Sheet feeding or delivering – Feeding – Multiple supplies
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-28
2003-06-10
Walsh, Donald P. (Department: 3651)
Sheet feeding or delivering
Feeding
Multiple supplies
C271S009110, C271S009130, C226S109000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06575449
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to photographic material guiding arrangements for the guiding of photographic materials between sources and receivers for photographic materials which are spaced apart, according to the preamble of claim
1
. The sources and receivers can be guide paths for photographic material, reel-off chambers, film cartridges, photographic material storages and other arrangements which receive or supply photographic material.
2. Background Information
The invention relates especially to a photographic material guiding arrangement which brings together photographic material that is transported along various, spaced apart guide paths to a further guide path (or a small number of guide paths) which is (are) separate from each other. The invention relates especially to a further photographic material guide arrangement which distributes or diversifies photographic material that is transported along one guide path to different guide paths spaced therefrom. In accordance with the invention, the photographic material concerned is in particular films or photographic paper or rolled up photographic material, such as rolled up film material.
The process of bringing together photographic material transported on various guide paths is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,849,792, DE-AS 1 163 658, DE 37 13 171 A1 or DE 44 20 659. There the process concerned is to guide film material which is pulled out of various film cartridges and transported along various guide paths subsequently to a single guide path, so that the photographic material, which is in particular film material to be developed, is further transported one by one in a single guide path to be transported to a film-developing arrangement
All before-mentioned methods for the guiding of film material sections from different sources to a single receiver have in common that several guide paths constantly merge into a single guide path, or are brought together in a single guide path, without them being interrupted.
This has several disadvantages. Multiple fully functional guide paths must be provided between the photographic material sources and the point of joining together. This means that for each guide path, transporting means must be provided such as, for example, driving rubber rollers or wheels which engage the lateral perforation of the films. This arrangement is difficult in particular in the joining region because of the limited space available there, above all when more than two guide paths are joined. Therefore, in the area where the guide paths are joined, additional rollers, which would guarantee a safe guiding of the film material, must be left out for reasons of space availability. This has as a result that malfunctions because of jammed film material are possible especially in the joining region.
For the above-mentioned reasons, it is preferred to always join only two guide paths. If more guide paths are to be joined, this is done spaced apart, so that first two guide paths are joined and later another two, and so on However, this increases the space requirements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to join photographic material from different material sources reliably and with space savings to a photographic material receiver or to reliably distribute photographic material from one source to several receivers with space savings.
The object of the invention is achieved with the features of claim
1
. Preferred embodiments are apparent from the dependent claims.
Advantageously, the photographic material guiding arrangement in accordance with the invention includes several mutually spaced apart sources and receivers, especially guide paths for photographic material which can be selectively connected by the selector in accordance with the invention. The selector is constructed like a guide path for the guiding of photographic material. However, in contrast to guide paths, it is movable, especially movably supported, to be shiftable between one position wherein it connects different sources and receivers to another position wherein it provides another connection between sources and receivers.
The selector in accordance with the invention thus bridges an interruption between different sources and receivers, wherein it can be selected which of the mutually spaced apart sources and receivers are to be connected by the selector.
The selector in accordance with the invention replaces the division region or combining region Known from the prior art wherein several guide paths join together in order to merge. The lack of space in the joining region is thereby avoided and a secure transport of the film material is ensured.
Several, for example, three, guide paths in accordance with the invention lead to a region wherein the selector is movably supported and one guide path leads away from the region of movement of the selector, for example, opposite to the entry region of the three guide paths. The selector is then moved in such a way that it selectively connects one of the three guide paths leading to the selector region with a guide path leading away therefrom.
The guide paths can be constructed so that they selectively supply photographic material to the selector, i.e., operate as photographic material source, or receive photographic material from the selector, i.e., function as a photographic material receiver. Preferably at least three mutually spaced-apart guide paths are provided (the number of sources and receivers is at least three).
For the formation of a connection, the selector can be constructed as a simple guide, but can also be constructed itself as a fork or split, so that, for example, two or more sources or receivers are connected together to a receptor or source by a selector in a defined connection condition, in order to connect more than one source with only one receiver in one connecting position. However, the selector is preferably constructed without split in order to avoid the above-described disadvantages of the split (lack of space).
The photographic material guidance arrangement can include several selectors, arranged, for example, in parallel or in series, in order to increase the number of the connections possible between guide paths leading to and from sources and receivers and to connect several sources with several receivers in parallel.
In order to make the selector movable, it Is preferably movably supported. For that, it can be, for example, guided on tracks, connected with a shaft, have a pivot axis and or be magnetically supported in order to provide a frictionless support as much as possible, and a fast change of positions.
Preferably, the position of the receiving and or the output end of a selector is changeable. The selector can therefore be provided, for example, with joints and/or pivotable arms. Preferably, the selector is constructed in addition or exclusively in such a way that it is completely pivotable in order to create with one pivotable movement a connection between different guide paths.
When the selector is pivotable, the selector, for example, can be rigidly connected with a pivot axis and the pivot movement created by a rotation of the pivot axis, or it is freely pivotal around the pivot axis and the pivot movement is achieved by way of a further actuator element, for example, a solenoid.
The selector can also be supported to pivot around several pivot axes in order to so achieve the highest flexibility possible. Especially, the selector can be constructed such that it engages with its receiving and/or its output end with a respectively opposite path and forms a reliable connection (for example, snaps together).
The guide paths are preferably constructed such that the distance between the guide paths to be connected by way of the selector (sources/receivers) is constant. Alternatively, however, the distance between the receiving end and the output end of the selector can be adjustable. The selector is thereby constructed, for example, extendable or expandable. It can therefore, for example,
Bower Kenneth W
Gretag Imaging AG
Walsh Donald P.
LandOfFree
Photographic material guiding arrangement does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Photographic material guiding arrangement, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Photographic material guiding arrangement will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3128823