Photographic cassette for making and storing transparencies incorporating programmed film strip with opaque reflective segments

Claim 2

A photographic film cassette, comprising an opaque housing containing a strip of film connected at its ends to supply and takeup means, each 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 between said supply and takeup means and through said film gate, film processing means located in said housing adjacent said path and comprising processing means engageable with the film and effective to process said film as said film is moved along said path, means forming a first actuating element on said film adjacent the end connected to said supply means, said first actuating element engaging said processing means with said film as said film moves toward said takeup means when substantially all of said film is stored by said takeup means, first opaque means forming a light barrier on said film over a region extending through and on one side of said film gate when said first actuating means engages said processing means, means forming a second actuating element on said film, 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, and second opaque means forming a light barrier on said film over a region extending through and on either side of said film gate when said disengaging means is operated by said second actuating element.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, in which said first and second opaque means each comprise a layer of opaque material attached to said film.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2, in which said opaque layer comprises particles of carbon in a thermoplastic matrix.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 2, in which said film comprises a photosensitive layer on one side, and in which said opaque layer overlies said photosensitive layer.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4, in which said opaque layer is highly reflective on at least the side opposite said photosensitive layer.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5, in which said opaque layer comprises overlapping metallic flakes in an optically transmissive thermoplastic matrix.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 5, in which said opaque layer comprises a laminate of metal foil attached to said photosensitive layer and a protective coating of optically transmissive thermoplastic material on said foil.

Claim 9

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 a first end connected to said supply reel and a second end connected to said takeup reel, means forming a film gate in said housing, said film passing between said reels along a path 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 in a first position disposed primarily on said supply reel with a first portion in said film gate, and adapted to be exposed while advancing to a second position disposed primarily on said takeup reel, 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 one 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 other 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, first opaque means forming a light barrier on said film strip over a region including said first portion and including a portion that is in said film gate when said second actuating element moves toward said supply reel beyond the position in which said processing means is disengaged, and second opaque means forming a light barrier on said film strip over a second region spanning said film gate when said film strip is in said second position and when said first actuating element reaches the position of said processing means along said path.

Claim 10

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 a first end connected to said supply reel and a second end connected to said takeup reel, means forming a film gate in said housing, said film passing between said reels along a path 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 in a first position disposed primarily on said supply reel with a first portion in said film gate, and adapted to be exposed while advancing to a second position disposed primarily on said takeup reel, 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 one 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 other 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, first opaque means forming a light barrier on said film strip over a region including said first portion and including a portion that is in said film gate when said second actuating element moves toward said supply reel beyond the position in which said processing means is disengaged, and second opaque means forming a light barrier on said film strip over a second region spanning said film gate when said film strip is in said second position and when said first actuating element reaches the position of said processing means along said path.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8, in which said first and second opaque means each comprise a layer of opaque material attached to said film.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 9, in which said opaque layer comprises particles of carbon in a thermoplastic matrix.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 9, in which said film strip comprises a photosensitive laYer on one side, and in which said opaque layer overlies said photosensitive layer.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 11, in which said opaque layer is highly reflective on at least the side opposite said photosensitive layer.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 12, in which said opaque layer comprises overlapping metallic flakes in an optically transmissive thermoplastic matrix.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 12, in which said opaque layer comprises a laminate of metal foil attached to said photosensitive layer and a protective coating of optically transmissive thermoplastic material on said foil.