US3603677A - Cineprojector - Google Patents

Abstract

By rotating an operation changeover shaft from the exterior of a cineprojector, it may be set to a normal projection, a reverse motion projection, a stop or film-rewinding position. Upon completion of the normal projection, the cineprojector may be set to stop position automatically while when set to rewinding position the film is disengaged automatically from the pulldown mechanism. All of the operations may be effected from one position.

Description

United States Patent Tatsusuke Kadowaki Yokohama-e111, Japan 843,978

July 23, 1969 Sept. 7, 1971 Kabushlkl Kaisha Ricoh Tokyo, Japan July 24, 1968 Japan Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee Priority CINEPROJECTOR 5 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl .352/124,

242/189, 352/169 Int. Cl. G03b 21/38 FieldofSearch 352/124,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,2 0,550 3/1966 Mitchell et a1. 3,300,155 1/1967 Roman 3,471,227 10/1969 McClellan m1 FOREIGN PATENTS 849,330 9/1960 Great Britain 938,610 10/1963 GreatBritain Primary Examiner-Louis R. Prince Assistant Examiner-Joseph W. Roskos Attorney-Burgess, Ryan and Hicks ABSTRACT: By rotating an operation changeover shaft from the exterior of a cineprojector, it may be set to a normal projection,a reverse motion projection, a stop or film-rewinding position. Upon completion of the normal projection, the cineprojector may be set to stop position automatically while when set to rewinding position the film is disengaged automatically from the pulldown mechanism. All of the operations may be effected from one position.

PATENTED SEP Hen 3.603.677 SHEET 1 [JP 3 INVENIOR firjwaef 400 wo/r/ 7 a v ATTORNEYS PATENTEDSEP Hen 3,603,677

' SHElEI 2 0F 3 721 7156/50/65 M00 WAK/ alfm,

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INVENT OR Z ITJuM/(E MOON/H0 Y flw w,%wraaz ATTORNEY-S CINEPROJECTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a cineprojector and more particularly a small-sized cineprojector.

In the conventional cineprojector, especially an 8mm. cineprojector, by rotating a common operation changeover shaft from the exterior of the projector, it is set to the so-called normal projection position for reproducing the normal moving image, to a so-called reverse-motion projection position for reproducing the figure in reverse motion, to a rewinding posi tion at which the projected film may be rapidly rewound up to a supply reel or to a position at which the projector is stopped. In this case, it is desired that the above described operation changeover or switching mechanism to be incorporated in the projector is compact in size. Furthermore, it is required that upon completion of the normal projection, the projector must be immediately stopped and when the projector is set to rewinding position, a pressure plate which has been pressing the film against an aperture plate of the projecting head of the projector must be moved away therefrom while the pulldown claws of the pulldown mechanism are disengaged from the perforations of the film and simultaneously the film is moved away from the aperture plate toward the pressure plate for rapid rewinding. Thus, it is desired that the mechanisms for accomplishing the operations as described above may be interlocked operatively with each other. However, in the conventional cineprojector these mechanisms as described above are disposed in various positions in the projector so that very tedious operations are required.

In view of the above, the primary object of the present invention is ,to provide a cineprojector which can meet the de mands or requirements as described hereinabove.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a small-sized cineprojector whose operations may be controlled by one mechanism disposed at one position of the projector, thereby facilitating the operations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, by operating one common operation changeover or switching shaft from the exterior of a small-sized cineprojector, it may be selectively set to normal projection, reverse motion projection, stop of film rewinding position and upon completion of the normal projection the projector is automatically and immediately set to the stop position and when the projector is set to the film-rewinding position the film is disengaged from the pulldown mechanism and the gate thereby permitting the free reverse motion for rewinding of the film.

According to the present invention, upon completion of the normal projection, a cam follower member is disengaged from a cam in response to a sudden increase in tension exerted to the film, so that the projector is automatically set to its stop position upon the rotation of the cam.

