Patent US4080242A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4080242A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for splicing photographic films or the like
Assignee: Agfa Gevaert AG
•
Filing: 1976-12-16
•
Granted: 1978-03-21
•
Expires: 1996-12-16
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for splicing successive exposed photographic films end-to-end by means of uniting bands one side of which is coated with hotmelt has a ribbon which is severed at regular intervals at the splicing station to yield a succession of uniting bands. Each band is caused to overlie the ends of films at the splicing station and is thereupon pressed against the films by two heated rams which move toward each other as soon as a fresh band is separated from the ribbon. The ribbon is retracted from the splicing station immediately upon severing to avoid the flow of hotmelt thereon as a result of heating action of the rams.
Inventors
- 👤 Franz Komenda
- 👤 Klaus Weber
- 👤 Adolf Hofler
- 👤 Gerhard Kustner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 12:43
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B27/00; G11B27/02; G11B27/06; B; B65; B65H; B65H21/00; G03; G03D; G03D13/00; G03D13/003; G03D13/005; G03D15/00; G03D15/04; G03D15/043; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/12; Y10T156/1317; Y10T156/1322; Y10T156/133; Y10T156/1335
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
288 words
Apparatus for splicing successive flexible strips end-to-end, particularly for splicing exposed photographic films by means of uniting bands whose uniting action is enhanced by heating, comprising means for conveying successive strips along a predetermined path so as to place the leading end of each next-following strip close to the trailing end of the preceding strip at a splicing station which constitutes a portion of said path; a source of heatable uniting bands, including a ribbon of coherent uniting bands; means for feeding uniting bands seriatim from said source into register with the ends of strips at said station, including means for transporting said ribbon along a second path between said source and said station first forwardly so as to place the leader of said ribbon into register with the ends of strips at said station and thereupon rearwardly; means for separating the leader at said station from the next-following portion of said ribbon prior to rearward movement of said next-following portion of said ribbon whereby the separated leader constitutes a uniting band; and means for attaching the band at said station to the adjacent ends of strips, including first and second splicing members facing each other and located at the opposite sides of the ends of strips at said station, with a uniting band disposed between said first member and the ends of strips, means for heating said members, and means for moving at least one of said members between retracted and operative positions in which said one member is respectively remote from and nearer to the other of said splicing members so that said members heat and thereby bond the uniting band therebetween to the adjacent ends of strips in said operative position of said one member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
288 words
Apparatus for splicing successive flexible strips end-to-end, particularly for splicing exposed photographic films by means of uniting bands whose uniting action is enhanced by heating, comprising means for conveying successive strips along a predetermined path so as to place the leading end of each next-following strip close to the trailing end of the preceding strip at a splicing station which constitutes a portion of said path; a source of heatable uniting bands, including a ribbon of coherent uniting bands; means for feeding uniting bands seriatim from said source into register with the ends of strips at said station, including means for transporting said ribbon along a second path between said source and said station first forwardly so as to place the leader of said ribbon into register with the ends of strips at said station and thereupon rearwardly; means for separating the leader at said station from the next-following portion of said ribbon prior to rearward movement of said next-following portion of said ribbon whereby the separated leader constitutes a uniting band; and means for attaching the band at said station to the adjacent ends of strips, including first and second splicing members facing each other and located at the opposite sides of the ends of strips at said station, with a uniting band disposed between said first member and the ends of strips, means for heating said members, and means for moving at least one of said members between retracted and operative positions in which said one member is respectively remote from and nearer to the other of said splicing members so that said members heat and thereby bond the uniting band therebetween to the adjacent ends of strips in said operative position of said one member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said moving means includes means for moving said other splicing member toward said one splicing member simultaneously with movement of said one splicing member to said operative position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said splicing members are coaxial with each other and are reciprocable toward and away from each other, and further comprising bearing means for said splicing members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein one of said splicing members comprises two substantially coaxial sections and resilient means interposed between said sections and arranged to store energy in said operative position of said first mentioned one member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first splicing member is said one member and said separating means includes a severing device having a knife movable with said first splicing member and a counterknife adjacent the path of movement of said knife, said knife and said counterknife being located at the opposite sides of said second path in the retracted position of said first splicing member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said second path is inclined with respect to said first mentioned path.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said severing device further comprises a yieldable support for said counterknife.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said severing device includes holder means defining a channel for said ribbon, said channel having a discharge end adjacent said splicing station and said counterknife being adjacent said discharge end.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 8, further comprising guide means for maintaining the ends of strips at said splicing station in a first plane, said channel being located in a second plane adjacent to and substantially parallel with said first plane.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said transporting means includes means for moving said ribbon forwardly through a longer first distance and for moving said next-following portion of said ribbon rearwardly through a shorter second distance, the difference between said first and second distances being equal to or approximating the length of a uniting band, as considered in the longitudinal direction of said second path.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said ribbon moving means includes a pressure roll at one side of said second path and a driven rotary member at the other side of said second path opposite said roll.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said roll and said rotary member comprise means for minimizing the area of contact with the ribbon.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said contact minimizing means includes at least one circumferential groove provided in the periphery of said roll.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said contact minimizing means further comprises at least one row of projections extending from the periphery of said rotary member in line with said groove.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
11 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said projections are needles.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 10, further comprising means for synchronizing the operation of said ribbon moving means with the operation of said means for moving said one splicing member between operative and retracted positions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said synchronizing means comprises a transmission.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said synchronizing means comprises a reversible prime mover.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said means for moving said one splicing member comprises a first rotary cam and said synchronizing means includes a second rotary cam, means for rotating one of said cams in response to rotation of the other of said cams, and means for transmitting motion from said second cam to said ribbon moving means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein said motion transmitting means includes a lever receiving motion from said second cam, a connecting rod receiving motion from said lever, and a planetary transmission interposed between said connecting rod and said ribbon moving means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for locating the leader of said ribbon at a predetermined distance from said splicing station prior to actuation of said transporting means to move the ribbon forwardly.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein said locating means comprises a stop which is movable into and from said second path.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
146 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said separating means includes a severing device having a first knife provided on said one splicing member and including first guide faces parallel to the direction of movement of said one splicing member between operative and retracted positions and a first cutting edge extending transversely of and between said guide faces, a holder adjacent said one splicing member and having second guide faces slidably engaging said first guide faces, means for biasing said holder against said one splicing member, and a second knife provided on said holder, said knives being located at the opposite sides of said second path in the retracted position of said one splicing member and said second knife having a second cutting edge which cooperates with said first cutting edge to sever the ribbon during movement of said one splicing member to said operative position.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 23, wherein at least one of said knives has a recess immediately behind the respective cutting edge.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
84 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 23, wherein said holder has a first portion adjacent the path of movement of said one splicing member and provided with said second guide faces and a second portion defining a channel through which the leader of said ribbon passes on its way to said splicing station, said channel having a discharge end adjacent said station and further comprising means for securing said second knife to said second portion of said holder in the region of said discharge end.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 23, wherein said holder includes means for guiding the strips in said first path.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 26, wherein said means for guiding has a groove for one marginal portion of each strip passing through said splicing station.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 23, wherein said second cutting edge has at least one notch.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 23, wherein one of said cutting edges is inclined with respect to the other cutting edge.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 23, wherein said second knife is undercut behind said second cutting edge.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 23, wherein said means for biasing said holder includes a carrier movable to and from an operative position and at least one spring reacting against said carrier and bearing against said holder in the operative position of said carrier.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 31, further comprising means defining for said carrier a pivot axis for movement of said carrier to and from said operative position thereof.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for pulling said preceding strip lengthwise of said path immediately upon completed bonding of a uniting band to the ends of strips at said splicing station.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said moving means includes means for moving each of said splicing members between a retracted and an operative position, said moving means including two rotary cams, means for rotating said cams, and means for transmitting motion from said cams to said splicing members.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 34, wherein said splicing members are disposed at the same distance from the strips at said station in the retracted positions of said splicing members.
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) | 1981-03-20 | 1981-09-19 | 1982-03-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-03-20 | 1985-09-19 | 1986-03-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-03-20 | 1989-09-19 | 1990-03-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |