Abstract: A film door restraint and camera used with a film door having a tappet movable between latched and unlatched positions, a film cartridge having a filmstrip and an active light lock movable between open and closed states, and a cartridge spool driver movable in first and second directions of rotation to rotate a spool of said cartridge. The film door restraint has a toggle, a rotational member, and a follower. The toggle is coupled to the active light lock and is capable of tripping between an open position, in which the active light lock is open, and a closed position, in which the active light lock is closed. The toggle is tripped by the tappet when the toggle is in the open position and the tappet is moved from the latched position to the unlatched position. The rotational member is joined to the spool driver for rotation with the spool driver. The rotational member defines primary and secondary guideways.

Abstract: A photographic camera (10) includes a supply chamber (14) for receiving a cartridge (16) enclosing a photographic filmstrip (18) wound on a supply spool (92); a rotatable member (90) disposed in the supply chamber for being coupled to rotate a supply spool of a cartridge installed in the supply chamber; a takeup chamber (20); a takeup spool (22) in the takeup chamber for winding a filmstrip drawn in a first direction from a cartridge in the supply chamber; a head (102) positioned between the supply and takeup chambers for at least one of reading and recording data on a filmstrip; a first drive system (24, 50-78) for rotating the takeup spool to draw a filmstrip from a cartridge in the first direction and wind a filmstrip onto the takeup spool; a second drive system (24, 50-68, 80-88) for rotating the rotatable member to rotate a supply spool to draw a filmstrip in a second, opposite direction from the takeup spool and wind a filmstrip onto a supply spool in a cartridge; and a brake mechanism (118, 118a, 118b,

Abstract: A hybrid camera that includes imaging mode selector (23) for selecting at least one of a film mode of operation and a hybrid mode of operation; a removable memory interface connection (130) for receiving a removable memory device; digital imaging system (16, 70) for generating a digital image representative of an imaged subject scene in each of the film mode and hybrid mode of operation; a working memory (124) for storing the digital image generated by the digital imaging means as a working image; a photographic imaging system (14, 60) for imaging the subject scene onto a photographic film to generate a photographic film image corresponding to the digital image in the film mode and the hybrid mode of operation; and a control processor (68, 72) for generating a film mode digital image and a hybrid mode digital image from the working image, respectively, in the film mode and hybrid mode of operation.

Abstract: A hybrid camera (10) includes a camera housing (12); a first taking lens (16) for film photography; a second taking lens (18) for digital photography; a first lens cover (14) for movement between a first position in which one of the first and second lenses is covered by the first lens cover and a second position in which the one lens is uncovered by the first lens cover; a first aperture (20) in the first lens cover for revealing the other of the first and second lenses in the second position; a second lens cover (22, 90) supported by the first lens cover for movement between a third position in which the first aperture is covered by the second lens cover and a fourth position in which the first aperture is uncovered by the second lens cover to reveal the other lens in the second position; and a mechanism (74-84; 92-104) actuated by movement of the first lens cover to move the second lens cover between the third and fourth positions.

Abstract: In a camera, an apparatus to be used with a film cassette having a film-exposure status indicator which is movable from an unexposed position, to indicate that a filmstrip within the cassette is unexposed, to a partly exposed position to indicate that the filmstrip is only partly exposed, and to a fully exposed position to indicate that exposure of the filmstrip is completed. According to the invention, the camera includes a loading chamber sized for receiving the cassette, and a blocking member which cooperates with the status indicator for blocking the cassette from entering the loading chamber when the status indicator indicates that film contained within the cassette has been at least partly exposed. The apparatus also includes a switch element for sensing the presence of an unblocked cassette loaded into the chamber made from a spring material mounted for retaining and for biasing the blocking member in the loading chamber while simultaneously biasing the switch element in a first position.

Abstract: An improved film cartridge handling mechanism for effecting end-wise loading of a film cartridge into a deployable film loading chamber of a camera and positioning of the filmstrip with respect to the camera transport path. The side pivoting, deployable film loading chamber positively seats and accurately aligns the film cartridge in reference to a datum axis as the film loading chamber is latched closed. In use of the invention with a thrust style film cartridge, the seating of the cartridge in the film loading chamber also aligns the film cartridge door with the camera filmstrip transport path. Upon movement of the film loading chamber to the latched or closed position, the film door is opened and the film cartridge spool is engaged with a filmstrip advance motor drive mechanism to advance the aligned filmstrip into the filmstrip transport path and to rewind the filmstrip after all exposures are made.

Abstract: An ejector mechanism is provided for use in any system which uses photographic film, such as cameras, film development equipment and any other systems designed for film cartridges. One embodiment of the ejector mechanism includes an ejector slide, an ejector slide spring, a trigger lever, a trigger lever spring, a cover plate and a loading chamber. The ejector slide includes a spring hook, a first guide pin, a second guide pin, a trigger lever tab, a trigger lever notch and a film cartridge pin. The trigger lever includes a trigger lever spring attachment, a trigger lever slot, a pawl, a trigger lever head and a trigger control tab. The cover plate includes a ejector spring attachment, a trigger spring hook, a first guide slot and a trigger control ramp. The first guide slot engages the first guide pin attached to the ejector slide to support first guide pin movement along the first guide slot. The first guide slot further includes a latch tab and a latch slot.

Abstract: A camera includes a chamber for receiving a cartridge having a shell and a film spool, substantially concealed inside the shell, with exposed axial spool ends. The camera further includes a spindle for supporting a first one of the exposed spool ends, and a pivotal door with a spring-urged bushing for pushing against a second one of the exposed spool ends for urging the first exposed spool end onto the spindle when the door is pivoted closed. The invention is characterized by a rigid member of the pivotal door for pushing against the shell, but not against the second exposed spool end, to move the cartridge initially into the chamber toward the spindle before the spring-urged member can push against the second exposed spool end when the door is pivoted closed.

Abstract: A device for connecting a shutter blade to a electromagnetic camera shuttering system that utilizes an armature for producing a first magnetic field, and a stop to control the movement of a shutter blade. The device comprises: a shutter blade that moves across the aperture of the camera and bounces off a stop to control the amount of light that is allowed to enter the camera; and a moveable magnet that produces a second magnetic field, the second magnetic field is coupled to the first magnetic field and a portion of the magnet is sized and shaped to fit the magnet to an orifice in the blade, so that when a portion of the magnet is placed in the orifice the blade will be directly connected to the magnet, and the presence or absence of the first magnetic field will cause the magnet and the blade to move to different orientations.