Abstract: Method and apparatus for peeling an image media-laminate to remove a throw-away layer from a keeper layer. The laminate is fed through a nip defined by upper and lower rolls and then the laminate is bent upwardly about a surface on the upper roll by an upwardly moving bar. One side of the bent laminate opposite the bar is held by vacuum adjacent a free edge of the laminate and then the bar is lowered during which a spring element on the bar deflects the free edge of the laminate to separate the layers due to differences in their stiffness. The lowering of the bar permits the keeper layer to descend as it separates from the throw-away layer which is released from the vacuum and continuously peeled by take-away rollers.

Abstract: A portable bed rail is provided including first and second foot members, each having a first end dimensioned for insertion under a mattress and a second end spaced from said first end, and a side panel positioned to provide a barrier to falling from the bed. The side panel includes first and second vertical members extending upwardly from the second ends of the foot members, first and second spaced horizontal rails extending between the vertical members to define a frame, each of the rails having a first and second end, which ends are received by the first and second vertical members, and a flexible cover removably mounted on the frame. The flexible cover is dimensioned to extend around the first and second ends of the horizontal rails and thereby retain the ends in engagement with the first and second vertical members.

Abstract: There are provided a method, system, and apparatus for automatically cleaning a spread roller system for use in a photographic apparatus of the self-developing type. A cleaning apparatus includes a pod of cleaning fluid rupturable as it passes through a nip of a pair of spread rollers. The cleaning apparatus includes at least an opening which distributes the cleaning fluid over the rollers following pod rupture as the apparatus passes through the nip. Such an apparatus can be included in a film assemblage which comprises a film cassette housing a stack of film units of the self-developable type, wherein the cleaning apparatus is at the top of the stack and is opaque so as to also serve as a dark slide.

Abstract: There are provided a method, system, and apparatus for automatically cleaning a spread roller system for use in a photographic apparatus of the self-developing type. A cleaning apparatus includes a pod of cleaning fluid rupturable as it passes through a nip of a pair of spread rollers. The cleaning apparatus includes at least an opening which distributes the cleaning fluid over the rollers following pod rupture as the apparatus passes through the nip. Such an apparatus can be included in a film assemblage which comprises a film cassette housing a stack of film units of the self-developable type, wherein the cleaning apparatus is at the top of the stack and is opaque so as to also serve as a dark slide.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for transferring laminated sheets from a printer to a separate processor therefor in a manner whereby the sheets are not crumpled, delaminated or otherwise damaged and whereby the printer and apparatus are easily aligned for facilitating such transfer. The apparatus includes an arrangement for inducing bending of the laminate and an arrangement for controlling the bending.

Abstract: A laminating apparatus is disclosed which has a loading slot for facilitating the loading of a web through a nip located between a supply and takeup spindle. An inboard support carries the inboard end of the supply and takeup spindles and the laminating rolls, and a spaced outboard support carries the other end of the laminating rolls. The outboard support is formed with a supply aperture aligned with the supply spindle, a takeup aperture aligned with the takeup spindle, and an interconnected threading slot corresponding to the path of the laminating web through the laminating nip between the supports.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for laminating a protective overcoat carried on a web to an image carrying medium is particularly useful for covering an image carrying medium having a large area. A hot roller and an actively cooled cold roller form a nip through which the web and image carrying medium advance in a juxtaposed relationship. A temperature differential is created across the layers of the web and medium to promote adhesion between the surface of the protective overcoat and the image while preventing lamination artifacts such as curling and rippling. Postwrap and prewrap angles are used to enhance control of artifacts and assist in post lamination separation of the overcoated image carrying medium from residual web material.

Abstract: A disk cartridge, operable with a disk drive, includes a generally flat-shaped case enclosing a recording medium disposed on a disk about a central hub. The case includes top and bottom walls disposed on opposite sides of the disk, the bottom wall having an access opening through which a disk drive is to engage with the hub. A foil spring has a generally flared dish shape, and is symmetrically formed and positioned about a central axis of the hub. The spring is positioned between the disk and the top wall for urging the disk toward the bottom wall to close the access opening with the hub and to close a spindle receiving aperture in the hub to prevent entry of contaminants during periods of nonuse.

Abstract: A photographic apparatus for providing an instant film system for transmission electron microscopes includes a film carrier and film unit handling apparatus compatable with existing TEM equipment. Film carrier plates, each standardized to accept an instant film sheet and to subsequently enable automatic separation of the latter, are varied in exterior configuration to conform to each type of TEM unit, and a single processor is provided for handling film processing with carrier plates utilized in any of the TEM units. The carrier plates are standardized to enable automated separation of individual exposed film sheets from the respective carrier plates in the processor, and a transfer base or transfer box is provided to cooperate with the receiver box of a given TEM design and with the processor which includes a reciprocating slide feed mechanism by which each individual film unit is ejected from the box.

Abstract: A photographic apparatus for providing an instant film system for transmission electron microscopes includes a film carrier and film unit handling apparatus compatable with existing TEM equipment. Film carrier plates, each standardized to accept an instant film sheet and to subsequently enable automatic separation of the latter, are varied in exterior configuration to conform to each type of TEM unit, and a single processor is provided for handling film processing with carrier plates utilized in any of the TEM units. The carrier plates are standardized to enable automated separation of individual exposed film sheets from the respective carrier plates in the processor, and a transfer base or transfer box is provided to cooperate with the receiver box of a given TEM design and with the processor which includes a reciprocating slide feed mechanism by which each individual film unit is ejected from the box.

Abstract: A photographic apparatus for providing an instant film system for transmission electron microscopes includes a film carrier and film unit handling apparatus compatable with existing TEM equipment. Film carrier plates, each standardized to accept an instant film sheet and to subsequently enable automatic separation of the latter, are varied in exterior configuration to conform to each type of TEM unit, and a single processor is provided for handling film processing with carrier plates utilized in any of the TEM units. The carrier plates are standardized to enable automated separation of individual exposed film sheets from the respective carrier plates in the processor, and a transfer base or transfer box is provided to cooperate with the receiver box of a given TEM design and with the processor which includes a reciprocating slide feed mechanism by which each individual film unit is ejected from the box.

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively positioning a workpiece having a planar surface adjacent to a guide on a substantially planar work surface of a power tool assembly. The positioning apparatus is adapted to selectively position the workpiece to be at selected ones of a plurality of predetermined lateral offsets with respect to a cutting element. The positioning apparatus includes an indexing member having a plurality of index holes passing therethrough and an elongated index pin element extending along a pin axis. The indexing member is affixed to either the workpiece or the guide, and the pin element is affixed to the other of the workpiece or the guide, so that the workpiece may be positioned adjacent to the indexing member and the guide, with the pin element extending through and interferingly engaging one of the index holes, permitting the generation of a succession of cuts in a workpiece which are substantially uniformly spaced along a reference axis.

Abstract: A photographic film assemblage for attachment to a photographic apparatus. The film assemblage includes a supply chamber having a stack of premounted film frames therein, a storage chamber into which the film frames are adapted to be advanced subsequent to their exposure, and a support member which interconnects the supply and storage chamber and functions to support a film frame in position for its exposure. The storage chamber is detachable coupled to the support so as to enable it to be removed therefrom prior to placing it in a processor for the processing of the exposed film frames contained therein.

Abstract: A photographic processing liquid applicator having a reservoir for containing a supply of alkaline processing liquid. The upper portion of the reservoir has an egress while a lower portion of the reservoir is provided with an ingress which is in communication with a container of processing liquid. Rotatably mounted within the reservoir is a roller for applying a coating of the processing liquid to a length of sheet material. During each coating operation, a supply of processing liquid greater than that required to coat the sheet material is added to the liquid already in the reservoir, via the ingress, thus causing its level to rise above the egress. Processing liquid is thus skimmed or drained from the surface of the liquid, which liquid would have been most exposed to the adverse affects of the oxygen in the atmosphere.

Abstract: A film processor in which a length of sheet material is removed from a supply reel, coated with a layer of processing liquid, and directed to a laminating station whereat it is superposed with a photographically exposed premounted film frame of the instant type to initiate the formation of a visible image within the film frame. The processer includes guide means for directing the sheet material from the supply reel to the laminating station comprising a pair of rollers about which the sheet material is partially wound. The pair of rollers are mounted for simultaneous movement toward and away from a processing liquid applicator so as to intermittently coat the sheet material with a layer of the processing liquid. During such movement, the axes of the rollers move in parallel with a first plane in which the sheet material approaches the rollers and with a second plane in which the sheet material moves away from the rollers, thus keeping the total length of the first and second paths constant.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing individual rolls of self-developing type transparency film. The apparatus includes a spool having a first post, to which the leaders of a length of photographically exposed film and a length of flexible sheet material are adapted to be attached, and a second post, to which only the leader of the film is to be attached. The spool is adapted to be rotated so as to wind upon the spool a laminate comprised of the film, the sheet material, and a layer of processing liquid sandwiched therebetween for a period of time sufficient to form a visible image in the laminate. After formation of such image, the laminate is unwound from the spool and the film stripped from the sheet material as they are being rewound into their original containers.

Abstract: A foldable flash holder comprised of three integrally molded plastic parts interconnected exclusively by snap fit. One of the parts is a contact retainer which includes an elongated receptacle well for receiving a multi-bulb flash array and a contact retaining bracket formation holding a plurality of U-shaped contacts uniformly spaced with one another, with one end of each contact cantilevered in position for resilient engagement with a contact blade portion of the flash array, while the opposite end of each contact is held in engagement with a flexible power cable. One embodiment of the flash holder includes an actuator movable in response to engagement by the flash array to actuate a mechanism in the associated camera which places the camera in an artificial illumination mode.

Abstract: An electric solenoid having a bobbin structure on which a coil may be wound by machine and providing a plug-in connector with leaf-like contact terminals to which at least one end of the coil wire may be electrically connected by machine wrapping of the wire end about the terminals. The bobbin has a spool portion and a terminal block portion having a projecting formation to be positioned adjacent to the terminals, so that wire extending from the coil under tension may be wrapped first about the formation and then about the terminal to be wrapped to secure the terminal to the formation prior to subsequent wraps of the wire around the terminal.

Abstract: A flash illumination system for photographic cameras including a foldable flash holder having a receptacle well formed to complement the base of a disposable flash array. The flash array base extends across the length of the array and is established by a rigid printed circuit board. Detent apertures in the board become aligned with detent projections when the flash array is inserted into the well. A retention bias is established exclusively by electrical contact blades in engagement with one face of the printed circuit board.