Film-advancing apparatus

Claim 2

Photographic apparatus comprising: a film assemblage including a cassette having means defining an exit in one end of said cassette through which a film unit is adapted to be moved subsequent to exposure, an opening near an opposite end of said cassette and an exposure aperture; a plurality of thin, flexible film units located within said cassette in stacked relation with a foremost of said film units being adapted to be urged into a position adjacent said exposure aperture with a first edge of said foremost film unit in alignment with said exit and a second edge opposite said first edge positioned adjacent said opening; a camera including means for receiving said cassette; first film-advancing means adapted to extend into said opening for engaging said foremost film unit at said second edge thereof and moving said foremost film unit, subsequent to exposure, through said exit; second film-advancing means including a pair of rollers adapted to receive said first edge of said foremost film unit as it moves through said exit; motor means; and means coupled to said motor means for driving said first filmadvancing means to move said first edge of said foremost film unit throUgh said exit and for driving said second filmadvancing means while said foremost film unit is in engagement therewith to rupture a container of processing liquid mounted on said foremost film unit and spread the contents thereof between elements of said foremost film unit as said foremost film unit is advanced toward the exterior of said camera.

Claim 3

Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said drive means is adapted to simultaneously drive said first and second film-advancing means.

Claim 4

Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said film-engaging means is mounted for reciprocating movement.

Claim 5

Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said first film-advancing means is mounted for reciprocating movement.

Claim 6

Photographic apparatus for use with a film assemblage of the type including a cassette having means defining an exit in one end thereof through which a film unit is adapted to be moved subsequent to exposure, an opening near an opposite end of the cassette and an exposure aperture, a plurality of thin, flexible film units located within the cassette in stacked relation with a foremost one of the film units being adapted to be urged into a position adjacent the exposure aperture with a first edge of the film unit in alignment with the exit, a second edge of the film unit opposite the first edge being in alignment with the opening and a photosensitive area of the film unit being located in alignment with the exposure aperture, said photographic apparatus comprising: means for locating the film assemblage in said photographic apparatus in position for exposure of the foremost film unit; means for exposing the foremost film unit through the exposure aperture in the cassette; first film-advancing means mounted in said photographic apparatus and adapted to extend into the opening in the cassette to drivingly engage the foremost film unit at the second edge thereof and thereby move the foremost film unit, subsequent to exposure, through the exit in the cassette; second film-advancing means mounted in said apparatus and adapted to drivingly engage the first edge of the foremost film unit after it moves through the exit; motor means; and means coupled to said motor means for driving said first film-advancing means to move the first edge of the foremost film unit through the exit in the cassette and for driving said second film-advancing means while the foremost film unit is in engagement therewith.

Claim 7

Photographic apparatus for use with a film assemblage of the type including a cassette having means defining an exit in one end thereof through which a film unit is adapted to be moved subsequent to exposure, an opening near an opposite end of the cassette and an exposure aperture, a plurality of thin, flexible film units located within the cassette in stacked relation with a foremost one of the film units being adapted to be urged into a position adjacent the exposure aperture with a first edge of the film unit in alignment with the exit, a second edge of the film unit opposite the first edge being in alignment with the opening and a photosensitive area of the film unit being located in alignment with the exposure aperture, said photographic apparatus comprising: means for locating the film assemblage in said photographic apparatus in position for exposure of the foremost film unit; means for exposing the foremost film unit through the exposure aperture in the cassette; first film-advancing means mounted in said photographic apparatus and adapted to extend into the opening in the cassette to drivingly engage the foremost film unit at the second edge thereof and thereby move the foremost film unit, subsequent to exposure, through the exit in the cassette; second film-advancing means mounted in said apparatus and adapted to drivingly engage the first edge of the foremost film unit after it moves through the exit; motor means; and means coupled to said motor means for driving said first film-advancing means to move the first edge of the foremost film unit through the exit in the cassette and for driving said second film-advancing means while the foremost film unit is in engagement therewith.

Claim 8

Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said drive means is adapted to simultaneously drive said first and second film-advancing means.

Claim 9

Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said first film-advancing means includes film-engaging means constructed to engage and move only one film unit at a time.

Claim 10

Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said first film-advancing means is mounted for reciprocating movement.

Claim 11

Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said first film-advancing means is constructed to engage and move only one film unit at a time.

Claim 12

Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said first film-advancing means is mounted for reciprocating movement.

Claim 13

Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said second film-advancing means includes a pair of rollers adapted to rupture a container of processing liquid mounted on the foremost film unit and spread the contents thereof between elements of the foremost film unit as the latter is advanced toward the exterior of said photographic apparatus.

Claim 14

A photographic method of exposing and processing a succession of discrete photographic film units arranged in stacked relation within a film cassette having means defining an exposure aperture through which the film units are adapted to be sequentially exposed, an exit through which a foremost film unit is movable subsequent to exposure and an opening through which motor operated film-advancing means are adapted to extend to engage the foremost film unit in said stack at a trailing edge thereof and move said foremost film unit subsequent to exposure through said exit and into engagement with pressure-applying means, said method comprising: positioning said film cassette within photographic apparatus with said foremost film unit located in position to be moved into the focal plane of said photographic apparatus; moving said foremost film unit into said focal plane; resiliently supporting said stack of film units from the rear thereof to maintain said foremost film unit in said focal plane; exposing said foremost film unit through said exposure aperture; energizing said motor operated film-advancing means after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since termination of exposure to drivingly engage a trailing edge portion of said foremost film unit and move said foremost film unit, leading end first, through said exit and into engagement with said pressure-applying means; and operating said pressure-applying means in engagement with said exposed film unit to continue the movement thereof toward the exterior of said photographic apparatus while simultaneously spreading a processing liquid between elements of said exposed foremost film unit to initiate a diffusion transfer process.

Claim 15

A photographic method of exposing and processing a succession of discrete photographic film units arranged in stacked relation within a film cassette having means defining an exposure aperture through which the film units are adapted to be sequentially exposed, an exit through which a foremost film unit is movable subsequent to exposure and an opening through which motor operated film-advancing means are adapted to extend to engage the foremost film unit in said stack at a trailing edge thereof and move said foremost film unit subsequent to exposure through said exit and into engagement with pressure-applying means, said method comprising: positioning said film cassette within photographic apparatus with said foremost film unit located in position to be moved into the focal plane of said photographic apparatus; moving said foremost film unit into said focal plane; resiliently supporting said stack of film units from the rear thereof to maintain said foremost film unit in said focal plane; exposing said foremost film unit through said exposure aperture; energizing said motor operated film-advancing means after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since termination of exposure to drivingly engage a trailing edge portion of said foremost film unit and move said foremost film unit, leading end first, through said exit and into engagement with said pressure-applying means; and operating said pressure-applying means in engagement with said exposed film unit to continue the movement thereof toward the exterior of said photographic apparatus while simultaneously spreading a processing liquid between elements of said exposed foremost film unit to initiate a diffusion transfer process.

Claim 16

Photographic apparatus for use with a film assemblage of the type including a cassette having means defining an exit in one end thereof through which a film unit is adapted to be moved subsequent to exposure, an opening near an opposite end of said cassette and an exposure aperture, a plurality of thin, flexible film units located within said cassette in stacked relation with a foremost one of said film units being adapted to be urged into a position adjacent said exposure aperture with a first edge of said film unit in alignment with said exit, a second edge of said film unit opposite said first edge being in alignment with said opening and a photosensitive area of said film unit being located in alignment with said exposure aperture, said photographic apparatus comprising: means for locating the film assemblage in said photographic apparatus in position for exposure of the foremost film unit; shutter means mounted within said photographic apparatus; shutter release means for initiating operation of said shutter means to expose the the foremost film unit through the exposure aperture in the cassette; first film-advancing means mounted in said photographic apparatus and adapted to extend into the opening in the cassette to drivingly engage the foremost film unit at the second edge thereof and thereby move the foremost film unit, subsequent to exposure, through the exit in the cassette; second film-advancing means mounted in said apparatus and adapted to drivingly engage said first edge of the foremost film unit after it moves through the exit; motor means energizable in response to actuation of said shutter release means for driving at least one of said first and second film-advancing means; and means coupled to said motor means for driving said first film-advancing means to move the first edge of the foremost film unit through the exit in the cassette and for driving said second film-advancing means while the foremost film unit is in engagement therewith, said motor means and said drive means being mounted wholly within the confines of said photographic apparatus.

Claim 17

Photographic apparatus for use with a film assemblage of the type including a cassette having means defining an exit in one end thereof through which a film unit is adapted to be moved subsequent to exposure, an opening near an opposite end of said cassette and an exposure aperture, a plurality of thin, flexible film units located within said cassette in stacked relation with a foremost one of said film units being adapted to be urged into a position adjacent said exposure aperture with a first edge of said film unit in alignment with said exit, a second edge of said film unit opposite said first edge being in alignment with said opening and a photosensitive area of said film unit being located in alignment with said exposure aperture, said photographic apparatus comprising: means for locating the film assemblage in said photographic apparatus in position for exposure of the foremost film unit; shutter means mounted within said photographic apparatus; shutter release means for initiating operation of said shutter means to expose the the foremost film unit through the exposure aperture in the cassette; first film-advancing means mounted in said photographic apparatus and adapted to extend into the opening in the cassette to drivingly engage the foremost film unit at the second edge thereof and thereby move the foremost film unit, subsequent to exposure, through the exit in the cassette; second film-advancing means mounted in said apparatus and adapted to drivingly engage said first edge of the foremost film unit after it moves through the exit; motor means energizable in response to actuation of said shutter release means for driving at least one of said first and second film-advancing means; and means coupled to said motor means for driving said first film-advancing means to move the first edge of the foremost film unit through the exit in the cassette and for driving said second film-advancing means while the foremost film unit is in engagement therewith, said motor means and said drive means being mounted wholly within the confines of said photographic apparatus.

Claim 18

A camera of the self-developing type for use with a disposable cassette, said cassette comprising a plurality of substantially flat film units disposed in a stacked array, each said film unit including a pod of processing liquid and a sheet of photosensitive material, means for defining an exposure aperture disposed in alignment with respect to said stacked array of film units, means for urging said stacked array of film units towards said exposure aperture, means defining an elongated slot passing through one end of said cassette and aligned with said film unit nearest said Exposure aperture, said elongated slot having a depth only slightly greater than the thickness of one of said film units and less than the combined thickness of two film units to preclude the simultaneous advancement therethrough of more than one film unit, and means defining an opening in the cassette adjacent an edge of a film unit for receiving film advancement means, said camera comprising: means for receiving the cassette, said receiving means including an opening complementary with the cassette exposure aperture when the cassette is operably positioned within said receiving means; means for selectively exposing the forwardmost film unit through the opening and the cassette exposure aperture to record an image thereon; means for initiating the advancement of the exposed film unit from the cassette through the slot, said advancement means positioned to operably engage the exposed film unit at the edge thereof furthermost removed from the slot in a manner precluding any misalignment of the opposite edge of the film unit with the slot; roller means, positioned within said camera to receive the exposed film unit as it emerges from the cassette slot under the influence of said advancement means, for completing the advancement of the film unit from the cassette and for effecting the spreading of the processing liquid across the exposed film unit; and unitary mechanical means engageable with both said advancement means and said roller means for actuating said advancement means and said roller means in unison to effect the advancement of the exposed film unit from the cassette and through said roller means.

Claim 19

A camera of the self-developing type for use with a disposable cassette, said cassette comprising a plurality of substantially flat film units disposed in a stacked array, each said film unit including a pod of processing liquid and a sheet of photosensitive material, means for defining an exposure aperture disposed in alignment with respect to said stacked array of film units, means for urging said stacked array of film units towards said exposure aperture, means defining an elongated slot passing through one end of said cassette and aligned with said film unit nearest said Exposure aperture, said elongated slot having a depth only slightly greater than the thickness of one of said film units and less than the combined thickness of two film units to preclude the simultaneous advancement therethrough of more than one film unit, and means defining an opening in the cassette adjacent an edge of a film unit for receiving film advancement means, said camera comprising: means for receiving the cassette, said receiving means including an opening complementary with the cassette exposure aperture when the cassette is operably positioned within said receiving means; means for selectively exposing the forwardmost film unit through the opening and the cassette exposure aperture to record an image thereon; means for initiating the advancement of the exposed film unit from the cassette through the slot, said advancement means positioned to operably engage the exposed film unit at the edge thereof furthermost removed from the slot in a manner precluding any misalignment of the opposite edge of the film unit with the slot; roller means, positioned within said camera to receive the exposed film unit as it emerges from the cassette slot under the influence of said advancement means, for completing the advancement of the film unit from the cassette and for effecting the spreading of the processing liquid across the exposed film unit; and unitary mechanical means engageable with both said advancement means and said roller means for actuating said advancement means and said roller means in unison to effect the advancement of the exposed film unit from the cassette and through said roller means.

Claim 20

The invention of claim 14 wherein said unitary mechanical means includes means for disenabling said advancement means to move another film unit out of the cassette until the previous film unit has moved out of engagement with said roller means.

Claim 21

The invention of claim 15 wherein said unitary mechanical means includes means for overriding said disenabling means.

Claim 22

The invention of claim 16 wherein said overriding means includes a cam.