Starting and stopping device for sound motion picture camera

Claim 1

In a motion picture camera having an exposure station and a sound station through which a sound film is transported for simultaneous recording thereon of pictures at the exposure station and sound at the sound station; a film loop being defined by the film in a path between the stations; a film transport mechanism for intermittently moving film through said exposure station and a film transport mechanism displaceable into and out of film engagement for constantly moving the film through said sound station by respective motor means; and a starting and stopping device for controlling said film transport mechanisms comprising: camera actuating means movable between a first position for camera operation and a second position for camera inoperation; a pivotable start lever displaceable from a first orientation to a second orientation responsive to displacement of said camera actuating means from said first position to said second position; slide plate means driven by said movable camera actuating means and including means for engaging and positioning said start lever from one of said orientations to the other of said orientations after initial movement of said camera actuating means from a corresponding one of said positions toward the other of said positions; biasing means coupled to an end of said start lever opposite said slide plate means engaged end for causing complete movement of said start lever upon at least partial movement of said camera actuating means from one position toward another following initial displacement by said slide plate means; and means connected to said camera actuating means for causing said displaceable film transport mechanism to be moved into film engagement prior to complete actuation of said start lever and actuation of said intermittent film transport mechanism and to be moved from film engagement prior to de-actuation of said start lever and said latter film transport mechanism; whereby the film loop between the exposure and sound stations is maintained substantially constant upon starting and stopping of the camera.