Patent GB-258264-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to kinematograph apparatus
IPC: G03B21/50
Filed: 1926-09-08
Abstract: 258,264. Morse, W. G., (Assignee of Proctor, B. A.). Sept. 8, 1925, [Convention date]. Kinematograph apparatus; optical-projection apparatus.-A projector is so constructed that its parts may be placed in position for kinematographic projection, still projection, or rewinding, by movement of a single operating member; the parts may also be capable of being placed in a position for threading by movement of the operating member; various modifications are also made in details of the apparatus, and the invention may be applied to a camera. The apparatus may comprise a lamp house H and a frame F mounted on a base B, the film and mechanism being arranged on opposite sides of the frame. The film may be carried in containers 4, 5 hinged together as described in Specification 188,681. A construction of container such that the container and the reel within it are automatically centred when placed in position is described in the Specification. The film may pass from the container 4 over a guide 90, through the gate, and over an intermittent sprocket 50 and a second guide 94 to the container 5. The guides 90, 94 are respectively secured to levers 88, 92, pivoted at 89, 97 and carrying brakes 86, 87. The brakes are thus controlled by the film during operation of the projector, and as described in Specification 255,496 to operate on drums 29, 8, carried by the. reel spindles 2, 3, and maintain the desired film tension. The gate comprises a section 42 secured to the frame and a section 46 secured to a longitudinally movable rod 48 which is moved to open and close the gate. The edgewise insertion of the film into the gate is facilitated by a guide 80, carried by the section 42, and a guide member 83, having a curved lower end 84, and secured to the frame in the plane occupied by the section 46 when the gate is open. The intermittent sprocket 50 is partly surrounded by spaced guide fingers 85 on the section 46 when the gate is closed, the spacing being sufficient to accommodate the teeth 51, Fig. 12, on the sprocket. A (stripping shield 71, rotatable by a rack 75 and pinion 74 operated by a pin 77 on the rod 48, occupies the position shown in Fig. 3, when the gate is open, and that shown in Fig. 11, when the gate is closed. The sprocket is moved by a cam 55, Fig. 4, secured on the shaft 56 of the shutter 68, and engaging a star wheel 54 on the sprocket shaft, both members being enclosed in a grease casing C. The cam may have its feeding portion 55a formed as a separate member which is suitably hardened and is replaceable. The mechanism is operated by a motor M through a flexible coupling 23 and shaft 21. A belt 70 and pulleys 69, 59 connect the shaft 21 and a friction clutch 62 on the shutter shaft 56, and worm gearing 19, 20, Fig. 5, connects the shaft 21 with a shaft 18 carrying a clutch having pins 26 which may be engaged with a driving lug 15 on one member 11 of a friction clutch through which the spindle 3 is driven during projection. The shaft 18 is connected by gears 40,41, and belt and pulleys 37, 38, to a shaft 31 having a clutch connection with the spindle 2. The shaft 31 and spindle 2 are unclutched during projection and clutched for rewinding. Constructional forms of the various clutches are described in detail in the Specification. The projector may be operated to exhibit still pictures by supplementary driving means comprising a vertical shaft 154 which has an actuating knob 159 at its upper end. The shaft is capable of being depressed against the action of a spring 158 to bring a bevel gear 156 at its lower end into engagement with a bevel gear 157 on the shutter shaft 5&. When still pictures are to be exhibited, a shield 98, Fig. 1, of copper gauze, &c. carried by a shaft 99 is turned into the projection beam. A knob 101 projects upwards from the base of the projector through a slot 102, Fig. 9, and movement of the knob serves to place the parts of the apparatus in the appropriate positions for threading, kinematographic projection, still projection, or rewinding. Linkwork associated with the knob for the purpose is described in detail in the Specification. When the knob is in the position S' the clutches for the shutter shaft and the spindle 3 are engaged, the clutch for the spindle 2 is disengaged, and the shield 98 is out of the beam. The apparatus may then be used for kinematograph projection. Movement of the knob to the position S<2> turns a sleeve 117, Fig. 5, so that arms 121 disengage the clutch on the shutter shaft and interrupt the motor drive, and turns the shaft 99 so that the shield 98 is in the beam and the apparatus may be used for still projection. When a film is to be threaded or removed, the knob is moved to the position S', thus rotating a vertical rod 104. The rod 104 carries a pin 141, Fig. 4, which engages and turns a bell-crank lever 143 linked to the brake lever 88 to render the brake inoperative in the threading position of the knob. The rod 104 also carries a slotted lever 147 engaging a pin 149 on the rod 148; rotation of the rod 104 causes the rod 48 to move, thus opening the gate for threading, and rotating the stripping shield 71. The rod 48 is connected by a link 150 to a plate 93 rotatable round the axis of the reel spindle 3 and carrying the brake lever 92. Rotation of the plate 93 causes the guide 94 to be lowered to the position shown in Fig. 3 so as to facilitate threading. For rewinding, the knob is moved to the position 54. A rod 118 within the sleeve 117 is thereby rotated so that arms 151 cause the clutch between the shaft 31 and the reel spindle 2 to become engaged, thus enabling the spindle to be driven bv the motor. If film containers of the type referred to are not used, each side of the lower reel may have a radial slot, and a pin may extend from one slot to the other, the film being secured permanently, or by a clip, to the pin. Pivoted arms may be secured to the frame F to carry reels which are too large to be mounted on the spindle 2, 3. The lamp house may have a louvered top cover 168, and air may bo supplied to it by a fan 169 driven by the motor. It may contain an adjustable lamp L and a resistance unit 165. A second, adjustable, resistance 166 may be provided in the motor circuit, either on the lamp house or on the base B, and the motor and lamp may be connected in parallel in a common circuit. The apparatus may be provided with a box-like casing having one hinged side and a movable shutter at the front. Kinematograph films.-The film may have a fire-resisting strip of asbestos, copper, &c. at one or both ends, and may be formed with an aperture such that when the aperture reaches the feeding sprocket, the feeding movement is stopped.