Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Best Position For Keeper Rollers

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Posted by Ian Bailey (Member # 1752) on 04-06-2005, 01:18 AM:

What is the Best position for the keeper roller relative to the film direction.Is it on the leading edge of the large roller,the trailing edge or the apex of the bend as the film goes around the large roller.This is in regard to any roller in the film path that has a keeper roller.
Should the film ever touch the keeper roller?

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 04-06-2005, 02:09 AM:

Hi again Ian - I always use the apex usage: roller at the peak of the film bend.

This way the film has no reason to touch the keeper roller, in which answers your second question: keepers never touch the film. Their task to help "keep" the film on the roller.

thx-Monte

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 04-06-2005, 09:01 AM:

As close as you can get the keeper to the beginning of the film wrap around the roller. Otherwise if the film is bouncing and the roller is not pulling the film over it directly horizontal, you risk having the bounce pop the film out of the roller, much in the same way that most people slide the film into the roller (in between the roller and keeper) when threading, only in reverse.

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 04-06-2005, 11:51 AM:

I always put them at the tangent point where the film meets the roller. I set the depth so that the keeper goes half way down between the flanges. That allows you to easily slip the film down between the keeper and the roller when you thread but makes it difficult for the film to accidentally slip off the roller while it's rolling.

Obviously, this is only a starting point. I make adjustments from that point so that the film runs smoothly without buckling, scratching or touching anything it shouldn't. No two roller setups are exactly alike.

Once I get the rollers set the way I want I always get some old trailers and run them through the system to be sure that the film is running smoothly before releasing them for general use.