Rear Door Or Latch Detail Patents (Class 396/536)
  • Patent number: 6246840
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for a backside cover has an entrance hole which allows a lock pin to enter into a position where the lock pin is engaged with the hook part of the movable locking member when the backside cover is closed. A tapered surface is formed on one of the opposing surfaces of the entrance hole so that when the lock pin is forced in the biasing direction of the movable locking member, the tapered surface contacts with the lock pin to guide the lock pin in a direction in which the lock pin is discharged from the entrance hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuro Tani
  • Patent number: 6154271
    Abstract: A safety system for preventing the exposure of photosensitive sheets wound on at least one core in a container. The container has a door moveable between opened and closed positions, a projection mounted spindle for supporting the at least one core, and a fixing device coupled to the projection mounted spindle for attaching the door to the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Didier Duc, Matthieu Joseph Helas
  • Patent number: 6152615
    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 device for engaging the film cartridge, and a second device for at least one of loading and unloading the film cartridge with respect to the camera by automatically moving the first device together with the film cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shosuke Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 6151449
    Abstract: An opaque rear cover part for a one-time-use camera comprising a door cover portion and a remaining cover portion arranged to permit the door cover portion to be pivoted open relative to the remaining cover portion about a pivot axis, and a fracture line of weakness formed between the door cover portion and the remaining cover portion to create a break along the fracture line of weakness which permits the door cover portion to be separated from the remaining cover portion when the door cover portion is pivoted open, is characterized in that the fracture line of weakness is entirely not coincident with the pivot axis and is angled with respect to the pivot axis in order to effect a shearing stress in addition to a bending stress at the fracture line of weakness which causes the door cover portion to separate from the remaining cover portion when the door cover portion is pivoted open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Randy E. Horning, Dennis J. O'Dea
  • Patent number: 6148155
    Abstract: A camera includes a film cartridge chamber in which a film cartridge having a rotating shaft is loaded, a cartridge chamber lid for covering a loading port of the film cartridge chamber, the cartridge chamber lid being supported to be openable and closable on the camera and having an opening part extending from outside into the film cartridge chamber in such a position as to face a predetermined part of the rotating shaft of the film cartridge loaded in the film cartridge chamber, an exterior part mounted on the cartridge chamber lid and capable of coming into one of a state to cover the opening part and a state not to cover the opening part, and a holding part arranged to hold the rotating shaft by abutting on the predetermined part of the rotating shaft, the holding part holding the rotating shaft in a state of being situated in a predetermined position between the exterior part and the predetermined part of the rotating shaft, and the holding part being removable from the predetermined position through the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ichiro Yasumaru
  • 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: 6130997
    Abstract: A film cartridge loading apparatus adapted to a camera, including (a) a slidable cover for film cartridge loading and (b) a motor for driving the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryoji Okuno
  • Patent number: 6108498
    Abstract: A cartridge is disposed in a chamber of a cartridge receiving apparatus. An actuating member on the apparatus is moveable a first increment to initiate an apparatus operation and moveable a second increment. A latch is positioned to prevent the actuating member from being moved the second increment after it is moved the first increment. The actuating member is moved the second increment only when the cartridge is at least partially removed from the chamber. The cartridge receiving apparatus may further include a prevention member to prevent the chamber from receiving an exposed filmstrip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Michael L. Wirt
  • Patent number: 6101341
    Abstract: A photographic camera is provided with a cartridge chamber in which a film cartridge is loaded. A chamber lid is movable between an opening position in which it opens an entrance opening to the cartridge chamber and a closed position in which it closes the entrance opening. A lock lever is moved to a locking position in response to movement of the chamber lid to the closed position to lock the chamber lid in the closed position and is moved to an unlocking position to release the chamber lid in response to an operation for opening the chamber lid. The lock lever is urged toward the locking position by a spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuo Manabe
  • Patent number: 6101340
