Cassette system having quick connect feature

Claim 2

Loading system for loading a length of web (13) supplied from a supply reel (17) in a cassette (15) into a web transport mechanism (11) external to the cassette (15), in which the web transport mechanism (11) includes a take-up reel (19) for receiving the web (13), having a first connector (20) on the supplied web (13) and a second connector (30) on the web transport mechanism (11), matable with the first connector (20) characterized by: the first and second connectors (20, 30) being engageable in a direction approximately perpendicular to the length of the web (13); means (22, 41, 49), on the cassette (15), to retain the first connector (20) in a predetermined position when the first connector (20) is not engaged with the second connector (30) ; means (51, 54) to position the second connector (30) in a predetermined position when the first connector (20) is not engaged with the second connector (30), such that when the first and second connectors (20, 30) are in their predetermined positions and the cassette (15) is inserted into the web transport mechanism (11), the connectors (20, 30) are in approximate alignment; each connector retention (22, 54) means being able to release the connector (20, 30) in order to permit unrestrained movement of the web (13) to the take-up reel (19); a leader strip 29) of web material being attached, at one end of the leader strip (28), to the take-up reel (19) the second connector (30) being connected to said leader strip (29) at an end of the said leader strip (29) opposite that of said leader strip's attachment to the take-up reel (19); and the leader strip (29) having material removed (57) so as to allow the mated connectors (20, 30) to be woundabout the take-up reel (19) without creating a significant bulge in the take-up reel (19).

Claim 3

Web take-up reel (19) and web leader (29) combination in which the web leader (29) receives a supplied web (13) from a supply reel (17) for feeding onto the take-up reel (19), having a first connector (20) on the supplied web (13), a second connector (30), matable with the first connector (20), on the web leader (29), and the first and second connectors (20, 30) being engageable in a direction approximately perpendicular to the length of the web (13), characterized by: at least on aperture (57) on said leader (29) which, when the connectors (20, 20) are wound about the take-up reel (19), align with the connectors (20, 30); and a recess (55) in the take-up reel (19) which, when the connectors (20, 30) are wound about the take-up reel (19), aligns with the connectors (20, 30) and the aperture (57), so that when the supplied web (13) is wound about the take-up reel (19), the aperture (57) and recess (55) in the take-up reel (19) cooperate wiht the connectors (20, 30) to avoid the connectors (20, 30) causing a significant bulge in the web (13) or the take-up reel (19).

Claim 4

Web take-up reel (19) and web leader (29) combination in which the web leader (29) receives a supplied web (13) from a supply reel (17) for feeding onto the take-up reel (19), having a first connector (20) on the supplied web (13), a second connector (30), matable with the first connector (20), on the web leader (29), and the first and second connectors (20, 30) being engageable in a direction approximately perpendicular to the length of the web (13), characterized by: at least on aperture (57) on said leader (29) which, when the connectors (20, 20) are wound about the take-up reel (19), align with the connectors (20, 30); and a recess (55) in the take-up reel (19) which, when the connectors (20, 30) are wound about the take-up reel (19), aligns with the connectors (20, 30) and the aperture (57), so that when the supplied web (13) is wound about the take-up reel (19), the aperture (57) and recess (55) in the take-up reel (19) cooperate wiht the connectors (20, 30) to avoid the connectors (20, 30) causing a significant bulge in the web (13) or the take-up reel (19).

Claim 5

Apparatus as described in Claim 1 or 2, further characterized by: the direction of engagement of the connectors (20, 30) being parallel to the web's surface, such that winding force exerted upon the web (13) does not urge the connectors (20, 30) to disengage; < a leader strip (29) of web material (13) being attached, at one end of the leader strip (29), to the take-up reel (19); and the second connector (30) being connected to said leader strip (29) at an end of the said leader strip (29) opposite that of said leader strip's attachment to the take-up reel (19).

Claim 6

Apparatus as described in Claim 1 or 2, further characterized by: the web material (13) including a plurality of sprocket holes (37); a leader strip (29) attached to the take-up reel having corresponding sprocket holes (37), such that the sprocket holes (37) on the leader strip (29) have a spacing and alignment such that when the connectors (20, 30) are mated, the sprocket holes (37) on the leader strip (29) and on the web (13) supplied from the supply reel (17) form a continuous series sprocket holes (37); and a sprocketed capstan (35) over which said leader strip (29) and said supplied web (13) pass when wound toward the take-up reel (19), the sprocketed capstan (35) providing a positive indication of the web's position in the web transport mechanism (11) between the supply reel (17) and the take-up reel (19).

Claim 7

Apparatus as described in Claim 3 or 4, further characterized by: the supplied web having further leader material (27) which, when the web (13) is wound about the take-up reel (19), said further leader material (27) presses against said mated connectors (20, 30) and displaces the mated connectors (20, 30) toward the recess (55) in the take-up reel (19), so as to further avoid a significant bulge in the web (13) on the take-up reel (19).

Claim 8

Apparatus as described in Claim 4, further characterized by: the web (13) being photographic film and the web transport mechanism (11) including means (33) to transmit images from the film.

Claim 9

Apparatus as described in Claim 3, further characterized by: a retainer tab (59) which is displaced by the second connector (30) to a "release" position when the second connector (30) is in said predetermined position and the tab (59) being biased to a "lock" position, so that when the second connector (30) is in the predetermined position, the cassette (15) may be removed from the web transport mechanism (11) and when the second connector (30) is not in the predetermined position, the cassette (15) is locked into the film transport mechanism (11).

Claim 10

Map reading appratus for scanning images of a map on a film strip including a film transport mechanism (11) having a take-up reel (19) and a film scanning device (33), and a cassette (15) containing the film on a supply reel (17), characterized by: a first oonnector (20) on the film strip (13); a leader strip (29) of web material (13) being attached, at one end of the leader strip (29), to the take-up reel (19); a second connector (30) being connected to said leader strip (29) at an end of the said leader strip (29) opposite that of said leader strip's attachment to the take-up reel (19.); the first and second connectors (20, 30) being engageable in a direction approximately perpendicular to the length of the web (13); the direction of engagement of the connectors (20, 30) being parallel to the web's surface, such that winding force exerted upon the web (13) does not urge the connectors (20, 30) to disengage; means (22, 41, 49), on the cassette (15), to retain the first connector (20) in a predetermined position when the first connector (20) is not engaged with the second connector (30); means (51, 54) to position the second connector (30) in a predetermined position when the first connector (20) is not engaged with the second connector (30), such that when the first and second connectors (20, 30) are in their predetermined positions and the cassette (15) is inserted into the web transport mechanism (11), the connectors (20, 30) are in approximate alignment; each connector retention means (22, 54) being able to release the connector (20, 30) in order to permit unrestrained movement of the web (13) to the take-up reel (19); the leader strip (29) including at least one aperture (57) which, when the mated connectors (20, 30) are wound about the take-up reel (19), the aperture (57) aligns with the mated connectors (20, 30); and a recess (55) on the take-up reel (19) which aligns with the aperture (57) and the mated connectors (20, 30) when the mated connectors (20, 30) are wound about the take-up reel (19) so that the mated connectors (20, 30) may rest in the aperture (57) and recess so as to avoid causing a significant bulge in the web (13) as the web (13) is wound about the take-up reel (19).

Claim 11

Map reading appratus for scanning images of a map on a film strip including a film transport mechanism (11) having a take-up reel (19) and a film scanning device (33), and a cassette (15) containing the film on a supply reel (17), characterized by: a first oonnector (20) on the film strip (13); a leader strip (29) of web material (13) being attached, at one end of the leader strip (29), to the take-up reel (19); a second connector (30) being connected to said leader strip (29) at an end of the said leader strip (29) opposite that of said leader strip's attachment to the take-up reel (19.); the first and second connectors (20, 30) being engageable in a direction approximately perpendicular to the length of the web (13); the direction of engagement of the connectors (20, 30) being parallel to the web's surface, such that winding force exerted upon the web (13) does not urge the connectors (20, 30) to disengage; means (22, 41, 49), on the cassette (15), to retain the first connector (20) in a predetermined position when the first connector (20) is not engaged with the second connector (30); means (51, 54) to position the second connector (30) in a predetermined position when the first connector (20) is not engaged with the second connector (30), such that when the first and second connectors (20, 30) are in their predetermined positions and the cassette (15) is inserted into the web transport mechanism (11), the connectors (20, 30) are in approximate alignment; each connector retention means (22, 54) being able to release the connector (20, 30) in order to permit unrestrained movement of the web (13) to the take-up reel (19); the leader strip (29) including at least one aperture (57) which, when the mated connectors (20, 30) are wound about the take-up reel (19), the aperture (57) aligns with the mated connectors (20, 30); and a recess (55) on the take-up reel (19) which aligns with the aperture (57) and the mated connectors (20, 30) when the mated connectors (20, 30) are wound about the take-up reel (19) so that the mated connectors (20, 30) may rest in the aperture (57) and recess so as to avoid causing a significant bulge in the web (13) as the web (13) is wound about the take-up reel (19).

Claim 12

A cassette (15) for a web which is inserted into a transport mechanism (11), in which the web (13) is wound about a supply reel (17) in the cassette (15) and is withdrawn from the cassette (15) onto a take-up reel- (19) on the transport mechanism (11), having a first connector (20) on a leading end of the web (13), the first connector (20) being engageable with a second connector (30) attached to the take-up reel (19) by a leader strip (29) of web material (13) and the first connector (20) being engageable with the second connector (30) in a direction approximately perpendicular to the length of the web (13) and parallel to the web's surface, such that winding force exerted upon the web (13) does not urge the connectors to disengage, characterized by: means (22, 41, 49), on the cassette (15), to retain the first connector (20) in a predetermined position when the first connector (20) is not engaged with the second connector (30), the means (22, 41, 49) being biased against the first connector (20) and being restrained in its movement so as to permit unrestrained movement of the web (13) to the take-up reel (17) when said retention means (22, 41, 49) is not engaging the first connector (20).

Claim 13

A cassette (15) for a web which is inserted into a transport mechanism (11), in which the web (13) is wound about a supply reel (17) in the cassette (15) and is withdrawn from the cassette (15) onto a take-up reel- (19) on the transport mechanism (11), having a first connector (20) on a leading end of the web (13), the first connector (20) being engageable with a second connector (30) attached to the take-up reel (19) by a leader strip (29) of web material (13) and the first connector (20) being engageable with the second connector (30) in a direction approximately perpendicular to the length of the web (13) and parallel to the web's surface, such that winding force exerted upon the web (13) does not urge the connectors to disengage, characterized by: means (22, 41, 49), on the cassette (15), to retain the first connector (20) in a predetermined position when the first connector (20) is not engaged with the second connector (30), the means (22, 41, 49) being biased against the first connector (20) and being restrained in its movement so as to permit unrestrained movement of the web (13) to the take-up reel (17) when said retention means (22, 41, 49) is not engaging the first connector (20).

Claim 14

Loading system for loading a length of web (13) supplied from a supply reel (17) in a cassette (15) into a web transport mechanism (11) external to the cassette (15), in which the web transport mechanism (11) includes a take-up reel (19) for receiving the web (13), having a first connector (20) on the supplied web (13), a second connector (30) on the web transport mechanism (11), matable with the first connector (20) andthe first and second connectors (20, 30) being engageable in a direction approximately perpendicular to the length of the web (13), characterized by: means (22, 49) on the cassette (15) to retain the first connector (20) in a predetermined position when the first connector (20) is not engaged with the second connector (30); means (54) to position the second connector (30) in a predetermned position when the first connector (20) is not engaged with the second connector (30) such that when the first and second connectors (20, 30) are in their predetermined positions and the cassette (15) is inserted into the web transport mechanism (11) the connectors (20, 30) are in approximate alignment; ; , each connector retention means (22, 54) being able to release the connector (20, 30) in order to permit unrestrained movement of the web (13) to the take-up reel (19); the direction of engagement of the connectors (20, 30) being parallel to the web's surface, such that winding force exerted upon the web (13) does not urge the connectors to disengage; a leader strip (24) of web material being attached, at one end of the leader strip to the take-up reel (19); the second connector (30) being connected to said leader strip (29) at an end of the said leader strip (29) opposite that of said leader strip's attachment to the take-up reel; and a retainer tab (59) which is displaced by the second connector (30) to a "release" position when the second connector (30) is in said predetermined position and the tab (59) being biased to a "lock" position, so that when the second connector (30) is in the predetermined position, the cassette (15) may be removed from the web transport mechanism (11) and when the second connector (30) is not in the predetermined position, the cassette (15) is locked into the film transport mechanism (11).

Claim 15

Loading system for loading a length of web (13) supplied from a supply reel (17) in a cassette (15) into a web transport mechanism (11) external to the cassette (15), in which the web transport mechanism (11) includes a take-up reel (19) for receiving the web (13), having a first connector (20) on the supplied web (13), a second connector (30) on the web transport mechanism (11), matable with the first connector (20) andthe first and second connectors (20, 30) being engageable in a direction approximately perpendicular to the length of the web (13), characterized by: means (22, 49) on the cassette (15) to retain the first connector (20) in a predetermined position when the first connector (20) is not engaged with the second connector (30); means (54) to position the second connector (30) in a predetermned position when the first connector (20) is not engaged with the second connector (30) such that when the first and second connectors (20, 30) are in their predetermined positions and the cassette (15) is inserted into the web transport mechanism (11) the connectors (20, 30) are in approximate alignment; ; , each connector retention means (22, 54) being able to release the connector (20, 30) in order to permit unrestrained movement of the web (13) to the take-up reel (19); the direction of engagement of the connectors (20, 30) being parallel to the web's surface, such that winding force exerted upon the web (13) does not urge the connectors to disengage; a leader strip (24) of web material being attached, at one end of the leader strip to the take-up reel (19); the second connector (30) being connected to said leader strip (29) at an end of the said leader strip (29) opposite that of said leader strip's attachment to the take-up reel; and a retainer tab (59) which is displaced by the second connector (30) to a "release" position when the second connector (30) is in said predetermined position and the tab (59) being biased to a "lock" position, so that when the second connector (30) is in the predetermined position, the cassette (15) may be removed from the web transport mechanism (11) and when the second connector (30) is not in the predetermined position, the cassette (15) is locked into the film transport mechanism (11).