US3846022A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical printer
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-03-05
•
Granted: 1974-11-05
•
Expires: 1993-03-05
Abstract
Abstract An optical printer consisting briefly of a frame, a camera carriage, a bellows unit, a printer head module and animation motor. The printer module includes a pair of spaced film sprockets connected to a stepping motor, a pair of film tensioning pins, a pair of film registration pins, pressure plate and aperture plate.
Inventors
- 👤 J Kurhi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 13:15
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B27/00; G03B27/32; G03B27/46; G03B27/475
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
An optical printer for printing from a length of film having individual picture frames thereon and formed with a plurality of registration openings formed longitudinally along one edge comprising: a. a projection module member; b. a first sprocket mounted for rotation on said module member having circumferential pins for registration with said registration openings; c. a second sprocket mounted for rotation on said module member having circumferential pins for registration with said registration openings and being laterally spaced from said first sprocket; d. a step motor operably connected to said first and second sprockets for conjoint intermittent rotation of said sprockets; e. a pair of laterally spaced registration pins operably connected to said motor and mounted between said sprockets on said projection module and mounted for intermittent movement into and out of the registration openings in said film, said pins being inserted through said openings when said film is motionless and retracted therefrom when said film is being moved by said sprockets; and f. first and second tension pins mounted on said projection module operably connected to said motor and mounted respectively between said registration pins and said sprockets and mounted for movement against said film to tension said film when it is moving and for movement out of tensioning contact with said film when said film is at rest to permit some movement of said film by said registration pins when they are inserted into said registration openings.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
239 words
An optical printer for printing from a length of film having individual picture frames thereon and formed with a plurality of registration openings formed longitudinally along one edge comprising: a. a projection module member; b. a first sprocket mounted for rotation on said module member having circumferential pins for registration with said registration openings; c. a second sprocket mounted for rotation on said module member having circumferential pins for registration with said registration openings and being laterally spaced from said first sprocket; d. a step motor operably connected to said first and second sprockets for conjoint intermittent rotation of said sprockets; e. a pair of laterally spaced registration pins operably connected to said motor and mounted between said sprockets on said projection module and mounted for intermittent movement into and out of the registration openings in said film, said pins being inserted through said openings when said film is motionless and retracted therefrom when said film is being moved by said sprockets; and f. first and second tension pins mounted on said projection module operably connected to said motor and mounted respectively between said registration pins and said sprockets and mounted for movement against said film to tension said film when it is moving and for movement out of tensioning contact with said film when said film is at rest to permit some movement of said film by said registration pins when they are inserted into said registration openings.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
An optical printer as described in claim 1 comprising: a. an aperture plate mounted on said projection module having an opening therein permitting optical projection of an image on said film, a pair of openings for receiving the ends of said registration pins, and said plate being positioned on the opposite side of said film from said tension pins.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
An optical printer as described in claim 1 comprising: a. first and second sprocket shafts rotatably mounted on said projection module and carrying said sprockets, said shafts protruding from said module; b. a motor module; and c. means for releasably connecting said motor in said motor module with said sprocket shafts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
90 words
An optical printer as described in claim 3 comprising: a. a take up reel mounted on said motor module for receiving the film from said first sprocket and being operatively connected to said motor for intermittent conjoint movement with said sprockets; b. a feed reel mounted on said motor module for supplying film to said second sprocket and being operatively connected to said motor for intermittent conjoint movement with said sprockets; and c. said motor having a reverse mode for driving said film forward or backward through said projection module.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
120 words
An optical printer as described in claim 3 comprising: a. a slide member mounted for reciprocation on said projection module member; b. a pair of film tension brackets pivotally mounted on said module member carrying said tension pins and having lever arms; c. said slide member being operatively connected to said tension brackets for translating said longitudinal reciprocating movement to rotational movement of said tension brackets; d. a registration pin bracket carrying said registration pins and mounted on said slide for movement therewith; e. an arm member operably connected to said motor and mounted for pivotal movement on said motor module; and f. said slide being formed with an opening for releasably receiving said arm for reciprocation of said slide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
211 words
An optical printer as described in claim 3 comprising: a. a motor shaft connected to said step motor; b. a first cam mounted for rotation on said motor shaft and being circular in cross section and having a first cam surface formed on the circumference; c. a first microswitch operatively connected to said motor by an electrical circuit for energizing said motor; d. a first cam follower connected to said first microswitch and mounted for movement along the periphery of said first cam for keeping the motor energized for a selected period of time and said cam being positioned to move onto said first cam surface for de-energizing said circuit to said motor; e. a second cam mounted for rotation on said motor shaft and being circular in cross section and having a first cam surface formed on the circumference; f. a camera mounted for taking pictures of said frames on said film; g. switch means operatively connected to said camera for triggering the camera shutter; h. a second microswitch operatively connected to said switch means; and i. a second cam follower connected to said second microswitch and mounted for movement along the periphery of said second cam for energizing said second microswitch to cause the camera to take a picture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
An optical printer as described in claim 2 comprising: a. a pressure plate mounted on said projection module for reciprocating movement having a first position in close registration with said aperture plate permitting movement of said film therebetween; b. a second position away from said aperture plate; and c. spring means biasing said pressure plate to said first position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
113 words
An optical printer as described in claim 7 comprising: a. a film guide mounted on a pair of slide bars; b. said projector module being formed with openings registering and slidably receiving said slide bars; c. said film guide being formed with a depressed face and adjacent shoulders for contact only with the sides of said film, said face and shoulders having curved portions at the ends in face to face registration with said sprockets for guiding and containing said film; and d. said guide having a first position in registration with said sprockets during movement of said film, and a second position away from said sprockets for easy loading of said film.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
An optical printer as described in claim 5 comprising: a. a lockout member having a cam face formed on said slide member; b. a slide lockout member for engaging said cam face; and c. manually engageable means for holding said slide lockout member in and out of operation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
An optical printer as described in claim 6 comprising: a. a lens mounting member mounted on said frame and having a forward, backward and transverse mechanism; b. a lens mounted on said lens mounting member; and c. a bellows connecting said camera and said lens.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
An optical printer as described in claim 1 comprising: a. a counter device operably connected to said motor for counting the number of frames on said film as they are printed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1859022A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-04 | 1978-05-06 | 1978-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-04 | 1982-05-06 | 1982-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-04 | 1986-05-06 | 1986-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |