Photographic film assemblage

Claim 2

A film assemblage comprising: a plurality of self-processing film units respectively arranged in adjacent overlying relationship to define a stack of said film units, said stack defining a front position in which each film unit sequentially is positionable for exposure and from which each film unit is removable for processing after its exposure; said film units each having a preregistered, integral imagerecording portion, container means for processing fluid, and a flexible carrier sheet, said image-recording portion including a substantially flat photosensitive element for recording a processable latent image and a process sheet permanently attached in superposition to said photosensitive element, said container means being disposed adjacent said image-recording portion and including means for directing the processing fluid to said image-recording portion between said photosensitive element and said process sheet, said carrier sheet being permanently attached to said container means and strippably coupled to said image-recording portion to permit separation of said image-recording portion from said carrier sheet and from said container means after their removal from said front position; said plurality of film units including a first film unit and a second film unit adjacent to said first film unit, said carrier sheet of said second film unit including a leading end portion for pulling on said carrier sheet of said second film unit to remove said second film unit from said front position after exposure of said second film unit, said leading end portion of said second film unit being inaccessibly arranged within said assemblage prior to exposure and removal of said first film unit to prevent premature removal of said second film unit; and means for releasably coupling said leading end portion of said second film unit to said carrier sheet of said first film unit, said coupling means including a peelable connection constructed to be strong in shear for threading said leading end portion of said second film unit to an accessible position extending from said assemblage, but weak in peel for then releasing said carrier sheet of said first film unit from said carrier sheet of said second film unit, said threading and releasing of said leading end portion being effected in response to removal of said first film unit from said front position.

Claim 3

A film pack for use in photographic apparatus having a pair of juxtaposed pressure-applying members, the pack comprising a casing and a film assemblage contained in said casing; said film assemblage comprising a plurality of self-processing film units respectively arranged in adjacent over-lying relationship to define a stack of said film units, said stack defining a front portion in which each film unit sequentially is positionable for exposure and from which each film unit is removable for processing after its exposure; said film units each having a preregistered, integral image-recording portion, container means for processing fluid, and a flexible carrier sheet, said image-recording portion including a substantially flat photosensitive element for recording a processable latent image and a process sheet permanently attached in superposition to said photosensitive element, said container means being disposed adjacent said image-recording portion and including means for directing the processing fluid to said image-recording portion between said photosensitive element and said process sheet, said carrier sheet being permanently attached to said container means and strippably coupled to said image-recording portion to permit separation of said image-recording portion from said carrier sheet and from said container means after their removal from said front portion; said plurality of film units including a first film unit and a second film unit adjacent to said first film unit, said carrier sheet of said second film unit including a leading end portion for pulling on said carrier sheet of said second film unit to remove said second film unit from said front position and between the pressure-applying members after exposure of said second film unit, said leading end portion being inaccessibly arranged within said assemblage prior to exposure and removal of said first film unit to prevent premature removal of said second film unit; and means for releasably coupling said leading end portion of said second film unit to said first film unit, said coupling means including a peelable connection constructed to be strong in shear for threading said leading end portion of said second film unit between the pressure-applying members to an accessible position extending from said assemblage, but weak in peel for releasing said leading end portion from said first film unit after said leading end portion is threaded between the pressure-applying members, said threading and releasing of said leading end portion being effected in response to removal of said first film unit from said front portion and between the pressure-applying members.

Claim 4

A film pack for use in photographic apparatus having a pair of juxtaposed pressure-applying members, the pack comprising a casing and a film assemblage contained in said casing; said film assemblage comprising a plurality of self-processing film units respectively arranged in adjacent over-lying relationship to define a stack of said film units, said stack defining a front portion in which each film unit sequentially is positionable for exposure and from which each film unit is removable for processing after its exposure; said film units each having a preregistered, integral image-recording portion, container means for processing fluid, and a flexible carrier sheet, said image-recording portion including a substantially flat photosensitive element for recording a processable latent image and a process sheet permanently attached in superposition to said photosensitive element, said container means being disposed adjacent said image-recording portion and including means for directing the processing fluid to said image-recording portion between said photosensitive element and said process sheet, said carrier sheet being permanently attached to said container means and strippably coupled to said image-recording portion to permit separation of said image-recording portion from said carrier sheet and from said container means after their removal from said front portion; said plurality of film units including a first film unit and a second film unit adjacent to said first film unit, said carrier sheet of said second film unit including a leading end portion for pulling on said carrier sheet of said second film unit to remove said second film unit from said front position and between the pressure-applying members after exposure of said second film unit, said leading end portion being inaccessibly arranged within said assemblage prior to exposure and removal of said first film unit to prevent premature removal of said second film unit; and means for releasably coupling said leading end portion of said second film unit to said first film unit, said coupling means including a peelable connection constructed to be strong in shear for threading said leading end portion of said second film unit between the pressure-applying members to an accessible position extending from said assemblage, but weak in peel for releasing said leading end portion from said first film unit after said leading end portion is threaded between the pressure-applying members, said threading and releasing of said leading end portion being effected in response to removal of said first film unit from said front portion and between the pressure-applying members.

Claim 5

The film pack claimed in claim 2 wherein said first film unit defines a trailing end beyond its image-recording portion and said leading end portion of said second film unit is coupled to said trailing end of said first film unit so said leading end portion will be threaded between the pressure-applying members after at least said image-recording portion of said first film unit is removed entirely from between the pressure-applying members.

Claim 6

The film pack claimed in claim 2 wherein said image-recording portion defines an underside and said carrier sheet extends along substantially the entire underside of said image-recording portion.

Claim 7

The film pack claimed in claim 2 wherein said carrier sheet of each film unit is defined by a continuous single sheet of web material.

Claim 8

The film pack claimed in claim 2 wherein said carrier sheet is defined by a plurality of interconnected sheets of web material.

Claim 9

The film pack claimed in claim 2 wherein said image-recording portion defines a first width and said leading end portion defines a second width narrower than said first width.

Claim 10

The film pack claimed in claim 2 wherein each film unit includes a trap for collecting any excess processing fluid from said image-recording portion, said trap being strippably coupled to said image-recording portion and permanently attached to said carrier sheet for removal from said image-recording portion with said carrier sheet and said container.