According to the present invention, when the projector is set to its film-rewinding position, the pressure plate is automatically displaced so asto open the passageway in the gate while the film is disengaged from the pulldown mechanism since the film is displaced laterally so as to contact with the pressure plate so that the reverse movement of the film for rewinding may be made freely.

According to the present invention, the projector may be selectively set to its various operative positions or inoperative position by operating a common means disposed at one position of the projector, so that the operations are much facilitated.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of illustrative embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a mechanism of the present invention when a cineprojector is stopped;

FIG. 2 is a front view thereof;

. FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view illustrating a film guide thereof;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a member having a cam groove for controlling the position of a pin of the above described mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line V-V of FIG. 4; I

F IG. 6 is a view illustrating the relative positions, in the normal operation of the projector, of a cam plate, its associated pin and one portion of an element coupled to said guide;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 except that the projector is set to its reverse-motion position;

FIG. 8 is also a view similar to FIG. 1 except that the projector is set to its film-rewinding position; and

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 6 illustrating the parts of FIG. 8 corresponding to FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A base plate 1 upon which are attached the essential parts according to the present invention is attached vertically to an outer wall of a machine frame of a cineprojector. A member 2 channel-shaped in cross section as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is fixed to a lower portion of the base plate 1 by, for example, rivets. A shaft hole 3 is bored at the center of the member 2 and a cam groove 4 having a shape of an inverted-seven is formed so as to surround the shaft hole 3 at the inner surface of the member 2. As best shown in FIG. 4, the ends and curved portions of this groove 4 are designated by A, 'B, C and D for description of the detailed function of this groove. A lateral shaft 5 is loosely fitted in the hole 3 and a hole bored in the base plate and the outer end of the shaft 5 (the left end in FIG. 2) is extended beyond the machine frame of the cineprojector and carries an operation knob or lever handle having marks (not shown). The inner end (the right in FIG. 2) of the shaft 5 is extended further into the projector and is operatively coupled to a changeover switch for a drive motor, a switch for a projection light source, a mechanism required for reversing the rewinding the film (not shown). They are well known in the art and constitute no essential part of the present invention so that further description will not be made.

A relatively thick disk 1a is attached to the base plate in the member 2 in order to increase the bearing area for the shaft 5, but this disk may be eliminated. A cam disk 6 having a peripheral cam surface shown in FIG. 6 is rotatably carried by the shaft between the member 2 and the disk Ia. A stepped portion 7 having a suitable length is formed in one portion of the peripheral surface of the cam disk and one end of this stepped portion 7 is projected as 8. The cam disk 6 has a radial slot 9 having a suitable length and a pin 10 is loosely fitted into this slot 9. As shown in FIG. 2, one end of the pin 10 is fitted into the groove 4 of the member 2 while the other end, abuts against the surface of the disk 1a. One end of a compression spring 11 is secured to the pin 10 while the other end, to a suitable stationary member of the projector so that the cam disk 6 has a tendency to return to a position where the compression spring 11 is most compressed unless a retarding force is applied to the cam disk 6 in its rotation.

As shown in FIG. I, a lever 12 is disposed at an upper right portion of the base plate so as to extend to the right at an angle relative to the horizontal and so as to slide a distance determined by the length of each of the slots formed therein and fitted with screws or the like as a guide. The lever 12 is biased to move to right by a spring 13. A lever 14 pivotably secured to the base plate 1 by a rivet 15 between the lever 12 and the cam disk 6 has its upper projection fitted loosely into a hole formed at the left end of the lever I2 and has a lower semicircular projection 14a protruded from the lower end portion of the lever 14 and pressed against the peripheral surface of the cam disk 6 by the spring 13. A notch 16 is formed at one end of the semicircular projection 14a and its function will be described in more detail hereinafter.

