Film guided playback and recording mechanism

Claim 2

A film-laden cassette receivable by and for use in conjunction with a magnetic recording and playback mechanism of the type disposed within motion picture apparatus and having transducer means movable between an idle position and an operative position in engagement with said film when said cassette is received by said apparatus; said film being movable within said cassette in a general path whilst deviating from such path and having a photographic emulsion on one face thereof, a magnetic sound track on the opposite face thereof, and adapted to receive a photographic processing composition on its emulsion bearing face; means mounted in said cassette for applying processing composition to said emulsion bearing face of said film; support means located in said cassette; resilient means mounting said support means in said cassette for restrained movement relative to said cassette for supporting said film and urging same into engagement with said transducer means when said transducer means is in said operative position; said support means being movable within said cassette to follow changes in the path of said film and cooperate with said transducer means to maintain a predetermined registration between said magnetic sound track and said transducer means; spaced guide means mounted on said support means for engaging the opposite edges of said film to cause said support means to follow said film; said support means comPrising spaced film engaging means for engaging opposed edge portions of said emulsion bearing face of said film strip and means forming a channel between said film engaging means to allow the passage of processing composition on a central region of the film without interference; and means mounted in said cassette for applying processing composition to said emulsion bearing face of said film.

Claim 3

The invention as delineated in claim 1, wherein said cassette is provided with an aperture proximate said supporting means such that said transducer means may partially enter said cassette and engage said magnetic sound track and said cassette is further provided with integral means for limiting the entry of said transducer means thereinto.

Claim 4

Means for use in transcribing and broadcasting sound in conjunction with a moving film strip having a magnetic sound track on one face thereof and a photographic emulsion and a processing composition on the opposite face thereof, including: a base; means mounted on said base for applying processing composition to said opposite face of said film strip; support means connected to said base for resiliently supporting said film strip, said support means comprising spaced film engaging means for engaging opposite edge portions of said opposite face of said film strip and means forming a channel between said film engaging means to allow the passage of processing composition on a central region of the film without interference; and spaced guide means connected to said support for engaging opposite edges of said film strip to effect movement of said resiliently supporting means in a plane generally parallel to the faces of said film strip in response to changes in the position of said film strip with respect to said base.

Claim 5

Means for use in transcribing and broadcasting sound in conjunction with a moving film strip having a magnetic sound track on one face thereof and a photographic emulsion and a processing composition on the opposite face thereof, including: a base; means mounted on said base for applying processing composition to said opposite face of said film strip; support means connected to said base for resiliently supporting said film strip, said support means comprising spaced film engaging means for engaging opposite edge portions of said opposite face of said film strip and means forming a channel between said film engaging means to allow the passage of processing composition on a central region of the film without interference; and spaced guide means connected to said support for engaging opposite edges of said film strip to effect movement of said resiliently supporting means in a plane generally parallel to the faces of said film strip in response to changes in the position of said film strip with respect to said base.

Claim 6

The invention according to claim 3 wherein said support means is pivotably connected to said base at one end portion and is provided with outwardly extending ears adapted to extend over opposite edge portions of said film strip such that a lateral or rotational shift in the position of said film strip will cause the edges thereof to engage at least one of said ears and effect pivotal movement of said supporting means.

Claim 7

The invention as delineated in claim 4, wherein said ears are each provided with an arcuate face for tangentially engaging an edge of said film strip whilst facilitating the movement of said film strip therepast.

Claim 8

The invention according to claim 5, further including a cassette for receiving and storing said film strip with said base forming a part of said cassette and said resiliently supporting means being disposed within said cassette.

Claim 9

The invention as delineated in claim 6, wherein said cassette comprises means forming an optical path through said film for cooperation with a photographic camera to effect exposure of said emulsion and the recording of said image and for cooperation with film drive and projection apparatus for the viewing of such image.

Claim 10

The invention as set forth in claim 7, wherein said cassette is provided with means for storing the emulsion bearing face of said film strip with said processing composition subsequent to said exposure to develop said image for subsequent viewing.

Claim 11

The invention as stated in claim 8, further including means cooperable with said support means for magnetically transcribing audio signals onto said sound track and for playing back such recorded signals.

Claim 12

The invention as recited in claim 9, wherein said magnetically recording means includes a transducer adapted to engage at least a portion of said sound track and cooperable with said support means whereby said support means will resiliently bias at least a portion of said sound track into engagement with said transducer.

Claim 13

The invention as set forth in claim 10, wherein said transducer is provided with mounting means for maintaining engagement and a predetermined registration between said transducer and said sound track notwithstanding deviAtions of said film strip from a predetermined position.

Claim 14

The invention as delineated in claim 11, wherein said mounting means includes guide means connected to said transducer and adapted to engage the edges of said film strip.

Claim 15

The invention as recited in claim 12, wherein said mounting means includes first movable means and second movable means movably connected to said first movable means and secured to said transducer such that any deviation of said film strip from a predetermined path will effect a corresponding movement of said transducer whilst preserving said registration.

Claim 16

The invention as stated in claim 13, wherein said first movable means is pivotally connected to said film drive and projection apparatus so as to be movable in at least two mutually orthogonal planes and wherein said cassette is provided with an aperture proximate said resiliently supporting means such that said transducer may engage said sound track through said aperture.

Claim 17

The invention pursuant to claim 14, further including means for biasing said transducer toward engagement with said sound track.

Claim 18

The invention in accordance with claim 15, wherein said biasing means comprises spring means connected between said first movable means and a fixed frame member.

Claim 19

The invention according to claim 15, further including means for moving said transducer between an idle position out of engagement with said sound track and an operative position in engagement with said sound track.

Claim 20

A magnetic recording and playback head mechanism for use in conjunction with a moving film strip having a magnetic sound track on one face thereof and a photographic emulsion and at least initially fluid processing composition on the opposite face thereof, including: a housing; means cooperable with said housing for operably receiving and supporting said film strip; a transducer for magnetically transcribing and replaying audio signals on said sound track; means for biasing said transducer toward engagement with said sound track; a first member movably connected to said biasing means and to said housing; a second member movably connected to said first member and secured to said transducer, whereby said transducer may be brought into and maintained in engagement with said sound track; means for moving said transducer from an idle position out of engagement with said sound track into and out of an operative position in engagement with said sound track; and means for registering said transducer with respect to said film strip and maintaining such registration notwithstanding changes in the path of movement of said film strip; said registering means including guide means secured to said transducer and adapted to engage the opposite edges of said film strip whereby said transducer will move in response to changes in the path of said film strip to maintain said registration.

Claim 21

A magnetic recording and playback head mechanism for use in conjunction with a moving film strip having a magnetic sound track on one face thereof and a photographic emulsion and at least initially fluid processing composition on the opposite face thereof, including: a housing; means cooperable with said housing for operably receiving and supporting said film strip; a transducer for magnetically transcribing and replaying audio signals on said sound track; means for biasing said transducer toward engagement with said sound track; a first member movably connected to said biasing means and to said housing; a second member movably connected to said first member and secured to said transducer, whereby said transducer may be brought into and maintained in engagement with said sound track; means for moving said transducer from an idle position out of engagement with said sound track into and out of an operative position in engagement with said sound track; and means for registering said transducer with respect to said film strip and maintaining such registration notwithstanding changes in the path of movement of said film strip; said registering means including guide means secured to said transducer and adapted to engage the opposite edges of said film strip whereby said transducer will move in response to changes in the path of said film strip to maintain said registration.

Claim 22

The invention as delineated in claim 18 wherein said first member is pivotally connected to said housing for pivotal movement in at least two mutually orthongonal planes and wherein said second member is pivotally connected to said first means.

Claim 23

The invention as described in claim 19 wherein said film strip is disposed within a cassette having a supply reel and a take-up reel, and said film strip is movable in a general path between said supply and take-up reels whilst deviating slightly from said path.

Claim 24

The invention as set forth in claim 20, wherein said cassette is provided with an aperture and said transducer is adapted to pivot from said idle position to said operative position and at least partially enter said aperture to engage said sound track.

Claim 25

A magnetic recording and playback head mechanism for use with a moving cinematographic film strip, having a magnetic sound track on one face thereof and having a photographic emulsion on the opposite face thereof and adapted to receive a layer of processing composition on said opposite facE to process a photographic image; said film strip being movable in a general path whilst deviating slightly from said path, said mechanism comprising: a housing; a transducer; guide means secured to said transducer and configured to extend over and engage the opposite edges of said film strip; a member pivotally connected to said housing; means pivotally connecting said guide means and said member; and means biasing said transducer into engagement with said sound track and connected between said housing and said member.

Claim 26

A magnetic recording and playback head mechanism for use with a moving cinematographic film strip, having a magnetic sound track on one face thereof and having a photographic emulsion on the opposite face thereof and adapted to receive a layer of processing composition on said opposite facE to process a photographic image; said film strip being movable in a general path whilst deviating slightly from said path, said mechanism comprising: a housing; a transducer; guide means secured to said transducer and configured to extend over and engage the opposite edges of said film strip; a member pivotally connected to said housing; means pivotally connecting said guide means and said member; and means biasing said transducer into engagement with said sound track and connected between said housing and said member.

Claim 27

Means for use in recording and playing back signals from a magnetic sound track disposed along one surface of a moving cinematographic film strip the opposite surface of which bears a photographic emulsion and is adapted to receive a fluid coating of processing composition and wherein said film strip moves in a general path whilst deviating from such path, said means including; a housing; a transducer; means movably securing said transducer to said housing via a compound pivot and adapted to move said transducer into engagement with said sound track; and means for engaging said film strip and registering said transducer with respect to said sound track and maintaining such registration during deviations of said film strip from said path.

Claim 28

Means for use in recording and playing back signals from a magnetic sound track disposed along one surface of a moving cinematographic film strip the opposite surface of which bears a photographic emulsion and is adapted to receive a fluid coating of processing composition and wherein said film strip moves in a general path whilst deviating from such path, said means including; a housing; a transducer; means movably securing said transducer to said housing via a compound pivot and adapted to move said transducer into engagement with said sound track; and means for engaging said film strip and registering said transducer with respect to said sound track and maintaining such registration during deviations of said film strip from said path.

Claim 29

The invention as described in claim 23, further including means for registerably receiving and supporting said film strip on opposite edge portions of the emulsion bearing surface thereof and adapted to move with said film strip and maintain general registration therewith as said film strip deviates from said path.

Claim 30

The invention as stated in claim 24, further including means for biasing said transducer toward said film strip and means for resiliently urging said film strip into engagement with said transducer.

Claim 31

The invention as delineated in claim 25, wherein said film strip supporting means and said transducer movably securing means are adapted to sandwich said film strip therebetween whilst effecting engagement of said sound track by said transducer and to maintain registration with said film strip and each other during transcription or playback of audio signals on said sound track.

Claim 32

A film-laden cassette receivable by and for use in conjunction with a magnetic recording and playback mechanism of the type disposed within motion picture apparatus and having transducer means movable between an idle position and an operative position in engagement with said film when said cassette is received by said apparatus; said film being moveable within said cassette in a general path whilst deviating from such path and having a photographic emulsion on one face thereof, a magnetic sound track on the opposite face thereof and adapted to receive a photographic processing composition on its emulsion bearing face; said cassette having means disposed therewithin for supporting said film and urging same into engagement with said transducer means when said transducer means is in said operative position; said supporting means being adapted to move within said cassette to follow changes in the path of said film and cooperate with said transducer means to maintain a predetermined registration between said magnetic sound track and said transducer means; said supporting means being configured to prevent contact with said processing composition such that said film strip may pass over said supporting means without any interference with the processing of a photographic image; said film being adapted to record a photographic image and receive processing composition on a central portion on said one face; and said support means being adapted to engage and resiliently support said film strip at spaced edge portions on opposite sides of said central portion; wherein said supporting means comprises a generally planar member pivotally secured within said cassette at one end portion and configured to define a central channel bounded by a pair of raised edge portiOns extending generally to a pair of upstanding ears which are adapted to extend over the opposite edges of said film such that deviations in the path of said film will cause said resilient support to pivot within said cassette.

Claim 33

A film-laden cassette receivable by and for use in conjunction with a magnetic recording and playback mechanism of the type disposed within motion picture apparatus and having transducer means movable between an idle position and an operative position in engagement with said film when said cassette is received by said apparatus; said film being moveable within said cassette in a general path whilst deviating from such path and having a photographic emulsion on one face thereof, a magnetic sound track on the opposite face thereof and adapted to receive a photographic processing composition on its emulsion bearing face; said cassette having means disposed therewithin for supporting said film and urging same into engagement with said transducer means when said transducer means is in said operative position; said supporting means being adapted to move within said cassette to follow changes in the path of said film and cooperate with said transducer means to maintain a predetermined registration between said magnetic sound track and said transducer means; said supporting means being configured to prevent contact with said processing composition such that said film strip may pass over said supporting means without any interference with the processing of a photographic image; said film being adapted to record a photographic image and receive processing composition on a central portion on said one face; and said support means being adapted to engage and resiliently support said film strip at spaced edge portions on opposite sides of said central portion; wherein said supporting means comprises a generally planar member pivotally secured within said cassette at one end portion and configured to define a central channel bounded by a pair of raised edge portiOns extending generally to a pair of upstanding ears which are adapted to extend over the opposite edges of said film such that deviations in the path of said film will cause said resilient support to pivot within said cassette.