Automatic printing machine for printing text on cinematographic film

Claim 1

An automatic printing machine for printing text on cinematographic film, said machine comprising (a) a film transport path (8) having a film-feed means incorporating a gripping mechanism (4) for feeding the film intermittently frame by frame; (b) a printing-block position located in the film transport path; (c) a pressure plate (31); (d) means for synchronized movement of the pressure plate with the gripping mechanism towards and away from the printing-block position for printing said text; (e) a counter-pressure plate (16) mounted on the side of the film transport path (8) remote from the printing-block position; (f) a pressure-generating means for producing a variable pressure force between the pressure plate (31) and the counter-pressure plate (16); (g) a first printing-block transport path (10) intended for the supply of printing blocks and extending parallel with the film transport path (8) along one edge side thereof; (h) insertion means (61, 62) for moving a printing block along a glide path from the first printing-block transport path (10) to the printing block position; (i) a second printing-bock transport path (12) which also extends parallel with the film transport path and which receives a printing block displaced from the printing block position, the counter-pressure plate (16) being journalled for linear movement in an open supporting bracket structure (30) attached to a stanchion; (j) a first electric force-generator (25-28) independent of the supporting bracket structure and arranged to influence the counter-pressure plate (16) in its direction of linear movement towards the film transport path with a variable force, said first force-generator being independent of the supporting bracket structure (30) and including a rotary magnet (27) which is provided with a crank (28) acting on one end of a two-arm lever (25) the other end of which is placed against a stem (17) attached to the counter-pressure plate (16) and displaceable in the supporting bracket structure, whereby the counter-pressure exerted by the counter-pressure plate can be regulated by varying the strength of a current supplied to the rotary magnet.