CA1099207A - Film lenticulating and laminating apparatus and method - Google Patents
Film lenticulating and laminating apparatus and methodInfo
- Publication number
- CA1099207A CA1099207A CA301,422A CA301422A CA1099207A CA 1099207 A CA1099207 A CA 1099207A CA 301422 A CA301422 A CA 301422A CA 1099207 A CA1099207 A CA 1099207A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- film
- face
- drum
- films
- support
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03F—PHOTOMECHANICAL PRODUCTION OF TEXTURED OR PATTERNED SURFACES, e.g. FOR PRINTING, FOR PROCESSING OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; MATERIALS THEREFOR; ORIGINALS THEREFOR; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED THEREFOR
- G03F7/00—Photomechanical, e.g. photolithographic, production of textured or patterned surfaces, e.g. printing surfaces; Materials therefor, e.g. comprising photoresists; Apparatus specially adapted therefor
- G03F7/0037—Production of three-dimensional images
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B38/00—Ancillary operations in connection with laminating processes
- B32B38/06—Embossing
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B13/00—Layered products comprising a a layer of water-setting substance, e.g. concrete, plaster, asbestos cement, or like builders' material
- B32B13/04—Layered products comprising a a layer of water-setting substance, e.g. concrete, plaster, asbestos cement, or like builders' material comprising such water setting substance as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material
- B32B13/12—Layered products comprising a a layer of water-setting substance, e.g. concrete, plaster, asbestos cement, or like builders' material comprising such water setting substance as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material of synthetic resin
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B23/00—Layered products comprising a layer of cellulosic plastic substances, i.e. substances obtained by chemical modification of cellulose, e.g. cellulose ethers, cellulose esters, viscose
- B32B23/04—Layered products comprising a layer of cellulosic plastic substances, i.e. substances obtained by chemical modification of cellulose, e.g. cellulose ethers, cellulose esters, viscose comprising such cellulosic plastic substance as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material
- B32B23/08—Layered products comprising a layer of cellulosic plastic substances, i.e. substances obtained by chemical modification of cellulose, e.g. cellulose ethers, cellulose esters, viscose comprising such cellulosic plastic substance as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material of synthetic resin
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B2317/00—Animal or vegetable based
- B32B2317/18—Cellulose, modified cellulose or cellulose derivatives, e.g. viscose
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B2367/00—Polyesters, e.g. PET, i.e. polyethylene terephthalate
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B2559/00—Photographic equipment or accessories
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Radiography Using Non-Light Waves (AREA)
- Stereoscopic And Panoramic Photography (AREA)
- Laminated Bodies (AREA)
- Overhead Projectors And Projection Screens (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Apparatus and a method for lenticulating a first of two films and for laminating the two films together. The lenticulating of the first film can be done before or after the lamination of the two films. If the lenticulation is done before the lamination, the first film is pressed against a lenticulating drum to form lenticulations in one face of the film. Then the first film is moved into contact with the second film after the second film has been coated on one face with a flowable cement so that the films are bonded together to form a composite film. The second film has a photographic emulsion on the face opposite to the face bonded to the first film. After lamination, the composite film is moved along a path whose length is sufficient to permit drying of the cement before the composite film is wound on a take-up roll. The first film is typically cellulose acetate and the second film has a polyester base.
Apparatus and a method for lenticulating a first of two films and for laminating the two films together. The lenticulating of the first film can be done before or after the lamination of the two films. If the lenticulation is done before the lamination, the first film is pressed against a lenticulating drum to form lenticulations in one face of the film. Then the first film is moved into contact with the second film after the second film has been coated on one face with a flowable cement so that the films are bonded together to form a composite film. The second film has a photographic emulsion on the face opposite to the face bonded to the first film. After lamination, the composite film is moved along a path whose length is sufficient to permit drying of the cement before the composite film is wound on a take-up roll. The first film is typically cellulose acetate and the second film has a polyester base.
Description
2~7 This invention relates to improvements in the ,~, preparation of ~ilms for use in three-dimensional radio-graphy and, more particularly, to apparatus and a method for forming a composite film formed from two films and having a photographic emulsion on one face and a number of lenticu-lations on the opposite face.
In U.S. Patents 2,218,227 and 2,562,078, dis-closures are given about several ways of lenticulating a photographic film. In the first patent, a thermoplastic film is heated and passed over a lenticulating drum so that lenticulations can be formed in one face of the film. The film is of unitary construction and has a photographic emulsion on the opposite face thereof. The disadvantage associated with this technique is that the emulsion is adversely affected by the presence of the heat applied to the film. Moreover, the particular film involved, cellulose acetate, is not dimensionally stable in the presence oE
heat.
The second patent mentioned above describes the use of a solvent to soften one face of a film, such as cellulose acetate, before it is moved onto a lenticulating drum so that lenticulations can be formed in the softened face of the film. A disadvantage with the technique of this patent is that the softening of the film by the solvent has an adverse effect on the emulsion because the cellulose acetate film is not dimensionally stable, thereby causing variations in the thickness of the emulsion applied to one face of the L ilm.
Present day photographic film for X-ray, color and black and white photographs is typically formed by applying a photosensitive emulsion to one face of a rilm of a polyester base material. Such material has very good dimensional stability; however, it becomes less so when subjected to heat and it must be heated to be softened sufficiently to ~2a-2i~7 permit lenticulations to be formed in one of its faces.
Moreover, such lenticulations will be deformed or lost unless the material is chilled in the impression mold which forms the lenticulations. Also, the heat which must be applied to do the molding warps and disfigures the emulsion.
Thus, while polyester based material is highly suited for use as photographic film, it is not suitable for receiving lenticulations on one of its faces.
A need has arisen to provide a photographic film with lenticulations so that the film can be readily exposed and de~eloped, and the photographic image on the film can readily be viewed through the lenticulations already applied thereto so as to obtain a three-dimensional effect. Since the polyester based material, the typical base for photo-graphic film, cannot be adequately lenticulated and because cellulose acetate can readily be lenticulated at room temperature, it is desirable to have a simple apparatus and method for forming a composite film which satisfies the foregoing need.
The present invention is directed to apparatus and a method for lenticulating a first of two films and lamina-ting the two films together either before or after the first film has been lenticulatedO Thus, one of the films which is coated with a photographic emulsion can be bonded to a clear, flexible plastic film which is easily lenticulated so as to form a composite film which avoids the problems mentioned above with respect to the lenticulating of poly~
ester based photographic film.
)7 To this end, the apparatus includes a support having means for lenticulating a first film at one face thereof and means for laminating a second film to the opposite face of the first film either before or after the lenticulation of the first film, the second film having a photographic emulsion on the face opposite to the face bonded to the first film. After lamination of the two films together, the bonding agent between the films is allowed to set to a permanent condition so that the resulting composite film has lenticulations on one face and photographic emul-sion on the opposite face.
More specifically, the invention is apparatus for forming a photographic film with lenticulations thereon comprising: a support; means on the support for holding a 1~ supply of a first flexible, plastic film of a material capable of heing sofened by a solvent; a lenticwlating drum .
rotatably mounted on the support for engaging the first film at one face thereof for forming lenticulations in the face after the latter has been softened by a solvent; means adjacent to the drum for applying solv~nt to said one face of the first film to soften said face sufficiently to allow it to be lenticulated when it engages said drum; means on the support for holding a second flexible film with one face of the second film having a photographic emulsion thereon;
means on the support for guiding the opposite face of the second film into face-to-face engagement with the opposite face of the first film; means adjacent to the path of travel of the second film for applying a cement to said opposite face of the second film, whereby the opposite faces of the films become bonded together when they engage each other and 99~ 7 the films form a composite film; and means on the support for receiving the composite after the same has been formed.
In a further aspect the invention is a metho~ ~or forming a composite film having lenticulations on one face thereof and a photographic emulsion on the opposite face comprising: moving a first flexible film along a first path;
applying a solvent to one face of the first film to soften the same; lenticulating said one face when the same has been softened; moving a second film along a second path of travel towards said first path with the second film having a photographic em~llsion on one fa~e thereof; moving the opposite faces of the two films into contact with each other; bonding the two films together when said opposite faces thereof are in contact to form a composite film; and ]5 advancing the composite film to a station spaced from the point at which the films move into contact with each other.
The invention is illustrat~d by example in the accompanying drawings, which are an illustration of one embodiment of the apparatus of the invention.
In these drawings:
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the appara-tus of this invention;
Figure 2 is a crosssectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure l;
Figure 3 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of a portion of the apparatus, showing the elements which len-ticulate one film and bond the two films together;
Figure 4, which is on the first sheet of drawings, is an enlarged, fragmentary, crosssectional v:iew of the film or sheet after it has been lenticulated by the appara-tus;
o~
and Figure 5, which is on the first sheet of drawings, is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the lenticulating roller of the apparatus.
-5a-The apparatus for lenticulating and laminating of the present invention is broadly denoted by the numeral 10 and includes a frame-like support 12 having a pair of generally parallel side members 14 and 16 disposed above a floor or other surface by a number of legs 18. As shown in Figure 1, members 14 and 16 are generally horizontal;
however, they can possibly be inclined without departing from the scope of the invention.
Apparatus 10 includes a first film supply roller 10 20 near one end 22 of support 12. Roller 20 is adapted to receive a flexible film or sheet 24 would on the roller, film 24 being the material to be lenticulated. For purposes of illustration, this film is of cellulose acetate, a clear, flexible plastic material, having a thickness of about 10 mils.
Roller 20 is mounted by a shaft 26 in any suitable manner between side members 14 and 16 for rotation relative to support 12. For purposes of illustration, shaft 26 and a number of the other shafts yet to be described are coupled by ~earing blocks, such as bearing blocks 28, secured to respective side membe.rs 14 and 16.
Film 24 is movable off roller 20 and beneath an idler roller 30 spaced from roller 20 and disposed between members 14 and 16 as shown in Figure 2. From idler 30, film 2~5 24 is movable beneath a second idler 32 and then over and partially about a pressure roller 34 which bears against a lenticulating drurn 36. The pressure e~e.rted by roller 34 against drum 36 can be adjusted by adjusting a pair o~
screws 38 engaging bearing blocks 40 shiEtably mounted in any suitable manner on respective side members 14 and 16.
~0~ 7 Lenticulating drum 36 is provided with an outer surface o~ the type shown in Figure 5. To this end, such outer surface includes a series of annular recesses 42 which are in side-by-side relationship so that ~he resulting lenticulation on one face of film 24 is as shown in Figure 5. To assist in lenticulating film 24, it is softened by applying a small amount of solvent to the face to be len-ticulated. Thus, means 46 is provided for depositing a small amount of the solvent, such as acetone, to the upper longitudinal region 52 at the junction of roller 34 and drum 36 as shown in Figure 3. The solvent contacts this face of the film and is just enough to soften the film to a small depth so that the face is readily molded by the outer surface of dr~m 36 to thereby form lenticulations 44 shown in Figure 4. For purposes of illustration, means 46 comprises a feeder tube containing acetone 48 which drips from a lower opening or series of openings S0 into region 52.
As film 24 passes beneath and partially about drum 36, it is lenticulated since it is moldable due to contact with the solvent. The lenticulations remain in the face of film 24 as the film leaves drum 36 and moves upwardly along an inclined path in the direction of arrow 54 (Figure 1).
Near the point of where film 24 leaves drum 36, a second film or sheet 56 of a suitable photographic film, such as X~ray film, color film, or ~lack and white film, the latter being either negative or positive, moves into control with and is bonded to the ~ace of film 24 which is not lenticulated. To this end, a supply roller 58 containing film 56 in roll form is provided between members 14 and 16.
Film 56, after leaving roller 58, passes down and partially about an idler 60 but then upwardly toward, over and par-tially about a second idler 62, then downwardl~ and benea-th and partially about a pressure roller 64 which presses film 56 into intimate contact with the unlenticulated face o~
film 24. Film 56 has an emulsion side which is kept out of contact with film 24. This emulsion side can be covered by a paper belt (not shown) to p~otect it.
A mass of flowable cement contained in a trough 66 below members 14 and 16 is transferred by a transfer roller 68 to the opposite side of film 56 as the film is moved beneath and about pressure roller 64. This cement is used to bond film 56 to film 24 when they come into intimate contact with each other at a region denoted by the numeral 70 (Figure 1). The cement is wiped from roller 68 by a doctor blade to obtain the desired thickness on film 56.
The bonding of films 24 and 56 form a composite sheet 72 which is then moved upwardly along an inclined path and about a roller 74 at the upper end of a frame 76 com-~0 prised of a number of upright channel members 78 as shown inFigures 1 and 2. The length of the path from drum 36 to roller 74 is sufficient to cause setting of the cement and thereby the permanent bonding of sheets 24 and 56 together.
Typically, the composite film mo~es under tension during the dryin~ period a~ a speed of about 1 foot per minute to assure sufficient setting time for a good bond. After passing over roller 74, the composite sheet passes down-wardly and then is wound onto a roller 80 by means of which it can be taken off apparatus 10 and put into use or stored for subsequent use.
Means is provided for rotating drum 36, roller 68 and roller 80. For purposes of illustration, a single drive motor 82 is shown below members 14 and 16 on support 12. A
first belt and pulley assembly 84 couples the drive shaft 86 of the motor with shaft 88 of drum 36. A second belt and pulley assembly 90 couples drive shaft 86 with shaft 92 and roller 68. A third belt and pulley assembly 94 couples drive shaft 86 with shaft 96 of roller 80.
Drum 36 can have any desired number of recesses 42 formed therein. The number of recesses can be in the range of 100 to 1,000 per inch and typically, the radius of curvature of each recess 42 is selected to be approximately one-third of the thickness of the film.
By virtue of the practice of the present inven-tion, a thin film of transparent cellulose acetate may be bonded (laminated~ to polyester film base at normal room temperatures. The sensitive emulsion of the polyester film may be protected by a paper belt (not shown) held in contact with the polyester film while the latter is being first coated with the cement from trough 66 and then bonded to the cellulose acetate film by pressure and contact. While the cellulose acetate sheet has been shown and described as being lenticulated before the bonding of film 56 thereto, it is to be understood that the lenticulating operation can be done ~fter the two films are bonded together. In the latter case, the various rollers, idlers and drums 36 would be arranged so that the lenticulations would be formed while the cement bonding the two films together ls setting or after the cement has set.
The laminating and lenticulating may be performed _g_ ~-o~
continuously in the present invention. In this way, a relatively large amount of material can be processed in a minimum of time.
~, . .
In U.S. Patents 2,218,227 and 2,562,078, dis-closures are given about several ways of lenticulating a photographic film. In the first patent, a thermoplastic film is heated and passed over a lenticulating drum so that lenticulations can be formed in one face of the film. The film is of unitary construction and has a photographic emulsion on the opposite face thereof. The disadvantage associated with this technique is that the emulsion is adversely affected by the presence of the heat applied to the film. Moreover, the particular film involved, cellulose acetate, is not dimensionally stable in the presence oE
heat.
The second patent mentioned above describes the use of a solvent to soften one face of a film, such as cellulose acetate, before it is moved onto a lenticulating drum so that lenticulations can be formed in the softened face of the film. A disadvantage with the technique of this patent is that the softening of the film by the solvent has an adverse effect on the emulsion because the cellulose acetate film is not dimensionally stable, thereby causing variations in the thickness of the emulsion applied to one face of the L ilm.
Present day photographic film for X-ray, color and black and white photographs is typically formed by applying a photosensitive emulsion to one face of a rilm of a polyester base material. Such material has very good dimensional stability; however, it becomes less so when subjected to heat and it must be heated to be softened sufficiently to ~2a-2i~7 permit lenticulations to be formed in one of its faces.
Moreover, such lenticulations will be deformed or lost unless the material is chilled in the impression mold which forms the lenticulations. Also, the heat which must be applied to do the molding warps and disfigures the emulsion.
Thus, while polyester based material is highly suited for use as photographic film, it is not suitable for receiving lenticulations on one of its faces.
A need has arisen to provide a photographic film with lenticulations so that the film can be readily exposed and de~eloped, and the photographic image on the film can readily be viewed through the lenticulations already applied thereto so as to obtain a three-dimensional effect. Since the polyester based material, the typical base for photo-graphic film, cannot be adequately lenticulated and because cellulose acetate can readily be lenticulated at room temperature, it is desirable to have a simple apparatus and method for forming a composite film which satisfies the foregoing need.
The present invention is directed to apparatus and a method for lenticulating a first of two films and lamina-ting the two films together either before or after the first film has been lenticulatedO Thus, one of the films which is coated with a photographic emulsion can be bonded to a clear, flexible plastic film which is easily lenticulated so as to form a composite film which avoids the problems mentioned above with respect to the lenticulating of poly~
ester based photographic film.
)7 To this end, the apparatus includes a support having means for lenticulating a first film at one face thereof and means for laminating a second film to the opposite face of the first film either before or after the lenticulation of the first film, the second film having a photographic emulsion on the face opposite to the face bonded to the first film. After lamination of the two films together, the bonding agent between the films is allowed to set to a permanent condition so that the resulting composite film has lenticulations on one face and photographic emul-sion on the opposite face.
More specifically, the invention is apparatus for forming a photographic film with lenticulations thereon comprising: a support; means on the support for holding a 1~ supply of a first flexible, plastic film of a material capable of heing sofened by a solvent; a lenticwlating drum .
rotatably mounted on the support for engaging the first film at one face thereof for forming lenticulations in the face after the latter has been softened by a solvent; means adjacent to the drum for applying solv~nt to said one face of the first film to soften said face sufficiently to allow it to be lenticulated when it engages said drum; means on the support for holding a second flexible film with one face of the second film having a photographic emulsion thereon;
means on the support for guiding the opposite face of the second film into face-to-face engagement with the opposite face of the first film; means adjacent to the path of travel of the second film for applying a cement to said opposite face of the second film, whereby the opposite faces of the films become bonded together when they engage each other and 99~ 7 the films form a composite film; and means on the support for receiving the composite after the same has been formed.
In a further aspect the invention is a metho~ ~or forming a composite film having lenticulations on one face thereof and a photographic emulsion on the opposite face comprising: moving a first flexible film along a first path;
applying a solvent to one face of the first film to soften the same; lenticulating said one face when the same has been softened; moving a second film along a second path of travel towards said first path with the second film having a photographic em~llsion on one fa~e thereof; moving the opposite faces of the two films into contact with each other; bonding the two films together when said opposite faces thereof are in contact to form a composite film; and ]5 advancing the composite film to a station spaced from the point at which the films move into contact with each other.
The invention is illustrat~d by example in the accompanying drawings, which are an illustration of one embodiment of the apparatus of the invention.
In these drawings:
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the appara-tus of this invention;
Figure 2 is a crosssectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure l;
Figure 3 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of a portion of the apparatus, showing the elements which len-ticulate one film and bond the two films together;
Figure 4, which is on the first sheet of drawings, is an enlarged, fragmentary, crosssectional v:iew of the film or sheet after it has been lenticulated by the appara-tus;
o~
and Figure 5, which is on the first sheet of drawings, is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the lenticulating roller of the apparatus.
-5a-The apparatus for lenticulating and laminating of the present invention is broadly denoted by the numeral 10 and includes a frame-like support 12 having a pair of generally parallel side members 14 and 16 disposed above a floor or other surface by a number of legs 18. As shown in Figure 1, members 14 and 16 are generally horizontal;
however, they can possibly be inclined without departing from the scope of the invention.
Apparatus 10 includes a first film supply roller 10 20 near one end 22 of support 12. Roller 20 is adapted to receive a flexible film or sheet 24 would on the roller, film 24 being the material to be lenticulated. For purposes of illustration, this film is of cellulose acetate, a clear, flexible plastic material, having a thickness of about 10 mils.
Roller 20 is mounted by a shaft 26 in any suitable manner between side members 14 and 16 for rotation relative to support 12. For purposes of illustration, shaft 26 and a number of the other shafts yet to be described are coupled by ~earing blocks, such as bearing blocks 28, secured to respective side membe.rs 14 and 16.
Film 24 is movable off roller 20 and beneath an idler roller 30 spaced from roller 20 and disposed between members 14 and 16 as shown in Figure 2. From idler 30, film 2~5 24 is movable beneath a second idler 32 and then over and partially about a pressure roller 34 which bears against a lenticulating drurn 36. The pressure e~e.rted by roller 34 against drum 36 can be adjusted by adjusting a pair o~
screws 38 engaging bearing blocks 40 shiEtably mounted in any suitable manner on respective side members 14 and 16.
~0~ 7 Lenticulating drum 36 is provided with an outer surface o~ the type shown in Figure 5. To this end, such outer surface includes a series of annular recesses 42 which are in side-by-side relationship so that ~he resulting lenticulation on one face of film 24 is as shown in Figure 5. To assist in lenticulating film 24, it is softened by applying a small amount of solvent to the face to be len-ticulated. Thus, means 46 is provided for depositing a small amount of the solvent, such as acetone, to the upper longitudinal region 52 at the junction of roller 34 and drum 36 as shown in Figure 3. The solvent contacts this face of the film and is just enough to soften the film to a small depth so that the face is readily molded by the outer surface of dr~m 36 to thereby form lenticulations 44 shown in Figure 4. For purposes of illustration, means 46 comprises a feeder tube containing acetone 48 which drips from a lower opening or series of openings S0 into region 52.
As film 24 passes beneath and partially about drum 36, it is lenticulated since it is moldable due to contact with the solvent. The lenticulations remain in the face of film 24 as the film leaves drum 36 and moves upwardly along an inclined path in the direction of arrow 54 (Figure 1).
Near the point of where film 24 leaves drum 36, a second film or sheet 56 of a suitable photographic film, such as X~ray film, color film, or ~lack and white film, the latter being either negative or positive, moves into control with and is bonded to the ~ace of film 24 which is not lenticulated. To this end, a supply roller 58 containing film 56 in roll form is provided between members 14 and 16.
Film 56, after leaving roller 58, passes down and partially about an idler 60 but then upwardly toward, over and par-tially about a second idler 62, then downwardl~ and benea-th and partially about a pressure roller 64 which presses film 56 into intimate contact with the unlenticulated face o~
film 24. Film 56 has an emulsion side which is kept out of contact with film 24. This emulsion side can be covered by a paper belt (not shown) to p~otect it.
A mass of flowable cement contained in a trough 66 below members 14 and 16 is transferred by a transfer roller 68 to the opposite side of film 56 as the film is moved beneath and about pressure roller 64. This cement is used to bond film 56 to film 24 when they come into intimate contact with each other at a region denoted by the numeral 70 (Figure 1). The cement is wiped from roller 68 by a doctor blade to obtain the desired thickness on film 56.
The bonding of films 24 and 56 form a composite sheet 72 which is then moved upwardly along an inclined path and about a roller 74 at the upper end of a frame 76 com-~0 prised of a number of upright channel members 78 as shown inFigures 1 and 2. The length of the path from drum 36 to roller 74 is sufficient to cause setting of the cement and thereby the permanent bonding of sheets 24 and 56 together.
Typically, the composite film mo~es under tension during the dryin~ period a~ a speed of about 1 foot per minute to assure sufficient setting time for a good bond. After passing over roller 74, the composite sheet passes down-wardly and then is wound onto a roller 80 by means of which it can be taken off apparatus 10 and put into use or stored for subsequent use.
Means is provided for rotating drum 36, roller 68 and roller 80. For purposes of illustration, a single drive motor 82 is shown below members 14 and 16 on support 12. A
first belt and pulley assembly 84 couples the drive shaft 86 of the motor with shaft 88 of drum 36. A second belt and pulley assembly 90 couples drive shaft 86 with shaft 92 and roller 68. A third belt and pulley assembly 94 couples drive shaft 86 with shaft 96 of roller 80.
Drum 36 can have any desired number of recesses 42 formed therein. The number of recesses can be in the range of 100 to 1,000 per inch and typically, the radius of curvature of each recess 42 is selected to be approximately one-third of the thickness of the film.
By virtue of the practice of the present inven-tion, a thin film of transparent cellulose acetate may be bonded (laminated~ to polyester film base at normal room temperatures. The sensitive emulsion of the polyester film may be protected by a paper belt (not shown) held in contact with the polyester film while the latter is being first coated with the cement from trough 66 and then bonded to the cellulose acetate film by pressure and contact. While the cellulose acetate sheet has been shown and described as being lenticulated before the bonding of film 56 thereto, it is to be understood that the lenticulating operation can be done ~fter the two films are bonded together. In the latter case, the various rollers, idlers and drums 36 would be arranged so that the lenticulations would be formed while the cement bonding the two films together ls setting or after the cement has set.
The laminating and lenticulating may be performed _g_ ~-o~
continuously in the present invention. In this way, a relatively large amount of material can be processed in a minimum of time.
~, . .
Claims (10)
1. Apparatus for forming a photographic film with lenticulations thereon comprising: a support; means on the support for holding a supply of a first flexible, plastic film of a material capable of being softened by a solvent; a lenticulating drum rotatably mounted on the support for engaging the first film at one face thereof for forming lenticulations in the face after the latter has been softened by a solvent, means adjacent to the drum for applying solvent to said one face of the first film to soften said face sufficiently to allow it to be lenticulated when it engages said drum; means on the support for holding a second flexible film with one face of the second film having a photographic emulsion thereon; means on the support for guiding the opposite face of the second film into face-to-face engagement with the opposite face of the first film;
means adjacent to the path of travel of the second film for applying a cement to said opposite face of the second film, whereby the opposite faces of the films become bonded together when they engage each other and the films form a composite film; and means on the support for receiving the composite after the same has been formed.
means adjacent to the path of travel of the second film for applying a cement to said opposite face of the second film, whereby the opposite faces of the films become bonded together when they engage each other and the films form a composite film; and means on the support for receiving the composite after the same has been formed.
2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein is provided a pressure roller mounted on the support adjacent to the drum for forcing the first film into engagement with the drum, said solvent applying means being adjacent to the junction between the pressure roller and the drum.
3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said guide means includes a pressure roller carried by the support and disposed adjacent to said drum for forcing the second film into engagement with the first film near the point at which the first film leaves the drum after the drum has lenticulated the first film.
4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said guide means is spaced from the drum to direct the second film into engagement with the first film before the first film is lenticulated by the drum.
5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein is provided a frame on the support and extending upwardly therefrom, there being an idler roller at the upper end of the frame and a take-up roller near the bottom of the frame, the composite film being movable from the guide means along an inclined path to the idler roller at the top of the frame and then downwardly toward and onto the take-up roller.
6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cement applying means includes a container for said cement, and a transfer roller partially in said container and in a position to transfer cement to said second film as the latter moves along said guide means.
7. Apparatus of forming a composite film having lenticulations on one face thereof and a photographic emulsion on the opposite face comprising: moving a first flexible film along a first path; applying a solvent to one face of the first film to soften the same; lenticulating said one face when the same has been softened; moving a second film along a second path of travel towards said first path with the second film having a photographic emulsion on one face thereof; moving the opposite faces of the two films into contact with each other; bonding the two films together when said opposite faces thereof are in contact to form a composite film; and advancing the composite film to a station spaced from the point at which the films move into contact with each other.
8. A method as set forth in claim 7, wherein said first film is of cellulose acetate and the second film is of polyester.
9. A method as set forth in claim 7, wherein the lenticulating step is performed before the step of moving the opposite faces of the films into contact with each other.
10. A method as set forth in claim 7, wherein the lenticulating step is performed after the step of moving the opposite faces of the films into contact with each other.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US80678977A | 1977-06-15 | 1977-06-15 | |
| US806,789 | 1977-06-15 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1099207A true CA1099207A (en) | 1981-04-14 |
Family
ID=25194847
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA301,422A Expired CA1099207A (en) | 1977-06-15 | 1978-04-17 | Film lenticulating and laminating apparatus and method |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS547325A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1099207A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2819811A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB1604794A (en) |
| NL (1) | NL7805275A (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS5919434U (en) * | 1982-07-30 | 1984-02-06 | 石川島芝浦機械株式会社 | Clutch lever device for mobile agricultural machinery |
| JPS63143431U (en) * | 1987-03-12 | 1988-09-21 | ||
| JP2926633B2 (en) * | 1994-02-07 | 1999-07-28 | サンユー電子株式会社 | 3D image printing device |
-
1978
- 1978-04-17 CA CA301,422A patent/CA1099207A/en not_active Expired
- 1978-05-05 DE DE19782819811 patent/DE2819811A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1978-05-16 NL NL7805275A patent/NL7805275A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1978-05-31 GB GB25516/78A patent/GB1604794A/en not_active Expired
- 1978-06-14 JP JP7202078A patent/JPS547325A/en active Granted
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE2819811A1 (en) | 1979-01-04 |
| JPS547325A (en) | 1979-01-20 |
| JPS5753931B2 (en) | 1982-11-16 |
| GB1604794A (en) | 1981-12-16 |
| NL7805275A (en) | 1978-12-19 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |