Abstract:
A film transfer and edit adaptor for facilitating the moving, reviewing and editing on spindle capable systems of a film set up for platter system projecting equipment, the adaptor including a support plate for the film, a cover plate for protecting the film, at least one fastening means for removably securing the cover plate to the support plate, a stem having sidewalls and a central bore, the central bore slidably engageable with the spindle system, and a locking means for lockingly engaging the stem with the spindle system.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to the transferring and editing of tapes or film, and more particularly, to a film transfer and edit adaptor for facilitating the moving, reviewing and editing on spindle capable systems of films set up for continuous play or platter systems. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Motion picture projection facilities and other continuous play systems involving tapes or film often utilize open turntable-type equipment or platter systems. The platter system allows the full and complete film or tape to rest in a single horizontal coil on a large platter. In a simplified explanation, as the platter rotates, the film unwinds from the coil center and is driven to the projection heads of a projection system. After passing the heads, the film is delivered to a second platter and the film is recoiled thereon. Such systems are well known in the prior art and more detailed explanations thereof can be found in a number of U.S. Patents, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,780,959, 3,823,890, 4,030,675 and 4,169,566. 
     The platter systems, have greatly simplified the projection aspects of film and tape rewind and display Such simplification includes the obviation of multiple projectors and constant handling of individual film reels. The shipping and handling of full length tapes, as opposed to several individually coiled film reels, is disclosed in pending U.S. Letters Patent No. 4,754,878. 
     It often becomes necessary, however, to replace certain reels of film from the entire feature, or edit certain parts therefrom. Film wear can occur from exposure to various environmental conditions within the projection or play area, and damage can also occur due to system malfunction or human error. The replacement of reels or lengths of film, the editing and splicing of film, or the deletion of segments from the film must be done on a system separate from the platter turntables. Typically, a separate rewind or make-up table is used. The rewind table, or its equivalents, are traditionally basic spindle systems; and consequently, the film must be wound, or rewound, from the platter onto smaller individual film reels. The smaller reels are capable of fitting on a spindle. This transition or breakdown is performed by feeding the film onto an individual reel contained on a rewind or make-up table. Again, the make-up table typically includes a conventional spindle type motor system. A second discrete film reel is then placed upon the rewind table on another separate spindle and the desired film improvements are made. After making such improvements the film is re-spliced together and wound back onto the platter as a single large unitary coil by winding. 
     The necessity of rewinding onto an individual reel not only is inefficient, but it also allows for human error and additional touching of the film. Splicing of the film, and any handling for that matter, dramatically increase the potential exposure of a film to dirt and other hazardous environmental conditions. Damage may result. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a film transfer and editing device obviating the need to transfer the film onto separate individual reels. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an editing adaptor enabling the large film coil to be placed directly upon a conventional make-up or rewind table. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an editing device compatible with existing spindle type system rewind and make-up machines 
     And it is a further object of the present invention to provide a protective covering for the film during transfer and editing 
     Generally stated, the present invention of a film transfer and edit adaptor for facilitating the moving, reviewing and editing on spindle capable systems of a film set up for platter system projection equipment includes a support plate for the film, a cover plate for protecting the film, at least one fastening means for removably securing the cover plate to the support plate, a stem having sidewalls and a central bore, the central bore slidably engageable with the spindle system, and a locking means for lockingly engaging the stem with the spindle system. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the instant invention, the support plate has a film support surface, a base surface and a plate aperture, the support surface including at least one receptacle and being of an otherwise substantially smooth nature. A cover plate is provided for protecting the film, and the cover plate has a cover aperture and an annular engaging surface. The annular engaging surface is mounted upon an inner surface of the cover plate and is concentric with, and radially outward from, the cover aperture. A cylindrical stem has sidewalls, an inverted funnelled configuration and a central bore. The central bore is slidably engageable with the spindle system and the sidewalls are capable of forming a frictional fit with the annular engaging surface. An inner ring is removably secured to the support plate and has a means for film attachment. The inner ring is demountably concentric about the plate aperture and is spaced radially outward from the annular engaging surface. At least one fastening means is provided for securing the cover plate to the support plate at the at least one receptacle such that the cover plate is spatially positioned above the film and the support plate and is also concentric therewith. The at least one fastening means is positioned in a spacial relationship about the cover aperture and the plate aperture A locking means is also provided for lockingly engaging the stem with the spindle system at the central bore. An apron drum is positioned adjacent the stem and concentric therewith, the drum also having a middle bore mountable upon the spindle. The stem is placed upon the spindle system and the cover plate, and after being fastened to the support plate above the film thereby forming a movable reel, can be placed on the stem and the film edited on the traditional spindle capable film systems. 
     The foregoing may be explained in another way. U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,878 describes a container which is constructed and arranged for handling a feature length motion picture film as a single continuous strip rather than in several separate reels as has been the conventional practice. The upper main wall and the inner ring of this container are removable to permit the film confined in the container (and thereafter retained on the lower main wall) to be fed to the projector from the center outward. This structure is configured to be used on a horizontal turntable having a central hub of relatively large diameter. 
     However, occasions arise when the film retained on such lower main wall must be projected using the more prevalent conventional spindle-type systems. Such systems have a spindle of relatively small diameter. The inventive adaptor solves the problem created by these arrangements by providing a structure which uses the container support plate (the lower main wall as it is called in the aforementioned U.S. Patent) having a relatively large aperture, upon such a small diameter spindle. 
     It is believed that a better understanding of the present invention, as well as a recognition of how the present invention achieves the foregoing objects and attains various additional advantages will become apparent to those sufficiently skilled in the art from a consideration of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. During the following detailed description, reference will be made to the appended sheets of the drawings, which will now first be briefly described. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a part of a film transfer adaptor in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevation view taken through plane II--II of FIG. and including the film device in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG.3 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 4 is cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a partially exploded view of the alternative embodiment of FIG. 4. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Preliminarily, to best understand the present invention a description of the environment and circumstances of it use must be set forth. The platter or turntable-type system is in common use in the film industry today. In such systems, single, individual reels of film are spliced together and the entire film or tape then rests squarely upon the platter in a single unitary coil. The coil allows for an entire feature length film to be shown from a single projector. The film is drawn from one of the platters or turntables through the various mechanisms required for picture display and back on to a second platter. Because the film rests on a platter, in order to edit the film or change damaged frames it must be moved on to a rewind or make-up table. 
     The film transfer and edit adaptor 10, the instant invention, is utilized in order to lift the film 12 from the platter (not shown) and transfer it directly onto a conventional make-up or rewind apparatus 14 having a spindle 15. The film device 10 obviates the need for separate rewinding onto individual reels in order to utilize the spindle systems. 
     FIG. 1 shows cover plate 16 and support plate 18 held together by fastening means 20. Support plate 18 sits directly on the turntable or platter and film 12 rests on support plate 18 in a single coiled reel. It should be emphasized that support plate 18 may be slid underneath film 12 by having an edge 19 tapered (not shown). Accordingly, film 12 either rests directly on the platter during normal play, or may sit on support plate 18. When film transferring and editing is desired, cover plate 16 is placed on top of film 12, above support plate 18, thus forming a moveable reel. Cover plate 16 may also include at least one film slit 22. Film slit 22 allows an operator to see the film 12 and to view film length and reel load capacity. 
     Turning now to FIG. 2, FIG. 2 shows a side elevation view of the present invention as taken through plane II--II of FIG. 1. As previously mentioned, at least one fastening means 20 is provided for securing the cover plate 16 to support plate 18. Fastening means 20 is limited in form or substance only to the extent that it must not interfere with film 12 as film 12 is wound or unWound from film adaptor 10. In the preferred embodiment, fastening means 20 takes the form of a wing nut having finger tabs 46 and shank portion 48. Nut portion 48 may include a threaded bottom 50 which is engagingly receivable in least one receptacle 52. At least one receptacle 52 is positioned adjacent to, or may be integral with support plate 18. Again, fastening means 20 allows for cover plate 16 and support plate 18 to form a moveable reel containing film 12. This reel can then be placed upon a stem 26 having sidewalls 28 which is attached to the rewind apparatus 14 at spindle 15. Support plate 18 precludes film 12 from uncoiling from adaptor 10. Cover plate 16 is provided to, inter alia, protect film 12. Cover plate 16 also includes an inner surface 34, a cover aperture 36 and an annular engaging surface 38. The annular engaging surface 38 is provided so as to form a frictional fit with sidewall 28 of stem 26. 
