Patent GB-992547-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to releasing and timing devices for use with movie cameras
IPC: G03B9/58
Filed: 1961-06-16
Abstract: 992,547. Releasing and timing device for cine cameras. SOC. INDUSTRIELLE DE SONCEBOZ S.A. June 16, 1961 [June 7, 1960), No. 21896/ 61. Heading G2E. A releasing and timing device for a cine camera, of the type which releases the camera after a predetermined interval and operates the camera for a pre-selected time, is shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 in its rest position. The device includes a release pusher means comprising a manually operable push-button 53 and an actuating member 47, these two parts being coupled together by a finger 55 connected to the knob 53 sliding in a part 51 of the actuating member 47 and also being urged apart by a spring 56. The actuating member 47 co-operates with an end portion 58 of a Bowden wire 57 coupled to a camera release (not shown) and the parts 53 and 47 are respectively connected to lugs 49, 48 sliding in slots 31, 30. A spring 6 of a clockwork timing device is tensioned by rotating a setting knob 28 in the clockwise direction, a disc 25 rotating therewith and carrying with it a cam disc 24 after a pin 27 in disc 25 has traversed the length of a slot 26 in the disc 24. During the initial part of the tensioning movement-while pin 27 is traversing slot 26-a toothed sector 32 in engagement with a gear wheel 23 fixed on arbor 7 of knob 28, is pivoted in the counter clockwise direction, thereby allowing a two armed lever 34 to take up a position under loading of a spring 37 in which end 36 engages the lug 48. The arbor 7 is also coupled through a gear wheel 11, transmission gears 10, 8, 13, 15 and 16 to a star wheel and pallet retard mechanism 18, 19. The pallet 19 is locked in position during the above tensioning movement by a pin 46 on a pivoted spring- urged member 39 and thereby prevents the clockwork mechanism from running-down immediately upon being tensioned. Tensioning movement of the gear wheel 11 while the pallet is locked is facilitated by the fact that shaft 9 of the gear wheels 8 and 10 are movable against spring loading in a slot 21 and the teeth of wheel 8 can therefore jump over those of pinion 13. Operation of the device after the knob 53 has been depressed and lug 49 has been engaged by notch 43 is as follows. Upon movement of the member 39 about its pivot 40, the pin 46 is removed from pawl 19 and the clockwork mechanism begins to run down under control of the star wheel and pallet retard mechanism. Eventually, after a predetermined fixed delay, during which time pin 27 traverses the slot 26 and segment 32 is pivoted from its cocked to its rest position, end 36 of lever 34 is removed from lug 48 and the actuating member 47 is moved by spring 56 to start the camera running. After a further variable delay-the duration of which depends on the extent to which knob 28 was rotated during the tensioning movement-the raised part of cam 24 comes against arm 42 of member 39 and pivots same against its spring 50 so as to release lug 49 from notch 43 whereupon both button 53 and member 47 are returned to their rest positions by the action of spring 59 of the Bowden wire 58. Operation of the camera is then ended. Locking pin 46 is again operative. Raised lugs are provided on discs 24 and 25 to limit the running down movement of these members. Arm 41 may be provided with a projection extending to the outside of housing 1 to enable the camera to be stopped-if desired-before the end of the period pre-set by the knob 28. Knob 28 may be provided with an index for co-operation with a scale of running times, on the housing 1. In a modification (Fig. 10), instead of gear wheels 8 and 10 being mounted in slot, gear wheel 10 is rigidly mounted on the shaft 9 and is coupled to the gear wheel 8 on the shaft 9 by a one-way friction clutch comprising a helical spring 62 and two bushes 60, 61, 61 of which is rigid with shaft 9 and 60 of which is rigid with gear wheel 8.