| 摘要 |
<p>Film flattening apparatus (10) and method wherein a base (30) having a flat surface (32) contacts the film (12) as it moves thereacross in a given direction, the surface having an aperture (34) defined therein, respective portions (50, 52) of the base in the vicinity of the aperture lateral edges (36, 38) define film contacting surfaces (54, 56) each having curvature sufficient to provide lateral column strength in the film as it is moved thereabove, and flattener elements (84) substantially near the aperture longitudinal edges (40, 42) apply edge flattening force to the edges of the film outwardly of the aperture longitudinal edges. Edge guides (110a, 110b) contact opposite edges (16, 18) of the film in the vicinity of one of the base portions, and first and second deflectors can be provided adjacent corresponding ones of the base portions for deflecting film along a serpentine path. An optical film notch detector can be operatively associated with one of the base portions.</p> |
