Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A cartonless recyclable package for protectively enclosing a product, such as photographic film, comprises a recyclable plastic container and mating cap with recyclably compatible plastic labels thereon bearing product information. One such label on the cap has readily tearable tab portions extending therefrom and tautly secured to the container, to tear apart when the cap is first removed. A second label, secured to the container and overlapping the tearable tab portions, includes inner and outer sheets separably adhered together. The outer sheet can be peeled back to reveal information on the interfacing surfaces of both sheets, and then re-adhered to the inner sheet. A third label, separably adhered to the first label on the cap, may be peeled away and re-adhered to some other surface for reference after the product has been removed.

Abstract: A cartonless recyclable packages for protectively enclosing a product, such as photographic film, comprises a recyclable plastic container and mating cap with recyclably compatible plastic labels thereon bearing product information. One such label on the cap has readily tearable tab portions extending therefrom and tautly secured to the container, to tear apart when the cap is first removed. A second label, secured to the container and overlapping the tearable tab portions, includes inner and outer sheets separably adhered together. The outer sheet can be peeled back to reveal information on the interfacing surfaces of both sheets, and then re-adhered to the inner sheet. A third label, separably adhered to the first label on the cap, may be peeled away and re-adhered to some other surface for reference after the product has been removed.

Abstract: A spool for photographic film has a generally cylindrical core with flanges at the end portions of the core. A slot through the core receives an end portion of the film that is to be wound onto the spool. Hooks in the slot are engaged with the film through apertures in the film for attaching of the film to the spool. In order to avoid locking of two spools together during bulk handling, as can occur when a flange of one spool enters the slot of another spool, the outer edge of one wall defining the slot is chamfered and generally V-shaped. The edge of the wall forms a large obtuse angle and is substantially aligned with the tip ends of the hooks so that the chamfered wall and the tip ends prevent a spool flange from becoming locked in the slot of another spool.

Abstract: A spool for holding photographic film, consisting of a core member provided with flanges between which flexible film may be wound and an elongated slot into which the end portion of a film strip may be entered and fastened. Adjacent the flanges are raised shoulders extending about the circumference of the core and above the core surface. The shoulders each gradually increase in thickness in the film-winding direction and terminate in a stepped portion corresponding to the thickness of the film. In a preferred embodiment, shoulder portions accommodate the edge portion of a full-width film, have an initial height above the surface level of said spool, and then rise gradually to an additional height approximately equal to the thickness of the film. When the full-width portion of the film is juxtaposed the spool flanges, said shoulders provide the film with a substantially level transition surface for each convolution of the full-width film, thereby avoiding imperfections on the spool-core surface.

Abstract: A record disk cartridge (34) is disclosed for use in a disk drive unit wherein the cartridge has a compartment containing a record disk (10) therein. The cartridge (34) has aperture means (42) (44) for insertion therethrough of a transducer head of the disk drive unit and through which the record disk can be engaged for rotation. A shutter mechanism (46) (48) associated with the aperture means is movable between an aperture-closed position at least partially closing the aperture means, and an aperture-opened position opening the aperture means. The shutter mechanism is biased by a spring (52) toward its aperture-closed position. An abutment member (54) of the disk drive unit enters into the cartridge to a position within the outer circumference of the record disk when the cartridge is moved to its recording position.

Abstract: A disk cassette loading/unloading mechanism for use in a disk recorder or the like of the type having a disk drive mechanism comprises a pivotally mounted holder for holding a disk cassette. The holder is pivotally movable between a loading/unloading position in which a disk cassette is inserted into the holder to its loaded position and unloaded therefrom, and a recording position in which the disk in the disk cassette can be drivingly engaged by the disk drive mechanism. Insertion of a disk cassette into the holder toward its loaded position initially cams a flexibly mounted shutter opening abutment member into an operative position, in which it opens the cassette shutter blades during final movement of the cassette to its loaded position.

Abstract: A storage disk drive mechanism is disclosed for rotatably driving a storage disk comprising a flexible circular information recording medium attached to a hub member. The hub member is of the type having an enlarged central positioning aperture and a radially spaced drive aperture. The drive mechanism comprises a rotatable clutch plate having an axial positioning pin for receiving the positioning aperture of the hub member when a disk assembly containing the storage disk is mounted thereon. The clutch plate further has a spring member mounted thereon having a smooth uninterrupted laterally extending beveled claw extending into the driving aperture. Upon rotation of the clutch plate, the claw drivingly engages a driven surface defined by the driving aperture for centering, retaining and driving the storage disk.

Abstract: A cassette indicating mechanism is disclosed for a cassette of the type having top and bottom halves and an information recording medium interposed therebetween. The indicating mechanism indicates whether information can or cannot be recorded on the recording medium. The cassette indicating mechanism is in a normal recording position in which a colored portion thereof is visible and preferably blocks an interfacing detector of a recording device. The blocked detector actuates the recording device to permit recording on the recording medium. The indicating mechanism is movable to a non-recording position in which the colored portion is hidden and the interfacing detector of the recording device is preferably unblocked. The unblocked detector actuates the recording device to prevent recording on the recording medium.

Abstract: A disk cassette is disclosed comprising an information storage disk enclosed within a lined jacket which is housed in a cassette formed of top and bottom halves of rigid material. A pressure spring mechanism is provided on the top and bottom halves for sandwiching the jacket therebetween, and is located adjacent to and upstream of registering radial slots in the cassette and jacket through which transducers may extend into information transferring contact with the disk.

Abstract: A latch operating lever is mounted on one panel of a cassette or the like. The latch lever has a hook portion at one end captured between a lid on the panel and a latch plate secured to and spaced from the lid. The latch plate has a hinge bar over which the hook portion is mounted, and an opening below the hinge bar through which the free end of the hook portion extends. The latch plate engages a catch spring on another panel for releasably latching the panels together. Pivotal movement of the latch operating lever causes the free end of the hook portion to engage the catch spring and disengage it from the latch plate for releasing the panels.