US1902201A - Synchronizing mechanism for talking motion pictures - Google Patents

Description

March 21, 1933- A. J. vAssELLl SYNCHRONIZING MECHANISM FOR TALKING MOTION PICTURES Filed May 1e", 1929 5 sheets-sheet 1 l if m vlwalch 2l, 1933. A. J. VASSELL] A 1,902,201

SYNCHRONIZING MECHANISM FOR TALKING MOTION PICTURES Filed May 16, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR March 21, 1933. A, J., VASSELL! l 1,902,201-

SYNCHRONIZING MECHANISM FOR TALKING MOTION PICTURES Filed May 16, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheef 5 C? {lA- ,LA

MarchZl, 1933. A. J'. vAssELLu 1,902,201

SYNCHRONZING MECHANlISM FOR TALKING MOTION PICTURES Filed May 16, 1929 5`Sheets-Sheet 4 iii-'.1

INVENTOF? am ATTORNEY March 21, 1933.

A. J. vAssELLl 1,902,201

SYNCHRONIZING MECHANISM FOR TALKING MOTION PICTURES Filed May 16, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR is@ ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 21, 1933 PATENT OFFICE ANTHONY J'. VASSELLI, 0F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY SYNCHRON'IZING MECHANISM FOR TALKING MOTION PICTURES Application led May 16, 1929. Serial No. 383,418.

This invention relates to devices for synchronizing moving picture projecting and sound reproducing mechanisms, and more particularly to types of sound reproducers in which a disc record is used, each mechanism being separately driven and operated in unison.

It has been found in practice to be extremely important to actuate the record carrier enm tirely independent of the projecting machine drive, as it avoids the transmission of sound and vibration from it which interferes with the clarity of the record reproduced.

It is also important to have the connection between the two mechanisms such that there is no driving action at any time from the film projecting machine to the record carrying table.

Therefore it is one of the objects of the 2g present invention to provide a constant drive for the sound reproducing mechanism and a controllable drive for the picture projecting machine, the machines being connected and having automatic means in the connection to retard or accelerate the picture projecting machine to the extent required to maintain it in synfhronism with the sound producingmachine in case of current variation to the motors employed, ory other causes.

A further feature is in the provision of means for adjusting the relation between the picture projector and sound producer to time the picture and audition in 'positive correspondence, should a diversity occur, as by shortening the film, occasioned by mending,

or other causes, rendering it out of harmony with the sound record.

These and other advantageous objects are accomplished by the novel, simple and practical construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming an essential portion of this disclo sure. and in which Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a conventional picture projecting machine and a sound reproducer connected in accordance w'th the invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of the projecting machine, looking on line 2*-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a partial sectional, partial bottom plan view of the record table drive mechanism, showing the `electrical connections.

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig.'3, showing the drive and adjusting means.

Figure 5 is aperspectve view of the record table and its accouterments.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Figure 7 is a similar sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 4.

Figure 8 is a. partial side elevational, partial sectional view of the projecting machine drive., including the magnetic clutch and control, drawn to an enlarged scale.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary plan view, similar to Fig. 3, but showing a modified driving means,

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

A record table stand 15, is shown in Fig. 1 as having levelling screws 16 in its base, and a hollow column to receive a screw 17 75 adjustable for height therein by a nut 18, the screw being fixed at its upper end in a hub 19 extending centrally downward from a generally rectangular casing 29.

Securely attached over the open top of the casing is a cover 21 having a level top 22 extending marginally outward beyond the side walls of the casing and having an opening 23 into which extends the hub 24 of a circular record carrying table 25.

A bracket, generally designated by the numeral .26, is secured in an inverted position to the under side of the cover 22 and is provided with upper and lower bosses 27-28 in which is journalled an upright spindle 29, having an anti-friction thrust bearing in the lower bracket, while its upper portion is fitted to a bore in the table hub 24, which has a cross slot 24" in its lower end.

A pin 30, fixed transversely in the spindle 29 engages the slot 24', supporting the 'table and transmitting rotary motion to it when the spindle is actuated. The spindle passes through a felt cushion 31 on which a disc record 32 may be placed and clamped by a 10G hand 'nut 33 engaging the upper threaded portion 29 of the spindle, as best seen in Fig. 4.

Fixed to the spindle 29, adjacently below the upper bearing 27, is a helical gear 34 in mesh with4 a helical pinion 35 secured on a horizontal shaft 36, one end of which is reduced and journalled in a bearing 37 in the bracket 26 while the opposite portion of tho shaft is revoluble in a sleeve 38 journalled in another bearing 39 'formed on the opposite side of the bracket 26, the sleeve being held from longitudinal movement in the bearing b-y a gear 40 on its outer end and a fixed collar 41 on its inner end.

Mounted in the casing 20 is an electric motor 42 having on its shaft 43 a grooved pulley 44 driving a belt-45 trained around another similar pulley 46 fixed to a horizontal spindle 47 disposed below and at a right angle to the shaft 36 and having its bearings 48-49 formed on the bracket 26, as best seen in Fig. 3.

Carried by the spindle 47 are the spring arms of an ordinary centrifugal governor 50 adapted to actuate a disc 51 along the spindle, and arranged to make frictional contact with the disc is one arm of a bell-crank lever 52, pivoted at 53 to the bracket 26 and pressed to frictionally engage the disc by a screw 54, the stem of which extends outwardly through the side wall of the casing 20 and is supplied with a knob 55 by which it is conveniently operated in swinging the lever 52, the same being normally held away from the disc by a torsion spring 56.

A worm 57 is carried by the spindle 47 to engage a worm wheel 58 revolubly mounted on a langed sleeve 59 held by a set screw to the shaft 36, and is pressed into normal oper ative engagement with thesleeve flange 59 by a collar 60 on the opposite side, the collar having a part engaging in a slot 36 of the shaft and provided with a compression spring I61 encircling the shaft and abutting the pinion 35, as best seen in Fig. 4, thus normally driving the shaft but yielding under abnormal conditions, as will later a pear.

Fixedly engaging the shaft 36 a jacently beyond the gear 40 is a spur pinion 65 meshing with a mating gear 66 formed on a sleeve 67 revolubly mounted on a headed stud 68 fixed in the side of the gear 40, which is rotatable on the shaft.

Rigid on the sleeve 67 is another gear 69 meshed with a pinion 70, forming part of a sleeve 71 having flanged ends and extending beyond the end of the shaft 36 on which it is rotatably mounted.

Due to the differential gear train it will be seen that the sleeve 71 is driven at a diii'erent rate of speed from that of shaft 36 to cause acceleration or retardation with respect to the motor and in timed relation to the picture films, as will later be seen.

The gear train may be advanced or re tarded, to provide for changes in the film length, as rendered necessary by the omission of one or more pictures in splicing, as

and provided at its outer end with a fixed col lar 77 held outwardly by a spring 78, causing sul'icient friction to prevent rotation of thev spindle except the cross pin 79 in its outer end be engaged by a key wrench for manual operation, as indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 4.

- Depending from the cover 22 is a lug 22 in l which is ournalled a shaft 80, in direct alinement with the shaft 36, and its inner end enters the sleeve 71, the ends of the two shafts being slightly spaced apart.

A collar` 81 is fixed on the shaft 80 to contact the inner side of the lug 22 and also fixed on this shaft is a flanged sleeve 8,2, while between the adjacent ends of the sleeves 82 and 71 is a spacing collar 83.

Mounted on the sleeve 71 is a disc 84 facing towards the collar and having an annular hub 84 on its opposite side disposed between the anged ends of a cylindrical two part insulator 85 fitted between the flanges of the sleeve 71.

A similar anged insulator 86 is fitted between the flanges of sleeve 82 on which is mounted the circular hub 87 of a disc 87, similar but reversed to the disc 84.

Juxtaposed to the face of the disc 87 is a collar 88 having a seat to receive a plain fiat` 91 set in the disc'87 and extending through a segmental recess in the periphery of the disc 89, the other end of the spring being fixed in a horizontal bar 92 projecting from the disc 89 and carrying a contact 93.

Another similar bar 94 is set in the disc 84 and carries a like contact 95, these contacts being normally pressed together by the spring 90. Y

Extending downward from the cover 22 is a block 96 carrying a dielectric plate 97 having secured to it in spaced relation vspring contacts 98 and 99 engaging respectively the Harige hubs 84 and 87 the purpose and electrical connections of which will be later described.

As it is conceivable that the bars 92--94 might be turned, by relative movement of their respective discs 84-89, into a position Where their backs might engage rather than ioo the contacts 93-95, an insulated pin 100 is set in the disc 84, see Fig. 3, at a spaced distance from the bar 94 to permit the bar 92, disposed therebetween, to freely operate within a prescribed limit; l

The moving picture apparatus is carried on a stand 110 having abroad base and provided with rigid lateral bracket 111 on which is mounted a platform 112 carrying at one end a conventional type of lamp house 113 and at the other end is a projector mechanism casing 114.

Above the casing is a film reel 115 and below the casing is another reel 116. Extending from the casing is a spindle, motor driven at a high rate of speed, carrying a revolving shutter 117, the apertures of which move in a path to disclose the pictures on an adjacent film passing from one reel to the other, all these several elements being of the usual and well known character.

Extending from the side of the stand 110, below the plane of the platform 112, is another bracket 118 on which is carried a second, narrow platform 12() providing a support for a constant speed electric motor 121, a bearing 122 and a block bracket 123.

By referring to Fig. 8 it will be seen that the motor shaft 124 is lixed in the hub 125 of a disc 125, the shaft terminating flush with the end of the hub.

'A clutch shaft 126, revolubly mounted in alinement with the motor shaft 124, in a bushing fixed in the bearing 122, extends through a bushing set in the block 123 and is provided with an adjustable end thrust by i the screw 127 in the block.

Fixed on the end portion of the shaft 126, adjacent the motor, is the hub 128 of a heavy cyindrical casing 128 having in its face a recess 129 to freely receive therein the disc 125.

An annular, groove is formed in the casing, at the bottom of the recess 129 to firmly hold a friction ring 130, such as leather, against which the outer face of the disc 125 makes'contact.

The casing is bored to receive the coils of a solenoid 131, encircling the inner end of the hub 128 and into which the disc hub 125 enters freely, there being a space between the two hubs.

The shaft 126 contains an axial passage, open at the end within the casing hub 128 and extending to a lateral opening 126' between the bearing 122 and block 123, and mounted on the shaft 126, equally spaced from the opening 126 are insulating sleeves 132-133 set rigidly in conductor collars 134-135.

Carried by these collars are binding screws engaging insulated wire conductors 136-137 passing through the shaft opening and extending through the bore 126 to connect with the coils of the solenoid 131.

the electrical connections being later de` scribed.

Fixed near the end of the shaft 126, within the block 123 is a helical gear 145 meshing with a mating gear 146 fixed on a spindle 147 extending transversely through the block and having on its inner end a sprocket 148 driving a chain 149 trained over another sprocket 150 fixed on a spindle 151 mounted in the lower portion of the projector mechanism casing 114.

Within the casing 114 are geared connections, not shown, to drive a stub shaft having a universal joint connection 155 with telescopically connected shafts 156 in turn connected by another universal joint connection 157 with the shaft 80 of the sound reproducing mechanism, thus positively connecting the same with the projecting mechamsm.

Current is received from any convenient source through the cable 160 to a plug 161, the two poles passing through conductors 162-164 to a switch 163.

When the switch is closed current will pass through the conductor 165 to one pole of a plug 166 to a cable 167 leading to the projecting machine motor 121, forming a circuit, the return current passing through a conductor 168 to the switch 163 and thence to conductor 164 to the plug 161.

A branch 169 of the conductor 168 leads to one pole of a plug 170'attached to a cable 171 leading to a plug 172 having conductors 173-174, engaged respectively with the contacts 139-140, return current passing through a conductor 175 to an electric lamp bulb 176 and thence connect through with the return conductor 181.

l A branch 178 of the conductor 165 leads to one pole of a plug 179 having a cable 180 connecting the motor -42 of the sound reproducing mechanism, current returning through branch 181 of conductor 168.

The branch 178 is further continued, as at 182, to the contact 98, disc 84, bar 94. and when the contacts 95-93 are in electrical e11- gagement, to bar 92, disc 87, contact 99, to a branch 183 of the return conductor 175.

It will now be seen that although the motor 121 may be energize/d and the disc 125 rotated by it, it will not transmit motion to the shaft 126 unless the solenoid 131 be energized to attract the disc and draw it with suflicient force as to cause rotation of the solenoid casing 128; this condition is attained by passing current through the plug 172 and the parts in electrical connection with it, and such condition is contingent upon the circuit passing through the contacts 93-95, which if separated cause a break in the line.

The motor 42 runs at a speed somewhat less than the motor 121, and the speed of the shaft 36 is maintained uniform by the governor 50,

` which it will be noted is adjustable.

' being self adjusting to avoid variation.

In the modified construction of the record table drive, shown in Figures 9 and 10, the electric motor is dispensed with` and in its place is substituted a spring motor, thereby eliminating possible noise from the electric motor and waiver or distortion of music due to'fluctuation in the current.

The spring motor is mounted between .two brackets 185-185, extending downwardly from the cover plate 22, in which isY fixed a spindle 186 enclosed ina sleeve 187 having on its end adjacent the bracket 185, a hubbed gear188 meshed' with a pinion 189 secured to the shaft 80, which is driven by its connections with the motor 121.

Fixed tothe inner face of the gear.188 is aA flanged casing 190 covering a flat spirally coiled spring 191, having its outer .coll secured at 192 to the interior of the caslng and its innermost coil fixed to the sleeve 187 as at 193 in a manner to lcause the sleeve to rotate through the action of the spring when the shaft 80 is actuated.

A spacing collar 194 on the sleeve 187 separates the casing 190 from a similar but reversed casing 195 enclosing another like spring 196 fixed to the sleeve at 197 at its inner end and having its outermost coil engaged with the casing at 198, thereby to rotate the casing and a gear 199- to which it is secured, the gear meshing with a pinion 200 fixed to the spindle 36. v

From the foregoing it will be seen that the spring 191 is constantly being wound by its connections withthe motor 121,- and that the winding effect vis transferred to the spring 196 and gear 199 to the pinion 200 thereby driving the shaft in synchronism l,with the shaft 8o, although yie1ing1y,thus

Y, l maintaining the contacts carried by the bars 92-94 in electrical engagement under normal conditions..Y

Thus the shaft 36 becomes the driver of the spindle 29 and overnor 50, whereas 1n the previously described embodiment the governor shaft was the driver.

The governor in the spring motor driving arrangement is controlled by the same elements, although differently positioned as will be seen, and in addition the governor disc 51 has its periphery used as a friction control.

Extending through the side 21 of the cover plate is a lever 205 provided with a manual actuating knob 206, adjacent to which is a guide clip 207.l

The lever is pivoted on a stud 208 set in the under side of thecover plate 22 and beyond the pivot a bent arm 209 is secured to the lever, the outer endv of the arm carrying a friction pad 210, as leather, engageable with the vperiphery of the governor disc 51 and by which its rotation may be stopped upon actuation of the lever.

On the outer edge of the lever 205 is a raised elongated lug 211, carrying an insulator 212 having on its outer surface a buss bar 213, adapted to form an electric circuit through a pair of contacts 214-215 carried on an insulated support 216 mounted on the cover plate 22 and provided with conductors 217 218 in the circuit 165-175 controlled by the switch 163, so that the circuit is closed by the lever at which time the governor is free to operate.

It will now be seen that the friction slip drive connection to the worm wheel'58 is very essential, when the complete apparatus Ais brought to a stop, for the reason that the solenoid casing 128 acts in the manner of a fly-wheel, causing'the projecting machine to continue its rotations for a few seconds.

When the` first projecting machine is in operation showing the rst part of a picture, a second projector is prepared by the operator and when the first machine is very close to the end of the film, the second is started so that there will be no interruption on the program.

Iio

As ch-anges of construction could be made within the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustra.- tive and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent, is

' 1. The combination with a' picture projec tor, a record carrier and a source of electrical energy, of a constant speed motor having a shaft carrying a disc, a second shaft lalined with the motor shaft, said second shaft being A connected to the projector, a head on the second 'shaft in which said disc is engageable, a solenoid in said head to attract said disc in the manner of a friction clutch, a separate motor for the carrier, `a shaft having two alined independent sections, one of the sections being driven by said separate motor land having geared connection with the carrier, the other section being connected with said projector, insulated discs on the adjacent ends of the shaft sections, and opposed contacts carried by said discs, said contacts when in engagement completing a circuit to said solenoid whereby said disc and head are clutched as a unit during the time of engagement of the contacts and said projector and carrier are actuated in synchronism.

2. The combination with a picture projector, a record carrier and a source of electrical energy, of a constant speed motor having geared connections with said proj ectora magnetic clutch in said connections, an adjustable speed motor having driving connections with said carrier, said connections including a two part sectional shaft, said shaft connecting said projector and carrier, insulated contacts carried by the adjacent ends of said shaft, said contacts when in electrical engagement closing the circuit to said magnetic clutch, and means to limitthe separation of said contacts.

3. The combination with a picture projector, a record carrier and a source of electrical energy, of a constant speed motor having geared connections with said projector, a magnetic clutch in said connections, an adjustable speed mlotor having driving connections with said carrier, said connections including a two part sectional shaft, said shaft connecting said projector and carrier, insulated contacts carried by the adjacent ends of said shaft, said contacts when in electrical engagement "closing the circuit to said magnetic clutch, and means for' adjusting one of said contacts relative to the other without changing the speed of either of the shaft sections.

4. The combination with a picture projector, a record carrier and a source of electrical energy, ofa constant speed motor having geared connections with said projector, a magnetic clutch in said connections, an adjustable speed motor having driving connections with said carrier, said connections including a two part sectional shaft, said shaft connecting said projector and carrier, insulated contacts carried by the adjacent ends of said shaft, said contacts when in electrical engagement closing the circuit to said magnetic clutch, and resilient means to normally maintain said contacts in engagement.

5. The combination with a picture projector, a record carrier and a source of electrical energy, of a constant speed motor having geared connections with said projector, a magnetic clutch in said connections, an adjustable speed motor having driving connections with said carrier, said connections including' a two part sect1onal shaft, said shaft connecting said projector and carrier, insulated contacts carried by the adjacent ends of said shaft, said contacts when in electrical engagement closing the circuit to said magnetic clutch, and a shaft connecting the outer end of said sectional shaft with the driving mechanism of said projector.

6. The combination with a moving picture projector, a disc record carrier and a source of electrical energy, of independent motor drives for the projector and carrier, a synchronizing connection between said motor drives, yielding means in said connection whereby a limited relative movement between said drives may occur, and means fof adjusting the relative rotary positions of said drives. l

7 The combination with a moving picture projector and sound record carrier, each having an independent drive means, of a clutch for connecting said projector to its driving means, means controlled by the drive means of said carrier for engaging the clutch, a yielding connection between the projector and the carrier drive means, and means permitting the over action of the projector and carrier irrespective of the movement of the carrier drive means.

8. The combination with a picture projector and a sound record carrier, of a constant speed electric motor geared to said projector, an adjustable electric motor geared to said carrier, said motor being normally of a slower speed than the first motor, means to control the speed of said adjustable motor, means to compensate for the diiference in speed of said motors, a magnetic clutch interposed in the driving connections of the first named motor, and means actuated by the second motor to control said clutch, whereby the projector and carrier are actuated in synchronism.

9. The combination with a moving picture machine and a sound record machine, of a constant speed motor to drive the picture machine, 'a separate motor to drive the record machine, a governor for the record machine motor, manual means for modifying the operation of said governor, a rigid shaft having universal joint connections between said machines compelling synchronized action, and a yielding element interposed in said connections.

' 10. The combination with a moving picture machine and a sound record machine, each machine having an independent motor drive, of a shaft having two alined sections, a yielding clutch connecting the sections, one of said sections driving the picture machine and the other section driving the record machine, and means in said clutch to compel the machines to operate in synchronism.

11. The combination with a moving picture projector and a sound record carrier, each having an independent driving motor, of a magnetic clutch to connect said projec- G 1,902,2oi

tor with its motor, a shaft having alined sections, one section being geared to the carrier motor, and the other section connected with the projector discs on the adjacent ends of said sections; and contacts on said discs for controlling said clutch.

12. The combination with a picture projector and a sound record carrier, of a constant speed motor geared to'said projector, a second motor geared to said carrier, a governor controlling the speed of said second motor, a sectional shaft in the connections between the second motor and carrier, said shaft also connecting with the projector, electricy contacts carried by each of the sections of said shaft, a magneticclutch in the connections between the constant speed motor and projector, said clutch being in circuit with said contacts, and means for varying the action of said governor.

13. The combination with a picture projector and a soundrecord carrier, of a constant speed electric motor geared to said projector, an adjustable electric motor geared to saidr carrier, said motor being normally of slower speed than the iirst motor, means to control the speed of said adjustable motor, said meansincluding a governor, a disc on said governor, a brake frictionally impinging on said disc, manual means to actuate said brake, magnetic means to actuate the brake, and means to compensate for the difference in speeds of said motors.

,In testimony whereof I afx my signature.

e ANTHONYJ. vAssELLL

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