the door 86 open, as described.

Commonly more or less similarly disposed filmguiding rollers are inaccessible. Such rollers become jammed with dirt and film flakes to such an extent as to render them practically inoperative, and eventually non-rotatable. It is evident that the described roller carrier 91 provides for easily keeping the rollers carried thereby in a clean and freely operable condition. This is a valuable attribute of the device of my invention.

It is believed that the operation and manner of use of the device have been already fully described.

It is obvious that various modifications may be made in the construction shown in the drawings and above particularly described, within the principle and scope of my invention as defined in the appended claim.

I do not specifically limit myself to materials, size, shape, particular arrangement and relationship of parts and elements, or minor details of construction and design which may be readily varied, these being given simply as a means for clearly describingthe device of my invention.

What I claim is:-

In a film-treating device, in combination, a cradle through which the film is adapted to be drawn downwardly, upper and lower pairs of opposed film-guiding rollers, a roller carrier in which said rollers are mounted with their axes parallel, a slideway fixedly extending transversely within said cradle parallel with the axes of said rollers for slidably guiding said roller carrier for free sliding movement endwise of said rollers laterally into and out of said cradle, opposed pad holders carried by said cradle therein at opposite sides of the film and adapted to extend respectively between upper and lower rollers of said pairs, and a pair of opposed film-treating pads respectively removably carried by each of said pad holders, the near outer end of said roller carrier being provided with an opening for the removal of said pads through said opening while said roller carrier is mounted within said cradle and the remote inner end of said carrier being formed to provide clearance for the removal of said roller carrier while said pads are carried within said cradle by said pad holders;

LESTER SOMAN.

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