US2624306A

US2624306A - Motion-picture reel end indicator

Info

Publication number: US2624306A
Application number: US178847A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles W Hatke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1950-08-11
Filing date: 1950-08-11
Publication date: 1953-01-06
Anticipated expiration: 1970-01-06

Description

Jan. 6, 1953 c.- w. HATKE PICTURE REEL END INDICATOR MOTION- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Aug. 11, 1950 INVENTOR. CHARLIE? h. H 7705 ATTORNEY Jan. 6, 1953 c. w. HATKE 2,624,306

MOTION-PICTURE REEL END INDICATOR Filed Aug. 11, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 IN V EN TOR. 6mm 5 MAW/(E ,rroe/ver Patented Jan. 6, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE-,9

MOTION-PICTURE REEL END INDICATOR Charles W. Hatke, .Denver,:Cl0. Application August 11, 1950,.SerialTNo. 178,847

7Claims.

1 This invention relates to a device for giving an audible signal as the end of a reel of motion picture film is approached in a projector. The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple and highly efficient device which can be attached to any of the conventional film magazines, and which will give a series of audible signals asthe end of the reel is approaching, to amply warn the operator when the reel will be completed.

Another object of the invention isto provide a mechanism of this character which will operate from freely rolling balls under the influence of gravity, so that the uncertainties of springs and other mechanical elements will be avoided.

A further object is to so construct the device that the operator can note at any time how much time remains on the running reel, and to provide means for automatically removing the signal device from the reel when the door of the film magazine is opened so that it willnot interfere with .the'removal and replacement of the reels.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency. These will become more apparent from thefollowingflescription.

In. the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof Lik numerals referto like parts in all views ofthe drawing. and throughout the description.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side View of afilm magazine of a conventional motion picture projector, with its door. partially opened, illustrating the invention in place'thereon Fig/2' is an enlarged front view of theimproved reel .end'indicator;

'Fig. 3 is a side view of the indicator;

' Fig. '4 is a rear view thereof;

' Figs.'5, 6, '7, and 8 are vertical sections, taken 'on"th'e'-line-8--8, Fig; 3, indicatingvarious successive positions of the signaling'mech'anism;

"Fig.9 is 'a similar section,taken"on the'line '9-9, Fig. 3 and Fig; -10 is a'vertical cross-sectiontaken entire line IO-10, Fig. 2.

in Fig. 1 the film magazine" of a conventional motion picture projector is indicated at H), with a film reelat ll and the roll of'film' thereon "at "t2. Such magazinesare providedwith circular hinged doors I 3 "for completelyopening and closing the magazines. In Fig. *1 the door l3-isillustrated in the partially opened position.

The improved signaling device employs .a sector-shaped dial plate l4 provided with a peripheral time scale 43. The dial plate Hi terminates at'its bottom in a circular spacing boss l5. A'hollow'threaded stud liiis mounted in the boss I5 and projects forwardly therefrom through a suitable "receiving opening which is drilled or otherwise'formed in-the back of themagazine it. The-hollow threaded stud I5 is provided with a clampnut H by'means of'whichztheboss i5 is clamped to'the back of the magazine It.

. An operating shaft [8 extends throughout the length of the hollow stud l6 and projects from both extremities of the latter. The rear extremity of the operating shaft is turnedupwardlyto form a lever arm l9, thence upwardly over the front face of the:plate M to form a pointer 2| to indicate positions on the time scale 43. The forward extremity of the shaft It carries a film follower arm 22 which is secured to the former at any desired radial position by means of .set screws The free extremity of the follower arm enters between the sides of the reel I! and terminates in a freely rotatable rubber roller 24 which bears against theroll of film l2 so as to swing toward the'axis of the reel l I as the film unreels and the roll o'f'film decreases in size.

A segment gear plate 25 is .rotatably mounted on'the rearward portion ofthe operating shaft iii and extends upwardly therefrom into mesh with-a toothed pinion 26.

Two lugs 44 are formed on the'segmentgear, there being one lug positioned on each side of the lever arm 19. The lugs are provided with two oppositely facing set screws 21 which can be brought into contact with opposite sides of the lever arm 19 so as to adjust the relative positions of the segment gear and v:the lever arm and to cause the segment gear to move in unisonwith the lever arm. The segment .gear25 is slotted, as indicated at 28, for the pasbell 13l' is fixedly secured on the rear extremity of the shaft screw 30. The screw 38 also supports a ball guide plate 33 having a projecting hub '32. The bell 3i and the hub 32 are fixedly secured together on the screw tflby means of a clamp nut 34. The ball guide plate 33 is positioned-completely :within the confines of the bell 3|. The backing plate 29 is also provided with a projecting hub 35 which rotates on the screw 30 and which is held separated from the ball guide plate 33 by means of a separating spring 35.

