Thrust Type Patents (Class 396/516)
  • Patent number: 6280103
    Abstract: The camera of this invention includes a parking mechanism that ensures a visual exposure indicator of an APS film cassette is in the parked position prior to removing the film cassette from the camera. The camera may include a rotatable wheel that rotates in order to move the film between a film cassette compartment, a film exposing area and a film spool. In a preferred embodiment, the parking mechanism includes a pin that engages the rotatable wheel after the film has been rewound into the film cassette and the wheel has been rotated sufficient distance to ensure that the visual exposure indicator moves to the parked position. When the pin engages the rotatable wheel, the pin prevents further rotation of the rotatable wheel. This indicates to the camera user that the visual exposure indicator is in the park position. The wheel may include a cam slot into which the pin travels as the film is being rewound into the film cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Concord Camera Corp.
    Inventors: Arthur Zawodny, Wilfried Bittner, Franco Yik Kai Chung
  • Patent number: 6216971
    Abstract: A photo film cassette has a spool core about which photo film is wound in a form of a roll. A cassette shell contains the spool core in a rotatable manner. Two flanges have a disk shape, and are secured to respective ends of the spool core, for regulating lateral edges of the roll of the photo film. A circumferential lip is disposed on each flange, is extended toward the opposite one of the flanges, wraps one of the lateral edges of an outermost turn of the photo film of the roll, and prevents the photo film from being loosened. A rim portion is disposed on an circular edge of the circumferential lip confronted with the opposite one of the flanges, to project with a bend away from the spool core. A contact face is disposed on the rim portion, and contacts the one of the lateral edges of the photo film when the photo film is unwound from the spool core or wound back about the spool core. The contact face has a contact range of 0.15-0.8 mm in contacting the one of the lateral edges of the photo film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Mochizuki, Seiichi Watanabe, Keiji Shigesada, Naoyoshi Chino, Masahiro Enomoto, Mototada Yasui, Akira Tomita
  • Patent number: 6141506
    Abstract: A camera or an apparatus adapted to use a film cartridge, or a unit applicable to the camera or the apparatus, includes a first member for opening a cover of a loading chamber provided for loading the camera or the apparatus with the film cartridge, a second member arranged to output a signal for causing the first member to act by an operation performed from outside, and a third member arranged to cause the first member to act by an operation performed from outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazushige Ichino
  • Patent number: 6137961
    Abstract: A camera or an apparatus adapted to use a film cartridge, or a unit applicable to the camera or the apparatus, includes a first member arranged to move the film cartridge at least for one of loading and unloading the film cartridge on or from the camera or the apparatus, and a second member arranged to prevent the first member from acting detrimentally at least on transportation of a film contained in the film cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yukio Ogawa
  • Patent number: 6074107
    Abstract: A camera system has a film cartridge provided with a first shaft around which an unexposed film is wound, a second shaft for taking up an exposed film and a movable third shaft which causes a portion of the film which has been sent out from the first shaft to be folded back in a U-turn way so that the portion of the film is allowed to be taken up around the second shaft, and a camera capable of being loaded with the film cartridge and provided with a moving mechanism for moving, when the film cartridge has been loaded, the third shaft of the film cartridge so as to make an exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Sahori, Takayuki Tsuboi
  • Patent number: 6065702
    Abstract: A photo film cassette has a spool core about which photo film is wound in a form of a roll. A cassette shell contains the spool core in a rotatable manner. Two flanges have a disk shape, and are secured to respective ends of the spool core, for regulating lateral edges of the roll of the photo film. A circumferential lip is disposed on each flange, is extended toward the opposite one of the flanges, wraps one of the lateral edges of an outermost turn of the photo film of the roll, and prevents the photo film from being loosened. A rim portion is disposed on an circular edge of the circumferential lip confronted with the opposite one of the flanges, to project with a bend away from the spool core. A contact face is disposed on the rim portion, and contacts the one of the lateral edges of the photo film when the photo film is unwound from the spool core or wound back about the spool core. The contact face has a contact range of 0.15.0.8 mm in contacting the one of the lateral edges of the photo film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Mochizuki, Seiichi Watanabe, Keiji Shigesada, Naoyoshi Chino, Masahiro Enomoto, Mototada Yasui, Akira Tomita
  • Patent number: 6049679
    Abstract: A camera includes an closure having a frame with a pair of opposed tracks. The frame defines a passage for the cartridge and placements for open and closed active light lock states. The closure has a door with a pair of opposed margins in slideable engagement with the tracks. The door is slideable along the tracks from a closed position, to a locking position, and then to an open position. The closure has a driver having an active light lock key. The driver is movable relative to the frame from a first position in which the key is in a placement for the open state and a second position wherein the key is in a placement for the closed state. The sliding of the door from the closed position to the locking position moves the driver from the first position to the second position. Sliding of the door from the locking position to the open position retains the driver in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Anthony DiRisio
  • Patent number: 5943522
    Abstract: A camera or a cartridge moving apparatus comprises an engagement portion which engages a cartridge and moves the cartridge relative to a cartridge loading chamber, and a holding device which holds the engagement portion so as to be movable in at least two directions which are approximately perpendicular to a direction in which the cartridge is moved by the engagement portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazushige Ichino
  • Patent number: 5893001
    Abstract: A film cassette having perforated film for permitting automated extension of the film, the film cassette comprises a core having the film convolutedly wound on the core. A rotatable drum receives the core, and includes a recessed slot and a projection which engages a perforation of the film for permitting motion of the film as the drum is rotated. A shell receives the drum, and includes an opening and a finger that matingly engages the recessed slot of the drum for forcing the film through the opening of the shell and, consequently, out of the film cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Robertson, Mark D. Fraser, Daniel M. Pagano, John J. Breen
  • Patent number: 5862427
    Abstract: A single-use camera which is loaded with a film cartridge having a light-shielding cover on a film gate thereof. The single-use camera includes: a cover for covering the film cartridge when the cover is at its closed position, a closing member for closing the light-shielding cover of the film cartridge, a stopper for keeping the cover member at the closed position, and a stopper release for releasing the stopper so as to allow the cover to be open while the light-shielding cover is being closed by the closing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsufumi Takaba, Masami Fujita, Shuri Mizoguchi, Masaru Yamazaki, Osamu Shibazaki, Hitoshi Ohkubo
  • Patent number: 5828921
    Abstract: A camera or an apparatus adapted to use a film cartridge or a device which is applicable to such camera or apparatus includes a cover for a loading chamber into which to load the film cartridge, and a driving part for driving the cover, the driving part having a member for supplying a driving power to the cover by rotating about an axis substantially parallel with an image forming optical axis, and/or a driving part for at least one of loading and removal of the film cartridge, the driving part including a member for supplying a driving power by rotating about an axis substantially parallel with the image forming optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Miyawaki
  • Patent number: 5826125
    Abstract: A camera or apparatus adapted to use an image recording medium cartridge having a cover for allowing an image recording medium to come out from or enter into the image recording medium cartridge. The camera or apparatus includes a cartridge loading device for loading the cartridge and for moving the cartridge to an accommodating position where the cartridge is accommodated in the camera or apparatus or a taking-out position where the cartridge is taken out of the camera or apparatus; a cover opening device for opening the cover of the cartridge; and a linkage device for preventing the cover opening device from opening the cover of the cartridge when the cartridge loading device is in the taking-out position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuya Nishio
  • Patent number: 5809352
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Robert J. Stanchus
  • Patent number: 5737659
    Abstract: A camera includes a chamber for receiving a film cartridge having a light-lock movable between open and closed positions, a chamber cover movable between a closed position covering the chamber and an open position uncovering the chamber, and manually operable means for releasing the chamber cover to move from its closed position to its open position. An ejector is provided for ejecting the film cartridge at least part way out of the chamber An actuating member is sized and positioned such that it can be moved by the releasing means to both actuate the ejector to eject the cartridge from the chamber, and move the light-lock from its open to closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Wayne Edward Stiehler, Patricia Lynn Williams, Donald Patrick McGinn, Robert Louis Kuhn, Jr., Anthony DiRisio, Thomas Samuel Albrecht
  • Patent number: 5713057
    Abstract: A camera includes a chamber for receiving a cartridge having a light lock movable between an open position allowing a filmstrip to exit the cartridge and a closed position sealing the cartridge in a light-tight manner. The camera also includes means for moving the light lock between its open and closed positions. The invention is characterized by means actuateable by movement of the filmstrip from the cartridge, for preventing the moving means from moving the light lock from the open position to the closed position when the filmstrip protrudes out of the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Patricia Lynn Williams, Robert Louis Kuhn, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5687414
    Abstract: A camera adapted to use an image recording medium cartridge in which an image recording medium is contained or an apparatus adapted for this kind of camera includes a determination portion for determining whether the image recording medium contained in the image recording medium cartridge is already developed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shosuke Haraguchi, Masakazu Taku
  • Patent number: 5675834
    Abstract: A camera, an apparatus, or a device applied thereto which uses an image recording medium cartridge having a cover for allowing an image recording medium to come out from or in the image recording medium cartridge, has determination means for determining at least one of a state wherein the cover of the cartridge loaded in the camera or apparatus allows entrance of light into the cartridge and a state wherein the cover of the cartridge clamps the image recording medium, and regulating means for regulating at least one of recording an image on the image recording medium and obtaining a print of an image recorded on the image recording medium in accordance with a determination result of the determination means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuya Nishio
  • Patent number: 5664248
    Abstract: A photographic camera has a cartridge chamber in which is loaded a film cartridge having a roll film entirely rolled to its leading end around a spool in a cartridge body and a light-shielding shutter member for opening and shutting a film exit slit formed in the cartridge body, an entrance opening to the cartridge chamber, and a chamber lid which is mounted on the camera to be moved between an opening position where it opens the entrance opening and a closed position where it closes the entrance opening. A shutter lock member moves to a shutter locking position, where it prevents release of the shutter of the camera, in response to operation of a rewind button. A holding member holds the shutter lock member in the shutter locking position, and a release member causes the holding member to release the shutter lock member after closure of the light-shielding shutter member of the film cartridge in response to opening of the chamber lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignees: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd., Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoji Naka, Toshio Yoshida, Takashi Kamoda
  • Patent number: 5634165
