Casing

The present invention relates to roll films, and more particularly to casings for roll film cartridges.

It is known in the art that roll film spools are usually furnished in a cylindrical cartridge which has a tangential opening. For storage and transportation the cartridge is installed in a small cylindrical casing with a screw cover. A portion of the roll film extends out of the cartridge and is wound around the latter. When the cartridge is inserted into the casing, the portion of the roll film which is wound around the spool is obviously subject to rather strong bending forces which considerably deform (i.e. curve) the above-mentioned film portion. Such a deformation considerably complicates the use of the film in cameras provided with an automatic film threading arrangement.

It is a general object of the present invention to avoid the disadvantage of the prior art.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a casing for roll film cartridges, in which the beginning portion of the roll film, the portion which extends out of the cartridge, can be kept flat so as to avoid any deformation of this portion.

In pursuance of these objects and others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of the present invention resides in providing a casing which includes first wall means defining a hollow housing which has a chamber adapted for closely receiving a film cartridge therein. Second wall means bound a channel which communicates with the chamber. The channel is operative for receiving a length of roll film extending out of the cartridge when the latter is inserted into the chamber. The channel extends substantially tangentially to the outer surface of the cartridge and has at least one flat inner surface along which the length of roll film can extend so as to be kept in flat condition.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cross-section through a casing, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section through another embodiment of the casing; and

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the casing shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the cover of the casing removed.

Referring now to the drawings, and first to FIG. 1 thereof, it may be seen that the reference numeral 1 designates a roll film accommodated in a cartridge 2. The roll film 1 has a leading end portion 1a which extends out of the cartridge 2. In the prior art this portion 1a is subject to relatively large bending forces due to being bent around the cartridge when the same is inserted into the conventional cylindrical casing.

It is a very complicated procedure to use such a roll film 1, when the end portion 1a is curved, in conjunction with automatic take-up means including, for example, a pair of sprocket wheels for displacing the film in a camera. A situation is very likely to occur, where the end portion may arch (i.e. flex) into the film window and thus prevent its insertion into the take-up chamber of the camera, thereby preventing normal functioning of the automatic displacing means.

In order to prevent any curvature of the end portion 1a of the roll film 1 the present invention provides a novel casing 3 for roll film cartridges.

The casing 3 comprises a hollow chamber 4a, which is operative for receiving the cartridge 2 therein. The interior of the chamber 4a is at least slightly larger than the outer cross-section of the cartridge 2, thus ensuring that the cartridge 2 is closely received in the chamber 4a. The casing 3 is further provided with a channel 4b which communicates with the interior of the chamber 4a. The channel 4a extends tangentially with regard to the cartridge 2 installed in the chamber 4a. The cartridge 2 is so arranged in the chamber 4a, that the opening 5 communicates with the channel 4b. Thus, the channel 4b serves as an enlarged extension of the opening 5 of the cartridge 2. Such a construction renders it possible to accommodate the portion 1a in the channel 4b. Due to the flat orientation of the portion 1a in the channel 4b any possible curvature of the portion 1a is avoided.

In accordance with FIG. 1, the chamber 4a has a square cross-section. The walls of the chamber 4a are integrally connected to those of the channel 4b. The casing 3 can be made of synthetic plastic material. The chamber 4a has side walls 3e and 3d and a bottom wall 3i connecting the side walls. A bottom wall 3a of the channel 4b extends substantially normal to the wall 3d. The upper wall 3g of the channel 4b is integrally connected to the side wall 3e of the channel 4a, and at the other side extends normal to the bottom wall 3a. The bottom wall 3a is provided with a bent portion 3b and a recess 3c operative for receiving a corresponding projection 3h provided on the inner surface of the bent portion of the upper roll 3g, thus bounding the interior of the casing 3. The end portion of the wall 3e is provided with a recess 3f. The closing wall 3g is spaced from the wall 3d by a distance defining the interior of the channel 4b. The cartridge 2 has to be so accommodated in the chamber 4a, as to arrange the opening 5 thereof in communication with the channel 4b. In order to arrange the cartridge 2 in a desirable position, the chamber 4a is provided with a disc 6 mounted on the bottom surface of the chamber 4a. The disc 5 has a recess of a desirable configuration for receiving therein the cartridge 2. The disc 6 is made of synthetic plastic material, for example hard foam.

Another embodiment shown in FIG. 2 differs from that shown in FIG. 1 only in that the portion of the wall of the casing 3 between the flat surface 3a and the recess 3f has a configuration corresponding to that of the outer surface of the cartridge 2. In order to retain the cartridge 2 in its desirable position, the closing wall 3g is provided with at least one weak spring 8. The spring 8 is so arranged as to retain the cartridge 2 in the desired position when the opening 5 is directed into the channel 4b. The channel 4b is further provided with a plate 9 for pressing the portion 1a of the roll film towards the flat inner surface of the wall 3a. The plate 9 extends parallel to the wall 3a. The plate 9 is provided with another weak spring 10 which is engaged with the inner surface of the wall 3g. All these elements 8, 9 and 10 can be of synthetic plastic material, and integrally connected with the casing 3.

The length of the channel 4b is so chosen, as to render it possible for the portion 1a of the film 1 to lie flat in this channel. The length of the portion 1a is chosen to expose some of the film perforations for engagement by the film displacing arrangement of a camera. Such displacing arrangement may include a sprocket wheel, or a film gripping device. When the camera is closed the film displacing arrangement can displace the portion 1a of the film 1 without any problem, advancing this portion through a clearance into the winding chamber onto a take-up spool.

It is to be understood that many modifications may be made which have not been separately disclosed, for the sake of simplicity of the drawings. Thus, for example, the closure 3g may be made separable from the rest of the casing 3 or connectable with the casing through hinges. Besides that, the closure can also be provided on the wall 3e of the casing 3 shown in FIG. 1. If this is the case, the cartridge 2 and the portion 1a have to be correspondingly arranged relative to the channel 4b. In order to avoid any errors in positioning the cartridge 2 the chamber 4a can be provided on its side faces with recesses 3k which are operative for receiving the ends of the cartridge. The recesses can be of any different form and dimensions depending on those of a cartridge.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a casing, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.