Sheet film feeder

Claim 2

A film feeding device for receiving a stack of individual film sheets and feeding the sheets individually to a film processor comprising: a holder for receiving and holding a film storing magazine, a cavity below said holder, said cavity having an upward opening for receiving a stack of film sheets from the film storing magazine and an exit opening for discharging said film sheets, a planar slide in the holder, between the magazine and the cavity for opening the film storing magazine in a light-tight manner and for opening said upward cavity opening in a light-tight manner, means for moving said planar slide from between the magazine and the upward cavity opening, a closure for closing said cavity exit in a light-tight manner, a powered roller below the cavity at the cavity exit opening, rotatable in the direction of the cavity exit opening, a stacking arm pivoted from below the cavity towards the interior of the cavity as the planar slide covers over the upward cavity opening, an arm and roller which moves into the cavity as the planar slide covers over the upward cavity opening, the powered roller having at least one annular groove therein, at least one arm pivotable in the cavity and having an end portion for supporting film sheets thereon, pivotable between a first position above the powered roller annular groove, blocking the path of the individual film sheets towards the light-tight exit closure, and a second position in the powered roller annular groove, and means activated by the stacking arm for pivoting the film supporting end portion into the powered roller annular groove, as the stacking arm pivots into the cavity interior.

Claim 3

A film feeding device according to claim 1 in which a blade at the cavity exit opening limits the space between itself and the roller to about the thickness of an individual film sheet.

Claim 4

A film feeding device for receiving a stack of individual film sheets and feeding the sheets individually to a film processor comprising: a holder for receiving and holding a film storing magazine, a cavity below said holder, said cavity having an upward opening for receiving a stack of film sheets from the storing magazine and an exit opening for discharging said film sheets, a planar slide in the holder, between the magazine and the cavity for opening the film storage magazine in a light-tight manner and for opening said upward cavity opening in a light-tight manner, means for moving said planar slide from between the magazine and the upward cavity opening, a closure for closing said cavity exit in a light-tight manner, transport means associated with said cavity for moving the film sheets individually through said exit closure, a first sensor which senses the presence of film sheets in said cavity, a first switch connected to said first sensor for relaying the film-sensed condition, a first visual indicator connected to said first switch for visually indicating the film-sensed condition, a second sensor which senses the opening of said cavity exit closure by the transport of an individual film sheet, a second switch connected to said second sensor for relaying the closure opening condition, and a second visual indicator connected to said second switch for indicating the closure opening condition.

Claim 5

A film feeding device for receiving a stack of individual film sheets and feeding the sheets individually to a film processor comprising: a holder for receiving and holding a film storing magazine, a cavity below said holder, said cavity having an upward opening for receiving a stack of film sheets from the storing magazine and an exit opening for discharging said film sheets, a planar slide in the holder, between the magazine and the cavity for opening the film storage magazine in a light-tight manner and for opening said upward cavity opening in a light-tight manner, means for moving said planar slide from between the magazine and the upward cavity opening, a closure for closing said cavity exit in a light-tight manner, transport means associated with said cavity for moving the film sheets individually through said exit closure, a first sensor which senses the presence of film sheets in said cavity, a first switch connected to said first sensor for relaying the film-sensed condition, a first visual indicator connected to said first switch for visually indicating the film-sensed condition, a second sensor which senses the opening of said cavity exit closure by the transport of an individual film sheet, a second switch connected to said second sensor for relaying the closure opening condition, and a second visual indicator connected to said second switch for indicating the closure opening condition.

Claim 6

A film feeding device for receiving a stack of individual film sheets and feeding the sheets individually to a film processor comprising: a holder for receiving and holding a film storing magazine, a cavity below said holder, said cavity having an upward opening for receiving a stack of film sheets from the storing magazine and an exit opening for discharging said film sheets, a planar slide in the holder, between the magazine and the cavity for opening the film storage magazine in a light-tight manner and for opening said upward cavity opening in a light-tight manner, means for moving said planar slide from between the magazine and the upward cavity opening, a closure for closing said cavity exit in a light-tight manner, transport means associated with said cavity for moving the film sheets individually through said exit closure, a cover hinged over said slide, a downward biased spring tab on the underside of said cover, said spring tab being arranged to engage and retain a first part of a two-part film magazine of first type for retaining the stack of films over said cavity. a first engagement means on said slide for drawing a second part of said two-part magazine from under its first part to release the film stack as said cavity is opened by movement of said slide, said first engagement means comprising a step in said slide for engaging behind a downward projecting portion on said second part, a second engagement means on said slide for drawing a second part of a two-part film magazine of a second type from under its first part, said second engagement means comprising an upward biased spring on said slide for engaging behind a downward projecting portion of said second part of said second magazine type, and a pair of stops at the sides of the holder, each having a pair of stop faces in opposite directions in which the stop faces in one direction engage sideways projecting portions of said second part of said two-part magazine of the first type when the magazine is fully received in the holder and the stop faces in the opposite direction engage said first part of said two-part magazine of the second type when the magazine is fully received in the holder.

