US3779837A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for splicing exposed photographic films and for encoding information on spliced-together films and associated envelopes
Assignee: Agfa Gevaert AG
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Filing: 1972-06-28
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Granted: 1973-12-18
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Expires: 1992-06-28
Abstract
Abstract Drop-in cassettes for exposed photographic films and the customer envelopes from which the cassettes were removed are introduced through separate openings into a housing which is sealed against entry of light. The cassettes are moved into the range of a first conveyor system which transports the takeup spools upon removal from the cassettes, and thereupon the films upon unwinding from the takeup spools, along a first path past a splicing and on to an encoding station. The envelopes are transported stepwise and reach the encoding station simultaneously with the associated films to be provided with imprinted or otherwise encoded information which is also applied to splices between successive films. The spliced-together films are transported through a developing and print making apparatus to be thereupon separated from each other and reintroduced into the associated envelopes together with the corresponding prints, prior to being returned to customers or dealers. The number of steps performed by an envelope on its way to the encoding station equals the number of stations along which a cassette, the removed takeup spool and the unwound film move on the way of the film to the encoding station.
Inventors
- 👤 W Zahn
- 👤 H Zangenfeind
- 👤 E Nagel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:14
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03D; G03D13/00; G03D13/001; G03D13/003; G03D13/005; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/17; Y10T156/1702; Y10T156/1712; Y10T156/1715; Y10T156/1717
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said second conveyor means includes means for transporting the envelopes in stepwise fashion and the number of steps completed by each of said envelopes during transport to said encoding means equals the number of said stations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for placing predetermined portions of successive films into a predetermined position relative to said encoding mEans.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said splicing means includes a source of uniting bands provided with coats of heat-activatable adhesive and means for applying each uniting band to the trailing end of a preceding film and to the leading end of the next-following film in said first path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said splicing means is located ahead of said encoding means, as considered in the direction of transport of containers and films along said first path.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said containers comprises a casing including a pair of sections connected to each other by a seam and said container opening means includes a tool actuatable to at least partially separate the sections of successive casings along the respective seams.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
82 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein each of said containers further comprises a takeup spool and a supply spool, the films being convoluted around the respective takeup spools and the axes of supply and takeup spools in each of said casings being located in a common plane, said transfer means including holder means for engaging the takeup spools in successively opened casings and to withdraw such spools in a direction substantially at an angle of about 30* to the respective planes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said transfer means further comprises a transfer device arranged to receive takeup spools from said holder means and to transport such spools along a predetermined portion of said first path.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
137 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said containers comprises a casing containing a takeup spool with the respective film convoluted on such spool, said container opening means including means for opening the casings of successive containers to afford access to the respective spools, said transfer means including a first transfer device having holder means for withdrawing takeup spools from the opened casings of successive containers and a second transfer device for transporting successive spools past four additional stations including a foremost station wherein said second transfer device receives spools from said holder means, a next-following station having means for moving successive spools to a predetermined angular position, a further station including means for unwinding the films from successive spools and an additional station including means for separating successive spools from said second transfer device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein each of said containers further accommodates a backing strip which is convoluted around the film on the respective takeup spool, said unwinding means including means for directing the leaders of backing strips on successive takeup spools in a predetermined direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each film is provided with a row of perforations and said first conveyor means further comprises advancing means for moving successive films lengthwise, photoelectric detector means for tracking successive films and for temporarily arresting said advancing means in response to detection of foremost perforations on successive films, and cutting means for severing successive films at a predetermined distance from the respective foremost perforations during the periods of idleness of said advancing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said cutting means is located behind said advancing means, as considered in the direction of transport of films along said first path.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said detector means is operative to actuate said cutting means in response to detection of foremost perforation on successive films.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 13, further comprising second phtoelectrc detector means located behind said cutting means and arranged to temporarily arrest said advancing means in response to transport of the foremost ends of severed films to a predetermined position relAtive to said splicing means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 14, further comprising second cutting means actuatable to sever successive films at a predetermined distance from said foremost ends thereof while such foremost ends assume said predetermined positions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 15, further comprising means for actuating said splicing means simultaneously with said second cutting means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
101 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising film length measuring means located downstream of said splicing means as considered in the direction of film transport along said first path and arranged to produce signals in response to detection of predetermined lengths of successive films, said first conveyor means further comprising advancing means arranged to transport successive films past said length measuring means and to interrupt such transport of films in response to said signals whereby the trailing end of a film which is engaged by said advancing means while such advancing means is idle is located at said additional station.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein each of said films is provided with a row of perforations and said length measuring means includes means for scanning the perforations on successive films in said first path.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said second conveyor means comprises an endless flexible conveying element and entraining means provided on said flexible element and arranged to push successive envelopes along said second path.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein said second conveyor means further comprises drive means for intermittently moving said endless flexible conveying element through distances of predetermined length.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein said first conveyor means further comprises means for intermittently driving said transfer means so that such transfer means performs stepwise movements simultaneously with said flexible element.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said encoding means includes a printing device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 22, wherein said printing device includes means for applying successive pairs of numerals to successive films and to successive envelopes.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 23, wherein each of said numerals has more than two digits.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 23, wherein said printing device is arranged to apply numerals to splices between successive films.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3687751A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-17 | 1977-06-18 | 1977-12-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-17 | 1981-06-18 | 1981-12-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-17 | 1985-06-18 | 1985-12-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |