Film advance mechanism for motion picture apparatus
AssigneeIwerks Entertainment, Inc.
InventorLeland R. Schmidt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A motion picture apparatus and method for intermittently advancing motion picture film by forced air. The film is initially placed into successive loops formed by a cam-driven flipper. The loops and thus the film are advanced through the projector or camera pathway by a forced air blower which propels the successive loops through a projection pathway. Vacuum pressure may also be applied to the film through a gate to secure the film to the gate with linearly arranged register pins steadying the film over a projection aperture. The film is rewound through the projector by a motorized rewind with a positive pressure applied to the film through the gate.
Claims8
A film advance mechanism comprising
- film input mechanism for moving film along a path past an aperture;
- film take-up mechanism taking up film having passed the aperture;
- first and second rows of register pins arranged in linear fashion along opposite edges of the path between the film input mechanism and the film take-up mechanism for engaging perforated openings on the film;
- means for providing fine tuned position adjustment of the first row of register pins relative to the second row of register pins.
A method for advancing film in a motion picture device such as a camera or projector, comprising:
- providing a take-off spool to supply film;
- forming a loop in the film at an entrance to an aperture position;
- blowing the loop across the aperture position and toward a film take-up spool;
- releasing successive loops of film to be blown across the aperture position;
- keeping the film in proper alignment as the successive loops of film are advanced past the aperture comprising:
- aligning the film as the film is moved across the aperture by engaging perforations in the film with first and second rows of register pins arranged in linear fashion between the take-off spool and the take-up spool,
- adjusting linear position of the first row of register pins.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.