    Abstract: A structure for transmitting a driving force from a camera body side to a cartridge chamber cover side in order to automatically operate a safety mechanism section of a safety locking mechanism installed inside the cover. The safety locking mechanism includes a locking mechanism section for locking the cover relative to the camera body; an unlocking operation member for manually releasing the locking mechanism section; and a safety mechanism section for selectively prohibiting or permitting the operation of the unlocking operation member. The driving force for automatically operating the safety mechanism section is transmitted from the camera body to the safety mechanism section through a winding spool of a film cartridge loaded inside the camera body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kojima, Katsuhiro Ono, Junichi Tanii, Ikushi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6078749
    Abstract: A one-time-use camera comprises a main body part having a cartridge receiving chamber, a film cartridge in the chamber, a rear inner cover part having a door cover portion closing the chamber and supported to be pivoted open to permit the film cartridge to be removed from the chamber, a front inner cover part that together with the rear inner cover part house the main body part between them, and a pair of front and rear outer covers connected to one another over the front and rear inner cover parts. The rear outer cover is engaged releasably with the front outer cover to permit the rear outer cover to be disengaged from the front outer cover and is connected with the door cover portion to pivot the door cover portion open when the rear outer cover is disengaged from the front outer cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: James G. Rydelek, Edward N. Balling
  • Patent number: 6048109
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a shape memory member, a deforming device which deforms the shape memory member into a predetermined state, an operating device which performs a predetermined movement in response to a movement in which the shape memory member restores itself from the predetermined state to a memorized state, and a restraining device. The restraining device restrains an operation of the deforming device at least when the shape memory member performs the movement of restoring itself from the predetermined state to the memorized state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 6038402
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Randy E. Horning, James G. Rydelek
  • Patent number: 6035127
    Abstract: The single-use camera has a main body in which is housed the film cartridge and around which a cover member is formed. On the main body of the camera is a closure and a spring which are used to close the light-shield cover in the film gate of the cartridge when the cover is opened to remove the film cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsufumi Takaba, Masami Fujita, Shuri Mizoguchi, Masaru Yamazaki, Osamu Shibazaki, Hitoshi Ohkubo
  • Patent number: 6033127
    Abstract: A camera comprises an operating member mounted for rotation in first and second opposite directions by manual operation for winding and rewinding a film, respectively. A rotational winding member is mounted for connection to and disconnection from the operating member. A control member is mounted for movement between first and second positions for controlling the rotating direction of the operating member. When the control member is disposed in the first position, the operating member can be rotated only in the first direction and the rotational winding member is connected to the operating member for rotation therewith to wind the film. When the control member is disposed in the second position, the operating member can be rotated only in the second direction to rewind the film while the rotational winding member is disconnected from and does not rotate with the operating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Seiko Precision Inc.
    Inventor: Motoharu Sakurai
  • Patent number: 6035128
    Abstract: A one-time-use camera comprising a main body part, and a pair of front and rear cover parts that house the main body part between them, is characterized in that the front and rear cover parts have integral hinge portions with aligned openings, and a hinge pin is positioned in the openings to permit the front and rear cover parts to be pivoted away from one another to access the main body part, and is constructed of the same material as the front and rear cover parts to permit the hinge pin to be ground up together with the front and rear cover parts, without removing the hinge pin from the openings, to form a common substance that can be molded into new cover parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Michael L. DeCecca, Mark A. Lamphron, David Cipolla
  • Patent number: 6032000
    Abstract: A camera with a cartridge chamber for accepting a film cartridge with film and a cover for covering the cartridge chamber. The camera has a locking mechanism that locks the cover when the cover is in a closed state and a releasing device for releasing the cover from a closed state. The locking mechanism includes a pivotable member having on one end a locking portion engageable with the cover to lock the cover in the closed state and on the other end a contact portion. A biasing member urges the pivotal member in a locking direction so that the locking portion engages the cover. The releasing member includes a motor is used to open the cover. The motor drives a crank member that is connected to an unlocking member via a link member, which is operable to rotate the pivotal member in a direction opposite to the cover closing direction to open the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Tanaka, Shigeru Wada, Ikushi Nakamura, Kazuhiko Kojima, Junji Mori
  • Patent number: 6006038
