Patent GB-327633-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in photographic film printers
IPC: G03B27/08
Filed: 1929-06-05
Abstract: 327,633. Brookes, N. E., (Technicolor Motion Picture Corporation). June 5, 1929. Kinemalograph apparatus - In photographically printing colour record kinematograph positive films, particularly for use as imbibition matrices, from a single negative film a number of positive films are fed along parallel, laterally offset paths, whilst the negative film moves in the same direction as the positive film in one of the paths and in the opposite direction in another, the printing of the positive films being effected concurrently in the different paths. In one form of printing apparatus according to the invention, two positive films p<1>, p<2>, Fig. 22, are simultaneously printed from a single negative film n in which complemental colour record pictures occur alternately, one series being, printed on the film p<1> and the other series on the film p<2>. The positive films pass along similar parallel paths each including continuously-driven feed mechanism 12, 13, Fig. 4, film notching and tensioning mechanism 15, exposure, gate 7, and intermittent feed mechanism 18, to the take-up reels. The negative film n is fed downwardly past the exposure gate 3 with the film p, and looped upwardly past the exposure gate 7. The downward and upward halves of the negative films path each include film guiding and film operated switch means 220 for controlling the printing light and notching of the positive films, intermittent-feed mechanism 8, and continuous-feed mechanism 9. The vertical shaft 23, Fig. 3, is driven through the toothed clutch 21 bv the motor-driven shaft 20. The shaft 23 is connected through gearing 24, 26, 28 to the shaft 29. The latter carries a wheel 30 driving the continuous-feed mechanism while the negative film moves downward and also drives through wheels 31, 32, the shaft 33 carrying a wheel 34 driving the continuous-feed mechanism while the negative film moves upward. A wheel 35 on the shaft 29 drives the continuous-feed mechanisms 13 for both positive films. Gearing 36 and 38 connects the shaft 33 to the pulley 39 which drives by a belt the negative film-receiving reel. The shaft 23 is also connected to the shafts 43 and 44, which drive the intermittent negative feeding devices 4 and 8 respectively, and to the gear-wheel 47 which carries a shutter. 45, Fig. 4. Fig. 5 shows one of the intermittent negative feeding devices 8. A cam 51 geared to the shaft 44 is connected through the crank 53 to the crosshead 55, causing the latter to slide up and down on the guide 56. An arm 59 pivoted at one end to the cross-head 55 and carrying at the other end fingers 61 to engage the sprocket holes in the negative film is normally held out of engagement with the film by the spring 62, but is pushed into engagement with the film during its upward movement by the surface 64 on the cam 51. The device moves the negative film two image spaces for each rotation of the cam 51. The frame 57 carrying the device may be raised or lowered by the adjusting-means 62a, Fig. 4. Means for intermittently feeding both positive films and for registering the positive and negative films at the exposure gate are contained in a housing 101 which is pivoted to' the front of the casing at 102, Fig. 5, and may be tilted to facilitate threading the films. A catch 101<1> holds the housing in the operative position. A shaft 104,. manually operable but normally driven through the gear 106<1>, extends through the housing 101 and carries a series of cams. The cam 109, Fig. 7, operates a pair of devices 113, 116, 119 similar to that shown in Fig. 5, for intermittently drawing the positive films past the exposure gates. A further cam rocks the lever 126 pivoted at 128, causing the slides 125 and plates 154 which are spring urged to press the positive films against the negative film, to be intermittently withdrawn. Guides mounted on the plate 154 are adapted to hold the edges of the positive films. away from the negative film. A still further cam on the shaft 104 rocks an arm 142, pivoted at 134 and adapted to intermittently withdraw spring- urged registering pins 142, 143, 144 and 145, Fig. 22. The latter are adapted to enter perfectly-positioned sprocket holes in the films and are each tapered so that their cross-sections have the respective shapes shown in Fig. 22. A further registering-pin 160, whose extremity 161 is shown in Fig. 22, is so mounted that when its entry into the sprocket holes is prevented by the films being out of register the main electric circuit is broken and the machine is stopped. Light from the lamps 199, Fig. 4, which are horizontally and vertically adjustable in the housing 200, passes through the window 202, shutter 45 and boxes 203 to the exposure gates 3 and 7. The boxes 203 are made air-tight and are supplied with .air under pressure through the connections 212, so that the negative film is bulged outwards ensuring that contact with the positive films will first take place in the centre of the image space. Means 15 controlled from the negative film for notching the positive films at corresponding places at the beginning and end of the film to facilitate subsequent registration are shown in Fig. 13. A swinging gate carrying spring-urged rollers is adapted to latch up and press the film against a flat surface is such a position that its edge passes between a cutting shoulder 297 and a movable cutter 294 normally held out of operation by the spring 295. When a solenoid 275 is energized from the switch 220, described later, its core 277 together with the arms 284 and 285 is drawn to the right, causing the nose 291 to engage the shoulder 292 on the movable cutter, causing the latter to engage the shoulder 297 and cut a notch in the film. Immediately upon completion of the cutting operation the nose 291 slips past the shoulder 292 and the movable cutter is withdrawn by the spring 295, ensuring that the film is not torn if the solenoid 275 is not immediately de-energized. Fig. 18 shows one of the switch mechanisms by which the negative film controls either the notching mechanism or the light-control mechanism, according to the position of a manually-operated switch (not shown). The film is supported against the member 225 by a pivoted gate which carries guide springs and may be latched in the closed position. A lever 226, pivoted to the member 225 and having a roller-carrying extension 231 spring-urged to engage the edge of the negative film, carries an insulated bridge-member 227. When notches on the negative film reach the roller 232 the lever 226 rocks causing the contacts 228 and 229 to be joined by the bridge 227 closing the circuit of the notching mechanism solenoids or light-control mechanisms, which comprise solenoids operating switches for introducing resistances into the light circuit in a known way. Printing is preferably through the back of the negative film with the back of the positive film against the negative film. The electric circuit arrangements for the machine are described. Specification 194,971 is referred to.