Motion picture camera drive mechanism

Claim 2

A drive mechanism for a motion picture camera having a motor adapted to drive a lens system having at least one lens element mounted in the camera for movement along an axis in each of two opposite directions for varying the magnification of the lens system, and film advance means including a cam member, the mechanism comprising: first and second drive means coupled to the motor and adapted to be selectively coupled to the cam member for driving the cam and thereby the film advance means at first and second rates, respectively; camera operating means coupled to the drive means for selectively coupling the first or second drive means with the cam member; third drive means coupled to the motor and adapted to be coupled to the movable lens element of the lens system, said third drive means being effective to advance said movable lens element along its axis of movement in each of two opposite directions; lens operating means coupled to the third drive means for coupling and uncoupling the third drive means and the movable lens element; and control means for the first, second and third drive means, said control means permitting operation of the third drive means from the motor independent of the operation of the first and second drive means so that the lens system can be adjusted from the motor through the third drive means without first coupling the first or second drive means to the motor.

Claim 3

A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cam member has a plurality of gear teeth thereon engageable by a gear for rotation of the cam member, and the first and second drive means comprises a shaft rotatable about an axis and coupled to the motor for rotation of the shaft by the motor, first and second gears mounted on said shaft for rotation with said shaft, gear mounting means mounted for pivotal movement about said axis, and third and fourth gears mounted on said mounting means for rotation about axes spaced from each other and from the axis of said shaft, said third and fourth gears being in meshing engagement with said first and second gears, respectively, the third and fourth gears being mounted relative to the cam member so that movement of the mounting means is effective to bring either the third gear or the fourth gear into engagement with the teeth on the cam member thereby to drive the cam member from the motor, the first and third gears comprising a first gear train that is effective to drive the cam member at a first rate and the second and fourth gears defining a second gear train that is effective to drive the cam member at a second rate.

Claim 4

A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said third drive means comprises a shaft rotatable about an axis, a gear train coupled to the shaft and to the motor for driving the shaft from the motor, gear mounting means mounted for pivotal movement about the axis of said shaft, first and second gears on said gear mounting means for rotation about axes spaced from the axis of said shaft, said gears being in meshing engagement with each other so that they rotate in opposite directions, means coupling said gears to said shaft to effect rotation of said gears from said motor through said shaft, and gear means coupled to said one lens element of said lens system for moving said element in each of its two opposite directions.

Claim 5

A mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control means comprises first and second switches connected in electrical circuits to said motor and connectable to a source of electrical potential, said first and seCond switches being electrically connected in parallel to each other and being operable to control operation of the third drive means and the first and second drive means, respectively, thereby permitting energization of the motor for operation of the third drive means independent of the operation of the first and second drive means.

Claim 6

A mechanism as set forth in claim 4 wherein the camera has an automatic exposure control system adapted to be energized from the source of electrical potential, a third switch, the third switch and the exposure control system being electrically connected in parallel to the motor and the first and second switches so that the exposure control system is energizable through the third switch independent of the operation of the motor, and means coupled to the second and third switches for closing the third switch before the second switch is closed thereby to energize the exposure control system before the motor is energized to operate the first and second drive means.

Claim 7

A mechanism as set forth in claim 4 further comprising a third switch electrically connected in series to the first switch and in parallel to the second switch, the third switch being normally closed so that operation of the third drive means from the motor normally is under control of the first switch, and means coupled to the second and third switches for opening the third switch when the second switch is closed.

Claim 8

A drive mechanism for a motion picture camera having a motor, the mechanism comprising: a cam member having a plurality of gear teeth thereon engageable by a gear for rotation of the cam member; a shaft rotatable about an axis and coupled to the motor for rotation of the shaft by the motor; first and second gears mounted on said shaft for rotation with said shaft; gear mounting means mounted for pivotal movement about said axis; third and fourth gears mounted on said mounting means for rotation about axes spaced from each other and from the axis of said shaft, said third and fourth gears being in meshing engagement with said first and second gears, respectively, the third and fourth gears being mounted relative to the cam member so that movement of the mounting means is effective to bring either the third gear or the fourth gear into engagement with the teeth on the cam member thereby to drive the cam member from the motor, the first and third gears comprising a first gear train that is effective to drive the cam member at a first rate and the second and fourth gears defining a second gear train that is effective to drive the cam member at a second rate; camera operating means coupled to said gear mounting means for selectively coupling either the first drive train or the second drive train to the cam member, and the camera having a lens system with at least one lens element mounted for movement along an axis in each of two opposite directions, the drive mechanism further comprising means coupled to the motor and to the movable lens element for selectively moving the lens element in each of its two directions of movement, said drive means being operable to effect movement of the movable lens element simultaneously with rotation of the cam member from the motor or independently of operation of the cam member.

Claim 9

A drive mechanism for a motion picture camera having a motor, the mechanism comprising: a cam member having a plurality of gear teeth thereon engageable by a gear for rotation of the cam member; a shaft rotatable about an axis and coupled to the motor for rotation of the shaft by the motor; first and second gears mounted on said shaft for rotation with said shaft; gear mounting means mounted for pivotal movement about said axis; third and fourth gears mounted on said mounting means for rotation about axes spaced from each other and from the axis of said shaft, said third and fourth gears being in meshing engagement with said first and second gears, respectively, the third and fourth gears being mounted relative to the cam member so that movement of the mounting means is effective to bring either the third gear or the fourth gear into engagement with the teeth on the cam member thereby to drive the cam member from the motor, the first and third gears comprising a first gear train that is effective to drive the cam member at a first rate and the second and fourth gears defining a second gear train that is effective to drive the cam member at a second rate; camera operating means coupled to said gear mounting means for selectively coupling either the first drive train or the second drive train to the cam member, and the camera having a lens system with at least one lens element mounted for movement along an axis in each of two opposite directions, the drive mechanism further comprising means coupled to the motor and to the movable lens element for selectively moving the lens element in each of its two directions of movement, said drive means being operable to effect movement of the movable lens element simultaneously with rotation of the cam member from the motor or independently of operation of the cam member.