US3099935A - Audio-visual device-projecting machine - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 6, 1963 w. WAGENSEIL AUDIO-VISUAL DEVICE-PROJECTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 25, 1961 INVENTOR. M ILL/AM lM s/vss/z Aug. 6, 1963 w. WAGENSEIL 3,099,935

AUDIO-VISUAL DEVICE-PROJECTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 23, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. W/L L mm 1444 eA/sm ATTORNEY Aug. 6, 1963 w. WAGENSEIL 3,099,935

AUDIO-VISUAL DEVICE-PROJECTING MACHIN E Filed Jan. 23, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR. W/u MM Mam/55m A TTOE/VE'Y United States Patent This invention relates to a machine for simultaneously 3 ,099,935 Patented Aug. 6, 1963 "ice , transparency in color or black-and-white; a transparent reproducing the sound and projecting the picture of an audio-visual device. The device upon which the present machine is based is disclosed in my pending application Serial No. 36,968, filed June 17, 1960, now US. Patent No. 3,083,485.

An object of the present invention is to provide a machine that successively feeds a series of hinge-connected audio-visual devices to sound-reproducing and picturepro ecting position. 2

Another object of the invention is to provide novel and improved means for releasing the devices for successive feed thereof and automatically arresting the feed to positlon in sound-reproducing and picture-projecting position.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel, simple and improved means for instituting the feed operation automatically at the end of the reproducing period.

A still further object of the invention is to provide novel device-engaging means to so hold the successive devices of a hinge-connected series thereof that the records of such devices are uniformly operatively positioned as are the transparencies thereof.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide, in a machine of the character above referred to, simple and unproved means for automatically restoring record pickup means, used in the sound-reproducing phase of the device, to initial playing position during feed of the machine from one audio-visual device to the next device of a hingeconnected series thereof.

This invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description, and which is based on the accompanying drawings. However, said drawings merely show, and the following description merely describes, one embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawings, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

FIG. 1 is a partly broken side elevational view of an audio-visual device-projecting machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partly broken face View of an audio-visual device as used in the present machine, the view showing broken portions of adjacent and similar hinge-connected devices.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the machine shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is -a plan sectional view as taken on the line 44 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary rear view showing the parts in the positions thereof during feed of one audio-visual device to the next device.

With particular reference to FIG. 2, the audio-visual device 10, as used in the hereinafter-described machine, comprises, generally, a sound-reproducing element, here shown as a thin disc record having a central aperture 12, a sound-recorded spiral groove 13, and an un-grooved margin 14; a picture-producing element 15, usually a member 16 that physically connects the record 11 and the transparency so the same have a fixed relationship; and flexible hinges 17 that connect a series of devices 10. In this instance, the transparent member 16 is shown as an envelope of cellophane of other diaphanous material, the transparency being fastened in any suitable way in the interior of the envelope, and the record 11 is so disposed within the envelope as to be free to rotate on an axis around the aperture 12. The subject matter of the record 11 and the transparency are, of course, related. An opening 18 in one or both sides of the envelope exposes a portion of the record 11, such portion at least including the aperture 12 and parts of groove 13 and margin 14. The envelope may be made of opaque material providing the transparency is either exposed through an opening in both sides of the envelope or a transparent window is provided through which projector light may be passed. In practice, devices 10, as above described, are about .017" thick although such thickness may vary. However, the thinner the devices, the more compact will be a series of such devices fan-folded on their hinges.

The present reproducing and recording machine comprises, generally, a mounting frame 20; a device-mounting and -feeding drum 21 carried by said frame 20; a member 22 transverse to the axis of rotation of said drum and above the latter and carried by the frame 20 on a pivot 45 parallel to said drum axis, to gravitationally engage the top of the drum; a prime mover in the form of an electric motor 23 carried by said member 22 preferably adjacent to the pivot 45 and having an output shaft 24; means 25, driven by the shaft 24, to rotate a record 11 of a device 10 disposed on the top of drum 21; means 26, carried by the member 22, to index the drum 21 and, thereby, to effect feed of the devices 10 from one to the next device connected thereto, said means 26 so engaging the drum during feed as to raise the member 22 on its pivot 45 to allow the drum to index; means 27 to dampen the lowering movement of member 22 after drum indexing; a pickup device 28 carried by member 22 and operable through the opening 18 in a device 10 in position on top of the drum to engage the grooves 13 of the record 11 in said device for electrically reproducing the sound recorded by said grooves in the usual way; means 29 carried by the free end of member 22 and having the dual purpose of lightly pressing down on the device on top of drum 21 and lifting the pickup from the record during lifting of said member 22 during drum indexing; means 30, carried by frame 20, to return the pickup 28 to a position to engage the outward portion of a groove 13 in the record of the next device 10 fed to reproducing position on drum 21; an optical system comprising condensing lens means 31 carried by the member 22 in superposed register with a transparency 15 in the device 10 on the drum, and a focusing lens means 32 beneath said transparency; means 33 to adjust the focusing position of the lens means 32; means 34 to provide projection light for said optical system; and a reflecting mirror 35 on which the image of transparency 15 is directed by such light and which reflects said image forwardly to a suitable screen. The above-described machine has a feed that is automatic from one device to the next. Various means may be provided for actuating a solenoid-controlled means 36 to initiate operation of the drum-indexing means 26. In this instance, a contactor 37, carried by the pickup 28, engages a target plate 38 at or just before the pickup reaches its innermost position of groove 13. Such plate, by electrical connection in circuit with the solenoid 39 of means 36, causes energization of said solenoid and actuation of the means 36.

The frame 20 may be fastened within a suitable housing for the present machine and comprises a chassis on which the components of the machine are carried. Such electrical means as may be required to operate the reproducing means may be carried by the housing independently of the chassis. In this case, frame 20 is shown as a vertical member 40 that has an upper forwardly bent portion 41 and a lower forwardly angularly bent portion 42, a horizontal axle 44 extending forwardly from the member 40, and the mentioned pivot 45 extending forwardly from the end of frame member 43.

The drum 21 is shown as having four similar sides 46, although a different number of sides may be used. Said sides are preferably transparent and made of lucite, glass, or other such material, and are held in assembly on longitudinally spaced plates 47 and 48, which are centrally apertured for the axle 44 on which drum 21 is, therefore, freely revoluble.

Between said plates 47 and 48 there is disposed a rotational disc 49 having a hub 50 rotational on the axle 44 independently of the drum. The peripheral edge 51 of disc 49 extends into and slightly through openings 52 provided in the drum sides 46. Forward of the disc 49 and preferably aligned with the mounting plate 48, there are provided a set of conical pivots 53, each being centered on one of the drum sides and extending radially from axle 44.

By placing the first device of a hinge-connected series of such devices on the pivot 53 that extends upwardly from the upper drum side 46, said pivot will extend through the aperture 12 of the record 11 of said device to hold the record for free rotation, as hereinbefore described. The longitudinal spacing of the disc 49 from the pivots 53 is such that the edge of said disc engages the under side of the record margin 14 through the opening 18 of the envelope 16 in which the record is disposed. It will be clear, as seen in FIG. 3, that attached to the device 10 disposed as above described, will depend along the opposite sides of the drum with the pivots 53 of the latter sides in the apertures 12 of the depending devices 10. Thus, each succeeding device 10, during feed, is already empaled, at least partly, on the pivot 53 of the sides 46 along side of which said device depends. Therefore, such other devicewill move to reproducing and projecting position properly and accurately upon index movement of the drum.

The transparent drum sides 46, between the plate 47 and the adjacent end of the drum, are kept optically clear while the remainders of said sides are preferably rendered opaque by paint or other means to reduce reflection and/or light dissipation. Such a coating is shown at 54. The transparent sides 46 may be replaced by opaque plates in which case suitable openings to be in register with the transparency in a device 10 in position for reproducing and projecting, as above indicated.

At the mentioned transparent end of the drumthe rearward end-t-here are provided, at the four corners, index extensions 55. The same are formed as angle plates 56 that extend rearward of the rear edge of, the drum and are adapted to be engaged by the means 26 to simultaneously cause indexing of the drum and raising of the member 22 on its pivot 45.

The member 22 is shown as a channel having a web 57 that is superimposed over the transparent portion of the side 46 of the drum that is at the top. The pivot 45 of said member 22 is so positioned that said drum side and channel web 57 mutually engage in a flatwise engagement, each retaining the other against further movement until separation is effected by lifting of the member 22 upwardly from such engagement. When so engaged, the end of envelope 16 of a device 10 that has the transparency therein, and is disposed onthe top side of the drum, is clamped non-movably by the weight of member 22, as can be seen in FIG. 1.

The pivot 45 extends through the flanges 58, and an opening 59 is provided in web 57 in register with the are provided in said plates transparency 15 that is clamped by the channel. The output shaft 24 of the motor 23 is shown as extending through the rearward fiange of the channel 22, as may be seen in FIG. 3.

The record-rotating means 25 is shown as a pulley 60, an endless belt 61 connecting shaft 24 and said pulley to drive the latter at a substantially slower speed than the speed of motor shaft 24, a shaft 62 for said pulley and extending transversely and having bearing in the channel flanges 58, and a record-driving wheel 63 on said shaft 62 and disposed to rest upon the rim or margin 14 of a record 11 in a device 10 that is engaged between the drum 21 and the member 22. Said wheel 63 is rubber-tired and, of course, operates through the opening 18 of the envelope 16 of said device 10. FIGS. 1 and 4 show this driving engagement and that the record is engaged between said wheel and the rim 51 of disc 49.

The drum-indexing means 26 is shown as a pinion gear 64 on the shaft 62, a ring or internal gear 65 engaged with the pinion gear to be rotated thereby, and an arbor plate 66 secured to the rearward face of the rearward flange. In order that the record disc 11 may be rotated so the pickup device 28 may traverse the record groove 13 before indexing movement of the drum may be instituted, the ring gear may be multilated, as at 67 (FIG. 5). When said mutilation is in register with the pinion gear 64, as in FIG. 3, the ring gear remains stationary while shaft 62 turns, as above described. The stationary position of the ring gear is retained by means of friction imposed thereon by a thin spring plate 68 that is fastened to the channel flange 58, by means of bolts or screws 69. Only by a slight rotational advance of the ring gear 65 from its at-rest portion of FIG. 3, will the pinion gear 64 engage the teethv of the ring gear to rotate the latter. By providing the arbor plate 66 with a resilient mount, as by means of the rubber sleeves 70 interposed between the screws 69 and the plate 66, the teeth of said pinion and gear are prevented from jamming at the start of the indexing operation, since the ring gear may shift slightly, as permitted by said sleeves 70, to allow otherwise jammed gear teeth to fall into mesh. An index arm 71 is shown as extending radially from the ring gear, the same describing a clockwise movement from its normal position of rest, as in FIGS. 3 and 4, to index the drum when the teeth of the pinion and the ring gear are brought into mesh by actuation of the solenoid-controlled means 36. Such actuation will be later described.

Once the means 26 is set into operation, the index arm 71, after about an angular traverse of about 270, will effect a clockwise engagement, first with the horizontal angle plate 56 of the extension 55 that is at the upper right of the drum 21 as viewed in FIG. 3, from the rear; then, as the movement of said arm 71 progresses, its end. will bear against said horizontal plate, resulting in a slight upward movement of member 22 on pivot 45. Almost simultaneously this arm will engage against the vertical plate 56 of said extension 55. Now, as the arm move ment continues clockwise, said arm indexes the drum in a counter-clockwise movement on its axle 44, as can be seen in FIG. 5. Since the extension 55 thus engaged moves in a rising arc, the plates of the same, through the arm 71, raise the member 22 until the arm 71 has moved past-a dead-center position. It will be clear that the drum 21 is free of the member 22 and can complete its indexing movement as the member 22 lowers to reestablish flatwise engagement with the next device 10 on the new face 46 brought to the top position. When the mutilation 67 of the ring gear reaches the pinion 64, the movement of gear 65 will stop until the means 36 reactuates the same to perform the next indexing movement of the drum.

The means 27 is shown as a dash pot device that slows lowering of the member 22 to obviate damage to the devices 10. In this case, an arm 72 extending from the bent portion ,41 of the member 40 has pivotal connection with the closed end of a fluid cylinder 73. The usual piston, with bypassing valves or ports, within said cylinder, is provided with a stem 74 that is connected to member 22, as by an extension 75 of one of the screws 69. The damping action is such that the member 22 is lowered slowly as the arm 71 approaches its position of rest, as explained.

The pickup device 28 is shown as an arm 76 that, by a universal connection 77, is connected to the front side of channel member 22 adjacent to the pivot 45 of said member, and a pickup element 78 carried by said arm 76 in position to engage the grooves 13 of the record disc 11 of a device in the mentioned operative position. The details of the device 28 are generally conventional, it being essential only that arm 76 be able to swing on its pivot 77 horizontally during reproduction of the recording on the record disc, and vertically on said pivot so the pickup device may be returned to initial position after reproduction of a recording without marring of the recording grooves. Any suitable way may be used for bringing current to the element 78, if electrical reproduction is used.

The means 29 has a two-fold purpose. The arm 79 thereof extends forwardly beneath the free end of pickup arm 76 and serves to lift the latter to raise the element 78 from the record during raising of the member 22 during drum indexing. The laterally directed extension 80 on the forward end of arm 79 is designed to lightly press upon the device 10 in operative position. Said extension bears against the top of envelope 16 to hold said device 10 lightly in place as the record thereof is being turned.

The means 30 is shown as a slanting arm 81 that is carried by the mentioned portion 41 of the frame \20 and is so positioned relative to pickup arm 76 as to allow free traverse of said arm during reproduction of the record, but which engages said arm when the same is raised, as above described, and earns the same back to initial position. Thus, when the member 22 is lowered onto the next device 10, the pickup element 78 thereof will be in proper position to engage the start of a recording groove to reproduce the recording of said groove. It will be clear that the portion of arm 76 that is engaged by slanting arm 81 has a triangular movement-one leg of the movement being horizontal, the hypotenuse being caused by the cam action of arm 81, and the other leg of the movement being vertical.

The condenser lens means 31 is shown as a set of condenser lenses 82 that are retained in register with the opening 59 in the web 57 of member 22 by a channelshaped housing 83 fitted into member 22 between flanges 58 and over the web 57. A registering opening 84 in said housing 83 is aligned with opening 59.

The focusing lens means 32 is shown as being carried by the member 40 of the frame 20. Said means comprises a bracket 85 that is engaged with member 40 and has an arm 86 that carries a focusing lens 87 in optical register with the condensing lens means 31 and the transparency in operative position on drum 21.

The means 33 is shown as a knob 88 on the end of a shaft 89 on which is provided a friction roller 90 that has rolling engagement with member 40. Said shaft 89 has bearing in bracket 85 and it will be clear that rotation of knob 88 causes the roller 90 to track along member 40 and to raise and lower bracket 85 according to the direction of rotation of knob 88. A light shield 91 on the bracket 85 may be provided, if desired.

The projection light for said optical system is provided by the means 34 which is here shown as a bracket 92 that mounts a projection lamp bulb 93 that is disposed above the condenser lens means to project the image of the transparency 15 downwardly in the path 94. Bracket 92, also, may be provided with a light shield 95.

The mirror 35 receives said image of the transparency 15 and is arranged to reflect the same forwardly along the path 96 onto a screen to be viewed while the sound of the record 11 is being reproduced.

The means 36 for effecting initial advance or movement of the ring gear 65 so that the pinion 64 may drive the same, is here shown as the mentioned solenoid 39, the core 96 of which is normally projected by a spring 97, an arm 98 carried on pivot 45 and connected to the solenoid core 96- to be moved thereby upon retraction of said core, and a second arm 99 extending to a position adjacent the arm 71 in the at-rest position of the latter arm.

As can be seen from FIG. 3, the arm 99 is beneath and spaced from the end of arm 71. When the solenoid 39' is energized, the core thereof is retracted, causing the arm 99 to be raised, thereby engaging and raising arm 71. Since shaft 62 is turning to drive the record 11, the teeth of the ring gear 65 will be brought into mesh with pinion 64 and the indexing movement of the machine will proceed, as above described.

In order that the operation of the machine to bring successive devices 10' into reproducing and projecting position may be effected, some means, such as a note on the record, suitably amplified to effect energization of solenoid 39, or closing of an electric circuit to the solenoid 39 when the pickup arm 76 or anything carried thereby reaches a predetermined position, may be employed. In this case, the mentioned contactor 37, in the form of a light, flexible wire connected to arm 76 by a screw 100, extends forwardly to engage the mentioned target plate 38, as indicated.

It will be clear that the devices 10 are successively moved to operative position in the manner above described, and that the movement is intermittent as controlled by the records or by the pickup arm.

If it is desired to advance the feed or return to devices already operated on, a notch 101 in the free end of one of the flanges 58 may be engaged by a suitable operating lever to cause the member 22 and the pickup arm 76 to be raised. This releases the drum 21 so it can be advanced or retracted, as desired. Then, the member 22 may be released to lower onto the drum. Of course, the drum need not be moved if it is desired only to play back a record already in operative position, since upon raising of member 22, the pickup arm will return to initial position.

Heat dissipation of heat generated by bulb 93 may be effected by a fan 102 carried by a bracket 103 from the member 22 and rotated by a drive 194 taken off the motor shaft 24.

