Abstract: A metering apparatus for metering a strip of film along a film transport path in a camera. The apparatus provides for the initial positioning, metering, and rewinding of the filmstrip. A movable metering member has at least one tooth adapted to engage a perforation disposed on the strip of film. A first and second tracking pin disposed on the metering member engages a first and second track, respectively, for slidable and pivotable movement therealong. A resilient member biases the metering member toward the film transport path.

Abstract: A cocking apparatus for moving a lever between a cocked position and a rest position. In a camera, the lever may be used to momentarily move a shutter member away from a lens opening of a camera. The cocking apparatus includes a drive gear, a driven gear having a contact surface for cooperation with the lever, and a resilient member biasing the lever in the rest position. The driven gear is biased in a first position wherein the drive gear and driven gear define a plane. A tooth portion of the driven gear, meshable with gear teeth of the drive gear when the drive gear and driven gear define the plane, effects pivoting of the lever from the rest position to the cocked position. A cam surface disposed on the driven gear translates the driven gear along its rotational axis to space the driven gear from the drive gear when the lever moves from the cocked position to the rest position.

Abstract: A camera includes a chamber for receiving a film cartridge having a light-lock movable between open and closed positions, a chamber cover movable between a closed position covering the chamber and an open position uncovering the chamber, and manually operable means for releasing the chamber cover to move from its closed position to its open position. An ejector is provided for ejecting the film cartridge at least part way out of the chamber An actuating member is sized and positioned such that it can be moved by the releasing means to both actuate the ejector to eject the cartridge from the chamber, and move the light-lock from its open to closed position.

Abstract: A camera is provided that includes a door which is selectively movable between an open position and a closed position and a release which is movable between a home position and an away position for selectively retaining said door in said closed position. Door position, release position and film sensors each have at least two states for determining the position of the door and release and for determining presence of film in the camera. The sensors are disposed within an electric circuit for allowing operation of the camera as a function of the states of the sensors.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising a chamber for receiving a film cartridge, a rotatable driver engageable coaxially with rotatable film moving means in a housing of the film cartridge for rotating the film moving means to advance a filmstrip from the housing when the film cartridge is received in the chamber, and locking means for preventing rotation of the driver, is characterized in that the driver is engageable with the locking means to prevent rotation of the driver only when the film cartridge is removed from the chamber.

Abstract: A variable viewfinder mask assembly is adjustable to provide three different rectangular mask openings; the first and second of such openings being of the same height but of different widths and the first and third of said openings being of the same width but of different heights. Means are also provided to prevent overtravel of a drive member from influencing the adjustments of the mask openings.

Abstract: A cassette retaining apparatus comprises a holding chamber into which a film cassette is to be inserted and from which the cassette may be removed, and retaining means biased into engagement with the film cassette to retain the cassette in the chamber. The retaining means exerts one force to be biased into engagement with the film cassette, which force incidentally resists insertion of the cassette into the chamber though is relatively weak to make it easy to manually insert the cassette into the chamber, and exerts another force to be biased into engagement with the film cassette, which force incidentally resists removal of the cassette from the chamber and is relatively strong to make it difficult for the cassette to be unintentionally dislodged from the chamber.

Abstract: A differential gear mechanism for loading, advancing, rewinding and unloading photographic film, and in particular, film in a thrust film cartridge, for a photographic system. The differential gear includes a sun gear, which is rotatable, a planetary gear, which is rotatable by the sun gear, a drive spindle which is rotatable by the planetary gear to advance and rewind photographic film, a carrier plate, which is rotatable by the planetary gear, a drive gear, which is rotatable by the carrier plate for positioning the door of a film cartridge in either the open or closed position, and a torque control lever, for selectively locking or releasing one or both of the drive spindle and/or carrier plate so the planetary gear can selectively rotate one or both of the drive spindle or the carrier plate.

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: An ejector mechanism is provided for use in any system which uses photographic film, such as cameras, film development equipment and any other systems designed for film cartridges. One embodiment of the ejector mechanism includes an ejector slide, an ejector slide spring, a trigger lever, a trigger lever spring, a cover plate and a loading chamber. The ejector slide includes a spring hook, a first guide pin, a second guide pin, a trigger lever tab, a trigger lever notch and a film cartridge pin. The trigger lever includes a trigger lever spring attachment, a trigger lever slot, a pawl, a trigger lever head and a trigger control tab. The cover plate includes a ejector spring attachment, a trigger spring hook, a first guide slot and a trigger control ramp. The first guide slot engages the first guide pin attached to the ejector slide to support first guide pin movement along the first guide slot. The first guide slot further includes a latch tab and a latch slot.

Abstract: A camera is provided with alternative mounting structures, one for an extensible flash and another for a fixed flash. One of the mounting structures is used for securing and aligning a selected alternative extensible or fixed flash device. The other is covered by a camera casing. The casing defines first and second apertures aligned with the first and second mounting structures, respectively. The first aperture provides access through the casing for mounting the extensible flash assembly on the first mounting structure and the second aperture permits passage through the casing of illumination from the fixed flash assembly.

Abstract: A camera locks out an attempted flash photograph when the voltage of the flash charger is below a minimum voltage necessary for the flash to fire. Flash lockout may also take place when: the flash charger voltage is equal to or greater than the minimum flash voltage but less than the lowest voltage in a voltage range providing optimum flash lighting; and the photographic subject distance is beyond the flash range at the present flash charger voltage. Lockout may also be determined based on current flash charger charging time compared to predetermined times for the flash charger to reach the minimum voltage and/or the lowest voltage in the optimum lighting range from a substantially discharged state.

Abstract: A camera has a deployable cartridge receiving chamber that is supported for opening movement unidirectionally about one pivot and bidirectionally about another pivot point.

Abstract: A photographic camera comprises a camera body, and an electronic flash unit having a flash lens and light-emitting means capable of being separated to change the illumination angle of the flash unit. According to the invention, the flash unit is supported to permit the flash unit to be increasingly extended from the camera body, and regulating means connects the camera body with one of the flash lens and the light-emitting means for continuously separating the flash lens and the light-emitting means to vary the illumination angle of the flash unit as the flash unit is increasingly extended from the camera body.

Abstract: A film cassette comprises a rotatable film spool, a light shield for preventing ambient light from entering the cassette interior, and a locking pawl movable into engagement with the spool to inhibit rotation of the spool but being forced out of engagement with the spool when the spool is rotated. According to the invention, the light shield is movable to open and the locking pawl is arranged to move the light shield to open responsive to the locking pawl being forced out of engagement with the spool when the spool is rotated.

Abstract: In an electronic flash assembly, an elastomeric strap secures a flash tube and a reflector housing relative to one another and is induced to yieldably bias the reflector housing firmly against a covering flash lens.

Abstract: A contact carrier is pivotally coupled to a body portion that defines a chamber for receiving a power source battery, to support a door for pivotal movement with the contact carrier between a closed position covering the chamber and an open position uncovering the chamber. The contact carrier includes an electrically conductive contact for making electrical connection with a corresponding contact of the battery and to bias the battery into the chamber, when the door is closed. The door and the contact carrier are translationally coupled to permit the door to be translated relative to the contact carrier in the closed position to latch the door. Thus, since the contact carrier remains stationary during latching movement of the door, the electrical connection between the two contacts will not be disturbed.

Abstract: An electromagnetic control device for a camera or the like is provided with a magnet core having an attracting face and with an armature pivotally connected to a control member for movement about a pivot axis to allow tilting of an attracted face of the armature into intimate face contact with the attracting face of the magnet core. The control member is pivotally mounted for movement about a pivot axis, to swing the armature to urge its attracted face against the attracting face of the magnet core, until the attracted face is tilted into intimate face contact with the attracting face. A degree of free play exists at the pivotal mounting of the control member to allow the control member to move about the pivot axis of the armature after the attracted face of the armature is tilted into face contact with the attracting face of the magnet core.

Abstract: A film cassette includes a cassette body, a film spool onto which can be wound a strip of film 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.