Apparatus for removing exposed films and backing strips from cassettes

Apparatus for removing films and backing strips from containers of the type wherein a casing of the container is provided with registering first and second openings and at least the leader of convoluted backing strip is located between said openings, comprising a pusher movable forwardly and backwards along a predetermined arcuate path;

• means mounting said pusher member for movement in said arcuate path;
• locating means arranged to support the casing of a container in such position that the openings of the casing are located in said path whereby said pusher passes, during the forward movement thereof, first through one and thereupon through the other opening of the casing which is supported by said locating means and expels the leader of the backing strip through the other opening;
• advancing means located behind the other opening of the casing which is supported by said locating means and arranged to engage and advance the expelled leader of the backing strip lengthwise and to thereby draw the film from the casing through the intermediary of the backing strip, said advancing means comprising first and second rotary members located at the opposite sides of said path and means for biasing one of said rotary members against the other of said rotary members;
• and guide means defining a channel for the leader of the film, said guide means having an inlet adjacent to the other opening of the casing which is supported by said locating means and said guide means comprising deflector means cooperating with the casing which is supported by said locating means to urge successive increments of the backing strip against said deflector means while the backing strip is being moved lengthwise whereby said deflector means automatically introduces the leader of the film into said channel as soon as the leader of the film reaches said deflector means, said pusher having a forward portion about which said leader of said backing strip becomes trained when said pushers expels said leader of said backing strip through said other opening, and one of said rotary members having a peripheral groove into which said portion of said pusher enters during forward movement of said pusher in said path.

Apparatus for removing films and backing strips from containers of the type wherein a casing of the container is provided with registering first and second openings and at least the leader of convoluted backing strip is located between said openings, comprising a pusher movable forwardly and backwards along a predetermined path;

• locating means arranged to support the casing of a container in such position that the openings of the casing are located in said path whereby said pusher passes, during the forward movement thereof, first through one and thereupon through the other opening of the casing which is supported by said locating means and expels the leader of the backing strip through the other opening;
• advancing means located behind the other opening of the casing which is supported by said locating means and arranged to engage and advance the expelled leader of the backing strip lengthwise and to thereby draw the film from the casing through the intermediary of the backing strip, said advancing means comprising first and second rotary members located at the opposite sides of said path and means for biasing one of said rotary members against the other of said rotary members;
• guide means defining a channel for the leader of the film, said guide means having an inlet adjacent to the other opening of the casing which is supported by said locating means and said guide means comprising deflector means cooperating with the casing which is supported by said locating means to urge successive increments of the backing strip against said deflector means while the backing strip is being moved lengthwise whereby said deflector means automatically introduces the leader of the film into said channel as soon as the leader of the film reaches said deflector means, said pusher having a forward portion about which said leader of said backing strip becomes trained when said pushers expels said leader of said backing strip through said other opening, and one of said rotary members having a peripheral groove into which said portion of said pusher enters during forward movement of said pusher in said path;
• and wall means bounding a passage through which the expelled leader of said backing strip travels.