Abstract:
A MOTION PICTURE FILM PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD EMPLOYING AN APPLICATOR IN WHICH PROCESSING FLUID IS INITIALLY STORED AND HAVING A DOCTOR BLADE FORMED AT ONE END THEREOF. THE APPLICATOR ALSO INCLUDES A PLUNGER SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE PROCESSING FLUID FROM THE DOCTOR BLADE SO THAT DISPLACEMENT OF THE PLUNGER INWARDLY OF THE APPLICATOR CAUSES THE PROCESSING FLUID TO BE EXPRESSED FROM THE APPLICATOR ACROSS ITS DOCTOR BLADE. AN EXPOSED STRIP OF FILM IS INITIALLY COILED AROUND A SUPPLY REEL WITH A LEADER EXTENDING TO A TAKEUP REEL AND, IN PASSING FROM THE SUPPLY REEL TO THE TAKEUP REEL, THE FILM IS DRAWN ACROSS THE DOCTOR BLADE. A CAM, WHICH CONTROLS THE DISPLACEMENT OF THE PLUNGER WITHIN THE APPLICATOR, IS CON-
NECTED TO THE TAKEUP REEL TO MAKE SUBSTANTIALLY ONE COMPLETE REVOLUTION DURING THE TIME THAT THE TAKEUP REEL HAS MADE THE NUMBER OF REVOLUTIONS REQUIRED TO DRAW THE ENTIRE EXPOSED FILM STRIP ACROSS THE DOCTOR BLADE. ADDITIONALLY, A VARIABLE RESISTOR IN SERIES WITH THE PROCESSORS MOTOR VARIES THE SPEED OF THE MOTOR TO IMPART A SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT SPEED OF THE FILM STRIP AS IT PASSES ACROSS THE DOCTOR BLADE.