Abstract: A package structure of a roll-shaped thin film includes a thin film roll and a buffer layer. The thin film roll includes a winding core and a thin film wound around the winding core, and the buffer layer is wound around an outer circumference of the thin film. An end portion of the buffer layer is covered with an inner surface of an end portion of the thin film, and the thickness of the buffer layer is in a range of 1-20 mm.

Abstract: A photographic stitching device that has a generally planar structure having an offset aperture, a capture device mount proximate to the offset aperture, and a mounting structure to accommodate a camera frame. The photographic stitching device allows a photographer to capture a matrix of precisely overlapping photographs that can later be electronically stitched together to create a higher resolution composite image, a panoramic image, a vista, a stereoscopic image, a 3-D image, an artistic rendering, or similar custom and unique photographic products.

Abstract: An external mask-based radiance camera may be based on an external, non-refractive mask located in front of the main camera lens. The mask modulates, but does not refract, light. The camera multiplexes radiance in the frequency domain by optically mixing different spatial and angular frequency components of light. The mask may, for example, be a mesh of opaque linear elements, which collectively form a grid, an opaque medium with transparent openings, such as circles, or a pinhole mask. Other types of masks may be used. Light may be modulated by the mask and received at the main lens of a camera. The main lens may be focused on a plane between the mask and the main lens. The received light is refracted by the main lens onto a photosensor of the camera. The photosensor may capture the received light to generate a radiance image of the scene.

Abstract: A band-like matter fastening seal for fixing a wound end of a band-like matter that is wound in a roll form to the body of said band-like matter, includes: a first attaching part adhered to said end of the band-like matter; a second attaching part having an attaching side adhered to the body of the matter in order to fasten the end to the body of the matter; and a handle part extended from the second attaching part, the attaching side being exposed when the attaching side is lifted from a masking side covering the attaching side, wherein the handle part rises up along the tangent line of the roll when a portion of the band-like matter fastening seal in the vicinity of the handle part is curved.

Abstract: Provided is a film package assembly to be used within a camera such that conventional winding and rewinding components are eliminated. Provided is a film package assembly which includes a new light-tight film canister device, a roll of film and a film take-up cartridge. The film package assembly being designed so as to be loadable within a camera in non-darkroom or lighted conditions.

Abstract: Sheet media package system includes a cartridge or other packaging for containing a plurality of sheet media; and a radio-frequency identification transponder which stores relevant digital data associated with the cartridge or other packaging.

Abstract: In a loading position of a manufacturing apparatus, a cartridge attracted and held by a magnet of a holding member of a cartridge loading mechanism is held on a vertically movable table of a case holding device while being guided by a tapered inner circumferential surface of a rotating guide tubular body, and is inserted into a case disposed in a guide tubular body while being guided by a tapered opening. The cartridge that is inserted in the case is attracted by a magnet mounted on the vertically movable table and having stronger magnetic forces than the magnet, and is released from the magnetic attraction by the magnet and loaded into the case.

Abstract: In order to provide a packaging for a rolled photosensitive material, in which a rolled photosensitive material packaging body is accommodated in a container in a state in which the rolled photosensitive material packaging body is suspended, which, even if an outside diameter of an insert shaft of a supporting body changes due to shaping failure or change of size of the rolled photosensitive material, enables to cope with this change, protruding pieces which protrude substantially toward a center of an opening in which the insert shaft is inserted are provided at circumference of the opening of the supporting body, an inside diameter of the opening is larger than an outside diameter of the insert shaft and an inside diameter of a circle formed by connecting tip ends of the protruding pieces is smaller than the outside diameter of the insert shaft.

Abstract: A combination of a camera body with a lens, shutter and shutter operating control with an attachable, removeable film cartridge having an unexposed film spool region and an exposed film spool region and a bridging portion between those regions. An opening in the cartridge permits light from the lens to pass through the opening to the film at the bridging portion. A door closes the opening of the cartridge and the door is openable with the cartridge installed in or attached to the camera body. Cooperating elements on the camera body and the cartridge open the door or close the door with the door being openable when the cartridge is fully engaged with the camera body. There is a detented connection of the film cartridge in the camera body.

Abstract: A film molded casing includes a transparent or translucent film molded member having a printed layer provided on the inner surface thereof so as to define the place of an illumination display, and a casing inside of which a lens for guiding light of an inner light source to the appearance surface thereof is integrally formed with the casing using a light-permeable resin, in which a light transmitting area is integrally formed with the casing so as to be contiguous with the lenses, and on the inner surface of which a light-impermeable printed layer is provided. In this film molded casing, the light transmitting area is matched to the light transmitting area of the film molded member.

Abstract: A cartridge film scanning system includes a film scanner and a cartridge film adapter for the film scanner. A cartridge film to be scanned by the film scanner is loaded in the cartridge film adapter. The cartridge film adapter is inserted in the film scanner when the film is scanned. The cartridge film adapter is provided with a film rewinding system, a battery for the film rewinding system, and a switch mechanism which connects the battery and the film rewinding system when the cartridge film adapter is removed from the film scanner.

Abstract: A roll film, which is wound up on a feeder spool with emulsion surface facing inward on the roll, is turned inside out and is drawn from the feeder spool to a first guide roller. The photo film is turned inside out again while being fed through a second guide roller and is wound up on a take-up spool with the emulsion surface facing inward on the roll. On an inner wall of a film magazine facing the second guide roller, a press roller presses the photo film to prevent loosening of the photo film in a film feeding path from the periphery of the second guide roller to the take-up spool.

Abstract: A roll film, which is wound up on a feeder spool with emulsion surface facing inward on the roll, is turned inside out and is drawn from the feeder spool to a first guide roller. The photo film is turned inside out again while being fed through a second guide roller and is wound up on a take-up spool with the emulsion surface facing inward on the roll. On an inner wall of a film magazine facing the second guide roller, a press roller presses the photo film to prevent loosening of the photo film in a film feeding path from the periphery of the second guide roller to the take-up spool.

Abstract: A photographic system includes a photographic film having a film ID number thereon; a receipt provided with the photographic film, the receipt being imprinted with a uniform resource locator for acquiring an image on the film via the Internet, and an associated password; a scanner for scanning the film after processing to generate a digital image; means for associating the film ID number with the digital image; a digital image storage device for storing the digital image, a web server connected to the digital image storage device, having means for accessing the digital image using the uniform resource locator; a database accessible by the web server having stored therein the film ID number and the associated password; and wherein the means for accessing the digital image is password protected and accessible by use of the password.

Abstract: A photographic film cartridge for a camera with a compact configuration and that may use standard 35 mm film is disclosed. A light-sensitive medium, such as photographic film, is positioned therein. The light-sensitive medium may be separate individually stacked photographic film frames, a fan folded photographic film strip or individual film frames residing on a film carrier web. When individual frames are used, they may be assembled into a continuous strip configuration for development using standard photographic equipment. The cartridge includes a housing with a light exposure window and an exposure region in front of said light exposure window and a storage region not in front of said light exposure region. Opaque material is provided to block passage of light through said light exposure window in a closed position while permitting passage of light through said light exposure window in an open position. The opaque material is movable between an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: A lens-fitted photographic film package with dual lens includes a film-free self-activating shutter mechanism and a detachable cartridge for removing and installing film. A 35-mm film cartridge is attached to a cartridge adapter, and a filmstrip end is inserted and pre-wound into a winding housing including a winding spool therein. As photographs are taken, film is advanced frame-by-frame into the film cartridge, where it may be easily removed from the adapter without rewinding of the film, and replaced by a fresh film cartridge. Thus, the adapter transforms the lens-fitted photographic film package into a reusable package.

Abstract: A camera back having a frame for receiving a camera component and a locking arm pivotally connected to the frame. The locking arm includes an engagement surface for holding the camera component securely to the frame. The locking arm comprises a top and bottom locking member pivotally mounted to the frame with a handle connecting the top and bottom locking members. A biasing element urges the engagement surface against the frame in a downward position to securely hold the camera component in the frame. A tension device is attached to the frame so that after the camera component is locked into place on the camera back, the tension device effectively holds the locking arm in one position to avoid inadvertent unlocking.

Abstract: A film back exchangeable camera is provided. The film back exchangeable camera has a camera body and a film back that can be attached to a rear portion of the camera body. The film back exchangeable camera includes a backward protrusion protruding backward from a film back attaching surface and covering a top surface of the film back. The camera also includes at least one operation member provided on the backward protrusion and a grip portion protruding backward from the film back attaching surface and covering one side surface of the film back.

Abstract: A digital camera loaded with a removable memory card storing image files and a print order file, in a wireless mode, sends the files to a computer via a handy phone set, and prepares a directory information file in which the files are virtually positioned in a preselected layer, so that the directory structure of the memory card can be reconstructed. The camera then accesses the handy phone set to send the files to the computer. The computer reconstructs the original directory structure and file names based on the directory information file and then prints out the image data of the image files in accordance with the print order file. The computer produces prints in the same manner as when directly reading the image data from the memory card.

Abstract: A film back exchangeable camera has a camera body and a film back that can be attached to and detached from the camera body.

Abstract: A photographic system includes a photographic film having a unique identification code thereon. An identification tag is included with the photographic film; the identification tag bears a uniform resource locator that includes the unique identification code, and an associated password. The film is scanned after processing to generate a digital image and the unique identification code is associated with the digital image and stored in a digital storage device. A web server connected to the digital image storage device includes a resource identified by the uniform resource locator for accessing the digital image. A database accessible by the web server contains the unique identification code and the associated password wherein the resource is password protected and accessible by use of the password.

Abstract: The present invention provides a masking material and a photo-film unit which exhibit writability for any of the presently used writing materials including a ballpoint pen, an oily pen, an aqueous pen, a fountain pen and a pencil, are water-resistant, are free from blocking, and permit complete erasion of pencil writing with a rubber. A writability imparting layer comprising vinylpyrrolidone-vinyl acetate copolymer, an acrylic resin having a hydrophilic group, and powder is provided on a support film of a photo-film unit or a masking material.

Abstract: A camera or a lens barrel control apparatus of a type in which the locking or unlocking of the cover of a cartridge chamber is controlled by the position of a lens, includes a structure in which, when an abnormality occurs in a driving operation of the lens, or a situation in which the lens does not stop at a predetermined position occurs, the lens is forcibly driven to move to a position for locking or unlocking the cover of the cartridge chamber.

Abstract: A lens-fitted photographic film package with dual lens includes a film-free self-activating shutter mechanism and a detachable cartridge for removing and installing film. A 35-mm film cartridge is attached to a cartridge adapter, and a filmstrip end is inserted and pre-wound into a winding housing including a winding spool therein. As photographs are taken, film is advanced frame-by-frame into the film cartridge, where it may be easily removed from the adapter without rewinding of the film, and replaced by a fresh film cartridge. Thus, the adapter transforms the lens-fitted photographic film package into a reusable package.

Abstract: In a film back exchangeable camera provided with a camera body, an exchangeable film back is removably attached to the camera body. A light shielding member is removably attached to the film back so that the light shielding member prevents a film in the film back from being exposed when the light shielding member is attached to the film back, and so that the film is permitted to be exposed when the light shielding member is removed from the film back.

Abstract: In a film back exchangeable camera provided with a camera body, an exchangeable film back is removably attached to the camera body. A light shielding member is removably attached to the film back so that the light shielding member prevents a film in the film back from being exposed when the light shielding member is attached to the film back, and so that the film is permitted to be exposed when the light shielding member is removed from the film back.

Abstract: A film back exchangeable camera has a camera body and a film back that can be attached to and detached from the camera body.

Abstract: In a camera having a camera body and a film back that can be attached to and detached from a rear portion of the camera body, a backward protrusion which protrudes backward from a film back attaching surface and covers a top surface of the film back is provided to the camera body, and operation members are provided on this backward protrusion.

Abstract: A photographic film roll. The roll includes a length of photosensitive web material wound about a spool and a light-shielding member wound about the length of photosensitive web material. The light-shielding member includes a transverse fold line spaced from one end of the light-shielding member defining a tongue portion. Applied on an exterior side of the tongue portion is an adhesive. The adhesive tongue portion is bondable to an exterior side of an underlying convolution of the light-shielding member when the light-shielding member is wound about the length of photosensitive web material.

Abstract: A photographic film package with film container holding chamber for a camera is disclosed. The film package includes a light-tight casing having an exposure opening, and a film container holding chamber formed on one side of the exposure opening in the light-tight casing for holding a film container, and a film winding chamber formed on the other side of the exposure opening. The film container holding chamber includes two opposite plates defining a C-shaped clipping structure and an axially-extending side opening through which a film container is inserted into the C-shaped clipping structure to be substantially surrounded thereby. The film container holding chamber further comprises an upper supporting plate formed on the upper section of the film container holding chamber, and a lower supporting plate formed on the lower section of the film container holding chamber.

Abstract: A system for photographic film processing adapted to access stored information that is related to film processing. An electrically programmable read/write memory contained in a transponder is integrally attached to the film container used at each stage in the film processing chain. The transponder is capable of receiving a first RF frequency electromagnetic field and deriving power and address information from the first frequency, then generating a second RF frequency electromagnetic field in response, where the second electromagnetic field is characteristic of the data stored in memory. A transceiver is disposed within the processing apparatus, connected with an antenna and support components for polling each transponder. As instructed by a control logic processor, the transceiver communicates with the transponder to both read stored data from the transponder, such as manufacturing data for the film, and store usage and processing data to the transponder for storage in memory.

Abstract: The invention relates to an interchangeable miniature-film magazine having a receiver for a film cassette, a sprocket for the film advancement, a winding drum, and a shutter for closing the film gate provided in the magazine housing. In order to provide as compact a design as possible, the sprocket can be located immediately behind the cassette outlet, at a clear distance which is smaller than the width of the film gate across. The unexposed film, which is previously wound completely onto the winding drum in the prewind operation, with the winding direction of the film on the winding drum being identical to that of the spool body of the film cassette, is guided from the winding drum, arranged closely alongside the film cassette, in a large radius around the film cassette into the plane of the film gate, with a subsequent, nearly 180°-deflection around the sprocket into the cassette outlet.

Abstract: A photographic film unit has a spool having a shaft and a pair of opposed flanges fixed to the shaft. The shaft defines a spool axis. The flanges each have an inner face and an outer face. The inner faces each have a main portion and a periphery. The periphery is disposed radially and axially outward from the main portion. The filmstrip has opposed first and second ends. The first end is wound on the shaft. The filmstrip has a transverse dimension less than the axial separation of the main portions. A leader is conjoined with the second end. The leader has an inner segment adjoining the filmstrip and an outer segment adjoining the inner segment. The inner segment has a transverse dimension less than the axial separation of the main portions. The outer segment has a transverse dimension less than the axial separation of the peripheries.

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: 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.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flange for a hollow article which can be easily separated from an end of the hollow article such as a paper tube, after a roll of photosensitive material or the like is used up. A flange 20, detachably attached to an end of a hollow article 21, comprises a disk 1 having a concentric hole 2 in a center thereof, a hollow cylindrical inserting member 3 extending from hole 2 along a center axis thereof, and two flexible segments 6 extending from hollow cylindrical inserting member 3 in a cantilevered manner, and symmetrically with respect to the center axis and along the center axis, and including a mechanism 8 or 10 provided between two flexible segments 6 for spacing the foremost ends of two flexible segments 6 away from each other or bringing them back to original positions thereof.

Abstract: The film holder comprises a plurality of holder elements. Adjacent holder elements are connected to each other by a pin, so that the holder elements can be pivoted. A film engaging groove is formed on a side of each of the holder elements. The film engaging grooves are aligned with each other such that a peripheral edge of the film is engaged. The holder elements being rotatable while the film engaging grooves maintain a curvilinear alignment, allows the film to be smoothly curved, and the size of the image reading device, to which the film holder is mounted, to be reduced.

Abstract: A film cartridge holding device includes a holding member having a holding portion arranged to hold a film cartridge in such a way as to enable the film cartridge to be loaded in an axial direction of the film cartridge, and a moving mechanism arranged to move the holding member between a first position in which the holding portion of the holding member protrudes from the film cartridge holding device in such a way as to enable the film cartridge to be loaded into the holding portion in the axial direction and a second position in which the holding portion of the holding member is stowed in the film cartridge holding device in such a way as to enable a film contained in the film cartridge loaded in the holding portion to be transported.

Abstract: A packaged roll-shaped silver halide photosensitive material comprising a winding core, a roll-shaped silver halide photosensitive material wound on the winding core and a packaging material covering the periphery and the both two lateral sides of the roll-shaped silver halide photosensitive material, wherein at least one surface of the three surfaces in the periphery and the both two lateral sides of the roll-shaped silver halide photosensitive material is packaged with a packaging material comprising a combination of a paper material with a pored film, and the water vapor permeability of such packaging material is not less than 5.1 g/m.sup.2 .multidot.24 hours. It is possible to prevent deterioration of a roll-shaped silver halide photosensitive material through abnormal sensitization of photographic performance.

Abstract: An apparatus adapted to a film cartridge provided with an opening-and-closing cover comprises an operating portion which operates the opening-and-closing cover of the film cartridge by rotating, a driving portion which rotates the operating portion, and an elastic portion which is disposed at the driving portion and urges the operating portion selectively in a direction in which the driving portion rotates the operating portion.

