Abstract: A system for developing photographic film which is ecologically friendly includes a tray holding a pair of film cassettes. One cassette includes negative film sheets which is inserted into a camera where the negative sheets are exposed. The exposed sheets are delivered to a developing apparatus. A second cassette from the tray includes positive film sheets and it is delivered to the same developing apparatus. The empty tray is mounted on the developing apparatus. Each positive film sheet includes a rupturable pod of developer liquid for spreading between mated positive and negative film sheets. Exposed negative sheets and positive sheets are mated and the pod ruptured to spread liquid between the two as the mated sheets move in a first path into an imbibition chamber. A pick at the exit end of the imbibition chamber strips the evacuated pod, negative film sheet and residual developer liquid from the positive sheet and delivers them to the face of a ram.

Abstract: There is presented a camera comprising a housing, and a generally cylindrically-shaped can rotatably mounted in the housing. The can is provided with an elongated opening extending lengthwise of the can, an external surface for supporting a negative film strip, and an internal surface for retaining a rolled film processing pad strip. An end of the negative film strip and an end of the processing pad strip are fixed to a foil having adhesive thereon for holding the foil on the can external surface and for covering the elongated opening to seal the can. The foil is peelable from the can and from the opening by pulling of the negative film strip from the external can surface. Movement of the foil away from the camera is operative to draw the processing pad strip from within the can while simultaneously drawing exposed negative strip from the camera, with the pad strip overlying the negative strip.

Abstract: A plurality of fixed focus exposure lenses are mounted in a turret for manual selection of a desired focus. Each exposure lens in the turret is combined with a pair of ranging lenses for movement therewith which direct light beams to converge at the sharpest subject focus distance of the exposure lens.

Abstract: A template is mounted in the exposure aperture of a film cassette. Indicia situated on the template are recorded on exposed film units which provide a size reference for physical structure pictured in a developed photograph. Photographs taken of the same subject separated by time but having the same template and camera location allow a comparison of the subject to determine physical changes in the time period between photographs. To anchor the template in an operative position a tail projects from one side thereof and wraps around a trailing end wall of the cassette where it is frictionally engaged by the cassette and internal components of the camera.

Abstract: There is presented an adaptor for attachment to an instant camera to enable the camera to produce an exposed film unit having indicia imprinted thereon during photographic exposure of the film unit. The adaptor includes a face plate and attachment structure extending therefrom for releasably connecting the adaptor to the camera. The face plate has provision therein for a lens orifice adapted to be in alignment with the camera objective lens opening, a view finder orifice adapted to be in alignment with the camera view finder window, and a light source orifice adapted to be off-set from alignment with the camera light source. A side of the face plate adapted to be opposed to face surfaces of the camera is provided with a light reflective surface. Light from the camera light source is in part intercepted by and reflected from the adaptor reflective surface and directed thereby to the camera objective lens opening.

Abstract: An improved film format for a self-developing, peel-apart film unit having flexible positive and negative sheet elements and a pod of developer liquid, wherein at least one of the sheet elements bends when a force is applied to a trailing edge thereof to effect sheet element movement. Pockets are formed on the leading end of each sheet element so that a force may be readily coupled thereto without bending either sheet element while they are being moved, for example, into a developer liquid spread system for subsequent film processing.

Abstract: A dark slide is located within a film cassette to shield film units from exposure to light prior to the insertion of the cassette into a camera. The slide is maintained in position within the exposure opening of the cassette by a truncated ridge struck from the slide to project above its upper surface. The struck portion of the slide is configured to engage an abutment in the forward wall of the film cassette to prevent the premature ejection of the dark slide as a result of impacts on the cassette and to collapse and thereby disengage from the abutment when the slide is ejected from the camera by a film unit advancing pick.

Abstract: A film cassette for an automatic film processor is provided with a cam surface for consistently and accurately guiding a force-transmitting member into and out of engagement with a pocket formed in a sheet element of a self-developing, peel-apart film unit enclosed therein, for the subsequent movement of the sheet element into a developer liquid spread system located in the film processor for engagement with other film unit elements.

