US3729254A — Slide projector for unsupported flexible slide ho…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 349 words

A slide projector having, in combination: a case having a top wall, an internal recess, an access opening in said top wall over said recess, and a cover door overlying said recess and movable between open and closed positions; an optical system in said case having an optical axis extending through one side portion of said recess and through a slide projection station in said one side portion; an unsupported endless flexible slide holder disposed in said recess and comprising an endless series of elongated slidegripping clips flexibly joined together by an endless belt and arranged to hold a series of slides in side-by-side relation with each slide gripped along one edge and projecting outwardly from the holder; an upright shaft in said recess extending through said slide holder beside said projection station and having an upper end adjacent said access opening; an upright roller extending through saId slide holder and spaced from said shaft on the side thereof remote from said projection station, said roller also having an upper end adjacent said access opening; means supporting said roller for movement toward and away from said shaft and permitting said slide holder to be fitted freely around said roller and said shaft through said access opening when more closely spaced than the length of the space within said slide holder; means supporting said shaft for rotation about a fixed axis and also permitting said slide holder to be fitted freely around said shaft through said access opening; positioning surfaces in said recess for limiting downward movement of said slide holder into the recess to a preselected level and maintaining the holder at the preselected level when the holder is loosely fitted around the roller and the shaft; means for moving said roller selectively between a first position closer to said shaft than said length and a second position in which said slide holder is tightened about said roller and said shaft; and drive means for turning said shaft step by step through selected increments to drive said slide holder and feed slides one by one into said projection station.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 349 words

A slide projector having, in combination: a case having a top wall, an internal recess, an access opening in said top wall over said recess, and a cover door overlying said recess and movable between open and closed positions; an optical system in said case having an optical axis extending through one side portion of said recess and through a slide projection station in said one side portion; an unsupported endless flexible slide holder disposed in said recess and comprising an endless series of elongated slidegripping clips flexibly joined together by an endless belt and arranged to hold a series of slides in side-by-side relation with each slide gripped along one edge and projecting outwardly from the holder; an upright shaft in said recess extending through said slide holder beside said projection station and having an upper end adjacent said access opening; an upright roller extending through saId slide holder and spaced from said shaft on the side thereof remote from said projection station, said roller also having an upper end adjacent said access opening; means supporting said roller for movement toward and away from said shaft and permitting said slide holder to be fitted freely around said roller and said shaft through said access opening when more closely spaced than the length of the space within said slide holder; means supporting said shaft for rotation about a fixed axis and also permitting said slide holder to be fitted freely around said shaft through said access opening; positioning surfaces in said recess for limiting downward movement of said slide holder into the recess to a preselected level and maintaining the holder at the preselected level when the holder is loosely fitted around the roller and the shaft; means for moving said roller selectively between a first position closer to said shaft than said length and a second position in which said slide holder is tightened about said roller and said shaft; and drive means for turning said shaft step by step through selected increments to drive said slide holder and feed slides one by one into said projection station.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 97 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 1 in which said means supporting said roller include a sliding mount, slideways supporting said sliding mount for movement toward and away from said shaft, means for holding said sliding mount releasably in a preselected range of motion in which the roller is closer to said shaft than said length, and means at the end of said range of motion remote from said shaft for applying a preselected spring force to said sliding mount to urge the latter and said roller away from said shaft to tension said slide holder.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 63 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 2, further including a plurality of sets of said means for holding said sliding mount and said means for applying said preselected force to said slide, and in which said sets are arranged in a longitudinal series extending away from said shaft, to provide for loading and tensioning of slide holders of different lengths and capacities.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 57 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 1 in which said positioning surfaces include hubs around the lower surfaces of said shaft and said roller for engaging said slide holder and guide rails along the path followed by slides on said slide holder to and from said projection station for engaging the lower edges of the slides.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 22 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 4 in which said hubs have bevels inclined from below said level to said level.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 39 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 4 in which said guide rails extend from one side of said shaft, around said roller, and back to the opposite side of said shaft, and have beveled ends adjacent said shaft.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 38 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 1 in which said shaft and said roller are mounted on a base plate spaced above the bottom of said case, and said drive means are mounted beneath said base plate.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 138 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 7 in which said drive means comprise a hub on said shaft extending beneath said base plate, a driver mounted for back and forth movement beneath said hub, a series of depending abutments on said hub radially spaced around the axis of said shaft, a ratchet coupling including at least one lug projecting upwardly from said driver and positioned to pass beneath said hub on one side of the axis of said shaft to engage and move an abutment on said one side portion in one direction of motion of said driver, and to yield and pass the next abutment in the other direction of motion of the driver, and a reciprocating actuator for shifting said driver back and forth to index said hub and said shaft step-by-step in one direction.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 66 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 8 in which said driver normally is held for reciprocation along a first path for engagement of said ratchet coupling on said one side of said axis, and is shiftable to a secoNd path of reciprocation for engagement of said coupling on the other side of said axis, thereby to reverse the direction of feeding of said slide holder.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 31 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 9 further including a second reciprocating actuator connected to said driver and selectively operable to shift said driver from one path to the other.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 59 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 9 in which said driver has first and second ratchet lugs, the first being aligned with abutments on said one side of said axis when said driver is reciprocated along said first path, and the second being aligned with abutments on said other side while said driver is reciprocated along second path.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 137 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 1 in which said drive means include a reciprocating actuator in the form of a solenoid, a driver reciprocable by said solenoid through forward and return strokes, and a ratchet coupling between said driver and said shaft, for indexing the shaft one step during each forward stroke of the driver, said solenoid producing a forward stroke when energized and a return stroke when deenergized, and further including a slide-positioning device engageable with each slide in the projection station from a retracted position on the side of the station remote from said shaft, said device being connected to said driver by a lost-motion connection to be moved into engagement by the driver in timed relation with the indexing of said shaft and only during the final portion of each forward stroke.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 56 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 12 further including hold-out means for engaging the slides on opposite sides of the slide in said projection station and shifting them away from said projection station, said hold-out means being connected to said driver for actuation thereby after each slide has been moved generally into said projection station.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 73 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 13 in which said hold-out means comprise two spring arms disposed on opposite sides of said shaft, a rocker supporting said arms for movement from retracted positions toward said roller to activate positions to engage the slides on opposite sides of said projection station in moving to said active positions, and a link connecting said rocker to said driver for actuation thereby with said slide-positioning device.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 43 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 14 further including a shutter movable back and forth across said optical axis to block and unblock said optical system during slide changing, said shutter being carried by said rocker for actuation therewith by said driver.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 74 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 1 further including at least two lugs projecting outwardly from said shaft alongside one edge of the position of said belt, said slide-holding clips being arranged on said belt with every other clip projecting outwardly beyond said one edge past the ends of the adjacent clips to form alternating recesses and driving abutments along said one edge, said lugs projecting into said recesses to engage said abutments.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 72 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 1 in which said cover door is hinged on said top wall and further including a scanning switch operable when actuated to cause said drive means to feed said slide holder one step, and an actuator for said scanning switch mounted on said cover door to actuate said scanning switch upon depression of said cover door from said nearly closed position toward said closed position.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 282 words

