Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02162119 2003-06-18
1
Process And Device For The Synchronous Addition Of Odours To
Visual And/Or Acoustic Stimulation
Descript:ion
The invention relates to a process and a device for adding
odours or scents synchr.onousl.y to visual and/or acoustic
stimuli.
The invention relates to a process and a device for
intensifying t:-,e sensorial perception of visual and/or
acoustic prese-itations, a_r1 particular in cinemas, theaters,
concert and conference halls, as well as during slide and
video shows, television and radio broadcasts and the like,
the audience being provided with scents corresponding to,
and synchronous with, specific visual and/or acoustic events
or scenes. A process and pertinent devi_ces of this kind
have been described in the applicant's German Patent
Application No., P 41 35 796.5.
The present invention i:::~ primarily based on the object of
improving a process and a device of this kind such that the
characteristics of the scents used in the process can be
perceived even better and are altered as little as possible.
Thus, in one aspect, the inventiorl provides an apparatus for
intensifying sensorial perception of a visual, acoustic, or
visual and acoustic presentation, where an audience is
supplied with one or more scents in synchronism with
specific visual, acoustic, or visual and acoustic stimuli,
the apparatus comprisinq multiple conduits leading to the
audience, wherein at least one of the conduits can be used
CA 02162119 2003-06-18
la
for conveying at least one of the scents in alternation with
a purging gas.
In another aspect, the irlvention provides a process for
intensifying sensorial perception of. a visual, acoustic, or
visual and acoustic presentation, by supplying an audience
with one or more scents in synchronism, with specific visual,
acoustic, or visual and acoustic stimuli, utilizing the
apparatus described herein, comprisinc; the steps of heating
a carrier gas ~:o a scent:.-specific temperature, the scent-
specific tempe:ratu.r.e being selected to ensure the
development of the at least one scent, heating the at least
one scent to the scent-specific temperature, and discharging
the at least one scent raith the carrier gas to the audience
via the at least one of the conduits.
Thanks to scent-specific thermal treatment, scents can be
realized perfectly and t::.rue to nat.ure for the first time.
Besides, it is possible by way of the invention to maintain
the quality of the scent::s or odours used without any
alteration and
2 2162119
to avoid unwanted ageing and changes caused by the conduit
system.
The invention provides a scent or aroma heating system as well
as a conduit system for aroma cinemas and for projection
apparatus used for cinematographic or other performances, which
make it possible to provide scents exactly in correspondence
with specific scenes.
According to a preferred embodiment of the process of the
invention intended to intensify the sensorial perception of
visual and/or acoustic presentations, the scents conveyed to
the audience via a stream of carrier gas are heated to scent-
specific temperatures before the carrier gas is released into
the ambient air in the auditorium; said scent-specific
temperatures are required in order that the perfumes and aromas
may come to bear. Hence, certain scents which, after being
produced, were impossible to realize because temperatures were
too low can now be presented publicly for the first time.
In this process, the carrier gas is preferably heated to the
scent-specific temperature, suitably before it gets into
contact with the respective scent or aromatic substance.
Alternatively, the carrier gas may be heated after contacting
the aroma, which is preferably effected in the conduit system.
A temperature drop in the conduit system can be reliably
prevented by heating the carrier gas to the scent-specific
temperature just before it is released into the ambient air in
the auditorium.
In order to prevent scents from adhering to the conduits and
superimposing some other scent desired at that moment, the
conduits are regularly purged, preferably by intermittently
conveying the aroma-laden carrier gas and a purging gas through
the ducts to the auditorium. The carrier gas charged with the
aroma and the purging gas are suitably conveyed in pulse-like
P:\TL'tT\PATLNT\597GlitiB 1. DOC
3 2162119
successive intervals so that a quasi permanent purging process
is effected.
