US3767295A — Automatic lens changer

Claim 1

Independent Claim 284 words

In a cinemagraphic projector for projecting images on a screen, said projector having a supply reel for containing a film having first and second classes of film format characterized by first and second frame sizes, respectively, a take-up reel for taking up film, and film gate means for transporting film past a projection lamp between said supply reel and said take-up reel, the improvement comprising: a rotatable turret positioned forwardly of said projection lamp and adapted to rotate between first and second angular positions; first and second lens means mounted to said turret and having different optical characteristics for projecting images contained in said first and said second classes of program material, respectively, said turret positioning said first lens in the optical path of said projection lamp when said turret is in its first angular position and positioning said second lens in the optical path of said projection lamp when said turret is in its second angular position; drive means connected to said turret for rotating said turret between its first and second angular positions; and sense means responsive to a change of class of film format on said film for operating said drive means; said film gate means including a single, variable aperture defining frame in the optical path between said projection lamp and said turret, said aperture defining frame being movable between a first position wherein said aperture defining frame defines a projection aperture having a first size and a second position wherein said apertUre defining frame defines a projection aperture having a second size, respectively, and operating means responsive to a change in the angular position of said turret for moving said aperture defining frame between its first and second positions.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 284 words

In a cinemagraphic projector for projecting images on a screen, said projector having a supply reel for containing a film having first and second classes of film format characterized by first and second frame sizes, respectively, a take-up reel for taking up film, and film gate means for transporting film past a projection lamp between said supply reel and said take-up reel, the improvement comprising: a rotatable turret positioned forwardly of said projection lamp and adapted to rotate between first and second angular positions; first and second lens means mounted to said turret and having different optical characteristics for projecting images contained in said first and said second classes of program material, respectively, said turret positioning said first lens in the optical path of said projection lamp when said turret is in its first angular position and positioning said second lens in the optical path of said projection lamp when said turret is in its second angular position; drive means connected to said turret for rotating said turret between its first and second angular positions; and sense means responsive to a change of class of film format on said film for operating said drive means; said film gate means including a single, variable aperture defining frame in the optical path between said projection lamp and said turret, said aperture defining frame being movable between a first position wherein said aperture defining frame defines a projection aperture having a first size and a second position wherein said apertUre defining frame defines a projection aperture having a second size, respectively, and operating means responsive to a change in the angular position of said turret for moving said aperture defining frame between its first and second positions.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 96 words

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said drive means includes a motor mounted to said turret and engaging a portion of said projector, a switch mounted to said projector for selectively operating said motor to drive said turret about its axis, first and second trip means mounted to said turret operatively engaging said variable aperture defining frame when said turret is in its first and second angular positions, and third and fourth trip means mounted to said turret for engaging said switch means when said turret is in its first and its second angular positions.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 77 words

The apparatus according to claim 1 further including lock means for engaging said turret adapted to prevent said turret from rotation when said turret is in its first and in its second angular positions, said lock means further including switch means connected thereto for operating said drive means when said lock means is disengaged from said turret, said circuit means further including electro-mechanical means responsive to said radiation-responsive means for disengaging said lock means from said turret.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 97 words

The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said drive means includes a motor mounted to said turret and engaging a portion of said projector, a switch mounted to said projector for selectively operating said motor to drive said turret about its axis, first and second trip means mounted to said turret operatively engaging said variable aperture defining frame when said turret is in its first and its second angular positions, and third and fourth trip means mounted to said turret for engaging said switch means when said turret is in its first and its second angular positions.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 77 words

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said aperture defining frame includes a support plate mounted to said projector, said support plate including means defining a generally rectangular aperture, first and second members slidably engaged to said support plate and movable between first and second positions wherein said members selectively block portions of said aperture to define a projection aperture whose size is compatible with the frame size of said first and second classes of film format, respectively.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 186 words

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the plane of said support plate is generally perpendicular to the axis of said lenses, and wherein said operating means comprises shaft means rotatably supported by said projector, first lever means supported by said shaft means, first and second trip means mounted to said turret and adapted to engage said first lever means to rotate said shaft means about its axis, pivot means pivotly supported by said support plate and engaging said first and second members for moving said first and second members between their first and second positions, and second lever means supported by said shaft means and engaging said pivot means to pivotly move said pivot means to move said first and second members between their first and second positions upon rotation of said shaft means, whereby upon rotation of said turret between its first and second angular positions a respective one of said first and second trip means engages said first lever means to rotate said shaft means to thereby operate said pivot means to move said first and second members between their first and second positions.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 87 words

Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said pivot means comprises a first pivot arm engaged to said first member and pivotly mounted to said support plate and a second pivot arm engaged to said second member and pivotly mounted to said support plate, a first cam surface on said first pivot arm engaging a second cam surface on said second pivot arm, engaging means engaging said first pivot arm and said second pivot arm, and means supported by saiD first pivot arm engaging said second lever means.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 34 words

Apparatus according to claim 7 further including bias means biasing said first and second pivot arms to restrain movement of said first and second members when they are in their first and second positions.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-10-22	1977-04-23	1977-10-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-10-22	1981-04-23	1981-10-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-10-22	1985-04-23	1985-10-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Automatic lens changer

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