Inlet guide structure for rolling loop film transport mechanism

A film transport mechanism for a motion picture machine in which a film is intermittently transported through a predetermined frame length in relation to an aperture, said film transport mechanism comprising:

• a stator, a rotor co-operating with said stator to define a path for said film, said rotor having gaps for receiving film loops;
• an inlet guide structure in said stator through which said film is fed into said path;
• an outlet in said stator through which said film is withdrawn from said passage, said aperture being intermediate said inlet and said outlet;
• film moving means for feeding said film into said inlet at a controlled speed relative to the speed of said rotor and for withdrawal of said film from said outlet at said controlled speed;
• and film locating means for co-operating with said film moving means for gradually increasing and then gradually decreasing said film loop in said gap and for intermittently holding said film in fixed position in registration with said aperture;
• said inlet guide structure comprising complementary outer and inner guides which are adapted to receive the film and to guide the film inwardly towards the path defined between the stator and the rotor, the outer and inner guides having respective pairs of co-operating side faces for guiding side portions of the film, the side faces of the outer guide defining a rounded nose portion intermediate ends of these side faces, and the side faces of the inner guide defining a depression corresponding to the nose portion so that when in use the guides combine to form a passage which guides the film by contact between the side faces and the side portions of the film, said nose portion combining with the depression to cause the passing film to define a transverse curve about the nose portion, said passage restraining the film to leave the passage at an acute angle to said path between the stator and the rotor so that on impact by the rotor, a loop will start to grow and any tendency for creation of a rigidifying longitudinal bend will be limited because the film is rigidified transversely by the transverse curve about said nose portion.