Abstract: A camera comprising a main body part having a film chamber, and a multi-lamp flash wheel supported for rotation to move successive flash lamps from a storage to a use position for illuminating a subject to be photographed. The multi-lamp flash wheel is rotatable about the film chamber to make the camera relatively compact.

Abstract: A flash control circuit for a camera flash circuit in which a scene ambient light sensing circuit is coupled to the main flash capacitor which serves as the sole energy source for the light sensing circuit independent of the battery source. The ambient light sensing circuit comprises a light sensing device and resistor coupled in series across a zener diode which serves as a fixed voltage reference device for the light sensing circuit. In a preferred embodiment, the ambient light sensing circuit is coupled in series with the flash sync switch across the flash capacitor such that activation of the light sensing circuit occurs only while the sync switch is closed.

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 film transport mechanism for a camera comprises drive means for advancing a filmstrip beginning with a leading end portion along a defined film path from a film cartridge, and a perforation sensor for detecting a turn-around perforation in a trailing end portion of the filmstrip to initiate return of the filmstrip along the defined film path to the film cartridge. The perforation sensor has a sensing position in the defined film path to be received in the turn-around perforation when the turn-around perforation is advanced to the perforation sensor. A film divertor has a diverting position in the defined film path to direct a forward edge of the leading end portion of the filmstrip over the perforation sensor. A film presence sensor is located to sense the forward edge of the filmstrip after the film divertor directs the forward edge over the perforation sensor, for retracting the film divertor from the defined film path to allow the perforation sensor to be received in the turn-around perforation.

Abstract: A single-use camera comprises a supply spool having a pair of axially spaced flanges, a take-up spool having a pair of axially spaced flanges, and a filmstrip adapted to be wound off the supply spool from between its flanges and onto the take-up spool between its flanges. According to the invention, the filmstrip includes a wider, opaque, trailing end strip. The flanges of the supply spool are spaced from each other more than the width of the trailing end strip to permit the trailing end strip to be stored on the supply spool beneath the filmstrip without being deformed by the flanges. The flanges of the take-up spool are spaced from each other more than the width of the filmstrip but less than the width of the trailing end strip to crimp the trailing end strip to light tightly shield the filmstrip when the trailing end strip is wound onto the take-up spool over the filmstrip. Thus. the need for a film cassette in the single-use camera is eliminated.

Abstract: A film transport mechanism for a camera comprises drive means for advancing a filmstrip beginning with a leading end portion from a film cartridge, and a perforation sensor for detecting a turn-around perforation in a trailing end portion of the filmstrip to initiate return of the filmstrip to the film cartridge. The perforation sensor is movable to a sensing position against the filmstrip to be able to drop into the turn-around perforation when the turn-around perforation is advanced to the perforation sensor. A film presence sensor is located to be actuated by a forward edge of the leading end portion of the filmstrip as the filmstrip is advanced from the film cartridge, to move the perforation sensor to its sensing position before the turn-around perforation can be advanced to the perforation sensor.

Abstract: A lens system 10 suitable for use in imaging on film F in panoramic cameras 100. The lens system 10 comprising an aperture stop ST, a front lens unit 20 located behind the aperture stop ST, the front lens unit 20 including a triplet; and a rear lens unit 30, preferably a meniscus lens element 32, located behind the front lens unit 20. The triplet consists of two negative power lens elements 22, 26 and a positive power lens element 24 located between the negative power lens elements 22, 26.

Abstract: A camera is provided with a loading chamber insertion mechanism for receiving a film cartridge of the type having a retention slot formed therein inserted manually into an insertion position by positively engaging the retention slot, pulling the cartridge into the chamber, and seating the cartridge in a seated position. A movable clamp and escapement mechanism are operable in an initial, insertion position for latching a carriage against movement in response to a biasing force provided by a tensioning spring. The movable clamp is pivotally mounted to the clamp for movement within escapement channels that cooperatively latch the carriage in the insertion position. The clamp pivots on the carriage within the escapement channels on being contacted by the film cartridge during its initial end-wise insertion by the user.

Abstract: A camera having a loading chamber for receiving an elongated film cartridge of the type having an engagement notch formed in the cartridge shell and having a combined insertion and ejection mechanism for engaging the engagement notch for positively pulling the film cartridge in and seating it with an audible "click" sound to reassure the user that the film cartridge is loaded properly in the loading chamber. A bell crank is attached for pivotal movement with respect to the film cartridge loading chamber and has spaced apart, insertion and ejection crank legs and rods that extend into the loading chamber to engage the inserted end and the notch of the cartridge, respectively, at different points during the insertion and ejection of the cartridge. An over center spring is attached to the bell crank to urge it into and resist movement from either the insertion or seated positions.