In a particularly favourable embodiment, the carrier gas
contains helium or consists of helium. In this case, a film
scent system is obtained in which helium heated to a
temperature appropriate for the respective scent is used to
develop the characteristics of said scent and in which the
scent can also be quickly removed from the spectator's seat. In
order to save helium, empty chairs in the aroma cinema are
automatically cut off from the scent stream.
For reasons of cost, air - preferably compressed air - which
may be additionally heated is used as purging gas.
It is important, particularly in a film scent system, to delay
ageing of the aromatic substances in order to ensure the
quality of the scent perceived by the audience. For this
purpose, it is suggested that, in order to prevent ageing, the
scents or aromas be cooled until they come into contact with
the carrier gas. Such cooling may be effected in a deep cooling
process.
So as to prevent the aromatic substances from adhering to the
conduit walls during the passage through the conduit system,
the carrier gas and/or the purging gas is/are suitably
subjected to a constant rotary whirling motion, preferably a
constant spiral rotary motion, in the conduit system leading to
the audience.
According to another preferred aspect of the invention, a
device is provided, particularly for carrying out the afore-
described process, which comprises multiple conduits leading to
the audience, at least one of said conduits being available, in
alternating manner, for the supply of scent and another for the
purging operation. Thus a purging system for scent supply
conduits is achieved, which can also operate during the showing
P:\TE\'1'\PATEN'I\5976UBB I . DOC
2162119
of a motion picture. This arrangement is preferably realized in
the form of a twin system in which one system conveys scents
to, and evacuates unwanted scents from, the spectator whereas
the other system carries out the purging operation and can be
used again as soon as aromatic substances settle in the first
system.
This objective can also be achieved on the basis of multiple
systems in which the conduits last used are purged and
operation is switched to the other, available conduits.
Alternatively, a purging system can be provided in which air
(optionally heated) is passed through the conduits when no
scents are supplied to the audience.
It has also proved useful for the device to contain a cooling
means which cools the at least one scent or aroma reservoir.
The heating system for the aromatic substances preferably used
in so-called aroma cinemas has to be designed such that the
individual scents can be heated differently, i.e. according to
their nature and the scent-related technical requirements. For
such scent-specific heating, at least one controllable heating
means for heating the carrier gas is preferably used.
A heating means is preferably provided such that the carrier
gas is heated before it comes into contact with the at least
one aroma. Alternatively, or additionally, a heating means may
be provided adjacent each of the at least one scent discharge
opening(s) located in the auditorium, which can preferably be
adjusted individually. Heat loss in the transport system is
thus reliably prevented.
Furthermore, a heating means can be provided between the at
least one scent or aroma reservoir and the at least one scent
discharge opening.
P:\'CEX"I'1PE11'ENT\5976UPI31. DOC
CA 02162119 2003-06-18
So as to reduce scent deposits in the conduit system, the
conduits used for the transport of scents comprise at least at
the inside a layer of inert material, preferably of glass or
ceramics. In an advantageous embodiment, the conduits used for
the transport of scents are designed completely as glass or
ceramic conduits.
Aroma deposits at the conduit walls are also counteracted by
means of spiral projections or projections having a similar
effect at the inner walls of the conduits used for the
transport of scents, or by designing said conduits in the form
of spirals.
Further details regarding the design of the device and the
process can be seen from the applicant's PCT application
PCT/EP92/02446.
In the following, the invention is further explained with
reference to the figures.
Fig. 1 shows a scent-specific heating and control system for
aroma cinemas;
Fig. 2 shows a film strip with heat signals and control data;
Fig. 3 shows a cooling and drying system for film scent
reservoirs;
Fig. 4 shows a longitudinal section of a scent supply conduit
having a common flow profile;
Fig. 5 shows a longitudin.al section of a scent supply conduit
which is spirally shaped at the inside;
Fig. 6 shows a longitudinal section of a buffered and armoured
scent glass pipe which is spirally shaped at the inside;
CA 02162119 2003-06-18
6
Fig. 7 shows a cross-section of a double twin conduit including
a purging system;
Fig. 8 shows a cross-section of another embodiment of the
supply conduit system of Fig. 7;
Fig. 9a shows a cross-section of the double twin system of Fig.
8, the first conduit being switched to the purging state;
Fig. 9b shows a cross-section of the double twin system of Fig.
8, the first conduit being switched to the scent conveying
state;
The embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Fig. 1 shows
a scent heating and controlling system for the introduction of
scents during motion picture shows, etc., which consists of a
control unit 1 comprisirig a twin conduit 5 consisting of a
scent supply conduit 2 and a return conduit 3, as referred to
in the afore-mentioned application No. PCT/EP92/02446.
In the present embodiment of the invention, the control unit 1
is again provided directly at the cinema viewing chair, the
scent-charged quantities of air introduced being in the micro-
range beyond existing air-conditioning technology, preferably
between 0.2 and 0.0002 i/sec.
The control unit 1 enables the individual viewer to preset the
intensity of scent impressions conveyed in correspondence to
the movie scenes via the scent supply conduit 2 by way of the
conduit controlling means 14 according to his/her own liking.
Excess scent-charged air is fed into the return conduit 3 via
the conduit controlling means 14.
In the above-referenced application, it has already been
suggested for physical reasons that the scents discharged at
2162119
the individual seats be heated to 3 to 4 degrees above air
temperature in the cinema. This should lead to a reconduition
in the specific gravity of the discharged scent/air mixture;
the scent last emitted immediately rises towards the ceiling of
the cinema or the air-conditioning system so that superposition
of scents of several movie scenes is avoided.
According to the present application, scents relating to
different scenes are separated a lot more effectively when
helium is added or used in pure form as scent transport medium,
as will be described in more detail below.
Apart from the physical properties, a certain way of heating
the emitted aroma quantities, via air, helium or other
transport media, entails another, very important aspect
regarding aroma technology.
The fascination of a movie being accompanied by scents often
depends on the extent to which the complete spectrum of an
aromas can be perfectly produced. Many aromas only develop
their essential characteristics at specific temperatures. Often
scents and aromas cannot be perceived or recognized without the
specific effects of temperature; this is a problem frequently
encountered by manufacturers or aromatic substances, who are
usually not able to control the temperature at which a scent or
aroma is applied. So it happens that certain aroma features can
be generated under specific, ideal temperature conditions but
cannot be reproduced in the concrete case of application.
In the present case, where scents are controlled by film and,
as already mentioned, preferably transported by micro
quantities of helium, it is possible for the first time to also
provide the ideal temperature profile of the scents, thus
making them accessible for consumers for the first time.
As illustrated in Fig. 1, a heating system 7 is provided at the
scent supply conduit 2 before the control unit 1, said heating
P:\'1'E'ti1'\PATENT\5976UEB 1.DOC
2162119
system being controlled via a heating control means 9. The
heating control means 9 is connected to a pulse scanner (not
shown) via a control cable 10.
During the showing of the movie, the pulse scanner reads data
relating to the appropriate thermal value of a scent from a
signal track 8 of the film stock 12 (Fig. 2). As the optimum
temperature may vary from scent to scent, the respective scent-
specific temperature signals 15 which trigger the heating
system 7 are also arranged on the signal track 8 of the film
(Fig. 2).
Depending on the design of the device, heating of the heating
system 7 to the appropriate thermal value may take a few
seconds, e.g. 3 seconds. For this reason, the associated
temperature signal 15 is arranged at a correspondingly earlier
position on the signal track 8 of the film stock 12 (Fig. 2) so
that the thermal value pertaining to the desired scent and the
associated movie scene are in synchronism.
In order to keep the heating step as short as possible, the
surface of the supply conduit 2 is somewhat increased in the
area of the heating system 7, e.g. by way of a flattened
conduit, which also leads to a more rapid cooling of the
heating system 7 in the case of successive lower thermal
values.
