Abstract: A film registration and ironing gate assembly has a gate with a positioning location or aperture for focal positioning of an image frame of a strip film with edge perforations. Undersized first and second pins enter a pair of transversely aligned perforations of the film to register the image frame with the aperture. An undersized third pin enters a third perforation spaced along the film from the second pin and then pulls the film obliquely to a reference line extending between the first and second pins to nest against the first and second pins the perforations thereat and register the image frame precisely at the positioning location or aperture. A pair of flexible bands extending along the film edges adjacent the positioning location move progressively into incrementally increasing contact with the film to iron it and clamp its perforations against the gate. The pins register the image frame precisely with the positioning location, and the bands maintain the image frame in precise focal position thereat.

Abstract: A lighttight box, for automatically delivering a photosensitive sheet of photographic film to an exposure station, includes a lid movable between a first lighttight position and a second box-opening posiiton. A clamshell film-carrying mechanism, connected to the lid, is mounted for movement (1) from a closed position internal to the box when the lid is in its lighttight position, to (2) an open film-delivery position external to the box when the lid is in its box-opening position.