US3586430A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Film transport apparatus
Assignee: Bell and Howell Co
•
Filing: 1968-03-12
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Granted: 1971-06-22
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Expires: 1988-03-12
Abstract
Abstract Film transport apparatus for moving microfilm in either of two directions with equal facility, past a projection aperture. The transport apparatus has identical components on each side of the optical centerline, and maintains continuous tension on the film web during its movement. The film supply spool may be located on either a left or right spindle shaft in order to accommodate microfilm for a correct display orientation regardless of the film wrap direction.
Inventors
- 👤 Chester S Rempala
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 06:55
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B21/00; G03B21/10; G03B21/11; G03B21/111; G03B21/113
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
276 words
Apparatus for selectively transporting film in either of two directions between a first rotatably mounted film spool having a first film wrap diameter, and a second rotatably mounted film spool having a second film wrap diameter and for maintaining continuous film tension regardless of the wrap diameters or the transport direction, comprising: a drive motor connectable to an electric source; two pairs of rotatably mounted capstan shafts having mating capstan rollers secured thereto and a pulley affixed to one capstan shaft of each pair for receiving a drive belt trained thereabout from said drive motor for moving said film at a given linear velocity from either spool to the other; means including said capstan shafts for coupling said motor to each of said film spools for driving the spool on which the film is being taken up in a film wrapping direction and at a speed such that the peripheral velocity of the outer film wrap is greater than said given velocity; said clutch means comprising two pairs of electrically energizable clutches, one pair of clutches cooperating with each capstan pair; drive belts trained from each of said clutch pairs to pulleys having different pulley diameters for rotatably driving each of said spools; slip clutch means compensating for the peripheral velocity differential to prevent imposing inordinant stress upon said film; and an electrical switch having at least two switch positions interposed between said motor and said source for selectively changing drive direction of said motor thereby changing the transport direction of said film, said switch means energizing one clutch of each clutch pair for driving said spools at different speeds responsive to the film transport direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
276 words
Apparatus for selectively transporting film in either of two directions between a first rotatably mounted film spool having a first film wrap diameter, and a second rotatably mounted film spool having a second film wrap diameter and for maintaining continuous film tension regardless of the wrap diameters or the transport direction, comprising: a drive motor connectable to an electric source; two pairs of rotatably mounted capstan shafts having mating capstan rollers secured thereto and a pulley affixed to one capstan shaft of each pair for receiving a drive belt trained thereabout from said drive motor for moving said film at a given linear velocity from either spool to the other; means including said capstan shafts for coupling said motor to each of said film spools for driving the spool on which the film is being taken up in a film wrapping direction and at a speed such that the peripheral velocity of the outer film wrap is greater than said given velocity; said clutch means comprising two pairs of electrically energizable clutches, one pair of clutches cooperating with each capstan pair; drive belts trained from each of said clutch pairs to pulleys having different pulley diameters for rotatably driving each of said spools; slip clutch means compensating for the peripheral velocity differential to prevent imposing inordinant stress upon said film; and an electrical switch having at least two switch positions interposed between said motor and said source for selectively changing drive direction of said motor thereby changing the transport direction of said film, said switch means energizing one clutch of each clutch pair for driving said spools at different speeds responsive to the film transport direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the capstan shafts drive each of said clutch pairs in opposite directions for driving one of said film spools counterclockwise and the other film spool clockwise.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the drive elements associated with each of said film spools, including said capstans and said clutches, are identical, and including additionally: a projection aperture disposed in the path of movement of said film, said aperture including gate means operable responsive to nonmovement of said film for maintaining it in a fixed, prefocused plane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
203 words
In a microfilm reader, apparatus for automatically training and selectively transporting film in either of two directions between two film spools and past a projection aperture, and for maintaining continuous film tension regardless of the film wrap diameter on said spools, comprising: a deck and a frame; means rotatably supporting said film spools in spaced apart relation on said deck, one of said spools serving as a film supply spool and the other as a film takeup spool; capstan means adjacent said spools defining a film path therebetween extending past said projection aperture; said capstan means driving the film past said aperture at a controlled velocity; means cooperating with the film supply spool for feeding a leading end of said film into said film path for advancement to the takeup spool; means integral with said takeup spool for automatically securing said leading end thereto; and reversible drive means imparting rotation to said spools and capstan for automatically training said film through said path between said spools and movIng said film in either direction past said projection aperture; said drive means driving said film takeup spool sufficiently fast, and driving said supply spool sufficiently slow, so as to maintain continuous tension on said film.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
203 words
