Eastman-kodak Company

Frederick J Oleson

Jan A Chrisler

Thomas M Smith

Robert W Easterly

Alan T Brewen

Scott M Fitzgerald

Patrick J Argento

Jeffrey M Steele

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a method is described for ultrasonically splicing together overlapping ends of first and second lengths of photographic film strips of common film strip width with a film splicer employing a stationary elongated ultrasonic horn positioned on one side of the overlapping film strip ends in the width direction and a relatively movable anvil positioned on the opposite side of the overlapping film strip ends which traverses across the overlapping film ends by sliding or rolling in the length direction of the horn while the horn is ultrasonically vibrated and which provides pressure to the overlapping film ends while traversing across the overlapping film ends such that ultrasonic energy from the horn is transferred to the overlapping film ends effecting an ultrasonic weld between such film ends, wherein one of the first and second lengths of photographic film strips comprises an acetate based film strip and the other of the first and second lengths of photographic film strips comprises an acetate based film strip or a polyester based film strip, and wherein the product of the anvil pressure and anvil traverse rate is less than 6.0 kg,mm/sec when the anvil is slid across the overlapping film ends and less than 3.5 kg.mm/sec when the anvil is rolled across the overlapping film ends. The method enables the use of existing commercially available ultrasonic splicers to splice either polyester-based films to acetate-based films or acetate-based films to themselves and provide an adequate level of splice strength and smoothness.

Ultrasonic splicing of photographic film strips

A recording head apparatus includes a first rigid frame (80); a magnetic head (14) supported by the first frame; a head-to-medium backer device (18; 37) including a second rigid frame (24; 38) supporting an elastically deformable leaf spring (20; 40) for engaging a magnetic medium (16) to urge the medium into contact with the head; a carrier (100) supported on the first frame for movement toward or away from the head, the backer device being supported by the carrier; and a spring member (110) for biasing the carrier toward the head, the carrier and backer device being moveable away from the head against the bias of the spring member to permit the head to be cleaned without requiring disassembly of the apparatus.

Apparatus for backing a magnetic medium in contact with a magnetic

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Brockport, NY, United States of America

Frederick J Oleson