Abstract: A novel exposure frame counter is disclosed that gives the appearance of more expensive LCD type displays while not requiring the support electronics and has the ability to erase itself after being used. A disc of low permeable magnetic material has exposure frame numbers recorded into the material in a selected manner so as to create a desired magnetic field. A magnetic micro-shutter is used to create the exposure frame numbers by placing individual micro-shutters over the disc which react to the magnetic field of the disc to form numerals that indicate the exposure frame the camera is on. When the camera is advanced, the section of the disc that was indicating the exposure frame advances to the next frame and the previous frame passes across a field created by a strong permanent magnet and is erased by the permanent magnet. The magnetic micro-shutters of the exposure frame counter are formed essentially as a seven-segment display to form the numerals of the exposure frame counter.

Abstract: A camera and a cartridge indicator setting apparatus adapted to a film cartridge including an indicator operatively coupled to a film supply spool provided in the film cartridge. The camera and the cartridge indicator setting apparatus includes a storage device which stores information to be indicated by the indicator of the film cartridge; and a setting device for driving, in response to an operation for ejecting the film cartridge which has been loaded on the camera, the film supply spool of the film cartridge which has been stopped after completion of rewinding of a film, and for setting the indicator of the film cartridge in accordance with the information stored by the storage device.

Abstract: An electro-developing type camera uses an electro-developing recording medium, and has a determiner for determining whether the electro-developing recording medium has been recorded on or not when being loaded in the camera, and a selector for selecting one of a photographing mode and an image-reading mode as an operation mode of the camera. A photographing operation is executed in the photographing mode to record and develop an optical image in the electro-developing recording medium. An image-reading operation is executed in the image-reading mode to read the developed image of the electro-developing recording medium. The photographing mode is selected by the selector when the determiner determines that the electro-developing recording medium has not been recorded, and the image-reading mode is selected by the selector when the determiner determines that the electro-developing recording medium has been recorded.

Abstract: A camera for use with a film cartridge having a retractable lip portion that is retracted upon exposure of film in the cartridge, and that is fully extended before exposure of the film, the camera comprises a camera body for forming a protective enclosure. A double exposure hook is disposed in the camera body that latches onto a recess in the retractable lip portion when the film is exposed upon insertion of the cartridge into the camera body for preventing double exposure of the film, and that is forced outwardly upon insertion of the film cartridge when the film is not exposed for permitting the cartridge to be fully inserted. A movable element includes a first position that obstructs viewing through a viewfinder when the cartridge is not inserted, and that is moved to a second position by the double exposure hook upon insertion of the cartridge for permitting viewing through a viewfinder.

Abstract: A device (e.g., a camera) loaded with a film unit operates to detect a characteristic of the film unit, such as the state of an information part of the film unit. The detection result is used as a basis to control the performance of a further operation, such as a phototaking operation or a state-setting operation for the information part.

Abstract: A cartridge (10) of web material includes a hollow cartridge body (14) having an exit slit (26); a strip or sheet (12) of web material enclosed in the cartridge body to be withdrawn from or inserted into the cartridge body via the exit slit; at least one magnetic member (38, 40; 130; 172-178; 240; 290,292) carried on the strip or sheet; and a magnetically actuated visual indicator (36) mounted on the cartridge body adjacent the exit slit to be actuated by the magnetic member when the strip or sheet is withdrawn from or inserted into the cartridge body.

Abstract: A camera is detachably mountable with a film cartridge which is provided with a photographic film having a number of successive frames and a film state indicator operable to indicate an exposed state that the film is already exposed, and includes: a film feeding device which feeds the film in a first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction; a recording device which records a specified data on the film when the film is being fed in the first direction; a judging device which judges whether the specified data is recorded on the film when the film is being fed in the second direction; and a setting device which is responsive to the judging device and associated with the film state indicator of the film cartridge, and is operable to cause the film state indicator to indicate the exposed state when the specified data is judged not to be recorded on the film.

Abstract: A camera for use with a film cassette having a spool rotatable to wind an exposed filmstrip including a trailing film end portion into the cassette and a light lock movable to be closed after the trailing film end portion is wound into the cassette, comprises a manual film winder rotatable in engagement with the spool in a film winding direction to rotate the spool in the same direction to wind the exposed filmstrip including the trailing film end portion into the cassette and locking means coupled with the light lock to prevent further rotation of the film winder in the film winding direction when the light lock is closed.

Abstract: A family of different type cameras is intended for use with a film cassette which is capable of being operated to thrust a filmstrip out of the cassette housing, regardless of whether the filmstrip is unexposed or is partially exposed, and which has film exposure-status indicating means for providing visible indications that the filmstrip inside the cassette housing is unexposed or is partially exposed. One type camera intended to be used only with a film cassette containing an unexposed filmstrip includes single indication means for providing a visible indication similar only to the one the film cassette provides that the filmstrip inside the cassette housing is unexposed, to advise that the camera can be used only with a film cassette containing an unexposed filmstrip.