Apparatus for removing photographic images from a film member

A photographic image removal apparatus for use with a photographic film member having photographic images on one face thereof, said apparatus comprising:

• abrading roller means mounted for rotation;
• means for advacing the film member tangentially past said abrading roller means at a predetermined speed along a predetermined path;
• pressure roller means resiliently engaging the opposite face of said film member and biasing said film member against said abrading roller means for scraping engagement of said abrading roller means against said one face of the film member;
• and means for rotating said abrading roller means at a surface velocity several times said predetermined speed of said film member;
• said means for advancing the film member comprising
• feed rollers respectively located along said path before and after said abrading roller means;
• each of said feed rollers having surface discontinuities thereon and being tangentially engaged by one of said oppasite faces of the film member;
• means for rotating said feed rollers at a surface speed which is only a fraction of the surface speed of said abrading roller means;
• pressure rollers respectively located directly opposite said feed rollers to hold said film member against said feed rollers;
• and spring means biasing said last-mentioned pressure rollers toward the respective feed rollers to hold the film member against the feed rollers with sufficient force to substantially prevent slippage between the film member and the feed rollers.

An apparatus for removing photographic images from one face of a Mylar film member comprising:

• first, second and third feed rollers spaced apart from each other along a predetermined path and each having surface discontinuities thereon for engaging said one face of said film member;
• corresponding pressure rollers of hard material respectively positioned directly opposite said feed rollers for engaging the opposite face of said film member;
• means for rotating said feed rollers at a predetermined surface speed;
• spring means biasing said pressure rollers toward said feed rollers and holding the film member against the feed rollers with sufficient force to prevent slippage between the film member and the feed rollers;
• said feed rollers and the corresponding pressure rollers engaging said film member across its complete width perpendicular to said path;
• a first abrading roller positioned along said path between said first and second feed rollers, said first abrading roller having a generally cylindrical surface with discontinuities thereon positioned to be tangentially engaged by said one face of the film member moving along said path;
• a first set of deformable and resilient pressure rollers located directly opposite said first abrading roller for tangential engagement by said opposite face of said film member, the pressure rollers of said first set being spaced apart axially along said first abrading roller to hold corresponding segments of the film member against said first abrading roller;
• spring means biasing said first set of pressure rollers toward said first abrading roller to yieldingly hold said first set of pressure roller against said film member;
• a second abrading roller positioned along said path between said second and third feed rollers, said second abrading roller having a generally cylindrical surface with discontinuities thereon positioned to be tangentially engaged by said one face of the film member moving along said path;
• a second set of deformable and resilient pressure rollers located directly opposite said second abrading roller for tangential engagement by said opposite face of said film member, the pressure rollers of said second set being spaced apart axially along said second abrading roller at remaining segments of the film member to hold said remaining segments of the film member against said second abrading roller;
• spring means biasing said second set of pressure rollers toward said second abrading roller to yieldingly hold said second set of pressure rollers against said film member;
• and means for rotating said first and second abrading rollers at a surface speed several times said surface speed of said feed rollers.