Abstract: Photographic apparatus having both automatic and manual modes of operation is adapted for coupling to a microscope. the apparatus includes a viewfinder for viewing a scene in the microscope and an exposure controlling photometer for measuring the scene brightness. In addition, a rotatably mounted disc shutter is provided having an opening therein for generating a photographic image producing exposure interval and having a pair of mirrors supported thereon for movement therewith, for respectively directing image-bearing scene light to the viewfinder and to the photometer prior to an exposure. In the automatic mode, movement of the disc shutter is under the control of a microprocessor whereas in the manual mode, such movement is under operator control.

Abstract: An improved film format for a self-developing, peel-apart film unit having flexible positive and negative sheet elements and a pod of developer liquid, wherein at least one of the sheet elements bends when a force is applied to a trailing edge thereof to effect sheet element movement. Pockets are formed on the leading end of each sheet element so that a force may be readily coupled thereto without bending either sheet element while they are being moved, for example, into a developer liquid spread system for subsequent film processing.

Abstract: An attachment is mounted on an adjustable focus lens camera which attachment incorporates a second lens system to operate in combination with the camera lens system to allow close-up photography. The attachment further incorporates a ranging system to insure that the subject of the photograph is in proper focus by using converging light beams from said attachment as a focus indicator.

Abstract: An image bearing template is inserted into a film assemblage incorporating a cassette with instant-type film units therein. The cassette is inserted into a camera to produce film units having the indicia of the template thereon. Said camera includes a flash unit and a lens opening and interposed between the camera housing and the object to be photographed is a shield. The shield is generally opaque having a white reflective surface thereon which reflects part of the light from the flash unit back toward the lens of the camera. Some of the light from the flash unit passes through an aperture in the shield to be reflected from the object to be photographed and light reflected therefrom passes through a second aperture in the shield and directly to the lens in the front wall of the camera.

Abstract: An overlay with indicia is sandwiched between a pair of flat plates to form an assembly which is adapted to be mounted in the exposure window of a film cassette housing. The assembly locates the overlay out of any physical contact with film units in the cassette.

Abstract: A simplifed open loop focus control system for a fixed focus lens camera that positions a supplemental lens into the optical path of a fixed focus lens, for relatively remote subjects, in response to a signal representative of subject reflectivity. Inserting such a lens in this manner substantially reduces focus control system complexity while at the same time minimizing the frequency of supplemental lens movement for most exposures which are typically of subjects that are relatively close to the fixed focus lens camera.

Abstract: An improved electrical circuit for controlling the firing time of an electronic flash tube. The electrical circuit includes a storage capacitor that is chargeable by a suitable power source, a flash tube and an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), which can be activated between conductive and non-conductive states, that is connected in the discharge path of the storage capacitor through the flash tube. A signal responsive to a flash firing command is applied to the flash tube to initiate flash tube firing after the IGBT has been activated from its non-conductive to its conductive state. A flash terminating command is subsequently applied to the IGBT to terminate flash firing. The flash firing command and the flash terminating command are made independent of one another. By making these commands independent of one another, any undesirable effects of one or more electrical characteristics of the IGBT on flash tube firing is thereby eliminated.

Abstract: An improved drying system for drying coating fluids is provided by which conventional drying times are greatly reduced by subjecting the coating on a moving support web to a corona discharge in a manner creating a drying current flow along the length of the coating. Further reductions in drying time are realized by subjecting the coating to an intense electrostatic field, air streams and/or heat from a heated platen.

Abstract: A compact folding camera having a plurality of housing members which are mounted for movement between folded and erect positions includes a six-bar, revolute joint, erecting system for coordinating movement of these movable housing members between their folded and erect positions.

Abstract: A film holder provides a lighttight environment where a film unit may be inserted while enclosed within a lighttight envelope. After insertion the envelope may be removed from the film unit to allow the exposure of the film unit by a source of electromagnetic radiation mounted on one wall of the holder. The source of electromagnetic radiation is mounted on a block to reciprocate back and forth toward the film surface to allow the source of electromagnetic radiation to press against the film unit when the envelope is retracted from the holder and the block may be withdrawn from contact with the film unit to allow the reinsertion of the envelope to cover the exposed film unit.