    Abstract: A camera having a cartridge bay into which a film cartridge is inserted includes a cover that can be opened and closed, and that covers the opening of the cartridge bay in order to block light. A force applying device applies force to a film cartridge inserted in the cartridge bay in the direction in which the film cartridge is ejected out of the cartridge bay. A prevention member prevents the film cartridge from flying completely out of the cartridge bay due to the force applied by the force applying device, such that only a part of the film cartridge protrudes out of the camera. The prevention member operates in response to the opening of the cartridge bay cover, and when the cartridge bay cover is partially open, the prevention member is set at a position at which it prevents the film cartridge from flying out. When the cartridge bay cover is fully open, the prevention member is set at a retracted position to enable the removal of the film cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Nakagawa, Kazuhiko Kojima
  • Patent number: 5630192
    Abstract: A photographic camera has a magazine chamber which is opened and closed by a light-shielding lid. A film magazine which has a magazine body provided with a film exit slit and a light-shielding door for opening and closing the film exit slit is loaded in the magazine chamber. A light-shielding door opening and closing mechanism opens and closes the light-shielding door of the film magazine loaded in the magazine chamber. An electric motor is disposed in the camera and provides the light-shielding door opening and closing mechanism with driving force for opening and closing the light-shielding door. A controller causes the light-shielding door opening and closing mechanism to open and close the light-shielding door under the driving force provided by the electric motor when the light-shielding lid is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyotaka Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5610679
    Abstract: A method for loading an unexposed photographic film in a lens-fitted photographic film unit, the method including the steps of: providing a cartridge storing the unexposed film therein, and a film supplying spool having a film winding part around which the film is wound, a portion defining a suction hole for film-attraction formed on the film winding part, and a portion defining a hollow hole for air-suction formed concentrically with the supplying spool; thrusting out the film from the cartridge; sucking air from the hollow hole so that the film thrust out from the cartridge is attracted to the suction hole; winding up the film by a predetermined length to the supplying spool while attracting the film to the suction hole; and loading the cartridge and the supplying spool in a main body of the lens-fitted photographic film unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Sugano, Kiyohide Ito
  • Patent number: 5604556
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Daniel T. Meyerhoefer, Bruce A. Leonard
  • Patent number: 5604557
    Abstract: A camera comprises a cartridge chamber having an access opening through which a film cartridge of film feeding type is loaded into a cavity of the cartridge chamber in a direction substantially vertical to a cartridge shaft of the film cartridge, and a slide cover capable of turning to an open position where the film cartridge is loaded and a closed position where the access opening of the cartridge chamber is closed. A turning position of the slide cover is restricted so that communication between the cavity of the cartridge chamber and a film feed passage is blocked by part of the slide cover, when the slide cover is turned to the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshito Kobayashi, Yu Sato
  • Patent number: 5602611
    Abstract: A photographic film cassette has a rotatable spool on which photographic film is wound. A leader of the photographic film is advanced outward through a passage port by rotation of the spool in an unwinding direction. A shutter rod is arranged in the passage port, and is rotated between closed and open positions. When assuming the closed position, the shutter rod blocks the passage port to shield the ambient light. When the shutter rod assumes the open position, the photographic film is allowed to pass. An externally operable locking lever regulates rotation of the shutter rod, and is swingable with resilience between a locking position, where the shutter rod is locked in the closed position, and an unlocking position, where the shutter rod is unlocked. When the spool is rotated, the lever rotates the shutter rod to the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Takatori, Akimasa Kaya
  • Patent number: 5585876
    Abstract: A photographic camera has a film cartridge chamber, a film take-up chamber, a film feed passage formed between a film window on a camera body and a pressure plate on a camera back and a film feed mechanism. A film cartridge in which a roll film is entirely rolled around a spool in a cartridge body to its leading end is loaded in the film cartridge chamber and the film is fed out through a film exit slit formed in the cartridge body by the film feed mechanism. A guide portion for leading the leading end of the film fed out through the film exit slit to the film feed passage is provided at the film cartridge chamber side end of the film feed passage. The guide portion includes at least an end guide surface provided on the camera body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignees: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd., Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyotaka Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5568216
    Abstract: A film cartridge comprises a housing with a film exit slit, and a film roll support rotatable inside the housing to unwind a filmstrip beginning with a film leader to permit the film leader to be moved outwardly through the slit to accomplish film loading in a camera. According to one feature of the invention a protective strip is provided with a length and a width dimensioned to permit the protective strip to completely cover a non-emulsion side of successive frames of the filmstrip when individual ones of the frames are positioned outside the housing for exposure in a camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: John A. Agostinelli, Madhav Mehra
  • Patent number: 5563673
    Abstract: A camera is provided with a cartridge chamber for loading a film cartridge, a cartridge chamber lid for closing or opening said cartridge chamber, and switching means for switching a state of an operation portion formed on a surface of said film cartridge, said switching means interlocking with an operation of said cartridge chamber lid to switch the state of said operation portion of said film cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Chikara Aoshima