Exhibitors Herald (1927)

October 1, 1927 EXHIBITORS HERALD 37 New Powers Film Gate Provides Added Booth Protection Details of new improvement announced by International Projector Corporation need for this new gate. Power’s new film gate assembly provides high protection against overheating and ignition of the film and in many respects is one of the most valuable improvements to motion picture projectors. In addition to giving the projectionist absolute protection against burns and other discomforts due to handling heated parts of the mechanism, the tension is reduced to a minimum without interfering with the steady showing of the film on the screen. The new Power’s film gate is radically different from the Power’s gate which has been in use for many years, and although for the present the former is being supplied only on new projectors, it is probable that eventually the latter will be entirely replaced by the new gate on all Power’s Projectors. This new film gate is massive in construction and is so designed that there are two large cooling spaces between three widely spaced heavy metal shields. The front shield or baffle plate which covers almost the entire mechanism front is of waffle iron design which secures ready and rapid radiation of heat. To the front baffle are attached completely insulated bakelite finger plates above and below for the protection of the projectionist’s fingers and this feature is carried still further in the construction and design of the latch gate itself. On this front baffle is mounted the automatic fire shutter, an accurately balanced sheet steel curtain having great thickness which closes and opens at a projection speed of approximately forty-five to fifty film feet per minute. The eye shield which is of new design is part of the front plate and may be readily removed by simply lifting it from its supporting spindle. The massive hinge is attached to the front plate and constructed so that it is impossible for the entire assembly to get out of alignment regardless of the rough usage it may receive at times. Back of this front baffle is another heat dissipating unit and between the two a cooling flow of air is assured at all times. To this second plate is attached the gate latch and gate latch spring which also carries the upper film guide roller, the upper fire shield and the pad to which are attached the pressure pads and their respective tension springs. The pads, which remain in perfect alignment at all times and exert the absolute minimum tension, are practically instantaneously replaceable. All parts normally exposed to heat are thoroughly protected from the direct light rays which would tend to render them inoperative. The old lower fire shield assembly has been discontinued and in its place a new device having a positive lock has been attached. When it is desired to open this lower fire shield assembly the index finger of the projectionist naturally falls in contact with the release catch and the thumb upon the knob for opening the shield. The new shield opening downward lifts the lower part of the mechanism entirely free of obstructions and eliminates the possibility of the lower fire shield slamming shut on the projectionist’s hands while threading the mechanism. With the new gate assembly it will no longer be necessary to hold the film in place when closing the film gate. The film may now be threaded in the Power’s mechanism, the idler rollers closed and without holding the film in place over the aperture, the gate may be closed and the film automatically placed in its proper position for projection. This feature has been so well taken care of that, although the gate may be repeatedly opened and closed while the film is being projected, each time the gate is closed the film will automatically be placed where it properly belongs. The entire film gate assembly consists of the following parts: Gate and hinge plate, gate latch stud and stop, fire shutter governor link, lower fire shutter assembly complete, a small double ended wrench for attaching the apparatus to the projector and all necessary screws are included with each gate. The new gate for the present is being supplied only on new Power’s Projectors, but it is hoped that within a very short time it will be available for those who already have Power’s Projector installed. The new gate will readily fit any Power’s 6-A or 6-B mechanism and may be attached in four or five minutes. Both the operation of the device and its construction may be easily understood by examining the accompanying illustration and comparing it with the following explanation of the lettered component parts. Parts Are Explained A — Lateral guide roller. This guide roller is split and the assembly so constructed as to maintain at all times lateral stability of the film and consequently the projected picture. B — Upper and lower film pads. These pads are of hardened steel, ground, highly polished and beveled and so held under tension as to assure a perfectly square contact with the film at all times. They are maintained under sufficient tension to insure steady projection and no adjustment is necessary. C — Film plate pad to which is attached the upper and lower film pads together with the central film pad and their respective tension springs. D— Gate lock screw. This stud is fastened rigidly to the mechanism frame having no adjustment and affords a positive lock for the gate assembly. E — Fire shutter lift lever. A newly designed link between the fire shutter governor and the fire shutter proper. The new design insures positive raising and lowering of the shutter at approximately SO film feet per minute. F — Central film pads. These pads are maintained under lighter pressure than B and their sole function is to keep the film in focus over the aperture. These pads like the upper and lower film pads are of hardened steel, ground and highly polished. G — Rear baffle plate. This plate is rigidly attached to the front or support plate and carries the lateral guide roller, upper film (Continued on page 55) r^ETAILS of an important improvement in Power’s projectors are given in a statement issued by the International Projector Corporation, which describes the new film gate with lower fire shield as incorporated on the latest model Power’s projectors. The new development comes after several years work in the company’s research and engineering department and will, according to P. A. McGuire, director of advertising and publicity, fill a long demand, as the rapidly growing use of reflector lamp, the high intensity and other illuminants with extremely high candlepower and corresponding increase of heat has greatly intensified the