Abstract: Drive force transmission device for a camera, namely, a film drive mechanism for a camera, in which a drive force of a motor is transmitted through a differential gear mechanism to a wind shaft and a rewind shaft and is also transmitted through a screw gear to a spool shaft or a fork shaft whereby operations of winding and rewinding film are performed. The rewind shaft is placed in such a manner as to be inclined to the drive shaft of the differential gear mechanism. Moreover, a fork shaft and a spool shaft to be driven by film at the time of winding or rewinding the film can be driven even when the screw gear and the helical gear remain engaged with each other. This film drive mechanism occupies only a small space and is small in weight and is advantageous for the cost thereof.

Abstract: A rangefinding device for a camera, in which a light projecting unit for projecting near-infrared light to an object and a light receiving unit for receiving object-reflected light reflected from an object are provided in such a manner as to be nearly in parallel with each other. The light receiving unit is provided with: a prism having a total reflection surface for reflecting almost all of object-reflected light having been incident thereon; and a light receiving element for receiving object-reflected light that is reflected by this total reflection surface of the prism. Further, the total reflection surface of the prism is formed so that a sum of an angle of incidence and an angle of reflection of object-reflected light reflected by the total reflection surface of this prism is greater than 90.degree. degrees.

Abstract: To provide a data imprinting device for a camera which has a simple construction and does not make the main body of the camera large in size, a data imprinting device for a camera includes: an LED for optically generating data to be imprinted on a film surface; a prism for allowing data light generated by the LED to form an image on the film surface; a holder for holding the LED and the prism and disposed in such a manner as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis for photographing of the camera; and data-imprinting-position changing means for moving the holder in interlocked relation with a changeover of a photographing image size on the film surface, and for changing a position of imprinting data on the film surface.

Abstract: A camera comprising a photographic optical system; an aperture formed behind the photographic optical system in order to limit a range of subject light irradiated to a film surface; a cartridge chamber lying on one side of the aperture so as to accommodate a small-sized film cartridge containing film that is smaller than rolled film of 35 mm width, in which a film cartridge is stowed so that a built-in take-up axis thereof is oriented substantially in parallel with the height of the camera; a take-up chamber lying on the other side of the aperture so as to wind in a portion of film that has been fed from the film cartridge stowed in the cartridge chamber in the lateral direction of the camera and has passed behind the aperture; a light projecting optical system lying above the take-up chamber to distribute light to be used for range finding toward an object to be photographed; and a light receiving optical system lying below the take-up chamber to receive light having emanated from the light projecting optica

Abstract: To provide a data imprinting device for a camera which has a simple construction and does not make the main body of the camera large in size, a data imprinting device for a camera includes: an LED for optically generating data to be imprinted on a film surface; a prism for allowing data light generated by the LED to form an image on the film surface; a holder for holding the LED and the prism and disposed in such a manner as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis for photographing of the camera; and data-imprinting-position changing means for moving the holder in interlocked relation with a changeover of a photographing image size on the film surface, and for changing a position of imprinting data on the film surface.

Abstract: A driving force transmission mechanism for a camera has a motor capable of rotational driving and axial driving. One of a plurality of driven gears is selected by axial movement of an output shaft of the motor, and a driving force is transmitted to the selected driven gear by rotational driving of the output shaft. In one embodiment, two pinions fixed to upper and lower ends of the output shaft are moved upward or downward so that one of the pinions is brought into engagement with one of the plurality of driven gears to drive a driven system. This driving force transmission mechanism has a simple construction but can selectively drive a plurality of drive systems without using a complicated changeover mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention provides a waterproof camera having a sealed strobe movable between a flashing position and a non-flashing position and a sealed camera body having a larger volume than the strobe.

Abstract: A camera comprises: a photographing lens; a viewfinder lens lying behind the photographing lens so that an object to be photographed can be viewed; a first reflector mirror capable of being displaced between a first position, at which the first reflector mirror intervenes between the photographing lens and viewfinder lens so that light emanating from the photographing lens is reflected horizontally substantially at 90.degree., and a second position at which the first reflector mirror has retracted from between the photographing lens and viewfinder lens; a second reflector mirror lying by the side of the first reflector mirror so that the light emanated from the photographing lens and reflected from the first reflector mirror is reflected vertically substantially at 90.degree.

Abstract: A lens barrel comprises a barrier provided at a front aperture of a photographing lens, a barrier driving mechanism for opening and closing the barrier, a lens driving mechanism for moving at least one lens group in an optical-axis direction, a driving device for operating the lens driving mechanism and the barrier driving mechanism, and a driving force switching device for transmitting driving force of the driving device to a lens driving mechanism at a state capable of photographing and for transmitting driving force of the driving device to a barrier driving mechanism at a state incapable of photographing linked with the movement of the photographing lens from a state capable of photographing to a state incapable of photographing.

Abstract: An epicyclic gear mechanism consisting of a first driven gear, a second driven gear and a rotation regulating member. The first driven gear meshes with a planet gear when the planet gear revolves about a sun gear in one direction and is rotationally driven when the planet gear rotates on its axis in the same position. The second driven gear meshes with the planet gear when the planet gear revolves in the other direction and is rotationally driven when the planet gear rotates on its axis in the same position. The rotation regulating member is actuated by interlocking with the revolving motion of the planet gear. The rotation regulating member regulates the rotation of the second driven gear by engaging with the second driven gear when the planet gear meshes with the first driven gear. The same member regulates the rotation of the first driven gear by engaging with the first driven gear when the planet gear meshes with the second driven gear.

Abstract: A driving force transmission mechanism and method according to the present invention transmits the driving force of a single motor selectively to a plurality of driven gears, comprising a sun gear rotated either in a forward or reverse direction by the motor, a planetary gear engaging the sun gear, and a plurality of driven gears arranged along the revolution orbit of the planetary gear. A driven gear with which the planetary gear is desired to engage is selected by rotating the sun gear in one direction. The driving force is transmitted to the selected driven gear via the planetary gear by rotation of the sun gear in the opposite direction. The proper gear is selected by use of a sensor. Using the driving force transmission mechanism, various driving systems can be driven by a single motor without the need for a complex switching mechanism. The transmission mechanism may use more than one planetary gear and may use more than one planetary gear assembly.