Patent GB-657311-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in means for loading film cartridges or magazines with film to be used in photographic cameras
IPC: G03B17/30
Filed: 1948-05-07
Abstract: 657,311. Loading magazines, spools, and cartridges with light-sensitive roll films. DUCATI-SOC. SCIENTIFICA RADIO BREVETTI DUCATI. May 7, 1948, No. 12596. Convention date, May 13, 1947. [Class 98 (ii)] A device for loading photographic roll film cartridges, spools, and magazines comprises a main light-tight chamber in which a roll of unexposed film is disposed, a secondary lighttight chamber adjacent to the first and into which is introduced the cartridge, spool, or magazine to be loaded, the core of which can be rotated by means of an externally operable crank, the two chambers having independently openable covers, and communicating with one another by a slot for the passage of the film, and a film arresting mechanism which prevents further rotation of the crank after the required length of film has been transferred from the supply roll to the cartridge, spool, or magazine. As shown, a supply reel 15 of unexposed film is mounted in a light-tight chamber 1 which is extended at 32 to form a second chamber 34 closed by a light-tight cover 36 and communicating with the first chamber by a passage 33, light-trapped as with velvet strips 35. A light-tight cassette of the kind containing a spool which may be rotated from the exterior is fed by securing the leading end of the film to the spool, placing the cassette in the chamber 34 which is then closed to render it lighttight, and finally rotating a hand crank engaging the spool so that the film is wound off the supply reel into the cassette. As the film is wound off it passes over a sprocket 8 on which it is located by a roller 27 and which rotates by means of a gear 7 on the sprocket shaft a gear 6 to which is pinned a disc 9, both gear and disc being freely mounted on a fixed hub. When sufficient film has been wound off a lug 16 on the disc 9 engages a tooth 17 on a lever 18 spring urged towards the disc which is thus arrested. A knife 47 is then depressed against the action of a spring 48 and the filled cassette removed from the chamber 34. To enable the leading end of the film to be attached to an empty cassette spool, a rod 23 is depressed to rotate the lever 18 clockwise and release the disc 9, which is urged clockwise by a spring between pins 10, 52 on the gear 6 and disc 9 respectively, so that sufficient film may be pulled out for threading on to the spool, the disc being stopped by its lug engaging a second tooth 20 on the lever. The spool threaded, the rod 23 is again depressed to free the disc so that the film may be wound into the cassette. The disc 9 may carry more than one lug 16, so that lengths of film corresponding to less than one revolution of the disc may be wound off into the cassette, and may be interchangeable with discs of different sizes, or a coaxial group of discs of different sizes may be provided, lugs on each of which may be engaged at will by the teeth on the lever 18. An arm 25 spring- urged against the roll 15 may be connected to a pointer indicating the quantity of film in the chamber. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 states that the arm 25 may be combined with one of the latches for the cover of the chamber 1 so as to be moved away from the roll as the cover is opened and to be returned on re-closing the chamber, while the rod 23, which releases the disc 9 to permit the winding off of a leading strip, may pass through the cover of the chamber 1. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.