US3827588A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Film cartridge opener
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1973-03-16
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Granted: 1974-08-06
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Expires: 1993-03-16
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for opening frangible film cartridges and capturing the spool of exposed film housed therein so that the film can be readily removed from the spool. A frangible film cartridge is removed from a cartridge hopper and driven past a knife edge to slit the cartridge housing adjacent the film spool as the cartridge is being positioned such that the film spool contained therein is captured on a support post. The post is then actuated to pull the film spool from the slit cartridge and present the spool to a manual film stripping station while the cartridge housing is discarded. After the film is stripped from the spool, the support post is returned to its initial position for receiving a new film spool, the empty spool being automatically discarded.
Inventors
- 👤 O Gnage
- 👤 J Enfonde
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:24
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03D; G03D13/00; G03D13/003; G03D13/005; B; B65; B65G; B65G59/00; B65G59/06; B65G59/067; G03D13/001; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T225/00; Y10T225/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
An apparatus for opening a film cartridge of the type having a fraNgible body including a supply chamber and a take-up chamber connected by an intermediate cover member and a film spool in said take-up chamber accessible through said takeup chamber, said apparatus comprising: knife means; means for receiving a film cartridge and moving said cartridge past said knife means so as to slit the cartridge along a seam adjacent the take-up chamber without splintering the cartridge; film spool support means movable between a film spool capturing position adjacent said knife means for engaging and capturing a film spool within said cartridge and a film stripping position remote from said film spool capturing position; and means for moving said film spool support means between said film spool capturing position and said film stripping position whereby when said support means moves from said film spool capturing position to said film stripping position said film spool will spread apart the walls of said take-up chamber at opposite sides of said slit and will be removed from said cartridge through said slit to permit access to the film so that it may be stripped from the spool.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
194 words
An apparatus for opening a film cartridge of the type having a fraNgible body including a supply chamber and a take-up chamber connected by an intermediate cover member and a film spool in said take-up chamber accessible through said takeup chamber, said apparatus comprising: knife means; means for receiving a film cartridge and moving said cartridge past said knife means so as to slit the cartridge along a seam adjacent the take-up chamber without splintering the cartridge; film spool support means movable between a film spool capturing position adjacent said knife means for engaging and capturing a film spool within said cartridge and a film stripping position remote from said film spool capturing position; and means for moving said film spool support means between said film spool capturing position and said film stripping position whereby when said support means moves from said film spool capturing position to said film stripping position said film spool will spread apart the walls of said take-up chamber at opposite sides of said slit and will be removed from said cartridge through said slit to permit access to the film so that it may be stripped from the spool.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including: means for discarding said cartridge as the film spool support means is moved from its film spool capturing position to its film stripping position; and means for discarding said film spool after said film has been removed therefrom when said spool support means is moved from its film stripping position to its film spool capturing position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
106 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for discarding said cartridge includes: a cartridge engaging kicker bar mounted for pivotable movement about said supply chamber into engagement with said cartridge; link means connected to said kicker bar for pivoting said kicker bar into engagement with said cartridge when said film spool support means moves from its film spool capturing position to its film stripping position; and means for supporting said cartridge when it is in position to have the film spool thereof captured such that engagement of said kicker bar with said cartridge will cause said cartridge to flip over on itself to be discarded.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
112 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for discarding said film spool includes: an angled surface fixed to said film cartridge receiving and moving means so as to be located adjacent said film spool support means and engage a captured film spool when said cartridge receiving and moving means is in a film cartridge receiving position and said film spool support means is in its film stripping position, said angled surface being oriented at such an angle that movement of said film spool support means toward its film spool capturing position will result in the film spool being laterally moved on said spool support means so as to be removed therefrom.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
78 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said film cartridge receiving and moving means includes a carriage assembly comprising a sliding nest configured to accept a film cartridge in a particular orientation to locate said cartridge relative to said knife means, and reversible drive means for moving said nest from a cartridge receiving position past said knife means to a position wherein said film spool support means can capture said film spool through said take-up chamber of said cartridge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said film spool support means includes a film spool support pin engageable with said film spool through said take-up chamber of said cartridge, and a standard for supporting said film spool support pin; and wherein said means for moving said film spool support means includes a reversible drive means connected to said standard.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
295 words
An apparatus for opening a film cartridge of the type having a frangible body including a supply chamber and a take-up chamber connected by an intermediate cover member and a film spool in said take-up chamber accessible through said take-up chamber, said apparatus comprising: a framE; a hopper for receiving a series of film cartridges of the described type in a specific orientation, said hopper mounted on said frame; a carriage assembly mounted on said frame for receiving and moving a cartridge to be opened, said assembly comprising a sliding nest configured to accept a film cartridge in a specific orientation, reversible drive means for moving said sliding nest between a cartridge receiving position and a film spool capturing position, and an end portion connected to said nest configured so as to prevent removal of additional cartridges from said hopper when said nest is not in said cartridge receiving position; knife means for slitting said cartridge, said knife means comprising a standard mounted on said frame, a cutter edge extending from said standard, said cutter edge being positioned to slit said cartridge along a seam adjacent said take-up chamber without splintering said cartridge as said sliding nest is moved from its cartridge receiving position to its film spool capturing position; and film spool support means comprising a standard, a film spool support pin extending from said standard, and reversible drive means mounted on said frame for moving said standard from a position where said film spool support pin is in position to capture a film spool through said take-up chamber of said cartridge to a position where a captured film spool will be removed from said cartridge through said slit to permit access to the film so that it may be stripped from the spool.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
295 words
An apparatus for opening a film cartridge of the type having a frangible body including a supply chamber and a take-up chamber connected by an intermediate cover member and a film spool in said take-up chamber accessible through said take-up chamber, said apparatus comprising: a framE; a hopper for receiving a series of film cartridges of the described type in a specific orientation, said hopper mounted on said frame; a carriage assembly mounted on said frame for receiving and moving a cartridge to be opened, said assembly comprising a sliding nest configured to accept a film cartridge in a specific orientation, reversible drive means for moving said sliding nest between a cartridge receiving position and a film spool capturing position, and an end portion connected to said nest configured so as to prevent removal of additional cartridges from said hopper when said nest is not in said cartridge receiving position; knife means for slitting said cartridge, said knife means comprising a standard mounted on said frame, a cutter edge extending from said standard, said cutter edge being positioned to slit said cartridge along a seam adjacent said take-up chamber without splintering said cartridge as said sliding nest is moved from its cartridge receiving position to its film spool capturing position; and film spool support means comprising a standard, a film spool support pin extending from said standard, and reversible drive means mounted on said frame for moving said standard from a position where said film spool support pin is in position to capture a film spool through said take-up chamber of said cartridge to a position where a captured film spool will be removed from said cartridge through said slit to permit access to the film so that it may be stripped from the spool.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 7 further including: means for discarding said cartridge as said film spool support means is moved from its film spool capture position to its film stripping position; and means for discarding said film spool after said film has been removed therefrom when said spool support means is moved from its film stripping position to its film spool capturing position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-05 | 1978-02-04 | 1978-08-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-05 | 1982-02-04 | 1982-08-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-05 | 1986-02-04 | 1986-08-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |