Abstract: Method and apparatus for preparing photographic film units having image frame associated encoded data. The method has the steps of: providing a filmstrip having a plurality of image frames and encoded data relating to individual image frames; reading the encoded data; locating the image frames; identifying data units; correlating individual data units and individual image frames; and rerecording data units on the filmstrip in physical association with respective image frames.

Abstract: Film slides bearing encoded data and methods for preparing them. The film slides each include a transparency having an image section bearing a visual image and a data section bearing encoded data relating to the visual image; and a mount including a data portion bearing magnetically recorded data relating to said visual image. The data portion of the mount physically supports the transparency.

Abstract: A film projector for use with processed photographic film having magnetically recorded image format data physically associated with individual image frames. The projector has a light source emitting a collimated beam and a film holder disposed to hold individual frames of film in the beam. The projector has a formatter displaceable between at least two different formatting positions. The formatter partially blocks the beam in at least one of the formatting positions. The projector has a projection lens system that receives the beam propagated through the film. The projector has a sensor disposed to read the frame-associated image format data. The sensor produces a signal responsive to the image configuration information. A drive is operatively connected to the formatter. The drive displaces the formatter between the formatting positions responsive to the signal.

Abstract: Heat generated by the projection lamp in a projecting apparatus is used to individually pop slides having improper curvature due to heat deformation. According to the invention, a slide positioned in the projection gate of the projector exhibits incorrect curvature, preferably as detected by the autofocus system of the projector, a door is opened allowing dry heat from the projection lamp to be applied directly to the slide, preferably until the slide reverts to a proper or normal curvature.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically advancing or removing a filmstrip from a reel and a reel for holding a photosensitive filmstrip during photofinishing. The reel includes a first side wall and a second side wall substantially parallel to the first side wall. The first and second side walls each having a wall member disposed in a spiral pattern so as to form a spiral path for receiving the edges of a photosensitive filmstrip between said side walls. A clutch mechanism is provided on each side wall for advancing the filmstrip along the spiral path in a first direction and preventing movement in the opposite direction. A spring member is provided for disengaging the clutch mechanism so as to allow removal of the filmstrip from the spiral path. The clutch mechanism may include a movable ramp for allowing movement of the photosensitive material in either direction along the spiral path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing of filmstrip contained in a film cartridge. The apparatus having at least one processing tank for holding a processing solution, a holding mechanism for holding and retaining a film cartridge containing a filmstrip having a leading edge and trailing edge, the trailing edge being secured to the cartridge, a transport mechanism for moving the holding mechanism along the apparatus so that the holding mechanism can be located at a workstation located at one of said at least one processing tank, and a film drive mechanism for moving the film out of or back into the film cartridge while the end of the film is still attached to the cartridge.

Abstract: An external projection lens aperture, including a holder; an adjustable aperture mounted in the holder; and a self-centering clamping mechanism mounted in the holder for attaching the holder to an end of a projection lens barrel.

Abstract: A film cartridge is provided with an internal mechanism for engaging and pulling a leading end of film from a roll to extend the film through a cartridge exit port. A one-way clutch, including a rotational element captured in a ramped cage, moves in one direction to capture the film between the ball and cage and advance the film through the exit. Movement in the opposite direction releases the film and repositions the clutch for the next advance. Still more specifically, the cartridge includes a second and opposite working one-way clutch for preventing premature retraction of the film. A release mechanism is employed for disabling both clutches when desired for intentional rewinding.

Abstract: A slide projector for both front and rear projection includes a shallow lens tunnel for mounting a simple wide-angle lens. In a first aspect, a second lens port is added to a conventional slide projector designed for front projection. A mirror pivots to invert and direct light rays from an illuminated slide to the simple wide-angle lens. In a second aspect, only the shallow lens tunnel is present and a rotating slide gate orients the slide, depending on operation in front or rear projection mode. Front projection in the second aspect requires a lens tunnel extension.

Abstract: A film cassette comprises a lighttight housing, a spool rotatably supported inside the housing, a filmstrip wound onto the spool, a film leader attached to a leading end of the filmstrip, and a sprocket coaxially connected to the spool with identical pitch teeth adapted to be received in respective perforations along an edge section of the leader wider than the filmstrip for advancing the leader (but not the filmstrip) from the housing when the sprocket and the spool are rotated in a film unwinding direction. Among the perforations that receive the teeth the perforation closest to the filmstrip is longer than the others to allow anyone of the teeth to readily enter that perforation when the leader is wound onto the spool after the filmstrip.

Abstract: A film cassette comprises a spool supported inside a shell for rotation to thrust a filmstrip coiled about the spool to the exterior of the shell whether the filmstrip is unexposed or is partly exposed, and a film exposure status indicator secured to the spool for rotation from an unexposed position for providing a visible indication that the filmstrip is unexposed to respective partly exposed and fully exposed positions for providing visible indications that the filmstrip is only partly exposed or is substantially exposed. A spool lock is supported for movement to arrest the spool with the film exposure status indicator in the unexposed, partly exposed or fully exposed position, and to release the spool. According to the invention, the spool lock includes a film speed indicator for providing a detectable indication of the speed of the filmstrip which is not detectable when the spool lock is arresting the spool and is detectable when the spool lock has released the spool.

Abstract: A film cartridge comprises a cartridge shell for housing a filmstrip, and a coded mechanism for providing an indication of one or more properties of the filmstrip. The coded mechanism includes a cavity formed in the outside of the shell to be accessible, a cover affixed to the outside of the shell that completely covers the cavity, and at least one cut-out in the cover uniquely positioned over the cavity to permit entry into the cavity only through the cut-out to provide an indication of one or more properties of a filmstrip housed in the shell.

Abstract: A film cassette comprising a cassette shell having an end face with an end opening, and a rotatable spool core supported inside the shell with one end protruding through the end opening to outside the shell, is characterized in that a covering label is affixed to the end face of the shell and to the one end of the spool core to prevent rotation of the spool core. The covering label is frangible to allow it to be broken to permit rotation of the spool core and to provide a visible indication the cassette was used. The end face of the shell has a relieved area which immediately surrounds the end opening in the end face along a location beneath the covering label. When the cassette is loaded into a photographic camera, a fracturing piece is received into the relieved area which breaks the covering label.

Abstract: A film assemblage comprises an elongate filmstrip and a relatively shorter leader adhered together at respective overlapping areas and adapted to be wound onto a take-up spool in a camera beginning with the leader and followed by the filmstrip. The filmstrip and/or the leader has a hole located and dimensioned relative to the overlapping areas to receive at least one of the overlapping areas when the leader and the filmstrip are wound onto a take-up spool in a camera. Since one of the overlapping areas is located in the hole when the filmstrip and the leader are coiled tightly about the take-up spool, the double thickness of the overlapping areas will not leave any pressure marks on the filmstrip.

Abstract: A photographic camera to be used with a film cassette having film speed indicator means movable between a storage position in which it cannot be detected to provide an indication of the speed of a filmstrip inside the cassette and a use position in which it can be detected to provide the indication, is characterized in that a loading chamber is configured to receive the film cassette with the film speed indicator means in the storage position, actuation means is located in the loading chamber for moving the film speed indicator from the storage position to the use position responsive to insertion of the film cassette into the loading chamber, and sensing means is located in the loading chamber for detecting the film speed indicator means when it is in the use position to determine the speed of the filmstrip inside the cassette.

Abstract: In a film cassette, a cassette shell has a pair of throat portions which together define a film passageway to the exterior of the shell, a spool is supported for rotation in an unwinding direction inside the shell, a convoluted film roll whose outermost convolution is a film leader is coiled about the spool, and a stripper is located immediately inwardly of the passageway to be received between a leading end of the film leader and a next-inward convolution of the film roll responsive to rotation of the spool in the unwinding direction to divert the leading end into the passageway to permit the leading end to be advanced from the shell.

Abstract: A film cassette comprises a film spool supported within a lighttight shell for rotation to thrust a filmstrip coiled about the spool to the exterior of the shell whether the filmstrip is unexposed or is only partly exposed, and a film exposure status indicator secured to the spool for rotation from an unexposed position for providing a visible indication the filmstrip is unexposed to respective partly exposed and fully exposed positions for providing visible indications the filmstrip is only partly exposed and is substantially exposed. According to the invention, the spool includes a coaxial opening in which is located integral one-way access means having different rotational orientations when the status indicator is in its unexposed, partly exposed and fully exposed positions for allowing various only one-way access to the coaxial opening corresponding to the respective positions of the status indicator, in order to engage and rotate the spool.

Abstract: A film cassette comprises a film spool supported inside a lighttight cassette shell for rotation to thrust a filmstrip coiled about the spool to the exterior of the shell whether the filmstrip is unexposed or is only partly exposed, and a film exposure status indicator supported for movement relative to the shell from an unexposed position to respective partly exposed and fully exposed positions for providing visible indications that the filmstrip is only partly exposed or is substantially exposed.

Abstract: A photographic camera to be used with a film cassette having a locking member movable between respective locking and non-locking positions for arresting and releasing a film exposure status indicator in any one of several exposure status positions, is characterized in that a loading chamber is configured to receive the film cassette with the indicator in at least one of its exposure status positions and actuation means is located in the loading chamber for moving the locking member from its locking position to its non-locking position responsive to insertion of the cassette into the loading chamber and for moving the locking member from the non-locking position to the locking position responsive to removal of the cassette from the loading chamber.

Abstract: A film cassette comprises a film spool supported inside a lighttight cassette shell for rotation to thrust a filmstrip coiled about the spool automatically to the exterior of the shell, and a film exposure status indicator supported for movement with respect to the shell from an unexposed position for providing a visible indication that the filmstrip is unexposed to an exposed position for providing a visible indication that the filmstrip is exposed. According to the invention, the shell and the status indicator include mutually engagable pin and hole for locking the indicator in its unexposed position to prevent the indicator from being manually moved to its exposed position but which can be disengaged by a suitable device in a camera, for example, to unlock the indicator to permit the indicator to be mechanically moved to the exposed position.