Fuji Photo Film Company, Limited

Shoichi Uchida

Masaya Morita

Shinsuke Aoshima

Yoshihiro Tominaga

Hiroshi Hara

Ryo Mori

Akihiro Sanda

Yukihiko Yamaguchi

Kazuhito Iwase

A method and apparatus for disassembling a used lens-fitted photo film unit whose unit body consists of a body base portion, front and rear cover sections removably engaged with the body base portion and with each other, and a label placed around the unit body. Access holes provided through the front and rear cover sections permit accessing internal engaging portions between the cover sections and the body base portion. The label is cut along joints between the front and rear cover sections by laser markers. Holes are pierced through the label to access holes of the unit body. Thereafter, disengaging tools are sequentially inserted into the access holes through the holes of the label, to disengage the internal engaging portions. Then, the front and rear cover sections are sequentially separated from the body base portion without removing the label from the front and rear cover sections.

Method of disassembling lens-fitted photo film unit and disassembling apparatus therefor

A taking lens of a used lens-fitted photo film unit is cleaned according to sequential steps for recycling. A cleaning head is caused to press a loosened cleaning tape against the taking lens. While the cleaning tape is pressed against the taking lens, the cleaning head is moved, to wipe the taking lens with the cleaning tape. Furthermore, before wiping with the cleaning tape, the taking lens may be brushed by rotating the cleaning head back and forth. In a preferred embodiment, a recycling apparatus includes a disassembly line which disassembles the lens-fitted photo film unit after removal of a cassette shell with photo film being exposed. A main body is obtained with at least a cassette shutter closing mechanism for a cassette shutter and a frame counter mechanism. Furthermore, an inspection line inspects operation of the mechanical parts and a cleaning line cleans at least a viewfinder lens.

Lens cleaning apparatus and method and recycling apparatus and method for lens-fitted photo film unit

A lens-fitted photo film unit includes a main body preloaded with photo film. A front cover covers a front of the main body. A rear cover covers a rear of the main body. A retainer mechanism has a retainer claw and a receiver portion engaged with each other, for connecting rear walls of the main body and the rear cover. An opening is formed in the rear cover, for uncovering at least a portion of the retainer claw or the receiver portion. For disassembly, a release claw is inserted into the opening by setting the lens-fitted photo film unit in a cover separating station with the rear cover directed downwards. The release claw is disposed to protrude upwards in the cover separating station. The release claw is shifted relative to the opening, to disengage the retainer claw from the receiver portion by flexing the retainer claw away therefrom. After disengaging the retainer claw from the receiver portion, the main body is moved away from the rear cover.

Method and apparatus for disassembling lens-fitted photo film unit

In a production process of a photo film cartridge, data relating to respective components and data obtained during the production process is written in an IC memory that is mounted to a cartridge shell of the photo film cartridge. The data written in the IC memory is read out at later stages of the production process for use in controlling production of the photo film cartridge. The data is at least partly maintained stored in the IC memory after the shipment, for use in tracing production history of the photo film cartridge. When a photo film cartridge having an IC memory is for use in a lens-fitted photo film unit, unit type data indicating the type of the film unit are written in the IC memory before loading the photo film cartridge in the film unit. The unit type data is read out from the IC memory to choose a proper type of packaging materials for the film unit before a unit body of the film unit is wrapped and packed in the packaging materials.

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Kanagawa, Japan

Shoichi Uchida