Multipurpose cassette including sound recording and playback station

Claim 2

A film-handling cassette adapted to be removably mounted in a motion picture camera as well as in a motion picture projector comprising: an enclosed opaque housing having a light-sealed section formed as part thereof and at least one aperture; an unexposed photographic filmstrip coiled within said housing including a section adapted to serve as a soundtrack; a film exposure station within said housing external of said light-sealed section; a sound recording and playback station within said housing external of said light-sealed section, said aperture being positioned within said sound recording and playback station; first means for advancing said unexposed film strip within said housing from an initial position in said light-sealed section thereof through said exposure station and said sound recording and playback station and back into said light-sealed section, said aperture being adapted to receive at least a sound transducer in operative relationship to said sound track section of said filmstrip as said filmstrip is advanced through said sound recording and playback station; second means engaging said filmstrip as it is advanced within said housing to impart a uniform speed to that section of said soundtrack passing in operative relationship to said transducer when said transducer is received within said sound recording and playback station, whereby said unexposed filmstrip may be exposed and sound information first recorded on said filmstrip and subsequently extracted therefrom; and a normally inoperative film-processing station within said housing, intermediate the initial position of said coiled filmstrip and said sound recording and playback station, whereby said processing station may be activated to develop said filmstrip after said filmstrip has been exposed.

Claim 3

The cassette of claim 1 wherein said first means includes a supply reel to which one end of said film strip is affixed and a takeup reel to which the other end of said filmstrip is affixed, said reels being rotatably mounted within said light-sealed section of said housing on parallel axes and adapted to be driven by external drive means to transport said filmstrip reversibly between said reels, said photographic filmstrip being initially substantially entirely coiled around said supply reel in an unexposed condition and passing throuGh said processing station, said exposure station and said sound recording and pickup station in reaching said takeup reel.

Claim 4

The cassette of claim 1 wherein said section of said filmstrip adapted to serve as a soundtrack and said transducer are of the magnetic type.

Claim 5

The cassette of claim 1 wherein said second means includes means for imparting a high inertia characteristic to said filmstrip prior to said soundtrack''s passing in operative relationship to said transducer.

Claim 6

A film-handling cassette adapted to be alternately mounted in a motion picture camera and in a motion picture projector, said camera having drive means and means connected thereto for transporting filmstrip contained in said cassette in incremental steps in operative relationship to the lens of said camera when said cassette is mounted in said camera and said projector having drive means and means connected thereto for transporting filmstrip contained in said cassette in incremental steps in operative relationship to the lens of said projector when said cassette is mounted in said projector, comprising: an enclosed opaque housing having a light-sealed section formed as part thereof and at least one aperture; an unexposed photographic filmstrip coiled within said housing including a section adapted to serve as a sound track; a film exposure station within said housing external of said light-sealed section; a sound recording and playback station within said housing external of said light-sealed section, said aperture being positioned within said sound recording and playback station; first means adapted to being alternately connected to said camera drive means and said projector drive means for advancing said unexposed filmstrip within said housing from an initial position in said light-sealed section thereof through said exposure station and said sound recording and playback station and back into said light-sealed section, said aperture being adapted to receive at least a sound transducer of said projector in operative relationship to said sound track section of said filmstrip when said cassette is mounted in said projector and as said filmstrip is advanced through said sound recording and playback station; second means for imparting a uniform speed to that section of said soundtrack passing in operative relationship to said transducer within said sound recording and playback station, said second means including a sprocket rotatably mounted within said housing and engaging said filmstrip intermediate of the position where said filmstrip is engaged by said transporting means of said projector and said sound transducer when said cassette is mounted in said projector, said sprocket adapted to being driven by at least said projector drive means in unison with said film-transporting means of said projector, whereby the same length of said filmstrip is metered by said sprocket as said film-transporting means of said projecting transports in incremental steps in operative relationship to said projector lens, whereby said unexposed filmstrip may be exposed when said cassette is mounted in said camera and, when said cassette is mounted in said projector, sound information may be first recorded on said filmstrip and subsequently extracted therefrom; and a normally inoperative film-processing station within said housing, intermediate the initial position of said coiled filmstrip and said sound recording and playback station, whereby said processing station may be activated to develop said filmstrip after said filmstrip has been exposed.

Claim 7

A film-handling cassette adapted to be alternately mounted in a motion picture camera and in a motion picture projector, said camera having drive means and means connected thereto for transporting filmstrip contained in said cassette in incremental steps in operative relationship to the lens of said camera when said cassette is mounted in said camera and said projector having drive means and means connected thereto for transporting filmstrip contained in said cassette in incremental steps in operative relationship to the lens of said projector when said cassette is mounted in said projector, comprising: an enclosed opaque housing having a light-sealed section formed as part thereof and at least one aperture; an unexposed photographic filmstrip coiled within said housing including a section adapted to serve as a sound track; a film exposure station within said housing external of said light-sealed section; a sound recording and playback station within said housing external of said light-sealed section, said aperture being positioned within said sound recording and playback station; first means adapted to being alternately connected to said camera drive means and said projector drive means for advancing said unexposed filmstrip within said housing from an initial position in said light-sealed section thereof through said exposure station and said sound recording and playback station and back into said light-sealed section, said aperture being adapted to receive at least a sound transducer of said projector in operative relationship to said sound track section of said filmstrip when said cassette is mounted in said projector and as said filmstrip is advanced through said sound recording and playback station; second means for imparting a uniform speed to that section of said soundtrack passing in operative relationship to said transducer within said sound recording and playback station, said second means including a sprocket rotatably mounted within said housing and engaging said filmstrip intermediate of the position where said filmstrip is engaged by said transporting means of said projector and said sound transducer when said cassette is mounted in said projector, said sprocket adapted to being driven by at least said projector drive means in unison with said film-transporting means of said projector, whereby the same length of said filmstrip is metered by said sprocket as said film-transporting means of said projecting transports in incremental steps in operative relationship to said projector lens, whereby said unexposed filmstrip may be exposed when said cassette is mounted in said camera and, when said cassette is mounted in said projector, sound information may be first recorded on said filmstrip and subsequently extracted therefrom; and a normally inoperative film-processing station within said housing, intermediate the initial position of said coiled filmstrip and said sound recording and playback station, whereby said processing station may be activated to develop said filmstrip after said filmstrip has been exposed.

Claim 8

The cassette of claim 5 wherein said second means additionally comprises an idler rotatably mounted within said housing and over which said filmstrip passes when advanced within said housing by said first means and a capstan assembly including a capstan and a flywheel, said capstan assembly being rotatably mounted within said housing with said capstan pressing firmly against said filmstrip as it passes over said idler, said idler And said capstan engaging said filmstrip intermediate of said sprocket and said transducer, whereby said idler and said capstan assembly filter out the nonuniform motion imparted to said filmstrip by the teeth of said sprocket.

Claim 9

The cassette of claim 6 wherein said second means additionally includes means for yieldably maintaining the section of said filmstrip disposed between said sprocket and said idler taut, whereby the difference between the metering action of said sprocket and the filtering action of said idler and said capstan assembly on said filmstrip is accommodated.

Claim 10

The cassette of claim 9 wherein said second means additionally includes means for yieldably maintaining the section of said filmstrip disposed between said sprocket and said idler taut, whereby the difference between said metering action of said sprocket and the filtering action of said idler and said capstan assembly on said filmstrip is accommodated.

Claim 11

The cassette of claim 5 wherein said second means additionally comprises an idler rotatably mounted within said housing and over which said filmstrip passes when advanced within said housing by said first means, said filmstrip passing over said idler intermediate of said sprocket and said transducer, said housing adapted to receive a capstan assembly including a capstan and a flywheel when said cassette is mounted in said projector, said capstan adapted to press firmly against said filmstrip as said filmstrip passes over said idler, whereby said idler and said capstan assembly filter out the nonuniform motion imparted to said filmstrip by the teeth of said sprocket.

Claim 12

A film-handling cassette adapted to be alternately mounted in a motion picture camera and in a motion picture projector, said camera having drive means and means connected thereto for transporting filmstrip contained in said cassette in incremental steps in operative relationship to the lens of said camera when said cassette is mounted in said camera and said projector having drive means connected thereto for transporting filmstrip contained in said cassette in incremental steps in operative relationship to the lens of said projector when said cassette is mounted in said projector, comprising: an enclosed opaque housing having a light-sealed section formed as part thereof and at least one aperture; an unexposed photographic filmstrip coiled within said housing including a section adapted to serve as a soundtrack, a film exposure station within said housing external of said light-sealed section; a sound recording and playback station within said housing external of said light-sealed section, said aperture being positioned within said sound recording and playback station; first means adapted to being alternately connected to said camera drive means and said projector drive means for advancing said unexposed filmstrip within said housing from an initial position in said light-sealed section thereof through said exposure station and said sound recording and playback station and back into said light-sealed section, said aperture being adapted to receive at least a sound transducer of said projector in operative relationship to said soundtrack section of said filmstrip when said cassette is mounted in said projector and as said filmstrip is advanced through said sound recording and playback station; second means for imparting a uniform speed to that section of said soundtrack passing in operative relationship to said transducer within said sound recording and playback station, said second means including an idler, rotatably mounted within said housing and over which said filmstrip passes intermediate of the position where said filmstrip is engaged by said transporting means of said projector and said sound transducer and a capstan assembly including a capstan and a flywheel, said capstan assembly rotatably mounted within said housing with said capstan pressing firmly against said filmstrip as it passes over said idler, whereby a high inertia charActeristic is imparted by said capstan to said filmstrip and a normally inoperative film-processing station within said housing, intermediate the initial position of said coiled filmstrip and said sound recording and playback station, whereby said processing station may be activated to develop said filmstrip after said filmstrip has been exposed.

Claim 13

A film-handling cassette adapted to be alternately mounted in a motion picture camera and in a motion picture projector, said camera having drive means and means connected thereto for transporting filmstrip contained in said cassette in incremental steps in operative relationship to the lens of said camera when said cassette is mounted in said camera and said projector having drive means connected thereto for transporting filmstrip contained in said cassette in incremental steps in operative relationship to the lens of said projector when said cassette is mounted in said projector, comprising: an enclosed opaque housing having a light-sealed section formed as part thereof and at least one aperture; an unexposed photographic filmstrip coiled within said housing including a section adapted to serve as a soundtrack, a film exposure station within said housing external of said light-sealed section; a sound recording and playback station within said housing external of said light-sealed section, said aperture being positioned within said sound recording and playback station; first means adapted to being alternately connected to said camera drive means and said projector drive means for advancing said unexposed filmstrip within said housing from an initial position in said light-sealed section thereof through said exposure station and said sound recording and playback station and back into said light-sealed section, said aperture being adapted to receive at least a sound transducer of said projector in operative relationship to said soundtrack section of said filmstrip when said cassette is mounted in said projector and as said filmstrip is advanced through said sound recording and playback station; second means for imparting a uniform speed to that section of said soundtrack passing in operative relationship to said transducer within said sound recording and playback station, said second means including an idler, rotatably mounted within said housing and over which said filmstrip passes intermediate of the position where said filmstrip is engaged by said transporting means of said projector and said sound transducer and a capstan assembly including a capstan and a flywheel, said capstan assembly rotatably mounted within said housing with said capstan pressing firmly against said filmstrip as it passes over said idler, whereby a high inertia charActeristic is imparted by said capstan to said filmstrip and a normally inoperative film-processing station within said housing, intermediate the initial position of said coiled filmstrip and said sound recording and playback station, whereby said processing station may be activated to develop said filmstrip after said filmstrip has been exposed.

Claim 14

A film-handling cassette adapted to be alternatedly mounted in a motion picture camera and in a motion picture projector, said camera having drive means and means connected thereto for transporting filmstrip contained in said cassette in incremental steps in operative relationship to the lens of said camera when said cassette is mounted in said camera and said projector having drive means and means connected thereto for transporting filmstrip contained in said cassette in incremental steps in operative relationship to the lens of said projector when said cassette is mounted in said projector, comprising: an enclosed opaque housing having a light-sealed section formed as part thereof and at least one aperture; an unexposed photographic filmstrip coiled within said housing including a section adapted to serve as a soundtrack; a film exposure station within said housing external of said light-sealed section; a sound recording and playback station within said housing external of said light-sealed section, said aperture being positioned within said sound recording and playback station; first means adapted to being alternately connected to said camera drive means and said projector drive means for advancing said unexposed filmstrip within said housing from an initial position in said light-sealed section thereof through said exposure station and said sound recording and playback station and back into said light-sealed section, said aperture being adapted to receive at least a sound transducer of said projector in operative relationship to said soundtrack section of said filmstrip when said cassette is mounted in said projector and as said filmstrip is advanced through said sound recording and playback station; second means for imparting a uniform speed to that section of said soundtrack passing in operative relationship to said transducer within said sound recording and playback station, said second means including an idler rotatably mounted within said housing and over which said filmstrip passes when advanced within said housing by said first means, said filmstrip passing over said idler intermediate of the position where said filmstrip is engaged by said transporting means of said projector and said sound transducer, said housing adapted to receive a capstan, rotatably mounted in said projector and having a flywheel attached thereto, pressing firmly against said filmstrip as said filmstrip passes over said idler, whereby a high inertia characteristic is imparted by said capstan to said filmstrip; and a normally inoperative film-processing station within said housing, intermediate the initial position of said coiled filmstrip and said sound recording and playback station, whereby said processing station may be activated to develop said filmstrip after said filmstrip has been exposed.

Claim 15

A film-handling cassette adapted to be alternatedly mounted in a motion picture camera and in a motion picture projector, said camera having drive means and means connected thereto for transporting filmstrip contained in said cassette in incremental steps in operative relationship to the lens of said camera when said cassette is mounted in said camera and said projector having drive means and means connected thereto for transporting filmstrip contained in said cassette in incremental steps in operative relationship to the lens of said projector when said cassette is mounted in said projector, comprising: an enclosed opaque housing having a light-sealed section formed as part thereof and at least one aperture; an unexposed photographic filmstrip coiled within said housing including a section adapted to serve as a soundtrack; a film exposure station within said housing external of said light-sealed section; a sound recording and playback station within said housing external of said light-sealed section, said aperture being positioned within said sound recording and playback station; first means adapted to being alternately connected to said camera drive means and said projector drive means for advancing said unexposed filmstrip within said housing from an initial position in said light-sealed section thereof through said exposure station and said sound recording and playback station and back into said light-sealed section, said aperture being adapted to receive at least a sound transducer of said projector in operative relationship to said soundtrack section of said filmstrip when said cassette is mounted in said projector and as said filmstrip is advanced through said sound recording and playback station; second means for imparting a uniform speed to that section of said soundtrack passing in operative relationship to said transducer within said sound recording and playback station, said second means including an idler rotatably mounted within said housing and over which said filmstrip passes when advanced within said housing by said first means, said filmstrip passing over said idler intermediate of the position where said filmstrip is engaged by said transporting means of said projector and said sound transducer, said housing adapted to receive a capstan, rotatably mounted in said projector and having a flywheel attached thereto, pressing firmly against said filmstrip as said filmstrip passes over said idler, whereby a high inertia characteristic is imparted by said capstan to said filmstrip; and a normally inoperative film-processing station within said housing, intermediate the initial position of said coiled filmstrip and said sound recording and playback station, whereby said processing station may be activated to develop said filmstrip after said filmstrip has been exposed.

Claim 16

A film-handling cassette adapted to be alternately mounted in a motion picture camera and in a motion picture projector, said camera having drive means and means connected thereto for transporting filmstrip contained in said cassette in incremental steps in operative relationship to the lens of said camera when said cassette is mounted in said camera and said projector having a rotatably mounted capstan and flywheel assembly, a sound transducer, drive means and means connected to said drive means for transporting film contained in said cassette in incremental steps in operative relationship to the lens of said projector when said cassette is mounted in said projector, comprising: an enclosed opaque housing having a film gate and at least one aperture provided therein; a supply reel rotatably moUnted within said housing and adapted to be driven by said drive means of said projector when said cassette is mounted in said projector; a takeup reel rotatably mounted within said housing and adapted to be driven by said drive means of said camera when said cassette is mounted in said camera and by said drive means of said projector when said cassette is mounted in said projector; a first lighttight wall member defining a chamber in which said aperture is positioned; a second lighttight wall member shielding the interior of said housing from light entering said film gate; an unexposed photographic filmstrip including a section adapted to serve as a soundtrack and having its respective ends affixed to said supply reel and said takeup reel with substantially its entire length initially coiled on said supply reel and passing across said film gate and through said chamber adjacent said aperture in reaching said takeup reel, said aperture adapted to receive at least said sound transducer in operative relationship to said soundtrack section of said filmstrip when said cassette is mounted in said projector; a sprocket engaging said filmstrip intermediate of said film gate and said chamber and adapted to be driven by at least said drive means of said projector when said cassette is mounted in said projector in unison with said film-transporting means of said projector, whereby the same length of film is metered by said sprocket towards said transducer as said film-transporting means of said projector transports in incremental steps in operative relationship to said projector lens; an idler rotatably mounted within said chamber, said filmstrip being disposed over said idler intermediate of said sprocket and said sound transducer when said cassette is mounted in said projector and said transducer is disposed in operative relationship to said soundtrack, said cassette adapted to receive said capstan adjacent said idler pressing said filmstrip firmly against said idler, whereby nonuniform motion imparted to said filmstrip by the teeth of said sprocket is filtered out; means for yieldably maintaining the section of said filmstrip disposed between said sprocket and said idler taut, to accommodate the difference between the nonuniform motion imparted to said filmstrip by the teeth of said sprocket and the filtering action of said idler and said assembly on said filmstrip, whereby said unexposed filmstrip may be exposed as it traverses said film gate when said cassette is mounted in said camera and sound information may be first recorded on said filmstrip as said filmstrip traverses said chamber and extracted therefrom during subsequent passes of said filmstrip through said chamber; and a normally inoperative film-processing station within said housing, said filmstrip passing therethrough between said housing, said filmstrip passing therethrough between said supply reel and said takeup reel, whereby said processing station may be activated to develop said filmstrip after said filmstrip has been exposed.

Claim 17

A film-handling cassette adapted to be alternately mounted in a motion picture camera and in a motion picture projector, said camera having drive means and means connected thereto for transporting filmstrip contained in said cassette in incremental steps in operative relationship to the lens of said camera when said cassette is mounted in said camera and said projector having a rotatably mounted capstan and flywheel assembly, a sound transducer, drive means and means connected to said drive means for transporting film contained in said cassette in incremental steps in operative relationship to the lens of said projector when said cassette is mounted in said projector, comprising: an enclosed opaque housing having a film gate and at least one aperture provided therein; a supply reel rotatably moUnted within said housing and adapted to be driven by said drive means of said projector when said cassette is mounted in said projector; a takeup reel rotatably mounted within said housing and adapted to be driven by said drive means of said camera when said cassette is mounted in said camera and by said drive means of said projector when said cassette is mounted in said projector; a first lighttight wall member defining a chamber in which said aperture is positioned; a second lighttight wall member shielding the interior of said housing from light entering said film gate; an unexposed photographic filmstrip including a section adapted to serve as a soundtrack and having its respective ends affixed to said supply reel and said takeup reel with substantially its entire length initially coiled on said supply reel and passing across said film gate and through said chamber adjacent said aperture in reaching said takeup reel, said aperture adapted to receive at least said sound transducer in operative relationship to said soundtrack section of said filmstrip when said cassette is mounted in said projector; a sprocket engaging said filmstrip intermediate of said film gate and said chamber and adapted to be driven by at least said drive means of said projector when said cassette is mounted in said projector in unison with said film-transporting means of said projector, whereby the same length of film is metered by said sprocket towards said transducer as said film-transporting means of said projector transports in incremental steps in operative relationship to said projector lens; an idler rotatably mounted within said chamber, said filmstrip being disposed over said idler intermediate of said sprocket and said sound transducer when said cassette is mounted in said projector and said transducer is disposed in operative relationship to said soundtrack, said cassette adapted to receive said capstan adjacent said idler pressing said filmstrip firmly against said idler, whereby nonuniform motion imparted to said filmstrip by the teeth of said sprocket is filtered out; means for yieldably maintaining the section of said filmstrip disposed between said sprocket and said idler taut, to accommodate the difference between the nonuniform motion imparted to said filmstrip by the teeth of said sprocket and the filtering action of said idler and said assembly on said filmstrip, whereby said unexposed filmstrip may be exposed as it traverses said film gate when said cassette is mounted in said camera and sound information may be first recorded on said filmstrip as said filmstrip traverses said chamber and extracted therefrom during subsequent passes of said filmstrip through said chamber; and a normally inoperative film-processing station within said housing, said filmstrip passing therethrough between said housing, said filmstrip passing therethrough between said supply reel and said takeup reel, whereby said processing station may be activated to develop said filmstrip after said filmstrip has been exposed.

Claim 18

The cassette of claim 12, wherein said processing station includes an applicator containing processing fluid and having an orifice through which said processing fluid may be expressed onto said filmstrip.

Claim 19

A film-handling cassette adapted to be removably mounted in a motion picture camera as well as in a motion picture projector comprising: an enclosed opaque housing having a light-sealed section formed as part thereof and at least one aperture; an unexposed photographic filmstrip coiled within said housing including a section adapted to serve as a soundtrack; a film exposure and projection station within said housing external of said light-sealed section; a sound recording and playback station within said housing external of said light-sealed section, said aperture being positioned within said sound recording and playback station; first means for advancing said filmstrip within said housing from an initial positIon in said light-sealed section thereof through said exposure and projection station and said sound recording and playback station and back into said light-sealed section, said aperture being adapted to receive at least a sound transducer in operative relationship to said soundtrack section of said filmstrip as said filmstrip is advanced through said sound recording and playback station; and a normally inoperative film-processing station within said housing, intermediate the initial position of said coiled filmstrip and said sound recording and playback station, whereby said processing station may be activated to develop said filmstrip after said filmstrip has been exposed.

Claim 20

A film-handling cassette adapted to be removably mounted in a motion picture camera as well as in a motion picture projector comprising: an enclosed opaque housing having a light-sealed section formed as part thereof and at least one aperture; an unexposed photographic filmstrip coiled within said housing including a section adapted to serve as a soundtrack; a film exposure and projection station within said housing external of said light-sealed section; a sound recording and playback station within said housing external of said light-sealed section, said aperture being positioned within said sound recording and playback station; first means for advancing said filmstrip within said housing from an initial positIon in said light-sealed section thereof through said exposure and projection station and said sound recording and playback station and back into said light-sealed section, said aperture being adapted to receive at least a sound transducer in operative relationship to said soundtrack section of said filmstrip as said filmstrip is advanced through said sound recording and playback station; and a normally inoperative film-processing station within said housing, intermediate the initial position of said coiled filmstrip and said sound recording and playback station, whereby said processing station may be activated to develop said filmstrip after said filmstrip has been exposed.

Claim 21

A motion picture film-handling cassette comprising: an enclosed opaque housing configured to be first mounted in a camera to facilitate film exposure operations and subsequently in a projector to facilitate film processing and viewing operations, said housing having at least one aperture; an unexposed photographic filmstrip coiled within said housing including a section adapted to serve as a soundtrack; a film exposure and projection station within said housing; a sound recording and playback station within said housing, said aperture being positioned within said sound recording and playback station to receive at least a sound transducer in operative relationship with said soundtrack section of said filmstrip disposed within said sound recording and playback station; a normally inoperative film-processing station within said housing; means responsive to drive means of such camera and projector for advancing said filmstrip through said exposure and projection station, said sound recording and playback station and said film-processing station; and means for selectively rendering said processing station operable, whereby said filmstrip may be exposed, processed, projected and have sound information recorded thereon and extracted therefrom without being removed from said housing.

Claim 22

A motion picture film-handling cassette comprising: an enclosed opaque housing configured to be first mounted in a camera to facilitate film exposure operations and subsequently in a projector to facilitate film processing and viewing operations, said housing having at least one aperture; an unexposed photographic filmstrip coiled within said housing including a section adapted to serve as a soundtrack; a film exposure and projection station within said housing; a sound recording and playback station within said housing, said aperture being positioned within said sound recording and playback station to receive at least a sound transducer in operative relationship with said soundtrack section of said filmstrip disposed within said sound recording and playback station; a normally inoperative film-processing station within said housing; means responsive to drive means of such camera and projector for advancing said filmstrip through said exposure and projection station, said sound recording and playback station and said film-processing station; and means for selectively rendering said processing station operable, whereby said filmstrip may be exposed, processed, projected and have sound information recorded thereon and extracted therefrom without being removed from said housing.