US3705541A

US3705541A - Film unit and apparatus for use therewith

Info

Publication number: US3705541A
Application number: US159322A
Authority: US
Inventors: Guilford Edwin Kindig
Original assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
Current assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
Priority date: 1971-07-02
Filing date: 1971-07-02
Publication date: 1972-12-12
Anticipated expiration: 1989-12-12
Also published as: CA971023A

Abstract

A self-processing film unit including an image-recording element separably coupled to a rigid frame; is usable in photographic apparatus having means for separating the element from the frame. Grooves in the frame underlie the image-recording element for receiving and guiding stripper fingers of the apparatus as the fingers are moved in a longitudinal direction relative to the element. After penetrating between the element and the frame, relative movement in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is effected between the fingers and the frame to accentuate the separating action of the fingers.

Description

United States Patent Kindig 1 Dec. 12, 1972 s41 FILM UNIT AND APPARATUS FOR USE I I 4 THEREWITH p Primary Examiner- .10m M. Horan I i L n fissistdirrEitdfiiiiiffi-Alan A. Mathews [72] Inventor. gulford Edwin Kindig, Rochester, H Kline et a1 [73] Assignee: Eastmanv Kodak Company, 4 ABSTRACT Rochester, N.Y. Y A self-processing-zfilm unit including an image-record- Fil d; J l 2, 1971 ing element sepaifahly coupled to a rigid frame; is usable in photographic apparatus having means for [21] APPL 159322 1 V separating the element from the frame. Grooves in the frame underlie the image-recording element for [521' U.S. Cl u ..95Il3, 96/29 1 ceiving and guiding stripper fingers of the apparatus [511 1m.c|....; ..G03b 17/57: as the fingers arefmoved in longitudinal direction '[58] Field of Search ..9s/13 14- 96/29 76*" "lame the Em -A Penemfing between the ,1 element and the frame, relative movement in a 1 direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal [56] References u direction is effected between the fingers and the frame UNITED STATES PATENTS to accentuate the separating action of the fingers.

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ATTORNEYS 1 FILM UNIT AND APPARATUS ronusa rnnnnwmr BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to self-processing cameras and to film units for use therewith. More specifically the invention pertains to means for separating a print or image-recording element from other portions of a film unit.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art It is well known in the photographic arts to provide film units with materials for processing the units immediately after their exposure. Generally, such film units include an image-recording unit defined by a the composition in-a layer of predetermined thickness between the two elements. The distributed composition then permeates the radiation-sensitive layers to effect development of the latent image, and a visible image representing the developed latent image is constructed in a mordant or image-receiving layer supported by either of the photosensitive and second elements.

' In a presently popular commercial film unit, generally referred to as being of the peel-apart type, the photosensitive and second elements are spaced apart from each other during exposure and are superimposed for processing. The image-or print-receiving layer is in the second element, and that element is stripped from the rest of the unit after processing to provide a positive right-reading print. Such film units are disclosed, for example, in US. Pat. Nos. 3,080,805

and 3,511,659.

The present invention, however, is more directly concerned with different types of image-recording units, generally referred to as being preregistered' or integral. The photosensitive and second elements of a preregistered image-recording unit are superposed or registered prior to exposure, while the same sheets of an integral image-recording unit are maintained permanently in superposed or registered relation during and after processing. More particularly, the present invention is disclosed in connection with a film unit comprising an image-recording unit that is both preregistered and integral. This type of image-recording unit includes photosensitive and process'elernents that are superposed prior to exposure, and define a composite, permanently registered structure designed to remain substantially in the same physical form after processing. In presently known image-recording units of this type, the second element generally is transparent to permit exposure of the radiation-sensitive layers from that side of the unit, and the mordant or receiving layer is located either in the second element or, preferably, in the photosensitive element, to provide a positive image that need not be stripped from the rest of the unit. Further details of film units employing this latter type of image-recording unit are disclosed, for example, in commonly assigned, US. Pat. application Ser. No. 27,990 entitled PI-IOTOGRAPI-IIC FILM UNIT FOR DIFFUSION TRANSFER PROCESSING, filed Apr. 13, 1970 in the name of H. E. Cole and now abandoned; in French Pat. Nos. 2,006,255 and 2,006,256 published Dec. 26, 1969.

To facilitate the handling and manipulation thereof, an image-recording unit of the type just described can be removably attached to a substantially rigid plastic frame that also carries the processing fluid container or pod and the excess fluid collector or trap. The imagerecording unit is releasably or strippably coupled to the frame, while the pod and trap are permanently attached thereto such that the image-recording unit can be separated from the other elements of the film unit after initiation of the processing operation.

To separate the print from the frame, it has been proposed previously to provide the frame with grooves or slots that extend along its lateral edges in confronting relation to the marginal surfaces of the image recording unit. As the film unit moves endwise along a predetermined path in the camera, rigidly mounted skiving or stripper fingers in the camera enter those grooves to wedge the leading end of the print out of engagement with the frame. For purpose of the present disclosure, it will be understood that the terms leading end and trailing end refer to those ends of the film unit or image-recording unit that are first and last to encounter the stripping device, respectively, regardless of the direction of movement of the unit during the processing operation. Similarly, the terms print and print unit refer to the image-recording unit, usually after its processing has been initiated, but not necessarily after processing is completed or an actual visible print has appeared. After the fingers have entered between the print and the frame, continued movement of the film unit causes the separated end of the print to be directed through a slot or door in the camera housing. Examples of such a film unit and of the aforementioned type of stripper or skiving fingers are disclosed, for example, in commonly assigned US. Pat. application Ser. No. 1 11,472 entitled STRIPPING MECHANISM and filed in the name of Donald M. Harvey on Feb. 1,1971.

To facilitate their proper operation, the tips of the stripper fingers just described generally are pointed at an acute angle to ensure their penetration between the print and the frame. While such an acute configuration is entirely satisfactory for its intended purpose, it has the concurrent disadvantage in fixed stripper fingers of providing a relatively slow separation rate, due to the small wedging angle or angle of separation it compels the print to follow relative to the frame.

Similarly, the grooves for guiding the fixed stripper fingers described above extend the entire length of the frame, but then terminate abruptly just short of the trailing end of the frame because of light-sealing considerations. Since the stripping operation preferably is performed during the movement of the film unit back into a storage compartment in a film pack or magazine, the stripper fingers generally must project into or lie closely adjacent to the film pack casing or magazine to allow the film unit to move out of cooperative relation with those fingers after the stripping operation is completed. In other words, because of the abrupt blind ends of the grooves, the film unit cannot move completely past the stripping fingers unless the fingers are located adjacent to the final position of the'film unit. This obviously imposes undesirable limitations of the design of the camera and also requires corresponding openings for the fingers in the magazine or film pack casing, which may be detrimental to the strength or light-sealing requirements of the structure. Furthermore, it will be apparent that the extension of the slots or grooves along the entire length of the relatively thin frame rails causes a corresponding weakening of those rails.

Still further, in film units of the above-described type, having guiding grooves in the frame that extend over substantially the entire length of the film unit, the adhesive or other means for coupling the image-recording portion to the frame ordinarily must be located adjacent to the grooves, and therefore also adjacent to the path of the stripper fingers. Thus, the stripping action exerted on the image-recording portion by the fingers ordinarily must pry that portion loose from a position that is only adjacent to that adhesive, as distinguished from the now preferred method of actually skiving right through the adhesive with the stripping fingers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A principal object of the present invention is to improve stripping devices of the general type described above by providing a more abrupt and positive separation of the leading end of the finished print from the film unit-frame.

Another object of the invention is to improve the subject type of self-processing camera by enabling the stripping device to be located beyond the film pack loaded into the camera.

Yet another object of the invention is to improve the structural integrity of a rigid frame film unit provided with stripper finger grooves by terminating those grooves adjacent to the leading end of the imagerecording unit rather than extending them the full length of the latter unit.

Briefly, these and other related objectives are accomplished in accordance with the invention by providing means for effecting relative separating movement between the film-unit frame and the stripper fingers, in generally perpendicular relation to the film unit, after the fingers have penetrated between the frame and the leading end of the print, thereby accentuating the separation of the print from the frame. This can be accomplished either by moving the stripper fingers relative to the camera or by causing the film unit to move away from the stripper fingers. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the stripper fingers also are withdrawn completely out of the grooves in the frame as soon as the leading end of the print is separated, thus avoiding the need to extend those grooves along the entire length of the frame. Because the stripper fingers are removed from the frame grooves before the film unit frame reaches its final position, the fingers can be located beyond the film pack casing rather than extending into that casing.

Various means for practicing the invention and other advantages and novel features thereof will be apparent from the following detailed description of the illustrated preferred and alternative embodiments of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals denote like elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In'the accompanying drawings:

FIGrl is a perspective view of the reverse face of a preregistered integral film unit of the type with which the present invention is concerned;

FIG. is a perspective view of the reverse face of a cover plate used in conjunction with a plurality of film units of the type shown in FIG. 1 to provide a film unit assemblage;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a film pack casing adapted to receive a film unit assemblage comprising a plurality of film units and a cover plate of the types shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary partially cross-sectioned end view of a fully loaded film pack comprising components of the types shown in FIGS. 1 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an illustrative camera embodying the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a somewhat schematic cross-sectional view of the camera depicted in FIG. 5 with certain components thereof shown in a moved position;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the illustrative camera illustrating the preferred embodiment of the film stripping device to which the present invention is specifically directed;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are enlarged cross-sectional views showing the operation of the film stripping device depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7;

FIG. 10 corresponds generally to FIGS. 8 and 9 but illustrates a modification of the film unit and stripping device shown in those figures which embodies a first alternative embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. l1, l2 and 13 correspond generally to FIGS. 8 and 9 but illustrate the operation of a second alternate embodiment of the invention in which the stripper fingers are immovable with respect to the camera.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Because processing cameras and film units are well known, the present description will be directed in particular to elements forming part of or cooperating directly with the present invention. Elements not specifically shown or described here should be understood as being selectable from those known to persons skilled in the art.

By reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a typical preregistered and integral film unit 21 of the type described above will be seen to comprise a frame 22; an image-recording portion or unit 23 including a rearward photosensitive element or sheet 24 and a forward process sheet 25; a processing fluid container or pod 26; and an excess fluid collector or trap 27. As previously mentioned, the image-recording unit is exposed from its forward side, through the transparent process sheet, but the finished print is viewed from the rearward face of the photosensitive sheet depicted in FIG. I. The frame 22 is preferably made of an opaque generally rigid (but slightly flexible) plastic material,

mAmn m4:

and includes two side rails 28 joined at one end by a trap bar29. At the opposite end, the side rails are connected by an end or pod support bar 31 and by a cross bar 32.

As described in greater detail in the aforementioned US. Pat. Application Ser. No. 111,472, the two

sheets

24 and 25 of the image-recording unit preferably are rectangular and coextensive with one another and can be maintained in registered or superposed facing relation by any appropriate edge seal or connection. Regardless of the particular type of edge seal or connection or its manner of application, the two sheets are secured substantially in direct contacting relation to each other along their lateral marginal edges in such a manner that the central exposure areas of the sheets, depicted between broken lines 33 in FIG. 1, are retained in registered overlying relation but may be spread apart sufficiently to permit the distribution of a processing composition therebetween. Similarly the two sheets are resiliently separable from one another to permit the introduction of the processing composition between their pod ends 34 and the collection of excess processing composition from between their trap ends 35.

As shown at numeral 36, the side rails of the frame provide flat rearwardly facing mounting surfaces lying substantially in a single plane for supporting the marginal edges of the image-recording unit and to which such marginal edges are separably secured, preferably by a rupturable adhesive material. Beyond the lateral edges of the image-recording unit, edge ribs 38 extend rearwardly from the frame and are joined at the pod end by a similar end rib 39. As described in detail below, these ribs serve as light barriers when a plurality of film units are assembled into an assemblage and also perform guiding functions as subsequent film units are removed from and replaced into such an assemblage.

The fluid processing pod 26 may include various cooperating parts which define a suitable processing composition supplying mechanism, and preferably includes a rupturable containing part 41 comprising a rectangular piece of vapor-impervious material that is folded along one edge and sealed along its lateral sides. The discharge end 42 of the pod, sometimes referred to as a funnel, is inserted between the adjacent ends 34 of the photosensitive and process sheets. A rupturable seal is provided along substantially the entire length of the discharge end of the pod and is adapted to release a processing fluid composition 43 from the container upon the application of hydraulic forces, generated by passing the pod between a pair of juxtaposed pressure applying members, as described below. The fluid containing part of the fluid supply mechanism is permanently cemented to a cardboard shim 44 which, in turn, is permanently attached to the film unit frame.

The trap bar 29 is provided with a shallow rearwardly facing trap or collector recess 45. The leading edge of the vapor-impermeable cover sheet 45a overlies the adjacent end of the image-recording unit and the other three edges of sheet 45a are cemented or otherwise permanently attached to the frame adjacent to recess 45. Excess processing fluid extruded out of the trap end of the image-recording unit is therefore received and stored in the collector chamber or trap covered by sheet 45a.

The trap cover sheet 45a does not extend the full width of the image-recording unit but only slightly past the edges of the exposure area or separable interface between the photosensitive and process sheets, which is approximately the same width as trap recess 45. Beyond the lateral edges of the cover sheet, the frame is provided with a pair of stripper finger grooves 46 which are overlapped by the comers of the trap end of the image-recording unit releasably bonded to the frame. These grooves are open to the corresponding end of the frame and their base surfaces 47 are provided at their blind ends with curved or sloping end portions 48 in front of the overlapping corners of the image-recording unit. Analogous stripping finger grooves are also provided in the film unit disclosed in the aforementioned US. Pat. application Ser. No. 111,472, but it is important to note that those grooves extend the full length of the image-recording unit whereas the grooves 46 terminate a short distance beyond the trap end of the image-recording unit. It should be understood also that the dimensions of various features of the illustrative film unit have been exaggerated in the drawings for purposes of clarity and that these grooves are relatively narrower and shallower in an actual film unit than in the illustrations.

The film units described above are preferably supplied in a film pack comprising a plurality of such units loaded into a film-pack casing 49 best shown in FIG. 3. The casing is made of plastic or sheet metal and comprises side walls 51, a full end wall 52, an opposite partial end wall 53. and a rearward wall 54 provided with a rectangular opening 55 adjacent to wall 53. Lateral retaining lips 56 project inwardly from the forward edges of the side walls and a similar end retaining lip 57 likewise projects inwardly from the forward edge of end wall 52.

FIGS. 4 and 6 illustrate a fully loaded film pack, which is depicted as comprising a film unit assemblage including a plurality of film units 21 initially protected by a cover plate 59. The cover plate is of the same exterior dimensions as the film units and includes similar edge ribs 62 and an end rib 63, best shown in FIG. 2. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the edge and end ribs of the cover plate and the film units cooperate in an overlapping or labyrinth manner to make the film unit assemblage substantially light-tight except along its trap end, which is protected from light by confronting against the inner face of easing end wall 52. For reasons explained below, the cover plate is also provided with stripper finger grooves 64 which correspond to those in the film unit frames. Four leaf springs 65 are formed integrally with the rearward wall 54 of the film pack casing and bias the film unit assemblage forwardly into contact with retaining

lips

56 and 57. Because partial end wall 53 is narrower in a forward-to-rearward direction than the film pack casing, it will be seen that the forwardmost element of the film unit assemblage can be slid out of that end of the film pack casing and can be returned to the casing at the rear of the assemblage by being inserted into the casing opening between partial end wall 53 and rearward wall 54.

By reference to FIG. 5, the illustrative camera will be seen to comprise a rectangular housing 66 provided with a rigid forwardly extending enclosure 67 that supports the camera lens 63 and an appropriate shutter and diaphragm mechanism, not shown. When the film pack is loaded into the camera, it is accurately positioned within housing 66 so that the photosensitive sheet of a film unit seated against the film

pack casing lips

56 and 57 is coincident with a focal plane of the camera lens. A drawer or frame transporter 69 is slidably mounted within the camera housing and can be reciprocated manually by means of its accessible end wall 71 to move it between the closed position shown in FIG. and the open position shown in FIG. 6. For purposes of the present disclosure, it will suffice to understand that the drawer 69 includes a pair of opposed side bars 72 that straddle the film pack casing, one of such bars being depicted in FIG. 6. Each side bar, in turn, includes a rib 73 that lies forwardly of the corresponding film pack casing lip 56 and that carries a hook 74. When the drawer is in its fully closed position, hooks 74 are received between the corresponding ends of casing end wall lip 57 and the lateral casing lips 56 and are engageable with the adjacent end edge of the forwardmost element of the film unit assemblage. As the drawer is pulled to its open position, hooks 74 push that element out of the film pack casing and between a pair of

opposed pressure rollers

75 and 76 that are biased toward each other by resilient spring means, not shown. When the trap end of the moving film assemblage element engaged by hooks 74 has passed beyond the pressure rollers, it is supported temporarily by the forward face 77 of stripper guide bar 78, which is mounted to the camera housing by pins 79 extending through slots 81 in the drawer side bars. The guide bar therefore maintains the trap end of the moving element in engagement with hooks 74 until just before the drawer has reached its fully open position.

A light leaf spring 82 is attached to the rearward surface of each drawer bar rib 73 and is compressed between that rib and the corresponding casing lip 56 when the drawer is closed. During the opening movement of the drawer, springs 82 engage the front margins of the moving film assemblage element and urge it rearwardly with a light resilient force. When the drawer has reached its open position, the film assemblage element is beyond supported engagement with guide bar 78, as shown in broken lines at numeral 59 in FIG. 6. Accordingly, it can then be moved rearwardly by springs 82 to the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 6 so that its trap end rests on rearward guide surfaces 83 of the camera housing and its pod end rests on support surface 84 of the partial rearward drawer wall 85. As shown in FIG. 7, surfaces 83 of the camera housing are located at opposite sides of a slot 86 that accommodates the partial drawer wall 85 and are straddled by converging lateral guide surfaces 87. In its rearward position just described, the film assemblage element is therefore in endwise alignment with the opening between the partial casing end wall 53 and the rearward casing wall 54. During the closing movement of the drawer, shoulder 88 of drawer wall 85 therefore pushes the film assemblage element into the rearward compartment of the film pack casing, whereupon springs 65 bias it forwardly into stacked engagement with the other elements of the film unit assemblage. The closing of the drawer also returns hooks 74 to their initial position adjacent to the trap end of the film unit element then seated against the forward casing ribs.

Accordingly, it will be apparent that repetitive opening and closing movements of the drawer will cause each element of the film unit assemblage, in turn, to be removed from its forwardmost position in the film pack and returned to the rear of the film unit assemblage.

The stripper finger construction shown in FIGS. 6 through 9 comprises a pair of thin resilient metal stripper fingers 89, which are attached to the camera housing by rivets 91 and extend through a sloping print removal slot 92 in the rearward camera wall 93. As is best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the tips of the stripper fingers are aligned with the stripper finger grooves in the film assemblage element being returned to the film pack and are adapted to enter those grooves at the open ends thereof. The stripper guide bar 78 maintains the returning film unit element in contact with the coplanar camera guide surfaces 83 so that the tips of the stripper fingers enter the stripper finger grooves closely adjacent to the base surfaces 47 thereof.

During the initial opening and closing movements of the drawer, which remove the forward cover plate from the film pack and replaces it at the back of the film unit assemblage, neither the pressure rollers nor the stripper fingers are required to perform any operative function. If the cover plate were not provided with stripper finger grooves 64, however, the square trap edge of that plate would abut against the tips of the stripper fingers during the return movement of the plate, which would either block that movement or bend the fingers. By including the stripper finger grooves 64 in the cover plate, the return movement of the latter cams the stripper fingers rearwardly in the same manner described below in connection with the cooperation between the fingers and a film unit, thus allowing the cover plate to move past the stripping mechanism without damaging the latter. As shown in FIG. 7, the guide bar 78 is provided with a notch 94 which accommodates the shoulder 88 of the partial drawer wall as the final closing movement of the drawer pushes the cover plate all the way into the film pack casing.

When the opening movement of the drawer moves a film unit between the opposed rollers and 76, the sea] at the end of the processing fluid pod between the edges 34 of

sheets

24 and 25 is thereby ruptured and the processing fluid is extruded between those sheets. The passage of the image-recording unit between the rollers distributes the processing fluid unifonnly between the photosensitive sheet and the process sheet to initiate development of the photographic image, and any excess processing fluid is extruded into the processing fluid trap. When the drawer is fully open and the film unit has been moved rearwardly by springs 82, the image-recording unit or print is ready to be separated from the frame and removed from the camera.

At the beginning of the closing movement of the drawer, the leading or trap end of the frame member moves behind stripper guide bar 78 as shown in FIG. 8, thereby causing the guide bar to maintain the frame in contact with guide surfaces 83. Concurrently, the converging lateral guide surfaces 87 position the leading end of the frame laterally in alignment with the film pack casing. Consequently, the open ends of the stripper finger grooves 46 are accurately aligned with the stripper fingers, which enter the respective grooves adjacent to their base surfaces 47 as depicted in FIG. 8. Upon further movement of the film unit, thetips of the stripper fingers enter the blind ends of the stripper finger grooves overlapped by the corresponding corners of the print and encounter the sloped portions 48 of groove surfaces 47. Because the frame is prevented from moving forwardly by guide bar 78, its continuing endwise movement causes the sloped end portions of the grooves to cam the stripper fingers rearwardly, thereby flexing thefingers'out of the grooves as shown in FIG. 9. This positive rearward movement of the tips of the stripper fingers causes abrupt and positive separation of the leading corners of the print from the frame and directs the freed leading end of the print into print removal slot 92. Thereafter, the tips of the stripper fingers remain between the margins of the print and the confronting frame surfaces and wedge the print free of the frame as the movement of the latter continues. The print removal slot 92 in the camera housing can be provided with a resilient cover door or flap, not shown, which temporarily grips the trailing end of the finished'print to prevent it from falling to the ground. After the movement of the film unit has caused the print to be completely separated from the frame, the tips of fingers 89 encounter end rib 39 of the frame. As shown in FIG. 1, the inner face 95 of this end rib is sloped so that it earns the fingers to an extreme rearward position to allow the end rib of the frame to pass the stripping mechanism. It should be recognized that the stripper fingers need not necessarily be resilient themselves, as just described, but could be pivotally mounted and biased forwardly by relatively weak auxiliary spring means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRST ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 10 is basically the same as the embodiment just described except that each of the two stripper finger grooves 96 in the illustrative film unit frame 97 extends along the frame beyond a lifting boss 98 provided with a sloped cam surface 99 that causes the initial abrupt print separating movement of stripper fingers 101. After the bosses have moved beyond the stripper fingers, the latter again move forwardly into grooves 96 and continue the progressive separation of the print while the movement of the frame proceeds. The opposite blind ends of slots 96, not shown, are sloped to eject the stripper fingers, which are then bypassed by the end rib of the frame as previously described. This arrangement provides lateral guidance to the stripper fingers throughout the entire print separation operation, thus permitting the fingers to be relatively narrow notwithstanding their correspondingly increased lateral flexibility.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SECOND ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT In the case of the embodiments of the invention described above, the initial positions of the two stripper fingers must be established very accurately to ensure that the tips of those fingers properly enter the open ends of the corresponding stripper finger grooves. Although this requirement can be achieved without undue complications, the inherent delicacy of the movable fingers makes them susceptible to being bent out of proper adjustment, which could arise, for example, through the use of a cover plate or film unit frame having misformed or otherwise imperfect stripper fmger' grooves. To eliminate these potential problems, the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 11-13 comprises a camera corresponding generally to the one heretofore described butin which the stripper fingers 102 are rigidly attached to or formed as-in integral part of back wall 103 of the camera housing 104 adjacent to print removal opening 105. The film unit 21 is identical to the one shown in FIG. 1 and its various illustrated features are identified by the same reference numerals used in that figure. Rearward guide surfaces 106 on the back wall of the camera housing correspond to surfaces 83 shown in FIG. 7, but are disposed slightly rearwardly of the inner surface of the rearward film pack casing wall 54, which is generally coplanar with a second internal camera surface 107 located between the stripper fingers and the film pack casing.

As the film unit approaches the stripper fingers during the closing movement of the drawer, it is urged rearwardly against surfaces 106 by a pair of leaf springs 108 engaged with the marginal forward faces of the film unit frame. These springs are carried by a guide bar 109 that is similar to guide bar 78 except that it does not directly engage the film unit being returned to the film pack casing. Because the stripper fingers are immovably located with respect to the guide surfaces which establish the position of the leading frame edge as it approaches the fingers, the location of the tips of the rigidly mounted fingers relative to frame grooves 46 can be established permanently with a high degree of accuracy. This feature, therefore, guarantees that the tips of the stripper finger will properly enter the stripper finger grooves.

When the film. unit has moved sufficiently to bring the sloped end portions 48 of grooves 46 into contact with the tips of the stripper fingers, the leading or trap end of the film unit is cammed forwardly in opposition to springs 108 as shown in FIG. 12, thus providing the desired abrupt separation of the leading end of the print from the frame. This forward movement of the leading end of the frame aligns it with'the rearward chamber of the film pack casing so that the film unit enters that chamber as the closing movement of the drawer proceeds. During the further movement of the film unit, the fingers wedge the margins of the print out of engagement with the confronting frame surfaces, which are held in contact with the fingers by springs 108. After the print has been completely separated from the frame, the tips of the fingers encounter the sloped inner face of frame end rib 39, which causes the trailing end of the frame to be cammed to the position shown in FIG. 13 so that it can move beyond the fingers during the final closing movement of the drawer.

The invention has been described in detail with parrality of self-processing film units, each of the film units including an image-recording elementand a carrier to which the image-recording element is strippably cou pled, said apparatus comprising:

means for receiving the plurality of film units and for locating the successive ones of the film units in an exposure position;

means for effecting the exposure of the successive ones of the film units-when in the exposure position;

means for initiating the processing of the successive ones of the film units after the exposure thereof has been effected;

a transporting mechanism for transporting the successive ones of the film units sequentially from the exposure position, through saidprocessing initiat-' ing means, and then along a predetermined path; and

a stripping mechanism at least partially in the predetermined path to effect stripping of the image-recording element from the carrier of each of the successive ones of the film units after the processing thereof has been initiated, said mechanism including a stripping member, means for guiding relative engaging movement between said stripping member and the carrier along the predetermined path, and means for effecting movement of one of said stripping member and said guiding means away from the other of said stripping member and said guiding means in a direction substantially perpendicular to the predetermined path to permit movement of one of said stripping member and the carrier in substantially said direction during the stripping of the image-recording element from the carrier.

2. The apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said stripping member is resiliently movable in substantially said direction.

3. The apparatus claimed in claim 2 wherein said stripping member is resiliently flexible.

4. The apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said guiding means is resiliently movable away from'the predetermined path.

5. The apparatus claimed in claim l wherein said movement of one of said stripping member and the carrier in substantially said direction accentuates the stripping of the image-recording element from the carrier.

6. In a processing camera adapted to effect exposure and, initiate processing of a film unit, the film unit including a substantially rectangular image-recording unit defining leading and trailing ends and lateral margins, a generally rigid carrier defining a pair of grooves extending parallel to the lateral margins of the imagerecording unit, and means for separably coupling the image-recording unit to the carrier, the camera including means for effecting endwise movement of the film unit in a predetermined direction and a pair of stripper fingers adapted to be received in the grooves of the carrier and to enter between the image-recording unit and the carrier to separate the image-recording unit from the carrier, an improvement in means for initiating separation of the image-recording unit from the carrier, said improvement comprising:

means for guiding the film unit relative to the stripperfingers during the endwise movement of the film unit in the predetermined direction, and means for effecting relative movement between said-guiding means and the stripper fingers from respective first positions wherein the stripper fingers enter the grooves of the carrier to respective second positions wherein the stripper fingers are at least partially withdrawn from the grooves of the carrier to initiate separation of the image-recording unit from the carrier.

7. The improvement claimed in claim 6 wherein said guiding means guides the film unit along a substantially straight path during the endwise movement thereof in the predetermined direction, and wherein the stripper fingers are movable relative to said guiding means between the first positions thereof for entering the grooves and the second positions thereof at least partially withdrawn from the grooves.

8. The improvement claimed in claim 7 further comprising resilient means biasing the stripper fingers toward the first positions thereof.

9. The improvement claimed in claim 7 wherein the stripper fingers comprise resilient elongate metal strips.

10. The improvement claimed in claim 6 wherein the stripper fingers are mounted in immovable relation to the camera, wherein the improvement further comprises a supporting surface fixed relative to the stripper fingers for supporting the carrier in alignment with the stripper fingers during a portion of the endwise movement of the film unit in the predetermined direction to enable the stripper fingers to enter the grooves, and wherein said guiding means includes resiliently movable means for yieldably retaining the carrier against said supporting surface during said portion of the endwise movement of the film unit in the predetermined direction to enable the stripper fingers to enter the grooves and for permitting movement of the carrier away from said supporting surface after said portion of the endwise movement of the film unit to enable the stripper fingers to be at least partially withdrawn from the grooves.

11. In a camera adapted to effect exposure and initiate processing of a self-processing film unit, the film unit including a substantially rectangular image-recording element defining leading and trailing ends and lateral margins, a generally rigid frame defining camming means and a pair of grooves extending parallel with the lateral margins, and means separably coupling the lateral margins to the frame, a device for initiating separation of the image-recording element from the frame comprising:

means for efiecting endwise movement of the film unit;

means defining at least one guide surface engageable with the frame for guiding at least a portion of the endwise movement of the film unit; means for retaining the frame against said guide surface during at least said portion of the endwise movement of the film unit;

a pair of stripper fingers disposed for entering the grooves between the image-recording unit and the frame and for engaging the camming means during said portion of the endwise movement of the film unit; and

means mounting one of said retaining means and said pair of stripper fingers for movement relative to said guide surface to enable one of the frame and said pair of stripper fingers, respectively, to move relative to said guide surface, and thereby initiate the separation of the image-recording element from the frame, in response to the stripper fingers entering the grooves between the image-recording unit and the frame and engaging the camming means during said portion of the endwise movement of the film unit.

12. The device claimed in claim 11 wherein said movement of one of said retaining means and said pair of stripper fingers relative to said guide surface is in a direction transverse to said guide surface.

13. The device claimed in claim 11 wherein said retaining means is resiliently movable in a direction away from said guide surface to enable the frame to move in said direction, and thereby initiate the-separation of the imagerecording element from the frame, in response to the stripper fingers entering the grooves between the image-recording unit and the frame and engaging the camming means during said portion of the endwise movement of the film unit.

14. The device claimed in claim 1 1 wherein said pair of stripper fingers is resiliently movable in a direction toward said guide surface to enable said pair of stripper fingers to move in said direction, and thereby initiate the separation of the image-recording element from the frame, in response to the stripper fingers entering the grooves between the image-recording unit and the frame and engaging the camming means during said portion of the endwise movement of the film unit.-

Claims

1. Photographic apparatus adapted to effect exposure and initiate processing of successive ones of a plurality of selfprocessing film units, each of the film units including an imagerecording element and a carrier to which the image-recording element is strippably coupled, said apparatus comprising: means for receiving the plurality of film units and for locating the successive ones of the film units in an exposure position; means for effecting the exposure of the successive ones of the film units when in the exposure position; means for initiating the processing of the successive ones of the film units after the exposure thereof has been effected; a transporting mechanism for transporting the successive ones of the film units sequentially from the exposure position, through said processing initiating means, and then along a predetermined path; and a stripping mechanism at least partially in the predetermined path to effect stripping of the image-recording element from the carrier of each of the successive ones of the film units after the processing thereof has been initiated, said mechanism including a stripping member, means for guiding relative engaging movement between said stripping member and the carrier along the predetermined path, and means for effecting movement of one of said stripping member and said guiding means away from the other of said stripping member and said guiding means in a direction substantially perpendicular to the predetermined path to permit movement of one of said stripping member and the carrier in substantially said direction during the stripping of the image-recording elemeNt from the carrier.

4. The apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said guiding means is resiliently movable away from the predetermined path.

5. The apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said movement of one of said stripping member and the carrier in substantially said direction accentuates the stripping of the image-recording element from the carrier.

6. In a processing camera adapted to effect exposure and initiate processing of a film unit, the film unit including a substantially rectangular image-recording unit defining leading and trailing ends and lateral margins, a generally rigid carrier defining a pair of grooves extending parallel to the lateral margins of the image-recording unit, and means for separably coupling the image-recording unit to the carrier, the camera including means for effecting endwise movement of the film unit in a predetermined direction and a pair of stripper fingers adapted to be received in the grooves of the carrier and to enter between the image-recording unit and the carrier to separate the image-recording unit from the carrier, an improvement in means for initiating separation of the image-recording unit from the carrier, said improvement comprising: means for guiding the film unit relative to the stripper fingers during the endwise movement of the film unit in the predetermined direction, and means for effecting relative movement between said guiding means and the stripper fingers from respective first positions wherein the stripper fingers enter the grooves of the carrier to respective second positions wherein the stripper fingers are at least partially withdrawn from the grooves of the carrier to initiate separation of the image-recording unit from the carrier.

11. In a camera adapted to effect exposure and initiate processing of a self-processing film unit, the film unit including a substantially rectangular image-recording element defining leading and trailing ends and lateral margins, a generally rigid frame defining camming means and a pair of grooves extending parallel with the lateral margins, and means separably coupling the lateral margins to the frame, a device for initiating separation of the image-recording element from the fraMe comprising: means for effecting endwise movement of the film unit; means defining at least one guide surface engageable with the frame for guiding at least a portion of the endwise movement of the film unit; means for retaining the frame against said guide surface during at least said portion of the endwise movement of the film unit; a pair of stripper fingers disposed for entering the grooves between the image-recording unit and the frame and for engaging the camming means during said portion of the endwise movement of the film unit; and means mounting one of said retaining means and said pair of stripper fingers for movement relative to said guide surface to enable one of the frame and said pair of stripper fingers, respectively, to move relative to said guide surface, and thereby initiate the separation of the image-recording element from the frame, in response to the stripper fingers entering the grooves between the image-recording unit and the frame and engaging the camming means during said portion of the endwise movement of the film unit.

13. The device claimed in claim 11 wherein said retaining means is resiliently movable in a direction away from said guide surface to enable the frame to move in said direction, and thereby initiate the separation of the image-recording element from the frame, in response to the stripper fingers entering the grooves between the image-recording unit and the frame and engaging the camming means during said portion of the endwise movement of the film unit.

14. The device claimed in claim 11 wherein said pair of stripper fingers is resiliently movable in a direction toward said guide surface to enable said pair of stripper fingers to move in said direction, and thereby initiate the separation of the image-recording element from the frame, in response to the stripper fingers entering the grooves between the image-recording unit and the frame and engaging the camming means during said portion of the endwise movement of the film unit.