Imaging unit container having shiftable walls
AssigneeMinnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
InventorsMelinda K. Kovach, Gerald L. Metcalf, Stuart J. Wyman, Kenneth J. Hagen, Norman Herauf
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A container and a method of using the container for storing sheets of material, such as photosensitive materials, enables individual sheets to be transported from the container to an imaging unit by a feed mechanism of the imaging unit. The container fits within the imaging unit to provide a light-tight environment for the photosensitive material. The container includes shiftable walls, including a front ramp which can have a serrated surface to separate sheets. The container also includes a clamping components to allow for the removal of a light-tight bag which encloses the sheets.
Claims23
A container for storing sheets of photosensitive material and enabling individual sheets to be transported from the container to an imaging unit by a feed mechanism of the imaging unit, wherein the container fits within an entry port of the imaging unit to provide a light-tight environment for the photosensitive material, and comprises:
- a base upon which multiple sheets of photosensitive material may be placed;
- a front wall which extends from the base to facilitate sliding transport of each sheet from the container into the imaging station, wherein the front wall is angularly shiftable relative to the base between a first position in which the front wall extends substantially perpendicular to the base and a second position in which the front wall extends upwardly and outwardly from the base to form a front ramp.
A container for storing sheets of photosensitive material which can be transported from the container to an imaging unit by a feed mechanism of the imaging unit, wherein the container fits within an entry port of the imaging unit to provide a light-tight environment for the photosensitive material, and comprises:
- a base on which a light-tight bag containing the photosensitive material is placed, the base having a first surface member which is stationary relative to the base;
- and
- a clamping member positioned and movable relative to the base, the clamping member having a second surface member which is stationary relative to the clamping member, the clamping member being movable between an open position and a closed position, clearance existing between the first and second surface members when the clamping member is in the open position which allows for insertion of a first end of the bag into the container and between the first and second surface members, the second surface member being adjacent the first surface member when the clamping member is in the closed position such that light is prevented from passing between the base and the clamping member, at least one of the first and second surface members being rounded to minimize friction between at least one of the first and second surface members and the bag when the first end of the bag is pulled from the base and clamping member such that the bag is removed from the container and from around the photosensitive material.
A container for storing sheets of photosensitive material which can be transported from the container to an imaging unit by a feed mechanism of the imaging unit, wherein the container fits within an entry port of the imaging unit to provide a light-tight environment for the photosensitive material, and comprises:
- a base on which a light-tight bag containing the photosensitive material is placed, the base having a first surface member which is stationary relative to the base and integral to the base;
- and
- a clamping member positioned and movable relative to the base, the clamping member having a second surface member which is stationary relative to the clamping member and integral to the clamping member, the clamping member being movable between an open position and a closed position, clearance existing between the first and second surface members when the clamping member is in the open position which allows for insertion of a first end of the bag into the container and between the first and second surface members, the second surface member being adjacent the first surface member when the clamping member is in the closed position such that light is prevented from passing between the base and the clamping member.
A container for storing sheets of photosensitive material which can be transported from the container to an imaging unit by a feed mechanism of the imaging unit, wherein the container fits within an entry port of the imaging unit to provide a light-tight environment for the photosensitive material, and comprises:
- a base on which a light-tight bag containing the photosensitive material is placed, the base having a first surface member which is stationary relative to the base;
- a clamping member positioned and movable relative to the base, the clamping member having a second surface member which is stationary relative to the clamping member, the clamping member being movable between an open position and a closed position, clearance exists between the first and second surface members when the clamping member is in the open position which allows for insertion of a first end of the bag into the container and between the base and clamping member, the second surface member being adjacent the first surface member when the clamping member is in the closed position such that light is prevented from passing between the base and the clamping member;
- and
- a film-saver mechanism which prevents the removal of the container from the imaging unit when the container contains at least one sheet of photosensitive material.
A container for storing sheets of photosensitive material which can be transported from the container to an imaging unit by a feed mechanism of the imaging unit, wherein the container fits within an entry port of the imaging unit to provide a light-tight environment for the photosensitive material, and comprises:
- a base on which a light-tight bag containing the photosensitive material is placed, the base having a first surface member which is stationary relative to the base;
- a clamping member positioned and movable relative to the base, the clamping member having a second surface member which is stationary relative to the clamping member, the clamping member being movable between an open position and a closed position, clearance exists between the first and second surface members when the clamping member is in the open position which allows for insertion of a first end of the bag into the container and between the base and clamping member, the second surface member being adjacent the first surface member when the clamping member is in the closed position such that light is prevented from passing between the base and the clamping member;
- and
- a lid that can be inserted between the photosensitive material within the container and the imaging unit to cover the photosensitive sheets and provide a light-tight container seal with the container preventing light from striking the photosensitive material when either the imaging unit is opened or the container is removed from the imaging unit.
A container for storing sheets of photosensitive material which can be transported from the container to an imaging unit, wherein the container fits within an entry port of the imaging unit to provide a light-tight environment for the photosensitive material, and comprises:
- a base on which a bag containing the sheets of photosensitive material is placed, the bag having a first bag portion;
- and
- non-rotating, light-blocking members between which the first bag portion is positioned when the bag containing the sheets of photosensitive film is positioned on the base and prepared for removal from the sheets, the light-blocking members being positioned to prevent light from passing between the light-blocking members and striking the photosensitive material when the bag is removed from the sheets of photoreceptive material, at least one of the light-blocking members being rounded to minimize friction between the bag and the at least one rounded light-blocking member when the first bag portion is pulled out from between the light-blocking members such that the bag is removed from the container.
A container for storing sheets of photosensitive material which can be transported from the container to an imaging unit, wherein the container fits within an entry port of the imaging unit to provide a light-tight environment for the photosensitive material, and comprises:
- a surface on which the sheets of photosensitive material rest when the sheets are stored within the container;
- and
- means for preventing removal of the container from the imaging unit when the removal preventing means determines that the removal would cause a sheet of photosensitive material to be outside a light-tight environment.
A container for storing sheets of photosensitive material which can be transported from the container to an imaging unit, wherein the container fits within an entry port of the imaging unit to provide a light-tight environment for the photosensitive material, and comprises:
- a base on which a bag containing the sheets of photosensitive material is placed, the bag having a first bag portion;
- and
- at least three light-blocking members between which the first bag portion is positioned when the bag containing the sheets of photosensitive film is positioned on the base and prepared for removal from the sheets, the light-blocking members being positioned to prevent light from passing between the light-blocking members and striking the photosensitive material when the bag is removed from the sheets of photoreceptive material, at least one of the light-blocking members being rounded to minimize friction between the bag and the at least one rounded light-blocking member when the first bag portion is pulled out from between the light-blocking members such that the bag is removed from the container.
A container for storing sheets of photosensitive material which can be transported from the container to an imaging unit, wherein the container fits within an entry port of the imaging unit to provide a light-tight environment for the photosensitive material, and comprises:
- a surface on which the sheets of photosensitive material rest when the sheets are stored within the container;
- and
- means for preventing removal of the container from the imaging unit when the removal would result in at least one of the sheets of photosensitive material being exposed to light from outside the imaging unit, the removal preventing means comprising a locking sensor which can sense the absence or presence of a sheet of photosensitive material within the container.
A container for storing sheets of photosensitive material which can be transported from the container to an imaging unit, wherein the container fits within an entry port of the imaging unit to provide a light-tight environment for the photosensitive material, and comprises:
- a surface on which the sheets of photosensitive material rest when the sheets are stored within the container;
- and
- means for preventing removal of the container from the imaging unit when the removal would result in at least one of the sheets of photosensitive material being exposed to light from outside the imaging unit, the removal preventing means comprising a locking sensor which can sense the presence or absence of a lid covering the container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.