Abstract: A cocking apparatus for moving a lever between a cocked position and a rest position. In a camera, the lever may be used to momentarily move a shutter member away from a lens opening of a camera. The cocking apparatus includes a drive gear, a driven gear having a contact surface for cooperation with the lever, and a resilient member biasing the lever in the rest position. The driven gear is biased in a first position wherein the drive gear and driven gear define a plane. A tooth portion of the driven gear, meshable with gear teeth of the drive gear when the drive gear and driven gear define the plane, effects pivoting of the lever from the rest position to the cocked position. A cam surface disposed on the driven gear translates the driven gear along its rotational axis to space the driven gear from the drive gear when the lever moves from the cocked position to the rest position.

Abstract: Camera autofocus apparatus and method employing an autoranging device to determine a lens destination focus position in terms of a target number of signal pulses from a lens motion sensor photo-interrupter. A lens drive motor is initially driven at maximum speed by a 100% pulse width modulated drive signal. At a fixed number of signal pulses in advance of the target, the average motor speed is calculated and a reduced pulse with modulated drive signal, determined based on the calculated motor speed, is applied to the drive motor to cause the lens to arrive at a uniform speed at a near destination focus position that is suitable for application of a standard motor stopping routine. During the motor stopping routine, the motor is initially "plugged" (reverse polarity drive signal) and the signal pulse period is monitored until a predetermined period is reached.

Abstract: An improved film cartridge handling mechanism for effecting end-wise loading of a film cartridge into a deployable loading chamber of a camera for automatic film advance into a film transport path on closure of the loading chamber, for locking the loading chamber in the closed position when the filmstrip is advanced from the film cartridge, and for preventing the loading chamber from being deployed when the filmstrip is in the filmstrip transport path. A film cartridge is aligned with the filmstrip transport path, and the cartridge film door is opened on movement of the film loading chamber into the closed position. The filmstrip is advanced through the filmstrip transport path past the exposure gate and into a takeup chamber as exposures are made and rewound after all exposures are made. A filmstrip edge sensor is deflected by the presence of the filmstrip in the filmstrip transport path indicating that the film door is open and interferes with the opening mechanism for deploying the film loading cartridge.

Abstract: A compact camera having a retractable objective lens carrier that is associated with a flip open flash unit and lens cover to move from a retracted, parked position to an extended, home position on initial movement of the lens cover to an open, unfolded position, to move to and from an in-focus picture taking position prior to and following taking a picture, and to move back to the parked position from the home position as the lens cover is moved to a closed or folded position. The lens carrier is guided for movement along a guide assembly and urged toward the parked position by a retraction spring bias force. Movement between the parked and home positions is effected by a lens deployment lever interconnecting the lens carrier and the lens door operating in opposition to or with the bias force on opening or closing the lens cover, respectively.

Abstract: A lens shutter camera includes a movable picture taking lens that can be moved along an optical axis and positioned at a focus setting such that a camera subject is in focus, an adjustable shutter aperture mechanism that controls the amount of ambient light passing through the picture taking lens for producing an exposure, and a drive source that moves the picture taking lens to position the lens at the focus setting; wherein movement of the picture taking lens toward the focus setting position simultaneously adjusts the shutter aperture mechanism to an exposure setting that permits a predetermined amount of ambient light necessary for proper exposure to pass through the lens.

Abstract: A photographic camera comprises a camera body with a loading chamber for receiving a film cassette endwise, a door supported for pivotal closing and opening movement to cover and uncover the chamber, a latch for preventing pivotal opening movement of the door but which can be disabled to permit the door to be opened, and an ejecting device for pushing the cassette endwise at least part way out of the chamber. According to the invention, the ejecting device includes a single piece means supported for movement in an ejecting direction for first disabling the latch to permit the door to be opened and then pushing the cassette endwise at least part way out of the chamber when the door is opened.

Abstract: A fast-opening shutter includes an actuating member moveable in a one direction for setting an aperture stop and in the opposite direction for setting focus. The camera shutter is then driven to open against the stop independently of movement of the actuating member. According to more specific features, the actuating member first sets the stop and then focuses a camera optical element. After the exposure is completed, the mechanism is reset by further movement of the actuating member in the second or opposite direction.