Self-threading motion picture projector or the like

Claim 1

In a motion picture projector or the like including means for rotatably supporting a supply reel upon which may be wound a roll of film having a leading end, a film gate, and means for rotatably supporting a takeup reel adapted to receive film unwound from said supply reel and delivered through said film gate, the improvement comprising: a. a threading mechanism adjustable to a condition for separating the leading end of said film from said roll, said mechanism including a manually movable operating member movable between first and second positions to effect corresponding adjustment of said mechanism to said condition in which the leading end of said film on said reel is separated from said roll and delivered from said supply reel, b. means for guiding the leading end of said film delivered from said supply reel by said threading mechanism through said film gate to said takeup reel, c. a shifter member operably coupled to said means for rotatably supporting said supply and takeup reels, said shifter member being adjustable to a forward position to effect winding rotation of said takeup reel and a reverse position to effect rewinding rotation of said supply reel, d. an interlock member engageable with said shifter member, said interlock member being movable between a first location and a second location for moving said shifter member between its forward position and its reverse position, respectively, e. resilient means coupled to said interlock member for biasing said interlock member toward said second location, f. a movable latch member adapted to operatively latch said interlock member releasably in said first location in opposition to said resilient means, g. tension sensing means for releasing said latch member in response to the existence of a predetermined film tension between said supply reel and said gate, thereby allowing said resilient means to move said interlock member from said first location to said second location, and h. reset means responsive to manual movement of said operating member from its first to its second position for returning said interlock member to its first location and into operative latched engagement with said latch member.

Claim 11

A device for stripping and feeding thin flexible strip material having a leading end from a roll of such material, said device comprising: a. means for rotatably supporting the roll, b. a finger pivotally mounted for movement about a first axis and movable from a position spaced from the roll into engagement with the roll for directing the leading end of the strip material away from the roll, c. a drive member pivotally mounted for movement about a second axis parallel to and spaced from said first axis, said drive member being movable into engagement with the roll from a position spaced from the roll and adapted to rotate the roll in a direction to unwind the strip material therefrom, d. means engageable by an operator for manually moving one of said finger and drive member into engagement with the roll, and e. mechanical interconnecting means for moving the other of said finger and drive member into engagement with the roll when said moving means moves said one finger or drive member into engagement with said roll, said interconnecting means including (1) an elongated first lever rotatably movable about one of its ends and pivotally connected to said finger at its other end, (2) a second lever connected to said first lever at a point intermediate the ends of said first lever, and (3) cam means on said drive member for moving said first and second levers in response to pivotal movement of said drive member.

Claim 12

A device for stripping and feeding thin flexible strip material having a leading end from a roll of such material, said device comprising: a. means for rotatably supporting the roll, b. a finger pivotally mounted for movement about a first axis and movable from a position spaced from the roll into engagement with the roll for directing the leading end of the strip material away from the roll, c. a drive member pivotally mounted for movement about a second axis parallel to and spaced from said first axis, said drive member being movable into engagement with the roll from a position spaced from the roll and adapted to rotate the roll in a direction to unwind the strip material therefrom, d. means engageable by an operator for manually moving one of said finger and drive member into engagement with the roll, and e. mechanical interconnecting means for moving the other of said finger and drive member into engagement with the roll when said moving means moves said one finger or drive member into engagement with said roll, said interconnecting means including (1) an elongated first lever rotatably movable about one of its ends and pivotally connected to said finger at its other end, (2) a second lever connected to said first lever at a point intermediate the ends of said first lever, and (3) cam means on said drive member for moving said first and second levers in response to pivotal movement of said drive member.