Abstract An improved container for receiving and supporting photographic materials including a plurality of film units. An opening, defined by leading ends of a forward, rear, and a pair of side walls of the container, is provided for inserting the materials into the container. Thereafter a leading end wall is adapted to be ultrasonically bonded to the leading ends of the side and rear walls to partially close the opening and cooperate with the forward wall to define a withdrawal aperture through which the film units may be sequentially extracted from the container after exposure. The effective opening of the withdrawal aperture is controlled by a stop integrally formed with the leading end wall and adapted to be accurately spaced from an interior surface of the forward wall to insure that only one film unit at a time may be withdrawn from the container. Cooperating structure is provided at the interface between the rear wall and the leading end wall to insure accurate positioning of the stop with respect to the interior surface of the forward wall during an ultrasonic bonding cycle.
A method of bonding a leading end wall to a portion of a thermoplastic container having a plurality of film units therein to accurately position a stop integrally formed with said leading end wall with respect to a forward wall of said container, said method comprising the steps of: forming said container to include a plurality of energy concentrating tapered sections on said portion of said container and positioning indentations in an interior surface of said leading end wall; loading said film units into said container; placing said interior surface of said leading end wall in abutment with said tapered sections such that at least one of said tapered sections contacts said interior surface adjacent lateral ends of said indentations; axially loading said leading end wall and said portion of said container toward each other; and applying ultrasonic energy to at least one of said portions of said container and said leading end wall to cause portions of said tapered sections in contact with said interior surface to deform to effect the bond, said axially loading causing said leading end wall and said portion of said container to move toward each other as said tapered sections deform, thereby resulting in portions of said one tapered section in alignment with said indentations to extend into and mechanically interlock therewith for limiting movement of said leading end wall with respect to said forward wall to accurately position said stop in relation therewith.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
240 words
A method of bonding a leading end wall to a portion of a thermoplastic container having a plurality of film units therein to accurately position a stop integrally formed with said leading end wall with respect to a forward wall of said container, said method comprising the steps of: forming said container to include a plurality of energy concentrating tapered sections on said portion of said container and positioning indentations in an interior surface of said leading end wall; loading said film units into said container; placing said interior surface of said leading end wall in abutment with said tapered sections such that at least one of said tapered sections contacts said interior surface adjacent lateral ends of said indentations; axially loading said leading end wall and said portion of said container toward each other; and applying ultrasonic energy to at least one of said portions of said container and said leading end wall to cause portions of said tapered sections in contact with said interior surface to deform to effect the bond, said axially loading causing said leading end wall and said portion of said container to move toward each other as said tapered sections deform, thereby resulting in portions of said one tapered section in alignment with said indentations to extend into and mechanically interlock therewith for limiting movement of said leading end wall with respect to said forward wall to accurately position said stop in relation therewith.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said one tapered section and said indentations are formed to have conforming shapes in cross section and said portions of said one tapered section cooperate with said indentation when mechanically interlocked to form a labyrinth light seal.