Abstract: In an automatic on-off sprinkler, water enters an inlet and passes through a hollow interior region to the outlet. A reciprocating member in the hollow region normally blocks the outlet when water entering a narrow passageway fills a central chamber above the reciprocating member. A large gap between the hollow region ID and the reciprocating member OD permits friction-free movement of the reciprocating member. A flexible, water-tight diaphragm seals the central region, preventing liquid entering the narrow passageway from communicating with a lower region from passing to the outlet. A sensor detects an emergency condition, unsealing a control opening larger than the narrow passageway, allowing liquid to rapidly escape through the unsealed control, dropping the pressure in the central region, whereby a pressure imbalance lifts the reciprocating member closing the outlet. When the control opening is resealed, liquid pressure in the central region sealed by the water-tight membrane increases.

Abstract: In an image recording apparatus according to this invention, an image recording media which has an image data recording area and an image data management area for managing the recording state of image data in the image data recording area and cannot be overwritten is applied, and an image data unerased area of the recording media is detected by an unerased area detection circuit when a recording mode is set by a recording mode setting REC switch, so that the image data in the detected unerased area is substantially erased by a CPU. In this state, the CPU waits for the start of an image recording operation by operating a recording trigger switch. According to this apparatus, a high-speed recording operation can be performed without missing a chance of recording even if a recording media which cannot be overwritten is applied as an image information recording media.

Abstract: A camera with a shake detection function includes a shake detector for detecting a camera shake, a signal amplifier which performs a differential amplification based on an output of the shake detector and a voltage value output by a camera controller, while level-shifting its own amplified voltage, and a camera controller for controlling a shake detection in response to the output of the signal amplifier, and also for controlling an autofocus operation and a film advancing operation. The camera controller is provided with the functions of sampling the output voltage of the signal amplifier, comparing the sampled shake value with a predetermined value, and generating a predetermined analog voltage to be fed to the signal amplifier. The invention provides a camera with a simple, compact and high-accuracy shake detector without the need for a dedicated module.

Abstract: An image manipulating system according to the present invention can perform interval recording for repeatedly recording supplied image information at predetermined time intervals. Herein, a limit value of recording time intervals designative depending on an applicable type of information recording medium such as, a memory card, floppy disk, hard disk, or the like is stored for each type of information recording medium in an EEPROM. A CPU prevents selection of a recording time interval exceeding the limit value, and eventually sets a time interval. Thus, the present invention provides a user-friendly image manipulating system capable of achieving interval recording in as strict compliance as is possible responsive to a demand.

Abstract: Drive force transmission device for a camera, namely, a film drive mechanism for a camera, in which a drive force of a motor is transmitted through a differential gear mechanism to a wind shaft and a rewind shaft and is also transmitted through a screw gear to a spool shaft or a fork shaft whereby operations of winding and rewinding film are performed. The rewind shaft is placed in such a manner as to be inclined to the drive shaft of the differential gear mechanism. Moreover, a fork shaft and a spool shaft to be driven by film at the time of winding or rewinding the film can be driven even when the screw gear and the helical gear remain engaged with each other. This film drive mechanism occupies only a small space and is small in weight and is advantageous for the cost thereof.

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: An instrument holder, which may be separate from or integral with the instrument for persons with or without physical disabilities. A central bore enables insertion of instruments of varying shapes. Gripping surfaces include a compound bevel downward and with a decided right or left hand slope. Elements from a top palm rest to the lower planar surface are volute, forming a right or left hand spiral. At the rear, the palm rest curves aft and under terminating in the bevelled vertical detente. The hand specific side forms a concave surface sufficient to accommodate fingers, joints, knuckles, or hand webbing between finger joints, flaring outward joining the lower planar surface. From the upper rear bevel detente, the back forms a slightly convex surface connecting with the bottom. The body and instrument path is reversible exposing the larger circumference area of the palm rest along with other control surfaces.

Abstract: A lens cover mounted camera with a lens cover movable to selectively assume at least a closing condition that covers a front surface of a photographing lens and an opening condition that exposes the front surface of the photographing lens, and further having a lens cover operating member for conducting the opening and closing operations of the lens cover and further for shifting the lens cover in directions of the optical axis of the photographing lens. When the camera is switched to a using condition or a non-using condition, the lens cover is respectively shifted to an opening position or a closing position through the lens cover operating member. This design minimizes the protruding quantity of the lens cover from a camera body and prevents the lens cover from being easily broken even if a careless external force or shock works on the lens cover during the use of the camera.

Abstract: A zoom lens barrel is intended to ensure precision in dimensions for a cam groove and contribute to realization of a compact and lightweight design and reduction in cost of manufacturing. The zoom lens barrel has a cam cylinder that is a cam member having a first cam groove and second cam groove, and a lens frame having a first cam pin to be engaged with the first cam groove, and a second cam pin to be engaged with the second cam groove. When the first cam pin formed on the lens frame moves along the first cam groove, the lens frame moves over a power varying zone that is a first zone in the direction of an optical axis. When the second cam pin formed on the lens frame moves along the second cam groove, the lens frame moves over a collapsing zone that is a second zone in the direction of the optical axis.

Abstract: A voice start recording apparatus includes a voice level determining circuit for determining whether consecutive frames of input voice is sound or silent, each frame being a coded voice signal; a continuity monitoring circuit for monitoring continuity of sound frames or silent frames; and a recording control circuit for controlling the start and stop of a recording operation based on the output from the continuity monitoring circuit.

Abstract: A lens barrel is provided with: first and second lens frames which are adapted to be able to make a relative displacement therebetween and are adapted so that an inner peripheral portion of one of the first and second lens frames overlaps with an outer peripheral portion of the other lens frame in a used state; a light shielding portion, which is provided at one end portion of the first lens frame, for blocking light which is incident from the end portion in the used state; and a pressure-contact light shield member that is provided at a place which is nearer to an other end portion of the first lens frame than the light shielding portion provided at the one end portion thereof and that is adapted to be elastically deformed by being pressure-contacted to the outer peripheral portion of the second lens frame, thereby blocking light transmitted by the light shielding portion provided at the one end portion of the first lens frame.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus having a main power source in a main unit thereof, a lens frame supported so that it can be moved in an optical-axis direction relative to the main unit of the imaging apparatus, a lens frame driving mechanism for advancing or with drawing the lens frame in the optical-axis direction relative to the main unit of the imaging apparatus, an actuator placed in the lens frame, and a connector included in the lens frame driving mechanism in order to electrically connect the main unit of the imaging apparatus with the actuator and supply power or a driving signal to the actuator.

Abstract: A camera body comprises a lens barrel unit, a spool chamber unit forming a spool chamber, a patrone chamber unit forming a patrone chamber, and a rail member that has an aperture that is provided so that a beam from the lens barrel unit can pass through and guide rails defining a position of film to the aperture, and is a connecting member that connects the spool chamber unit and patrone chamber unit, and has an approximately plate-like shape.

Abstract: A camera according to the present invention which uses a film cartridge equipped with an indicating section for indicating an exposed state of a film housed within the film cartridge. The camera comprises a film compartment for accommodating the film cartridge, a cover member for closing the film compartment, and an ejector formed within the film compartment. The ejector blocks the mounting of the film cartridge when the exposure-state indicating section takes a development-completed condition indicating position, a completely exposed condition indicating position or a partially exposed condition indicating position, while allowing the film cartridge to be mounted therein when it takes a non-exposed condition indicating position. In addition, the ejector pushes the film cartridge out of the film compartment when the cover member is opened after a completion of photography.

Abstract: In a frame-by-frame color image pickup apparatus, images of light components transmitted through red, green, and blue filters of a rotating filter are introduced to an image pickup device arranged in an optical path with rotating filter. The cells in the image pickup device are grouped into cell blocks, each block made up of four cells arranged in one horizontal row and four vertical columns. The rotational speed of the rotating filter is increased, and the cells within each block selected by switches for reading are fixed when an image is dynamic, a quarter of all the cells are read at one cycle of revolution of the rotating filter, and the remaining cells are interpolated to form one frame image. Color breakup is thus precluded. When an image is still, the cells selected are switched at each cycle of revolution of the rotating filter, and all the cells are read over four cycles of revolution of the rotating filter. Thus, a high resolution color image is obtained.

Abstract: A bidirectional gasket providing a water-tight seal between a manhole assembly and a pipe, having a T-shaped anchoring portion for embedment in a manhole opening. An A-shaped pipe engagement portion joined to the anchoring portion by a connecting web facilitates bending of the gasket. The A-shaped portion has "legs" and recesses forming water pockets preventing water from entering between gasket and pipe. The gasket durometer enhances the water tight seal of the legs with increasing water pressure. The pipe engaging portion accommodates a greater outside pipe diameter compared with conventional connectors due to reduced volume, by providing voids within the connector. The gasket accommodates diameter deflection or ovation in rigid and flexible pipe materials. The A-shaped profile provides greater angular deflection and/or pipe misalignment allowance compared with conventional connectors.

Abstract: Disclosed is a camera comprising a camera main body composed of a plurality of units including at least a lens barrel unit, a spool chamber unit and a Patrone chamber unit, a strobe unit including a strobe light emitter which is movable to a light emission possible position where strobe light emitter projects from the camera main body and an accommodating position where it is accommodated in the camera main body and a drive mechanism supported by the spool chamber unit or the Patrone chamber unit and driving the strobe unit.

Abstract: A light projector for camera including a light emission lamp having a filament, a lamp mounting frame which holds the light emission lamp integrally therewith as well as has a pair of support shafts projecting from opposite the sides thereof with one of the support shaft having a rectangular hole defined thereto, a reflection umbrella for reflecting the light from the filament, a light projection lens disposed so that the optical axis thereof matches the optical axis of the reflection umbrella and a casing on which the reflection umbrella and the light projection lens are mounted, wherein the lamp mounting frame is held by swingably engaging the pair of support shafts and the like with a pair of sliding grooves and the like along an optical axis direction.

Abstract: A lens barrel of the present invention includes a fixed frame, a plurality of lens groups disposed on the inner circumference of the fixed frame movably along an optical axis direction with respect to the fixed frame, at least three lens holding frames for holding at least one lens group of a plurality of the lens groups, a cam frame having bottomed cam grooves to be coupled with the inner circumference of the fixed frame through cams, bottomed cam grooves across each other to be coupled with the lens holding frames through cams and a bottomed cam groove which is discontinued on one end surface and continued from the other end surface.

Abstract: A packless swivel joint capable of rotation without the necessity for a mechanical drive includes a hollow tubular member provided with helical corrugations of tight pitch and a corrugation pitch to corrugation with ratio of between two to one to three to one which unwinds to the application of only internal pressure. A limit stop may be provided to limit the amount of unwinding. Annular-shaped bellows of a circular cross section can be utilized to absorb lengthening of the swivel joint in applications where lengthening is to be prevented. In one preferred embodiment, the helical corrugation is preferably continuous.