Abstract: A camera (2) has a main body (4) defining a pair of film chambers on opposite sides of an exposure opening (18) comprising a first chamber (14) for receiving a film cassette having a central spool to which film is secured and a second chamber (16) for receiving a second film container into which film is pre-wound prior to use, a drive shaft having an end which extends into the first chamber (14) for engaging the spool, an electric motor (30) disposed between the chambers operably connected to the drive shaft to drive the shaft in one direction, and a shutter mechanism with a shutter release assembly operably connected to the motor control.

Abstract: A camera or a lens barrel control apparatus of a type in which the locking or unlocking of the cover of a cartridge chamber is controlled by the position of a lens, includes a structure in which, when an abnormality occurs in a driving operation of the lens, or a situation in which the lens does not stop at a predetermined position occurs, the lens is forcibly driven to move to a position for locking or unlocking the cover of the cartridge chamber.

Abstract: A manual-wind camera having a wind lever in which a film having no sprocket holes is loaded, the film being wound on a take-up spool, frame by frame, by manually operating the wind lever, includes a pulse generator which generates pulses in accordance with movement of the film wound by the wind lever; a rear-cover state detector which detects whether a rear cover of the camera is open or closed; and a control device. The control device determines whether the film is loaded into the camera in accordance with pulses generated by the control device when the wind lever is fully turned from an initial operational position to a maximum operational position thereof.

Abstract: A shutter for a camera has a film advance mechanism for advancing film past a shutter opening and a stroboscope for emitting light. The shutter has a base plate having the shutter opening, opening sectors for undergoing opening movement in an operational state to open the shutter opening during a shutter release operation, and closing sectors for undergoing closing movement in an operational state to close the shutter opening during the shutter release operation. A first detecting device detects the operational state of the opening sectors and outputs a signal to the stroboscope to emit light. A second detecting device detects the operational state of the closing sectors and outputs a signal for winding up the film. A non-opened state of the shutter opening is detected after the shutter release operation when the second detecting device detects the operational state of the closing sectors before the first detecting device detects the operational state of the opening sectors.

Abstract: A manual film winding device of a camera has a winding lever which is manually rotated between a winding start position and a winding end position. Also provided are a ratchet mechanism having a ratchet wheel, which is rotated in association with the winding lever's rotation, and a ratchet pawl which engages with the ratchet wheel. The ratchet wheel rotates in a winding direction when the winding lever rotates from the winding start position to the winding end position, and in a reverse direction, opposite to the winding direction, when the winding lever rotates from the winding end position to the winding start position. A film advance driving system operates in association with the ratchet wheel's rotation in the winding direction. The ratchet pawl is arranged to rotate toward a first direction in connection with the winding rotation of the ratchet wheel, and to rotate toward a second direction in connection with the reverse rotation of the ratchet wheel.

Abstract: A camera and method for controlling operation of the camera. The camera includes a film path for receiving a filmstrip and a transport mechanism for advancing the filmstrip along the film path. A motor connected to the transport mechanism is provided for advancing the filmstrip along the film path.

Abstract: An actuator mechanism of simple and inexpensive design is incorporated in a camera structure to control a motor advance film winding system. The actuator includes a metering mechanism interface, a motor activation switch interface, and a shutter mechanism interface. In operation, a metering mechanism of a camera contacts with the metering mechanism interface in an exposure ready state to hold the actuator in an initial position in which the motor activation switch interface interfaces with a moveable contact of a motor switch to prevent contact between the moveable contact and a stationary contact of the motor switch. When a shutter mechanism of the camera is depressed, the shutter mechanism interfaces with the shutter mechanism interface to hold the actuator in the initial position and also moves the metering mechanism out of contact with the metering mechanism interface.

Abstract: A perforation detection device of a contact piece type to be built into a camera. A detection section of a first contact piece arranged on the rear surface side of a path in which the perforations of a film advance in a film feeding stage is constructed of a metal ball which is a separate member from that of the first contact piece. This metal ball comes in pressure contact with a second contact piece arranged on the front surface side of the film as the perforations pass. When the metal ball faces a perforation of the film, this metal ball comes in contact with both the first and the second contact pieces to provide a continuity between the first and second contact pieces, so that the position of the perforation is detected. In the film feeding stage, the metal ball comes in rolling contact with the film surface. The contact pieces have a very small resistance to the film feed, and it is scarcely possible that the film will be injured.

Abstract: A motorized camera comprising a bi-directional film drive motor having respective direction modes for film advance and for film rewind, and a movable door latch, is characterized in that the door latch is coupled with the motor to change the direction mode of the motor only when the door latch is moved.

Abstract: A camera for use with a film cassette having a spool rotatable to wind an exposed filmstrip including a trailing film end portion into the cassette and a light lock movable to be closed after the trailing film end portion is wound into the cassette, comprising a film winder rotatable in engagement with the spool in a film winding direction to rotate the spool in the same direction to wind the exposed filmstrip including the trailing film end portion into the cassette, and a closing actuator movable in engagement with the light lock to close the light lock, is characterized in that a drive motor is drivingly connected with the film winder to rotate the film winder in the film winding direction, and a motor switch capable of changing state to turn off the drive motor is disposed to change state to turn off the drive motor when the closing actuator is moved to close the light lock.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an engaging mechanism. The engaging mechanism comprises a cam element which moves upon modification of an engaging position, a cam follower abutted against a cam surface of the cam element, a detecting element for detecting a position of the cam follower, and a section to be detected provided on the cam follower, for giving at least three different kinds of output values to the detecting element.

Abstract: A detection apparatus for locating a film position detects the position with a simple structure. The apparatus uses a plurality of position detection holes for each picture frame in a film. The holes are repeatedly formed in the film in a certain arrangement and correspond to detection bodies located in the camera. The device includes a signal output circuit generating signals indicative of the proper or improper positioning of the film based on alignment between the holes and the detection bodies.