Abstract: A case body containing instant photo films includes an exit slot for feeding out one instant photo film after another, and a claw path opening for allowing entry of a claw member ejecting the instant photo films. A pair of thrust preventing flaps is disposed inside the exit slot, for closing the lateral ends of the exit slot to prevent the instant photo film thrusting out. The claw path opening is closed by a light shielding plate and a light shielding skirt, which compose a light shielding member. The light shielding plate is moved to an open position by the claw member in the first advancing operation, and is moved to a full-open position in the second advancing operation.

Abstract: A film scanner has a transport table for transporting the film held by a film holder in a sub-scan direction, a transport mechanism for moving the transport table in the sub-scan direction, a line sensor and a line sensor drive circuit for obtaining an image of the film. The transport mechanism is provided with a scan motor driven in predetermined steps. The line sensor and the line sensor drive circuit are configured to read the signal at a first timing corresponding to a rotational position of the step of the scan motor and read the signal at both of the first timing and a second timing where the motor temporarily stops, due to overshoot, at an angular position between first timings.

Abstract: A camera for edge-perforated film with a film feed device (9) and a rotatably mounted film perforation wheel (sprocket wheel) (101) that engages with teeth (102) in the edge perforations of the film and executes a rotational movement during feeding of the film is designed so that one side of the sprocket wheel (101) rests against a bearing surface (17) of a housing part (2) and the other side of the sprocket wheel has a coaxial bearing collar (103) that is rotatably arranged in a bearing opening of a housing part. Preferably the sprocket wheel (101) together with the bearing collar (103) is formed as a single integral unit and engages via an outer edge region in a circumferential interspacing between housing parts, wherein this interspacing may be formed between the bearing surface (17) and a plate (115, 118) arranged above the latter, which can form a circular bearing opening in which the bearing collar (103) of the sprocket wheel (101) is radially mounted.

Abstract: A strip of photographic film is moved relative to the photographic film cassette from which the strip extends. A rewinding apparatus can be selectably engaged or disengaged from the film spool of the photographic film cassette. The techniques can be used in cameras, including low-cost or disposable cameras.

Abstract: An electric current is supplied from a power source to a motor for transporting a film through a switching element (a transistor). A regenerate current is generated from the motor when the current supply is cut, and the regenerate current is returned to the motor through a switching element (a first MOS FET). The switching elements are turned on and off according to the state of a second MOS FET. When the second MOS FET is turned on, the transistor is turned on and the first MOS FET is turned off, and this drives the motor. When the second MOS FET is turned off, the transistor is turned off and the first MOS FET is turned on, and this stops the motor.

Abstract: A camera, lens positioning mechanism and method use a lens holding member to hold a lens therein for receiving optical information that may be captured on film or digitally. The lens holding member interfaces with a ring-shaped barrel member, geared ring or the like, that when turned in one direction by a motor forces the lens holding member out, or back, depending on a slope of a cam placed on the barrel member, slot in the barrel member or the like. When driven in the single direction, the cam member on the ring barrel member, forces the lens holding member in a predetermined direction. A biasing member connected to the ring provides an opposing force that when used during a focusing operation pulls the lens holding member and cam member back to a home position without the need of a driving force from the motor. A clutch mechanism engages and disengages the driving force of the motor on the geared ring depending on whether a focusing operation, lens storage operation, or zooming operation is performed.

Abstract: A lens-fitted film unit is preloaded with photographic film, and has an eight-toothed driven sprocket wheel in mesh with perforations on the film. When the photographic film is fed by one frame, the sprocket is caused to make one rotation. A shutter mechanism is cocked responsive to rotation of the sprocket. During assembly of the film unit, the shutter mechanism is cocked. The photographic film is loaded while the shutter mechanism remains cocked. In a preferred embodiment, the sprocket is set in a predetermined rotated position which is two teeth short of the position at the end of one winding up of the film. This brings the shutter mechanism into an incompletely cocked state. The photographic film is loaded while the shutter mechanism remains in the incompletely cocked state. In the film unit, a film passageway is provided behind the main body, for passage of the film. A shiftable engaging portion projects into the film passageway in retractable fashion.

Abstract: A camera comprising a film winder manually rotatable in a film winding direction about an axis and having a continuous alternating series of teeth and spaces concentric about the axis, and an anti-backup device having a tooth that can be received in any one of the spaces to bottom out in the space in order to prevent reverse rotation of the film winder in a film unwinding direction, is characterized in that the film winder is constructed to be tilted from being perpendicular to the axis in order to only partially retract any one of the spaces that has received the tooth from the tooth, when one manually rotates the film winder in the film winding direction, whereby as long as the film winder is tilted the tooth cannot bottom out in any one of the spaces that has received the tooth. This results in a film winder and anti-backup device that are quietly operating.

Abstract: A receiving device for a film cassette, having a light-proof housing. The housing includes a film-advancing device which is assigned a gripping region for the start of the film projecting out of the film cassette. In order to facilitate insertion of the film into the camera body or into a magazine, the receiving device can be pivoted or drawn out of the housing, with parallel shifting of the axis of rotation of the receiving device, thus allowing insertion or removal of the film cassette. In the open position the inserted film cassette is spaced apart from the film-advancing device by a greater distance than in the closed position. The distance of the inserted film cassette from the gripping region in the open position is of such a size that the start of the film projecting out of the film cassette, even in the case of the smallest commercially available length, extends almost right up to the gripping region.

Abstract: In a mechanism for feeding a film, used in a camera, etc., in which a film having one perforation formed at a specified position relative to each frame or a film having a plurality of perforations formed at specified positions relative to each frame with unequal intervals therebetween as a whole is used, a sprocket 13 is employed for controlling to forward the film frame by frame. The sprocket is locked by a lever before an initial forwarding of thefilm is carried out, and it is unlocked from the lever when the film is forwarded to move the lever, so that the relationship of engagement between a tooth of the sprocket and the perforations of the film is ensured to be constant and synchronous during the initial feeding of the film.

Abstract: An apparatus capable of using a film cartridge in a manner that a lead portion of a film contained in the cartridge is fed out therefrom by the film thrusting, wherein a controller judges that an initial loading is not executed normally when a perforation is not detected although a fed film amount on an initial loading reaches a first predetermined amount, and stops a detector from detecting a perforation until the fed film amount reaches a second predetermined amount which is less than the first. Thus, a detector does not wrongly detect a notch on a film's lead portion as a perforation, and a leading frame is fed normally with a reliable judgment on an initial loading.

Abstract: A manual film winding device of a camera has a winding lever which is manually rotated between a winding start position and a winding end position. Also provided are a ratchet mechanism having a ratchet wheel, which is rotated in association with the winding lever's rotation, and a ratchet pawl which engages with the ratchet wheel. The ratchet wheel rotates in a winding direction when the winding lever rotates from the winding start position to the winding end position, and in a reverse direction, opposite to the winding direction, when the winding lever rotates from the winding end position to the winding start position. A film advance driving system operates in association with the ratchet wheel's rotation in the winding direction. The ratchet pawl is arranged to rotate toward a first direction in connection with the winding rotation of the ratchet wheel, and to rotate toward a second direction in connection with the reverse rotation of the ratchet wheel.

Abstract: A camera comprising a shutter blade supported to move open to expose a frame on a filmstrip, a shutter actuator supported for movement to move the shutter blade open and for movement to be re-cocked, an actuating spring for urging the shutter actuator to move the shutter blade open, and a metering/re-cocking member having a metering pawl for engaging the filmstrip at a perforation during exposure of the frame, is characterized in that the metering/re-cocking member has a re-cocking portion and is supported for movement to move the re-cocking portion against the shutter actuator to move the shutter actuator to be re-cocked, a film tensioning spring urges the metering/re-cocking member, when the metering pawl engages the filmstrip at a perforation, to prevent the frame being exposed from shifting during exposure, and the shutter actuator is supported for movement to be spaced from the metering/re-cocking member, when the shutter actuator is re-cocked, to prevent the actuating spring from exerting any influence

Abstract: A one-time-use camera having a film take-up chamber, a film spool rotatable in the film take-up chamber, a film winding thumbwheel supported for winding rotation in coaxial engagement with the film spool to similarly rotate the film spool to take up an exposed filmstrip, and an anti-backup pawl for preventing unwinding rotation of the thumbwheel, is characterized in that the anti-backup pawl engages said film spool to prevent unwinding rotation of the film spool, in order to prevent unwinding rotation of the thumbwheel. Preferably, a film door closes the film take-up chamber, and the anti-backup pawl is supported on the film door to engage the film spool.

Abstract: An apparatus adapted to a film cartridge in which a film is contained, comprises an operation device which is operable for arbitrarily rewinding the film into the film cartridge before the film is wholly used, an indication device for causing the film cartridge to provide an indication that the film is partly used upon a film rewinding operation of the operation device and a determination device for determining whether a predetermined transporting action of the film is performed. The indication device causes the film cartridge to provide the indication that the film is wholly used, if the determination device determines that the predetermined transporting action of the film is not performed and the film has been rewound.

Abstract: A subassembly for a one-time-use camera includes a main body part that has a film take-up chamber adapted to receive a film spool and a film supply chamber for an unexposed film roll, a film winding thumbwheel supported for winding rotation in engagement with the film spool to similarly rotate the film spool to take up an exposed filmstrip, and an anti-backup pawl engageable with the thumbwheel to prevent unwinding rotation of the thumbwheel and disengageable from the thumbwheel to allow unwinding rotation of the thumbwheel to permit the film spool to be similarly rotated to unwind a fresh exposed filmstrip from the film spool to form the unexposed film roll. The film take-up chamber is configured to allow the film spool to be received in the film take-up chamber in a film unwinding position for unwinding rotation of the film spool and a different film winding position for winding rotation of the film spool.

Abstract: A camera comprises a first device which makes a head and a film closer to each other, the head being arranged to perform at least either one of recording and reading information on and from the film, a second device which prevents the film from travelling when a film transport device is placed in a stopped state, and an interlocking device which mechanically interlocks the first device and the second device.

Abstract: A method of disengaging an anti-backup pawl from a film winding thumbwheel to permit an unexposed filmstrip to be prewound from a film cartridge during original manufacture or recycling of a one-time-use camera has the steps of: depressing a movable free end of the anti-backup pawl to pivot the anti-backup pawl at a fulcrum support between the free end and a movable opposite end of the anti-backup pawl that engages the film winding thumbwheel, in order to disengage the opposite end from the film winding thumbwheel; and holding the free end depressed to maintain the opposite end disengaged from the film winding thumbwheel, in order to permit the film winding thumbwheel to be rotated in engagement with a film spool in the film cartridge when the unexposed filmstrip is prewound from the film cartridge.

Abstract: A light shielding member is composed of plural light shielding plates which increase and decrease an opening area by shielding an exposure opening at least partially, and at least two light shielding plates overlap each other to move from the exposure opening. The film is positioned in such a way that the film is transported in the same direction (feeding direction) when the normal size is switched to the panoramic size and vice versa. Even if the number of residual frames in the panoramic size is 0, the photography in the normal size is allowed when the photography is possible in the normal size. A display shows that the photography can be performed in the normal size, or the panoramic size is automatically switched to the normal size.

Abstract: A subassembly for a one-time-use camera comprises a main body part that has a film take-up chamber adapted to receive a film spool and a film supply chamber for an unexposed film roll, a film winding thumbwheel supported for winding rotation in engagement with the film spool to similarly rotate the film spool to take up an exposed filmstrip, and an anti-backup pawl normally engaging the thumbwheel to prevent unwinding rotation of the thumbwheel and disengageable from the thumbwheel to allow unwinding rotation of the thumbwheel to permit the film spool to be similarly rotated to unwind a fresh unexposed filmstrip from the film spool to form the unexposed film roll. The film take-up chamber is configured to allow the film spool to be received in the film take-up chamber in a film unwinding position for unwinding rotation of the film spool and to be in a different film winding position for winding rotation of the film spool.

