Perforator apparatus and perforating method for photo film, and photo film working/securing apparatus and method

A photo film working/securing method of producing a combination of a photo filmstrip and a spool with said photo filmstrip secured thereto, wherein said photo filmstrip is produced from continuous photo film conveyed with a front end thereof directed toward said spool, said photo film working/securing method comprising steps of:

• conveying said continuous photo film on a conveyor unit downstream intermittently by a predetermined length, said predetermined length being set according to an available frame number of said photo filmstrip;
• while said continuous photo film is stopped in said intermittent conveyance of said continuous photo film, cutting said continuous photo film in a trimmer unit to produce said photo filmstrip;
• guiding said continuous photo film on a support unit downstream from said conveyor unit, wherein said support unit is shiftable between closed and open positions, and when in said closed position, guides said front end, and when in said open position, is open away from a path of said rear end, to allow said continuous photo film or said photo filmstrip to loop downwards;
• using first and second advance roller sets disposed at a distance from each other, for conveying said continuous photo film from said support unit to said spool, to securing said front end to said spool;
• rotationally controlling said conveyor unit and said first and second advance roller sets at a first conveying speed;
• setting said support unit to said open position upon passage of said front end by said first advance roller set;
• after said support unit is set to said open position, changing over said first and second advance roller sets from said first conveying speed to a second conveying speed smaller than said first conveying speed, for smoothing insertion of said front end into said spool;
• and
• after said front end is secured to said spool, stopping said first and second advance roller sets.