A slide projector having, in combination: a case having an internal recess and an access opening in one side of said case opening into said recess; an optical system in said case having an optical axis extending through said recess and through a slide projection station therein; an endless flexible slide holder disposed in said recess and comprising an endless series of slide-gripping members flexibly joined together and arranged to hold an endless series of slides in side-by-side relation with each slide gripped alonG one edge and projecting outwardly from the holder; supporting means for said slide holder mounted on said projector in said recess for receiving said slide holder through said access opening, and including two spaced, parallel supporting elements extending toward said access opening and mounted for selective relative movement between expanded and contracted conditions, to receive the slide holder around said elements in said contracted condition, one of said elements being disposed beside said slide projection station to position successive slides in said station as the slide holder is fed around said supporting elements; said supporting means also including positioning surfaces facing toward said access opening in a preselected plane to locate the slide holder relative to said supporting elements and said station when the supporting elements are in said contracted condition; means for moving said supporting elements to said expanded condition to tension said slide holder thereon; and drive means for feeding said slide holder step-by-step through selected increments about said supporting elements to feed slides one by one into said station, said flexible slide holder being freely insertible over and removable from said supporting means through said access opening when said elements are in the contracted condition.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 282 words

A slide projector having, in combination: a case having an internal recess and an access opening in one side of said case opening into said recess; an optical system in said case having an optical axis extending through said recess and through a slide projection station therein; an endless flexible slide holder disposed in said recess and comprising an endless series of slide-gripping members flexibly joined together and arranged to hold an endless series of slides in side-by-side relation with each slide gripped alonG one edge and projecting outwardly from the holder; supporting means for said slide holder mounted on said projector in said recess for receiving said slide holder through said access opening, and including two spaced, parallel supporting elements extending toward said access opening and mounted for selective relative movement between expanded and contracted conditions, to receive the slide holder around said elements in said contracted condition, one of said elements being disposed beside said slide projection station to position successive slides in said station as the slide holder is fed around said supporting elements; said supporting means also including positioning surfaces facing toward said access opening in a preselected plane to locate the slide holder relative to said supporting elements and said station when the supporting elements are in said contracted condition; means for moving said supporting elements to said expanded condition to tension said slide holder thereon; and drive means for feeding said slide holder step-by-step through selected increments about said supporting elements to feed slides one by one into said station, said flexible slide holder being freely insertible over and removable from said supporting means through said access opening when said elements are in the contracted condition.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 72 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 18 in which said one supporting element is a shaft mounted on said projector for rotation about a fixed axis beside said slide projection station and supported from its inner end, remote from said access opening, and from its inner side, adjacent the other of said supporting elements, thereby leaving the outer end and outer side of said shaft unobstructed to receive the slide holder.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 39 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 19 in which said other supporting element is mounted on said projector for movement in parallel with said shaft, toward and away from the latter, to contract and expand said supporting means.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 51 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 20 in which said shaft is square in cross-section and said other element is a cylindrical roller supported from its inner end and inner side for rotation about an axis parallel to said fixed axis and movable toward and away from the fixed axis.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 70 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 19 in which said other supporting element is mounted on a slide movable toward and away from said shaft, and further including means for holding said slide releasably in a position in which said elements are in said contracted condition for loading of the projector with a slide holder, and then shifting the slide away from the shaft to expand the supporting means.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 33 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 22 in which the last-mentioned means also exert a preselected yieldable tensioning force on said slide holder when said supporting means are in said expanded condition.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 128 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 19 in which said other supporting element is a roller, and further including a slide mounted on said projector for movement toward and away from said shaft, a pin carried by said slide and extending through said roller to support the roller rotatably on the slide, said pin being longitudinally slidable relative to said slide and said roller, a grip on the end of said pin adjacent said access opening, means yieldably urging said pin away from said access opening, and cam and follower means coupled to said pin to cooperate with said spring in holding said slide releasably in place when said supporting elements are contracted, and urging said slide away from said shaft when said supporting elements are expanded.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 90 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 24 in which said cam and follower means comprise a follower on said pin, and a track along which said follower moves during expansion and contraction of said supporting means, said track having a first surface generally perpendicular to said pin engaging said follower when in said contracted condition, and a surface inclined away from said access opening and said shaft engaging said follower in said expanded condition, thereby to cam said slide away from said shaft by the action of said spring.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 64 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 25 in which said track extends along the path of said pin and has a plurality of longitudinally spaced first surfaces, and in which a plurality of branches are spaced along said main portion at preselected intervals, each branch having an inclined second surface for expanding said supporting means within slide carriers of different sizes and capacities.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 77 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 18 in which said positioning surfaces are on rails generally paralleling a reference line between said supporting elements on opposite sides of said line for sliding engagement with the edges of slides on said slide holder, and on hubs around the ends of said supporting elements remote from said access opening, in the same plane as said bars, for engaging the holder when it is fitted around the supporting elements.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 69 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 18 in which one or said supporting elements is rotatable to feed said slide holder, and said drive means comprise a reciprocating motor, a driver reciprocated by said motor through forward and return strokes, a hub on said rotatable supporting element, and a ratchet coupling between said hub and said driver for indexing the hub during each forward stroke of the driver.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 74 words

A slide projector as described in claim 28 in which said ratchet coupling comprises a series of abutments on said hub radially spaced from the axis of rotation, and at least one ratchet lug on said driver engageable with one of said abutments during each forward stroke to index the hub in one direction during each forward stroke and to yield in passing the next abutment of said series druing the following return stroke.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 81 words

A slide projector as described in claim 29 in which said driver also has a second ratchet lug, and is movable between first and second positions to bring one lug into position to index said hub in one direction in said first position, and to bring said second lug into position to index said hub in the opposite direction in said second position, and further including means for moving said driver selectively back and forth between said first and second positions.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 78 words

A slide projector as described in claim 28 further including a slide-positioning device disposed in said recess on the side of said projection station opposite said one positioning element, and movable toward the latter to grip the free edge of a slide in said station and draw the slide into the proper plane for projection, and means connecting said device to said reciprocating motor for actuation by the motor in timed relation with the indexing of said hub.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 51 words

A slide projector as described in claim 31 in which said connecting means include a lost-motion connection coupling said device to said motor only during the final portion of each forward stroke of the driver and after a substandial initial portion of the forward stroke for initiating feeding of said carrier.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 32 words

A slide projector as described in claim 32 in which said lost-motion connection includes a cushioning spring through which the force for moving the device into engagement with a slide is applied.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 226 words

A slide projector for use with an unsupported flexible slide holder comprising an endless belt with a series of clips thereon for gripping slides and supporting them in outwardly projecting side-by-side relation, said slide projector having, in combination, a case having an internal recess, an access opening on one side of said recess, and a cover door overlying said access opening and movable between open and closed positions; an optical system in said case including a slide projection station located in said recess; supporting means in said recess for receiving a slide holder edgewise through said access opening and directly into Position for projection of slides thereon from said projection station when said cover door is in the open position, said supporting means including two elongated supporting elements mounted in said recess for relative movement toward each other to a contracted condition to receive the slide holder loosely around them, and away from each other to an expanded condition to tighten the slide holder around them, one of said elements being disposed alongside said projection station, and means for locating the slide holder on said supporting elements at the proper level for projection of slides thereon from said projection station; and selectively operable drive means for feeding the slide holder step by step through selected increments to feed slides one by one to said projection station.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 226 words

A slide projector for use with an unsupported flexible slide holder comprising an endless belt with a series of clips thereon for gripping slides and supporting them in outwardly projecting side-by-side relation, said slide projector having, in combination, a case having an internal recess, an access opening on one side of said recess, and a cover door overlying said access opening and movable between open and closed positions; an optical system in said case including a slide projection station located in said recess; supporting means in said recess for receiving a slide holder edgewise through said access opening and directly into Position for projection of slides thereon from said projection station when said cover door is in the open position, said supporting means including two elongated supporting elements mounted in said recess for relative movement toward each other to a contracted condition to receive the slide holder loosely around them, and away from each other to an expanded condition to tighten the slide holder around them, one of said elements being disposed alongside said projection station, and means for locating the slide holder on said supporting elements at the proper level for projection of slides thereon from said projection station; and selectively operable drive means for feeding the slide holder step by step through selected increments to feed slides one by one to said projection station.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 92 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 34 in which one of said supporting elements is supported at one end for rotation about a fixed axis, and the other is mounted on a slide for movement toward and away from said one element, and further including means for shifting said slide selectively back and forth between the expanded and contracted position, holding the slide releasably in the contracted condition to receive the holder, and urging the slide away from said one element with a preselected approximate spring force in said expanded condition.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 37 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 35 in which the last-mentioned means is operable in a plurality of different zones, spaced different distances from said one element, to accommodate slide holders of different sizes and capacities.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 102 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 35 in which the last-mentioned means comprise a main track paralleling the path of said slide, a plurality of branch tracks intersecting said main track and inclined away from the latter and from said one element, a pin supporting said other element and movable axially relative thereto and to said slide, a follower on said pin riding along said track, and a spring acting between said slide and said follower to urge the latter along the inclined branch tracks and thereby to tension slide holders different sizes when said follower is in different branch tracks.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 47 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 37 in which said other element is a roller rotatably supported on said pin, and in which a gripping knob is mounted on a free end of said pin for moving it axially relative to said slide and said roller.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 65 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 35 in which said drive means include a reciprocating driver movable back and forth through forward and return strokes past said one end of said fixed shaft, a ratchet coupling between said fixed shaft and said driver for turning said shaft one step during each forward stroke, and a reciprocating motor operable when actuated to reciprocate said driver.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 58 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 39 further including a positioning fork supported in said recess on one side of said projection station for movement into and out of engagement with each slide in said station, and connected to said driver to be drawn into engagement during the final portion of the forward stroke of said driver.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 70 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 40 further including a hold-out apparatus including two arms supported on a rocker for movement into engagement with the two slides on opposite sides of a slide in said projection station, said rocker being connected to said positioning fork to move said arms into engagement with said two slides as said fork is moved into engagement with the slide in said projection station.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 50 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 41 further including a shutter mounted on said rocker to move into a blocking position across said optical system when said arms and said fork are disengaged, and to move out of said blocking position as said fork and said arms are engaged.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 72 words

A slide projector as defined in claim 42 in which said reciprocating motor is a solenoid that is energized to produce each forward stroke, and in which said driver is coupled to said fork, said hold-out apparatus and said shutter through a lost-motion connection permitting the driver to feed the slide holder far enough to bring a slide close to said projection station before moving said fork, said rocker and said shutter.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-04-23	1976-10-23	1977-04-24	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-04-23	1980-10-23	1981-04-24	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-04-23	1984-10-23	1985-04-24	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Slide projector for unsupported flexible slide holders

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