This application is a continuation-in-part of Unit States application Serial No. 452,620 filed December 23 1982.

Background of Invention

The present invention relates to a panoramic motio picture camera in which a filmstrip is continuously non intermittently exposed while the camera lens is rapidl rotated through 360°.

Panoramic cameras for still and motion pictur photography have been previously proposed. Hanke, et al . patent 2,068,410, discloses a panoramic camera having thre lenses angularly spaced 120° and rotatable about a centra axis at a rate of speed of about sixteen revolutions pe second. The camera casing supports film supply and take-u reels for each of the three lenses, each filmstrip passin through a film gate which is located between a shaft havin _a n axis of rotation and the lens. The lens, film gates an film supply and take-up reels are located in the sam planar zone. The camera casing and camera parts therein i first rotated, film movement being started by a manuall operated brake which acts against an extension of th rotating shaft.

Back patents 2,349,931 and 2,815,701 disclose panoramic camera in which the lens is rotated about an axi and the film supply and take-up reels are located on th opposite side of said axis and in the same planar zone a the lens . A sprocket on said axis is stationary while th film engages the sprocket without relative movemen therebetween. A slit aperture is provided to expose th film while it is in contact with the sprocket. The foca length of the lens system is disclosed as equal to th radius of the sprocket.

In Van Praag 3,374,721, a lens and film reels lyin

in the same plane as the lens are rotated about an axis, the filmstrip passing over a rotatable sprocket at said axis, the film gate being adjacent the lens and spaced from the sprocket. Globus, et al., patent 4, 241, B5, discloses another type of panoramic motion picture camera driven by a spring ribbon, this patent also including a discussion of the history of the panoramic camera. Globus, et al. patent 4,078,860 discloses a cycloramic projection system in which the film supply and film take-up reels are coaxial and spaced apart with the projection lens lying between the film reels and with the film path including a radial extension to provide space to translate the film between the separation reels. Such prior proposed panoramic camera constructions were subject to various disadvantages in terms of expensive construction and mode of operation which required precise minimal tolerances; difficulties in maintaining uniform speed of rotation of camera lens and speed of the film which often resulted in banding on the exposed film; and severe wear and tear on edges and sprocket holes of the filmstrip. Use of standard motion picture accessories and facilities were minimized because of prior proposed special constructions and modes of operation. Further, such prior proposed panoramic motion picture camera systems were not adapted to operate at relatively high speeds of rotation. They were generally difficult to be kept in dynamic balance because of changing positions of the film material due to the arrangement of the supply and take-up film reels.

Summary of Invention

The present invention relates to a novel construction and method of operation of a motion picture camera adapted to take panoramic scenes of a full 360° and the provision of a motion picture film which may be readily adapted by standard motion picture practices to be projected at 360°

to provide a panoramic motion picture scene. The inventi particularly relates to a panoramic motion picture came construction in which a filmstrip is continuously moved cine speeds, that is, twenty-four scans per second, a which uses a standard fixed focal length lens and filmstrip of any desired width, such as 35 millimeter, 8, 16, or 70 millimeter filmstrips but not limited theret The present invention contemplates a panoramic came in which a cylindrical camera body assembly comprises generally cylindrical stationary housing portion from whi is supported an upper cylindrical rotatable housi portion. The latter encloses motion picture camer components including coaxially mounted film supply a take-up reels, a lens and film gate, and a film suppl sprocket all of which rapidly rotate about an axis rotation; the filmstrip being engaged for almost 360° wit a central coaxial main sprocket having a circumference o one scan frame length, the camera lens focal length bein directly related to the scan frame length. The lens i provided with a focal plane aperture slit between the len and the film. The filmstrip passes over a film gate havin such an aperture slit in an arcuate path to compensate fo centrifugal forces to which the filmstrip is subjecte during rotation of the camera lens . The inventio contemplates that the filmstrip be provided a filmstri path which in the planar zone of the lens and the film gat enables the filmstrip to accommodate itself to centrifuga forces while maintaining uniform tension. The inventio also contemplates that the film supply and film take-u reels be located coaxially and in spaced planar zone beneath the planar zone of the rotating lens and mai sprocket. The film path between the film reels and the to film chamber is guided by novel angularly split two-par film guide spools which enable the filmstrip to make a abrupt quick change in at least two directions and thu enhancing the compactness of the camera. The inventio

O OMMPPll

further contemplates various other novel features which contribute to the exposure of a filmstrip in continuous panoramic mode and in an optically uniform precise manner.

It is therefore a main object of the present invention to provide a panoramic camera of novel unique construction and mode of operation.

An object of the present invention is to provide a panoramic camera in which its construction is readily adapted to be dynamically balanced and stabilized.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a panoramic camera adapted to provide a continuous, uninterrupted scan of 360°.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a panoramic camera in which the filmstrip is provided a unique film path including a plurality of spaced planar zones and which leads from a film supply reel in one zone and to a film take-up reel in another zone coaxial with the film supply reel and coaxial with the axis of rotation of the rotatable lens of the camera located in another zone _*

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a panoramic camera in which centrifugal forces acting upon the filmstrip are readily compensated for and in which a film gate having curved filmstrip supporting surfaces assists in guiding the film into a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens at a film gate having a slit aperture therein.

The invention contemplates a novel means for driving the lens, film gate, and filmstrip supply sprocket in rotation about an axis and in a manner which provides unique advantages of operation.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a panoramic camera in which its method of operation provides efficient use of the filmstrip by utilization of reversible motors driving film supply and film take-up reels in order to permit continuous complete exposure of

the filmstrip.

A further object of the invention is to provide nove bidirectional film guide spools adapted to translate th path of the filmstrip from one direction in a planar zon to another direction in which the film path departs fro said planar zone for travel in a planar zone spaced fro and parallel to the first planar zone.

The invention contemplates novel guide means for the filmstrip portion in its path between the two spaced

10 parallel planar zones . A preferred example of such film guide means includes an arrangement of friction free rollers to support and guide the filmstrip in a serpentine path with edges of the film having rolling contact with the rollers. -,1- A further object of the invention is to provide means for maintaining uniform tension of the filmstrip as it is fed to and from the film gate means, such uniform tension means including spring biased film slack arms each carrying a film guide spool at one end thereof and so arranged with

20 adjacent film guide spools that film tension is made uniform by changes in length of the effective moment arm of the slack arm with respect to the film path defined by the adjacent film guide spools.

A still further object of the present invention is to 5 provide convenient alignment means on the shafts of the main sprocket and film supply sprocket which may be correlated with a detent means between the two sprockets for assuring film and film sprocket alignment when a top cover door is installed prior to operation of the camera. 0 A still further object of the present invention is to provide a convenient pin and multiple slot means therefor for facilitating assembly of the film takeup and suply reels with their drive means.

The invention contemplates a rotatable camera housing c portion provided with means for stabilizing and maintaining rotation thereof about the axis of rotation and for

OMPl

positively - restricting any axial displacement of the rotatable portion so that the optical axis of the rotating lens will be precisely held in a plane. Such stabilizing means is external of the rotatable housing portion and readily engaged and disengaged therefrom.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a capping shutter readily operable to prevent exposure of the filmstrip under certain conditions of operation. The present invention also contemplates a novel method of operation of a panoramic camera by novel control means which may include a computer program and suitable readout information relating to the starting and stopping of the filmstrip, exposure and the like. Various other advantages and objects of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following description of the drawings in which an exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown.

