Film trap and gate assembly for a motion picture projector

A film trap assembly for motion picture projectors, comprising:

• a trap body having an image aperture formed therein and having a first and second rail assembly;
• said first rail assembly comprising a first trap rail in communication with a first trap guide;
• said second rail assembly comprising a second trap rail in communication with a second trap guide;
• a gate body having an image aperture formed therein and having a first and second rail assembly;
• said first rail assembly comprising a first gate rail in communication with a first gate guide;
• said second rail assembly comprising a second gate rail in communication with a second gate guide;
• the first and second film trap rail assemblies and the first and second film gate rail assemblies being arranged such that the first trap rail and the first gate rail are respectively oppositely directed and the second trap rail acid the second gate rail are respectively oppositely directed;
• and
• wherein there is a spacing between the first trap rail and a first gate rail and a spacing between the second trap rail and the second gate rail such that surfaces of the oppositely directed rails do not touch whereby the portion of the film passing between the oppositely opposed rails provides sufficient clearance for the film to traverse freely though the spacings.

A film gate assembly for motion picture projectors, comprising:

• a gate body having an image aperture formed therein and having a first and second rail assembly attached thereto;
• said first rail assembly comprising a first gate rail in communication with a first gate guide;
• said second rail assembly comprising a second gate rail in communication with a second gate guide;
• and
• a film tensioning device attached to said gate body;
• the film tensioning device including:
• a deformable body;
• at least two tensioning rollers in communication with said deformable body;
• and,
• a tensioning device in communication with the at least two tensioning rollers.

A film gate assembly for motion picture projectors, comprising:

• a gate body having an image aperture formed therein and having a first and second rail assembly attached thereto;
• said first rail assembly comprising a first gate rail in communication with a first gate guide;
• said second rail assembly comprising a second gate rail in communication with a second gate guide;
• and
• a tensioning device in communication with at least two tensioning rollers and a deformable body, and said tensioning device being a spring attached to said deformable body with a tensioning screw.

A film tensioning assembly for motion picture projectors, comprising:

• a deformable body;
• at least two tensioning rollers in communication with said deformable body;
• a tensioning device is communication with said at least two tensioning rollers and said deformable body;
• and
• said tensioning device being a spring attached to said deformable body with a tensioning screw.

The film trap and gate system motion picture projectors, comprising:

• a film trap comprising a trap body having an image aperture formed therein and having a first and second rail assembly disposed thereon;
• a stripper plate attachable to said trap body, said stripper plate comprising an angled stripper blade in communication with an attachment flange;
• a film gate comprising a gate body having a projection aperture formed therein and having a first and second rail assembly disposed thereon;
• a film tensioning device attachable to said gate body, said film tensioning device comprising a deformable body having an attachment orifice formed therein and in communication with a roller cradle;
• said roller cradle in communication with four tensioning rollers and a tensioning device, said tensioning device in communication with a tensioning screw, wherein the tension applied to the roller cradle by the tensioning device is adjustable by actuating said tensioning screw;
• and,
• a film movement channel disposed between said film trap and said film gate, wherein said film trap engages said film gate thereby forming said film movement channel.

A film trap and gate assembly for motion picture projectors, comprising:

• a film trap having a first and second trap rail assembly, said first trap rail assembly comprising a first trap rail coupled to a first trap guide, and said second trap rail assembly comprising a second trap rail coupled to a second trap guide;
• a film gate having a first and second gate rail assembly, said first gate rail assembly comprising a first gate rail coupled to a first gate guide, and said second gate rail assembly comprising a second gate rail coupled to a second gate guide;
• wherein motion picture film is positioned on said film trap rail and wherein said film trap rail assembly receives said gate rail assembly;
• and
• wherein there is a spacing between the first trap rail and a first gate rail and a spacing between the second trap rail and the second gate rail such that surfaces of the oppositely directed rails do not touch whereby the portion of the film passing between the oppositely opposed rails provides sufficient clearance for the film to traverse freely through the spacings.

A motion picture projector, comprising:

• a light source;
• a film movement device capable of engaging a portion of motion picture film and moving said film past said light source;
• a film trap and gate assembly capable of receiving said film portion, said film trap and gate assembly comprising a film movement channel, said film movement channel formed from a first member and a second member, wherein said film movement channel has a thickness oft and a width of w, and wherein t is greater than the thickness of motion picture film and w is greater than the width of motion picture;
• the film trap having spaced apart first and second film trap rails and the film gate having spaced apart first and second film gate rails, the first trap rail and the first gate rail being respectively oppositely directed and the second trap rail and the second gate rail being respectively oppositely directed;
• the spacing between the first imp rail and first gale rail and the spacing between the second trap rail and the second gate rail being such that surfaces do not touch;
• and
• a lens system capable of projecting and image onto a projection surface.

A method of advancing motion picture film through a motion picture projector, comprising:

• providing a motion picture projector;
• locating motion picture film within said motion picture projector;
• forming a film movement channel with a film trap and a film gate, positioning said film within said film movement channel;
• setting the spacing between spaced rails of the trap and oppositely spaced rails of the gate such as not to touch each other along longitudinal directed oppositely opposed surfaces thereby to form a passage for receiving respectively opposite surface portions of the film passing between the oppositely opposed rails surfaces thereby to provide sufficient clearance for the film to traverse freely through the passages;
• attaching said film to a film drive system;
• and
• moving said film freely through said film movement channel, wherein said film intermittently contacts said film trap, or said film gate, or both.

A film trap assembly for motion picture projectors, comprising:

• a trap body having a flat surface, an image aperture formed in the flat surface, and having a first and second rail assembly disposed thereon to either side of the image aperture;
• a stripper plate attachable to said trap body;
• the stripper plate having a contiguous interface between the end of the surface of the trap body and the stripper plate;
• and
• the trap body and stripper plate being aligned in a generally vertical direction.

A method of advancing motion picture film through a motion picture projector, comprising:

• providing a motion picture projector;
• locating a motion picture film with said motion picture projector;
• forming a film movement channel with a film trap and a film gate;
• positioning said film within said film movement channel;
• the trap having a body with a fiat surface, an image aperture formed in the flat surface, a stripper plate attached to said trap body, said stripper plate baying a contiguous interface between the end of the surface of the trap body and the stripper plate;
• attaching said film to a film drive system;
• and
• moving said film through said film movement channel, wherein said film intermittently contacts said film trap, or said film gate, or both.

A film gate assembly for motion picture projectors, comprising:

• a gate body having an image aperture formed therein and having a first and second rail assembly attached thereto;
• said first rail assembly comprising a first gate rail in communication with a first gate guide;
• said second rail assembly comprising a second gate rail in communication with a second gate guide;
• and
• a deformable body comprising an attachment orifice wherein said attachment orifice is used to attach a film tensioning device to a film trap or film gate, or both.

A film gate assembly for motion picture projectors, comprising:

• a gate body haying an image aperture formed therein and having a first and second rail assembly attached thereto;
• said first rail assembly comprising a first gate rail in communication with a first gate guide;
• said second rail assembly comprising a second gate rail in communication with a second gate guide;
• and
• a film tensioning assembly comprising a roller cradle said roller cradle being in communication with said at least two tensioning rollers and said tensioning device, said roller cradle being positionable on a deformable body.

The film tensioning assembly for motion picture projectors, comprising:

• a deformable body;
• at least two tensioning rollers in communication with said deformable body;
• a tensioning device is communication with said at least two tensioning rollers and said deformable body;
• and
• said film tensioning assembly further comprising a roller cradle, said roller cradle being in communication with said at least two tensioning rollers and said tensioning device, said roller cradle being positionable on said deformable body.

A film tensioning assembly for motion picture projectors, comprising:

• a deformable body;
• at least two tensioning rollers in communication with said deformable body;
• a tensioning device is communication with said at least two tensioning rollers and said deformable body;
• and
• a deformable body further comprising an attachment orifice wherein said attachment orifice is used to attach said film tensioning device to a film trap or film gate, or both.