Film mounting and driving apparatus

Claim 2

Film-driving apparatus, comprising: first and second rotatable means; first and second film spool means; means respectively drivingly connecting the first and second rotatable means to the first and second spool means; driving means operatively arranged to drive a selected one of the two rotatable means and thereby to drive the corresponding one of the spool means so as to transfer film to that spool means from the other spool means; braking means selectively operative to apply light braking to the said other spool means so as to maintain the bight of film between the spool means in controlled tension; speed control means connected to the driving means and selectively operative to reduce the speed thereof; and means operatively interconnecting the braking means with the speed control means so that the said light braking means is applied only when the speed of the driving means has been reduced.

Claim 3

Film-driving apparatus, comprising: first and second rotatable means; first and second film spools; means respectively drivingly connecting the first and second rotatable means to the first and second spools; a motive power source; first and second clutch means each having an input and an output; means drivingly connecting the output of each clutch means to a respective one of the rotatable means; means drivingly connecting the power source to the inputs of the two clutch means; first braking means mounted for selectively braking the rotation of the first rotatable means; second braking means mounted for selectively braking rotation of the second rotatable means; control means selectively operative to engage a selected one of the two clutch means, whereby to transmit the drive from the motive power source to the rotatable means connected to that clutch means, and to actuate the braking means of the other rotatable means, whereby to cause light braking of the other rotatable means so as to maintain the bight of film between the spools in controlled tension; and the control means including speed reduction means operative, when activated, to reduce the speed of the motive power source whereby the rotatable means drivingly connected to the said selected one of the two clutch means is driven at a reduced speed, and interlock means operAtive to actuate the braking means of the other rotatable means only when the speed reduction means is operative.

Claim 4

Film-driving apparatus, comprising: first and second rotatable means; first and second film spools; means respectively drivingly connecting the first and second rotatable means to the first and second spools; a motive power source; first and second clutch means each having an input and an output; means drivingly connecting the output of each clutch means to a respective one of the rotatable means; means drivingly connecting the power source to the inputs of the two clutch means; first braking means mounted for selectively braking the rotation of the first rotatable means; second braking means mounted for selectively braking rotation of the second rotatable means; control means selectively operative to engage a selected one of the two clutch means, whereby to transmit the drive from the motive power source to the rotatable means connected to that clutch means, and to actuate the braking means of the other rotatable means, whereby to cause light braking of the other rotatable means so as to maintain the bight of film between the spools in controlled tension; and the control means including speed reduction means operative, when activated, to reduce the speed of the motive power source whereby the rotatable means drivingly connected to the said selected one of the two clutch means is driven at a reduced speed, and interlock means operAtive to actuate the braking means of the other rotatable means only when the speed reduction means is operative.

Claim 5

Film-mounting apparatus, comprising: a base; a pair of driving spindles rotatably mounted on the base for rotation about parallel axes separated by a predetermined spacing; a film cassette; two film spools; locating means on the base for positively locating the cassette relative to the spindle axes; means respectively rotatably mounting the spools in the cassette for rotation about parallel axes and permitting limited movement of the spools in directions transverse to the axes, the nominal spacing between the spool axes and the range of limited movement thereof being such that the two spindles respectively engage the two spools; coupling means for coupling each spool to the respective one of the spindles; a motive power source; first and second clutch means each having an input and an output; means drivingly connecting the output of each clutch means to a respective one of the spindles; means drivingly connecting the power source to the inputs of the two clutch means; first braking means mounted for selectively braking the rotation of one of the spindles; second braking means mounted for selectively braking rotation of the other of the spindles; control means selectively operative to engage a selected one of the two clutch means, whereby to transmit the drive from the motive power source to the spindle connected to that clutch means, and to actuate the braking means of the other spindle, whereby to cause light braking of the other spindle so as to maintain the bight of film between the spools in controlled tension; and the control means including speed reduction means operative, when actuated, to reduce the speed of the motive power source whereby the spindle drivingly coupled to the said selected one of the two clutch means is driven at a reduced speed and interlock means operative to actuate the braking means of the other spindle only when the speed reduction means is operative.

