US 4,211,580 A · Method and apparatus for cleaning an endless strip of film, tape, or the like

Abstract

Method and apparatus are disclosed for cleaning endless strips of motion picture film, magnetic tape, magnetic film, or the like contained in a reel formed on a rotatable hub housed in a casing, wherein cleaning is accomplished without opening the casing or removing the reel of film or magnetic tape therefrom. Successive portions of the film or tape stored in the reel are withdrawn as a continuous strip from the center of the reel. The strip is then continuously fed through an access opening in said casing to form a loop outside of the casing, wherein the strip is subjected to a cleaning means. The strip from the loop is introduced back through said opening to guide means within said casing. The guide means directs the strip of film or tape past an operational opening in the casing which is separate and apart from the access opening. The strip is then continuously returned to the reel. Means are provided in combination with the rotatable hub on which the reel is formed for continuously advancing the strip of film or tape in its movement from the reel, through the loop on the outside of the casing, back to the guide means within the casing, and then past the operational opening and back to the reel.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A method for cleaning an endless strip of motion picture film, magnetic tape, magnetic film, or the like contained in a reel formed on a rotatable hub housed in a casing, wherein the strip is withdrawn from the center of the reel, directed through guide means within said casing past an operational opening in said casing and is then returned to the ouside of the reel, said method comprising withdrawing the strip from the center of the reel, feeding the strip through an access opening in said casing, said access opening being separate and apart from said operational opening in said casing;

forming the strip into a loop outside of said casing;
passing the strip in said loop through brushing and cleaning means;
feeding the strip from said loop back into said casing through said access opening;
returning the strip to the guide means in said casing to be directed past said operational opening and back to the outside of the reel;
and continuously advancing successive portions of the endless strip from the center of the reel through said access opening to said brushing and cleaning means back through said access opening, past said operational opening, and then returned to the outside of said reel.

2 more elements

Apparatus for cleaning an endless strip of motion picture film, magnetic tape, magnetic film, or the like contained in a reel formed in a cassette comprising a rotatable hub housed in a casing, wherein said strip is adapted to be withdrawn from the center of the reel, directed through guide means within said casing past an operational opening in said casing and is then returned to the outside of the reel;

an access opening in said casing separate and apart from said operational opening in said casing whereby said strip is also adapted to be withdrawn from said casing as a loop and returned thereinto through said access opening in said casing when the strip is to be cleaned, said apparatus comprising in combination with said cassette a support for positioning and holding said casing;
drive means for rotatably driving said hub;
guide means carried by said support for positioning and maintaining the portion of the strip withdrawn from said casing in a loop;
means carried by said support for cleaning said strip including oppositely opposed cleaning pads between which said strip passes as it moves through said loop;
and means for resiliently forcing said cleaning pads into contact with the mutually opposite sides, respectively, of said strip as the strip passes between said cleaning

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for cleaning an endless strip of film, tape, or the like

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for cleaning an endless strip of film, tape, or the like

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11