Having Plural Or Interchangeable Drives Patents (Class 352/168)
  • Patent number: 8147065
    Abstract: Electronically controlled film transport methods and systems are described. One system described comprises a film transport path for transporting film, an input drive assembly for advancing film through the film transport path, an output drive assembly for advancing film out of the film transport path, an aperture positioned in the film transport path, at least one registration pin capable of engaging at least one perforation in the film to secure a portion of the film in the aperture, wherein the at least one registration pin is capable of retracting to a non-engaging position, and a controller for controlling the retraction of the at least one registration pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: IMAX Corporation
    Inventors: Gary James Mahony, George Mario Dalle Ave
  • Patent number: 6141079
    Abstract: A film camera system, includes a housing with a front end carrying an objective, and a housing wall formed with an opening, a film magazine, and a single connecting member having at least one bore for allowing passage of a film from the film magazine into the housing via the housing opening and vice versa. The connecting member is secured to the film magazine and can be so attached to the housing that the film magazine is selectively positionable with respect to the housing in a first position essentially above the housing and in a second position essentially at the rear end of the housing, while providing a light-tight cover for the housing opening in the first and second positions of the film magazine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Inventor: Fritz Bauer
  • Patent number: 5739895
    Abstract: A new 35 mm motion picture film is described which minimizes the amount of film stock that is used, and which facilitates industry acceptance by assuring at least present image quality. The new motion picture format (12) has film frames (20) of a size (22, 24) that is slightly greater than that (J, K) of the mask aperture (H) of the current Wide Screen Academy Format. However, the film frames are spaced by a distance (26) that is more than two but less than three times a standard perforation spacing distance (E). The film stock can be different from current film stock, with a perforation spacing distance (48, 68) that results in 2 or 3 perforations per frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: United Artists Theatre Circuit, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Vetter
  • Patent number: 5534954
    Abstract: A new 35 mm motion picture film is described which maximizes usage of film stock, and which facilitates acceptance by motion picture theater owners. Acceptance is facilitated by minimizing the cost for projector head conversion and by assuring at least present image quality. The new motion picture format (12, FIG. 4) has film frames (20) of substantially the same size (22, 24) as the mask aperture (H) of the current Wide Screen Academy Format, and uses the same size and spacing of sprocket holes, or film perforations. However, the film frames are spaced apart by a distance (26) that is a noninteger number of perforations, with the spacing being 2.5 perforations in a preferred format (12). A current projector head is converted for showing the new format, by providing new sprocket wheels (14, FIG. 5) with ten teeth, that mount on the same shafts of the projector head as current sprocket wheels that have sixteen teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: United Artists Theatre Circuit, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Vetter
  • Patent number: 5517262
    Abstract: A changeable sprocket wheel assembly enables the rapid and reliable mounting and demounting of sprocket wheels of different diameters on a film drive shaft by unskilled operators, while assuring that the sprockets are held with high precision. In one arrangement, an inboard sprocket wheel member (50, FIG. 2) receives the inboard portion (55) of a driven shaft in a close sliding fit and is lockable to the shaft, the inboard member having a small diameter land (52) with a ring of sprockets (54) thereon. An outboard sprocket wheel member (60) has the same size land with sprockets thereon, and fits around the outboard shaft portion (65) in a close sliding fit and is detachably fixable to the inboard member to abut it and rotate with it. When a larger diameter sprocket wheel is required, the outboard member (60) is removed and a large sprocket wheel element (70, FIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Inventor: John de Sola Mosely
  • Patent number: 5479223
    Abstract: A sprocket assembly is provided which allows a film projector or any other film handling device to be readily converted to run film having different perforation-to-frame ratios. The sprocket assembly includes an outer cylindrical sleeve having teeth for engaging the film perforations when the film is run, and an inner cylindrical sleeve adapted to fit within and anti-rotationally mate with the outer cylindrical sleeve. The inner sleeve also has teeth for engaging the film perforations. The inner sleeve is mounted on a rotatable shaft of the projector, and the outer sleeve can be added or removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Duo-Sprocket, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald C. McLendon, Robert D. Lipscomb
  • Patent number: 4607804
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement upon the film winding and rewinding apparatus forming the subject matter of my copending application Ser. No. 666,187 filed Oct. 29, 1984, by a replacement of its former manually-shifted electrochemical reversing system for changing from a so-called "A-wind" to a "B-wind" with an electromagnetic one employing a pair of electromagnetic clutches on parallel counterrotating output shafts operatively linked together with a belt and pulley power transfer mechanism which cooperates with the clutches to impose a drag upon the supply reel regardless of which direction it is being turned by the power supplied to the take-up reel. The invention also encompasses an electromechanical circuit in which an idler spool responsive to the tension in the film passing between the supply and take-up reels actuates a potentiometer which, in turn, lessens the drag on the supply reel as the tension increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1986
    Assignee: Goldberg Brothers, Inc.
    Inventor: Randall G. Urlik
  • Patent number: 4567526
    Abstract: An interchangeable servo control circuit module for use in a television camera is adapted to detachably mount to the television camera body, and is responsive to exterior signals for selectively operating either in a speed servo control mode or in a position servo control mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1986
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazumichi Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 4131344
    Abstract: A programmable viewing system for processing and viewing cassette contained photographic film strips including a chassis defined by a centrally disposed vertical plate-like casting on which all internal viewer components cooperable mechanically and/or optically with the cassette are mounted together with a cassette well by which the cassette may be registered with such viewer components. A programming cam disc is rotatably carried by the casting for controlling both electrical switches for controlling an electronics logic system as well as shiftable viewer component positioning members, one on each side of the casting. The programming cam disc further controls cassette ejection. The program cam disc, together with contacts in the cassette, also control the film processing cycle during which the film is transported between spools and processing fluid is applied to the film strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1978
    Assignee: Polaroid Corporation
    Inventor: Herbert L. Hardy
  • Patent number: 4105315
    Abstract: To facilitate reading by reducing eye movement, reading matter recorded on microfilm is arranged in a column with not more than 26 characters, including spaces, per line. The microfilm record is read with the aid of an apparatus which optically magnifies the record and advances it continuously at a controllable speed in the direction of the column to present successive lines to the eye. Illustrations may be placed at the required position in the text and the reading apparatus is constructed to move a picture rapidly into and out of the viewing position and hold it stationary for viewing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1978
    Inventor: Ian D. Fraser
  • Patent number: 4037951
    Abstract: A film cartridge having a film to be projected, a magnetic tape with a sound signal and film feeding signals, a housing for accommodating therein the film and tape separately therein, a reflector for projecting light passing the film and a locking mechanism for locking the film when it is not driven.A cartridge autoslide or player for the film cartridge mentioned as above having a housing with an opening for receiving the cartridge, a light source for projecting light on to the reflector of the film cartridge, an optical device for projecting the light passed through the film onto a screen, a film driving mechanism, a tape driving device and an unlocking mechanism for automatically unlocking the film locking mechanism when the cartridge is inserted into the autoslide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1977
    Inventor: Teiji Aoki
  • Patent number: 4009950
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a motion picture projection apparatus with film feeding speed changing apparatus which is characterized in that the apparatus presents a driving motor for rotating the first pulley member on which at least more than two pulley parts to be used in accordance with the projection speed are formed and a film feeding apparatus to be operated in cooperation with the second pulley on which at least more than three pulley parts have diameters which are different from each other. This is done in such a manner that a different pulley part is used even for the same film speed in accordance with the frequencies of the current source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1977
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kuniyoshi Suzaki