US2497847A - Film presser having a central projecting plane portion for moving picture cameras - Google Patents

Description

Patented Feb. 21, 1950 FILM PRESSER, HAVIN JECTING PLANE PO PICTURE CAMERAS Andr Clement Coutant: and Jacques Mathot, Paris, France Application December-'15, 1948, Serial No. 65,324 In France December 20, 1947 3 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to film-pressers for moving picture cameras, of which the purpose is to secure the obtainment of sharp pictures on the film by keeping it still and flat over that portion of the latter which is being exposed. Film pressers first of all exert a braking action upon the film which is wound oil and fed through stepwise by the action of claws and finally bring it to standstill fiat behind the shooting gate. Now, where the action of the pressers upon the film is insufficient, it may happen that the latter is incompletely stopped and that it does not stand at right angles to the optical axis of the camera,

while an exceedingly high pressure upon the film may lead to scratches that are detrimental to the sharpness and good appearance of the picture.

With a view to obviate both of these inconveniences the film-presser according to the invention is characterized in that it is formed with an outer face larger than the shooting gate, on which face there are provided a central projecting portion smaller in size than said gate and distance pieces rested on either side of the gate and designed to limit the effect of the springs said presser is resiliently urged by.

The following is a description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which reference is had to the appended drawing in which:

Figure l is an elevational front view of the presser;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 11-11 in Fig. 1.

The presser l illustrated is rectangular in shape; a pair of longitudinal distance pieces 2' project outwards from its sides against the direction the light comes from. A projecting central portion 3 is rectangular in shape and stands out of the plane of the presser face by the same amount as do the two longitudinal side distancepieces 2. Said central portion is smaller in size than the gate that encompasses the same.

The said presser is urged by springs 4 that are rested on inwardly projecting portions 5 of the casing 8 and by which the distance-pieces 2 of the presser are pressed to apply the film 1 against the sides of the shooting gate H.

At the same time the projecting portion 3 keeps a portion of the film 1 in a plane condition behind the gate H without pressing the film portion involved'against any hard body.

G KEENTR'ALII'BROa RTION FOR MUVING' For a better understanding of the drawing the lens I2 has been indicated in front of the gate ll, together with the optical axis XX of the camera and the film loops.

Shown below the presser is an additional presser 8 which may be dispensed with yet be used in combination with the presser I. Said presser 8 which is housed in a casing 5' is loaded by springs 4' which are stronger than springs 4. It is provided with side distance-pieces 9. The slots [0 represent the passageways for the claws by means of which a stepwise feed is secured. Said claws are not shown. The said presser 8 provides for stopping and presser I for both flattening and stopping.

Various modifications may be made in the shape and proportions of the presser as well as in the dimensions of the projections that will lead to the pressure most suitable to keep the film flat without scratching it. The relative positions of the two pressers may also be modified.

Of course, all these modifications do not depart from the scope of theinvention.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the ,5 distance-pieces are constituted by longitudinal projections arranged at either side of the presser to press the film edges against the sides of the gate; their thickness is substantially equal to that of the central projecting portion.

Q The presser is combined with an additional presser located below the first one, provided with longitudinal projections and urged by a spring system stronger than the one acting upon the first-mentioned presser and that provides for a reliable fixedness of the film which the said first-mentioned presser is keep flat.

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A resilient presser for a motion picture camera having a shooting gate, comprising a presser plate. a casing, springs resting on the casing to urge said presser plate toward the shooting gate, said presser plate having a front face portion which is larger in size than said gate, and a central projecting plane portion which is smaller in size than said gate and faces said gate, and side distance pieces on the front face of the said presser plate resting on the side of the gate to effective principally to press the edgesof the film against the gate and .limit the thrust exerted by said springs upon the .rpresser' plate.

side distance pieces projecting on said front face.

to press strongly the sides of the film.

ANDRE cLs ENTpoU'rANT. JACQUES MATHOT.

4 REFERENCES crrcn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Oehmichen Nov. 20, 1928 Mitchell Aug. 15, 1933 Crespinel j i-Sept. 26, 1933 Fairall Jan.'23, 1934 Tondreau et a1 Sept. 5, 1944 Fairbanks Oct. 12, 1948

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