U.S. patent application number 09/756620 was filed with the patent office on 2002-09-12 for filmstrip transport mechanism with compensation for perforation pitch variations for improved film registration.
This patent application is currently assigned to Eastman Kodak Company. Invention is credited to Druzynski, Richard L., Hawver, Jeffery R..
Application Number | 20020125287 09/756620 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26904494 |
Filed Date | 2002-09-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020125287 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Druzynski, Richard L. ; et
al. |
September 12, 2002 |
FILMSTRIP TRANSPORT MECHANISM WITH COMPENSATION FOR PERFORATION
PITCH VARIATIONS FOR IMPROVED FILM REGISTRATION
Abstract
A perforated filmstrip transportation and registration system
(100) and method provide a substrate in the form of a rotating drum
(104) with vacuum holes (106) to allow an internally produced
vacuum to act upon an engaged filmstrip (102). The rotating drum
(104) has a number of registration-tension pin pair assemblies
(216) that register and subsequently advance a filmstrip (102) at
the 3 o'clock position in a registration mode (FIGS. 2 and 3), and
are ready to be inserted in filmstrip perforations (208) when they
approach the 3 o'clock position in a load mode (FIG. 4). The
registration-tension pin pair assemblies (216) each contain a
registration pin (220) and a tension pin (230) which are sized
small enough to fit into filmstrip perforations (208) without
interference, and which move away and towards each other in the
nature of scissors blades in the preferred embodiment. In the
registration mode, a side of the registration pin (220) rests
against a side of one perforation, while the tension pin (230)
engaged in an adjacent perforation, places the filmstrip (102) in
tension by moving away from the registration pin (220). In the load
mode, the tension pin (230) moves toward the registration pin (220)
so that distance therebetween allows both pins to be easily
inserted into prospective adjacent filmstrip perforations (208). In
the preferred embodiment, the registration and tension pins (220,
230) are part of pin bodies (222, 232) which are spring loaded and
activated via interaction with cam surfaces (260, 262).
Inventors: |
Druzynski, Richard L.; (East
Rochester, NY) ; Hawver, Jeffery R.; (Rochester,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Patent Legal Staff
Eastman Kodak Company
343 State Street
Rochester
NY
14650-2201
US
|
Assignee: |
Eastman Kodak Company
|
Family ID: |
26904494 |
Appl. No.: |
09/756620 |
Filed: |
January 8, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60209767 |
Jun 6, 2000 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
226/57 ;
226/95 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 23/0208 20130101;
G03B 1/42 20130101; B65H 23/1882 20130101; B65H 2301/4421 20130101;
G03B 1/24 20130101; G03B 1/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
226/57 ;
226/95 |
International
Class: |
G03B 001/28; B65H
020/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A filmstrip transport system adapted for perforated filmstrip
transport and filmstrip image registration, said system comprising:
a substrate adapted to apply a normal force to a filmstrip; and a
plurality of registration-tension assemblies carried by said
substrate, said registration-tension assemblies each comprising a
registration pin member having a registration pin sized for a
non-interference fit with filmstrip perforations and a tension pin
member having a tension pin sized for a non-interference fit with
filmstrip perforations; wherein said registration-tension
assemblies have a registration mode to engage and register a
filmstrip by resting an edge of one perforation of said filmstrip
against the side of an inserted registration pin, and placing said
filmstrip in tension by pulling said filmstrip via a tension pin
inserted in another perforation in said filmstrip, in a direction
substantially parallel to the direction of filmstrip transport and
away from said registration pin; and wherein said
registration-tension assemblies have a load mode to load the
registration and tension pins into prospective perforations by
moving said tension pin in a direction substantially parallel to
the direction of filmstrip transport and toward said registration
pin until said registration and tension pins achieve a distance
therebetween permitting a non-interference fit into two filmstrip
perforations.
2. The system in claim 1, wherein said substrate has a curvilinear
shape when viewed from a vantage point with the edge of said
filmstrip visible.
3. The system in claim 2, wherein said substrate is drumlike, and
said substrate further comprises vacuum holes whereby a filmstrip
is held in contact with said substrate via a vacuum created inside
of said substrate, and acting through said vacuum holes.
4. The system in claim 1, wherein the relative motion of said
registration and tension pins resembles the movement of scissors
tips.
