US3663826A - Automatic control system for programming electrically operated theater equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

An automatic control system for selectively programming electrically operated theater equipment, such as sound equipment, house lights, curtain movement controls, screen size controls, special effects, and a plurality of film projectors wherein the control system includes an electrical circuit for activating equipment to perform its respective function in response to a signal from a counter circuit. The counter circuit is operative to produce a signal at each of a plurality of spaced time increments and the equipment activating circuits have inhibit means for holding the counter at a selected time increment during operation of the selected equipment and the equipment activating circuits have inhibit cancel means built into motor start and picture changeover circuits to prevent inhibit or stopping on these functions. A film break circuit is electrically connected to each of the film projector activating circuits for signaling the respective projector to stop in the event of a film break and a cueing circuit is electrically connected to each of the film projectors and to the counter for restarting the counter in response to a cue signal.

Description

United States Patent Schumann et al.

[54] AUTOMATIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR PROGRAMMING ELECTRICALLY OPERATED THEATER EQUIPMENT [72] inventors: Robert J. Schumann, Leawood; Wayne A.

Priest, Kansas City, both of Kans.

[73] Assignee: Durwood, Inc., Kansas City, Mo.

[22] Filed: July 13, 1970 [21] App]. No.: 54,210

[ 1 May 16, 1972 Primary Examiner-Herman J. Hohauser Attorney-Fishburn, Gold and Litman [57] ABSTRACT An automatic control system for selectively programming electrically operated theater equipment, such as sound equipment, house lights, curtain movement controls, screen size controls, special efiects, and a plurality of film projectors wherein the control system includes an electrical circuit for activating equipment to perform its respective function in response to a signal from a counter circuit. The counter circuit is operative to produce a signal at each of a plurality of spaced time increments and the equipment activating circuits have inhibit means for holding the counter at a selected time increment during operation of the selected equipment and the equipment activating circuits have inhibit cancel means built into motor start and picture changeover circuits to prevent inhibit or stopping on these functions. A film break circuit is electrically connected to each of the film projector activating circuits for signaling the respective projector to stop in the event of a film break and a cueing circuit is electrically connected to each of the film projectors and to the counter for restarting the counter in response to a cue signal,

7 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures s s t.- 1- 1- u U I u g 5 52 :o c & =0 --c g L Q.

,[,, CONTROL CABINET SOUND 't, CABINET Patented May 16, 1972 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 i? m U U til, INVESTORS. RobnrT J. schumonmg Wayne ri mgrmbwm ATTORNEYS Patented 16, 1972 3,663,826

.7 Sheets-Sheet 5' jaw 3M a W ATTORNEYS Patented May 16, 1972 3,663 826 .7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Roberl J. schumanmg y/oyne A. Priesi l 4 ATTORNEYS AUTOMATIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR PROGRAMMING ELECTRICALLY OPERATED THEATER EQUIPMENT The present invention relates to controlling theater equipment and more particularly to an automatic control system for programming operation of electrically operated theater equipment.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide an automatic control system for programming operation of electrically operated theater equipment, such as starting and stopping film projectors, opening and closing curtains, dimming and raising house lights, switching between theater music and film sound, picture and sound changeover between respective film projectors, screen size adjustments, and the like all in response to cooperative operation of equipment activating circuits and a counter circuit; to provide such an automatic control system particularly adapted for programming multiple presentations substantially simultaneously; to provide such an automatic control system wherein film break sensing means are mounted on each film projector for stopping same in the event of a film break and each film projector has a cueing circuit for restarting the counter in response to a cue signal; and to provide such an automatic control system which is simple to trouble shoot, economical to manufacture, positive and reliable in operation, and particularly well adapted for the proposed use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and examples certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a general arrangement diagram of an automatic control system for programming electrically operated theater equipment embodying features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a wiring diagram of a counter circuit for the automatic control system.

FIG. 3 is a wiring diagram of a matrix for programming the automatic control system.

' FIG. 4 is a wiring diagram of projector control circuits.

FIG. 5 is a wiring diagram of picture and sound changeover circuits and films and tape sound switching.

FIG. 6 is a wiring diagram of curtain movement and house light control circuits.

FIG. 7 is a wiring diagram of screen size control circuits.

FIG. 8 is a wiring diagram of inhibit and cue circuits and inhibit interlocks.

FIG. 9 is a wiring diagram of a reset circuit for the counter.

FIG. 10 is a wiring diagram of a special effects circuit.

FIG. 1 1 is an elevational view of a film break sensor.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the film break sensor.

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of a cue sensor for the cue circuits.

FIG. 14 is an end elevational view of the cue sensor.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

The reference numeral 1 generally designates an automatic control system for selectively programming operation of electrically operated theater equipment, such as sound equipment, house lights, curtain movement controls, screen size controls, special effects, and a plurality of film projectors. The automatic control system 1 includes an electrical circuit for activating respective theater equipment in response to a signal from a counter circuit which is operative to produce a signal at each of a plurality of uniformly spaced time increments, such as at one second intervals, and the equipment activating circuits each have inhibit or counter holding means for holding the counter ata selected time increment during operation of I the selected equipment. The equipment activating circuits have inhibit cancel means to prevent stopping on critical equipment circuits, such as projector motor start and picture changeover, A film break circuit is electrically connected to each of the film projector activating circuits for signaling the respective projector to stop in the event of a film break and a cueing circuit is electrically connected to each of the film projectors and to the counter for restarting the counter in response to a cue signal.

FIG. I illustrates an arrangement for a single theater having left and right projectors, 2 and 3 respectively, which are connected to a suitable power source by conductors 4 and 5 respectively. Rectifiers 6 and 7 are electrically connected to theprojectors 2 and 3 byconductors 8 and 9 respectively. Aninter-machine cable 10 is operatively connected to theprojectors 2 and 3 and has suitable electrical conductors (not shown) therein to carry signals for picture changeover and sound changeover between the two projectors and between a respective projector and theater sound, such as for theater music prior to and after a presentation and during intermission. The left andright projectors 2 and 3 are each connected to a control cabinet 11 by cables 12 and 13 respectively. The cables 12 and 13 each have suitable electrical conductors (not shown) therein for carrying signals to the respective projector to effect operation of picture changeover, sound changeover, cueing circuits, projector motors, projector lamps, and the like. Asound cabinet 14 is electrically connected to the control cabinet 11 by a cable 15 having suitable electrical conductors (not shown) therein for completing sound circuits for the theater sound and the projector sound.

FIG. 2 illustrates a counter circuit 16 having a counter and means associated therewith for producing a signal at each of a plurality of uniformly spaced time increments, such as at one second intervals. A drive or counter motor 17 is electrically operated by current throughconductors 18 and 19 which are connected to aconnector 20. Theconductor 19 is connected to aninhibit relay 21, and when therelay 21 is relaxed, the circuit is completed to the counter drive motor 17. In the illustrated relay, one portion of theconductor 19, between the counter motor 17 and theinhibit relay 21 is connected to acommon contact 22 and the other portion of theconductor 19, between theconnector 20 and theinhibit relay 21, is connected to a normally closedcontact 23 with a switch arm engaging thecontact 23.

The counter motor 17 is operative toy drive a cam (not shown) at a selected speed whereby alimit switch 24 is engaged once on each revolution of the cam, to intermittently complete a circuit to a plurality ofstepper switches 25 for advancing eachstepper switch 25 successively through a plurality ofcontacts 26, each of which represent one of the successive time intervals and are electrically connected to theconnector 20 by arespective conductor 27 for conveying a time signal, as later described. In the illustrated circuit, thestepper switches 25 are operated in pairs with theconductor 27 for eachcontact 26 of eachstepper switch 25 being connected to theconductor 27 for thecontact 26 representing the same time interval for the other stepper switch of the pair.

Power is supplied to each of thestepper switches 25 when thelimit switch 24 is moved to a closed position and the circuit connecting each of thestepper switches 25 passes through theinhibit relay 21 and areset relay 28. In the illustrated counter circuit 16, aconductor 29 has one end connected to theconnector 20 and the other end connected to the switch arm of thelimit switch 24 which is movable by the cam of the counter motor 17 to move the switch arm from its normally open contact to its normally closed contact. Aconductor 30 extends between the normally closed contact of thelimit switch 24 and acommon contact 31 in theinhibit relay 21 and aconductor 32 extends between a normally closedcontact 33 and a suitably grounded power or stepper coil 34 to complete the circuit through thelimit switch 24 and theinhibit relay 21 when theinhibit relay 21 is relaxed.

