Random access film strip storage system utilizing pneumatic selection and mechanical transport means

Claim 1

A STORAGE BIN FOR STORING A PLURALITY OF FLEXIBLE FILM STRIPS INCLUDING SEPARATE STORAGE CHUTE MEANS FOR EACH SUCH STRIP, SAID BIN COMPRISING: A HOLLOW SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL MEMBER HAVING AN INNER AND OUTER CYLINDRICAL SURFACES RADIALLY SPACED FROM EACH OTHER, AND A PLURALITY OF STORAGE CHUTES LOCATED BETWEEN SAID INNER AND OUTER CYLINDRICAL SURFACES, EACH CHUTE HAVING AN ENTRANCE SLOT LYING IN THE INNER CYLINDRICAL SURFACE OF SAID BIN, EACH CHUTE HAVING AN EXIT SLOT LYING IN THE OUTER CYLINDRICAL SURFACE OF SAID BIN, THE INNER AND OUTER SURFACES OF SAID BIN, IN THE AREAS ADJACENT TO SAID ENTRANCE AND EXIT SLOTS, BEING UNBROKEN EXCEPT FOR SAID SLOTS, EACH CHUTE BEING SUBSTANTIALLY TANGENT TO THE OUTER CYLINDRICAL SURFACE AT ITS OUTER END AND SUBSTANTIALLY TANGENT TO THE INNER CYLINDRICAL SURFACE AT ITS INNER END AND, EACH CHUTE BEING SO SHAPED THAT A FILM STRIP ENTERING AND LEAVING SAID CHUTE WILL TRAVERSE THE INNER AND OUTER SURFACES OF THE BIN IN THE SAME RELATIVE DIRECTION.