Horizontal film editing table

Claim 2

A film editing machine comprising: a film transport, including: a plurality of spindle assemblies, means rotatably supporting said plurality of spindle assemblies vertically oriented in series-parallel-spaced relation, each spindle assembly including an upper spindle and a lower spindle coaxially aligned therewith, means for selectively retarding rotation of each of said upper spindles, means for releasibly connecting each upper spindle with the respective lower spindle co-axially aligned therewith, means for coupling in rotation all said lower spindles, a synchronous speed motor, means for releasibly connecting the synchronous speed motor with a first said lower spindle, a variable speed motor, means for releasibly connecting the variable speed motor with a second said lower spindle; means for manually grasping each of said upper spindles, and a film sprocket proximately below each said grasping means.

Claim 3

A film editing machine as recited in claim 1, and additionally: means for defining respective film tracks associated with plural of said respEctive film sprockets, includiug first and second plates for each film track, means for rotating all said plates about parallel-spaced vertical axes, a plurality of roller guides, means for visually indicating synchronization of film when in plural of said tracks; an optical system including a prism, means for rotating the prism about a vertical axis in synchronism with rotation of one of said upper spindles, a light beam source positioned for projecting a light beam through a film in a first said film track and thence through said prism, a picture head positioned for receiving and displaying said light beam; a sound head assembly positioned for association with a second film track, means responsive to the sound head; a horizontal table, and means for supporting said film transport below the horizontal table with the sprockets thereof and all said plates, roller guides, visual indicating means, optical system, and sound head assembly in substantially horizontal relation above said horizontal table.

Claim 4

A film editing machine as recited in claim 2, wherein the means rotatably supporting said plurality of spindle assemblies comprises a vertical backing plate with a plurality of horizontal crossplates fixed in cantilevered, parallel-spaced relation from top-to-bottom thereon, with said plurality of spindle assemblies passing through the horizontal cross-plates.

Claim 5

A film transport as recited in claim 3, wherein first and second of said crossplate mount at the top of the backing plate the means rotatably supporting the upper spindles, wherein third and fourth of said crossplates therebelow mount the means rotably supporting the lower spindles, wherein the means for selectively retarding each of said upper spindles said first and second crossplates, wherein the means for releasibly connecting each upper spindle with the respective lower spindle co-axially aligned therewith comprises a respective electromagnetic coupling located between the second and third of said crossplates, wherein the means for coupling in rotation all said lower spindles comprise a plurality of respective endless chain members engaging sprockets on the respective lower spindles between the third and fourth of said crossplates, and wherein the means for releasibly connecting said motors with respective said lower spindles comprise an electromagnetic clutch on each respective lower spindle below the fourth of said crossplates.

Claim 6

A film editing machine as recited in claim 4, wherein the table has left and right edges, each having three plate positions in a row equi-spaced on a line parallel with the ends of the table, designatable from front to back L1, L2 and L3 on the left and R1, R2 and R3 on the right, wherein the left edge has a second row of plate positions designatable L4, L5 and L6 from front to back, thereby forming a rectangular grid of three rows of parallel spaced plate positions, wherein the series of spindles is fixed to the table in a front-to-back direction, wherein the optical system is located on a back portion of the table with the direction of light beam projection parallel with the row of spindles, wherein the sound head is located forwardly of and in alignment with the optical system; wherein said first and second plates of a first film track, are located at positions L5 and R3 respectively, with said first film track passing through a portion of the optical system and through a position for film engagement with the sprocket of the rearmost spindle assembly.

Claim 7

A film editing machine as recited in claim 5, wherein first and second plates of a second film track are located at positions L2 and R2 respectively, with said second film track passing through a portion of said sound head assembly and through a position for film engagement with the sprocket of a spindle assembly proximately forward of the rearmost spindle assembly.

Claim 8

A film editing machine as recited in claim 6, wherein a portion of the first track and a portion of the second film track are paralLel-spaced from each other and from an edge of the table, wherein the means for visually indicating synchronization is fixed in perpendicular relation across all said film track parallel portions, and wherein the distance from the means for visually indicating synchronization along the first said film track to an operative portion of the optical system is equal to the distance along said film track to an operative portion of the sound head assembly.

Claim 9

A film editing machine as recited in claim 7, wherein a second sound head assembly is provided forward of and in fore-and-aft alignment with the first said sound head assembly, wherein first and second plates of a third film track are located at positions L1 and R1 respectively, with said third film track passing through a portion of said sound head assembly and through a position for film engagement with the sprocket of a spindle assembly proximately forward of the second said spindle assembly.

Claim 10

A film editing machine as recited in claim 7, wherein second portions of all said first and second film tracks are paralledl-spaced from each other and from said edge of the table, wherein a second means for visually indicating synchronization is fixed in perpendicular relation across all said second portions of said film tracks, wherein the distance from the means for visually indicating synchronization along the respective said film track to said respective operative portions is equal, and where the second means for visually indicating synchronization is on a side of said operative portions opposite to that of the first said means for visually indicating synchronization.

Claim 11

A film editing machine as recited in claim 8, wherein a portion of the third film track is parallel-spaced from the parallel-spaced portions of the first and second film track, and wherein the distance from the means for visually indicating synchronization along the third film track to an operative portion of the second sound head assembly is equal to the distance therefrom along the second film track to an operative portion of the first sound head.

Claim 12

A film transport as recited in claim 10, wherein an auxiliary frame assembly is provided having thereon an additional said spindle assembly and sprocket located lateral to and similar in construction to each of the aforesaid spindle assemblies, and similarly affixed in relation to said horizontal table; wherein a second prism is provided, the second prism having means for rotating the prism about a vertical axis in synchronism with rotation of upper spindle of the additional spindle assembly on the auxiliary frame, and means coupling in rotation the lower spindle of said additional spindle assembly with a lower spindle of the first said plurality of spindle assemblies.

Claim 13

A film transport as recited in claim 11, wherein a second said picture head is provided proximately lateral of the first said picture head, wherein first and second plates of a fourth film track are located at positions L3 and L6, respectively, with said fourth film track doubling-back around and through a portion of the optical system and through a position for film engagement with the sprocket of said spindle assembly.