Liquid Gate for Optical Printing
A 16mm liquid gate has been built for use in an Acme Optical Printer. Thin liquid layers at the windows provide tight film positioning in this total immersion gate. Film rides between rails, one set of which is compliant for passing splices. Registration pins are fixed. Operational speeds from hold-frame to 640 frames/min (16 ft/min) are possible in either forward or reverse direction; normal operation has been 320 frames/min (8 ft/min). Continuous cleaning is provided by first vacuuming the film as it enters the gate area, then flushing its surfaces with liquid prior to projection. Liquid enters the gate near its windows and leaves through the vacuum slots at either end of the gate. Insweep of air at the gate ends provides a squeegee for liquid removal from the film. The closed support system provides filtered, bubble-free liquid to the gate. Inhibited perchloroethylene is used as the immersion liquid. The gate is easily loaded and used with little change in procedure from normal dry-gate operation.
- Print ISSN
- 0361-4573
- Published
- 1970-04
- Content type
- Original Research
- DOI
- 10.5594/J10714