Photographic cassette containing film strip programmed for manual and automatic operation and film processor therefor

Claim 2

A film strip provided with a regularly spaced series of sprocket holes adapted to cooperate with a film advance mechanism formed along at least one edge thereof, a first elongated sprocket hole of a first length interrupting said series adjacent a first end of said strip, a second elongated sprocket hole of a second length greater than said first length interrupting said series between said first end and said first elongated sprocket hole, and means forming indicia on said film between said first and said second elongated sprocket holes and indicating that said strip is exposed.

Claim 3

The film strip of claim 1, further comprising an actuating element formed on said film between said second elongated sprocket hole and said first end.

Claim 4

A photographic film strip for use in motion picture photography, said film strip comprising an elongated strip of flexible photosensitive material sprocketed along at least one edge for incremental advance by a drive pawl, means forming a first actuating element on said strip adjacent a first end of said strip, means forming a second actuating element on said strip adjacent a second end of said strip opposite said first end, means forming first indicia on said strip indicating that the strip is unexposed adjacent said first actuating element and between said actuating elements, and means forming second indicia on said strip indicating that said strip is exposed adjacent said second actuating element and between said actuating elements.

Claim 5

A photographic film strip for use in motion picture photography, said film strip comprising an elongated strip of flexible photosensitive material sprocketed along at least one edge for incremental advance by a drive pawl, means forming a first actuating element on said strip adjacent a first end of said strip, means forming a second actuating element on said strip adjacent a second end of said strip opposite said first end, means forming first indicia on said strip indicating that the strip is unexposed adjacent said first actuating element and between said actuating elements, and means forming second indicia on said strip indicating that said strip is exposed adjacent said second actuating element and between said actuating elements.

Claim 6

The film strip of claim 3, further comprising means forming third indicia on said strip indicating that said strip has been processed between said first end and said first actuating element.

Claim 7

A photographic cassette, comprising an opaque housing, a supply reel and a takeup reel each rotatably mounted in said housing, means forming a film gate in said housing, a strip of film having opposed ends, a first of said ends being connected to said sUpply reel, the second of said ends being connected to said takeup reel, said film strip passing along a path between said reels through said film gate, first actuating means formed on said film strip adjacent said first end, second actuating means formed on said film strip adjacent said second end, means forming first indicia visibly indicating that said film strip is unexposed at a first location on said film strip adjacent said second actuating means and between said first actuating means and said second actuating means, means forming second indicia visibly indicating that said film strip is exposed at a second location on said film strip adjacent said first actuating means and between said first actuating means and said second actuating means, said film strip being initially unexposed and coiled primarily about said supply reel with said first indicia visibly exposed in said film gate, film processing means mounted in said housing along said path, means operated by said first actuating means when said first actuating means reaches the position of said processing means along said path for engaging said processing means with said film strip, said second indicia passing through said film gate as said first actuating means approaches the position of said processing means, and means operated by said second actuating means when said second actuating means reaches the position of said processing means along said path for disengaging said processing means from said film strip; said second indicia passing through said film gate as said second actuating means approaches the position of said processing means.

Claim 8

A photographic cassette, comprising an opaque housing, a supply reel and a takeup reel each rotatably mounted in said housing, means forming a film gate in said housing, a strip of film having opposed ends, a first of said ends being connected to said sUpply reel, the second of said ends being connected to said takeup reel, said film strip passing along a path between said reels through said film gate, first actuating means formed on said film strip adjacent said first end, second actuating means formed on said film strip adjacent said second end, means forming first indicia visibly indicating that said film strip is unexposed at a first location on said film strip adjacent said second actuating means and between said first actuating means and said second actuating means, means forming second indicia visibly indicating that said film strip is exposed at a second location on said film strip adjacent said first actuating means and between said first actuating means and said second actuating means, said film strip being initially unexposed and coiled primarily about said supply reel with said first indicia visibly exposed in said film gate, film processing means mounted in said housing along said path, means operated by said first actuating means when said first actuating means reaches the position of said processing means along said path for engaging said processing means with said film strip, said second indicia passing through said film gate as said first actuating means approaches the position of said processing means, and means operated by said second actuating means when said second actuating means reaches the position of said processing means along said path for disengaging said processing means from said film strip; said second indicia passing through said film gate as said second actuating means approaches the position of said processing means.

Claim 9

The cassette of claim 5, in which said film strip further comprises a regularly spaced series of sprocket holes formed along at least one edge of said strip for cooperation with a drive pawl to advance said film strip incrementally onto said takeup reel, said series being interrupted in the vicinity of said second indicia by a first elongated sprocket hole adapted to pass a single drive pawl without engagement to terminate movement of said film toward said takeup reel by a single pawl with said second indicia visibly exposed in said film gate, and said series being interrupted by a second elongated sprocket hole adapted to pass a double drive pawl without engagement to terminate movement of said film strip toward said takeup reel by a double pawl with said second actuating means operatively engaging said means for disengaging said processing means and said second indicia in said housing.

Claim 10

The cassette of claim 6, further comprising means forming third indicia visibly indicating that said film strip has been processed at a third location on said film strip adjacent said second end and between said second end and said second actuating means in position to be visibly exposed in said film gate when said second actuating means reaches the position of said processing means.

Claim 11

The cassette of claim 5, further comprising means forming third indicia visibly indicating that said film strip has been processed at a third location on said film strip adjacent said second end and between said second end and said second actuating means in position to be visibly exposed in said film gate when said second actuating means reaches the position of said processing means.

Claim 12

A photographic cassette, comprising an opaque housing, means forming a film gate in said housing, an elongated strip of film having ends disposed in said housing and extending therebetween along a path through said film gate, film processing means mounted in said housing along said path and actuatable to a position operatively engaging said film strip and to a position out of engagement with said film strip, means forming a first actuating element on said film strip adjacent a first of said ends for actuating said processing means to its film engaging position when said first actuating element reaches the position of said processing means along said path, means forming a second actuating element on said film stRip adjacent the second of said ends for actuating said processing means to its disengaged position when said second actuating element reaches the position of said processing means along said path, means forming first indicia at a first location on said film strip, said first indicia being visible in said film gate when said first location passes through said film gate and indicating that said film strip is unexposed, said first location being between said first and said second actuating elements and adjacent said second actuating means, means forming second indicia at a second location on said film strip, said second indicia being visible in said film gate when said second location passes through said film gate and indicating that said film strip is exposed, said second location being between said actuating elements and adjacent said first actuating element.

Claim 13

A photographic cassette, comprising an opaque housing, means forming a film gate in said housing, an elongated strip of film having ends disposed in said housing and extending therebetween along a path through said film gate, film processing means mounted in said housing along said path and actuatable to a position operatively engaging said film strip and to a position out of engagement with said film strip, means forming a first actuating element on said film strip adjacent a first of said ends for actuating said processing means to its film engaging position when said first actuating element reaches the position of said processing means along said path, means forming a second actuating element on said film stRip adjacent the second of said ends for actuating said processing means to its disengaged position when said second actuating element reaches the position of said processing means along said path, means forming first indicia at a first location on said film strip, said first indicia being visible in said film gate when said first location passes through said film gate and indicating that said film strip is unexposed, said first location being between said first and said second actuating elements and adjacent said second actuating means, means forming second indicia at a second location on said film strip, said second indicia being visible in said film gate when said second location passes through said film gate and indicating that said film strip is exposed, said second location being between said actuating elements and adjacent said first actuating element.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising means forming third indicia on said film strip indicating that said film has been processed between said second actuating element and said second end and visible in said film gate when said second actuating element reaches the position of said processing means along said path.

Claim 15

In combination with a film cassette comprising an opaque housing, a takeup reel and a supply reel rotatably mounted in said housing, a strip of film having opposed ends, a first of said ends being connected to said supply reel and the second of said ends being connected to said takeup reel, means forming a film gate in said housing, said film passing between said reels through said film gate for cooperation with a camera, for exposure of said film, and with projection means, for projection of said film, said film being initially disposed primarily on said supply reel with a first portion in said film gate, first indicia means on said first portion for indicating visually that the film is unexposed when said first portion is in said film gate, said film being formed over at least a substantial portion of its length with a regularly spaced series of sprocket holes for moving said film incrementally from said supply reel by increments approximating the spacing between said sprocket holes, said series being interrupted at a first location adjacent said first end of said film by means forming a first elongated sprocket hole for terminating exposure of the film in a camera adjacent said first location, said series being interrupted at a second location nearer to said first end of said film than said first location by means forming a second sprocket hole more greatly elongated than said first elongated sprocket hole for terminating projection of the film in a projection means adjacent said second location, and second indicia means for indicating visually that the film has been exposed on said film adjacent said first elongated sprocket hole in position to be visible in said film gate in the position of the film assumed when film motion in the cassette is terminated in the camera and to be moved out of said film gate when projection of the film is terminated adjacent said second location.

Claim 16

In combination with a film cassette comprising an opaque housing, a takeup reel and a supply reel rotatably mounted in said housing, a strip of film having opposed ends, a first of said ends being connected to said supply reel and the second of said ends being connected to said takeup reel, means forming a film gate in said housing, said film passing between said reels through said film gate for cooperation with a camera, for exposure of said film, and with projection means, for projection of said film, said film being initially disposed primarily on said supply reel with a first portion in said film gate, first indicia means on said first portion for indicating visually that the film is unexposed when said first portion is in said film gate, said film being formed over at least a substantial portion of its length with a regularly spaced series of sprocket holes for moving said film incrementally from said supply reel by increments approximating the spacing between said sprocket holes, said series being interrupted at a first location adjacent said first end of said film by means forming a first elongated sprocket hole for terminating exposure of the film in a camera adjacent said first location, said series being interrupted at a second location nearer to said first end of said film than said first location by means forming a second sprocket hole more greatly elongated than said first elongated sprocket hole for terminating projection of the film in a projection means adjacent said second location, and second indicia means for indicating visually that the film has been exposed on said film adjacent said first elongated sprocket hole in position to be visible in said film gate in the position of the film assumed when film motion in the cassette is terminated in the camera and to be moved out of said film gate when projection of the film is terminated adjacent said second location.

Claim 17

In combination with a film cassette comprising a lighttight housing, a takeup reel and a supply reel rotatably mounted in said housing, a strip of film having opposed first and second ends, said first end being connected to said supply reel and said second end being connected to said takeup reel, means forming a film gate in said housing, said film passing between said reels through said film gate for cooperation with a camera, for exposure of said film, and with projection means, for projection of said film, means forming first indicia on said film indicating that said film is unexposed at a location visible in said film gate when said film is substantially coiled on said supply reel, said film being formed over at least a substantial portion of its length with a regularly spaced series of sprocket holes each adapted to cooperate with a first incremental film advance means on a camera to move the film froM said supply reel to said takeup reel by an increment approximating the spacing between said sprocket holes, said series being interrupted at a first location adjacent the end of said film connected to said supply reel by means forming an elongated sprocket hole having a length sufficient to admit a first incremental advance means without advancing the film, whereby exposure of the film in the camera is terminated adjacent said first location, means forming second indicia on said film indicating that said film is exposed at a location visible in said film gate when said film is in the position established by said elongated hole, said series and said elongated hole each being adapted to cooperate with a second intermittant advance means on a projection means to move the film from said supply reel to said takeup reel by an increment approximating the spacing between the sprocket holes of said series, whereby the film may be advanced by the projection means beyond the exposure termination point established by said elongated sprocket hole, film processing means mounted in said housing, and means forming an actuating element on said film at a location adapted to engage said processing means when said film is advanced from said supply reel beyond said exposure termination point, said film processing means being responsive to engagement by said actuating element to operatively engage said film.

