With Intermittently Driven Carrier-engaging Sprocket Patents (Class 352/187)
  • 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: 7367676
    Abstract: A film mechanism for a motion-picture camera is provided. The film feed mechanism has a transport grip having a transport grip clip and at least one transport grip tip which engages in a sprocket hole of a motion-picture film that is transported at a predefinable film transport speed by the kinematics of the transport grip. The transport grip tip displaces the motion-picture film in an intermittent manner and runs through a closed trajectory whose reversing points determine the length of travel during the film transport. The kinematics of the transport grip can be dynamically and/or statically modified in accordance with the film transport speed by a modification to the relative positions of the transport grip and grip drive connected in an articulated manner to the transport grip in such a way that a constantly correct length of travel during a film transport step of the transport grip is guaranteed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Arnold & Richter Cine Technik GmbH & Co. Betriebs KG
    Inventor: Walter Trauninger
  • Publication number: 20020113945
    Abstract: A double speed intermittent film pull down for a movie projector (100) comprises a sprocket (122), which advances the film (114) a frame at a time. A star wheel (140) is mounted on a common shaft (132) with the sprocket (122). A cam (134) turns the sprocket (122) every other rotation of the cam (134). A shutter (106) is mounted on a common shaft (132) with the cam (134) and interrupts light to the frame of the film (114). The common shaft (132) for the cam (134) and shutter (106) turns at approximately twice the speed of the common shaft (132) for the star wheel (140) and sprocket (122).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Douglass Blanding
  • Patent number: 6318861
    Abstract: In a film positioning system and method thereof, stable film positioning is accomplished. In the present invention, when a film is fed to a stop position by driving first feeding mechanism and second feeding mechanism synchronizing with each other and then the stop position is determined with the first feeding mechanism or the second feeding mechanism, a fixed tension is applied to the film by the other feeding mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hirobumi Nagumo
  • Patent number: 6019473
    Abstract: The present invention relates to film transport systems for motion picture projectors and, more particularly, to a film projector movement that is capable of transporting film prints having frames spanning a predetermined number of perforations per frame at a specified projection frame-rate and then automatically switching to another film format having frames spanning a different number of perforations per frame as well as a different projection frame-rate, based on the detection of an encoded trigger strip on the film which carries the format characteristics of the incoming film. A controller enables the system to automatically switch between a variety of different film formats and frame-rates, on the same projector and on the same platter of film, without substantially interrupting or delaying operation of the projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: MaxiVision Cinema Technology
    Inventors: Dean K. Goodhill, Don P. Behrns
  • Patent number: 6014198
    Abstract: The invention refers to a method of shortening the closure time of shutters in cinema projectors of the type in which film is intermittently advanced one frame at a time into registry with an image window in the projector, and wherein each time the film is advanced a shutter in the projector closes the image window during the time that the film is being advanced. According to the invention, an optical compensation of the film motion is effected by determining the rate at which each image of the film begins and ends, respectively, its advance into registry with the image window of the projector, generating a control signal proportionate to the rate, and positioning between the image window and the associated projection screen a movable plane-parallel plate which is adjsuted by the control signal to shorten the closure time of the image window during each film advance, thereby to increase the luminous efficiency factor of the projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Raytheon Anschutz G.m.b.H.
    Inventor: Hans Baumann
  • Patent number: 5946076
    Abstract: A switchable pulldown film projection system comprising a film transport system for transporting film through a projector. The film transport system has a plurality of sprockets with teeth for engaging perforations on the film, and a pair of motors that rotate the sprockets and move the film in a frame-by-frame manner past an aperture in the projector. The motors are controlled by an electronic controller that changes the rotational output of the motors based on a signal related to the format of the film in terms of the number of perforations spanned by each frame on the film. The controller enables the system to switch between a variety of different film formats, on the same projector and on the same strip of film, without substantially interrupting or delaying operation of the projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: MaxiVision Cinema Technology
    Inventors: Dean K. Goodhill, Don P. Behrns
  • Patent number: 5923402
    Abstract: A direct-drive, tractor-type film transport apparatus operates at rates typically used for sync sound, high-speed and special effects applications. A preferred embodiment includes three sprockets, each with a plurality of radially outwardly extending pins on either side to receive the sprocket holes of the film while positioned in the film plane. A pair of belts is also preferably used to rotationally interconnect the three sprockets, each belt being perforated to receive the outwardly extending pins on either side of each sprocket. An apertured gate overlays the film in the film plane, the gate including a back side with grooves to receive at least the pins of the middle sprocket, thereby enabling the gate to function as a pressure plate. A microprocessor-controlled servo motor is preferably used to reversibly drive the middle sprocket, with the two outer sprockets being slightly biased away from the middle sprocket so as to keep a central section of the film taunt during the exposure thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Inventors: Keir Yee, Brian J. Baba, Philip Lieberman
  • Patent number: 5875020
    Abstract: A motion-picture-projection system has a top intermittent sprocket (1) and a bottom intermittent sprocket (6) that are rotated intermittently in unison by mechanical and/or electrical means (8, 9, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24) for conveyance of film (3) through a film gate (4) without formation of loops of film between the top intermittent sprocket and the film-gate outlet sprocket. To compensate for differences of length of unreeled film due to its cyclic advance and film-frame stoppage, compensatory loops (16, 17) are formed prior to instead of after a top intermittent sprocket and after instead of before a film-gate outlet sprocket. A film-contact surface (25, 26) of a film gate is arcuate and bordered with non-abrasive and suitably pliable material to minimize film wear. Air can be pumped onto the film for cooling and for distortion contamination resulting from heat absorption formation that is related to film "breathing".
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Inventors: Stephen B. Kitten, Lawrence Polla, Jr.
  • 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: 5333020
    Abstract: Mounted on a horizontal shaft 1 extending along surfaces of a film f are sprocket wheels 2 each having three tooth pairs 2a adapted to engage with perforations on the film. The tooth pairs 2a are angularily spaced apart from each other by 120 degrees around a periphery of the sprocket wheel 2. A triangular cam 11 is attached on one end of a horizontal shaft 7 rotatable in unison with the shaft 1. A lever 17 is attached to a horizontal shaft 15 carrying a cam follower 16 rotatable in unison with the rotation of the cam 11. A projection 20 which reciprocates registration pins 22 for engagement with and disengagement from the perforations g of the film f is fitted into an elongated slot 17a of the lever 17. A switching lever 14 is provided for displacement of the shaft 7 into a position where the shaft 7 is prevented from rotating even when the horizontal shaft 1 is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: Imagica Corp.
    Inventors: Makoto Tsukada, Yutaka Tokue
  • Patent number: 5266979
    Abstract: An improved film gate for a continuous motion or real-time motion picture telecine. A housing supports and transports a film in continuous motion past a frame aperture. A precision milled entry guide roller receives the film from a feed spool, edge-stabilizes the film, and directs the film to a precision milled first entry sprocket. The entry sprocket is positioned prior to the frame aperture, pin registers the film, and directs the film across the frame aperture. A precision milled exit sprocket positioned subsequent to the frame aperture receives the film after it passes across the frame aperture and pin registers the film. A precision milled exit guide roller receives the film from the exit sprocket, edge stabilizes the film, and guides the film to a drive capstan and take up reel. The precision sprockets and rollers serve as film stabilizing means. A floating guide means positioned at the frame aperture provides additional edge stabilization of the film as it is guided past the frame aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: Steadi-Film Corporation
    Inventors: Brian K. Brown, Walter K. Chambliss
  • Patent number: 5187508
    Abstract: Film transport device for intermittent transport of a film (6), having at least one uniformly divided row of holes and being guided in a film channel, in which a film gate for projection of a frame located in front of the film gate is located, with transport being performed by a film transport sprocket whose teeth (10) to (14) and (20) to (24) engage film holes (71) to (75) and (81) to (85). The movement of the film is adjusted before the projection of a frame in such fashion that the leading or trailing flank of a tooth (10), (21) of the film transport sprocket, looking in the direction of rotation of the film transport sprocket, abuts the leading or trailing edge of at least one hole (71), (85) of the film perforation at the moment of projection of a frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: Arnold & Richter Cine Technik & Co. Betriebs KG
    Inventor: Otto Blaschek
  • Patent number: 5175573
    Abstract: Apparatus for intermittent or continuous transport of a film using a film transport device comprising a drive motor whose shaft firstly is connected with a sprocket engaging at least one row of holes in the film and secondly with a position sensor which delivers position signals corresponding to the angular position of said motor shaft, to a control and regulating device whose output controls the drive motor through a DC amplifier, so that during intermittent transport of the film, each film pitch is subdivided into at least one acceleration phase, one deceleration phase, and one position-regulating phase, said phases preferably having variable or programmable lengths, with the set values for the acceleration and deceleration of the film transport device having their rises limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: Arnold & Richter Cine Technik GmbH & Co. Betriebs KG
    Inventors: Otto Blaschek, Ernst Tschida, Josef Haas
  • Patent number: 5110201
    Abstract: Film transport device with a film transport sprocket driven by a drive motor whose teeth engage the holes in a motion picture film with play and transport the latter stepwise one frame at a time and final-position it at a film gate. The film transport steps are subdivided into a transport phase (t.sub.T) and a position-adjusting phase (t.sub.R) in which the film is final-positioned accurately. The transport phase (t.sub.T) is divided into a very short acceleration phase (t.sub.1, t.sub.2) in which a high torque setting (M.sub.S1) is set with a steep acceleration rise (t.sub.1), and a long continuous drive and braking phase (t.sub.3, t.sub.4), whose time constant is a multiple of the acceleration phase (t.sub.1, t.sub.2). This ensures minimum transport noise and film-protective transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: Arnold & Richter Cine Technik GmbH & Co. Betriebs KG
    Inventor: Josef Haas
  • Patent number: 4863262
    Abstract: A motion picture projector substantially free of picture jump comprises a gate assembly having a projection aperture and a light source for projecting light through the aperture and focusing lens and onto a screen. The film is intermittently advanced through the gate assembly by an intermittent sprocket which is intermittently rotated by a modified Geneva mechanism. The Geneva mechanism comprises a star wheel having a plurality of radially extending slots separated by curved surfaces. A rotating cam has a ring which slidably engages the curved surface of the star wheel and a pin which engages the slots as the cam rotates, rotating the star wheel a fraction of a rotation for each full rotation of the cam. The cam has a tension area adjacent the pin and a relief area remote from the pin. The tension area engages the curved surfaces of the star wheel closely, preventing backward rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: Optical Radiation Corporation
    Inventors: Glenn M. Berggren, Jerry Kampel
  • Patent number: 4702577
    Abstract: A film transport device for cinematographic cameras and projectors has a rotary shutter, an intermittently operating film feed device, an adjusting device with at least one adjusting pin engaging in one perforation of the film and separate drive motors for the rotary shutter, adjusting device and film feed device and is further characterized by having the drives for both the adjusting device and for the film feed controlled synchronously with the rotary shutter by a common control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Assignee: Dedo Weigert Film GmbH
    Inventor: Dedo Weigert
  • Patent number: 4253749
    Abstract: An improved electronic film transport is disclosed for advancing motion picture film past a light gate in a motion picture projector. The light gate includes a transparent plate which imparts a desired shape to the film and, preferrably, one or more indexing pins which align the film with the plate. A sprocket is driven to advance the film to the light gate, causing a loop to form in the film and the film to move clear of the plate and indexing pins. A second sprocket then is driven to advance the film from the light gate. When the film advances one frame, it is again in contact with the plate and the indexing pin and the newly indexed frame is projected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1981
    Inventor: Angelo Boudouris
  • Patent number: 4215921
    Abstract: An improved intermittent drive for a motion picture film projector having a film gate, condenser lens, light source and shutter means is provided by a relatively large sprocket wheel having forty sprocket teeth with 12 to 14 teeth engaging the film at the sprocket holes. This sprocket wheel is driven by a servo motor capable of rapid start and stop and high-speed motion under electronic control. The sprocket wheel supports the film between the film gate aperture (light gate) and the condenser lens. The sprocket wheel is of sufficiently large diameter so as to provide a circumferential curvature that does not appreciably change the vertical plane of a single frame of film thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1980
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventors: Adron M. Miller, Harvey J. Richardson
  • Patent number: 4149781
    Abstract: A film projector system including a sealed film cassette removeably mounted ithin an aperture in the projector and driving means in said projector mechanically engaging coupling means extending through said cassette for driving the sealed film between hubs sealed in said cassette intermittently past a film projection location in said cassette and continuously past a sound detection location therein, with the projection plane of the film at said projector locations being disposed normal to the projector optical projection optical sound beams and twisted ninety degrees with respect to the plane of that portion of the film wound on said hubs so that the projector beams do not pass between the film hubs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1979
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Seth L. Everett, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4105311
    Abstract: An improved transport system for a motion picture projector which permits either intermittent or continuous drive of a film advancement sprocket. The transport is capable of use selectively with film having, for example, either two or four perforations per picture frame. During normal operation of the projector, the sprocket is intermittently driven to advance the film through a gate while a shutter interrupts the projection light. For automated film rewind through the projector, the sprocket is driven at a continuous speed which is preferably higher than the average speed in which the film is intermittently advanced through the projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1978
    Assignee: Eprad Incorporated
    Inventor: Angelo Boudouris
  • Patent number: 4087165
    Abstract: A film tension absorbing mechanism is provided on a motion picture projector for absorbing film tension shock in the film strip. The tension absorbing mechanism includes a first system comprising the combination of a pivotally mounted, biased film exit guide roller for absorbing a portion of the tension and a tension absorbing sprocket drive to permit relative movement between the film strip and the sprocket. The tension absorbing sprocket includes a sprocket wheel and a relatively movable sprocket tooth ring rotatably mounted for generally conjoint rotation. The sprocket tooth ring is biased in a direction opposite the rotation of the sprocket wheel so that film tension shock can be absorbed as the sprocket tooth ring rotates relative to the sprocket wheel in a direction against the biasing force. A second system also is provided and includes a bi-directional tension absorbing drive sprocket for absorbing film tension shock in two directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1978
    Assignee: Bell & Howell Company
    Inventors: Vincent S. Pasturczak, Peter S. Mischenko
  • Patent number: 4063671
    Abstract: The sprocket assembly for periodic advancement of film in a film projector is supported axially between rotated members and is corotative with the members upon increase in axial force therebetween. One of the members is axially restrained and the second member supported for minute axial movement. Force giving rise to the corotation of the members and sprocket assembly is applied to the second member by selective movement of a magnetically attractable element into a magnetic field generated continuously during projector use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1977
    Assignee: Paul Guilden
    Inventor: Miklos Von Kemenczky
  • Patent number: 4022525
    Abstract: A motion picture projector having an improved electric transport system for incrementally advancing film through a light gate. A constant, but adjustable, velocity rotating shutter periodically interrupts the projected picture to permit advancing the film through the light gate to the next frame. As the shutter moves to a position blocking the projected picture, a shutter position detector generates a signal for triggering a control circuit which drives an electric servomotor to rotate a film drive sprocket. The servomotor is driven to rotate the sprocket to advance the film one frame and then to hold the sprocket in a fixed position to prevent any motion of the film while the picture is projected. Power is applied from a non-linear control circuit to the servomotor. Error signals applied to the servomotor are of a peak magnitude when the servomotor is stopped with the film framed in the light gate so that small position errors drive the servomotor to the desired position with a maximum torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1977
    Assignee: Eprad Incorporated
    Inventor: Angelo Boudouris
  • Patent number: 3972606
    Abstract: A rotary sprocket disc for driving motion picture film is characterized in its construction by sprocket teeth enabling interchangeable transporting of film strips of different dimensions. Certain teeth are so disposed around the sprocket disc that they will mesh with or engage the holes in different film strips, the latter having different strip widths, tooth hole sizes, and pitches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1974
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1976
    Inventors: Wilton A. Stewart, Ann M. Stewart
  • Patent number: 3954214
    Abstract: The sprocket assembly for periodic advancement of film in a film projector is supported axially between rotated members and is corotative with the members upon increase in axial force therebetween. One of the members is axially restrained and the second member supported for minute axial movement. Force giving rise to the corotation of the members and sprocket assembly is applied to the second member by selective energization of an electromagnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1976
    Assignee: Paul Guilden
    Inventor: Miklos Von Kemenczky
  • Patent number: 3947101
    Abstract: A mechanical drive arrangement for a cinematograph projector. A double-sided tooth drive belt passes, in succession, over a motor driven, film take-up sprocket, idler sprocket, intermittent drive sprocket, film feed sprocket and shutter drive sprocket. The intermittent drive sprocket and intermittent motion film sprocket are mounted on a rotatable disc. The axis of rotation of the disc coincides with the circumference of the intermittent drive sprocket at the point where the plane through the axes of both mounted sprockets cuts the region of engagement of the drive belt around that circumference. In consequence, rotation of the disc moves the film anchor point, on the intermittent motion film sprocket, with only slight rotation of the shutter drive. Thereby, ghosting is avoided when racking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1976
    Assignee: Westrex Company Limited
    Inventors: Leroy Gordon Osborn, George Hunnam Brownlee