Patent ID: 7093939

Claim:
A continuous film transport assembly providing a stable, high-speed core transport path for scanning roll film media transported between supply and take-up reels, said continuous film transport assembly comprising: a) a first transport path section providing for the establishment of a first decoupling loop in film media as continuously transported through said first transport path section; b) a core transport path section coupled to continuously receive film media from said first transport path section, said core transport path section including a first capstan driven by a first speed controlled motor to define a fixed transport speed for film media as transported through said core transport path section, a second capstan driven through a friction slip connection by a second speed controlled motor to define a fixed tension on film media as transported through said core transport path section, wherein the direction of rotation by said second speed controlled motor being counter to the transport direction of film media transported through said core transport section, and wherein said core transport path further provides for the passive transport of film media between said first and second capstans; and c) a second transport path section coupled to continuously receive film media from said core transport path section, said second transport path section providing for the establishment of a second decoupling loop in film media as continuously transported through said second transport path section; whereby variable forces associated with the supply and take-up reels are isolated by said first and second decoupling loops from said core transport path.