Bimodal film cutter adapted to handle different film widths

Claim 2

A film handling apparatus for accommodating a plurality of film types, all such types being generically characterized by having regularly spaced perforations along one edge thereof and each type being specifically characterized by unique width and perforation pitch, said apparatus comprising a film bed having first and second longitudinal edges for supporting the different film types, first means associated with said film bed including a base adjacent said first longitudinal edge of said film bed, said base having a plurality of film engaging members positioned thereon, said film engaging members adapted to engage different film types, said first means being selectively positionable for engaging the perforations of a film type to be accommodated; second means associated with said film bed including a base adjacent said second longitudinal edge of said film bed, said base having a plurality of film engaging members positioned thereon, said film engaging members adapted to engage different film types, said second means being selectively positionable for engaging perforations of a film type to be accommodated; and means for selectively positioning said first means and second means to permit proper engagement of said film engaging members thereof with such film perforations depending on the film type to be accommodated.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said film engaging members are a plurality of pins.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for selectively positioning said first and second means includes an elongated shaft extending through and integral with each of said bases, each of said shafts having means at one end to control the position thereof about the longitudinal axis of said shaft and vertical position control means at the opposite end of said shaft to permit said shaft to be placed in a first position capable of film engagement or a second position in which film engagement is prohibited, and biasing means constantly urging said shaft toward said first position.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said film engaging members comprise a plurality of pins arranged in sets, each of said pairs of sets positioned on said base so as to be in alignment with the position of the film perforations when said set is moved to a film engaging position, each of the pins of said sets of pins being separated by a distance corresponding to the pitch of a different type of film.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein each of said sets of pins is located on said base a distance from the longitudinal axis of said elongated shaft equal to the distance of the perforations of a respective type of film from the longitudinal axis of said elongated shaft.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein each of said sets of pins is located on said base at equal distances from the longitudinal axis of said elongated shaft and wherein means are provided for moving said longitudinal edge of said film bed so as to always position the film so that the perforations of each type thereof are at distance from the longitudinal axis equal tO said distance of said pin sets from said longitudinal axis.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for moving said longitudinal edge of said film bed include a cam fixed to said elongated shaft, said cam having an actuating surface positioned to engage said longitudinal edge of said film bed such that when said shaft is rotated to orient a particular set of pins for film engagement, the respective position of said longitudinal edge of said film bed is accordingly determined.

Claim 9

A film cutting apparatus capable of accommodating a plurality of spliced film rolls of varying types and unique widths, the film generically characterized by having perforations along the edge thereof, said film cutter comprising: a housing having side walls and a base; a film bed fixed to said housing having a first edge and a second edge parallel thereto spaced therefrom at such a distance so as to permit passage of the widest film segment; film drive means for driving film of any desired type through said film bed such that the film edge perforations are selectively against said first edge or said second edge of said film bed; cutter means selectively actuatable to cut the film into desired lengths; film perforation engaging means associated with said housing, said film perforation engaging means including a first rod assembly adjacent said first edge of said film bed, positioning means for selective positioning of said first rod assembly between a first position capable of film engagement and a second position in which film engagement is prohibited, a second rod assembly adjacent said second edge of said film bed, positioning means for selective positioning of said second rod assembly between a first position capable of film engagement and a second position in which film engagement is prohibited, said first and second rod assemblies being selectively positionable to engage perforations of a plurality of desired film types whether the perforations are against said first edge or said second edge; detection means for counting the perforations and splices; and a control circuit receiving signals from said detectors, said control circuit adapted to initiate selectively automatic film perforation engagement by said film perforation engaging means and film cutting by said cutter means to cut the film into desired lengths.

