Eastman-kodak Company

Thomas C Healey

Clark E Harris

Joel R Shaw

Andrew E Dominesey

Raymond D Hulbert

William F Clark

Paul J Szwejbka

Jaime I Waldman

Robert A Huber

Julie D Stone

Michael A Evans

Mark J Morse

A cassette (10) has a tubular web core (12) onto which is wound a web (14) of photosensitive material to form a web roll. The web roll is housed within a substantially rectangular jacket (16) which has an exit slot (20) extending substantially from one side edge of the jacket (16) through which the web (14) may be drawn from the cassette (10). Moreover, cassette (10) comprises a pair of end caps (22) having tubular hub members (25) insertable into opposite ends of tubular core opening (39) defined by sleeve portion (38) of tubular web core (12) for rotatably supporting tubular web core (12). In the preferred embodiment, each hub member (25) has at least one flexible lock (44) at the free end thereof such that when the flexible lock (44) rotatably engages core grooves (36), separation of the end caps (22) from the jacket (16) is prevented. Moreover, a substantially flat, H-shaped fork (42), having at least one flexible camming ramp (40) on one end and graspable pinch fingers (46) exposed through the hub member (25) on the opposite end is mounted within at least one of the hub members (25) to prevent rotation of the web core (12).

Cassette for web material

A method of preventing clockspringing of a web wound inside a cassette (10) having a tubular web core (12) onto which is wound a web (14) of photosensitive material to form a web roll. The web roll is housed within a substantially rectangular jacket (16) which has a exit slot (20) extending substantially from one side edge of the jacket (16) through which the web (14) may be drawn from the cassette (10). Moreover, cassette (10) comprises a pair of end caps (22) having tubular hub members (25) insertable over opposite ends of tubular core opening (39) defined by sleeve portion (38) of tubular web core (12) for rotatably supporting tubular web core (12). In the preferred embodiment, each hub member (25) has at least one flexible lock (44) at the free end thereof such that when the flexible lock (44) rotatably engages core grooves (36), separation of the end caps (22) from the jacket (16) is prevented. Furthermore, a substantially flat, H-shaped fork (42), having at least one flexible camming ramp (40) on one end and graspable pinch fingers (46) exposed thorough the hub member (25) on the opposite end is mounted within at least one the hub members (25) to prevent rotation of the web core (12).

Method of preventing clockspringing of a wound web within a cassette

A light-tight cassette (10) has an anti-clockspringing method for preventing clockspringing of a wound roll of web material (14) within the cassette (10) during storage and shipment. The web material (14) is mounted on a tubular web core (12) arranged to rotate about an axis within the cassette (10). Cassette (10) has at least one end cap (22) having a tubularly shaped hub member (34). Hub member (34) has a diametrically extending bar (38) for receiving an anti-clockspring means comprising a fork (44) having a central member (52) comprising spaced anti-rotation arms (42,44) for receiving bar (38). Fork (44), moreover, comprises at least one flexible latch finger (46) that latchingly engages the end cap (22) and a flexible lock finger (48) that is wedged between and into an annular gap formed when the hub member (20) is inserted into the web core (12) for locking the web core (12) against rotation.

Anti-clockspringing cassette for a roll of web material and method

An improved light-tight web cassette 10 is disclosed for holding and dispensing a roll of photosensitive web material. The web cassette 10 comprises a tubular core 12 onto which a roll of web 14 material is wound. A jacket 16 surrounds the web roll and is provided with side edges 18. A pair of end caps 22 is provided, each end cap 22 having a central openings 28 and a peripheral recess 24 for receiving the end edges 18 of the jacket 16 in light-tight relation. A core plug 34 is provided for each end cap 22 which is adapted, when pressed through the central opening 28 into the tubular core 16 to an assembled position, to press and hold the end edges 18 of the jacket 16 into the recesses 24 of the end caps 22 in light-tight relation. Core plugs 34, moreover, holds the end caps 22 against the end of core 12.

Web cassette for holding and dispensing a roll of web material

A cassette for wound web material has an anti-clockspringing mechanism for securing the web against movement during storage and shipment. The roll of web material is mounted on a tubular core (12) arranged to rotate with the roll of material within the cassette (10). The cassette (10) has a jacket (16), end caps (22), and core plugs (34) for securing the end caps (22) onto end edges (18) of the jacket cassette (10). Each of the end caps (22) has a plurality of radially extending spaced apart stop (32). The anti-clockspringing mechanism comprises an arm (56) on the core plug (34) movable between a core-blocking position in which the arm (56) extends into a space between two adjacent ribs (32) and is retained therebetween for preventing rotation of the web roll, and a core-unblocking position on which the arm (56) is disengaged from the ribs (32) for allowing web rotation.

Anti-clockspringing mechanism for a web roll cassette

A light-tight enclosure for storing and dispensing a roll of photosensitive web material wound about a hollow cylindrical core having open opposite ends. The enclosure comprises a flexible opaque bag with opposite sidewalls extending between opposing rearward and forward portions and opposing upper and lower portions. Each sidewall has a central aperture therein congruent with each core end. The rearward portion defines a closable opening for receiving the roll. A shallow neck portion projects from the forward portion to an end thereof defining an exit slot for dispensing the web material. A collar fits tightly inside each core end, with an annular flange thereon facing axially outward. An annular ring is attachable to each collar in spaced, inward-facing relation to the flange. The roll is first positioned in the bag, through its closable opening, so that the web material extends into the neck portion and out through the exit slot, and so that a central portion of the collar at each core end projects outwardly through the adjacent sidewall aperture, with its flange left inside the sidewall and facing an annular portion thereof surrounding the aperture. The annular ring is then attached to the outwardly projecting portion of the collar in closely spaced, inward-facing relation to the sidewall annular portion, which is thus loosely trapped between the flange and the ring. The bag opening is then closed, and the bag neck portion is folded back and secured against the bag forward portion.

Flexible light-tight enclosure for photosensitive web roll

In use with a photosensitive web roll located inside a light-tight container having an exit slot through which the web is withdrawable, a flexible enclosure is provided for light-shielding a leading end portion of the web extending from the roll through the slot and outside the container. The enclosure comprises a flexible, substantially rectangular, opaque sleeve adapted to enclose the web end portion. The sleeve includes opposing top and bottom walls disposed in adjacent, registered, facing relationship and extending between front and rear ends and opposite lateral sides thereof. The walls are light-tightly joined together along their front ends and lateral sides, but are left unjoined and separable along their rear ends to provide an opening therebetween through which the web end portion can be inserted into the sleeve toward the joined front ends. The sleeve, with the web end portion so inserted, extends outwardly from within the container, through the exit slot, and thence outside the container, where it is folded back and secured against the container exterior.

Method for light-shielding a photosensitive web end

In use with a photosensitive web roll located inside a light-tight container having an exit slot through which the web is withdrawable, a flexible enclosure is provided for light-shielding a leading end portion of the web extending from the roll through the slot and outside the container. The enclosure comprises a flexible, substantially rectangular, opaque sleeve adapted to enclose the web end portion. The sleeve includes opposing top and bottom walls disposed in adjacent, registered, facing relationship and extending between front and rear ends and opposite lateral sides thereof. The walls are light-tightly joined together along their front ends and lateral sides, but are left unjoined and separable along their rear ends to provide an opening therebetween through which the web end portion can be inserted into the sleeve toward the joined front ends. The sleeve, with the web end portion so inserted, extends outwardly from within the container, through the exit slot, and then outside the container, where it is folded back and secured against the container exterior.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester, NY, United States of America

Thomas C Healey