PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM UNIT ASSEMBLAGE

• US 3,636,845 A
• Filed: 10/02/1970
• Issued: 01/25/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald M. Harvey
• Original Assignee: Donald M. Harvey
• Inventors: Harvey, Donald M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horan, John M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mathews, Alan A.
• Application Number:
  US05/077,512
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 95/13,19,22 96/76
• US Class Current: 430/210
• 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 unit-transporting web is disclosed wherein the length of web material between succeeding film units is approximately one-half the length of web material found between such units in prior assemblages of this type. The assemblage is adaptable to being arranged with its film units stacked in superposed relationship while being operably interconnected by the unit-transporting web for ready use in cooperating photographic apparatus. When the film units are so stacked, each unit in the stack is connected by the interconnecting web from a point that is located along the length of that unit forward of its trailing end, such as its midpoint or its leading end or a point forward of its leading end, to the leading end of the next succeeding unit immediately below that unit.

Claims

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

a. a plurality of film units, each unit having first and second ends defining a first overall length, 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, said supplying means defining said first end of each unit; and

b. a foldable web for transporting said film units in the cooperating photographic apparatus, said web being adapted when unfolded to support said film units in closely spaced succession, 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 plurality of interconnected leaders corresponding in number to said plurality of film units, each leader having first and second ends defining a second overall length greater than said first overall length, each unit being disposed in superposed relationship to a respective one of said leaders, one of said layers of each unit being separably coupled to the respective one of said leaders with which that unit is superposed, said supplying means of that unit being inseparably coupled to that leader at a first location between said first and second ends of said leader, said first end of said leader extending beyond said first end of said unit, said second end of said leader coinciding substantially with said second end of said unit, said first end of said leader being inseparably coupled to another of said leaders at a second location along the second overall length of said other leader.

2. The assemblage claimed in claim 1 wherein said unit has first and second sides, said first side being adapted for exposure to the subject, said second side being Superposed upon said leader.

3. 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.

4. The assemblage claimed in claim 1 wherein said first location on each leader is located along said second overall length of that leader a first distance from said second end of said leader substantially equal to said first overall length.

5. The assemblage claimed in claim 4 wherein said second overall length is substantially equal to but greater than twice said first overall length, said first end of said leader extending beyond said first end of said unit a second distance substantially equal to but greater than said first distance.

6. The assemblage claimed in claim 5 wherein said second location is located a third distance from said second end of said other leader substantially equal to said first distance.

7. The assemblage claimed in claim 5 wherein said second location is located a third distance from said second end of said other leader substantially equal to but greater than said first distance.

8. The assemblage claimed in claim 4 wherein said second overall length is substantially equal to but greater than one and one-half times said first overall length, said first end of said leader extending beyond said first end of said unit a second distance substantially equal to but greater than one-half said first distance.

9. The assemblage claimed in claim 8 wherein said second location on said other leader is located substantially midway between the first location on said other leader and the second end of said other leader.

10. The assemblage claimed in claim 4 wherein said supplying means of each unit includes a rupturable pod containing said processing fluid and means for directing said fluid from said pod, when ruptured, to said layers of that unit for distribution thereover, said pod being inseparably coupled to said directing means and to said leader with which said unit is superposed, said directing means being separably coupled to said layers.

11. The assemblage claimed in claim 10 wherein said unit 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 leader.

12. The assemblage claimed in claim 11 wherein said pod defines said first end of said unit, said trap defines said second end of said unit, said layers are disposed between said pod and said trap, and said directing means is disposed between said pod and said layers.

13. The assemblage claimed in claim 12 wherein said pod is inseparably coupled to said leader at said first location thereon, and said trap is inseparably coupled to said leader at said second end thereof.

14. 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 unfolded to support said film units in closely spaced succession, 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 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 defining a third overall length from the one of said first locations at which that flap portion is hingedly coupled to said main portion, said third overall length being substantially one-half said first overall length;

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.

15. The assemblage claimed in claim 14 wherein said first and second segments of said first overall length are substantially equal.

16. The assemblage claimed in claim 14 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.

17. The assemblage claimed in claim 14 wherein said web is folded in said zigzag configuration so that said film units are supported in said superposed relationship.

18. The assemblage claimed in claim 14 wherein each of said flap portions has a coupled end opposite to said free end, said coupled end being inseparably coupled to said main portion at said one of said first locations, thereby hingedly coupling that flap portion to said main portion.

19. The assemblage claimed in claim 14 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.

20. The assemblage claimed in claim 14 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.

21. The assemblage claimed in claim 14 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.

22. The assemblage claimed in claim 21 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.

23. The assemblage claimed in claim 22 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.

24. The assemblage claimed in claim 23 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.