intermittent projector

An intermittent projector is a device used in motion-picture technology that advances film one frame at a time, holding each frame stationary for projection. This mechanism is crucial for creating the illusion of continuous movement from a series of still images.12

The core of this technology is often a Maltese cross mechanism, which converts continuous rotation into the stop-and-go motion needed to display each frame clearly. In a projector, a light source shines through the stationary film frame, and this light is then focused onto a screen. This process allows for a sharp image to be projected, unlike continuous film movement which would result in a blur. This intermittent movement is fundamental to how both film cameras capture images and projectors display them.234