Abstract: A flat panel OLED device including a transparent deformable substrate having first and second sides and defining a predetermined illumination region and a non-illumination region; a moisture-sensitive OLED disposed over the first side of the transparent substrate within the illumination region and means for applying electrical signals to the OLED which causes the OLED to produce light and heat; a protective layer disposed over the OLED; a flexible encapsulating foil disposed over the protective layer, but not attached thereto; and a rigid chassis structure operatively associated with the transparent deformable substrate for dissipating the heat and providing rigidity to the transparent deformable substrate.

Abstract: A flat panel OLED device including a transparent deformable substrate having first and second sides and defining a predetermined illumination region and a non-illumination region; a moisture-sensitive OLED disposed over the first side of the transparent substrate within the illumination region and means for applying electrical signals to the OLED which causes the OLED to produce light and heat; a protective layer disposed over the OLED; a flexible encapsulating foil disposed over the protective layer, but not attached thereto, and which dissipates the heat and sealingly connected to the substrate in the non-illumination region; and a rigid chassis structure operatively associated with the transparent deformable substrate for providing rigidity to the transparent deformable substrate.

Abstract: A flat panel OLED device including a transparent deformable substrate having first and second sides and defining a predetermined illumination region and a non-illumination region; a moisture-sensitive OLED disposed over the first side of the transparent substrate within the illumination region and means for applying electrical signals to the OLED which causes the OLED to produce light and heat; a protective layer disposed over the OLED; a flexible encapsulating foil disposed over the protective layer, but not attached thereto, and which dissipates the heat and sealingly connected to the substrate in the non-illumination region; and a rigid chassis structure operatively associated with the transparent deformable substrate for providing rigidity to the transparent deformable substrate.

Abstract: A flat panel OLED device including a transparent deformable substrate having first and second sides and defining a predetermined illumination region and a non-illumination region; a moisture-sensitive OLED disposed over the first side of the transparent substrate within the illumination region and means for applying electrical signals to the OLED which causes the OLED to produce light and heat; a protective layer disposed over the OLED; a flexible encapsulating foil disposed over the protective layer, but not attached thereto; and a rigid chassis structure operatively associated with the transparent deformable substrate for dissipating the heat and providing rigidity to the transparent deformable substrate.

Abstract: A hypodermic syringe holder adapted to receive a disposable ampoule and eject it in an axial direction. The holder comprises a plunger element, an optional camming element, a disposable hollow semi-cylindrical frame and a forwardly pivotable element.

Abstract: In a film cassette, a cartridge shell has respective sections that are asssembled together to define an internal film chamber and a film passageway leading out of the chamber. A light-trapping material is located in the passageway to prevent ambient light from entering the chamber. According to the invention, at least one of the shell sections has a frame device hingedly connected to the one section for folding against the one section to secure the light-trapping material in place and for unfolding to release the light-trapping material to permit it to be removed.

Abstract: In a film cassette, a cassette shell has a pair of throat portions which together define a film passageway to the exterior of the shell, a spool is supported for rotation in an unwinding direction inside the shell, a convoluted film roll whose outermost convolution is a film leader is coiled about the spool, and a stripper is located immediately inwardly of the passageway to be received between a leading end of the film leader and a next-inward convolution of the film roll responsive to rotation of the spool in the unwinding direction to divert the leading end into the passageway to permit the leading end to be advanced from the shell.

Abstract: In a film cassette, a spool is supported for rotation in an unwinding direction inside a cassette shell, a convoluted film roll whose outermost convolution is a film leader is coiled about the spool, and a film stripper is located substantially adjacent a passageway to the exterior of the shell to be received between a leading end of the film leader and a next-inward convolution of the film roll responsive to rotation of the spool in the unwinding direction to divert the leading end into the passageway. According to the invention, a protuberance projects from the film leader to lie against the next-inward convolution in order to hold the leading end of the film leader and the next-inward convolution apart to generally ensure the stripper will fit between the leading end and the next-inward convolution.

Abstract: In a film cassette, a film spool is rotatable inside a cassette shell in an unwinding direction to thrust a leader section of a filmstrip coiled about the spool from within a light-tight film passageway to the exterior of the shell and in a winding direction to return the leader to the interior of the shell. A unidirectional arresting device is movable into engagement with the spool to prevent rotation of the spool in only the winding direction. The filmstrip includes an inclined edge for moving the arresting device out of engagement with the spool responsive to thrusting the leader substantially to the exterior of the shell, to allow the spool to be rotated in the winding direction in order to return the leader to the interior of the shell, and for permitting the arresting device to move into engagement with the spool responsive to return of the leader to within the passageway, to prevent the spool from being rotated further in the winding direction to thereby retain the leader in the passageway.

Abstract: A spool for a strip of film or other web material has a core and an elongate slot through the core for receiving an end portion of the strip. A separate keeper for retaining the end portion in the slot includes a first portion that is snapped into the slot and holds the end portion firmly against one surface of the slot. The keeper has a second portion that is engageable with the strip outside the slot for holding the strip against an arcuate portion of the core. The keeper can be latched in either a first position in which the keeper is partially inserted into the slot during insertion of the end portion into the slot, or a second position in which the keeper is fully inserted into the slot.

Abstract: A cover latch mechanism is disclosed for a photographic cassette, such as an x-ray film sheet cassette. Such cassettes typically have side walls, end walls and opposing front and rear cover walls in which one of the cover walls is rigidly secured to the end walls and side walls. The other cover wall is slidably moved along grooves in the side walls from a normally closed position to an open position for allowing easy access to the inside of the cassette for cleaning and maintenance. A latch mechanism is disclosed for releasably latching the other cover wall in its normally closed position.

Abstract: A carrier for releasably retaining a data storage disk comprises a pair of crescent shaped frame members which cooperate to define a generally circular aperture for receiving a data storage disk. The frame members are preferably identical in shape and slidably coupled so as to vary the size of the aperture. The aperture-defining walls of the frame members define arcuate grooves adapted to support the peripheral region of the data storage disk, preferably over an arc length of at least 90.degree.. Spring means are provided for resiliently urging the frame members together so that the groove-defining surfaces of said frame members cooperate to support a data storage disk positioned in the aperture.

Abstract: A protective cartridge for a data storage disk (e.g. an optical disk) includes a retainer mechanism for restricting longitudinal movement of a disk/carrier assembly within the cartridge interior. Such mechanism preferably comprises a flexible, cantilever-mounted leaf spring having a lip which is adapted to engage a trailing edge of a disk-carrier after such carrier has entered the cartridge through a pivotably mounted cartridge door. To allow extraction of a retained disk-carrier from the cartridge, the retainer is located so it is engaged and moved to a non-retaining position by the cartridge door as the latter moves from a closed to an open position.

Abstract: An improved photographic cassette is disclosed having a pressure plate adjacent a rear cover wall thereof provided with laterally extending tabs on opposite side edges thereof. The cassette further has a floating plate adjacent a front cover wall which is unsecured to the front cover wall at least at all portions thereof except the center portion. The floating plate has ears laterally extending from the side edges thereof in register with and spaced from the tabs. The cassette has push-bar mechanisms adapted when the push-bar mechanisms are moved to an extended position to enter the space between the ears and tabs and to engage the tabs and move the pressure plate toward the rear cover wall, and to override the ears for latching the floating plate to the front cover wall whereby the pressure and floating plates are spaced apart for allowing a sheet to freely move into or exit the cassette.

Abstract: A film sheet presence indicating mechanism is disclosed for use in a photographic cassette, such as an x-ray cassette having one end wall with a slot therein through which a film sheet is moveable therethrough between screens along an inlet path to a loaded position adjacent an opposite end wall. The x-ray cassette has front and rear cover walls joined to the end walls in which the rear cover wall has an inner side facing an inner surface of the front cover. The film sheet presence indicating mechanism comprises a housing secured to the inner side of the rear cover adjacent the opposite end wall to define a cavity. The mechanism further comprises a film sheet presence indicator member that is mounted within the housing cavity for slidable movement between a normal first position indicating the absence of a film sheet in the x-ray cassette, and a second position indicating that a film sheet is loaded in the cassette.

Abstract: A record disk cartridge (34) is disclosed for use in a disk drive unit wherein the cartridge has a compartment containing a record disk (10) therein. The cartridge (34) has aperture means (42) (44) for insertion therethrough of a transducer head of the disk drive unit and through which the record disk can be engaged for rotation. A shutter mechanism (46) (48) associated with the aperture means is movable between an aperture-closed position at least partially closing the aperture means, and an aperture-opened position opening the aperture means. The shutter mechanism is biased by a spring (52) toward its aperture-closed position. An abutment member (54) of the disk drive unit enters into the cartridge to a position within the outer circumference of the record disk when the cartridge is moved to its recording position.

Abstract: A storage disk drive mechanism is disclosed for rotatably driving a storage disk comprising a flexible circular information recording medium attached to a hub member. The hub member is of the type having an enlarged central positioning aperture and a radially spaced drive aperture. The drive mechanism comprises a rotatable clutch plate having an axial positioning pin for receiving the positioning aperture of the hub member when a disk assembly containing the storage disk is mounted thereon. The clutch plate further has a spring member mounted thereon having a smooth uninterrupted laterally extending beveled claw extending into the driving aperture. Upon rotation of the clutch plate, the claw drivingly engages a driven surface defined by the driving aperture for centering, retaining and driving the storage disk.

Abstract: A cassette indicating mechanism is disclosed for a cassette of the type having top and bottom halves and an information recording medium interposed therebetween. The indicating mechanism indicates whether information can or cannot be recorded on the recording medium. The cassette indicating mechanism is in a normal recording position in which a colored portion thereof is visible and preferably blocks an interfacing detector of a recording device. The blocked detector actuates the recording device to permit recording on the recording medium. The indicating mechanism is movable to a non-recording position in which the colored portion is hidden and the interfacing detector of the recording device is preferably unblocked. The unblocked detector actuates the recording device to prevent recording on the recording medium.

Abstract: A disk cassette is disclosed comprising an information storage disk enclosed within a lined jacket which is housed in a cassette formed of top and bottom halves of rigid material. A pressure spring mechanism is provided on the top and bottom halves for sandwiching the jacket therebetween, and is located adjacent to and upstream of registering radial slots in the cassette and jacket through which transducers may extend into information transferring contact with the disk.

Abstract: Structure is provided for separately sealing an optical disk cartridge and cooperating apparatus closed when the cartridge and apparatus are not operatively engaged for intended use, and for opening the cartridge and apparatus to each other while jointly closing them from the environment when they are so engaged. The optical disk includes a magnetically attractable hub bearing a compliant annular seal. The disk-containing cartridge is permanently closed except for a central drive-access opening in one wall thereof that is bounded by a circular rim concentrically aligned with the hub seal. Magnetic means on that wall atrract the hub and thereby draw its seal into firm contact with the rim, to seal the opening closed whenever the cartridge is not in use. The cooperating apparatus includes a drive spindle that is bounded by a circular flange also concentrically aligned with the hub seal.