US1119451A - Safety device for moving-picture machines. - Google Patents

Description

N. POWER. SAFETY DEVICE FOR MOVING PICTURE MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14, 1913 1,1 19,451. Patented Dec. 1,1914.

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N. POWER. SAFETY DEVICE FOR MOVING PICTURE MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14, 1913.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

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HZ ICHQLAS PQWER, E BBOQKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB, T0 NICHOLAS POWEE COYMTEANY, 01 NEW YORK, N. Y., A CGRPORATTLON OF DELAW'ARE.

SAFETY DEVICE HGVIIt'G-PECTUILE Mum Application filed March 34, 19.1%.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, NIcHoLAs Powns, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New Yorln have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Devices for iiloving-l icture Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in safety devices for moving picture machines and has for object to provide a device which will absolutely prevent all possibility offire reaching the film in the magazine in case the same should become ignited in its passage through the machine. One device for this purpose which has given quite satisfactory results is disclosed in my prior Patent No. 959601 May 31, 1910, and desig nated in the trade by the term magazine valve. This mechanism comprises a chute through which the film enters the magazine with guide rollers at the entrance of the chute one of which has inclined slotted bearings so that the rollers lie closely against the film to wipe off the flame of the burning film when it reaches the rollers. in practice this device has been modified to permit the machine to be more easily threaded by leaving a slot in the side of the chuteso that the film can he slipped edgewise into the device without unwinding the same to obtain a free end. This slit sometimes permits enough air to get to the film for it to burn through the the fire has gotten good headway before it reaches the rollers. My present invention is shown as an addition to the device disclosed in this patent and is designed to absolutely prevent passage of fire into the magacine, but at the same time permits the film to be readily threaded in the machine. It isto be understood however that my present invention may be employed independently of the magazine valve if desired and is quite effective for the purpose when so used. I have shown my improvements in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a portion-.,j of a moving picture machine equipped with my invention; Fig. 2 is an end view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views on lines 33 and 4-% of Fig. 1. V

In the said drawings 1 represents the magazinev for'receiving the film as it passes generally by the numeral 2.

valve particularly if.

it. this.

Serial 210. 752.5%

through the projecting apparatus i' 'idicated The ilin is fedfrom a magazine 3 supported above the pro ecting apparatus by a suitably driven continuously i'otatin sprocket which the film passes to the intermittently rotating sprocket 5 which successiv y feeds the pictures on the film into registration with the projection aperture of the machine. Beneath the projection aperture is a continuously driven sprocket 6 which.

feeds the film into the magazine 1 where it is wound upon a reel driven through a. slip gear to maintain a proper winding tension on the film. As constructed without the attachment of the device forming the subject matter of this applies tun, the upper wall of the has attached to it the device shown in m prior patent which serves to guide the film into the magazine. This device comprises briefly a metal frame '7 having upwardly projecting webs 8 and 9 separated a distance slightly greater than the width of the film and carrying at their upper ends guide rollers 10 one of which is mounted in inclined slotted hearings to bear against the surface of the film and hold the film in contact with the other roller during the movement of the film through the device.

At the out-er side of the magazine valve.

theweb 9 is formed in two pieces spaced slightly apart as indicated at 11 so that the film may be thrust edgewise between the rollers and it is because of the ventilation permitted by this slit that the fire in some instances passes into the magazine without being put out. To correct this defect 1 provide the magazine valve with a-supplementary chute 0r inclosing casing for the film which extends from the same to the continuously rotating sprocket 6 which feeds the film into the magazine. This chute comprises a member 12 stamped out of sheet metal and provided with side flanges 13 to engage the edges of the film to guide the same, and has the central portion 14 of its face ofi'set from the edge portions to give it greater rigidity, and also to prevent contact of the same with the portion of the film which bears the picture. At its lower end the member 12 is curved to fitthe frame of the magazine valve, and is fixedly attached thereto by suitable rivets or otherwise. The other member 15 of the chute'may also be stamped from sheet rfi'etal'aih'd is similar in shape tothe member 12 exceptthat its side flanges are spaced slightly farther apart to lie outside of the side flanges of the member 12 so that the edges of the flanges 13' engage the inner face of the member 15 to completely inclose thefilm and hold the members spaced apart sufficiently to permit free passage. Of'the filIiL- At its lowerendthe member 15 is hinged to the frame of the magazine valve on a suitable pivot rod 16 and its flange on the open side of the valve is widened'as shown at 17 so as to closely cover the slit in' the side of the valve when the, member is in its operative position inclosing the film. A suitable spring 18 is coiled around-the pivot rod 16 to hold the member'15 normally in its operative position'and a latch 19 is provided for engaging a pin projecting from the'member 15 to hold it in its open position to uncover the slit '11 and permit easy threading of the machine.

In the most modern form of moving picture machines the inner rear face of the machine is inclosed by a door 20. This door is preferably made out of sheet metal andiis hinged on its edge 21 to'the fixed portion of the machine casing. The rear face of the door is curved to conform to the outline of the machine-and is providedat substantially its middle portion witha fiat surface 2 having springs which engage the film adjacent the projection aperture to guide the same in its movement past the aperture. Unless this door is closed the machine cannot be operated as the film is not otherwise held in proper position for projection. To prevent the machine being operated unless the member 15' is adjusted to inclose the film I position the latch so that when the member 15 is held open it lies in the path of movement of the door, 20 and hence the same cannot be closed and the machine operated, 1 may if desired provide the door with. a trip to release the latch as it is closed, but it is sulficient for the purpose to prevent the door being closed until the fire shield 15 is properly adjusted.

The operation of the device will be clear from the above description. The fire shield not only incloses the film between the present magazine valve and the feed sprocket, but also covers the slit at the side of the valve when the shield is closed, lhe two members of the shield lie closely together and completely inclose the film and serve in eliect to extinguish the flame by the chilling efiect of the metal and also by cutting oil the air from the burning film whereby it is choked with its own fumes.

Another important function of my device is its operation in connection withthe winding mechanism for the film. In case the winding mechanism becomes inoperative 'nnaeai through failure of its driving connections or from other cause, the continued movement of the feed sprockets causes the film to pile-up between the sprocket and'th'eltop of the magazinethereby damaging the film and increasing its liability to ignition. My improved'fire shield closely embraces the ."film. throughout its entire path from'the sprocket to the magazine and the stillness of'the film as it is pushed forward by this sprocket is suflicient to cause the film to be thrust into the magazine where it will be protected againstinjury or' ignition even if it is not wound upon the roll.

My present invention may be used to advantage in combination with the sto mechanism shown in my co-p'ending app ication Noi 749,238, filed Feby. 18, 1913, by connecting the operating rod of the sto pawl to the member 15 to stop the mac ine when the member 15 is opened as, for instance, by the failure of the film to be thrust into the magazine should the winding device fail to work.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is L In a moving picture machine, the corn bination of film feeding and guiding means, a magazine for receiving saidfilmtherefrom, and a casing closely and completely inclosing said film adjacent said magazine said casing comprising a fixed member for engaging one face of said film, ahinged member for engaging the opposite face thereof, side flanges on one of said members overlying the edges of the other member, a spring for holding said members together and a latch for holdin said hinged member in open position to permit said film to e threaded into said casing,

2. In a moving picture machine, the combination of a magazine for receiving the film, a feed sprocket for feeding said film to said magazine, an open-sided guide in the wall of said magazine for directing said film thereinto, and a casing for inclosing said film between said sprocket and said guide and provided with a portion adapted to close the open side of said guide.

3. In a moving picture machine, the combination of film feeding and guiding mechanism and a casin for inclosing said film throughout aportion of its path of movefilm, a feed sprocket for feeding sai film to said magazine, and a casing completely 1,1 iaaai and closely inclosing said film throughout its entire movement from said sprocket to said magazine, and extending into sulficiently close proximity to said sprocket to receive the film fed thereby and to cause the same to be thrust by its own stifliness into the magazine by the feeding movement of the sprocket 5. In a moving picture machine, the combination of a magazine for receiving the film, a feed sprocket for feeding said film to said magazine, film guiding members embracing a portion of said sprocket and extending from said feed sprocket to said magazine and closely engaging the opposite faces of said film, whereby said film will be thrust into said magazine by said feed sprocket.

6. In a moving picture machine, the combination of a film feeding mechanism, amagazine for receiving the film from said mechanism, a casing inclosing said film feeding mechanism, said casing having a door, a film guiding member for guiding the film in its passage from said feeding mechanism to said magazine, said guiding member being mounted for movement into and out of operative position in the path of movement of said door, whereby said door cannot be closed until said member is moved to its operative position.

7. In a moving picture machine, the combination of a magazine for receiving the film, a feed sprocket for feeding said film to said magazine, and film guiding members extending from said sprocket to said magazine, one of said members engaging a portion of the sprocket in such manner as to hold the edges of the film in engagement with the sprocket teeth, said guiding members closely engaging the opposite faces of the margins of the film whereby said film will be thrust into said magazine by the feeding movement of said sprocket.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 11th day of March, A. D. 1913.

NICHOLAS POVVER Witnesses:

A, W. GLLBART, G. L. THOMAS.

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