Daylight apparatus for breaking open a film cassette, identifying the film released therefrom, and splicing same to the next preceding film

An opener for a cassette containing a film rolled on a spool and having a removable end cap comprising the combination of:

• a movable clamp for movement into and out of cassette-embracing position for stationarily holding the cassette during the opening mode,
• a pair of mutually movable jaws pivotable into and out of end cap prying positions on opposite sides of the cassette for prying the end cap from the cassette,
• an axially-reciprocating pusher-puller capable of a forward motion for pushing the spool and film outwardly of the cassette and into a film-manipulating station and a rearward motion for pulling the empty cassette into a discharging position, and
• drive means for actuating the clamp and jaws and pusher-puller in a cyclical relationship.

Apparatus for preparing exposed film for processing and inclusive of means for opening a cassette having a removable end cap and containing a film rolled on a spool and means for transferring the film from the cassette into a position for lengthwise movement for trimming and identifying and splicing operations comprising:

• a light free enclosure,
• means for introducing a loaded cassette into the enclosure and to a cassette-opening position therein,
• holding means for stationarily securing the cassette during the cassette-opening mode,
• prying means for prying the end cap from the cassette during the cassette-opening mode, means for laterally pushing the spool and film free of the cassette, means for pulling the empty cassette into a discharging position,
• film rotating means for rotating the freed film and spool,
• pinch roll means for holding the rotating film against uncoiling and fluffing,
• finding means for finding the film tongue,
• roll couple means accepting the film tongue and drawing the film away from the spool,
• spool ejecting means for ejecting the emptied spool away from the film manipulating station, and
• drive means for cyclically actuating the cassette opening and film manipulating mechanisms.

In apparatus for preparing exposed film for subsequent processing and including a cassette opening system for opening a cassette containing a film rolled on a spool and having a removable end cap and a manipulating system for transferring the film into and moving along a lengthwise path of movement for trimming and identifying and splicing of the film, the combination of:

• clamp means for movement into a cassette-holding position only and jaw means pivotable into an end cap prying position during the opening mode,
• an axially-reciprocating pusher-puller means for pushing the spool and film outwardly of the cassette and into position for assuming the movement along the lengthwise path,
• film rotating means for rotating the film and spool,
• pinch roll means for embracing the rotating film and ensuring against uncoiling,
• finding means for finding the film tonque,
• roll couple means for receiving the film tongue and drawing the film away from the spool,
• spool ejecting means for ejecting the emptied spool,
• trimming means for trimming the lead end of the film preparatory to the splicing thereof to the tail end of the next preceding film,
• means for printing film identifying indicia on a leading tab end of a splicing tape,
• means for moving the tab end of the splicing tape into splicing position between the adjacent trailing end of a next preceding film and the leading end of the next succeeding film
• means for severing the tab end from the splicing tape,
• means for sealing the tab on the adjacent film ends, and
• means for cyclically driving the cassette opening and film manipulating mechanisms.

Apparatus for preparing exposed film for processing and inclusive of means for opening a cassette having a removable end cap and containing a film rolled on a spool and means for manipulating the film from the cassette into a position for lengthwise movement through trimming and identifying and splicing operations comprising:

• a light free enclosure,
• introducing means for leading a loaded cassette into the enclosure,
• holding means for holding the cassette,
• removing means for removing the end cap from the cassette and for pushing the spool and film forwardly free of the cassette and for pulling the empty cassette rearwardly into a discharging position,
• film rotating means for rotating the freed film and spool,
• pinch roll means for holding the rotating film against uncoiling and fluffing,
• finding means for finding the film tongue,
• roll coupled means for accepting the film tongue and drawing the film away from the spool,
• spool ejecting means for ejecting the emptied spool away from the film mainpulating station,
• printing means for printing a respective film identifying symbol for a film on the tab end of a splicing tape,
• means for bringing the trailing end of a next-preceding film and the leading end of a next-succeeding film into positions of adjacency,
• means for severing the tab end from the splicing tape and sealing the same upon the adjacent film ends with the identifying symbol on the tab overlying the identified film,
• drive means for cyclically actuating the cassette opening and film manipulating mechanisms.