In a microfilm reader, apparatus for automatically training and selectively transporting film in either of two directions between two film spools and past a projection aperture, and for maintaining continuous film tension regardless of the film wrap diameter on said spools, comprising: a deck and a frame; means rotatably supporting said film spools in spaced apart relation on said deck, one of said spools serving as a film supply spool and the other as a film takeup spool; capstan means adjacent said spools defining a film path therebetween extending past said projection aperture; said capstan means driving the film past said aperture at a controlled velocity; means cooperating with the film supply spool for feeding a leading end of said film into said film path for advancement to the takeup spool; means integral with said takeup spool for automatically securing said leading end thereto; and reversible drive means imparting rotation to said spools and capstan for automatically training said film through said path between said spools and movIng said film in either direction past said projection aperture; said drive means driving said film takeup spool sufficiently fast, and driving said supply spool sufficiently slow, so as to maintain continuous tension on said film.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
The microfilm reader as set forth in claim 4 including additionally: identical cartridges housing each of said film spools for rotation therein; and wherein said means rotatably supporting said film spools comprise a pair of spindles each capable of receiving either of said cartridged spools, whereby said spools may be interchangeably positioned on said spindles for reorienting a reverse reading image.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
138 words
The microfilm reader as set forth in claim 5 wherein said capstan means comprise two pairs of capstan shafts rotatably secured to said frame, each of said capstan shafts having a capstan roller secured thereto and disposed in pairs in interferring relationship in said film path; and wherein said reversible drive means include a single reversible drive motor directly coupled to one capstan shaft of each pair; two selectively energizable clutches secured to each pair of capstan shafts; means coupling each clutch of one capstan shaft pair to one spindle shaft, and each clutch of the other capstan shaft pair to the second spindle shaft; one of said clutches of each clutch pair being energized responsive to each drive direction for establishing different drive ratios between said motor and each spindle shaft for maintaining said film continuously tensed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
89 words
The microfilm reader as set forth in claim 6 including additionally: counter means coupled to said drive means for indicating the relative location of microimages on said film; and wherein said drive means further comprise: a slip clutch interposed between each of said energizable clutches and the spindle shafts to which they are coupled for obviating inordinate stress on said film; and drag brake means acting on said spindles and said spools through said slip clutches for absorbing the rotational moment of inertia thereof upon deenergization of said clutches.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The microfilm reader as set forth in claim 7 further including: means cooperating with said projection aperture for immobilizing said microfilm therein in a fixed focal plane upon deenergization of said clutches, and means for vertically displacing said immobilized microfilm for scanning a microimage to be viewed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
142 words
Apparatus for selectively moving microfilm in either of two directions between two spaced apart film spools and past a projection aperture, wherein said aperture is located substantially at the apparatus centerline, comprising: a reversible drive motor; two drive trains, each capable of interchangeably functioning as a film takeup or film supply drive, and each having substantially identical drive elements disposed on opposite sides of said centerline, each of said drive trains including: rotatably mounted spindle means adapted to receive a spool for corotation therewith; a pair of corotatable capstan shafts having capstan means cooperating with said film, one shaft of each pair having two selectively energizable clutches corotatably fixed thereto and coupled to said spindle means; means coupling said drive motor to the capstan shafts and spindle means of each drive train for moving the film in either direction past said aperture.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
142 words
Apparatus for selectively moving microfilm in either of two directions between two spaced apart film spools and past a projection aperture, wherein said aperture is located substantially at the apparatus centerline, comprising: a reversible drive motor; two drive trains, each capable of interchangeably functioning as a film takeup or film supply drive, and each having substantially identical drive elements disposed on opposite sides of said centerline, each of said drive trains including: rotatably mounted spindle means adapted to receive a spool for corotation therewith; a pair of corotatable capstan shafts having capstan means cooperating with said film, one shaft of each pair having two selectively energizable clutches corotatably fixed thereto and coupled to said spindle means; means coupling said drive motor to the capstan shafts and spindle means of each drive train for moving the film in either direction past said aperture.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
85 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein: each of said clutches include a driving member fixed to its capstan shaft, and a driven member; belt means coupling each of said driven members to a dual diameter pulley affixed to the spindle means of each drive train, whereby upon energizing one clutch of each drive train, said driven members are coupled to said driving members for driving the spool taking up said film faster than the spool supplying said film, thereby maintaining continuous film tension.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
76 words
The apparatus ad defined in claim 10 inclUding additionally: cartridges for housing said film spools, said cartridges being interchangeably positionable on either of said spindle means for reorienting a reverse reading image by changing said cartridge from one spindle to the other; and wherein the same clutch of each drive train is energized when said film is moved in a given direction regardless of the spindle means on which the spool supplying said film is positioned.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
116 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said capstan means define a selectively given film velocity past said aperture; and wherein each of said drive trains further include: slip clutch means interposed between said drive motor and said spindle shaft for limiting the velocity of the outer film wrap on the takeup spool to said given velocity, and for allowing the other spool to supply film at said given velocity; continuously engaged brake means acting on said spools for absorbing the rotational moment of inertia thereof upon deenergization of said clutches; and image location indicating means coupled to at least one of said drive trains for locating the exact position of microimages on said film.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 12 further including transparent flats forming a gate cooperating with said film at said aperture during deenergization of said clutches for maintaining the microimage in a predetermined focal plane; and control means for simultaneously controlling the motor drive direction and clutch energization.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
