Abstract: A camera comprising a slide manually movable in forward and reverse directions, and a spool drive device connectable with a film spool for rotation in a winding direction to similarly rotate the film spool, is characterized in that the slide and the spool drive device are engaged with each other at a first location, to rotate the spool drive device in the winding direction, and simultaneously slip in contact with each other at an opposite location, to not interfere with rotation of the spool drive device in the winding direction, when the slide is moved in the forward direction, and are engaged with each other at the opposite location, to rotate the spool drive device in the winding direction, and simultaneously slip in contact with each other at the first location, to not interfere with rotation of the spool drive device in the winding direction, when the slide is moved in the reverse direction, whereby a two-way drive coupling is created between the slide and the spool drive device.

Abstract: Data bits representing different aspect ratio formats of film image frames are optically recorded on photographic film by means of light emitting devices energized from the flash charge storage capacitor. The light emitting devices are driven by a constant current source control circuit, the control circuit and light emitting devices being coupled to the capacitor by the flash sync switch. Data bit format selection is achieved by either user operated light emitting device selection switches or by means of an optical bit forming mask having plural aperture selectable by means of a movable slide shutter.

Abstract: A camera comprises a slide manually movable in a forward direction and in a reverse direction; a spool drive member adapted to be connected to a film spool for driving rotation in a winding direction to windingly rotate the film spool to wind an exposed film onto the film spool; and a two-way coupling between the slide and the spool drive member to drivingly rotate the spool drive member in the winding direction in order to windingly rotate the film spool when the slide is manually moved in the forward and reverse directions.

Abstract: A camera for use with a film cassette having a light lock movable to be closed after an exposed filmstrip is wound into the cassette, comprises a chamber for the cassette from which the cassette can be removed, and a driver movable to close the light lock before the cassette is removed from the chamber. An ingress opening to the chamber is provided to admit an insertion tool into the chamber to push the cassette out of the chamber. A cover is movable relative to the ingress opening to uncover the ingress opening after the driver is moved to close the light lock, to permit the insertion tool to be moved through the ingress opening to push the cassette out of the chamber when the light lock is closed.

Abstract: A camera assembly comprises a plurality of encodement-on-film recording means adapted to receive electrical energy to provide various film encodements, an encodement-on-film selector movable to various selection positions to select one or more of the recording means to provide the film encodements, a flash charge storage capacitor, and a shutter-flash synch contact connected to the flash capacitor to enable the flash capacitor to supply electrical energy when a shutter blade impacts the synch contact. Respective ones of the recording means are coupled via the synch contact to the flash capacitor to receive electrical energy from the flash capacitor. The synch contact supports the selector for movement to its selection positions and is coupled to the selector to permit the selector to select one or more of the recording means to receive electrical energy from the flash capacitor. This arrangement provides a savings of parts desirable in a low cost camera.

Abstract: A manually rotatable film wind thumbwheel for a camera comprising a peripheral series of interdental spaces having a uniform pitch, is characterized in that a continuous series of finger-receiving indentations is located adjacent the peripheral series of interdental spaces and has a uniform pitch which is greater than the uniform pitch of the interdental spaces to permit the finger-receiving indentations to be more easily fingered than the interdental spaces to manually rotate the thumbwheel, whereby the interdental spaces can be used as locking spaces which individually receive a film metering pawl of the camera to arrest the thumbwheel and/or an anti-backup pawl to prevent counter-rotation of the thumbwheel.

Abstract: A camera for use with a film cassette having a spool rotatable to wind an exposed filmstrip including a trailing film end portion into the cassette and a light lock movable to be closed after the trailing film end portion is wound into the cassette, comprises a manual film winder rotatable in engagement with the spool in a film winding direction to rotate the spool in the same direction to wind the exposed filmstrip including the trailing film end portion into the cassette and locking means coupled with the light lock to prevent further rotation of the film winder in the film winding direction when the light lock is closed.

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 camera comprising a chamber for a film cassette having a light lock pivoted open to permit film movement into the cassette interior and closed to prevent ambient light from entering the cassette interior, and a lid for closing the chamber, is characterized in that a stop-protrusion is located in the chamber in the way of the light lock, when it is open, to prevent the film cassette from being moved against the lid to move the lid to open the chamber and to be clear of the light lock, when it is closed, to permit the film cassette to be moved against the lid to open the chamber.

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 camera for use with a film cassette having a movable light lock supported within a film egress/ingress slot to be moved closed after a filmstrip is wound into the cassette, comprises a cassette-receiving chamber, and a movable driver to be moved to close the light lock before the cassette is removed from the chamber. An exterior ingress opening to the chamber is provided to admit an insertion tool into the chamber to push the cassette out of the chamber. The driver has a weakened portion and is located for the tool to push the driver to force the cassette out of the chamber. Fixed means is located to break the weakened portion during movement of the driver, whereby the camera will be disabled.

Abstract: A camera assemblage comprise a taking lens, a body section having a chamber and a front lens opening for the taking lens which is open to the chamber, and a light-baffle including a forward wall having an exposure opening and a plurality of baffle panels pivotably connected to the front wall for folding to fit the light-baffle into the chamber with the exposure opening behind the front lens opening. The forward wall is positioned to press the taking lens against the body section to clamp the taking lens within the chamber between the front lens opening and the exposure opening when the light-baffle is fit into the chamber.

Abstract: To find a reference exposure located on a non-perforated leading and/or trailing portion of a filmstrip in conformity with picture-taking exposures made on the filmstrip between successive pairs of evenly spaced exposure-locating perforations in the filmstrip, a pair of perforation sensors are spaced apart a distance which is the same as the pitch of the exposure-locating perforations. When one of the two sensors detects an exposure-locating perforation and the other does not, the reference exposure made on the leading or trailing portion is found.

Abstract: A camera comprising a cassette-receiving chamber for holding a film cassette provided with a light lock which is pivoted closed before removing the cassette from the chamber, is characterized in that an exterior opening to the chamber is positioned to longitudinally admit an implement into the chamber for rotation to pivot the light lock closed and to further admit the implement into the chamber to push the cassette out of the chamber.

Abstract: A camera of the prewind or normal wind type that writes data on a roll of film to indicate where specific frames on the roll of film have been exposed and unexposed and detects the presence of that data on the film to determine where additional exposures may be made on the roll of film. The camera writes data on the magnetically sensitive layer of the roll of film in bursts, wherein each burst is separated from each other burst with nonwritten portions of film. BY using one pattern of data and spaces for the marking of exposed frames and another pattern for unexposed frames, prewind and normal wind cameras can interchange partially exposed rolls of film without explicitly decoding magnetic data.

Abstract: A light-shielding door of a film cassette when opened overlaps an extension of a film gate device to bridge a gap between the film cassette and the film gate device, to facilitate movement of a leading end of a filmstrip from the film cassette onto film support rails of the film gate device.

Abstract: To locate a reference exposure on a non-perforated leading and/or trailing portion of a filmstrip in conformity with scene exposures associated with respective exposure locating perforations in the filmstrip, a pair of perforation sensors are spaced apart a distance which is the same as the pitch of the exposure locating perforations. When one of the two sensors detects an exposure locating perforation and the other does not, the leading or trailing portion is determined.

Abstract: A light-shielding door of a film cassette has a pair of notches or indentations that mate with film support rails of a camera to facilitate movement of a leading end of a filmstrip from the film cassette onto the film support rails when the light-shielding door is open.

Abstract: A photographic film cassette is provided with a radial bar coded disk having first and second arcuate segments of differing radial lengths to form a gap between the disk and a circumferential lip of the cassette housing. When the cassette is removed from a camera after the film has been fully or partially exposed, the gap is positioned so as to align with a double exposure prevention hook in the camera. During a subsequent attempt to insert the cassette into the camera, the hook enters the gap and engages the housing lip to thereby prevent complete insertion of the cassette.

Abstract: A photographic camera comprises a camera body with a loading chamber for receiving a film cassette endwise, a door supported for pivotal closing and opening movement to cover and uncover the chamber, a latch for preventing pivotal opening movement of the door but which can be disabled to permit the door to be opened, and an ejecting device for pushing the cassette endwise at least part way out of the chamber. According to the invention, the ejecting device includes a single piece means supported for movement in an ejecting direction for first disabling the latch to permit the door to be opened and then pushing the cassette endwise at least part way out of the chamber when the door is opened.