Film feeding apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for feeding a leading end portion of a strip of web material from a roll of such material located in a plane, the roll being rotatable in such plane in a direction for taking up web material onto the roll, and the web having an opening in its leading end portion, the apparatus comprising: a flexible member having a hook portion adapted to enter the opening in the web strip for feeding strip material from the roll; means mounting said member for movement between (1) a first position wherein the hook portion is adjacent the roll of web material for entering the opening in the strip to couple the hook portion to the strip in response to rotation of the roll in a take-up direction and (2) a second position wherein the hook portion is separated from the roll; means coupled to said member for moving said member between its first position and its second position; and guide means cooperating with said flexible member for guiding movement of the hook portion transversely relative to the plane of the roll and the direction of movement of said flexible member during movement of said flexible member from its second position to its first position so that the hook portion of said member is aligned with the opening in the web material when said member is in its first position, thereby to insure coupling of the hook portion of said member with the strip of web material during rotation of the roll in a take-up direction.

Claim 3

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said guide means comprises at least one flange on said flexible member adjacent the hook portion of said flexible member, said flange being offset from said hook portion.

Claim 4

Apparatus for feeding a leading end portion of a strip of web material from a roll of such material, the roll being rotatable in a direction for taking up web material onto the roll, and the web having an opening in its leading end portion, the apparatus comprising: a member comprising an elongate shank portion and a hook portion adapted to enter the opening in the web strip for feeding strip material from the roll; means mounting said member for movement between (1) a first position wherein the hook portion is adjacent the roll of web material for entering the opening in the strip to couple the hook portion to the strip in response to rotation of the roll in a take-up direction and (2) a second position wherein the hook portion is separated from the roll; means coupled to said member for moving said member between its first position and its second position; and guide means comprising two guide members connected to said member and projecting outwardly from said member, the outer extremities of said guide members being spaced apart by a distance that exceeds the width of said shank portion and said hook portion to guide movement of said hook portion of said member during movement of said member from its second to its first position so that said hook portion of said member is aligned with the opening in the web material when the member is in its first position, thereby to insure coupling of the hook portion of said member with the strip of web material during rotation of the roll in a take-up direction. --.

Claim 5

Apparatus for feeding a leading end portion of a strip of web material from a roll of such material, the roll being rotatable in a direction for taking up web material onto the roll, and the web having an opening in its leading end portion, the apparatus comprising: a member comprising an elongate shank portion and a hook portion adapted to enter the opening in the web strip for feeding strip material from the roll; means mounting said member for movement between (1) a first position wherein the hook portion is adjacent the roll of web material for entering the opening in the strip to couple the hook portion to the strip in response to rotation of the roll in a take-up direction and (2) a second position wherein the hook portion is separated from the roll; means coupled to said member for moving said member between its first position and its second position; and guide means comprising two guide members connected to said member and projecting outwardly from said member, the outer extremities of said guide members being spaced apart by a distance that exceeds the width of said shank portion and said hook portion to guide movement of said hook portion of said member during movement of said member from its second to its first position so that said hook portion of said member is aligned with the opening in the web material when the member is in its first position, thereby to insure coupling of the hook portion of said member with the strip of web material during rotation of the roll in a take-up direction. --.

Claim 6

Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said guide members has an edge portion adjacent said hook portion of said member, said edge portions diverging away from said hook portion.

Claim 7

Apparatus for feeding a leading end portion of a strip of web material from a roll of such material, the roll being disposed between two spaced flanges of a reel or the like and being rotatable in a direction for taking up web material onto the roll, and the web having an opening in its leading end portion, the apparatus comprising: a member having a hook portion adapted to enter the opening in the web strip for feeding strIp material from the roll; means mounting said member for movement between (1) a first position wherein the hook portion is adjacent the roll of web material for entering the opening in the strip to couple the hook portion to the strip in response to rotation of the roll in a take-up direction and (2) a second position wherein the hook portion is separated from the roll; means coupled to said member for moving said member between its first position and its second position; and guide means comprising a first guide member connected to said member adjacent said hook portion, said guide member being engageable with one flange for locating said hook portion relative to the roll during movement of said member from its second position toward its first position. --.

Claim 8

Apparatus for feeding a leading end portion of a strip of web material from a roll of such material, the roll being disposed between two spaced flanges of a reel or the like and being rotatable in a direction for taking up web material onto the roll, and the web having an opening in its leading end portion, the apparatus comprising: a member having a hook portion adapted to enter the opening in the web strip for feeding strIp material from the roll; means mounting said member for movement between (1) a first position wherein the hook portion is adjacent the roll of web material for entering the opening in the strip to couple the hook portion to the strip in response to rotation of the roll in a take-up direction and (2) a second position wherein the hook portion is separated from the roll; means coupled to said member for moving said member between its first position and its second position; and guide means comprising a first guide member connected to said member adjacent said hook portion, said guide member being engageable with one flange for locating said hook portion relative to the roll during movement of said member from its second position toward its first position. --.

Claim 9

Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said guide means comprises a second guide member connected to said member adjacent said hook portion, said guide members being generally triangular in shape and having edge portions adjacent said hook portion that diverge away from said hook portion.