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.

Abstract: A camera is used with a Brownie photo film, which has a photo filmstrip on which plural frames are formable serially. A light-shielding leader is disposed on a front end of the photo filmstrip. A light-shielding trailer is disposed on a rear end of the photo filmstrip. The Brownie photo film is wound about a supply spool with the trailer positioned inside and with the leader positioned outside. In the camera, a photo film supply chamber is formed for loading of the Brownie photo film. A photo film take-up chamber has a take-up spool disposed in a rotatable manner, for winding the Brownie photo film from the photo film supply chamber. The take-up spool has a spool core, and an insertion slit for receiving insertion of the leader through the spool core. A drive shaft in the photo film supply chamber rotates the take-up spool, to transport the Brownie photo film to the photo film take-up chamber and wind the Brownie photo film about the take-up spool. A motor rotates the drive shaft.

Abstract: A film magazine comprising a housing having a film egress slot and a film ingress slot, a film supply spool rotatably supported within the housing proximate the film egress slot, and a film take-up spool rotatably supported within the housing proximate the film ingress slot, is characterized in that the housing has a pair of opposite ends that are spaced apart a maximum dimension of the housing, and the film egress and film ingress slots are positioned at the respective ends of the housing in order that a filmstrip connected through the film egress and film ingress slots to the film supply and film take-up spools must longitudinally extend between the film supply and film take-up spools a minimum length that is greater than the maximum dimension of the housing.

Abstract: A non-lighttight carrier for an unexposed film roll has a body having three closed sides and an open side. The body has at least one open end. The body has a curved inner wall. The body has a plurality of external, longitudinally extending rib members. A convolute, flexible guide member is joined to the body. The guide member is disposed in the open side. The guide member and body define a space for the film roll and a film access slot. A camera has slots that engage the rib members.

Abstract: This invention concerns the sharpening of camera-recorded pictures by flattening conventional photographic film as well as photographic film fitted in the manner of the invention with detachable, electrically and/or magnetically force-field responsive laminas against a camera reference-surface means which per se is the source of the field(s) acting on the film and/or is combined with separate force-field generating units generating such field(s). An optional, detachable dielectric bonding layer between such a lamina and the conventional film support allows removing the lamina after film exposure.

Abstract: A reloadable film canister includes a light-tight enclosure with an aperture for dispensing film therethrough. A spool of film may be loaded into the enclosure, and may be removed when the film is dispensed. In one embodiment of the invention, an encoder (field modulating) disk is included as part of the canister. In another embodiment the encoder disk is affixable to the film spool and loadable with the film spool into the canister. The spool is mountable in the enclosure for rotation therein and for dispensing, at each step of a stepper motor, a predetermined length of film corresponding to the motor's step size. The encoder disk has a plurality of uniformly-spaced, peripherally-arranged segments (elements) detectable by an external detector (sensor), the detector and the stepper motor operating under control of a microprocessor.

Abstract: A roll of photographic film where a film strip is coiled about a spool with a film leader attached to the film strip. The film leader includes a tongue portion, a tear line defining a tear-out region in the tongue portion, and an adhesive which is applied to the tear-out region. The tear-out region is bonded to an underlying convolution of the film leader when the film leader is wound on said roll. When a user lifts the film leader from the roll, the tear line is ruptured allowing the tear-out region to remain affixed to the underlying convolution of the film leader. This, in turn yields a hole in the film leader which can be used to attach the film loader to a take-up spool within a camera.

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: There is provided a microfilm cassette capable of reducing the case size and obtaining a rational arrangement of elements such as reels and photographic roller. The microfilm cassette includes: a case having a substantially rectangular shape as viewed from the top; a supply reel and a take-up reel mounted inside the case and arranged adjacent to each other horizontally in the length side direction of the case; a photographic opening located around the center of one short side of the case; a photographic roller arranged in a position opposite to the photographic opening; and a shutter for opening and closing the photographic opening. The short side of the cassette case on which the photographic opening is located may be bulged and expanded outwardly around the center of the photographic opening, so that the mark taking lens and the image taking lens can be arranged close to each other.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determination of numbers of croorganisms present in materials and for predicting their growth capability in the materials such as foodstuffs, growth media and in the presence of chemical agents. The invention also provides immobilizing cassettes and optical apparatus for use in this method.