Claim 6

Film-mounting apparatus, comprising: a base; a pair of driving spindles rotatably mounted on the base for rotation about parallel axes separated by a predetermined spacing; a film cassette; two film spools; locating means on the base for positively locating the cassette relative to the spindle axes; means respectively rotatably mounting the spools in the cassette for rotation about parallel axes and permitting limited movement of the spools in directions transverse to the axes, the nominal spacing between the spool axes and the range of limited movement thereof being such that the two spindles respectively engage the two spools; coupling means for coupling each spool to the respective one of the spindles; a motive power source; first and second clutch means each having an input and an output; means drivingly connecting the output of each clutch means to a respective one of the spindles; means drivingly connecting the power source to the inputs of the two clutch means; first braking means mounted for selectively braking the rotation of one of the spindles; second braking means mounted for selectively braking rotation of the other of the spindles; control means selectively operative to engage a selected one of the two clutch means, whereby to transmit the drive from the motive power source to the spindle connected to that clutch means, and to actuate the braking means of the other spindle, whereby to cause light braking of the other spindle so as to maintain the bight of film between the spools in controlled tension; and the control means including speed reduction means operative, when actuated, to reduce the speed of the motive power source whereby the spindle drivingly coupled to the said selected one of the two clutch means is driven at a reduced speed and interlock means operative to actuate the braking means of the other spindle only when the speed reduction means is operative.

Claim 7

Film-driving apparatus, comprising: a base; a spindle mounted on the base for rotation relative thereto; a motive power source; means operative to couple the motive power source to the spindle; a film spool defining a bore for receiving the spindle; means defining a recess in the spool bore; the spindle having an axial bore which meets an aperture defined in and extending through the wall of the spindle bore; and the spring-biased means comprising a first member movable radially of the spindle bore and extending partially through the aperture and a second member spring-biased to move axially of the bore, the two members presenting mutually inclined contacting surfaces whereby the axial movement of the second member biases the first member radially outward through the aperture and into the said recess to drivingly couple the spindle and spool when they are angularly aligned.

Claim 8

Film-driving apparatus, comprising: a base; a spindle mounted on the base for rotation relative thereto; a motive power source; means operative to couple the motive power source to the spindle; a film spool defining a bore for receiving the spindle; means defining a recess in the spool bore; the spindle having an axial bore which meets an aperture defined in and extending through the wall of the spindle bore; and the spring-biased means comprising a first member movable radially of the spindle bore and extending partially through the aperture and a second member spring-biased to move axially of the bore, the two members presenting mutually inclined contacting surfaces whereby the axial movement of the second member biases the first member radially outward through the aperture and into the said recess to drivingly couple the spindle and spool when they are angularly aligned.

Claim 9

Film-driving apparatus, comprising: rotatable means; a film spool; means drivingly connecting the rotatable means and the film spool; a first driving motor; first driving means drivingly connecting the first driving motor and the rotatable means; a second driving motor; clutch means; second driving means including the clutch means and drivingly connecting the second driving motor to the rotatable means through the first driving motor and the first driving means; control means for selectively energizing the driving motors and controlling the engagement of the clutch means whereby the first driving motor is energized, and the clutch means disengaged, to drive the rotatable means through the first driving means, and the second driving motor is energized with the clutch means engaged and the first driving motor unenergised to drive the rotatable means through the second driving means, the first driving motor, and the first driving means; and SPEED reduction means connected between the second driving motor and the second driving means.

Claim 10

Film-driving apparatus, comprising: rotatable means; a film spool; means drivingly connecting the rotatable means and the film spool; a first driving motor; first driving means drivingly connecting the first driving motor and the rotatable means; a second driving motor; clutch means; second driving means including the clutch means and drivingly connecting the second driving motor to the rotatable means through the first driving motor and the first driving means; control means for selectively energizing the driving motors and controlling the engagement of the clutch means whereby the first driving motor is energized, and the clutch means disengaged, to drive the rotatable means through the first driving means, and the second driving motor is energized with the clutch means engaged and the first driving motor unenergised to drive the rotatable means through the second driving means, the first driving motor, and the first driving means; and SPEED reduction means connected between the second driving motor and the second driving means.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 5, including: further clutch means; further speed reduction means; third driving means including the further clutch means and the further speed reduction means and drivingly connecting the second driving motor to the rotatable means through the two speed reduction means and the further clutch means; and further control means operative to energize the second driving motor and to engage the further clutch means, with the first driving motor unenergised and the first-mentioned clutch means unengaged, whereby to drive the rotatable means through the two speed reductions means and the further clutch means.