APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REPAIRING ELONGATED FLEXIBLE STRIPS HAVING DAMAGED SPROCKET FEED HOLES ALONG EDGE THEREOF

摘要

This invention relates to repair of elongated, flexible perforated strips such as tape, film and the like. Attempts have been made at repairing sections of damaged film by laminating repair tape over the damaged film, such attempts have not proved acceptable. Motion picture film generally shrinks when it is developed and also with age and with changes in atmospheric conditions. The pre-punched sprocket feed holes quickly become disaligned with the original film sprocket feed holes. A further problem is that the repair tape covers not only the edge of the film containing the sprocket feed holes, but also the entire picture frame. This hinders light transmission and picture definition and clarity is appreciably reduced. With the present invention the repair tape is applied to the strip in a simple, reliable, and effective manner, and permits long lengths of damaged strip to be quickly and easily repaired. Film to be repaired by the present invention is fed continuously from a supply reel through a pair of straightening and flattening rollers to a repair station comprising a pressure roller cooperating with a sprocket roller to automatically and precisely align the preformed feed holes of the tape with the damaged feed hole locations of the film and to bond the tape and film together in the aligned condition. From the repair station, the laminated tape and film pass through a pair of cooperating rollers to more firmly bond the tape and film preparatory to collection on a take-up reel.