US3776438A - Film discriminating and winding apparatus - Google Patents

Film discriminating and winding apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
US3776438A
US3776438A US00253068A US3776438DA US3776438A US 3776438 A US3776438 A US 3776438A US 00253068 A US00253068 A US 00253068A US 3776438D A US3776438D A US 3776438DA US 3776438 A US3776438 A US 3776438A
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United States
Prior art keywords
film
reel
container
sensing
type
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00253068A
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English (en)
Inventor
W Calberg
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Eastman Kodak Co
Original Assignee
Eastman Kodak Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Eastman Kodak Co filed Critical Eastman Kodak Co
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Publication of US3776438A publication Critical patent/US3776438A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03D—APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING EXPOSED PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03D13/00—Processing apparatus or accessories therefor, not covered by groups G11B3/00 - G11B11/00
    • G03D13/003—Film feed or extraction in development apparatus
    • G03D13/005—Extraction out of a cassette and splicing of the film before feeding in a development apparatus
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T225/00—Severing by tearing or breaking
    • Y10T225/30—Breaking or tearing apparatus
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00—Metal working
    • Y10T29/53—Means to assemble or disassemble
    • Y10T29/53039—Means to assemble or disassemble with control means energized in response to activator stimulated by condition sensor
    • Y10T29/53061—Responsive to work or work-related machine element
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00—Metal working
    • Y10T29/53—Means to assemble or disassemble
    • Y10T29/53465—Film or tape cartridge

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A film discriminating and winding apparatus programmed to receive and condition film containers containing a predetermined type of film for the removal of film therefrom.
  • the apparatus is programmed in one instance by mounting a coded takeup reel thereon designed to receive film of a predetermined type, in another instance by mounting such a coded reel and manually positioning a corresponding selector-switch, or by a combination of the two.
  • the film containers such as cartridges are provided with film-identifying indicia identifying the type of film contained therein, and the apparatus provided with an indicia or film sensing mechanism for sensing the type of film.
  • the apparatus is enabled for operation, and when operated conditions the cartridge for the removal of film therefrom.
  • the removed film is fed through an operating station, such as a splicing station, and then onto the take-up reel of the reel winding apparatus.
  • the processor preferably initially sorts the cartridges into stacks, each containing one type of film requiring one kind of processing chemistry. Each of the stacks of cartridges is opened, and the filmstrips contained therein spliced together to form a continuous film of one type which is wound onto a master reel. When desired, each reel containing one type of film is mounted on a processing device having processing chemistry compatible with that type of film, and the film fed therethrough for processing.
  • the present invention is directed to a film discriminating and winding apparatus that solves the aforementioned and other problems by assuringthat only filmstrips of one film type are wound
  • a film discriminating and winding apparatus which, when loaded with a take-up reel coded with a distinguishing characteristic indicating a predetermined type of film to be wound thereon, automatically programs the apparatus, or provides a basis for manually programming the apparatus so that only film containers such as cartridges containing the predetermined type of film will be conditioned for film removal and winding of film onto the reel.
  • the film discriminating and winding apparatus has automatic or manually operated means responsive to the code on a take-up reel loaded in the apparatus for establishing a first condition corresponding to the film type represented by the code.
  • the apparatus is further provided with a cartridge conditioning means for conditioning a cartridge to permit removal of the film therefrom.
  • the apparatus further has a reading or sensing means for sensing the film type identifying indicia on each cartridge loaded into the cartridge conditioning means, and in response thereto establishing a second condition corresponding to the film type in the cartridge.
  • the apparatus is further provided with means responsive to the first and second conditions for enabling the cartridge conditioning means to condition a cartridge if the first and second conditions are established for the same type of film. 1
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a film discriminating and winding apparatus in which the mounting of a coded reel for accepting one type of film programs the apparatus to accept, for conditioning and removal of film therefrom, only cartridges containing the one type of film.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a film discriminating and winding apparatus that is of simple design and construction, thoroughly reliable and efficient in operation, and economical to manufacture.
  • FIG. 1 is a flow chart in block diagram form illustrating the flow of film through a film processing system in which a film discriminating and winding apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention is incorporated;
  • FIG. 2 is an electrical circuit diagram partially in schematic and block diagram form for the film discriminating and winding apparatus.
  • FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the reel sensing mechanism of the film discriminating and winding apparatus.
  • FIG. 1 of the drawings a flow sheet is illustrated of a film processing system in which the film discriminating and winding apparatus of this invention may be incorporated.
  • color film of varied types designated A, B, C, D, and E in light tight film containers such as cassettes or cartridges, arrives at the film processing plant, and the cartridges containing the same type of film are sorted into bins.
  • the exposed film, all of the same type is removed from each of the cartridges in a bin, and the leading end of each strip of film is spliced to the trailing end of a preceding strip which is wound onto a take-up reel to form a master reel.
  • the master reel of film is mountable on the input end of a photographic processing device having a processing chemistry that is compatible with the type of film on the master reel.
  • the exposed film is passed in sequence through a series of operation performing stations in the processing device, including developing, fixing, washing and drying stations.
  • the film processing device may operate continuously. After the film is processed, it is fed to a break-down work center where the film is inspected, severed and wound on separate customer reels for shipment to the customers.
  • the film discriminating and winding apparatus of this invention generally comprises a film container conditioning station having a conditioning mechanism of any known type in the art, and illustrated in block diagram form, for conditioning a container such as a cartridge, not shown, so that the film may be removed therefrom.
  • a conditioning mechanism may include a movable member such as a solenoid controlled pin, not shown, for piercing the cartridge and disabling the anti-backup clutch to permit the film to be stripped from the cartridge, or a rotatable cartridge breaking member, not shown, for breaking open the cartridge.
  • the leading end of the film removed from the cartridge may be automatically or manually fed by the operator through any suitable transport rollers, not shown, to an operating station such as a splicing station where the leading end is spliced to the trailing end of the previous filmstrip by any suitable film splicing mechanism, now shown.
  • a film sensing mechanism of any known type in the art is provided at the cartridge conditioning station for sensing filmidentifying indicia on each cartridge, and in response thereto establishing an electrical film signal or pulse output compatible with the type of film contained therein.
  • the film-identifying indicia provided on the cartridges is of a known type, normally comprising one or more notches, not shown, in a wall of the cartridge, differently arranged in number and spacing for each type of film.
  • the film sensing mechanism preferably comprises a fluidic sensor of known type in the art, not shown, movable into engagement with the cartridge for sensing the notches in the cartridge.
  • the jets of fluid emitted from the sensing head will generate back pressure in those areas where a notch is absent for closing one or more fluid operated switches.
  • the switches are coupled to any suitable signal or pulse generating circuit such as an oscillator or the like for establishing an electrical film signal or pulse output corresponding to the type of film being sensed.
  • the film discriminating and winding apparatus further has a film winding mechanism illustrated in FIG. 3, comprising a reel supporting spindle 12 mountable on the end of a shaft 14 joumaled for rotation in a housing 16 secured to a frame 18.
  • the spindle 12 has a key latch 20 for releasably holding a reel mounted thereon, and the shaft 14, spindle l2 and reel 10 are rotatably driven by any suitable drive mechanism, not shown. Since color film comes in a variety of types designated A to E requiring difierent processing chemistry, the reels 10 are coded or provided with a distinguishing characteristic to clearly indicate the type of film to be wound thereon.
  • the reel code comprises a laterally extending annular ring 22 on reel 10 of one diameter for one type of film, a similar ring 24 of a different diameter on a reel 10 for a different type of film, and the complete absence of a ring on a reel 10 for still another type of film.
  • rings 22,24 of different diameter any number of the rings of varying diameter may be used. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other coding arrangements such as the presence or absence of other surfaces on the reel or even optical or magnetic coding may be utilized, and that the disclosed coding structure is intended to be exemplary only.
  • a reel sensing mechanism (FIG. 3) is mounted adjacent spindle 12 for sensing the reel code when a reel is mounted thereon.
  • the reel sensing mechanism comprises a plurality of follower levers 26, one for each code ring, pivotally mounted at 28, and normally urged by a spring 30 in a clockwise direction with the movement thereof limited by an adjustable stop pin 32 engaging frame 18.
  • One end of each lever 26 rotatably supports a roller 34 ridable on a corresponding ring, and the opposite end thereof has a cam surface 36 adapted to engage an actuator arm 38 of a corresponding microswitch such as S or S for opening and closing the switch.
  • the reel sensing mechanism responds to the ring, closing normally open corresponding microswitch S, coupled through any suitable machine logic or control circuit comprising an electrical pulse generating circuit for generating an electrical reel pulse or signal to be fed into a corresponding AND gate, as best seen in FIG. 2.
  • any suitable machine logic or control circuit comprising an electrical pulse generating circuit for generating an electrical reel pulse or signal to be fed into a corresponding AND gate, as best seen in FIG. 2.
  • the cam actuated microswitches such as S, and S remain in their normally open condition, and the operator manually moves a selector switch 8;, (FIG. 2) to a desired position corresponding to the visually known reel code for establishing an electrical circuit and generating a reel signal.
  • the selector switch 8 may be used in conjunction with any type of coded reel to increase the number of different types of color films that may be handled by the apparatus over and above the number of different distinguishing characteristics such as rings available on reels.
  • selector switch S is used in conjunction with a reel not having a ring, but having some known code such as a color or printed code, to permit programming the apparatus to select any one of a plurality of film types, shown as C, D and E.
  • the selector switch 8 comprises a manually movable contact 40 electrically engageable with one of a plurality of fixed contacts 42, 44 and 46 electrically connected to corresponding signal producing circuits such as oscillators whose reel signal outputs C, D and E are connected to corresponding AND gates C, D and E respectively. Accordingly, when a reel 10 not having a ring is mounted on spindle l2, levers 26, due to springs 30, are in engagement frame 18 and microswitches such as S, and S are in their normally open position.
  • selector-switch 40 The operator manually moves selector-switch 40 from its off position to the desired type of film visually observed on an annunciator corresponding to the known coded reel, and such action electrically connects a corresponding reel signal to the AND gate corresponding to the desired type of film. Accordingly, establishing an electrical circuit by positioning selectorswitch S or by mounting a reel having a ring thereon, programs the apparatus so that the cartridge conditioning mechanism, which requires a signal from an AND gate, will be enabled for operation only when a cartridge is positioned in the conditioning mechanism containing a film type corresponding to the film code on the reel.
  • the signals generated by the film and reel sensing mechanisms are fed to AND gates of the logic system, which are in turn electrically coupled to the cartridge conditioning mechanism. Accordingly, if an AND gate, such as AND gate A of the control circuit receives corresponding film and reel signals A from the film and reel sensing mechanisms respectively (which occurs when a reel having a ring 22 for receiving a film type A is mounted on the apparatus, and a cartridge containing film type A is mounted in the conditioning mechanism), AND gate A is operated generating a signal or completing an electrical circuit for enabling the cartridge conditioning mechanism for operation. If, however, a cartridge is positioned for conditioning containing a film type B, the pressure switches previously closed by the cartridge containing film type A will not be closed, and hence no film signal A will be generated and fed to AND gate A. Instead,
  • the reel signal generating circuit is operated feeding a reel signal to an AND gate corresponding to the reel and film type. Accordingly, any cartridge placed in position to be conditioned containing the same type of film to be wound on the reel generates a film signal through a fluidic sensor that is also fed into the AND gate corresponding to the reel and film type. With these two conditions satisfied, the AND gate is operated generating an electrical signal or completing an electrical circuit for enabling the cartridge conditioning mechanism for operation. When the operator operates the conditioning mechanism by closing a switch or the like, the cartridge is conditioned permitting removal of the film.
  • a take-up spindle for receiving a take-up reel mountable thereon and coded to receive one type of film; means responsive to said coded reel for establishing a first condition. corresponding to said one type of film; y means at a conditioning station effective when enabled for conditioning a film container to permit removal of the film therefrom, said film container having film identifying indicia corresponding to the type of film contained therein;
  • said conditioning means comprises a film container breaking mechanism for breaking open the container.
  • said film identifying indicia comprises one or more notches in a wall of the container and said sensing means comprises a fluidic sensor for sensing said notches.
  • said reel responsive means comprises an electrical switch.
  • said reel responsive means comprises a microswitch
  • said conditioning means comprises a container breaking mechanism for breaking open the container
  • said film identifying indicia comprises one or more notches in a wall of the container
  • said sensing means comprises a fiuidic sensor for sensing said notches
  • said means responsive to said first and second conditions comprises an AND gate.
  • said reel is provided with a code such as an annular ring corresponding to a predetermined type of film
  • said reel responsive means comprises an electrical switch actuatable by an element ridable on said ring
  • said conditioning means comprises a film container breaking mechanism for breaking open the container
  • said film identifying indicia comprises one or more notches in a wall of the container
  • said sensing means comprises a fluidic sensor for sensing said notches
  • said means responsive to said first and second conditions com prises an ANDf gate.
  • reel responsive means comprises a manually operated selector switch movable to a position for establishing a first condition corresponding to the visually distinguishing characteristic.
  • the reel is provided with a code such as the absence of a ring and a visually distinguishing characteristic corresponding to one or more types of film
  • said reel responsive means comprises a manually operated selector switch movable to a position for establishing a first condition corresponding to the visually distinguishing characteristic
  • said conditioning means comprises a film container breaking mechanism for breaking open the container
  • said film identifying indicia comprises one or more notches in a wall of the container
  • said sensing means comprises a .fluidic sensor for sensing said notches
  • said means responsive to said first and second conditions comprises an AND gate.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Photographic Developing Apparatuses (AREA)
  • Impression-Transfer Materials And Handling Thereof (AREA)
US00253068A 1972-05-15 1972-05-15 Film discriminating and winding apparatus Expired - Lifetime US3776438A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US25306872A 1972-05-15 1972-05-15

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US3776438A true US3776438A (en) 1973-12-04

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US00253068A Expired - Lifetime US3776438A (en) 1972-05-15 1972-05-15 Film discriminating and winding apparatus

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US (1) US3776438A (sv)
CH (1) CH568589A5 (sv)
FR (1) FR2185290A5 (sv)
GB (1) GB1435581A (sv)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0257790A2 (en) * 1986-07-31 1988-03-02 Konica Corporation Image forming apparatus capable of processing various kinds of photosensitive material
US5307109A (en) * 1990-10-23 1994-04-26 Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd. Method and apparatus for processing photosensitive material
US20080081666A1 (en) * 2006-10-02 2008-04-03 Eric Masera Production of visual codes for pairing electronic equipment

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3548478A (en) * 1968-09-27 1970-12-22 Eastman Kodak Co Film cartridge opening device
US3722055A (en) * 1971-09-09 1973-03-27 Eastman Kodak Co Cartridge opening device

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3548478A (en) * 1968-09-27 1970-12-22 Eastman Kodak Co Film cartridge opening device
US3722055A (en) * 1971-09-09 1973-03-27 Eastman Kodak Co Cartridge opening device

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0257790A2 (en) * 1986-07-31 1988-03-02 Konica Corporation Image forming apparatus capable of processing various kinds of photosensitive material
EP0257790A3 (en) * 1986-07-31 1989-08-09 Konishiroku Photo Industry Co. Ltd. Image forming apparatus capable of processing various kinds of photosensitive material
US5307109A (en) * 1990-10-23 1994-04-26 Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd. Method and apparatus for processing photosensitive material
US20080081666A1 (en) * 2006-10-02 2008-04-03 Eric Masera Production of visual codes for pairing electronic equipment
US7912426B2 (en) * 2006-10-02 2011-03-22 Eastman Kodak Company Production of visual codes for pairing electronic equipment

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Publication number Publication date
GB1435581A (en) 1976-05-12
CH568589A5 (sv) 1975-10-31
FR2185290A5 (sv) 1973-12-28

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