Lamp changing system for an image projection lighting device

1. An image projection lighting device comprising a base housing;

a yoke;

a lamp housing;

a video projector located inside the lamp housing, wherein the video projector has dimensions while located inside the lamp housing;

a support device connected to the lamp housing, wherein the support device has a portion which supports the video projector, and which is configured to be moved to move the video projector from a first position in relation to the lamp housing to a second position in relation to the lamp housing which differs from the first position, wherein the support device is connected to the lamp housing when the video projector is in the first position and when the video projector is in the second position, and wherein the portion of the support device supports the video projector in both the first position and in the second position;

wherein the lamp housing is remotely positioned in relation to the base housing by a motor;

wherein the video projector is comprised of a video projector housing, a projector lens, a projector lamp, and a first light valve;

wherein the first position is a video projector operating position and the video projector cannot be serviced in the video projector operating position;

wherein the video projector can be serviced in the second position;

wherein the support device is configured so that the portion of the support device can be moved to move the video projector from the first position to the second position without substantially changing the dimensions of the video projector;

wherein when the video projector is in the first position, an access portion of the video projector is not exposed so that the access portion cannot be opened to remove a component used in image projection from inside the video projector; and

wherein the movement of the portion of the support device, which moves the video projector from the first position to the second position, causes the access portion of the video projector to become exposed, so that the access portion can be opened, while the support device remains connected to the lamp housing and while the video projector remains in the second position and remains supported by the portion of the support device in the second position, to remove a component used in image projection from inside the video projector.

2. The image projection lighting device of claim 1 wherein

the lamp housing includes a retaining device;

and wherein the video projector is kept in the second position by the retaining device.

3. The image projection lighting device of claim 1 wherein

the access portion includes a means for accessing the projector lamp;

wherein in the first position the means for accessing the projector lamp cannot be opened so that, in the first position, the projector lamp cannot be removed by opening the means for accessing the projector lamp; and

wherein in the second position the means for accessing the projector lamp can be opened so that, in the second position, the projector lamp can be removed by opening the means for accessing the projector lamp.

4. The image projection lighting device of claim 1 wherein

the support device is comprised of a rod and a bushing.

5. The image projection lighting device of claim 1 further comprising

an access panel that is a component of the lamp housing; and

wherein the access panel can be positioned in a first state that allows normal operation of the image projection lighting device when the video projector is in the first position in relation to the lamp housing; and

wherein the access panel can be positioned in a second state so that the video projector can be moved into the second position.

6. An image projection lighting device comprising

a base housing;

a yoke;

a lamp housing;

a video projector located inside the lamp housing, wherein the video projector has dimensions while located inside the lamp housing;

a support device connected to the lamp housing, wherein the support device has a portion which supports the video projector, and which is configured to be moved to move the video projector from a first position in relation to the lamp housing to a second position in relation to the lamp housing which differs from the first position, wherein the support device is connected to the lamp housing when the video projector is in the first position and when the video projector is in the second position, and wherein the portion of the support device supports the video projector in both the first position and in the second position;

wherein the lamp housing is remotely positioned in relation to the base housing by a motor;

wherein the video projector is comprised of a video projector housing, a projector lens, a projector lamp, and a first light valve;

wherein the first position is a video projector operating position and the projector lamp cannot be accessed in the video projector operating position;

wherein the projector lamp can be accessed in the second position;

wherein the support device is configured so that the portion of the support device can be moved to move the video projector from the first position to the second position without substantially changing the dimensions of the video projector;

wherein when the video projector is in the first position, an access portion of the video projector is not exposed so that the access portion cannot be opened to remove the projector lamp used in image projection from inside the video projector; and

wherein the movement of the portion of the support device, which moves the video projector from the first position to the second position, causes the access portion of the video projector to become exposed, so that the access portion can be opened, while the support device remains connected to the lamp housing and while the video projector remains in the second position and remains supported by the portion of the support device in the second position, to remove the projector lamp used in image projection from inside the video projector.

7. The image projection lighting device of claim 6 further comprising

an access panel that is a component of the lamp housing;

wherein the access panel can be positioned in first state that allows normal operation of the image projection lighting device when the video projector is in the first position in relation to the lamp housing;

and wherein the access panel can be positioned in a second state so that the video projector can be moved into the second position.

8. An image projection lighting device comprising:

a base housing;

a yoke; and

a lamp housing, wherein the lamp housing is remotely positioned in relation to the base housing by a motor;

the lamp housing comprising a video projector, wherein the video projector has dimensions while located inside the lamp housing;

the video projector comprising a video projector housing, a projector lens, a projector lamp and a first light valve; and

further comprising a support device connected to the lamp housing, wherein the support device has a portion which supports the video projector, and which is configured to be moved to move the video projector from a first position in relation to the lamp housing to a second position in relation to the lamp housing which differs from the first position, wherein the support device is connected to the lamp housing when the video projector is in the first position and when the video projector is in the second position, and wherein the portion of the support device supports the video projector in both the first position and in the second position;

wherein the video projector housing is substantially retained in the first position in relation to the lamp housing for normal operation of the image projection lighting device;

wherein the second position allows for access for servicing the projector lamp; and

wherein the support device is configured so that the portion of the support device can be moved to move the video projector from the first position to the second position without substantially changing the dimensions of the video projector;

wherein when the video projector is in the first position, an access portion of the video projector is not exposed so that the access portion cannot be opened to remove a component used in image projection from inside the video projector; and

wherein the movement of the portion of the support device, which moves the video projector from the first position to the second position, causes the access portion of the video projector to become exposed, so that the access portion can be opened, while the support device remains connected to the lamp housing and while the video projector remains in the second position and remains supported by the portion of the support device in the second position, to remove a component used in image projection from inside the video projector.

9. The image projection lighting device of claim 8 further comprising

an access door that is a component of the lamp housing; and

wherein the access door is removed to allow the video projector to be moved to the second position.

10. The image projection lighting device of claim 8 wherein

the access portion of the video projector includes a projector lamp access door that is a component of the projector housing; and

wherein the projector lamp access door can be opened only after moving the video projector housing to the second position;

and wherein the projector lamp access door, when opened, allows removal of the projector lamp from the video projector.