Cartridge positioning apparatus

Claim 2

Cartridge positioning apparatus adapted to separately receive several web cartridges (1) of the kind provided respectively with cartridge locating structures and with openings through which web material can be fed and (2) of the kind wherein the locating structure and the opening on individual ones of the cartridges are differently situated with respect to each other, said apparatus comprising: means defining a nest for separately receiving the several web cartridges in a manner such that respective ones of the openings on the cartridges can occupy generally the same web feeding position in said nest, causing respective ones of the locating structures on the cartridges to occupy different positions in said nest; means for securing anyone of the cartridges in said nest; and means cooperating with the locating structure on a cartridge in said nest for verifying that the opening on such cartridge occupies the web feeding position and, in the event that the opening on a cartridge in said nest does not occupy the web feeding position, for preventing said securing means from securing such cartridge in said nest.

Claim 3

Cartridge positioning apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said cartridge securing means includes (a) a cartridge retaining member and (b) means supporting said member for movement with respect to said nest from an idle position to first and second cartridge retaining positions for separately holding first and second ones of the cartridges in said nest, and wherein said cartridge opening position verifying means includes (a) means, operating in the event that the opening on a first cartridge in said nest does not occupy the web feeding position, for supporting the first cartridge in a raised manner from said nest such that the same cartridge blocks movement of said cartridge retaining member from the idle position to the first cartridge retaining position and (b) means, operating in the event that the opening on a Second cartridge in said nest does not occupy the web feeding position, for supporting the second cartridge in a raised manner from said nest such that the same cartridge blocks movement of said cartridge retaining member from the idle position to the second cartridge retaining position.

Claim 4

Cartridge positioning apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said cartridge securing means includes (a) a cartridge retaining member and (b) means supporting said member for movement with respect to said nest from an idle position to first and second cartridge retaining positions for separately holding first and second ones of the cartridges in said nest, wherein the locating structure on a first one of the cartridges is a notch, wherein said cartridge opening position verifying means includes an abutment disposed on said nest, and shaped, for entry into the notch on a first cartridge in said nest whose opening occupies the web feeding position and, in the event that the opening on a first cartridge in said nest does not occupy the web feeding position, for supporting the first cartridge in a raised manner from said nest such that the same cartridge blocks movement of said cartridge retaining member from the idle position to the first cartridge retaining position, wherein the locating structure on a second one of the cartridges is a particular wall area, and wherein said cartridge opening position verifying means further includes (a) a probe member supported for movement into, and from, said nest and (b) cooperating, motion-imparting, means disposed on said cartridge retaining member and said probe member for respective movement therewith and, during movement of said cartridge retaining member from the first cartridge retaining position toward the second cartridge retaining position, for causing said probe member to move into said nest generally alongside the particular wall area on a second cartridge in said nest whose opening occupies the web feeding position and, in the event that the opening on a second cartridge in said nest does not occupy the web feeding position, for causing said probe member to move into said nest and lift the second cartridge from said nest such that the same cartridge blocks movement of said cartridge retaining member from the first cartridge retaining position to the second cartridge retaining position.

Claim 5

Cartridge positioning apparatus adapted to receive a web cartridge of the kind provided with an opening through which web material can be fed and with a particular wall area spaced from the opening, said apparatus comprising: means defining a nest for receiving the web cartridge in an orientation such that the opening on the cartridge occupies a web feeding position in said nest, causing the particular wall area on the cartridge to occupy a different position in said nest; a cartridge retaining member; means supporting said cartridge retaining member for movement with respect to said nest from an idle position to a cartridge retaining position for holding the cartridge in said nest; a probe member; means supporting said probe member for movement into, and from, said nest; and cooperating, motion-imparting, means disposed on said cartridge retaining member and said probe member for respective movement therewith and, during movement of said cartridge retaining member from the idle position toward the cartridge retaining position, for causing said probe member to move into said nest generally alongside the particular wall area on a cartridge in said nest whose opening occupies the web feeding position and, in the event that the opening on a cartridge in said nest does not occupy the web feeding position, for causing said probe member to move into said nest and lift the cartridge from said nest such that the same cartridge blocks movement of said cartridge retaining member from the idle position to the cartridge retaining position.

