Abstract: A high-precision punch and die method wherein a pair of pneumostatic bearings are mounted on a rigid frame structure in registered spaced-apart relation to each other, each bearing having a plurality of journal segments provided with a pneumostatic bearing surface and adjustably mounted on the frame structure. A segmented die is mounted on the frame structure in registered spaced-apart relation to (and preferably between) the two bearings, the die having a plurality of die segments provided with a cutting edge and adjustably mounted on the frame structure. The bearing journal segments and the die segments are adjusted, by use of a mating set-up bar, to achieve required sizing and alignment of the bearings and die. A punch is then positioned in the bearings for guided movement through the die, the punch having an integral pneumostatic bearing surface closely facing each journal-segment bearing surface and a cutting edge adapted to coact with each die-segment cutting edge.

Abstract: A comfort-enhancing improvement upon a known dental film packet having sensitized film and protective opaque sheets enclosed by a light-tight envelope that includes an opposed pair of generally parallel walls covering the sheets, those walls being joined together along facing marginal areas thereof surrounding the sheets so as to define a main body portion and a perimetric edge portion of the envelope. The improvement includes a pliant bead of substantially non-porous, non-toxic, polymeric elastomeric material, preferably a silicone resin, that is molded in situ around at least part of the perimetric edge portion to encapsulate that part of the edge portion with such material and thereby provide the encapsulated part with a softer, smoother, and more rounded peripheral surface.

Abstract: A comfort-enhancing improvement upon a known dental film packet having sensitized film and protective opaque sheets enclosed by a light-tight envelope that includes an opposed pair of generally parallel walls covering the sheets, those walls being joined together along facing marginal areas thereof surrounding the sheets so as to define a main body portion and a perimetric edge portion of the envelope. The improvement comprises a pliant bead of substantially non-porous, non-toxic, polymeric elastomeric material, preferably a silicone resin, that is molded in situ around at least part of the perimetric edge portion to encapsulate that part of the edge portion with such material and thereby provide the encapsulated part with a softer, smoother, and more rounded peripheral surface.

Abstract: For use with weighting apparatus of the electromagnetic-load-compensation type, where a stirring or other magnet creating an external magnetic field is disposed near such apparatus, a protective shield is interposed between that magnet and the apparatus, in flux-transmitting relation to the magnet, so as to shield the apparatus from the externally created field. The shield is formed from ferromagnetic material of sufficiently high permeability to provide a path of least reluctance for transmitting flux from the external field, thereby preventing such flux from interfering with intended operation of the apparatus.

Abstract: A method for securing first and second parts together via a spheroid, wherein the first part has a hole in it slightly smaller than the spheroid while the second part and spheroid each include ultrasonically fusible material. The method comprises placing the first part against the second part, placing the spheroid into the hole in the first part so that a portion of the spheroid extends through the hole and into contact with a portion of the second part, placing a concentrating horn of an ultrasonic power source in contact with the spheroid, and ultrasonically vibrating the horn to beat it against the spheroid and thus impart ultrasonic energy to both the spheroid and the second part, thereby heat-softening the spheroid and second part and causing the spheroid material to flow through the hole, fuse with the second part material, and overlap an adjacent portion of the first part, whereby the two parts, via the spheroid, are firmly secured together.

Abstract: A system for securing first and second parts together via a spheroid, wherein the first part has an aperture slightly smaller than the spheroid while the second part and spheroid each include ultrasonically fusible material. The system comprises means for supporting the two parts in superposed relation so that the aperture in the first part overlies a portion of the second part, means containing the spheroid among a plurality thereof, and means including a concentrating horn for applying ultrasonic energy to the spheroid, the horn having a tip provided with a hemispherical depression connected to a source of vacuum for receiving and releasably retaining the spheroid. The system also comprises means for moving the horn from the containing means, where the tip receives and retains the spheroid, to the parts-supporting means, where the tip deposits and releases the spheroid in the aperture so that a portion of the spheroid extends therethrough into contact with the underlying portion of the second part.

Abstract: For use with weighing apparatus of the electromagnetic-load-compensation type, where a stirring or other magnet creating an external magnetic field is disposed near such apparatus, a protective shield is interposed between that magnet and the apparatus, in flux-transmitting relation to the magnet, so as to shield the apparatus from the externally created field. The shield is formed from ferromagnetic material of sufficiently high permeability of provide a path of least reluctance for transmitting flux from the external field, thereby preventing such flux from interfering with intended operation of the apparatus.

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, at one end, an asymmetrical tab bearing adhesive material and, at its opposite end, a transverse light-locking element. 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 sealing area that overlies and, when grasped, adheres to the tab, to prevent inadvertent separation of the envelope from the carrier. An adjacent area, not overlying the tab, is graspable for pulling the sealing 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, at one end, an asymmetrical tab bearing adhesive material and, at its opposite end, a transverse light-locking element. 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 sealing area that overlies and, when grasped, adheres to the tab, to prevent inadvertent separation of the envelope from the carrier. An adjacent area, not overlying the tab, is graspable for pulling the sealing 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 readily adjustable mold is provided for transforming a heated plastic sheet into an adapter intended to restrain a received article from moving inside a container larger than the article. The adapter to be formed has a base configured to fit snugly within the container and a plurality of projections on the base that are spaced from each other to receive the article snugly therebetween. The mold comprises means including side and bottom walls that define a cavity with peripheral and medial regions, for operatively positioning the plastic sheet for formation of the adapter, and means disposed in the cavity peripheral region and moveable toward and away from the cavity medial region, for selectively locating the projections on the adapter base. The locating means in the peripheral region may include one or more projection-forming member(s) slideably mounted on each of at least two of the side walls for selective movement toward and away from the medial region.

Abstract: A rapidly adjustable mold for thermoforming plastic sheet material into different-sized containers is disclosed. The mold comprises a bottom wall and four orthogonally oriented, readily moveable sidewalls, which together define a mold cavity that is rapidly adjustable to produce rectangular containers of various sizes and aspect ratios. The first sidewall extends from a bottom wall corner and alongside a first bottom wall edge; and is vertically moveable but horizontally stationary. The second sidewall extends from the same corner but alongside a second bottom wall edge perpendicular to the first; and is both vertically moveable and horizontally moveable along the second edge. The third sidewall extends perpendicularly from an end of the second sidewall and parallel with the first sidewall over the bottom wall; and is vertically stationary but horizontally moveable in directions parallel with both edges.

Abstract: A light-tight cassette is disclosed for handling and dispensing a roll of photosensitive web material. The cassette comprises a plurality of side walls erected or formed from a single sheet of material in which the ends thereof are folded back upon themselves in a triangular configuration to define a pair of faceted tubes. When the cassette is assembled, a narrow web exit passageway is defined by two opposed facets of the respective tubes. The side walls comprise first and second side walls of convexly outwardly curved cross sections adjacent the tubes. A pair of end closure caps serve to close the side edges of the side walls and to support the roll and core for unwinding rotation.

Abstract: A film roll container is disclosed of the type having mating receptacle and cover portions. The portions have facing laterally extending central spindles for rotatably supporting opposite ends of a film roll when the cover portion is mounted on the receptacle portion. The portions further have securing means comprising a plurality of spaced-apart first and second mating frusto-conical bosses. The first boss has a flat end portion having an annular recess such that the end portion in cross section is W-shaped. The second boss has an axial V-shaped cavity in the end thereof such that the second boss defines a projection of W-shaped cross section which is nestable in light-tight relation within the annular recess.

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: An article-container adapter is provided to restrain an article from moving inside a container that has sidewalls which define an interior space larger than the article. The adapter has a base, configured to fit snugly inside the container, and a plurality of projections disposed on the base and spaced from each other to receive the article snugly therebetween. The base includes a floor panel having perimetric edge portions engageable with the container sidewalls; and the projections extend upwardly from the floor panel with article-confining surfaces perpendicular thereto. The base may also include outer wall sections extending upwardly from the floor panel perimetric edge portions to engage the container sidewalls; and the projections may then extend inwardly from the outer wall sections to position their article-confining surfaces for engagement by the inserted article. The base may further include a flange extending outwardly from an upper end portion of each outer wall section.

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 to its loaded position automatically activates a rigid cassette shutter opening device to open the shutter, and causes the holder to move from its loading/unloading position into its recording position. The holder is moved by a cassette ejecting mechanism from its recording position to its loading/unloading position. The ejecting mechanism then ejects the disk cassette at least partially out of the holder.

Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a rotatable drum having a centrally disposed tape storage device and a surrounding circumferential wall with one or more openings therein through which tape passes from the storage device to and helically around the outer surface of the wall and then back inside the drum. A cooperating recorder/reader head is mounted outside the drum in alignment with the tape to record/read a slant track thereon as the drum rotates. The tape storage device may be indexable to to incrementally advance the tape along the wall surface, or the head may be indexable so as to incrementally move across the tape, each time the drum completes one revolution, to thereby record/read a succession of slant tracks as the drum rotates through successive revolutions. Such a cassette offers the combined advantages of a fast-access disk and a mass-storage tape.

Abstract: An improved photographic cassette in which the plate and screen adjacent the front cover on the tube side of the cassette is unsecured to the front cover; that is, free floating, thereby achieving more uniform sheet-to-plate contact throughout the entire area of the sheet. The cassette also has a pressure plate and means forming a part of the pressure relieving means for engaging and holding the floating plate against the front cover upon actuation of the cassette pressure relieving means. The floating plate engaging and holding means facilitates separation of the pressure and floating plates and unblocking of the cassette entry slot by the floating plate to allow a sheet to freely enter the slot.

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: An apparatus and method are disclosed for preventing clockspringing of a wound roll of web material within a cartridge during storage and shipment. The roll of web material is mounted on a central core arranged to rotate with the roll of material within the cartridge. The core has a notch that is alignable with a slot in the cartridge. A clip separate from the core and cartridge has one end thereof insertable through the notch and slot for locking the core to the cartridge, thereby preventing clockspringing of the roll of web material.