Abstract: A transfer cartridge is provided for a thermal printer that has a first printer sidewall defining an opening and a second printer sidewall spaced from the first printer sidewall. The cartridge is positioned between the first and second sidewalls and includes members, engageable with the first sidewall, for releasably locking the cartridge in position between the first and second sidewalls.

Abstract: In a photographic camera, a manual wind member for rotating a take-up spool to wind a filmstrip into the spool is locked each time a fresh film frame is advanced to an exposure position and is unlocked automatically after the picture is taken. If however the filmstrip cannot be advanced in the camera because the film leader has failed to be wound onto the take-up spool, the manual wind member will not be locked, and therefore it can be actuated continuously to alert the photographer of such failure.

Abstract: In a bottom loading camera, a loading chamber receives a film cartridge in an axial direction substantially at the same time a film leader projecting from the cartridge is transversely received in a feed path between the loading chamber and a take-up chamber. By mounting a back door for pivoting proximate an end of the camera body closest to the loading chamber, a cartridge positioning member on the door can axially depress the cartridge in the chamber to properly position the cartridge as the door is initially closed. Then, with continued closure of the back door, cooperating means on the door and adjacent the feed path can transversely position the film leader to straighten it along the path in the event the leader is skewed. Next, a film guide on the door can urge the forward end of the film leader against a take-up spool in the take-up chamber to enable the spool to engage the leader end. Thus, the leader end will have benefited from any previous correction to the film cartridge or the film leader.

Abstract: A film cartridge having a light-trapped slit from which a film leader protrudes is positioned in a photographic camera with the leader pointing towards a film take-up chamber in the camera. Enough of the leader is drawn out of the cartridge to reach a film take-up spool rotatably supported in the take-up chamber. Then, a leading end portion of the leader is placed in the take-up chamber in contact with the take-up spool to enable automatic engagement with the spool. If the leading end portion of the leader reaches beyond the take-up chamber, either because too much of the leader was drawn out of the cartridge or because the leader was too long originally, closing movement of the camera back causes a positioning member mounted on the back to insert the leading end portion into the take-up chamber and to press such end portion against the take-up spool.

Abstract: In a multilamp flash assembly adapted for attachment to a camera having a flashlamp firing circuit, the respective flashlamps are advanced sequentially to a firing position. A lamp advancing member in the flash assembly is made of an electrically conductive material and is disposed to form an integral part of the firing circuit when the flash assembly is attached to the camera. The advancing member is movable to establish an electrical connection with the respective flashlamps, one at a time, and to advance a flashlamp electrically connected with the advancing member to the firing position. Thus, the advancing member operates as an electrical contact for a flashlamp, as well as for advancing the lamp to the firing position.In an alternate embodiment, the advancing member is disposed in the camera.

Abstract: A photographic cartridge assembly includes (1) an opaque casing with an exposure window in its front wall and (2) a film unit rotatably mounted in the casing such that successive film portions can be aligned with the exposure window. An opaque cover member is mounted in the casing between the front wall and the film unit for oscillatory movement about an axis, both parallel to the axis of rotation of the film unit and between the exposure window and the axis of rotation of the film unit, into and out of alignment with the exposure window.

Abstract: A photographic film cartridge assembly includes (1) an opaque casing with an exposure window in one wall and (2) a film unit with photographic film. The film unit has an exposure region and is mounted in the casing for movement in a film advancing direction relative to the casing such that successive portions of the exposure region align with the exposure window. A cover member, including an opaque region, is mounted in the casing between the wall and the film for movement independent of the film unit. The cover member is movable between a closing position, in which said opaque region is aligned with and closes the exposure window, and an opening position, in which said opaque region is out of alignment with and opens the exposure window. Means, associated with the film unit and the cover member are provided for inhibiting movement of the film unit in the film advancing direction when the cover member is in its exposure window closing position.

Abstract: A photographic cartridge assembly includes a photosensitive film disk rotatably received between opposed parallel walls of a thin cartridge casing. The casing is adapted to be opened, to release the disk for processing and printing, by prying the casing apart until it fractures at one edge and then tearing the casing from the fracture toward the opposite edge. In order to insure that the resulting opening is at a predetermined location in the casing, and is large enough to remove the disk, channels are provided in a casing wall to lead the tear along two paths extending oppositely around the periphery of the disk from the one edge to the opposite edge.

Abstract: Three cylindrical battery cells are physically disposed in a plastic housing with two of the cells spaced coaxially adjacent one another and the third cell spaced laterally adjacent the coaxial cells spanning the distance between the coaxial cells. An insulating band encircles the end of each cell, between the end cap and a current-collecting sleeve, to prevent shorting between the current collectors. The three cells are connected electrically by conductive elements, such as end caps or straps, that place the third cell in series between the coaxial cells.