Abstract: A one-time-use camera including a main body part with a cartridge receiving chamber for a film cartridge and a film roll chamber for an unexposed filmstrip that is prewound from the film cartridge into an unexposed film roll, a cover part for the main body part, a shutter mechanism opened and closed to expose successive sections of the filmstrip, and a film winding motor operable to wind each exposed section of the filmstrip into the film cartridge when the shutter mechanism is closed, is characterized in that the cover part has a temporary motor defeat that prevents operation of the film winding motor when the shutter mechanism is closed, to allow the shutter mechanism to be tested without having to operate the film winding motor, but is removable from the cover part to allow the film winding motor to be operated.

Abstract: A one-time-use camera comprising a backframe opening at which successive image areas of a filmstrip are exposed, a film winder rotatable to wind an exposed image area of the filmstrip from the backframe opening onto an exposed film roll and to advance an unexposed image area of the filmstrip to the backframe opening, a film metering member engageable with the film winder to prevent rotation of the film winder, and a release manually depressible to initiate exposure, is characterized in that the film metering member is located beneath the release for the release to automatically depress the film metering member out of engagement with said film winder when the release is manually depressed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photographic recording or reproducing device, preferably a camera, with a transportation device for the frame-by-frame transportation of a film along a film transportation path and with a film measuring device with an engagement member rotatable about an axis for engaging in perforation holes of a peripheral perforation of the film, the film transportation device being locked when the film reaches a position during its transportation which is provided for the recording or reproduction of an image, and the engagement member comprising an advancing engagement element in relation to its rotational movement and a trailing support element and being adjustable transversely to the film transportation path as a function of the abutment of the support element upon a surface extending parallel to the film transportation path.

Abstract: A camera metering mechanism discriminates between 1) adjacent perforations in a set, which trigger said metering mechanism to interrupt the film advance, and 2) adjacent perforations between sets, which do not trigger the interruption. The mechanism uses a difference in spacing between the perforations, which alternates between a first distance within a set and a second longer distance between sets. The mechanism is triggered to interrupt film advance when the space between detected perforations is less than a predetermined distance. If the space exceeds the predetermined distance, then film advance continues until the next successive perforation. According to more specific features, the perforation detector initiates electrical transitions at the leading and trailing edges of the perforations, and film distances are a determined from the time difference between selected transitions.

Abstract: A perforation detection device of a contact piece type to be built into a camera. A detection section of a first contact piece arranged on the rear surface side of a path in which the perforations of a film advance in a film feeding stage is constructed of a metal ball which is a separate member from that of the first contact piece. This metal ball comes in pressure contact with a second contact piece arranged on the front surface side of the film as the perforations pass. When the metal ball faces a perforation of the film, this metal ball comes in contact with both the first and the second contact pieces to provide a continuity between the first and second contact pieces, so that the position of the perforation is detected. In the film feeding stage, the metal ball comes in rolling contact with the film surface. The contact pieces have a very small resistance to the film feed, and it is scarcely possible that the film will be injured.

Abstract: A sprocket wheel is used with photo film which includes a plurality of perforation groups arranged in a longitudinal direction thereof and cyclically at a pitch predetermined for one frame. Each of the perforation groups includes first and second perforations arranged at a predetermined distance. The sprocket wheel is rotated by a predetermined amount while the photo film is wound per one frame. The sprocket wheel includes a wheel portion. Four teeth are arranged on a periphery of the wheel portion. A first one of the teeth is meshed with the first perforation. Then a second one of the teeth is meshed with the second perforation. The first and second teeth split the periphery of the wheel portion into first and second arc-shaped faces. The first arc-shaped face is determined in association with the predetermined distance. The second arc-shaped face has a radius greater than a radius of the first arc-shaped face, to push the photo film.

Abstract: A camera which prevents accidents which could lead to damage to the shutter when performing shutter time tests in the opened state of the back cover of a camera. The camera has a shutter to limit the exposure time of the recording medium which has been loaded, a measurement unit to measure, according to the action of the shutter, the time of the exposure to the recording medium which the shutter performs, and a back cover sensor to detect whether the back cover is open or closed when film or another recording medium has been loaded into the camera. The action of the measurement unit is inhibited when the back cover sensor detects that the back cover is open. The camera also has a drive unit for recording an image on the film or recording medium and a mode selection switch to select between a normal mode in which a photographic action is performed, in which the shutter and the drive unit are activated, and a test mode in which the shutter and the measurement unit are activated but not the drive unit.