    Abstract: A camera which includes a camera body, a rear cover, and a diopter adjusting mechanism having a diopter adjustment lens for a finder optical system, including: a diopter adjustment knob provided on the rear cover; a transmission member connected to the diopter adjustment knob so as to relatively move in the direction along the axis of rotation of the knob and not to relatively rotate thereto ; a biasing spring which biases the transmission member to project toward the camera body side; a lens association rotation member which is supported by the camera body so as to rotate about an axis identical to the axis of the knob and which moves the diopter adjustment lens in the optical axis direction, in accordance with the rotation of the lens association rotation member; and at least one rotation transmission projection and recess provided on one and the other of the transmission member and the lens association rotation member; the transmission member projects to a projected position close to the camera body when t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kosei Kosako
  • Patent number: 6002884
    Abstract: A waterproof mechanism for cartridge holder 4 that moves between a housed position inside the camera body and a cartridge reception/removal position at which the cartridge insertion opening is exposed outside the camera body, wherein elastic sealing member 5, which comprises flat part 51 that is sandwiched between cartridge holder 4 and holder cover 6 when the latter is attached to the former and seal area 55 that is located along the edges of said flat part 51 and extends next to and all around the edges of the holder cover and that creates a watertight seal between the camera body and holder cover 6 when the cartridge holder is in the housed position, the flat part 51 and seal area 55 being integrally formed as one unit, is placed such that said elastic sealing member 5 will be sandwiched between cartridge holder 4 and holder cover 6 when the latter is attached to the former.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Okumura, Tomohiko Kawaji
  • Patent number: 5984537
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for preventing the deviation of a focal plane shutter are disclosed. The apparatus has a back cover switch, a control unit and a shutter driver. The apparatus and method prevents the deviation of the focal plane shutter blade by opening the focal plane shutter when a back cover opens. The focal plane shutter is restored to an initial focal plane shutter state after the back cover is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Aerospace Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Jung-Ho Park
  • Patent number: 5946518
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for the film-box cover of a camera is provided. Basically, the driven gear of the film receptacle of the camera interacts with a connecting catch which is rotatably mounted on a position binder: after the film is loaded into the receptacle and rolled out, the connecting catch will rotate an appropriate distance to prevent the opening/closing motion of the camera's film-box cover. This ensures that the box cover will not be accidentally opened, thus effectively preventing the exposure of the film which has already been used. Furthermore, when rewinding the film manually or by an automatic method after the roll of film has been used up for photography, the connecting catch will return to its original position to allow the film-box cover to regain its function for removal or reloading of the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Sinpo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yeou-Fu Huang, Ta-hua Chiu
  • Patent number: 5946517
    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: August 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert Louis Kuhn, Jr., 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: 5934590
    Abstract: A simple and compact opening and shutting apparatus for a film cartridge which has a cylindrical body. The apparatus includes an opening section projecting over the body. The opening section has a film opening and a film cover which opens and shuts the film opening. The apparatus also includes a chamber which holds the cartridge and has a loading opening for loading the cartridge into the chamber. A cartridge cover opens and shuts the loading opening, and there is provided a lock for the film cover. A driver couples the cartridge cover, and a connector connects the lock with the driver so that the film cover is opened when the cartridge cover is shut. The connector is arranged in a concave area which is formed by the surface of the cylindrical body of the cartridge and the opening section projecting over the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Funahashi, Junichi Tanii
  • Patent number: 5933672
    Abstract: Advancing system of film compartment for cameras includes a film compartment lever on compartment cover between film shaft and gear, then on one side of the gear is equipped with a transmission gear, and a friction spring is equipped below that gear to contain an engaging block. Thus, as the engaging block follows the gear and the transmission gear to rotate, the engaging block can stop at two corresponding stops and immobilize the lever despite whether the film is in a loaded photo-ready or retracted position, to ensure and avoid the film compartment cover from opening. Furthermore, a transmission cover plate is equipped atop the gear, while the top side of the cover plate is equipped with positioning brass piece that engage with the circuit control board located at the very top side to facilitate the contact of the positioning brass piece and the brass soldering on the circuit control board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Sinpo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yeon-Fu Huang
  • Patent number: 5930537
    Abstract: A camera adapted to use an image recording medium cartridge having a cover for allowing an image recording medium to exit from or withdraw into the image recording medium cartridge. The camera includes operation unit for performing an operation related to at least one of loading and unloading of the cartridge with respect to the camera. A determination unit determines an operation state of the operation unit in accordance with a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryoji Okuno, Makoto Miyawaki
  • Patent number: 5918076
    Abstract: A one-time-use camera provided with an opaque cover part comprising a door portion and a remaining portion, a line of weakness between the door portion and the remaining portion that allows the door portion to be pivoted along the line of weakness to open the door portion, and a pair of lead-in slots between the door portion and the remaining portion each having an open lead-in end and an opposite end that is closed at the line of weakness to facilitate pivoting the door portion to be opened, is characterized in that the slots are partially filled between their open and closed ends with opaque tear substances that are thin enough to be readily ripped, from the open ends of the slots to the closed ends of the slots, when the door portion is pivoted along the line of weakness to be opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Solomon, Douglas H. Pearson
  • Patent number: 5915142
    Abstract: A camera comprising a chamber for receiving a film cartridge, a door supported for closing movement to cover the chamber and for opening movement to uncover the chamber, and an extracting mechanism connected with the door for pulling the film cartridge at least part way out of the chamber when the door is opened, is characterized in that the extracting mechanism includes an engaging member adapted to engage a protruding spool end of the film cartridge, to permit the engaging member to tilt the film cartridge out of the chamber when the door is opened. Preferably, the engaging member has a partially enclosed catch-space configured to receive the protruding spool end of the film cartridge in order to engage the protruding spool end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Tom Seamans
  • Patent number: 5909601
    Abstract: A camera including a cartridge receiving chamber for a film cartridge with a filmstrip including a film leader, a film take-up chamber, a backframe opening located between the cartridge receiving chamber and the film take-up chamber, a film platen located over the backframe opening, a film slit between the cartridge receiving chamber and the backframe opening to permit the film leader to be longitudinally inserted through the film slit from the cartridge receiving chamber across the backframe opening and to the film take-up chamber when the film cartridge is placed in the cartridge receiving chamber, and a film support movable to a leader supporting position within the backframe frame opening to prevent the film leader from becoming jammed in the backframe opening and for guiding the film leader to the film take-up chamber, is characterized in that the film platen is supported for movement in a first direction relative to the backframe opening to move the film support to its leader supporting position and for
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Dennis R. Zander
  • Patent number: 5907729
    Abstract: A camera includes a cover for opening and closing a film chamber, and a lock mechanism that is operable in a first and second modes in the first mode, the lock mechanism inhibits the cover from opening. In the second mode, the lock mechanism allows the cover to open. The first mode starts when the film spool is rotated in a winding direction and continues until the film spool is rotated in a rewinding direction. The second mode starts when the film spool is rotated in the rewinding direction continued until the film spool is rotated in the winding direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiro Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 5907734
    Abstract: A film door restraint and camera used with a film door having a tappet movable between latched and unlatched positions, a film cartridge having a filmstrip and an active light lock movable between open and closed states, and a cartridge spool driver movable in first and second directions of rotation to rotate a spool of said cartridge. The film door restraint has a toggle, a rotational member, and a follower. The toggle is coupled to the active light lock and is capable of tripping between an open position, in which the active light lock is open, and a closed position, in which the active light lock is closed. The toggle is tripped by the tappet when the toggle is in the open position and the tappet is moved from the latched position to the unlatched position. The rotational member is joined to the spool driver for rotation with the spool driver. The rotational member defines primary and secondary guideways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Stanchus, Anthony DiRisio, Robert L. Kuhn, Jr., Michael L. Wirt
  • Patent number: 5905920
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Masanori Hasuda, Akira Katayama, Tetsuro Goto, Yukio Uemura
  • Patent number: 5903789
    Abstract: A camera including a normally closed door moveable to be opened, and a sprocket wheel retractable from a film engageable position, is characterized in that an actuator is moveable simultaneously to move the door open and to retract the sprocket wheel from its film engageable position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Dennis R. Zander, Timothy A. Peter, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5897234
    Abstract: A film passage is formed at a rear side of an exposure aperture which is disposed between a cartridge chamber 11 and a film take-up chamber 12. The film passage comprises a passage channel 15 integrally formed with a camera main body and a film support plate covering a rear side of the passage channel. By covering the passage channel with the film support plate, an inside of the slit-like film passage is maintained in light-tight state before attaching the rear cover to the main body. A film take-up chamber cover is attached to the film take-up chamber to constitute a part of a wall thereof. By covering a rear side of the film take-up chamber with the film take-up chamber cover, the inside of the film take-up chamber is maintained in light-tight state before attaching the rear cover to the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5893652
