Abstract: Method and apparatus for testing wind and trip in camera units for use with photographic film. Each camera unit encloses and defines a film path and includes a film driven preset member and a film spindle. The preset member extends into the film path. In the method, the film spindle of the camera unit is wound; and, in tandem with the winding, a film surrogate is propelled along the film path from a position upstream from the preset member to a position downstream from the preset member. During the propelling, the film surrogate is maintained in the film path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling a camera. In the method, a film cartridge is positioned in a cartridge chamber of a camera frame assembly having a rear opening, a thumbwheel, and an active light lock closer. A spool of the cartridge and a film advance are engaged. A leading portion of a filmstrip is advanced out of the cartridge. The spool of the cartridge is turned in a rewind direction for the cartridge. Withdrawal of the leading portion of the filmstrip back into the cartridge, is prevented during the turning.

Abstract: A camera frame assembly, for use with a roll of photographic film. The camera frame assembly has a frame having a film take-up chamber, a film roll chamber, and an intermediate section between the chambers. The film roll chamber defines a cylindrical film space. The film roll chamber has a throat exterior to the film space and a pair of opposed ends. A guard partially occludes the throat. The guard has a gate portion and a stem portion. The gate portion faces the intermediate section. The stem portion is joined in fixed relation to the throat. The stem portion has a pair of opposed margins. The margins are inset from the ends of the film roll chamber. The margins and the film roll chamber define at least one accessway extending through the throat and communicating with the film space.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for testing wind and trip in camera units for use with photographic film. Each camera unit encloses and defines a film path and includes a film driven preset member and a film spindle. The preset member extends into the film path. In the method, the film spindle of the camera unit is wound; and, in tandem with the winding, a film surrogate is propelled along the film path from a position upstream from the preset member to a position downstream from the preset member. During the propelling, the film surrogate is maintained in the film path.

Abstract: A casing attached to or made part of a standard windshield wiper assembly that extends a scraper blade to the surface of a vehicle windshield to dislodge insect remains and debris, with the aid of the wiper motion and a vehicle mist system. Once the desired cleaning effect is accomplished, the scraper is then retracted into the casing to allow normal operation of the vehicle's windshield wipers.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for loading a filmstrip. The method includes the steps of: propelling the filmstrip into a cylindrical film space; curling the filmstrip into a film roll within the film space; during the curling, constraining the roll between a pair of opposed contact surfaces; and during the constraining, rotating the contact surfaces about a pivot axis transverse to a film roll axis.

Abstract: A camera frame assembly for use with photographic film. The camera frame assembly has a pair of path subenclosures. Each subenclosure has a platen subunit and an intermediate section subunit joined in fixed relation to the platen subunit. The path subenclosures are joined together with the platen subunits in alignment and the intermediate section subunits in alignment, such that the platen subunits form a platen for the photographic film and the intermediate section subunits form an intermediate section overlying the platen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling a photographic camera having a cartridge chamber and a film chamber. In the method, a film cartridge is positioned in the cartridge chamber. The film cartridge includes a spool and a filmstrip. A leading portion of the filmstrip is curled about a curling axis internal to the supply chamber. During the curling, deflection of the leading portion in directions radial to the axis beyond a predetermined preliminary radius is limited. A main portion of the filmstrip is wound around the leading portion to form a film roll. The film roll has an outermost turn defining a first film roll radius larger than the preliminary radius. Following the winding, the film roll is allowed to expand to a second film roll radius larger than the first film roll radius. Outward telescoping of the film roll is limited.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading a film cartridge in a camera frame having a cartridge chamber, a supply chamber, and a thumbwheel extending into the cartridge chamber. The film cartridge has a case, an internal spool, and a filmstrip attached to the spool. In the method, the film cartridge is positioned in the cartridge chamber with the spool axially adjoining the thumbwheel. A quill is placed in axial proximity to the spool of the film cartridge, opposite said thumbwheel. The quill is turned in a rewind direction for the spool. Rotating of the spool in the rewind direction is deterred. During the turning, the quill is urged into axial engagement with the spool and the spool is urged into axial engagement with the thumbwheel. Following the urging, a leading portion of the filmstrip is thrust out of the cartridge.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading a cartridge in a camera frame assembly. In the method, a frame assembly is provided that includes a frame having a cartridge chamber, a supply chamber, and an intermediate section between the chambers. The frame assembly includes a thumbwheel attached in freely rotatable relation to the frame. The thumbwheel has a rotation member disposed external to the cartridge chamber and a drivekey extends axially into the cartridge chamber. A film cartridge is positioned in the cartridge chamber in close axial proximity to the thumbwheel drivekey. The film cartridge includes a spool and a filmstrip. The spool has opposed first and second ends. Each end has a spool engagement portion. The spool engagement portion of the first end is complementary in shape to the thumbwheel drivekey. The filmstrip has leading, main and tail portions. A quill drivekey is placed in close axial proximity to the second end of the spool.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading photographic film. In the method, a curling guide is introduced into a supply chamber of a film holder. An inner roller is introduced into the supply chamber. The inner roller defines an inner roller axis and a film gap overlying the inner roller. An outer roller is disposed over the inner roller adjoining the film gap. A leading portion of a filmstrip is advanced through the film gap. The leading portion is curled around the inner roller and back to the film gap to define an initial filmstrip scroll. The initial scroll has an axis offset from the inner roller axis. The curling guide is retracted after the curling step. The main portion of said filmstrip is propelled through the film gap to wind the main portion of the filmstrip over the initial scroll. The rollers are removed. The film holder is light-tightly closed.

Abstract: A three roller film winder and method for loading photographic film. In the method, a film cartridge is positioned in a cartridge chamber of a camera frame assembly. The camera frame assembly has the cartridge chamber, a supply chamber, and an intermediate section between the chambers. The film cartridge includes a spool and a filmstrip. The filmstrip has leading, main, and tail portions. A sleeve is introduced into the supply chamber. An upper roller is disposed over the sleeve. A pair of lower rollers are introduced into the supply chamber. The upper and lower rollers together define a substantially cylindrical scroll space. The leading portion of the filmstrip is advanced out of the cartridge and into the sleeve. The leading portion is curled within the sleeve and scroll space into an initial filmstrip scroll having at least one turn. The sleeve is retracted after the curling step.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) is disclosed for loading a camera frame (110) for subsequent inclusion in a single-use camera, the camera frame including an exposure opening (112), a first receiver (114) on one side of the exposure opening for a light-tight film cartridge (18) enclosing a spool (20) to which is attached a trailing end of a filmstrip (44), a second receiver (118) on an opposite side of the exposure opening for a scroll (234) formed from the filmstrip, the second receiver having a longitudinal axis (126), at least one open end (120), and a wall (124) extended at least partially around the axis, the apparatus including a nest (32) for holding a cartridge; a mechanism (36-42; 356) for moving a leading end (46; 354) of a filmstrip from a cartridge; a scroll retainer (92; 278, 290) including at least one abutment (94, 96; 280, 282, 286; 292, 296, 304, 308) for engaging an external surface of a scroll to prevent clock-springing; a mechanism (72) for positioning the scroll retainer near a scrolling quill; a scrolling

Abstract: An apparatus and method for loading and prewinding a photographic film cartridge in a camera frame assembly. The camera frame assembly has a rear opening. The camera frame assembly has a cartridge chamber and a supply chamber facing the rear opening. In the method, a film cartridge is first positioned in the cartridge chamber of the camera frame assembly. The leading portion of a filmstrip is advanced out of the cartridge to the supply chamber of the camera frame assembly. A mandrel is admitted into the supply chamber. The leading portion of the filmstrip is guided around the mandel. The filmstrip is cinched to the mandrel. The mandrel is rotated to wind a main portion of the filmstrip into a film roll around the mandrel. The mandrel is removed from the film roll. The rear opening of the camera frame assembly is closed.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a prewind type camera having a film roll cheer with an open portion for containing an unexposed roll of film. According to the invention, a vacuum is applied to the interior of the film roll cheer at the time the prewound film roll is loaded into the film roll cheer through the open portion to maintain the film roll in a wound state after the roll is released. The vacuum remains applied until a lighttight cover is fixedly attached to the open portion of the film roll chamber thereby restraining the film roll.

Abstract: Apparatus for winding a strip (58) of web into a cartridge (40), the cartridge including an enclosing shell (42, 44); a spool (46) mounted for rotation within the shell, the spool being engageable externally of the cartridge (51, 53) for rotation; the spool comprising a core (54) with features (56) for attaching an end (60) of the strip to the core; an axially extended opening (50) through the shell for advancing or withdrawing the strip; and a light-shielding door (52). A tool (94) inserts the end into the cartridge and attaches it to the core. A winding motor (354) rotates the spool to draw the strip into the cartridge. During the winding, a rotatable air bar (92) adjusts the path of the strip to prevent contact with the peripheral edges or walls of the opening.

Abstract: Apparatus for winding a strip (58) of web into a cartridge (40), the cartridge including an enclosing shell (42, 44); a spool (46) mounted for rotation within the shell, the spool being engageable externally of the cartridge (51, 53) for rotation; the spool comprising a core (54) with features (56) for attaching an end (60) of the strip to the core; an axially extended opening (50) through the shell for advancing or withdrawing the strip; and a light-shielding door (52). A shuttle mechanism (86) has a vacuum head (88) which grips the strip and moves the end to a position for engagement by a tool (94) positioned outside the opening, after which the tool inserts the end into the cartridge and attaches it to the core. A winding motor (354) rotates the spool to draw the strip into the cartridge. During the winding, a rotatable air bar (92) adjusts the path of the strip to prevent contact with the peripheral edges or walls of the opening.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting and feeding strips of web material includes a source (36) of an indeterminate length of web material; means (40-48) for withdrawing a predetermined portion (10) of web material from the source; a guide track (56,98-104) for receiving the lead end of the portion and guiding its edges along a curved path; a rotatable vacuum drum (60) positioned intermediate the ends of the curved path for gripping the portion; a cutter (50) for cutting the web to define a strip; and a motor drive arrangement (62,64,66) for rotating the vacuum drum to feed the strip along the curved path.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for plastically deforming and closing an very open, non-cylindrical shell (28) having axially extending lips (20c, 20t) spaced sufficiently far apart to permit a wound spool of strip material to pass laterally between such lips, the apparatus including a pair of closure jaws (670,676) having concave cylindrical surfaces for contacting the exterior surface of such a shell between such lips, the concave surfaces having a curvature corresponding to the desired final cylindrical shape for such a shell; a pivotable arm (608-612) for placing the closure jaws in an open configuration about such a shell and a linkage (614-674) operatively connected to the pivotable arm for closing the closure jaws about such a shell to move such lips into close proximity and form such shell into a cylindrical shape between such lips and thereafter for opening the jaws without contacting the closed shell as the jaws open.

Abstract: Spools (14) are delivered through a conduit (52) into a cradle (66-86) which is moved by a transfer arm (24) to a spool orienting station (30) where the slots (18) in the cores (16) of the spools are oriented to a first position, after which a transfer arm (32) having vacuum gripper head (186-206) removes the spools and transfers them to a spool winding station (38) with the slots oriented to receive the lead end of a strip (40) of web material to be wound on the spool, after which the wound spool is removed by a transfer arm (44) having a passive gripper (48) and transferred to a subsequent processing station (50).