# US 2024/0134264 A1 · Printer and digital camera including printer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0134264 A1 - Document ID: US20240134264A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/493,103 - Filed: 2023-10-23 - Published: 2024-04-25 - Earliest claimed: 2022-10-24 - Assignees: FUJIFILM Corporation - Applicants: FUJIFILM Corporation - Inventors: Akimasa KAYA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240134264A1 ## CPC - G03B 17/52: of the Land type - G03B 27/6257: {Arrangements for moving an original once or repeatedly to or through an exposure station} - G03B 27/14: Details - G03D 5/02: using rupturable ampoules of liquid - G03B 27/00: Photographic printing apparatus - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) - G03D: APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING EXPOSED PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS (apparatus specially adapted for photomechanical production of textured or patterned surfaces G03F); ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; electrographic, electrophotographic, or magnetographic methods or apparatus G03G) ## Abstract A digital camera including a printer includes a transport roller pair that transports an instant film, an exposure unit that exposes an image onto the instant film, a spreading roller pair that spreads a developer into a gap of the instant film by crushing a developer pod of the exposed instant film, a spreading control member that is positioned between the transport roller pair and the spreading roller pair, extends in a width direction of the instant film, and controls the developer spread into the gap, and a mechanical switch that is positioned near the spreading control member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A printer comprising: a transport roller pair that transports a film unit including a developer pod containing a developer; an exposure unit that exposes an image onto the film unit transported by the transport roller pair; a spreading roller pair that is disposed on a downstream side in a transport direction with respect to the transport roller pair and spreads the developer into a gap of the film unit by crushing the developer pod of the exposed film unit; a spreading control member that is positioned between the transport roller pair and the spreading roller pair in the transport direction, extends in a width direction of the film unit, and controls the developer spread into the gap of the film unit; and a mechanical switch that is positioned near the spreading control member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The printer according to claim 1, further comprising: a first metal member that is positioned on a side opposite to the spreading control member with a transport passage of the film unit, and elastically presses the film unit against the spreading control member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The printer according to claim 2, wherein the first metal member is electrically connected to a ground circuit of the mechanical switch. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The printer according to claim 3, wherein the mechanical switch has a second metal member fixed to the ground circuit, and the first metal member is electrically connected to the ground circuit by coming into contact with the second metal member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The printer according to claim 1, wherein a first film unit and a second film unit having a smaller dimension in the width direction than the first film unit are used as the film units, and the transport roller pair transports any one of the first film unit or the second film unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The printer according to claim 5, further comprising: a roller drive mechanism that drives the transport roller pair and the spreading roller pair, wherein the roller drive mechanism is provided at one end in the width direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The printer according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical switch is positioned 3 mm or more inside a side end of the film unit in the width direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The printer according to claim 1, wherein a chamfered portion is formed at a position where a distal end in the transport direction and a side end in the width direction intersect in the film unit, and the mechanical switch is positioned inside the chamfered portion of the film unit in the width direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The printer according to claim 1, wherein, in a case where a dimension from a center position to a side end of the film unit in the width direction is L and a distance from the center position of the film unit to a center position of the mechanical switch in the width direction is D, the mechanical switch is disposed at a position where 0≤D≤0.3 L. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The printer according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical switch is turned on by being pressed by a distal end of the film unit. ### Claim 11 A printer comprising: a first roller pair that transports a recording medium; a second roller pair that is disposed on a downstream side in a transport direction with respect to the first roller pair; and a mechanical switch that is positioned between the first roller pair and the second roller pair in the transport direction and is turned on by being pressed by a distal end of the recording medium. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A digital camera including a printer comprising: the printer according to claim 1; and an imaging unit that includes an imaging optical system and images a subject image to output image data to the printer.