Claim 6

Cartridge positioning apparatus adapted to receive a web cartridge of the kind provided with an opening through which web material can be fed and with a particular wall area spaced from the opening, said apparatus comprising: means defining a nest for receiving the web cartridge in an orientation such that the opening on the cartridge occupies a web feeding position in said nest, causing the particular wall area on the cartridge to occupy a different position in said nest; a cartridge retaining member; means supporting said cartridge retaining member for movement with respect to said nest from an idle position to a cartridge retaining position for holding the cartridge in said nest; a probe member; means supporting said probe member for movement into, and from, said nest; and cooperating, motion-imparting, means disposed on said cartridge retaining member and said probe member for respective movement therewith and, during movement of said cartridge retaining member from the idle position toward the cartridge retaining position, for causing said probe member to move into said nest generally alongside the particular wall area on a cartridge in said nest whose opening occupies the web feeding position and, in the event that the opening on a cartridge in said nest does not occupy the web feeding position, for causing said probe member to move into said nest and lift the cartridge from said nest such that the same cartridge blocks movement of said cartridge retaining member from the idle position to the cartridge retaining position.

Claim 7

Cartridge positioning apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said nest includes (a) a Generally planar surface on which a cartridge is received, (b) means defining an opening in said nest surface and (c) a cartridge stop member projecting from said nest surface, wherein said cartridge retaining member includes a lip portion shaped to engage and hold a cartridge on said nest surface, wherein said cartridge retaining member supporting means includes means supporting said cartridge retaining member for movement such that said lip portion of said retaining member moves toward and away from said cartridge stop member, projecting from said nest surface, and along a path which is substantially parallel to said nest surface, wherein said probe member includes a free end portion shaped for passage through said opening in said nest surface, and wherein said cooperating means includes (a) a roller rotatably supported on said cartridge retaining member and (b) means defining a camming slot in said probe member which is arranged to receive said roller and effect movement of said free end portion of said probe member through said opening in said nest surface during movement of said cartridge retaining member from the idle position toward the cartridge retaining position.

Claim 8

Cartridge positioning apparatus adapted to separately receive several web cartridges (1) of the kind provided respectively with web identifying structures, with cartridge locating structures, and with openings through which web material can be fed and (2) of the kind wherein the identifying structure, the locating structure and the opening on individual ones of the cartridges are differently situated with respect to each other, said apparatus comprising: means defining a nest for separately receiving the several web cartridges in a manner such that respective ones of the openings on the cartridges can occupy generally the same web feeding position in said nest, causing respective ones of the identifying structures on the cartridges to occupy different positions in said nest, and causing respective ones of the locating structures on the cartridges to occupy different positions in said nest; means for securing any one of the cartridges in said nest; means cooperating with the locating structure on a cartridge in said nest for verifying that the opening on such cartridge occupies the web feeding position and, in the event that the opening on a cartridge in said nest does not occupy the web feeding position, for preventing said securing means from securing such cartridge in said nest; and means for verifying the presence of the identifying structure on a cartridge in said nest and, in the absence of that structure on such cartridge, for preventing said securing means from securing such cartridge in said nest.

Claim 9

Cartridge positioning apparatus adapted to separately receive several web cartridges (1) of the kind provided respectively with web identifying structures, with cartridge locating structures, and with openings through which web material can be fed and (2) of the kind wherein the identifying structure, the locating structure and the opening on individual ones of the cartridges are differently situated with respect to each other, said apparatus comprising: means defining a nest for separately receiving the several web cartridges in a manner such that respective ones of the openings on the cartridges can occupy generally the same web feeding position in said nest, causing respective ones of the identifying structures on the cartridges to occupy different positions in said nest, and causing respective ones of the locating structures on the cartridges to occupy different positions in said nest; means for securing any one of the cartridges in said nest; means cooperating with the locating structure on a cartridge in said nest for verifying that the opening on such cartridge occupies the web feeding position and, in the event that the opening on a cartridge in said nest does not occupy the web feeding position, for preventing said securing means from securing such cartridge in said nest; and means for verifying the presence of the identifying structure on a cartridge in said nest and, in the absence of that structure on such cartridge, for preventing said securing means from securing such cartridge in said nest.

