Apparatus for moving photographic film cartridges between lighted and darkened environments

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EP 0 732 622 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	05.02.1997 Bulletin 1997/06

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	18.09.1996 Bulletin 1996/38

(21)	Application number: 96420073.7

(22)	Date of filing: 06.03.1996

(51)	International Patent Classification (IPC)⁶: G03D 13/00

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	DE FR GB

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Priority:

16.03.1995 US 405315
16.03.1995 US 405463

(71)	Applicant: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
	Rochester, New York 14650-2201 (US)

(72)	Inventor:
	Reinke, Stephen Michael, c/o Eastman Kodak Co. Rochester, New York 14650-2201 (US)

(74)	Representative: Buff, Michel
	Kodak-Pathé Département des Brevets et Licences CRT Centre de Recherches et de Technologie Zone Industrielle 71102 Chalon sur Saône Cédex 71102 Chalon sur Saône Cédex (FR)

(54)	Apparatus for moving photographic film cartridges between lighted and darkened environments

(57) Cartridges (240) are picked up from a conveyor (242) in a lighted environment by a pickup head (90, 92), moved radially through a first opening (156) into a light-lock enclosure (136) by a transfer assembly (26-50; 82-92) which then is rotated by an actuator (16) to position the pickup head opposite a second opening (158) in the enclosure where the transfer assembly moves the pickup head radially through the second opening into a darkened environment. A shutter assembly (168-192) sequentially blocks and unblocks the first and second openings during operation, to prevent entry of light into the enclosure.

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