5. The system in claim 1, wherein said tension pin member is
pivotally mounted to said substrate via a spring member, and the
movement of said tension pin forms an arc.
6. The system in claim 1, wherein said registration pin member is
mounted to said substrate via at least one flexible member.
7. The system in claim 5, wherein said substrate further comprises
at least one cam surface adapted to guide the movement of said
tension pin member to position said tension pin for said
registration and load modes.
8. The system in claim 6, wherein said substrate further comprises
at least one cam surface adapted to guide the movement of said
registration pin member to position said registration pin for said
registration and load modes.
9. The system in claim 1, wherein said tension pin member is
pivotally mounted to said substrate via a spring member, and the
movement of said tension pin forms an arc, said registration pin
member is mounted to said substrate via at least one flexible
member, wherein said substrate further comprises at least one cam
surface adapted to guide the movement of said tension pin member to
position said tension pin for said registration and load modes, and
another cam surface adapted to guide the movement of said
registration pin member to position said registration pin for said
registration and load modes.
10. The system in claim 1 wherein said registration and tension
pins are relatively spaced to fit into adjacent filmstrip
perforations.
11. A method of transporting and registering a filmstrip, said
method comprising the steps of: via a substrate, providing a normal
force to a filmstrip; providing a plurality of registration-tension
assemblies carried by said substrate, said registration-tension
assemblies each comprising a registration pin member having a
registration pin sized for a non-interference fit with filmstrip
perforations and a tension pin member having a tension pin sized
for a noninterference fit with filmstrip perforations; providing a
registration mode to engage and register a filmstrip by resting an
edge of one perforation of said filmstrip against the side of an
inserted registration pin, and placing said filmstrip in tension by
pulling said filmstrip via a tension pin inserted in another
perforation in said filmstrip, in a direction substantially
parallel to the direction of filmstrip transport and away from said
registration pin; and providing a load mode to load the
registration and tension pins into prospective perforations by
moving said tension pin in a direction substantially parallel to
the direction of filmstrip transport and toward said registration
pin until said registration and tension pins achieve a distance
therebetween permitting a non-interference fit into two filmstrip
perforations.
12. The method in claim 11, wherein said substrate has a
curvilinear shape when viewed from a vantage point with the edge of
said filmstrip visible.
13. The method in claim 12, wherein said substrate is drumlike, and
said substrate further comprises vacuum holes, said method further
comprising the step of holding a filmstrip in contact with said
substrate via a vacuum created inside of said substrate, and acting
through said vacuum holes.
14. The method in claim 11, wherein the relative motion of said
registration and tension pins resembles the movement of scissors
tips.
15. The method in claim 11, wherein said tension pin member is
pivotally mounted to said substrate via a spring member, and the
movement of said tension pin forms an arc.
16. The method in claim 11, wherein said registration pin member is
mounted to said substrate via at least one flexible member.
17. The method in claim 15, wherein said substrate further
comprises at least one cam surface, said method further comprising
the step of guiding the movement of said tension pin member to
position said tension pin for said registration and load modes.
18. The method in claim 16, wherein said substrate further
comprises at least one cam surface, said method further comprising
the step of guiding the movement of said registration pin member to
position said registration pin for said registration and load
modes.
19. The method in claim 1, wherein said tension pin member is
pivotally mounted to said substrate via a spring member, and the
movement of said tension pin forms an arc, said registration pin
member is mounted to said substrate via at least one flexible
member, wherein said substrate further comprises a first cam
surface and a second cam surface, said method further comprising
the steps of: via said first cam surface, guiding the movement of
said tension pin member to position said tension pin for said
registration and load modes; and via said second cam surface,
guiding the movement of said registration pin member to position
said registration pin for said registration and load modes.
20. The method in claim 1, further comprising the step of providing
a relative spacing between said registration and tension pins so
that said registration and tension pins fit into adjacent filmstrip
perforations.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/209,767 filed Jun. 6, 2000 and entitled
"Mechanical Motion Perforation Registration System for Continuous
Motion Film Transports," said provisional application being
assigned to the assignee of the present application, and said
provisional application hereby being incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to perforated filmstrip
transport mechanisms in general, and to methods and apparatuses for
consistently registering perforated filmstrip images in
particular.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] High speed perforated filmstrip transportation for such
applications as scanning, recording and optical printing not only
require reliable movement of filmstrips, but also consistent
registration of the filmstrip images. That is, it is important that
each image on a filmstrip come to momentary rest at the same
location along the direction of travel, within an acceptable
tolerance. When images are not properly registered, undesirable
image artifacts can be produced, with the severity of the artifacts
being more pronounced with film transport speed.
