Title: Asynchronous high-speed pneumatic film transport mechanism

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Abstract: Asynchronous high-speed film transport apparatus wherein supply and take-up reels have opposite ends of an elongated film wound thereupon. A pair of drive motors one for each reel is selectively operable to rotate the reels respectively to move film along a path from one reel to the other. First and second film vacuum chambers are associated respectively with the supply and take-up reels, each chamber being arranged to hold a loop of film, the chambers being positioned adjacent the film path between the reels. Means are connected to the drive motors for producing movement of the film and sensing means are provided for maintaining a predetermined loop of film in each of the chambers during film movement. Between the first vacuum chamber and a read/record station is a first clamp for the film and a storage device for controlling the film advance, the storage device including a movable member for controlling the length of a frame. A second film clamp is positioned opposite the read/record station. Before frame advance, the second film clamp is closed and the first clamp is opened. Film is then pulled from the film loop formed in the supply reel vacuum chamber by applying air pressure and/or vacuum to the film in the storage device. At the same time, the movable member in the storage device, or film advance cavity, is positioned to provide the desired film advance distance. During film advance, the first clamp is closed and the second clamp is opened. Film is then pulled from the film advance cavity into the take-up free film loop by vacuum in the take-up film loop cavity and/or applied pressure.


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