Claim 10

A film cutting apparatus capable of accommodating a plurality of spliced film rolls of varying types and unique widths, the film generically characterized by having perforations along the edge thereof, said film cutter comprising: a housing having side walls and a base; a film bed fixed to said housing having a first edge and a second edge parallel thereto spaced therefrom at such a distance so as to permit passage of the widest film segment; film drive means for driving film of any desired type through said film bed such that the film edge perforations are selectively against said first edge or said second edge of said film bed; cutter means selectively actuatable to cut the film into desired lengths; film perforation engaging means associated with said housing, said film perforation engaging means including a first rod assembly adjacent said first edge of said film bed, positioning means for selective positioning of said first rod assembly between a first position capable of film engagement and a second position in which film engagement is prohibited, a second rod assembly adjacent said second edge of said film bed, positioning means for selective positioning of said second rod assembly between a first position capable of film engagement and a second position in which film engagement is prohibited, said first and second rod assemblies being selectively positionable to engage perforations of a plurality of desired film types whether the perforations are against said first edge or said second edge; detection means for counting the perforations and splices; and a control circuit receiving signals from said detectors, said control circuit adapted to initiate selectively automatic film perforation engagement by said film perforation engaging means and film cutting by said cutter means to cut the film into desired lengths.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said each of said rod assemblies includes an elongated shaft, a base integral with said shaft intermediate its length, a plurality of film engaging members to engage different types of films supported by said base, means fixed to one end of said elongated shaft for imparting selective rotation thereto whereby a proper film engaging member may be brought into position to permit film engagement, a transverse shaft fixed to the opposite end of said elongated shaft for engagement with said positioning means, and means on the ends of said transverse shaft for selective engagement with said control circuit.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said film engaging members comprise a plurality of sets of pins located on said base so as to be in registry with the positions of the film perforations when said set is moved to a film engaging position, each of said sets of pins being of such a size and configuration so as to correspond to the pitch of a different film type.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein first position capable of film engagement of each of said first and second rod assemblies includes a ready position out of film engagement and a fully film engaging position, and wherein said film perforation engaging means further includes biasing means for urging each of said rod assemblies toward said fully film engaging position, and holddown means for selectively maintaining each of said rod assemblies in said ready position against the bias of said biasing means.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said holddown means includes a platform supported by said housing beneath said film bed, a holddown solenoid fixed to said platForm, a plate pivotably supported by said housing intercepting said rod assemblies, and linkage connecting said holddown solenoid with said plate.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said positioning means includes a first cam fixed to said platform adjacent said elongated shaft of said first rod assembly, said cam having a cam surface oriented such that when engaged by said transverse shaft thereof said first rod assembly is movable between said first and second positions, and a second cam fixed to said platform adjacent said elongated shaft of said second rod assembly, said cam having a cam surface oriented such that when engaged by said transverse shaft thereof said second rod assembly is movable between said first and second positions, and wherein one selected rod assembly is in the ready position of its first position while said other rod assembly is maintained in its second position.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said control means includes a signal generator electrically associated with said detectors to generate a cut signal upon receipt of specific number of counts, said cut signal being transmitted to said holddown solenoid for actuation thereof whereby said solenoid will permit said plate to pivot against the bias of said biasing means to move said selected rod assembly from said ready position to its film engaging position, a cut-off switch fixed to said housing adjacent said rod assembly base and positioned to be actuated thereby when said selected rod assembly moves to its film engaging position to deactivate said film drive means and activate said film cutter means, a delay circuit which provides for repositioning said holddown solenoid to move said selected rod assembly back to its ready position after a specific interval of time, and a series of film advance length switches, one for each type film to be handled, positioned adjacent said base of said rod assemblies such that movement of said selected rod assembly to said ready position will actuate a particular film advance length switch depending upon film type being acted upon.

Claim 17

A film handling apparatus for accommodating a plurality of film types, all such types being generically characterized by having regularly spaced perforations along one edge thereof and each type being specifically characterized by unique width and perforation pitch, said apparatus comprising a film bed having first and second longitudinal edges for supporting the different film types, film perforation engaging means including a base movably mounted adjacent one longitudinal edge of said film bed, said base having a plurality of pairs of perforation engaging members positioned thereon, said pairs of perforation engaging members respectively adapted to engage different film types, and means for selectively positioning said film perforation engaging means, depending on the film type to be accommodated, to permit proper engagement of the appropriate perforation engaging members with the film perforations of film oriented with its perforations adjacent said one edge of said bed.

Claim 18

A film handling apparatus for accommodating a plurality of film types, all such types being generically characterized by having regularly spaced perforations along one edge thereof and each type being specifically characterized by unique width and perforation pitch, said apparatus comprising a film bed having first and second longitudinal edges for supporting the different film types, film perforation engaging means including a base movably mounted adjacent one longitudinal edge of said film bed, said base having a plurality of pairs of perforation engaging members positioned thereon, said pairs of perforation engaging members respectively adapted to engage different film types, and means for selectively positioning said film perforation engaging means, depending on the film type to be accommodated, to permit proper engagement of the appropriate perforation engaging members with the film perforations of film oriented with its perforations adjacent said one edge of said bed.