JPH0990500A - Camera with film processing means - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera capable of automatically applying a proper amount of developer to exposed film. SOLUTION: This camera 10 includes a housing 12 and a cylindrical can 30 rotatably attached to the housing. The can 30 is provided with an aperture part 32 extending in the longitudinal direction, an outer surface 42 supporting the film 46 and an inner surface 44 holding a film processing pad 52 wound in a roll state. The end 48 of the film and the end of the pad 52 are fixed to a foil 50, and the foil 50 is held on the outer surface of the can 30 with adhesive so as to cover the aperture part 32 to tightly seal the can 30. By pulling the film from the can 30, the foil 50 is peeled from the can 30 and the aperture part 32. When the foil 50 is pulled out from the camera, the pad 52 is pulled out from the can 30, and simultaneously the exposed film is pulled out from the camera and developed in a state where the pad 52 is superposed on the film.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to cameras, and more particularly to "single use" cameras equipped with means for processing exposed film.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Single-use or "disposable" cameras are known in the art and widely used by the general public. However, after exposing the film with a single-use camera, it was necessary to return the camera to the developer processing the film.

In-camera development is known, but generally it is necessary to subsequently apply a gel to the film, which requires the gel to be evenly applied to the entire exposed film surface, allowing the user to take a picture at the scene. Often this is a procedure that cannot be done in the optimal way. Moreover, such gels must be sealed from the atmosphere prior to use, or they will degrade significantly in a relatively short period of time.

In such a way that the user does not have to apply gel or other substance to the film, and yet the film is automatically and uniformly applied with a proper amount of fresh developing material.
There is a need for a single-use camera with equipment for processing exposed film.

[0005]

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a camera incorporating a suitable film processing formulation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a camera which applies the film processing formulation uniformly and consistently to the exposed film without the operator having to handle it.

Another object of the invention is to provide a camera in which the processing formulation is sealed from the atmosphere until shortly before use to avoid degradation.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a camera that is highly reliable, inexpensive to produce, and therefore inexpensive to the masses, even when handled by a user with little knowledge of photography.

[0009]

In view of the above and other objectives, as will become apparent below, a feature of the invention is a camera that includes a housing and a generally cylindrical container rotatably mounted to the housing. Is to provide. The container has an elongated opening extending in the longitudinal direction of the container, an outer surface for supporting the filmstrip, and an inner surface for holding a rolled film processing pad strip. The ends of the filmstrip and the processing pad strip are fixed to a sealing member, which has an adhesive and holds the sealing member on the outer surface of the container and covers the elongated opening to seal the container. To do. The seal member is adapted to be peeled from the container and the opening by pulling the film strip from the container, and withdrawing the seal member from the camera pulls the processing pad strip from the container and at the same time exposes the film strip. Pull out of the camera so that the pad strip overlaps the filmstrip.

These and other features of the invention, including details of various novel constructions and combinations of parts, are described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and in the claims. . It will be understood that the particular device embodying the invention is shown by way of illustration only and not as a limitation of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be used in various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate embodiments of the invention. The novel features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the drawings.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that an exemplary camera 10 includes a light-tight housing 12 and a viewfinder 13 with a rearwardly extending eyepiece 14. An objective lens opening 18 and a finder window 20 are arranged on the front surface 16 of the camera 10. Objective lens 2
2 is arranged adjacent to the lens opening 18 (FIG. 2),
The image-carrying light ray R is directed to a mirror 24, which reflects the light ray to a film surface 26 which constitutes an exposed area for a negative or photosensitive film.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a generally cylindrical container, preferably in the form of a metal can 30, is rotatably mounted within the camera 10. It will be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6 that the can 30 includes an elongated opening 32 in the direction of the can that extends almost the entire length of the can. The can 30 also includes an elongated groove 34 that extends substantially the entire length of the can. The groove 34 may be made by the side seam 36 of the can if the can 30 is made of metal, or molded into the can if made of plastic. The can 30 is provided with end flanges 38, 40 that extend radially outward from the outer surface 42 of the can and is also provided with an inner surface 44.

With reference to FIG. 4, it can be seen that the outer surface 42 of the can is adapted to support the wound negative film strip 46 on the surface between the end flanges 38, 40. The negative film strip 46 is provided in the housing 1 of the camera 10 in a dark room during the camera assembly process.
2 is located on the outer surface 42 of the can. Affixed to the edge 48 of the filmstrip 46 is preferably a foil 50.
A gas and water impermeable sealing member in the form of an adhesive that is adhesively attached to the outer surface 42 of the can 30;
The opening 32 is closed. The main function of the foil 50 is to prevent environmental or ambient air from entering the can 30, while at the same time preventing moisture in the can 30 from escaping to the ambient atmosphere. The foil adhesive may be, for example, a heat seal material such as a thermoplastic resin, or a heat sealable PVC, and the foil 50 may be heat sealed to the can 30. The adhesive chosen is this foil on the outer surface 4 of the can 30.
It must be strong enough to hold it in close contact with and still be easily peeled off the can surface, as will be explained in more detail below.

Disposed within the can 30 is a flexible support wound in a roll with a pre-applied reagent dispersed in a hydrogel applied to a suitable thickness. This hydrogel is of a type that includes an aqueous alkaline photoprocessing formulation that is substantially non-viscous. Pre-applied reagents will be referred to as "pads" or "
The "rolled flexible support" may or may not include an image receiving layer. However, in preferred embodiments of the invention, it is preferred to include an image receiving layer.

Upon face-to-face contact with the exposed film, some amount of the treatment formulation contained in the hydrogel is absorbed by the film. This absorption initiates development of the latent image of the exposed film and transfer to the image receiving layer by the well known diffusion transfer method. Supports containing image-receiving layers of the type intended for use in the invention are described by Julian G. et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,605,608 issued Aug. 12, 1986 in the name of Vilit.

A core member 56 (FIG. 14) may also be disposed in the can 30 in the center of the pad 52, which is a rigid insert for supporting the pad 52, or the pad 52. It may be a material such as an elastomer with a medicine for preserving the freshness of.

The pad 52 has one end 54 extending through the can opening 32 and secured to the foil 50 (FIG. 4). When the camera is operated, the filmstrip 46 moves to the can 30
Is unwound from the outer surface 42 and is drawn toward the film surface or exposed area 26. After exposing the last frame of the film, pull the film further from the can,
Rotate 0 to pull the foil 50 from the can opening 32, peel off the seal inside the can and expose the pad 52 to the atmosphere (FIG. 1).
4). Although exposed to the atmosphere prior to use of the pad, the foil serves to seal the can 30 and protect the pad 52 stored in the can from the atmosphere until it is stripped from the opening 32. Once the film strip 46 can 30
Upon leaving the outer surface 42 of the groove 34, the groove 34 is uncovered and remains exposed.

A take-up reel 60, having a film advancing wheel in the form of a ratchet wheel 62 at one end, is rotatably mounted on the camera to allow the film strip 46 to be placed in the can 30.
And serves to advance the film to the exposed area 26. Part of the ratchet wheel 62 is exposed to the outside of the camera (FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 7, the take-up reel 60 is a cylindrical reel having flanges 64A and 64B at both ends. At the first end 66, the ratchet wheel 62 has a flange 64.
Mounted on A, and at the second end 68 on the flange 64B,
A journal 70 adapted to receive another journal (not shown) is provided, which is the camera 1
It may be molded on the inner surface of the front wall of 0.

In use, an operator manipulates the exposed portion of the ratchet 62 to rotate the take-up reel 60 to move the filmstrip 46 from the outer surface 42 of the can 30 to the exposure area 26 and from there onto the take-up reel 60. The film exposed and exposed is stored in a take-up seal until the operator attempts to develop the film.

A metering roll 80 is rotatably mounted on the camera (FIGS. 4, 8 and 9). Weighing roll 8
Reference numeral 0 is a cylindrical roll having a journal 82 at one end and a journal bearing 84 at the other end in order to rotatably support the roll 80. Disposed around the journal bearings 84 are cam surfaces 86 and detents 88.

In use, the filmstrip 46 leaves the exposure area 26 and wraps around the take-up reel 60 from around the metering roll 80. The metering roll 80 includes a high friction elastomeric coating 90 which translates the motion of the filmstrip 46 on the metering roll into rotational motion of the metering roll. The rotation of the metering roll 80 is accompanied by the rotational movement of the detent 88 which, when the appropriate portion of the filmstrip 46 moves out of the exposure area 26, causes the shutter reset mechanism 102 (from FIG. 19) to be described in detail below. Figure 2
Hit the stop lug 100 in 2). When detent 88 engages stop lug 100 to stop rotation of metering roll 80,
As long as the sliding of the film on the metering roll 80 is prevented by friction, the rotation of the ratchet 62 is resisted and the operator is informed that the filmstrip 46 is properly positioned for the next exposure.

FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 10, FIG. 11, and FIG.
4, adjacent the can 30, the stirrup member 1
It will be seen that 10 are arranged. The stirrup member 110 is a rigid member, preferably metallic, with an opening 112 (FIGS. 10 and 14). Opening 112
A tooth 114 extends from the trailing edge 116 of the opening. The front edge 118 of the stirrup member 110 is the grip 12
0, which allows the operator to grip the stirrup member 110. Stirrup member 110
Has a trailing edge 122 which engages a notch 130 in a latch member 132, which will be described later. As the filmstrip 46 is drawn from the can 30 toward the exposed area 26, the filmstrip 46 is pulled into the stirrup member 110.
Through the opening 112. Edge 4 of filmstrip 46
As the 8 moves from the can 30, the foil 50 is pulled through the openings 112 in the stirrup member from left to right as viewed in FIG.

The above-mentioned latch member 132 (see FIGS. 3 and 12,
13 and 14) include a rigid bar 134 having a leading edge 136 with a notch 130. At or near the leading edge 136 of the rod 134 is a forwardly extending leaf spring 138 with a hook 140 at the end. Leaf spring 13
8 pushes the hook 140 into engagement with the filmstrip 46 wound on the outer surface 42 of the can 30. Once the filmstrip has been unwound from the can outer surface 42, the leaf spring 138 causes the hook 140 to engage the can groove 34. Then, when the can 30 continues to rotate, the latch member 132 is pulled to the left as viewed in FIG. 3, and the stirrup member 110 is pushed to the left.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 15, it can be seen that the leading edge 118 of the stirrup member extends through slot 144 to a point just beyond camera wall 142.
Adjacent to slot 144 is a wiper member 146, which may be felt or elastomeric material.
As the latch member 132 moves to the left as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 15, the stirrup member is pushed further leftward to further extend the leading edge 118 of the stirrup member from the camera wall 142.
Allow the operator to grasp the grip (Fig. 16).

During operation, the operator is required to operate the stirrup member 11
Grab the zero grip 120 and pull this stirrup member to the left as seen in FIG. 17, ie, away from the camera. As shown in FIG. 17, by pulling on the stirrup member 110, the foil overlaps and wraps around the trailing edge 116 of the stirrup member opening, and the foil 50 is pierced by the teeth 114 of the stirrup member 110. Be done. If the stirrup member 110 is continuously pulled, the film strip 4
6 and the pad strip 52 out of the slot 144 in the camera wall 142 and overlay the pad strip 52 with the exposed filmstrip 46, as shown in FIG. The wiper member 146 presses the pad strip 52 firmly onto the filmstrip 46 to remove the strip 4
6, 52 are combined into a single or integral laminated strip.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 15-17, the pawl 150 now engaged with the ratchet wheel latches to prevent the ratchet wheel 62 and take-up reel 60 from rotating in the film release direction. It will be seen that it is attached to member 132. While using this camera for shooting, the nail wheel 62
The take-up reel 60 moves only clockwise as seen in FIGS. 3 and 15 to 17 to unwind the filmstrip 46 from the can 30 through the exposure area 26 around the metering roll 80 to the take-up reel 60. However, the latch member hook 140 engages the can groove 34 and causes the latch member 132 to
Is moved to the left as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 15 to 17,
This movement of the latch member 132 causes the stirrup member 11 to move.
Not only push 0 out of slot 144,
The 50 is removed from the ratchet wheel 62 to allow the take-up reel 60 to rotate in the counterclockwise direction of the film strip release.

As mentioned above, the rotation of the metering roll 80 such that the appropriate portion of the filmstrip 46 is precisely aligned with the exposure area 26 is controlled by the interaction of the metering roll 80 and the shutter reset mechanism 102. 19 to 22 illustrate the configuration and operation of the reset mechanism 102 and the relationship with the measuring roll 80.

FIG. 19 shows a hammer 160 which is axially fixed by a pin 162. Hammer 160, stop lug 1
00, release arm 164, reset arm 166,
The shutter blade operating arm 168 is provided. In the position shown in FIG. 19, release arm 164 engages raise button 170, which causes the operator to initiate exposure of a portion of filmstrip 46. The release arm 164 is shown in FIG.
22 is pulled in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. Positioned immediately in front of the hammer 160 is a shutter assembly 174.
The shutter assembly is then actuated by shutter blades 176 extending from the assembly.

Actuation of the release button 170 releases the release arm 164 and, in response to the tensioning of the spring means 172, along with the rest of the hammer 160 the pin 1
Rotate clockwise around 62. Such rotation is
By engaging the operating arm 168 with the shutter blade 176,
The shutter is activated to expose the portion of the filmstrip 46 located in the exposure area 26. At the same time, the stop lug 100 moves away from the metering roll detent 88 causing the metering roll 80 to rotate counterclockwise (FIG. 20), which causes the take-up reel 60 to rotate clockwise (FIG. 15).
To FIG. 17).

Thereafter, the operator touches the exposed portion (FIG. 1) of the ratchet wheel 62, and this ratchet wheel, and thus the take-up reel 60.
Is rotated to move the portion of the film that has just been exposed from the exposed area 26, and another portion of the film 46 is unwound from the can 30 to the exposed area. When the metering roll 80 rotates, it rotates the cam surface 86 (FIG. 9) of the metering roll, which cam surface is shown in FIG.
1, the reset arm 166 is engaged to rotate the hammer 160 to the reset position, where the release arm 164 is again captured by the release button 170 and the actuating arm 168 is separated from the shutter blade 176. It is in a position where it can be engaged with the blade. As the metering roll 80 rotates further (FIG. 22), the detent 88 engages the stop lug 100 to stop rotation of the metering roll, thereby stopping further advancement of the filmstrip 46. At this position, the shutter reset mechanism 102 is set to begin the next exposure of the film and the film is properly positioned in the exposure area 26.

After exposing the last portion of the film, as described above, the can 30 is opened and the exposed filmstrip 46 and the previously protected processing pad 52 are simultaneously withdrawn from the camera to bring the pad 52 to the filmstrip. 46 and press the pad against the filmstrip for firm engagement.

Strip 4 now integrated or joined
Within a few seconds of pulling 6,52 out of the camera, the images lined up along the length of this pad strip are developed. The operator does not need to develop or apply protective formulations.

Thus, there is provided a camera having means for processing the film which allows the operator to uniformly and consistently apply the processing means to the exposed film without having to handle the processing formulation. Additionally, it provides a means of sealing the treatment formulation until just prior to use. The camera thus provided only requires the operator to grasp the grip 120 and pull the stirrup member 110 outward from the camera 10. The camera 10 is simple in structure and operation,
It is therefore inexpensive to manufacture and use.

It is to be understood that this invention is in no way limited to the particular constructions disclosed and / or illustrated in the drawings, but that any modification or equivalent is included within the scope of the following claims. is there.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing the camera of FIG. 1 in which landscape light is incident on an exposure surface through a lens.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the camera of FIGS. 1 and 2 with a back cover removed to show the working components of the camera.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a film processing pad strip container component similar to FIG. 3, but simplified for simplicity.

5 is a cutaway side view of the container of FIG. 4. FIG.

6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the film winding roll component of the camera.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the metering roll component of the camera.

9 is an end view of the metering roll component of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a stirrup part of the camera.

11 is a side view of the stirrup component of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a side view of a latch component of the camera.

13 is a bottom view of the latch component of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the film pad strip container, latch, stirrup, metering roll and ratchet components in operation.

FIG. 15 is a schematic view of the operating parts of the camera in the first stage of film operation.

FIG. 16 is a schematic view of the operating parts of the camera at another stage of film operation.

FIG. 17 is a schematic view of the operating parts of the camera at yet another stage of film operation.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of a film at a processing stage.

FIG. 19 is a partial schematic elevational view showing the structure and operation of the shutter reset mechanism.

FIG. 20 is a partial schematic elevational view showing the structure and operation of the shutter reset mechanism.

FIG. 21 is a partial schematic elevational view showing the structure and operation of the shutter reset mechanism.

FIG. 22 is a partial schematic elevational view showing the structure and operation of the shutter reset mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Camera 12 Housing 26 Exposure Area 30 Container 32 Opening 34 Groove 42 Outer Surface 44 Inner Surface 46 Film Strip 48 End 50 Sealing Member 52 Film Processing Pad Strip 54 End 60 Winding Reel 62 Claw Wheel 80 Weighing Roll 88 Protrusion 110 Star Wrap Member 112 Opening 114 Teeth 116 Trailing edge 120 Grip 132 Latch 138 Arm 142 Wall 144 Slot 146 Wiper member 150 Claw 160 Shutter reset hammer member

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A camera comprising a housing, a cylindrical container rotatably mounted to the housing and a sealing member, the container having an outer surface for supporting a roll of filmstrip and a film processing pad. An inner surface for holding a roll of strip, the sealing member interconnecting the film strip and the pad strip, the container having an elongated opening extending in a longitudinal direction of the container; Is fixed to the container so as to seal the pad strip in the container by covering the opening, and the sealing member is provided when the film strip is taken out of the housing.
A camera that can be peeled from the container by moving the edge of the film from the outer surface of the container and moving the pad strip from within the container through the opening. 2. A camera including a housing and a generally cylindrical container rotatably mounted to the housing, the container having an elongated opening extending in a longitudinal direction of the container, the container being a negative. An outer surface for supporting the filmstrip and an inner surface for holding the rolled film processing pad strip, the ends of the filmstrip and the processing pad strip being fixed to a sealing member, the seal The member is adhesive and holds the sealing member on the outer surface of the container and covers the elongated opening to seal the container, the sealing member by pulling the filmstrip from the container. When the seal member is peeled from the container and the opening, and the seal member is pulled out from the camera, A camera in which a pad strip is pulled out of the container and the camera, and at the same time, the exposed film strip is pulled out of the camera so that the pad strip overlaps the film strip. 3. The camera according to claim 2, further comprising a slot in a wall of the housing, the slot comprising:
A camera shaped to allow passage of the seal member, the processing pad strip, and the exposed negative film strip. 4. The camera of claim 3, further comprising a stirrup member disposed adjacent to the container,
The stirrup member includes a camera having an opening through which the filmstrip passes toward an exposure position of the camera. 5. The camera of claim 4, wherein the container comprises a longitudinally extending elongated groove on an outer surface of the container, the camera further including a latch, the latch engaging the stirrup member. Having an arm engageable with the groove when the groove is exposed by removing the negative film strip from the outer surface of the container, and rotating the container after the arm engages the groove, A camera operative to move the latch toward the camera wall slot to move the stirrup member into the camera wall slot. 6. The camera of claim 5, wherein the latch engaging the stirrup member pushes the stirrup member out of the camera wall slot.
The stirrup member engages the seal member such that movement of the stirrup member through the slot causes the seal member together with the stirrup member to thus expose the exposed film strip and processing pad strip. A moving camera. 7. The camera of claim 6, wherein the stirrup member comprises teeth extending inwardly of the opening of the stirrup member from a trailing edge of the opening, the teeth being in contact with the seal member. A camera that is shaped to engage and pierce so that the stirrup member entangles with the seal member upon movement of the stirrup member through the camera wall slot. 8. The camera according to claim 7, wherein the stirrup member includes a grip, and the operator exposes the film exposed by the grip,
A camera that can also withdraw the processing pad strip with the film from the container and camera. 9. The camera of claim 8, further comprising a wiper member forming an edge of the camera housing slot, the wiper member defining the slot with the film exposed by the processing pad strip. A camera that, upon exiting, squeezes the processing pad strip and presses the pad strip against the filmstrip, resulting in a laminated strip including the pads strip and the filmstrip. 10. The camera of claim 6, including a film take-up reel having a film advancing wheel fixed at one end, the take-up reel pulling the negative film strip out of the container. A camera that positions a portion of the strip in the film exposure area of the camera and acts to move a portion of the film strip from the exposure area onto the take-up reel. 11. The camera according to claim 10, wherein
The film advancing wheel has a ratchet wheel, and further includes a pawl, which is fixed to the latch and engages the pawl wheel to move the film from the container to the take-up reel in only one direction; A camera including a pawl adapted to cause rotational movement of the ratchet wheel, and thus the take-up reel. 12. The camera of claim 11, further comprising a metering roll, the metering roll supporting the filmstrip between the exposure area and the take-up reel, and the outer circumference of the metering roll. A camera having a projection engageable with a shutter reset hammer member to limit movement of the filmstrip beyond the exposure area to a selected length of the filmstrip. 13. The camera according to claim 12, wherein:
A camera comprising an elastomeric surface for the metering roll to frictionally engage the filmstrip. 14. The camera according to claim 11, wherein:
The movement of the latch towards the camera wall slot
A camera that disengages the pawl from engagement with the ratchet wheel to allow the take-up reel to rotate in a direction to release the filmstrip from the take-up reel. 15. A container, a first strip of a first material, a second strip of a second material, and a sealing member, the first material when the first and second strips are joined together. A formulation for reacting with the second material, wherein the first material formulation is susceptible to rapid degradation upon exposure to the atmosphere and the container supports the rolled second strip. A cylindrical housing having a wall with an outer surface and an inner surface for receiving the first strip in a roll, the container having an elongated slot in the wall extending in the longitudinal direction of the container. A rear end of the second strip and a front end of the first strip are fixed to the sealing member, and the sealing member is fixed to the outer surface with an adhesive so that the first strip is placed in the container. The sealing member covers the slot so that when the container is rotated, the second strip is unwound from the container, and when the rear end of the second strip is separated from the container, the sealing member is attached to the outer surface. When peeled off to open the slot and continue the movement of the second strip from the roll, the tip of the first strip is withdrawn from the slot and the first and second strips are overlapped to overlap. First
A combination followed by the rest of the strip.