Abstract: There is provided a battery presence/absence detection mechanism (80) which operates according to the presence/absence of a battery (4) in a battery housing (3). When the battery (4) does not exist in the battery housing (3) or is removed from the same during the course of advancement of film, a battery presence/absence detection lever (801) and first and second battery presence/absence transmission levers (802, 803) operate so as to pivot a first winding lock lever (701) of a double winding prevention mechanism (70) to a position where it prevents the pivotal movement of a ratchet pawl (202) in a first direction. The double winding prevention mechanism (70) is attracted to and held in a reset state in which a film advance lever (10) cannot be actuated, by a magnet (703B) of a lock control means (703) via a second winding lock lever (702). It is possible to prevent wasteful advancement of film and to enable stable advancement of film even if a battery is at the end of its life or is removed from a camera.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photographic recording or reproducing device, preferably a camera, with a transportation device for the frame-by-frame transportation of a film along a film transportation path and with a film measuring device with an engagement member rotatable about an axis for engaging in perforation holes of a peripheral perforation of the film, the film transportation device being locked when the film reaches a position during its transportation which is provided for the recording or reproduction of an image, and the engagement member comprising an advancing engagement element in relation to its rotational movement and a trailing support element and being adjustable transversely to the film transportation path as a function of the abutment of the support element upon a surface extending parallel to the film transportation path.

Abstract: A camera having a sprocket with a pair of cogs formed on a periphery for engaging a filmstrip having a row of perforations separated at alternate short and long intervals. The periphery is divided by the cogs into a frictional engaging section which provides frictional engagement of the periphery with the filmstrip and a mechanical engaging section which provides mechanical engagement of the cogs with the perforations. A shutter charging mechanism is operated by rotation of the sprocket driven by the filmstrip through the mechanical engagement between the filmstrip and at least part of the mechanically engaging section of the sprocket. A switch over mechanism disconnects the sprocket and the shutter mechanism in response to rewinding the filmstrip and a locking mechanism prevents reverse rotation of the sprocket in a specific position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a film transport and release device for a photographic camera comprising a body part that pulls out and slides in parallel to the film transport direction in relation to the camera body, where in the pulled-out position of the body part the camera is ready to take a picture. Furthermore, a film transport wheel for a perforated film strip is provided. The body part has a toothed rack which is assigned a toothed wheel mounted permanently on a driving arbor arranged in axially movable and non-rotatable manner in the film transport wheel. Here the toothed wheel is movable by means of the release into its ready-to-mesh position in relation to the toothed rack and is kept in this position after operation of the release until the film strip has been transported one picture field further.

Abstract: A camera mechanism comprising a manually depressible shutter release button, a resilient cantilevered support for the shutter release button which is moved when the shutter release button is manually depressed, and a rotatable sprocket for engaging a filmstrip, is characterized in that the sprocket has a spindle that rotates with the sprocket, and the cantilevered support has a bearing hole in which spindle is rotated, to allow the cantilevered support to be moved firmly against the spindle to brake the film sprocket when the shutter release button is manually depressed.

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: Photo film (15) has pairs of perforations (21) arranged at a regular pitch (L1+L2). A photo film advancing device for advancing the photo film by the regular pitch (L1+L2) has a take-up spool (23), which winds the photo film after each exposure. A rotatable sprocket wheel (26, 68, 80, 83, 90) has a circular peripheral face (27, 71, 80c, 87, 93) with first and second teeth. The first (25a, 68a, 80a, 85b, 91a) and second teeth (25b, 68b, 80b, 85a, 91b) engage the respective perforations. A wind stop claw (36a) locks the sprocket wheel to prevent the photo film from advancing when the first and/or second perforation is engaged with the first and/or second tooth. The wind stop claw unlocks the sprocket wheel when a shutter (44) operates. While unlocked, the sprocket wheel is rotated a small amount by advancement of the photo film, to move the second tooth away from the second perforation. The peripheral face of the sprocket wheel frictionally contacts the photo film.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photographic recording or reproducing device, preferably a camera, with a transportation device for the frame-by-frame transportation of a film along a film transportation path and with a film length-measuring device with an engagement member pivotable about an axle for engagement in perforation holes along a perforated edge of the film, the film transportation device being locked when the film reaches a position during the course of its transportation for recording or reproducing an image, the engagement member containing a leading engagement element in relation to its rotary movement and a following support element and being adjustable transversely to the film transportation path as a function of the support of the support element on a surface extending parallel to the film transportation path.

