Abstract: A flash camera has a single-piece shutter-opening/closing and shutter-flash synchronization driver that translates in one direction to pivot a pair of shutter blades away from one another and simultaneously push a movable switch contact of a normally open shutter-flash synchronization switch to close the switch. Then, the movable switch contact is spring-urged to move the switch contact to reopen the shutter-flash synchronization switch and push the single-piece driver in a reverse direction to move the blades towards one another. Movement of the blades away from and towards one another uncovers and recovers an exposure aperture to take a picture.

Abstract: A normally closed shutter in a camera has at least one blade that is moved to open and close the shutter. A movable blade-driver in the camera has a supporting connection with a fixed support to support the blade-driver for movement, and has a driving connection with the shutter to drive at least the one blade to open and close the shutter when the driver is moved. A fixed blocking ramp in the way of the blade-driver stops the blade-driver once the blade-driver has moved to drive at least the one blade to close the shutter. The fixed ramp is inclined to urge or cam the blade-driver to create a high friction-type force at the supporting connection that impedes movement of the blade-driver to drive at least the one blade to re-open the shutter, whereby the shutter is prevented from being reopened unintentionally.

Abstract: A camera with a built-in electronic flash has a spring-driven high energy lever that is pivoted for initiating shutter opening and for translating a switch closing member to close a normally open shutter-flash synchronization switch. When the switch reopens, it translates the switch closing member in reverse. Then, during film winding a metering cam is rotated to pivot the high energy lever in reverse. The switch closing member is adapted to be pivoted temporarily of the way of the high energy lever to allow the high energy lever to be returned past the switch closing member to an original or home position.

Abstract: In a camera, a dual-blade shutter has a pair of shutter blades supported for opening and closing movement to uncover and re-cover an exposure aperture, and a shutter driver that projects into respective overlapping slots in the shutter blades and is supported for shutter opening and closing movement. A high impact striker is movable against a strike portion on the shutter driver to initiate shutter opening movement of the shutter driver, then moves beyond the strike portion, and is returnable past the strike tab to be reset. A fixed post projects into an elongate slot in the shutter driver to support the shutter driver for shutter opening and closing movement and to allow the high impact striker to shift the shutter driver out of the way of the high impact striker so that the high impact striker can be returned past the strike tab without causing the shutter blades to be moved open.

Abstract: A film drive control system includes a light source that directs a beam at a photographic filmstrip and a sensor located such that it detects this light source depending on whether or not the light source is blocked by the passage of the photographic filmstrip. The filmstrip includes perforations that indicate frame exposure areas. The filmstrip is advanced one frame at a time by first moving the film forward at a relatively high velocity until the leading edge of the perforation passes the sensor, then reducing the velocity in the forward direction until the trailing edge of the perforation passes the sensor. The filmstrip is then moved in the film reverse direction at a reduced velocity until the trailing edge again passes by the sensor, at which time the filmstrip is halted.