Can an older platter be made to work in this manner?

Anyone have a picture of one setup?

Strong also makes an Endless Loop Platter System: http://www.strong-cinema.com/

Endless loop platters rotate at a constant rate of speed, and "scallop" the film so the inside "circumference" matches the outside "circumference" of the roll. This results in a loose "pack" of film. They tend to be more sensitive to variations in humidity and static. Even though rethreading is not needed between shows, care should be taken to clean and inspect the projector during the day.

1. they're film killers. The elimination of the projectionist, which invariably leads to projectors not being cleaned, usually results in prints that get trashed quickly, especially if somthing in the film path goes awry and there is nobody paying attention to the operation of the loop.

2. They are a LOT of extra work (the 'extra work' that some operators are trying to eliminate by replacing the projectionist with the ELP and a timer-based automation) if you were in a situation to have to move several prints to different screens in a multiplex (having to convert the loop into a standard platter pack (or having to break the print down before moving it), or changing trailers, etc...

3. They are usually more expensive than a comparable platter system.

bottom line: if you are doing standard cinema [read more than a single screen and you can handle film yourself] operation, go with standard platters.

Do you know my friend Clark Crites, who received an Academy Technical Achievement Award for for his development of the Christie ELF 1-C Endless Loop Film Transport and Storage System in 1997?:
http://www.oscars.org/scitech_db/index.html

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com

The system worked very well with two exceptions: The drive clutch slipped on a session of Aliens that meant I had to hand spin it for two hours! A poor condition, oily print of Crocodile Dundee resulted in a cancelled session as there was no way the film wanted to separate over the ridges as it moved towards the centre payout!

We trialled it without a film cleaner so were required to un-thread each session to clean it! A PTR system would assist but you need to clean the PTR's!

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The Endless Loop serves a purpose in certain applications, but I'll generally remain a platter guy I think. Still, the loop is an interesting piece of equipment...

At one point all 5 were running regularly, then the ORCs died and were replaced with AW-3s....the ELF and Potts continued for some time...then the ELF turned back into a regular AW-3 after it wore out leaving the two Potts running loops....then polyester hit and that was the end of the endless loops...shortly after that, the whole theatre closed to be redeveloped into a Circuit City. The Westview people keep a close eye on the humidity of the booths to ensure smooth operation. They even vented the lamphouses in the booths if needed to keep the humidity in range. They had intermission black leader so the projectors NEVER stopped once started for the day.

In today's electronic world, with a pair of Kinoton FP-30E-R projectors, you can have the benefits of the endless loop without the humidity concerns or the film rubbing.

Steve

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