Light-tight packaging method for photosensitive web roll

Abstract

A package light-tightly enclosing a photosensitive web roll for use in cooperating apparatus comprises an opaque leader joined to the web and wrapped circumferentially at least twice around the roll and a pair of thin, readily foldable, disk-shaped, opaque end caps covering the roll ends. Each end cap has an inner annular portion that is folded into and sealed inside one of the roll core ends and an outer annular portion that is folded over the corresponding roll end periphery and onto the adjacent lateral edge portion of the first leader convolution. A pair of opposite lateral edge portion recesses extend inwardly from the leader opposite lateral edges, by an amount slightly exceeding the folded-over end-cap outer-annular-portion width, at a circumferential site on the leader where the first leader convolution ends. A narrower medial portion of the leader between those recesses can thus pass freely between the folded-over outer annular portions and thereby permit the second leader convolution to be wrapped circumferentially around the folded-over outer annular portions. The folded-over outer annular portions of both end caps are thus light-tightly trapped between the opposite lateral edge portions of the first and second leader convolutions, thereby light-tightly enclosing the web roll without having to seal or adhere the leader to the end caps, and without significantly increasing the web roll length.