Apparatus for forming a developable pattern on light-sensitive film carried in a cassette

Claim 2

Apparatus for forming a developable marking pattern on a sheet of light-sensitive film carried in a cassette, said apparatus comprising: a. a support for receiving cassettes containing such film; b. means for supporting means bearing prepared data corresponding to said pattern; c. means for optically projecting an image of said data toward a received cassette whereby a developable marking pattern is formed on the film in the cassette; d. means for sensing correct and incorrect orientation of a cassette; and e. means responsive to said sensing means for disabling said projecting means when a cassette is improperly received in said support.

Claim 3

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said sensing means comprises: a. electric switch means having a first condition preventing operation of said projecting means and a second condition activating said projecting means; and b. means responsive to proper receipt of a casSette in said support for putting said switch means in said second condition.

Claim 4

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said sensing means comprises: a. a first electric switch having a first condition preventing operation of said projecting means and a second condition activating said projection means; b. means responsive to receipt of a cassette in said support for putting said first switch in its second condition; c. a second electric switch having a first condition permitting operation of said projecting means and a second condition preventing operation of said projecting means; and d. means responsive to improper receipt of a cassette in said support for putting said second switch in its second condition.

Claim 5

Apparatus for forming a developable marking pattern on a sheet of light-sensitive film carried in a cassette having a physically detectable discontinuity, said apparatus comprising: a. a support for receiving cassettes containing such film; b. means for supporting means bearing optically projectable data corresponding to said pattern; c. means for optically projecting an image of said data toward a received cassette to form a latent developable image corresponding to said pattern on the film in the cassette; d. means for sensing the position of the discontinuity on the cassette to detect correct and incorrect orientation of a cassette; and e. means responsive to said sensing means for disabling said projection means when a cassette is improperly received in said support.

Claim 6

Apparatus for forming a developable marking pattern on a sheet of light-sensitive film carried in a cassette having a physically detectable discontinuity, said apparatus comprising: a. a support for receiving cassettes containing such film; b. means for supporting means bearing optically projectable data corresponding to said pattern; c. means for optically projecting an image of said data toward a received cassette to form a latent developable image corresponding to said pattern on the film in the cassette; d. means for sensing the position of the discontinuity on the cassette to detect correct and incorrect orientation of a cassette; and e. means responsive to said sensing means for disabling said projection means when a cassette is improperly received in said support.

Claim 7

Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said sensing means comprises: a. switch means having a first condition permitting operation of said projecting means and a second condition preventing operation of said projecting means; b. means for changing said switch means from said first condition to said second condition upon insertion of a cassette into said support; and c. means for sensing the position of the discontinuity on the cassette and for changing said switch means from said second condition to said first condition only if the cassette is properly received in said support.

Claim 8

Apparatus for forming a developable marking pattern on a sheet of light-sensitive film carried in a cassette having a window with a slidable cover, said apparatus comprising: a. a support for receiving cassettes containing film; b. means for receiving optically projectable data corresponding to said pattern; c. means for sliding the cover to an open position including a movable carriage, means for moving said carriage, means on said carriage normally positioned away from the cover and movable into engagement with the cover upon movement of said carriage for moving the cover with said carriage; and d. means for optically projecting an image of said data through the window onto the film in the received cassette to form a latent developable image corresponding to said pattern.

Claim 9

Apparatus for forming a developable marking pattern on a sheet of light-sensitive film carried in a cassette having a window with a slidable cover, said apparatus comprising: a. a support for receiving cassettes containing film; b. means for receiving optically projectable data corresponding to said pattern; c. means for sliding the cover to an open position including a movable carriage, means for moving said carriage, means on said carriage normally positioned away from the cover and movable into engagement with the cover upon movement of said carriage for moving the cover with said carriage; and d. means for optically projecting an image of said data through the window onto the film in the received cassette to form a latent developable image corresponding to said pattern.

Claim 10

Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said means on said carriage comprises: a. a support member movably mounted on said carriage; b. spring means urging said support member away from the cover; and c. means carried by said support member for moving said support member against the force of said spring means upon movement of said carriage for opening the cover.

Claim 11

Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said means on said carriage comprises: a. a support member mounted on said carriage for rotation about an axis extending in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of movement of said carriage; b. spring means biasing said support member for rotational movement in a first direction about said axis; c. means carried by said support member for moving said support member in a direction opposite said first direction upon movement of said carriage to open the cover; and d. a pin connected to said support member for engaging the cover when said support member is moved in said opposite direction.

Claim 12

ApparaTus as defined in claim 8 wherein the connection between said pin and said support member includes means for allowing said pin to rotate about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said support member and to move linearly in a direction perpendicular to said axes and the direction of movement of said support member.

Claim 13

Apparatus for forming a developable marking pattern on a sheet of light-sensitive film in a cassette having a window with an openable cover, said apparatus comprising: a. a support for receiving cassettes containing such film; b. means for receiving optically projectable data corresponding to said pattern; c. means for optically projecting an image of said data onto the film in the cassette to form a latent developable image corresponding to said pattern; d. a light seal positioned adjacent and spaced from a received cassette; e. means for moving said light seal into contact with a received cassette before the cover is opened to prevent light from reaching the window except for light from said projection means; and f. means for opening the cover including a movable carriage and means for selectively connecting said carriage to the cover, said means for moving said light seal being responsive to movement of said carriage.

Claim 14

Apparatus for forming a developable marking pattern on a sheet of light-sensitive film in a cassette having a window with an openable cover, said apparatus comprising: a. a support for receiving cassettes containing such film; b. means for receiving optically projectable data corresponding to said pattern; c. means for optically projecting an image of said data onto the film in the cassette to form a latent developable image corresponding to said pattern; d. a light seal positioned adjacent and spaced from a received cassette; e. means for moving said light seal into contact with a received cassette before the cover is opened to prevent light from reaching the window except for light from said projection means; and f. means for opening the cover including a movable carriage and means for selectively connecting said carriage to the cover, said means for moving said light seal being responsive to movement of said carriage.