Abstract: A camera has at least one motor, a spindle gear (i.e. a gear having a spindle) for rewinding and thrusting a film, a cam that rotates together with the spindle gear when the spindle gear is rotated in a film-rewinding direction and that remains at rest when the spindle gear is rotated in a film-thrusting direction, a direction-limiting mechanism for permitting the spindle gear to rotate in the film-rewinding direction only when the motor is rotating in a forward direction, and a transmission mechanism that comes into contact with the cam when the motor is rotating in a reverse direction and that, when the cam is in one of predetermined rotation positions, engages with and thereby transmits a driving force of the motor to a corresponding one of driven members provided one for each of the predetermined rotation positions.

Abstract: A structure for transmitting a driving force from a camera body side to a cartridge chamber cover side in order to automatically operate a safety mechanism section of a safety locking mechanism installed inside the cover. The safety locking mechanism includes a locking mechanism section for locking the cover relative to the camera body; an unlocking operation member for manually releasing the locking mechanism section; and a safety mechanism section for selectively prohibiting or permitting the operation of the unlocking operation member. The driving force for automatically operating the safety mechanism section is transmitted from the camera body to the safety mechanism section through a winding spool of a film cartridge loaded inside the camera body.

Abstract: An electric motor 12 and a gear head 13 are located in the space inside the take-up spool 5, an output shaft 13a of the gear head 13 formed such that it has a length that accommodates the engagement length of the take-up spool only is direct-coupled to the take-up spool 5, while an output gear 6 to receive the drive power for rewinding, etc., is formed as a single unit with the take-up spool 5. As a result of this construction, the amount of dead space above the take-up spool is reduced to the extent possible, the height of the camera is reduced, and the camera is made more compact.

Abstract: A camera with a cartridge chamber for accepting a film cartridge with film and a cover for covering the cartridge chamber. The camera has a locking mechanism that locks the cover when the cover is in a closed state and a releasing device for releasing the cover from a closed state. The locking mechanism includes a pivotable member having on one end a locking portion engageable with the cover to lock the cover in the closed state and on the other end a contact portion. A biasing member urges the pivotal member in a locking direction so that the locking portion engages the cover. The releasing member includes a motor is used to open the cover. The motor drives a crank member that is connected to an unlocking member via a link member, which is operable to rotate the pivotal member in a direction opposite to the cover closing direction to open the cover.

Abstract: A camera mountable with a film cartridge having a light block lid rotatable about a vertical axis to open and close the film cartridge. The camera includes a cartridge chamber with accommodates the film cartridge, an engaging member which is rotatably provided in the cartridge chamber and engageable with the light blocking lid when the film cartridge is place in the cartridge chamber, and an actuator which actuates the engaging member to open and close the light blocking lid. The actuator includes a motor which generates a driving force, a crank member driven by the motor, and a link member which operatively connects the crank member with the engaging member. A fork is provided in the cartridge chamber which is engageable with a spool provided in the film cartridge, and a film take-up chamber is provided with a take-up spool for taking up the film.

Abstract: A camera includes: a driving source which generates a driving force; a film driving mechanism which uses the driving force to drive a loaded film; a barrier which is movable between a close position of covering a lens and an open position of exposing the lens; a barrier driving mechanism which uses the driving force to move the barrier between the close position and the open position; and a path changeable transmission device which changeably transmits the driving force from the driving source to the film driving mechanism and to the barrier driving mechanism, the path changeable transmission device having a first state of transmitting the driving force to the film driving mechanism and a second state of transmitting the driving force to the barrier driving mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided with a movable cartridge casing capable of facilitating film cartridge loading and unloading operations. In a loading operation, the cartridge casing is positioned at a cartridge receiving position outside the body of the apparatus so that the film cartridge can easily be inserted in the cartridge casing, the cartridge casing containing the film cartridge is pushed into the body to an intermediate position where the film spool of the film cartridge is separated from a spool driving shaft, and then the cartridge casing is moved toward the spool driving shaft along a line substantially parallel to the axis of the spool driving shaft to bring the film spool into engagement with the spool driving shaft.

Abstract: A film winding/rewinding device has a power transmitting shaft extended between the film spool chamber and the film cartridge chamber of the camera. The rotation of the output shaft of a motor disposed with the axis of the output shaft perpendicular to the axis of the power transmission shaft is transmitted by a first worm gearing to the power transmission shaft. When winding the film held on the film holding spool of a film cartridge, the rotation of the output shaft of the motor in the normal direction is transmitted to a film winding spool by a second worm gearing connected to the power transmitting shaft to wind the film. When winding the film, any power is not transmitted to a film rewinding fork disposed within the film cartridge chamber. When rewinding the film, the rotation of the output shaft of the motor in the reverse direction is transmitted to the film rewinding fork disposed within the film cartridge chamber by a third worm gearing connected to the power transmission shaft to rewind the film.

Abstract: A camera using a film cartridge having a shaft for winding a film and intercepting light, includes: a cartridge chamber for accommodating the film cartridge; a driving unit; a driving source for generating force for driving the driving unit; a transmitting device; and a limiting device. The driving member engages the shaft of the film cartridge accommodated in the cartridge chamber, and rotates the shaft in the film unwinding direction to remove the film from the film cartridge. The transmitting device is provided between the driving source and the driving unit, and transmits the force generated by the driving source to the driving unit. The limiting device is provided in the transmitting device, and limits the force to be transmitted to the driving unit so as to feed the film in the film unwinding direction.

Abstract: A device for controlling a stop position of a movable member includes a movable member movable as far as a specified stop position, drive means for moving the movable member, detection means for detecting that the movable member reaches the specified stop position, timer means for setting a specified time, and control means responsive to detection means for suspending the drive means when the movable member reaches the specified stop position, setting the timer means, then allowing the drive means to drive again until the set time elapses.

Abstract: A camera according to the present invention is a camera which feeds a film from a film feed opening of a patrone chamber and it includes a film feeder for feeding the film drawn from the film feed opening to a spool chamber through a film exposure portion, a detector for detecting whether or not the fed film passes through the film exposure portion, and a controller for controlling operation of the film feeder in response to an output of the detector.

Abstract: A camera system includes a remote controller and a body of a camera. The remote controller is incorporated in a lens cap of the camera. A photographing magnification for an object is set by the remote controller. A taking lens of the camera is automatically driven to attain an in-focus position defined by a distance to the object and the magnification set by the remote controller. Thus, an image of a desired magnification can be photographed by remote control using the remote controller.

Abstract: A device for controlling a stop position of a movable member includes a movable member movable as far as a specified stop position, drive means for moving the movable member, detection means for detecting that the movable member reaches the specified stop position, timer means for setting a specified time, and control means responsive to detection means for suspending the drive means when the movable member reaches the specified stop position, setting the timer means, then allowing the drive means to drive again until the set time elapses.

Abstract: A lens barrel for a waterproof or dustproof camera which can assure maintenance of a reliable liquid-tight or airtight condition between a movable lens barrel member and a fixed lens barrel member with a structure of a comparatively small size. The lens barrel comprises a fixed lens barrel member provided on a camera body, a movable lens barrel member mounted for movement on the fixed member between a position advanced outwardly from the camera body and another position retracted in the camera body, and a bellows member secured at an end thereof to an inner periphery of a rear portion of the movable member and at the other thereof to an inner periphery of a rear portion of the fixed member. The bellows member is folded back at an intermediate portion thereof between the movable member and the fixed member in such a manner as to surround a rear end of the movable member, and the folded back portion moves as the movable member is moved between the retracted position and the advanced position.

Abstract: A camera system is capable of operating in a number of different photographic modes and includes a display system which provides information relevant to each of the modes. The camera system also includes an automatic film rewinding mechanism that has two modes of operation. In a first, automatic, mode, the tensioning of the film during winding is detected to indicate the end of the roll of film. Upon such detection, the film is automatically and fully rewound into the film cartridge. In a second, user selectable, mode a signal is manually provided by the user to initiate film rewinding. Rewinding of the film is stopped just prior to the time the end of the film enters the cartridge, so that a portion of the film leader remains extended outside of the cartridge.

Abstract: A mode selecting device for use in a camera provided with the various picture taking modes including standard picture taking mode, self-timer picture taking mode, flash light picture taking mode, close picture taking mode, fill in flash mode, nonflash mode and consecutive picture taking mode. A mode setting button is operable to select the mode and a memory is provided to store data corresponding to the selected mode. Also disclosed is a brightness measuring circuit and an automatic exposure control circuit. A flash is enabled or disabled in accordance with the mode selected and the measured brightness value. The camera is automatically reset to the most frequently used mode for emitting the flash light automatically under low light condition after a exposure has been completed, or a given time after the exposure has been completed.

Abstract: A camera comprising a main lens component disposed in a photographic optical path, and a first and a second auxiliary lens components movable into and out of the photographic optical path. The main lens component provides a standard focal length. The first auxiliary lens component is pivotable about an axis extending parallel to an optical axis of the main lens component. When in the optical path, the first auxiliary lens component, in combination with the main lens component, provides a long focal length. The second auxiliary lens component is pivotable about an axis extending parallel to a straight line perpendicular to the optical axis of the main lens component. When in the optical path, the second auxiliary lens component, in combination with the main lens component, provides a short focal length.

Abstract: The motor drive device according to the present invention drives a motor until a hold signal disappears and the motor is braked when the holding signal disappears. After a predetermined period from the time when the holding signal disappears, it is detected whether or not a completion position signal representing that the load has reached the normal complete position is output. If the completion position signal is not output, the motor is started again. The load is driven until the load reaches the position where the completion position signal is output, and then the motor is braked. Thus the load can be stopped at the correct position. Also, with the motor drive device according to the present invention, the motor may be braked after the load is driven by a predetermined amount. After a predetermined period has passed therefrom, it is detected whether or not a signal representing that the load is normally driven is output, and if the signal is not ouput, the motor is started again.

Abstract: A mode selecting device for use in a camera having at least two modes, namely, a consecutive picture taking mode and a single picture taking mode. In the consecutive picture taking mode, the camera operates to take pictures consecutively so long as the exposure release button is depressed. In the single picture taking mode, the camera operates to take a single picture no matter how long the release button is continuously depressed. The selected mode is displayed on a display. The camera returns to the single picture taking mode when the back lid is opened, when the back lid is closed, when the film is rewound, or when the film undergoes preliminary winding so that the camera is not inadvertently left in the consecutive picture taking mode.

Abstract: A camera according to the present invention is a camera which feeds a film from a film feed opening of a patrone chamber and it includes a film feeder for feeding the film drawn from the film feed opening to a spool chamber through a film exposure portion, a detector for detecting whether or not the fed film passes through the film exposure portion, and a controller for controlling operation of the film feeder in response to an output of the detector.