In the Drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational view with wall portions removed of a panoramic camera embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top schematic plan view showing the lens and film path as viewed from the ground;

FIG. 3a is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the rotatable top camera housing portion, the section being taken in a vertical diametrical plane, and illustrating the film and lens chamber, the film supply reel chamber, and a portion of the film take-up reel chamber;

FIG. 3b is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken in the same plane as Fig. 3a and showing the stationary camera housing portion and a lower portion of the film take-up reel chamber; FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the film and lens chamber, the section being taken in a

horizontal plane just above the planar zone of t filmstrip path in the upper rotatable camera housi portion and illustrates the film path;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal transvers sectional view taken in a plane indicated by line V - V i

Fig. 3a immediately below the planar zone of the filmstri path shown in Fig. 4 to illustrate drive means for vertica adjustment of the lens in the upper film and lens chamber;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional vie showing the film path from the supply reel to the film an lens upper chamber by utilizing bidirectional film spools;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing th film path from the film-lens chamber to the planar zone o the film take-up reel and utilizing bidirectional fil guide spools;

FIG. 8 is a elevational view, partly in section, of bidirectional film guide spool embodying the invention;

FIG. 9a is an enlarged educational view of a fil casing guide means located between the takeup reel an film-lens chamber shown in Fig. 7.

FIG. 9b is an enlarged fragmentary sectional vie taken in the plane indicated by line IXb-IXb of Fig. 9a an showing an offset arrangement of film guide rollers in th guide casing means . FIG. 10 is a fragmentary schematic sectional view o a different drive means for the film supply sprocket in th film lens chamber;

FIG. 11 is a still different exemplary drive mean for a film sprocket in the film lens chamber; FIG. 12 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the gat means and of capping shutter means, the section being take in a vertical plane indicated by line XII - XII of Fig. 5.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary schematic view of the fil path in the film-lens chamber illustrating the action o the slack arm to provide uniform tension on the filmstrip. FIG. 14 is a chart illustrating the tension forc

OMPl

through minimum and maximum angles of theta of the slac arm as measured from its pivot axis from normal relaxe position to maximum tension position.

FIG. 15 is a chart illustrating control means for th camera;

FIG. 16 is a computer printout illustrating operatio of the camera.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged sectional view of a filmstri guide means for transporting the film between the fil supply reel and the lens chamber, the view being take along a plane longitudinally bisecting the guide means .

FIG. 17a is a transverse sectional view taken in th plane indicated by line XVIIa - XVIIa of Fig. 17.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged exploded view of the assemble guide means shown in Fig. 17, the guide means extendin between the supply reel and the film chamber as shown i Fig. 6.

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary view of the connectio between the supply reel and its drive tube, the view bein partly in section and partly in elevation to show th multiple slot con iguration of the upper end of the driv tube to facilitate assembly of the film supply reel wit the drive tube.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Referring first to Fig. 1, a panoramic motion pictur camera embodying the present invention is schematicall illustrated and identified generally at 20. Camera 20 ma include a camera body assembly which includes a stationar housing portion 22 and a rotatable housing portion 2 thereabove and defining an axis of rotation indicated a 24. Generally speaking, the stationary housing portion 2 may house those components of the camera which are require to be stationary such as a camera motor means 25, a fil supply reel motor 26, a take— p film reel motor 27 and main sprocket motor 28. The rotatable housing portion 2

supports therewithin other camera components including lens means 30 located for rotation about axis 24 in a upper or top planar zone, a film supply reel 31 located fo rotation about axis 24 in a second intermediate planar zon of rotation below that of lens 30, and a film take-up ree 32 rotatable about axis 24 and located in a third plana zone lying below the planar zone of the film supply reel Generally speaking, filmstrip 35 from supply reel 31 i directed to the planar zone of the lens by a plurality o guide spools including novel bidirectional spools 34 an after moving through a path as later described in detail the filmstrip 35 is passed about a driven film suppl sprocket 36 and then about a normally stationary main fil sprocket 37 coaxial with axis 24. In the top planar zon film gate 38 provided with a slit aperture is positione between the lens 30 and the main sprocket 37, the film gat being spaced from the main sprocket 37. Lens 30 may b located proximate to the outer circumference of the uppe rotatable housing portion 23 and a counterbalance means 3 is provided diametrically opposite thereto. From a general consideration of Fig. 1, it will b apparent that the major components of the panoramic camer for continuously scanning 360° are rotatable about centra axis 24 and that the film supply and film take-up reels are vertically spaced in spaced planar zones and are in coaxial relation to axis 24 about which the lens 30, counterweight 39 and film supply sprocket 36 are rotated. Dynamic balancing of the rotatable housing portion 23 and the components of the' camera housed therewithin may be readily and accurately achieved. The changing of the path of the filmstrip 35 from the supply reel to the film supply sprocket 36, to main sprocket 37 and to film take-up reel 32 maintain a substantially balanced relationship. The speed of film withdrawn from supply reel 31 and that of the film wound on take-up reel 32 occur at about the same rate and under uniform tension as later described. When the

OMPl

rotatable housing portion 23 is rotated at an operabl speed of approximately 1440 revolutions per minute (2 frames per second) , dynamic balance of the camer components within the rotatable housing portion 23 may b readily maintained. Some of the radial outermos components of the camera may be subjected to multiple "G forces Which may effect the filmstrip path and th operation of the camera shutter as described later.

Generally speaking, in operation, with the lens an film tension adjusted, the rotatable housing portion wit the camera components therein is caused to rotate abou axis 24, including the main film sprocket 37, until selected speed is reached. Upon reaching the selecte speed, a brake is applied to stop rotation of only the mai sprocket 37. filmstrip 35 is then continuously engage with the main sprocket as the other camera components i the rotatable housing portion rotate about axis 24, th film sprocket 36 being rotated to provide relative movemen between the filmstrip and film gate for exposure of th film. The focal length of the selected lens 30 is directl related to the circumferential path of the filmstrip abou the main sprocket 37, the circumferential length of suc path being the equivalent of the length of one scan o 360°. The focal length of the lens should be equal to th scan length divided by 2 Pi. This relationship is known i the panoramic camera art (US Pat. 2,815,701).

Rotatable Housing Portion

The rotatable housing portion 23 may comprise a upper housing section 40 containing the lens 30, fil supply sprocket 36, main sprocket 37, counterweight 39 an other camera components-. - -A separable lower housin rotatable section 41 may generally contain the film suppl reel 31 and the film take-up reel 32.

Upper Housing Section

The upper housing section 40 includes a cylindric wall 43 of selected diameter and is provided with a lig admitting port 44 for the lens 30. Section 40 al includes a circular bottom wall 45, a top circumferenti wall 46 within which is provided a circular door 47 havi a joint line at 48 of stepped form with circumferenti portion 46 to provide a suitable light seal. Within t chamber formed by cylindrical wall 43 may be provid spaced subplates 49 and 50, generally C-shaped members in spaced relation and secured to transversely extendi spaced strengthening bars 52 (Fig. 5) which exte transversely of the chamber for a major portion of t width of the chamber. At the opposite ends of t strengthening bars 52 may be provided vertical spaced wal 53 defining a lens chamber 54 adjacent light admitting po 44. Extending traversely across the lens chamber 54 a between the top cover 47 and bottom wall 45 are partitio 56 and 57.

Partition 56 may be vertically movable and suitabl connected to the internal end portion of lens 30 fo mounting of the lens. Vertical side edges of the movabl partition 56 may be recessed in vertically extendin recesses 58 in each of the walls 53 to provide verticall adjustable slidable mounting of lens 30. Such vertica adjustment of the lens 30 may include a lead screw 5 having a lead nut 60 secured to the partition 56 by suitable securement screw 61. On the opposite side o partition 56, a lock screw and nut assembly 62 is provide for securing the lens 30 in its selected vertical adjuste position. The forward portion of lens 30 may be suitabl mounted as generally indicated at 63 to guide the entir lens 30 in its vertical translational movement. Th function of the vertical adjustability of the optical axi of lens 30 will be described later.

Also, extending between the strength bars 52 and th adjacent portions of walls 53 is transverse wall 57 whic

OMPl

serves as a mounting means for suitable gate means generally indicated at 70 '(Figs. 5, 12). Gate means 70 (Fig. 12) may include suitable removable components such as removable plate 71, aperture mounting plate 72 and an aperture plate 73 which provides a slit aperture 74 o selected width. The gate means is so constructed that plate 71 and 72 may be readily removed for the insertion o an aperture plate 73 having a slit aperture of a differen selected width to accomodate different photographic conditions. The slit aperture 74 of gate means 70 is o the optical axis 0 of the lens means 30. At the transverse zone which includes the slit aperture 74, the partition wall 57 may be provided with a front arcuate guide surface 76 across which filmstrip 35 passes, the arcuate fil guiding surface being convexly curved with respect to said lens means. The curvature of the arcuate surface 76 is selected so that when rotatable housing portion 23 is rotated at 1440 rpm, the centrifugal forces acting upon that portion of filmstrip 35 which passes between the transverse vertical edges of the film gate port .77 will assume a position in a plane normal to the optical axis and parallel to the slit aperture opening. The use of suc arcuate surface 76 is correlated with the centrifugal forces acting on the incremental sections of the filmstrip at the film gate port 77 to obviate use of a film pressur plate to maintain a filmstrip plane normal to the optical axis. It may be noted that while the film gate 70 is relatively close to the circumference of the main sprocket 37, the film gate and the slit aperture 74 may be locate at any suitable radial distance from the axis of rotatio depending upon the diameter of. the cylindrical wall of the upper housing section.

Also associated with the gate means 70 is a capping shutter means generally indicated at 80, Figs. 5 and 12. In Fig. 12, capping shutter 80 comprises a circular disc 81 having an outer circumference greater than the inner

circumference 82 of the aperture mounting plate 7

Circular disc 81 has a planar surface which closely mat with surfaces of the mounting plate 72 and is adapted completely cover and seal the opening defined by inn circumference 82. Circular disc 81 is mounted on an arm which is pivotally mounted at 84 by a pin 85 (Fig. 5) whi extends through wall 57 and on the inboard side of wall carries a counterweight 86. At the outboard end portion pin 85, a spring means 87 biases the capping shutter into normally closed position of gate means 70. T pivotal mounting of arm 83 includes on the inboard side wall 57 a lever arm 88 provided with a hole 89 to which connected a wire link 90 connected at its other end to arm 91 connected at 92 to a solenoid (not shown). T opposite end of arm 91 is provided with a counterbalanc

93. Operation of the solenoid 92 causes the cappin shutter arm 88 to be rotated in a clockwise direction fro its normally biased closed position to a fully ope position as shown in Fig. 12. Use of the capping shutte will be described later.

Also included in the upper housing section 40 i counterweight 39 mounted diametrically opposite lens 30 an on the optical axis thereof. Counterweight 39 is carrie by a suitable transverse members 100 connected at it opposite ends to a pair of spaced lead screws 101, eac provided with a lead screw nut 102 providing vertica adjustment of the height of counterweight 39. Correlate vertical adjustment of the lens 30 and the counterweight 3 is provided by extending the lead screws 101 and lead scre 59 downwardly below subplate 50 to provide a suitabl flexible belt drive therefor as indicated at 105 in Fig. 5 It will be noted that the flexible chain drive 105 passe around sprockets on lead screws 101 and thence to an idle sprocket 106 to an adjustment sprocket 107 and then to sprocket 108 provided at the end of lead screw 59. tensioner idler sprocket 109 may be provided so that th

OMPl

path of the chain 105 may be suitably routed beneath th subplate 50 and through an opening 110 in support bar 52. Adjustment knob 107a is provided on the end of a shaf which extends through subplate 50 and is accessible fro 5 the top of the upper housing section when the door 47 i removed. The height of the counterweight 39 and the len 30 can be precisely vertically adjusted in a directio parallel to the axis of rotation 24 while maintaining th centers of gravity of the counterweight and lens in a plan

^-0 perpendicular to axis 24. While a manual method o vertical translation of the position of the optical axis o the lens has been illustrated, it will be readil understood that the invention contemplates that othe means, such as automatic remote control may be employed t

15 adjust the vertical translation of the optical axis of th lens and to secure the lens in a selected position.

Also contained within the upper housing section 4 are the main film sprocket 37 and the film supply sprocke 36 which are diametrically aligned with lens 30 and are i suitable spaced relation. Both sprockets 36 and 37 li between subplates 49 and 50. Main film sprocket 37 has circumference or a diameter which is related to the foca length of lens 30 as mentioned above. Sprockets 36 and 3 are selected for the size of film to be exposed and ma

" include sprockets adapted for use with film of a size suc as 8mm, 16mm, 35mm, and the like.

Sprocket 37 includes sprocket teeth 116 of selecte number depending upon the film used and adapted to suppor filmstrip 35. Sprocket 37 includes a hub 117 supporte from subplate 50 for rotation with respect thereto an includes an internal cylindrical bore 118 adapted t fixedly receive the upper end 119 of a main sprocket hollo supporting column 120 (Fig. 3b) which extends into th stationary housing portion 22. Adjacent the lower end o 5 column 20 is mounted a pulley wheel 121 which connect through a suitable pulley belt 122, a drive pulley 123 of

suitable sprocket driving motor 124. Sprocket motor 12 may be mounted in stationary housing portion 22 in an suitable manner. In some panoramic camera version embodying the present invention, a sprocket motor may no be required.

The lower portion of sprocket column 120 is connecte at its bottom to a magnetic brake 126 which is adapted t stop rotation of main sprocket column 120 during operatio of the camera for exposing film. Within hollow sprocket column 120 is a coaxial ro

127 which may be suitably fixedly connected to column 12 as by a pin 128. Column 127 and its top portion 129 i held in loose axial alignment with axis 24 and column 12 by a bushing' member 130 having a tubular portion whic extends downwardly into the sprocket core and into th upper portion 119 of column 120. Column 127 serves as torsion means for smoothing advancement of the filmstri during start up operation of the camera as will be late described. At its top, rod 127 is provided with flattened tongue extension 130 adapted to be receive within a complementary slot or recess 130a on dependin member 131 to provide a releasable connection to the to cover 47. Member 131 carries a gear 132 which meshes wit an intermediate gear 133 supported on a shaft 134 fro subplate 49. Shaft 134 extends above gear 133 to carry pulley 135 which carries a belt 136 for connection to pulley 137 carried on a shaft 138 carried by top plate 47 and extending downwardly with a recess 139 at its lower en for engagement with a shaft 140 which carries film sprocke 36. The upper end of shaft 140 has a flattened tongu extension 141 for engagement with a slot in shaft 138 t provide a releaseable driving connection therebetween. It will thus be apparent that the pulley drive and gear chain means 132 to 136 provide a drive means for rotating fil sprocket 36 when the main sprocket 36 is stationary an while the housing portion 23 is rotated.

Also contained within the upper housing section 40 i a system of filmstrip guide spools best shown in Fig. 4 t provide a filmstrip path in the planar zone of the fil sprocket 36 and main sprocket 37 and to suitably receiv filmstrip 35 from film supply reel 31 and to delive exposed filmstrip 35 to film take-up reel 32. Th filmstrip 35 may enter the chamber provided by the uppe housing, section at a bidirectional film spool 150 and ma pass over an idler spool 151 to another idler spool 152 an then around a spool 153 carried by a slack arm 154 an pivoted about an axis at 155. The slack arm 154 with it film guide spool 153 is adapted to move in an arc betwee the position shown at 156 and a position shown in phanto lines at 157. The arrangement of the slack arm is such a to maintain uniform tension on the filmstrip unde conditions of operation in which centrifugal forces affec the filmstrip as later described herein. Filmstrip 35 the passes about an idler spool 158, engages film suppl sprocket 36, and then is guided past a guide spool 159 The film is guided over a relatively small diameter guid post 160 carried by subplate 50 and supporting one end of film guide plate 161 supported at its other end at filmstripper 162. Under the influence of centrifuga forces on the filmstrip, the filmstrip is bowed radiall outwardly as at 163 and approaches the curved film guid surface 76 to pass between top and bottom edge guides 163a only one being shown in Fig. 4. A removable light shiel 76a may be provided at the edge guides 163a to limit th entry of stray light at the film gate and aperture slit After the filmstrip crosses the- slit aperture, it passe around idler spool 164 and 'returns through slightly mor than a 180 degree - ^" turn to pass around the main fil sprocket 37 for a major portion of the circumference of th sprocket after which the strip is guided past idler spoo 165 which is closely spaced circumferentially to idle spool 164. A filmstripper 165a is provided between th

OMPl

latter two spools, to assure that the film leaves the ma film sprocket 37 at the idler spool 165. The film th passes around spool 166 and past the film supply sprocke 36 to spool 167. After leaving spool 167, the strip 3 passes about idle spool 168 supported on slack arm 16 pivoted at 170 to permit the slack arm 169 to move from th position shown at 171 to a maximum position shown b phantom lines at 172. The arrangement of the filmstrip 3 with respect to both slack arms 154 and 169 is identical Strip 35 then passes about idle spool 173 to idle spool 17 and thence about a bidirectional film spool 175 fo directing the exposed filmstrip 35 to take-up reel 32. I should be noted that in the illustration of the film pat in Fig. 4 that the effect of centrifugal force on th filmstrip is indicated at certain areas by a film pat which is not the most direct path between the adjacen spools as at 163 and 163b.

In both Fig. 2 and 4 it will be noted that th direction of film travel through the film gate is reverse with respect to the direction of film travel about th sprocket 37 to provide image reversal because of the len reversing the image.

Before describing the lower housing section 41 i should be noted that the slack arms 154 and 169 provide means for maintaining the tension of filmstrip 3 substantially uniform. Operation of only one slack ar will be described for brevity. At pivotal mounting 170, slack arm 169 is provided a standard coil spring (no shown) of selected strength which normally biases slack ar 169 into the position shown at 172 (Fig. 13). As fil tension increases, the slack arm is moved from its normall biased minimum condition at 172 and swings clockwise (Fig. 13) through an arc about pivot axis 170. During its trave in this arc as a result of tension applied to th filmstrip, the effective moment arm "L" , extending from th pivot axis 170 to a point medial the two filmstrip portion

OMPl

indicated at 35a and 35b and at 90° to the medial lin therebetween, changes in relative position with respect t the pivot axis. The effective moment arms "L" , varying an acting on filmstrip portions 35a and 35b, compensates fo the increase in spring biasing force of the tightened coi spring so that the resultant tension maintained in th filmstrip is substantially uniform. The maintenance o substantially uniform tension is illustrated in the chart, Fig. 14, which on the X axis indicates the angle 0 o change of the slack arm, and on the Y axis indicates th amount of torque or tension being applied to the filmstrip. The curve is not precisely straight, but the variation i curvature is minimal with the result that filmstrip tensio on that portion of the filmstrip being fed to the film gat and that portion of the film being delivered from the fil gate is substantially uniform.

It should also be noted that the positioning o filmstrip 35 between the film supply sprocket 36 and th main film sprocket 37 is facilitated by means of a alignment means presently described. Supported on th subplate 50 is a suitable block 180 provided with a bor which contains a compression spring 181 against which i seated the lower end of a pin 182 which carries beneath th plane of sprockets 36 and 37 a transverse diametric ba 182a for engagement with diametric detent recesses 183 i sprockets 36, 37. The top end of pin 182 extends to ^" th top plane of the sprockets 36 and 37 and is normally biase upwardly by the spring 181 for engagement of bar 182a wit the detent recesses 183. When filmstrip is wound o sprockets 36 and 37, the sprockets may be turned relativ to each other until the ^" alignment bar 182a is biase upwardly into the detent recesses 183 in the sprockets 36, 37. In such position, the sprockets are restrained agains relative rotation. Since relative rotation must occu during operation of the camera, when top door plate 47 i assembled with the upper housing section 40, the dependin

OMPl

actuating pin 184 in alignment with the pin 182 is provid sufficient length so that upon contact with the top ed face of pin 182, pin 182 is depressed against the biasi spring 181 and the transverse diametric detent bar 182a i released from engagement with the sprockets 36 and 37 permit relative rotation thereof during operation of th camera.

The alignment feature of this diametric bar 182a i arranged so that the releasable and slot connections 13 and 141 between the top cover 47 and the shafts 129 and 14 are also in diametric alignment (not as illustrated in Fig 3a, but turned 90° from the shown position in Fig. 3a) Thus, proper positioning of the filmstrip is assured an also alignment of shafts 129, 140 and shafts 131, 13 respectively with minimum effort of the operator.

Lower Housing Section

The lower horizontal housing section 41 may compris a .cylindrical wall 190, top and bottom wall margins 191 an 192 which provide a top opening 193 and a bottom openin 194 for a top door 195 and a bottom door 196, respectively The joint lines between the doors 195 and 196 and th circumferential top margins and bottom margins 191 and 19 may be of stepped configuration to provide a light seal Intermediate the top and bottom doors 195, 196 is provide a centrally disposed transverse partition 198 to define film supply magazine chamber and a lower film take-u magazine chamber. Within the top chamber, film supply ree 31 is mounted for rotation about axis 24. The core 199 o the film reel 31 may be enlarged to provide suitabl fitting of reel 31 on the upper end of a hollow tube 20 which may be supported in bearings 201 and 202 associate with the top door 195 and the intermediate partition 19 respectively. The reel 31 is provided with an enlarge central opening 203 for reception of the enlarged hub 20 provided with an extension which may carry a suitabl

spring loaded pin 205 for securing the hub 204 to the uppe portion of tube 200. To facilitate adjustment and securin of hub 204 to the hollow drive tube 200 the upper en portion of tube 200, Fig. 19, may be provided with a shor beveled or conical section 200a provided with a pluralit of longitudinally extending channels or grooves 200b whic extend into the metal section below the widest portion o the conical section for reception of the pin 205. When th supply reel is reassembled with the drive tube 200 and th door 195 is removed, the pin 205 will engage one of th plurality of grooves 200b to facilitate angular orientatio of the film reel almost immediately upon positioning of th film reel over the top end portion of the tube 200. Th conical surface 200a is so grooved that reception of th biased pin 205 into one of the grooves 200b is readil made.

Hollow tube 200 is spaced from column 120 with nonin terference clearance and extends downwardly through th take-up reel chamber and into the stationary housin portion 22, the lower end of tube 200 being provided with pulley 207 which is driven by a pulley belt 208 by a suppl reel reversible motor 209 having a drive—pulley 210. Th supply reel motor may be suitably mounted within th stationary housing portion 22 in a well-known manner. Th lower end of tube 200 may be supported in bearings 211 supported from the stationary housing portion 22 i suitable manner as by member 211a.

In the lower film magazine chamber provided by th lower rotatable housing section 41 there may be somewha similar mounting for film take-up reel 32 including a hu 212 provided With an upper _^^ extension 213 which may b pinned by a suitable spring loaded pin 214 to the upper en of an external tube 215 coaxial with axis 24. Th arrangement of the top end portion of tube 215 and th spring loaded pin 214 is similar to that described wit respect to Fig. 19 and the drive tube 200 and pin 205.

^~

Such arrangement facilitates the assembly of the fi take-up reel 32 with its drive tube 215. Take-up reel may be similarly provided with an enlarged core opening 2 for suitable releasable mounting with respect to the h 212. Tube 215 extends downwardly through the door 196 in the stationary housing portion 22 and carries at its bott end a pulley 217 for a pulley belt 218 which is driven by drive pulley 219 on the end of a motor shaft of a take- reel reversible motor 220. The take-up motor is al suitably mounted within the stationary housing portion 2 Noninterference spacing is provided between the hollow tu 215 and the internal tube 200 so that both may rota relative to each other. Ends of tube 215 may be suitab mounted in bearings 221. it will be apparent that access to film supply re

31 may be had through door 195 and access may be had to t film take-up reel 32 through door 196 when the rotatab housing portion is disassembled from the stationary housi portion 22 and the upper housing section 40 disassembl from the housing section 41. Doors 195 and 196 may releasably locked in closed position by a plurality o circumferentially spaced releasable-locking pins 223 o each door, pins 223 ^" being engageable with bores 223a i lock members 224 carried on marginal walls 191, 192.

In assembly of the supply and take-up reels wit their drive means a new supply reel of film is loade through door 195, a long length of film leader is withdraw from the supply reel and threaded through the film guide and through the film chamber until the end thereof i inserted into the film guide leading to the take-up ree and then associated with the take-up reel which i accessible by opening the bottom door 196 (Fig. 3b) . Whe the film has been threaded the doors 195 and 196 are close and the film magazine 41 is lowered over the drive tube 200 and 215. The pins 200 and 214 which are biase inwardly may or may not initially engage grooves in th

OMPl

upper ends of their respective drive tubes 200 and 215. Upon start-up of the camera initial slight relativ rotation between the film magazine and the drive tubes wil automatically cause the pins 205 and 214 to engage a groov in their respective drive tubes to interlock the reels wit the drive means for rotation of the reel.

Housing sections 40 and 41 are separable and may b reieasably secured together by a plurality o circumferentially spaced bolts 308 which extend through th marginal top wall portion 46 and through bottom wall 45 fo threaded engagement with a nut 309 secured to marginal wal portion 191 on section 41. The top of each bolt ma include a suitable lever means to facilitate turning of th bolt. The circular edges 225 and 226 of sections 40, 4 may be mated in a suitable configuration as at 227 t provide a light seal.

Filmstrip Path

The film reels 31, 32 are coaxial in parallel space apart planar zones and are parallel to the planar zone o the path of the filmstrip in the upper section 40. Spac within cylindrical walls 43 and 190 is relatively limited, filmstrip departing from the supply reel 31 is guide through space available adjacent to the circumferentia walls of the camera housing and also through openings i the top wall 195 and the bottom wall 45 of the uppe housing section. Passage of the film between the tw housing portions or sections is best shown in Figs. 6 and wherein the filmstrip 35 leaving the film supply reel 31 i guided to a bidirectional film spool means 230 mounte between the top wall margins 191 and the intermediate wal 98. Filmstrip ports 231 and 232 are provided in the wall 191, 45 respectively, the filmstrip 35 being subject to bidirectional change in path by a spool means 233 supporte between the wall 45 and the top wall margins 46.

Each bidirectional spool means 230 and 233 may b

substantially similar, one spool means being described detail (Fig. 8). Bidirectional spool means 230 includes pair of spool parts 234 and 235, each having a base flan 236 and a conical spool portion 237 having a surface whic tapers or decreases in diameter toward the end of the spoo part distal from the flange. Each spool part has an axi 238 about which the spool part may rotate, the axes o mating spool parts 234, 235 being arranged at a selected angle to each other. In Fig. 6, such angle i approximately 45° in order to translate the film path in horizontal zone to a path in a zone at 45° thereto Similarly, the spool means 233 (150) receives the filmstri at a 45° path and translates the 45° path to a horizonta path leading to the arrangement of idle spools and the fil path system shown in Fig. 4. In Fig. 7 the change i direction made by the spool means is about 60°.

Suitable mounting means may be provided for eac spool part 234. 235. In spool means 230, shaft 234a abou which the conical spool part 234 rotates may extend int intermediate wall 198 for positioning and mounting thereof The mating spool part 235 may be supported from top margi wall 191 by a suitable block 239 which provides a bore an securement means for shaft 235a of part 235.

Similarly, spool means 233 may be mounted with one o i s spool parts rotatably mounted in a supporting block 24 and its mating spool part may be mounted in a suitabl block 241 carried by the top marginal walls 46 of the uppe housing section 40. The arrangement of the spool portion

237 of each of the mating bidirectional spool means is suc that the conical configuration thereof avoids contact wit the ^' filmstrip except at longitudinal edge portions of th filmstrip, such contact being partly along the conica surface and partly adjacent the flanges 236. Even thoug the filmstrip changes its path of travel in two directions, the major central portion of the filmstrip and particularl the emulsion carrying portion does not contact the spoo

parts as it is bidirectionally translated.

The openings 231 and 232 in the intermediate wall 19 and bottom wall 45, respectively, are slot-like i configuration and of sufficient size to not only permi ,- passage of the filmstrip 35 but to also permit enclosin the filmstrip portion extending between the spools 233 an 230 with a film guide casing 270 to prevent unwante exposure of the filmstrip from light that might possibl leak into the camera housing and also to guide the fil

, _Q under centrifugal forces.

One example of such a guide casing 270 is shown i Figs. 17, 17a, 18 guide casing 270 being also shown in Fig 6 as extending between the supply reel and the len chamber. As shown in Figs. 17, 17a, and 18, guide casin

, _ς 270 includes top and bottom housing portions 255 and 256, each housing portion having an elongated wall 257, 25 provided with spaced sidewall segments 259a and 259b whic mount anti-friction rollers 410, 411 respectively in such manner that when the two housing portions are mated, th o sidewall segments 259a and 259b are interleaved in paralle planes and provide essentially unbroken non—ligh transmitting sidewalls. As shown in Fig. 17, filmstrip 3 follows a serpentine path by passing over one roller 41 and under the adjacent roller 410 when the two housin _c portions 257 and 258 are mated. Edge margins of filmstri 35 rollingly engage the enlarged end portions ^' 412 of eac of rollers 410, 411 so that the filmstrip 35 will lie i straight lines traversing the space between the enlarge roller end portions. ₀ The portion of the filmstrip 35 which extends betwee the two bi-directional spool means 260 in Fig. 7 is als encased within a film guider ^' casing means 245 between wall 191 and 198, the film' extending through suitably elongate slots 271, 272 and 272a provided in walls 45, 191 and 198. ₅ Casing 245 Fig. 7, 9a and 9b comprises two mating casin portions 246 and 247. Casing portion 247 is provided wit

OMPl_

sidewall segments 248 for mounting in spaced relation pair of anti-friction rollers 249 rotatably mounted i segments 248 as at 250. Casing portion 246 include depending sidewall segments 251 on which are rotatabl mounted an anti-friction roller 252 in such a manner tha its axis of rotation is spaced from the plane of the axe of rotation of rollers 249. As shown in Fig. 9b, filmstri 35 passes over one of the rollers 249, beneath the rolle 252 and then over roller 249. Each of rollers 249 and 25 includes enlarged end portions so that only edges of th filmstrip are contacted by the rollers and the longitudina central portion of the filmstrip when under longitudina tension and under centrifugal forces in operation of th camera lie in substantially straight uncurved transvers lines extending between the enlarged roller end portions The mating casing portions 246, 247 may be secured b suitable screws in any convenient manner and the film guid casing 245 may also be releasably secured in the positio indicated in Fig. 7 to walls 45, 191. In an exemplary arrangement for directing the path o filmstrip 35 from the lens chamber to the take-up reel 3 as shown in Fig. 7 bi-direction spool means 260 are simila in construction to the bi-directional spools 230 and 23 and are mounted in essentially similar manner. The angula relation of the axes of the spool parts 261 and 262 of eac spool are at an angle of approximately 60 degrees in orde to translate the direction of the filmstrip between th lens chamber and the film take-up reel 32. Briefly, th top spool means 260 is mounted by a suitable block 263 supported on subplate 50 and by a block 264 supported o wall 45. The shaft of the upper spool part 261 may b suitably connected with a block 265 supported from th circumferential margin portion 46 of the upper housing portion. The lower bi-directional spool 260 is als somewhat similarly supported by suitable block 267 and block 268 from the intermediate wall 198. The lower spool

OMPl

part may be supported from the circumferential wall portion 192.

In the passage of filmstrip 35 through the film guide casing 245 and 270, it will be apparent that the filmstrip is protected against light leakage and the introduction of foreign matter and is positively guided in its passage between the bi-directional spools between the film reel chambers and the lens chamber. The serpentine path of the filmstrip in guide casing 270 involving five rollers and the modified serpentine path in the three roller guide casing 245 provide means for virtually anti-friction free rolling contact of the film edges with the guide rollers under conditions of film tension and centrifugal forces imparted to the filmstrip during such passage when the camera is in operation. The emulsion portion of the film exposed to light during camera operation is not contacted by ^' the rollers as it is guided-between the chambers.

The film casing guide 270 is of greater length and is provided with larger diameter rollers than that described with respect to film casing 270, but functions in similar manner. Film guide casing 270 may be fixed to wall 45; film guide casing 245 may be releasably mounted to wall 198.

Stationary Housing Portion

Stationary housing portion 22 (Fig. 3b) may comprise a cylindrical wall 290 having the same outside diameter as the cylindrical walls of rotatable housing portion 23. Stationary portion 22 also includes a bottom wall 291 which may be secured to a base member or plate 328 for supporting the camera housing. Stationary portion 22 includes a top partition wall 292 spaced from the top edge 293 of cylindrical walls 290 to provide an upper top open chamber 294 and a generally closed chamber 295 adapted to house the various motor means 124, 209, 220 for driving the camera components in the rotatable housing portion as described

hereinabove.

Motor means 300 for the main camera drive means fo rotating the rotatable housing portion 23 may be suitabl supported in chamber 295 as from the partition wall 292 Motor means 300 is provided with a motor shaft 301 whic supports a drive gear 302 for meshed engagement with a gea 303 supported by bearing means 304 carried on wall 292, th outer race 305 thereof being carried by a support membe 306 which may be secured to door 196 of the take-up ree chamber. The rotatable housing portion 23 is thus directl driven by motor means 300 through the gears 302 and 303 such driving rotative torque being transmitted through doo 196 to upstanding releasable door lock pins 223. A space hub 314 extends between door 195 and bottom wall 45 of th upper section 40. Housing sections 40 and 41 whic comprise the rotatable camera housing portion 43, may b rotated as a unit at selected speeds by the camera moto means 300.

STABILIZING MEANS

Means for stabilizing rotation of rotatable housin portion 23 and the included camera components therein ma comprise the provision of a top annular rib 320 on th exterior of housing section 41 adjacent wall portion 19 thereof. Annular rib 320 provides downwardly and outwardl directed right angle surfaces indicated at 321 fo engagement with guide wheels 322 having complementar V-shaped guide faces 323 for engagement with the righ angle faces 321. Each guide wheel 322 may be supporte about an axis of rotation 324 by an inclined yoke shape end 325 of an upstanding member 326 having at its lower en a hinged connection at 327 to base plate 328 on which th camera may be mounted.. The stabilizing means also includes guide wheels 330 mounted about a horizontal axis o rotation and carried by the upper end portion of an upstanding member 331 having its lower end provided with a

OMPl

hinged connection at 332 to base plate 328. Such stabilizing means may be located at diametrically opposite positions externally of the camera housing assembly and engaged with annular rib 334 provided as an extension of the bottom marginal wall 192 of lower section 41. Such stabilizing wheels 322 and 330 inhibit any movement of the rotatable housing portion off its axis of rotation 24, as well as limiting any vertical displacement of the rotatable housing portion during camera operation. The plurality of spaced support members 326 and 331 and associated guide wheels 322, 330 may be provided and in assembly with the rotatable housing portion 23 may be retained in position by a suitable external cage means or releasable support members (not shown) .

