Abstract: An improved web-winding means with a durable thermoplastic polyester resin or polyester resin blend support structure and web capture slot (gate) formed in an interior portion of the support structure. The interior portion is joined to an inner annular surface that has increased lubricity, toughness and creep resistance resulting in decreased debris generation plus increased structural integrity and dimensional stability.

Abstract: A method for making and handling an improved intraoral x-ray film packet by forming a first outer and a second outer sheet from a thermoplastic material wherein the first outer sheet is made more rigid than the second outer sheet such that it has a tensile modulus of at least about 700 Kg/cm2. The two outer sheets are sealed together to form an envelope with a laminated perimetric edge wherein the laminated perimetric edge is substantially coplanar with the first outer sheet. This resultant planar surface on one side of the packet aids in the accurate positioning of the packet for subsequent operations and further enhances the ability to die cut the packet and maintain outside dimension tolerances. Individual film packets are transported to a Bernoulli fixture and a laminar air flow is generated across the surface thereof to accurately position the intraoral x-ray film packet against reference stops using the Bernoulli effect.

Abstract: An intraoral x-ray film packet is taught which has an outer envelope wherein one of the two opposing outer sheets is more rigid than the other such that it has a tensile modulus of at least about 700 Kg/cm2. This is preferably accomplished by making both sheets from a thermoplastic material such as PVC and reducing the amount of plasticizer in the more rigid of the two sheets to less than 30%. A continuous perimetric seal is formed affixing the two outer sheets together and forming a perimetric laminated edge which is substantially coplanar with the more rigid of the two sheets. A film chip resides between the two outer sheets. A comfort-enhancing perimetric edge bead is injection molded directly onto the perimetric laminated edge.

Abstract: An intraoral x-ray film packet is taught which has an outer envelope wherein one of the two opposing outer sheets is more rigid than the other and serves as a stiffening sheet such that it has a tensile modulus of at least about 700 Kg/cm2. This is preferably accomplished by making both sheets from a thermoplastic material such as PVC and reducing the amount of plasticizer in the more rigid of the two sheets to less than 30%. A continuous perimetric seal is formed affixing the two outer sheets together and forming a perimetric laminated edge which is substantially coplanar with the more rigid of the two sheets. A film chip resides between the two outer sheets. The coplanar perimetric laminated edge and the added rigidity aid in improving accurate sizing of each individual packet and prevention of deflection of the marginal area of individual packets in subsequent operations.

Abstract: A stacked container array has at least a first and a second container each having a closure having a recess on which a portion of the other container is seated for nesting. The recess has a dimension that enables the closed base of the other container and a portion of the upright standing side walls supporting the closed base to nest thereon with minimal translation movement.

Abstract: A packaging container for photosensitive film has a detent locking and unlocking feature that provides light-tight closure of the container compartment to protect the product from the penetration of light. A protuberance formed in the container compartment interlocks with a notch formed in the closure for preventing axial movement of the closure. The interlocked protuberance and notch form the light-tight packaging container.

Abstract: A one-time-use camera comprising a main body part having a chamber, and a film cartridge adapted to be located in a predetermined position within the chamber, is characterized in that the film cartridge is a modified cartridge as compared to a standard cartridge, because it has a recess that is not on the standard cartridge, and the main body part has a blocking protuberance that projects into the chamber to fit in the recess when the modified cartridge is located in the predetermined position within the chamber, but which will abut the standard cartridge to prevent it from being located in the predetermined position within the chamber if one attempts to substitute the standard cartridge for the modified cartridge, and which has a hollowed-out space that will allow ambient light to leak into the chamber should one cut the protuberance off the main body part at the hollowed-out space in order to permit the standard cartridge to be located in the predetermined position within the chamber.

Abstract: A method of remanufacturing a one-time-use camera having the following steps. Cutting a protuberance off a main body part of the camera at a hollowed-out space in the protuberance in order to permit a standard cartridge to replace a modified cartridge within a chamber in the main body part. Closing a hole in the chamber, resulting from the protuberance being cut off the main body part at the hollowed-out space, to prevent ambient light from leaking into the chamber through the hole. And properly positioning the standard cartridge in the chamber.

Abstract: A cartridge (10) of photographic medium includes a housing (14-24) having an interior volume (15); an exit slit (26) from the interior volume to an exterior of the housing; a photographic medium element (12) enclosed within the interior volume; an indicator (36-44) supported by one of the housing and the medium element, the indicator being responsive to a liquid reagent to change color and provide a visible indication of a status of the medium element; a source (46-52; 72-76; 90; 112) of the liquid reagent supported by the one of the housing and the medium element; and means (32, 34, 54-62; 778-86; 94-100; 22, 26, 28, 110) for causing flow of the reagent to the indicator upon movement of the medium element through the exit slit, whereby the indicator will change color and indicate the status. An indicator apparatus for mounting on a cartridge and a photographic medium supporting an indicator and source of reagent also are disclosed.

Abstract: A film cartridge comprising a filmstrip having longitudinally successive perforations, and a housing for the filmstrip having a film passage slit through which the filmstrip can be moved into or out of the housing, is characterized by a reciprocatingly movable indicator, including an actuator pawl positioned for engagement and disengagement with each perforation of the filmstrip as the filmstrip is moved through the slit to move the indicator forward and backward alternately for providing a visible motion-indication that the filmstrip is moving through the slit.

Abstract: A film cassette includes a cassette body, a film spool onto which can be wound a strip of film, a drive disk coupled directly to the film spool, and an indicator flex disk that includes a film status indicator tab whose position relative to a window of the film cassette indicates the film exposure status. The position of the film status indicator tab is changed when the flex disk is moved into engagement with the drive disk and the film spool is rotated upon film movement. The film status indicator tab otherwise does not engage the drive disk and therefore does not change position. The cassette is particularly suited for operation with a photographic camera that includes a camera body, a loading chamber in the camera body that receives the film cassette, and a loading chamber cover having at least one movable indicator release pin that moves the flex disk into and out of engagement with the drive disk and thereby changes the position of the film status indicator tab.

Abstract: A film cassette comprises a pair of housing parts, and a flexibly movable latching hook located on one of the housing parts and a rigid latching catch located on the other housing part which can engage to secure the two housing parts together. According to the invention, a backer projects from one of the housing parts into abutment with the latching hook, when the latching hook and the latching catch are engaged, to prevent the latching hook from moving out of engagement with the latching catch in response to a mechanical shock being applied to the film cassette.

Abstract: An improved hot tip (40) for forming a thermoplastic body having a mold cavity (42) and a gate portion (44) has an elongated body member (46) and a channel (48) passing axially through the body member (46). The channel (48) has an inlet end (51) and outlet end (52) for passing a molten material, such as an amorphous resin, therethrough. The body member (46) has a necked-down portion (54) surrounding the outlet end (52) of the channel (48). The necked down portion (54) is configured to permit the outlet end (52) of the channel (48) to proximately contact the gate portion (44) of the mold cavity (42) resulting in a formed body having vestigeless gate.

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 pulse generating mechanism, for a photosensitive web-roll mounted for rotation within a light-tight cartridge, comprises a flange on the web-roll; a plurality of activating means on the flange that are equally spaced angularly from each other and radially from the flange center; and sensing means disposed outside the cartridge for sensing movement of each activating means therepast, upon incremental rotation of the flange and web-roll, and for generating pulses in response to said sensing for monitoring quantity of web remaining on the web-roll. Each activating means preferably comprises a ferromagnetic or electrically conductive element on the flange, and the sensing means preferably comprises a transducer for sensing presence of that element. The element can be a ferromagnetic or electrically conductive disc affixed to the flange or spaced bosses on a flange made of ferromagnetic or electrically conductive material.