US3554462A

US3554462A - Cartridge

Info

Publication number: US3554462A
Application number: US731561A
Authority: US
Inventors: John J Bundschuh
Original assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
Current assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
Priority date: 1968-05-23
Filing date: 1968-05-23
Publication date: 1971-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 1988-01-12
Also published as: CH501939A; AT297491B; DE1916642A1; FR2009198A1; DE1916642B2; GB1267055A

Abstract

A cartridge adapted to contain a standard reel of processed motion picture film or other strip material has two cartridge parts, each of which includes a circular sidewall and a semicircular edge-wall extending perpendicularly from and about a peripheral portion of the sidewall. The parts fit together in mating relationship with the sidewall of one part being received in a groove defined by the edge-wall of the other part, to form the chamber for the reel of film or other strip material.

Description

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,190,577 6/1965 Allen et al. 3,346,210 10/1967 Carstensen et a1. 3,454,961 7/1969 Tatter...........................

Primary ExaminerGeorge F. Mautz Attorneys-Robert W. Hampton and James A. Smith United States Patent [72] lnventor JohnJ.Bunclschuh Penfield, N .Y.

[21] Appl.N0 731,561

[22] Filed May23,l968

[45] Patented Jar-12,1971

[73] Assignee Eastman Kodak Company Rochester, N.Y. a corporation of New Jersey parts fit p with the sidewall of one part efined by the edge-wall of the to form the chamber for the reel of film or other strip material.

pted to contain a standard reel of d motion picture film or other strip material has two cartridge parts, each of which includes a circular sidewall and wall extending perpendicularly from and portion of the sidewall. The

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ATTORNEYS CARTRIDGE CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Reference is made to commonly assigned copending U.S. Pat. Application Ser. No. 685,588, entitled CARTRIDGE, filed Nov. 24, 1967 in the name of John J. Bundschuh, now abandoned; Ser. No.73l,562, entitled CARTRIDGE AND MEANS FOR LOCATING A CARTRIDGE ON A PROJEC- TOR OR THE LIKE, filed May 23, I968 in the name of John J. Bundschuh; Ser. No. 685,6l6, entitled CINEMATO GRAPHIC PROJECTORS OR THE LIKE, filed Nov. 24, I967 in the name of John J. Bundschuh et al.; and Ser. No. 692,815, entitled CARTRIDGE AND REEL SUPPORT MEANS FOR CARTRIDGE-LOADING MOTION PICTURE PROJECT ORS, filed Dec. 22, 1967 in the name of Robert J. Roman, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a cartridge adapted to receive a roll of strip material, and, more particularly, to a two-piece cartridge adapted to removably contain a roll of processed motion picture film or the like.

Two-piece cartridges are known which are adapted to contain a standard reel of processed motion picture film and to be latched to a cartridge-loading motion picture projector. A cartridge of this type is disclosed, for example, in commonly assigned copending U.S. Pat. Application Ser. No. 685,588, entitled CARTRIDGE, filed Nov. 24, 1967, in the name of John J. Bundschuh, now abandoned. However, previous cartridges of this type have been designed to contain relatively small reels of film, particularly reels for 50 or I feet of film and, while satisfactory in these smaller sizes, they lack the structural rigidity desirable in larger size cartridges, such as cartridges for 200-400 feet of film. Absent such structural rigidity, the spindle and film-exit openings of previously known cartridges in the larger sizes cannot be accurately located on the projector. Moreover, flexing or distortion in larger cartridges of previously known types often renders their hinge and/or latching members ineffective and thereby permits the larger cartridges to open whenever subjected to accident, abuse or mishandling. The effects of this lack of structural rigidity may be further aggravated when the larger cartridges are provided with universal aligning means, such as a single-rib aligning means of the type disclosed in commonly assigned copending U.S. Pat. Application Ser. No. 731,562, entitled CARTRIDGE AND MEANS FOR LOCATING A CARTRIDGE ON A PROJECTOR OR THE LIKE, filed May 23, 1968, in the name of John J. Bundschuh. With such aligning means, the cartridge must be sufficiently rigid to assure that openings in the cartridge for the projector spindle and film exit are accurately located with respect to the cartridge aligning rib.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a cartridge construction which will be structurally rigid whether manufactured in smaller sizes (e.g., for film rolls containing 50l00 feet of film) or larger sizes (e.g., for film rolls containing 200- 400 feet of film).

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the cartridge comprises first and second separable cartridge parts, each of which includes a circular sidewall, and an edge-wall in the form of a semicircular band extending perpendicularly from and about the periphery of the sidewall. The edge-wall of each part defines a recess into which the sidewall of the other part extends when the cartridge is in the closed position In a preferred embodiment, the edge-walls of each part define means at one end of each edge-wall for pivotally connecting the parts and at the other end of each edge-wall for latchablyconnecting the parts so the cartridge parts can and latched in the closed position.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of an illustrative preferred embodiment of the invention.

be pivoted to BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a structure representing part of a cartridge-loading motion picture projector or the like and a cartridge therefor in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating means for retaining and orienting the cartridge on the projector.

FIG. 2 is a plan view depicting the cartridge of FIG. 1 with one part removed, showing the other part with a standard reel of motion picture film contained therein.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of the cartridge of FIG. 1 taken along line 3-3 of FIG. I, illustrating openings in the bottom of the cartridge adapted to receive means for engaging and removing film from the cartridge.

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the cartridge of FIG. 1 taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1, showing the manner in which the sidewall of one cartridge part fits within a groove in the edge-wall of the other cartridge part when the cartridge is closed.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view depicting a cartridge in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, showing the two cartridge parts and the manner in which they enclose a standard reel of motion picture film.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. I, a structure 10 is disclosed representing part of a cartridge-loading motion picture projector or the like. Portions of the projector not illustrated on FIG. I may be of any suitable construction, such as the projector described and illustrated in commonly assigned copending U.S. Pat. Application Ser. No. 685,616, entitled CINEMATOGRAPHIC PROJECTORS OR THE LIKE, filed Nov. 24, 1967, in the name of John J. Bundschuh et al. The structure illustrated in FIG.'l comprises means for receiving, aligning and latching cartridges of various sizes and shapes to a motion picture projector, and is described more fully in commonly assigned copending U.S. application Ser. No. 73 l ,562, entitled CARTRIDGE AND MEANS FOR LOCATING A CARTRIDGE ON A PROJEC- TOR OR THE LIKE, filed May 23, 1968, ,in the name of John J. Bundschuh. Generally, however, the projector structure shown comprises a vertical wall 12, defining a front surface of the projector, and a horizontal wall 14, extending from the upper portion of the vertical wall, and defining a top surface of the projector.

A rotatable spindle 16, is adapted to be extended and retracted through an elongate oblong opening 18 in wall '12, by an operating lever 20 which projects through a slot 22 in wall 14. The spindle may be extended through the opening for engaging and supporting a standard reel of motion picture'film in a cartridge positioned against wall 12, or the spindle may be retracted as shown in FIG. 1 to permit slot loading of the'cartridge by movement of the cartridge in a direction perpendicular to the axis of spindle I6. The mechanism for mounting-the spindle for axial movement may be of any suitable construction, including the construction described in commonly assigned copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 685,588,entitled CARTRIDGE, filed Nov. 24, 1967, in the name of John-.I. Bundschuh, now abandoned.

Spindle 16 is also preferably mounted for movement along an arcuate path such that the spindle can be located either adjacent the upper end of the opening 18 as shown in FIG. 1 or adjacent the lower end portion thereof. This arcuate movement permits the use of a single spindle for supporting reels of film in cartridges having their axes located at various elevations with respect to the wall 12. The mechanism for mounting the spindle for arcuate movement may be of any suitable construction including the construction described in commonly assigned copending U.S. Pat. Application Ser. No. 692,815, entitled CARTRIDGE AND REEL SUPPORT MEANS FOR CARTRIDGE-LOADING MOTION PICTURE PROJEC- TORS, filed Dec. 22, 1967, in the name of Robert J. Roman.

At the lower portion of wall 12 there is a chamber 30 formed by

plates

32, 34 and 35,

end members

36 and 38, and a cover or closure member 40. The bottom of the chamber 30 is defined by a wall 46 having an opening 48 therein. Opening 48 also extends through the

side members

36 and 38 to permit passage of film-stripping means through the slot as described more fully in previously-mentioned application Ser. No. 685,616.

The side edges of plate 35 are spaced from the adjacent side edges of

plates

32 and 34 to form two parallel grooves or recesses 50 and 52. These grooves or recesses are open at the top as illustrated in the drawings so that the cartridge can be moved downwardly along wall 12 during mounting of the cartridge on the projector.

A positioning and latch member 60 is movable lengthwise in a slot or opening 62 formed in plate 32. The location of slot 62 is such that the member 60 is slidable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the recess orgroove 50 and is positioned adjacent the upper end of this groove or recess. Member 60 has a tapered end portion 63 which is adapted to project from the slot 62 and into a position over the groove or recess 50 to block upward movement of the cartridge but to permit downward movement of the cartridge along wall 12- and groove or recesses 50 and 52. As explained more fully hereinafter, the member 60 is also adapted to establish the vertical position of a cartridge with respect to the wall 12 of the projector. Member 60 is connected to a lever 64 by a pivot pin 66 and lever 64 is pivoted at 68 so that the lever and member 60 can be moved by finger pressure to a retracted position to release the cartridge from the projector. The lever and member 60 are biased toward the position, shown by a spring 69.

The projector is preferably provided with suitable means for biasing a cartridge upwardly from wall 46 toward the member 60 to establish and maintain the cartridge in the desired vertical position with respect to spindle 16. As illustrated in the drawings, this may be effected by means of a leaf spring 74 which projects out of and extends above a recess 76 formed in bottom wall 46. During movement of a cartridge into the chamber 30 the spring may be deflected downwardly until it is substantially fully contained within the recess 76. However, when the cartridge. is released the spring 74 acts to bias the cartridge upwardly for proper alignment of the member 60 with a portion of the cartridge in a manner explained more fully hereinafter.

A pair of spacedlatching and locating members are indicated at 78 and 80. These members include upwardly projecting portions-which are spaced from the outer surface of

plates

32 and 34 by a distance sufficient to permit them to enter an opening in the lower part of the cartridge as described more fully hereinafter. These members function to hold the lower portion of the cartridge in proper location with respect to the wall 12 of the projector and to prevent movement of the lower portion of the cartridgeaway from the wall.

A cartridge adapted to receive a reel containing approximately 400 feet of film is generally designated 90 in FIG. 1. The cartridge illustrated is generally of the type described in the before-mentioned copending Pat. Application Ser. No. 685,588, and comprises a face generally designated 92 which is adapted to abut or be in close-fitting relation with the wall 12 and

plates

32, 34 and 35 of the projector when the cartridge is properly mounted on the projector. As is apparent from FIG. 1, the lower and side portions of the cartridge are shaped and dimensioned so that these portions of the cartridge can be received within and fit snugly within the chamber 30 on the projector. More specifically, the cartridge has a lower edge 94 which is adapted to fit along the bottom wall 46 forming the chamber 30. The cartridge is open at the bottom so that the latching and positioning members 78 and 80 can fit about the bottom edge 94 of the cartridge to prevent outward movement of the bottom of the cartridge with respect to wall 12. Also, the cartridge has slots through the lower side and bottom portions thereof. indicated at 96, so that the filinstripping mechanism previously mentioned can enter the cartridge.

