Abstract: The present invention provides an image recording apparatus which has a pack compartment to be loaded with an instant film pack containing multiple instant film sheets stacked together and records images on the instant film sheets contained in the instant film pack loaded into the pack compartment while transporting the instant film sheets. The pack compartment has receiving surfaces projecting into the pack compartment and support the instant film pack loaded into the pack compartment. The receiving surfaces support the instant film pack while keeping the instant film pack tilted by making the respective amounts of projection thereof mutually different.

Abstract: A method for producing a fluid trap for an instant film assemblage, which method can produce an environment-friendly trap easily and at low cost, is disclosed. A plate-shaped paper material having a uniform width and a uniform thickness is passed through a clearance formed between a pair of rollers. The plate-shaped paper material is compressed at width-directional opposite end portions thereof such that a thickness of the paper material gradually decreases from a central portion thereof toward opposite ends thereof, and at the same time, the paper material is cut along a longitudinal direction thereof to a predetermined width. Thereafter, the paper material is cut along the width direction thereof at predetermined intervals with respect to the longitudinal direction thereof, thereby producing the trap.

Abstract: An instant film unit advancing apparatus of reduced size, which avoids failure of a discharging film unit when a slip arises between a pair of spreading rollers and the film unit. Components to drive and support the pair of rollers and a picking claw for thrusting the film unit to a bite of the pair of rollers are arranged within the width of a film unit pack. Spreading rollers supporting means support a surface of the spreading rollers, and a driving power source unit includes a motor and a reducing gear train whose shafts are parallel to the spreading rollers. A rotating cam shaft moves the picking claw, which is also parallel to the spreading rollers, instead of a large cam plate used in conventional apparatuses. The cam shaft and a featured mechanism keep rotation of the spreading rollers independent from a cam mechanism for moving the picking claw.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a camera capable of exactly displaying the number of residual films, even if there is concerned with such a situation that at the time when layered films remain in a film pack, the rear cover is opened and the film pack is re-mounted. The operational amplifier 236 is used to detect a current IM conducting through the feeding motor 214, and the detected current is subjected to the AD conversion by the MPU 220. The display unit 61 displays a predetermined number corresponding to the number of films layered within the film pack having the shielding plate, or a number in which one is subtracted from the number of residual films stored in the storage section 210, according as it is detected that now discharged one is the shielding plate.

Abstract: The present invention is a self-developing compact camera having a housing that encloses, in a common cavity thereof, an arrangement comprising a taking lens, shutter, a light-reflector, viewfinder, power source, actuator, a self-developing film compartment, and a spring biased exit flap. The present invention also includes a method of manufacturing said camera.

Abstract: A film unit picking device including a picking claw for engaging an edge of a film unit loaded in a film unit cassette, subsequent to exposure by a exposure unit and advancing the film unit into a bite of a pair of processing liquid spread rollers, wherein the picking claw can be shifted between a first position at which the picking claw is off or slightly touched to the film unit and a second position at which the picking claw can be engaged with a trailing edge of the film unit in connection with the movement of the picking claw to advance the film unit. The picking claw is swingably mounted on a sliding plate being capable of reciprocally moving in a film unit advancing direction and being urged toward the film unit to be engaged with by a spring disposed between the sliding plate and the picking claw.

Abstract: A camera has a camera body. A taking lens is disposed at a front face of the camera body, for introducing object light. A grip portion is disposed in the camera body and lower than the taking lens, and adapted to holding of the camera body. A release button is adapted for recording the object light from the taking lens by being depressed, and is disposed between the taking lens and the grip portion. In a preferred embodiment, the release button has a depression surface inclined with reference to the front face of the camera body. Furthermore, an instant photo film chamber is formed in the camera body, disposed behind a central portion of the front face, and contains an instant photo film. A printer unit with an exposure head records an image to the instant photo film.

Abstract: A photosensitive element (19) is provided on its photosensitive face side with a non-photosensitive portion with a width D1 extending from a front end to a rear end side in a conveying direction and a non-photosensitive portion with a width D2 extending from the rear end to the front end side. A position of light irradiation of an optical head onto the photosensitive element is set within a range extending a first point at a distance of D1 from the center of the conveying roller (5) on the upstream side in the conveying direction to a second point at a distance of D2 from the center of the conveying roller (5) on the downstream side in the conveying direction.

Abstract: A self-developing type of instant camera is equipped with a processing liquid spreading device comprising a pair of pressure-applying processing rollers which ruptures a processing liquid containing pod and distributes a processing liquid in a film unit, a spread controller operative to press and rubs the film unit from one side of the film unit coming out from a film pack so as to spread the processing liquid distributed in the film unit and a guide member, disposed between the spread controller and the film pack, operative to force the film unit from another side of the film unit so as to direct the film unit toward the bite of pressure-applying processing rollers.

Abstract: A handheld camera system comprising: a core chassis; an ink cartridge unit including an ink supply and print head unit, the ink cartridge unit being mounted on the chassis; a roll of print media rotatably mounted between end portions of the chassis, the print head unit being adapted to print on the print media; a platten unit including mounted below the print head unit; image sensor and control circuitry interconnected to the print head unit and adapted to sense an image for printing by the print head unit; an outer casing for enclosing the chassis, ink cartridge unit, the print media, the platten unit and the circuitry. The camera system further comprises a cutting unit adapted to traverse the print media so as to separate the print media into separate images. The cutting unit can be mounted on the platten unit and the platten unit can further include a print head recapping unit for capping the print head when not in use.

Abstract: An instant photo film pack has a pack body, which has a small thickness and has first and second walls opposed to each other, and contains a stack of plural self-developing photo film units. An exposure opening is formed in the first wall, and provides each of the photo film units with an exposure. An exit slit is formed in the pack body, disposed in an advancing direction, for exiting each of the photo film units. A light-shielding cover sheet closes the exposure opening in a light-tight manner, to be exited through the exit slit by an external operation. Two dimple-formed deformed portions are disposed on the light-shielding cover sheet to project toward the photo film units, and prevents a first photo film unit among the photo film units from passing the exit slit while the light-shielding cover sheet is exited, the first photo film unit being directly behind the light-shielding cover sheet.

Abstract: An instant photo film pack to be loaded in a pack holder is constituted by a box-shaped pack case which contains stacked self-developing photo film units of a peel-apart type. The pack case has an exposure opening formed in an upper wall thereof and a passage opening formed with a front wall thereof. A pressure plate is disposed in the pack case, and provided with a pair of lateral walls so as to separate an inside of the pack case into upper and lower chambers. Each of the photo film units includes a photosensitive sheet contained in the upper chamber. An image receiving sheet is contained in the lower chamber. A withdrawing sheet has an edge connected with the photosensitive sheet. A developing solution pod is disposed on the withdrawing sheet, for containing developing solution. A mask sheet has an edge connected with the withdrawing sheet. A mask opening is formed in the mask sheet.

Abstract: An instant photo film pack loadable in a camera includes a box-shaped pack and plural stacked self-developing photo film units of a mono-sheet type contained therein. The pack includes an upper wall having an exposure opening for providing the photo film units with an exposure, and a front wall having an exit slot for exiting the photo film units. The photo film units have a developing solution pod for containing developing solution along an advancing edge thereof. A bottom edge of each one of the photo film units is pushed by an ejecting claw after the exposure to advance the advancing edge through the exit slot. The each one photo film unit is contacted by a spreading control member while moved to a pair of spreader rollers.

Abstract: A photographic apparatus for use with self-developing film wherein the apparatus comprises a light-tight housing assembly having a film unit exit for allowing the film units to exit the housing assembly; an exposure control assembly including a shutter button; the exposure control assembly includes a biased carriage assembly movable between ambient, strobe and strobe charge positions in response to manual displacement thereof; a spread roller assembly including spread rollers for spreading the processing fluid in the film units; a manually operable drive mechanism is mounted in the housing assembly for bidirectional linear movement between extended and retracted positions and carries a pick for engaging and advancing a topmost film unit of the film stack into the nip, and for rotatably driving the spread roller member in response to pulling of the drive mechanism by an operator to process the film unit and eject the same from the exit; and, an interlocking assembly cooperates with the shutter button and the d

Abstract: An instant photography camera can contain a combination of improved features including cleaning pads for continuous cleaning of spread rollers throughout the life of the camera, a flexible non-coiled film shade for preventing light piping along a film unit which is exiting the camera, and a dual independent spread control feature on a film cassette so that the same film cassette can be used in different cameras. The film cassette includes first and second spread control features for providing even spreading of processing liquid across a film unit; the first spread control feature used in a straight film track configuration, and the second spread control feature being used in a chute film track configuration.