Photography – Fluid-treating apparatus – Having photographic medium feed
Reexamination Certificate
2002-08-22
2004-03-02
Rutledge, D. (Department: 2851)
Photography
Fluid-treating apparatus
Having photographic medium feed
C396S599000, C396S615000, C396S620000, C396S622000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06698945
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an automatic photo film feeding apparatus having a transport mechanism for continuously transporting a plurality of film cartridges to a feeding position, and a feed mechanism for feeding to a processing section photo film from the film cartridges transported to the feeding position by the transport mechanism. More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus for automatically feeding photo film from film cartridges to a film developing device or the like. The term film cartridges used herein is a collective term meaning containers for storing rolls of image-bearing photo film, including cassettes storing rolls of photo film, and casings storing such cassettes.
2. Description of the Related Art
Automatic photo film feeding apparatus having the above construction are disclosed in Japanese Patent Publications (Unexamined) Nos. 5-113626 and 6-250369, for example. The autoloading apparatus
31
shown in
FIG. 4
of the former publication includes a holder
32
for holding a plurality of cartridges
11
storing cassettes
2
therein, and a control mechanism
33
for feeding to a film drawing mechanism
36
one cartridge
11
after another falling by gravity from the lower end of the holder
32
. Film
1
in the cartridge
11
set to the film drawing mechanism
36
is drawn from the cassette
2
by transport rollers
38
to be transported to developing tanks. When the film
1
has been drawn from the cassette
2
, the cartridge
11
storing this cassette
2
is collected in a collecting pocket
40
by a collecting mechanism
39
. The collecting mechanism
39
includes a movable bottom
45
for supporting the cartridge
11
from below, and a solenoid mechanism
39
for swinging the bottom
45
downward. The autoloading apparatus
31
has a priority processing gate
34
disposed at a lower end thereof, for processing a cartridge inserted therein with priority.
FIG. 7
shows an autoloading apparatus
51
which is a modification of the autoloading apparatus
31
.
Next, the film feeding apparatus shown in the latter publication has an endless chain
3
driven to circulate horizontally, and a plurality of supporting blocks
2
arranged equidistantly along the entire length of endless chain
3
. Each supporting block receives a cassette
16
with a film
17
drawn out downward. As the endless chain
3
is driven, the cassettes
16
are transported one after another to a film input
10
. In the film input
10
film
17
is drawn from the cassettes
16
and transported toward a developing station
18
. The cassettes
16
empty of film
17
are guided by an apron unit
9
to a collecting section not shown.
To consider the prior examples noted above, the former apparatus feeds the cartridges
11
to the film drawing mechanism
36
by using the weight of cartridges
11
. This feeding mode is less reliable than a forcible transport using drive. Moreover, to make effective use of gravity, the autoloading apparatus
31
and
51
must have increased vertical dimensions, and hence a disadvantage of the entire apparatus tending to be large.
Next, the latter apparatus, while the cassette
16
are transported reliably, the film input
10
is constructed to draw film
17
downward and therefore a transport system must be disposed in a downward position to transport the film
17
drawn downward by the film input
10
. This results in a disadvantage that the apparatus has increased vertical dimensions in this part. Assuming where the latter film feeding apparatus is provided for a film developing apparatus, as described in the embodiment, it is considered rational to employ a construction in which a developing section is disposed below the feeding apparatus so that the photo film drawn out is directly fed into the developing section below. However, to secure space for accommodating a drive system of the film feeding apparatus and for transporting empty cassettes after photo film is drawn out, the entire film developing apparatus tends to be vertically enlarged. In this sense, there is room for improvement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of this invention is to provide an apparatus constructed as small as possible for reliably transporting film cartridges and feeding photo film from the film cartridges.
The above object is filmed, according to this invention, by an automatic photo film feeding apparatus as defined in claim 1. The apparatus comprises a transport mechanism for successively transporting a plurality of film cartridges to a feed position, the transport mechanism including a first transport unit for supporting the film cartridges with photo films drawn downward and successively transporting the film cartridges substantially horizontally to a transfer position, and a second transport unit for receiving the film cartridges transported to the transfer position by the first transport unit, and transporting the film cartridges horizontally to the feed position; the second transport unit having a posture change mechanism for changing the film cartridges to a posture having the photo films drawn from the film cartridges being directed substantially horizontally; and a feed mechanism for drawing the photo films out of the film cartridges transported to the feed position, and feeding the photo films to a processing section, the feed mechanism having rollers for substantially horizontally drawing the photo films out of the film cartridges transported to the feed position by the second transport unit.
In the automatic photo film feeding apparatus having the above features, the film cartridges are transported substantially horizontally by the first transport unit to reach the transfer position. Next, the film cartridges are transported one by one to the feed position by the second transport unit while being changed to a posture having the photo films drawn from the film cartridges being directed substantially horizontally. In the feed position, the photo film is drawn out by the rollers of the feed mechanism. That is, the posture of the film cartridges is changed while transporting the film cartridges substantially horizontally with the photo films drawn out beforehand, and finally the photo films are fed substantially horizontally. Consequently, compared with a construction for transporting the film cartridges downward, this apparatus may have reduced vertical dimensions. Where, for example, a developing device is provided, a downwardly opening space may be secured with ease. As a result, the apparatus according to this invention is constructed as small as possible for reliably transporting the film cartridges and feeding the photo films from the film cartridges.
The above apparatus may have the following specific construction. The first transport unit includes an endless rotating belt wound around wheels juxtaposed sideways, and a plurality of support members arranged on the rotating belt for supporting the film cartridges, and the second transport unit has a handling member for receiving the film cartridges one by one, the handling member being movable between the transfer position and the feed position, and between the transfer position and a discharge position spaced from the first transport unit, and a control device is provided for transferring the film cartridges supported by the support members to the handling member in the transfer position based on movement of the endless rotating belt of the first transport unit, moving the handling member supporting one of the film cartridges to the feed position, returning the handling member to the transfer position after drawing out the photo film in the feed position, further moving the handling member from the transfer position to the discharge position, causing the handling member to discharge the one of the film cartridges, and allowing the one of the film cartridges to fall by gravity.
In the automatic photo film feeding apparatus having the above features, the film cartridges, after having the photo films drawn out in the feed position, are returned to the tra
Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.
Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
Rutledge D.
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