It is desirable to substantially eliminate sparking during the intermittent movement of the switch arm of thelimit switch 24, therefore, aspark suppressor loop 35 has opposite ends connected to theconductors 29 and 30 respectively adjacent the common contact and the normally closed contact respectively of thelimit switch 24 and theloop 35 has suitable spark suppressing elements therein, such as capacitors and resistors.

When thereset relay 28 is relaxed, a circuit is complete to each of thestepper switches 25 whereby, when thecontacts 26 are successively engaged, a time signal is conveyed to the automatic control system 1 for selectively programming operation of theater equipment, as later described. A suitably groundedpower conductor 36 is connected to a normally closedcontact 37 in thereset relay 28 and aconductor 38 extends between acommon contact 39 and a brush orcontact arm 40 of each of thestepper switches 25.

When acoil 41 of thereset relay 28 is energized or activated, the switch arm at thecommon contact 39 is moved to engage its nonnallyopen contact 42 to interrupt the stepper switch ground circuit to prevent the actuation of any equipment caused by movement of the respective brushes or contactarms 40 and energizing thecoil 41 completes a circuit to the stepper coil 34 to move the stepper toward the home position or zero count position. In the illustrated circuit, aconductor 43 extends between theconductor 32 and a normallyopen contact 44 which is engaged by a switch arm connected to acommon contact 45 of thereset relay 28. Aconductor 46 extends between thecommon contact 45 and a normally closed contact 47 of an off-on"switch 48. Aconductor 49 extends between acommon contact 50 of the off-onswitch 48 and acommon contact 51 of aninterruptor switch 52. Aconductor 53 extends between theconductor 49 and a normally closed contact 54 of theinterruptor switch 52 and has suitable spark suppressing elements therein, such as capacitors and resistors. A conductor 55 extends between theconductor 29 and theconductor 53 to complete a circuit to the stepper coil 34, except when the off-onswitch 48 moves a switch arm connected to thecommon contact 50 from the normally closed contact 47 to a normally open contact 56 thereby interrupting the circuit between the stepper coil 34 and thereset relay 28.

FIG. 3 illustrates a matrix circuit 60 having a plurality of time lines defined byconductors 61 intersecting a plurality of spaced equipment lines defined byconductors 62 whereby time increments and theater equipment are coordinates of the matrix circuit 60. Each intersection of eachtime line 61 with each of theequipment lines 62 has an aperture or recess (not shown) to receive a diode pin (not shown) for grounding the connection between therespective time line 61 andequipment line 62 for programming operation of theater equipment. The diode pins are positioned at intersections of selectedtime lines 61 andequipment lines 62 defining coordinates representing the desired time increment for each unit of theater equipment thereby programming operation of the equipment in a desired sequence.

Thetime line conductors 61 are in one layer and theequipment line conductors 62 are in another layer spaced from theconductors 61 and theconductors 62 are transverse to theconductors 61 to form coordinates with a receptacle to receive a diode pin at each coordinate.

In the illustrated matrix circuit, a plurality ofconductors 63 are connected to theconnector 20 of the counter circuit 16 to convey the time signal to therespective time line 61. Each of thetime lines 61 is a conductor and has suitable indicator means therein, such as anindicator light 64, for visually displaying signals representing the time increment and respective time line orconductor 61 energized for activating the equipment when a diode pin is placed at the intersection of theenergized time line 61 and theselected equipment line 62 whereby the diode pin completes a circuit to the respective equipment, as later described. A plurality ofconductors 65, one for each of theequipment lines 62, extend betweenterminal strips 66 and 67 and each of theconductors 65 is connected to a different conductor representing anequipment line 62, as indicated at 68, and eachconductor 65 has suitable indicator means therein, such as anindicator light 69, for visually displaying signals representing the equipment then operating.

Each of the equipment lines 62 has means associated therewith for manually activating the respective equipment and for activating the respectivevisual display 69 representing the manually activated equipment. In the illustrated circuit, apushbutton 70 is positioned in each of the equipment lines 62 and suitable power is connected to theterminal strip 66 by a plurality ofconductors 71, one for each of theconductors 65, whereby depressing a selected pushbutton completes a circuit between the equipment and the tenninal strips 66 and 67 to activate therespective indicator light 69 and to complete a circuit to theterminal strip 67 and to a relay in a circuit for activating the respective equipment, as later described.

The automatic control system 1 is particularly adapted for programming electrically operated theater equipment, such as a plurality of film projectors, sound equipment for the film projectors and for theater sound, house lights, curtain movement controls, screen size controls and special effects, such as oiling the respective projectors at least once during each reel of film, and the like.

FIG. 4 illustrates aleft projector circuit 72 for activating and controlling operation of theleft projector 2 and aright projector circuit 73 for activating and controlling operation of the right projector 3,'particularly adapted for use with a single theater. When film is in theleft projector 2, alimit switch 74 is maintained in a closed or grounded position to maintain a grounded connection to a coil 75 of a left motor safety relay 76 through aconductor 77, thereby energizing the left motor safety relay 76. When a diode pin (not shown) is inserted in a left motorstart function line 78 at anintersection 79 with a selected counter time line, a ground will be completed through the respectivestepper switch contacts 26 and through the left motor safety relay 76 to energize a coil 80 of a leftmotor start relay 81 through aconductor 82 connected to a normallyopen contact 83 in the left motor safety relay 76. The normallyopen contact 83 is engaged by a switch arm which is connected to the left motorstart function line 78 when the coil 75 of the left motor safety relay 76 is energized. The left motor safety relay 76 is energized by tension in the film in theleft projector 2 which holds thelimit switch 74 in an engaged or grounded position thereby energizing the coil 80 of the leftmotor start relay 81 which applies voltage across a start winding 84 of a motor for theleft projector 2.

When the coil 80 of the leftmotor start relay 81 is energized, aswitch arm 85 is moved from a normally open contact to a normally closed contact in the leftmotor start relay 81 to complete a circuit to a suitable power source 86 thereby effecting the starting of the motor (not shown) for theleft projector 2. Also, when the coil 80 of the leftmotor start relay 81 is energized, aswitch arm 87 is moved from a normally open contact to a normally closed contact with the normally closed contact being connected to a suitably grounded conductor and theswitch arm 87 being connected to aconductor 88 which is connected to acoil 89 of a left motor hold and inhibit cancelrelay 90 thereby completing a circuit to energize thecoil 89.

When thecoil 89 of the left motor hold and inhibit cancelrelay 90 is energized, aswitch arm 91 is moved from a normally closed contact to a normally open contact with the normally open contact being connected to a suitably grounded conductor and theswitch arm 91 being connected to aconductor 92 which is connected to acoil 93 of a leftmotor run relay 94 to thereby energize the leftmotor run relay 94. When thecoil 93 of the leftmotor run relay 94 is energized, aswitch arm 95 is moved from a normally closed contact to a normally open contact to complete a circuit to the power source 86 and the start winding 84 throughconductors 96 and 97 connected to theswitch arm 95 and the normally open contact engaged by theswitch arm 95 respectively.

it is noted that the leftmotor start relay 81 is energized for only the one second that thestepper switch 25 engages thecontact 26 connected to the left motorstart function line 78. When the left motor hold and inhibit cancelrelay 90 energizes thecoil 93 of the leftmotor run relay 94, thecoil 93 is latched through the leftmotor run relay 94 and the left motor safety relay 76 thereby holding the leftmotor run relay 94 energized until the end of the film in theleft projector 2 or until a film break occurs in theleft projector 2 thereby releasing thelimit switch 74 or until a safety switch 98 is opened or turned off thereby unlatching the left motor safety relay 76 by breaking the circuit through theconductor 77 to the coil 75.

. In the illustrated circuit, when thecoil 93 of the leftmotor run relay 94 is energized, a switch arm 99 is moved from a normally closed contact to a normally open contact which is connected to a suitably grounded conductor and the switch arm 99-is connected to aconductor 100 which is connected to aswitch am 101 in the left motor safety relay 76. Theswitch arm 101 is moved from a normally closed contact to a normally open contact when the coil 75 is energized and the normally open contact is connected to aconductor 102 which is connected to theconductor 92 which extends between the switcharm 91 and thecoil 93 thereby completing a latching circuit between the left motor safety relay 76, leftmotor run relay 94, and the left motor hold and inhibit cancelrelay 90.

The projector start and run portion of theright projector circuit 73 is substantially similar to the projector start and run portion of theleft projector circuit 72 previously described, except for the wiring toeffect the latching of a right motor hold and inhibit cancelrelay 103, a rightmotor run relay 104, and a right motor safety relay In the illustrated circuit, aswitch arm 106 in the rightmotor run relay 104 is connected to a suitably grounded conductor and is moved from a normally closed contact to a normally open-contact when the rightmotor run relay 104 is energized by energizing the right motor hold and inhibit cancelrelay 103 after starting the motor for the right projector 3. The normally open contact engaged by theswitch arm 106 is connected to aconductor 107 which is connected to a nonnally open contact 108 in the rightmotor safety relay 105 which is engaged by aswitch arm 109 when the rightmotor safety relay 105 is energized. Theswitch arm 109 is connected to aconductor 110 which is connected to a conductor 111 which extends between a coil of the rightmotor run relay 104 and a normallyopen contact 112 of the right motor hold and inhibit cancelrelay 103 which is engaged by aswitch arm 113 when the right motor hold and inhibit cancelrelay 103 is energized by starting the motor for the right projector 3. Theswitch arm 113 is connected to a suitably grounded conductor, thereby latching a coil of the rightmotor run relay 104 through the rightmotor safety relay 105 and the right motor hold and inhibit cancelrelay 103 until the end of a reel of film in the right projector 3 or until a film break occurs thereby relaxing a limit switch 114 on the right projector 3 or until asafety switch 115 is turned to an open or off position thereby unlatching the rightmotor safety relay 105.

Theleft projector circuit 72 includes leftlamp circuits 119 for turning a projector lamp (not shown) on and off in response to programming with the diode pins in the matrix circuit 60. When a diode pin is inserted in a left lamp onfunction line 120 at theintersection 121 with a selected time line, a circuit is completed to energize acoil 122 of a left lamp on"relay 123. When thecoil 122 is energized, a switch arm 124 in the left lamp on"relay 123 is moved from a normally closed contact to a normally open contact to complete a circuit to energize a rectifier contactor relay and to complete a holding circuit through a left lamp of?relay 125 and a leftlamp safety relay 126. Acoil 127 of the leftlamp safety relay 126 is energized by film in theleft projector 2 engaging thelimit switch 74 to complete a circuit with thecoil 127 through aconductor 128 which is connected to theconductor 77. When thecoil 127 of the leftlamp safety relay 126 is energized, aswitch am 129 is moved from a normally closed contact to a normally open contact which is connected to the switch arm 124 in the left lamp onrelay 123. Aconductor 130 is connected to aswitch arm 131 in the left lamp "offrelay 125 and theswitch am 131 engages a normally closed contact in the left lamp offrelay 125 when a coil of the left lamp offrelay 125 is relaxed and the normally closed contact is con nected to the switch arm 124 by a conductor 132 thereby latching the left lamp on"relay 123 and the leftlamp safety relay 126 through the left lamp offrelay 125.

Energizing the left lamp on"relay 123 and the leftlamp safety relay 126 completes a circuit to a rectifier for the lamp in theleft projector 2. In the illustrated circuit, aconductor 133 extends between a rectifier 134 and acoil 135 of arectifijector 2. The holding circuit to theswitch 136 er contactor relay for moving aswitch 136 for activating the rectifier 134. Thecoil 135 is energized by energizing the left lamp on"relay 123 and in the illustrated circuit, aconductor 137 extends between theswitch arm 129 in the leftlamp safety relay 126 and thecoil 135 to thereby energize thecoil 135 when the left lamp on"relay 123 and the leftlamp safety relay 126 are energized. The holding circuit for theswitch 136 is defined byconductors 138 and 139 which are connected to spaced contacts of theswitch 136 and to the normally open contact engaged by the switch arm 124 and to the normally closed contact engaged by theswitch arm 131 respectively.

The lamp in theleft projector 2 may be turned off by a diode pin in a left lamp offfunction line 141 at anintersection 142 with a selected time line in the matrix circuit 60 which completes a circuit to energize acoil 143 of the left lamp ofi relay thereby moving theswitch arm 131 out of engagement with its normally closed contact to break the connection with the rectifier 134 for the lamp for the left prothrough theconductors 139, 132 and 138 is broken when theswitch arm 131 in the left lamp offrelay 125 is moved out of engagement with its nonnally closed contact in response to energizing thecoil 143. The circuit to the coil through theconductors 130 and 137 is also broken when theswitch arm 131 is moved by energizing of thecoil 143 of the left lamp offrelay 125 thereby relaxing theswitch 136 to turn off the lamp for theleft projector 2.

A film break which allows theleft limit switch 74 to move to break the circuit to thecoil 127 of theleft safety relay 126 or manually operating the safety switch 98 is operative to relax or release the leftlamp safety relay 126. When thecoil 127 is relaxed, aswitch arm 144 engages a normally closed contact to complete a circuit to awarning lamp 145 positioned on a suitable control panel (not shown) to thereby indicate the nonoperating condition of the lamp for theleft projector 2.

A lamp for the right projector 3 is operated by a rightlamp circuit portion 146 of theright projector circuit 73 which is identical in operation to the leftlamp circuit portion 119 of theleft projector circuit 72.

Both theleft lamp circuits 119 and theright lamp circuits 146 have suitable switches therein for manually turning the respective projector lamps on and ofi and for selecting manual or automatic operation. The switches in theleft lamp circuits 119 will be described and it is to be understood that the switches in the right lamp circuits are identical. In the illustrated circuits, aselector switch 147 is positioned in a conductor extending between and connected to theconductors 137 and 138. When theselector switch 147 is in its open position, the lamp for theleft projector 2 will be turned on by a diode pin at theintersection 121 and turned off by a diode pin at theintersection 142.

Moving theselector switch 147 to its closed position will complete a circuit to thecoil 135 of the rectifier contactor relay when a lamp onswitch 148 is moved from its normally open position to its closed position. The lamp onswitch 148 is positioned in the conductor extending between theconductors 137 and 138.

The lamp for theleft projector 2 may be turned off by opening a lamp offswitch 149 positioned in theconductor 137 thereby breaking a circuit to thecoil 135 and opening theswitch 136 to deactivate the rectifier 134. Opening the lamp offswitch 149 breaks the latching circuit connecting the left lamp on"relay 123 and the leftlamp safety relay 126 through the left lamp offrelay 125. By positioning the lamp offswitch 149 in theconductor 137, the lamp will be turned off when theselector switch 147 is in either its open or closed position for automatic or manual operation respectively.

FIG. 5 illustrates a picture andsound changeover circuit 150 which is operative to change the picture from one of the projectors to the other and to change the sound from one of the projectors to the other and to change from projector sound to theater sound and to change back to projector sound.

When a diode pin is inserted in a picture to leftfunction line 151 at anintersection 152 with a selected counter time line, a circuit will be completed through thestepper switch contacts 26 corresponding with the selected time line to energize acoil 153 of apicture to'left relay 154. When thecoil 153 is energized for the instant that thestepper switch 25 engages thecontact 26 corresponding to the selected time line, aswitch arm 155 in the picture to leftrelay 154 will be moved from a normally closed contact to a nonnally open contact, with the normally open contact being connected to a suitably grounded conductor and theswitch am 155 being connected to a normally closed contact in the left motor hold and inhibit cancelrelay 90, shown in FIG. 4, by aconductor 156 to thereby ground an inhibit circuit, as later described, through the left motor hold and inhibit cancelrelay 90 to prevent thestepper switch 25 from stopping on thecontact 26 during the changeover.

Aswitch arm 157 in the picture to leftrelay 154 is also moved from a normally closed contact to a normally open contact to complete a circuit to apply power to a cross-connected changeover solenoid orcoil 158 through aconductor 159. Power is supplied to the normally open contact energized by theswitch arm 157 byaconductor 158 to energize the solenoid orcoil 158.

When a diode pin is inserted in a picture toright function line 161 at anintersection 162 with a selected time line, a ground will be completed by thestepper switch 25 engaging thecontact 26 of the selected time line thereby completing a circuit to acoil 163 of a picture toright relay 164. When thecoil 163 is energized, for the instant that thestepper switch 25 engages therespective contact 26, aswitch arm 165 will move from a nonnally closed to a normally open contact with the normally open contact being connected to a suitably grounded conductor. Theswitch arm 165 is connected to aconductor 166 which extends between theswitch arm 165 and the normally closed contact engaged by theswitch arm 155 to complete a circuit to the left motor hold and inhibit cancelrelay 90 and to the right motor hold and inhibit cancelrelay 103 when the picture to leftrelay 154, the left motor hold and inhibit cancelrelay 90, the pircture toright relay 164, and the right motor hold and inhibit cancelrelay 103 are relaxed a circuit will be completed to the inhibitrelay 21 in the counter circuit 16, as later described. Moving theswitch arm 165 by energizing thecoil 163 breaks a circuit to the right motor hold and inhibit cancelrelay 103 through aconductor 167 and completes a circuit to the inhibitrelay 21 through the left motor hold and inhibit cancelrelay 90 to prevent thestepper switch 25 from stopping on thecontact 26 during the changeover. 7

When thecoil 163 of the picture toright relay 164 is energized, aswitch arm 168 will be moved from a normally closed contact to a normally open contact to complete a circuit to a cross-connected changeover coil orsolenoid 169 through a conductor 170. Power is supplied to the normally open contact engaged by theswitch arm 168 through a conductor 171 to energize the solenoid orcoil 169.

Picture changeover between theleft projector 2 and the right projector 3, may be manually accomplished by movingswitches 172 or 173 connected to thepower conductors 160 and 171 respectively. When theswitch 172 is manually closed, current will be supplied to the coil orsolenoid 158 to effect changeover to theleft projector 2 and the coil orsolenoid 169 will be moved to the closed position. When theswitch 173 is manually moved to the closed position, power will be supplied through the coil orsolenoid 169 to the coil orsolenoid 158 to effect a reversal of their positions.

When a diode pin is inserted in a sound to leftfunction line 176 at an intersection 177 with a selected counter time line, a ground will be completed through thestepper switch 25 and thecontact 26 of the selected time line to energize acoil 178 of a sound to left relay 179 thereby moving aswitch arm 180 out of engagement with a normally closed contact to break a connection throughaconductor 181 to aswitch arm 182 of a sound changeover relay 183 in the right projector 3. Theswitch arm 182 completes a circuit to acoil 184 of asound changeover relay 185 in theleft projector 2 through aconductor 186 whereby energizing the sound to left relay 179 relaxes thesound changeover relay 185 thereby permitting a switch arm 187 in thesound changeover relay 185 to return to its normally closed position, thereby completing a circuit to anexciter lamp 188 in theleft projector 2 which is in a suitably groundedconductor 189. Relaxing or releasing thecoil 184 of thesound changeover relay 185 allows aswitch arm 190 to return to its normally closed contact to complete a circuit to acoil 191 of the sound changeover relay 183 in the right projector 3. The normally closed contact engaged by theswitch arm 190 is connected to thecoil 191 of the sound changeover relay 183 by aconductor 192 and theswitch arm 190 is connected to a suitably groundedconductor 193. Theexciter lamp 188 in theleft projector 2 receives power from a suitable power source 194 which is connnected to the switch arm 187 when thecoil 184 of thesound changeover relay 185 is relaxed.

When a diode pin is placed in the soundtoright function line 195 at anintersection 196 with a selected counter time line, a ground will be completed through thestepper switch 25 and thecontact 26 in the selected time line to energize acoil 197 of a sound toright relay 198. When thecoil 197 is energized, aswitch arm 199 will be moved out of engagement with a normally closed contact to thereby break a grounded connection to thecoil 191 of the sound changeover relay 183 in the right projector 3 through theconductors 192 and 193 and theswitch arm 190. Releasing or relaxing thecoil 191 of the sound changeover relay 183 permits aswitch arm 200 to move or return to engage a normally closed contact thereby energizing an exciter lamp 201 in a suitably groundedconductor 202. Relaxing thecoil 191 allows theswitch arm 182 to engage a normally closed contact thereby energizing thecoil 184 of thesound changeover relay 185 through theconductor 186 and theconductor 181 and theswitch arm 180 in the sound to left relay 179 when thecoil 178 thereof is relaxed. Energizing thecoil 184 of thesound changeover relay 185 moves the switch arm 187 out of engagement with its normally closed contact, thereby breaking the circuit to theexciter lamp 188 in theleft projector 2. The exciter lamp 201 in the right projector 3 receives power from asuitable power source 203 which is connected to theswitch am 200 by aconductor 204 when thecoil 191 of the sound changeover relay 183 is relaxed.

When a diode pin is inserted in a tapesound function line 205 at an intersection 206 with a selected counter time line, a ground will be completed through thestepper switch 25 and thecontact 26 for the selected time line to energize acoil 207 of atape sound relay 208. When thecoil 207 is energized, aswitch arm 209 in thetape sound relay 208 will be moved to engage its normally open contact to complete a circuit to a sound switch relay (not shown) in thesound cabinet 14. Theswitch arm 209 is connected to aconductor 210 which is connected to a suitable source of power, such as 110 volts alternating current and the normally open contact engaged by theswitch arm 209 is connected to aconductor 211 which is connected to the coil of the sound relay (not shown). When thecoil 207 is energized aswitch arm 212 in thetape sound relay 208 will be moved to engage a normally open contact which will complete a latching circuit to afilm sound relay 213. The

switcharm 212 is connected to aconductor 214 which is con-,

nected to aswitch arm 215 in thefilm sound relay 213 which, when engaged with a normally closed contact completes a circuit to a suitably groundedconductor 216 and to thecoil 207 of thetape sound relay 208. The normally open contact engaged by theswitch arm 212 is connected to the tapesound function line 205 by aconductor 217 to complete the latching circuit. The sound relay (not shown) in thesound cabinet 14 switches from a dummy load to a theater speaker (not shown) to provide taped music, such as before and after a film presentation and during intermission.

When a diode pin is inserted in a filmsound function line 219 at an intersection 220 with a selected time line, a circuit will be completed to energize a coil 22] of thefilm sound relay 213. When thecoil 221 is energized, theswitch arm 215 will be moved out of engagement with its normally closed contact thereby breaking the latching circuit through theconductors 214 and 216 which permits thecoil 207 to relax and theswitch arm 209 to move out of engagement with its normally open contact, thereby breaking the circuit to the coil of the sound relay within thesound cabinet 14. The sound relay (not shown) in thesound cabinet 14 switches from the theater speaker to the dummy load thereby allowing the projector sound to operate.

It may be desirable to automatically control opening and closing of curtains at the screen before and after a presentation, therefore, a curtain control circuit 223 is illustrated in FIG. 6. When a diode pin is placed in a curtainopen function line 224 at anintersection 225 with a selected counter time line in the matrix circuit 60, acoil 226 of a curtainopen relay 227 will be energized to complete a circuit to a mechanical latching relay (not shown) in acurtain control 228 which will hold the circuit until an open limit switch (not shown) or a manual curtain stop switch 229 is actuated. The curtain stop switch 229 is positioned in a conductor 230 connected to a suitable source of electrical current, such as 110 volts alternating current. When thecoil 226 is energized aswitch arm 231 will be moved to engage its normally open contact which is connected to thecurtain control 228 by aconductor 232 and theswitch arm 231 is connected to aconductor 233 which is connected to the conductor 230 having the curtain stop switch 229 therein and to aswitch arm 234 in a curtainclose relay 235. 7

When a diode pin is placed in a curtainclose function line 236 at an intersection 237 with a selected time line, acoil 238 of the curtainclose relay 235 will be energized to move theswitch am 234 to engage its normally open contact which is connected to thecurtain control 228 by aconductor 239, thereby completing a circuit to the mechanical latching relay in thecurtain control 228 which will hold the circuit until a closed limit switch (not shown) is opened or the manual curtain stop switch229 is actuated to break the circuit to thecurtain control 228.

Operation of the light levels within the theater is controlled by ahouse light circuit 240, as shown in in FIG. 6, which is similar to the circuits for controlling the curtain movement, wherein a diode pin in a house light up function line 241 will energize a house lights uprelay 242 to complete a circuit to a latching relay (not shown) in a lightdimmer control 243 until an upper limit switch (not shown) is reached or adimmer stop switch 244 is opened. A diode pin in a house lights downfunction line 245 will actuate a house lights downrelay 246 to complete a latching circuit in the lightdimmer control 243 until a lower limit switch (not shown) is reached or until thedimmer stop switch 244 is opened.

FIG. 7 illustrates a mask control circuit for controlling the width of an exposed portion of a theater screen (not shown) which remains uncovered by a mask mechanism (not shown). The mask mechanism has portions in covering relation with the screen and positioned adjacent opposite ends of the screen with the portions being movable toward and away from the center of the screen in response to operation of the mask control circuit. When a diode pin is inserted in a maskopen function line 247 at an intersection with a selected time line and a diode pin is inserted in a mask openrun function line 248 at the intersection with the same time line, a maskopen relay 249 and a maskopen run relay 250 will be energized by a completed circuit through thestepper switch contacts 26 corresponding to the selected time line.

When the maskopen relay 249 is energized, a circuit will be completed from apower source 251 to an open coil 252 of adirection control relay 253. in the illustrated mask control circuit, thepower source 251 is connected to acommon conductor 254 which is connected to aswitch arm 255 in the maskopen relay 249 and to aswitch arm 256 in the maskopen run relay 250.

Thedirection control relay 253 is of the mechanically latched type and energizing the maskopen run relay 250 completes a circuit to anopen coil 257 of a motor start relay. The circuit is from thepower source 251 through acommon conductor 254, theswitch arm 256 in the maskopen run relay 250 and a conductor 258 which is connected to a normally open contact engaged by theswitch arm 256 and to theopen coil 257 of the motor start relay. The conductor 258 has one portion extending between the maskopen run relay 250 and a switch arm in thedirection control relay 253 and an other portion extending between a contact in thedirection control relay 253 and theopen coil 257 of the motor start relay. A limit switch 259 is positioned in the portion of the conductor 258 extending between thedirection control relay 253 and theopen coil 257 of the motor start relay.

Energizing the maskopen run relay 250 energizes amotor holding relay 260 which when energized provides a holding circuit for the maskopen run relay 250 that is maintained until the mask mechanism opens the limit switch 259. A conductor has one end connected to a coil of themotor holding relay 260 and the other end connected to that portion of the conductor 258 between thedirection control relay 253 and theopen coil 257 of motor start relay at a point between saidcoil 257 and the limit switch 259.

When it is desired to close the mask mechanism (not shown), a diode pin is inserted in a maskclose function line 261 at an intersection with a selected counter time line and a diode pin is inserted in a mask closerun function line 262 at an intersection with the same selected time line to complete a ground through thestepper switch contacts 26 of the selected time line to energize a maskclose relay 263 and a mask close run relay 264 respectively. Aclose coil 265 of thedirection control relay 253 is energized in response to energizing the maskclose relay 263 in a circuit substantially similar to that for energizing the open coil 252 of thedirection control relay 253. Aclose coil 266 of the motor start relay is energized and a holdingrelay 267 is also energized in response to energizing the mask close run relay 264 in a circuit which is substantially the same as the circuit for energizing theopen coil 257 and themotor holding relay 260 whereby themotor holding relay 267 provides a holding circuit for the mask close run relay 264 which is maintained until the mask mechanism opens alimit switch 268.

FIG. 8 illustrates an inhibit andcue circuit 270 for controlling operation of the inhibitrelay 21 in the counter circuit 16, such as for energizing acoil 271 of the inhibitrelay 21 to break the power to the counter drive motor 17 and to hold the count until one of the control circuits is activated for a selected equipment function. When a diode pin is placed in an auto inhibit function line 272 at anintersection 273 with a selected counter time line, a circuit will be completed through thestepper switch 25 and thecontact 26 connected to the selected time line, thereby energizing or activating an auto inhibitrelay 274 by completing a circuit to acoil 275 of the auto inhibitrelay 274. Energizing thecoil 275 of the auto inhibitrelay 274 is operative to energize thecoil 271 of the inhibitrelay 21 thereby breaking power to the counter motor 17 by moving the switch arm connected to thecommon contact 22 from engagement with the normally closedcontact 23 thereby breaking the circuit to the motor 17 through theconductor 19, thereby holding the count until one of the interlocked control circuits, as later described, is activated.

When thecoil 275 of the auto inhibitrelay 274 is energized, a switch arm 276 therein will be moved from its normally closed contact to engage a normally open contact which is connected to thecoil 275 by aconductor 277 and to a suitable source of power by a conductor 278 which is also connected to thecoil 275. The switch arm 276 is connected to a normally closed contact in aleft cue relay 279 by aconductor 280. When acoil 281 of theleft cue relay 279 is relaxed, aswitch arm 282 engages the normally closed contact having theconductor 280 connected thereto. Theswitch arm 282 is connected to aswitch arm 283 in aright cue relay 284 by aconductor 285. When acoil 286 of theright cue relay 284 is relaxed, theswitch arm 283 will engage its normally closed contact which is connected to a normally closed contact in a manual inhibitrelay 287 by aconductor 288. When acoil 289 of the manual inhibitrelay 287 is relaxed, a switch arm 290 will engage the normally closed contact in the manual inhibitrelay 287 which is connected to theconductor 288. The switch am 290 is connected to a normally closed contact in the right motor hold and inhibit cancelrelay 103 by aconductor 291. When acoil 292 of the right motor hold and inhibit cancelrelay 103 is relaxed, aswitch arm 293 therein will engage the normally closed contact connected to theconductor 291. Theswitch arm 293 is connected to a normally closed contact in the picture toright relay 164 by theconductor 167, as previously described. When thecoil 163 of the picture toright relay 164 is relaxed, theswitch arm 165 engages the normally closed contact connected to theconductor 167 and theswitch arm 165 is connected to theconductor 166 which is connected to a normally closed contact engaged by theswitch arm 155 in the picture to leftrelay 154. Theswitch arm 155 is connected to a normally closed contact in the left motor hold and inhibit cancelrelay 90 by theconductor 156, as previously described. The normally closed contact in the left motor hold and inhibit cancelrelay 90 which is connected to theconductor 156 is engaged by aswitch arm 294 when thecoil 89 of the left motor hold and inhibit cancelrelay 90 is relaxed thereby completing a circuit to the inhibitrelay 21 in the counter circuit 16 through aconductor 295 which is connnected to theconnector 20 and aconductor 296 which is connected to thecoil 271 of the inhibitrelay 21 and to theconnector 20 to energize thecoil 271 of the inhibitrelay 21 to hold the count until one of the control circuits is activated.

Thecoil 271 of the inhibitrelay 21 remains energized until one of the relays in the inhibit latching circuit, previously described, is energized or actuated. for example, a cue sensor or pick off 297 mounted on theleft projector 2 is operative to energize or activate thecoil 281 of theleft cue relay 279 in response to a momentary ground to complete a circuit to thecoil 281. When thecoil 281 is activated, theswitch arm 282 is moved out of engagement with its normally closed contact thereby breaking the latching circuit. However, theleft cue relay 279 latches with the auto inhibitrelay 274 until the auto inhibitrelay 274 is relaxed as the count moves to the next time line. Energizing thecoil 281 of theleft cue relay 279 moves aswitch arm 298 to engage its normally open contact with said normally open contact being connected to thecoil 281 by aconductor 299 and thereby to complete a circuit to the auto inhibitrelay 274. Theswitch arm 298 is connected to aconductor 300 which is connected to aconductor 301 extending between the auto inhibitrelay 274 and theright cue relay 284. The portion of theconductor 301 between theconductor 300 and the auto inhibitrelay 274 is connected to a normally open contact engaged by aswitch arm 302 in the auto inhibitrelay 274 when same is activated and theswitch arm 302 is connected to a suitably groundedconductor 303, thereby completing a latching circuit between theleft cue relay 279 and the auto inhibitrelay 274 until thestepper switch 25 moves to the next time line in the counter circuit 16.

The cue sensor or pick off 297 is also operative to activate a left cuelight relay 304 in response to a momentary ground at the cue sensor or pick off 297 positioned on theleft projector 2. The left cuelight relay 304 is grounded and is connected to theleft cue relay 279 and it is desirable to prevent ground feed back to theleft cue relay 279 which would energize same, therefore, adiode 305 is positioned in aconductor 306 connecting thecoil 281 of theleft cue relay 279 and acoil 307 of the left cuelight relay 304. When thecoil 307 is energized, a switch arm 308 in the left cuelight relay 304 will move to engage a normally open contact which is connected to aconductor 309 having a left cue light 310 mounted therein. The switch arm 308 is connected to aconductor 311 for completing a circuit to a suitable display panel (not shown) having the left cue light 310 therein. When thecoil 307 of the left cuelight relay 304 is energized, a switch arm 312 will be moved to engage its normally open contact to complete a latching circuit to a left cue light cancelpushbutton 313. The switch arm 312 is connected to aconductor 314 extending between and connected to the switch arm 312 and theconductor 306 between thediode 305 and thecoil 307 and the normally open contact engaged by the switch arm 312 is connected to a conductor 315 which has the left cue light cancelpushbutton 313 therein.

The conductor 315 having thepushbutton 313 therein is suitably grounded and thecoil 307 of the left onelight relay 304 is connected to suitable power source whereby thecoil 307 will remain energized until thepushbutton 313 is opened thereby breaking the circuit. Thediode 305 prevents energizing thecoil 281 of theleft cue relay 279 except by the pick on 297.

A right cue sensor or pick off 316 is operative to energize thecoil 286 of theright cue relay 284 and to energize acoil 317 of a right cuelight relay 318. Theright cue sensor 316 is connected to aconductor 319 extending between and connected to thecoils 286 and 317 of theright cue relay 284 and the right cuelight relay 318, respectively. When thecoil 286 is energized, theswitch arm 283 will be moved out of engagement with its nonnally closed contact, thereby breaking the latching circuit to the inhibitrelay 21. Also, when thecoil 286 is activated or energized, aswitch arm 320 which is in theright cue relay 284 and connected to a portion of theconductor 301 will be moved to engage its normally open contact which is connnected to aconductor 321 which is connected to theconductor 319 adjacent thecoil 286 thereby completing a latching circuit to the auto inhibitrelay 274 until the auto inhibitrelay 274 drops out as the count moves to the next time line. The right cuelight relay 318 activates aright cue light 322 and completes a circuit to a right cue light cancelpushbutton 323 in a manner similar to the operation of the left cuelight relay 304.

The inhibit andcue circuit 270 controls the counter whereby the count is stopped and held by application of voltage to thecoil 271 of the inhibitrelay 21 in the counter circuit 16. The inhibitcircuit 270 is controlled by the matrix circuit 60, thecue sensors 297 and 316, amanual start pushbutton 325, as later described, or a remote start pushbutton (not shown) and the associated interlock circuits which prevent the counter motor 17 from stopping at critical times due to a pro gramming error, such as may be caused by an incorrectly positioned diode pin or pins. The auto inhibit function will not operate when a diode pin is inserted at theintersection 273 and a diode pin is also inserted on the same time line for activating the functions of left motor start, right motor start, picture to left or picture to right.

The manual inhibitrelay 287 is energized by a diode pin inserted in a manual inhibitfunction line 326, having themanual start pushbutton 325 therein, at anintersection 327 with a selected time line, thereby completing a grounded circuit through thestepper switch 25 and thecontact 26 of the selected time line to thereby energize thecoil 289 of the manual inhibitrelay 287. Energizing thecoil 289 moves the switch arm 290 to engage its normally open contact which is connected to thecoil 289 of the manual inhibitrelay 287 by aconductor 328 to complete a latching circuit to energize thecoil 271 of the inhibitrelay 21 through the right motor hold and inhibit cancelrelay 103, the picture toright relay 164, the picture to leftrelay 154 and the left motor hold and inhibit cancelrelay 90, as previously described. Moving the switch arm 290 from its normally closed contact breaks the latching circuit through theconductors 288, 285 and 280 to the auto inhibitrelay 274. The inhibitrelay 21 breaks the power to the counter motor 17 and holds the count until one of the control circuits in the latching circuit with the manual inhibitrelay 287 is actuated.

The count may be started from the manual inhibit position by energizing one of the control circuits in the latching circuit for a period of more than 1 second to allow the count to move from the manual inhibit position on the matrix circuit 60. It is noted that a presentation should always be started with themanual start pushbutton 325 or a remote start switch (not shown) suitably positioned in a control panel preferably also having the cue lights 310 and 322 therein. Themanual start pushbutton 325 is positioned in the conductor defining the manual inhibitfunction line 326 and thepushbutton 325 is illustrated as a normally closed switch which when opened will break the circuit to thecoil 289 of the manual inhibitrelay 287, thereby relaxing thecoil 289 and grounding both sides of thecoil 271 of the inhibitrelay 21 to thereby relax same to allow the counter motor 17 to turn the cam (not shown) therein to continue the count. Power is supplied to thecoil 289 of the manual inhibitrelay 287 through a conductor 329 except when thestart count pushbutton 325 is opened to break the circuit to thecoil 289 to thereby ground both sides of thecoil 271 of the inhibitrelay 21 whereby the counter motor 17 will operate.

FIG. 9 illustrates areset circuit 325 which permits an operator to return the count to a start position or number one time line without activating any equipment functions during the movement of the brush or contactarms 40 of the stepper switches 25. A manual inhibitpushbutton 336, shown in FIG. 8, is depressed and held to energize thecoil 289 of the manual inhibitrelay 287. Arest pushbutton 337 is depressed and held to energize acoil 338 of areset relay 339. Thereset pushbutton 337 is held until the counter stops at the start position or number one time line, and then thereset pushbutton 337 is released and the manual inhibitpushbutton 336 is released to thereby position the automatic control system 1 in the position to srart a presentation.

When a diode pin is inserted in the manual inhibitfunction line 326 at theintersection 327 on the start position at time line one, the count will hold at said time line one ready for the manual inhibit start of a presentation. The manual inhibitpushbutton 336 is then depressed to lock out the counter motor 17 thereby preventing movement of the brush or contactarms 40 of the stepper switches 25 during the reset cycle. Depressing thereset pushbutton 337 applies voltage to thecoil 41 of thereset relay 28 thereby energizing same to move one of the switch arms therein out of engagement with the normally closedcontact 37 to break the circuit to the stepper switch ground circuit through theconductor 38 to prevent the actuation of functions. When thecoil 41 of thereset relay 28 is energized, a switch arm connected to'thecommon contact 45 will be moved to engage the normallyopen contact 44 to complete a circuit to the stepper coil 34 and to a normally closed contact 47 of the off-on"switch 48 through theconductor 46 extending between thecommon contact 45 in thereset relay 28 and the normally closed contact 47 in the offon"switch 48, as previously described and shown in FIG. 2. The contacts of theinterrupter switch 52 allow the stepper switches 25 to step toward their respective home position and the contacts of the off-onswitch 48 open at the start or home position at time line number one to stop the cycle.

It may be desirable to automatically program special equipment functions, such as providing oil to selected moving parts of each projector at least once per reel of film, preferably between the functions of motor start and changeover, for the respective projector, therefore, FIG. illustrates typical special efiects circuits. In the illustrated circuit, a diode pin inserted in a specialefi'ects function line 340 at an intersection 341 with a selected time line will complete a circuit to acoil 342 of a special effects relay 343 thereby energizing same. Energizing thecoil 342 moves aswitch arm 344 in the special effects relay 343 to engage a normally open contact to complete a circuit to asolenoid 345 for the one second interval that thestepper switch 25 engages thecontact 26 in the selected time line. Thesolenoid 345 is positioned in aconductor 346 extending between the normally open contact engaged by theswitch arm 344 and apower source 347. Theswitch arm 344 is connected to a suitably groundedconductor 348 to complete the circuit to thesolenoid 345 which is operative to effect operation of the desired special effects function.

FIG. 10 also includes a secondspecial effects circuit 350 which is substantially similar to the previously described circuit whereby the previously describedsolenoid 345 is operative to activate an oiler (not shown) for theleft projector 2 and the secondspecial efiects circuit 350 is operative to effect operation of an oiler (not shown) on the right projector 3.

It may be desirable to bypass thelimit switch 74 in theleft projector circuit 72 and to bypass the limit switch 114 in theright projector circuit 73, particularly during the counting period, therefore, afilm break relay 351 is illustrated in FIG. 4 and is electrically connected to the limit switches 74 and 114. Thefilm break relay 351, is connected to the auto inhibitrelay 274 to prevent the limit switches 74 and 114 from breaking the circuit to the left motor safety relay 76 and the leftlamp safety relay 126 in theleft lamp circuits 119 of theleft projector circuit 72 and to the right motor safety relay and a rightlamp safety relay 352 in theright lamp circuit 146 of theright projector circuit 73 respectively. When the auto inhibitrelay 274 is relaxed, acoil 353 of thefilm break relay 351 will be energized. Thecoil 353 of thefilm break relay 351 is connected to the auto inhibitrelay 274 by aconductor 354 which is connected to a normally closed contact in the auto inhibitrelay 274 which is engaged by theswitch arm 302 when the auto inhibitrelay 274 is relaxed. Theswitch arm 302 is connected to the groundedconductor 303 to complete the grounded circuit between theconductor 303 and thecoil 353 of thefilm break relay 351 which thereby energizes same.

