SLOT LOAD PROJECTOR

• US 3,734,602 A
• Filed: 04/17/1972
• Issued: 05/22/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Howard C. Deck
• Original Assignee: Howard C. Deck
• Inventors: Deck, Howard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Matthews, Samuel S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hayes, Monroe H.
• Application Number:
  US05/244,579
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 352/157,158,159,166,191,124,173
• US Class Current: 352/157
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 1/42 Guiding, framing, or constraining film in desired position relative to lens system
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 19/18 Motion-picture cameras with non-intermittently running film G03B41/02

Abstract

A slot load projector uses a slot for edgewise loading of a filmstrip, and simplifies the controls for forward, reverse, rewind, and fast forward. A single control lever moves between two positions for forward and reverse projection in one position, and load, rewind, and fast forward run in another position. Push buttons for forward run, reverse run, off, and still, complete the operator controls, for simpler and easier operation. Along with increased operational functions with fewer controls, the projector is simplified in structure for economy of manufacture.

Claims

1. In a motion picture projector having:

a reversible drive train;

a feed sprocket;

a take-up sprocket;

a film gate;

a supply reel drive;

a take-up reel drive;

a slot for edgewise loading of a filmstrip into said projector; and

a control mechanism responsive to a control lever for opening said gate and clearing said sprockets for loading, unloading, and fast running of said filmstrip when said control lever is in a first position, and for closing said gate, wrapping said sprockets, and forming loops for projection from said filmstrip when said control lever is in a second position, an improved system for controlling a plurality of operations of said projector in cooperation with said control mechanism, said control system comprising;

a. switch means independent of said control lever for selecting forward and reverse operation of said drive train;

b. means responsive to said switch means and said second position of said control lever for selectively connecting said take-up reel drive to said drive train for winding up said filmstrip during forward projection drive and for connecting said supply reel drive to said drive train for winding up said filmstrip during reverse projection drive;

c. means responsive to said switch means and said first position of said control lever for selectively connecting one of said reel drives to said drive train for winding up said filmstrip during a fast run; and

d. means for selectively braking the unwinding one of said reel drives for a predetermined interval upon interruption of said fast run.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said braking means comprises means for selectively connecting said unwinding one of said reel drives to said drive train.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said reel drive connecting means for fast run includes means for connecting said supply reel drive to said drive train for fast reverse run and means for connecting said take-up reel drive to said drive train for fast forward run.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said braking means comprises means for selectively connecting the braked one of said reel drives to said drive train.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said drive train includes a driving member and a driven member selectively connected to said reel drives;

a slip connection between said driving member and said driven member;

means for positively connecting said driven member to said driving member; and

means for selectively engaging said positive connection means for said fast run.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said driven member is driven through said slip connection in said reverse projection drive, and said supply reel drive is connected to said driven member in said reverse projection drive.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein said braking means comprises means for selectively connecting said unwinding one of said reel drives to said driven member.

8. The system of claim 7 including means for maintaining said positive connection for an interval after interruption of said fast run.

9. The system of claim 1 including a measuring sprocket engaging said filmstrip and turning as said filmstrip moves, and a counter driven by said measuring sprocket to indicate the amount of said filmstrip that has passed through said projector.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said measuring sprocket has teeth and is turned by said filmstrip.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein said measuring sprocket engages said filmstrip in either position of said control lever.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said measuring sprocket is arranged in the region of said take-up sprocket.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said drive train includes a fast run drive comprising:

a. a fast run drive gear;

b. a supply reel gear meshed with said fast run drive gear;

c. a take-up reel gear meshed with said fast run drive gear;

d. a supply reel drive pulley;

e. a take-up reel drive pulley;

f. means for selectively engaging said supply reel drive pulley with said supply reel drive gear for fast reverse run; and

g. means for selectively eNgaging said take-up reel drive pulley with said take-up reel drive gear for fast forward run.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said selective engaging means for said supply reel drive pulley and said take-up reel drive pulley each includes a solenoid-actuated clutch.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said solenoid-actuated clutch is a wrap-spring clutch.

16. The system of claim 15 including a pulley journal surrounded by said wrap-spring, and a solenoid-operated cam means movable axially of said journal for engaging and tightening said wrap-spring on said journal.

17. The system of claim 13 including a belt drive between said take-up reel gear and said take-up reel pulley.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said take-up reel drive includes a friction clutch drive operable during forward projection drive, means for over-riding said friction clutch drive for fast forward run, and a one-way clutch oriented for disengagement in reverse drive.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said over-riding means includes means for disengaging said friction clutch and tensioning said belt drive.

20. The system of claim 19 including a pivotal support arm for said take-up reel, said friction clutch being responsive to pivoting of said take-up reel support arm, and said friction clutch disengaging means including means moved by said control lever for pivoting said take-up reel support arm.

21. The system of claim 13 including means for locking said control lever in said first position until an interval after interruption of said fast run.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein said locking means includes a solenoid-actuated pin for blocking movement of said control lever from said first position.

23. The system of claim 13 wherein said braking means comprises means for operating said supply reel drive pulley engaging means upon interruption of said fast forward run, and means for operating said take-up reel drive pulley engaging means upon interruption of said fast reverse run.

