Film scanning system providing automatic frame positioning

Claim 1

Apparatus for reproducing image information recorded in sequential frames on a tape-shaped reproducing medium in continuous motion and standstill modes, said reproducing medium having synchronizing signal marks located between adjacent frames of the recorded image information, said apparatus comprising: first drive means for driving said reproducing medium past a reproducing station at a constant rate; reproducing means located at said reproducing station for frame-by-frame reproducing said image information signals recorded in said continuous motion mode, including: means for scanning each frame driven past said reproducing station, synchronizing signal mark detection means located at a position such that, if a raster scan for reproducing a moving picture is started when the sync signal mark is detected at this position, the scan is begun from a position which is spaced from the leading edge of a picture frame by an odd number multiple of l/2, where l designates the distance from the leading edge of a first moving picture frame to the leading edge of a succeeding adjacent moving picture frame, and means for delaying the start of said scan when the detecting means detects a synchronizing signal mark for a period of time in which the reproducing medium moves a distance which is an odd number multiple of one-half l, said means for delaying operating only in said continuous mode; means for stopping said first drive means in said standstill mode; and means for reproducing a signal frame from said reproducing medium in said standstill mode, including: said scanning means, said synchronizing signal mark detection means, second drive means energized in said standstill mode and de-energized in said continuous motion mode for aligning said reproducing medium with said scanning means in said standstill mode, and means responsive to the detection of a synchronizing signal mark by said detection means for reducing the size of a raster scanned by said scanning means to one-half the raster size in said continuous motion mode, wherein said second drive means is de-energized upon detection of said synchronizing signal mark by said detection means.