When thecoil 353 of thefilm break relay 351 is energized, switcharms 356 and 357 will be moved to engage normally open contacts connected to suitably groundedconductors 358 and 359 respectively thereby completing a grounded circuit through theconductors 77 and 128 to the left motor safety relay 76 and the leftlamp safety relay 126 respectively and throughconductors 360 and 361 to the rightmotor safety relay 105 and the right lamp safety relay respectively. Completing the grounded circuits prevents the film break circuit from functioning unless the system is resting on auto inhibit, that is unless thecoil 275 of the auto inhibitrelay 274 is energized. The auto inhibitrelay 274 will be relaxed during counting, that is except when energized by a diode pin inserted in theintersection 273, and the grounded circuits previously described will be completed whereby the filmbreak limit switches 74 and 1 14 will be inoperative during the counting period, as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 8. This is particularly advantageous when slack occurs in film in the projectors, such as during start up.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate afilm break sensor 365 for mounting on each of theprojectors 2 and 3 to sense a film break and to release therespective limit switch 74 or 114, thereby signaling the respective projector to stop. In the illustrated structure, eachfilm break sensor 365 has ashaft 366 extending from the respective film projector with theshaft 366 being transverse to a film path, as designated by the arrow F, therethrough. Alever 367 is pivotally mounted adjacent a free end of theshaft 366 and has afilm roller 368 mounted adjacent one end of thelever 367 for engagement with film moving through the respective projector. When thefilm roller 368 engages film moving through the projector, tension in the film will hold thelever 367 out of engagement with aswitch arm 369 of therespective limit switch 74 or 114. When theswitch arm 369 is engaged by thelever 367, as shown in FIG. 11, the limit switches 74 or 114 will be opened to break the circuit to the respective film projector. Acounterweight 370 is mounted on thelever 367 and positioned for moving the lever into engagement with theswitch arm 369 when film engaging thefilm roller 368 breaks, whereby thelimit switch 74 or 114 stops therespective film projector 2 or 3.

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate acue sensor 375 for use in the inhibit andcue circuit 270, as shown at 297 and 316 in FIG. 8. Eachcue sensor 375 is mounted onrespective film projectors 2 or 3 and is electrically connected to the respective film projector and to the inhibit andcue circuit 270. Thecue sensors 375 are operative to activate the cueing circuit, as shown in FIG. 8, for restarting the counter motor 17.

Eachcue sensor 375 has a plurality of rollers 376 arranged in two spaced part pairs 377 and 378. The spaced apart pairs 377 and 378, are positioned with a film path P through the respective projector passing between the rollers 376 in each of thepairs 377 and 378. Both rollers 376, in one of the pairs, such as thepair 377, are electrically connected to the cueing circuit, as shown in FIG. 8, and the other pair ofrollers 378 is suitably grounded and one roller in each pair, preferably the upper roller, is spring loaded to press the film into firm engagement with the roller connected to the cueing circuit whereby a suitable grounding means, such as a strip of conductive cue tape (not shown) placed on an edge of the film preferably on the side opposite the sound track, is operative to ground the rollers to complete a circuit to activate the respective equipment function, as shown in thecueing circuit 270.

In the illustrated structure, anarm 379 is mounted on and extends from therespective film projector 2 or 3 to position the pair ofrollers 377 and 378 to have the film path F extend between the rollers 376 of each of thepairs 377 and 378 to permit the conductive cue tape to provide a momentary ground to activate the respective cueing circuit.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described one form of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An automatic control system for programming operation of electrically operated theater equipment comprising:

a. a counter and means associated therewith for producing a signal at each of a plurality to spaced time increments;

b. an electrical circuit for selectively activating each unit of a plurality of units of electrically operated theater equipment in response to a signal from said signal producing means;

c. means in said equipment activating circuits for holding said counter at said respective selected time increment during operation of each selected unit of theater equipment;

d. means in selected equipment activating circuits for starting said counter in response to completion of operation of I said respective selected equipment;

e. a matrix having a plurality of spaced time lines positioned in a plane and a plurality of spaced equipment lines positioned in a second plane substantially parallel with and spaced from said first named plane, said time lines and said equipment lines being arranged to have time increments and equipment as coordinates;

f. means in said matrix at each of said coordinates for permitting a connection between the time line and equipment line at said respective coordinates; and

g. means selectively engageable with said connection permitting means thereby programming operation of selected equipment in a desired sequence.

2. An automatic control system for programming operation of electrically operated theater equipment comprising:

a. a counter and means associated therewith for producing a signal at each of a plurality of spaced time increments, said counter and signal producing means including an increment stepper switch and power means for moving said stepper switch from a start position through each of said spaced time increments to a timed out position and means selectively operable to reset said stepper switch by retuming said stepper switch to said start position and to retain said signal producing means inactive during the return of said stepper switch to said start position;

. an electrical circuit for selectively activating each unit of a plurality of units of electrically operated theater equipment in response to a signal from said signal producing means, said equipment activating circuits each including a plurality of film projector activating circuits, one for each of a plurality of film projectors, each of said film projector activating circuits having a film break circuit electrically connected thereto, each of said film break circuits having means connected thereto for sensing a film break and for signaling said respective film projector to stop in the event of a break in film in said film projector, said film break sensing means including a shaft extending from said respective film projector transverse to a film path therethrough and a lever pivotally mounted adjacent a free end of said shaft and a film roller mounted adjacent one end of said lever for engagement with film in said respective film projector and a limit switch electrically connected to the electrical circuit for activating said respective film projector and a counterweight mounted on said lever and positioned for moving said lever into engagement with said limit switch when film engaging said film roller breaks whereby said limit switch is engaged to stop said respective film projector;

0. means connected to said equipment activating circuits for selecting the respective time increment for activating each of said units of theater equipment;

d. means in said equipment activating circuits for holding said counter at said respective selected time increment during operation of each selected unit of theater equipment; and

e. means in selected equipment activating circuits for staning said counter in response to completion of operation of said respective selected equipment.

3. An automatic control system for programming operation of electrically operated theater equipment comprising:

a. a counter and means associated therewith for producing a signal at each of a plurality of spaced time increments, said counter and signal producing means including an increment stepper switch and power means for moving said stepper switch from a start position through each of said spaced time increments to a timed out position and means selectively operable to reset said stepper switch by retuming said stepper switch to said start position and to retain said signal producing means inactive during the return of said stepper switch to said start position;

b. an electrical circuit for selectively activating each unit of a plurality of units of electrically operated theater equipment in response to a signal from said signal producing means;

c. means in said equipment activating circuits for holding said counter at said respective selected time increment during operation of each selected unit of theater equipment;

d. means in selected equipment activating circuits for starting said counter in response to completion of operation of said respective selected equipment;

e. means connected to said signal producing means and to each of said equipment activating circuits for selecting the respective time increment for activating each of said units of theater equipment;

f. means associated with said means for selecting the time increment for activating each of said units of theater for visually displaying signals representing the time time increment and unit of equipment then operating; and

g. means associated with said means for selecting the time increment for activating each of said units of theater equipment and for activating the respective visual display representing the manually activated equipment.

4. An automatic control system for programming operation of electrically operated theater equipment comprising:

a. a counter and means associated therewith for producing a signal at each of a plurality of spaced time incre-ments, said counter and signal producing means including an increment stepper switch and power means for moving said stepper switch from a start position through each of said spaced time increments to a timed out position and means selectively operable to reset said stepper switch by retuming said stepper switch to said start position; an electrical circuit for selectively activating each unit of a plurality of units of electrically operated theater equipment in response to a signal from said signal producing means, said equipment activating circuits each including a plurality of film projector activating circuits, one for each of a plurality of film projectors, each of said film projector acitvating circuits having a cueing circuit elecduring operation of each selected unit of theater equipment;

. means in selected equipment activating circuits for starting said counter in response to completion of operation of each of said equipment activating circuits for selecting the respective time increment for activating each of said units of theater equipment;

d. means in said equipment activating circuits for holding trically connected thereto and to said counter, each of said counter at said respective selected time increment aid film projectors havi means t d thereon f during operation of each selected unit of theater equipactivating said respective cueing circuit for restarting said ment, and

counter; e. means in selected equipment activating circuits for startmeans in said equipment activating circuits for holding 8 said counter in response completion OfopefatiOn of said counter at said respective selected time increment said respective selected q p 6. The automatic control system as set forth in claim 4 wherein each of said cueing circuit activating means includes:

a. a plurality of rollers mounted on said respective projector and arranged in two spaced apart pairs positioned with a said respective selected equipment. and film path between said rollers in each of said pairs, one means connected to said signal producing means and to zs u gfgg tge zifig zii g tf iil efs ggiilr ggnz g 8 each of said equipment activating circuits for selecting b t d th fl 5 th s the respective time increment for activating each of said ggizi i g fzjz i for g g r g gg 23i units of theater equipment. An automatic comm] System for programming Operation ZZIEISIBIC a circuit to said cueing circuit for activating of electrically operated theater equ'pmem cpmpnsingz 7 The automatic control system as set forth in claim 4 a. a counter and means associated therewith for producing a whe'reiw slggal at each i i f Spaced i fi a. said means for selecting the time increment for activating Sal counter an ucmg means u an each of said units of theater equipment is a matrix having cremem fl Sw'tch an w? means or movmg a plurality of spaced time lines positioned in a plane and a stepper switch from a start position through each of said plurality of spaced equipment lines positioned in a second spaced time increments to a timed out posit on and means plane substantially parallel with and sppced ftom Said first selectively operable to reset said stepper switch by retumnamed plane, said time lines and said equipment lines ing said stepper switch to said start position and to retain 0 being arranged to have time increments and equipment as said signal producing means inactive during the return of coordinates; said ste er switch to said start osition; b. said matrix has means at each of said coordinates for erpp p I b a a a an electrical circuit for selectively activating each unit of mitting a connection between the time line and equipa plurality of units of electrically operated theater equipment line at said coordinate; ment in response to a signal from said signal producing c. a diode pin is selectively engageable with each of said means, said equipment activating circuitseach including n ct on p rmitting means thereby programming a plurality of film pro ector activating c rcuits, one for p ration of selected equipment inades red sequence; 81"?"" ifFE ,f'% 8335; 22:1511?L5iiifiifit$ ifiidlil lieiiiif one for eac o a p ur ity o i m pro ectors, eac o sai film projector activating circuits having a film break cir- 40 filecuvelygcmated y a diode P at the selected cuit electrically connected thereto, each of said film mates; an break circuits having means connected thereto f e. said counter holding means is operatively connected to sensing a film break and for signaling said respective film f fueing circuits f to Said m f' activating projector to stop in the event of a break in film in said film c rcu ts for interlocking same until one of said interlocked projector; circuits is act vated. c. means connected to said signal producing means and to

Claims (7)

1. An automatic control system for programming operation of electrically operated theater eqUipment comprising: a. a counter and means associated therewith for producing a signal at each of a plurality to spaced time increments; b. an electrical circuit for selectively activating each unit of a plurality of units of electrically operated theater equipment in response to a signal from said signal producing means; c. means in said equipment activating circuits for holding said counter at said respective selected time increment during operation of each selected unit of theater equipment; d. means in selected equipment activating circuits for starting said counter in response to completion of operation of said respective selected equipment; e. a matrix having a plurality of spaced time lines positioned in a plane and a plurality of spaced equipment lines positioned in a second plane substantially parallel with and spaced from said first named plane, said time lines and said equipment lines being arranged to have time increments and equipment as coordinates; f. means in said matrix at each of said coordinates for permitting a connection between the time line and equipment line at said respective coordinates; and g. means selectively engageable with said connection permitting means thereby programming operation of selected equipment in a desired sequence.

2. An automatic control system for programming operation of electrically operated theater equipment comprising: a. a counter and means associated therewith for producing a signal at each of a plurality of spaced time increments, said counter and signal producing means including an increment stepper switch and power means for moving said stepper switch from a start position through each of said spaced time increments to a timed out position and means selectively operable to reset said stepper switch by returning said stepper switch to said start position and to retain said signal producing means inactive during the return of said stepper switch to said start position; b. an electrical circuit for selectively activating each unit of a plurality of units of electrically operated theater equipment in response to a signal from said signal producing means, said equipment activating circuits each including a plurality of film projector activating circuits, one for each of a plurality of film projectors, each of said film projector activating circuits having a film break circuit electrically connected thereto, each of said film break circuits having means connected thereto for sensing a film break and for signaling said respective film projector to stop in the event of a break in film in said film projector, said film break sensing means including a shaft extending from said respective film projector transverse to a film path therethrough and a lever pivotally mounted adjacent a free end of said shaft and a film roller mounted adjacent one end of said lever for engagement with film in said respective film projector and a limit switch electrically connected to the electrical circuit for activating said respective film projector and a counterweight mounted on said lever and positioned for moving said lever into engagement with said limit switch when film engaging said film roller breaks whereby said limit switch is engaged to stop said respective film projector; c. means connected to said equipment activating circuits for selecting the respective time increment for activating each of said units of theater equipment; d. means in said equipment activating circuits for holding said counter at said respective selected time increment during operation of each selected unit of theater equipment; and e. means in selected equipment activating circuits for starting said counter in response to completion of operation of said respective selected equipment.

3. An automatic control system for programming operation of electrically operated theater equipment comprising: a. a counter and means associated therewith for producing a signal at each of a plurality of spaced time inCrements, said counter and signal producing means including an increment stepper switch and power means for moving said stepper switch from a start position through each of said spaced time increments to a timed out position and means selectively operable to reset said stepper switch by returning said stepper switch to said start position and to retain said signal producing means inactive during the return of said stepper switch to said start position; b. an electrical circuit for selectively activating each unit of a plurality of units of electrically operated theater equipment in response to a signal from said signal producing means; c. means in said equipment activating circuits for holding said counter at said respective selected time increment during operation of each selected unit of theater equipment; d. means in selected equipment activating circuits for starting said counter in response to completion of operation of said respective selected equipment; e. means connected to said signal producing means and to each of said equipment activating circuits for selecting the respective time increment for activating each of said units of theater equipment; f. means associated with said means for selecting the time increment for activating each of said units of theater for visually displaying signals representing the time time increment and unit of equipment then operating; and g. means associated with said means for selecting the time increment for activating each of said units of theater equipment and for activating the respective visual display representing the manually activated equipment.

4. An automatic control system for programming operation of electrically operated theater equipment comprising: a. a counter and means associated therewith for producing a signal at each of a plurality of spaced time incre-ments, said counter and signal producing means including an increment stepper switch and power means for moving said stepper switch from a start position through each of said spaced time increments to a timed out position and means selectively operable to reset said stepper switch by returning said stepper switch to said start position; b. an electrical circuit for selectively activating each unit of a plurality of units of electrically operated theater equipment in response to a signal from said signal producing means, said equipment activating circuits each including a plurality of film projector activating circuits, one for each of a plurality of film projectors, each of said film projector acitvating circuits having a cueing circuit electrically connected thereto and to said counter, each of said film projectors having means mounted thereon for activating said respective cueing circuit for restarting said counter; c. means in said equipment activating circuits for holding said counter at said respective selected time increment during operation of each selected unit of theater equipment; d. means in selected equipment activating circuits for starting said counter in response to completion of operation of said respective selected equipment; and e. means connected to said signal producing means and to each of said equipment activating circuits for selecting the respective time increment for activating each of said units of theater equipment.

5. An automatic control system for programming operation of electrically operated theater equipment comprising: a. a counter and means associated therewith for producing a signal at each of a plurality of spaced time increments, said counter and signal producing means including an increment stepper switch and power means for moving said stepper switch from a start position through each of said spaced time increments to a timed out position and means selectively operable to reset said stepper switch by returning said stepper switch to said start position and to retain said signal producing means inactive during the return of said stepper switch to said start position; B. an electrical circuit for selectively activating each unit of a plurality of units of electrically operated theater equipment in response to a signal from said signal producing means, said equipment activating circuits each including a plurality of film projector activating circuits, one for each of a plurality of film projector activating circuits, one for each of a plurality of film projectors, each of said film projector activating circuits having a film break circuit electrically connected thereto, each of said film break circuits having means connected thereto for sensing a film break and for signaling said respective film projector to stop in the event of a break in film in said film projector; c. means connected to said signal producing means and to each of said equipment activating circuits for selecting the respective time increment for activating each of said units of theater equipment; d. means in said equipment activating circuits for holding said counter at said respective selected time increment during operation of each selected unit of theater equipment, and e. means in selected equipment activating circuits for starting said counter in response to completion of operation of said respective selected equipment.

6. The automatic control system as set forth in claim 4 wherein each of said cueing circuit activating means includes: a. a plurality of rollers mounted on said respective projector and arranged in two spaced apart pairs positioned with a film path between said rollers in each of said pairs, one pair of rollers being electrically connected to said cueing circuit and the other pair of rollers being grounded; and b. means associated with the film moving through said respective projector for grounding said rollers to complete a circuit to said cueing circuit for activating same.

7. The automatic control system as set forth in claim 4 wherein: a. said means for selecting the time increment for activating each of said units of theater equipment is a matrix having a plurality of spaced time lines positioned in a plane and a plurality of spaced equipment lines positioned in a second plane substantially parallel with and spaced from said first named plane, said time lines and said equipment lines being arranged to have time increments and equipment as coordinates; b. said matrix has means at each of said coordinates for permitting a connection between the time line and equipment line at said coordinate; c. a diode pin is selectively engageable with each of said connection permitting means thereby programming operation of selected equipment in a desired sequence; d. one of said equipment lines of said matrix is said counter holding means whereby said counter holding means are selectively activated by a diode pin at the selected coordinates; and e. said counter holding means is operatively connected to said cueing circuits and to said film projector activating circuits for interlocking same until one of said interlocked circuits is activated.

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