While the foregoing has illustrated and described what is now contemplated to be the best mode of carrying out the invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is not desired to restrict the invention to the particular form of construction illustrated and described, but to cover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

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

l. A machine for successively projecting the image of the transparencies and reproducing the sound of the records of a series of hinge-connected audio-visual elements, said machine comprising, in combination, an index drum having a plurality of flat sides, an axle mounting said drum for free rotation thereof, a hinged member mounted on a pivot at one end thereof and parallel to said axle and having its other end disposed to have flatwise engagement with a face of said drum to rest upon an audio-visual element in operative position on said latter face, said element being provided with the transparency, pickup means carried by said hinged member in reproduci-ng engagement with the record of said element during the mentioned flatwise engagement of said member and drum, means carried by said member to rotate said record, means driven by the record-rotating means and carried by said hinged member to index the drum to move the next audio-visual element of said series to operative position between the drum and the hinged member, and means provided on the drum and engaged by the drumindexing means to raise said member on its pivot away from the element in operative position during indexing movement of the drum.

2. A machine according to claim 1 in which means is provided to retard the lowering movement of said member during the final portion of the drum-indexing movement.

3. A machine according to claim 1 in which means controlled by the pickup means institutes operation of the drum-indexing and member-raising means.

4. A machine according to claim 1 in which is provided means carried by the member to engage and raise the pickup means 01f the record during raising movement of the member.

5. A machine according to claim 4 in which means is provided to return the pickup means to initial position preparatory to engaging the record of the next audiovisual element in operative position on the drum.

6. A machine for successively projecting the image of the transparencies and reproducing the sound of the records of a series of hinge-connected audio-visual elements, said machine comprising, in combination, an index drum having a plurality of flat sides, an axle mounting said drum for free rotation thereof, a hinged member mounted on a pivot at one end thereof and parallel to said axle and having its other end disposed to have flatwise engagement with a face of said drum to rest upon an audio-visual element in operative position on said latter face, said element being provided with the transparency, the portion of the drum that is in register with the transparency being adapted to pass light, means to provide projection illumination and directed through the transparency, an optical system in the path of said illumination to project the image of the transparency, pickup means carried by said hinged member in reproducing engagement with the record of said element during the mentioned flatwise engagement of said member and drum, means carried by said member to rotate said record, means driven by the record-rotating means and carried by said hinged member to 'ndex the drum to move the next audio-visual element of said series to operative position between the drum and the hinged member, and means provided on the drum and engaged by the drumindexing means to raise said member on its pivot away from the element in operative position during indexing movement of the drum.

7. A machine according to claim 6 in which said optical system comprises a condensing lens carried by the hinged member, a focusing lens disposed the interior of the drum, and a mirror to reflect said image toward a viewing screen.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Claims (1)

1. A MACHINE FOR SUCCESSIVELY PROJECTING THE IMAGE OF THE TRANSPARENCIES AND REPRODUCING THE SOUND OF THE RECORDS OF A SERIES OF HINGE-CONNECTED AUDIO-VISUAL ELEMENTS, SAID MACHINE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, AN INDEX DRUM HAVING A PLURALITY OF FLAT SIDES, AN AXLE MOUNTING SAID DRUM FOR FREE ROTATION THEREOF, A HINGED MEMBER MOUNTED ON A PIVOT AT ONE END THEREOF AND PARALLEL TO SAID AXLE AND HAVING ITS OTHER END DISPOSED TO HAVE FLATWISE ENGAGEMENT WITH A FACE OF SAID DRUM TO REST UPON AN AUDIO-VISUAL ELEMENT IN OPERATIVE POSITION ON SAID LATTER FACE, SAID ELEMENT BEING PROVIDED WITH THE TRANSPARENCY, PICKUP MEANS CARRIED BY SAID HINGED MEMBER IN REPRODUCING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE RECORD OF SAID ELEMENT DURING THE MENTIONED FLATWISE ENGAGEMENT OF SAID MEMBER AND DRUM, MEANS CARRIED BY SAID MEMBER TO ROTATE SAID RECORD, MEANS DRIVEN BY THE RECORD-ROTATING MEANS AND CARRIED BY SAID HINGED MEMBER TO INDEX THE DRUM TO MOVE THE NEXT AUDIO-VISUAL ELEMENT OF SAID SERIES TO OPERATIVE POSITION BETWEEN THE DRUM AND THE HINGED MEMBER, AND MEANS PROVIDED ON THE DRUM AND ENGAGED BY THE DRUMINDEXING MEANS TO RAISE SAID MEMBER ON ITS PIVOT AWAY FROM THE ELEMENT IN OPERATIVE POSITION DURING INDEXING MOVEMENT OF THE DRUM.

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