A method of releasably attaching a film strip to a film cassette spool

Abstract: Film cassettes normally include a spool on to which a film strip is wound. However, the film strip is normally fixed to the spool and needs to be severed therefrom prior to processing. Described herein is a method of releasably attaching the film strip to a spool. The method provides for attachment of the film strip (30) to the spool (10) by inserting the film strip (30) into a slot (18) formed therein until an aperture (32) in the film strip (30) engages with a protrusion (20) located in the slot (18) of the spool (10). Subsequent withdrawal of the film strip (30) is achieved by further inserting the film strip (30) into the slot (18) to disengage the aperture (32) and the protrusion (20), moving the film strip (30) in a direction transverse to the direction of insertion into the slot (18) to misalign the aperture (32) and the protrusion (20) and then withdrawing the film strip (30) from the slot (18) in a direction which is reverse to that of insertion.

Description: Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of releasably attaching a film strip to a film cassette spool, and is particularly concerned with such a method which allows for repeated use of the film cassette spool. Background of the Invention It is well known to rotatably support a film strip on a spool within a film cassette. In some such arrangements, the end of the film strip adjacent the spool is not secured thereto and there is a risk that the film strip will inadvertently become detached from the spool and hence be wholly withdrawn from the cassette during its exposure. One such arrangement is described in US-A-4 145 133. There are other arrangements which overcome this problem by attaching the trailing end of the film strip to the spool. These arrangements prevent the film strip being fully extracted from the cassette during exposure, but necessitate the use of a cutter to detach the film strip from the spool prior to processing. US-A-5 054 710 discloses a spool for a camera on to which a film strip is to be wound during exposure. The spool includes a shaft having a slit formed therein. A protrusion is located in the slit to engage a perforation in the leading edge of the film strip, the film strip being wound on to the spool as it is exposed in the camera. When the film strip is fully exposed, it is unwound from this spool back into its cassette. The leading edge of the film strip slips out of the slit as the wall of the perforation engaging the protrusion slides down an angled wall thereof to release the film strip from the spool. US-A-4 334 750 discloses an arrangement for a spool in a film cassette which allows the trailing end of the film strip to be released. The arrangement comprises a hollow spool having a slot formed in its wall. A retaining member is located within the hollow spool and carries a protrusion for engaging a perforation in the trailing end of the film strip to retain it in the slot. When it is desired to release the film strip from the spool, the retaining member is pushed inwardly with respect to the spool so that the protrusion is forced out of the slot thereby releasing the perforation and the trailing end. Once pushed in, the retaining member cannot be withdrawn from the spool. DE-A-1522260 and FR-A-891267 both disclose further arrangements in which the trailing end of a film can be releasably attached to a spool. EP-A-0698807 discloses an arrangement in which the trailing end of the film is provided with a cut out portion for easy removal of the film from the cassette. Problem to be solved by the Invention In arrangements for permanently attaching the film strip to the spool, it is necessary to cut the film strip to detach it from the spool so that it can be processed. This means that a small piece of film strip remains attached to the spool which then has to be removed by hand prior to the spool being re-used. Although the arrangement described in US-A-4 334 750 allows the film strip to be detached from the spool without having to sever it therefrom, the spool is complex and cannot be re-used. Summary of the Invention It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method of releasably attaching a film strip to a film cassette spool as defined in claim 1 which overcomes the problems mentioned above. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a spool as defined in claim 2. Advantageous Effect of the Invention The method of the present invention can easily be applied to existing film cassette spools by making the trailing end of the film strip which is to be attached to the spool narrower than the width of the slot in which it is retained when attached thereto. Existing film cassette spools can be utilised. Brief Description of the Drawings For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 a schematic side elevation of an existing spool for a film cassette; Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a trailing end of a film strip coming into engagement with a slot in spool as shown in Figure 1; Figures 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, 3F and 3G illustrate schematically the steps for attaching and detaching the film strip; and Figures 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 4F and 4G correspond to Figures 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, 3F and 3G when viewed in the direction of arrow 'Z' in Figure 2. Detailed Description of the Invention In existing arrangements for attaching a trailing end of a film strip to a film cassette spool, the width of the trailing end is no greater than the width of the slot formed in the spool and is preferably substantially the same width. This means that there is engagement between the edges of the trailing end and the walls of the slot. As a consequence, there is little or no lateral movement of the trailing end with respect to the slot. The method of the present invention necessitates that there is lateral movement of the trailing end of the film strip within the slot. It is necessary to cut the trailing end of the film strip so that it is narrower than the slot into which it is to be inserted. This means that the trailing end of the film strip is not retained at its edges and is free to move laterally within the slot as required. Figure 1 illustrates an existing film cassette spool 10. The spool 10 comprises a body portion 12 which carries two flange members 14, 16 spaced apart along the body portion a distance to accommodate the width of the film strip to be wound thereon. A slot 18 is formed in the body portion 12 for retaining the trailing end of the film strip (not shown). The slot 18 has a central protrusion 20 and two shoulder portions 22, 24 formed one on either side of the protrusion 20. The trailing end of the film strip is inserted over protrusion 20 but under shoulder portions 22, 24. Figure 2 illustrates schematically the slot 18 and a trailing end 30 of a film strip. The trailing end 30 has an aperture 32 formed therein for engagement with the protrusion 20 when inserted into the slot 18 in the direction indicated by arrow 'A'. The protrusion 20 has a ramped surface 26 which allows the front edge of the trailing end 30 of the film strip to pass thereover until the aperture 32 falls over the protrusion 20 to effect engagement therewith. Movement of the film strip in a direction reverse to that indicated by arrow 'A' is not possible as is conventional. Referring now to Figures 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, 3F, 3G, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 4F and 4G, attachment and detachment of the trailing end of a film strip with the film cassette spool will be described. In Figures 3A and 4A, the trailing end 30 is shown approaching the protrusion 20 as it is inserted into the slot 18 in the direction of arrow 'A'. As the trailing end 30 encounters the protrusion 20, it passes up over the ramped surface 26, as shown in Figures 3B and 4B. Further insertion in the direction of arrow 'A' (Figure 2) causes the aperture 32 in the trailing end 30 to pass over the protrusion 20 and become engaged therewith (Figures 3C and 4C). In this position, the film strip is retained in the slot 18 by the protrusion 20. The remainder of the film strip (not shown) can then be wound on to the spool 10 between the flange members 14, 16 (Figure 1). When it is desired to detach the film strip from its spool, for example, for processing the film strip after exposure in a camera, the film strip is fully unwound from the spool and the trailing end 30 is pushed further into the slot 18 in the direction of arrow 'A', Figure 2, so that the aperture 32 is pushed up ramped surface 26 as shown in Figures 3D and 4D. Here, the trailing end 30 is no longer engaged with the protrusion 20. However, movement of the trailing end 30 in a direction reverse to that indicated by arrow 'A; would cause the protrusion 20 to re-engage with the aperture 32. Figures 3E and 4E illustrate lateral movement of the trailing end 30 with respect to the slot 18. This lateral movement, in the direction indicated by arrow 'B', moves the aperture 32 out of alignment with the protrusion 20. This allows the trailing end 30 to be withdrawn from the slot 18, in the direction indicated by arrow 'C', as shown in Figures 3F and 4F. Figures 3G and 4G show total disengagement of the trailing end 30 and the slot 18. Although the present invention is described with reference to photographic films and film cassette spools, it could easily be utilised in any field where a strip of material needs to be releasably attached to a spool. Furthermore, the invention could be used with any suitable material supplied in strip form.

Claims: A method of releasably attaching a film strip to a film cassette spool (10), the cassette spool (10) comprising a body portion (12) having a slot (18) formed therein, the slot (18) having retaining means (20) for retaining the trailing end (30) of the film strip including a protrusion having a ramped surface (26) inclined in the film strip insertion direction, the trailing end of the film strip (30) having an aperture (32), distinguished from the film perforations for engagement with the protrusion when said trailing end is inserted into the slot, the method comprising the steps of:- a) inserting the end (30) of the film strip in a first direction into the slot (18) in the body portion (12) the film strip encountering the protrusion (20) and passing up the ramped surface (26); b) engaging the aperture (32) at the end (30) of the film strip with the protrusion (20) to effect attachment of the film strip to the spool (10); and c) withdrawing the film strip by moving the film strip in a second direction which is the reverse to the first direction from the slot (18) to effect detachment of the film strip from the spool (10) by d) further inserting the end (30) of the film strip into the slot (18) in the first direction such that the aperture (32) is pushed up the ramped surface (26) to enable to aperture to disengage from the protrusion (20); and by e) moving the film strip in a third direction which is transverse to the first direction so as to move the aperture (32) in the trailing end (30) of the film strip out of alignment with the protrusion (20) prior to withdrawal of the film strip from the slot (18). A spool (10) for use in the method of releasably attaching a film strip to a film cassette spool of claim 1, the spool (10) having a slot (18) formed therein for receiving the end (30) of the film strip, wherein the slot (18) includes a protrusion having a ramped surface (26) inclined in the film strip insertion direction for engaging an aperture (32) in the trailing end of the film strip, said aperture being distinguished from the film perforations, tne slot is sized to allow lateral movement of the trailing end (30) of the film strip therein in both directions tranverse to the film strip insertion direction, so as to cause, after disengagement of the aperture from the protrusion, the aperture to be out of alignment with the protrusion prior to withdrawal of the film strip from the slot.

Inventors: EARLE ANTHONY, GLOVER EDWARD CHARLES TIMOTHY, EARLE, ANTHONY, GLOVER, EDWARD CHARLES TIMOTHY SAMUEL, EARLE, ANTHONY, C/O KODAK LIMITED, Glover, Edward Charles Timothy Samuel, Kodak Ltd.
Applicants: EASTMAN KODAK CO, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
Application year: 1995
Main classification: G03B17
IPC codes: G03B1, G03B17, G03C3, B65H19