Apparatus for separating and feeding exposed film sheets from a magazine into a film processor

Claim 2

Apparatus for removing exposed film sheets from a film holder having an actuatable film gate for removing the film sheets and for separating and singly delivering the exposed film sheets into a processor by gravity feed, said apparatus comprising: a. means interconnecting the film holder to the processor in a substantially light-proof manner, for positioning the film holder relative to the processor to facilitate gravity feed of the film sheets from the film holder to the processor; b. means defining a predetermined path between the film holder and the processor along which the film sheets move to the processor; c. stop means positioned relative to said means for defining a predetermined path to be engaged by the film sheets as they move along said predetermined path; and d. means to singly disengage the film sheets from said stop means for permitting movement of the film sheets by force of gravity along the predetermined path into the processor.

Claim 3

Apparatus for removing exposed film sheets from a film holder having an actuatable film gate for removing the film sheets and for separating and singly delivering the exposed film sheets into a processor by gravity feed, said apparatus comprising: a. means interconnecting the film holder to the processor in a substantially light-proof manner, for positioning the film holder relative to the processor to facilitate gravity feed of the film sheets from the film holder to the processor; b. means defining a predetermined path between the film holder and the processor along which the film sheets move to the processor; c. stop means positioned relative to said means for defining a predetermined path to be engaged by the film sheets as they move along said predetermined path; and d. means to singly disengage the film sheets from said stop means for permitting movement of the film sheets by force of gravity along the predetermined path into the processor.

Claim 4

Apparatus for removing exposed film sheets from a film holder having an actuatable film gate for removing the film sheets and for separating and singly delivering the exposed film sheets into a processor by gravity feed, said apparatus comprising: a. means interconnecting the film holder to the processor in a substantially light-proof manner, for positioning the film holder relative to the processor to facilitate gravity feed of the film sheets from the film holder to the processor; b. means defining a predetermined path between the film holder and the processor along which the film sheets move to the processor; c. stop means positioned relative to said means for defining a predetermined path to be engaged by the film sheets as they move along said predetermined path; and d. means to singly disengage the film sheets from said stop means for permitting movement of the film sheets by force of gravity along the predetermined path into the processor.

Claim 5

Apparatus for removing at least two stacked exposed film sheets from a magazine having an actuatable film gate for removing the film sheets, and separating and singly delivering the film sheets into a film processor, said apparatus comprising: a. a housing for interconnecting the magazine to the processor in a substantially light-proof manner; b. guide means disposed between the magazine and the processor for permitting movement of the film sheets from the magazine along said guide means to the processor, said guide means being disposed relative to the magazine and the processor to permit gravity feed of the film sheets to the processor; c. an abutment disposed on said guide means, and having a height of approximately the thickness of a sheet of film, for engaging the bottommost sheet of film as the film sheets move along said guide means, while allowing the top film sheet to continue to move along said guide means to the processor; d. means for changing the relative position of the leading edge of the engaged film sheet relative to said abutment to permit the bottommost film sheet to move along said guide means to the processor.

Claim 6

Apparatus for removing at least two stacked exposed film sheets from a magazine having an actuatable film gate for removing the film sheets, and separating and singly delivering the film sheets into a film processor, said apparatus comprising: a. a housing for interconnecting the magazine to the processor in a substantially light-proof manner; b. guide means disposed between the magazine and the processor for permitting movement of the film sheets from the magazine along said guide means to the processor, said guide means being disposed relative to the magazine and the processor to permit gravity feed of the film sheets to the processor; c. an abutment disposed on said guide means, and having a height of approximately the thickness of a sheet of film, for engaging the bottommost sheet of film as the film sheets move along said guide means, while allowing the top film sheet to continue to move along said guide means to the processor; d. means for changing the relative position of the leading edge of the engaged film sheet relative to said abutment to permit the bottommost film sheet to move along said guide means to the processor.

Claim 7

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein sensing means are provided for sensing the coupling of the magazine to the housing, and initiating the movement of the film out of the magazine when the magazine is coupled to the housing.

Claim 8

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein means are disposed above the abutment for contacting the film sheets as they move down said guide member to force the film sheet to engage the abutment.

Claim 9

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the means for changing the relative position of the leading edge of the bottommost sheet of film and said abutment comprises means disposed relative to said abutment for raising the leading edge of the film sheet above said abutment to permit the film sheet to be moved down said guide means by force of gravity.

Claim 10

Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said means for changing the relative position of the leading edge comprises a lift member disposed to be raised relative to said abutment to engage the bottom of the film sheet to raise the film sheet above said abutment, and means for actuating said lift member.

Claim 11

Apparatus for separating and singly delivering exposed film sheets into a processor by gravity feed, from a film holder containing a plurality of stacked exposed film sheets, the film holder having an actuatable film gate where the film sheets may be inserted or removed, said apparatus comprising: a. means interconnecting the film holder to the processor in a substantially light-proof manner, for positioning the film holder relative to the processor to facilitate gravity feed of the film sheets out of the film holder; b. means defining a predetermined path between the film holder and the processor for directing the film sheets to the processor; c. an abutment disposed relative to said means for defining said predetermined path, to be engaged by the stacked film sheets as they move by force of gravity along said predetermined path; d. means for sequentially lifting the stack of film sheets a predetermined distance relative to said abutment to sequentially permit a single sheet of film to move along said predetermined path into the processor.

Claim 12

Apparatus for separating and singly delivering exposed film sheets into a processor by gravity feed, from a film holder containing a plurality of stacked exposed film sheets, the film holder having an actuatable film gate where the film sheets may be inserted or removed, said apparatus comprising: a. means interconnecting the film holder to the processor in a substantially light-proof manner, for positioning the film holder relative to the processor to facilitate gravity feed of the film sheets out of the film holder; b. means defining a predetermined path between the film holder and the processor for directing the film sheets to the processor; c. an abutment disposed relative to said means for defining said predetermined path, to be engaged by the stacked film sheets as they move by force of gravity along said predetermined path; d. means for sequentially lifting the stack of film sheets a predetermined distance relative to said abutment to sequentially permit a single sheet of film to move along said predetermined path into the processor.