Abstract: A self-contained photo developing machine is provided. The apparatus includes a developing canister which holds the photo processed material on a central shaft, a compact manifold injection structure which infuses the attached canister with the developing solutions, a valving structure which provides the selected developing solutions to the manifold injection structure, a drain assembly which evacuates the used developing solutions from the canister for seperation and recovery of the different chemicals used, and a computer control system which selectively and automatically controls the entire developing process. A radially extending arm is often included to selectively pump the desired chemical from the solution storage tanks to the canister and subsequently evacuate the spent chemicals to an independently selectable solution recovery tank.

Abstract: A film buffer for motion picture projectors is provided to permit the smooth advancement of the film through a projection gate, and to serve as a shock absorber to insure even projection. The buffer comprises a pair of rollers in fixed relation to each other juxtaposed to form a loop in the film in its path of travel, from a film supply reel to a film transport mechanism for incrementally advancing each frame of the film past the projection gate, a bracket for holding said rollers pivotally mounted on the face of the projector at a mid-point between the two rollers to permit swinging movement to increase or decrease the film loop size depending upon the tension of the film, a counterweight fixedly connected to the bracket to pivotally bias the same into a position to increase the film loop size, and a torsion spring positioned beneath the counterweight to engage and cushion the same as it moves toward a rest position.

Abstract: A modular film transport and control mechanism for selectively advancing either regular 8mm or super 8mm perforated motion picture film through a projection gate is provided. The module comprises a film transport shuttle having a film engaging claw biased for engagement with the perforations of the film, a rotatable drive cam in operative engagement with the shuttle to reciprocally move the claw along horizontal and vertical paths to advance the film through the projection gate, and a pivotally mounted projection mode shifter interposed between the shuttle and the cam to transmit the desired horizontal motion from the cam to the shuttle, and selectively movable between at least two positions along a surface of the cam to change the mode of operation from normal projection to still projection. A control linkage connected to the shifter permits manual selection of the desired operating mode. The module also comprises a rotatable shutter mounted on a common shaft with the shuttle drive cam.

Abstract: A film web handling mechanism includes a motor for driving the mechanism, and an endless belt for transferring the motor drive to a supply pulley, a take-up pulley and a shuttle-shuttle drive pulley. The supply pulley and the take-up pulley are connected, through a supply clutch and a take-up clutch, to a supply spindle and a take-up spindle. The endless belt is driven in one direction only by the motor, however, the supply and take-up spindles are capable of moving the film web in both a forward and reverse direction. The forward and reverse direction capability of the supply and take-up spindles is accomplished by varying the amount of motor drive transferred to the spindles through the clutches. By means of a single control knob linked to the supply clutch and to the take-up clutch, an operator is able to select a mode of operation.