Abstract: Photosensitive sheet handling apparatus and method for phototypesetters. Accurate control of the lateral positioning of the sheet (i.e., film) is provided by the use of tapered drive rolls. The apparatus includes an input cassette, a film input drive assembly comprised of tapered pinch rollers and a lateral film edge locating stop, a slightly tapered vacuum film drive drum having a collar or flange on one side in accurate alignment with the edge locating stop of the pinch rollers, a motor operated output drive assembly also comprised of tapered pinch rollers and a film edge locating stop in accurate alignment with the drum flange, and a periodically operated film winding mechanism located within an output cassette. The tapered rolls urge one edge of the film against the flange of the drum and stops of the pinch rollers to maintain accurate alignment. Chambers are provided for receiving loops of film at the input and output sides of the drum.

Abstract: An improved conveying device for conveying a thin web through a station in both directions with the desired registry characterized by a supply device for storing a reel of the thin web, a guiding device for guiding the thin web through the station and a take up or receiving device for rewinding the web with the take up or receiving device and the driving means being controlled so that the take up device does not apply any tension to the web at the station. In order to determine the exact amount of the web passing through the station a meter or measuring device is utilized and to ensure proper alignment of the web, the guiding means includes rollers continually holding the edge of the web against a lateral guide member. Due to the control and the use of the meter device, the web may be moved back and forth through the station to allow processing laterally offset portions of the web and maintain the registry between the various laterally offset portions.

Abstract: A printing character matrix and a process for assemblying characterized by a hollow cylinder rotatably disposed within a housing and having a plurality of circumferential grooves on its circumferential surface. Each of the circumferential grooves has sides lying in parallel planes which are parallel to the base of the cylinder and the cylinder has strips secured on its cylindrical surface and overlapping the sides of the two adjacent grooves to form means for positioning a character carrying member such as a photographic film containing the characters. To ensure axial position of each of the characters, each groove is provided with means biasing the member against one of the sides thereof and the device utilizing centrifugal force to hold the member on the positioning means. Preferably, the housing is provided with a filter so that air drawn through the cylinder as it is being rotated is free from undesirable particles.

Abstract: A device for receiving a tape of material characterized by a closed case having a light-tight chamber in communication with the exterior of the chamber by a channel provided with light shutters, a tape supporting arrangement comprising a plurality of reels mounted for rotation in the chamber on an axle, at least one spring element for continuously pressing a tape onto the reels as it is fed into the chamber, and a guiding device disposed on the chamber for laterally guiding the tape as it is being wound on the reels. In order for the device to handle tapes of different widths, the guiding device includes a pair of disks disposed at opposite ends of the plurality of reels and at least one retractable guide member pivotably mounted on the axle between a pair of reels to move between a retracted position withdrawn within the circumference of the reels to an extended position with a portion extending beyond the periphery of the reels.

Abstract: This invention relates to a measuring instrument in which the rectilinear displacement of a feeler rod is transmitted to a geared multiplier mechanism by means of a rotating element such as an arm carrying a toothed sector meshing with a first toothed wheel of the multiplier mechanism, the transmission of movement between the feeler rod and the rotating element being effected by an abutment carried by the feeler rod and in contact with the profile of a cam carried by the rotating element.