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US 5,211,385 AGranted
Apparatus for storing film sheets
AssigneeE. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
InventorWellem A. Hoorn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to an apparatus for receiving, storing and dispensing a plurality of sheets of film in a plurality of sizes, particularly for use in automatic daylight film handling systems.
Claims16
An apparatus for receiving a plurality of sheet films in a plurality of sizes each sheet having at least one edge, storing the films and dispensing the films serially, the apparatus comprising:
- a light-tight housing including a film entrance slot, a film storage cavity and a film exit slot;
- a stationary film storage platform having a substantially horizontal and substantially flat surface in the housing for storing at least one sheet of film on its edge;
- a first pair of nip rollers for transporting the at least one film sheet from the film entrance slot to the film storage platform;
- film supporting means for supporting the at least one sheet of film when the film is stored on the platform;
- pressure plate means for contacting, supporting and transporting the at least one film sheet along the edge along the platform to a dispensing position in contact with the film supporting means;
- and
- single film sheet dispensing means, associated with the platform and the film supporting means, for receiving at least one film sheets and dispensing one sheet at a time.
4 more elements
An apparatus for receiving a plurality of sheet films in a plurality of sizes each sheet having a least one edge, storing the films and dispensing the films serially, the apparatus comprising:
- a light-tight housing including a film entrance slot, a film storage cavity and a film exit slot;
- a film storage platform in the housing for storing at least one sheet of film on its edge;
- a first pair of nip rollers for transporting a film sheet from the film entrance slot to the film storage platform;
- film supporting means for supporting the at least one sheet of film when the film is stored on the platform;
- pressure plate means for contacting, supporting and transporting the at least one film sheet along the edge along the platform to a dispensing position in contact with the film supporting means;
- single film sheet dispensing means, associated with the platform and the film supporting means, for receiving at least one film sheets and dispensing one sheet at a time;
- a second pair of nip rollers for transporting the film out of the housing through the film exit slot;
- and
- wherein the film storage platform comprises a roughened surface in proximity to the dispensing means, the dispensing means comprising:
- means for moving a first one of the at least one sheet, the first sheet closest to the supporting means, the moving means for moving the edge of the first sheet across the roughened surface thereby separating the first sheet from any others of the at least one stored film sheets and for moving the first sheet to the second pair of nip rollers.
7 more elements
An apparatus for receiving a plurality of sheet films in a plurality of sizes each sheet having a least one edge, storing the films and dispensing the films serially, the apparatus comprising:
- a light-tight housing including a film entrance slot, a film storage cavity and a film exit slot;
- a film storage platform in the housing for storing at least one sheet of film on its edge;
- a first pair of nip rollers for transporting a film sheet from the film entrance slot to the film storage platform;
- film supporting means for supporting the at least one sheet of film when the film is stored on the platform;
- pressure plate means for contacting, supporting and transporting the at least one film sheet along the edge along the platform to a dispensing position in contact with the film supporting means;
- single film sheet dispensing means, associated with the platform and the film supporting means, for receiving at least one film sheets and dispensing one sheet at a time;
- the platform comprising at least one ledge which forms a separation slot with the supporting means, wherein the slot has an opening suitable to pass an edge of a single film sheet;
- and
- the dispensing means further comprising:
- a separating roller associated with the film supporting means for contacting and driving a single film sheet closest the supporting means through the separation slot thereby separating the single film sheet from any other of the at least one film sheets;
- and
- a dispensing pair of nip rollers between the film storage platform and the second pair of nip rollers, a nip between the dispensing rollers aligned or substantially aligned below the slot to capture the separated single film sheet wherein the dispensing rollers and the separating roller dispense the single film sheet to the second pair of nip rollers.
9 more elements
An apparatus for receiving a plurality of sheet films in a plurality of sizes each sheet having a least one edge, storing the films and dispensing the films serially, the apparatus comprising:
- a light-tight housing including a film entrance slot, a film storage cavity and a film exit slot;
- a film storage platform in the housing for storing at least one sheet of film on its edge;
- a first pair of nip rollers for transporting a film sheet from the film entrance slot to the film storage platform;
- film supporting means for supporting the at least one sheet of film when the film is stored on the platform;
- pressure plate means for contacting, supporting and transporting the at least one film sheet along the edge along the platform to a dispensing position in contact with the film supporting means;
- single film sheet dispensing means, associated with the platform and the film supporting means, for receiving at least one film sheets and dispensing one sheet at a time;
- and
- wherein the pressure plate means further comprises:
- a shaft;
- a gear mounted on each end of the shaft;
- a pair of first arms, each of the first arms having a first end and a second end, the first ends pivotally mounted to the housing;
- a second arm extending from each of the first arms, the second arms having toothed portions engaging the gears;
- a plate pivotally mounted to the second ends of the first arms;
- and
- a motor assembly for driving the shaft.
12 more elements
In an apparatus for automatically unloading and transporting from a cassette a plurality of film sheets in a plurality of sizes, each sheet having at least one edge, to an intermediate film storage apparatus for receiving, storing and dispensing the sheets serially, the intermediate film storage apparatus comprising:
- a light-tight housing including a film entrance slot, a film storage cavity and a film exit slot;
- a stationary film storage platform having a substantially horizontal and substantially flat surface in the housing for storing at least one sheet of film on its edge;
- a first pair of nip rollers for transporting the at least one film sheet from the film entrance slot to the film storage platform;
- pressure plate means for contacting, supporting and transporting the at least one film sheet along the edge along the platform to a dispensing position in contact with the film supporting means;
- and
- single film sheet dispensing means, associated with the platform and the film supporting means, for receiving the at least one film sheets and dispensing one sheet at a time.
3 more elements
In an apparatus for automatically unloading and transporting from a cassette a plurality of film sheets in a plurality of sizes, each sheet having at least one edge, to an intermediate film storage apparatus for receiving, storing and dispensing the sheets serially, the intermediate film storage apparatus comprising:
- a light-tight housing including a film entrance slot, a film storage cavity and a film exit slot;
- a film storage platform in the housing for storing at least one sheet of film on its edge;
- a first pair of nip rollers for transporting a film sheet from the fifth entrance slot to the film storage platform;
- film supporting means for supporting the at least one sheet of film when the film is stored on the platform;
- pressure plate means for contacting, supporting and transporting the at least one film sheet along the edge along the platform to a dispensing position in contact with the film supporting means;
- single film sheet dispensing means associated with the platform and the film supporting means, for receiving the at least one film sheets and dispensing one sheet at a time;
- a second pair of nip rollers for transporting the film out of the housing through the film exit slot;
- and
- wherein the film storage platform comprises a roughened surface in proximity to the dispensing means, the dispensing means comprising:
- means for moving the first one of the at least one sheet, the first sheet closest to the supporting means, the moving means for moving the edge of the first sheet across the roughened surface thereby separating the first sheet from any others of the at least one stored film sheets and for moving the separated first sheet to the second pair of nip rollers.
7 more elements
In an apparatus for automatically unloading and transporting from a cassette a plurality of film sheets in a plurality of sizes, each sheet having at least one edge, to an intermediate film storage apparatus for receiving, storing and dispensing the sheets serially, the intermediate film storage apparatus comprising:
- a light-tight housing including a film entrance slot, a film storage cavity and a film exit slot;
- a film storage platform in the housing for storing at least one sheet of film on its edge;
- a first pair of nip rollers for transporting a film sheet from the film entrance slot to the film storage platform;
- film supporting means for supporting the at least one sheet of film when the film is stored on the platform;
- pressure plate means for contacting, supporting and transporting the at least one film sheet along the edge along the platform to a dispensing position in contact with the film supporting means;
- single film sheet dispensing means, associated with the platform and the film supporting means, for receiving at least one film sheets and dispensing one sheet at a time;
- the platform comprising at least one ledge which forms a separation slot with the supporting means, wherein the slot has an opening suitable to pass an edge of a single film sheet;
- and
- the dispensing means further comprising:
- a separating roller associated with the film supporting means for contacting and driving a single film sheet closest the supporting means through the separation slot thereby separating the single film sheet from any other of the at least one film sheets;
- and
- a dispensing pair of nip rollers between the film storage platform and the second pair of nip rollers, a nip between the dispensing rollers aligned or substantially aligned below the slot to capture the separated single film sheet wherein the dispensing rollers and the separating roller dispense the single film sheet to the second pair of nip rollers.
9 more elements
In an apparatus for automatically unloading and transporting from a cassette a plurality of film sheets in a plurality of sizes, each sheet having at least one edge, to an intermediate film storage apparatus for receiving, storing and dispensing the sheets serially, the intermediate film storage apparatus comprising:
- a light-tight housing including a film entrance slot, a film storage cavity and a film exit slot;
- a film storage platform in the housing for storing at least one sheet of film on its edge;
- a first pair of nip rollers for transporting a film sheet from the film entrance slot to the film storage platform;
- film supporting means for supporting the at least one sheet of film when the film is stored on the platform;
- pressure plate means for contacting, supporting and transporting the at least one film sheet along the edge along the platform to a dispensing position in contact with the film supporting means;
- single film sheet dispensing means, associated with the platform and the film supporting means, for receiving at least one film sheets and dispensing one sheet at a time;
- and
- wherein the pressure plate means further comprises:
- a shaft;
- a gear mounted on each end of the shaft;
- a pair of first arms, each of the first arms having a first end and a second end, the first ends pivotally mounted to the housing;
- a second arm extending from each of the first arms, the second arms having toothed portions engaging the gears;
- a plate pivotally mounted to the second ends of the first arms;
- and
- a motor assembly for driving the shaft.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.