Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
84027
This invention relates to web loading devices and more
particularly to pre-loaded cassettes for loading a web into a
machine.
This application is a division of Canadian application
serial No. 301,250 filed April 17, 1978.
One example of a machine using pre-loaded cassettes
for loading a web is found in a co-pending application entitled
"Automatic Microfilm Camera", serial No. 308,334, filed July 28,
1978 by Donald Axelrod and J. Robert Flint, inventor, and
assigned to the assignee of this application.
The invention finds utility whenever it is necessary
or desirable to load and transport a web which may be exhausted.
Therefore, it is not necessarily limited to use in cameras or
any other particular device; however, it is actually used in the
structure shown and described in the above-identified co-pending
application. Accordingly reference may be had to that
application for more details concerning the utilization of the
invention. To facilitate the comparison, some of the reference
numerals used herein are the same as those used in the co-
pending application.
In general, as used herein, a cartridge is a shell,housing, or other device containing a web. The cartridge may be
a supply cartridge, in which case it contains a fresh web supply
(such as unexposed film, for example). The cartridge may also
be a take-up cartridge, in which case it contains a web which
has been drawn from the supply and at least partially processed
(such as exposed, but undeveloped film, for example). A
cassette is a device having both a supply and a take-up in a
single unit. According to this terminology, the invention
provides a cassette having a supply and a take-up cartridge
mounted thereon. When the supply is exhausted, the take-up
cartridge is removed from the cassette, the former supply
cartridge is moved to the take-up position on the cassette and a
new supply cartridge is mounted on the cassette.
f~ -1-
i~84027
There are several problems connecte~ with weh cassctte
and cartridge loaded devices. First, a disposable cassette or
cartridge should be so inexpensive that it does not add any
significant costs to the web material loaded into it. Second,
the web must feed evenly with uniform tension and without
snagging, jamming, bagging, or breaking. Third, it should be
easy to load and unload the cassette or cartridge into the
machine for using the web material. ~ourth, tlle interfacc
between the cassette or cartridge and its associated machine
must be quite reliable so that there is no mechanical
misalignment or malfunction.
Generally, the prior art has provided a large variety
of cassettes or cartridges; however, they have tended to fail to
solve all of the above-identified problems in a satis~actory
manner.
Yet another problem has centered about the security of
the web. For example, if the web is unexposed or undeveloped
film, it is essential that the cassettes or cartridges are
absolutely light-tight.
Accordingly, the general object of the inventiol- is to
provide new and improved web cassettes and cartridges.
In this divisional application, the invention pertains
to a light-tight cartridge for either containing, supporting and
supplying unexposed film or for taking up, supporting and
containing exposed film responsive to a demand for delivery of
film by a camera containing the cartri~.ge. The cartri~ge
includes an integrally molded structure forming a light-tight
enclosure defined by two relatively large side panels having
surfaces held in a spaced parallel relationship by at least one
closed wall which is upstanding upon and projecting outwardly
from one of the side panels. Means are formed around the
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Jl~,
108402~7
perimeter of the other of the side panels for light-sealing
against the outwardly projecting edges of the upstanding walls
to form a light-tight seal between the perimeter and the
projecting edges. Means associated with the one side panel are
provided for rotatably receiving a wound coil of film within the
light-tight enclosure, the axis of the received coil being
generally perpendicular to the surface of the OIIC side yanel.
A slot is formed in the upstanding wall at a position which
enables the rotatably mounted film to be drawn from or into the
cartridge responsive to the film delivery demand by the camera.
Light-sealing means at the slot enable a passage of the film
while precluding passage of light through the slot. Means
formed on the outside of the cartridge enables the cartridge to
be supported in either a film supply position or a film take-up
position within the camera, whereby a cartridge loaded with
unexposed film may be positioned at a supply position within the
camera until the film loaded into the cartridge is substantially
exhausted and then the exhausted cartridge may be moved to a
take-up position in the camera for receiving exposed film after
it is drawn from a freshly loaded cartridge in the supply
position.
Such a cartridge may be mounted on a cassette for use
in a camera wherein at least one of the large side panels
extends slightly beyond the closed wall thereby forming
projecting lip edges adapted to be captured by cooperating
fasteners when mounted on the cassette. The at least OllC o thc
large side panels is shaped in its central re~ion to form an
- opening which is in register with an opening on the cassette
when said lip edges are captured on the cassette. Reel means
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iO840*7
inside the cartridqe receive and support the length of film, and
coupler means are formed on the reel and register with the
opening in the cartridge.
The nature of a preferred embodiment of the invention
may be understood best from a study of the attached drawings
wherein:
Fig. 1 shows an exemplary web cassette and associated -
parts of a machine for processing a web contained in the
machine;
Fig. 2 is a plan view of a cassette embodying the
invèntion;
Fig. 3 is an end view of the cassette of Fig. 2 taken
along the line 3 - 3 thereof, appearing with Figs. 1, 4 and 5;
Fig. 4 is a cross section view of a first embodiment
of the inventive cartridge, taken along line 4 - 4 of Fig. 2,
appearing with Figs. 1, 3 and 5; and
Fig. 5 is a similar cross section view of a second
embodiment of the cartridge, appearing with Figs. 1, 3 and 4.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the inventive web
cassette as used in conjunction with an associated machine. In
this particular example, the associated machine is a microfilm
camera, reader, or reader/printer described in the above-
identified co-pending application. However, any other suitable
machine may also be used.
~ his web transport means includes a cassette 34
carrying a preloaded cartridge containing a supply of the
web following a path which emerges from the supply cartridge
and then re-enters another take-up cartridge. The associatcd
machine is operated responsive to an insertion of the
cassette to engage the emerging web and to drive it past a
iO84027
format area or other web utilization station.
The major components in the web transport mechanism of
the machine are a cassette receptacle and guideway 24, a pair of
V-tooth couplings 110, 112, 114, 116, an AC motor 118, a capstan
120, pressure wheel 122, and a web transport speed detector 124.
The machine stops prior to an insertion of the cassette. Then
the guideway 24 swings in direction F on a pair of pivots (one
of which is seen at 126) for loading and in direction G for
operatiDn of the machine. The supply cartridge containing a
full reel of the web material 42 is associated with V-tooth
coupler 112 and the take-up cartridge containing an empt~ reel
is associated with coupler 110. When the cassette guide 24 is
swung in direction G to the operating position coupler 110
meshes with coupler 114 and coupler 112 meshes witl~ coupler 116.
At the time when the cassette 34 is loaded into the
receptacle and guideway 24, the web transport mechanism is
stopped and a pressure plate 127 and pressure plate carrier 128
are standing open. Also, pressure wheel 122 is moved away from
capstan 120. Therefore, as carrier 24 swings in direction G,
web 42 slips sideways under the pressure plate 127 and between
the capstan 120 and pressure roller 122.
The positions of parts 127, 128 are controlled by a
cam 130 which is contoured so that they are standing open while
the web 42 is moving so that it will not be scratched.
More specifically, when the web, in this particular
example, is being transported, the motor 118 takes one complete
revolution after each function performed on the web. During
a first 180 of that revolution, the capstan 120 is driven
to advance the web 42 one frame length, and the pressure
plate carrier 128 and pressure plate 127 are moved to the
open positions. During the second 180 of that r~volution,
the capstan 120 and web 42 remain stationary while cam 130
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1~84027
,
rotates. At this time, the pressure plate carrier 128 moves to
the closed position. The spring biased, floating pressure plate
127 holds the web 42 flat, in t~ format area. Therefore, as
each function is performed on the web, the cam 130 rotates
through the first 180, to close the pressure plate carrier 128
responsive to the urging of spring 138. A solenoid (not shown)
causes pressure roller 122 to push the web 42 against capstan
120.
The V-notch coupler 116 is connected to a web speed
detector 124 which generates a signal for giving a low film
signal. More specifically, attached to, and turning with, the
web supply side, V-tooth coupler 116 is a transparent disc 140,
with a plurality of marks 142 radially formed thereon. A light
source and photocell combination 144 generates a pulse each time
that a markl42 passes therebetween, to cut the light falling on
the photocell. As the supply reel becomes exhausted, it
experiences a greater angular excursion for each web advance.
Therefore, a greater number of pulses are generated by the
photocell 144 response to each web advance. When a
predetermined number of pulses are generate responsive to each
web advance, a suitable end of web signal is given.
The cassette comprises a plate 200 having a generally
L-shaped cross section. The short leg 202 of the L-shaped
cross section has a handle 204 attached thereto. The long leg
of the L-shaped cross section is a tray 204 which is divided
in half by a central wall or stop member 206. As viewed in
Fig. 2, the right-hand side of the tray 204 carries a supply
cartridge 208 and the left-hand side carries a take-up
cartridge 210. The cartridges terminate at their tops and
bottoms in outstanding lips or edges 212, 214. Complimentary
slide rails 216, 218 are formed on the tray 204 for capturing
each of these lips when the cartridges 208, 210 slide
sideways onto the tray. These slide rails preferably have an
L-shaped cross section formed on tray 204. A double-ended
-' 1084027
leaf spring 220 attached to ccllter wal 20~ tcrmillates in ~'-
shaped de~ents cr bends 222, 22~ which s..ap into complir~entaLy
recesscs 226, 228 molded into the cartridc3e walls. I~Jhen the
cartridges are slipped into their operatinc3 position, the
~etellts 222, 224 snap into the recesses, and capture and
hold tlle cartridqes in their operatiny pOsitiOIl.
Dependent from and supported by the tray 204 are
a pair of guides or rollers 230, 232 for guidin~ and directing
the web 42 from the supply cartridge 208 to the take-up
cartridge 210. As supplied by the manufacturer, the web 42
is wo~nd on a supply reel 211 in supply cartridge 208 and the
end of the web 42 projects outwardly through a slot 234.
When the web is a film, slot 234 is sealed by a suitable light
sealing material 236, as here shown, by way of example.
Accordingly, the end of the web 42 is pulled over guide
rollers 232, 230, fed through slot 238 in cartridge 210, and
into a capture slot 240 in the hub of take-up reel 242. A
similar capture slot 244 is also formed in the hub of the
supply reel 211.
To facilitate the threading of the film into the
take-up cartridge 210, it is made as seen in Figs. 3 and 4.
In grezter detail, the cartridges 208, 210 are each a molded
plastic box having a top integrally molded therewith. A
thin part 246 at one edge of the box forms a hinge between
the box and its top. All of the o-ther three edges of the
box and top have beaded channels 248 molded therein so
that the cover snaps in place. Thus, the cover may be
opened when the film led over roller 230 is connected to the
take-up reel 242.
~ hole 250 is formed in one side of each cartridge,
and also correspondin~ holes are formed in cassette plate 204
to enable an et-try of a web drive couplillc~. In order to
~ 10840Z7
provide a light seal between hole 250 and the film, opposed
upstanding annuluses 252, 254 are molded in the cartridge walls.
Mating annular recesses are molded into the reel. Therefore,
there is no direct path for light to either pass or be
reflected. The annuluses and recesses also form hub areas for
supporting the reel 211.
The hub area 262 of the reel 211 has one half 110 of
the V-tooth coupler molded therein. Therefore, when the
cartridge carrier of Fig. 1 is swung in direction G, to a seated
position, the other half 114 of the V-tooth coupler enters hole
250 and engages coupler 110.
! The reel of Fig. 4 is a preferred reel for the web
transport system disclosed herein. However, many industries
have standardized on certain reel configurations 266 (Fig. 5).
Therefore, there may be occasions when it is necessary or
desirable to use these standardized reels 266, which often have
square holes or openings in the hub area to be mounted on square
posts in the associated machines. It is difficult to fit these
reels on the posts since the keyed hole or opening and shaft
must be perfectly aligned, and they tend to inadvertently turn.
According to the invention, a separate adapter or
piece part 268 is provided in the form of a shaft 270 having a
disc 272 integral with one end thereof and generally
perpendicular to said shaft. The shaft 270 has a generally
square (or other suitable shaped) cross section to fit into the
corresponding hole or opening in the standard reel 266. The
side of the disc 272 which is opposite the shaft contains V-
teeth so that it may be fitted into the mating coupler 114
(Fig. 1). The side of the disc 272 which includes the V-tooth
coupler has an annular recess, for receiving said upstanding
annulus 252.
The springs 160, 162 (Fig. 1) load the couplers 114,
116 in order to compensate for minor variances caused by
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manufacturing tolerances.
Those who are skilled in the art will readily perceive
how the invention may be modified. Therefore, the appended
claims are to be construed to cover all equivalent structures.
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