Strip material handling mechanism for use with nonrewind cartridges

Claim 2

A strip material handling mechanism for use with a cartridge (1) containing strip material having a leading end and (2) having means defining a passageway through which strip material may be withdrawn from the cartridge, said mechanism comprising: a housing; a guide member on said housing defining a channel with an open end; means for receiving and locating such a cartridge on said housing such that the passageway of a received cartridge is aligned with the open end of said channel; means for engaging the leading end of the strip material in a received cartridge, for extracting the strip material from the cartridge leading end first, and for feeding the extracted strip material into the open end of said channel; means for advancing strip material along said channel through said guide member; and means for receiving strip material From said guide member and for returning it in the form of a roll to the received cartridge such that succeeding convolutions of returned strip material are returned to the received cartridge radially inwardly of the innermost convolution of strip material already returned from the guide member.

Claim 3

A strip material handling mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for receiving strip material from said guide member and for returning it to the received cartridge comprises an elongated feed arm having: first and second ends; a passage between said first and second ends and positioned to receive strip material from said channel in said guide member in said first end and to deliver such strip material to the received cartridge from said second end; means pivotally mounting said feed arm to said housing at said first end of said passage; and follower means mounted on said feed arm for engaging the innermost convolution of strip material already returned to the cartridge and for spacing said second end of said passage radially inwardly of said innermost convolution.

Claim 4

A strip material handling mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for receiving strip material from said guide member and for returning it to the cartridge further comprises means for disabling said follower means except when strip material is in said feed arm, whereby said feed arm is free to pivot radially outwardly of the received cartridge after all the strip material has been returned to the received cartridge.

Claim 5

A strip material handling mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for receiving strip material from said guide member and for returning it to the received cartridge further comprises means for disabling said follower means except when strip material is in said feed arm, said disabling means including: means defining a channel aligned with said passage for receiving strip material from said passage; means pivotally mounting said channel-defining means to said feed arm for rotation towards the received cartridge when strip material is in said channel; resilient means biasing said channel-defining means away from the received cartridge; and a member extending from said channel-defining means and positioned (1) to engage the innermost convolution of strip material returned to the received cartridge when said channel-defining means is rotated towards the received cartridge and (2) to clear the received cartridge when strip material is not in said channel and said resilient means moves said channel-defining means away from the received cartridge.

Claim 6

A strip material handling mechanism for use with a cartridge of the type adapted to contain coaxial supply and takeup rolls of strip material having leading and trailing ends, the supply roll having a smaller minimum diameter than the takeup roll, the cartridge also having (1) means activatable for engaging the trailing end of the strip material in the takeup roll and (2) means defining a passageway through which strip material may be withdrawn from the cartridge; said mechanism comprising: a housing; a guide member on said housing defining a channel with an open end; means for receiving and locating such a cartridge on said housing such that the passageway of a received cartridge is aligned with the open end of said channel; means for engaging the leading end of the strip material in the supply roll of the received cartridge, for extracting the strip material from the received cartridge leading end first, and for feeding the extracted strip material into the open end of said channel; means for advancing strip material from the supply roll through said guide member; means for receiving strip material from said guide member and for forming a takeup roll of such received strip material in the received cartridge such that succeeding convolutions of strip material are formed in the received cartridge radially inwardly of the innerMost convolution of strip material already returned from the guide member; and means for (1) activating the means for engaging the trailing end of the strip material in the takeup roll and (2) cinching the strip material radially inwardly to reform the supply roll.

Claim 7

A strip material handling mechanism for use with a cartridge of the type adapted to contain coaxial supply and takeup rolls of strip material having leading and trailing ends, the supply roll having a smaller minimum diameter than the takeup roll, the cartridge also having (1) means activatable for engaging the trailing end of the strip material in the takeup roll and (2) means defining a passageway through which strip material may be withdrawn from the cartridge; said mechanism comprising: a housing; a guide member on said housing defining a channel with an open end; means for receiving and locating such a cartridge on said housing such that the passageway of a received cartridge is aligned with the open end of said channel; means for engaging the leading end of the strip material in the supply roll of the received cartridge, for extracting the strip material from the received cartridge leading end first, and for feeding the extracted strip material into the open end of said channel; means for advancing strip material from the supply roll through said guide member; means for receiving strip material from said guide member and for forming a takeup roll of such received strip material in the received cartridge such that succeeding convolutions of strip material are formed in the received cartridge radially inwardly of the innerMost convolution of strip material already returned from the guide member; and means for (1) activating the means for engaging the trailing end of the strip material in the takeup roll and (2) cinching the strip material radially inwardly to reform the supply roll.

Claim 8

A strip material handling mechanism for use with a cartridge of the type adapted to contain coaxial supply and takeup rolls of strip material having leading and trailing ends, the supply roll having a smaller diameter than the takeup roll, the cartridge also having (1) a core upon which the supply roll may be wound, (2) means on the core for engaging the trailing end of the strip material in the takeup roll when the core is rotated in a film-winding direction, and (3) means defining a passageway through which strip material may be withdrawn from the cartridge; said mechanism comprising: a housing; a guide member on said housing defining a channel with an open end; means for receiving and locating such a cartridge on said housing such that the passageway of a received cartridge is aligned with the open end of said channel; means for engaging the leading end of the strip material in the supply roll of the received cartridge, for extracting the strip material from the received cartridge leading end first, and for feeding the extracted strip material into the open end of said channel; means for advancing strip material from the supply roll through said guide member; means for receiving strip material from said guide member and for forming a takeup roll of such received strip material in the received cartridge such that succeeding convolutions of strip material are formed in the received cartridge radially inwardly of the innermost convolution of strip material already returned from the film guide; and means for rotating the core in a strip material winding direction, thereby causing the engaging means on the core to engage the trailing end of the strip material and to cinch the strip material radially inwardly to reform the supply roll tightly on the core.

Claim 9

A strip material handling mechanism for use with a cartridge of the type adapted to contain coaxial supply and takeup rolls of strip material having leading and trailing ends, the supply roll having a smaller diameter than the takeup roll, the cartridge also having (1) a core upon which the supply roll may be wound, (2) means on the core for engaging the trailing end of the strip material in the takeup roll when the core is rotated in a film-winding direction, and (3) means defining a passageway through which strip material may be withdrawn from the cartridge; said mechanism comprising: a housing; a guide member on said housing defining a channel with an open end; means for receiving and locating such a cartridge on said housing such that the passageway of a received cartridge is aligned with the open end of said channel; means for engaging the leading end of the strip material in the supply roll of the received cartridge, for extracting the strip material from the received cartridge leading end first, and for feeding the extracted strip material into the open end of said channel; means for advancing strip material from the supply roll through said guide member; means for receiving strip material from said guide member and for forming a takeup roll of such received strip material in the received cartridge such that succeeding convolutions of strip material are formed in the received cartridge radially inwardly of the innermost convolution of strip material already returned from the film guide; and means for rotating the core in a strip material winding direction, thereby causing the engaging means on the core to engage the trailing end of the strip material and to cinch the strip material radially inwardly to reform the supply roll tightly on the core.

Claim 10

A strip material handling mechanism as defined in claim 6 wherein said means for rotating the core in a strip material winding direction comprises: a spindle rotatably mounted on said housing; means associated with said spindle and having a first mode allowing free rotation of the core of a received cartridge relative to said housing and a second mode causing the core to rotate in its strip material winding direction; and means responsive to the return of the trailing end of the strip material to the received cartridge for causing said means associated with said spindle to change from its first to its second mode of operation.

