Perforator

Abstract
A perforator for making perforations in a continuous film which is thereafter cut into individual filmstrips having variable lengths. A die set unit of the perforator has a plurality of punches and corresponding dies which are respectively arranged along the continuous film. The die set unit performs die-punching N times (N=1, 2, 3 . . . ) in every first section having a variable length Lx, and the measuring feeder transports the continuous film by a first length after each of (N−1) times die-punching and by a second length after the last die-punching for every first section. The first length is given as Lx/N, and the second length corresponds to the first length plus the length L2 of a second section disposed alternately with the first section along the continuous film. In alternative, the die set unit is constituted of first to nth die sets aligned in order from downstream to in the film transporting direction. The ith die set of the die sets has a number Gi (i=1, 2, . . . n) of punches as a segment of the total punches. The first to ith die sets are simultaneously activated to perform die-punching. The number is selected depending on the number F of frame exposure locations to be provided in each individual filmstrip.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to a perforator for making perforations along at least one lateral side of a continuous strip of photographic film, or the like, within a limited longitudinal section thereof.




2. Description of the Related Art




Conventional 35 mm, or 135-type, photographic film (ISO 135: 1979) has perforations formed at constant intervals along the entire length thereof, for example, as shown in FIG.


25


. Perforators for making such continuous perforations


10


are disclosed in JPA 61-214999 and JPU 4-2800, for example.




Known perforators have a measuring feeder for feeding the continuous film by a given length into a die set mechanism. The die set mechanism sandwiches the fed portion of the continuous film to die-punch the same and thus simultaneously form a predetermined number of perforations in the film. The perforations are equally spaced in the film feeding or transporting direction. The measuring feeder and the die set mechanism are synchronously driven by a common drive source through respective drive systems. At least one of these drive systems is coupled to the drive source through a cam index mechanism. Thereby, the interval of die-punching of the die set mechanism is controlled to be constant, and the measuring feeder feeds the continuous film by a length corresponding to the predetermined number of perforations. In this way, the equally spaced perforations


10


are formed in continuous succession. Thereafter, the continuous film


11


is cut into individual filmstrips


13


as shown by phantom lines in FIG.


25


. Picture frames are exposed or recorded in proper locations


12


by advancing the filmstrip


13


by one-frame amount after each exposure in a camera. The perforations


10


have mainly been utilized for such a one-frame film advancement.




Recently, a photographic filmstrip has been disclosed, for example, in JPA 4-96056, that has one perforation for each frame exposure location along one or both lateral sides thereof. For example, as shown in

FIG. 26

, a perforation


14


is disposed on each lateral side of each frame exposure location


12


of an individual filmstrip


15


. This type photographic filmstrip is mainly directed for use in a film cassette having a film leader advancing function, in which a film leader of the filmstrip entirely located within the cassette can be advanced to the outside of the cassette by rotating a spool of the cassette. Such a film cassette is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,418. Therefore, a camera for use with this type film cassette does not need a conventional film advancing sprocket, and instead, adopts an optical sensor for detecting the perforations


14


to determine and position the frame exposure location


12


in an exposure opening of the camera.




For this reason, the perforations


14


are merely formed in a longitudinal section extending from the first to the last frame exposure location


12


of each filmstrip


15


. This section will be hereinafter referred to as effective frame recording section


1


or simply section


1


. A section which does not have frame exposure locations


12


and hence does not have frame positioning perforations


14


will be referred to as ineffective frame recording section


2


or simply section


2


, as indicated in FIG.


26


.




The perforations


14


of the above-described new arrangement cannot be made by the above-described conventional perforator. This is because the measuring feeder and the die set mechanism are synchronously driven by the same drive source, so that it is impossible to change the drive pattern of the measuring feeder or the die set mechanism independently from one another to thereby allow a position of the film to be advanced without perforation.




Conventional 110-type photographic filmstrips also have perforations which are disposed one for each frame exposure location, and are therefore disposed merely within effective recording sections. A perforator for the 110-type filmstrip conventionally uses a die set mechanism having punches and dies of a number corresponding to a predetermined frame number of the individual filmstrip. All the perforations of the predetermined number are thus provided simultaneously by a die-punching stroke of the die set.




However, there are usually several variations in the number of picture frames available on one filmstrip. Therefore, the above-described 110-type perforator needs to prepare several kinds of die sets in order to correspond to the frame number variation of the filmstrips to be manufactured. The cost of the die sets is substantial. Also, it is necessary to interrupt running the perforator so as to interchange the die set mechanisms each time the frame member format is changed. This results is lowering the efficiency of the perforator.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide a perforator which can make perforations only in the effective frame recording section


1


by separately controlling a measuring feeder and a die set mechanism.




Another object of the present invention is to provide a perforator which does not require die sets to be interchanged each time the frame number format of the filmstrips is to be changed.




A further object of the present invention is to provide a perforator which is compact and economical to manufacture and operate.




To solve the above and other objects, a perforator of the present invention has a die set unit having a plurality of punches and corresponding dies which are respectively arranged along the length of continuous film transported therethrough, a measuring feeder for feeding the continuous film into the die set unit by a given variable length and a control unit for controlling the measuring feeder and the die set unit independently from one another to make perforations in a first section of the continuous film, and avoid making perforations in a second section which is arranged alternatively with the first section along the continuous film. The first section has a variable length Lx variable in correspondence with the variable length of the individual filmstrips, and the second section has a constant length L


2


.




According to a first embodiment, the die set unit performs die-punching N times (N=1, 2, 3 . . . ) in each first section, and the measuring feeder transport the continuous film by a first length after each of (N−1) times die-punching and by a second length after the last die-punching for each first section. The first length is given as Lx/N, and the second length corresponds to the first length plus the length L


2


of the second section. The number N of die-punching operations depends on the number F of frame exposure locations to be provided in each individual filmstrip.




According to a first drive pattern of the first embodiment, the control unit maintains the die-punching interval of the die set unit constant, and also maintains transporting time of the measuring feeder constant after each die-punching, but the changes transporting speed in accordance with the change between the first length and the second length.




According to a second drive pattern of the first embodiment, the control unit maintains the transporting speed of the measuring feeder constant, but changes the die-punching interval of the die set unit and transporting time of the measuring feeder in accordance with the change between the first length and the second length.




In a second embodiment of the invention, the die set unit is constituted of first to nth die sets aligned in this order from downstream in the film transporting direction. The ith die set of the die sets has a number Gi (i=1, 2, . . . n) of punches as a segment of the total punches, and the first to ith die sets are simultaneously activated to perform die-punching. The number i is selected by the control unit in accordance with the number F of frame exposure locations to be provided in each individual filmstrip.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designates like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:





FIG. 1

schematically shows a perforator according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention;





FIG. 2

is an explanatory view of a die set unit of the perforator shown in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 3

is a sectional view of a measuring feeder of the perforator shown in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 4

is an explanatory view of a film convey surface of the measuring feeder shown in

FIG. 3

;





FIG. 5

is a block diagram of a control circuit of the perforator of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 6

shows timing charts of a first drive pattern of the perforator of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 7

is a view similar to

FIG. 2

, but showing the die set unit in a perforating position;





FIG. 8

shows timing charts of a second drive pattern of the perforator of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 9

shows timing charts of a third drive pattern of the perforator of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 10

is an explanatory view showing a first drive pattern of a perforator according to a second embodiment of the invention;





FIG. 11

is an explanatory view showing a second drive pattern of a perforator according to the second embodiment;





FIG. 12

is a radial section of a modified measuring feeder;





FIG. 13

is an axial section of the measuring feeder shown in

FIG. 12

;





FIG. 14

is a radial section of another modified measuring feeder;





FIG. 15

is an axial section of the measuring feeder shown in

FIG. 14

;





FIG. 16

schematically shows a perforator according to a third embodiment of the invention;





FIG. 17

is an explanatory view of a continuous film in which a perforation is disposed on one lateral side of each frame exposure location;





FIG. 18

is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the perforator of

FIG. 16

;





FIG. 19

shows timing charts of the perforator of

FIG. 16

for 15-exposure filmstrip;





FIG. 20

shows timing charts of the perforator of

FIG. 16

for 25-exposure filmstrip;





FIG. 21

shows timing charts of the perforator of

FIG. 16

for 35-exposure filmstrip;





FIG. 22

schematically shows a perforator according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;





FIG. 23

is an explanatory view of a continuous film in which a pair of perforations are disposed on one lateral side of each frame exposure location;





FIG. 24

is an explanatory view of a die set unit of a perforator for making perforations in the arrangement shown in

FIG. 23

, as a modification of the perforator shown in

FIG. 16

or


22


;





FIG. 25

is an explanatory view of a continuous film in which perforations are disposed at constant intervals over the entire length of the filmstrip; and





FIG. 26

is an explanatory view of a continuous film in which a pair of perforations are disposed on opposite lateral sides of each frame exposure location.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




As shown in

FIG. 1

, a perforator


20


is constituted of a die set unit


21


and a measuring feeder


22


. Loop chambers


23


and


24


are disposed before and after these mechanisms


21


and


22


. A continuous strip of photographic film


11


is transported longitudinally through the die set unit


21


in a horizontal direction, and is fed to a cutting section


200


by way of the downstream loop chamber


24


to be cut into individual filmstrips.




As shown in detail in

FIG. 2

, the die set unit


21


is constructed of a stationary base or die holder


28


, a ram or punch holder


29


and a pilot pin mechanism


30


. The punch holder


29


is movable in a vertical direction in the Figures relative to the die holder


28


together with a pair of guide pins


25


and


26


which are secured to a movable plate


32




a


(see FIG.


1


). Springs


27


are mounted on the guide pins


25


and


26


so as to urge the punch holder


29


toward the retracted position. The movable plate


32




a


is vertically moved by a first motor


31


through a cam index mechanism


32


so as to move the punch holder


29


between a punching position and a retracted position in an intermittent fashion. Twelve pairs of punches


33


are secured to the punch holder


29


. The two punches


33


of each pair are disposed on the opposite lateral sides of the continuous film


11


transported through the die set unit


21


, and each pair is spaced at a constant interval from adjacent pairs in the film transporting direction, corresponding to the interval L


1


of picture frames to be recorded, i.e., the interval of frame exposure locations


12


.




The die holder


28


has twenty-four dies


34


formed therein in correspondence with the twenty-four punches


33


to receive the punches


33


when the punch holder


29


is in the punching position. The die holder


28


also has two pairs of recesses


36


for receiving two pairs of pilot pins


35


of the pilot pin mechanism


30


. The two pairs of pilot pins


35


are aligned in the two lines of the punches


33


, and spaced apart by the same interval L


1


as the punch pairs in the film transporting direction.




The pilot pin mechanism


30


further includes a solenoid


38


, a plunger


38




a


activated by the solenoid


38


, and a stripper


39


. The solenoid


38


is secured to the punch holder


29


on a downstream side thereof. The plunger


38




a


is moved by the solenoid


38


between a retracted position, where the plunger


38




a


retracts into the solenoid


38


, and a projected position, where the plunger


38




a


projects from the solenoid


38


toward a film convey surface of the die holder


28


. The pilot pins


35


are secured to the free end of the plunger


38




a


to move along the plunger


38




a


relative to the punch holder


29


between a retracted position, where the pilot pins


35


retract from the film convey surface, on one hand, and an engaging position, where the pilot pins


35


are engaged in the recesses


36


through perforations


14


of the continuous film


11


which have just been formed by die-punching.




Referring to

FIG. 3

, the measuring feeder


22


is constituted of a suction roller


41


driven by a second motor


40


(see FIG.


1


), and a nip roller


42


for nipping the continuous film


11


at its edge portions between the suction roller


41


and the nip roller


42


. Thereby, the continuous film


11


is fed by a predetermined length. The suction tube


43


is connected to an interior of the suction roller


41


to adhere the continuous film


11


onto an outer periphery


41




a


of the suction roller


41


by sucking the continuous film


11


through a large number of holes


44


which are formed through the outer periphery


41




a


of suction roller


41


(see FIG.


4


).




As shown in

FIG. 5

, the first and second motors


31


and


40


are servo motors having respective encoders


31




a


and


40




a


coupled thereto. The servo motors


31


and


40


are connected to a control unit


45


. The control unit


45


includes a main controller


47


, a punch drive system and a feed drive system for driving the first and second motors


31


and


40


, respectively. The main controller


47


has three drive pattern programs stored therein to control perforating according to one of the three drive pattern programs designated by a command inputted through a console


48


.




The punch drive system includes a driver


49


and a speed change circuit


50


for changing the rotational speed of the first motor


31


. The speed change circuit


50


outputs a die-punching speed signal to the driver


49


in accordance with a die-punching speed designated by the main controller


47


. The driver


49


controls the rotational amount and rotational speed of the first motor


31


in accordance with the die-punching speed signal and a drive signal outputted from the main controller


47


.




The feed drive system includes a process controller


52


, a positioning controller


53


and a driver


54


for the second motor


40


. The process controller


52


has several feed pattern programs, designating transporting speed and transporting time of the measuring feeder


22


, stored therein. The positioning controller


53


refers to the process controller


52


to select a suitable one of the feed patterns in accordance with a pattern latch signal from the main controller


47


. The positioning controller


53


outputs a signal to the driver


54


in correspondence with the selected feed pattern to designate a transporting speed and a transporting time of the measuring feeder


22


. The positioning controller


53


also counts pulses outputted from the encoder


40




a


to detect the rotational amount of the second motor


40


. The driver


54


controls the rotational speed and amount of the second motor


40


according to the signals from the positioning controller


53


.




The main controller


47


is also connected to a position detector


55


detecting position of the punch holder


29


in a known manner. Also, the solenoid


38


of the pilot pin mechanism


30


is connected to the main controller


47


through a driver


56


.




The operation of the perforator having the construction as set forth above will now be described with respect to a case of manufacturing 36-exposure filmstrips having the new format perforations


14


.




According to the first drive pattern program of the three drive pattern programs stored in the main controller


47


, the interval of die-punching of the die set unit


21


and the transporting time of the measuring feeder


22


are maintained constant, whereas the transporting speed of the measuring feeder


22


is changed. As shown in

FIG. 6

, when the first motor


31


is driven at a constant speed, the punch holder


29


is caused to make one stroke through the cam index mechanism


32


, thereby executing first die-punching. In result, twelve pairs of perforations


14


are simultaneously formed along the continuous film


11


. Then, the position detector


55


outputs a punch end signal to the main controller


47


. In response to the punch end signal, the main controller


47


outputs a first pattern latch signal to the positioning controller


53


. In response to the first pattern latch signal, the positioning controller


53


refers to the process controller


52


to select an appropriate feed pattern, and controls the driver


54


according to the selected feed pattern to drive the second motor


40


at a designated rotational speed for a designated time. As a result, the continuous film


11


is fed at a transporting speed V


1


for a time Tc corresponding to the designated values.




The positioning controller


53


counts the pulses generated by the encoder


40




a


to stop driving the second motor


40


through the driver


54


when the cont of the encoder pulses reaches a value corresponding to a predetermined first transporting amount A


1


. The first transporting amount A


1


corresponds to the length L


1


×12, that is, the length of the portion where the twelve pairs of perforations


14


have just been formed at the first die-punching. Simultaneously with the stopping of the second motor


40


, the positioning controller


53


also outputs a feed end signal to the main controller


47


. Upon the fed end signal, the main controller


47


controls the solenoid


38


through the driver


56


, to move the pilot pins


35


to the engaging position. Because the pilot pins


35


are thus engaged in the last two pairs of the just formed perforations


14


, the continuous film


11


is precisely positioned for the next die-punching in relation to the preceding perforations


14


.




While the pilot pins


35


are still engaged in the perforations


14


, a second die-punching operation is executed by the intermittent movement of the cam index mechanism


32


. As a result, twelve pairs of perforations


14


are formed in series with and at the same intervals as the preceding twelve pairs of perforations


14


along the longitudinal direction of the film


11


.




Then, the position detector


55


outputs a punch end signal to the main controller


47


. In response to the punch end signal, the main controller


47


controls the solenoid


38


through the driver


56


to move the pilot pins


35


into the retracted position. Thereafter, the main controller


47


sends the positioning controller


53


a second pattern latch signal which is same as the first pattern latch signal, so that the positioning controller


53


selects the same feed pattern as above from the process controller


52


. As a result, the second motor


40


is driven by the driver


54


to feed the continuous film


11


at the same speed V


1


for the same time Tc as the first transporting step. Thereby, the continuous film


11


is farther fed by an amount A


2


equal to the first transporting amount A


1


, that is, by the length L


1


×12.




Then, the positioning controller


53


outputs a feed end signal to the main controller


47


, whereupon the main controller


47


controls the pilot pin mechanism


30


to move the pilot pins


35


into the engaging position. Thereafter, a third die-punching operation is executed by the intermittent movement of the cam index mechanism


32


. As a result of the three die-punching operations,


36


pairs of perforations


14


are formed along the longitudinal direction of the continuous film


11


on the lateral sides thereof. In this way, the perforations


14


necessary for a 36-exposure filmstrip are provided.




After controlling the solenoid


38


to reset the pilot pins


35


into the retracted position through the driver


56


in response to a punch end signal from the position detector


55


, the main controller


47


applies the positioning controller


53


with a third pattern latch signal which is different from the first and second pattern latch signals. The positioning controller


53


then reads a different feed pattern from the process controller


52


in accordance with the third latch pattern signal, and designates the driver


54


to transport the continuous film


11


at a higher speed V


2


than the speed V


1


for the same time Tc as the first and second transporting steps. Thereby, the continuous film


11


is fed by an amount B which includes the length L


1


×12 of the portion having twelve pairs of perforations


14


and the length L


2


of the section


2


of the film


11


, that is, the section where no frame is to be recorded (see FIG.


26


). As a result of the first to third transporting steps, the continuous film


11


has been fed by an amount corresponding to the length L


3


allocated to one 36-exposure filmstrip.




On a fourth die-punching operation, that is, a first die-punching operation for another filmstrip, the main controller


47


controls the solenoid


38


of the pilot pin mechanism


30


so as to maintain the pilot pins


35


in the retraced position. In this condition, the pilot pins


35


do not engage in the recesses


36


when the fourth die-punching is executed, as is shown in FIG.


7


. Therefore, the pilot pins


35


, which are disposed in opposition to the section


2


in the fourth die-punching, will not damage the section


2


.




After forming the first twelve pairs of perforations


14


for the next filmstrip, the same procedures as above are executed so long as the filmstrip to be made is of 36-exposure format. When making perforations


14


of 24-exposure format, the second motor


40


feeds the continuous film


11


at the lower speed V


1


in every first transporting step and at the higher speed V


2


in every second transporting step, both for the constant transporting time Tc. On the other hand, the pilot pins


35


are set in the engaging position after every first transporting step and are set in the retracted position after every second transporting step. When making perforation


14


of 12-exposure format, the continuous film


11


is always fed at the higher speed V


2


for the constant time tc, and the pilot pins


35


are always set in the retracted position.




According to the second drive pattern program, the transporting speed of the measuring feeder


22


is set at a constant value Vc, while the die-punching interval of the die set unit


21


as well as the transporting time of the measuring feeder


22


are changed, as is shown in

FIG. 8

with respect to the case of making 36-exposure format perforations. In this case, a transporting time T


2


necessary for transporting the continuous film


11


by the length B, that is, the length L


1


×12 of the portion having twelve pairs of perforations


14


plus the length L


2


, is longer than a transporting time T


1


necessary for transporting the continuous film


11


by the length L


1


×12. Therefore, after the third die-punching operation of one 36-exposure film, the first motor


31


for the die-punching is controlled to stop rotating for a given time. It is instead possible to rotate the first motor at a lower speed after the third die-punching than after the first and second die-punching.




According to the third drive pattern program, the first motor


31


is driven merely for the duration of the die-punching stroke, as is shown in FIG.


9


. Other procedures are equivalent to the second drive pattern program.




The perforator as set forth above is compact in size, easy to control, and can work at a relatively high speed because only three die-punching strokes are necessary for 36-exposure film.




Although the above-described die set unit


21


has twelve pairs of punches


33


and the corresponding number of dies


34


, the present invention should not be limited to this embodiment. For example, it is possible to use a die set unit having two pairs of punches, one pair being spaced at the interval L


1


from the other pair in the film transporting direction correspondingly to the interval of the frame exposure locations


12


.




When using such a die set unit, according to the first drive pattern where the die-punching interval and the transporting time of the measuring feeder


22


are maintained constant, but the transporting speed is changed, the die-punching interval and the feed pattern are given as shown in

FIG. 10

, as for 36-exposure film. If the die set unit having two pair of punches is driven according to the second drive pattern where the die-punching interval and the transporting time are changed while the transporting speed of the measuring feeder


22


is maintained constant, the die-punching interval and the feed pattern are given as shown in FIG.


11


. In

FIGS. 10 and 11

, C


1


to C


17


indicate respective transporting amounts of the first to seventeenth transporting steps of one perforating cycle for 36-exposure film, and D


1


indicates a transporting amount of the eighteenth transporting step. The amounts C


1


to C


17


are constant and correspond to the length L


1


×2, while the amount D


1


corresponds the length L


1


×2+L


2


. According to this embodiment, a very compact perforator is achieved.





FIGS. 12 and 13

show another embodiment of the measuring feeder


22


, wherein a feed roller


60


, which is driven to rotate by the second motor


40


, has a film convey surface


60




a


formed on the peripheral surface thereof. A plurality of sprocket


61


are mounted inside the feed roller


60


and are arranged radially at regular intervals. Holes


62


for allowing the tips of the sprockets


61


to radially protrude to the outside of the feed roller


60


are formed through the film convey surface


60




a


in correspondence with the sprockets


61


. The spacing of the holes


62


corresponds to the length L


1


, that is, the spacing of the perforations


14


. The sprockets


61


are each secured to a cam follower


63


having a crank shape. The cam followers


63


contact an annular cam surface


64




a


formed around the outer periphery of a cam roller


64


. The cam surface


64




a


has such a shape that the sprockets


61


are caused to protrude from and then retract into the film convey surface


60




a


through the holes


62


when the cam roller


64


is rotated.




Because the cam roller


64


is rotated in synchronism with the alternating transport intervals of the section


1


and the section


2


of the film


11


, the sprockets


61


protrude from the film convey surface


60




a


when the section


1


of the continuous film


11


is brought into contact with the surface with the surface


60




a,


and engage in the perforations


14


. When the section


2


is transported on the feed roller


60


, the sprockets


61


is retracted. The peripheral speed of the cam roller


64


can be controlled independently of the peripheral speed of the feed roller


60


. Therefore, the measuring feeder of this embodiment can meet any type film


15


having new format perforations


14


of various frame number, such as 36-exposure film, 24-exposure film and so forth.





FIGS. 14 and 15

show another sprocket type measuring feeder


22


, wherein a feed roller


70


has a plurality of holes


72


formed through a peripheral surface


70




a


thereof which forms the film convey surface. A plurality of sprockets


71


are radially arranged in the feed roller


70


. Each sprocket


71


is driven by a pair of solenoids


73


and


74


to radially protrude from and retract into the film convey surface


70




a


through the hole


72


by means of a pair of solenoids


73


and


74


. That is, the sprocket


71


is projected when the solenoid


74


is turned on, and is retracted when the solenoid


73


is turned on. According to this embodiment, the sprockets


71


can be moved at an appropriate timing independently from one another.





FIG. 16

shows a perforator according to another embodiment of present invention. According to this embodiment, a die set unit has a plurality of die sets, and the number n of die sets included in the die set unit is determined equal to number m of variation of frame number format of the films to be dealt with by the die set unit. Assuming that Fi (i+1, 2 . . . m) represents the frame number of the ith variation in the order from a small to larger number, and Gi (i=1, 2 . . . n) represent the number of punches arranged in a line in the film transporting direction in the ith die set, the number Gi is determined according to the following equation:








Gi=Fi−F


(


i−


1).






For example, if the number m of frame number variation is three, and if the respective frame numbers F


1


, F


2


and F


3


are


15


,


25


and


35


, the number G


1


, G


2


and G


3


of punches of the three die sets are determined as


15


,


10


and


10


, according to the above definition, because G


1


=F


1


−F


0


=15−0, G


2


=F


2


−F


1


=25−15, and G


3


=F


3


−F


2


=35−25.




In

FIG. 16

, die set unit


80


which is directed to make new format perforations of 15-, 25- and 35-exposure films in a fashion as shown in FIG.


17


. That is, a perforation


14


for frame positioning is formed on one lateral side of each frame exposure location


12


at the same interval as the frame interval L


1


in the longitudinal direction of the continuous film


11


. Therefore, the perforations


14


are formed merely within effective recording sections


1


whose length is predetermined for each frame number format. The die set unit


80


and a measuring feeder


22




a


are controlled by a control unit


81


in accordance with data inputted through a console


48


. Loop chambers


23


and


24


are disposed before and after the die set unit


80


.




The die set unit


80


includes first, second and third die sets


82




a,




82




b


and


82




c


disposed side by side in this order from the downstream side of the film transporting direction shown by the arrow. The first die set


82




a


is constituted of a punch holder


83




a,


a die holder


84




a,


a pair of guide pins


85




a


and


86




a


secured to the die holder


84




a,


and a pair of bushes


87




a


and


88




a


formed through the punch holder


83




a.


The punch holder


83




a


has fifteen punches p


1


to p


15


spaced at the interval L


1


in the film transporting direction. The die holder


84




a


has fifteen dies q


1


to q


15


arranged correspondingly to the punches p


1


to p


15


. The guide pins


85




a


and


86




a


are fitted in the bushes


87




a


and


88




a


to guide the punch holder


83




a


to vertically move between a retracted position and a punching position relative to the die holder


84




a


to die-punch the continuous film


11


longitudinally transported through the die set unit


80


. The punch holder


83




a


is driven to make the vertical motion or stroke, by a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder


89




a


coupled to the punch holder


83




a.






The second die set


82




b


is constituted of a punch holder


83




b,


a die holder


84




b,


a pair of guide pins


85




b


and


86




b


secured to the die holder


84




b,


a pair of bushes


87




b


and


88




b


formed through the punch holder


83




b,


and a second cylinder


89




b


coupled to the punch holder


83




b.


The punch holder


83




b


has ten punches p


16


to p


25


spaced apart at the interval L


1


in the film transporting direction. The die holder


84




b


has ten dies q


16


to q


25


arranged correspondingly to the punches p


16


to p


25


. The third die set


82




c


is constituted of a punch holder


83




c,


a die holder


84




c,


a pair of guide pins


85




c


and


86




c


secured to the die holder


84




c,


a pair of bushes


87




c


and


88




c


formed through the punch holder


83




c,


and a third cylinder


89




c


coupled to the punch holder


83




c.


The punch holder


83




c


has ten punches p


26


to p


35


spaced at the interval L


1


in the film transporting direction. The die holder


84




c


has ten dies q


26


to q


35


arranged correspondingly to the punches q


26


to q


35


. The second and third die sets


82




b


and


82




c


operate similarly to the first die set


82




b.


The spacing between the three die sets


82




a,




82




b


and


82




c


is determined such that all the punches p


1


to p


35


as well as the dies q


1


to q


35


are respectively spaced at the constant interval L


1


from one another.




The measuring feeder


22




a


has the construction as shown in

FIGS. 3 and 4

. However, the measuring feeder may have the construction as shown in

FIGS. 12 and 13

or in

FIGS. 14 and 15

.




The operation of the perforator shown in

FIG. 16

will be described with reference to

FIGS. 18

to


21


. When the operator operates the console


48


to designate the frame number of the filmstrip to be made as 15-exposure format, the control unit


81


controls the measuring feeder


22




a


to transport the continuous film


11


by a length La which corresponds to the length of an individual 15-exposure filmstrip, as shown in FIG.


19


. Thereafter, only the first cylinder


89




a


is driven to cause the first die set


82




a


to perform die-punching. As a result, fifteen perforations


14


are formed at the spacings L


1


in the effective recording section


1


for the 15-exposure filmstrip. The same operation is repeated as long as the 15-exposure format is designated.




When a 25-exposure format is designated, the control unit


81


controls the measuring feeder


22




a


to transport the continuous film


11


by a length Lb which is allocated to an individual 25-exposure filmstrip, as is shown in FIG.


20


. Thereafter, the first and second cylinders


89




a


and


89




b


are simultaneously driven to cause the first and second die sets


82




a


and


82




b


to perform die-punching. As a result, twenty-five perforations


14


are formed at the spacings L


1


in the effective recording section


1


for the 25-exposure filmstrip.




When a 35-exposure format is designated, the control unit


81


controls the measuring feeder


22




a


to transport the continuous film


11


by a length Lc which is allocated to an individual 35-exposure filmstrip, as is shown in FIG.


21


. Thereafter, the first to third cylinders


89




a


to


89




c


are simultaneously driven to cause the first to second die sets


82




a


to


82




c


to perform a die-punching operation. In result, thirty-five perforations


14


are formed at the spacings L


1


in the effective recording section


1


for the 35-exposure filmstrip.




Although the transporting time is changed to change the transport amount of the continuous film


11


in accordance with the designated frame number in the embodiment shown in

FIGS. 19

to


21


, it is instead possible to change the transporting speed of the film


11


. Thereby, the die-punching interval for the film of a larger frame number format can be shortened compared with the case of changing transporting time.




Furthermore, the number of die sets is not necessarily equal to the number of frame number variation of the films to be dealt with by a common perforator. For example, if the last two or more of the die sets would have the same number of punch-and-die pairs according to the above-described definition, these die sets may be substituted by a single die set having that number of punch-and-die pairs. In this case, the last die set may be driven more than one time in one perforating cycle for an individual filmstrip depending upon the number of frame exposure locations to be provided.




For example, as to the case described with reference to

FIGS. 16

to


21


, since the second and third die sets


82




b


and


82




c


have ten pairs of punches and dies, it is possible to omit the third die set


82




c.


When making perforations


14


for 35-exposure format film, according to this embodiment, the first and second cylinders


89




a


and


89




b


are simultaneously driven to form twenty-five perforations


14


. Thereafter, the measuring feeder


22




a


transports the continuous film


11


by a length corresponding to ten frame exposure locations L


1


×10. Then, only the second cylinder


89




b


is driven to cause the second die set


82




b


to perform die-punching. Thus, thirty-five perforations


14


are formed at the same spacing L


1


within the effective recording section


1


. This embodiment is preferable for reducing the number of die sets of the die set unit, improving compactness, and lowering the cost of the perforator.




On the other hand, if the number of punches and dies of a die set would become so large that the precision of that die set might be lowered, it is possible to divide the die set into segments having less punches and dies. In this case, guide pins and other necessary elements are provided for each die set segment equivalently to the above-described die sets


82




a


to


82




c.






Although the first to third punch holders


83




a


to


83




c


are drive individually by the first to third cylinders


89




a


to


89




c,


it is also possible to selectively drive a plurality of punch holders by a single cylinder in combination with cam members provided for the respective punch holders. A die set unit


90


shown in

FIG. 22

shows such an embodiment.




In the die set unit


90


, a cylinder


91


is coupled to a ram


92


, which is coupled to three punch holders


83




a,




83




c


and


83




c


through respective cams


93




a,




93




b


and


93




c.


The cams


93




a


to


93




c


are vertically movable along with the ram


92


. Because the cams


93




a,




93




b


and


93




c


are rotatable between an active position as shown by the first and second cams


93




a


and


93




b,


on one hand, and an inactive position as shown by the third cam


93




c,


on the other hand. The punch holders


83




a


to


83




c


are urged toward the cams


93




a


to


93




c


under the force of springs


94


mounted on respective pairs of guide pins


85




a,




86




a;




85




b,




86




b;


and


85




c,




86




c


secured to corresponding die holders


84




a,




84




b


and


84




c.


Therefore, the punch holders


83




a


to


83




c


are vertically moved along with the cams


93




a


to


93




c,


respectively. Other constructions of the die set


90


are similar to the die set


80


shown in FIG.


16


.




A controller


95


selectively sets the cams


93




a


to


93




c


in the active or the inactive position in accordance with the frame number designated through a console


48


. If the punch holder


83




a,




83




b


or


83




c


should not be activated, the associated cam


93




a,




93




b


or


93




c


is set in the inactive position. In the inactive position of the cam


93




a,




93




b


and


93




c,


the distance from the punch holder


83




a,




83




b


or


83




c


to the opposed die holder


84




ka,




84




b


or


84




c


becomes more than that in the active position. Therefore, in the die set whose cam is set in the inactive position, punches are not engaged in dies when the cylinder


91


is driven to move the ram


92


in a downward direction. In the case shown in

FIG. 22

, for instance, the punches p


1


to p


15


and p


16


to p


25


of the first and second punch holders


83




a


and


83




b


are engaged in the dies q


1


to q


15


and q


15


to q


16


to q


25


of the first and second die holders


84




a


and


84




b,


whereas the punches p


26


to p


35


are not engaged in the dies q


26


to q


35


of the third die holder


84




c.






The rotational movement of the cams


93




a


to


93




c


may be controlled by motors, clutches or brakes in a known manner. The cams


93




a


to


93




c


may be replaced by spacer blocks, cylinders or the like. The cylinder


91


may be replaced by a rotary cam, a crank, or the like which causes the ram


92


to move in a vertical direction.




It is known in the art that detecting more than one perforation by using more than one sensor is preferable to detecting only a single perforation by using a single sensor, in the interest of precise frame positioning. For example, according to another arrangement of frame positioning perforations as shown in

FIG. 23

, a pair of perforations


14




a


and


14




b


are disposed on one lateral side of each frame exposure location


12


. The perforations


14




a


and


14




b


of each pair are spaced by a constant amount Lf from each other in the longitudinal direction of the continuous film


11


. Whereas, the perforation pairs are spaced at the same interval L


1


as the frame exposure locations


12


.





FIG. 24

shows a die set unit for making perforations in the arrangement shown in

FIG. 23

, wherein three punch holders


97




a,




97




b


and


97




c


have punches p


1


to p


30


, p


31


to p


50


, and p


51


to p


70


, respectively, which are arranged in pairs P


1


to P


15


, P


16


to P


25


, and P


26


to P


35


in the film transporting direction. The spacing between two punches of each pair is Lt, and the spacing between the punch pairs is L


1


. Dies q


1


to q


30


, q


31


to q


50


, and q


51


to q


70


are also arranged in pairs Q


1


to Q


15


, Q


16


to Q


25


, and Q


26


to Q


35


respectively in three die holders


98




a,




98




b


and


98




c,


in correspondence with the punch pairs P


1


to P


15


, P


16


to P


25


, and P


26


to P


35


. Of course, the number of punches and dies as well as the number of punch holders and die holders are variable according to the frame number variation of the film to be dealt with.




Furthermore, a cutter for cutting the continuous film


11


into individual filmstrips may be incorporated into the perforator of the invention. The cutter cuts out hatched portions shown in

FIG. 17

to shape trailing and leading ends


16


and


17


of each filmstrip


99


, concurrently with the die-punching process for the frame position perforations


14


or


14




a


and


14




b.


It is also possible to add other perforating devices the perforator of the present invention, to simultaneously provide other kinds of perforations, such as film leader take-up perforations


100


, film end mark perforations


101


, securing perforations


102


for securing the film trailing end to a spool. These perforations


100


,


101


and


102


are to be formed in the ineffective recording sections


2


, as shown in FIG.


17


.




Although the embodiments shown in

FIGS. 16

,


22


and


24


relate to cases where the perforations


14


or


14




a


and


14




b


are made along one lateral side of the continuous film


11


, it is alternatively possible to make the perforations


14


or


14




a


and


14




b


on both lateral sides of the continuous film


11


by suitably arranging punches and dies in double line in the respective die sets.




The perforator of the present invention is not only applicable to making perforations in photographic film, but also in a long strip of resin, paper film, sheets, or the like.




Thus, the present invention should not be limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings, but on the contrary, various modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. A method for making a line of perforations in a first section of a continuous photographic film along at least one lateral side of said continuous photographic film, first sections alternating with second sections along said continuous photographic film, said second sections having no perforations formed therein, said first sections defining a plurality of frame exposure locations at constant intervals L therein, at least one of said perforations being allocated to each of said frame exposure locations so as to index said frame exposure locations, said method comprising the steps of:(a) providing first and second die sets, each of said first and second die sets having a plurality of punches and dies, said first die set being capable of making a first number of said perforations through a length of L×A, A being an integer of more than 1, said second die set being capable of making a second number of said perforations through a length of L×B, B being an integer of more than 1; (b) designating one of first, second and third film types, said first section having the length L×A in said first type, the length L×(A+B) in said second type, and L×(2A+B) in said third type; (c) selecting, depending on the film type designated in step (b), one of first and second feeding modes; (d) feeding said continuous film by a given length at a time in said first feeding mode, said given length being equal to a sum of the length of one of said first sections and a length of a corresponding one of said second sections; (e) feeding said continuous film by said given length divided into first and second feeding times in said second feeding mode; (f) actuating, when said first type is designated, only said first die set after feeding said continuous film in said first feeding mode; (g) actuating, when said second type is designated, both of said first and second die sets at a time after feeding said continuous film in said first feeding mode; (h) actuating, when said third type is designated, both of said first and second die sets simultaneously after said first time of feeding in said second feed mode, and then actuating said first die set after said second time of feeding in said second feeding mode; and (i) repeating steps (f), (g) or (h) until said designated one film type is to be changed.
  • 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:(j) cutting said continuous film at said second sections after a corresponding one of said first sections has said perforations formed in step (f), to form an individual filmstrip with a leader and a trailer formed on opposite longitudinal sides of said first section, said leader and said trailer having no perforations formed therein in steps (f), (g) and (h).
  • 3. A method for forming perforations in first sections of a continuous film, said first sections alternating with second sections along said continuous film, said method comprising the steps of:(a) feeding said continuous film along a feeding path by a plurality of divided feeding steps; (b) providing a series of die sets along the feeding path of said continuous film, each of said series of die sets having a plurality of punches and dies; (c) designating the length of said first sections; (d) determining a divisional film feed length for each of the plurality of divided feeding steps so as to feed said continuous film by a given length in total over said feeding steps, said given length being equal to a sum of the length of one of said first sections and a length of a corresponding one of said second sections; (e) actuating at least one of said die sets; (f) determining said at least one of said die sets to be actuated in association with each of said plurality of divided feeding steps, such that when said at least one of said die sets is two or more of said die sets, said two or more die sets being successive to one another; (g) forming each of said first sections to be of a selectable length, and forming said second sections to have no perforations formed therein; and (h) repeating said divided feeding steps each by said divisional film feed length determined in step (d), alternately with actuation of said at least one die set determined in step (f), to form all of said plurality of perforations in said first sections.
Priority Claims (2)
Number Date Country Kind
4-326981 Dec 1992 JP
4-329506 Dec 1992 JP
Parent Case Info

This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/917,384, filed Aug. 26, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,128,986, which is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/514,380, filed Aug. 11, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,272, which is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/162,299, filed Dec. 7, 1993, now abandoned.

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