Abstract: A method of prewinding film from a film cartridge having a rotatable spool for allowing a contained film to be thrust from the confines of the cartridge after a light blocking door is opened to permit a filmstrip to be thrust from the cartridge, into a film roll chamber using a roller assembly disposed between the cartridge and a film roll carrier to draw film from the cartridge after the leader portion has been thrust from the cartridge. According to the invention, the film roll carrier is detachable to allow the film cartridge and film roll carrier to be loaded into a camera body section after film has been prewound from the cartridge. Alternately, the prewinding can be done using a single roller assembly which interfaces with the film rails of a camera body to permit prewinding between a cartridge and the film roll chamber of the camera body.

Abstract: A camera provided with a magnetic head for effecting at least one of writing information into a magnetic portion of a film and reading information from the magnetic portion. The camera includes a detection circuit for detecting a feed speed of the film and a prohibiting circuit for prohibiting a photographing operation of the camera when the feed speed of the film detected by the detection circuit is lower than a predetermined speed.

Abstract: Photo film has pairs of perforations arranged at a regular pitch (L1+L2) along at least one edge thereof. Each of the pairs of perforations includes first and second perforations arranged at a small regular interval (L1) away from one another. A photo film advancing device has a rotatable sprocket wheel (41, 72, 80, 152, 252), a periphery of which has at least one pair of teeth, respectively including first and second teeth disposed away from one another nearly at the regular interval. The first tooth is engaged with the first perforation. The second tooth is engaged with the second perforation. A retaining member (44) causes the sprocket wheel to have a locked state, and disables the photo film from advancing when the second perforation is engaged with the second tooth. The retaining member causes the sprocket wheel to have an unlocked state and enables the sprocket wheel to rotate when a shutter operates.

Abstract: A pulse generator includes a code plate which is provided with a plurality of grounding land portions and a plurality of pulse generating land portions having a potential different from a potential of the grounding land portions, arranged in a direction of rotation about a specific position, and a pair of interconnected contact terminals which are rotated in one direction about the specific position of the code plate to come successively into contact with the grounding land port ions and the pulse generating land portions. The positional relationship between the contact terminals and the grounding land portions and the pulse generating land portions is such that when one of the contact terminals comes into contact with the pulse generating land portions during the rotation of the contact terminals, the other contact terminal is brought into contact with the grounding land portion.

Abstract: A photographic camera of small, flat design, comprising a body shell, a taking lens, a viewfinder, a film chamber, a film transport apparatus, and a flash device. The body shell is configured parallelepipedally and has on its front side a linear flat guideway in which a lens slide is guided displaceably from a non-operating position into a taking position and for purposes of film transport. For this purpose the body shell is equipped on the back side with a linear flat guideway, and the film chamber is configured as a replaceable film cassette that is displaceably guided in the flat guideway. The film cassette serves to receive a film strip equipped with an edge perforation, and consists of a flat, parallelepipedal housing with an exposure window and a film mouth. There extends in the housing, in the longitudinal direction thereof, a circumferential and continuous film channel which passes by the exposure window and opens into the film mouth.

Abstract: A camera having a body portion with a cartridge chamber for retaining a film cartridge and a film chamber for retaining a filmstrip includes a cover coupled to the body portion and movable in opposite directions between an opened and a closed position having a gear rack having a set of linearly arranged engagement teeth. A drive gear having an engaging portion for engaging the film cartridge is moved into engagement with the gear rack to wind the filmstrip into the film cartridge when said cover is moved in one of the opposite directions, and is moved out of engagement with the gear rack when the cover is moved in the other direction to prevent film winding.

Abstract: A camera for use with a filmstrip having a row of perforations separated at alternate short and long intervals has a film winding mechanism which includes a sprocket and a locking mechanism for locking the sprocket in a specific position when an exposure counter returns its start point.

Abstract: A camera comprising a rear cover part having a rear opening, a rotatable film advance thumbwheel protruding from the rear opening to permit the thumbwheel to be manually rotated in a film winding direction and having a continuous alternating series of teeth and spaces, and a flexible beam projecting from the rear cover part and having an anti-backup pawl to be received in anyone of the spaces to prevent reverse rotation of the thumbwheel but being pushed out of anyone of the spaces to make the beam flex away from the thumbwheel when the thumbwheel is rotated in the film winding direction, is characterized in that the beam has a pair of opposite ends fixed to the rear cover part and said pawl is located between the fixed opposite ends, to make the beam be flexed intermediate its fixed opposite ends when the pawl is pushed out of anyone of the spaces because of manual rotation of the thumbwheel in the film winding direction, whereby the natural frequency of vibration of the beam can be raised to make the noise

Abstract: A camera that reliably prevents frame shifts of film by inserting a frame shift prevention member into a film perforation is disclosed. The camera with a frame shift prevention function includes a frame shift prevention member that is supported to move toward or away from the perforation of the film. The frame shift prevention member includes a first oblique plane that makes contact with the edge of the perforation during feeding of the film in the direction of winding in preparation for shooting the next film and a second oblique plane that makes contact with the edge of the perforation during feeding of the film in the direction of reminding that are formed on the frame shift prevention member. The angle between the second oblique angle and the rewinding direction is smaller than the angle between the first oblique angle and the winding direction.

Abstract: A multiple-image camera providing high-density use of conventional 35 mm film is disclosed. Many more individual exposures can be made using standard film and standard film processing services, which greatly reduces the cost of children's irratic and often unproductive experiments with photography. The mechanical simplicity of the camera make it both reliable and inexpensive, also make it useful as an expendable vacation camera for adults.

Abstract: A camera film transport mechanism includes a torque limiting one-way drive clutch for preventing film damaging excessive torque loading or reverse rotation of the drive. The clutch includes coaxial inner and outer members. A resilient arm extends generally tangentially from one of the members with a free end biased against the other member and engagable with a tooth or abutment thereon to transmit torque therebetween. A sloping surface on one or both of the tooth and the arm end limits torque transmission by camming the arm out of engagement when the friction force is overcome. Multiple arms and/or abutment teeth may be provided and the arms may be arranged for either compressive or tensile loading. Slip torque deviation is limited by making the engaging surfaces from diverse materials, for example, an amorphous polymer, such as polycarbonate styrene, for one surface and a semi-crystalline polymer, such as nylon or acetal, for the other.

Abstract: A camera includes a depressible shutter release, and a film drive gear in which the shutter release and the film moving element have respective coaxial mechanisms for coaxially engaging one another only when the shutter release is depressed. In a preferred embodiment, the shutter release is part of a pivotable trigger which supports a drive spline which engages a film driving gear only when the shutter release is depressed.

Abstract: The invention prevents film displacement without sacrificing the speedy photographic characteristics during the time of continuous photography. A part to prevent film displacement is moved to one of a contact position with a film and a removed position from the film. The part to prevent film displacement prevents a film displacement toward the direction of advancing film at the contact position. A driving device drives the part to prevent the film displacement. The photography control device carries out one time photography and the film advancement during the single mode setting and carries out the operation of photography and the film advancement alternately and repeatedly during the release operation. During the continuous photography mode setting, the device to control the film displacement controls the driving device and placed the part to prevent film displacement in the removed position only at the time of the film advancement after photography.

Abstract: A detection apparatus for locating a film position detects the position with a simple structure. The apparatus uses a plurality of position detection holes for each picture frame in a film. The holes are repeatedly formed in the film in a certain arrangement and correspond to detection bodies located in the camera. The device includes a signal output circuit generating signals indicative of the proper or improper positioning of the film based on alignment between the holes and the detection bodies.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in an automatic film winding camera for determining, during film loading, the presence of a film leader portion having a notch therein. First and second film perforation sensors positioned apart along a film advancing path of the film in first and second sensor positions are enabled and disabled in a sequence in which the first and second sensors successively detect the advancement of the film's leading edge at the first and the second sensor positions. The first sensor is then enabled for sensing the film perforations when the notch in the film leader portion is positioned between the first and second sensor positions.