Abstract: A film transport mechanism for a camera comprises a film take-up spool rotated to advance a filmstrip from a film cartridge onto the take-up spool, and a perforation sensor for detecting a turn-around perforation in a trailing end portion of the filmstrip to initiate return of the filmstrip from the take-up spool to the film cartridge. The perforation sensor is movable to a sensing position against the filmstrip to be able to drop into the turn-around perforation when the turn-around perforation is advanced to the perforation sensor. A film-on-spool sensor is located against an outermost convolution of the filmstrip as the filmstrip accumulates on the take-up spool, and is moved in response to increased accumulation of the filmstrip on the take-up spool to effect movement of the perforation sensor to its sensing position before the turn-around perforation can be advanced to the perforation sensor.

Abstract: A camera includes a camera body and a cartridge holder having an opening through which the cartridge holder receives a film cartridge. The cartridge holder is movable between a closed position in which the opening is covered by a portion of the camera body and an open position in which the opening is not covered by the portion of the camera body. A film cartridge in the cartridge holder is automatically moved at least part way out of the cartridge holder when the cartridge holder is moved from the closed position to the open position.

Abstract: A camera is disclosed which includes a loading chamber for receiving a film cartridge. A groove in the film cartridge is engaged by a retention member during movement of the film cartridge from the loading chamber. The retention member allows the film cartridge to move partially out of the loading chamber but prevents the film cartridge from completely moving out of the loading chamber. The retention member is capable of being disabled to allow the film cartridge to be completely moved out of the loading chamber.

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.

Abstract: A photographic film cartridge has a word imprinted on the exterior surface of the cartridge visually indicating exposure status of film in the cartridge. A thermally responsive coating of a phase change medium overlies a portion of the word such that when the medium is rendered opaque, the word meaning is changed to indicate that the film is in an exposed state. The camera is provided with a heat generating element that is activated when images are exposed onto the film to render the phase change medium opaque. The camera is also provided with an opto-sensor and control means responsive to the phase change medium to allow loading of the film when the medium is in its unchanged condition and to prevent loading of the film when the phase change medium is changed to indicate exposed film in the cartridge.

Abstract: Load prevention apparatus is to be used with a film cassette which has a frangible exterior label covering a trap-like cavity in the cassette. The apparatus comprises a loading chamber configured to receive the cassette, blocking means arranged in the chamber to be admitted into the trap-like cavity for engaging the cassette to prevent further insertion of the cassette into the chamber but supported to be moved by the exterior label out of the way of the trap-like cavity to avoid engaging the cassette, and fracturing means arranged in the chamber for breaking the exterior label to uncover the trap-like cavity after the blocking means is moved by the exterior label out of the way of the trap-like cavity, whereby the blocking device will prevent insertion of the cassette into the chamber a second time.

Abstract: A film cassette has frangible means that initially operates as a spool lock and as a cam for moving a blocking device in a camera out of the way of the cassette when the cassette is first loaded into the camera but which when broken by a fracturing device in the camera is rendered inoperative as a spool lock and as a cam.

Abstract: A photographic film cassette comprising a housing with a hinged lid thrusts film therefrom during the film threading process. The cassette comprises a rotatable film spool concentrically positioned in a housing, within and adjacent to a rotatable, outwardly convex panel member having end plates with camming structure thereon. Corresponding cam followers are located on the interior of the lid, and when the panel member is rotated by a drive spindle accessible to the member through an opening in an end of the housing, the member rotates, camming the lid onto an open position. Film engaged to the member's outer surface by a detent projecting from the surface through a perforation in the film is thrust out of the cassette into engagement with the camera's film transport mechanism. During rewinding, a drive spindle accessible to the spool through the housing's end opening rewinds the film until the perforation is sensed by camera sensing means.

Abstract: A storage assemblage is disclosed for cassettes each of which holds an image bearing medium having recorded images and for index print sheets each of which has printed pictures that match the images on the image bearing medium in one of the cassettes. According to the invention, the storage assemblage comprises display containers each of which includes a flat transparent cover and a flat back dimensioned to snugly hold an index print sheet between them with the pictures on the index print sheet visible through the cover. The back has a nest open at an inner side of the back to receive a cassette and projecting from an outer side of the back to hold the cassette out of the way of the index print sheet.

Abstract: A camera is intended to be used with a film cartridge that has a normally curled film leader protruding from the cartridge. In the camera, a first cartridge-receiving chamber portion has an open end and side which allow the cartridge to be received in the first chamber portion laterally through the open side with one end of the cartridge protruding from the open end and the curled leader protruding from the open side. This permits the end of the cartridge protruding from the first chamber portion to be manually grasped in order to rotate the cartridge within the first chamber portion in the particular direction of curl of the leader. An elongate surface is arranged proximate the first chamber portion to force the leader to uncurl against the elongate surface to substantially flatten when the cartridge is rotated within the first chamber portion in the particular direction of curl of the leader.

Abstract: When an unexposed filmstrip is advanced several frame widths in a camera to position the first available frame for exposure, a frame counter is changed from an original empty setting to a "1" setting. According to the invention, a visible indication is provided in response to the frame counter being changed to its "1" setting which confirms that the first frame is positioned for exposure. This is done to reassure the photographer that proper film winding and film initialization have occurred.