Abstract: A carton comprises first and second rectilinear side walls which are hingedly connected together along one of each of their edges. A third side wall structure, which may comprise one or more individual walls, is hingedly connected to second edges of the first and second side walls. The carton is completed by opposed end walls which are connected to the second side wall and to the third side wall structure, but not to the first side wall. A tear line extends across the second side wall to both ends of that wall's connection with the first side wall. When the tear line is severed, the first side wall and a portion of the second side wall are disengaged from the other portion of the second side wall. Additional tear line structure is provided in the second side wall between the first tear line and the remaining two corners of the second side wall, whereby the carton may be open flat when the tear line 4-structure are severed.

Abstract: An elongated filmstrip is provided having two superposed sheets of photographic material helically wound in a cartridge. Typically, one of the sheets is a photosensitive image receiver and the other is a coated processing web. The lateral edges of the filmstrip are sealed to inhibit leakage of processing composition which is spread between the sheets during image development. The sheet which is on the outside of each roll convolution will have a longer path length than the inner sheet, and has sufficient elasticity to accommodate the path length difference. The elastic sheet is provided with a strippable, relatively non-elastic support before being transported through the coating machinery. The sheet, together with its coating and non-elastic support is then adhered to the other sheet of the filmstrip and the support then removed.

Abstract: An elongated filmstrip is provided having two superposed sheets of photographic material helically wound in a cartridge. Typically, one of the sheets is a photosensitive image receiver and the other is a coated processing web. The lateral edges of the filmstrip are sealed to inhibit leakage of processing composition which is spread between the sheets during image development. The sheet which is on the outside of each roll convolution will have a longer path length than the inner sheet, and has sufficient elasticity to accommodate the path length difference. The elastic sheet is provided with a strippable, relatively non-elastic support before being transported through the coating machinery. The sheet, together with its coating and non-elastic support is then adhered to the other sheet of the filmstrip and the support then removed.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for determining ion activity in liquid solutions by the use of electrodes over which a cover sheet with an internal capillary bridge promotes ionic migration between the electrodes. The cover sheet is formed of a porous material ribbon encapsulated in a nonporous web. Preferably, the cover sheet is punched at each electrode to provide fluid access holes for receiving drops of liquid solutions.

Abstract: A film magazine, which is adapted to receive a stack of self-processing film units, is provided with a shuttle that reciprocates between a pair of pressure rollers to release the respective film units one at a time for movement into an exposure position, to engage and thereby support the released film unit for exposure, and to cause the exposed film unit to be removed from the exposure position between the rollers to initiate its processing. The shuttle is recessed at its leading end, and is thinner than the film units such that, upon rotation of the rollers, the respective dimensions of the shuttle and the film units will cause the rollers to: (1) engage the shuttle to initiate reciprocation of the shuttle until the film unit enters between the rollers, (2) disengage the shuttle and engage the film unit to advance the film unit between the rollers, and (3) when the film unit has passed entirely through the rollers, reengage the shuttle to continue its reciprocation.

Abstract: A photographic film cartridge assembly has front and rear opposed walls between which photographic film is movable to align image areas with an exposure window in the front wall. A film support surface is enterable into the cartridge assembly through the exposure window. An opening in the rear wall is aligned with the exposure window, and a pressure plate is retained on the rear wall for movement toward and away from the front wall. Baffle means on the pressure plate and the rear wall form a tortuous light path to prevent light entering the cartridge assembly through the opening from reaching the film.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for admixing liquid with concentrated, shear-thinable stiff pastes of photographic processing compositions to form photographic processing solutions, in which the pastes are thinned by shear forces and contacted with the diluting liquid under turbulent mixing conditions to dissolve the concentrate in the liquid and thereby form the solution. The paste, which does not flow and resists deformation under conditions of low shear, is displaced through an orifice where conditions of high shear render it free flowing and form a stream. One or more liquid jets are directed at the stream with sufficient force to disperse the concentrate and bring about intimate contact between the liquid and the composition under turbulent mixing conditions. A static mixer then completes the dissolution of the chemicals in the liquid.

Abstract: A tray is adapted to be rotatably mounted on chemical analysis apparatus and to receive a plurality of cups of fluid samples for chemical analysis. The tray is formed of a plurality of discrete arcuate segments independently removable from, and replaceable onto the analysis apparatus to form a circular composite tray when all the segments are present. The tray is provided with a plurality of replaceable metering tips, one per fluid sample cup, which may be radially aligned with the cups. The tray segments are mounted on a carrier which can be removed from the chemical analysis apparatus with all the tray segments as a unit.

Abstract: An opaque casing houses a plurality of instant photographic film units each of which has spaced apart photosensitive and cover sheets and an access hole for introduction of processing fluid into the volume between the sheets. The casing has a container of processing fluid. Fluid passage means from the container terminate at a small cross-sectional area opening positioned to align with the access holes of successively exposed film units so that processing fluid can be introduced into the film units.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a photographic film unit suitable for exposure and self-processing includes a substantially rigid mount having a central opening therethrough. A premounted film element is supported in the opening recessed between the mount's front and rear surfaces. A strippable cover sheet extends across the front of the film element to form a space for spreading processing liquid. A film support plug is received in the central opening rearwardly of the film element to inhibit the processing liquid from causing the film element to bow away from the cover sheet when the processing liquid is spread. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the film unit further includes a stripping sheet having a mask portion between the film element and the cover sheet, a backing sheet on the rear surface of the mount overlying the central opening, and a hinge portion interconnecting the mask portion and the backing sheet.

Abstract: A dispensing container for light-sensitive strip material is pre-loaded with the strip material leader extending through a slot in the container body. The slot has a movable closure member. Once the strip material has been inserted in the container with the leading end extending through the slot, the container is closed by a cover, and the closure member is moved to close the slot.

Abstract: A photographic cartridge assembly includes (1) an opaque casing with an exposure window in its front wall and (2) a film unit rotatably mounted in the casing such that successive film portions can be aligned with the exposure window. An opaque cover member is mounted in the casing between the front wall and the film unit for oscillatory movement about an axis, both parallel to the axis of rotation of the film unit and between the exposure window and the axis of rotation of the film unit, into and out of alignment with the exposure window.

Abstract: A photographic film unit comprising a preferably disk-shaped photographic film sheet that is attached to a central hub and which may be incorporated in a compact cartridge assembly for acceptance by a cooperating camera. The film disk defines an array of photographic imaging areas effectively ringing the hub for sequential positioning at a cartridge exposure window for exposure to scene light by the camera. Incorporated structural features facilitate manipulation of the film unit not only during use in the camera but also during post-exposure operations such as photographic processing, printing and viewing.

Abstract: A container is disclosed for dispensing strip material having a light-sensitive layer on one side. A slot through which the strip material can be pulled from a roll of such material within the container has a first lip and a second lip spring resiliently urged toward the first lip. The lips are shaped so that tension in the strip material therebetween produces a resultant force which opposes the resilient force to reduce or eliminate pressure between the light-sensistive layer and the first lip.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for thermoforming articles from plastic sheet material and for forming holes in the thermoformed articles in a single operation involves heating the material and vacuum drawing the heated material into a mold cavity which has an aperture corresponding in shape to the desired hole. The underside of the mold cavity is tapered outwardly away from the aperture, and, as the sheet material is drawn into the cavity, it follows the taper, is thinned, and is trapped in the cavity. The hole in the article is created when the sheet material not drawn into the cavity is stripped from the mold.

Abstract: An article and its method of manufacture is disclosed wherein three sheets of thermoplastic web material are bonded to form a laminated unit with an object captured therein. Energy director element sets are disposed between adjacent sheets in an orientation such that when the layers are brought together with the object therebetween and a compressive force and high frequency vibratory energy are applied to the unit, the pressure and vibratory energy are concentrated at a first portion of the energy director elements so that the thermoplastic material in the region of the concentrated pressure softens. A second portion of the energy director elements is aligned with, but spaced from the object to be captured between the sheets. The spacing corresponds generally with the thickness of the energy director elements so that, as the first portion of the energy director elements melts during sonic bonding, the second portion of the elements approaches the object.

Abstract: A film magazine contains a roll of film having an image portion and a leader. The filmstrip is perforated at predetermined intervals with larger perforations in the image portion than in the leader. A camera mechanism is disclosed which uses the perforations to advance the filmstrip, detects the size of the perforations, and meters only when a large, image portion perforation is advanced to a predetermined position in the camera.

Abstract: A film magazine contains a roll of film wound on a core with a journal rotatable in a split bearing. The journal and the bearing have complementary, non-circular cross-sectional surfaces which inhibit unwinding rotation of the core until the bearing halves are separated by insertion into a camera.

Abstract: A film cartridge assembly is disclosed including a two-part casing with a film disk rotatably mounted therein. Individual image areas on the film disk are sequentially aligned with an exposure window in one casing part by rotation of the disk. An opaque cover member is mounted in the casing for reciprocating movement into and out of alignment with the exposure window to control admission of light to the film disk. Coupling means interconnect the film disk and the cover member to impart rotational movement to the film disk during and as a result of at least a portion of the movement of the cover member.

Abstract: A container for dispensing reagent slides into apparatus which uses the slides to carry out quantitative chemical analysis of fluid samples. The container is formed of a plurality of casing parts which, when joined together, for a generally rectangular housing with a chamber for receiving a stack of the slides. The container fits into a complementary shaped nest in the analysis apparatus and has discontinuity means for inhibiting improper orientation of the container in the nest. A notch code on the container cooperates with structure on the nest to inhibit placing into the nest a container carrying reagent slides improper for the analysis test to be conducted.