Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1049827
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the I:~vention
The present invention relates generally to photography,
and particularly to means in-a foldable camera for preventing an
exposure whenever the camera is folded and throughout each film
transport cycle.
i Description of the Prior Art
It has long been knawn to provide a foldable camera
with means for preventing the camera shutter from being actuated
when the camera is in its folded or closed condition. It has
also been known to provide a camera with means for preventing
its shutter from being actuated during a film transport cycle.
For example, German Patent No. 644,612 discloses a
reflex camera having a viewfinder cover that is hinged to the
camera housing for movement from an open, viewing position to
, a closed position. As the cover is moved to its closed position,
; the shutter release member becomes blocked, or locked, to pre-
vent actuation thereof when the viewfinder i5 not ready for use.
Similarly, U.S. Patent No. 2,011,895 and German
.
20 Utility Model No. 1,453,920 each disclose a foldable camera
wherein the camera lens mount is movable from an extended,
s picture-taking position to a retracted, storage position. As
the lens mount is moved to its retracted, storage position, the
s shutter release member becomes blocked to prevent actuation
thereof when the camera is folded.
U.S. Patent No. 2,117,971 also discloses a foldable
camera wherein the lens mount is movable from an extended,
picture-taking position to a retracted, storage position. The
shutter mechanism in this camera is divided into two parts,
one part including the shutter leaves and diaphragm, the other
part including the mechanism for operating those members. The
two parts are operatively engaged only when the lens mount is in
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10498Z7
its fully extended, picture-taking position. When the lens
mount is in any other position, i.e., whenever the camera is not
fully unfolded, the two parts are disengaged and the shutter is
locked closed to preclude any opening movement thereof. More-
over, when the lens mount is in its fully retracted, storage
position, the camera is fully folded and the shutter release
member is inaccessible to the user. Also, the camera is pro-
vided with a shutter-cocking and film-winding lever which is
manually reciprocable away from and back to its rest position
10 against the camera body. The lever can be reciprocated only
when the camera is at least partially unfolded. The first stroke
of the lever cocks the shutter and starts winding the film.
Additional strokes are required to wind the film sufficiently
to place its next image area in position for exposure. After
~-1 completion of the preceding exposure, the shutter release member
is blocked until the shutter has been cocked and the lever re-
turned to its rest-position. The release member can then be
actuated to release the shutter, and thereby effect another
exposure, even though the lever has not yet been reciprocated
-~ 20 enough times to move the next image area into position for that
exposure. Thus, since the shutter release member is not blocked
~ throughout a film transport cycle, any film image area can be
f exposed more than once.
U.S. Patent No. 3,577,900 discloses a motorized camera --
wherein the lens mount is movable from an extended, picture-
taking position to a retracted, storage position. In this
camera, the externally accessible shutter release member is
automatically retracted to its depressed position, without
releasing the shutter, when the lens mount is moved to its
30 retracted, storage position. Thus the shutter cannot be
operated whenever the lens mount is so positioned. When the lens ~-
mount is moved to its extended, picture-taking position, the
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10498Z~7
shutter release member is automatically extended to its
operative position. After an unexposed film image area has been
moved into position for exposure, the release member can be
depressed to release the shutter. Upon automatic return of the
release member to its extended position, a double-exposure-
prevention mechanism blocks said member, and thereby prevents
it from being depressed again, until the next unexposed film
image area has been moved into position for exposure. Since the
shutter release member is blocked throughout a film transport
cycle, any one film image area cannot be exposed more than once.
While this camera thus offers an advantage over that described
in U.S. Patent No. 2,117,971, the mechanism provided in this
camera for automatically retracting the release member to its
depressed position without releasing the shutter when the lens
mount is retracted to its storage position, and for automatically
blocking the release member to prevent shutter-releasing move-
ment thereof to said depressed position during a film transport
I cycle, is complex and costly to manufacture.
Of interest also is U.S. Patent No, 3,714,879, which
discloses a foldable, motorized, reflex camera of the processing
type. This camera is foldable from an erect, picture-taking
configuration to a folded, or collapsed, configuration suitable
for storing and carrying. At no time is its shutter release
' member blocked. When the camera is fully folded, its release
member is covered and thereby rendered inaccessible. Throughout
a film transport cycle the release member, though depressable,
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` is electrically rendered ineffective to operate the camera's
electronic shutter. Thus, this camera relies on covering it~
release member to prevent shutter-operating actuation thereof
when the camera is folded, and on electrical control circuitry
to prevent the shutter from operating if the release member is --
actuated during a film transport cycle.
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A review of all the prior art discussed above indicates
a long-felt but hitherto-unresolved need for a simple and
reliable undesired-exposure-prevention device in a foldable
camera; a device that automatically and positively prevents
shutter operating movement of the camera's shutter operating
member both when the camera is folded and throughout each film
transport cycle; a device that performs that function without
having to move the shutter operating member from its normal,
operative position; a device that performs that function with-
out having to cover the shutter operating member or otherwiserender it inaccessible; a device that performs that function
without having to use electrical or other means for rendering
normal movement of said member ineffective to operate the
shutter.
SUMMARY OF THiE INVENTION
A principal object of the present invention is to
fill the aforesaid long-felt but hitherto-unresolved need for
, a simple and reliable undesired-exposure-prevention device,
especially in a foldable camera whose shutter operating member -
remains externally accessible when the camera is folded.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a
device for use particularly in a foldable processing camera
whose shutter operating member remains so accessible when the
j camera is folded.
A further object of the invention is to provide such -
a device for use more particularly in a foldable motorized ~ -~
processing camera whose shutter operating member remains so
accessible.
These and other objects and advantages are realized in ~-
a foldable camera constructed in accordance with the presentinvention. Such a camera comprises: a housing having a wall
portion, a cover member movable relative to the housing from
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an open position wherein the camera is unfolded to a closed
- position wherein the camera is folded; means in the housing
for supporting film at an exposure station; means including
an externally accessible member movable from a first position
to a second position for effecting an exposure of the film at
: the exposure station; means drivable through an operating cycle
for transporting the film from the exposure station after the
exposure has been effected; means operable for driving the
transporting means through the operating cycle; an actuating
member movable from an initial position through a movement
: cycle substantially synchronous with the operating cycle; and
means for preventing the externally accessible member from
moving to its second position when the camera is folded and
1 during the operating cycle, the preventing means including a
blocking member movable into blocking relationship with the
externally accessible member in response to movement of the cover
member to its closed position and in response to movement of the
actuating member from its initial position.
The aforementioned objects and advantages are more
3! 20 particularly realized in a foldable camera constructed in :
::~ accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention illus- :
trated herein. Such a camera, adapted to effect an exposure
and initiate processing of a self-processable film unit, ~:
comprises: a housing having a wall portion; a cover member ~
. movable relative to the housing from an unfolded-camera position :
to a folded-camera position overlying the wall portion; means in -:
the housing for supporting the film unit in position for its
exposure; an externally accessible member movable from a first
position to a second position to effect the exposure, and
returnable to its first position, the externally accessible
member having an engagement portion that moves along a pre-
determined path as the externally accessible member moves from
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its first position to its second position; means drivable through
an operating cycle after the exposure has been effected for
transporting the film unit from the supporting means and for
initiating its processing, th~ transporting and initiating means
including a movable film-engaging member for advancing the film
unit from the supporting means and a pair of juxtaposed rotatable
rollers defining a nip for receiving the film unit when advanced ..
by the film-engaging member, the operating cycle including both
movement of the film-engaging member to advance the film unit
10 from the supporting means and rotation of at least one of the
rollers to move the film unit through the nip and thereby
initiate the processing; an actuating member having a cam sur-
face thereon and rotatable from an initial position, through a
single revolution synchronous with the operating cycle, to its
initial position again, the actuating member being initially
rotatable from its initial position in response to movement
of the externally accessible member from its second position to
1 its first position, and further rotatable through its single
J, revolution as the transporting and initiating means is driven .
20 through its operating cycle; means operable for driving the . :
transporting and initiating means through its operating cycle, ~ .
the driving means including a motor drivingly associated with
both the actuating member and the transporting and initiating
means, the motor becoming energized in response to rotation of
the actuating member from its initial position and remaining -
energized until the actuating member resumes its initial posi-
tion, whereby the motor operates to drive the actuating member
through its single revolution and the transporting and initiating
means through its operating cycle in response to the movement of
30 the externally accessible member from its second position to its
; first position; and means for pre~enting the externally
accessible member from moving to its second position when the
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10498Z7
camera is folded and during the operating cycle, the preventing
means including a blocking member having an abutment portion
movable into the predetermined path in response to movement of
the cover member to its folded-camera position and in response
to the rotation of the actuating member from its initial posi-
tion.
It will be seen that the present invention achieves
the aforementioned objects thereof, and in so doing provides
advantages not found in the prior art. Various means for prac-
ticing the invention and other advantages and novel featuresthereof will become apparent in the detailed description of the
illustrated embodiments presented below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the detailed description of the illustrated embodi-
ments presented below, reference is made to the accompanying
drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements,
and wherein:
Fig. 1 is a top-right-rear perspective view of a fold-
abl~ camera constructed in accordance with the preferred embodi-
` 20 ment of the present invention, showing the camera in its unfolded,
picture-taking configuration; --
Fig. 2 is a top-right-rear perspective view of the
camera of Fig. 1, showing the camera in its folded, storing-and-
carrying configuration;
Fig. 3 is a right-side elevational view of a vertical
section through the camera of Fig. 1, showing the preferred
embodiment of the invention as it appears after the camera has
been unfolded to its picture-taking configuration but before the -
camera operating cycle has commenced;
Fig. 4 is a right-side elevational view of a vertical
section through the camera of Fig. 1, showing the preferred
embodiment of the invention as it appears after the camera has
1049827 : -
been folded to its storing-and-carrying configuration;
Fig. 5 is a partial right-side elevational view of a
vertical section through the camera of Fig. 1, showing the pre-
ferred embodiment of the invention as it appears after the camera
has been unfolded to its picture-taking configuration and after
the camera operating cycle has commenced; and
Fig. 6 is a partial right-side elevational view of a
vertical section through a foldable camera constructed in accord-
ance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention,
showing the alternative embodiment as it appears after the camera
has been unfolded to its picture-taking co~figuration and after
'~ the camera operating cycle has commenced.
DESCRIPTION OE T~E ILLUSTRATED EMsoDIMENTs
Because certain parts of photographic and related
, apparatus are well known, the following description is directed
i~ in particular to those elements forming, cooperating directly
with, or relating to the present invention. Elements that are
~1 not specifically shown or described herein are selectable from
-~i those known in the art.
The Preferred Embodiment
' As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a bellows cover member 2 is
hingedly mounted on camera housing 1. Cover member 2 is integral
with lens carrier 3. Another cover member 4 is hingedly mounted
on lens carrier 3 and, at its opposite end, is attached to hous-
ing 1 so as to be slidable thereon and latchable thereto in the
positions shown in Figs. 1 aQd 2. In their folded positions
shown in Fig. 2I cover members 2 and 4 rest against the front and
rear wall portions, respectively, of housing 1 approximately par-
allel thereto.
In its folded position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, cover
; member 4 is latched to the rear wall portion of housing 1 and
exerts pressure on arm 5b of a sensing lever 5 inside the housing.
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~0498~7
Arm 5b extends through an opening in the rear wall portion of the
housing so as to be engageable by cover member 4. The resulting
movement of sensing lever 5 causes a blocking lever 6 to be
pivoted into the movement path of a projection 7a on externally
accessible shutter release button 7, whereby release button 7 is
blocked when the camera is folded.
Further details of the release button blocking means
are shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Sensing lever 5 is mounted for
rotation about pivot 20, rigidly connected to the housing, and
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is urged in a clockwise direction by a spring 9 engaging a
projection 5c on lever 5. Blocking lever 6 is mounted for rota-
tion about pivot 19 on lever 5 and is urged counterclockwise
`~ against projection 5c by a spring as shown. Blocking lever 6 is
so resiliently supported on sensing lever 5 in order to avoid
any damage to members 5, 6, 7a should release button 7 be held in
its depressed position while cover member 4 is moved to its
folded position shown in Fig. 4, inasmuch as blocking lever 6
cannot be pivoted into the movement path of projection 7a while
; release button 7 is so depressed.
Besides cooperating with cover member 4, sensing lever
5 also cooperates with an indexing wheel 10, in that a projection
5a on lever 5 engages either a recess lOa on wheel 10 or the
'~ circumferential surface o~ wheel 10 as the wheel rotates. Wheel
0 also is provided with a recess lOb having a sawtooth surface
lOc. Cooperating with surface lOc is a pivotably mounted lever
11 spring-biased toward release button 7. Another recess lOd on
wheel 10 serves to actuate a switch 12 for energizing an electric
motor 13. Switch 12 is so designed that it cannot be actuated
by recesses lOa and lOb.
Wheel 10 is driven by motor 13 via gears 14 and 15.
Gear 15 has on its face a lug 15a, which cooperates with ribs -
lOe on wheel 10, and a cam groove 15b, which cooperates with a
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1049827
lever 17 adapted to actuate a film-transporting claw 16. Gear 15
is meshed with a gear 8 which drives a pair of juxtaposed film-
transporting rollers 18.
- The operation of the camera will now be described.
As the camera is unfolded from its storing-and-carrying
configuration shown in Figs. 2 and 4 to its picture-taking
` configuration shown in Figs. 1 and 3, cover member 4 is dis-
engaged from arm Sb of sensing lever 5. Sensing lever 5 and
blocking lever 6 then occupy their positions illustrated in
Fig. 3, wherein release button 7 is not blocked.
If an exposure is now to be effected, release button 7
is depressed and the camera shutter thereby actuated via trans-
mission members not shown. At the same time, lever 11 is
pivoted counterclockwise, its lower end sliding rightward over
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the sawtooth surface lOc. When pressure is relieved from release
button 7, lever 11 is pivoted clockwise by its return spring,
thereby rotating wheel 10 counterclockwise. Sensing lever 5 is
`~ thereupon pivoted counterclockwise as its projection 5a is
. .
cammed out of recess lOa, causing blocking lever 6 to be pivoted
into the movement path of projection 7a and thus into blocking
relationship with release button 7, as shown in Fig. 5. At the
same time, switch 12 is closed and motor 13 thereby energized.
Motor 13 now drives gears 14, 15, and 8. During each
revolution of gear 15, lug 15a thereon indexes wheel 10 by
striking a succeeding one of its ribs lOe.
During the first revolution of gear 15, cam groove 15b
thereon reciprocates claw 16 once, causing the claw to advance
` the exposed film unit 21 from its cartridge (not shown) to the
nip of rollers 18. While claw 16 undergoes this movement, the
camera shutter is recocked by means not shown. Upon completion
of the first revolution of gear 15, claw 16 is uncoupled by means
- not shown. During subsequent revolutions of gear 15, lug 15a
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1049BZ7
indexes wheel 10 further, and rollers 18 eject film unit 21 from
the camera through an exit slot la.
Another exposure must not be effected until the already-
exposed film unit has been ejected. Such undesired exposure is
prevented in that release button 7 remains blocked throughout
the film transport cyclei which is synchronous with one revolu-
tion of wheel 10. The movements of blocking lever 6 and release
button projection 7a are so coordinated that, when the camera is
folded, the blocking relationship is effective when release
button 7 is initially depressed, i.e., before lever ll moves over
the sawtooth surface 10c.
Only when wheel 10 has completed one revolution can
sensing lever projection 5a reenter wheel recess 10a, thereby
withdrawing blocking lever 6 from the movement path of projection
7a to permit another actuation of release button 7. At the same
time, switch 12 reenters wheel recess 10d, causing the switch
to open and thereby deenergize motor 13. The camera is now ready -
- for another exposure and film-transport cycle.
An Alternative Embodiment
In the alternative embodiment shown in Fig. 6, blocking
lever 6 has a blocking nose 6a which comes into engagement with
blocking teeth 22a on release button 22. An advantage of this
~-~ embodiment is that release button 22 is prevented from being
depressed again immediately after ~t has started to move back
toward its initial position. Thus, when the camera has been
- folded to its storing-and-carrying configuration by moving cover
members 2 and 4 against housing l, and whenever a film-transport
cycle has been initiated, the release button blocking means here
shown is immediately effective to prevent an undesired exposure.
In both embodiments, the release button blocking means
of the present invention not only prevents such undesired expo-
sure but it also permits uninterrupted completion of an operating ~-
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; 10498Z7
cycle once the cycle has commenced.
. .
. The invention has been described in detail with
particular reference to the illustrated preferred and alternative :
; embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that variations ~.
and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of
the invention.
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