Abstract: Uniting bands in the form of heat-sealable labels which bear encoded information are applied to exposed photographic films to join the films end-to-end. The encoded information is decoded by a reader before the labels are applied to the films to thus ensure that the hot sealing member which is used to apply labels cannot destroy or distort encoded information prior to decoding. Decoded information is used for the application of corresponding information to envelopes for exposed and developed films and for the prints of images of the respective film frames.

Abstract: Cartridges which contain exposed photographic roll films are admitted into a duct to descend past a reader which reads the bar codes of the cartridges and transmits to a microprocessor signals denoting the type and the length of each film. The microprocessor evaluates such signals and permits automatic splicing of films of a selected type end-to-end preparatory to introduction into a developing machine. Cartridges with films of other types are segregated from cartridges with films of the selected type, the same as cartridges which do not bear any bar codes. The microprocessor compares the encoded information pertaining to the length of each film with information denoting the actual length of the respective film and causes a printer to encode the information on envelopes for the exposed and developed films. The reels for films which are shorter than denoted by the respective bar codes are removed by an attendant and are inspected for the possible presence of one or more exposed frames.

Abstract: Apparatus for affording access to a dark chamber in a housing wherein successive customer films are spliced together has a door with a window which is normally sealed by a pair of sealing devices one of which has a cuff with two normally closed openings for insertion of hands and the other of which has two overlapping curtain panels. The operator inserts the hands into the openings of the cuff and thereupon pushes one or both panels aside to reach into the dark chamber when the need arises. The panels seal the chamber from the outside even if some light penetrates through one or both openings of the cuff, and the openings are filled by the wrists of the operator when the panel or panels are deformed to afford access to a defective film or cassette for film in the dark chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting cartridges for exposed photographic roll films to an opening station has a downwardly sloping duct whose inlet can receive the shells of successive cartridges only in a predetermined orientation. The lower end of an inserted container or cartridge comes to rest on a first gate and the gate is retracted from the duct so as to permit gravitational descent of the inserted cartridge only if the orientation of the inserted cartridge is proper. The cartridge which descends below the retracted first gate impinges upon a cylindrical bolt which tilts the cartridge approximately 90 degrees so that the axis of the shell of such tilted cartridge is substantially horizontal before the cartridge descends onto a second retractible gate and thereupon onto a third gate in the bottom of the duct. The inclination of the duct with reference to a horizontal plane is at least 45 degrees.

Abstract: Apparatus for unwinding exposed customer roll films from reels immediately upon expulsion of reels from their cartridges has a composite housing which can be opened up at an unwinding station to receive a reel in the open position and to thereupon close preparatory to unwinding of the film by means of a friction wheel which is movable sideways into engagement with the outermost film convolution between the flanges of the reel at the unwinding station. A stripping device is adjacent to the inlet of a channel which is defined for the roll film by the housing in closed position, and the stripping device engages and directs the leader of the film into the channel as soon as the reel starts to rotate under the action of the friction wheel. The friction wheel and the stripping device are disposed diametrically opposite each other, and the length of the housing is less than the distance between the flanges of the reel at the unwinding station.

Abstract: Apparatus for expelling reels with convoluted exposed roll films from successive film cartridges has a gate which supports a cartridge at an opening station between an axially movable mandrel and an axially movable pusher. A holder with four or more equidistant idler wheels having sharp edges is adjacent to one end of the shell of the cartridge which is located between the mandrel and the pusher to hold the shell against axial movement with the pusher when the latter is shifted axially toward the mandrel to bear upon the core of the reel in the cartridge and to expel the reel as well as one end wall of the cartridge from the shell while the mandrel transmits or is ready to transmit torque to the core in a direction to wind the film onto the core. The idler rollers are thereupon disengaged from the shell and the gate is retracted so that the shell can leave the opening station by gravity before the next cartridge enters the opening station by gravity feed.

Abstract: A container for exposed photographic roll film is so positioned in a film removing apparatus that the observation and exposure openings of its bridge register with a pivotable pusher which thereupon moves forwardly to expel the leader of the backing strip into the nip of a first pair of advancing rolls. The backing strip extracts the film from the takeup section of the container, and a deflector causes the leader of the film to enter a channel wherein the film advances toward a second pair of advancing rolls. The deflector and/or the first pair of advancing rolls defines for the backing strip a path which makes an angle of 30.degree.-60.degree. with the direction of travel of backing strip from the takeup section of the container toward the exposure opening. This insures that the film is not scratched during withdrawal, even if it is tightly wound onto the takeup reel and even if the dimensions of the container deviate from optimum dimensions.