Abstract: A film cassette has a shell having a film space and a module slot external to the film space. A filmstrip is coiled within the film space. A memory module is loosely-retained in the module slot. The memory module is reversibly separable from the shell. A photographic apparatus includes the film cassette and a photographic device. The photographic device has a body having a cassette station defining a site for a locator of the film cassette; a film transport disposed in operative relation to the cassette station; and a terminal block disposed in the cassette station. The terminal block is biased toward the contact site. The terminal block includes a plurality of leads and a cam unit having at least one cam surface. The cam unit is aligned with the site for the locator.

Abstract: In a film cassette, a cartridge shell has respective sections that are asssembled together to define an internal film chamber and a film passageway leading out of the chamber. A light-trapping material is located in the passageway to prevent ambient light from entering the chamber. According to the invention, at least one of the shell sections has a frame device hingedly connected to the one section for folding against the one section to secure the light-trapping material in place and for unfolding to release the light-trapping material to permit it to be removed.

Abstract: A new film cassette assembly comprises a thrust type cassette and a roll of a photographic film having particular properties. One such property is a low coefficient of friction between the emulsion side and back side of the film. In preferred embodiments the film has a stiffness sufficient to avoid buckling of the film when the film spool is rotated in the unwinding direction and is very thin. Most preferably, it is formed from a hydrophilic copolyester having the desired stiffness.

Abstract: In a film cassette, a film spool comprises a spool core supported for rotation in an unwinding direction to thrust a leader section of a film roll coiled about the spool core to the exterior of the cassette, a pair of flanges radially confining the film roll and loosely coupled coaxially with the spool core normally to permit the spool core to be rotated relative to the flanges in the unwinding direction, and engagement means rotatably fixed to the spool core for rotation with the spool core relative to the flanges in the unwinding direction to move into engagement with one of the flanges to make the one flange rotate in unity with the spool core in the unwinding direction. According to the invention, the one flange is resiliently flexible, and biasing means distorts the one flange for urging the one flange firmly against the engagement means to ensure the engagement means will engage the one flange when the spool core is rotated relative to the flanges in the unwinding direction.

Abstract: In a film cassette, a spool is supported for rotation in an unwinding direction inside a cassette shell, a convoluted film roll whose outermost convolution is a film leader is coiled about the spool, and a film stripper is located substantially adjacent a passageway to the exterior of the shell 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. According to the invention, a protuberance projects from the film leader to lie against the next-inward convolution in order to hold the leading end of the film leader and the next-inward convolution apart to generally ensure the stripper will fit between the leading end and the next-inward convolution.

Abstract: A spool (10) has a first elongate slot (22) in an outer surface (12) of the spool (10) core for receiving an end portion (14a) of a strip (14) of web material, such as a strip of photographic film. The core surface has another elongate slot (24) for receiving the flange (26b) of a clip (26) used for retaining the web material on the spool. The clip has a semi-cylindrical portion (26a) that surrounds the spool core and holds part of the web material against the core surface.