Film convolution retaining device

Claim 2

A web retaining device in combination with a cartridge adapted to accept a reel, having flanges, containing a web wound in convolutions around the hub of said reel, and adapted for use in automatic feed-out means, the improvement comprising: a plurality of yieldable elements located within said cartridge, said yieldable elements having free ends wherein said free ends extend between the flanges of said reel thereby retaining the web between said flanges; and access means located within said cartridge and said web retaining device adapted to enable said automatic feed-out means to pass into said cartridge to permit said web to be fed from said reel in said cartridge.

Claim 3

The web retaining device of claim 1 wherein each of said yieldable elements extends from a base member and wherein said base member is connected to said cartridge thereby orienting said device within said cartridge in a preselected position.

Claim 4

The web retaining device of claim 2 wherein said base member is substantially rigid and wherein each of said yieldable elements is adapted to substantially deflect thereby preventing said retaining device from causing said reel to bind.

Claim 5

The web retaining device of claim 3 wherein said yieldable elements define at least three resilient fingers serially connected to one another thereby forming a noncircular curve.

Claim 6

The web retaining device of claim 4 wherein said yieldable elements comprise a width less than the spacing of said reel flanges thereby causing said flanges to extend radially outwardly beyond said yieldable elements.

Claim 7

The web retaining device of claim 1 wherein said yieldable elements cooperate with each other to form a non-circular curve.

Claim 8

The web retaining device of claim 1 wherein said yieldable elements further include a ''''V'''' shaped groove configuration which is adapted to engage said web at laterally spaced points.

Claim 9

The web retaining device of claim 1 wherein said device and said cartridge comprise a unitary structure.

Claim 10

A web retaining device in combination with a cartridge adapted to accept a reel having flanges, containing a web wound in convolutions around the hub of said reel, and adapted for use in automatic feed-out means, the improvement comprising: a plurality of elements located within said cartridge, each of said elements having a base portion and a flexible portion extending from said base portion and wherein said flexible portions are adapted to extend between the flanges of said reel thereby retaining the web between said flanges; and access means located within said cartridge and said web retaining device adapted to enable said automatic feed-out means to pass into said cartridge to permit said web to be fed from said reel.

Claim 11

A web retaining device in combination with a cartridge adapted to accept a reel having flanges, containing a web wound in convolutions around the hub of said reel, and adapted for use in automatic feed-out means, the improvement comprising: a plurality of elements located within said cartridge, each of said elements having a base portion and a flexible portion extending from said base portion and wherein said flexible portions are adapted to extend between the flanges of said reel thereby retaining the web between said flanges; and access means located within said cartridge and said web retaining device adapted to enable said automatic feed-out means to pass into said cartridge to permit said web to be fed from said reel.

Claim 12

The web retaining device of claim 9 wherein the base portion of one of said elements is connected to a second of said elements intermediate said base portion and said flexible portion of said second element thereby forming a non-circular curve.

Claim 13

The web retaining device of claim 10 wherein said base members are substantially rigid and wherein said yieldable elements are adapted to substantially deflect thereby preventing said retaining device from causing said reel to bind.

Claim 14

The web retaining device of claim 11 further comprising a means for connecting said elements to said cartridge thereby orienting said device within said cartridge in a preselected position.

Claim 15

A cartridge for a strip of flexible web material on a reel having flanges and adapted for use in automatic feed-out means comprising: a reel receptacle having a substantially planar back portion; a cover adapted to fit over said reel receptacle to substantially enclose a reel in said receptacle wherein said reel receptacle and said cover are arranged to form a threading aperture on the bottom end of the assembled cartridge adapted to enable said automatic feed-out means to pass into said cartridge and to permit a strip of flexible web material to be fed from said reel out of said cartridge; and a web retaining device spaced from said back portion and positioned to penetrate the space between the flanges of said reel along a portion of the circumference of said reel, said web retaining device having a plurality of flexible elements wherein the free end of said elements is adapted to extend between the flanges of said reel thereby guiding said flexible web material through said threading aperture.

Claim 16

A cartridge for a strip of flexible web material on a reel having flanges and adapted for use in automatic feed-out means comprising: a reel receptacle having a substantially planar back portion; a cover adapted to fit over said reel receptacle to substantially enclose a reel in said receptacle wherein said reel receptacle and said cover are arranged to form a threading aperture on the bottom end of the assembled cartridge adapted to enable said automatic feed-out means to pass into said cartridge and to permit a strip of flexible web material to be fed from said reel out of said cartridge; and a web retaining device spaced from said back portion and positioned to penetrate the space between the flanges of said reel along a portion of the circumference of said reel, said web retaining device having a plurality of flexible elements wherein the free end of said elements is adapted to extend between the flanges of said reel thereby guiding said flexible web material through said threading aperture.

Claim 17

The cartridge of claim 13 wherein said web retaining device further comprises a base means wherein said flexible elements extend from said base means.

Claim 18

The cartridge of claim 14 wherein said base means is rigid and wherein said plurality of flexible elements are serially connected to said base means.

Claim 19

The cartridge of claim 15 wherein said flexible elements are arranged to form a non-circular curve.

Claim 20

The cartridge of claim 16 further comprising means for connecting said web retaining device to the interior of said cartridge in a preselected position.

Claim 21

The cartridge of claim 17 wherein said connecting means comprises a first groove member in said back portion and a first extending clip portion on said web retaining device whereby said clip portion engages said groove member thereby connecting said web retaining device in said cartridge.

Claim 22

The cartridge of claim 17 wherein said flexible elements further comprise a ''''V'''' shaped groove configuration which is adapted to engage said web at laterally spaced points.

Claim 23

The cartridge of claim 19 further comprising a ledge portion on said back portion whereby said web retaining device is positioned laterally against said ledge portion.

Claim 24

The cartridge of claim 16 wherein said web retaining device and said reel receptacle are integrally formed.

Claim 25

The cartridge of claim 16 wherein said web retaining device comprises three flexible elements.

Claim 26

The cartridge of claim 14 wherein each of said flexible elements comprises a first and a second end and wherein said first end of said first flexible element extends from said base means.

Claim 27

The cartridge of claim 23 wherein the first end of said second flexible element is connected to said first flexible element intermediate to the first and second ends of said first flexible element whereby said first and second flexible elements form a non-circular curve.