Abstract: A magnetic tape cassette having a pair of spaced-apart reels rotatably mounted on a support wall. A length of tape has its opposite ends secured respectively to the two reels and its intermediate portion wound around the reels to form corresponding tape rolls whose diameters vary inversely as the tape is simultaneously unwound from one reel and wound onto the other. The two rolls have outer tape windings with recording surfaces thereon facing each other. Tape cleaning means is interposed between, and biased into contact with, the outer winding facing surfaces for continuously cleaning those surfaces as the tape is unwound from one reel and wound onto the other.

Abstract: A convenience-enhancing improvement upon a known dental film packet (FP) having sensitized film and protective opaque sheets (10 and 12, 14) enclosed by an openable light-tight envelope (16), one of whose opaque sheets (12c) covers substantially all of the film sheet (10) when both (12c and 10) are partially withdrawn after its envelope (16) has been opened, rendering the film sheet (10) inconvenient to grasp and remove alone. In a first embodiment, the improvement comprises shortening said one opaque sheet (12c') so that it (12c') remains sufficiently protective without covering a graspable end portion (10L') of the film sheet (10').

Abstract: A device for exchanging simple tools that do not need utility service is adapted to facilitate coupling one such tool to, and uncoupling it from, a movable robotic arm. The device comprises an attaching member attachable to the tool, a supporting member connected to the arm and having an open slot therein and a recessed upper surface adjacent to the slot, and a retaining member movably mounted to the arm above the supporting member and spring-biased toward the supporting member slot and upper surface. The attaching member, attached to the tool, is received by the open slot, supported by the recessed upper surface, and yieldably retained there by the spring-biased retaining member during use. The attaching member is then withdrawn from the slot, upper surface, and retaining member, and returned to a storage rack located nearby.

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 package for securely containing a generally rectanguloid article comprises a rectanguloid box that is closable to protectively enclose the article and openable to allow ready access thereto. The box when closed has a bottom wall, spaced-panel opposite side walls, a rear end wall, a top wall, and a multi-panel front end wall. All of the box walls are formed from a single pre-cut and -scored blank of corrugated paperboard, which includes various panels, flaps, and tabs that are adapted to be folded about respective score lines and positioned in cooperative relation to one another to provide the closable and openable box desired for securely containing the article.

Abstract: A light-tight package, for securely containing a light-sensitive article, comprises a mating pair of rectanguloid inner and outer boxes. The inner box, adapted to enclose the light-sensitive article, has a bottom wall, front and rear walls, opposite end walls, and a closable and openable top wall with an integral flap that tucks inside the front wall. The outer box, adapted to enclose the inner box, has a top wall, front and rear walls, and opposite end walls, but no bottom wall. The walls of both boxes are formed by selective folding of specially configured paperboard blanks.

Abstract: A web-spool for a cartridge comprises a cylindrical core having an outer periphery at each end thereof with at least one core lug and an annular ring extending radially outward from each periphery in axially spaced relation to form a core peripheral groove therebetween at each core end. The annular rings at both core ends have respective inner tapered surfaces that face each other to initially guide a web being wound onto the core, and also to provide clearance between the wound web edges and adjacent core flanges, to thereby accommodate any web telescoping and thus permit the flanges to be readily secured to the core ends without interfering with the web edges. Each flange has an axially inner surface with an annular throat extending axially outward therefrom for receiving the core lug(s) and annular ring.

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 packet for daylight-handling of photosensitive film and a cooperating holder mountable on a camera back. The packet has film removably attached to a carrier. The carrier has an asymmetrical tab at one end and a transverse light-locking element at its opposite end. Telescopically receivable over the carrier and film is a light-shielding envelope. The envelope has an open end that is closable by engagement with the light-locking element and a closed end with a squeezable area that overlies and, when grasped, squeezes the tab, to prevent inadvertent separation of the envelope from the carrier. An adjacent area, not overlying the tab, is graspable for pulling the squeezable area free of the tab and the envelope away from the film, to permit intended exposure. The envelope also has, near its open end, a stop strip for limiting envelope movement.

Abstract: A packet for daylight-handling of photosensitive film and a cooperating holder mountable on a camera back. The packet has film removably attached to a carrier. The carrier has an asymmetrical tab at one end and a transverse light-locking element at its opposite end. Telescopically receivable over the carrier and film is a light-shielding envelope. The envelope has an open end that is closable by engagement with the light-locking element and a closed end with a squeezable area that overlies and, when grasped, squeezes the tab, to prevent inadvertent separation of the envelope from the carrier. An adjacent area, not overlying the tab, is graspable for pulling the squeezable area free of the tab and the envelope away from the film, to permit intended exposure. The envelope also has, near its open end, a stop strip for limiting envelope movement.

Abstract: A light-tight cassette, and method of making same, for enclosing and dispensing a roll of photosensitive web material. The cassette comprises a folded fiberboard housing having a plurality of housing wall portions with oppositely projecting lateral edges which define opposite sides of the housing. The plurality includes two planar wall portions that extend perpendicularly to each other to respective ends thereof which are disposed in spaced alignment to provide an opening between them. Two extruded plastic light-locking members are attached to those wall portion ends, respectively, one such member extending across the opening toward the other member to form a web exit passageway therebetween. The one member includes a resiliently flexible, inwardly projecting cantilever portion that is biased toward an opposing portion of the other member, both such portions having light-locking material thereon.

Abstract: An optical-mechanical rotation sensing mechanism for a web-roll rotatably mounted within a cartridge comprises a flange on the web-roll, activating means on the flange, and an optical sensor, outside the cartridge, including a beam of light for sensing incremental rotation of the flange and web-roll. A movable flag on the cartridge exterior actuates the optical sensor in response to movement of the flag between a first position, in which the light beam is interrupted, and a second position in which the light beam is uninterrupted. A coupling means, including a light-shield hood, couples the flange activating means to the flag for moving the flag between its first and second positions.

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 customized packaging arrangement, for securely containing rectanguloid articles that vary in size and aspect ratio, comprises a combination of inner and outer packages. The inner package consists of first and second rectangular paperboard sheets that are joined in superposed, transverse relation at their central portions to provide a rectangular double-walled bottom for supporting an article thereon, the two sheets extending perpendicularly therefrom to provide opposite side and end portions, which are first folded against the article sides and ends, respectively, and are then folded and joined in overlapping relation upon the article top.

Abstract: A light-tight cassette, and method of making same, for enclosing and dispensing a roll of photosensitive web material. The cassette comprises a folded fiberboard housing having a plurality of housing wall portions with oppositely projecting lateral edges which define opposite sides of the housing. The plurality includes two planar wall portions that extend perpendicularly to each other to respective ends thereof which are disposed in spaced alignment to provide an opening between them. Two extruded plastic light-locking members are attached to those wall portion ends, respectively, one such member extending across the opening toward the other member to form a web exit passageway therebetween. The one member includes a resiliently flexible, inwardly projecting cantilever portion that is biased toward an opposing portion of the other member, both such portions having light-locking material thereon.