A shelf 11) is mounted upon the right shoulder of the base plate 1 at a right angle relative to the principle plane thereof as best shown in FIG. 3. The shelf 1b is in parallel with the lever 12. A small sliding plate 17 is slidable upon the lower surface of the shelf 1b over a distance determined by the length of slots formed in the sliding plate 17 and fitted with pins or the like in the same direction of the movement of the lever 12, and is biased to move to right by a spring 18. One side surface of a film guide member 19 having a center recess portion and a hand drum shaped in cross section is attached integrally to one side surface of the sliding plate 17. As shown in FIG. 1, a film 20 supplied from a supply reel (not shown) is guided by the forward ends of the guide member 19 and then once curved backwardly and admitted into a film channel defined by a film track or aperture plate 21 having an aperture and a pressure plate which presses the film 20 against the aperture plate 21.

The film 20 which is intermittently driven by a pulldown mechanism is subjected to tension to some extent. The tension is strongest when the film is pulled down by a sprocket wheel and becomes weaker when the film remains stationary for projection. The force of the spring 18 is, therefore, selected in such a manner that the guide member 19 may be retracted to the left against the spring 18 when the tension acting upon the film 20 is too strong while the guide member 19 is advanced to the right a predetermined distance by the force of the spring 18 overcoming the tension. Thus, during the projection, in response to the intermittent movement of the film 20, the guide member 19 in reciprocated so that a film loop may be intermittently formed above the film passageway defined by the aperture plate 21 and its pressure plate 22. Therefore, the film 20 may have the buffer action so that the film 20 may not be subjected to excess tension when the film is pulled down by a pulldown claw. For this reason, the guide member 19 will be referred to as a damper hereinafter. The damper of the character described above is well known in the art and is widely used in 8 mm. cineprojectors, although the conventional dampers are different in design from that described above. A typical conventional damper consists of a relatively weak curved plate spring attached to a stationary member of a cineprojector. The damper 19 described above is so arranged that its left end may be spaced apart from the forward end (the right end in FIG. 1) of the lever 12 even when the damper 19 is retracted to the left against the spring 18 in case of a normal projection operation.

When the shaft is rotated by the knob (not shown), the pin is caused to displace within the groove 4. In this case, when the pin 10 is positioned at B in the groove 4 (See FIG. 1), the projector is assumed in inoperative or stop position; when the pin 10, at C (See FIG. 6), the projector, in normal projection position; when the pin 10, at A (See FIG. 8), the projector, in its film-rewinding position; and at D (See FIG. 7), the projector, in reverse projection position. As mentioned above, the operating shaft 5 and the cam disk 6 carried by the shaft 5 have the tendency to return to a position by the spring 11 where they are in predetermined angular relation with the stationary member of the projector, but when the pin 10 is positioned at A, B, C or D, the semicircular projection 14a at the lower end of the lever 14 engages with one of the click stop recesses 6a formed in the peripheral surface of the cam disk 6 or its stepped portion 7 so that the pin 10 may be held in stationary position by means of the spring 11. In this case, the operative position of the projector described above may be seen as the mark indicating this position marked upon the knob (not shown) as the operating shaft 5 aligns with an index mark upon the outer wall of the projector.

Next the mode of operation of the projector according to the present invention will be described in more detail hereinafter. Prior to the projection, it is imperative in the projector of the present invention that the trailing end of the film must be firmly secured to the hub of the supply reel so that when for example the ending title such as "END is projected the advancement of the film must be immediately stopped before the trailing end of the film passes through the projection aperture of the projector. In this case, the trailing end must be prepared to withstand the momentary strong tension exerting to the film as the pulldown claws pull it down.