Claim 7

A film feeding device for receiving a stack of individual film sheets and feeding the sheets individually to a film processor comprising: a holder for receiving and holding a film storing magazine, a cavity below said holder, said cavity having an upward opening for receiving a stack of film sheets from the storing magazine and an exit opening for discharging said film sheets, a planar slide in the holder, between the magazine and the cavity for opening the film storage magazine in a light-tight manner and for opening said upward cavity opening in a light-tight manner, means for moving said planar slide from between the magazine and the upward cavity opening, a closure for closing said cavity exit in a light-tight manner, transport means associated with said cavity for moving the film sheets individually through said exit closure, a cover hinged over said slide, a downward biased spring tab on the underside of said cover, said spring tab being arranged to engage and retain a first part of a two-part film magazine of first type for retaining the stack of films over said cavity. a first engagement means on said slide for drawing a second part of said two-part magazine from under its first part to release the film stack as said cavity is opened by movement of said slide, said first engagement means comprising a step in said slide for engaging behind a downward projecting portion on said second part, a second engagement means on said slide for drawing a second part of a two-part film magazine of a second type from under its first part, said second engagement means comprising an upward biased spring on said slide for engaging behind a downward projecting portion of said second part of said second magazine type, and a pair of stops at the sides of the holder, each having a pair of stop faces in opposite directions in which the stop faces in one direction engage sideways projecting portions of said second part of said two-part magazine of the first type when the magazine is fully received in the holder and the stop faces in the opposite direction engage said first part of said two-part magazine of the second type when the magazine is fully received in the holder.

Claim 8

A film feeding device for receiving a stack of individual film sheets and feeding the sheets individually to a film processor comprising: a holder for receiving and holding a film storing magazine, a cavity below said holder, said cavity having an upward opening for receiving a stack of film sheets from the film storing magazines and an exit opening for discharging said film sheets, a planar slide in the holder, between the magazine and said cavity for opening the film storing magazine in a light-tight manner and for opening said upward cavity opening in a light-tight manner, means for moving said planar slide from between the magazine and said upward cavity opening, a closure for closing said cavity exit in a light-tight manner, and transport means associated with said cavity for moving the film sheets individually through said exit closure, said transport means comprising a powered roller below said cavity at said cavity exit opening, rotatable in the direction of said cavity exit opening, a stacking arm pivoted from below said cavity towards the interior of said cavity as said planar slide covers over said upward cavity opening, and an arm and roller which moves into said cavity as said planar slide covers over said upward cavity opening.

Claim 9

A film feeding device for receiving a stack of individual film sheets and feeding the sheets individually to a film processor comprising: a holder for receiving and holding a film storing magazine, a cavity below said holder, said cavity having an upward opening for receiving a stack of film sheets from the film storing magazines and an exit opening for discharging said film sheets, a planar slide in the holder, between the magazine and said cavity for opening the film storing magazine in a light-tight manner and for opening said upward cavity opening in a light-tight manner, means for moving said planar slide from between the magazine and said upward cavity opening, a closure for closing said cavity exit in a light-tight manner, and transport means associated with said cavity for moving the film sheets individually through said exit closure, said transport means comprising a powered roller below said cavity at said cavity exit opening, rotatable in the direction of said cavity exit opening, a stacking arm pivoted from below said cavity towards the interior of said cavity as said planar slide covers over said upward cavity opening, and an arm and roller which moves into said cavity as said planar slide covers over said upward cavity opening.

Claim 10

A film feeding device according to claim 4 comprising grooves in the sides of the holder for guiding the slide for opening and closing over said upward cavity opening and means for locking said slide in the closed position, said locking means comprising a locking slot opening into the groove and an upward biased spring tab movable between said locking slot and said groove.

Claim 11

A film feeding device according to claim 1, 3 or 5, comprising an interface device at the cavity exit opening providing a light tight contact with the input to an adjoining film processor.

Claim 12

A film feeding device according to claim 5 comprising means for adjusting the speed of transport of the roller to a speed less than the input speed of an adjoining processor.

Claim 13

A film feeding device according to claim 1 or 5 in which a blade at the cavity exit opening limits the space between itself and the roller to about the thickness of an individual film sheet.

Claim 14

A film feeding device according to claim 1 or 5 comprising a sensor which senses the presence of film sheets in the cavity and a switch connected to the sensor for relaying the film-sensed condition.

Claim 15

A film feeding device according to claim 1 or 5 comprising a sensor which senses the opening of the cavity exit closure by the transport of an individual film sheet and a switch connected to the sensor for relaying the timing of the film feeder.