JPH0836243A - Film cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an inexpensive film cartridge having a simple function and capable of discriminating the used state of a film and which can be developed by automatic developing processing and which is applicable to a small-sized camera. CONSTITUTION:As for the film cartridge main body l capable of visually displaying the used state of the film including such the states, at least, 'unused', 'photographed' and 'developed', and which can be loaded in an automatic developing machine for discriminating the used state of the film and performing the automatic developing processing and which can be processed by the machine, the cartridge is provided with a display part 10 as a used state display means for displaying a single used state irrespective of the used state of the film, and the display part 10 is provided with a color having an optical reflectance higher than that of the peripheral part, or the display part 10 is provided with at least one of readable display parts including characters, or patterns. And the 'photographed' state is always displayed by the used state display means 10.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a film cartridge, and more particularly to a film cartridge with a film usage status indication applied to an inexpensive camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a roll-shaped film is housed in a film cartridge body up to its leading end, and a cartridge shaft rotatably supported in the film cartridge body is rotationally driven from the outside. A film patrone that sends the film stored in the film patrone body to the outside of the film patrone,
Various proposals have been made, and in such a film cartridge, the state of the film accommodated in the film cartridge body, for example, the use state or exposure state of the film, or whether it has been developed or not can be determined. Various film cartridges having a visually possible mechanism have been proposed.

For example, the film patrone disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,296,887 discloses a state of a film contained in the film patrone body, that is, an "unused" state, a "partly exposed frame" state, A display unit for displaying the states of the four films, that is, "all frames exposed" and "developed", is provided on one end surface of the film cartridge.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view simply showing the appearance of the film cartridge disclosed in the above-mentioned US Pat. No. 5,296,887. The film cartridge is proposed so that the automatic developing process performed by the automatic developing machine can be optimally performed.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the film cartridge main body 107, a cartridge shaft 106 is rotatably supported on the central axis thereof, and a roll-shaped film (not shown) is wound. It is stored. Then, the patrone shaft 106 is rotated from the outside by, for example, a film feeding mechanism of a camera, and at the same time, in conjunction with this, the film entrance opening / closing mechanism 109 is operated to open the film entrance / exit 108 to open the film. The film stored in the film cartridge 107 is sent to the outside of the film cartridge 107, or the film sent to the outside of the film cartridge 107 is rewound into the film cartridge main body 107.

Further, the film cartridge main body 107
On one end surface of the film, each state of the film contained in the film cartridge main body 107, that is, the "unused" state in which the film is not used at all, only a part of the film is exposed, "Some frames have been exposed" (some frames have been shot) state when rewound during shooting, "All frames have been exposed" (all frames have been shot) state where all the film frames have been exposed, film Display units 101, 102, 103 and 104 are provided for displaying a "developed" state in which the development process is completed after the exposure. Each of the display units 101 to 104 is formed of a concave hole.

On the other hand, a display plate 105 is rotatably supported on the same axis as the cartridge shaft 106 which is supported in the film cartridge 107. The display board 105 is colored, for example, white, and the display section 101 to the display section 101 of the film cartridge main body 107.
104 is adapted to rotate at a corresponding position.

Then, the display plate 105 rotates, and the display portions 101 to 10 are selectively selected according to each state of the film stored in the film cartridge body 107.
4 is stopped at the position corresponding to 4, and the display units 101 to 10
4 is visually displayed so that it can be identified. It should be noted that the peripheral portions of the display units 101 to 104 and the like are colored darker than white so that they can be easily identified.

Further, in the film unit with a lens disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-100365, a projection is provided in the chamber of the camera (film unit) side in order to identify the film cartridge dedicated to the film with a lens. , On the film patrone side,
A groove is provided so as to engage with this.

[0010]

However, according to the means disclosed in the above-mentioned US Pat. No. 5,296,887, since the film cartridge has various functions, its structure becomes complicated and the manufacturing In addition to the high cost, the size of the film cartridge main body becomes large, which causes a problem that it cannot contribute to the downsizing of the camera.

In this film cartridge,
For example, in order to adapt to an inexpensive camera with an extremely simple function, such as a film unit with a lens, since many extra display functions are provided, it is wasteful and the white display plate described above is used. A sophisticated control operation for stopping the 105 and the like at an appropriate position is also required, resulting in an increase in manufacturing cost. Further, for example, even if a manual film driving method is adopted, there is a problem that control of the display plate 105 is technically difficult.

Further, when the above film cartridge is applied to a film with a lens or the like, "unused"
Since it is unlikely that the film in the state is rewound, this type of discrimination is unnecessary. Also, even with an inexpensive camera or the like having a simple mechanism, after taking a picture halfway, the rewinding operation is performed despite the unused frames remaining in the film cartridge, and then the camera is again displayed. Regarding the operation of exposing the unused portion of the film loaded, that is, the determination of the "partially exposed frame" state, the manufacturing cost increases and the specifications are technically difficult, and the cost is low. The need for such cameras is not recognized. Therefore, in the inexpensive camera having the above-described simple mechanism, such a "partially exposed frame" determination means becomes an expensive and useless mechanism and causes an increase in manufacturing cost. There are also points.

Further, according to the means disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-100365, a film cartridge dedicated to a film unit with a lens is used.
In the process of developing a general film cartridge, each state of the film, for example, "unused" state, "partially frame exposed" state, "all frame photographed" state, "developed" state, etc. are distinguished. However, there is a problem in that the developing process cannot be performed depending on the automatic developing device that performs the developing process.

Further, since the film cartridge is dedicated to the film unit with a lens, there is a problem that the film cartridge cannot be applied to an inexpensive camera having an extremely simple function, for example. In other words, this mechanism was proposed in order to distinguish between a film cartridge used for general cameras and a film cartridge dedicated to the film unit with a lens in the manufacturing process, and it is wound and stored in the film cartridge. It is not proposed to determine the usage state of the existing film at the time of developing processing.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems of the prior art, and to make it possible to discriminate the use state of the film by an automatic processor in a film cartridge in which the use state of the film is visually displayed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a film cartridge which can be developed by this automatic developing machine and which is applied to a small camera which is inexpensive and has a simple mechanism.

[0016]

The film cartridge according to the present invention is at least "unused", "photographed",
A film cartridge that can visually display the usage status of the film including each "developed" status, and that can be processed by an automatic processor that automatically judges the usage status of the film In addition, the present invention is characterized by comprising a use state display means for displaying a single use state display regardless of the use state of the film, wherein the use state display means has a color having a higher light reflectance than the peripheral portion. It is characterized in that at least one display unit is provided from among readable display units including parts, characters, or patterns. In addition, the use state display means,
The feature is that the state of "photographed" is always displayed.

[0017]

The use state of the film is controlled by the use state display means having at least one display portion having a color having a higher light reflectance than the peripheral portion or a readable display portion including characters or patterns. Regardless of this, a single usage status is always displayed. Further, the use state display means always displays the state of "photographed".

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of a film cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a patrone shaft 6 is rotatably supported in the film patrone body 1, and a roll-shaped film (not shown) is wound around the patrone shaft 6. It is stored. The film stored in the film cartridge body 1 is rotated by rotating the cartridge shaft 6 from the outside.
The film cartridge is sent out to the outside of the film cartridge body 1, and is wound and stored in the film cartridge body 1. The film entrance opening / closing mechanism 14 is interlocked with the rotation of the cartridge shaft 6 at this time.
Is operated to open the film entrance / exit portion.

On the one end surface of the film cartridge main body 1, the state of the film stored in the film cartridge main body 1 is always displayed as a photographed display, that is, "all frame exposed" state. A display unit 10, which is a film use state display unit, is provided. In this display unit 10, regardless of the actual use state of the film stored in the film cartridge body 1,
It is designed to display a single use state, and as described above, it is always a photographed display. Then, on the display unit 10, for example, a readable display including characters or patterns in white or the like, which is a color having a higher light reflectance than the surroundings, is printed. Here, the characters or the pattern on the display unit 10 are the same even if they are displayed on one end surface of the film cartridge main body 1 by, for example, a seal or the like.

FIG. 2 shows a modified example of the above-mentioned first embodiment of the film cartridge main body 1A in which the display portion 10 of the film cartridge main body 1 described with reference to FIG. It is a perspective view showing appearance.

In the display section 10 of the film cartridge main body 1 shown in FIG. 1, the photographed display is made by printing the design, but in this modification,
As shown in FIG. 2, a display unit 11 provided on one end surface of the film cartridge main body 1A, which is a means for displaying the usage state of the film, is provided with a color such as white, which is a color having a higher light reflectance than the surroundings. It is a circular display. The display unit 11 displays the state of the film stored in the film cartridge main body 1A such that the film is always photographed, that is, "all frames have been exposed". The other members are made of exactly the same members.

Further, FIG. 3 shows another modification of the above-mentioned first embodiment, in which the display section 10 of the film cartridge main body 1 explained with reference to FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of 1B.

As shown in FIG. 3, in this modified example, the display section 12 which is provided on one end surface of the film cartridge main body 1B and is a film use state display means,
It is formed by a hole. Then, for example, a disk-shaped member (not shown) rotatably supported by the spool shaft 6 and provided in the film cartridge main body 1B is exposed from the display unit 12. The state of the film stored in the film cartridge main body 1B is always displayed as if it has been photographed, that is, "all frames have been exposed".
It should be noted that the film patrone body 1B is arranged in the
For example, with respect to the above-mentioned disk-shaped member, for example, by applying a color such as white, which is a color having a higher light reflectance than the surroundings, it is possible to easily confirm the display of the display unit 12. ing.

In the case where the film stored in the film cartridge of the above-described first embodiment and the modification thereof is developed by an automatic developing machine for discriminating the usage state of the film, automatic development is carried out. When the film cartridge main body 1 (1A, 1B) is set in the machine, the display unit 10 provided on one end surface of the film cartridge main body 1 (1A, 1B) by photoelectric (reflection system) detecting means of the automatic developing machine. (11, 12) is detected.

In this case, for example, the display unit 1
If 0 (11, 12) does not exist, and the photoelectric detection means of the automatic developing device does not detect it, the automatic developing device may become inoperable. The display unit 10 of the film cartridge main body 1 (1A, 1B) according to the first embodiment and its modifications.
Since (11, 12) is always displayed in the "all frame exposed" state, it is always determined to be the film cartridge containing the photographed film.
Therefore, the above-mentioned automatic developing machine carries out a normal developing process.

It should be noted that, as described above with reference to FIGS.
The first embodiment and its modifications are, for example, film patrones most suitable for application to a lens-equipped film and the like, and display other than the display unit 10 (11, 12),
For example, a display in a "developed" state indicates that this film cartridge is dedicated to a film with a lens, for example, a display made by printing on the tubular body of the film cartridge or a plastic mold. Display of irregularities made ([Film wi
Th lens] is displayed. ), Etc., the film is in the "developed" state when the film cartridge body is in the user's hand. Therefore, the "developed" state does not need to be displayed. .

FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views showing the appearance of the film cartridge of the second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is adapted to be applied to an inexpensive camera. Further, since the film cartridge of the second embodiment has basically the same configuration as the film cartridge of the above-mentioned first embodiment, the description of the similar members is given the same reference numeral and the description thereof is omitted. To do.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the film cartridge main body 2, a cartridge shaft 6 is rotatably supported, and a roll film (not shown) is wound around the cartridge shaft 6 and accommodated therein. Has been done.

On one end surface of the film cartridge main body 2, the state of the film stored in the film cartridge main body 2 is displayed as a single use state display regardless of the use state of the film. Display, that is,
A display unit 13 is provided, which is a means for displaying the usage state of the film, which is always displayed so that the "all frames have been exposed" state,
On the display unit 13, for example, characters or patterns in white or the like, which is a color having a higher light reflectance than the surroundings, are printed. The entire one end surface of the film cartridge main body 2 including the display portion 13 is covered with the seal 16 in the manufacturing process of the film cartridge. In addition, a tab 17 for peeling is provided on the seal 16 so that the seal 16 can be easily peeled off.

In the film cartridge of the second embodiment having the above-described structure, when the photographing is completed and the exposed film is rewound into the film cartridge 2 and stored, the seal 16 is removed. By peeling it off, the same imaged display as that described in the first embodiment, that is, the display unit 13 in the “all frame exposed” state is exposed.

Accordingly, when the film cartridge main body 2 is set in the automatic developing machine by the display section 13 for displaying the photographed display, the film cartridge main body 2 is set by the photoelectric detecting means of the automatic developing machine as described above. The film stored inside is judged to be in the "all frame exposed" state regardless of the use state. As a result, the film stored in the film cartridge main body 2 is developed in the automatic developing machine in the same manner as a normal film.

As described above, according to the film cartridge of the second embodiment, the seal 16 attached to one end surface of the film cartridge main body 2 is provided so as to cover the one end surface of the film cartridge main body 2. Therefore, it has a role of preventing the cartridge shaft 6 and the film entrance opening / closing drive unit 14 from being inadvertently rotated, for example, in the “unused” state of the film.
It is possible to easily determine the usage state of the film in the film cartridge main body 2 by simply sticking one inexpensive seal on one end surface of the film cartridge main body 2.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the film cartridge of the second embodiment described above. Instead of the seal 16 described in FIG. 5, one of a plurality of states of use of the film is displayed. A seal 16A, which is a usage status display member for performing the above, is provided. Note that this modified example has basically the same configuration as the film cartridge of the second embodiment described in FIG. 5 described above, and therefore, the description of the similar members will be given the same reference numerals. The description is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 6, in this modified example, a part of the seal 16A provided on one end face of the film cartridge 2A, which is a part of the photographed display portion 13 is taken.
Depending on the usage condition of the film,
A perforation 18 which is a display selecting unit that enables selective display of other states by partially changing the form of the seal 16A is provided.

That is, the photographed display portion 13 is provided on a part of the sticker 16, and this portion is perforated 18
Can be separated by. The display section 13 is a display in a state of being photographed, that is, "all frames have been exposed", and further, a display section 19 in a "developed" state is provided on one end surface of the film cartridge main body 2 located below this. , For example, by a print or the like.

When the seal 16A is peeled off, only the display portion 13 on the inner side of the perforation 18 is left on the one end surface of the film cartridge main body 2 side. The display of the "completed" state is made. Furthermore, when the development is completed, the photographed display section 1 in the perforation 18 is
By peeling off the seal portion of No. 3, the display portion 19 is in the "developed" state.
The "developed" state is displayed.

In the modified example of the second embodiment constructed as described above, the same effect as that of the second embodiment can be obtained, and in addition to this, the "all frame exposure" of the used state of the film is performed. It is possible to distinguish between the "completed" state and the "developed" state.

[Supplementary Notes] (1) A film patrone capable of visually displaying the use state of a film including at least "unused", "photographed", and "developed" states can be loaded and the film can be loaded. A film cartridge that can be processed by an automatic processor that determines the usage status and automatically develops the film usage cartridge including a usage status display unit that constantly displays one of the above-mentioned statuses.

(2) A film cartridge that can visually display the use state of the film including at least "unused", "photographed", and "developed" states can be loaded, and the use state of the film In a film cartridge that can be processed by an automatic processor that determines whether the film is used or not, a usage status display member that displays a usage status of one of the plurality of statuses, and a usage status display member according to the usage status of the film And a display selection unit that enables selective display of other states.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the film cartridge in which the use condition of the film is visually displayed, the display section of the film cartridge always displays "photographed" by an extremely simple member. By displaying the status, the usage state of the film can be discriminated by the automatic developing machine, and development processing by the automatic developing machine can be performed, which is applied to a small camera with a simple mechanism and at a low cost. It is possible to provide a film cartridge for.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of a film cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of a film cartridge which is a modified example of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of a film cartridge which is another modification of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of a film cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a film cartridge which is a modified example of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a film patrone with a usage state display of a film that has been conventionally proposed.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,1A, 1B, 2,2A, 107 …… Film cartridge main body 10,11,12,13,103 …… “All frames exposed”
Display unit (use state display means) 14,109 ...... Film entrance / exit opening / closing drive unit 6,106 ...... Patrone shaft 16,16A ...... Seal (use state display member) 17,17A ...... Tab 18 ...... Perforation (display) Selection means) 101 ... "Unused" display section 102 ... "Partly exposed frame" display section 19, 104 ... "Developed" display section 105 ... Display plate 108 ... Film entrance / exit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A film cartridge capable of visually displaying a use state of a film including at least "unused", "photographed", and "developed" states can be loaded, and the use state of the film can be displayed. A film cartridge which can be processed by an automatic processor for judging and performing automatic development, characterized by including a usage status display means for displaying a single usage status regardless of the usage status of the film. 2. The use status display means includes at least one display unit having a color having a higher light reflectance than the peripheral portion or a readable display unit including characters or patterns. The film cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The film cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the use state display means always displays a state of “photographed”.