Film connecting device

Abstract: A splicing device which can automatically connect films (F) to a leader (L). The splicing device includes a table (13) for supporting a leader. The table has an opening (15) over which is provided a support portion (16) for supporting a film cartridge (FC). A fixed guide (25) and a movable guide (26) are provided under the opening. Defined between the fixed and movable guides is a film turning passage (32) having a film outlet (34) and inlet (33) that face the opening. A feed roller (35) and a press roller (36) are provided at the inlet of the film turning passage. With the leader set in position on the table, a swing arm (50) is pivoted to catch the film end protruding from the film cartridge supported by the support portion. The swing arm is further pivoted to guide the film end through a second hole (2) formed in the leader into the film turning passage. In this state, the feed roller is rotated to feed the film through the film turning passage and into the first hole formed in the leader while resiliently deforming prongs (3) extending across the first hole (1). Then, the feed roller is reversed to pull the film backward until the prongs engage in holes (4) formed in the film at its leading end. The film is thus connected to the leader.

Description: This invention relates in general to a film splicing device used to connect a photographic film to be developed to a leader and, in particular, to a film splicing device according to the preamble portions of claims 1 and 3. In order to develop films in an automatic leader-guided film developing machine, it is necessary to connect films to a flexible leader to feed the films through the developing unit by pulling the leader. Such a leader is made of a flexible synthetic resin sheet and is formed with holes arranged longitudinally at equal intervals. The leader is fed by sprockets that engage these holes. Ordinarily, splicing tape is used to connect films to leaders. But it is troublesome to stick splicing tape and then remove it after developing films. Also, the use of such splicing tape is inconvenient because a special workbench for splicing is needed to couple each film to a leader with splicing tape at a predetermined position with high accuracy. Further, splicing tape is not economical because it is not recyclable. In order to solve these problems, the applicant of this invention proposed a coupling arrangement for coupling films to a leader as shown in Fig. 9 (Japanese Patent Application 7-230253 laid open under No. 9-73161 corresponding to EP-A-0 738 923). In this coupling arrangement, the leader L is provided with a first hole 1 and a second hole 2 on each side of leader feed holes a . Prongs 3 extend across the first hole 1 in the feed direction of the leader. Each prong 3 has its front end with respect to the feed direction of the leader integrally connected to the leader L, and its rear end supported on the edge of the first hole 1. A film F is coupled to the leader by inserting the film end into the second hole 2 and then into the first hole 1 so that the prongs 3 engage in holes 4 formed in the tip of the film F. With this coupling arrangement, films can be connected easily and reliably to a leader L at predetermined positions of the leader. A film splicing device of the above referenced kinds for splicing a film to a different type of a leader is known also from the European Patent Application 0 624 822 A1. However, in order to attach the film to this different type of leader in a secure way, an additional pressing plate is required to cover the leading end of the film after the film has engaged with a pawl formed on the leader. For the attachment of the film to this leader this pressing plate needs to be lifted from the leader. This is performed by bending the leader into a curved shape, such dispatching the pressing plate. This, however, requires an additional step during the attachment procedure, on the one hand, and on the other hand does not fully guarantee that the pressing plate fully returns to its original position and consequently that the film is kept at the desired position during development of the same. This type of splicing can also not be used for non-bendable leaders. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved film splicing device which makes it possible to more securely connect a film to a leader, even to a non-bendable leader. Accordingly, for a film splicing device of the above kind, this objective is solved in an inventive manner by the film splicing device comprising the features of claim 1. Secondly, this objective is solved in an inventive manner by a film splicing device of the above kind comprising the features of claim 3. Further features of the preferred embodiments of the present invention are subject of the respective subclaims. In the following the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of the splicing device embodying this invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional front view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 2 with a slide plate moved to a different position; Fig. 5 is a partial perspective view of the same; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the same showing how a film wound in a film cartridge is pulled out; Fig. 7A and 7B are views showing by stages how a film is spliced to a leader; Fig. 8A is a sectional view showing a movable guide when it is moved away from a fixed guide; Fig. 8B is a sectional view showing a leader being fed along the top surface of a table; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a leader and films spliced to the leader; Fig. 10 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the film splicing device; Fig. 11 is a view showing how a leader is pressed by a film presser; Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a film guide plate as it is inserted in a hole formed in the leader; Fig. 13 is a view showing a sensor for detecting an undeveloped film coming out of the hole; Fig. 14 shows how the leading end of the undeveloped film comes out of the hole while being guided by the film guide plate; Fig. 15 is a schematic sectional view of Fig. 14; Fig. 16 shows how the undeveloped film is retracted slightly by reversing driving rollers; Fig. 17 shows how prongs of a hook is pressed by a roller; and Fig. 18 is a perspective view showing how an undeveloped film A is connected to a leader. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Embodiments of this invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) As shown in Figs. 1-3, a pair of table support frames 12 are provided on a base plate 11. A table 13 is supported on the support frames 12. The table 13 has a pair of side plates 14 for positioning both sides of a leader L, and film inserting openings 15 elongated back to forth and located opposite to a first hole 1 and a second hole 2 of a leader L positioned by the side plates 14. As shown in Fig. 3, a support portion 16 for supporting a film cartridge FC is provided over each opening 15 of the table 13. The film cartridge FC is set in the support portion 16 with the leading end of the film F protruding from a film inlet/outlet b by a predetermined length. Referring to Fig. 2, a slide plate 17 is provided between the base plate 11 and the table 13 so as to be slidable along a guide shaft 18 provided over the base plate 11. It is moved by a driving unit 19 mounted on the base plate 11 in the direction of width of the table 13. The driving unit 19 comprises a motor 20 mounted on the underside of the base plate 11, and a disk 21 rotated by the motor 20. The disk 21 is coupled at its outer peripheral portion to the slide plate 17 through a link 22 so that the slide plate 17 is moved by rotating the disk 21. Each of the pair of table support frames 12 has a side plate 23 extending along one side of each opening 15 of the table 13. The slide plate 17 has guide support plates 24 provided opposite to the respective side plates 23 (Fig. 2). A fixed guide 25 and a movable guide 26 are provided between each side plate 23 and guide support plate 24. As seen in Figs. 3 and 5, the fixed guide 25 comprises two guide plates 27 for guiding both sides of film F. The top side of each guide plate 27 has a concave portion 28 and a convex portion 29. The guide plates 27 are fixed to the side plate 23. The movable guide 26 has a width substantially equal to the width of a film F and is fixed to the guide support plate 24. It is moved between a position right over the fixed guide 25 and a position in which it is completely away from over the fixed guide 25 by sliding the slide plate 17. The movable guide 26 comprises separate front and rear guides 26a and 26b (Fig. 5). A passage 30 is defined between the guides 26a and 26b and forms a film turning passage 32 in communication with a passage 31 defined between the front guide 26a and the guide plate 27 (Fig. 3). The film turning passage 32 has a film inlet 33 and a film outlet 34 located opposite to each opening 15 formed in the table 13. A feed roller 35 and a press roller 36 are provided near the inlet 33 of the film turning passage 32. The feed roller 35 is set in a recess 37 formed in the underside of the front guide 26a. It is rotated by a driving unit 38 mounted on the slide plate 17 (Fig. 2). As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the driving unit 38 comprises a motor 39, a driving shaft 40 rotated by the motor 39, and a gear train 41 for transmitting the rotation of the driving shaft 40 to the feed roller 35. Referring to Fig. 3, the press roller 36 is rotatably mounted on the top end of a roller arm 42. The roller arm 42 is pivotally supported at its mid-portion on a support member 44 provided on the base plate 11 by means of a pin 43. A solenoid 45 mounted on the underside of the base plate 11 biases the roller arm 42 to pivot it in such a direction that the press roller 36 comes into contact with the feed roller 35. A spring 46 biases the roller arm 42 in the opposite direction. Provided in front of the roller arm 42 is a film pulling means 47 for pulling the film F hanging from the film cartridge FC into the film turning passage 32 through its inlet 33. The film pulling means 47 comprises a shaft support plate 48 fixed to the base plate 11, a rotary shaft 49 mounted on the shaft support plate 48 and rotated in either direction by an unshown driving unit, a swing arm 50 having its one end fixed to the rotary shaft 49, and an arcuate plate 51 fixed to the other end of the swing arm 50. The arcuate plate 51 is provided at its leading end with catches 52 capable of engaging the holes 4 in the film F. It has such a width as to be received in the second hole 2 formed in the leader L. To pull and guide the film F hanging from the film cartridge FC into the film turning passage 32 with the film pulling means 47, the swing arm 50 is pivoted upward from under the table 13 until the catches 52 are engaged in the holes 4 in the film F (Fig. 6), and then the swing arm 50 is pivoted further until the film end is pulled and guided into the passage 32. To splice each film to a leader L with the splicing device of this embodiment, the leader L is set on the table 13 with its first hole 1 opposite the outlet 34 of the film turning passage 32 as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. A film cartridge FC is set in the support portion 16 (Fig. 3) with the leading end of the film F wound in the cartridge FC protruding from its inlet/outlet by a predetermined length. With the leader and each film set in position in the manner described above, the swing arm 50 is pivoted upward. While it is swung upward, the catches 52 of the arcuate plate 51 engage the holes 4 in the film F as shown in Fig. 6. By further pivoting the swing arm 50, the film F is pulled out of the film cartridge FC until its leading end is guided through the second hole 2 in the leader L to the inlet 33 of the film turning passage 32. In this position, the catches 52 disengage from the holes 4, freeing the film. In this state, the movable guide 26 is moved to the position right over the fixed guide 25, while the press roller 36 is apart from the feed roller 35. When the film end has been pulled into the inlet 33 of the film turning passage 32, the solenoid 45 shown in Fig. 3 is activated to press the press roller 36 against the feed roller 35 with the end of the film F sandwiched therebetween. When the press roller 36 is pressed against the feed roller 35, the motor 39 shown in Fig. 2 is activated to rotate the feed roller 35 in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 7A. The film F is thus fed into the film turning passage 32. The film F is fed through the outlet 34 of the film turning passage 32, the opening 15 of the table 13 and the first hole 1 of the leader L. When the film passes through the first hole 1, prongs 3 of the leader L are deformed - resiliently by the tip of the film. When the holes 4 of the film F pass the tips of the prongs 3 (Fig. 7A), the feed roller 35 is stopped and then reversed. In order to prevent the leader L from being pushed up when the prongs 3 are pushed by the tip of the film F, it is preferable to provide a presser member for holding down the leader L toward the table 13. While the film F is being fed through the film turning passage 32, the swing arm 50 pivots in the direction opposite to the abovementioned direction, returning to the standby position shown in Fig. 3. By reversing the feed roller 35, the film is pulled back. When the holes 4 of the film F are pulled back and face the tips of the prongs 3, the prongs 3 will deform resiliently and engage in the holes 4. When the film is further pulled back until the tips of the prongs 3 sit on the edge of the first hole 1, the feed roller 35 stops. After the feed roller 35 has been stopped, the motor 20 shown in Fig. 2 is activated to move the slide plate 17 rightwardly in Fig. 2. When the movable guide 26 completely separates from the fixed guide 25 as shown in Fig. 4, the motor 20 stops. Splicing of the film is now finished. The movable guide 26 is moved sideways from the position right over the fixed guide 25 by the time the film F is connected to the leader L. Thus, it is possible to take out the leader L without damaging the film F by moving the leader along the top surface of the table 13 or raising it as shown in Fig. 8B. According to this invention, it is possible to automatically splice a film wound in a film cartridge supported in the support portion to a leader set in position on the table by inserting the film into the second hole and then the first hole and by engaging the prongs provided on the leader to extend across the first hole in the holes formed in the leading end of the film. (Second Embodiment) As shown in Fig. 18, a leader L is formed at its rear with a front hole 1 and a rear hole 2, and has a hook 64 at the side of the front hole 1. The hook 64 has two prongs 3 spaced from each other and extending over the front hole 1. As shown in Fig. 10, the leader L is fed along a film guide 67 having a curving recess 66, and stopped when the holes 1 and 2 come right over the recess 66 of the film guide 67. An undeveloped film F is connected at its leading end to the leader L by means of the film guide 67 as a film connecting means 68. Over the film guide 67 is a film splicing device 69. The film splicing device 69 comprises a leader presser 70 for pressing down the leader L, a film guide plate 71 adapted to be inserted in the hole 1, i.e. the hole where there is the hook 64, and an actuator 72 carrying the film guide plate 71 and the leader presser 70. The actuator 72 is a cylindrical rotary member rotated in both directions by a driving unit (not shown). The film guide plate 71 is provided on the outer periphery of the actuator 72 so as to be insertable into the hole 1 in the leader L. It is normally located over the leader L. The leader presser 70 is pivotally supported by a support portion 73 at the lower part of the actuator 72. The leader presser 70 has its rear portion 74 connected to a tension spring 75. A protrusion 76 provided behind the actuator 72 urges the leader presser 70 against the force of the tension spring 75 to raise the front portion 77 of the leader presser 70. When the actuator 72 is rotated clockwise from the position of Fig. 10, the protrusion 76 separates from the leader presser 70. The front portion 77 of the leader presser 70 is thus brought down by the force of the tension spring 75 to press the leader. As shown in Fig. 13, the film splicing device 69 has a sensor 78 over the hole 1 formed in the leader. It detects an undeveloped film F coming out of the hole 1. Also, it detects that the free end of the film guide plate 71 is in the recess 66 of the film guide 67. As shown in Figs. 16 and 17, a roller 79 is provided behind the prongs 3 of the hook 64 provided on the leader to press the prongs 3 against an undeveloped film F coming out of the hole 1 while preventing the prongs 3 from being pushed back by the film F. Numeral 80 indicates a roller supporting the film guide plate 71. The film splicing device 69 further includes a pair of driving rollers 81 provided in the film guide 67, as shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 16. By rotating the driving rollers 81 in either direction, an undeveloped film F being fed along the recess 66 is forcibly moved back and forth. The operation of the film splicing device of this embodiment will now be described. The leader is fed as shown in Fig. 10 and stopped when its holes 1 and 2 (not shown in Fig. 10) come right over the recess 66 of the film guide 67. The leader is thus set on the film guide 67. The actuator 12 is then rotated in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 11. The protrusion 76 thus separates from the rear portion 74 of the leader presser 70, so that its front portion 77 is brought down by the force of the tension spring 75, pressing against the leader. The leader is thus held between the leader presser 70 and the film guide 67. At the same time, the film guide plate 71 engages in the hole 1 of the leader, i.e. the hole having the hook 64. In this state, the leading end of the film guide plate 71 is in the recess 66 of the film guide 67. In this state, the undeveloped film F is inserted through the hole 2 into the recess 66 in the film guide 67. With the film in the recess 66, the driving rollers 81 are rotated in the directions of the arrows in Fig. 11 to feed the film along the curving recess 66. The leading end of the film is reversed in the recess 66 and guided into and out of the hole 1 of the leader, while sliding along the film guide plate 71 inserted in the hole 1 (Figs. 14 and 15). When the sensor 78 (shown in Fig. 13) detects that the leading end of the undeveloped film has come out of the hole 1, the driving rollers 81 are reversed as shown in Fig. 16 to slightly retract the undeveloped film F until the prongs 3 of the hook 64 engage in holes a formed in the undeveloped film F (Fig. 18). The film is thus connected to the leader. The sensor 78 detects that the film guide plate 71 is in the recess 66 of the film guide 67. With the film F connected to the leader, the actuator 72 is reversed to raise the leader presser 70 by pressing its rear portion 74 with the protrusion 76. The leader, which is now freed from the leader presser 70 and to which is connected the undeveloped film, is fed into an automatic developing machine (not shown). The above operation is repeated to connect films to a plurality of leaders one after another.

Claims: A film splicing device for splicing a film (F) to a leader (L) by means of guiding a leading end of said film (F) through a hole (2) formed in said leader (L) and causing holes (4) formed in said leading end of said film (F) to engage with protrusions (3) formed on that leader (L), said film splicing device comprising: a table (13) having an upper surface for supporting said leader (L), and a film cartridge support portion (16) located above said upper surface for supporting a film cartridge (FC) in which said film (F) is wound, characterized by further comprising: a film inserting elongated opening (15) formed in the upper surface of said table (13) located under said film cartridge support portion (16), a film turning means for substantially reversing said leading end of said film (F) having penetrated said hole (2) of said leader (L) on said upper surface and being adapted to guide said film (F) through a further hole (1) formed in said leader (L) adjacent to said first hole (2) while resiliently deforming said protrusions (3) formed on said leader (L) and extending across said further hole (1), and to pull back the film (F) with said protrusions (3) being resiliently deformed to cause said protrusions (3) to engage in said holes (4) of said film (F), wherein said film turning means comprises: a fixed guide (25) and a movable guide (26) provided under said upper surface of said table, said movable guide (26) being movable between said fixed guide (25) and said upper surface of said table in the direction of width of said table (13) to and away from a position right overlapping said fixed guide (25), said movable guide (26) and said fixed guide (25) being so positioned that a film turning passage (32) is defined therebetween when said movable guide (26) is right overlapping said fixed guide, a feed roller (35) adapted to be moved in the direction of width of said table (13) together with said movable guide (26) so as to be located near the inlet (33) of said film turning passage (32) when said film turning passage (32) is formed, a press roller (36) pressed against said feed roller (35) so as to have said film (F) sandwiched therebetween, and a film pulling means (47) for pulling said film (F) out of said film cartridge (FC) supported on said support portion (16) and guiding it through said hole (2) formed in said leader (L) placed on said table (13) into said inlet (33) of said film turning passage (32), A film splicing device according to claim 1 characterized in that said film pulling means (47) comprises a swing arm (50) pivotable from under the upper surface of said table (13) toward said table (13), and an arcuate plate (51) mounted on a free end of said swing arm (50) and adapted to be inserted in said hole (2) in said leader (L), said arcuate plate (51) having catches at its free end adapted to engage holes (4) formed in the film (F). A film splicing device for splicing a film (F) to a leader (L) by means of guiding a leading end of said film (F) through a hole (2) formed in said leader (L) and causing holes (4) formed in said leading end of said film (F) to engage with protrusions (3) formed on that leader (L), said film splicing device comprising: a film guide (67) having a top guide surface for supporting the leader (L), characterized by further comprising a film turning means for substantially reversing said leading end of said film (F) having penetrated said hole (2) of said leader (L) on said upper surface and being adapted to guide said film (F) through a further hole (1) formed in said leader (L) adjacent to said first hole (2) while resiliently deforming said protrusions (3) formed on said leader (L) and extending across said further hole (1), and to pull back the film (F) with said protrusions (3) being resiliently deformed to cause said protrusions (3) to engage in said holes (4) of said film (F), wherein said film turning means comprises: an arcuately curved recess (66) being formed under said top guide surface guiding said film (F) along said curving recess (66) to turn it, and inserting the film leading end into said further hole (1), an actuator means (72) provided above said top guide surface of said film guide (67), a leader presser (70) and a film guide plate (71) mounted on said actuator means (72), said leader presser being adapted to press said leader (L) against said top guide surface and said film guide plate (71 ) being adapted to be inserted into said further hole (1) by activating said actuator means (72), thereby permitting insertion of said film (F) into said further hole (1). A film splicing device according to claim 3 characterized by further comprising a sensor (78) provided over said further hole (1) of said leader (L). A film splicing device according to claim 3 or 4 characterized by further comprising a press roller (79) provided above said protrusions (3) to keep said protrusions (3) pressed against the film (F) which has been inserted into said further hole (1) of said leader (L). A film splicing device according to one of the claims 3 to 5 characterized by further comprising a pair of driving rollers (81) provided in said film guide (67) and adapted to be rotated in either direction to feed an undeveloped film (F) forward and backward along said recess (66).

Inventors: KOJIMA MASAYUKI, MASUDA SHIGERU, KOJIMA, MASAYUKI, MASUDA, SHIGERU, KOJIMA, MASAYUKI, C/O NORITSU KOKI CO., LTD., MASUDA, SHIGERU, C/O NORITSU KOKI CO., LTD.
Applicants: NORITSU KOKI CO LTD, NORITSU KOKI CO., LTD.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: G03D13
IPC codes: G03D13