Apparatus and method for separating spliced strips of photographic film

Apparatus for separating photographic film strips adhered with thermal adhesive to first and second regions of a splice tape, the apparatus comprising:

• a platen;
• a reciprocating hot shoe for successively engaging the splice tape against the platen under pressure to heat the adhesive in the first and second regions of the tape separately in first and second de-splicing cycles;
• means for restricting movement of one of the film strips after the first region of the splice tape is positioned between the hot shoe and the platen;
• tensioning means for holding the film strips under tension during said first de-splicing cycle;
• control means operative during said first de-splicing cycle for bringing the hot shoe and platen together under pressure to soften said adhesive in said first splice region and thereafter releasing said pressure to allow the tension to pull a first film free of the first region of the splice tape, the control means thereafter being operative to repress the hot shoe against the first region of the splice tape to tack the splice tape to a splice pickup web positioned between the hot shoe and platen;
• means for advancing the splice pickup web through the area between the hot shoe and platen;
• and
• means for holding the second film strip under tension with the splice tape after the splice pickup web is advanced to position the second region of the splice tape between the hot shoe and platen;
• the control means being operative during the second de-splicing cycle for bringing the hot shoe and platen together under pressure to soften said adhesive and for thereafter releasing said pressure to allow tension on the second film strip to pull the second film strip free of the splice tape.

A method of separating photographic film strips attached to first and second adhesive regions of a splice tape comprising the steps of:

• positioning the first splice tape region between a hot shoe and a platen;
• positioning a pickup web between the hot shoe and platen on a side of the films opposite to the splice tape;
• restricting the film strip attached to the second splice tape region from movement;
• placing the film strip attached to the first splice tape region under tension;
• bringing the hot shoe and platen together under pressure in a first de-splicing cycle to heat and soften splice tape adhesive in said first splice tape region;
• releasing the pressure on the first splice tape region sufficiently to allow one film strip to be pulled free of the splice tape;
• bringing the hot shoe and platen together under pressure after removal of the first film strip to adhere the first region of the splice tape to the carrier web, positioning said second splice tape region between said hot shoe and platen;
• placing the other film strip attached to the second splice tape region under tension;
• bringing the hot shoe and platen together under pressure in a second de-splicing cycle to heat the adhesive in the second splice tape region;
• and
• releasing said second cycle pressure to allow the other film strip to be pulled free of the splice tape.