US3609020A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Film projector and automated theater projection system
Assignee: MINITEK Inc
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Filing: 1969-03-24
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Granted: 1971-09-28
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Expires: 1989-03-24
Abstract
Abstract A film projector is provided with a cue detector for generating a signal to start a theater-control procedure or sequence when a transparent or translucent tape is detected on a film which is to be or has been projected. The projector also has a cleaning attachment through which the film passes prior to entering the interior of the projector. A programmer and associated circuitry are provided for automatically turning off pre- or inter-show music, dimming house lights, turning on the projector as well as picture sound mechanisms, and opening the curtain at the beginning of a show in the theater. The programmer is moreover adapted for closing the curtain, turning up the house lights, turning off the projector and sound mechanisms, turning on the aforesaid music, and turning off the projector at the end of a show. The programmer, in one form, includes a bank of cams relative to which special provision is made to avoid selfterminating characteristics.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph Kelly
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 12:42
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B31/00; G03B31/02; G03D; G03D15/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
As a new use of light permeable tape, the method of cuing a film to cause an event or sequence of events to occur at a predetermined time during projection of the film comprising affixing a strip of the tape to a surface of the film, the tape being provided with a length dependent on film speed and adapted to produce a cue signal capable of being distinguished from film splices and noise signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
As a new use of light permeable tape, the method of cuing a film to cause an event or sequence of events to occur at a predetermined time during projection of the film comprising affixing a strip of the tape to a surface of the film, the tape being provided with a length dependent on film speed and adapted to produce a cue signal capable of being distinguished from film splices and noise signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tape is bonded to the film by an adhesive.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the adhesive is a pressure responsive adhesive on the tape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the film is provided with sprocket holes and the tape is spaced from the holes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
98 words
A film projection system for projecting a film image and performing operations ancillary to the projecting of a film image, said system comprising film projection means for projecting a film image, a film, film transporting means for transporting said film through said film projection means, light permeable means having a predetermined length secured to a surface of said film, sensing means for sensing said light permeable means, control means to control operations ancillary to the projecting of the film image, and further means responsive to said sensing means and to said predetermined length for actuating said control means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
98 words
A film projection system for projecting a film image and performing operations ancillary to the projecting of a film image, said system comprising film projection means for projecting a film image, a film, film transporting means for transporting said film through said film projection means, light permeable means having a predetermined length secured to a surface of said film, sensing means for sensing said light permeable means, control means to control operations ancillary to the projecting of the film image, and further means responsive to said sensing means and to said predetermined length for actuating said control means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said further means includes means to initiate a plurality of said operations.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said further means comprises an RC network including a capacitor adapted to be in normally charged state and at least one resistor connected in parallel with said capacitor, said capacitor being discharged through said resistor in response to said sensing means sensing said light permeable means for a period of time related to said predetermined length thereby to generate a pulse related to said period of time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said further means comprises programmed means for controlling the occurrence of a plurality of events, and means interconnecting said RC network and said programmed means for actuating said programmed means in response to said pulse.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 5 further including means for frictionally cleaning said film prior to the entry of said film into said film projection means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 9 wherein said cleaning means is adapted to move against the film in a direction opposite to the direction of movement imparted to said film by said film transporting means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 5 further including means for inactivating said film transporting means in response to a break in the film or absence of the film.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the control means includes an electromechanical programmer including a self terminating switch to perform a self terminating operation and also including circuit means to assure that the programmer is cycled past the self-terminating operation to enable a subsequent cycle to be initiated.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
75 words
A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein one of the operations is a film audio operation and another of the operations is a music providing operation to provide music between the showing of films, said system further comprising a stage speaker for selectively producing the film audio or music, means for blocking the music from the speaker during a film audio operation and means permitting monitoring of the music during a film audio operation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
119 words
In an automatic film projection system, means for projecting a film image, a film, means for transporting said film through said film projection means, light permeable means having a predetermined length affixed to said film for indicating projection of a predetermined portion of Said film, signal-generating means responsive to said predetermined length of said light permeable means for generating a signal having a predetermined amplitude and/or magnitude, a plurality of operation controls for controlling operations ancillary to the projecting of the film, programmed means for initiating the performance of said plurality of operation controls in a predetermined sequence, and actuating means responsive to said signal for actuating said programmed means and initiating said performance of the plurality of controls.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
119 words
In an automatic film projection system, means for projecting a film image, a film, means for transporting said film through said film projection means, light permeable means having a predetermined length affixed to said film for indicating projection of a predetermined portion of Said film, signal-generating means responsive to said predetermined length of said light permeable means for generating a signal having a predetermined amplitude and/or magnitude, a plurality of operation controls for controlling operations ancillary to the projecting of the film, programmed means for initiating the performance of said plurality of operation controls in a predetermined sequence, and actuating means responsive to said signal for actuating said programmed means and initiating said performance of the plurality of controls.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 14 wherein said signal-generating means comprises a pair of normally closed contacts, and means responsive to said light permeable means for opening said contacts.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
60 words
The system of claim 15 wherein said signal-generating means further comprises a circuit including said contacts, a capacitor normally charged by said circuit, and at least one resistor connected in parallel with said capacitor, said capacitor being adapted to discharge through said resistor when said contacts are opened in response to said light permeable means thereby to generate said signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 15 wherein said actuating means comprises power supplying means responsive to said signal for supplying power to said programmed means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
66 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said programmed means comprises a motor, a shaft adapted to be driven by said motor when said power supplying means supplies power to said motor, a plurality of cams fixedly secured to said shaft at spaced intervals therealong, and a plurality of switch means each actuable by one of said cams for initiating the performance of one of said controls.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 18 wherein said cams include actuating portions circumferentially spaced about said shaft such that said switch means are actuated in sequence.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 14 wherein said actuating means comprises gating means for gating current to said programmed means, said gating means adapted to respond to said signal to gate current to said programmed means and thereby actuate the same.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
60 words
The system of claim 20 wherein said programmed means comprises a plurality of switch means for initiating the performance of said plurality of controls, and a plurality of cam means adapted to be displaced, in response to the opening of said gating means, for actuating said switch means in a sequence to initiate the performance of said plurality of controls.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
70 words
The system of claim 21 wherein said plurality of switch means includes a recycle switch means having a first and a second position respectively for completing a circuit for current supplied by said gating means and for closing said gating means, said recycle switch means in said second position completing a further circuit for supplying current to said programmed means to return said recycle switch means to said first position.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
79 words
The system of claim 21 wherein said controls include first means for closing a stage curtain, second means for turning theater lights up, third means for turning said film image off, fourth means for turning film audio off, fifth means for turning said film projection means off, and sixth means for turning a source of music off; said plurality of switch means being effective to actuate said first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth means in a predetermined sequence.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
100 words
The system of claim 21 wherein said controls include first means for actuating a source of music, second means for turning theater lights down, third means for turning said film image on, fourth means for turning film audio on, and fifth means for opening a stage curtain, and a manually initiated programmed means including a plurality of switch means and a plurality of cam assemblies, said cam assemblies being positioned for actuating said plurality of switch means in a sequence, said plurality of switch means being adapted to actuate said first, second, third, fourth and fifth means in said sequence.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-27 | 1975-03-29 | 1975-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-27 | 1979-03-29 | 1979-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-27 | 1983-03-29 | 1983-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |