W. Haking Enterprises, Ltd.

Wan C Wong

Shigeru Oshima

The camera preferably has a slotted take-up spool which when the film compartment covering door is opened is automatically rotated into an ideal position where a hook in a film-capturing slot thereof has an outward facing orientation ideal for capturing a film leader perforation when the film leader is inserted therein. The slot is preferably configured as a lengthwise passage leading into a hollow axially disposed chamber within the take-up spool, the trailing edge of the slot nearest the imaging station being provided with the hook. This edge is positioned so that it does not come into confronting engagement with the film during initial advance thereof until the film is firmly captively secured over the hook.

Camera with improved film leader capturing means

A lens system for a disc camera features a plurality of objective lenses of different focal lengths carried on a turret support that can be rotated into different stable positions in front of the framing area of the film disc to bring a selective lens into picture-taking position. An associated viewfinder adjusting system ganged for operation with the turret support projects a different framing mark pattern into the field of view, the projected pattern corresponding to the image field produced by the objective lens currently in position. A shutter releases inhibitor bars actuation of the shutter release unless an objective lens is properly positioned for exposure.

Camera with turret lens and variable frame viewfinder

A still camera includes a housing having a film chamber that is open to one side of the camera housing and is designed for drop-in loading of the film cartridge and leader. A channel leads from this side of the camera to the film path and a cavity is located at one end of the film path for receiving the film cartridge while a cavity is located at the other end of the film path which houses a take-up spool. The take-up spool has a slot for receiving the film leader and the camera incorporates drive mechanism for automatically aligning the slot of the take-up spool with the channel when the chamber door is opened. The drive mechanism forms part of the film transport system.

Automatic slot positioning device for camera take-up spool

A still camera includes a housing having a film chamber for receiving a film cartridge having a film leader with the chamber defining a film path communicating with an edge of the housing through a channel. The film chamber also has a cavity at one end of the film path for drop-in loading of the cartridge in the direction of the plane of the film and a cavity at the opposite end housing a take-up spool. An imaging area is located at one side of the film path and a pressure plate is generally aligned with the imaging area on opposite side of the film path and biased towards the imaging area. A mechanism is provided for moving the pressure plate away from the imaging area to accommodate film loading and unloading, as well as film rewind.

Still camera with pressure plate control device

An electronic shutter mechanism for a still camera comprises a shutter blade, preferably carrying a solenoid armature, urged by a first spring into an initial lens aperture closing position. An initially latched actuating member for moving the shutter blade to a lens aperture exposing position carries a normally energized solenoid coil to attract the shutter blade carried armature thereto so that the shutter blade moves with the actuating member until the coil is deenergized. When the actuating member is unlatched, a second spring urges the actuating member and the shutter blade magnetically attached thereto into a lens aperture opening position against the return force of the first spring. Upon the unlatching of the actuating member a timing circuit establishes a timing period depending upon the amount of ambient light, after which the solenoid coil is deenergized so the first spring returns the shutter blade quickly to a lens aperture closing position.

Electronic shutter for still cameras

A still camera of the type wherein film is prewound onto a takeup spool within the camera body and thereafter advanced toward and into the film cassette as successive exposures are made includes a final rewind mechanism to prevent the exposed film leader from being positioned in the camera's imaging area. A pair of switches, arranged in series, actuate an electric motor to effect final rewind when sufficient film has been advanced from the takeup spool. One of the switches is actuated responsive to the presence of tensed film on the takeup spool, while the remaining switch is actuated responsive to the presence of film in the camera's imaging area.

Automatic film rewinding camera

A disc camera advances a film disc by an oscillating pawl engaging the disc film notches previously used for indexing. The pawl is carried on a member pivotably mounted on the side of the rear film chamber wall remote from the chamber and passing through an opening in this wall. The limits of movement of this member are determined by the height of a lobe of a rotating cam driving the pawl system and by other mechanical limit stops. An end-of-film sensing pin is provided which passes through the rear film chamber wall of the camera and engages the face of the film disc hub directly. When the pin drops into the film disc hub, the film advance motor circuit is rendered inoperative. A single printed circuit board placed near and parallel to the side of the film chamber wall remote from the film chamber carries the DC motor, shutter-cocking and the pawl-oscillating mechanism. The pawl carrying member is pivoted on this wall. A film flattening shroud frame on the rear chamber wall has only its tangentially disposed faces or edges contacting the film disc so that the other two margins thereof do not contact the portion of the film to be exposed during film advancement.

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Hong Kong, China

Wan C Wong