[0004] One basic prior art approach to filmstrip registration is to
use sprocket teeth (or pins) that engage the perforations with an
interference fit. Because the action of insertion or removal of the
pins can lead to image artifacts due to film displacement, such
approaches require pauses in the processes which may greatly limit
the filmstrip transport speed. Additionally, minute, periodic and
random variations induced in the film manufacturing processing can
also lead to image artifacts.
[0005] Another basic prior art filmstrip registration approach
partially addresses the problems associated with the aforementioned
approach, by using pre-.
[0006] The present invention also provides a method of transporting
and registering a filmstrip. The method at least includes the steps
of, via a substrate, providing a normal force to a filmstrip, and
providing a plurality of registration-tension assemblies carried by
the substrate, the registration-tension assemblies each at least
including a registration pin member having a registration pin sized
for a non-interference fit with filmstrip perforations and a
tension pin member having a tension pin sized for a
non-interference fit with filmstrip perforations.
[0007] The method also includes the steps of providing a
registration mode to engage and register a filmstrip by resting an
edge of one perforation of the filmstrip against the side of an
inserted registration pin, and placing the filmstrip in tension by
pulling the filmstrip via a tension pin inserted in another
perforation in the filmstrip, in a direction substantially parallel
to the direction of filmstrip transport and away from the
registration pin, and providing a load mode to load the
registration and tension pins into prospective perforations by
moving the tension pin in a direction substantially parallel to the
direction of filmstrip transport and toward the registration pin
until the registration and tension pins achieve a distance
therebetween permitting a non-interference fit into two filmstrip
perforations.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Features and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent to those skilled in the art from the description below,
with reference to the following drawing figures, in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a general illustration of the filmstrip transport
and image registration system of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a filmstrip engaged with a
registration pin/tension pin pair of the rotary filmstrip transport
drum mechanism of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a side view of a registration pin/tension pin pair
in the fully engaged ("in" or "registration") position, allowing
for image/frame registration, and filmstrip advancement; and
[0012] FIG. 4 is a side view of a registration pin/tension pin pair
in the disengaged ("load") position, allowing for free insertion
into filmstrip perforations.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The present-inventive filmstrip transport and registration
system 100, is generally shown in FIG. 1. The filmstrip transport
and registration system 100 is capable of both advancing a
filmstrip at a high speed, and properly registering each image
frame by lining it with a registration pin, as detailed infra. The
system 100 is principally embodied in and upon a rotary filmstrip
transport drum mechanism 104, which also acts as a substrate. The
drum mechanism 104 has a number vacuum holes 106 throughout its
surface for allowing an internally produced vacuum to interact with
a filmstrip touching the drum surface. In operation, the filmstrip
touches the drum mechanism 104 so that there is a slight transverse
displacement as shown in FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates a plan view of a perforated filmstrip 102
(the drum mechanism is obscured) in the "registration mode." That
is, an image frame 206 is momentarily fixed (axially aligned) in
its axial position along the direction of travel with respect to a
registration pin 220 (inserted in a perforation 208) by pulling the
filmstrip in a direction opposite the transport direction to place
the filmstrip in tension, by a tension pin 230 (inserted into an
adjacent perforation 208). The filmstrip is transversely aligned
and restrained by resting one edge of the filmstrip against
filmstrip guide edges 240 and 242 on one side, and by applying
spring-loaded filmstrip guide rollers 250-252 on the other side.
The spring-loaded rollers are connected to a spring-loaded roller
support 256, which may be as simple as spring member.
[0015] FIGS. 3 and 4 show side views of the registration and
tension pin pair assemblies 216 located on the periphery of the
drum mechanism 104 in line with the filmstrip perforations 208. In
particular, FIG. 3 shows a side view of an assembly 216 in the
registration position, while FIG. 4 shows a side view of an
assembly 216 in the load position.
