BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing photographic filmstrips
from a long strip of photographic film, especially for manufacturing photographic
filmstrips having one or two perforations and data per picture frame along one or
both of lateral sides thereof by perforating, data recording and cutting the long
film.
2. Background Art
[0002] Leader-advancing type photographic film cassette have been disclosed, e.g., in U.S.P.
No. 4,846,418, in which the whole length of a filmstrip is contained within a cassette
shell, and a film leader of the filmstrip can be advanced to the outside of the cassette
shell by rotating a spool of the cassette. With this type of film cassette, a camera
need not have such a sprocket wheel that has conventionally been used for feeding
the film leader to the take-up spool of the camera. Once the film leader has been
engaged with the take-up spool, the filmstrip may be advanced by rotating the take-up
spool. Therefore, the filmstrip of the leader-advancing type cassette need not have
a lot of successive perforations which like conventional 135-type filmstrips have
for engagement with the sprocket wheel or the take-up spool.
[0003] Still, in order to advance the filmstrip one frame after each exposure, also the
filmstrip of the leader advancing type cassette has at least a perforation per picture
frame. The perforation is intended to be detected by a photo-sensor in the camera
to determine each frame exposure location and position it in an exposure aperture
of the camera. Since these perforations for frame positioning are disposed in association
with the frame exposure locations, the filmstrip of the leader advancing type cassette,
hereinafter referred to as a new type filmstrip, has no positioning perforation in
its leader and trailer where no picture frame is to be recorded. Hereinafter, a section
which extends over the frame exposure locations of each individual filmstrip will
be referred to as a recording section.
[0004] For providing perforations only in the recording sections of the filmstrips to be
made frame the long film, it is hard to use a conventional perforating method for
the 135-type film, such as disclosed in JPA 61-214999 and JPY 4-2800, wherein perforations
are formed at constant intervals all along the long film while the long film is continuously
transported.
[0005] For this reason, apparatuses for manufacturing the new type filmstrip have been suggested,
one of which uses a die set having a number of punches and dies corresponding to the
number of frame exposure locations to be provided in the individual filmstrips formed
from the long film. The apparatus makes the corresponding number of perforations at
a time in the recording section of each individual filmstrip. Hereinafter, the number
of frame exposure locations per filmstrip will be referred to as film frame number.
A similar method has conventionally been applied to manufacturing 110-type filmstrips.
[0006] In Fig. 13 showing such an apparatus, the long film 12 is fed from a roll 10 to a
first vacuum suction chamber 15 through a dancer roller 13 and a sub-feed rollers
14. The suction chamber 15 transiently stores an appropriate length of the long film
12 before being fed to the die set 17 through a pass roller 16.
[0007] The die set 17 has a punch holder 19 with the same number of punches 18 as the film
frame number, and a dies plate 21 with the corresponding number of dies 20. The punches
and dies 18 and 20 are arranged at the same intervals as the frame exposure locations.
An air cylinder 22 is driven to move the punch holder 19 down to the dies plate 21
while the long film 12 stops on the dies plate 21, making the same number of perforations
as the film frame number at a time.
[0008] Downstream of the die set 17 are disposed a first vacuum suction drum 24, a second
vacuum suction chamber 25, a second vacuum suction drum 26, a side-printer 27 and
a cutter 28 in serial fashion. The first and second suction drums 24 and 26 have suction
holes formed through respective peripheral surfaces, and are driven by servo motors
30 and 32, respectively. Thus, the suction drums 24 and 26 transport the film 12 while
sucking it on the peripheral surfaces.
[0009] While the first suction drum 24 is driven by the servo motor 30, an encoder 31 connected
to the servo motor 30 monitors the rotational amount of the drum 24 to detect the
transported length of the film 12. The drum 24 starts rotating after each die-punching
the perforations P in the film 12, and stops rotating when the film 12 is transported
by a unit length which is predetermined in accordance with the film frame number.
Thus the next recording section to be perforated is positioned in the die set 17.
[0010] The perforated section of the film 12 is transported through the first suction drum
24 to the second suction chamber 25 to transiently store an appropriate length of
the film 12 before being fed to the cutter 28. The film 12 is transported from the
suction chamber 25 to the cutter 28 through the second suction drum 26, while an encoder
33 connected to the servo motor 32 monitors the rotational amount of the second suction
drum 26 to detect the transported length of the film 12. The detection signal from
the encoder 33 is sent to the side-printer 27.
[0011] In synchronism with the detection signal, the side-printer 27 optically records data
such as the name of film manufacturer, frame serial numbers and the like as latent
images of characters and bar codes along one or both of lateral sides of the film
12 while the film 12 is being transported through the second suction drum 26. The
side-printer 27 is movable toward a peripheral position of the second suction drum
26 where the transported film 12 tightly fit on, so that the side-printer 27 faces
the photosensitive emulsion surface of the film 12 at a constant distance. The peripheral
position may be referred to as a side-print position.
[0012] The second suction drum 26 stops rotating when it has transported the film 12 by
the predetermined unit length. Then, the cutter 28 is actuated to cut the film 12
into individual filmstrips.
[0013] Meanwhile, the new type filmstrip may have variations in the film frame number like
the conventional filmstrips. To cope with the different film frame numbers, the apparatus
as shown in Fig. 13 is provided with interchangeable punch holders having different
numbers of punches from one another. One of the punch holders is selected in correspondence
with the film frame number of the filmstrips designated to be produced. Also the unit
length for the transport of the film 12 through the suction drums 24 and 26 is changed
in accordance with the selected film frame number. Although the film length extending
from the die set 17 to the cutter 28 changes with the change of the unit length, the
second suction chamber 25 absorbs the variation by changing the storing length of
the film 12. It is to be noted that the side-print position is unchanged independently
of the film frame number. Of course, the number of times of recording as well as a
side-print end position vary depending on the film frame number, as a side-print end
position.
[0014] Since the above-described apparatus needs two suction drums 24 and 26, two servo
motors 30 and 32, and two encoders 31 and 33 for transporting the film 12 by the unit
length relative to the die set 17 and the cutter 28, respectively, its mechanism and
control system are complicated. Moreover, since the drums 24 and 26 must have a diameter
large enough to ensure the suction of the film 12, the distance between the cutter
28 and side-printer 27, and thus the length of the film 12 from a cut position B to
the side-print position C must correspondingly be long, as is shown in Fig. 14, wherein
the cut position B is a position to cut trailing ends 6 of individual filmstrips 5,
that is, an innermost end in a cassette shell. However, to make use of as much area
of the individual filmstrip 5 as possible, it is desirable to limit a film trailer
length L3 into a range from 50 mm to 100mm or so, wherein the film trailer length
L3 represents the length from the trailing end 6 of the individual filmstrip 5 to
the start of its recording section. According to the apparatus as shown in Figs. 13
and 14, the length from the cut position B to the side-print position C would beyond
the desirable trailer length L3, as is shown in Fig. 15.
[0015] To solve this problem, it is necessary in the above-described apparatus to start
side-printing while the film 12 is transported through the drum 26, interrupt side-printing
while the film 12 stops to be cut by the cutter 28, and restart side-printing in synchronism
with the start of the next film transport. Because the transport speed of the film
inevitably changes immediately before and after the film stops, side-printed images
would be damaged at the interrupted portion.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0016] In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide a simple
and efficient filmstrip manufacturing apparatus which has a perforator capable of
making a variable number of perforations at a time in a long continuous film and a
cutter for cutting the continuous film into individual filmstrips at a variable length
corresponding to the number of perforations.
[0017] Another object of the present invention is to provide a filmstrip manufacturing apparatus
which has a side-printer between a perforator and a cutter, the side-printer being
capable of printing data on the long film along one or both lateral sides of recording
sections of individual filmstrips to be made from the long film, without the need
for interrupting the side-printing in mid course of each recording section.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] To achieve the above objects, in an apparatus for manufacturing filmstrips having
a variable length and a variable number of perforations from a long strip of continuous
film, the present invention provides a die set device having a plurality of punch
holders aligned adjacent to one another in a film transporting direction. At least
one of the punch holders are selectively actuated to make a designated number of equally
spaced perforations at a time. A film length adjusting device is provided for adjusting
the length of the continuous film extending between the die set device and a cutter
in accordance with a unit length which is predetermined for each variable length of
the filmstrip. Thereby, the cutter and the punch holder or punch holders can be actuated
in synchronism with each other while the continuous film stops after each transport
by the unit length.
[0019] The film length adjusting device sets the length of the continuous film from a cut
position of the cutter to a punching position of the die set device into a value a
number M of times as long as the unit length, plus a length from a first end of each
filmstrip, which is to be cut at the cut position, to a first perforation to be made
at the punching position in each filmstrip.
[0020] According to a preferred embodiment, a suction drum is disposed between the die set
and the cutter, to transport the film toward the cutter by a unit length after each
die-punching, and a pair of feed rollers are disposed between the cutter and the suction
drum. The feed rollers have diameters less than that of the suction drum, and one
of the feed rollers has a larger diameter than the other. A side-printer is arranged
to record data on the film at a peripheral position of the larger feed roller. In
this way, it is possible to dispose the side-printer closer to the cutter enough to
continue side-printing without intermediate stops in the recording section of each
filmstrip. The distance between the cut position and the peripheral position for side-printing
is preferably set equal or less than the length from the first end to the first perforation
of each filmstrip.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the
following detailed description of the preferred embodiments when read in connection
with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designates like or
corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a filmstrip manufacturing apparatus according
to a preferred embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of filmstrip to be manufactured
by the apparatus according to the invention;
Figure 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the die set unit of the apparatus shown
in Fig. 1;
Figure 4 is an enlarged schematic diagram illustrating the film length adjusting device
of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;
Figure 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a long strip of film and the individual
filmstrips to be formed from the long film;
Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the film length adjusting device
shown in Fig. 4;
Figure 7 is a side view of the film length adjusting device shown in Fig. 6;
Figure 8 is an enlarged schematic diagram illustrating a side-print position C and
a cut position B of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;
Figure 9 is an enlarged schematic diagram illustrating a film transporting system
according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the long
film comes into contact at its base surface with the suction drum;
Figure 10 is a block diagram of the apparatus
Figure 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a filmstrip of another format;
Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of a die set according to another embodiment of the
invention;
Figure 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a filmstrip manufacturing apparatus
as a background of the invention;
Figure 14 is an enlarged schematic diagram illustrating a side-printer and a cutter
of the apparatus shown in Fig. 13; and
Figure 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating a relationship between a side-print
position C and a cut position B of the apparatus shown in Fig. 13, relative to a filmstrip.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] In Fig. 1, a filmstrip manufacturing apparatus is adapted to manufacture filmstrips
in a format as shown in Fig. 2, wherein each film exposure location 40 is designated
by a perforation P. The filmstrip 5 has a length L1 which is variable depending on
its film frame number N, i.e., the number of the frame exposure locations 40 to be
provided in the filmstrip 5. The perforations P1 to P
N are disposed at constant intervals L2 in a recording section of each individual filmstrip
5. As shown by hatching, both lateral sides of the filmstrip 5 serve as side-print
zones 42.
[0023] A long continuous strip of film 12 is fed from a roll 10 through a dancer roller
13, sub-feed rollers 14, a vacuum suction drum 15 and a pass roller 16 into a die
set device 45, like the apparatus shown in Fig. 13. The die set device 45 is constituted
of first to third die sets 46, 47 and 48 which are aligned in continuity along a film
transport path, and may be individually actuated.
[0024] As shown in Fig. 3, the first die set 46 is constituted of a punch holder 46a having
fifteen punches 50 arranged at the same interval L2 as the perforations P1 to P
N, a dies plate 46b having fifteen dies 51 arranged in correspondence with the punches
50, and an air cylinder 46c for moving the punch holder 46a downward. The second and
third die sets 47 and 48 are each constituted of a punch holder 47a or 48a having
ten punches 50 arranged at the same interval L2 as the perforations P1 to P
N, a dies plate 47b or 48b having ten dies 51 arranged in correspondence with the punches
50, and an air cylinder 47c or 48c for moving the punch holder 47a or 48a downward.
The three die sets 46, 47 and 48 are arranged such that all the punches 50 and the
dies 51 as well are spaced at the same interval L2 along the film transport path.
[0025] The die set device 45 can make a series of perforations P1 to P
N per one stroke of die-punching while selecting the film frame number N among three
variations: 15-exposure, 25-exposure and 35-exposure formats. To make 15-exposure
format filmstrips, only the first die set 46 is actuated. To make 25-exposure format
filmstrips, the first and second die sets 46 and 47 are actuated simultaneously. For
35-exposure format filmstrips, all the three die sets 46 to 48 are simultaneously
actuated. Since the dies plates 46b, 47b and 48b are stationary, and the same effect
is achieved by merely actuating the punch holders 46a, 47a and 48a, the dies plates
46b, 47b and 48b may be replaced by a single dies plate extending over the three punch
holders 46a to 48a.
[0026] At a film exit of the die set device 45 is disposed a film length adjusting mechanism
58 which is constituted of pass rollers 53 and 54, and a movable roller 56 mounted
movable in a vertical direction inside a chamber 55 which is disposed between the
pass rollers 53 and 54. A vacuum suction drum 60 is disposed downstream of the film
length adjusting mechanism 58, to transport the long film 12 by a unit length which
is predetermined in accordance with the film frame number N. The suction drum 60 sucks
the long film 12 to not-shown suction holes formed through a peripheral surface of
the drum 60. The suction drum 60 is driven by a servo motor 61, while an encoder 62
monitors the rotational amount of the suction drum 60 through the servo motor 61.
[0027] The long film 12 is transported from the suction drum 60 to a cutter 28 through a
pair of feed rollers 64 and 65 having smaller diameters than the suction drum 60.
A side-printer 27 is disposed near the feed roller 65 to print film data as character
data and bar code data along both lateral sides of the long film 12 in the side-print
zone 42 of the individual filmstrips 5 to be formed from the long film 12. The cutter
28 cuts off the individual filmstrips 5 from the long film 12 at the variable length
L1. The cutter 28 has first and second knife edges 28a and 28b respectively for cutting
a trailing end 6 of a films trip 5 and a leading end 7 of an adjacent preceding filmstrip
5 in the long film 12.
[0028] Fig. 5 shows the relationship between the long film 12 and two adjacent filmstrips
5a and 5b to be cut off therefrom. When the cutter 28 make a stroke, a leading end
7a of the preceding filmstrip 5a and a trailing end 6b of the following filmstrip
5b are simultaneously cut by the edges 28b and 28a of the cutter 28, respectively.
Since a trailing end 6a of the preceding filmstrip 5a has been cut at the preceding
cutting stroke, the filmstrip 5a is cut off from the film 12 when its leading end
7a is cut by the edge 28b.
[0029] In correspondence with the spacing between the knife edges 28a and 28b, a blank having
a constant length L5 is provided between the leading end 7a and the trailing end 6b.
Accordingly, the film 12 is transported by a unit length
after each stroke of the cutter 28. The cutter 28 preferably has a pair of punches
in addition to the knife edges 28a and 28b to provide engaging holes 9 concurrently
with cutting the long film 12 into individual filmstrip 5, the engaging holes 9 being
used to secure the trailing end 6 to a spool of a photographic film cassette.
[0030] The film length adjusting mechanism 58 is adapted to adjust the length of the film
12 extending between a cut position B defined by the knife edge 28a of the cutter
28 and a punching position A defined by the leftmost punch and die 50a and 51a of
the first die set 46 in Fig. 4. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the movable roller 56 is
movably mounted to a supporting block 70 which is movable along a pair of vertical
guide shaft 71.
[0031] A timing belt 72 is securely connected to the supporting block 70, and is suspended
between teethed pulleys 73 and 74. The pulley 74 is driven by a servo motor 75 to
move the supporting block 70 and thus the movable roller 56 in the vertical direction.
An encoder 76 is connected to the other pulley 73 to detect position of the movable
roller 56. The movable roller 56 may be stopped at one of three predetermined positions
X, Y and X, as is shown in Fig. 4, such that the length of the film 12 extending from
the cut position B to the punching position A, hereinafter referred to as a film buffer
length, is set at a value determined based on the unit length L4 for the designated
kind of filmstrip, and a film trailer length L3 as well. The film trailer length L3
is the length from the trailing end 6 to a first perforation P1 of the individual
filmstrip 5, which is to be formed by the die and punch 50a and 51b at the punching
position A.
[0032] In other words, when the film 12 stops to be cut by the cutter 28, the length of
the film 12 between a trailing end 6 being positioned at the cut position B, on one
hand, and a trailing end 6 of a filmstrip 5 being positioned in the die set device
45, on the other hand, is set at a value an integral number M of times as long as
the unit length L4 for the designated kind filmstrips. Accordingly, it is possible
to actuate the die set device 45 and the cutter 28 in synchronism with each other
each time the film 12 stops after being transported by the unit length L4.
[0033] In this embodiment, the movable roller 56 is moved in the position X when manufacturing
15-exposure filmstrips from the film 12, to set the film buffer length M times as
long as a unit length L4a for 15-exposure filmstrip, plus the film trailer length
L3, that is,
. When manufacturing 25-exposure filmstrips, the movable roller 56 is moved in the
position Y, so that the film buffer length becomes M times as long as a unit length
L4b for 25-exposure filmstrip, plus the film trailer length L3, that is,
. When the movable roller 56 moves in the position Z, the film buffer length is M
times as long as a unit length L4c for 35-exposure filmstrip, plus the film trailer
length L3, that is,
. The positioning of the movable roller 56 may be manually executed, so the servo
motor 75 is dispensable.
[0034] Alternatively, it is possible to assign the position Z of the movable roller 56 to
the 15-exposure filmstrips, and the position Y to the 25-exposure filmstrips by using
a larger integral number M + α as a factor to define the film buffer length for the
15-exposure filmstrips than an integral number M which is used as a factor to define
the film buffer length for the 25-exposure filmstrips. In that case, the position
X may be assigned to the 35-exposure filmstrips by using a smaller integral number
M - α as a factor to define the film buffer length for the 35-exposure filmstrips.
[0035] The feed rollers 64 and 65 are rotated at the same circumferential speed as that
of the suction drum 60 so the film 12 may not be loosened. In order to ensure a constant
distance from the side-printer 27 to the film 12 at the side-print position C, the
side-print position C is set in a peripheral position of the feed roller 65 where
the film 12 is in tight contact with the roller 65. The feed roller 65 has a larger
diameter than the other feed roller 64, so as to permit the tight contact. In order
to tense the film 12 at the side-print position, it is possible to set the circumferential
speed of the feed rollers 64 and 65 slightly, i.e. 1% or less, higher than the circumferential
speed of the suction drum 60.
[0036] Since the feed rollers 64 and 65 may have smaller diameters than the suction drum
60, the side-printer 27 may be disposed closer to the cutter 28, as is shown in Fig.
8, compared with the case shown in Fig. 14. Accordingly, it is possible to make the
distance between the side-print position C and the cut position B equal to or less
than the film trailer length L3, as is shown in Fig. 2. The distance between the positions
B and C may be about 50 mm to 100 mm, preferably 50 mm to 70 mm, and more preferably
60 mm to 70 mm. In this way, when the film 12 stops to be cut by the cutter 28, the
print position C is located before or at the first perforation P1 defining the start
or front end of the recording section in the film transporting direction. Accordingly,
side-printing can be performed without intermediate stops through the recording section
of each individual filmstrip.
[0037] It is preferable to provide pass rollers 67 and 69 in a manner as shown in Fig. 9,
instead of the pass roller 54, so that the photosensitive emulsion surface of the
film 12 will not contact the suction drum 60. This embodiment prevents the photosensitive
emulsion surface of the film 12 from being scratched or damaged by sucking.
[0038] The operation of the above-described apparatus is controlled by a controller 80,
as shown in Fig. 10. A console 81 serves as an input device for the operator to enter
the film frame number N of the filmstrips to be manufactured. In correspondence with
the entered film frame number N, the controller 80 selectively drives the air cylinders
46c, 47c and 48c to actuate the first, or the first and second, or all of the die
sets 46, 47 and 48, to form fifteen, twenty-five, or thirty-five perforations at a
time, respectively.
[0039] Thereafter, the controller 80 drives the servo motor 61 to rotate the suction drum
60 to transport the film 12 by the unit length L4, which is determined in accordance
with the film frame number N, while monitoring output signals from the encoder 62.
The controller 80 concurrently drives the servo motor 75 to move the movable roller
56 into one of the three positions X, Y and Z in accordance with the film frame number
N, while monitoring output signal from the encoder 76. The controller 80 also actuates
the side-printer 27 and the cutter 28 with respect to the output signal from the encoder
62 under the control of the controller 80. The controller 80 sequentially controls
the respective parts in accordance with a program stored in a ROM 83.
[0040] The above-described apparatus operates as follows:
After loading the roll 10, the operator enters the film frame number N, e.g., N
= 15, through the console. Then, the controller 80 moves the movable roller 56 in
the position X through the servo motor 75, and rotate the suction drum 60, the feed
rollers 64 and 65 through the servo motor 61 to transport the film 12 toward the cutter
28. When the film 12 is positioned in the die set device 45 by transporting the film
12 a certain amount from the roll 10, the controller 80 actuates the first die set
46 through the air cylinder 46c to make fifteen perforations P1 to P15 through the
film 12. Simultaneously, the cutter 28 is actuated to cut a portion of the film 12
where no perforation is made. Thereafter, the film 12 is transported by the unit length
L4a for 15-exposure filmstrip.
[0041] When die-punching and transporting of the film 12 by the unit length L4a are repeated
a number of times corresponding to the film buffer length provided in the position
X of the movable roller 56, the trailing end 6 of the filmstrip 5 having the fifteen
perforations in its recording section is placed in the cut position B. Simultaneously
therewith, the next recording section to be perforated is placed between the punch
holder 46a and the dies plate 46b of the first die set 46. Then, the controller 80
stops transporting the film 12, and actuates the cutter 28 and the first die set 46
at the same time. Thereafter the film 12 is transported by the unit length L4a, and
then the first die set 46 is actuated and, simultaneously, the cutter 28 is actuated
to cut the trailing end 6 of the next filmstrip 5 and the leading end 7 of the filmstrip
5 whose trailing end 6 has previously been cut. As a result, the filmstrip 5 with
fifteen perforations is cut off the film 12 into an individual 15-exposure filmstrip.
In this way, die-punching and cutting are performed in synchronism with each other.
[0042] While the film 12 is transported by the unit length L4a after each cutting, the side-printer
27 starts printing when the front end of the recording section immediately after the
first perforation P1 is located in the print position C, and continuously print data
of 15-exposure filmstrip along the side-print zone 42 in the recording section. Preferably,
the side-printer 27 is disposed relative to the cutter 28 such that the side-printer
27 can start printing immediately after the start of film transport.
[0043] When changing the film frame number N, e.g., to N = 25, the operator enters a stop
signal and the film frame number N = 25 through the console. Then, the controller
80 stops activating the die set device 45, the side-printer and the cutter 28 after
the film 12 is transported by the unit length L4a for 15-exposure filmstrip following
a die-punching of the first die set 46. Thereafter, the movable roller 56 is moved
to the position Y to adjust the film buffer length between the cut position B and
the punching position A to the unit length L4b for 25-exposure filmstrip.
[0044] Then, the first and second die sets 46 and 47 are simultaneously actuated to make
twenty-five perforations P1 to P25 at a time through the film 12 and, thereafter,
the suction drum 60 is driven to transport the film 12 by the unit length L4b for
25-exposure filmstrip. Since the leading end and the trailing end of two adjacent
filmstrips having fifteen perforations P1 to P15 formed therethrough are cut by the
cutter 28 in synchronism with the die-punching of the first and second die sets 46
and 47, the preceding one of the two filmstrips is cut off the film 12 into an individual
15-exposure filmstrip. But the leading end of the following filmstrip is transported
farther than the cutter 28 as a result of the rotation of the suction drum 60 by the
unit length L4b for 25-exposure filmstrip.
[0045] Accordingly, defective filmstrips will be produced until the leading end of the filmstrip
having twenty-five perforations P1 to P25 reaches the cutter 28. To minimize the number
of defective filmstrips at the film frame number change, it is preferable to determine
the film buffer length to be L4 + L3 for any film frame number N, by selecting a factor
"1" to multiply the unit length L4 in the above-described definition. In this way,
merely a defective filmstrip will be produced at each film frame number change.
[0046] Thereafter, die-punching of the first and second die sets 46 and 47 and cutting of
the cutter 28 are repeated in synchronism with each other, and the side-printer 27
prints data of 25-exposure filmstrip along the side-print zone 42 while the film 12
is transported by the unit length L4b after each die-punching, in the same way as
above, to produce 25-exposure filmstrips.
[0047] When the operator designates the film frame number N = 35, the movable roller 56
is moved to the position Z to adjust the film buffer length to the unit length L4c
for 35-exposure filmstrip. Then, the first to third die sets 46 to 48 are simultaneously
actuated to make thirty-five perforations P1 to P35 at a time. Thereafter, the suction
drum 60 is driven to transport the film 12 by the unit length L4c, while the side-printer
27 prints data of 35-exposure filmstrip along the side-print zone 42. The same operation
is repeated to produce 35-exposure filmstrips in continuous succession.
[0048] Although the above-described embodiment relates to a case where a single perforation
is provided in association with each frame exposure location, the present invention
is applicable to a case where a pair of perforations P1a and P1b; P2a and P2b; ...
P
Na and P
Nb are provided for each frame exposure location, as is shown in Fig. 11. Two perforations
for assigning longitudinal ends of each frame exposure location facilitate more accurate
positioning of the frame exposure location in the exposure aperture of the camera.
It is also possible to dispose a pair of perforations on opposite lateral sides of
each frame exposure location.
[0049] Although the air cylinders 46c, 47c and 48c are selectively driven by the controller
80 for each die-punching stroke of the associated die sets 46 to 48, it is also possible
to provide a cam 90 and a lever 91, as is shown in Fig. 12, for actuation of each
punch holder 93. In this embodiment, the lowermost position of the punch holder 93
in the die-punching stroke is changed over by an air cylinder 92 connected to the
punch holder 93, between an active position and an inactive position. The cam 90 is
connected to the air cylinder 92 through the lever 91. The lever 91 has a cam follower
95 at its one end, the cam follower 95 being always contacted against the cam surface
of the cam 90, and is connected to the air cylinder 92 at the opposite end, with its
fulcrum 94 disposed in an intermediate position.
[0050] Accordingly, one rotation of the cam 90 causes one stroke of the punch holder 93.
When the lowermost position of the punch holder 93 in the stroke is set in the inactive
position by the air cylinder 92, the punch holder 93 cannot perforate the film 12
placed on a dies plate 96. Though Fig. 12 shows only one punch holder 93, a plurality
of such punch holders 93 are disposed along the film 12, and only those punch holders
93 which are set in the active position by the associated air cylinders 92 can effect
die-punching by one stroke. This embodiment is suitable for faster die-punching operation.
[0051] Although the cam 90 and the lever 91 are provided for each die set, and are actuated
in synchronism with one another in the above-embodiment, it is possible to actuate
a plurality of punch holders with air cylinders by a single cam and a lever.
[0052] The present invention is not only applicable to manufacturing photographic filmstrips,
but also to manufacturing other kinds of strips or webs from a long strip of resin
film or paper.
[0053] Thus, the present invention should not be limited to the embodiments shown in the
drawings, but on the contrary, various modifications may be possible without departing
from the scope of the appended claims.
1. An apparatus for manufacturing filmstrips (5) from a long strips of continuous film
(12), each filmstrip having a variable length and a variable number of perforations,
said apparatus comprising:
a designating device (81) for designating the number (N) of perforations per filmstrip;
a die set device (45) comprising a plurality of punch holders (46a, 47a, 48a) aligned
adjacent to one another in a film transporting direction, each of said punch holders
having a plurality of punches (50), at least a dies plate (46b, 47b, 48b) having dies
(51) as counterparts to said punches, and an actuation mechanism (46c, 47c, 48c) for
selectively actuating at least one of said punch holders in accordance with the number
of perforations designated by said designation device, to make the designated number
of perforations (PN) at a time through said continuous film;
a cutter for cutting said continuous film into individual filmstrips at a length
(L1) corresponding to the designated number of perforations;
a transporting device (60, 65) for transporting said continuous film from said
die set device toward said cutter by a unit length (L4) after each selective actuation
of said punch holders, said unit length being determined in accordance with the length
(L1) of the filmstrip having the designated number of perforations and a cutting blank
(L5) between said filmstrips in said continuous film; and
a film length adjusting device (58) for adjusting the length of said continuous
film extending between said die set device and said cutter to said unit length such
that said cutter and said at least one of said punch holders are actuated in synchronism
with each other while said continuous film stops after each transport by said unit
length.
2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said filmstrips include photographic filmstrips
having at least a perforation per frame exposure location.
3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said film length adjusting device sets
the length of said continuous film from a cut position (B) of said cutter to a punching
position (A) of said die set device into a value a number M of times as long as said
unit length (L4), plus a length (L3) from a first end (6) of each of said filmstrips
to be cut at said cut position, to a first perforation (P1) to be made at said punching
position in said each filmstrip.
4. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said number M is "1".
5. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said film length adjusting device comprises:
first and second pass rollers (53, 54);
a movable roller (56) disposed between said pass rollers to be movable in a vertical
direction;
a guide member (71) for guiding said movable roller in the vertical direction;
and
an actuation mechanism (70, 72-76) for moving said movable roller into a position
determined based on said unit length.
6. An apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said actuation mechanism of said film
length adjusting device comprises a motor (75), an encoder (76) for detecting rotational
position of said motor, a timing belt (72) for transmitting rotational movement of
said motor to said encoder, and a supporting member (70) supporting said movable roller
thereon, said supporting member being securely coupled to said timing belt and mounted
movable along said guide member when said motor rotates.
7. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, further comprising a printer (27) for photographically
recording data along one or both of lateral sides of said continuous film while said
continuous film is transported, wherein:
said transporting device comprises a suction drum (60) which sucks said continuous
film onto its peripheral surface while rotating to transport said continuous film,
and a pair of feed rollers (64, 65) disposed between said suction drum and said cutter,
said feed rollers having smaller diameters than that of said suction drum, and a first
one (65) of said feed rollers having a larger diameter than that of a second one (64)
of said feed rollers, and wherein
said printer is arranged to record data on said continuous film at a peripheral
position (C) of said first feed roller where said continuous film tightly fits on.
8. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said feed rollers are driven at a circumferential
speed which is at most 1% higher than that of said suction drum.
9. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said peripheral position (C) of said first
feed roller is disposed apart from said cut position (B) by a distance equal to or
less than the length (L3) from said first end (6) to said first perforation (P1) of
each filmstrip.
10. An apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said transporting device further comprises
two pass rollers (67, 68) disposed before and after said suction drum (60) in the
film transporting direction so as not to contact a photosensitive emulsion surface
of said continuous film with said suction drum.
11. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said actuation mechanism of said die set
device comprises air cylinders (46c, 47c, 48c) coupled to said punch holders (46a,
47a, 48a) in one-to-one relationship, said air cylinders being individually actuated
to cause said at least one of said punch holders to effect die-punching.
12. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said actuation mechanism of said die set
device comprises air cylinders (92) coupled to said punch holders (93) in one-to-one
relationship, to set said punch holders individually in either an active position
or an inactive position, and at least a cam (90) connected to said air cylinders through
an interconnection member (91), such that one rotation of said cam causes each of
said punch holders to make one stroke, but only those punch holders which are set
in said active position effect die-punching through said one stroke.