Apparatus for opening film cassettes

Claim 2

Apparatus for opening film cassettes, particularly for opening cassettes of the type having a plastic housing including takeup and supply portions connected by an intermediate part and wherein one of said portions contains a reel with convoluted film, comprising support means for supporting the housing of a cassette in a predetermined position; and opening means comprising a movable tool having a cutting portion, and actuating means operative to effect movement between the tool and said support means so that the cutting portion penetrates into and produces at least a crack in the housing which is held in said predetermined position, said actuating means comprising a rotary holder reciprocably supporting said tool, means for rotating said holder and means for moving said tool with reference to said holder.

Claim 3

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 for opening of cassettes whose housings are provided with substantially transversely extending welded seams, wherein said support means is arranged to support cassettes in such position that the seam of a housing in said predetermined position is located in the path of movement of and is cracked by said cutting portion on operation of said actuating means.

Claim 4

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for moving said tool with reference to said holder comprises a carriage movable diametrically of said holder and eccentric means for moving said carriage.

Claim 5

Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the means for rotating said holder comprises a driving member coaxial with and rotatable with reference to said holder, a pin and slot connection between said driving member and said holder, and means for rotating said driving member, said eccentric means being provided on said driving member in such position that said tool is moved against the housing of a cassette in said predetermined position before said holder is rotated by said pin and slot connection in response to rotation of said driving member so that the crack produced by said cutting portion is propagated in the housing in response to rotation of said tooL with said holder.

Claim 6

Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the means for rotating said driving member comprises a rack and pinion drive.

Claim 7

Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the means for rotating said driving member comprises an operator-controlled member.

Claim 8

Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the means for rotating said driving member comprises motor means.

Claim 9

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said support means comprises a platform.

Claim 10

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said support means is provided with a recess nonrotatably accommodating one portion of a cassette in said predetermined position.

Claim 11

Apparatus for opening film cassettes, particularly for opening cassettes of the type having a plastic housing including takeup and supply portions connected by an intermediate part and wherein one of said portions contains a reel with convoluted film, comprising support means for supporting the housing of a cassette in a predetermined position; and opening means comprising a movable tool having a cutting portion, and actuating means operative to effect movement between the tool and said support means so that the cutting portion penetrates into and produces at least a crack in the housing which is held in said predetermined position, said actuating means comprising means for effecting a first movement of said tool in a first direction into engagement with the housing of a cassette in said predetermined position so that said cutting portion penetrates into such housing, and for thereupon effecting a second movement of said tool in a second direction so that the cutting portion remains in engagement with and causes the crack to propagate itself in the housing.

Claim 12

Apparatus for opening film cassettes, particularly for opening cassettes of the type having a plastic housing including takeup and supply portions connected by an intermediate part and wherein one of said portions contains a reel with convoluted film, comprising support means for supporting the housing of a cassette in a predetermined position; and opening means comprising a movable tool having a cutting portion, and actuating means operative to effect movement between the tool and said support means so that the cutting portion penetrates into and produces at least a crack in the housing which is held in said predetermined position, said actuating means comprising means for effecting a first movement of said tool in a first direction into engagement with the housing of a cassette in said predetermined position so that said cutting portion penetrates into such housing, and for thereupon effecting a second movement of said tool in a second direction so that the cutting portion remains in engagement with and causes the crack to propagate itself in the housing.

Claim 13

Apparatus for opening film cassettes, particularly for opening cassettes of the type having a plastic housing including takeup and supply portions connected by an intermediate part and wherein one of said portions contains a reel with convoluted film, comprising support means for supporting the housing of a cassette in a predetermined position, said support means including clamping means releasably engaging the reel in the housing of a cassette in said predetermined position; and opening means comprising a movable tool having a cutting portion, and actuating means operative to effect movement between the tool and said support means so that the cutting portion penetrates into and produces at least a crack in the housing which is held in said predetermined position.

Claim 14

Apparatus for opening film cassettes, particularly for opening cassettes of the type having a plastic housing including takeup and supply portions connected by an intermediate part and wherein one of said portions contains a reel with convoluted film, comprising support means for supporting the housing of a cassette in a predetermined position, said support means including clamping means releasably engaging the reel in the housing of a cassette in said predetermined position; and opening means comprising a movable tool having a cutting portion, and actuating means operative to effect movement between the tool and said support means so that the cutting portion penetrates into and produces at least a crack in the housing which is held in said predetermined position.

Claim 15

Apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said actuating means comprises means for moving said cutting portion to an opening position of partial penetration into the housing of a cassette in said predetermined position in which said clamping means holds the respective reel, and for thereupon moving the housing from said predetermined position while said cutting portion remains in said opening position whereby the tool causes the housing to crack starting from the point of partial penetration of said cutting portion.

Claim 16

Apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said cutting portion is arranged to penetrate into the housing of a cassette in said predetermined position in the region of the reel so that the housing is cracked open in such region to thus expose the reel.

Claim 17

Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said movement of the housing includes an angular movement about the axis of the reel through an oblique angle.

Claim 18

Apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said clamping means comprises a pair of coaxial bolts arranged to extend into an axial hole of the reel in the cassette which is held in said predetermined position, and means for moving at least one of said bolts axially and away from the other bolt to thus release the reel.

Claim 19

Apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the means for moving said one bolt comprises at least one tracking member extending into the path of movement of a cassette which is being moved to said predetermined positioN so that the reel of a previously opened cassette is automatically released in response to placing of a fresh cassette into said predetermined position.

Claim 20

Apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said actuating means comprises an actuating member movable from a starting position and having a portion arranged to turn the housing of a cassette from said predetermined position subsequent to partial penetration of said cutting portion into such housing so that the housing is pivoted with reference to the cutting portion and the crack produced by the cutting portion is propagated in the housing during pivoting.

Claim 21

Apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said actuating means further comprises means for moving the cutting portion into the material of the housing in said predetermined position in response to initial movement of said actuating member from starting position and before said portion of the actuating member begins to pivot the housing from said predetermined position.

Claim 22

Apparatus as defined in claim 18, further comprising a pivotable carriage for said tool and cam means provided on said actuating member for pivoting said carriage to thereby move said cutting portion into engagement with the housing in said predetermined position during said initial stage of movement of said actuating member from starting position.

Claim 23

Apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein said actuating member is a lever pivotable about an axis which is parallel to the axis of said carriage, the lines connecting said cutting portion with the axes of said lever and said carriage making an angle of at least 90*.

Claim 24

Apparatus for opening film cassettes, particularly for opening cassettes of the type having a plastic housing including takeup and supply portions connected by an intermediate part and wherein one of said portions contains a reel with convoluted film, comprising support means for supporting the housing of a cassette in a predetermined position; opening means comprising a movable tool having a cutting portion, and actuating means operative to effect movement between the tool and said support means so that the cutting portion penetrates into and produces at least a crack in the housing which is held in said predetermined position; and yieldable shield means overlying the cutting portion of said tool.

Claim 25

Apparatus for opening film cassettes, particularly for opening cassettes of the type having a plastic housing including takeup and supply portions connected by an intermediate part and wherein one of said portions contains a reel with convoluted film, comprising support means for supporting the housing of a cassette in a predetermined position; opening means comprising a movable tool having a cutting portion, and actuating means operative to effect movement between the tool and said support means so that the cutting portion penetrates into and produces at least a crack in the housing which is held in said predetermined position; and yieldable shield means overlying the cutting portion of said tool.

Claim 26

Apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein said shield means is pivotably mounted on said support means and further comprising resilient means biasing said shield means against the housing of a cassette in said predetermined position.