[0016] The registration pin 220 is part of a registration pin body
222. The registration pin body 222 is connected to a fixed body 228
on the substrate/drum 104 by two flexible members ("flexures") 226,
which allow curvilinear displacement of the registration pin when a
cam surface 260 acts upon a registration pin body roller 224.
[0017] The tension pin 230 is part of a spring-loaded tension pin
body 232. The tension pin body 232 pivots around a pivot point 234,
attached to the substrate/drum 104. The tension pin body, and hence
the tension pin moves curvilinearly, in response to the force of a
cam surface 262 acting through a tension pin body roller 236.
[0018] The general operation of the perforated filmstrip transport
and registration system is as follows. To place a registration and
tension pin pair assembly 216 in the load mode, the cam surface 260
lowers the registration pin body 222, causing the registration pin
220 to move downward and toward the tension pin 230 in a curved
path. Meanwhile, the cam surface 262 forces the tension pin body
232 to pivot toward the registration pin 220, so that the distance
between the centerlines of the registration and tension pins is
approximately equal to the average distance between the centerlines
of two adjacent perforations. The rotating drum places the
registration and tension pin assembly in the 3 o'clock position,
whereupon the pins are inserted into two adjacent perforations.
[0019] To register a filmstrip image and move the filmstrip one
frame length, the cam surface 260 raises the registration pin body
222 to place the side of the registration pin 220 against the front
edge of a perforation, while a tension pin body spring 235 forces
the tension pin body 232 to pivot and move the tension pin 230 away
from the registration pin to place the filmstrip in tension by
impinging the tension pin on the rear edge of a trailing
perforation.
[0020] At any given moment, only one registration and tension pin
assembly is in the registration mode, while the rest of the
registration and tension pair assemblies are in the load mode.
[0021] Variations and modifications of the present invention are
possible, given the above description. However, all variations and
modifications which are obvious to those skilled in the art to
which the present invention pertains are considered to be within
the scope of the protection granted by this Letters Patent.
[0022] For example, the present invention is not limited to any
particular perforated filmstrip type, and is generally adaptable to
any perforated filmstrip transport operation. Also, it will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art that, given the above
description of the essence of the present invention, many
components may have substitutes without departing from the scope of
the invention. Components which may have functional equivalents
include, inter alia, the transverse guides (240, 242, 250, 252, and
256), the flexures (226), the spring-loaded pivot (234), and the
cam surface/roller combinations (260/224 and 262/236).
[0023] Additionally, the substrate/drum can include registration
and tension pin pair assemblies on both edges, to engage pins on
both sides of a perforated filmstrip.
[0024] Also, the present invention need not use a curved substrate,
and is adaptable to linear substrate systems.
[0025] Given the above description of the essence of the present
invention, it should also be noted that while the cam surfaces 260
and 262 have been included in the preferred embodiment as perhaps
the simplest means of pin actuation, other means of pin actuation
are also possible, including one or more of, among others, the
following methods: electrical; mechanical; electromechanical; and
hydraulics. For example, a piezoelectric actuator might take the
place of the cam, for actuating the registration pin.
[0026] Although the preferred embodiment spaces registration and
tension pins in such a manner that the aforementioned pins act upon
adjacent perforations, it is possible to increase the relative
spacing so that the pins operate on nonadjacent perforations (e.g.,
every third perforation). However, where the substrate is curved-as
in the preferred embodiment-there is an increased likelihood that
when using other than adjacent perforations, the force of the
tension pin could cause the filmstrip to buckle.
1 PARTS LIST 100 Filmstrip transport and image registration system
102 Filmstrip 104 Rotary filmstrip transport substrate/drum
mechanism 106 Vacuum holes 206 Filmstrip image/frame 208
Perforations 216 Registration and tension pin pair assembly 220
Registration pin 222 Registration pin body 224 Registration pin
body roller 226 Registration pin flexures 228 Fixed body 230
Tension pin 232 Tension pin body 234 Tension pin body pivot point
235 Tension pin body spring 236 Tension pin body roller 240-242
Fixed filmstrip guide edges 250-252 Filmstrip guide rollers 256
Spring-loaded roller support 260-262 Cam surfaces
* * * * *