Patented Feb. 5, 1929.

1,701,048
’ UNITED STATES PATENT > OFFICE;
HERMANN LUMMERZHEIM, OF ‘DESSAU-ZIEBIGK, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR, BY‘ MESNE
ASSIGNMENTS, T0 AGFA ANSCO CORPORATION, or BINGHAMTON, ‘NEW' YORK, A
CORPORATION or‘nnw YORK.
DEVICE FOR MEASURING- THE INTERVAL-S BETWEEN L‘ERFQRATIONS IN REGULAR
SERIES THEREOF.

Application ?led August 23, 1927, Serial No. 214,938, and in Germany December ‘14, 1926.

In the cinematographic art it is highly im series by superposition of one upon the other
portant to determine the exact distance be in such manner that the ?rst perforations of
tween any two adjacent perforations of the each series exactly register. By this means it
rows of perforations of a cinematographic is apparent that if the.perforation-intervals
5 film. I a of the two series differ, the corresponding suc
While, with the use of the modern perforat cessive perforations of the two series will'be- ,
ing machines, it is very easy to obtain great come more and more out of register as they
uniformity in the intervals between perfora~ become more and more distant from the ?rst
gtions, there is no way in which this uniformity two which are in exact register, until ?nally 60
10 may be later relied upon, because of the fact the far edge of a perforation of one series ex
that during storage and subsequent handling actly overlies the near edge of a perforation
and treatment the film is subject is shrinkage. of the other series. This is the interference
‘Therefore, when the ?lm is used, it is high mark or point and is easily recognized and is
1y desirable to have some means wherebythe used for taking readings. The distance of 65
interval between perforations, or the so-call ed this mark or point from the ?rst or register
“step” may be as quickly and accurately de~ ing perforations of the two series can be meas
termined as possible. i ' ured, and the perforation-interval or “step”
Heretofore, so far as I am aware, the meas of one series beingknown, the perforation~in
uring of this intervalhas generally been ac terval or “step” of theother series can be cal 70
KO 0 complished by measuring the distance be culated.v ‘ '

tween two relatively remote perforations, say In the accompanying drawings, I have il~
the ?rst and'the forty~?rst, and then dividing lustrated an instrument suitable for measur
the value thus obtained by the number of ing the perforation-interval of ?lms in ac
perforations, in this case forty. This will cordance with the principle set forth. '
give the average distance between any two In these drawings,
perforations. Since, in measuring the inter Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan View of the in
val between any two‘adjacent perforations, .strument;
an accuracy of 0.01 mm., or, if, possible, 0.001 Fig.2 is a View similar to Fig. 1, but show~
mm. is required, the measurement of a length mg a ?lm mounted thereon; and . 80
30 ' of ?lm embracing forty perforations must be Flg. 3 is an end view of the lnstrument.
accurate to a few hundredths of a vmillimeter. In manufacturing an instrument of the ,
This requires a measuring instrument which type illustrated, I take a strip 1 of wood‘,
permits‘ a parallax-free reading with the aid metal, or other suitable material having a
of a line graduation combined with a microm length of about 800 mm. and a width of about
35 eter screw or an accurate Vernier. 50 min, and form therein, parallel with ‘its
I have ‘devised an instrument for accurate edges, a longitudinal. depression 2 having a,
ly determining the perforation-interval or width of about 35 mm., the usual width of
“step”~of any given ?lm, which is simpler and cinematographic ?lm, and a depth of about
easier to use, even in the hands of the un '1 mm. Adjacent to one end of the strip and
4 skilled worker, than any device heretofore within the depression I attach two pins 3
employed‘, but which, nevertheless,. is de whose size, cross-sectional contour and dis
cidedly accurate. ‘ " tance correspond exactly with the size and
Thisinstrument makes use of the standard shape of the perforation holes and with the
gs a
size (lengthwise of the film). of perforation, ‘distance apart of the two rows of perforations
which in ordinary‘ cinematographic ?lms, of a standard ?lm.
shrinkage considered, lies between‘ 2.00 mm. Arranged in longitudinal alignment with‘,
and 1.98 mm., and the mode of operation of each .ofthe pins 8 is a row of marks 4, exact
the instrument is based upon the interference ly corresponding); in size and shape with the
principle,» whereby it is possible to compare size and shape of the ?lm perforations and 100
5O the perforation-interval of an unknown series spaced at a uniform distance from each other.
of perforations with the interval of a known These marks {l are preferably made black, and
 2 1,701,048

the bottom of the depression upon which they Other intermediate graduations may be
are placed may be white to present a striking placed upon the scales, but for present pur
contrast which facilitates reading. As is ap poses the described graduations have proven
parent from an inspection of Fig. 1, the de adequate.
pression 2, with the pins 3 and marks 4, pre If the interference point falls between two
sents an appearance similar to that of a ?lm. graduations, it will be apparent that it can
Upon the portions 5 of the strip 1 ?ank be obtained by interpolation andthe perfora
ing the depression 2, I provide suitably desig— tion~intervalof the ?lm thus determined will
nated graduations, as shown, these gradua be accurate within a few thousandths of a
10 ti'ons bearing a de?nite relationship to the millimeter.
marks 4. The above explanation has reference to
The indices for the graduations indicate the left-hand scale but a reading could also
the perforation-intervals of various ?lms be made upon the right-'handscale,the gradu
whose interference points fall at the points of ations 4.7 80 and 4.732 appearing thereon also
the graduations, and are determined by com- but not being shown because of ‘the fact that 80
putation from the known interval S and they fall upon that portion of the instrument
width to (measured along the series) of the which is broken away.
marks 4. At- the interference point the length It will thus ‘be seen that I provide a very
of a ?lm strip of N steps differs from the simple and inexpensive instrument for 'per~
20 length of N steps on the instrument by the forming theidesired measurement of the per
width of one mark. The interval ‘S’ of the foration-intervals of ?lms with extreme ac
?lm perforations is determined by the equa curacy :and facility, it being necessary mere
tion: ly to position the ?lm upon the instrument
in engagement with the pins 3, then 'deter-v
25 mine the interference point between the per 90
forations and the marks 4, and then read the
if S’ < S, as shown in Fig. 2. indices of the graduation‘ adjacent to the
For example, if the marks 4 are 2 mm. point at which the interference ‘falls.
wide and their spacing is 4.770 mm., a ?lm Various changes are contemplated as with
30 with a perforation-interval of 4.730 mm. is in the principle of the ‘invention and ‘the
placed upon the instrument with two of its scope of the following claims.
perforations engaged by the‘ pins 3, the here I claim :—
inbefore described interference point lies at 1. A device for measuring the intervals
a distance of 238.50 min. from the outer edges between perforations in ‘regular series there
CC Cl of the pins 3. At this point I place a gradu of, as in cinematographic ?lms, which .com- 100
prises a member bearing a series of marks
ation and indicate it by the number 4.7 30,
as shown at 6. The position of such a ?lm arranged at regular predetermined intervals,
upon the instrument is shown in Fig. 2. and means for positioning a ?lm in predeter
The accuracy of the reading of the instru relativerelation
mined
spacing
to said marks whereby the
of the marks and the ?lm 105
40 ment so graduated is apparent from the fact
perforations may be observed, said member
that the graduation for the interference point being
of a ?lm, the perforation-interval of ‘which de?niteprovided
relation
with graduations bearing a
to the spacing of the ?lm
is 4.732 mm., lies 1.69 mm. farther along the
scale of gra'duations. Thus, 1.69 mm. on this distance ‘between to?lm
perforations and said marks, whereby the
perforations ‘may be 110
45 portion of the scale corresponds with a dif determined. ' '
ference in perforation-interval of 0.002 mm. 2. A device for measuring the intervals be
It will be seen, therefore, that it is possible tween perforations in regular series thereof,
to read the instrument in thousandths of a
millimeter. as in cinematographic ?lms, which comprises
As will be apparent, particularly by refer a member bearing a series of marks similar 115
ence to the drawings, the accuracy of the in in shape and size to the ?lm perforations and
strument is the greater the farther the inter spaced from each other at regular predeter
ference point lies from the pins 3. In order mined intervals, and means for positioning
to secure the most even accuracy for measur a ?lm in predetermined relation to said marks
Li U! ing perforation-intervals of from 4.700 mm. so that the point of interference between said 120
to 4.755 mm., inclusive, between which lim marks and the ?lm perforations ‘may be ob
its lie the intervals generally used for cine served, said member being provided with a
matographic ?lms, it is advisable to provide, scale of graduations bearing a de?nite rela
in addition to the scale of graduations shown tion to said marks and to the spacing of the
at the left of Figs. 1 and 2, a scale of gradu ?lm perforations as indicated by said inter- 125
ations based on a perforation-interval in ference point, whereby the distance between
cluding 4.790 mm., as shown at the right of ?lm perforations may ‘be determined.
Figs. 1 and With these two scales the de— 3. A device for measuring the intervals
sired accuracy in measuring is assured for between perforations in regular series there
130
65 all occurring perforation-intervals. of, as in cinematographic ?lms, which com
 1,701,048
prises a member having a ?lm-receiving de cent to said depression with a scale of grad
pression provided with a series of marks of uations bearing a de?nite relation to said
a shape and size similar to the perforations marks and to the spacing of the ?lm perfora
of said ?lm and regularly spaced apart at tions as indicated by said interference point,
predetermined intervals, pins carried by said and indices for the graduations of said scale
member in predetermined relation to said whereby the distance between perforations
marks and adapted to position the ?lm so of said ?lm may be directly read.
that the point of interference between said In testimony whereof, I a?ix my signature.
marks and the ?lm perforations may be 0b
10 served, said member being provided adja I-IERMANN LUMMERZHEIM.