First, as shown in FIG. 1, the film 20 is admitted into the passageway of the aperture plate and the pressure plate after passing through the damper 19 and the film leader is wound around the hub of the takeup reel. When the projector is set to its inoperative or stop position by operating the knob of the shaft 5, the pin 10 is positioned at B in the groove 4 as shown in FIG. 41. When the shaft 5 is rotated through about in the clockwise direction from this position, the pin 10 is displaced to C position (See FIG. 6) and the projector is started for normal projection. In this case, the spring 11 connected to the pin 10 is expanded as compared to the case shown in FIG. 1. Upon completion of the projection, the tension applied to the trailing end of the film will be suddenly increased so that the film which has been curved at 19 is caused to be straightened. Thus, the damper 19 is retracted against the spring 18 and the inner end of the damper 19 abuts against the right end of the lever 12 so that the lever 12 is caused to move backwardly against the spring 13, thereby causing the lever 14 to rotate about its pivot. Therefore, the semicircular projection 14a of the lever 14 disengages from the click stop recess 6a of the cam disk 6. Simultaneously, the cam disk 6 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction by the pin 10 to which is connected the spring 11 and is automatically returned to he most stabilized position, that is the inoperative or stop position shown in FIG. 1.

During the normal projection, the shaft 5 may be further rotated in the clockwise direction 90 by its knob (not shown). Then, the pin 10 is positioned at D and the reverse motion projection will be started. In this case the spring 11 is further expanded as compared with the normal projection position shown in FIG. 6.

To rewind the film up to the supply reel upon completion of the projection when the projector is automatically returned to its inoperative or stop position, the shaft 5 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction through about 90 form the position shown in FIG. 1 so as to displace the pin 10 to the end A of the cam groove 4. (See FIG. 8). In this case, the projection 8 of the cam disk 6 engages with the notch 16 of the lower end portion of the lever 14 so that the rotation of the shaft is limited. As best shown in FIG. 4, the end A of the cam groove 4 is slightly curved outwardly and the pin 10 at this position A is pulled by the spring 11 slantly upwardly as shown in FIG. 8. Therefore, the rotary tendency of the cam disk 6 is temporarily limited so that the shaft 5 as well as the cam disk 6 are maintained in the rewinding position shown in FIG. 8. When the pin 10 is stopped at the straight end of the groove as shown in FIG. 9, the cam disk 6 tends to rotate in the clockwise direction by the force of the spring 11. Therefore, a click stop recess 612 may be formed at the end of the stepped portion 7 adjacent to the projection 8 for engagement with the semicircular projection 14a ofthe lever 14 as shown in FIG. 9.

In either case, when the lower end of the lever 14 is pressed against the stepped portion 7 of the cam disk 6 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the lever 14 drivingly coupled to the lever 12 is caused to advance to the right by the spring 13, thereby advancing the guide member 19 to the right so as to move the film 20 away from the aperture plate. When the cam disk 6 is set to the rewinding position as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the pressure plate 22 is moved away from the aperture plate 21 by a suitable means (not shown) so that the pulldown claws are not in engagement with the perforations of the film. Thus, the film may be prevented from being abraided or worn even when the film is rewound at relatively high continuous speed and the film may be rewound very smoothly with less resistance.

So far the present invention has been described to the ehangeover or switching of the operations generally required for a cineprojector, but the reverse motion projection system will be eliminated in order to reduce the cost of the projector. In this case, the end D of the cam groove 4 will be eliminated and will have a relatively simple inverted L shape. Thus, the configuration of a cam groove may be modified in accordance with the design requirements.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that upon completion of the normal projection, the projector is automatically returned to its inoperative or stop position; when the projector is set to its rewinding position, the film passageway between the pressure plate and the aperture plate is automatically spaced apart wider while the film is displaced so as to contact with the inner surface of the pressure plate so that the tedious operation of disengaging the film from the pulldown claws may be eliminated, thus facilitating the rewinding operation.

1 claim:

1. A cineprojector that is settable for inoperative, projection, reverse and rewind positions comprising a base plate attached to the cineprojector;

an element fixed to said base plate and having a cam groove formed therein;

a manually rotatable shaft mounted in said base plate and extending through said element;

a cam mounted on said shaft, said cam having a plurality of peripherally located recesses therein,

said cam and connected shaft biased to normally retain the cineprojector in inoperative position;

a pin mounted on said cam and adapted to slidable within said cam groove;

a first lever pivotally mounted on said base plate, one end of said lever adapted to engage an individual recess corresponding to one of the positions;

a second lever slidably mounted on said base plate and having one end thereof engaged with the other end of said first lever; first biasing means connected with said second lever to normally maintain locking engagement of said one end of said first lever with one of said recesses;

film-holding means;

damper means on which said film-holding means is mounted, said damper means being slidablc to abut the other end of said second lever; second biasing means connected with said damper means to normally maintain said damper means out of abutment with said second lever;

said cam and connectedshaft manually rotatable against its bias to the projection position and further rotatable to reverse position and held in said positions by locking engagement of said first lever and one of said recesses; and

said levers actuated by damper means abutting movement due to increased tension at the end of projection thereby releasing the locking engagement of said first lever with said recess so that said cineprojector automatically returns to inoperative position.

2. A cineprojector according to claim 1 in which a slot is formed in said cam and said pin is loosely movable within said slot.

3. A cineprojector according to claim 1 in which said groove has an inverted 7 shape comprising three sections; the location of said pin in the remote end of a first section providing rewind position; the location of said pin in the other end of said first section providing inoperative position; the location of said pin in the remote end of a second section providing reverse position; and the location of said pin in the other end of said second section providing projection position.

4. A cineprojector according to claim 3 in which the remote end of said first section is curvingly enlarged to position said pin for additional locking engatement.

5. A cineprojector according to claim 1 in which one of said recesses includes an inner stepped portion, the engagement of said stepped portion by said first lever providing movement of said damper means to allow free movement of the associated film when said cam and connected shaft are rotated to rewind position.

Patent No.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION 3,603,677 Dated September 7, 1971 Inventoflsx) Tatsusuke Kadowaki It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5, line 31, after "to" insert be Signed and sealed this 21st day of March 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Commissioner of Patents EDWARD M.FLETCHER,J'R. Attesting Officer RM PO-1050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC GOSH-PUD n u s, sovrnnmzm PRINTING orncz Ill. o-ul-lu

Claims (5)

1. A cineprojector that is settable for inoperative, projection, reverse and rewind positions comprising a base plate attached to the cineprojector; an element fixed to said base plate and having a cam groove formed therein; a manually rotatable shaft mounted in said base plate and extending through said element; a cam mounted on said shaft, said cam having a plurality of peripherally located recesses therein, said cam and connected shaft biased to normally retain the cineprojector in inoperative position; a pin mounted on said cam and adapted to slidable within said cam groove; a first lever pivotally mounted on said base plate, one end of said lever adapted to engage an individual recess corresponding to one of the positions; a second lever slidably mounted on said base plate and having one end thereof engaged with the other end of said first lever; first biasing means connected with said second lever to normally maintain locking engagement of said one end of said first lever with one of said recesses; film-holding means; damper means on which said film-holding means is mounted, said damper means being slidable to abUt the other end of said second lever; second biasing means connected with said damper means to normally maintain said damper means out of abutment with said second lever; said cam and connected shaft manually rotatable against its bias to the projection position and further rotatable to reverse position and held in said positions by locking engagement of said first lever and one of said recesses; and said levers actuated by damper means abutting movement due to increased tension at the end of projection thereby releasing the locking engagement of said first lever with said recess so that said cineprojector automatically returns to inoperative position.

2. A cineprojector according to claim 1 in which a slot is formed in said cam and said pin is loosely movable within said slot.

3. A cineprojector according to claim 1 in which said groove has an inverted 7 shape comprising three sections; the location of said pin in the remote end of a first section providing rewind position; the location of said pin in the other end of said first section providing inoperative position; the location of said pin in the remote end of a second section providing reverse position; and the location of said pin in the other end of said second section providing projection position.

4. A cineprojector according to claim 3 in which the remote end of said first section is curvingly enlarged to position said pin for additional locking engatement.

5. A cineprojector according to claim 1 in which one of said recesses includes an inner stepped portion, the engagement of said stepped portion by said first lever providing movement of said damper means to allow free movement of the associated film when said cam and connected shaft are rotated to rewind position.

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