FILM CUTTING APPARATUS

• US 3,793,915 A
• Filed: 09/28/1971
• Issued: 02/26/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Friedrich Hujer
• Original Assignee: Friedrich Hujer
• Inventors: Hujer, Friedrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Meister, J. M.
• Application Number:
  US05/184,497
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 83/62,208,209,210,364,369,371,76,221
• US Class Current: 83/62
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 33/006 for obtaining pieces of a predetermined length, e.g. control arrangements B23D36/0033 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03D 15/046 Automatic cutting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/088 Responsive to tool detector or work-feed-means detector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/4455 Operation initiated by work-driven detector means to measure work length
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/446 With means to initiate tool feed by same control impulse
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/4491 Interlock between tool actuating and work feed means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/531 With plural work-sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/543 Sensing means responsive to work indicium or irregularity

Abstract

Film has first markings indicating properly exposed negatives and second markings indicating glued sections. Length of film following a previous cut is measured; following a predetermined length, passage of next first marking past a scanner causes activation of cutting means along frame line. Film transport then restarted. Sensing of second marking also initiates cutting along frame line, but no subsequent film transport.

Claims

1. Arrangement for cutting elongated signal carrier means having a plurality of frames separated by frame lines and a plurality Of identifying marks each having a predetermined position relative to a corresponding one of said frames, at frame lines, into strips having a predetermined maximum length, comprising, in combination, transport means for transporting said elongated signal carrier means along a predetermined path;

cutting means arranged immediately following said transport means in the direction of motion of said elongated signal carrier means, for cutting said elongated signal carrier means in response to a cutting signal;

scanning means, arranged preceding said transport means in the direction of motion of said elongated signal carrier means, for scanning said identifying marks and furnishing identifying signals in response thereto;

measuring for means furnishing measuring signals corresponding to the length of said elongated signal carrier means transported by said transport means following receipt of one of said identifying signals; and

computing means connected to said measuring means, said scanning means and said cutting means for furnishing said cutting signal as a function of said measuring and scanning signals.

2. Cutting arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said transport means comprise a pair of transport rollers;

further comprising driving means for driving said transport rollers under control of said computing means.

3. Cutting arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said computing means furnish said cutting signal in response to a measuring signal corresponding to the length of said elongated signal carrier means which must be transported by said transport means until the frame line corresponding to said one of said identifying signals is positioned at said cutting means.

4. Cutting arrangement as set forth in claim 3 wherein said elongated signal carrier means comprise photographic film joined at film junctions, said photographic film having properly exposed and improperly exposed frames;

wherein said identifying marks comprise first identifying marks indicative of said film junctions and additional identifying marks indicative of each of said frames, regardless of exposure; and

wherein said scanning means comprise first scanning means scanning said first identifying marks and furnishing junction signals in response thereto, and additional scanning means scanning said additional identifying marks and furnishing individual frame signals in response thereto.

5. In an arrangement for cutting elongated signal carrier means having a plurality of film strips joined at film junctions, each of said film strips having a plurality of frames separated by frame lines, at said frame lines into strips having a predetermined maximum length, at least one of said film strips having properly and improperly exposed frames, said film strips further having first identifying marks indicative of said film junctions and second identifying marks indicative of properly exposed frames, each of said second identifying marks having a predetermined position relative to a corresponding one of said frames, comprising, in combination, transport means for transporting said elongated signal carrier means along a predetermined path;

cutting means arranged immediately following said transport means in the direction of motion of said elongated signal carrier means, for cutting said elongated signal carrier means in response to a cutting signal;

first scanning means arranged preceding said transport means in the direction of motion of said elongated signal carrier means, for scanning said first identifying marks and furnishing junction signals in response thereto;

second scanning means arranged preceding said transport means in the direction of motion of said elongated signal carrier means, for scanning said second identifying marks and furnishing exposed frame signals in response thereto;

measuring means furnishing measuring signals corresponding to the length of said elongated signal carrier means transported by said transport means following receipt of one of said exposed frame signals;

aNd computing means connected to said measuring means, said scanning means, and said cutting means for furnishing said cutting signal in response to a measuring signal corresponding to the length of said elongated signal carrier means which must be transported by said transport means until the frame lines corresponding to said one of said exposed frame signals is positioned at said cutting means.

6. Cutting arrangement as set forth in claim 5, wherein said measuring means comprise means positioned between said scanning means and said transport means along said predetermined path.

7. Cutting arrangement as set forth in claim 6, wherein said measuring means comprise cylinder means having a predetermined diameter;

means maintaining contact between said cylinder means and said photographic film;

disc means mounted for simultaneous rotation with said cylinder means, said disc means having a plurality of disc markings; and

disc scanning means scanning said disc markings and furnishing disc scanning signals in response thereto.

8. Cutting arrangement as set forth in claim 7, wherein said cylinder means comprise metal cylinder means.

9. Cutting arrangement as set forth in claim 8, wherein said disc scanning means comprise photoelectric disc scanning means.

10. Cutting arrangement as set forth in claim 7, wherein said driving means comprise DC motor means;

further comprising motor speed signal furnishing means furnishing a signal indicative of the speed of said DC motor means; and

comparator means comparing said motor speed signal to said disc scanning signal and furnishing a comparator output signal when the frequency of said disc scanning signals differs from the frequency corresponding to said motor speed signal by more than a predetermined frequency difference.

11. Cutting arrangement as set forth in claim 10, further comprising means stopping said DC motor means in response to said comparator output signal.

12. Cutting arrangement as set forth in claim 11, further comprising alarm means responsive to said comparator output signal.

13. Cutting arrangement as set forth in claim 7, wherein said measuring means further comprise first counting means for counting said disc scanning signals and furnishing said measuring signals in response thereto.

14. Cutting arrangement as set forth in claim 13, wherein said first counting means comprise means furnishing a first measuring signal when the number of counted disc scanning signals is equal to a first predetermined number corresponding to said predetermined maximum length;

and wherein said computing means comprise first gating means connected to said first counting means and said second scanning means and furnishing a first gating output signal in response to simultaneous presence of said first measuring signal and said exposed frame signal.

15. Cutting arrangement as set forth in claim 14, wherein said first counting means further comprise means furnishing a second measuring signal following the furnishing of said first measuring signal by a second predetermined number of said disc scanning signals, said second predetermined number corresponding to the length of one of said frames in the direction of motion of said film;

and wherein said computing means comprise first storage means having a set and a reset state in response to, respectively, said first and second measuring signals; and

wherein said gating means is responsive to the simultaneous presence of said exposed frame signal and the set state of said first storage means.

16. Cutting arrangement as set forth in claim 15, wherein said computing means further comprise logic means connected between said first storage means and said DC motor means, for furnishing a motor stop signal stopping said DC motor following receipt of said first gating output signal.

17. Cutting arrangement as set forth in claim 16, wherein said DC motor means comprise a DC motor;

and motor control means connected to said DC motor foR furnishing reference signals controlling said speed of said DC motor to said DC motor.

18. Cutting arrangement as set forth in claim 17, wherein said motor control means comprise means furnishing a first reference signal resulting in decreased motor speed to said motor in response to a speed reducing signal;

wherein said measuring means comprise means furnishing a third measuring signal upon receipt of a predetermined third number of disc scanning signals following said first gating output signal, said third number depending upon the distance between said second scanning means and said cutting means; and

wherein said logic means comprise means furnishing said speed reducing signal to said motor control means following receipt of said third measuring signal.

19. Cutting arrangement as set forth in claim 18, wherein said measuring means comprise means furnishing a fourth measuring signal following receipt of a fourth predetermined number of said disc scanning signals following furnishing of said third measuring signal;

and wherein said logic means comprises means furnishing said motor stop signal in response to said fourth measuring signal.

20. Cutting arrangement as set forth in claim 19, wherein said computing means further comprise additional logic means connected to said logic means for furnishing said cutting signal in response to said motor stop signal.

21. Cutting arrangement as set forth in claim 20, wherein said logic means further comprise first bistable circuit means switched from a first to a second stable state upon receipt of said motor stop signal;

and wherein said additional logic means comprise differentiating means connected to said first bistable circuit means and furnishing differentiator output signal when said first bistable circuit means changes from said first to said second stable state.

22. Cutting arrangement as set forth in claim 21, wherein said cutting means comprise a knife movable between a rest and a cutting position;

means furnishing a first and second knife position signal when said knife is in said rest and cutting positions respectively;

further comprising transport restart gating means connected to said first bistable circuit means for resetting said first bistable circuit means upon receipt of said first knife position signal.

23. Cutting arrangement as set forth in claim 22, wherein said additional logic means comprise first additional logic gating means interconnected between said differentiator means and said cutting means, said additional logic gating means having a blocking input;

further comprising test signal furnishing means furnishing a test signal to said blocking input, thereby preventing operation of said cutting means.

24. Cutting arrangement as set forth in claim 23, wherein said additional logic means comprise second additional logic gating means, for furnishing said cutting signal in the simultaneous presence of said differentiator output signal, said test signal, and a start signal;

and means furnishing said start signal under operator control.

25. Cutting arrangement as set forth in claim 24, further comprising second counting means receiving said disc scanning signals, said junction signal and said exposed frame signal, and furnishing phase shifted junction and exposed frame signals after a predetermined count of said disc scanning signals.

26. Cutting arrangement as set forth in claim 25, further comprising third counting means connected to the output of said second counting means and said disc scanning means, for counting said disc scanning signals, resetting and starting in response to said exposed frame signal and resetting in response to said junction signal, said third counting means furnishing a third counter output signal following receipt of a predetermined number of said disc scanning signals after receipt of one of said exposed frame signals.

27. Cutting arrangement as set forth in claim 26, further comprising means interconnecting the output of Said third counting means with said logic means, for furnishing said motor stop signal in response to said third counter output signal.

28. Arrangement for cutting elongated signal carrier means having a plurality of film strips joined at film junctions, each of said film strips having a plurality of frames separated by frame lines, at least one of said film strips having properly and improperly exposed frames, said film strips further having first identifying marks indicative of properly exposed frames, each of said second identifying marks having a predetermined position relative to a corresponding one of said frames, at frame lines, into strips having a predetermined maximum length, comprising, in combination, transport means for transporting said elongated signal carrier means along a predetermined path;

cutting means arranged immediately following said transport means in the direction of motion of said elongated signal carrier means, for cutting said elongated signal carrier means in response to a cutting signal;

first scanning means arranged preceding said transport means in the direction of motion of said elongated signal carrier means, for scanning said first identifying marks and furnishing junction signals in response thereto;

second scanning means arranged preceding said transport means in the direction of motion of said elongated signal carrier means, for scanning said second identifying marks and furnishing exposed frame signals in response thereto;

measuring means furnishing measuring signals corresponding to the length of said elongated signal carrier means transported by said transport means following receipt of one of said exposed frame signals; and

computing means connected to said measuring means, said scanning means, and said cutting means for furnishing said cutting signal in response to a measuring signal corresponding to the length of said elongated signal carrier means which must be transported by said transport means until the fram line corresponding to said one of said exposed frame signals is positioned at said cutting means; and

wherein said transport means comprise a pair of transport rollers, and driving means for driving said transport rollers under control of said computing means.