LIGHT-TIGHT FILM REEL

Abstract: A light-tight film reel which is positionable on a spindle having a driving connection for rotating said reel, comprising a cylindrical core (23) which includes a central opening (28) in the core for locating the reel on the spindle, cavities (43, 44) extending from one end into the core and terminating near the other end of the core, and two axially spaced slots (24, 25) in the core wall (19) that communicate with one (43) of the cavities near opposite angular ends thereof.

Description: The present invention relates to a film reel which is suitable for the light-tight storing of films and more in particular to a universal film reel for use in library microfilm systems, that is reversibly positionable on a spindle for use in conjunction with various types of photographic apparatus, such as copy cameras and film readers/printers, developing or processing apparatus, etc. Film reels on which a film strip can be stored or wound with the emulsion side thereof wound towards or away from the core and with either flange facing the driving connection so that the reel is usable interchangeably with various types of photographic apparatus, are known. Such reels comprise a first light-tight flange, a second light-tight flange spaced from the first flange and a cylindrical core disposed between both flanges, the core including a first and a second end wall that are disposed near said respective first and second flanges, the end walls being provided with a central opening for engaging a spindle and locating said reel therealong, an inner surface that circumscribes the central opening for engaging the spindle, a plurality of cavities disposed between the central opening and the peripheral wall of the core and extending from the first and second end walls into the core and terminating at an opposite one of the respective first and second end walls, and at least one axial slot in the core wall for the introduction of a film in at least one of such cavities. In a commonly used reel, the inner surface of the central opneing is a square surface, and the first and second end walls are provided with a first opening including a circular portion having a radial keyway to the central opening, and a second opening including likewise a circular portion and a radial keyway directed to the central opening, said second opening being disposed at a greater distance from the reel axis than the first opening. A universal film reel of the described type is disclosed in US-A-3,330,494. A difficulty with this reel, as well as with all other similar reels that are currently used, is the way of securing the trailing end of the strip of film to the core of the reel, prior to the winding of the film. In the description of the present specification, the term "trailing end" is used to denote the end of the film strip that is secured to the core, this as distinct from the other end of the film which occupies the outer winding on a roll of wound film, and which is referred to as "leading". According to one known procedure, the trailing end of the film strip is not fixedly secured to the core. The operator inserts the film end into the slot of the core, and then endeavours to keep the film end engaged into the slot while rotating the reel over a few revolutions until the first film windings become sufficiently tightened to ensure the further pulling of the film as the reel spindle becomes driven. Practice shows that this manipulation frequently ends unsuccessfully, since the cavity in the core mostly does not accept a film length longer than approximately 15 mm, so that it requires special attention from the operator to maintain the end of the film in said cavity during the first revolutions of the reel in order to produce the first film windings. The described threading up of the film in the reel must be done at the instance the freshly exposed film leaves the processing machine for the photographic development of the film, and at each occurrence the trailing end of the film is withdrawn from the film spool on a film reader. According to another procedure, the leading end of the film strip is fixedly secured to the core of a film reel. To that end, the operator inserts the film end into the slot of the core, and then inserts a suitable locking member in the form of a rectangular or otherwise shaped elastic piece into the cavity of the core in order to clamp the film end between such locking member and a corresponding wall section of the cavity. A sufficient insertion of the film end into the cavity is required, in order that a good fixation of the film is obtained. The described operation raises minor problems in the case of a film reader or printer, but major problems in the case of a film processor, where the operator has only a few seconds at his disposal to bring the operation to a good end since the film leaves the processor at a speed situated approximately between 2 and 12 cm/s. Once a film spaghetti has been produced as a consequence of delayed winding up, damaging of the developed film images is almost unavoidable. Furthermore, the technique of securing the film to the core by clamping the film by means of a locking member is not completely reliable since it happens that at increased film tensions, which are far below the breaking strength of the film, the trailing film end becomes withdrawn from the core. A further problem relating to the described fixation of the film to the reel, is that detaching of the film from the reel is difficult since in practice it is not easy to remove the