Abstract: An automatic tape threading device for a magnetic recording and reproducing system wherein a leading tape member of a width larger than that of a magnetic tape for threading the magnetic tape in a cartridge through a path of travel of the magnetic tape including the outer circumference of a drum mounting a rotary magnetic head includes a joint member connected to one end portion of the magnetic tape in the cartridge and another joint member connected to one end portion of the leading tape member. The two joint members are brought into engagement with each other conjointly with the attaching of the cartridge to the magnetic recording and reproducing system, and then a takeup reel is actuated to withdraw the magnetic tape from the cartridge through the leading tape member, so as to thereby thread the magnetic tape through the path of travel of the magnetic tape.

Abstract: Diapositives are mounted in a strip formed by a pair of flexible sheet members each having at least two picture openings therein in side-by-side relationship and the sheet members are fastened to each other in face-to-face relationship mutually offset by a single picture opening. The frame is interposed between the sheet members and a diapositive is moveably positioned within an opening in the frame. The thickness of the frame is greater than that of the diapositive so that a diapositive is freely moveable within a frame opening and has play between the sheet members. An apparatus for projecting the strip mounted diapositives is provided with a pair of cassettes one of which contains a strip in which the diapositives are mounted and the second cassette contains a strip without any diapositives. The ends of the strips are automatically connected to each other for successively introducing the diapositives into the apparatus.

Abstract: A single reel tape cartridge is disclosed for an automatic threading tape drive. The reel includes layers of magnetic tape with a leader block attached to the free end of the tape. The leader block is held in a receiving well in one corner of the cartridge when the cartridge is out of a tape drive. The leader block interconnects with a threading pin in the drive for threading the tape through the drive to a take-up reel hub. The leader block includes conforming sections that fit the leader block into a U-shaped channel in the hub to provide a smooth hub periphery for the layers of tape.

Abstract: An apparatus for unloading a length of film from a cartridge, trimming the ends from the film, splicing the leading edge of the film to the trailing edge of the previously unloaded film, placing an identifying mark on the film and on an envelope and winding the film on a magazine. The unloading device allows the film to be removed from the cartridge by manually pulling the sheet of backing paper from the film in the daylight while shielding the film from light. The cartridge is locked to the loading device until all of the film in the cartridge has been loaded through a film guide into a storage box. The leading edge of the film is then trimmed by upward movement of a cutting blade allowing the film to advance through an aperture in the cutting blade until the trailing edge is trimmed by downward movement of the cutting blade.

Abstract: An elongated, resilient member such as a coiled spring or a belt of elastic material is disposed in lapping engagement with first and second drive rollers for engaging and threading a web around the rollers in response to rotation of the rollers. The drive rollers are rotated in opposite directions and the belt or spring is disposed in a twist, thereby defining a figure "8" lapping pattern. In a preferred embodiment, each roller is circumscribed by a groove in which the spring or belt is reeved.

Abstract: An automatic threading apparatus for a magnetic tape transport is disclosed using a constant force spring located outside of the plane of the tape path. A leader block attached to the free end of the tape from a cartridge is connected to a pick-up pin of the threading apparatus. The pick-up pin is attached to a spool that is connected to a constant force spring, sometimes known as a negator spring. The other end of the spring is connected to a hub which is located on a plane different from the take-up reel. A latch holds the spool with the spring adjacent to the supply reel. When the latch releases the spool, the spring on the spool will wind around the spool and pull the pick-up pin through a guide path such that the leader block is placed into the take-up spool and forms a part of the take-up hub to allow a desired smooth surface for the wraps of the tape around the hub.

Abstract: An automatic threading apparatus using a pantocam for a magnetic tape transport is disclosed. A leader block attached to the free end of the tape in a cartridge is connected to a pick-up pin attached to one end of a broken arm linkage. The broken arm linkage has its second end fastened to a rotatable shaft. The extension of the broken arm linkage is controlled by a follower link which includes a bearing that follows a cam groove. Rotating the broken arm linkage causes the tape from the cartridge to follow the tape path, such as a cucumvoluted path, in a sweeping motion past air bearing guides and a transducer into a take-up reel. The threading pin remains in contact with the leader block which forms a smooth surface for the tape with the take-up reel.

Abstract: To permit free selection of a threading path in a printing machine of the threading element, the threading element (14) has a cross section such that the resistance against bending of the element in any direction--with respect to the longitudinal extent thereof--is at least approximately equal; a suitable element is a cable, a spiral spring, rope or the like. The threading element is guided in a threading path by tubular threading guides and can be selectively placed in various paths by switches positioned in the threading path, and moved in the threading path by engagement with friction drive wheels.

Abstract: A leader pin to securely hold the leading end of a strip for high speed unwinding wherein the end of a strip is inserted in a slot in a body and a keeper is inserted in the body embraced by the end of the strip; the keeper is provided with a resilient latch that is engageable with a channel on the body whereby the body and the keeper are strongly engaged together.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing photosensitive material including a guide bar to which one end of the photosensitive material such as a film strip is attached, a circulating chain which carries the guide bar and which is grasped by a link plate, and a rachet wheel which delivers the guide bar between the rachet wheel and the circulating chain. The rachet wheel is mounted on a drive therefor through an elastic material so that the torque for the drive shaft is elastically transmitted to the rachet wheel when the guide bar is delivered between the rachet wheel and the chain. With this arrangement, it is always possible to smoothly transfer the guide bar between the rachet wheel and the chain without jamming of the apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically threading web material, e.g., magnetic tape, from a replaceable supply reel to a non-replaceable take-up reel of a web transport device, in which the web path is nonlinear and relatively complex as a result of various components, e.g., magnetic transducer tape guides, which act on the web while it is being transported.The apparatus comprises a coupling device and a mechanism for moving and guiding the coupling device between the supply reel and the take-up reel. The coupling device couples to a leader block attached to the tape at the supply reel. The mechanism moves and guides the coupling device to thread the tape over the predefined tape path and positions the leader block wholly within a radially disposed slot in the hub of the take-up reel. The coupling device remains attached to the moving mechanism and coupled to the leader block when the leader block is rotated with the take-up reel.

Abstract: A connector device attaches the leading end of a photographic print paper web to a leader belt of a photographic print processor and leads the print paper through the processor. The device includes a belt clip, a leader bar, a pull bar and a flexible connective flap member. When the belt clip is initially attached by an operator to the leader belt, the leader bar (which is rigidly attached to the belt clip) is in a first position which is generally perpendicular to the leader belt. The flexible connective flap member connects the leader bar and the pull bar in a fixed nonparallel relationship. A leading end of the print paper web is attached to the pull bar. When the leader belt is placed in motion, tension is transmitted from the leader belt through the connector device to the print paper web. The tension causes the leader bar to move from the first position to a second position with respect to the leader belt which results in the pull bar moving to a perpendicular position with respect to the leader belt.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing photographic materials is disclosed and more specifically equipment for turnaround during processing of an elongated web of photographic material at the midportion of a processing operation, the web being guided in part by inner and outer rollers but having vibrating guides interposed between pairs of rollers, the guides being oscillated by the drive for the rollers. Various types of oscillating mechanism for the guides is shown.

Abstract: For threading a web through a float web dryer which pneumatically floats the web when traveling through the dryer, a transverse bar mounted by chains and having needles for engaging the web, picks up the start of the web and carries it through the dryer.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing photographic materials is disclosed and more specifically equipment for turnaround during processing of an elongated web of photographic material at the midportion of a processing operation, the web being guided in part by inner and outer rollers with endless belts for guiding the web in an arcuate path.

Abstract: The system dispenses, unloads and discharges film cartridges while unloaded film strips are cut, identified, spliced end-to-end and wound into a roll--all automatically. The system alternatively provides semi-automatic or manual handling of individual cartridges or film strips and is especially suited for unloading and splicing so-called "110" cartridge film.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming glass filaments comprised of (a) a plurality of spaced apart forming sections wherein each section is comprised of (i) a feeder adapted to supply a plurality of streams of glass to be attenuated into continuous filaments, a zone being defined by the paths of the free-falling streams, (ii) applicator means laterally spaced from said zone adapted to apply a coating to the advancing filaments, (iii) first guide means laterally spaced from said zone adapted to gather the filaments into a strand, the guide means and applicator being positioned such that the coating is applied to the filaments at a region external to said zone and intermediate the feeder and the first guide means along the path of advancement of the filaments, (iv) secondary attenuation means laterally spaced from the zone adapted to advance the filaments as waste, (b) a single primary attenuation means adapted to simultaneously attenuate the streams from each section into filaments; and (c) second guide means posit

Abstract: Economical and trouble-free operation of automatic processing machines for webs such as photographic film strips and paper is achieved.A leader tape is threaded through the processing machine. The leading end of a strip of film or paper to be processed is automatically attached to this tape for transport through the machine. Behind the attachment point of the strip to the transport tape, the tape is automatically severed, but is later automatically reattached to the trailing end of the strip. This operation is repeated for consecutive film strips or papers to be processed through the machine.In this way, an uninterrupted band of either tape or web is always in the machine. This permits simple machine construction, with supports for the web preferably only at its turnabout locations, and with powered drive preferably only at the exit from the machine. Yet, even long webs of film or paper can be automatically processed without wasteful leader tape consumption.

Abstract: This invention relates to a metal coil handling system that allows the user to fully automate operations involving the conventional unwrapping of the leading end of a coil of metal from the remainder of the metal coil and subsequently threading the said leading end of the coil through rolling mill entry rolls. The invention includes equipment for disengaging and peeling this leading end of the coil away from the remainder of the coil and for holding the peeled length of metal coil strip taut throughout the mill feeding operations. The instant handling system eliminates or minimizes frictional scratches in the body of the coil normally caused by unwrapping and rewrapping of the leading end of metal during mill feeding operations.

Abstract: Coating apparatus wherein a pretreated sheet metal ribbon passes from a supply coil successively through entry rolls, coating rolls, a curing oven, cooling apparatus, and tension rolls to a recoiler. The ribbon extends through the coating rolls and the curing oven as a long-span catenary. No looping facility is required. The apparatus incorporates novel leading end gripper means and trailing end gripper means for establishing and terminating the catenary in a manner which minimizes the unusable length of ribbon, that is, the uncoated leading end and uncoated trailing end of the processed ribbon. A method of initiating, maintaining, and terminating the catenary is disclosed.

Abstract: A container for exposed photographic roll film is so positioned in a film removing apparatus that the observation and exposure openings of its bridge register with a pivotable pusher which thereupon moves forwardly to expel the leader of the backing strip into the nip of a first pair of advancing rolls. The backing strip extracts the film from the takeup section of the container, and a deflector causes the leader of the film to enter a channel wherein the film advances toward a second pair of advancing rolls. The deflector and/or the first pair of advancing rolls defines for the backing strip a path which makes an angle of 30.degree.-60.degree. with the direction of travel of backing strip from the takeup section of the container toward the exposure opening. This insures that the film is not scratched during withdrawal, even if it is tightly wound onto the takeup reel and even if the dimensions of the container deviate from optimum dimensions.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming glass filaments are provided by (a) a plurality of spaced apart forming sections wherein each section is comprised of (i) a feeder adapted to supply a plurality of streams of glass to be attenuated into continuous filaments, a zone being defined by the paths of the free-falling streams, (ii) applicator means laterally spaced from said zone adapted to apply a coating to the advancing filaments, (iii) first guide means laterally spaced from said zone adapted to gather the filaments into a strand, the guide means and applicator being positioned such that the coating is applied to the filaments at a region external to said zone and intermediate the feeder and the first guide means along the path of advancement of the filaments, (iv) secondary attenuation means laterally spaced from the zone adapted to advance the filaments as waste, (b) a single primary attenuation means adapted to simultaneously attenuate the streams from each section into filaments; and (c) second guide means po

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for clipping strips of photographic paper to the flat conveyor belts of conventional developers for conveying in closed cycle through various tanks containing the necessary chemicals for development. The device according to the invention comprises a bar to which the photographic paper is connected, a hook at one end of said bar and a resilient clip fixed to the bar at such a distance from the hook as to be able to clamp a conveyor belt hooked by the hook.

Abstract: To provide for automatic threading of a paper web throughout an entire printing press equipped with a press threading mechanism, and also over the folding former thereof, two paper guide baffles are located at the back side of the folding former extending in converging direction from the edges of the former to the tip thereof and up to the nip between a pair of take-up rollers located below, and adjacent the tip of the former. Air pressure differential generating means, typically air blast nozzles are directed towards the guide baffles to generate an under pressure adjacent to surfaces thereof which will pull paper downwardly into the nip between the take-up rollers. The take-up rollers themselves have a knurled, or ribbed surface and are driven by air blasts directed against the ribbing of the surface, to move paper which is guided over the folding former by the air blasts away and through the former mechanism.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing chopped strands of glass filaments wherein a multiplicity of glass filaments are extruded through orifices in the bottom of at least two spinning furnaces and a sizing agent is applied and the filaments are collected to form at least two strands. The strands brought into contact with the circumferential surface of a feed roller through a predetermined angle so as to be drawn and attenuated by frictional force exerted by the circumferential surface of the feed roller while the strands are cut into chopped strands of a predetermined length with a cutter roller in contact with the feed roller. An auxiliary feed roller is disposed adjacent to one end portion of and in axial alignment with the main feed roller and is driven independently thereof. An auxiliary cutter roller is adapted to contact under pressure the circumferential surface of the auxiliary feed roller to rotate therewith.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for transferring supports as well as to supports for use in this process.The process is characterized by the fact that a support is mechanically driven by means of a driven device and that said mechanically driven support drives at least the next support by means of at least a fold formed on at least a part of the rear border width of said support and coming during its travel motion into coupling with at least another fold, which is formed in the opposite direction to said rear border fold of the previous support, and on at least a part of the fore border width of said next support.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for threading one of several generally parallel strands through an operation through which the strands travel. The apparatus is designed to thread a broken strand using the movement of strands adjacent to this strand. The apparatus is also designed to reduce the downtime for the adjacent strands which are employed to pull and guide the broken strand through the rethreading operation. The apparatus is designed to allow for strand guide stabilization through the rethreading operation to allow the strands and guide to pass through the system easily and without placement errors in strand threading positioning. The apparatus includes a means for holding the broken strand, a means for releasably maintaining an adjacent guide strand within the apparatus and a means for releasably grasping the moving pull strand.

Abstract: Coating apparatus wherein a pretreated sheet metal ribbon passes from a supply coil successively through entry rolls, coating rolls, a curing oven, cooling apparatus, and tension rolls to a recoiler. The ribbon extends through the coating rolls and the curing oven as a long-span catenary. No looping facility is required. The apparatus incorporates novel leading end gripper means and trailing end gripper means for establishing and terminating the catenary in a manner which minimizes the unusable length of ribbon, that is, the uncoated leading end and uncoated trailing end of the processed ribbon. A method of initiating, maintaining, and terminating the catenary is disclosed.

Abstract: A clamp for carrying the leading edge of a web of material is disclosed to include a base bar and at least one clamping element, the clamping element being pivoted on the base bar between clamping and loading positions and being maintained in such positions by an overcenter spring means, and further including camming means for positively displacing the clamping means between clamping and a release position against the bias of said spring.

Abstract: Apparatus for engaging and moving a film strip through a light-tight processor having tanks of processing chemicals, including a film clip which fastens to the front of the film and which has a rearwardly-facing opening, and a pickup member which enters the opening in the film clip to drag it and the film strip through the tanks of chemicals.

Abstract: In order to thread a frangible strip material such as aluminium foil through a rolling mill stand, the leading end of the strip at the upstream side of the stand is attached over its width to a transverse threading device. The threading device is mechanically propelled through the stand to a downstream coiler location, where the leading end is detached and coupled to the coiler. The threading device either may be drawn through the stand by means of a leader strip which is normally located at the downstream side but which can be passed through the stand and attached to the threading device, or may be pushed by semi-rigid chains which are normally located at the upstream side and which carry the threading device.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for drawing a rolled film's end out of its cartridge by inserting a film drawing member into the cartridge, said member being formed of a resilient steel sheet and provided with a hook on one side of said member for catching the roll of film by the selected one of its perforations within the cartridge, and then drawing said member together with one end of the roll of film out of the cartridge, and also provides a device including said member and means for operating said member.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for withdrawing the tongue of an exposed film incorporated in a cartridge. A thin resilient guide member is mechanically inserted into the cartridge. After insertion of the guide member into the cartridge, a thin resilient film withdrawal strip with hooks is inserted into the cartridge in the same manner and then, retracted from cartridge to withdraw the film by engagement of the hooks with perforations in the film.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for threading web materials for use in a web-fed rotary printing press is disclosed. A plurality of finite length, flexible conveyors are secured to the press frame, extend between first and second storage devices, and are guided by suitable guides. Drive motors for transporting the conveyors are positioned at either end of the path of web threading and additional drive motors are positioned intermediate the end motors. The web to be transported is secured to the conveyor and suitable ones of the drive motors are actuated to withdraw the conveyor from the first storage device and into the second storage device whereby the web attached thereto is threaded through the assembly. The path of web threading may be varied by connecting various of the conveyors which extend along differing paths through the press.

Abstract: Disclosed herein a web-treating system equipped with web-threading apparatus having as principal structure, pulleys in endwise coaxial relation with web-conveying rolls, an endless drive cable extending over the pulleys, and a web-tail gripping device with transversely elongate elements thereof supported in the web path by the drive cable. Such elements and the pulleys are especially constructed to engage in an interlock condition as the elements traverse portions of the web path around the rolls so as to prevent the elements from centrifugally swinging away from the web path.

Abstract: A microfilm reader has a film transport mechanism driven by separate forward and reverse motors. When the forward motor first starts, power may be applied, via a one way clutch, to a capstan in order to automatically thread the film into the reader. A film gate opens as the film approaches it and thereafter closes, after the film is captured therein. A manual override gate control may prop the film gate open, if film is manually fed through the system.

Abstract: A rotary printing press assembly having a plurality of serially arranged printing units includes a chain conveyor apparatus for sequentially continuously moving a material web through the successive printing units of the assembly. The forward end of the material web to be passed through the assembly is looped about a lead-in bar which is then engaged by a chain conveyor in order to pass the web through the printing units. A pivoted pawl engaging mechanism fixed to the chain conveyor locks in engagement with a recessed cam surface of the lead-in bars while a locking bolt enters a bore in the lead-in bar to effect driving engagement between the lead-in bar and the conveyor chain. When the lead-in bar has passed through a printing unit the driving pawl is automatically disengaged from the conveyor chain of the printing unit, and for lead-in bar is transferred into engagement with the conveyor chain of a next printing unit.

Abstract: A coupling bar, to which a leading portion of a web has been secured, is engageable with a moving belt for transporting the web. To attach the coupling bar to the moving belt, gripper members of the coupling bar are positioned to straddle a reduced width section of the moving belt. The gripper members are spaced apart a distance greater than the width of the reduced section, but less than the width of a belt section which follows the reduced section. Accordingly, after the reduced width section of the moving belt is advanced from between the gripper members, the following wider section will be moved into edgewise engagement with them. By this means, the coupling bar is attached to the moving belt without the belt having to be stopped or manipulated.

Abstract: A photographic apparatus in which strip-shaped material is to be advanced by means of a travelling leader tape, has a carrier for the strip-shaped material, the carrier being formed with a channel. An arrangement is provided by means of which the leader tape can be sprung into the channel in response to a command signal so that a mechanical connection becomes established between the leader tape and the carrier and the latter is taken along by the travelling leader tape.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for pulling webs of random lengths from respective cartridges. Each web has an end portion which protrudes from its respective cartridge. The cartridges are advanced by an endless belt cartridge conveyor in a first direction while the web end portions are sandwiched between a pair of endless belt conveyors and advanced in a second direction at an acute angle with respect to the first direction. Due to such divergent advancement of the cartridges and the web end portions, the webs are pulled from the cartridges. A cutting wheel is provided to cut the web after being pulled from the cartridges.

Abstract: Device for retrieving the free end of a roll of film from a film cartridge; curved inner and outer jaws are movable with respect to one another. The operation involves inserting the jaw ends into the cartridge, rotating the film within the cartridge until the free end is between the jaw ends, and grasping the film with the jaw ends.

Abstract: A control means is provided for use with a roll sheet feeder in which a web is fed to a work station from either one of a pair of web supply rolls for partially withdrawing from the work station the web not being fed thereto to avoid interference with the other web being worked upon at the work station. First and second selectively driven rotatable members are provided for feeding a web to the work station. The control means comprises a first and a second friction brake means mounted on and rotatable with the first and the second members respectively, and stop means for arresting rotation of the brake means. As the first member is rotated in a direction to feed the web to the work station, the brake means thereon co-acts with the brake means on the second member to thereby rotate the second brake means and the second member through a predetermined distance in the opposite or reverse direction until arrested by the stop means.

Abstract: A plurality of drive elements, such as electric motors supplied with sprockets, are located along a threading path for the paper web of a rotary printing press; a threading element, such as a sprocket chain of a finite length somewhat longer than the maximum space between drive elements is moved along the path, for example, in a guide channel, the threading element cooperating with switches located adjacent the drive elements to energize the drive element adjacent a leading edge of the threading element, and move the threading element along to the next threading element, the trailing end turning the switch OFF since drive power will be supplied by the next drive element along the path. This sprocket chain carries a gripper with which the leading edge of the paper web to be threaded into the printing press can be gripped.

Abstract: A reel assembly includes a flexible tape drawing member with a required length, a connecting means connected to the top end of the flexible tape drawing member and a reel hub with at least one cut-out portion. Another tape-like member is connected to the flexible tape drawing member through the connecting means. When the flexible tape drawing member and the tape-like member are wound around the reel hub on the automatic loading operation of a VTR or tape recorder, the connecting means is led into the cut-out portion. Therefore, the tape-like member can be orderly wound in circle around the reel hub without wrinkling.