US 4,941,000 AGranted

Downloading film access door assembly for electronic imaging apparatus

AssigneePolaroid Corporation

InventorsNicholas Cardoos, Jr., Stephen Decker, Philip R. Norris, Lawrence Plummer

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Abstract

An electronic image printing apparatus is provided on the front face thereof with an improved downloading film access door assembly. The door assembly pivots substantially under the force of gravity from an upright closed position to an extended fully open position wherein a film cassette may be inserted into and/or withdrawn from a film cassette receiving carriage which is disposed for controlled reciprocal sliding translation during the printing process. A dashpot is provided for dampening the pivotal movement of the film loading access door so that it progressively decelerates as it approaches its open extended position so as to gradually come to a stop without substantial vibration or shock. The dashpot also includes a spring which extends through the back wall thereof to counter the increase in the weight induced opening torque as the door pivots downwardly. There is also provided a latch assembly including a pivoting lever member which is cammed by the film access door assembly to latch the film cassette receiving carriage in its initial position when the door assembly is open to inhibit accidental movement of the carriage during film cassette insertion and/or withdrawal.

Claims9

Dependent claims

In an electronic image recording apparatus of the type comprising a housing and a film cassette receiving carriage disposed for controlled reciprocal sliding translation therein, said carriage being open at one end thereof to accommodate sliding receipt therein and/or withdrawal therefrom of a film cassette in substantially the same direction that said carriage translates, the improvement comprising:

a film loading access door assembly;
means for pivotally connecting the lower portion of the film loading access door assembly to said housing, said film loading access door assembly being weighted to pivot substantially under the force of gravity from an upright closed position blocking receipt and/or withdrawal of the film cassette with respect to said carriage to an extended open position accommodating receipt and/or withdrawal of the film cassette with respect to said carriage;
manually actuable means for latching said film loading access door, said latch means comprising a latch member disposed for movement from a first position in latching engagement with said film loading access door assembly to maintain said film loading access door assembly in its said upright closed position to a second position in unlatched relation with respect to said film loading access door assembly to accommodate its pivotal movement to said extended open position under the force of gravity;
and
means for dampening the pivotal movement of said film loading access door assembly such that said film loading access door assembly progressively decelerates as it approaches its open extended position so as to gradually come to a stop without substantial vibration or shock wherein said dampening means utilizes both a spring force and a controlled rate of air flow into a substantially evacuated and expanding chamber to gradually decelerate said film loading access door assembly.

2 more elements

In an electronic image recording apparatus of the type comprising a housing and a film cassette receiving carriage disposed for controlled reciprocal sliding translation within said housing, said carriage being open at one end thereof to accommodate sliding receipt therein and/or withdrawal therefrom of a film cassette in substantially the same direction that said carriage translates, the improvement comprising:

a film loading access door assembly;
means for pivotally connecting the lower portion of the film loading access door assembly for movement from an upright closed position blocking receipt and/or withdrawal of the film cassette with respect to said carriage to an extended open position accommodating receipt and/or withdrawal of the film cassette with respect to said carriage;
manually actuable means for latching said film loading access door in said upright closed position;
latching means displaceably mounted for movement between a first position in latching engagement with said carriage so as to inhibit said sliding translation of said carriage and a second position out of latching engagement with said carriage so as not to inhibit said sliding translation of said carriage, said latching means also including means operatively controlled by said film loading access door assembly to move said latching means to its said first position when said film loading access door is moved to its said extended open position and to move said latching means to its said second position when said film loading access door is moved to its said upright closed position.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.