Polaroid Corporation

David E Van Allen

Bruce K Johnson

George D Whiteside

Fred M Finnemore

Richard A Rosenthal

James M Conner

Irving Laskin

John K Zanardelli

Charles A Barr

A method and apparatus for separating layers of a laminated thermographic media is disclosed. The apparatus has a torque roll cooperating with a pair of peel rolls which breaks a tab on the media without a hard stop thereby avoiding shock induced premature delamination. After the media is initially delaminated, a deflector roll operable independently of the peel rolls engages the backside of the substrate for establishing a deflector angle. An anti-skew system is also incorporated for aligning the media with the torque roll and peel rolls.

Method and apparatus for delaminating a laminate

A compact, handheld viewer adapted for use with photographic transparencies which are located within a film cassette in roll form, in a strip containing a plurality of individual scenes, or individually mounted transparencies. The viewer includes a manually operable drive system for selectively driving either a film take-up reel, for withdrawing film from a film cassette and advancing it through a projection station, or a film spool for rewinding the film into the film cassette.

Handheld viewer for transparency film

A reference surface is provided on the housing of a flash illumination apparatus for allowing accurate positioning of a flash tube relative to a predetermined length of a flash reflector. This reference surface is spaced from the adjacent end of the predetermined reflector length so that positioning of one tube end and the reference surface against an appropriate aligning surface accurately centers the tube relative to the reflecting surface. Moreover, either the housing or a reflector main body has structure for cooperating with separate end members of a multi-component reflector for preventing the end members from being assembled so that the reflecting surfaces thereof do not face each other.

Strobe reflector assembly

A photographic camera having either a built-in or detachably connectable electronic strobe light which provides a preferred illumination distribution over the field of view of the camera in order to maximize flash range and improve the quality of illumination for flash pictures. The strobe is provided with a reflector that is asymmetrically shaped about the horizontal plane having optical power which decreases at different rates about the horizontal plane. This arrangement provides a vertically asymmetric distribution of illumination over the picture area with the peak illumination occurring at the central upper part of the picture area. Side to side illumination of the picture is generally symmetric about the vertical axis and is controlled by a cylindrical Fresnel lens.

Photographic lighting apparatus

A snap-fit strobe housing, which resists manual disassembly, includes mating first and second housing sections with an interior surface of a wall of one section carrying a locking detent and a wall of the other section carrying a latching portion projecting in a manner and direction to engage the locking detent. Also included is structure extending from the locking wall in overlapping relationship to a surface of the latching portion facing away from that wall so as to engage and retain the latching portion in continuous engagement with the locking detent.

Tamper resistant snap-fit strobe housing

An electronic flash unit attachable to the top of a camera shutter housing is provided with a switch control apparatus which connects with the flash unit and is positioned on the camera so as to be readily reachable by the photographer's camera-operating hand when it is in a normal position to operate the shutter and flash switch of the camera. Engagement of the switch control apparatus by the photographer's hand effects the closing of a charging switch to apply power to the flash unit and release of the switch control apparatus automatically effects the opening of the charging switch. The shutter and flash switch can be operated by the so-positioned hand as soon as the flash unit is charged.

Switch control for camera flash unit

Photographic strobe-light or similar article

A pair of meshing gears, having unique tooth profiles, are provided in a separable gear train which is usable in a self-developing camera to couple a motor in one housing section of the camera to at least one of a pair of pressure-applying rollers mounted on a second camera housing section that is pivotally coupled to the first section for movement between positions blocking and unblocking access to a film container receiving section in the first housing section. The pair of gears have a speed ratio of other than 1:1 and equal tip spacing to facilitate bringing the pair of gears into operative mesh when the second housing section is moved to the operative blocking position.

Photographic apparatus gear train having a unique set of gears

A photographic apparatus including a 'sequencing system' for initiating and controlling the orderly performance of functions in a cycle of apparatus operation that includes the exposing and processing of a self-developing film unit. The 'sequencing system' includes a sequencing gear which makes a single revolution during the operating cycle and preferably initiates, controls and/or performs the function of selectively latching and unlatching a shutter, operating an electrical power switch, operating a film advance device and indexing a film counting device.

Photographic apparatus with sequencing system

An exposure counter for use in a camera which provides a user with information as to the number of remaining exposures within a film cassette positioned therein. The exposure counter includes a drum or cylinder which is coupled to one member of a gear train which operates to simultaneously index the drum and actuate a film-advancing apparatus so that the drum is sequentially indexed to change a character present at a counter window in the camera while the film-advancing apparatus operates to advance an exposed film unit from within the cassette to the exterior of the camera. The camera is provided with a pawl which, when held in its operative position by the cassette, functions to allow rotation of the drum from a starting position to a terminal position while simultaneously preventing rotation of the drum back to its starting position. Upon removal of the cassette from within the camera, the pawl releases the drum thereby permitting it to be reset automatically to a starting position whereat the drum presents an appropriate character to the counter window which is subsequently changed upon the proper positioning of a new film laden cassette within the camera and for each subsequent exposure.

Exposure counter for an automatic camera

A modular subassembly for a self-developing camera that has an operating cycle which includes the exposure and processing of a film unit. The subassembly includes a molded base section having integrally formed structure for mounting components of the subassembly including a film advance device, film counter, motor and gear train. These components are retained on the base section by a molded retaining section which snaps onto the base section.

Growing community of inventors

Malden, MA, United States of America

David E Van Allen