Thus, it can be seen that the ball guide plate 33 and the bell 3i remain stationary While the backing plate 29 rotates under the influence of the segment gear 2?; and pinion 26.

The forward face of the ball guide plate facing the backing plate is provided with a concentric, semi-circular guide flange ill which terminates at its upper extremity above the shaft screw in an inclined ball chute 38 which extends across the shaft screw 3&3 to the opposite side of the ball guide plate 33, where it terminates above the upper extremity of an inclined platform flange 39. The platform flange 39 terminates below the shaft screw 36 above the lower rim of the bell. A ball stop member 45 extends downward from the lower extremity of the flange 39 toward the lower rim of a bell 3!. The backing plate 29 is provided with a rearwardiy projecting boss ll! and a peripheral ball pocket ii. Two freely rolling steel balls 42 are positioned between the backing plate 29 and the ball plate 33.

It can be seen that as the film reel I? decreases in diameter, the arm 22 will swing under the influence of gravity toward the axis of the reel II, and the pointer 2! will move to the left in Fig. 1, indicating on the scale t3 the minutes remaining on the reel E2. The backing plate will also be rotated in a clockwise direction in Figs. 6 to 8, inclusive. The rotation of the backing plate 29 causes the two steel balls 52 to be carried upwardly in the pocket ii along the guide flange 37, as shown in Figs. 5 and 5. The balls continue to move upwardly over the guide flange til as the film uni-eels until the foremost ball passes over the top of the flange 3? onto the chute 33.

from the extremity of the latter to again strike the rim of the bell ill to produce a second single bell tone, as shown in Fig. 8. As the film continues to unreel, the ball guide plate will carry the second ball 42 to the top of the inclined chute 38, from whence it will rol" to strike the bell 1 once at the extremity of the chute 33, as indicated at A, Fig. 8. It will then fall to the inclined platform 39 and roll down the latter and fall from the extremity of the platform to strike the bell a second time, as indicated at B, Fig. 8. The two balls it rest against the ball stop 45 until the device is re-set to bring the ball pocket 41 back beneath the balls to the starting position of Fig. 6.

Thus, it can be seen that three separate audible signals are produced-two single bell strokes followed by a double bell stroke. These can be arranged for any desired intervals, such as one stroke indicating two minutes remaining; a second single stroke indicating one minute remaining; and a final double stroke indicating fifteen seconds remaining. The time settings can be adjusted by varying the position of the arm 22 on the shaft 58 by means of the set screws 22-3 and by varying the relative positions of the lever 4 arm I9 and the segment gear plate by means of the set screws 21.

It will be noted that it is impossible to remove the reel 1 I while the follower arm 22 is positioned between the sides of the reel, as shown in Fig. 1, without damage to either the arm or the reel or both. In order to prevent this, a flexible member, such as a chain as, is secured at its one extremity to the pointer 25 and at its other extremity to a post All mounted on the magazine lid l3. The length of the chain is such that when the lid is opened sufficiently to permit removal of the reel H, the pointer 2! will be pulled to the right in Fig. 1 sufilciently to lift the follower arm 22 completely from the confines of the reel l I. When the lid is closed, the follower arm will be lowered until its roller 24 rests on the roll of film.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A film reel alarm and indicator for attachment to the film roll magazine of a motion picture projector, comprising: a dial plate; a timeindicating scale on said dial plate; a hollow stud projecting from said dial plate and arranged to pass into said magazine; means for securing said stud to said magazine; an operating shaft extending throughout the length of said hollow stud; a pointer on one extremity of said operating shaft and arranged to move along said timeindicating scale; an operating arm mounted on the other extremity of said shaft within said magazine and positioned to contact the film roll in said magazine to actuate said pointer; a toothed segment gear plate movably mounted on said shaft; means for causing said gear plate to move with said pointer; a toothed pinion rotatably mounted on said dial plate in mesh with said segment gear plate so as to be rotated by the latter; and audible signal means connected with and actuated by the rotation of said toothed pinion.

2. A film reel alarm and indicator for attachment to the film roll magazine of a motion picture projector, comprising: a dial plate; a time-indicating scale on said dial plate; a hollow stud projecting from said dial plate and arranged to pass into said magazine; means for securing said stud to said magazine; an operating shaft extending throughout the length of said hollow stud; a pointer on one extremity of said operating shaft and arranged to move along said timeindicating scale; an operating arm mounted on the other extremity of said shai't within said magazine and positioned to contact the film roll in said magazine to actuate said pointer; a toothed segment gear plate movably mounted on said shaft; means for causing said gear plate to move with said pointer; a toothed pinion rotatably mounted on said dial plate in mesh with said segment gear plate so as to be rotated by the latter; a bell supported from said dial plate concentric with said pinion; a freely rolling ball in said bell; a ball pocket member connected with said toothed pinion and rotatable by the latter within said bell, said ball pocket member being positioned to receive and elevate said ball so that the latter may drop against said bell at predetermined times.

3. A film reel alarm and indicator for attachment to the film roll magazine of a motion picture projector, comprising: a dial plate; a timeindicating scale on said dial plate; a hollow stud projecting from said dial plate and arranged to pass into said magazine; means for securing said stud to said magazine; an operating shaft extending throughout the length of said hollow stud; a pointer on one extremity of said operating shaft and arranged to move along said timeindicating scale; an operating arm mounted on the other extremity of said shaft within said magazine and positioned to contact the film roll in said magazine to actuate said pointer; a toothed segment gear plate movably mounted on said shaft; means for causing said gear plate to move with said pointer; a toothed pinion rotatably mounted on said dial plate in mesh with said segment gear plate so as to be rotated by the latter; a bell supported from said dial plate concentric with said pinion; a freely rolling ball in said bell; a ball guide plate fixedly mounted Within said bell; ball guide flanges projecting from said guide plate; a backing plate rotatably mounted in parallel relation to said guide plate; and a ball pocket on said backing plate; said backing plate being mounted on said toothed pinion so that movement of said segment gear plate will rotate said backing plate to elevate the ball in said pocket to a position to allow the ball to roll on the flanges of said stationary guide plate into contact with said bell.

4. A film reel alarm for attachment to the film roll magazine of a motion picture projector, comprising: a dome-shaped bell; a ball guide plate fixedly mounted within said bell; a backing plate rotatably and concentrically mounted in parallel relation to said ball guide plate; means for rotating said backing plate in consequence of changes in diameter of the film roll in said magazine; a ball positioned between said backing plate and said guide plate; a peripheral pocket formed on said backing plate adapted to receive and elevate said ball as said backing plate rotates; and means projecting from said fixed ball guide plate for guiding the ball during its elevation and acting to guide said ball into contact with the bell to give an audible signal.

5. A film reel alarm for attachment to the film roll magazine of a motion picture projector, comprising: a dome-shaped bell; a ball guide plate fixedly mounted within said bell; a backing plate rotatably and concentrically mounted in parallel relation to said ball guide plate; means for rotating said backing plate in consequence of changes in diameter of the film roll in said magazine; a ball positioned between said backing plate and said guide plate; a peripheral pocket formed on said backing plate adapted to receive and elevate said ball as said backing plate rotates; an arcuate guide flange projecting from said fixed ball guide plate and adapted to guide said ball upwardly as it is elevated by said pocket; and a fixed ball chute projecting from said ball guide plate at the upper termination of said guide flange and adapted to receive and carry the ball into contact with the hell.

6. A film reel alarm for attachment to the film r011 magazine of a motion picture projector, comprising: a dome-shaped bell; a ball guide plate fixedly mounted within said bell; a backing plate rotatably and concentrically mounted in parallel relation to said ball guide plate; means for rotating said backing plate in consequence of changes in diameter of the film roll in said magazine; a ball positioned between said backing plate and said guide plate; a peripheral pocket formed on said backing plate adapted to receive and elevate said ball as said backing plate rotates; an arcuate guide flange projecting from said fixed ball guide plate and adapted to guide said ball upwardly as it is elevated by said pocket; a fixed ball chute projecting from said ball guide plate at the upper termination of said guide flange and adapted to receive and carry the ball into contact with the bell; and a stationary inclined platform flange projecting from said ball plate below the termination of said chute and arranged to receive, reverse the direction of, and guide said ball to a second contact with said bell.

7. A film reel alarm for attachment to the film roll magazine of a motion picture projector, comprising: a dome-shaped bell; a ball guide plate fixedly mounted within said bell; a backing plate rotatably and concentrically mounted in parallel relation to said ball guide plate; means for rotating said backing plate in consequence of changes in diameter of the film roll in said magazine; a ball positioned between said backing plate and said guide plate; a peripheral pocket formed on said backingplate adapted to receive and elevate said ball as said backing plate rotates; an arcuate guide flange projecting from said fixed ball guide plate and adapted to guide said ball upwardly as it is elevated by said pocket; a fixed ball chute projecting from said ball guide plate at the upper termination of said guide flange and adapted to receive and carry the ball into contact with the bell; a stationary inclined platform flange projecting from said ball plate below the termination of said chute and arranged to receive, reverse the direction of, and guide said ball to a second contact with said bell; and a boss projecting from said backing plate and arranged to rotate into the path of said ball at the extremity of said chute to retain the ball for a time interval.

CHARLES W. I-IATKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 7 Date 1,272,671 Jonson July '16, 1918 1,300,737 Kirk Apr. 15, 1919 2,254,326 Sontagh Sept. 2, 1941