Abstract: The invention concerns a method of testing the state of development of a photographic film in a light-proof cartridge. According to the invention, the leading edge of the film is pulled out of the cartridge, the film is positioned between a light source and a photosensor, and the amount of light passing between the light source and photosensor is measured. The state of the film is recognized as being undeveloped if a small amount of light passes therebetween.

Abstract: A device for the automatic removal of a photographic film from a cartridge in which the film has been wound onto a spool. A guide opening for the cartridge has a cross-section which allows the receiving of the cartridge in only one orientation is provided so that the cartridge moves through the opening in the direction of its spool axis by its own weight. A system for simultaneously linearly displacing and rotating the axis of the spool is provided, to rotate the spool axis from vertical to horizontal and to reposition the cartridge for unwinding the film from the spool. The system holds the cartridge in a spool receptacle, and repositions and rotates the cartridge with a single actuator.

Abstract: A device for feeding film cartridges into a processing and/or handling apparatus, having a first feed channel so laid out that the cartridge moves by its own weight in the direction of its longitudinal axis through the channel. The cartridges lie one behind another in the direction of their longitudinal axis. To separate them, an apparatus is provided that holds one cartridge secure by frictional engagement, while the lower cartridge beneath moves down to a second feed channel. Cartridges which enter the second channel are displaced, one by one, along this channel and supplied at a feed point to the film processing and/or handling apparatus.

Abstract: A device for automatic removal of a photographic film from a cartridge, in which the film is rolled up on a spool. The feed channel for the cartridge is disposed so that the cartridge moves through the channel by its own weight in the direction of its spool axis. The channel has a cross section that permits admission of the cartridge in only one direction. The device includes a mechanism to turn the cartridge into a position in which the spool axis is aligned horizontally. The devices also includes a mechanism for unwinding and separating the film from the spool in a light-impervious housing. A mechanism turns the empty cartridge so that its spool axis is vertical, with a prescribed orientation. A replaceable magazine sequentially collects and orders a plurality of empty cartridges.

Abstract: Uniting bands in the form of heat-sealable labels which bear encoded information are applied to exposed photographic films to join the films end-to-end. The encoded information is decoded by a reader before the labels are applied to the films to thus ensure that the hot sealing member which is used to apply labels cannot destroy or distort encoded information prior to decoding. Decoded information is used for the application of corresponding information to envelopes for exposed and developed films and for the prints of images of the respective film frames.

Abstract: Envelopes which are about to receive developed photographic films and/or prints are advanced toward a stacking station in a predetermined orientation and each envelope is provided with one or more fold lines extending in the direction of advancement of envelopes. The fold lines serve to straighten the envelopes which are delivered in rolled, creased and/or otherwise deformed condition such as could interfere with predictable stacking of envelopes in a predetermined sequence which is necessary to ensure that each envelope receive a proper set of film frames and/or prints for shipment or delivery to the parties whose names and/or addresses appear on the envelopes. The fold lines straighten the originally deformed envelopes (which are in random distribution with non-deformed envelopes) for an interval of time which suffices to ensure proper stacking, even if the envelopes exhibit a pronounced tendency to reassume their deformed state.

Abstract: A darkroom contains a first film unwinding unit which receives reels with convoluted undeveloped customer films from a device serving to remove reels from their cassettes. Each film which is being unwound from its reel is normally advanced in a first channel to a splicer which connects its leader to the trailing end of the preceding film to form a long web which is collected into a large roll prior to transfer into a developing machine. A second unwinding unit in the darkroom can receive reels with damaged films from the first unit or from another source of undeveloped films and has a receptacle for reels. A second channel extends from an outlet of the receptacle to a portion of the first channel ahead of the splicer. The two units can be reached by hands which must extend through contractible openings of two cuffs and thereupon through a contractible opening between several curtains of the darkroom.

Abstract: Cartridges which contain exposed photographic roll films are admitted into a duct to descend past a reader which reads the bar codes of the cartridges and transmits to a microprocessor signals denoting the type and the length of each film. The microprocessor evaluates such signals and permits automatic splicing of films of a selected type end-to-end preparatory to introduction into a developing machine. Cartridges with films of other types are segregated from cartridges with films of the selected type, the same as cartridges which do not bear any bar codes. The microprocessor compares the encoded information pertaining to the length of each film with information denoting the actual length of the respective film and causes a printer to encode the information on envelopes for the exposed and developed films. The reels for films which are shorter than denoted by the respective bar codes are removed by an attendant and are inspected for the possible presence of one or more exposed frames.

Abstract: Apparatus for affording access to a dark chamber in a housing wherein successive customer films are spliced together has a door with a window which is normally sealed by a pair of sealing devices one of which has a cuff with two normally closed openings for insertion of hands and the other of which has two overlapping curtain panels. The operator inserts the hands into the openings of the cuff and thereupon pushes one or both panels aside to reach into the dark chamber when the need arises. The panels seal the chamber from the outside even if some light penetrates through one or both openings of the cuff, and the openings are filled by the wrists of the operator when the panel or panels are deformed to afford access to a defective film or cassette for film in the dark chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting cartridges for exposed photographic roll films to an opening station has a downwardly sloping duct whose inlet can receive the shells of successive cartridges only in a predetermined orientation. The lower end of an inserted container or cartridge comes to rest on a first gate and the gate is retracted from the duct so as to permit gravitational descent of the inserted cartridge only if the orientation of the inserted cartridge is proper. The cartridge which descends below the retracted first gate impinges upon a cylindrical bolt which tilts the cartridge approximately 90 degrees so that the axis of the shell of such tilted cartridge is substantially horizontal before the cartridge descends onto a second retractible gate and thereupon onto a third gate in the bottom of the duct. The inclination of the duct with reference to a horizontal plane is at least 45 degrees.

Abstract: Apparatus for unwinding exposed customer roll films from reels immediately upon expulsion of reels from their cartridges has a composite housing which can be opened up at an unwinding station to receive a reel in the open position and to thereupon close preparatory to unwinding of the film by means of a friction wheel which is movable sideways into engagement with the outermost film convolution between the flanges of the reel at the unwinding station. A stripping device is adjacent to the inlet of a channel which is defined for the roll film by the housing in closed position, and the stripping device engages and directs the leader of the film into the channel as soon as the reel starts to rotate under the action of the friction wheel. The friction wheel and the stripping device are disposed diametrically opposite each other, and the length of the housing is less than the distance between the flanges of the reel at the unwinding station.

Abstract: Apparatus for expelling reels with convoluted exposed roll films from successive film cartridges has a gate which supports a cartridge at an opening station between an axially movable mandrel and an axially movable pusher. A holder with four or more equidistant idler wheels having sharp edges is adjacent to one end of the shell of the cartridge which is located between the mandrel and the pusher to hold the shell against axial movement with the pusher when the latter is shifted axially toward the mandrel to bear upon the core of the reel in the cartridge and to expel the reel as well as one end wall of the cartridge from the shell while the mandrel transmits or is ready to transmit torque to the core in a direction to wind the film onto the core. The idler rollers are thereupon disengaged from the shell and the gate is retracted so that the shell can leave the opening station by gravity before the next cartridge enters the opening station by gravity feed.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing backing strips and exposed films from drop-in cassettes wherein the window for the foremost unexposed film frame is located in front of an opening for observation of symbols on the backing strip has a pusher which is movable through the opening to expel the leader of the backing strip through the window and into the nip of two first advancing rollers which introduce the leader into a first channel for entry into a collecting receptacle. The leader of exposed film is stripped off the backing strip by a deflector and enters a second channel to advance into the nip of two second advancing rollers and to be transported to a splicing station for connection to the trailing end of the preceding film. The pusher can enter a circumferential groove of one first advancing roll and the other first advancing roll has a shallower groove for a finger which directs the leader of the backing strip into the first channel.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing backing strips and exposed films from drop-in cassettes wherein the window for the foremost unexposed film frame is located in front of an opening for observation of symbols on the backing strip has a pusher which is movable through the opening to expel the leader of the backing strip through the window and into the nip of two first advancing rollers which introduce the leader into a first channel for entry into a collecting receptacle. The leader of exposed film is stripped off the backing strip by a deflector and enters a second channel to advance into the nip of two second advancing rollers and to be transported to a splicing station for connection to the trailing end of the preceding film. The pusher can enter a circumferential groove of one first advancing roll and the other first advancing roll has a shallower groove for a finger which directs the leader of the backing strip into the first channel.

Abstract: Apparatus for uniting exposed photographic roll films into a continuous web which is already for transport through a developing machine has a housing which is lightproof and has two inlets, one for admission of cassettes which contains exposed films and the other for reception of exposed films. Successive cassettes which are introduced through the first inlet are conveyed into the range of a film removing mechanism which automatically removes the films, without breaking the respective cassettes, and the removed films are transported to a splicing device. If the position of roll film in a cassette is such that the film cannot be expelled by the removing mechanism in the housing, the cassette is opened in a darkroom and the film which is removed from the opened cassette is introduced though the second inlet.

Abstract: Apparatus for opening substantially rigid synthetic plastic film cassettes of the type having a pay-out section and a film take-up section which are connected by a film-guiding web section of U-shaped cross-section, has first instrumentalities which engage and immovably hold the take-up section, and second instrumentalities which exert upon the pay-out and/or web sections a force sufficient to displace these sections relative to the take-up section to an extent adequate to cause the cassette to crack open.

Abstract: Apparatus for the application of different first indicia to successive envelopes for exposed photographic films and for the application of related different second indicia to associated films has a first marking unit which imprints first indicia onto successive envelopes and a second marking unit which exposes second indicia onto unexposed portions of films. The second unit is adjusted in automatic response to monitoring of adjustment of the first unit, and the two units can be actuated to apply related first and second indicia to an envelope and to the associated film only when the envelope and the film assume predetermined positions with respect to the corresponding units. The positions of successive envelopes and successive films are scanned by discrete first and second photoelectric cells. The first unit is adjusted by the first cell or in automatic response to completion of application of first indicia to an envelope.

Abstract: Apparatus for splicing exposed photographic films to each other and to flexible threading tape has a housing defining a dark chamber, a splicer which is installed in the chamber, advancing rolls which transport the leaders of films and tape into the range of and beyond the splicer, a knife for the tape, and punches which apply holes into the tape ahead of and behind the knife. The holes which are punched into the leader of the remnant of severed tape are detected by a first photoelectric cell which is located ahead of the splicer whereby the cell arrests the advancing rolls for the tape to insure that the leader is located in an optimum position for splicing to the trailing end of the preceding film. The holes which are punched into the trailing ends of severed tape portions are detected by a second cell which is located behind the splicer and serves to arrest the advancing rolls for a severed tape portion so that its trailing end is held in an optimum position for splicing to the leader of a film.

Abstract: Apparatus for withdrawing exposed photographic roll film from a container wherein the film is adjacent a backing strip and the leader of the strip extends beyond the leader of the film. The container is mounted in a locating device so that a small opening in the rear wall of the container is located in the path of a pusher which, when pivoted forwardly expels the leader of the strip through the exposure opening of the container and into the nip of two rolls which advance the strip and thereby draw the leader of the film from the container. The leader of the film is intercepted and deflected by a deflector so that the film advances in an elongated channel and is engaged and moved forwardly by second advancing rolls. The inlet of the channel is defined by the deflector and a small idler roller which is mounted between the deflector and an edge forming part of the container and bounding a portion of the exposure opening.