Irrespective of other improvements of a scent's
characteristics, the heating step may generally intensify the
scent. In another embodiment (not shown), the heat level of the
heating system 7 disposed at the spectator's seat can therefore
be controlled to some extent by the conduit controlling means
14 which regulates scent intensity anyway.
In further embodiments of the invention (not shown), the
heating system 7 may be incorporated in other positions of the
scent supply system. It can be inserted at the start of a
P:11'E?ti11PAT EN"I15 9 7G UE 131. DOC
9 2162119
collective conduit for 10 seats and other positions of the
distributing system, for instance.
If the heating system is positioned directly behind the central
scent introducing system (not shown), the entire aroma cinema
installation requires only a single heating system; in this
case, the thermal values must increase with increasing distance
of the heating system from the individual viewing chairs in
order to compensate for heat losses in the conduit system.
In other embodiments of the invention which are designed in a
basically similar way, helium is used as transport medium
instead of minimized quantities of air. As helium is about
seven times lighter than air, the introduced scents disappear
quickly.
The particular advantage of this embodiment resides in the fact
that the scents or aromas evacuate very quickly due to the
inherent buoyancy of the transport medium so that no disturbing
ventilator or the like is required.
Due to the extremely small amounts of gas used, superposition
of scents in the audience is thus reliably prevented without
any perceptible ventilation. This is very important, as the
audience will not be distracted from the movie in any way.
Helium is excellently suited for this purpose, both with regard
to health and safety regulations. It is non-combustible,
chemically inert and completely harmless with respect to
health; it has been used successfully for breathing apparatus
of divers and breathing aids of asthmatics for decades.
The inner surfaces of the conduits and the conduit arrangement
may have to be adjusted somewhat because of the considerably
smoother and quicker flow of helium.
P:\'1'T.'i'IIPATLN'I15976UL'B 1.DOC
,io2162i19
~..
The quantities of helium required for scent transport are very
small; nevertheless, thrifty use can be of advantage. According
to an embodiment of the invention (not shown), seats that are
not occupied during the showing of a movie are automatically
disconnected from the scent stream so as to prevent expensive
helium from being discharged unnecessarily. In a modified
version, only the occupied seats are activated either manually
by pushbutton or upon contact when a person sits down so that
aromas and helium are only given off at the seats actually
used.
The fascination of scents accompanying a movie does not only
depend on the activation of the aroma available but also on the
profile of an aroma whose particular characteristics have to be
maintained.
For an aromatic impression to be considered credible and true
to nature, the ageing process of the scent is often very
important. To prevent the aromatic substances which at the time
of discharge may have spent many weeks in the film scent
reservoir of a cinema from ageing prematurely, the ambient
temperature of the aromas to be stored is considerably
decreased in the film scent reservoir 4 according to the
embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Fig. 3.
The aromatic substances associated with individual scenes are
contained in scent carriers 16 arranged on a scent roll 18. The
scent roll 18 is rotatably mounted on a journal bearing 22 and
secured by a journal securing means 23. The scent conduit
leading to the viewers has access to all scent carriers 16 of
the scent roll 18 via the scent connecting piece 24. The
correct scent associated with a certain scene is triggered by
scent pulses 11 arranged on the signal track 8 of the film
stock 12 which are supplied to the scent roll controlling means
13. The scent roll controlling means 13 selects the appropriate
scene-related aroma via the control wheel 21.
P:\1'EN1lPA'1'EN115976UEB 1.llOC
11 2162119
For reducing the ambient temperature of the aromas stored on
the scent roll 18, a specific dry cooling system 17 is
incorporated in the film scent reservoir 4. The dry cooling
system adjusts the ambient air in the film scent reservoir 4 at
coolness and moisture values optimally suited for all the
scents on the scent roll 18; said values may vary slightly
depending on the scent roll 18 and the film.
The specific coolness and moisture values of each scent roll 18
are reported to the central controlling means 30 via a data
track (not shown) on the scent roll 18.
The appropriate coolness value is fed from the central
controlling means 30 to the dry cooling system 17, the excess
heat flowing to the external heat exchangers 20. The moisture
which frequently collects during cooling steps and which may
impair the quality of some aromas is controlled in the film
scent reservoir 4 via a moisture controlling means 27 which is
also controlled by the central controlling means 30.
The central controlling means 30 simultaneously controls all
scent commands fed to the scent roll 18 via the scent
controlling means 13, as well as all the commands used in the
cinema, e.g. commands concerning valves, the heating process
and the like.
The scents introduced in the conduit system from the scent
carriers 16 of the scent roll 18 via the scent connecting piece
24 are delivered - in a most accurately electronically
controlled process - to the individual spectator and are
optionally activated by a heating system. If the heating system
is a central heating system directly behind the scent inlet at
the scent connecting piece 24, the required thermal energy may
optionally be drawn by a correspondingly adapted heat exchanger
of the cooling system.
P:\TEtiT'.PATBNT15976UEF31. DOC
CA 02162119 2003-06-18
12
Fig. 4, which illustrates an embodiment of a scent supply
conduit, shows the type of flow profile in a scent supply
conduit 31 (considerably enlarged) as intended in application
PCTIEP92102446.
Said scent supply conduit 31 comprises a conduit wall 32 with a
straight inner wal:L 32a and the flow profile 39 as it usually
occurs in this connection. It can be clearly seen that the flow
velocity of the air conveyed in said conduit sharply decreases
at the inner walls 32a of the conduit.
This may lead to micro-particles, here: aroma particles,
carried in the air flow being deposited on the edges of such
conduits, as they are not sufficiently entrained by the slow
marginal flow.
When aromas are given off for a rather long period of time, so
many aroma particles may deposit on the conduit walls that a
subsequent air flow without aromas, i.e. pure air, takes on the
scent of previous aroma discharge(s) and carries said scent to
the audience even after the relevant movie scen.e.
Likewise, previous aromas could mix with subsequent scents and
cause a mixture of scents which the audience may find to be
unpleasant and which would no longer correspond to the movie
scenes. As a result, the audience would be irritated and
distracted from the movie instead of experiencing it more
intensely.
So as to overcome this drawback, the einbodimerit of the
invention as illustrated in Fig. 1(in enlarged form) which
consists of a scent supply conduit 37 and a conduit wall 33 has
inner surfaces 33a of specific design.
The inner surfaces 33a of the conduit wall 33 comprise
elongated recesses or projections 34 designed to impart a
continuous rotary motion on the air flowing therethrough. In
13 ~~~~119
~..
the present embodiment, the recesses or projections 34 have the
shape of a spiral line which slightly protrudes inwardly from
the inner surfaces 33a of the conduit wall 33 and continues
this way over the entire length of the conduit.
As the spirally arranged projections 34 impart a continuous
spiral rotary motion on the air flowing through the conduit,
the velocity of the air passing along the edges of the conduit
is considerably increased and, depending on the design, may
even exceed the velocity of the air flowing in the middle of
the conduit.
The aroma particles entrained in the air stream are thus also
strongly accelerated in the marginal layers of the stream,
which prevents the aroma particles from depositing on the inner
surfaces 33a of the conduit wall 33. The projections 34, here:
a spiral line, are incorporated in the inner surface 33a of the
conduit wall 33 during the manufacturing process. Shapes of
this kind can also be obtained by deforming the conduit as a
whole in a slightly torsional manner during the manufacturing
process.
To prevent the formation of unwanted micro-turbulences behind
the projections 34 (in the direction of flow) and thus the
accumulation of aroma particles, the contours of the spiral
projections 34 are relatively smoothly shaped.
Apart from the shape of the inner surfaces 33a of the conduit
wall 33, the fine structure of said surfaces and a possible
chemical reactivity of the material are important factors for
the prevention of aroma deposits.
As regards the chemical reactivity with aroma particles, most
plastics are reactive and therefore generally not suited for
this field of application, in spite of their favourable
processibility. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the
P:11'EX'I1PA"1'EN"I15976UEB 1. DOC
2162119
material used for the conduit wall 33 is a particularly inert
type of steel, e.g. V4a steel.
Even ducts made of steel and other inert materials may cause
problems, however. If the surfaces exhibit fissures or various
minute indentations, for example (detectable by microscopic
inspection), aroma particles will be more likely to settle than
on very smooth surfaces.
According to another embodiment of the invention, shown in
enlarged form in Fig. 6, particulary favorable materials,
namely relatively elastic types of glass, are used for the
conduit walls 33 of the scent supply conduits 37. Conduits made
of glass have the smoothest surfaces in the microrange, so that
aroma deposits are basically ruled out.
Such glass conduits can also be provided with structures, e.g.
spiral projections 34, which impart a continuous rotary motion
on the stream of air until the air is discharged at the
viewer's seat.
In the special scent supply conduits 37 of the embodiment
illustrated in Fig. 6, aroma deposits are prevented in two
ways: the spiral-shaped course structure of the surface
accelerates the air flowing in the marginal layers of the air
stream to such an extent that the entrained aroma molecules are
prevented from slowing down and adhering to the inner surfaces
33a, while the smooth fine structure of the inner surfaces 33a
of the conduit walls 33 prevents aroma molecules from settling
down even under the most unfavorable flow conditions.
It might be advantageous to protect elastic types of glass from
external strains, too, particularly if they are not laid under
the floor but are subsequently installed as micro-conduits
above the floor of existing movie theaters. For this reason,
the conduit walls 33 of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 6
are additionally embedded in an elastic layer 42 which in turn
P:\TEXIIPA'I'ENT\5976UEB l . DOC
15 2162119
is supported in a warp-resistant protective sleeve 35 which is
made of hard plastics or high-carbon steel, for example.
In another embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Fig.
7, aroma deposits on the inner surfaces of the conduits are not
primarily prevented by the surface properties of the conduits.
Rather, two twin conduits 37a and 37b are used which are
supported in an elastic layer 42 enclosed by the flat aggregate
sleeve 36.
Of the two twin conduits only one, e.g. conduit 37a, is used
for the supply of aromas. After certain intervals of
predetermined length (based on experience), e.g. 60 functional
minutes, when the onset of even the slightest aroma deposits
can be detected, operation can be switched from twin conduit
37a to twin conduit 37b in the scent supply conduit 40.
When both twin conduits 37a and 37b have been used, the
conduits can be purged as indicated in the original
application, P 41 35 796.5, where a double conduit, e.g. 37a,
is joined at the outlet opening.
Instead of air, a cleansing liquid is introduced in one of the
two conduits of the twin conduit 37b, said liquid flowing
through the whole conduit to the spectator's seat (not shown),
changing over to the second conduit and subsequently flowing
back to the compressor (not shown). In this process, both
individual conduits of the twin conduit 37b are cleaned at the
same time, while immediately afterwards warm air for drying
passes therethrough.
If both twin conduits 37a and 37b of the embodiment of the
invention according to Figs. 7, 8, 9a and 9b are expected be
used up during a motion picture show, it is also possible - due
to the very small conduit diameters and the relatively low
pressure - to clean one of the two twin conduits without
perceptible noise during the show while the other twin conduit
P:\'I'E\'IIPATENT\5 97GUEB 1. DOC
16 216 2 119
~...
is further used for conveying scents. Due to the very small
volumes involved, such a cleaning step can be effected in about
0.5 to 3 minutes.
If, according to this embodiment, cleaning shall be effected
during a show, the twin conduits 37a and 37b are preferably
combined to a functional block 38 in the final portion at the
spectator's seat, and the conduit cross-sections are preferably
changed from round to rectangular shapes (Fig. 8).
Figs. 9a and 9b of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 8 refer
to the mode of operation of the final portion of the conduit if
a conduit is to be purged during the showing of a movie. Two
conduits of a twin conduit 37b are joined at the outlet
opening, i.e. at the final portion of the conduit in the area
of the spectator's seat, by means of end valves 25 or 26 which
are electronically controlled and operate without noise.
If the end valve 25 is activated and the end valve 26 is
deactivated, the twin conduit 37b can be further used for
conveying aromas while the twin conduit 37a is purged (Fig.
9a). In this case, the conduit 37b extends into the final
portion 41 of the conduit towards the spectator.
When aroma deposits are to be expected in the supply conduit of
twin conduit 37b, valve 26 is activated and valve 25
deactivated during an appropriate scent interval. The aroma is
then conveyed through the previously purged twin conduit 37a to
the final portion of the conduit, and the twin conduit 37b is
purged.
Such switching operations without noise can be effected by
various types of valve and valve arrangements, e.g. by slide
and lock valves, or valves which change over particularly
slowly and in addition may be dampened.
P:\TENIIPATGN115976UGI31.llOC
17 2162119
All end valves 25 and 26 combined are actuated centrally, e.g.
from the projectionist's cabin via radio or via a small
electronic line which may be integrated in the scent supply
system.
Noiseless valve operation guarantees that the motion picture
show will not be disturbed when all valves, e.g. 500 valves in
a 500-seat movie theater, are switched simultaneously. If it is
not possible to avoid noise completely when switching a large
number of valves simultaneously, the valves can be switched in
segments, e.g. first for about 20% of seats, then for the next
20%, and so on.
Another measure to completely avoid even the slightest noise
during the switching of valves or the subsequent purging
operation is to carry out the switching and purging of a
conduit exactly during a loud sequence of the movie. The noise
pertaining to the movie then masks possible other noise. The
signal 19 for triggering the switching and purging phase, which
has to be arranged directly after the start of a loud movie
sequence, is preferably located on the signal track 8 of the
film where the other signals for aroma control are located,
too.
Another measure for preventing aromatic substances from
accumulating in the conduits is to purge the conduits with
normal and, optionally, slightly heated air during all phases
of the movie where no aromas are conveyed to the audience. For
this purpose, a reversing valve (not shown) is provided
directly after the scent reservoir from which the aromas are
introduced in the conduits, i.e. within the projectionist's
cabin.
The reversing valve is activated when there has been no
introduction of scent for a specified period of time; it is
deactivated as soon as aromas are fed into the system again.
P:\TE\-IIPATENT\5976UEI31. DOC
2162119
WO 94/26375 PCT/EP94/01314
List of reference numbers
(1) control unit (30) central controlling
(2) scent supply conduit means
(3) return conduit (31) scent supply conduit
(4) film scent reservoir (32) conduit wall
(5) twin conduit (32a) inner wall
(7) heating system (33) conduit wall
(8) signal track (33a) inner surfaces
(9) heating control means (34) projections
(10) control cable (35) protective sleeve
(11) scent pulse (36) aggregate sleeve
(12) film stock (37) scent supply conduit
(13) scent roll controlling means (37a) twin conduit
(14) conduit controlling means (37b) further twin conduit
(15) temperature signal (38) conduit block
(16) scent carrier (39) flow profile
(17) dry cooling system (40) scent supply conduit
(18) scent roll (41) end portion of
conduit
(19) purging signal (42) elastic layer
(20) heat exchanger
(21) control wheel
(22) journal bearing
(23) journal securing means
(24) scent connecting piece
(25) end valve
(26) end valve
(27) air moisture controlling means
P:1'I'17X"I'IPA"I'EN"I15976UED 1.DOC
