Abstract: A camera using a photographic film accommodated in a cartridge main body in the state that a cartridge is loaded into the camera, the film being pressed, when it is fed out to the outside of the cartridge, by being subjected to a load in a film width direction substantially at a given position in the cartridge, wherein the position of the cartridge is set with respect to the position of the photographing opening of the camera so that the portions of the photographic film subjected to the load in the cartridge are located in the vicinity of the interval between photographing frame of the film fed out. According to the above arrangement of the camera, even if the fed photographing film is subjected to the load, it can maintain good flatness at the portion thereof corresponding to the photographing opening and an out of focus condition due to increased film curvature can be prevented.

Abstract: A method of remanufacturing a one-time-use camera having the following steps. Cutting a protuberance off a main body part of the camera at a hollowed-out space in the protuberance in order to permit a standard cartridge to replace a modified cartridge within a chamber in the main body part. Closing a hole in the chamber, resulting from the protuberance being cut off the main body part at the hollowed-out space, to prevent ambient light from leaking into the chamber through the hole. And properly positioning the standard cartridge in the chamber.

Abstract: This invention is applicable to a camera having a cartridge chamber into which a film cartridge is detachably insertable along its axis direction. The camera is equipped with a cartridge-load detection switch for outputting a load signal when the cartridge is loaded in the cartridge chamber, and outputting a non-load signal when the loaded cartridge is drawn out from the cartridge chamber by at least a predetermined amount. When the photographed cartridge is partially drawn out from the cartridge chamber and then reloaded into the cartridge chamber as it is, the output of the load signal is continued if the draw-out amount is below the predetermined amount, thereby preventing an erroneous judgment that a new cartridge is loaded into the cartridge chamber. Therefore, for example, the double exposure can be prevented.

Abstract: A camera having a common control circuit comprises a control circuit for selectively executing at least a first program for a first type of camera and a second program for a second type of camera, and an identifying circuit for identifying any one of the two programs to be executed on the basis of an input identifying signal. The identified one of the programs is executed by the control circuit, and the identifying signal is output when electrical parts inherent to the first and second types of cameras are installed to the camera respectively.

Abstract: A camera comprising a door moveable to be closed, a sprocket wheel having respective teeth for entering successive spaced perforations in a filmstrip to engage the filmstrip and being moveable to a film engaging position for one of the teeth to enter one of the film perforations, and an actuator moveable to move the sprocket wheel to its film engaging position when the door is moved to be closed, is characterized in that the actuator has a compliant member which yields elastically when the actuator is moved to move the sprocket wheel to its film engaging position, but one of the teeth comes to rest against a limited section of the filmstrip between two of the film perforations rather than the tooth entering one of the perforations, whereby the compliant member acts to prevent the tooth from perforating the limited section of the filmstrip.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a feeder for feeding the film, a detector for detecting perforations formed on the edge of the film, a controller for controlling the feeder based on the output from the detector. In the apparatus, the operation of the detector is inhibited after the beginning of film feeding until the tip of the film has passed in front of the detector to prevent the erroneous detection of the perforations.

Abstract: A pulse generator includes a code plate which is provided with a plurality of grounding land portions and a plurality of pulse generating land portions having a potential different from a potential of the grounding land portions, arranged in a direction of rotation about a specific position, and a pair of interconnected contact terminals which are rotated in one direction about the specific position of the code plate to come successively into contact with the grounding land port ions and the pulse generating land portions. The positional relationship between the contact terminals and the grounding land portions and the pulse generating land portions is such that when one of the contact terminals comes into contact with the pulse generating land portions during the rotation of the contact terminals, the other contact terminal is brought into contact with the grounding land portion.

Abstract: A camera that effectively uses only two film supply motors. The operation of supplying film from a cartridge is performed by driving a first motor in a first direction. The operation preparatory to magnetic recording on the film is performed by driving the first motor in a second direction different from the first direction. Further, the operation of winding the film on the camera side is performed by driving a second motor in a third direction. The operation of rewinding the film into the cartridge is performed by driving the second motor in a fourth direction different from the third direction. Alternatively, the second motor fourth direction can be used to perform the operation preparatory to magnetic recording, and the first motor second direction can be used to perform the film rewinding. The present invention applies to normal or prewinding cameras.

Abstract: A photographic reflector is provided either to convert a forward-illuminating flash unit into one which will produce reflected light or for use directly with a bounce-head flash unit. The reflector includes an internal reflective hood (20) with an attachment (17) so as to enable it to be secured to a flash unit (24). A mirror (21) is provided which is angled between thirty degrees and sixty degrees inclusive with respect to a forward facing light-emitting surface of the flash unit (24) when the reflector is secured thereto. In this way, the flash of light is directed upwardly by the mirror (21) into the internally reflective hood (20) so as to produce a reflected flash of light for illumination of a photographic subject.

Abstract: The assembly includes a molded body portion and a metal liner and has an interior portion which is adapted to receive a video camera. A transparent plate is positioned in front of the video camera, with the edges thereof received in an interior surface groove in the molded body. A clamp around the exterior portion of the body outboard of the interior surface groove provides sufficient pressure to maintain a watertight seal for the assembly. A video/power cable extends from the submerged assembly to a monitor which is located at the surface of the water, such as on a boat or raft.

Abstract: A film sheath, holding a sheet film to constitute a sheet film unit, is formed from a plastic resin, and is provided with at least a tapered portion in an end fringe which is directed toward a leading end of a sliding lid when the sliding lid is moved back to a closed position in a sheet film pack containing a stack of such sheet film units, so as to provide a sufficiently large gap between two of the stacked sheet film units, for smooth thrusting of the sliding lid into between the two sheet film units. The film sheath also has a protuberance in a corner of an open end, as a stop member for stopping the sheet film from slipping out of the film sheath.

Abstract: A driving device utilizes first and second driving units which drive an object when the operating speed of a manual operation member detected by a pulse signal are less than and not less than, respectively, a predetermined speed. The first driving unit drives the object based on the pulse signal and the second driving unit drives the object to a predetermined position. The second driving unit, when shifted to driving from the first driving unit, retains driving even if the operating speed falls below the predetermined speed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a camera which comprises a camera unit including a housing with a front face and a bottom. A lens assembly is located within the housing and extends to the front face of the housing. A shutter is located within the housing. The camera further comprises a mirror member covering substantially the entire front face of the housing and being discontinued where the lens extends to the front face. The mirror member is marked with at least two lines that would intersect at the center of the lens. A remote shutter release mechanism is provided connected with the camera unit. At least one supporting arm is mounted to the housing and extending therefrom to a remote end for the user to hold. The supporting arm preferably has a length greater than two feet. Therefore, the user(s) can hold the camera away from himself (themselves), locate himself (themselves) in the mirror and use the remote shutter release mechanism to take portrait type pictures.

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes an optical unit which is arranged to be inserted into and retracted from an optical path, a fixed tube, and a restricting member which is disposed at the fixed tube and restricts a position of the optical unit in a direction of an optical axis thereof when the optical unit is in a state of being inserted into the optical path.

Abstract: A film rewinder for rewinding film from a film cartridge to an intermediate cartridge. Its driving unit for rotating the film cartridge spool is also used to drive a tool for separating the film trailing end from the film cartridge spool. The film cartridge has a tool guide, so that the entire device is sufficiently compact. The film rewinder has a film cartridge receptacle and a winding unit for winding the film fed from the film cartridge into the intermediate cartridge. A film guide is provided between the receptacle and the winding unit. The spools of the two cartridges are driven by separate motors independently of each other. The tool is an arcuate member adapted to be pivoted in a circular path by the motor for the film cartridge. In order to minimize the length of the film guide and thus to minimize the size of the entire film rewinder, the film guide is provided with a release guide.

Abstract: A camera with a lens barrier is provided with a slide member, which moves together with the lens barrier over a certain range of motion. A locking portion for keeping a strobe button locked and a stopper for limiting the push-down movement amount of the strobe button are integrated in the slide member. When the lens barrier is positioned at a position other than an opening position, the locking portion prevents the strobe button from being pushed down. When the lens barrier is positioned at the opening position, the locking portion moves away from the strobe button so that the strobe button can be pushed down, and the stopper limits the push-down movement amount of the strobe button. Thus, the locking portion for keeping the strobe button locked and the stopper for limiting the push-down movement amount of the strobe button are integrated so that the number of parts can be decreased to simplify the structure and lower the production cost.

Abstract: A camera which can detect the actual opening/closing state of the camera shutter based on a signal reflected towards the shutter by a signal projection unit and received by a signal receiving unit. The signal received by the signal receiving unit is based on the reflectivity of the shutter and, therefore, the signal received by the signal receiving unit is different depending on whether or not the shutter is open or closed. The camera has a reflectivity state detection unit for determining the reflectivity status of the shutter. A reflectivity standard changing unit changes the detection standard of the signal receiving unit based on information output by the reflectivity state detection unit. In this manner, changes in reflectivity of the shutter, due to passage of time or increase in use, will not reduce the accuracy of the detection of the open/close status of the shutter.

Abstract: A photographic camera has a movable part to be driven by an electric motor. A rotary encoder generates a pulse for every predetermined angle rotation of the motor and the motor is feedback-controlled on the basis of a pulse signal consisting of a plurality of the pulses output from the rotary encoder. The pulse signal is divided by pulse number into a high-speed portion signal corresponding to a period where the motor is to be driven at a high speed and a low-speed portion signal corresponding to a period where the motor is to be driven at a low speed. The high-speed portion signal is frequency-divided, and the motor is driven at a high speed by the frequency-divided high-speed portion signal.

Abstract: A sheet film pack has a pack housing for receiving a plurality of sheet film units in a stack, and a lid for closing an opening of the pack housing, through which a topmost sheet film unit of the stack is placed in an exposure position. The exposure position is defined by an exposure frame of a pack holder which holds the sheet film pack and is attached to a camera. A film recovery mouth for recovering exposed sheet films one after another is formed in a trailing end of the pack housing, and a cap for closing the film recovery mouth and holding the lid in the closed position is removably attached to the pack housing. The lid is guided along guide rails which are formed on lateral sides of the pack housing to slidably hold lateral edges of the lid. The guide rails extend beyond the film recovery mouth such that the trailing ends of the guide rails are placed inside the cap when the cap is attached to the pack housing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a viewfinder of a camera for taking vertical/horizontal special effect type photos, which may use APS film for taking the known type photos as well as vertical/horizontal special effect type photos. A photo setting piece with vertical/horizontal photo sections is moved in or out of the viewfinder. The photo setting piece has a toothed rack engaging a linking gear connected to a drive gear and a control rod with a drive toothed rack. With this structure, the vertical/horizontal photo sections may enter the viewfinder subject to the need for taking wider or longer photos.