A pair of spaced

elongate ribs

100 and 102 extend along face 92 of the cartridge from the lower end thereof upwardly to approximately midway along the cartridge. These ribs are substantially parallel to each other and are positioned such that they may be received within the grooves or recesses 50 and 52, respectively, formed in the wall 12 of the projector. Rib 100 comprises a lower portion 100a and an upper portion 100b separated by a gap 104 which gap islocated along rib 100 so that when the rib is positioned within recess 50 the end portion 63 of member 60 can be received in the gap. Since leaf spring 74 biases the cartridge upwardly and thereby biases the upper end of rib portion 100a into contact with the lower edge of member 60, member 60 and rib portion 100a determine the vertical position of the cartridge with respect to surface 12. The projector spindle 16 is adapted to extend through an opening 106 in the cartridge, and into the central core or hub portion 108 of a reel carried within the cartridge, to rotatably support the reel within the cartridge.

In order to assemble or mount the cartridge on structure 10, lever 22 is moved to the position illustrated in FIG. 1 to retract spindle 16, and lever 64 is moved to the right to retract member 60. The cartridge 90 is then positioned above chamber 30 with face 92 of the cartridge against or in close proximity to the wall 12 of the projector, and is moved downwardly until the lower portions of the cartridge are received within the chamber 30. As this movement occursthe ribs and 102 enter and move along the grooves -50 and 52, respectively, until the cartridge is bottomed in the recess, whereupon the end lever 64 is released and spring 69 moves end portion 63 of member 60 into the gap 104 between the two separate portions of rib 100. Spring 74 contacts the lower edge 94 of the cartridge and biases the cartridge upwardly, against member 60 to accurately position the cartridge against said member. Movement of the cartridge into chamber 30 also trips a lever 109 in the manner described in the before-mentioned US. Pat. Application Ser. No. 685,588 to release spindle 16 from its retracted position, whereupon the spindle automatically enters hub 108 of the reel.

The cartridge may be removed from the projector by moving lever 20 to the position illustrated in FIG. 1 to thereby retract spindle 16, by moving lever 64 to the right (as viewed in FIG. 1) to retract member 60, and then by lifting the cartridge to withdraw it from chamber 30.

Referring now in more detail to features of the present invention, and in particular to FIGS. 2-5, cartridge 90 comprises first and second cartridge members in the form of pieces or

parts

201 and 203, respectively. Parts 20] and 203 are structurally similar except the lower portion 204 of the second part 203 includes previously mentioned means adapted to receive and guide a stripper for engaging and removing film from the cartridge. Further, the cartridge parts differ in their

respective means

205, 207, 209 and 211 for pivoting or latching the cartridge parts together. However, since these features are disclosed and claimed in the forementioned prior applications, they will not be described here.

Since further features of the cartridge to be described hereinafter are similar for both parts, similar reference characters will be applied to each ofthe parts, with the letter a on the drawings denoting the first part and the letter b on the drawings denoting the second part. Moreover, both parts will be described concurrently by reference to general reference characters only, absent the letter a or b denoting a specific part on the drawings.

Each cartridge part includes a sidewall in the form of a circular plate or disc 213 and an edge-wall disclosed as a semiannular band or cylindrical member 215 which extends perpendicularly from one side of the sidewall along the periphery or outer circumference thereof. In the embodiment disclosed, each part is formed by molding a sidewall and an edge-wall as a single integral part. However, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art'that other methods of forming and adjoining the side and edge-walls can be employed without departing from the present invention.

Referring now to the sidewall, disc 213 comprises an opening 106 concentric with the outer circumference of the disc which is adapted to loosely receive spindle 16 of the projector as previously described. The outer circumference of disc 213 includes two portions 217 and 219, each of which is diametrically opposed to the ther and each: of which subtends an angle of approximately 180. Portion 217 has edge-wall 215 integrally secured thereto. Portion 219, on the other hand, defines an exposed edge having a stepped configuration including arcuate surfaces in the form of

shoulders

221 and 223. Shoulder 221 has a diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of band 215, while shoulder. 223 has a greater diameter and is of a lesser thickness than wall 213, thus defining the stepped configuration with shoulder 221. As will be described more fully hereinafter in connection with band 215, these shoulders of one cartridge part are adapted to engage and mate with corresponding lips on the band of the other cartridge part.

Referring now to the edge-wall, band 215 comprises a semiannular groove 225 defined by

lips

227 and 229 which extend radially inwardly from band 215 along the side thereof opposite from sidewall 213. The diameter to the bottom of groove 225 is slightly greater than the diameter of shoulder 223,-while the diameter to the top of lip 227 is slightly greater than the diameter of shoulder 221, such that the

shoulders

221 and 223 will mate with lip 227 and the bottom of groove 225 respectively to form a seal when the cartridge is in the closed position.

Between disc 213 of one cartridge part and groove 225 of the same part there is an annular rib 231 adapted to fit between the flanges 233 of a reel to be contained in the cartridge. Rib 231 prevents clockspringing of film from reel 233 and also prevents improper insertion of the reel into the cartridge, as is described and illustrated more fully in previously mentioned U.S. Pat. Application Ser. No. 685,588.

Referring now to the manner in which the cartridge can be assembled to enclose a standard reel of motion picture film, latching or pivoting means 207 and 211 can be mutually engaged to form a hinge about which the cartridge parts can be swung into the closed position. As the cartridge is closed, surface 223 of each sidewall enters groove 225 of the opposite edge-wall to properly guide the cartridge parts to their closed position. As the parts reach the closed position latch means 205 and 209 are engaged to maintain the cartridge in said closed position. Moreover, surfaces 221 and 223 of each part abut against the top of lip 227 and the bottom of groove 225, respectively, of the opposite part to form a seal between the parts.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof. but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinabove and as defined in the appended'claims.

I claim:

1. A cartridge mountable on a motion picture projector or the like having a spindle adapted to project into the cartridge. the cartridge being adapted to receive a roll of motion picture film or the like, the cartridge comprising: two separable cartridge parts each of which has a sidewall and an edge-wall, the edge-wall of each part beirig attached to and projecting from a first peripheral portion of the sidewall of that part in adirection generally toward the sidewall of the other cartridge part, each edge-wall having an elongate groove therein facing toward the other edge-wall, said grooves being separated from the edge portion of the respective edge-wall opposite from the respective sidewall by a thin lip, and a second peripheral portion of each sidewall comprising two shoulders jointly defining a stepped configuration with one of shoulders of each part fitting into the groove in the edge-wall of the other part and with the other shoulder of one part substantially abutting the lip on the edge-wall of the other cartridge part, thereby to form a seal between each sidewall and the edge-wall of the other cartridge part, and at least one sidewall having an openmg therethroug through which a PIOJCCIOI spindle can project for supporting a film roll within the cartridge.

2. A cartridge as set forth in claim 1 further comprising latch means on the edge-wall of each'cartridge part, said latch means of one cartridge part cooperating with said latch means on the other cartridge part for securing said parts together.

3. A cartridge as set forth in claim 1 further comprising at least one locating rib on one of said sidewalls for positioning thecartridge on a motion picture projector.

Claims

1. A cartridge mountable on a motion picture projector or the like having a spindle adapted to project into the cartridge, the cartridge being adapted to receive a roll of motion picture film or the like, the cartridge comprising: two separable cartridge parts each of which has a sidewall and an edge-wall, the edgewall of each part being attached to and projecting from a first peripheral portion of the sidewall of that part in a direction generally toward the sidewall of the other cartridge part, each edge-wall having an elongate groove therein facing toward the other edge-wall, said grooves being separated from the edge portion of the respective edge-wall opposite from the respective sidewall by a thin lip, and a second peripheral portion of each sidewall comprising two shoulders jointly defining a stepped configuration with one of shoulders of each part fitting into the groove in the edge-wall of the other part and with the other shoulder of one part substantially abutting the lip on the edgewall of the other cartridge part, thereby to form a seal between each sidewall and the edge-wall of the other cartridge part, and at least one sidewall having an opening therethrough through which a projector spindle can project for supporting a film roll within the cartridge.

2. A cartridge as set forth in claim 1 further comprising latch means on the edge-wall of each cartridge part, said latch means of one cartridge part cooperating with said latch means on the other cartridge part for securing said parts together.

3. A cartridge as set forth in claim 1 further comprising at least one locating rib on one of said sidewalls for positioning the cartridge on a motion picture projector.