locking member from the reel. In practice use is made of either any sharp-pointed member for whipping the locking member from the cavity, or a special tool that may be screwed into, or otherwise engaged with the locking member in order to pull it out of the cavity of the core. The described detaching must occur when e.g. the film reel has been damaged and must be replaced by a new one, or when the film will be discarded and it is desired to recover the film reel. Another technique for securing the trailing end of a film strip to the core of a film reel is disclosed in US-A-2,946,533. The reel core according to this specification is provided with a cavity open on one side of the reel, into which a locking member for the film may be inserted which has a film clamping stud with an open-ended axial slot between two locking legs. The stud is rotated to clamp the film in the locking cavity. Finally, there is disclosed in US-A-3,184,178 a reel for films, tapes and the like, which has cavities or holes in its core which are adapted to engage with one or more drive pins on a transport mechanism for the reel. The attachment of a film or tape to the core of this reel is facilitated by a curved or arcute threading slot which extends through the core. It is the aim of the present invention to provide a film reel which is suitable for the light-tight storing of films, which has an improved film-locking stud for securing the trailing end of a film to the core. According to the present invention, a film reel with an insertable locking member, said film reel being suitable for the light-tight storing of a film, and being positionable on a spindle having a driving connection for rotating said reel, comprising a first light-tight flange; a second light-tight flange spaced from said first flange; and a cylindrical core disposed between said flanges, said core including a first and a second end wall with a central opening for engaging said spindle and locating said reel therealong, an inner surface that circumscribes said central opening for engaging said spindle, a plurality of cavities disposed between said central opening and the peripheral wall of said core and extending from said first and second end walls into said core and terminating at an opposite one of said respective first and second end walls, at least one of said cavities having an opening on one side of the film reel, and an axial slot in the said peripheral core wall for the introduction of a film in said one cavity, is characterized in that said axial slot is provided in the core wall near one angular end of said one cavity; that a second axial slot is provided in the core wall near the opposite angular end of said one cavity; and that the wall that determines said cavity inwardly of said core extends smoothly and uninterruptedly from one slot towards the other slot so that the trailing end of the film can be threaded through both slots of the core and be fastened to the reel by means of a locking member that is insertable into said one cavity; said locking member having a film clamping stud with an open-ended axial slot that defines two locking legs, the elasticity of the legs of the film clamping stud being such that winding the film about the stud by rotation of the stud causes the legs to be urged towards each other thereby clamping the film that is passed through the slot between them; and a locking stud that prevents the unwinding of the locking member, when it is completely inserted into said one cavity. The new film reel has the advantage that the trailing end of the film can be threaded up in the reel in such a way that the film end is passed through both slots of the core in succession, and then reappears from the core and can take there a length that may range from some centimeters to some decimeters. Any uncontrolled withdrawal of the film during the formation of first windings of film on the reel is unimportant, as long as such displacements are smaller than the "reserve" length of film that protrudes from the core. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the inward wall of the cavity incorporating the two slots has a cylindrical curvature, and said curvature is larger than the curvature of the wall portion of the core. In this way, a smooth passage is obtained for the leading end of the film from one slot to the other upon the threading of the film, as well as a sufficiently wide cavity. The invention will be described hereinafter by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein : Fig. 1 is a side view of one face of one embodiment of a reel according to the invention, showing the location of the openings and cavities in the core, Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of the core portion of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side view of the other face of the reel showing the location of the openings and the cavities in the core, Fig. 5 is an end view of the reel according to the arrow 5 of Fig. 4, Fig. 6 is an enlarged side view of the core portion of Fig. 4, Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the core of the reel, showing a first embodiment of the securance of the trailing end of a film strip to the reel, Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the core of the reel, showing a second embodiment of the securance of the trailing end of a film strip to the reel, Figs. 9 and 10 are a cross-sectional view of the core of the reel, showing a third embodiment of the securance of the trailing end of a film strip to the reel, Fig. 11 is a side view of a locking member for the securance of the trailing film end to the core according to the third embodiment, Fig. 12 is an end view of the locking member according to the arrow 12 of Fig. 11, Fig. 13 is a top view according to the arrow 13 of Fig. 11, and Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the core of the reel, showing another embodiment of the securance of the film to the core, by means of a locking member as illustrated in Figs. 11 to 13, Fig. 15 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a spindle showing relative locations of various driving connections thereon. Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5, a light-tight film reel 20 is shown as comprising a pair of spaced flanges 21 and 22 and a core 23 that is disposed between the flanges and arranged concentric therewith. The core is provided with two axial slots 24 and 25 in its wall 19 for enabling an end of a film strip to be passed through the core. The reel is molded or otherwise fabricated as a single unit from any thermoplastic or thermosetting material, or die cast in one piece from various metal alloys. The reel is made from a light-opaque material. The flanges of the reel may at their outer surfaces be provided with identification marks such as the figures 1 and 2, and corresponding arrows pointing to either one of the two slots. Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 6, the core 23 comprises an end wall 26 whose outer surface is very slightly recessed with respect to the outer surface 27 of the flange 21. The wall 26 is provided with a central opening 28, with a first opening 29 comprising a circular portion 30 and a slot 31 that is radially disposed toward the central opening 28, and with a second opening 32 comprising a circular portion 33 and a radial slot 34 that connects portion 33 with the central opening 28. The core 23 is also provided with a second end wall 35, see Fig. 2, whose outer surface 36 is disposed slightly inwardly from the outer surface 37 of the flange 22. The central opening 28 has a square inner surface 38 that circumscribes the central opening, and that has extensions 39 and 40 that are co-extensive with and conform to the peripheral outline of the sides of the radial slots 31 and 34. A pair of cavities 41 and 42 extend in the core from the side of the flange 21, and terminate at the inner surface of the end wall 35, see Figs. 1 and 3. A second pair of cavities 43 and 44, see Figs. 4 and 6, extend in the core from the side of the flange 22, and terminate at the inner surface of the end wall 26, see Fig. 2. The slots 24 and 25 communicate with the cavity 43 at opposite angular ends of said cavity (fig. 6). The cavities 41 and 42 are provided with ribs 45 and 46 that extend approximately radially in the core, and that divide the cavities thereby reducing the size of the cavities to prevent inadvertent entry into these cavities of the driving connection on a spindle. Referring to Figs. 3 and 6, it can be seen that each of cavities 41 and 42 is adjacent one of a pair of opposite sides of the square inner surface 38, and each of cavities 43 and 44 is adjacent one of the pair of other opposite sides so that the walls of the cavities 41 through 44 are common in part to each other and to the central opening 28. Different techniques of attaching the trailing end of a film strip to the core are now described with reference to Figs. 7 to 10 which show a cross-sectional view of the core 23 of the reel according to Figs. 1 to 6. Referring to Fig. 7, the trailing end of a strip of film 48, is inserted by the operator in succession through the slots 25 and 24 until a length 47 of film ranging between a few centrimeters and some decimeters extends from the slot 24. The insertion of the film in the slot 25 occurs almost radially in the spool and may be facilitated by providing the film with a tapered end, such as by cutting away a wedge-like portion from one or both lateral ends of the film. The cross-over of the film from the slot 25 to the slot 24 does not give to any problem because both the wall section 50 of the core and the inward wall 51, are smoothy concavely curved. Even films that have a badly cut extremity, or films with a strong curling tendency or a deformed end portion are threaded into the reel without any problem. The image-bearing side of the film may face the core or it may face away from the core, depending on the later use of the wound film reel. The curvature of the inward wall 51 of the cavity is important in the guidance of the film through the core. It has been shown that a curvature of said wall which is greater than the curvature of the wall section 50 of the core, or in other words a radius of curvature R that is smaller than the radius r, is conducive to a ready and quick threading of the film. After the film has been inserted through the slots as described from the right-hand towards the left-hand side of the figure as illustrated, the film 48 is folded back at the slot 25, and wound on the core in anti-clockwise direction as illustrated. The risk for the trailing end of the film to become withdrawn from the slots during the formation of the first film windings on the core is virtually zero, since after the film end 47 has been engaged by the beginning of the first film winding, said end is clamped between such winding and the outer core surface. In case winding of the film in clockwise direction on the core is required, threading of the film can occur successively through slots 24 and 25. Further it should be understood that folding back of the film must not necessarily occur at the slot where the film enters the core, but may as well occur at the slot where the trailing film end leaves the core. Referring to Fig. 7, and the threading up of the film being as illustrated, the film is wound clockwise about the core instead of anti-clockwise, and after approximately one winding has been made, the film end 47 extending from the slot 24 is folded towards the right-hand side so as to become engaged between the second and the first film winding on the core. Clamping of the film end in this way is as effective as the film clamping illustrated in Fig. 7. It is clear that the securance of the film as described hereinbefore is not permanent, since upon complete unwinding of the spool, the film is withdrawn from the core. Referring to Fig. 8, the trailing end 47 of a film which has been threaded through the slots 24 and 25 of the core, is folded back and secured to the film 48 by means of a piece of self-adhesive tape 52. It is clear that the attaching to form a closed loop in the film can also occur in other ways, such as by the use of a two-side self-adhesive tape that is stuck between the film surfaces facing each other, by a heat-sealed film connection, etc. The film which is secured to the core in the described way, can be wound in either direction on the core. The film securance is in principle permanent, unless the connection at 52 is broken by the operator. A film securance wherein use is made of a separate locking member that can suitably co-operate with the core cavity between the two film insertion slots, is described hereinafter with reference to Figs. 9 to 14. Referring to Figs. 11 to 13, a film locking member 53 is illustrated that comprises a longer and a shorter stud, 54 resp. 55, that are interconnected in parallel relationship by a flat portion 56. The stud 54 has an axial slot 57 whereby two legs 58 and 59 are formed. The end walls of both studs that face away from each other are tapered as shown in the figures. The locking member may be molded or otherwise fabricated from any thermoplastic or thermosetting plastics, or die cast from various metal alloys. The operation of the locking member is as follows, with reference to Figs. 9 and 10. The trailing end 47 of a strip of film being threaded through the slots 24 and 25 as shown, the locking member is introduced, with its film clamping stud 54 into the cavity 43 in a direction about parallel with the axis of the reel. Although the film may take different positions in the cavity 43 depending on the stiffness or the curling of the film, the direction of the incoming film in the slot 24 and the skill of the operator, there is left in any way so much space at both sides of the film in the cavity, that the two legs 58 and 59 of the stud may be slid without any difficulty on the film. The rounded-off top portions of the opposed inner faces of the two legs perform in this connection a "searching" function for the film whereby the film may be very easily engaged by the legs of the locking member, even by an unskilled operator. The locking member is introduced into the core over less than about half its length so that the shorter stud 55 remains free beyond the plane of the corresponding flange of the reel. The locking member is then rotated, see the arrow 60, by the operator about a fictive axis that is approximately the axis of the longer stud 54, and this rotation continues over approximately 270 angular degrees, so that the film becomes wound on the inserted half of the stud 54. The locking member is then displaced by the operator until it takes approximately a position as shown in Fig. 10, and finally inserted completely into the cavity until its bridge portion 56 lies flush with the end wall of the core. The locking stud 55 that engages that corner portion of the cavity 43 which is opposite to the corner portion where the leg 58 is situated, prevents unwinding of the locking member. In the illustration of Fig. 10 there has been left some space between the studs of the locking member and the corresponding wall sections of the cavity, in order to clearly show the path of the film about the legs of the member. In practice, the film is firmly urged by the longer stud, and occasionally also by the shorter stud, against the corresponding wall of the cavity whereby the film becomes tightly clamped in the core. Furthermore, the elasticity of the legs 58, 59 of the stud 54 may be such that the legs are urged onto each other by the tension created by the wound film so that also in this way an effective clamping of the film is obtained. It has been shown that the described way of attaching the film to the reel core is extremely strong and withstands any accidental forces may occur for instance on a programmed film reader where the unwinding of the film reel becomes abruptly arrested when the setting of the number of film frames on the apparatus is larger than the number of film frames that are actually available on the film on the unwinding reel. The attaching of the film to the core may be easily undone, since the portion 56 of the locking member can be easily engaged with a fingernail or the like and lifted from the cavity of the core. The locking member may be re-used an unlimited number of times. Fig. 14 illustrates the case that the locking member is rotated over approximately 450 angular degrees in order to secure the film. This may be required in case a still stronger film attachment than the one which is illustrated in Fig. 10 is required, but this may also be very practical in case it is desired to use only one type of locking member for the attaching of film of different thicknesses. Referring specifically to the examples described hereinbefore, a reel in accordance with Figs. 1 to 6 and 10, was provided with a roll of 30 m of 16 mm film with a thickness of 0.13 mm for microfilming purposes. Referring to Figs. 1 to 6 and 14, the reel was provided with a roll of 30 to 60 m of 16 mm film with a thickness of 0.06 mm, likewise for microfilming purposes. The film was secured to the core by means of the same locking member as that used for the locking of the Fig. 10 example. Fig. 15 illustrates one embodiment of a driving spindle onto which a film reel may be positioned. The spindle 61 can be cylindrical or square with a cylindrical end, and provided with any one of a number of different driving connections that are located in different positions relative to the spindle. Key 62 is shown as being located inwardly from the outer end of the spindle and key 63 is shown as being positioned at the end of the spindle and adjacent to a flange 64 that is integral with the spindle. A key 65 is shown as being radially arranged on the flange 64, whereas a pin 66 is fixed to the flange and displaced radially from the spindle 61. The presence of a second slot in the core of the reel does not destroy the light-tightness of the reel to an extent greater than does one slot only. As a matter of fact, the light-tightness of the inner peripheral side of the reel is based on the absorption of the light entering through the slots by the inner film windings. The light-tightness of the outer peripheral side of the reel is established as known in the art by the provision of an opaque leader to the light-sensitive film that tightly fits between the inner faces of the flanges of the reel. A reel according to the invention that is provided with a roll of light-sensitive film may further be protected against the influences of light, moisture and mechanical loads, by wrapping the reel in an appropriate wrapping foil, or by placing the reel in a rigid box, preferably a rectangular plastic box with an integrally moulded lid, as used in the art. Suchlike box can serve as a light-proof permanent storage box as standard packaging for different types of films, but the box can also be used for the keeping of a processed film reel. It will be understood that a reel according to the present invention is not limited to the described embodiment. The reel may have first and second openings, slots and keyways that differ from the illustrated ones. The configuration of the openings, the interconnecting walls, and the cavities of the core may be identic at both sides of the core. This means that a reel may be provided with two opposite cavities with two film threading slots each.

Claims: A film reel with an insertable locking member, said film reel being suitable for the light-tight storing of a film, and being positionable on a spindle having a driving connection (62, 63, 65, 66) for rotating said reel , comprising : a first light-tight flange (21); a second light-tight flange (22) spaced from said first flange; and a cylindrical core (23) disposed between said flanges, said core including a first (26) and a second (35) end wall with a central opening (28) for engaging said spindle and locating said reel therealong, an inner surface that circumscribes said central opening for engaging said spindle, a plurality of cavities (41, 42, 43, 44) disposed between said central opening (28) and the peripheral wall of said core and extending from said first and second end walls into said core and terminating at an opposite one of said respective first and second end walls, at least one of said cavities having an opening on one side of the film reel, and an axial slot (24) in the said peripheral core wall for the introduction of a film (48) in said one cavity (43), characterized in that : said axial slot is provided in the core wall near one angular end of said one cavity (43); that a second axial slot (25) is provided in the core wall near the opposite angular end of said one cavity; and that the wall that determines said cavity inwardly of said core extends smoothly and uninterruptedly from one slot towards the other slot so that the trailing end (47) of the film can be threaded through both slots (24, 25) of the core and be fastened to the reel by means of a locking member (53) that is insertable into said one cavity (43); said locking member having a film clamping stud (54) with an open-ended axial slot that defines two locking legs (58, 59), the elasticity of the legs (58, 59) of the film clamping stud (54) being such that winding the film about the stud by rotation of the stud, causes the legs to be urged towards each other thereby clamping the film that is passed through the slot between them; and a locking stud (55) that prevents the unwinding of the locking member (53), when it is completely inserted into said one cavity (43). A light-tight film reel with an insertable locking member according to claim 1, wherein said wall that determines said cavity inwardly of said core is cilyndrically curved. A film reel with an insertable locking member according to claim 2, wherein the radius of curvature (R) of said inward wall is smaller than the radius of curvature (r) of the core wall.

Inventors: ADRIAENSEN, VICTOR ADRIEN, BUELENS, EDWARD, GOOSSENS, CAROLUS CONSTANTINUS
Applicants: AGFA-GEVAERT NAAMLOZE VENNOOTSCHAP
Application year: 1986
Main classification: G03B21
IPC codes: G03B17, G03B21, B65H75, G03B1