Abstract: A lens-fitted photo film unit includes a taking lens, a film containing section, and an exposure unit secured in front of the film containing section. An exposure aperture is formed in the film containing section, which also includes a supply chamber and a take-up chamber. The supply chamber contains unexposed photo film. The take-up chamber is adapted to winding the photo film after exposure. The supply chamber and the take-up chamber are disposed beside the exposure aperture opposite to one another. The exposure unit includes a shutter device. An exposure tunnel is formed through the exposure unit and around a light path from the taking lens toward the exposure aperture, and protects the light path from ambient light. The exposure tunnel extends to the rear of the unit so that any of a variety of different exposure units can be used, depending on the focal length of the taking lens.

Abstract: A lens-fitted photographic film unit whose film surface disposed behind an exposure aperture is forwardly concave along the longitudinal direction of the film strip so as to correct distortion by the taking lens. The unit has an exposure aperture size changing device constituted of a manually actuated photography mode changing member for selecting either a standard photography mode for forming a standard size picture frame, or a special photography mode in which a special size picture frame smaller than the standard size picture frame may be formed. A pair of aperture masking plates is movable into margins of the exposure aperture, for masking out parts of the exposure aperture.

Abstract: A camera having a finder, capable of photographing a first size and a second size, comprises a field frame for the first size, which is provided in front of an eye piece of said finder, and a field frame plate for the second size, which is provided in a manner to be movable between an objective lens and the eye piece of said finder and is formed with display portions for displaying portions other than a field frame and shielding portions. A field frame plate change-over mechanism retracts the field frame plate for the second size out of the optical path of the finder during the photographing of the first size, and disposes the field frame for the second size in the optical path of the finder between the objective lens and the eye piece during the photographing of the second size. This field frame plate shields the field frame for the first size by shielding portions of the field frame plate for the second size.

Abstract: A sequential taking camera has four exposure chambers arranged in a horizontal line along the transporting direction of a photographic film, and four taking lenses in alignment with the four exposure chambers. Front and rear shutter disks are superposed one upon the other. Each of the front and rear shutter disks is formed with two shutter openings. The front shutter disk is formed with a slot, and the rear shutter disk is formed with a pin which slides in the slot. The rear shutter disk first rotates relative to the front shutter disk a distance corresponding to the length of the slot. A shutter drive plate moves from an initial position to a cocked position in response to the operation of a film winding wheel, and is locked in the cocked position by a stop lever. The shutter drive plate actuates the rear shutter disk, and while it moves from the initial position to the charge position, the front and rear shutter disks rotate together while maintaining the disk shutter openings out of alignment.

Abstract: A continuous taking camera has eight exposure chambers arranged in two horizontal rows and four vertical columns. One 35 mm full size original frames of photographic film is divided into eight sub-frames. One taking lens is disposed in front of each of the exposure chambers. A stationary shutter plate is disposed behind the taking lenses. Openings are formed in the stationary plate behind the respective lenses. First and second shutter disks are rotatably supported coaxially on the stationary plate on a single shaft. A first group of two holes is formed in the first disk. A second group of two holes is formed in the second disk. The second disk is rotated by the rotation of the first disk, there being a pin-and-slot lost motion connection between the two disks, so that different sets of holes in the disk register with each other, depending on the direction of rotation of the disks.

Abstract: A continuous taking camera, having eight consecutive exposure apertures, creates a picture frame having a size defined by alignment of two frames of 35 mm full size. Scenes for eight sub-frames are taken using the two full-size frames. Behind the exposure apertures, there are horizontally aligned two pressure plates each having a size corresponding to one frame of full size. When a photographic film is in the exposure station, the pressure plates hold the film flat. In a preferred embodiment, a spring plate biases the pressure plates to press the film. The pressure plates are retained on a rear door of the camera against the bias of the spring plate, so that the pressure plates are prevented from being dismounted from the rear door.

Abstract: A continuous taking camera has a plurality of exposure chambers disposed linearly. Two shutter discs rotated by a motor are provided at the back of the exposure chambers. Each shutter disc is formed with two movable shutter openings at positions different in distance from the axis of rotation of the shutter disc. When the motor is energized by a shutter release operation, the motor causes the two shutter discs to perform one rotation for sequentially opening and closing the exposure chambers starting from an outermost exposure chamber. A 35 mm full size original frame is divided in the longitudinal direction of the film into four sub-frames. Scenes for eight sub-frames are taken using two full size original frames.

Abstract: A camera having a camera body has a film loading apparatus that includes a film rewinding shaft disposed upright within the camera body. When a film cassette is inserted into the camera body, it is cradled in a cassette holder than swings vertically between an inclined open position and a closed upright position. When the cassette holder has been swung wholly within the camera body, the film rewinding shaft is fitted in a lower end of a spool of a film cassette held in the cassette holder.

Abstract: A battery operated camera having a zoom lens in which film advance is controlled by counting pulse signals generated by film perforations and a first film frame is automatically placed in an exposure aperture when the film is loaded. The camera is set to an initial operation mode upon the battery being replaced. The initial operation mode is cleared in cooperation with shutter release when the camera is in the initial operation mode, so as to avoid an advance of several frames upon replacing the batter. A switch is provided in association with the lens barrier, and conditions of the switch are read upon replacing the battery so as to retract the zoom lens when a switch condition indicating that the lens barrier is closed is read or to extend the zoom lens when a switch condition indicating that the lens barrier is open is read.

Abstract: A camera is disclosed which is capable of winding and rewinding a film and adjusting a focal distance by use of a single motor. In the camera, the forward rotation of the motor is used to wind the film, and when the film winding operation is completed after termination of photographing, on detecting the end of the film, a torque detect mechanism switches a planetary clutch mechanism to connect the motor with a film rewinding mechanism. Thus, it is possible to perform both the film winding and rewinding operations by use of the rotation of the motor in the same direction. Also, when, with the planetary clutch mechanism connected with the film winding mechanism, the motor is rotated reversely, then the power transmission system is switched over to a focal distance varying mechanism, whereby the focal distance can be adjusted.

Abstract: A data recording camera capable of recording a shooting date includes a memory for storing data as to the current date, a memory for storing data as to the birth date of an individual, an operation circuit for obtaining the age of the individual based on the data as to the current date and the birth date stored in the memories, and a display member for optically displaying the obtained age which is also photographically recorded on a film.

Abstract: A camera adapted to be loaded with a 35 mm film cassette having a cylindrical body and a tongue portion for defining a film exit slit through which the leader of the film projects, the tongue portion extending substantially tangentially from the side wall of the body. The camera has an openable backlid member and a film chamber member defining a cassette receiving chamber. The cassette receiving chamber is adapted to be opened when the backlid member is opened and comprises a cylindrical portion and a slot portion which substantially conform with the cylindrical body and the tongue portion in shape. Thus the cassette receiving chamber determines the position and orientation of the film cassette when it is inserted thereinto and holds it in place. A guide member extends from the film chamber member to define between the inner surface of the backlid member and itself a film guiding slit aligned with said slot and extending beyond the film aperture of the camera body.

Abstract: An integrated plastic back lid for cameras is provided with a reinforcing metal plate firmly attached to the back lid for preventing the back lid from being deformed and a pressure plate for holding a film flat which is held resiliently by the reinforcing plate. For resiliently holding the pressure plate, resiliently deformable holding arms are integrally formed either on the pressure plate or on the reinforcing plate. The pressure plate and the reinforcing plate are assembled before being attached to the back lid.

Abstract: A device for feeding a film from a patrone in a camera, in which the film is fed by an endless caterpillar belt having pawls for engaging with film perforations. The caterpillar belt is positioned in a camera so as to match the film perforations between two film guides of the camera and is extended parallel to the film feeding direction. The caterpillar belt is driven by a set of a driving pulley and a driven pulley. The section of the pawls, taken along the film plane, is shaped to have a circular arc contour so as to contact only with the vicinity of the central portion of each film perforation.

Abstract: A camera adapted to be loaded with a 35 mm film cassette having a cylindrical body and a tongue portion for defining a film exit slit through which the leader of the film projects, the tongue portion extending substantially tangentially from the side wall of the body. The camera has an openable backlid member and a film chamber member defining a cassette receiving chamber. The cassette receiving chamber is exposed when the backlid member is opened, and comprises a cylindrical portion and a slot portion which substantially conform with the cylindrical body and the tongue portion in shape. Thus the cassette receiving chamber determines the position and orientation of the film cassette when it is inserted thereinto and holds it in place. A guide member extends from the film chamber member to define between the inner surface of the backlid member and itself a film guiding slit aligned with said slot and extending beyond the film aperture of the camera body.

Abstract: A film magazine receiving chamber forming member is provided in a camera body for forming a film magazine receiving chamber which opens toward the bottom face of the body and is shaped to permit insertion of a film magazine thereinto only in one axial direction of the magazine through the opening. The camera is further provided with a film leader guiding means for guiding the film leader of the magazine to extend in a suitable direction when the magazine is inserted into the film magazine receiving chamber, and a film leader cutting means disposed on the side of the film aperture opposite to the film magazine receiving chamber.

Abstract: A photographic camera is provided with a magazine receiving chamber formed in the camera body and shaped to permit insertion of a film magazine having a film leader into the chamber only in one axial direction of the magazine, and inner and outer guide member for guiding the film leader in between the film aperture and a film pressure plate as the magazine is inserted into the chamber. The film pressure plate is resiliently mounted on the camera body to be movable toward and away from the film aperture. A pressure plate pushing member is mounted on the back lid of the camera body to push the pressure plate toward the film aperture when the back lid is closed. When the back lid is opened, the pressure plate returns to its rest position in which its inner surface is flush with the inner surface of the outer guide member and provides a planar guiding surface.

Abstract: In an easy loading camera comprising a film magazine receiving chamber formed in the camera body on one side of the film aperture and shaped to permit insertion of a film magazine having a film leader thereinto in one axial direction of the film magazine, and a film leader guiding means for guiding the film leader in between the film aperture and a pressure plate from one longitudinal edge thereof when the magazine is inserted into the chamber, there are provided first and second edge limiting members. The first edge limiting member is disposed in the camera body to abut against said one longitudinal edge of the film leader to limit its position in the transverse direction thereof when the film leader is introduced into the space between the film aperture and the pressure plate. The second edge limiting member is mounted on the back lid of the camera body so as to abut against the other longitudinal edge of the film leader to limit its position in the transverse direction thereof when the back lid is closed.

Abstract: In a photographic camera comprising a film magazine receiving chamber shaped to permit insertion of a film magazine having a film leader thereinto in one axial direction of the film magazine, and a film leader guiding means for guiding the film leader to extend in a proper direction when the magazine is inserted into the chamber, a tongue portion position limiting member is provided for positioning a narrow tongue portion formed in the leading end portion of the film. The tongue portion position limiting member is permitted to move to its operative position only when a magazine having a short film leader consisting substantially only of the tongue portion is inserted into the magazine receiving chamber.