USRE22363E - Automatic motion picture machine - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 10, 1943. w ETAL Re. 22,363

AUTOMATIC MOTION PICTURE MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 27, 1939 s Sheets-Sheet 1 79 ll 0 I d V lNl-'ENTORS A TTORNEYS.

1943- A. w. MILLER ET AL Re. 22,363

AUTOMATIC MOTION PICTURE MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 27, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 .LJLMQMahOmN-VENTORS ATTORNEYS.

1943- A. w. MILLER ET AL Re. 22,363

AUTOMATIC MOTION PICTURE MACHINE Grip-anal Fi'lefl Nov. 27, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 I N VEN TORS A TTORNEYS Aug. 10, 1943. A, w. MILLER ET AL 22,363

AUTOMATIC MOTION PICTURE MACHINE Ori inal Filed Nov. 27, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 51111 5 A.WMZZZP .LIZMcMa/wvz INVENTORS 77 O y s I o A 6l 4 q ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 10, 1943. A, w. MILLER ETAL 22,363

AUTOMATIC MOTION PICTURE MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 2'7, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 r' .LJIJICMahOn INVENTORS A TTORNEYS.

1943- A. w. MILLER ETAL Re. 22,363

AUTOMATIC MOTIQN PICTURE MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 2'7, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 A. WM J ZMCMQ/wILINI ENTORS ATTORNEYS.

Reis'sued Aug. 10, 19 43- 22,363 I AUTOMATIC MOTION rro'ruaa MACHINE Arthur -W. Miller, Albany, and John H. McMahon, El Cerrito, Calif.

Original'No. 2,239,241, dated April 22, 1941, Serial No. 306,386, November 27, 1939. Application for reissue September 6, 1941, Serial No.

14 Claims.

This invention relates to an automatic coinoperatecl motion picture projecting apparatus,

the primary object of the invention being to im- I prove generally the mechanisms as set forth in our-pending application, Serial No. 171,236 filed October 27, 1937 and which has become U. S. Patent No. 2,180,638, dated November 21, 1939, and our application Serial No..183,1l filed January 3, 1938, which has become U. S. Patent No. 2,180,639, dated November 21, 1939, which applications cover the coin-controlled mechanism omitted in the present"application.

An important object of the present invention is to provide means for feeding the film strip before the projector opening of the machine, by frictional contact with the film strip, eliminating the use of the well known film feed wherein a sprocket cooperates with lines of openings formed along the edges of the film strip to feed the film strip before the projector.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means whereby a selected film strip may be brought into operative position before the projector, and held in such position for a predetermined period to permit the film to be run off.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a movable lamp housing together with means for moving the lamp housing into and out of operation, with each movement of the apparatus to change the film strip being displayed.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the, invention herein described, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

*Figure 1 is an elevational view of one section of therotor. showing the-section as moved before the projector. I

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through one of the film 'reel supporting housings and operating means for operating the filfn.

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the rotor and illustrating one of the film housings as moved to its active or operative position.

Figure. 4 is an enlarged elevational view illustrating a reel as supported in a reel housing.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken through the reel as shown by Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a view illustrating the film feed pulley, illustrating the openings therein, through which the light rays are projected.

Figure 7 is a plan view illustrating one film reels as mounted within a reel housing.

Figure 8 is a sectional view through the reel housing and reel supported therein.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view through the film strip mechanism. I

Figure 10 is a sectional view through the guide plates between which the film is fed.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the device comprises a stator and a rotor, the stator being indicated generally by the reference character ,5.

The stator embodies a supporting bar 6 and a rectangular supporting. frame 1 adapted for mounting in a suitable cabinet not shown.

Mounted on the upper bar of the frame ,1, is the motor 8, the shaft thereof being provided with a pinion 9 that meshes with the teeth of the segmental gear i0 mounted on the shaft II to move therewith.

Keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft II to move therewith, is acurved arm l2 which is provided with a roller H! at its free end.

The reference character It designates an arm which rises from the shaft I5 that in turn is mounted in the bearing l6 carried by the stator.

The arm It provides the support for the lamp housing or projector I! which is adapted to swing with the arm I4, for purposes to be hereinafter more fully described.

Mounted on the support I8 forming a part of the stator, is an electric motor IS, the motor shaft 20 thereof being supplied with the worm gear 2| that meshes with the gear 22 that is also mounted on the support 18. which the gear 22 is mounted, also provides a support for the sprocket 24 over which the chain 25 operates, the chain 25 also operating over the sprocket 26 mounted on a shaft carried by the arm 21 that forms a part of the stator.

Formed at the upper end of the arm 21 is a bearing 28 through which the shaft 29 extends,

the shaft 29 carrying the clutch face 30 at one.

of its ends. 'Mounted on the opposite end of the shaft 29 is abeveled pinion ll that meshes with the beveled pinion 32 carried at the upper end of the flexible shaft 33, the upper end of the flexible shaft 33 being mounted in a bearingformed in the U-shaped bearing support 34.

The. lower end of the flexible shaft 33 is shown as connected with the shaft 35 that carries the pinion 38 at one end thereof, the pinion 36 meshof the The shaft 23 on.

ing with .the pinion 31 mounted on the shaft 38 that carries the pulley 33 adjacent to its inner end, the pulley 39 being rotated by means or the belt 40 operating over the pulley 4| which is mounted on the outer end of the motor shaft 42, and which is operated by the motor 43. Thus it will be seen that when the motor 43 is operating, the pulley 39 is rotated which in turn transmits movement to the flexible shaft 33 and shaft 29.

The pulley-39 is mounted within the housing 44 which is formed with aligning projector openings 45 with which the projector tube 46 aligns in projecting light rays onto the film,to be hereinafter more fully described. 1 l 1 An arm indicated at 41 extends upwardly from the'lamp housing or projector l1, and connects with the link 48, that ha one end thereof connected with the chain 25. Thus it will be seen that as the sprocket 22 is rotated, and the chain 25 is moved over the sprockets 24 and 28, thelamp housing or projector II will be moved from the dotted line position shown by Figure 1 of the drawings, to the position shown in full line in Figure 1 of the drawings, or vice versa.

The pulley 33 is formed with elongated arcuate-shaped openings 49 that align with the pro- Jector openings 45 at predetermined intervals,

to allow light rays from the projector to be pro- ,lected through the housing 44 and onto the film' strip passing through the film guides, forming a part or the rotor, to be hereinafter more fully described.

n the inner end of the shaft 38 is a wheel 55 formed with a cam groove in the periphery thereof. Pivotally mounted, adjacent to the wheel 50, is a film strip feed arm-52 which is provided with a headed finger 53 arranged to move in the cam groove 5|. The opposite end of the arm 52 is provided with a roller 54 adapted to move over the film strip operating through the machine, and which in the present showing is indicated at A.

The rotor forming a part of the apparatus, is mounted on the shaft 55 that has its ends journalled in the bearings 56 mounted on the supporting frame. The rotor comprises a hub section 51 from which the arms 58 radiate. These arms 58 are substantially long, and are held in spaced relation with respect to each other, by means of the bars 59, which are bolted to adjacent arms. 58.

The arms 58 are formed with bearing openings at their ends, for the reception of the shafts ill, each shaft providing a support for a motion picture reel housing, indicated at El. The inner end wall of each motion picture reel housing 6| is formed with a slot for the reception of the pivoted latch member 62, the latch members being supported with respect to'tlie ends of the housings 6|, that one 01' the respective edges thereof extends beyond the end walls or the housings. A finger indicated at 63 extends from each latch member and is adapted to engage the bar 59 associated therewith, normally holding the motion picture reel housings 6|, in their inactive positions. In operation, the arms I! swing inwardly, the rollers l3 thereof engaging the latch members, moving the latch members inwardly to cause the fingers thereof to disengage the bars 59, releasing the motion picture reel housings so .that they may swing to their active positions.

bers are forced inwardly by the rollers l3, the

motion picture housing associated therewith, is

moved upwardly to its vertical or active position. Pivotally mounted within each motion picture reel housing. is a reel 54 on which a film strip is wound. The film strip which is indicated at A, Inoves between the-guide rollers 55 mounted on opposite sides of the reel, the rollers being spaced apart so that they will contact the edges or the film strip being wound or unwound from the reel, holding the film strip in proper position. Pins extend upwardly from the shaft of the rollers 65, and extend into the sockets formed at the ends of the retainer 66 that is fitted over the film strip, to prevent the film strip from nioving upwardly between the rollers. It will of course be understood that the film strip unwinds from the central or hub portion of the reel, and rewound on the reel at the periphery thereof.

The projector opening formed in each reel housing, is arranged so that when the reel housing is moved to its active position, the projector opening will align with the projector openings or the housing 44, forming a part of the stator.

Pairs of guide plates indicated at 51 and 68 are arranged on opposite sides of the projector opening of each housing 6|, the plates of each pair being adjusted with respect to each other, by means of the set screws 69. Thus it will be seen that due to this construction, the frictional contact between the guide plates and film strip A moving therethrough, may be regulated.

As clearly shown by Figure 9 oi the drawings, the innermost plate of the lower pair or guide plates is substantially long, and provided with a pin 10 adapted to be extended into an opening formed in the film strip passing between the guide plates. The openings of the film strip are arranged in predetermined spaced relation with respect to each other, or the distance between the Pictures on the film strip, so that the pictures will be accurately framed within the projector opening.

Arranged directly under the pairs of guide plates 51 and 58, are guide plates H, the friction between the guide plates being regulated by the set screw 12. The film strip in passing through the machine, moves through the guide plates 51, 68 and H, the guide plates 1i being spaced an appreciable distance from the guide plates 68, providing a space for the roller 54 carried at the upper end of the feed arm 52, to engage the film strip. The tensionor frictional contactbetween the guide plates H is greater than the frictional contact between the guide plates 68, with the result that when the feed arm 52 is moved inwardly to its full line position as shown by Figure 9 of the drawings, the film strip will be moved downwardly and fed through the machine. As the film strip passes through the guide plates II, the film strip moves over the pulley 13 mounted at the free end of the arm Due to the fact that the latch member 62 operates through slots in the lower ends of the housings 6|, it will be seen that when the latch mem- 14 that is pivotally mounted within the housing 5|, there being provided a set screw 15 for holding the arm 14 in various positions or adjustment, to further tension the film strip. From the pulley 13, the film strip moves upwardly over the pulley l8 and is formed into a loop indicated at 11, from where the film strip passes over the pulley II and onto the reel.

It might be further stated that. ribs 19 are formed on the inner surfaces of the spool 6| on which the film strip is wound, the ribs being of thicknesses so that the edges of the film strip will contact therewith without danger of binding. It will be seen that due to this construction, friction between the film strip and side members of the spool is reduced to a minimum, to insure the operation of the device.

when the projector and a reel housing have been moved to their active positions, light rays will be projected onto the film strip and reflected upwardly by the reflector II where the pictures will be projected upwardly onto the screen 82 where they may be viewed by the person using the machine. 4

The means for operating the shaft 2! and clutch Ill, comprises a lever 84 to which the core I! of the solenoid 84 is connected. Thus it will be seen that when the solenoid B6 is energized, the core will be drawn into the winding of the solenoid, moving the lever 84 and projecting the shaft 29 causing the clutch face 30thereof to engage the clutch face 81, mounted on the shaft 88, on which the film reel or spool is mounted to rotate therewith.

. It might be further stated that the hub section 51 is provided with teeth that mesh with the teeth of the pinion 88 mounted on one end of the motor shaft 90 which is operated by the selecting mechanism of the machine not shown. Thus it will be seen that due to this construction, when the pinion I9 is rotated, the hub 51 will be rotated on the shaft 55, moving the selected picture reel housing, togetherwith the picture strip carried thereby, into registry with the projector openings of the machine so that light rays projected through the openings, will be directed to the film strip, displaying the film strip on the screen of the machine.

In the operation of the apparatus, the selecting means illustrated in our pending application hereinbefore mentioned, is operated. The motor 8 is set into operation, which motor operates the pinion 9 meshing with the segmental gear I0.

The segmental gear operates the arm II which carries the roller l3 and which moves against the latch member of the picture strip projecting unit moved adjacent thereto. As the roller engages the latch member, the latch member is moved inwardly releasing the picture strip projecting unit. Upon further movement of th arm l2, the picture strip projecting unit is moved from 5 the dotted line position shown by Figure 2 of the drawings, to the fulll line position as shown-by Figure 2. With the picture strip projecting unit in this position, it is ready for displaying the picture strip which is mounted on the reel of the picture strip projecting unit.

The clutch member 29 is now moved into engagement with the clutch member 81 with the result that the reel 64 is rotated to cause the pcture strip thereon to be fed from the reel. As the picture strip moves before the projector opening, the feed arm 52 contacting with the film strip causes the film strip to be intermittently fed before the projector opening between the lamp housing and screen. Because the pulley 39 is provided with elongated openin 49, th ley will act as a shutter, allowing light rays to be projected onto the picture strip intermittent- 1y, or at a time when a picture of the strip is exactly framed within the projector opening.

ill)

It might be further stated that as the film strip moves past the projector opening, it is returned to the reel, and rewound thereon for further use.

What is claimed is:

1. In a motion picture machine, a frame, a picture screen supported on the frame. a stator and rotor mounted on the frame in front of said picture screen, a movable arm forming a part of the stator, a projector housing secured to the free end of the movable arm, radiatingarms mounted on the rotor, independently operable picture-projecting units at the free ends of the radiating arms, means for selectively moving the arms and picture-projecting units into operative projecting relation with respect to the screen, and means for moving said movable arm and projector housing into projecting relation with respect to the picture-projecting units and screen.

2. Ina motion picture machine, a frame, a picture screen supported on the frame, a stator and rotor mounted on the frame directly in front of the picture screen, a movable arm mounted on the stator, a projector housing on the free end of said arm, means for moving th arm and projector housing into projecting relation with the screen, a plurality of picture-projecting units mounted upon and forming a part of the rotor, and means for swinging said picture-projecting units selectively into projecting relation between the projector housing and screen.

3. In a motionpicture machine, a frame, a picture screen supported on the frame, a stator and rotor mounted on the frame, a projecting medium on the stator, a plurality of pictureprojecting units mounted on the rotor and adapted to move between the projecting mediumandscreen to direct light rays onto the screen, means for moving said projecting units selectively into operative projecting relation, each of said units embodying a picture strip, spaced pairs of guides through which the picture strip moves, said guides frictionally engaging said picture strip, restricting movement of the picture strip through the guides, a pivoted arm mounted on the frame and adapted to move into engagement with the picture strip between the guides forcing the strip inwardly and pulling the picture strip through one of the guides, feeding the strip through the machine.

4. In a motion picture projecting machine, a

frame, a stator and rotor mounted on the frame,

Ill

a picture screen mounted on the frame, a pivoted' lamp housing forming a part of the stator and adapted to, direct light rays onto the screen. independently operable picture-projecting units forming a part of the rotor and adapted to move between the picture screen and lamp housing whereby light rays may pass through the projecting units onto th screen, means for moving said projecting units into operative projecting relation, each picture unit including a picture strip, tween which said picture strip moves, said guides adapted-to frictionally grip the picture strip, means for pressing the picture strip in wardly at a point between the guides, one of said guides adapted to grip the picture strip with greater pressure than the adjacent guide whereby the picture strip is fed through the machine in-one direction.

5. In a motion picture projecting machine, a frame, a lamp housing having a projecting opening, mounted on the frame, a stator and; a rotor on said frame, a plurality of picture strip proupper and lower guides bejecting units, having projecting openings, mounted on the rotor, and adapted to move into operative relation with the lamp housing, means for moving said projecting units selectively into operative projecting position, a picture strip movable through each projecting unit, means for feeding the strip between the lamp housing and picture projecting opening of the picture strip projecting -units displaying a picture, said picture'strip' moving means embodying upper and lower guides through which the picture strip moves, the lower guides adapted togrip and hold the picture strip moving therethrough, under a predetermined pull directed to the picture strip, and a pivoted arm adapted to intermittently exert a pressure on the picture strip between the upper and lower guides, whereby the picture strip is moved in one direction.

6. In a motion picture projecting machine, a frame, a stator and rotor mounted on said frame, a picture screen mounted on the frame, a pivoted lamp housing having a projecting opening, mounted on the frame and adapted to move into alignment with the picture'screen so as to direct light rays onto the screen, a plurality of picture-projecting units having projecting openings and mounted on said rotor, adapted to move between the pivoted lamp housing and screen,

means for moving said projector units selectively into operative projecting position and comprising picture strips operating within the pictureprojecting units, means, for moving the picture strips before the projecting openings of the lamp housing and projecting unit, a pivoted latch member carried by each projecting unit and adapted to normally hold the picture-projecting unit in its inactive position, and means including a pivoted arm mounted on the frame, adapted to release the latch member and the pictureprojecting unit and said pivoted arm adapted to swing the projecting'unit to its operative position before the lamp housing.

7. In a motion picture projecting machine, a

frame, a lamp housing mounted on the frame, a

rotary member embodying a plurality of radiat-- ing arms, mounted on the frame, a projectingunit pivotally mounted at the outer end of each arm, means for movingsaid projecting units selectively into operative projecting position, latch members normally holding the picture-projecting units in their inactive positions, a curved arm mounted on the rotor and adapted to engage the latch members of the picture-projecting unit as the picture-projecting units are moved to their operative projecting positions before the lamp housing, releasing said latch members, and said arms adapted to swing upwardly moving the picture-projecting units to their projecting positions before the lamp housing.

8. In a motion picture projecting machine, a,

supporting frame, a stator and a'rotor mounted on said-frame, a lamp housing pivotally mounted on the frame, a pulley housingmounted on the frame and having aligning openings in oppositeside walls thereof, means for moving the lamp housing to a position before the pulley housing whereby light rays from the lamp housing will be directed therethrough, picture-projecting units mounted on the rotor and having pictureprojecting openings, meansffor moving the picture-projecting units before the openings of the pulley housing, a picture strip carried by each picture-projecting unitif means for Tnioving the picture strips of a projectingunit the projecting openings thereof, said means comprising cases a pulley having openings aligning with the openings of the pulley housing, whereby light rays will intermittently pass through the pulley housing and picture-projecting unit held in front of the pulley housing displaying a picture, when the pulley rotates.

9. Film manipulating mechanism for an automatic multi-film projecting apparatus having a light source and a translating device actuated by a beam of light from said source for reproducing sensible impressions recorded on a film intercepting said beam, said film manipulating mechanism including a plurality of magazines each containing an endless roll of film and each provided with a light gate in a wall thereof past which said film may be moved, film moving means carried by each magazine and adapted when actuated to drawthe film from said roll, move the same past said gate and rewind the same on said roll, carriage operating means adapted to move said carriage and to stop the same with the gate of one of said magazines in the path of said beam of light from said source, a movable member, actuating means for said film moving means carried by said member, and means for moving said member to engage said actuating means with the film moving means of the magazine so placed and to disengage the same to permit movement of the magazine carriage.

10. Film manipulating mechanism for an automatic multi-film projecting apparatus having a light source and a translating device actuated by a beam of light from said source for reproducing sensible impressions recorded on a film intercepting said beam, said film manipulating mechanism including a plurality of magazines each containing an endless roll or film andeach provided with a light gate in a wall thereof past which said film may be moved, film engaging members within each magazine adapted when actuated to draw the film from said roll, move the same past said gate and return the same to said roll,-a magazine carriage upon which saidmagazines are mounted, carriage operating means adapted "to move said carriage and to stop the same with the gate of one of said magazines in the path of said beam of light from said source, means for by a beamof light from said source for reproducing sensible impressions recorded one, film intercepting said beam, said film manipulating mechanism including a magazine carriage, a: plurality of self-contained film magazine units detachably mounted on said carriage, each of said units being provided with means vfor storing a film therein, a light gate and film driving means adapted to move said film past saidlight gate wholly within said magazine unit, carriage operating means adapted to move said carriage to place the light gate of any one of said magazine units in the path of said beam of light from said light source, a movable member, actuating means for said mm driving means carried by said member, and means for moving said member to engage said actuating means with the film driving means of the magazine unit so placed and to dis-engage the same to permit movement or the 12. In a photographic apparatus for selectively reproducing any one of several programs, the

movable magazine carriage adapted to support a plurality oi film magazine units each provided with a film gate and having a filmmoving means ior moving a film strip through said gate, and a carriage operating means operatively connected to said carriage and for moving theme to position one of said magazine units in said light beam, or a movable member, actuating means carried by said movable member and adapted to engage and operate the film moving means of a film magazine unit which is in juxtaposition to said light beam, and solenoid operating means actuating said movable member and for moving said actuating means into engagement with the film moving means of said juxtaposed film magazine unit.

13. In a photographic apparatus for selectively reproducing any one of several programs, the combination with an illuminating and optical system for directing a light beam onto a film strip for reproduction of a record thereon, a movable magazine carriage adapted to support a plurality of film magazine units each provided with a film gate and having a film moving means for moving a film strip through said gate, and a carriage operating means operatively connected to said carriage and for moving the same to position one of said magazine units in said light beam, 01' a movable member, actuating means carried by said movable member and adapted to engage and operate the film moving means of a film magazine unit which is in juxtaposition to said light beam, a second actuating means for moving said movable member to engage the first mentioned actuating means with the film moving meansot said iuxtaposed film magazine unit. and a film advancing means independent or said second actuating means and for intermittently entering said film magazine unit intermittently to move the film strip past the film gate thereon.

14. In a photographic apparatus for selectively reproducing any one 0! several programs, the combination with an illuminating and optical system for directing alight beam onto a film strip for reproduction of a record thereon, a plurality or film magazine units each containing an endless roll of film and each having a film gate in a wall thereof past which said film may be moved, film moving means carried by each magazine and adapted when actuated to draw the film from said roll, move the same past said gate and rewind the same on said roll, and a magazine carriage upon which said magazines are mounted, or carriage operating means adapted to move said carriage and to stop the same with the gate of one of said magazines in the path of said light beam, a movable member, actuating means for said film moving means and carried by said movable member, a second actuating means for moving said movable member to engage the first mentioned actuating means with the film moving means of the magazine unit so placed, and a film advancing means independent of said second actuating means and for intermittently entering said film magazine unit to move the film intermittently past said gate.

ARTHUR W. MILIER. JOHN H. McMAHON.

Images