Patent GB-260124-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in film splicing machines
IPC: G03D15/04
Filed: 1925-12-11
Abstract: 260,124. Leo, J. G., and Fox Film Corporation. Dec. 11, 1925. Affixing by adhesives. - A film splicing machine, for use in eliminating cracks and other defects from kinematograph films, comprises means for supporting the film ends from the frame and a reciprocating carrier on which are mounted cutting means, polishing means, cement applying means, and pressing means, these means being operative on the film or one of the cut ends in due order by controlled reciprocation of the carrier. On a carrier 13, which reciprocates in an undercut groove 11 in the base 10 of the machine, are positioned in sequence a knife 16 with an inclined cutting edge enclosed by a spring- pressed guard 95 adapted to move downwardly to expose the cutting edge when the carrier approaches the film to be cut and to be raised by its spring to enclose the knife as the carrier comes under a shield 96, a film moistener 17 comprising a felt pad 18 carried in a casing 20 holding liquid, a film scraper 23 with non-corrosible bristles 24, a film cleaner 28 with bristles 30, a cement well 31 provided with a pivoted applier 33 and baffles 38 to break up the movements of the cement, and a spring-controlled pivotally-mounted presser lug 41. To limit the movement of the carrier so that, after the film has been cut by the knife 16, the pad 18 and bristles 24 only operate on one of the film ends during a number of reciprocations, a stop 46, Fig. 3, is provided which passes over a lever stop 44 as the knife cuts the film, the stop 46 rising again to prevent the knife again contacting with the film. A stop 47 similarly limits the backward movement of the carrier. The carrier is then reciprocated for the pad 18 and bristles 24 to remove the emulsion from the lower surface of one of the film ends. The stop 44 is then manually depressed and the slide pulled forward so that the cleaner 28 and cement applier 33 move across the underside of the scraped film end. The film ends are carried on tables 53, 63, Fig. 5, supported from the frame and are provided with tops 54, 64 respectively, having guide pins 40 and sprocket hole pins 97 for the reception of the film ends, as shown in Fig. 7. A hinged cover 55 is adapted to lock the film against movement on the table top 54. The table top 64 is slidable so that after cement has been applied to the undersurface of the film end on the top 54, the film end on the top 64 can be moved inwardly by a spring with its cover 65, which is hinged to a frame under the table, to a position under the cemented film end, a spring 68 on the frame 66 engaging a pin 69 on the table to force the frame, table-top. and cover inward towards the line of travel of the carrier 13. The moving parts are normally held in the outward position by a latch 71, one end of which is engaged by a spring 72, the other end of the latch 71 being adapted to be tripped by a striker 74 on the carrier, just after the cement has been applied to the film end. A resiliently-mounted lip 77 carried on the inner edge of the table top 64 is raised into engagement with a presser foot 85 by a wire rod 86 on the carrier 13 while the film end on the table top 54 is being scraped and cleaned. When the table top 64 is moved inwardly by the spring 68, the advancing carrier slides the rod 86 from beneath the lip 77, Fig. 8, which is then depressed to a position under the extension 88 on the cover 55 to form an overlap and press the film ends into engagement. To reset the table 63 after the film ends have been cemented, a rib 76 on the side of the cement well 31 engages and forces outwardly a roller 75 carried on the table support.