     Addressing stem 26 with more particularity, stem 26 has an inverted funnelled configuration, as is shown in FIG. 2. Stem 26 also has a cylindrical cross section configuration. It should be noted that it is contemplated that stem 26 may take on any polygonal shape, including, but not limited to a rectangular shape, hexagonal shape and triangular shape. Moreover, while in the preferred embodiment of FIG. 2 a funnelled configuration exists on stem 26, stem 26 is not limited thereto. Similarly, annular engaging surface 38, though shown in FIG. 2 to be a number of degrees from perpendicular to inner surface 34, is not so limited. By way of example, and not by limitation, annular engaging surface 38 may be perpendicular to inner surface 34. In such an alternative configuration, stem 26 may change cross-sectional shape as well. However, the user of the adaptor 10 will find that it can be most conveniently assembled to stem 26 if the stem has a circular cross-section and is tapered slightly, both as shown in FIG. 2. It is important, however, that when cover plate 16 and support plate 18 are placed onto spindle 15 after stem 26 is placed onto spindle 15 that annular engaging surface 38 forms a frictional fit with the sidewalls 28 of stem 26. Plate aperture 35 is provided with a perimeter greater than the perimeter of stem 26 so that support plate 18 can slide down and onto stem 26. 
     Referring still to FIG. 2, locking means 54 is provided for lockingly engaging stem 26 with spindle 15 of apparatus 14. In the preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, locking means 54 comprises a nut and bolt connection 56 with the top of spindle 15. In such a circumstance, spindle 15 has a threaded top portion 58. It should be understood that in the preferred embodiment locking means 54 also ensures that cover plate 16 and support plate 18 do not become disengaged from the apparatus 14 at stem 26. As an additional example, locking means 54 may be integral with stem 26, and take the form of a set screw. Again, locking means may be any type of mechanical, frictional, magnetic, or other, engaging method. 
     As is best seen in FIG. 3, at least one fastening means 20 is positioned in a spatial relationship about cover aperture 36 and is also positioned radially outward from annular engaging surface 38 (as best shown in FIG. 2). At least one receptacle 52 is positioned radially outward from plate aperture 35 of support plate 18. Support plate 18 includes a film surface 32 and a base surface 33. Base surface 33 is adjacent to an apron drum 68 (best shown in FIG. 2). Apron drum 68 includes middle bore 69 which is mountable upon spindle 15. Apron drum 68 affords structural support for base surface 33 of support plate 18. 
     Turning now to FIG. 4, FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. Film transfer adaptor 100 being generally indicated with the same parts having the same reference numerals as the film transfer adaptor 10 heretofore described with regard to FIGS. 1-3. In this alternative embodiment, film transfer adapter 100 includes a stem 126 mountable upon spindle 115. In this alternative embodiment spindle 115 is shown to have an altered cross section such that locking means 154 is in fact the altered configuration. Alternatively, locking means 154 may be integral with stem 126, e.g., a set screw. 
     Sidewalls 128 of stem 126 are notched, as is annular engaging surface 138. Notching of these two surfaces allows for a secure connection during film rewinding or editing and further ensures that the cover plate 16 and support plate 18, held together as a reel by fastening means 20, remain engaged with stem 118 for smooth rewinding and editing. It should be understood that cover aperture 36 may be deleted (as shown in FIG. 4) for example, when the alternative embodiment is employed. This deletion is possible because of the alternative embodiment of locking means 154. 
     Inner ring 70 is discussed in detail in U.S. Letters Pat. No. 4,754,878, and accordingly, does not form a part of this invention. 
     Turning finally to FIG. 5, FIG. 5 is a partially exploded view of the alternative embodiment of FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is indicative of the present invention in application. Specifically, stem 126 and an apron drum 68 are slidably engaged with spindle 115 through central bore 127 and middle bore 69, respectively. After stem 126 and drum 68 are placed onto spindle 115, cover plate 16 and support plate 18, which are removably secured by at least one fastening means 20, are moved containing film 12 onto stem 126. Annular engaging surface 138 ensures a secure and effective fit. Locking means 54 lockingly engages stem 126 to spindle 115 at central bore 127 and rewinding or editing may be initiated. 
     Having thus described a preferred exemplary embodiment and an alternative embodiment of a film transfer and editing device, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various additional objects and advantages have been attained by the within invention and that a variety of modifications, adaptations and equivalent constructions can be made within the scope and spirit of the present invention, being limited only by the appended claims.