Apparatus for holding and ejecting a photographic cassette

Claim 2

Photographic apparatus useful in operations involving a film handling cassette including a strip of photographic material and means adapted to be driven by external drive means for advancing such strip of photographic material within such cassette, comprising: first means for receiving such cassette; second means for locking such cassette in position when fully inserted into said first means, said second means including at least one rotatably mounted resiliently compressible roller positioned to be engaged and compressed by such cassette in the process of inserting such cassette into said first means and further positioned so that it subsequently expands over a portion of such cassette when such cassette is fully inserted into said first means to exert a force against such cassette tending to lock such cassette in such position; third means for selectively driving such advancing means of such cassette; and fourth means for selectively ejecting such cassette from said apparatus against said force exerted thereon by said resiliently compressible roller.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fourth means includes a pivotably mounted lever arm, one end of said arm adapted to be selectively displaced from a first to a second position and the other end thereof adapted to contact such cassette and eject such cassette from said apparatus as said one end is displaced from its said first position into its said second position.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fourth means includes a substantially rigid member adapted to be displaced from a first position, wherein it does not tend to eject such cassette from said apparatus, into a second position, said member exerting a force on such cassette during said displacement thereof effecting an ejection of such cassette from said apparatus, a rack on said rigid member, a pinion engaging said rack and a motor connected to said pinion, whereby said pinion may be selectively driven by said motor to effect said displacement of said rigid member.

Claim 5

Photographic apparatus useful in operations involving a film handling cassette including a strip of photographic material and means adapted to be driven by external drive means for advancing such strip of photographic material within such cassette, comprising: first means for receiving such cassette; second means for locking such cassette in position when fully inserted into said first means, said second means including a pair of spaced apart resiliently compressible members positioned to be disposed on opposite sides of such cassette when such cassette is inserted into said first means to be engaged and compressed by such cassette in the process of inserting such cassette into said first means and further positioned so that they subsequently expand when such cassette is fully inserted into said first means to exert a force against such cassette tending to lock such cassette in such position; third means for selectively driving such advancing means of such cassette; and fourth means for selectively ejecting such cassette from said apparatus against said force exerted thereon by said resiliently compressible member.

Claim 6

Photographic apparatus useful in operations involving a film handling cassette including a strip of photographic material and means adapted to be driven by external drive means for advancing such strip of photographic material within such cassette, comprising: first means for receiving such cassette; second means for locking such cassette in position when fully inserted into said first means, said second means including a pair of spaced apart resiliently compressible members positioned to be disposed on opposite sides of such cassette when such cassette is inserted into said first means to be engaged and compressed by such cassette in the process of inserting such cassette into said first means and further positioned so that they subsequently expand when such cassette is fully inserted into said first means to exert a force against such cassette tending to lock such cassette in such position; third means for selectively driving such advancing means of such cassette; and fourth means for selectively ejecting such cassette from said apparatus against said force exerted thereon by said resiliently compressible member.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein at least one of said resiliently compressible membErs comprises a roller.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said first means includes a support against which such cassette seats when fully inserted thereinto and said roller is positioned to press against progressive sections of such cassette as such cassette is inserted into said receiving means whereby at least the peripheral edge portion of said roller is compressed and extends a sufficient distance beyond an end of such cassette spaced from the portion thereof seated against such support when such cassette is fully inserted into said apparatus so that said edge portion expands in a direction toward such cassette over such cassette to firmly urge such cassette against said support.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said resiliently compressible members comprise a pair of rollers.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said receiving means includes a support against which such cassette seats when fully inserted into said first means and said rollers are positioned so that both of their edge portions are compressed by such cassette as such cassette is inserted into said receiving means and extends a sufficient distance beyond an end of such cassette spaced from the portion thereof seated against such support when such cassette is fully inserted into said apparatus so that said edge portions expand in a direction toward such cassette over such cassette to firmly urge such cassette against said support.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first means comprises a slot through which such cassette is inserted into said apparatus and said rollers are disposed adjacent opposite sides of said slot in the immediate vicinity of said slot.

Claim 12

Photographic apparatus useful in operations involving a film handling cassette including a strip of photographic material and means adapted to be driven by external drive means for advancing such strip of photographic material within such cassette, comprising: a housing having a slot therein through which such cassette may be inserted into said apparatus; first means for receiving such cassette, said first means including a support spaced a predetermined distance inwardly of said housing from said slot and against which such cassette seats when fully inserted into said first means; second means for locking such cassette in position when fully inserted into said first means, said second means including at least one resiliently compressible member positioned to be engaged and compressed by such cassette in the process of inserting such cassette into said first means and further positioned so that it subsequently expands over a portion of such cassette when said cassette is fully inserted into said first means to exert a force against such cassette urging such cassette against said support to lock such cassette in said apparatus; third means for selectively driving such advancing means of such cassette; and fourth means for selectively ejecting such cassette from said apparatus against said force exerted thereon by said resiliently compressible member.

Claim 13

Photographic apparatus useful in operations involving a film handling cassette including a strip of photographic material and means adapted to be driven by external drive means for advancing such strip of photographic material within such cassette, comprising: a housing having a slot therein through which such cassette may be inserted into said apparatus; first means for receiving such cassette, said first means including a support spaced a predetermined distance inwardly of said housing from said slot and against which such cassette seats when fully inserted into said first means; second means for locking such cassette in position when fully inserted into said first means, said second means including at least one resiliently compressible member positioned to be engaged and compressed by such cassette in the process of inserting such cassette into said first means and further positioned so that it subsequently expands over a portion of such cassette when said cassette is fully inserted into said first means to exert a force against such cassette urging such cassette against said support to lock such cassette in said apparatus; third means for selectively driving such advancing means of such cassette; and fourth means for selectively ejecting such cassette from said apparatus against said force exerted thereon by said resiliently compressible member.