24. The system of claim 13 including means for driving said fast run drive gear, a slip connection between said fast run drive gear and said driving means, means for positively connecting said fast run drive gear to said driving means, and means for selectively engaging said positive connection means for said fast run.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein said slip connection comprises a wrap-spring clutch.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein said positive connection means comprises a member movable to interlock said fast run drive gear to said driving means for rotation together.

27. The system of claim 24 including a solenoid for moving said interlocking member.

28. The system of claim 27 including means for energizing said solenoid for an interval after interruption of said fast run to maintain said positive connection for braking said reel drives.

29. The system of claim 27 including a pin actuated by said solenoid for blocking movement of said control lever from said first position for an interval after interruption of said fast run.

30. The system of claim 24 wherein said braking means comprises means for operating said supply reel drive pulley engaging means upon interruption of said fast forward run means and means for operating said take-up reel drive pulley engaging means upon interruption of said fast reverse run, and means for holding said engagement of said positive connection means for an interval after interruption of said fast run.

31. The system of claim 24 including means operable with positive connection engaging means for locking said control lever in said first position until an interval after interruption of said fast run.

32. The system of claim 24 wherein said slip connection is arranged for slip driving said fast run drive gear for said reverse projection drive, and said supply reel drive pulley is engaged with said supply reel drive gear for said reverse projection drive.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein said slip connection comprises a wRap-spring clutch.

34. The system of claim 13 including a measuring sprocket engaging said filmstrip and turning as said filmstrip moves, and a counter driven by said measuring sprocket to indicate the amount of said filmstrip that has passed through said projector.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein said measuring sprocket has teeth and is turned by said filmstrip.

36. The system of claim 34 wherein said measuring sprocket engages said filmstrip in either position of said control lever.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein said measuring sprocket is arranged in the region of said take-up sprocket.

38. The system of claim 1 wherein said take-up reel drive includes a friction clutch drive operable during forward projection drive, and means for over-riding said friction clutch drive for fast forward run.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein said take-up reel drive includes a one-way clutch oriented for disengagement in reverse drive.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein said over-riding means includes means for disengaging said friction clutch and means for engaging said take-up reel drive with a fast-run drive.

41. The system of claim 40 including a pivotal support arm for said take-up reel, said friction clutch being responsive to pivoting of said take-up reel support arm, and wherein said friction clutch disengaging means includes means moved by said control lever for pivoting said take-up reel support arm to raise the upper end of said take-up reel support arm.

42. The system of claim 39 wherein said braking means includes means for engaging said take-up reel drive with said fast run drive.

43. The system of claim 1 including means for locking said control lever in said first position until an interval after interruption of said fast run.

44. The system of claim 43 wherein said locking means includes a solenoid-actuated pin for blocking movement of said control lever from said first position.

45. The system of claim 1 including loop-forming means comprising:

a. a shaft for supporting and driving said feed sprocket;

b. a wrap-spring clutch coupling said feed sprocket to said shaft;

c. a member rotated when said control lever moves between said first and second positions;

d. means for disengaging said wrap-spring clutch as said member rotates; and

e. means for rotating said feed sprocket on said shaft in response to rotation of said member.

46. The system of claim 45 wherein said member comprises a drum, and a pair of cables moved by said control lever rotate said drum in opposite directions as said control lever moves in opposite directions.

47. The system of claim 45 including sprocket driver means for engaging either free end of said wrap-spring clutch to tighten said clutch, and spring means for coupling said sprocket driver means to said feed sprocket.

48. The system of claim 45 wherein said means for disengaging said wrap-spring clutch comprises means for engaging either free end of said wrap-spring clutch to loosen said clutch, and a gear train from said member to said clutch loosening means.

49. The system of claim 48 including sprocket driver means for engaging either free end of said wrap-spring clutch to tighten said clutch, spring means for coupling said sprocket driver means to said feed sprocket, and said clutch loosening means being arranged for driving a free end of said clutch against said sprocket driver means to rotate said sprocket on said shaft in response to rotation of said member.

50. The system of claim 48 wherein said gear train includes a gear sector for driving through a predetermined angular rotation arranged as said gear sector is disengaged whenever said clutch is tightened to drive said sprocket.

51. The system of claim 50 wherein said member comprises a drum, and a pair of cables moved by said control lever rotates said drum in opposite directions as said control lever moves in opposite directions.

52. The system of claim 51 wherein said drum is rotatably mounted on sAid shaft, said gear sector is a ring gear carried by said drum, and said gear train includes a planetary gear and a sun gear for rotating said clutch loosening means.

53. The system of claim 52 wherein said gear sector is disengaged from said gear train when said control lever is in either said first or second positions.

54. The system of claim 52 wherein said gear sector includes resilient means for engaging said planetary gear to secure a mesh with said planetary gear.

55. The system of claim 54 wherein said resilient means comprises resiliently deformable teeth on said gear sector.

56. The system of claim 50 wherein said gear sector has resiliently deformable teeth for engaging said gear train to secure a mesh with said gear train.

57. The system of claim 47 wherein said spring coupling means is arranged as a snubber for forward run of said feed sprocket.

58. The system of claim 57 wherein said spring coupling means is arranged for a positive drive coupling between said sprocket driver means and said feed sprocket for reverse run.