PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM-UNIT ASSEMBLAGE

• US 3,635,139 A
• Filed: 10/02/1970
• Issued: 01/18/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joseph D. Guite Sr
• Original Assignee: Joseph D. Guite Sr
• Inventors: Guite, Joseph D. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horan, John M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mathews, Alan
• Application Number:
  US05/077,473
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 95/13,19,22
• US Class Current: 396/364
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/34 Changing plates or cut films
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 8/44 Integral units, i.e. the image-forming section not being separated from the image-receiving section

Abstract

An improved assemblage of integral self-processing film units interconnected by a foldable web for transporting the film units in cooperating photographic apparatus is disclosed. The web is adapted, by a series of longitudinally extending flaps cut from the web, to lie flat and support the film units in closely spaced succession on a common plane when the web is unfolded, and to support the film units in superposed relationship when the web is folded in a zigzag configuration for use in the cooperating photographic apparatus.

Claims

1. A film unit assemblage for use in cooperating photographic apparatus, saId assemblage comprising:

a. a plurality of film units, each unit having first and second ends defining a first overall length consisting of first and second segments, each unit including a layer of photosensitive material for establishing a developable latent image of a subject to which said photosensitive material is adapted to be exposed, a layer of image-recording material for recording a visible image in response to development of the latent image, means for permanently maintaining said layers in superposed relationship, and means for supplying to said layers a processing fluid adapted to effect development of the latent image and recording of the visible image, said supplying means being separably coupled to said layers;

b. a foldable web for transporting said film units in the cooperating photographic apparatus, said web being adapted when lying flat to support said film units in closely spaced succession on a common plane, said web being adapted when folded in a zigzag configuration to support said film units in a superposed relationship to one another, said web including a main portion having a second overall length greater than the sum of the first overall lengths of said film units and a plurality of integral flap portions corresponding in number to said plurality of film units, said flap portions being hingedly coupled to said main portion at respective first locations spaced uniformly along said second overall length by a distance substantially equal to but greater than said first overall length, each of said flap portions having a free end and a fixed end defining a third overall length substantially equal to one-half said first overall length, said free end being movable relative to said main portion, said fixed end being fixed to said main portion at one of said first locations to hingedly couple that flap portion to said main portion, each of said flap portions having first and second longitudinal edges defining a first overall width, said main portion having first and second longitudinal edges defining a second overall width greater than said first overall width, said main portion further having a plurality of openings corresponding in number to said plurality of flap portions and spaced uniformly along said second overall length, each of said openings being adapted to receive therein a respective one of said flap portions to define said common plane when said web is lying flat;

c. means for maintaining each film unit in superposed relationship to said web, said first and second segments of said first overall length overlying, respectively, an area of said main portion and a respective one of said flap portions; and

d. means for inseparably coupling said supplying means of each film unit to said main portion of said web at a respective one of a plurality of second locations spaced uniformly along said second overall length by said distance substantially equal to but greater than said first overall length.

2. The assemblage claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second segments of said first overall length are substantially equal.

3. The assemblage claimed in claim 1 wherein said supplying means includes a rupturable pod containing said processing fluid and means for directing said fluid from said pod, when ruptured, to said layers for distribution thereover, said pod being inseparably coupled to said directing means and to said main portion of said web, said directing means being separably coupled to said layers.

4. The assemblage claimed in claim 3 wherein each of said film units further includes a trap for receiving and retaining any excess portion of said fluid after said distribution over said layers, said trap being separably coupled to said layers and inseparably coupled to said respective one of said flap portions of said web.

5. The assemblage claimed in claim 4 wherein said pod defines said first end, said trap defines said second end, said layers are disposed between said pod and said trap, and said directing means is dIsposed between said pod and said layers.

6. The assemblage claimed in claim 5 wherein said trap is inseparably coupled to said respective one of said flap portions at said free end thereof, wherein said pod is inseparably coupled to said main portion at said respective one of said second locations, said one second location being spaced from the first location at which said one flap portion is hingedly coupled to said main portion by a distance substantially equal to said third overall length.

7. The assemblage claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said film units has first and second sides, said first side being adapted for exposure to the subject, said second side being superposed upon said web.

8. The film assemblage claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said openings in said main portion of said web is defined by a pair of longitudinal edges, each having a length substantially equal to said third overall length, and a transverse edge having a length substantially equal to said first overall width, said pair of longitudinal edges and said transverse edge coinciding substantially with said first and second longitudinal edges and said free end, respectively, of the one of said flap portions received in that opening, said opening and said flap portion being substantially coextensive and in a mating relationship to define said common plane when said web is lying flat.

9. The film assemblage claimed in claim 8 wherein one of said pair of longitudinal edges defining each opening and said first longitudinal edge of said main portion define a first marginal portion of said main portion, and wherein the other of said pair of longitudinal edges defining each opening and said second longitudinal edge of said main portion define a second marginal portion of said main portion, said first and second marginal portions providing continuity in said main portion along the length of each opening.

10. The film assemblage claimed in claim 9 wherein said first and second marginal portions along the length of each opening have equal areas.

11. The film assemblage claimed in claim 9 wherein said pair of longitudinal edges defining each opening and said first and second longitudinal edges of said main portion are substantially parallel, and wherein each flap portion is substantially rectangular.

12. The assemblage claimed in claim 1 wherein said web is folded in said zigzag configuration so that said film units are supported in said superposed relationship.

13. The assemblage claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for maintaining each film unit in superposed relationship to said web includes means for separably coupling one of said layers of said film unit to said area of said main portion.

14. The assemblage claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for maintaining each film unit in superposed relationship to said web includes means for separably coupling one of said layers of said film unit to said respective one of said flap portions.

15. A web for transporting a plurality of self-processing film units in cooperating photographic apparatus, each film unit having first and second ends defining a unit length, said web being adapted when lying flat to support the film units in closely spaced succession on a common plane, said web being adapted when folded in a zigzag configuration to support the film units in a superposed relationship to one another, said web comprising:

a. a main portion having an overall length greater than the sum of the unit lengths of the plurality of film units, said main portion having first and second longitudinal edges defining an overall width, said main portion further having a plurality of openings corresponding in number to the plurality of film units and spaced uniformly along said overall length by a distance substantially equal to but greater than one-half the unit length, each of said openings having first and second ends defining an opening length substantially equal to one-half the unit length and first and second sides defining an openiNg width less than said overall width; and

b. a plurality of flap portions corresponding in number to said plurality of openings and spaced uniformly along said overall length by said distance substantially equal to but greater than one-half the unit length, each of said flap portions having first and second ends defining a flap portion length substantially equal to said opening length and first and second longitudinal edges defining a flap portion width substantially equal to said opening width, each of said flap portion first ends being integrally joined with said main portion at a respective one of said opening first ends, each of said flap portion second ends being movable relative to said main portion, each of said flap portions being substantially coextensive with and receivable by a respective one of said openings in a mating relationship to define said common plane when said web is lying flat.

16. The web claimed in claim 15 wherein said first longitudinal edge of said main portion and said first side of each opening define a first marginal portion of said main portion, and wherein said second longitudinal edge of said main portion and said second side of each opening define a second marginal portion of said main portion, said first and second marginal portions providing continuity in said main portion along each opening length.

17. The web claimed in claim 16 wherein said first and second marginal portions along each opening length have equal areas.

18. The web claimed in claim 16 wherein said first and second longitudinal edges of said main portion and said first and second sides of each opening are substantially parallel, and wherein each flap portion is substantially rectangular.

19. The web claimed in claim 15 in combination with the plurality of film units, each of said film units being supported at its first end by said main portion and at its second end by a respective one of said flap portions.

20. The combination claimed in claim 19 wherein said main portion is folded in said zigzag configuration to support said film units in said superposed relationship for use in the cooperating photographic apparatus.

21. The web claimed in claim 15 in combination with the plurality of film units and means for attaching said film units to said web, each film unit overlying a respective flap portion and an adjacent area of said main portion, said area having an end spaced longitudinally from said first end of said flap portion by a distance substantially equal to said flap portion length, said first end of said film unit coinciding substantially with said end of said area, said second end of said film unit coinciding substantially with said second end of said flap portion.

22. The combination claimed in claim 21 wherein said main portion is folded in said zigzag configuration to support said film units in said superposed relationship for use in the cooperating photographic apparatus.

23. A method of making an assemblage of a plurality of self-processing film units interconnected by a web for transporting the film units in cooperating photographic apparatus, said method comprising:

a. forming said web from a relatively thin, flexible web material, said web having leading and trailing ends defining a length greater than the sum of the lengths of said plurality of film units;

b. cutting a series of flaps in said web corresponding in number to said plurality of film units and spaced uniformly along the length of said web, each flap projecting longitudinally toward said trailing end; and

c. attaching said plurality of film units to said web so that each film unit overlies a respective flap and an adjacent area of said web extending longitudinally toward said leading end.

24. The method claimed in claim 23 further comprising:

d. folding said web in a zigzag configuration so that said film units are supported in a superposed relationship to one another for use in the cooperating photographic apparatus.