    Abstract: A camera back comprising a light emitting device for recording information on a filmstrip in conjunction with picture-taking, and a film support for ensuring the shape of the filmstrip when information is recorded on the filmstrip, is characterized in that the film support has a plurality of parallel curved film ribs integral with the camera back for shaping the filmstrip in a curve, a recording opening is formed in the camera back adjacent one of the curved film ribs, and the light emitting device has a flat light emitting face positioned over the recording opening at an acute angle with respect to the one film rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Stanchus, William B. Salvas
  • Patent number: 5873008
    Abstract: A camera film-loading door interlock mechanism includes a film-loading door movable between a closed position and an open position to provide access to a film compartment in the camera. A door latch has an active state retaining the film-loading door in its closed position and an inactive state permitting movement of the film-loading door to its open position. A door un-latching mechanism is movable along a predetermined path to set the door latch in its inactive state, and a locking lever is selectively movable into the path of the door un-latching mechanism to prevent the door un-latching mechanism from setting the door latch in its inactive state. A bi-stable structure selectively moves the locking lever into the path of the door un-latching mechanism. The door un-latching mechanism includes a slide lever, slidably movable along the predetermined path to set the door latch in its inactive state, and a slide lever stop movable with the slide lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Wayne E. Stiehler
  • Patent number: 5870644
    Abstract: A camera, which is loaded with a film cartridge having a light lock door for closing and opening a film egress/ingress slot and an indicator attached to a cartridge spool for providing a visible indication that a filmstrip in the cartridge is exposed at a specific angular position of rotation of the cartridge spool, is provided, at the bottom of a cartridge chamber of the camera, with a bottom lid for opening and closing the cartridge chamber and a lock/unlock key movable between lid lock position and a lid unlock position. The movement of the lock/unlock key toward the lid unlock position is accompanied by rotation of the cartridge spool into the specific angular position and movement of the light lock door to the film egress/ingress slot closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoji Naka, Takashi Kamoda
  • Patent number: 5867739
    Abstract: A one-time-use camera comprising a plug which must be separated from a chamber to permit removal of an article from the chamber, and a breakable retainer for the plug which is broken to allow the plug to be separated from the chamber, is characterized in that the plug and the retainer have respective engaged portions arranged relative to one another to make the plug be separated from the chamber as the retainer is broken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Mark A. Lamphron
  • 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: 5854954
    Abstract: Apparatus (10) for using light-sensitive web material includes a cassette chamber (12) which is closed by a closure (20) when a cassette (18) of the material has been installed. A single sensor (30, 32; 50-64) is provided to detect that the cassette is present, properly oriented and filled with the right material and that the closure is properly closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Jeffrey Charles Robertson
  • Patent number: 5845168
    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: August 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Inventors: Wayne Edward Stiehler, Robert Louis Kuhn, Jr., Thomas Samuel Albrecht
  • Patent number: 5826123
    Abstract: A camera includes a film cartridge mounting chamber which has a bottom film cartridge opening for loading a small film cartridge and a rear film cartridge opening for loading a large film cartridge, a back cover for closing the rear film cartridge opening, and a bottom cover for closing the bottom film cartridge opening. A lower spindle member is mounted on the bottom cover for holding the bottom of a cartridge spool of the loaded film cartridge. An upper spindle member is mounted on the top of the cartridge mounting chamber for holding a top of the cartridge spool of the loaded film cartridge. A first elastic clamping member is mounted inside the cartridge mounting chamber for applying an axial clamping force on the top of the loaded film cartridge. A second elastic clamping member is mounted inside the cartridge mounting chamber for applying a lateral clamping force on the periphery of the loaded film cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Shansun Technology Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Jing-Shiun Lai
  • Patent number: 5815740
    Abstract: A method of remanufacturing a one-time-use camera comprises the following steps. Forcibly pulling apart a main body part and a cover part of the camera sufficiently to cause a predetermined portion of the main body part or cover part to be broken away from the main body part or cover part along a continuous line of weakness which circumscribes the predetermined portion, to leave a hole in the main body part or cover part in the place of the predetermined portion. And closing the hole in the main body part or cover part to reuse the main body part or cover part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Bernd Wagner
  • Patent number: 5805948
    Abstract: A film-chamber cover of an advanced photo system (APS) camera is for indicating whether a film cassette is loaded within a film chamber of the APS camera or not. The film-chamber cover includes: a bottom cover furnished with a viewing window, an upper cover furnished with a shaft hole, a moving shaft slidably connected with the shaft hole between the upper and bottom covers, and a swing plate formed with characteristic symbols thereon. The swing plate is pivoted to the bottom cover and is driven by a restoring member such that when the film chamber is not loaded with a film cassette, the swing plate can be restored to a position where a symbol indicating emptiness of the chamber aligns the window of the bottom cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Quark Opto-Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Yao-Man Chen
  • Patent number: 5799220
    Abstract: A camera comprising a door moveable to be closed, a sprocket wheel having respective teeth for entering successive spaced perforations in a filmstrip to engage the filmstrip and being moveable to a film engaging position for one of the teeth to enter one of the film perforations, and an actuator moveable to move the sprocket wheel to its film engaging position when the door is moved to be closed, is characterized in that the actuator has a compliant member which yields elastically when the actuator is moved to move the sprocket wheel to its film engaging position, but one of the teeth comes to rest against a limited section of the filmstrip between two of the film perforations rather than the tooth entering one of the perforations, whereby the compliant member acts to prevent the tooth from perforating the limited section of the filmstrip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Dennis R. Zander
  • Patent number: 5785267
    Abstract: A simple and compact opening and closing apparatus for a film cartridge which has a cylindrical body. The apparatus includes an opening section projecting over the body. The opening section has a film opening and a film cover which opens and closes the film opening. The apparatus also includes a chamber which holds the cartridge and has a loading opening for loading the cartridge into the chamber. A cartridge cover opens and closes the loading opening, and there is provided a lock for the film cover. A driver couples the cartridge cover, and a connector connects the lock with the driver so that the film cover is opened when the cartridge cover is closed. The connector is arranged in a concave area which is formed by the surface of the cylindrical body of the cartridge and the opening section projecting over the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Funahashi, Junichi Tanii
  • Patent number: 5758220
    Abstract: A camera uses a photo-sensitive film as a recording medium. A light source is provided to selectively illuminate a photographing frame on which a latent image has been formed with light so that evenly distributed light is superimposed on the latent image to delete the latent image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shunichi Miyadera
  • Patent number: 5758214
    Abstract: An UP/DOWN dial is used with at least one of switches including a back cover switch detecting whether the cover switch of the camera is opened or closed, so as to also serve as a switch for driving a feed motor by the manual operation. As a result, the number of switches can be reduced. That is, the switch for driving the feed motor by the manual operation is used only when the film is set in the camera (only when the back cover opens). Therefore, if the cover switch detects that the back cover opens, the UP/DOWN dial is operated regardless of the currently-set mode, so that the feed motor can be driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Saito, Shigenori Goto
  • Patent number: 5754909
    Abstract: A camera includes a cartridge chamber in which a film cartridge is loaded, a spool chamber in which a take-up spool is mounted, and an aperture disposed between the cartridge the chamber and the spool chamber. The camera has a mechanism which feeds film out of the cartridge by rotating a spool shaft of the cartridge loaded in the cartridge chamber, and leads the film past the aperture to the take-up spool. The camera is further provided with a cartridge cover for concealing the cartridge chamber when it is closed and for exposing the cartridge chamber when it is open. A rear cover which is openably mounted on the rear side of the camera body, conceals the aperture and the spool chamber when it is closed and exposes the aperture and the spool chamber when it is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyasu Kotani, Koichi Daitoku
  • Patent number: 5754910
    Abstract: A camera includes a body having a film roll chamber and a film cassette chamber which are oppositely disposed relative to an exposure chamber. A rear cover which lighttightly seals the camera body includes a rib member projecting from an interior surface for contacting a filmstrip being advanced between the film roll chamber and the film cartridge chamber. The rib member is preferably curved to induce a constant curvature on the filmstrip as the filmstrip is advanced across the exposure chamber of the camera. A set of spherical protrusions projecting from the interior of the rear cover bound the exposure chamber to allow the edges of the filmstrip to more closely track the film rails which border the exposure chamber to guide the filmstrip and promote a repeatable contour in the exposure plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Edward Norman Balling