Projector for use with cassettes for motion picture film

Claim 2

In a projector for use with cassettes containing convoluted motion picture film, a combination comprising a housing; guide means mounted in said housing and defining a film path along which the film is arranged to move lengthwise from a cassette occupying a projection position on said housing; a pair of takeup reels rotatably supported by said housing so that one thereof occupies a film collecting position in which it can collect the film advancing along said path and that the other reel occupies a film withdrawing position in which the film which is convoluted thereon can be withdrawn to be collected in a cassette occupying a rewinding position; and control means for inverting said reels by simultaneously moving said reels relative to the cassettes occupying said projection and rewinding positions so as to respectively place said one and said other reel into said withdrawing and collection positions.

Claim 3

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said takeup reels are rotatable in said housing about a common axis and said control means comprises a control member arranged to rotate said takeup reels about a second axis which is normal to said common axis.

Claim 4

A combination as defined in claim 2, further comprising drive means operative to rotate said control member through 180*.

Claim 5

A combination as defined in claim 3, further comprising means for initiating the operation of said drive means in response to completed presentation of the film which is being advanced along said path.

Claim 6

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said control means comprises means for moving a cassette from said projection position to said rewinding position simultaneously with the inversion of said takeup reels.

Claim 7

A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein said housing is arranged to support a series of cassettes and said control means is arranged to move a next-following cassette to said prOjection position simultaneously with movement of the preceding cassette from said projection position to said rewinding position.

Claim 8

A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising a magazine movably supported by said housing and a series of cassettes in said magazine, said control means comprising means for advancing said magazine stepwise so as to move a preceding cassette from said projection position to said rewinding position and to place the next-following cassette to said projection position in response to inversion of said takeup reels.

Claim 9

A combination as defined in claim 7, wherein said control means comprises a control member which is rotatable through 180* to thereby invert said takeup reels and to simultaneously effect a stepwise advance of said magazine.

Claim 10

A combination as defined in claim 7, wherein said means for advancing the magazine comprises a driving portion receiving motion from said control means and a driven portion provided on said magazine and receiving motion from said driving portion.

Claim 11

A combination as defined in claim 9, wherein said control means comprises a shaft which is rotatable through angles of 180* to thereby invert said takeup reels and said driving portion comprises a pinion secured to said shaft, said driven portion comprising a toothed rack provided on said magazine and meshing with said pinion.

Claim 12

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein each cassette contains a supply reel and said control means comprises a shaft whose axis is normal to the axes of supply reels in the cassettes occupying said projection and rewinding positions.

Claim 13

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said control means comprises shifting means for moving a film out of said path in response to inversion of said takeup reels so that a fresh film which is to be collected by the takeup reel occupying said collecting position can be threaded along said path.

Claim 14

A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising film threading means for advancing the film along said path from a cassette in said projection position to the takeup reel in said collecting position.

Claim 15

A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising rewinding means for advancing the film from the takeup reel in said withdrawing position into the cassette occupying said rewinding position.

Claim 16

In a projector for use with a plurality of cassettes containing convoluted motion picture film having a main portion of first and a trailing portion of different second light transmissivity, a combination comprising a housing; guide means mounted on said housing and defining a film path along which the film is arranged to move lengthwise from a cassette occupying a projection position on said housing; a pair of takeup reels rotatably supported by said housing; so that one thereof occupies a film collection position in which it can collect the film advancing along said path and that the other reel occupies a film withdrawing position in which the film which is convoluted thereon can be withdrawn to be collected in a cassette occupying a rewinding position; control means for inverting said reels so as to respectively place said one and said other reel into said withdrawing and collecting positions, said control means comprising a control member rotatable through angles of predetermined magnitude to thereby invert said reels; drive means operable to rotate said control member through said angles; and scanning means adjacent to a portion of said path to scan the light transmissivity of film in said portion of said path and arranged to initiate the operation of said drive means in response to detection of said second light transmissivity, and scanning means comprising photosensitive receiver means adjacent to one side and a light source adjacent to the other side of said portion of said path and arranged to direct a light beam in a direction toward said receiver means so that the light beam must pass through the film in saiD portion of said path.

Claim 17

In a projector for use with a plurality of cassettes containing convoluted motion picture film having a main portion of first and a trailing portion of different second light transmissivity, a combination comprising a housing; guide means mounted on said housing and defining a film path along which the film is arranged to move lengthwise from a cassette occupying a projection position on said housing; a pair of takeup reels rotatably supported by said housing; so that one thereof occupies a film collection position in which it can collect the film advancing along said path and that the other reel occupies a film withdrawing position in which the film which is convoluted thereon can be withdrawn to be collected in a cassette occupying a rewinding position; control means for inverting said reels so as to respectively place said one and said other reel into said withdrawing and collecting positions, said control means comprising a control member rotatable through angles of predetermined magnitude to thereby invert said reels; drive means operable to rotate said control member through said angles; and scanning means adjacent to a portion of said path to scan the light transmissivity of film in said portion of said path and arranged to initiate the operation of said drive means in response to detection of said second light transmissivity, and scanning means comprising photosensitive receiver means adjacent to one side and a light source adjacent to the other side of said portion of said path and arranged to direct a light beam in a direction toward said receiver means so that the light beam must pass through the film in saiD portion of said path.

Claim 18

A combination as defined in claim 15, wherein said light source is a projection lamp.

Claim 19

In a projector for use with a plurality of cassettes containing convoluted motion picture film having a main portion of greater first and a trailing portion of lesser second light transmissivity a combination comprising a housing; guide means mounted in said housing and defining a path along which the film is arranged to move lengthwise from a cassette occupying a projection position on said housing; a pair of takeup reels rotatably supported by said housing so that one thereof occupies a film collecting position in which it can collect the film advancing along said path and that the other reel occupies a film withdrawing position in which the film which is convoluted thereon can be withdrawn to be collected in a cassette occupying a rewinding position; control means for inverting said reels so as to respectively place said one and said other reel into said withdrawing and collecting positions, said control means comprising a control member rotatable through angles of predetermined magnitude to thereby invert said takeup reels; drive means operable to rotate said control member through said angles; and scanning means adjacent to a portion of said path to scan the light transmissivity of film in said portion and arranged to initiate the operation of said drive means in response to detection of said second transmissivity, said scanning means comprising photosensitive receiver means adjacent to one side and a light source adjacent to the other side of said portion of said path and arranged to direct a light beam in a direction toward said receiver means so that the light beam must pass through the film in said portion of said path, said drive means comprising a control circuit having an input portion connected to said receiver means and an output portion having actuating means arranged to effect rotation of said control member in response to a signal produced by said receiver means on exposure to a light beam passing through the trailing portion of a film in said path.

Claim 20

In a projector for use with a plurality of cassettes containing convoluted motion picture film having a main portion of greater first and a trailing portion of lesser second light transmissivity a combination comprising a housing; guide means mounted in said housing and defining a path along which the film is arranged to move lengthwise from a cassette occupying a projection position on said housing; a pair of takeup reels rotatably supported by said housing so that one thereof occupies a film collecting position in which it can collect the film advancing along said path and that the other reel occupies a film withdrawing position in which the film which is convoluted thereon can be withdrawn to be collected in a cassette occupying a rewinding position; control means for inverting said reels so as to respectively place said one and said other reel into said withdrawing and collecting positions, said control means comprising a control member rotatable through angles of predetermined magnitude to thereby invert said takeup reels; drive means operable to rotate said control member through said angles; and scanning means adjacent to a portion of said path to scan the light transmissivity of film in said portion and arranged to initiate the operation of said drive means in response to detection of said second transmissivity, said scanning means comprising photosensitive receiver means adjacent to one side and a light source adjacent to the other side of said portion of said path and arranged to direct a light beam in a direction toward said receiver means so that the light beam must pass through the film in said portion of said path, said drive means comprising a control circuit having an input portion connected to said receiver means and an output portion having actuating means arranged to effect rotation of said control member in response to a signal produced by said receiver means on exposure to a light beam passing through the trailing portion of a film in said path.

Claim 21

A combination as defined in claim 17, wherein said drive means further comprises an output circuit having motor means for rotating said control member, said actuating means comprising electromagnet means energizable by said receiver means to thereby start said motor means.

Claim 22

A combination as defined in claim 17, wherein said control circuit comprises a switching stage connected between said receiver means and said actuating means.

Claim 23

A combination as defined in claim 19, wherein said switching stage comprises a plurality of transistors.

Claim 24

A combination as defined in claim 17, wherein said drive means further comprises a source of electrical energy and a delay circuit for connecting said control circuit with said source with a predetermined delay following the introduction of a film into said path.

Claim 25

A combination as defined in claim 21, wherein said delay circuit comprises a normally open switch which is in series with said source and connects the latter with said control circuit in response to closing thereof, timer means arranged to produce a signal with a predetermined delay following detection of a film in said path, a switching stage in circuit with said timer means, and an electromagnet energizable by said switching stage in response to said signal to thereby close said switch.

Claim 26

A combination as defined in claim 22, wherein said timer means comprises an R-C link.

Claim 27

A combination as defined in claim 22, further comprising a detector switch adjacent to said path and arranged to connect said delay circuit to said source in response to detection of a film in said path. 25. A combination as defined in claim 18, wherein said output circuit comprises switch means actuated by said control member to arrest said motor means in response to rotation of said control member through said predetermined angle.

Claim 28

A combination as defined in claim 25, wherein said control member comprises cam means for actuating said switch means.