It will be readily apparent that when the camera assembly is to be installed or disassembled the cage means may be removed or released, and the members 326 and 331 may be readily released from their vertical positions and hinged slightly away from vertical position as well as removal of the rotatable housing portion to permit ready access to the camera assembly. Stabilizing wheels 330 engage the top horizontal annular face of annular rib 334 to limit upward movement of the housing portion 23. Bearing 304 and spacer 306 maintain coaxial relation of the annular rib 334. Stabilizing wheels 323 engaged with the annular rib 320 limit downward movement of the rotatable portion 23 as well as any twisting or off axis rotation of the rotatable camera housing portion in lateral or horizontal direction. Thus^ during camera operation the optical axis of the lens and associated film gate will rotate in a plane with virtually zero deviation therefrom.

Operation of the Camera

Operation and control of the panoramic camera 20 is best considered from a viewing of Figs. 1, 15, and 16. It is contemplated that operation of the camera may be

OMPl

conducted through a control box 350 having suitabl necessary circuitry to provide push button operation of th functions of the camera and including a computer progra utilizing well-known microprocessing systems. In Fig. 1 the command channels from the control box are schematicall illustrated and include a command channel to the mai camera motor 300, a separate command channel to th sprocket motor 124 for actuation of the main camera housin rotative drive and also to the main film sprocket driv which would produce rotation of the rotatable housin portion 23, the main film sprocket 37, the drives therefo being described hereinabove. Upon reaching a preselecte speed of rotation which would normally be cine speed of 2 frames per second or 1440 rpm of the rotatable camer housing portion 23, a command may be given to the mai sprocket brake means 126 which will cause the rotating mai film sprocket 37 to stop. The rotatable housing portion 2 continues to rotate with the camera components therewithi such as the lens 30, the film gate, the filmstrip arrange on the various idle spools as shown in Fig. 4, and the fil supply reel 31 and film take-up reel 32. Upon stopping th main film sprocket 37 while the remaining camera component continue to rotate about axis 24, the filmstrip momentaril engages in nonrelative movement the sprocket teeth of th main film sprocket 37. Since the column 120 supporting th main film sprocket 37 is now stationary, the coaxial ro 127 is also stopped, and the gear train 132, 133 and pulle belt drive 136 produces rotation of the film suppl sprocket 36 because of continuous rotation of the camer housing portion ^' 23. Thus the filmstrip 35 is move relative to the film gate 70 for exposure of film when th capping shutter 80 is moved by its solenoid into ope position. For each revolution of the lens 30, a length o film comprising one scan length will be exposed continuous- ly, the scan length being the circumference of the main film sprocket 37, the relationship of which has been here-

tofore described. In view of the continuous exposure of the film as compared to intermittent frame by frame exposure of most motion picture cameras, means are provided for identifying one scan length. Such means may comprise a light emitting diode 400 (Fig. 4) at the exit side of the curved film gate path. A light transmitting passage way 401 for the light emitting dialed 400 is arranged in diametrical relation with the film spool 164. The light emitting diode is actuated each time a single revolution of the camera or of the main film sprocket 37 is completed so that a momentary flash of light from the diode will expose a small mark on the edge of the film as it passes passage¬ way 401 and thus precisely indicates and identifies one scan length of the film. Means for actuating the light emitting dialed 400 upon each revolution of the camera is well known and not described herein.

In the start-up operation of the camera as briefly described above, it should be noted that the stationary rod 127 which is secured only at its lowermost end at the brake means 126 provides a torsion rod means which will absorb irregularities in the transfer of rotative forces to the film supply spool 36 through the gear and pulley drive connecting the rod 127 and the shaft of the film supply sprocket 36. Thus, the start-up of relative movement between the filmstrip 35 and the film sprocket 36 provides a smooth change in the speed of the filmstrip.

The film supply reel 31 and film take-up reel 32 are driven in correlation with the film tension as determined by suitable tension sensors and feedback pots (not shown) associated with each of the spring biased slack arms 154 and 169. It will be understood that the film tension is initially adjusted by the relative positioning of the film supply sprocket 36 and main sprocket 37 and by the position of the slack arms 154 and 169. During film movement in operation of the camera, the slack arms 154 and 169 through their associated sensors compensate for variation in

OMPl

tension forces acting on the filmstrip and provide virtually uniform film tension as previously described.

It should also be noted that in initial preparatio of the camera for start-up that the lens means an associated counterweight may be adjusted vertically t compensate for positions of the camera that may be above o below a desired viewpoint. Translation of the lens mean vertically permits limited offsetting of the image. Sinc the lens means is counterbalanced by counterbalancing mean 39 as above described, the counterbalance means 39 is als vertically adjusted simultaneously with the lens means t provide counterbalancing in such finally verticall adjusted position.

To assure that the top door 47. is in proper closed position and the shafts are in engagement with shafts 140 and 129, respectively, a sensor means may be, not shown, to assure that the top door 47 is in proper locked position.

In further operation of the camera 20 and with reference to Fig. 16 which represents a computer printout of operation of the camera through selected phases thereof, the following exemplary sequence may take place in one mode of operation. The camera may be armed (AR) by tensioning of the filmstrip by control of the reversible motors associated with the supply and take-up reels. The camera may then be started at a point in time indicated at 344. Indicia 344 is in a vertical plane which includes the beginning of the curve 345 and 346 of the lines identified by (AB) which has eference to the absolute film speed with respect to ground and the line identified by (CS) which has reference to the camera speed. It will be noted that in this vertical plane identified by the indicia 344 the line indicated by (FS) showing the film speed relative to the camera contains no information.

As the camera rotates a period of time elapses to that indicated by 347 which indicates that the rotational speed of the camera has reached a selected speed which is

to be maintained. The chart indicates that such speed wa maintained for a short period of time the end of which i indicated at 348 and during which the film speed relativ to the camera has been zero. The start film command (FS) is indicated by tim indicia 349 and also on the film speed line, the film spee relative to the camera increasing to the point indicated a 350. It will be noted that on the line (AB) showin absolute film speed with respect to ground that that spee has been reduced as indicated at 350a. At this point i time, the camera speed remains uniform as indicated by 351.

When the film is stopped, as indicated by indicia 35 opposite (PF), the film speed relative to the camera i reduced to the point indicated by 353 on the film spee line (FS). The camera speed remains the same as indicate by 354 and the absolute film speed with respect to groun is indicated as increasing as shown on line (AB) at 355. While camera speed is maintained as shown at 354 on lin (CS), it will be noted that the relative film speed i reversed as indicated at 356 and the line AB indicates tha the absolute film speed with respect to ground ha increased as shown at 357.

Under the illustration in Fig. 16, after the fil speed has been stopped, the film speed relative to th camera will return to zero as shown at 358. On line CS th camera speed continues at the selected rate and on line A the absolute film speed continues until the camera is stopped as indicated by indicia 360 on line PC. Upo stopping of the camera, it will be apparent that the camer speed as indicated on line CS drops to zero at 361, th absolute film speed with respect to ground drops to zero as indicated at 362 on line AB, and there is a momentar forward movement of the film speed indicated at 363 on lin FS. The momentary film speed at 363 is also represented b the recess 364 shown in line AB.

In a second mode of operation, upon restarting of th

camera after stopping at a point of time indicated aft 361, the filmstrip is also started as indicated by 366 in reverse direction for a limited period of time such as fi seconds so that five seconds of already exposed film may used as a leader for the succeeding portion of unexpos film. Thus, as shown in Fig. 16, start-up of the filmstr in a reverse direction as indicated by the line FS at 3 will then ^' permit the filmstrip to be moved relative to t camera speed so that when the camera speed reaches i selected rotative speed indicated at 368, the film spe will be at 369 and exposure of unexposed film may commenced immediately after the end of the prior expos film portion. When the camera is stopped as indicated indicia 371 on line PC, line FS indicates slowing down o the speed of the filmstrip to zero at 372 and then reversal of the filmstrip to a time point indicated at 373 As indicated on line CS, the camera speed slows to a sto at the time point reference at 374. Line AB shows th integration of these two relative speeds as indicated a 375 on line AB.

It will thus be apparent that the operation of th camera includes a novel system whereby after stopping th camera, the camera may be again started without loss o film to be exposed while the camera is being brought up t selected rotational speed. The computer controlled camer operation facilitates the complete economical use o unexposed film and the exposure thereof in a camera of thi type without intermediate unexposed portions of the fil produced by the requirements that the camera be brought u to operational speed before movement of the filmstrip. blank film leader will prevent the waste of unexposed fil at the very beginning of the camera operation; however, i will be apparent that if the camera is stopped in a intermediate section of the unexposed filmstrip that certain length of leader is required before the camera i again up to the selected speed of rotation and th

filmstrip is moving at the proper speed relative to the film gate for exposure. The method contemplated by this invention is that by reversal of the filmstrip after the camera has been stopped a portion of the exposed film may be utilized as a leader so that when the camera and filmstrip reach the desired speeds of rotation the succeeding portion of unexposed film will be in continuous sequence with the previous exposed film. It will be understood, of course, that the capping shutter means 80 will move into closed position immediately upon stopping of the camera and reversing of the filmstrip and will remain closed until the camera and filmstrip are moving at the desired speed for exposure of film.

When the camera comes to a complete stop, the film portion in the exposure chamber will represent the space or gap between exposed portions of the film.

It may pay to point out that when the camera comes to a complete halt the film in the exposure chamber will be the gap between exposures (not the desired exposed film) . While the film supply and film take-up reels 31 and

32 have been illustrated as of a certain diameter relative to the inner diameter of cylindrical wall 190, it will be understood that the diameter of the film reels may be increased to accommodate greater lengths of film. It is also contemplated that since the rotatable housing portion is made in two separable sections 40 and 41 that if desired the film capacity of the camera may be greatly increased by enlargement of the diameter of only the section 41. It will be noted that since the film supply and take-up reels are coaxially arranged that the dynamic balance of the camera as to the movement of the filmstrip remains unchanged.

The system of filmstrip guides and idle spools and bidirectional spools described above facilitates the use in a camera of the present invention of motion picture film of relatively thin film base material, inasmuch as splicing of

film rolls together will not produce irregularity in fi transport or in the passage of the spliced sections throu the film gate. It should be noted that the film spool film guide means and film gate are so designed that on the longitudinal edge margins of the filmstrip a contacted during transport. Further, since the movement the filmstrip is continuous and not subjected to intermittent start-stop action, the wear and possibl distortion of the sprocket holes in the film is obviate and the film transport is smooth and not subjected t intermittent movement.

In Figs. 10 and 11, alternate modifications of th drive between the stationary main sprockets and the fil supply sprocket are illustrated, like parts- being give reference numerals with a prime sign. Briefly, in Fig. 10 column 120 ' carries main sprocket 37 ' and is associate with the brake means and with a sprocket motor as describe in the prior embodiment. Upstanding rod 127' is provide with a top bearing mounting 130'. In this embodiment, th spider gear 132' may be carried by rod 127' below its to end, the spider elements of the gear extending throug suitable openings 380 in the column 120". Spider, gear 13 engages a gear 133' which may be mounted for rotation abou a shaft 134'. Below gear 133', shaft 134' carries a driv pulley 135' which carries a belt 137" for engagement with pulley 136' carried on a shaft 140' which carries fil supply sprocket 36'.

In the embodiment of Fig. 10, the driving of the fil sprocket 36' is in the same manner as that described i Fig. 3a in the prior embodiment; however, the gear an pulley drive is located below the sprockets 36' and 37' an is not associated with the top door 47. Such modificatio of the film supply sprocket drive may be useful in certai modifications of the camera means 20. In Fig. 11, a still further modification of the fil sprocket drive is illustrated and will be briefl

OMPl

described, similar parts being given double prime reference numerals. As shown in Fig. 11, the main film sprocket 37' ' is now carried by upstanding rod 127' which may be connected to the column 120 ' ' in the same manner as shown in Fig. 3b and in the first embodiment of the invention, since both column 120 ' ' and rod 127 ' ' are fixed and rotate and stop together. In this embodiment, column 120' is provided with a gear _. 132 ' ' for engagement with a gear 133 ' ' carried on a shaft 134* ' which supports ^" a pulley 135' ' .. Pulley belt 137 ' ' engages a pulley 136 ' ' carried by shaft 140 ' ' which carries the film supply sprocket 36 ' ' . It will be apparent that this gear and pulley drive arrangement of the film supply sprocket 36 ' * differs rom the other embodiments of such drive in that the main film sprocket 37" is carried by rod 127 * ', and that the gear 132* ' is connected to the column 120 ' ' .

The panoramic camera means described above is compact in size, the diameter of the camera housing being in the order of 16" or less. Such compactness facilitates use of the camera in underwater photography and wherein an external underwater casing may enclose camera 20. The underwater casing may be internally provided with the stabilizing wheels for engagement with the annular ribs on housing sections 40, 41. The use in the filmstrip path of film idler spool 164 at the left of the film gate 70 as viewed in Fig. 4 permits the location of the film gate at any radius greater than the radius of the main sprocket 37 and also permits the ilm gate to be of any shape and size. Thus the outer diameter of the rotatable housing portion may be varied to satisfy other design parameters.

It should also be noted that the film tensioning means is provided by the film supply and take-up motors which are located in the stationary housing portion 22 and are isolated from the rotatable housing portion. No mechanical differential is required between the motors and

the rotating film reels. Each motor is separately ser controlled to vary the torque applied to the film reel This arrangement reduces the spinning weight of the came and the horsepower required of the camera motor. It should also be noted that the entire arrangeme of rotatable camera components within the rotatable housi portion provides a distribution of mass which i substantially balanced.

It will be readily apparent that variou modifications and changes may be made in the camer described above and which come within the spirit of thi invention and all such changes and modifications comin within the scope of the appended claims are embrace thereby.