Abstract: An anamorphic lens (10) having a first surface (14) which has either a cylindrical or an acylindrical radius of curvature, and a second surface (16) having either a cylindrical or an acylindrical radius of curvature. Each surface has a primary longitudinal axis (22, 24,) which is preferably but not necessarily orthogonal to the optical axis (18) of the lens (10); and the longitudinal axes are crossed. Preferred applications for the anamorphic lens include non-image forming illumination systems wherein independent illumination control in two coplanar directions at the object is desired. A process for recycling a single use camera having such an anamorphic lens is also disclosed.

Abstract: A viewfinder for a camera includes a front masking portion and a movable rear masking portion for providing multiple frame-defining formats in a viewing area. According to the invention, the front masking portion includes a pair of independently movable masking plates which are separately attached to the rear masking portion by a pair of cam follower levers which allow one of the front masking plates to move into the field of view of the viewfinder when the rear masking portion is moved a first increment and to move the other front masking plate into the viewfinder field of view when the rear masking portion is moved a second increment. An overcenter spring assists in effecting each of the format defining positions.

Abstract: A photographic still camera includes a rewind lever which is movable to an operative position to engage a metering lever and an actuating lever of a film advance mechanism to prevent the engagement of the metering lever and the actuating lever with a film sprocket wheel, as well as to disengage an anti-backup pawl from a film advance wheel, to allow the sprocket wheel and the film advance wheel to rotate in a reverse direction to rewind a filmstrip.

Abstract: Heat generated by the projection lamp in a projecting apparatus is used to individually pop slides having improper curvature due to heat deformation. According to the invention, a slide positioned in the projection gate of the projector exhibits incorrect curvature, preferably as detected by the autofocus system of the projector, a door is opened allowing dry heat from the projection lamp to be applied directly to the slide, preferably until the slide reverts to a proper or normal curvature.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a prewind type camera having a film roll cheer with an open portion for containing an unexposed roll of film. According to the invention, a vacuum is applied to the interior of the film roll cheer at the time the prewound film roll is loaded into the film roll cheer through the open portion to maintain the film roll in a wound state after the roll is released. The vacuum remains applied until a lighttight cover is fixedly attached to the open portion of the film roll chamber thereby restraining the film roll.

Abstract: A film metering mechanism includes a metering slide that is released from a ready position by the pressing of a camera shutter release button such that the film metering slide is pulled by a drive spring and engages a shutter mechanism, temporarily opening the camera shutter, and at the same time is moved so an integral flag portion of the lever is visible in the camera viewfinder. As the film is moved to the next frame, the metering slide engages a perforation of the film and is pulled against the force of the drive spring by the film movement, moving the warning flag out of the viewfinder, until the metering slide returns to its initial position against a frame stop. Pressing the shutter release button disengages the metering slide from the film and starts the sequence over again.

Abstract: A focus/tracking actuator for controlling the respective focus and tracking positions of a lens used to direct a focused beam of radiation onto a desired data track on a moving recording element comprises a pair of moving coil-type linear motors. Each of the motors comprises a coil of wire disposed in a magnetic air gap and adapted to move therein in response to an applied current flow. According to the invention, the respective masses of the motor coils are optimized to achieve maximum acceleration with minimum power comsumption. Preferably, the coils have a combined mass substantially equal to the mass of the moving payload, which includes the lens assembly and its movable support.

Abstract: An image capture system intended to provide an image capturing device for use by the general public at sites having objects of interest. The image capture system is designed to accept a user's image recording medium and allow the user to capture on the user's image recording medium either a real image or a stored image of the object of interest. The system generally includes an objective lens, a viewing screen, a compartment for receiving an image recording medium, a memory device to store a stored image, a display device to display the stored image capable of being capture on the image recording medium, a projection device for projecting the stored image onto the image recording medium, and a control mechanism to control the operation of the memory device, the display device and the projection device.

Abstract: A takeup spool includes a spool core having a film supporting surface and a film-catching member projecting from the film supporting surface for securing the filmstrip to the spool. The spool includes a cutout portion preferably adjacent the film-catching member for maintaining the trailing end of the filmstrip in an undeformed state as the filmstrip is being unwound from the spool. The spool also includes a transitional supporting surface for supporting the leader portion of the filmstrip on the spool core in radial conformity with the remainder of the filmstrip.

Abstract: A camera to be used with a cartridge enclosing a spool mounting a filmstrip having an access door for opening and closing the camera includes an interlock mechanism connected to the access door and engageable with the spool for preventing the access door from being opened when the spool indicates an unexposed position of the filmstrip.

Abstract: A method of assembling a camera by attaching a cover part to another part to make the camera lighttight. According to the present invention, the cover part is attached to the other part at respective corresponding locations between opposite ends of each part to hold fast a film section between the two parts; and opposite ends of the two parts are attached to make the camera lighttight.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for printing individual customer rolls of photographic film in a batch that differs from the film batch during development. Individual film rolls are collected during printing in batches that are based in major part on optimizing the use of photographic paper. The film is scanned after development to determine information available only then, such as the image format, and the film is batched during printing based on efficient paper use. Each film roll is provided with a unique identification number that is used for tracking the film rolls throughout processing and printing. Information required for printing is entered into the system in association with the unique number and is used in combination with information determined after film development for optimizing the printing operation based on the paper required.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with a camera having a lighttight body compartment for retaining a film cassette having a film spool, in which the lighttight body compartment includes a detachable portion. The apparatus includes a sensing member for sensing the camera as it is attached to the apparatus, a spool driving element for engaging an exposed spool end of a cassette film spool, and a pair of pin members which engage and release the detachable portion of the camera body. According to the present invention, a control module automatically controls the action of a drive motor to cause the spool driver to engage the film spool end to wind the film into the cassette. After a predetermined time period has elapsed insuring all of the film is wound, the detachable portion of the camera body is automatically removed by engagement of the pin members and the film cassette is removed from the camera body.

Abstract: In a camera, an apparatus to be used with a film cassette having a film-exposure status indicator which is movable from an unexposed position, to indicate that a filmstrip within the cassette is unexposed, to a partly exposed position to indicate that the filmstrip is only partly exposed, and to a fully exposed position to indicate that exposure of the filmstrip is completed. According to the invention, the camera includes a loading chamber sized for receiving the cassette, and a blocking member which cooperates with the status indicator for blocking the cassette from entering the loading chamber when the status indicator indicates that film contained within the cassette has been at least partly exposed. The apparatus also includes a switch element for sensing the presence of an unblocked cassette loaded into the chamber made from a spring material mounted for retaining and for biasing the blocking member in the loading chamber while simultaneously biasing the switch element in a first position.

Abstract: A display apparatus capable of displaying a plurality of still images having an audio subsystem for selectively storing and playing back audio information corresponding to at least one displayed still image. According to the invention, the audio subsystem can alternatively be releasably attached, such as to a camera to selectively store audio information, or to an album displaying the images.

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 light shield (40, 100) for closing the film slot (33) in a film cartridge (20) is configured as a light shielding strip (40, 100) which extends around a film strip (26) coiled on a supply spool (25) within the film cartridge (20). The light shielding strip (40, 100) has a first end portion (44, 102) for covering the film slot (33) and a second end portion (54) for engagement by the film lead (56) of the film strip (26). When the film strip (26) is initially advanced, detents (64) on the light shielding strip (26) are engaged temporarily by teeth (66) on the supply spool (25) to pull the light shielding strip (26) open so that the film strip (26) projects from the cartridge (20). Upon rewinding the film strip (26), a film lead portion (56) of the film strip (26) engages other detents (72, 142) on the light shielding strip (40, 100) to push the light shielding strip (40, 100) back over the film slot (33) to thereby again close the film slot (33).

Abstract: A photographic element cassette is encoded with format information (CEFI) for automatically configuring a compatible variable format camera in a selected format. According to the invention, the cassette is provided with a camera readable feature encoded with a selected exposure format that automatically sets and maintains the camera for the selected exposure format. A variable format photographic camera is also provided for use with the CEFI encoded cassette, having features responsive to the CEFI code on the cassette so that the encoded format is automatically set and maintained as long as the cassette is in the camera. A method for controlling the exposure of an entire roll of a photographic element with a consistent format in a variable format camera with or without mid roll interruption is also preferably provided.

Abstract: A magnetic head for a camera having a track-forming portion for at least reading information from a magnetic memory region of a film associated with the camera wherein the track forming portion includes an improved core forming a magnetic circuit and having a pair of pole pieces characterized in that each of the pole pieces is generally flat with arms extending to one side of spaced coil winding areas and the pole pieces are placed at a substantial angle with ends of front and rear arms of the two pole pieces closely opposed, the front pair of ends being spaced to form a non-magnetic gap. Thickness of the magnetic circuit near the gap is reduced by recesses in the adjacent front arms preferably filled by non-magnetic inserts that support the narrowed arms during contouring of the ends to further define the gap depth and form a contact surface for the film track. Angling of the pole pieces provides a low height core with coils lying parallel with the film surface but made from simple flat pole elements.

Abstract: A photographic camera has manual rewind apparatus including a rotatable driver connectable with a film spool, and a storable crank pivotally mounted on a hub and engageable with the driver for turning the driver in a rewind direction. The crank cams out of engagement with the driver upon reverse rotation. The crank has a handle that enters a recess when the crank is pivoted to a stored position. The handle may be engageable with a shutter release pin located in the recess to release the camera shutter upon manual depression of the rewind crank when stored.