Claim 18

In combination with a film cassette comprising a lighttight housing, a takeup reel and a supply reel rotatably mounted in said housing, a strip of film having opposed first and second ends, said first end being connected to said supply reel and said second end being connected to said takeup reel, means forming a film gate in said housing, said film passing between said reels through said film gate for cooperation with a camera, for exposure of said film, and with projection means, for projection of said film, means forming first indicia on said film indicating that said film is unexposed at a location visible in said film gate when said film is substantially coiled on said supply reel, said film being formed over at least a substantial portion of its length with a regularly spaced series of sprocket holes each adapted to cooperate with a first incremental film advance means on a camera to move the film froM said supply reel to said takeup reel by an increment approximating the spacing between said sprocket holes, said series being interrupted at a first location adjacent the end of said film connected to said supply reel by means forming an elongated sprocket hole having a length sufficient to admit a first incremental advance means without advancing the film, whereby exposure of the film in the camera is terminated adjacent said first location, means forming second indicia on said film indicating that said film is exposed at a location visible in said film gate when said film is in the position established by said elongated hole, said series and said elongated hole each being adapted to cooperate with a second intermittant advance means on a projection means to move the film from said supply reel to said takeup reel by an increment approximating the spacing between the sprocket holes of said series, whereby the film may be advanced by the projection means beyond the exposure termination point established by said elongated sprocket hole, film processing means mounted in said housing, and means forming an actuating element on said film at a location adapted to engage said processing means when said film is advanced from said supply reel beyond said exposure termination point, said film processing means being responsive to engagement by said actuating element to operatively engage said film.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising means forming third indicia on said film indicating that said film has been processed at a location visible in said film gate subsequent to said actuating element engaging said processing means.

Claim 20

In combination with a film cassette comprising a housing containing a strip of film having first and second ends connected to supply and takeup means, respectively, each of said supply and takeup means being adapted to store substantially all of the film and to exchange film one with the other, means forming a film gate in said housing, said film passing over a predetermined path through said film gate between said supply and takeup means, film processing means located in said housing adjacent said path and comprising coating means engageable with the film and effective when engaged and supplied with processing composition to coat said film with processing composition as said film is moved along said path, means forming first indicia on said film adjacent said first end indicating that said film is exposed, means forming a first actuating element on said film between said first indicia and said first end, said first actuating element engaging said processing means as said film moves toward said takeup means when substantially all of said film is stored by said takeup means thereby bringing said film into operative engagement with said processing means, means forming second indicia on said film adjacent said second end indicating that said film is unexposed, means forming a second actuating element on said film between said second indicia and said second end, disengaging means operated by said second actuating element as said film moves toward said supply means when substantially all of said film is stored by said supply means for disengaging said processing means from said film, said film being initially unexposed and primarily stored on said supply means with said second indicia located in said film gate, and means on said film for cooperating with advance means to incrementally advance said takeup reel to a position in which said first indicia is located in said film gate.

Claim 21

In combination with a film cassette comprising a housing containing a strip of film having first and second ends connected to supply and takeup means, respectively, each of said supply and takeup means being adapted to store substantially all of the film and to exchange film one with the other, means forming a film gate in said housing, said film passing over a predetermined path through said film gate between said supply and takeup means, film processing means located in said housing adjacent said path and comprising coating means engageable with the film and effective when engaged and supplied with processing composition to coat said film with processing composition as said film is moved along said path, means forming first indicia on said film adjacent said first end indicating that said film is exposed, means forming a first actuating element on said film between said first indicia and said first end, said first actuating element engaging said processing means as said film moves toward said takeup means when substantially all of said film is stored by said takeup means thereby bringing said film into operative engagement with said processing means, means forming second indicia on said film adjacent said second end indicating that said film is unexposed, means forming a second actuating element on said film between said second indicia and said second end, disengaging means operated by said second actuating element as said film moves toward said supply means when substantially all of said film is stored by said supply means for disengaging said processing means from said film, said film being initially unexposed and primarily stored on said supply means with said second indicia located in said film gate, and means on said film for cooperating with advance means to incrementally advance said takeup reel to a position in which said first indicia is located in said film gate.

Claim 22

In combination, a film cassette comprising an opaque housing; means forming a film gate in said housing; a strip of film having opposed ends located in said housing and extending therebetween over a path through said film gate; first film transport means, comprising film takeup means mounted in said housing and connected to one of said ends, and incremental advance means formed on said film; said first film transport means being responsive to selectively applied drive eNergy to advance said film incrementally onto said takeup means to a first position relative to said housing; means forming first indicia on said film indicating that said film is exposed at a location on said film that is visible in said film gate in said first position of said film; second film transport means, comprising film supply means mounted in said housing and connected to the other of said ends; said second film transport means being responsive to selectively applied drive energy to continuously return film from said film takeup means to said film supply means to a second predetermined film position relative to said housing; means forming second indicia on said film indicating that said film is unexposed at a location on said film that passes through said film gate as said film approaches said second position; processing means mounted in said housing adjacent said path and effective when actuated to apply processing composition to said film; and actuating means formed on said film and located thereon in position to actuate said processing means when said film is advanced to said first position toward said takeup means and then returned to said supply means; said film being initially positioned in said housing with said second indicia visible in said film gate.

Claim 23

In combination, a film cassette comprising an opaque housing; means forming a film gate in said housing; a strip of film having opposed ends located in said housing and extending therebetween over a path through said film gate; first film transport means, comprising film takeup means mounted in said housing and connected to one of said ends, and incremental advance means formed on said film; said first film transport means being responsive to selectively applied drive eNergy to advance said film incrementally onto said takeup means to a first position relative to said housing; means forming first indicia on said film indicating that said film is exposed at a location on said film that is visible in said film gate in said first position of said film; second film transport means, comprising film supply means mounted in said housing and connected to the other of said ends; said second film transport means being responsive to selectively applied drive energy to continuously return film from said film takeup means to said film supply means to a second predetermined film position relative to said housing; means forming second indicia on said film indicating that said film is unexposed at a location on said film that passes through said film gate as said film approaches said second position; processing means mounted in said housing adjacent said path and effective when actuated to apply processing composition to said film; and actuating means formed on said film and located thereon in position to actuate said processing means when said film is advanced to said first position toward said takeup means and then returned to said supply means; said film being initially positioned in said housing with said second indicia visible in said film gate.

Claim 24

A compact multipurpose film handling cassette comprising a substantially opaque housing, an elongated strip of material stored within said housing, said elongated strip of material comprising an elongated strip of photosensitive material, first means for facilitating the exposure of an incremental section of said elongated strip of photosensitive material to record an image thereon and for subsequently facilitating the direction of light rays from an externally mounted projection lamp through an incremental section of said elongated strip of photosensitive material for viewing purposes, second means for applying a processing fluid to an incremental section of said elongated strip of photosensitive material after exposure thereof, third means responsive to externally mounted actuating means for first progressively advancing substantially the entire length of said elongated strip of photosensitive material into operative relationship with said first means to effect its exposure, then for progressively advancing substantially the entire length of said elongated strip of exposed photo-sensitive material into operative relationship with said second means and for finally progressively advancing substantially the entire length of said elongated strip of fluid treated exposed photosensitive material into operative relationship with said first means for viewing purposes, and fourth means automatically responsive to the advancement of said elongated strip of photosensitive material for providing, when said third means is operably disassociated from such externally mounted actuating means, a visual indication discernible from a position externally of said housing as to when substantially the entire length of said elongated strip of photosensitive material is in an unexposed condition, as to when the exposure of substantially the entire length of said elongated strip of photosensitive material has been completed and as to when the fluid treatment of substantially the entire length of said elongated strip of exposed photosensitive material has been completed.

Claim 25

A compact multipurpose film handling cassette comprising a substantially opaque housing, an elongated strip of material stored within said housing, said elongated strip of material comprising an elongated strip of photosensitive material, first means for facilitating the exposure of an incremental section of said elongated strip of photosensitive material to record an image thereon and for subsequently facilitating the direction of light rays from an externally mounted projection lamp through an incremental section of said elongated strip of photosensitive material for viewing purposes, second means for applying a processing fluid to an incremental section of said elongated strip of photosensitive material after exposure thereof, third means responsive to externally mounted actuating means for first progressively advancing substantially the entire length of said elongated strip of photosensitive material into operative relationship with said first means to effect its exposure, then for progressively advancing substantially the entire length of said elongated strip of exposed photo-sensitive material into operative relationship with said second means and for finally progressively advancing substantially the entire length of said elongated strip of fluid treated exposed photosensitive material into operative relationship with said first means for viewing purposes, and fourth means automatically responsive to the advancement of said elongated strip of photosensitive material for providing, when said third means is operably disassociated from such externally mounted actuating means, a visual indication discernible from a position externally of said housing as to when substantially the entire length of said elongated strip of photosensitive material is in an unexposed condition, as to when the exposure of substantially the entire length of said elongated strip of photosensitive material has been completed and as to when the fluid treatment of substantially the entire length of said elongated strip of exposed photosensitive material has been completed.

Claim 26

In combination, a film cassette comprising an opaque housing; a strip of film having opposed ends located in said housing; first film transport means, comprising film takeup means mounted in said housing and connected to one of said ends, and incremental advance means formed on said film; said first film transport means being responsive to externally mounted actuating means to advance said film incrementally onto said takeup means to a first position relative to said housing; second film transport means, comprising film supply means mounted in said housing and connected to the other of said ends; said second film transport means being responsive to exteRnally mounted actuating means to continuously return film from said film takeup means to said film supply means to a second predetermined film position relative to said housing; third means for facilitating the exposure of an incremental section of said strip of film to record an image thereon and for subsequently facilitating the direction of light rays from an externally mounted projection lamp through an incremental section of said strip of film for viewing purposes, processing means mounted in said housing adjacent said path and effective when actuated to apply processing composition to said film; actuating means formed on said film and located thereon in position to actuate said processing means when said film is advanced to said first position toward said takeup means and then returned to said supply means; and fourth means automatically responsive to the advancement of said strip of film for providing, when said first and said second film transport means are operably disassociated from such externally mounted actuating means, a visual indication discernible from a position externally of said housing as to when substantially the entire length of said strip of film is in an unexposed condition, as to when the exposure of substantially the entire length of said strip of film has been completed and as to when the fluid treatment of substantially the entire length of said strip of exposed film has been completed.

Claim 27

In combination, a film cassette comprising an opaque housing; a strip of film having opposed ends located in said housing; first film transport means, comprising film takeup means mounted in said housing and connected to one of said ends, and incremental advance means formed on said film; said first film transport means being responsive to externally mounted actuating means to advance said film incrementally onto said takeup means to a first position relative to said housing; second film transport means, comprising film supply means mounted in said housing and connected to the other of said ends; said second film transport means being responsive to exteRnally mounted actuating means to continuously return film from said film takeup means to said film supply means to a second predetermined film position relative to said housing; third means for facilitating the exposure of an incremental section of said strip of film to record an image thereon and for subsequently facilitating the direction of light rays from an externally mounted projection lamp through an incremental section of said strip of film for viewing purposes, processing means mounted in said housing adjacent said path and effective when actuated to apply processing composition to said film; actuating means formed on said film and located thereon in position to actuate said processing means when said film is advanced to said first position toward said takeup means and then returned to said supply means; and fourth means automatically responsive to the advancement of said strip of film for providing, when said first and said second film transport means are operably disassociated from such externally mounted actuating means, a visual indication discernible from a position externally of said housing as to when substantially the entire length of said strip of film is in an unexposed condition, as to when the exposure of substantially the entire length of said strip of film has been completed and as to when the fluid treatment of substantially the entire length of said strip of exposed film has been completed.