Claim 10

Cartridge positioning apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said cartridge securing means includes (a) a cartridge retaining member and (b) means supporting said member for movement with respect to said nest from an idle position to first and second cartridge retaining positions for separately holding first and second ones of the cartridges in said nest, wherein the locating structure on a first one of the cartridges is a locating notch, wherein said cartridge opening position verifying means includes an abutment disposed on said nest, and shaped, for entry into the locating notch on a first cartridge in said nest whose opening occupies the web feeding position and, in the event that the opening on a first cartridge in said nest does not occupy the web feeding position, for supporting the first cartridge in a raised manner from said nest such that the same cartridge blocks movement of said cartridge retaining member from the idle position to the first cartridge retaining position, wherein the locating structure on a second one of the cartridges is a particular wall area, wherein said cartridge opening position verifying means further includes (a) a first probe member supported for movement into, and from, said nest and (b) first cooperating, motion-imparting, means Disposed on said cartridge retaining member and said first probe member for respective movement therewith and, during movement of said cartridge retaining member from the first cartridge retaining position toward the second cartridge retaining position, for causing said first probe member to move into said nest generally alongside the particular wall area on a second cartridge in said nest whose opening occupies the web feeding position and, in the event that the opening on a second cartridge in said nest does not occupy the web feeding position, for causing said first probe member to lift the second cartridge from said nest such that the same cartridge blocks movement of said cartridge retaining member from the first cartridge retaining position to the second cartridge retaining position, wherein the identifying structure on a first one of the cartridges is an identifying notch, wherein said means for verifying the presence of the identifying structure on a cartridge includes an abutment disposed on said nest, and shaped, for entry into the identifying notch on a first cartridge in said nest whose opening occupies the web feeding position and, in the event that the identifying notch is not present on a first cartridge in said nest whose opening occupies the web feeding position, for supporting the first cartridge in a raised manner from said nest such that the same cartridge blocks movement of said cartridge retaining member from the idle position to the first cartridge retaining position, wherein the identifying structure on a second one of the cartridges is an identifying notch, and wherein said means for verifying the presence of the identifying structure on a cartridge further includes (a) a second probe member supported for movement into, and from, said nest and (b) second cooperating, motion-imparting, means disposed on said cartridge retaining member and said second probe member for respective movement therewith and, during movement of said cartridge retaining member from the first cartridge retaining position toward the second cartridge retaining position, for causing said second probe member to move into said nest and through the identifying notch on a second cartridge in said nest whose opening occupies the web feeding position and, in the event that the identifying notch is not present on a second cartridge in said nest whose opening occupies the web feeding position, for causing said second probe member to move into said nest, stopping in abutment against the second cartridge, to interrupt the motion of said cartridge retaining and second probe members and prevent movement of said cartridge retaining member from the first cartridge retaining position to the second cartridge retaining position.

Claim 11

Cartridge positioning apparatus adapted to receive a web cartridge of the kind provided with an opening through which web material can be fed and with a notch spaced from the opening, said apparatus comprising: means defining a nest for receiving the web cartridge in an orientation such that the opening on the cartridge occupies a web feeding position in said nest, causing the notch on the cartridge to occupy a different position in said nest; a cartridge retaining member; means supporting said cartridge retaining member for movement with respect to said nest from an idle position to a cartridge retaining position for holding the cartridge in said nest; a probe member; means supporting said probe member for movement into, and from, said nest; and cooperating, motion-imparting, means disposed on said cartridge retaining member and said probe member for respective movement therewith and, during movement of said cartridge retaining member from the idle position toward the cartridge retaining position, for causing said probe member to move into said nest and through the notch on a cartridge in said nest whose opening occupies the web feeding position and, in the event that the notch is not present on a cartridge in said nest whose opening ocCupies the web feeding position, for causing said probe member to move into said nest, stopping in abutment against the second cartridge, to interrupt the motion of said cartridge retaining and probe members and prevent movement of said cartridge retaining member from the idle position to the cartridge retaining position.

Claim 12

Cartridge positioning apparatus adapted to receive a web cartridge of the kind provided with an opening through which web material can be fed and with a notch spaced from the opening, said apparatus comprising: means defining a nest for receiving the web cartridge in an orientation such that the opening on the cartridge occupies a web feeding position in said nest, causing the notch on the cartridge to occupy a different position in said nest; a cartridge retaining member; means supporting said cartridge retaining member for movement with respect to said nest from an idle position to a cartridge retaining position for holding the cartridge in said nest; a probe member; means supporting said probe member for movement into, and from, said nest; and cooperating, motion-imparting, means disposed on said cartridge retaining member and said probe member for respective movement therewith and, during movement of said cartridge retaining member from the idle position toward the cartridge retaining position, for causing said probe member to move into said nest and through the notch on a cartridge in said nest whose opening occupies the web feeding position and, in the event that the notch is not present on a cartridge in said nest whose opening ocCupies the web feeding position, for causing said probe member to move into said nest, stopping in abutment against the second cartridge, to interrupt the motion of said cartridge retaining and probe members and prevent movement of said cartridge retaining member from the idle position to the cartridge retaining position.

Claim 13

Cartridge positioning apparatus adapted to separately receive several cartridges of at least first and second different sizes, said apparatus comprising: means defining a surface on which the several cartridges can be separately received; first and second cartridge stop members disposed in fixed relation to said surface for preventing movement of a cartridge, on said surface, respectively in first and second substantially perpendicular directions along said surface; a cartridge retaining member; means supporting said cartridge retaining member for movement toward and away from said first cartridge stop member between (1) a first position for holding a first size cartridge, on said surface, in abutment with said first and second cartridge stop members and (2) a second position for holding a second size cartridge, on said surface, in abutment with said first and second stop members; and means, operating in the event that a cartridge is on said surface and in abutment with said first and second cartridge stop members, for preventing movement of such cartridge in a third direction along said surface which is dissimilar to the first and second directions.

Claim 14

Cartridge positioning apparatus adapted to separately receive several cartridges of at least first and second different sizes, said apparatus comprising: means defining a surface on which the several cartridges can be separately received; first and second cartridge stop members disposed in fixed relation to said surface for preventing movement of a cartridge, on said surface, respectively in first and second substantially perpendicular directions along said surface; a cartridge retaining member; means supporting said cartridge retaining member for movement toward and away from said first cartridge stop member between (1) a first position for holding a first size cartridge, on said surface, in abutment with said first and second cartridge stop members and (2) a second position for holding a second size cartridge, on said surface, in abutment with said first and second stop members; and means, operating in the event that a cartridge is on said surface and in abutment with said first and second cartridge stop members, for preventing movement of such cartridge in a third direction along said surface which is dissimilar to the first and second directions.

Claim 15

A cartridge positioning apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the several cartridges are of the kind individually provided with at least one tactile marking and said apparatus further comprises means for verifying the presence of a tactile marking on a cartridge, on said nest and in abutment with said first and second cartridge stop members, and, in the absence of that marking on such cartridge, for preventing movement of said cartridge retaining member toward said first stop member.

Claim 16

A cartridge positioning apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said means for preventing movement of a cartridge in the third direction includes means, operating in the event that a cartridge on said surface is not in abutment with said first and second cartridge stop members, for supporting the cartridge in a raised manner from said surface such that the cartridge blocks movement of said cartridge retaining member toward said first cartridge stop member.