234 words
Apparatus for selectively transporting film in either of two directions between a first rotatably mounted film spool having a first film wrap diameter, and a second rotatably mounted film spool having a second film wrap diameter and for maintaining continuous film tension regardless of the wrap diameters or the transport direction, comprising: a drive motor connectable to an electric source; two pairs of rotatably mounted capstan shafts having mating capstan rollers secured thereto and a pulley affixed to one capstan shaft of each pair for receiving a drive belt trained thereabout from said drive motor for moving said film at a given linear velocity from either spool to the other; a pair of clutches carried on one of said capstan shafts of each capstan pair; means operatively connecting each clutch to a respective film spool thereby enabling selective coupling of said motor to said film spools for driving the spool on which said film is being taken up in a film wrapping direction and at a speed such that the peripheral velocity of the outer film wrap is greater than said given velocity; slip clutch means compensating for the peripheral velocity differential to prevent imposing inordinate stress upon said film; and an electrical switch having at least two switch positions interposed between said motor and said source for selectively changing the drive direction of said motor thereby changing the transport direction of said film.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
234 words
Apparatus for selectively transporting film in either of two directions between a first rotatably mounted film spool having a first film wrap diameter, and a second rotatably mounted film spool having a second film wrap diameter and for maintaining continuous film tension regardless of the wrap diameters or the transport direction, comprising: a drive motor connectable to an electric source; two pairs of rotatably mounted capstan shafts having mating capstan rollers secured thereto and a pulley affixed to one capstan shaft of each pair for receiving a drive belt trained thereabout from said drive motor for moving said film at a given linear velocity from either spool to the other; a pair of clutches carried on one of said capstan shafts of each capstan pair; means operatively connecting each clutch to a respective film spool thereby enabling selective coupling of said motor to said film spools for driving the spool on which said film is being taken up in a film wrapping direction and at a speed such that the peripheral velocity of the outer film wrap is greater than said given velocity; slip clutch means compensating for the peripheral velocity differential to prevent imposing inordinate stress upon said film; and an electrical switch having at least two switch positions interposed between said motor and said source for selectively changing the drive direction of said motor thereby changing the transport direction of said film.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
92 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said coupling means include: means for driving the spool from which the film is supplied in a film upwrapping direction and at a speed such that the peripheral velocity of the outer film wrap is less than said given velocity; means establishing different drive ratios between the drive motor and each of said spools comprising a plurality of clutches cooperating with one capstan shaft of each pair for deriving rotational motion therefrom and slip clutch means interposed between said clutches and said spools.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
168 words
Apparatus for selectively conveying film in either a film threading operational mode for automatically threading film from one of two spools to the other, or in a film transporting operational mode in either of two directions past a projection station and between said two film spools interchangeably serving as film supply and film takeup spools, comprising: a first pair of clutches for selectively coupling a drive motor to a respectIve one of each of said spools; a second pair of clutches for selectively coupling said drive motor to a respective one of each of said spools; and control means coupling at least one clutch of the first clutch pair to the spool serving as the film takeup spool for driving it in a film takeup direction during the transport mode of operation, and for selectively coupling at least one clutch of the second clutch pair to the spool serving as the film supply spool for driving it in a film supplying direction during the threading mode of operation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
168 words
Apparatus for selectively conveying film in either a film threading operational mode for automatically threading film from one of two spools to the other, or in a film transporting operational mode in either of two directions past a projection station and between said two film spools interchangeably serving as film supply and film takeup spools, comprising: a first pair of clutches for selectively coupling a drive motor to a respectIve one of each of said spools; a second pair of clutches for selectively coupling said drive motor to a respective one of each of said spools; and control means coupling at least one clutch of the first clutch pair to the spool serving as the film takeup spool for driving it in a film takeup direction during the transport mode of operation, and for selectively coupling at least one clutch of the second clutch pair to the spool serving as the film supply spool for driving it in a film supplying direction during the threading mode of operation.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
61 words
The film conveying apparatus as set forth in claim 16 including additionally: capstan means coupled to said drive motor and associated with each of said spools, said capstan means cooperating with said film to assist in moving it from one spool to the other and wherein the direction of film movement is controlled by the direction of operation of said motor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
96 words
The film conveying apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said capstan means comprise two pairs of cooperating capstans, one pair associated with each of said spools; wherein a clutch of each of said first and second clutch pairs is associated with one pair of capstans and the other clutch of each of said first and second clutch pairs is associated with the other capstan pair, wherein said second pair of clutches are electrically energizable and wherein during the threading mode of operation only the electric clutch associated with said film supply spool is energized.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-21 | 1974-12-21 | 1975-06-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-21 | 1978-12-21 | 1979-06-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-21 | 1982-12-21 | 1983-06-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |