US3656673A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and means of accurately positioning film in a film processing mechanism
Assignee: Pako Corp
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Filing: 1970-09-21
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Granted: 1972-04-18
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Expires: 1990-09-21
Abstract
Abstract This invention is a film feed control for a film advancement mechanism to accurately position a particular film frame for processing by using the film frame location prior to advancement to determine a sequential cycle of film advancement in which each film frame is first advanced and a minimum predetermined distance by actual measurement and then, without stopping, is advanced a further distance using a timer to control the end of the film advancement cycle by measuring an increment of time for further film advancement determined for each frame based on frame position prior to the start of the advancement cycle.
Inventors
- 👤 Glenn D Erickson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 19:27
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B27/00; G03B27/32; G03B27/52; G03B27/62; G03B27/6271; G03B27/6285
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A film feed control for film in a film processing mechanism comprising, initiate means connected to the film processing mechanism for initiating a cycle of film advancement by the mechanism, measurement means operatively associated with the film processing mechanism for measuring a predetermined distance of film advancement while the film is in motion in the film processing mechanism, position indicating means operatively associated with said film processing mechanism for giving a frame position indicating output signal governed by the position of a frame on said film in the film processing mechanism prior to the advancement thereof, a timer connected to said measurement means and said indicating means so that after the predetermined film advancement said timer is activated by said measurement means to determine a time interval of a duration determined in response to the output signal of said position indicating means, and terminate means connected to said timer and the film processing mechanism for stopping the advancement of the film at the end of the time interval determined by said timer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
A film feed control for film in a film processing mechanism comprising, initiate means connected to the film processing mechanism for initiating a cycle of film advancement by the mechanism, measurement means operatively associated with the film processing mechanism for measuring a predetermined distance of film advancement while the film is in motion in the film processing mechanism, position indicating means operatively associated with said film processing mechanism for giving a frame position indicating output signal governed by the position of a frame on said film in the film processing mechanism prior to the advancement thereof, a timer connected to said measurement means and said indicating means so that after the predetermined film advancement said timer is activated by said measurement means to determine a time interval of a duration determined in response to the output signal of said position indicating means, and terminate means connected to said timer and the film processing mechanism for stopping the advancement of the film at the end of the time interval determined by said timer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
124 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said measurement means comprises, a gear wheel located in said film processing mechanism and having gear teeth spaced equidistant from one another and correspondingly related to increments of film advancement, counting means for counting the individual gear teeth on said gear wheel passing a fixed point during film advance-ment, a count switch set for a predetermined number corres-ponding to the number of gear teeth on said gear wheel required to move pasT a fixed point to form the predetermined film ad-vancement, and count register means for continuously comparing the process of said counting means with the predetermined setting of said count switch and to emit a signal when the number of counted gear teeth equals the predetermined setting.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 2 and stop means for said counting means to retain the predetermined count after the same has been reached.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 2 and reset means connected to said initiate means for said counting means to reset same, prior to a new cycle of film advancement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 2 and said counting means comprising a magnetic sensor magnetically coupled to said gear wheel at a fixed location to produce electrical impulses in response to the movement of individual gear teeth and an electric counter responsive to the impulses from said sensor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 1 with said position indicating means comprising, a pointer adapted to be aligned with the edge of a frame of film prior to the advancement thereof, a lever connected with said pointer to variably position same, and a variable output electrical signal means operably con-nected with said lever so that the output of said signal means varies with the positioning of said pointer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said signal means is a variable potentiometer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 and a timer activating means responsive to said measurement means to activate said timer after said measurement means has measured a predetermined distance of film advancement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said measurement means has a plurality of electrical output circuits all of which will be in an on condition when said predetermined film advancement has occurred and said timer activating means is a NAND gate responsive to all of said output circuits and having an electrical output signal indicative of the occurrence of the predetermined film advancement.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
102 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said timer comprises, a time delay having an input connected to said measure-ment means and an output which is activated by the input to produce a time function output signal when said measurement means has measured the predetermined film advancement, and a comparator having a first input connected to the output of the time delay, a second input connected to said position indicating means to receive the position indicating output signal, and an output connected to said terminate means, said comparator actuating said terminate means when the time function signal equals the position indicating output signal.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of accurately positioning a photographic film frame for processing in a film processing mechanism often a cycle of film advancement consisting of the steps of, determining the position of a film frame in the film advancement mechanism prior to the film advancement cycle, initiating a cycle of film advancement, advancing the film a first minimum predetermined distance by actual measurement which distance is common to all film frames to be advanced, advancing the film a second distance without stopping film movement after the first advancement, determining a time interval for the duration of the second film advancement in response to the position of the film frame as determined, and terminating the cycle of film advancement at the end of the time interval during which advancement has occurred.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of accurately positioning a photographic film frame for processing in a film processing mechanism often a cycle of film advancement consisting of the steps of, determining the position of a film frame in the film advancement mechanism prior to the film advancement cycle, initiating a cycle of film advancement, advancing the film a first minimum predetermined distance by actual measurement which distance is common to all film frames to be advanced, advancing the film a second distance without stopping film movement after the first advancement, determining a time interval for the duration of the second film advancement in response to the position of the film frame as determined, and terminating the cycle of film advancement at the end of the time interval during which advancement has occurred.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2955821A
Cited
US3315862A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-18 | 1975-10-18 | 1976-04-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-18 | 1979-10-18 | 1980-04-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-18 | 1983-10-18 | 1984-04-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |