Abstract: A photographic camera has a manual film drive which interconnects drivers for driving internal wind and rewind film spools in the same direction. A direction slide engages a toothed wheel in the film drive to prevent reverse rewind rotation when in a film advance position and prevent film advance motion when in a film rewind position. A film cassette actuated sensing slide includes a latch element engageable by a cooperating latch element on the direction slide when a film cassette is in place. When the direction slide is thereafter moved to the film rewind position, the latch elements latch the direction slide in the rewind position until the film is rewound and the cassette is removed from the camera.

Abstract: A metering apparatus for a filmstrip forms with at least one perforation for each film frame including a metering member which is configured for engaging at least one perforation for each film frame, so as to prevent the filmstrip from moving in a film advancing direction. According to the invention, the metering member includes at least one cam follower for contacting a trailing edge of a perforation to cam the metering member out of engagement with the filmstrip when the filmstrip is moved in an opposite film rewinding direction. The metering apparatus also includes a mechanism for retracting the metering member to allow the filmstrip to be subsequently advanced for film frame exposure. The retracting mechanism is mechanically coupled to the release of a high energy lever used for tripping the shutter blade of a camera so that advancement and exposure of the filmstrip can be controlled in a simple manner.

Abstract: A device for a camera having a manually operated flash assembly includes a sensing element made from a photochromic, metameric or other material which is capable of producing visible optical density changes, such as color changes, based on the level of incident light impinging on the element. According to the invention, a reference standard having a specific optical density is adjacently positioned relative to the sensing element so that the respective optical densities can be compared prior to image capture in order to guide the user whether or not to use the flash.

Abstract: A film transporting apparatus for moving film between a film cartridge and a take-up spool includes a bi-directional motor rotatable in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, a driving gear engaged with the motor and rotatable in a first and a second direction in response to the direction of rotation of said motor, and a pair of displaceable gears engageable with said driving gear for selectively engaging said film cartridge. According to the invention, each of the pair of displaceable gears is independently movable so as to move into and out of engagement with the film cartridge depending on the direction of rotation of the bi-directional motor to allow either winding and rewinding of film out of and into the cartridge. In a preferred arrangement, the displaceable gears are each movable along a slotted path provided in the camera frame.

Abstract: A camera is provided having a film roll chamber for holding an unexposed roll of film, an exposure chamber into which ambient light enters through a taking lens to impinge on the film, and a light blocking member for preventing light entering through the taking lens from entering the film roll chamber. According to the invention, the light blocking member includes a stepped piece having a first step sufficiently raised to prevent light from entering the film roll chamber and a second step raised above the first step for supporting edges of the film In a preferred embodiment, the light shielding member supports the emulsion side of the film.

Abstract: A film cassette includes a cassette body, a film spool onto which can be wound a strip of film, a drive disk coupled directly to the film spool, and an indicator flex disk that includes a film status indicator tab whose position relative to a window of the film cassette indicates the film exposure status. The position of the film status indicator tab is changed when the flex disk is moved into engagement with the drive disk and the film spool is rotated upon film movement. The film status indicator tab otherwise does not engage the drive disk and therefore does not change position. The cassette is particularly suited for operation with a photographic camera that includes a camera body, a loading chamber in the camera body that receives the film cassette, and a loading chamber cover having at least one movable indicator release pin that moves the flex disk into and out of engagement with the drive disk and thereby changes the position of the film status indicator tab.

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: An improved film cartridge handling mechanism for effecting end-wise loading of a film cartridge into a deployable film loading chamber of a camera and positioning of the filmstrip with respect to the camera transport path. The side pivoting, deployable film loading chamber positively seats and accurately aligns the film cartridge in reference to a datum axis as the film loading chamber is latched closed. In use of the invention with a thrust style film cartridge, the seating of the cartridge in the film loading chamber also aligns the film cartridge door with the camera filmstrip transport path. Upon movement of the film loading chamber to the latched or closed position, the film door is opened and the film cartridge spool is engaged with a filmstrip advance motor drive mechanism to advance the aligned filmstrip into the filmstrip transport path and to rewind the filmstrip after all exposures are made.

Abstract: An autowind gear mechanism in a camera housing includes a harmonic gear reducer having a ring gear that walks a planet gear around a stationary sun gear to thereby move a film spool coupled to the planet gear and move a photographic film roll attached to the film spool. The ring gear has a circular outer circumference and an offset inner bore. The planet gear sits within the inner bore of the ring gear. The outer circumference of the ring gear is couple to a film drive motor, which causes rotation of the ring gear, thereby driving the planet gear, which then walks around the sun gear in an eccentric motion.

Abstract: A picture or photo album is provided with an audio module for recording (optionally), storing and playing back audio messages associated with the pictures contained thereby. The audio module responds to predetermined control signals indicating that the album has been opened to a particular page to automatically play back a prerecorded message associated with the information displayed on that page. Such control signals are produced by different combinations or codes of output signals provided by a plurality of photodetectors mounted in the album cover. Radiant energy emitted by one or more light sources, also mounted in the album cover, is optically coupled to the photodetectors by light pipes mounted on or integral with each album page. As each album page is turned, the light pipe on that page de-couples the light source from a photodetector, thereby changing the output code of the photodetectors.

Abstract: A still camera includes a frame defining a planar film path and resiliently supporting a magnetic head module urged into engagement with an edge of an associated film on which magnetically recorded information is to be applied. The module includes a head carriage restrained against longitudinal motion and carrying a pressure pad in opposed relation to a recording head mounted on a spring beam of the carriage so as to urge the head against a film backed by the pressure pad. The head module may be formed as a preassembled subassembly. A leaf spring supported by a tab held in the camera frame urges the module against the film edge.

Abstract: An apparatus for stopping photographic film advance upon encountering an end-of-roll perforation at the end of a roll of film. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a camera body defining a film track for slidably receiving film, a camming member movably positioned adjacent the film track and including an engaging finger, and a load spring. The load spring positions the engaging finger in a first position out of the film track when film is absent from the film track, and further biases the engaging finger into a second position into engagement with film in the film track. The engaging finger is designed to move to a third position, via force form the load spring, into an aligned end-of-roll perforation in the film to inhibit film advancement.

Abstract: A camera door actuated cartridge extractor includes a rod which is pivotally mounted to the cartridge chamber closing camera door at a point between the camera door pivot and the adjacent wall of the cartridge chamber so that initial opening of the camera door provides a relatively large extracting motion that quickly disconnects the cartridge from the driver. Thus, manual movement of the driver by the camera operator is less likely to move film within the cartridge after a film enclosing cartridge door is closed. A spring may be provided biasing the camera door to a partially open position to accelerate disconnection of the cartridge from the driver. Placement of the extractor rod in a slot between adjacent battery pockets provides a compact arrangement. Engagement of a hook-like keeper portion of the extractor rod with a rib on the door provides a friction force for maintaining the door in a fully open position until closing is desired.

Abstract: A method of test firing an electronic flash in a camera during manufacturing assembly of the camera, in which the flash capacitor is pre-charged to an intermediate voltage level which is insufficient to test fire the flash using an external power supply. According to the present invention, the flash capacitor is then fully-charged to a level which is sufficient to test fire the flash, using the battery contained for the camera, and the flash is test fired. According to a preferred embodiment, the flash assembly is mounted within a camera body, and a front cover covers the flash. A set of holes in the front cover are accessible to allow fast charging of the flash capacitor during assembly of the camera.

Abstract: A photographic still camera for receiving an elongated filmstrip having a cross-curvature in the cross film direction across said filmstrip and having a substantially transparent magnetic layer deposited on the film surface and for recording or reproducing information on or from the magnetic layer in the image area in and relation to the exposure of image frames of the filmstrip. A magnetic head is formed of a plurality of frustums including inner frustums supporting a plurality of active head gaps in an interior region and at least one further outer frustum on each side of the inner frustums in the cross film direction.

Abstract: A magnetic head for a camera having a first track-forming portion, and an adjacent second track-forming portion wherein each track-forming portion is capable of either writing to or reading from a magnetic-memory portion of a film loaded in the camera and having a path of travel adjacent the head. According to the invention, the track-forming portion having read capability has a major dimension which is parallel to the plane of the film to allow an additional number of turns of wire to be wound without increasing the size of the camera. In addition, the second track-forming portion is preferably arranged furthest from the edge of the photographic image region of the film.

Abstract: A photographic camera adapted to provide respective visible indications corresponding to successive frames of exposed filmstrip as each one of the frames is exposed includes a counter wheel having a plurality of ratchet teeth about its periphery, the ratchet teeth corresponding to the advance of the filmstrip, a holding lever including a pawl for engaging the ratchet teeth when film is present in the camera and for disengaging the ratchet teeth when film is not present in the camera, and an advancing lever in communication with the camera shutter button for incrementally rotating the counter wheel in response to shutter button actuation.

Abstract: An apparatus for securing a thrust film cartridge and for moving a film door between open and closed positions. The apparatus includes a camera body adapted to receive a thrust film cartridge, a camera door interconnectable with the camera body, and an actuating device. The actuating device includes a latch member, a lug member operatively associated with the latch member, a handle member operatively associated with the latch member, and a force limiting mechanism for limiting the force which can be applied by the handle member on the latch member. The latch member is movable between a locked position, to lock the camera door in the closed position, and an unlocked position, to allow the camera door to move between the open and closed positions. The lug member is engageable with a film door of a thrust film cartridge to move the film door between open and closed positions.

Abstract: A talking picture frame includes a pressure-sensitive switch which, when activated, e.g., by lifting the frame from a frame-supporting surface, electrically energizes an audio system housed within the frame to playback a prerecorded personal message which augments the visual information represented by a framed picture. Preferably, the switch includes a plunger-type switch actuator which normally extends downwardly from the bottom edge of the frame. When the bottom edge of the frame is resting on a supporting surface, e.g. a table top, the weight of the frame, in cooperation with the supporting surface, moves the actuator, against a spring force, to a retracted position in which no electrical power is provided to the audio system. When the frame is lifted, the switch actuator moves through a position in which a control signal is produced which initiates playback of the recorded message.

Abstract: A magazine is provided for receiving, containing and dispensing a plurality of film cartridges in a desired sequential order. The magazine includes a disk shaped core and a shell. The core includes a plurality of cavities for receiving the cartridges, while the shell includes first and second spaced panels and supports the core for relative rotation between the panels. The panels cover the cartridges in the cavities, but also include apertures for selectively providing access to individual cavities by controlled rotation of the core in the shell. The cavities are arranged in a spiral in the core, and the apertures are elongate radial slots dimensioned for alignment with one cavity in the spiral after another, but only one cavity at a time.