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Document 3: Application from 10 June 1913

Method and arrangement for the synchronising the drive of phonographs and such, and cinematographs.

It has already been suggested for the synchronisation of talking machines and the cinematograph to trigger the latter at a certain point through a closed circuit from the phonograph (or gramophone disk) so that the two machines work synchronously upon start. After starting the cinematic machine, however, the circuit is interrupted and the two machines are left to their own operation and there is no synchronisation.

This invention concerns a method whereby the movement of the cinematic device is continuously under the regulating influence of the phonograph or such so that any manual operation is redundant. To this end, the phonograph disk carrier or its driving mechanism is connected to a series of contacts which, as soon as they meet resistance, close an electric circuit which triggers the next switch of the cinematic machine. It is, of course, necessary that the recording of the phonogram and the living pictures is made with the same machine if such synchronisation is to be achieved.

The drawing (Illustration) shows the new arrangement in an example for application.

The plate b on the gramophone e carrying the sound disk possesses a border d made from insulating material, in which metal plates are inserted at certain stops. These are connected through a wire f with a slip ring that sits below the disk carrier b, on which the spring h spins and which is connected at the end of the wiring with an electromagnet, which is arranged otherwise independently from the phonograph and the cinematograph. The other end of the wiring of this electromagnet is connected via suspension i with the spring h, which turns on the margin of the disk carrier b, so that with each turn, the circuit of the electromagnet is closed and opened.

The anchor m of the electromagnet M is at one end arranged on a bell crank c, which has a turning position on cone n in the apparatus A. The other end of the bell crank c is formed as inhibition mechanism, which links with the cogs of cranking wheel q. On the axis of the wheel q, there is a cylinder r that moves the film band a forward, which is propelled by the roll A that pushes against drum r. The film band is moved from a storage container u arranged above the objective v, passed behind the objective and collected on a construction w for the film band x of apparatus A.

The mechanism is as follows:

When the talking machine c is started, the circuit of the electromagnet is opened and closed through the margin of the disk carrier b; its anchor m is alternately pulled and released. Thus, the inhibition mechanism formed through crank c slowly turns the wheel q under the influence of weight y in the direction of the arrow and moves the film band forward, which then – in the known manner – is wound onto spool x. Thus the cinematic machine is in full synchronisation with the phonograph.

For gramophones, where the speed of the disk drive is regulated in such a way that the furrow underneath the gramophone needle always has the same speed, the contact mechanism for the electromagnet will be triggered by the device propelling the apparatus.

The arrangement can of course also be used for film bands with sound recordings.

Claims: [1]

1. Method of synchronising the drive for talking machines and cinematographs characterised in this that the movement of the cinematograph works if during the whole period of operation is controlled by the talking machine.
2. Arrangement for carrying out the method described in claim 1, characterised in this that the drive (for example, the plate b) for the phonograph record (a) is provided with a series of contacts (e), by which an arrangement (q) effecting the advance of the cinematograph works is caused to advance the film band (a).

Illustration