Pinch spools one-time use cameras apparatus and methods

摘要

A pinch spool has a core rotatable about a longitudinal axis. The core has a recess sector and adjoining chock sector. The chock sector has a greater radial dimension than the recess sector. A sheath is mounted coaxially over the core and is rotatable with the core about the axis. The sheath has an outer face, an inner face, and a longitudinal slot extending between the faces. The-slot narrows to a throat at the inner face. The inner face includes a grip surface spaced apart from the throat. The grip surface is longitudinally aligned with the sectors. The sheath is pivotable about the axis between first and second angular orientations relative to the core. The slot is radially aligned with the chock sector at the first angular orientation. The grip surface is radially aligned with the chock sector at an intermediate angular orientation relative to the core. The intermediate angular orientation is between the first and second angular orientations. At least one annular support rim is fixed to one of the core and sheath. The support rim is spaced from the slot. The core and sheath grip a filmstrip or other media strip in a spool-media unit and method. In a completed one-time use camera a filmstrip is freely separable from the pinch spool.