Film clamp

Claim 2

A film clamp comprising: a platen having a flat working surface for receiving a strip of film thereon; means for advancing the film relative to said platen; a first gripping member mounted for movement into a position along one portion of the platen to grip a film on the platen, said first gripping member cooperating with said advancing means to grip said film; a second gripping member mounted for movement into a position along a second portion of the platen to grip the film between said platen and said second gripping member; and means for pressing said first and second gripping members toward said platen to grip said film.

Claim 3

A film clamp, as defined in claim 1, wherein said pressing means presses said first gripping member toward said platen and said second gripping member toward said platen and away from said first gripping member.

Claim 4

A film clamp, as defined in claim 1, wherein said pressing means is adapted to move the first gripping member to grip said film on the platen before the second gripping member is moved into contact with the film.

Claim 5

A film clamp, as defined in claim 1, wherein said advancing means includes an endless belt.

Claim 6

A film clamp, as defined in claim 4, wherein said first gripping member is movable into contact with said belt to grip said film.

Claim 7

A film clamp, as defined in claim 4, wherein said platen comprises a track which includes said working surface and has first and second edges at opposite sides of said surface.

Claim 8

A film clamp, as defined in claim 6, wherein said film is moved against said first edge by the action of said first gripping member.

Claim 9

A film clamp, as defined in claim 7, wherein said film is tensioned in the direction of said second edge when said second gripping member is moved into contact with said film.

Claim 10

A film clamp, as defined in claim 4, wherein said track includes inclined portions at opposite ends thereof.

Claim 11

A film clamp, as defined in claim 4, wherein said belt is disposed to have a wrap on a film held between said belt and said platen.

Claim 12

A film clamp comprising: a platen having a flat working surface and an aperture in said flat working surface, said aperture having a first side and a second side; means for advancing a film relative to said platen; a first gripping member sized, shaped, and positioned to extend along said first side of said aperture and to grip a film between said platen and said first gripping member; a second gripping member sized, shaped, and positioned to extend along said second side of said aperture and to grip the film between said platen and said second gripping member; and means for pressing said first gripping member generally perpendicularly toward said platen and said second gripping member toward said platen and away from said first gripping member whereby one edge of the film can be held in position by said first gripping member and a second edge of the film is pushed down on said platen and away from said first gripping member.

Claim 13

A film clamp comprising: a platen having a flat working surface and an aperture in said flat working surface, said aperture having a first side and a second side; means for advancing a film relative to said platen; a first gripping member sized, shaped, and positioned to extend along said first side of said aperture and to grip a film between said platen and said first gripping member; a second gripping member sized, shaped, and positioned to extend along said second side of said aperture and to grip the film between said platen and said second gripping member; and means for pressing said first gripping member generally perpendicularly toward said platen and said second gripping member toward said platen and away from said first gripping member whereby one edge of the film can be held in position by said first gripping member and a second edge of the film is pushed down on said platen and away from said first gripping member.

Claim 14

A film clamp, as defined in claim 11, wherein said pressing means presses said first and second gripping members resiliently toward said platen.

Claim 15

A film clamp, as defined in claim 12, wherein said pressing means comprises an arm to which each of said first and second gripping members is attached.

Claim 16

A film clamp, as defined in claim 11, wherein said arm is made out of beryllium copper.

Claim 17

A film clamp, as defined in claim 12, wherein said pressing means comprises two arms, each of said first and second gripping members being attached to both of said two arms.

Claim 18

A film clamp, as defined in claim 11, wherein said pressing means comprises an arm to which each of said first and second gripping members is attached.

Claim 19

A film clamp, as defined in claim 11, wherein said pressing means comprises two arms, each of said first and second gripping members being attached to both of said two arms.

Claim 20

A film clamp, as defined in claim 11, wherein said second gripping member makes substantially line contact with the film.

Claim 21

A film clamp, as defined in claim 11, wherein said second gripping member is pressed toward said platen and away from said first gripping member after said first gripping member has gripped the film.

Claim 22

A film clamp, as defined in claim 11, wherein said pressing means comprises two arms, each of said first and second gripping members being attached to both of said two arms, and said pressing means further comprises a bell crank for pressing against said two arms.

Claim 23

A film clamp, as defined in claim 20, wherein said pressing means further comprises an actuator that bears against said bell crank.

Claim 24

A film clamp, as defined in claim 20, wherein each of said two arms is resilient.

Claim 25

A film clamp, as defined in claim 20, wherein each of said two arms is made out of beryllium copper.

Claim 26

A film clamp comprising: a platen having a surface for receiving a strip of film thereon; first gripping means mounted for movement between one position in which the film can be advanced on the platen and a second position in which the film is secured in a desired position on said platen, said first gripping means including means for moving said film in a first direction when the first gripping means is moved from said first position to said second position; second gripping means mounted for movement between one position in which the film can be advanced on the platen and another position in which the film is secured in said desired position on the platen, said second gripping means including means for tensioning said film in a direction opposite to said first direction when the second gripping means is moved from said one position to said other position; and means for moving said first gripping means between said first and second positions and said second gripping means between said one and other positions.

Claim 27

A film clamp comprising: a platen having a surface for receiving a strip of film thereon; first gripping means mounted for movement between one position in which the film can be advanced on the platen and a second position in which the film is secured in a desired position on said platen, said first gripping means including means for moving said film in a first direction when the first gripping means is moved from said first position to said second position; second gripping means mounted for movement between one position in which the film can be advanced on the platen and another position in which the film is secured in said desired position on the platen, said second gripping means including means for tensioning said film in a direction opposite to said first direction when the second gripping means is moved from said one position to said other position; and means for moving said first gripping means between said first and second positions and said second gripping means between said one and other positions.

Claim 28

A film clamp, as defined in claim 24, wherein the clamp includes means for advancing the film on said platen.

Claim 29

A film clamp, as defined in claim 25, wherein said first gripping means cooperates with said advancing means to secure the film in said desired position.