Claim 11

A strip material handling mechanism for use with a generally cylindrical cartridge of the type adapted to contain a roll of strip material having a leading end, the cartridge also having (1) a cup-shaped member with an upstanding, generally annular wall, (2) a passageway through the wall through which strip material may be withdrawn from the cartridge, (3) releasable means for engaging the leading end of the strip material, and (4) an aperture in the cup-shaped member adjacent the leading end engaging means; said strip material handling mechanism comprising: a housing; a guide member on said housing defining a channel with an open end; means for receiving and locating such a cartridge on said housing such that the passageway of a received cartridge is adjacent the open end of said channel; drive means on said housing and movable to a position extending at least partially through the aperture of a received cartridge for releasing said strip material engaging means and for driving the strip material through the passageway of the received cartridge and into the open end of said channel; means for advancing strip material along said channel through said guide member; and means for receiving strip matErial from said guide member and for returning it in the form of a roll to the received cartridge such that succeeding convolutions of returned strip material are returned to the received cartridge radially inwardly of the innermost convolution already returned from the guide member.

Claim 12

A strip material handling mechanism for use with a generally cylindrical cartridge of the type adapted to contain a roll of strip material having a leading end, the cartridge also having (1) a cup-shaped member with an upstanding, generally annular wall, (2) a passageway through the wall through which strip material may be withdrawn from the cartridge, (3) releasable means for engaging the leading end of the strip material, and (4) an aperture in the cup-shaped member adjacent the leading end engaging means; said strip material handling mechanism comprising: a housing; a guide member on said housing defining a channel with an open end; means for receiving and locating such a cartridge on said housing such that the passageway of a received cartridge is adjacent the open end of said channel; drive means on said housing and movable to a position extending at least partially through the aperture of a received cartridge for releasing said strip material engaging means and for driving the strip material through the passageway of the received cartridge and into the open end of said channel; means for advancing strip material along said channel through said guide member; and means for receiving strip matErial from said guide member and for returning it in the form of a roll to the received cartridge such that succeeding convolutions of returned strip material are returned to the received cartridge radially inwardly of the innermost convolution already returned from the guide member.

Claim 13

A strip material handling mechanism as defined in claim 8 wherein said drive means comprises: a puck rotatable about an axis parallel to the axis of the roll of strip material in a received cartridge; means for moving said puck at least partially through the aperture of the received cartridge into contact with the leading end of the strip material contained therein; and means for rotating said puck in a direction to drive the strip material out of the received cartridge through the passageway.

Claim 14

A strip material handling mechanism for use with generally cylindrical cartridges of the type adapted to receive strip material having leading and trailing ends, the cartridge further having (1) a cup-shaped member with an upstanding annular wall, (2) means defining a passageway in said wall for withdrawing strip material therethrough, (3) an inner surface on the wall, and (4) releasable means on the wall''s inner surface for engaging the leading end of strip material; said mechanism comprising: a housing; a guide member on said housing defining a channel with an open end; means for receiving and locating such a cartridge on said housing in a first axial position wherein the passageway of a received cartridge is aligned with the open end of said channel; means movable to position for releasing the strip material leading end engaging means, for extracting the strip material from the cartridge leading end first, and for feeding the extracted strip material into the open end of said channel; means for advancing strip material along said channel through said guide member; means for moving the cartridge from its first position to its second axial position after the leading end of the strip material has been fed into said channel, whereby strip material being subsequently removed from the received cartridges first moves from such cartridge along a path having an axial component; and means for receiving strip material from said guide member and for returning it to the cartridge in a direction such that the leading end contacts the inner surface of the wall of the cup-shaped member and is engaged by the releasable means, succeeding convolutions of strip material returned from the guide member being wound in the cup-shaped member radially inwardly of the innermost convolution of strip material already returned from the guide member.

Claim 15

A strip material handling mechanism for use with generally cylindrical cartridges of the type adapted to receive strip material having leading and trailing ends, the cartridge further having (1) a cup-shaped member with an upstanding annular wall, (2) means defining a passageway in said wall for withdrawing strip material therethrough, (3) an inner surface on the wall, and (4) releasable means on the wall''s inner surface for engaging the leading end of strip material; said mechanism comprising: a housing; a guide member on said housing defining a channel with an open end; means for receiving and locating such a cartridge on said housing in a first axial position wherein the passageway of a received cartridge is aligned with the open end of said channel; means movable to position for releasing the strip material leading end engaging means, for extracting the strip material from the cartridge leading end first, and for feeding the extracted strip material into the open end of said channel; means for advancing strip material along said channel through said guide member; means for moving the cartridge from its first position to its second axial position after the leading end of the strip material has been fed into said channel, whereby strip material being subsequently removed from the received cartridges first moves from such cartridge along a path having an axial component; and means for receiving strip material from said guide member and for returning it to the cartridge in a direction such that the leading end contacts the inner surface of the wall of the cup-shaped member and is engaged by the releasable means, succeeding convolutions of strip material returned from the guide member being wound in the cup-shaped member radially inwardly of the innermost convolution of strip material already returned from the guide member.

Claim 16

A handling mechanism for use with generally cylindrical cartridges of the type adapted to receive strip material having leading and trailing ends, the cartridge further having (1) a cup-shaped member with an upstanding annular wall, (2) means defining a passageway in said wall for withdrawing strip material therethrough, (3) an inner surface on the wall, (4) releasable means on the wall''s inner surface for engaging the leading end of strip material, (5) a core upon which strip material may be tightly rolled, the core being coaxial with the wall and rotatable relative thereto, and (6) means on the core for engaging the trailing end of the strip material; said mechanism comprising: a housing; a guide member on said housing defining a channel with an open end; means for receiving and locating such a cartridge on said housing in a first axial position wherein the passageway of a received cartridge is aligned with the open end of said channel; means movable to position for releasing the strip material leading end engaging means, for extracting the strip material from the cartridge leading end first, and for feeding the extracted strip material into the open end of said channel; means for advancing strip material along said channel throuGh said guide member; means for moving the received cartridge from its first position to its second axial position after the strip material leading end has been fed into said channel, whereby strip material being subsequently removed from the cartridge is first moved from such cartridge along a path having an axial component; means for receiving strip material from said guide member and for returning it to the cartridge in a direction such that the leading end contacts the inner surface of the wall of the cup-shaped member and is engaged by the releasable means, succeeding convolutions of strip material returned from the guide member being wound in the cup-shaped member radially inwardly of the innermost convolution already returned from the guide member; means for causing the trailing end engaging means to engage the trailing end of the strip material after all of the strip material has been received from the guide member by the cartridge; and means for causing the core to revolve in a strip material cinching direction to roll the strip material tightly upon the core.

Claim 17

A handling mechanism for use with generally cylindrical cartridges of the type adapted to receive strip material having leading and trailing ends, the cartridge further having (1) a cup-shaped member with an upstanding annular wall, (2) means defining a passageway in said wall for withdrawing strip material therethrough, (3) an inner surface on the wall, (4) releasable means on the wall''s inner surface for engaging the leading end of strip material, (5) a core upon which strip material may be tightly rolled, the core being coaxial with the wall and rotatable relative thereto, and (6) means on the core for engaging the trailing end of the strip material; said mechanism comprising: a housing; a guide member on said housing defining a channel with an open end; means for receiving and locating such a cartridge on said housing in a first axial position wherein the passageway of a received cartridge is aligned with the open end of said channel; means movable to position for releasing the strip material leading end engaging means, for extracting the strip material from the cartridge leading end first, and for feeding the extracted strip material into the open end of said channel; means for advancing strip material along said channel throuGh said guide member; means for moving the received cartridge from its first position to its second axial position after the strip material leading end has been fed into said channel, whereby strip material being subsequently removed from the cartridge is first moved from such cartridge along a path having an axial component; means for receiving strip material from said guide member and for returning it to the cartridge in a direction such that the leading end contacts the inner surface of the wall of the cup-shaped member and is engaged by the releasable means, succeeding convolutions of strip material returned from the guide member being wound in the cup-shaped member radially inwardly of the innermost convolution already returned from the guide member; means for causing the trailing end engaging means to engage the trailing end of the strip material after all of the strip material has been received from the guide member by the cartridge; and means for causing the core to revolve in a strip material cinching direction to roll the strip material tightly upon the core.