Processing composition release mechanism for film cassette comprising self-contained film processing system

Claim 2

In combination with a photographic cassette comprising a housing, film transport means in said housing, a strip of film in said housing and connected to said film transport means for reversible movement along a predetermined path comprising a segment in said housing, film processing means in said housing adjacent said path segment, said film processing means comprising an initially closed container in which a charge of film processing composition is initially disposed, and release means effective when operated to open said container and release said composition, in which said film transport means comprises at least one reel rotatably mounted in said housing and connected to said film at one end thereof to coil said film about said reel when rotated in a first sense and to allow said film to be uncoiled from said reel when rotated in an opposite sense, said reel comprising at least one flange rotatable with the reel, detent means connected to said flange for rotation therewith, and detent engaging means connected to said release means and mounted in said housing adjacent said flange for engagement by said detent means upon rotation of said reel to operate said release means.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, in which said detent means comprises at least one cam formed on said flange and comprising a portion of slowing changing radius and a portion of rapidly changing radius, and said detent engaging means comprises at least one cam engaging element, resilient means operable to resiliently bias said cam engaging element against said flange for movement radially of said flange without substantial movement with said flange in response to variations in radius of said cam upon rotation of said reel in said first sense and for movement over a predetermined range with said flange upon engagement with said portion of rapidly changing radius when said reel is rotated in said opposite sense, said release means being operated by movement of said cam engaging element with said flange.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising detent means initially holding said cam engaging element out of engagement with said flange against the bias of said resilient means, and second release means actuable to release said cam engaging element from said detent means.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3, in which said second release means comprises second cam means mounted in said housing for movement between a first inactive position and a second position and releasing said cam engaging element from said detent means upon movement between said positions, and means for inserting an actuating element into said housing to move said second cam means from its first to its second position.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4, in which said last recited means comprises means forming a light-baffled aperture in said housing and engaging means formed on said second cam means exposed through said aperture for engagement by an externally inserted actuating element.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5, in which said housing is configured for insertion in a cooperating recess formed in an outer housing of a processing and projection system, and in which said actuating element comprises a locating pin resiliently mounted in said outer housing and extending into said cooperating recess for entry into said baffled aperture to engage said second cam means when said cassette is inserted into said processing and projection system.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6, in which said initially closed container comprises wall means forming a receptacle open at one side and initially containing said composition by means of a flexible tear tab having a first portion detachably sealed over said opening and a second portion extending from said first portion and responsive to an applied force for at least partially detaching said first portion from said receptacle to open said container, and connecting means for operatively connecting said cam engaging element to said second portion to apply a force thereto upon movement of said cam engaging element with said flange.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 7, in which said connecting means comprises an arm formed integral with said cam engaging element, extending alongside and past said reel, and terminating in tab engaging means, said second portion of said tear tab being operatively connected to said arm by engagement with said tab engaging means.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising means forming a well in said housing adjacent one side of said reel, said arm being disposed in said well to pass alongside said reel.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 9, in which said film processing means further comprises film coating means adapted to be supplied with film coating composition for coating said composition on said film, wall means forming an outer chamber communicating with said coating means, said container being mounted in said outer chamber, means forming a recess in said outer chamber, said second portion of said tear tab extending from said container through said recess to said tab engaging means, and processing composition absorbing means mounted in said outer chamber adjacent said recess to absorb processing composition passing to said recess and thereby swell to seal said recess.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 2, in which said detent engaging means further comprises an arm formed integral with said cam engaging element, extending alongside and past said reel, and terminating in actuating means operatively connected to said release means.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising means forming a well in said housing adjacent one side of said reel, at least a portion of said arm being disposed in said well to pass alongside said reel.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising latching means engaged by said detent engaging means when said cam engaging element is engaged by said cam and moved therewith over a distance sufficient to operate said release means for holding said cam engaging element out of engagement with said reel.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 13, in which said latching means comprises means forming a recess in said housing adapted to receive said cam engaging element when said element is moved over said distance, and second resilient means engaged by said detent engaging means during said movement for resiliently urging said cam engaging element into said recess.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 1, in which said detent means comprises at least one asymmetric cam formed on said flange, and said detent engaging means comprises rack means formed with at least one tooth adapted to be engaged by said detent means and moved with said reel upon rotation of said reel in a predetermined sense, resilient means biasing said rack means into engagement with said flange, and latch means comprising cooperating latch elements, one connected to said rack means and one connected to said housing, at least one of said latch elements being formed with a cam surface to move said rack means out of engagement with said flange during movement of said rack means with said flange, and said latch elements engaging at the termination of said movement to hold said rack means out of engagement with said flange.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 15, in which said processing means comprises coating means operable to engage said film and adapted to receive said composition when released from said container, said coating means being effective when engaged with said film and said composition is released to coat said composition on said film when said film is moved relative to said coating means, and further comprising means responsive to operation of said release means to engage said coating means with said film.

Claim 18

In combination, a film cassette comprising a strip of film and film transport means for moving said film to and fro over a predetermined path, said film transport means comprising a rotatable reel connected to one end of said film for storing and releasing said film as it moves over said path, film processing means mounted adjacent said path and responsive to a sequence of applied signals for engaging said film while coating at least a portion of said film with processing composition and then disengaging said film, and means directly connected to said reel for applying at least one of said signals to said processing means upon rotation of said reel.

Claim 19

In combination, a film cassette comprising a strip of film and film transport means for moving said film to and fro over a predetermined path, said film transport means comprising a rotatable reel connected to one end of said film for storing and releasing said film as it moves over said path, film processing means mounted adjacent said path and responsive to a sequence of applied signals for engaging said film while coating at least a portion of said film with processing composition and then disengaging said film, and means directly connected to said reel for applying at least one of said signals to said processing means upon rotation of said reel.

Claim 20

A photographic cassette comprising an opaque housing, means forming a film gate in said housing, a supply reel and a takeup reel, each rotatably mounted in said housing, a strip of initially unexposed film having one end connected to said supply reel and a second end connected to said takeup reel, said film being initially coiled primarily about said supply reel and extending therefrom through said film gate to said takeup reel over a path comprising a segment in said housing, said cassette being adapted to cooperate with a camera and with a processing and projection system for exposure and projection, respectively, of portions of said film in said film gate during intervals between the intermittent advance of said film from said supply reel to said takeup reel when said reels are rotated in first senses, and for cooperation with a processing and projection system, for processing and rewinding of said film when said reels are rotated in second senses opposite said first senses, film processing means mounted in said cassette and adapted to coat said film with processing composition, said processing means comprising an initially closed container, a charge of processing composition in said container, and release means actuable to open said container and release said composition for coating on said film, and actuating means connected to said release means and adapted to be operatively engaged by a first of said reels upon rotation thereof in said second sense to open said container.

Claim 21

A photographic cassette comprising an opaque housing, means forming a film gate in said housing, a supply reel and a takeup reel, each rotatably mounted in said housing, a strip of initially unexposed film having one end connected to said supply reel and a second end connected to said takeup reel, said film being initially coiled primarily about said supply reel and extending therefrom through said film gate to said takeup reel over a path comprising a segment in said housing, said cassette being adapted to cooperate with a camera and with a processing and projection system for exposure and projection, respectively, of portions of said film in said film gate during intervals between the intermittent advance of said film from said supply reel to said takeup reel when said reels are rotated in first senses, and for cooperation with a processing and projection system, for processing and rewinding of said film when said reels are rotated in second senses opposite said first senses, film processing means mounted in said cassette and adapted to coat said film with processing composition, said processing means comprising an initially closed container, a charge of processing composition in said container, and release means actuable to open said container and release said composition for coating on said film, and actuating means connected to said release means and adapted to be operatively engaged by a first of said reels upon rotation thereof in said second sense to open said container.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 18, in which said processing means further comprises coating means in said housing adapted to engage said film and effective when so engaged and supplied with processing composition to coat said composition on said film, wall means formed integral with said housing and forming a chamber having a first outlet communicating with said coating means and a second outlet spaced from said first outlet, said container being mounted in said chamber and said release means extending through said second outlet to said connection with said actuating means, and processing composition absorption means mounted in said chamber adjacent said second outlet to absorb processing composition passing to said second outlet and thereby swell and seal said second outlet.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 19, in which said first reel comprises a flange rotatable with the reel and unidirectional cam means formed on said flange, and said actuating means comprises cam engaging means and biasing means resiliently biasing said element toward said flange.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising latching means engaged by said actuating means when said cam engaging means is engaged by said cam means and moved thereby over a distance sufficient to open said container for holding said actuating means out of engagement with said first reel.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 21, in which said latching means comprises means forming a recess in said housing adapted to receive said cam engaging means when moved over said distance, and second biasing means engaged by said actuating means during said movement for resiliently urging said cam engaging means into said recess.

Claim 26

In combination with a film cassette comprising a housing, reversible film transport means in said housing, and a strip of film connected to said film tranSport means for movement to and fro over a predetermined path including at least a path segment in said housing, film processing means mounted in said housing adjacent said path segment, said film processing means comprising coating means adapted to engage said film and effective when so engaged and supplied with film processing composition to coat said film with processing composition, wall means in said housing forming a chamber having a first outlet communicating with said coating means and a second outlet spaced from said first outlet, an initially sealed pod containing a supply of processing composition mounted in said housing, release means having one end connected to said pod and extending through said second outlet to a second end, said release means being responsive to a force applied to said second end to open said pod, and process composition absorbing means mounted in said chamber adjacent said second outlet to absorb processing composition moving toward said second outlet and thereby swell and seal said second outlet.

Claim 27

In combination with a film cassette comprising a housing, reversible film transport means in said housing, and a strip of film connected to said film tranSport means for movement to and fro over a predetermined path including at least a path segment in said housing, film processing means mounted in said housing adjacent said path segment, said film processing means comprising coating means adapted to engage said film and effective when so engaged and supplied with film processing composition to coat said film with processing composition, wall means in said housing forming a chamber having a first outlet communicating with said coating means and a second outlet spaced from said first outlet, an initially sealed pod containing a supply of processing composition mounted in said housing, release means having one end connected to said pod and extending through said second outlet to a second end, said release means being responsive to a force applied to said second end to open said pod, and process composition absorbing means mounted in said chamber adjacent said second outlet to absorb processing composition moving toward said second outlet and thereby swell and seal said second outlet.

Claim 28

In combination with a film cassette comprising a self-contained film processing system, said processing system comprising an initially sealed container of processing composition, and container opening means having one end connected to said container and extending therefrom to a second end, said opening means being responsive to movement relative to said container to open said container, said cassette comprising a housing containing said processing system, a reel rotatably mounted in said housing for moving a strip of film connected at one end to said reel relative to said processing system, and a flange on said reel, a processing composition release mechanism said release mechanism comprising a cam engaging element connected to said second end, and an asymmetric cam formed on said flange for engaging said element and moving said opening means upon rotation of said reel in a predetermined sense.

Claim 29

In combination with a film cassette comprising a self-contained film processing system, said processing system comprising an initially sealed container of processing composition, and container opening means having one end connected to said container and extending therefrom to a second end, said opening means being responsive to movement relative to said container to open said container, said cassette comprising a housing containing said processing system, a reel rotatably mounted in said housing for moving a strip of film connected at one end to said reel relative to said processing system, and a flange on said reel, a processing composition release mechanism said release mechanism comprising a cam engaging element connected to said second end, and an asymmetric cam formed on said flange for engaging said element and moving said opening means upon rotation of said reel in a predetermined sense.

Claim 30

A photographic cassette comprising an opaque housing, reversible film transport means in said housing, a strip of film having opposed ends connected to said film transport means for movement to and fro over a predetermined path including a path segment in said housing, and film processing means mounted in said housing adjacent said path segment, in which said film transport means comprises at least one reel rotatably mounted in said housing and connected to one end of said film for rotation in first and second senses to facilitate movements of said film along said path in opposite directions, at least one flange formed on said reel, a first series of asymmetric teeth formed on said flange and adapted to drive a rack formed with cooperating teeth when said reel is rotated in said first sense, and a second set of asymmetric teeth formed on said flange and adapted to drive a rack formed with cooperating teeth when said reel is rotated in said second sense, in which said processing means comprises film engaging means mounted in said housing for movement between a first position operatively engaging said film and a second position out of engagement with said film, said cassette further comprising first rack means formed with teeth adapted to cooperate with said first series of teeth on said flange, means resiliently biasing said first rack means against said flange for movement from an initial position to a second position by said first series of teeth when said reel is rotated in said first sense, second rack means formed with teeth adapted to cooperate with said second series of teeth on said flange, means resiliently biasing said second rack means toward a position engaging said second series of teeth on said flange, means formed on said first rack means for holding said second rack means out of engagement with said flange in said initial position of said first rack means, said second rack means being engaged by said second series of teeth when said first rack means is in its second position and said reel is rotated in said second sense for movemEnt to a second position of said second rack means, means operatively connecting said first rack means to said film engaging means to move said film engaging means to its second position when said first rack means is moved to its second position, and means operatively connecting said second rack means to said film engaging means to move said film engaging means to its first position when said second rack means is moved to its second position.

Claim 31

A photographic cassette comprising an opaque housing, reversible film transport means in said housing, a strip of film having opposed ends connected to said film transport means for movement to and fro over a predetermined path including a path segment in said housing, and film processing means mounted in said housing adjacent said path segment, in which said film transport means comprises at least one reel rotatably mounted in said housing and connected to one end of said film for rotation in first and second senses to facilitate movements of said film along said path in opposite directions, at least one flange formed on said reel, a first series of asymmetric teeth formed on said flange and adapted to drive a rack formed with cooperating teeth when said reel is rotated in said first sense, and a second set of asymmetric teeth formed on said flange and adapted to drive a rack formed with cooperating teeth when said reel is rotated in said second sense, in which said processing means comprises film engaging means mounted in said housing for movement between a first position operatively engaging said film and a second position out of engagement with said film, said cassette further comprising first rack means formed with teeth adapted to cooperate with said first series of teeth on said flange, means resiliently biasing said first rack means against said flange for movement from an initial position to a second position by said first series of teeth when said reel is rotated in said first sense, second rack means formed with teeth adapted to cooperate with said second series of teeth on said flange, means resiliently biasing said second rack means toward a position engaging said second series of teeth on said flange, means formed on said first rack means for holding said second rack means out of engagement with said flange in said initial position of said first rack means, said second rack means being engaged by said second series of teeth when said first rack means is in its second position and said reel is rotated in said second sense for movemEnt to a second position of said second rack means, means operatively connecting said first rack means to said film engaging means to move said film engaging means to its second position when said first rack means is moved to its second position, and means operatively connecting said second rack means to said film engaging means to move said film engaging means to its first position when said second rack means is moved to its second position.

Claim 32

The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising first detent means engaged by said first rack means as it moves into its second position for holding said first rack means out of engagement with said flange, and second detent means engaged by said second rack means as it moves into its second position for holding said second rack means out of engagement with said flange.

Claim 33

The apparatus of claim 26, in which said processing means further comprises an initially sealed container of film processing means, release means operatively connected to said first rack means for opening said container to release said processing composition as said first rack means moves toward its second position, and means for applying said composition to said film when said composition is released and said film engaging means is in its second position.

Claim 34

The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising means engaged by said rack means in their second positions for holding said rack means out of engagement with said flange.

Claim 35

A film handling cassette comprising a housing, said housing being configured to be inserted in a camera to facilitate exposure of said film and to be inserted in other apparatus to facilitate processing and projection operations, a strip of film stored within said housing, normally inoperative first means for applying a processing composition to an incremental section of said film strip, said first means including means for releasably storing a quantity of the processing composition sufficient to treat substantially the entire length of said film strip, second means responsive to externally mounted actuating means for progressively transporting said film strip transverse said first means, said second means including a rotatably mounted member to which said film strip is connected, and third means for rendering said first means operative whereby substantially the entire length of said film strip may be treated with the processing composition to produce finished projectable images without removal of said film from said housing, and third means including means for releasing the processing fluid from said composition storing means responsive to a force being exerted thereon and means independent of said film strip for coupling said composition releasing means to said rotatably mounted member whereby said rotatably mounted member exerts said force on said composition releasing means.

Claim 36

A film handling cassette comprising a housing, said housing being configured to be inserted in a camera to facilitate exposure of said film and to be inserted in other apparatus to facilitate processing and projection operations, a strip of film stored within said housing, normally inoperative first means for applying a processing composition to an incremental section of said film strip, said first means including means for releasably storing a quantity of the processing composition sufficient to treat substantially the entire length of said film strip, second means responsive to externally mounted actuating means for progressively transporting said film strip transverse said first means, said second means including a rotatably mounted member to which said film strip is connected, and third means for rendering said first means operative whereby substantially the entire length of said film strip may be treated with the processing composition to produce finished projectable images without removal of said film from said housing, and third means including means for releasing the processing fluid from said composition storing means responsive to a force being exerted thereon and means independent of said film strip for coupling said composition releasing means to said rotatably mounted member whereby said rotatably mounted member exerts said force on said composition releasing means.

Claim 37

The film handling cassette of claim 29 wherein said coupling means is initially disposed out of operable relationship with said rotatably mounted member and said third means includes means responsive to externally mounted actuating means for effecting an operative relationship between said coupling means and said rotatably mounted member.

Claim 38

The film handling cassette of claim 29 wherein said coupling means is configured to exert said force on said composition releasing means when said rotatably mounted member is rotated in a first direction and to not exert said force thereon when it is rotated in the opposite direction.

Claim 39

The cassette of claim 30 wherein said cassette additionally includes means for returning said coupling means to an inoperative relationship with respect to said rotatably mounted member once the processing composition has been released from said composition storing means.