US3869093A

US3869093A - Film handling system

Info

Publication number: US3869093A
Application number: US288254A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter Thomas Ackermann
Original assignee: Indevco Corp
Current assignee: Indevco Corp
Priority date: 1972-09-12
Filing date: 1972-09-12
Publication date: 1975-03-04
Anticipated expiration: 1992-03-04

Abstract

A film handling system for a motion picture projector is disclosed and includes an attachment for the take-up reel shaft of a conventional projector as well as a container for film. The attachment includes a container support and guide and drive means for delivering film into the container and reeling it in the container from the outside toward the inside. The container has an opening in its end wall adapted, when the film is shown again, to receive the supply reel shaft of the projector. Slot means in the side wall of the container pass the leading end of the film, and it is through the slot means that the film is withdrawn from the container for the subsequent showing. Rereeling is thus made unnecessary.

Description

O United States Patent 11 1 [111 3,869,093 Ackermann 5] Mar. 4, 1975 FILM HANDLING SYSTEM Primary Examiner-Billy S. Taylor Inventor $21253: gg if Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Dallett Hoopes [73] Assignee: Indevco Corporation, Watertown,

57 ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Sept. 12, 1972 A film handling system for a motion picture projector [21] Appl 288254 is disclosed and includes an attachment for the takeup reel shaft of a conventional projector as well as a [52] US. Cl. 242/5521, 352/128 container for film. The attachment includes a con- [51] Int. Cl B65h 17/48 tainer support and guide and drive means for deliver- [58] Field of Search 242/5521, 71.8; 352/128; ing film into the container and reeling it in the con- 206/52 F tainer from the outside toward the inside. The container has an opening in its end wall adapted, when [56] References Cited the film is shown again, to'receive the supply reel shaft U ITE STATES PATENTS of the projector. Slot means in the side wall of the container pass the leading end of the film, and it is till??? 31333 51312452,;1113331111"111113 5571525 through the Shh hhhhhs that the hhh h whhdhhwh hhhh 2:481:708 9/1949 Adams 242/5521 the container for the Subsequent Showing Rereeling is 2,495,344 1/1950 Proch 242/5521 x thus made unnecessary. 3,292,875 12/1966 Rojic 242/5521 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 6 Claims,12 Drawiagfighres 189,665 3/1937 Switzerland 352/128 PATH-HEB MAR 4 1875 saw 1 as 2 1 FILM HANDLING SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention finds use in the reeling of movie film after the film has been exhibited on a conventional movie projector. The invention is also concerned with container means for effecting such reeling and for storage of the film between showings.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is invariably the case with conventional motion picture projectors that after the film has been exhibited, the trailing end of the film must be attached to the storage reel from which the film was shown, and the entire film rereeled on the storage reel so that the film will be disposed leading end first on the storage reel for the next showing.

Several attempts have been made in the past to provide film handling systems which would eliminate the need for rereeling. Many of these devices have been contemplated but at present no such device is commercially available. One prior art attempt to eliminate rereeling is disclosed in the system set forth in the Netherlands Pat. No. 53,998, published Feb. 15, 1943. This system provided means for reeling the film from the side wall of a cylindrical container inward. Means were additionally provided to support the inside of the film by an expandable system of arms. Generally speaking, prior systems required complicated custom structure and were not readily adaptable to conventional projectors. Other winding apparatus has been proposed in patents such as US. Pat. Nos. 1,939,884, 2,892,899, and 2,335,179.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Under the present invention, there is satisfied the longfelt need for simple means to eliminate rereeling.

The present system comprises an attachment for the takeup shaft of a conventional movie projector and a container adapted to cooperate with the attachment. The attachment has means to deliver the film to the container in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, and includes means to support the container on the top of the attachment. The container has an opening in its end wall and a slot in its side wall adapted to pass and hold the leading end of the film. The attachment includes drive means which, as the exhibition of the film proceeds, drives the shown film against the inside of the wall of the container forcing the container to rotate on the attachment and reels the film from the outside inward in the container. After the film is reeled in the container, the container may be removed from the attachment and impaled on the supply reel shaft of the projector, the shaft being received into a central opening in the container, and the leading end of the film is available to the projector once more for reshowmg.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other features of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from an examination of the following specification including the drawings, all of which disclose a non-limiting embodiment of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view, with portions shown in phantom, of a projector using a system embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view, showing the container in section, of the attachment comprising the embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view partly in section of the structure shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view in section of the spindle and hub comprising the attachment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the film guide scroll;

FIG. 6 is a rear end sectional view of the attachment taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 77 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a sectional FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a diametric sectional view of the film container with its cover mounted on the supply reel shaft of the projector;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of'the container cover;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the container; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 12-12 of FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more specifically to the drawings, an apparatus embodying the invention is shown in FIG. 2. It is shown on a conventional projector generally designated P and comprises an attachment l0 and a container 12'. The attachment 10 fits over the conventional take-up reel shaft TS (FIG. 3) of the projector. It comprises a hub 14 with a stabilizing plate 16 having a stop finger 18 secured thereto and directed inward and adapted to engage against the top of the take-up reel shaft arm TSA to keep the hub from rotating when the device is in operation.

Mounted for rotation within the hub 14 is the drive spindle 20 of the attachment. The spindle 20 is journaled in the central opening 22 of the hub and is held therein by a C-shaped washer 23 which fits in a peripheral groove on the spindle, and in assembly engages in an annular groove 23a on the inner side of hub 14. The spindle has an axial opening 24 which in use fits over and is supported and drivingly engaged by the shaft TS of the projector.

As shown, the opening 22 is formed adjacent its outer end with an enlargement adapted to receive the enlarged drum 26 comprising the outer end of the spindle. The drum 26 is formed with teeth 28 and is adapted to drivingly engage the film F as it comes from the projector. As shown best in FIGS. 2 and 8, the outer end of the hub is formed with a pair of

openings

30 and 32 to expose the side of the drum.

As shown in FIG. 2, the peripheral surface of the hub 14 is formed with a helical track 29 adapted to gradually lead the film, which wraps about it in a clockwise direction (FIG. 2), to the side of the drum exposed through opening 30. The film emerges through the opening 32 having been powered by the drum.

The drive connection between the take-up shaft TS and the attachment spindle 20 is effected by a radial keyway 34 in the opening 24 in the attachment spindle 20. The keyway receives the longitudinal flange on the take-up shaft; thus, as the take-up shaft rotates, the toothed drum 26 of the attachment likewise rotates, the hub 14 being held from rotation by the stop finger l8 engaging arm TSA (FIG. 2). A plurality of openings view taken on the line 8-8 of about the margin of the plate 16 permits selective positioning of the finger for different style projectors.

To guide the film F over the spiral-screw-thread type helical track 29, a helical scroll 38 (FIG. 5) complementing the track in shape and spaced thereover, is secured to the plate 16 by the pin 40. It will be understood that the track on the outer surface of the hub 14 is so designed, without excessive strain on the film, to introduce the film through the opening 30 to the cylindrical drum 26 in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the shaft TS. The pitch of the groove is greater more remote from the sprocket than adjacent it.

The composition of the hub 14 is plastic, preferably a smooth self-lubricating plastic such as polyetrafluoroethylene over which the film can easily move without damage. The track 29 may be concave in section to avoid any contact with the central portion of the film.

. The outer end of the hub is provided at its top with a container supporting projection 42. On this is hung the open-end container 12. A can-retaining bracket 44 is secured to the plate 16 and extends up overv the hub and includes a vertically pivotable retaining plate 46 which is adapted to swing about its support pin 48, to a position down over the container 12 as shown in FIG. 3 during the reeling operation. Various other container-retaining means may be employed. Magnetic means are contemplated.

Referring now to the container 12 (FIG. 11), it comprises an end wall 50 having a central opening 52 with a radially extending keyway enlargement 54. A shallow side wall 56 is connected to the end wall 50 and includes a peripheral slot 58 which may be centrally enlarged as shown to avoid contact with the central portion of the film passing through it. Preferably, the edges of the opening 58 are covered with some anti-friction materialto avoid any chance of damage to the film. A retainer 60 is secured to the outside of the side wall 56 as by a rivet 62, and receives in its pocket 61 (FIG. 12) the leading end of the film. A smooth annular spacer sheet 64 may be provided to avoid hang-ups of the film with the ribbed end wall of the container (FIG. 11) as the reeling transpires.

The cover for-the container is not on the container during the reeling operation, but only during storage and during the withdrawing of the film from the container during the exhibition when the container is mounted on the supply reel shaft SS as will be described. The cover 66 comprises an end wall 68 and a side wall 70. The side wall is formed with a notch 72 and theend wall with a central opening 74 having a keyway 76. The container and its cover may be of sheet metal or plastic. l

As shown best in FIG. 2, the container 12 rests on the projection 42 with the leading end of the film passing through the slot 58 and secured under the clip 60. As the showing of this film by the projector progresses, the already exhibited film passes over the hub 14in spiral fashion and through the opening 30 where it is driven by the drum 26 to discharge through opening 32 and against the side wall of the container and urging the clockwise rotation of the entire container 12 and causing the film progressively'to build up inward, the container 12 being continuously supported (as shown) on the last layer of film to bedelivered into the container.

After the showing and afterthe trailing end of the film F has passed through opening 32, the container 12 will cease to be driven and the film will lie in wound condition pressing outward against the side wall of the container 12 due to the natural resilience of the film.

At this point, the retaining plate 46 is raised and the container 12 is taken off the surface 42. The cover 66 is placed on the container 12, its peripheral notch 72 permitting the exposure of the slot 58 and the clip 60 whereupon the

keyways

54 and 76 are aligned. The film may be stored in this condition. For the next showing, the covered container 12' is simply placed on the projector supply shaft SS (FIG. 9), the central openings in the container and cover receiving the shaft SS in supportive, but not driving relation. The leading end of the film is then exposed by swiveling the retainer 60 about its rivet 62 (FIG. 11 dotted lines) and is threaded through the projector as is conventional for display and reeling into the similar take-up container 12.

I have thus provided a film handling system for a conventional projector which eliminates the need for rereeling and which is comprised of simple parts, economical to manufacture. The invention may be embodied in other structures, all falling within the scope of the invention which may be described in the following claim language:

I claim:

1. For a motion picture projector, a film handling system which eliminates the need for rereeling comprismg:

a. a take-up drive attachment adapted to be supported solely by and driven by the take-up drive shaft of a projector including a generally cylindrical hub having an axial opening a drive spindle journaled in the opening for rotation and having in one end an axial opening adapted'to receive the take-up drive shaft of the projector in driving engagement, the opposite end of the spindle having a film-engaging sprocket with outward teeth to be received into the perforations in the film, guide means on the hub for guiding the film in spiral fashion from the said one end of the hub outward about thehub into engagement with the sprocket, support means on the hub immediately above the sprocketand means for keeping the hub from rotating when the shaft rotates; I

b. a shallow cylindrical film container having a circular side wall and an end wall, the side wall having a slot for egress of the outer or leading end of the film, the end wall having a central opening adapted to fit into the film supply reel shaft; whereby the film container may be hung by the inside of its circular wall on said support means with the container end wall adjacent the sprocket, and the leading end of the film may be extended over the support means through the slot in the container and attached to the outside of the container so that as the film is driven by the spocket, it forces the rotation of the container and accumulates about the inside of the side wall of the container, winding from outside to inside, the support means engaging the lastdeposited layer of film to support the container and whereby once the entire length of the film is in the container, the container may be removed from the attachment and mounted on the film supply shaft of the projector by its central opening, and the leading end may be fed into the projector for viewing without rereeling.

thread-type groove about the hub and a rigid helical band which curves about the groove to lead the leading end of the film toward the sprocket.

5. A film handling system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the pitch on the groove is greater adjacent said one end of the hub than adjacent the sprocket.

6. A film handling system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the axis of the film container and the axis of the drive spindle are parallel.

Claims

1. For a motion picture projector, a film handling system which eliminates the need for rereeling comprising: a. a take-up drive attachment adapted to be supported solely by and driven by the take-up drive shaft of a projector including a generally cylindrical hub having an axial opening a drive spindle journaled in the opening for rotation and having in one end an axial opening adapted to receive the take-up drive shaft of the projector in driving engagement, the opposite end of the spindle having a film-engaging sprocket with outward teeth to be received into the perforations in the film, guide means on the hub for guiding the film in spiral fashion from the said one end of the hub outward about the hub into engagement with the sprocket, support means on the hub immediately above the sprocket and means for keeping the hub from rotating when the shaft rotates; b. a shallow cylindrical film container having a circular side wall and an end wall, the side wall having a slot for egress of the outer or leading end of the film, the end wall having a central opening adapted to fit into the film supply reel shaft; whereby the film container may be hung by the inside of its circular wall on said support means with the container end wall adjacent the sprocket, and the leading end of the film may be extended over the support means through the slot in the container and attached to the outside of the container so that as the film is driven by the spocket, it forces the rotation of the container and accumulates about the inside of the side wall of the container, winding from outside to inside, the support means engaging the last-deposited layer of film to support the container and whereby once the entire length of the film is in the container, the container may be removed from the attachment and mounted on the film supply shaft of the projector by its central opening, and the leading end may be fed into the projector for viewing without rereeling.

2. A film handling system as claimed in claim 1 including means for releasably holding the container against the said opposite end of the attachment.

3. A film handling system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the means for holding the container on the end of the attachment comprises arm means, one end of which is secured to the attachment adjacent its said one end.

4. A film handling system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the guide means comprises a spiral-screw-thread-type groove about the hub and a rigid helical band which curves about the groove to lead the leading end of the film toward the sprocket.