Patent GB-238445-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to registering and cementing cinematographic strips or films
IPC: G03D15/04
Filed: 1924-12-22
Abstract: 238,445. Technicolor Motion Picture Corporation, and Troland, L. T. Dec. 22,1924. Kinematograph picture films; colour photography; printing apparatus with continuous movement of negative and printed surface; finishing; drying-apparatus. - In apparatus for registering kinematograph strips, for example complemental films, with one another and advancing them in registered relationship, registering pins are provided which recurrently enter the same series of sprocket-holes of the strips from opposite sides and are similarly disposed on opposite sides of the strips. In the form shown, the pins 82, 83, Figs. 4 and 6, are mounted on pressure rollers 35, 36, and the strips or films a, b which are to be registered and cemented are drawn by means of a take up reel 30, Fig. 1, which is driven through gearing from a motor 29, from reels 18, 19 under guide rollers 33, 34 and between the pressure rollers 35, 36 where they are pressed into contact and united. The multiple film a, b so produced passes between cleaning pads 37, 38 and drying pads 39, 40 on to the reel 30. The pressure rollers 35, 36 are supported in slots 45 in plates 42, 43. The shaft 47, Fig. 5, of the roller 36 is supported at each end in removable bearings 48 resting in the slots 45. Screw bolts 51 in bridge members 50 contact with and adjust the ends of the shaft 47 and are locked in position by nuts 52. The shaft 53 of the roller 35 is journaled in bearings 56 sliding in slots 45 and carrying bridge members 58 having screw bolts 49 engaging the ends of the shaft 53 and permitting adjustment thereof. The roller 35 can be pressed towards the roller 36 by means comprising oppositelythreaded shafts 62, 63, rotated through gearing by a handle 75 on a shaft 72, which screw in bracket member 44<1> and have socket members 66, secured to their inner ends, telescoping in socket members 67 which contact with the bearings 56 of the roller 35. Pins 68 fastened in socket members 66 and engaging slots 69 in socket members 67 prevent relative rotation of the socket members. Springs 69<1> are provided within the socket members 66, 67. Behind the outer edges of the rollers 35, 36 slots 80, Fig. 6, are cut from which extend tapered bores 81 for the registering pins 82, 83 which are retained in position by rings 84. Shallow recesses 85 alternate with the pins in order to receive the pins of the opposite roller, and are larger than the ends of the pins. The ends 87 of the pins 83 are tapered to fit exactly the sprocket holes of the films in a longitudinal direction only, and the ends 86 of the pins 82 to fit the sprocket holes exactly both longitudinally and transversely. An adhesion-producing liquid, which may be an adhesive, or a linuid such as acetone and amyl alcohol which renders celluloid adhesive, is applied to one or both films by a distributor plate 90, Figs. 4 and 10, preferably of metal such as aluminium, having grooves 91 for directing the flow of the liquid and slots 91<a> for the passage of the registering pins. The plate 90 is suspended under pressure of a spring 192 on one side so as to be self-aligning and so that its free end extends down between rollers 35, 36 close to the line of contact of the films a, b. A constant flow of liquid is distributed evenly over the plate 90 by a nozzle 93 in a block 94, Fig. 9, mounted on guides supported on plates 42, 43 and reciprocated by an arm 96 pivoted to the block and driven from the motor 29 or other power source. The liquid comes from a reservoir through a flexible tube 97 which is given several turns on a drum 98 before it reaches the nozzle 93. The liquid is forced out of the tube 97 in a constant stream by means of a spring- pressed roller bearing on the tube 97 and carried round the drum by its attachment to an arm 102 rotated by means of worm gearing 103, 104, Fig. 1, preferably from motor 29. Suction nozzles 110 adjacent to the edges of the films evenly distribute the liquid and remove excess. Pads 37, 38 are preferably moistened with a solvent, such as benzol, for the adhesion-producing liquid, and pads 39, 40 serve to remove the last traces of both the adhesion-producing liquid and benzol. The pads 38, 40 are carried on spring- pressed arms 116 with self-aligning joints 117 to allow the pads to be withdrawn to permit the films to be threaded through the apparatus. The tension of the films passing through the apparatus is controlled by means of adjustable brakes comprising levers 121, 122 the shorter arms of which have brake shoes bearing on drums keyed to the shafts of the reels 18, 19, the longer arms being pivotally attached to rods 125 sliding in holes in brackets 126, springs 127 bearing between the brackets and adjusting nuts 128. In another form, the cleaning and drying means for the film a, b consists of strips 147, 148, Fig. 12. of absorbent material, one on each side of the film, passing from reels 141, 143 into contact with the film and travelling in the opposite direction to the take up reels 140. 142. Modified means for pressing the roller 35 towards the roller 36 and for distributing the adhesion-producing liquid are also described. The pressure applied to the film in the pressure rolls may be from 100 to 200 pounds per square inch. The films may be secured together face to face, face to back, or back to back.