Photographic apparatus with sequencing system

Photographic apparatus for exposing and processing a film unit of the self-developing type during the course of a cycle of operation of said apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• means within said housing for locating such a film unit in position for exposure;
• exposure means, including shutter means, for exposing such a film unit located at said exposure position, said shutter means including means movable between positions blocking and unblocking the transmission of image-bearing light through said shutter means to effect the exposure of the film unit;
• a processing station within said housing for applying a compressive pressure to such a film unit, subsequent to exposure, for distributing a fluid processing composition within the film unit;
• film advance means, mounted for movement within said housing, for engaging such a film unit located at said exposure position and advancing the film unit to said processing station subsequent to exposure;
• shutter latching means on said film advance means and movable therewith for initially latching said shutter means in said light-blocking position, for unlatching said shutter means to allow said shutter means to move between said blocking and unblocking positions to effect the exposure of such a film unit, and for relatching said shutter means in said light-blocking position subsequent to exposure;
• and
• sequencing means for controlling the sequence of certain events in said cycle of operation of said apparatus including latching and unlatching of said shutter means and advancing such a film unit from said exposure position to said processing station, said sequencing means including a sequencing member mounted in said housing for rotation through a single 360.degree. revolution during the course of a cycle of operation of said apparatus, said sequencing member being coupled to said film advance means such that position of said film advance means relative to a film unit at said exposure position and the position of said shutter latching means on said film advance means relative to said shutter means is determined by the angular disposition of said sequencing member relative to an initial predetermined starting position of said sequencing member at the beginning of a cycle of operation wherein said sequencing member locates said film advance means in a first position such that said shutter latching means thereon engages and latches said shutter means in said light-blocking position, said film advance means being movable from said first position to a second position, in response to rotating said sequencing member through a first angular segment of said single revolution, causing said shutter latching means to become disengaged from and thereby unlatching said shutter means and locating said firm advance means in position to engage such a film unit located at said exposure position, said film advance means being movable between said second position and said first position, in response to rotating said sequencing member through a second angular segment of said single revolution, for advancing the film unit from said exposure position to said processing station and for causing said shutter latching means to re-engage and relatch said shutter means in said light-blocking position.

Photographic apparatus for exposing and processing a self-developing film unit during the course of a cycle of operation of said apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• means within said housing for locating such a film unit in position for exposure;
• exposure means, including shutter means, for exposing a film unit located at said exposure position said shutter means including means movable between positions blocking and unblocking the transmission of image-bearing light through said shutter means to effect the exposure of the film unit, said shutter means also being configured to be latched in said light-blocking position at the beginning and end of a cycle of operation of said apparatus;
• a processing station including pressure applying means for applying a compressive pressure to such a film unit subsequent to exposure for distributing a fluid processing composition within the film unit;
• sequencing means for controlling the sequence of certain events in a cycle of operation of said apparatus, said sequencing means including a member mounted for rotation through a single 360.degree. revolution during the course of a cycle of operation of said apparatus;
• means responsive to rotating said sequencing member through a first angular segment of said single revolution for unlatching said shutter means located in said light-blocking position to allow said shutter means to move between said blocking and unblocking positions to effect the exposure of such a film unit located at said exposure position;
• means responsive to rotating said sequencing member through a second angular segment of said single revolution for advancing such a film unit, subsequent to exposure, from said exposure position to said processing station;
• counting means, responsive to rotating said sequencing member through a third angular segment of said single revolution, for counting and visually indicating the number of cycles of operation of said apparatus;
• and
• means responsive to rotating said sequencing member through a fourth angular segment of said single revolution for relatching said shutter means in said light-blocking position subsequent to exposure of such a film unit.

Photographic apparatus for exposing and processing a film unit of the self-developing type during the course of a cycle of operation of said apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• means within said housing for locating such a film unit in position for exposure;
• exposure means, including shutter means, for exposing such a film unit, said shutter means including means movable between positions blocking and unblocking transmission of image-bearing light through said shutter means, said shutter means being configured to be latched in said light-blocking position at the beginning and end of a cycle of operation of said apparatus;
• a processing station for applying a compressive pressure to such a film unit, subsequent to exposure, for distributing a fluid processing composition within said film unit;
• film advance means mounted for movement for engaging and advancing such a film unit from said exposure position to said processing station;
• and
• shutter latch means on said film advance means for latching and unlatching said shutter means located in said light-blocking position;
• said film advance means being movable from a first position, wherein said shutter latching means engages and latches said shutter in said light-blocking position, to a second position for causing said shutter latching means to become disengaged from said shutter means to allow said shutter means to move between said blocking and unblocking positions and for locating said film advance means in position to engage such a film unit located at said exposure position, said film advance means being movable between said second position and said first position for advancing the film unit from said exposure position to said processing station and for locating said shutter latching means in position to relatch said shutter means in said light-blocking position.

Photographic apparatus for exposing and processing a film unit of self-developing type during the course of a cycle of operation of said apparatus, said apparatus comprising;

• a housing;
• means within said housing for receiving a film container holding a plurality of such film units in stacked relationship therein and supporting such a film container in a manner to locate a forwardmost film unit in the container in position for exposure;
• exposure means, including shutter means, for exposing such a film unit located at said exposure position, said shutter means including means movable between positions blocking and unblocking the transmission of image-bearing light through said shutter means to effect the exposure of the film unit, said shutter means also being configured to be latched in said light-blocking position at the beginning and end of a cycle of operation of said apparatus;
• a processing station, including a pair of rollers, through which such a film unit is to be advanced, subsequent to exposure, for applying a compressive pressure to the film unit to distribute a fluid processing composition within the film unit;
• electrical circuit means for controlling certain events in a cycle of operation of said apparatus, said circuit means including switch means being movable between an electrically conducting state for connecting a source of electrical energy to said circuit means and a nonconducting state for disconnecting such a source of electrical energy from said circuit means;
• film counter means having indicia thereon representing the number of film units remaining in such a film container and being actuable to index one indicia for each cycle of operation of said apparatus;
• a unitary structure being mounted for movement between a first position, a second position and a third position, intermediate said first and second positions, and including means thereon for advancing a film unit from said exposure position to said processing station, means for latching and unlatching said shutter means, and means for operating said switch means, said unitary structure being configured such that said shutter latching means engages and latches said shutter means in said light-blocking position and said switch operating means engages and locates said switch means in said nonconducting state when said unitary structure is located in said first position, said unitary structure being movable from said first position to said second position causing said shutter latch means and said switch operating means to become disengaged from said shutter means and switch means, respectively, to unlatch said shutter means and locate said switch means in said conducting state and for locating said film advance means in position to engage the forwardmost film unit in the film container, said unitary structure being movable from said second position to said third position, subsequent to exposure of the forwardmost film unit, causing said film advance means to advance the forwardmost film unit from said exposure position to said processing station and causing said shutter latching means to relatch said shutter means, said unitary structure being movable from said third position to said first position for causing said switch operating means to locate said switch means in said nonconducting state;
• sequencing means for controlling certain events in a cycle of operation of said apparatus including moving said unitary structure and indexing said counter means, said sequencing means including a sequencing gear mounted for rotation through a single 360.degree. revolution during the course of a cycle of operation of said apparatus and having a profile cam thereon being selectively engageable with said unitary structure for locating said unitary structure in said first, second, and third positions in a dependent relationship with the angular disposition of said sequencing member relative to a predetermined starting position at the beginning of a cycle of operation, said sequencing gear also having a counter actuating means thereon being selectively engageable with said counter means for indexing said counter means one indicia during the course of a single revolution of said sequencing gear;
• and
• drive means for rotatably driving said sequencing gear and at least one of said pair of rollers to cause a film unit to be advanced between said pair of rollers, said drive means including a motor and a gear train coupling said sequencing gear and said at least one roller to said motor;
• said cam on said sequencing gear having a shaped profile for locating said unitary structure in said first position when said sequencing gear is located at said predetermined starting position at the initiation of a cycle of operation whereby said shutter means is latched and said switching means is located in said nonconducting state, in response to rotating said sequencing gear through a first angular segment of said single revolution, said cam causes said unitary structure to move from said first position to said second position thereby unlatching said shutter means and locating said switch means in said conducting state and locating said film advance means in position to engage the forwardmost film unit in the film container, following exposure of the forwardmost film unit and in response to rotating said sequencing gear through a second angular segment of said single revolution, said counter actuating means indexes said counter means and said cam causes said unitary structure to move from said second position to said third position thereby advancing the forwardmost film unit from said exposure position to said processing station and locating said shutter latching means in position to relatch said shutter means, said cam further causing said unitary structure to move from said third position to said first position, in response to rotating said sequencing gear through a third angular segment of said single revolution, causing said switch operating means to locate said switch means in said nonconducting state thereby terminating said cycle of operation.

Photographic apparatus for exposing and processing a self-developing film unit during the course of a cycle of operation of said apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• means for locating such a film unit within said housing in position for exposure;
• exposure means for exposing such a film unit located at said exposure position, said exposure means including shutter means movable between positions blocking and unblocking the transmission of image-bearing light therethrough, said shutter means being configured to be latched in said light blocking position prior and subsequent to the exposure of a film unit located at said exposure position;
• a processing station including means for applying a compression pressure to such a film unit, subsequent to exposure, for distributing a fluid processing composition within the film unit;
• an electrical circuit for controlling certain events in a cycle of operation of said apparatus and including electrical switch means movable between electrically conducting and nonconducting positions;
• sequencing means cooperating with said electrical circuit for controlling certain other events in a cycle of operation of said apparatus and including a sequencing member mounted for rotation through a single 360.degree. revolution relative to a predetermined starting position during the course of a cycle of operation of said apparatus;
• means responsive to the angular disposition of said sequencing member relative to said starting position and responsive to rotation of said sequencing member for latching said shutter means in said light blocking position prior to exposure of such a film unit, for unlatching said shutter means for movement between said light blocking and unblocking position to cause exposure of the film unit and for relatching said shutter means in said light blocking position subsequent to exposure of the film unit;
• means responsive to the angular disposition of said sequencing member relative to said starting position and responsive to rotation of said sequencing member for selectively moving said electrical switch means between said electrically conducting and nonconducting positions during the course of a cycle of operation of said apparatus;
• and
• film advance means responsive to the angular disposition of said sequencing member relative to said starting position and responsive to rotation of said sequencing member for advancing a film unit from said exposure position to said processing station subsequent to exposure of the film unit.

A photographic camera operable in a cycle comprising a plurality of events performed in a predetermined sequence and relating to the production of a viewable image of a scene on a photographic sheet, said camera comprising:

• an electric motor;
• a rotatably mounted sequencing wheel arranged to be driven by said motor, said sequencing wheel including a cam surface;
• sliding means including a cam follower, disposed in operable relationship with said cam surface, and an actuating member;
• means for guiding said sliding means along a predetermined path;
• an electrical circuit, including a switch arranged to selectively connect said electrical circuit to a source of electrical energy, operable to control the performance of certain events in the cycle, said electrical circuit controlling the energization of said motor to cause said sequencing wheel to rotate substantially 360.degree. during each cycle, said sliding means being configured so that its actuating member selectively contacts said switch to assume a first state at the beginning of each cycle, to cause said switch to assume a second state during the course of each cycle, and to cause said switch to return to its said first state just prior to or at the completion of each cycle;
• and
• means for continually urging said sliding means towards a first position along said guide means wherein said actuating member is disposed out of contact with said switch and wherein said motor is arranged to drive said sliding means into a second position along said guide means, against the force of said urging means, said actuating member being in contact with said switch when in its said second position, said cam surface being configured to retain said sliding means in its said second position against the force of said urging means upon deenergization of said motor.

A photographic camera operable in a cycle comprising a plurality of events performed in a predetermined sequence and relating to the production of a viewable image of a scene on a photographic sheet, said camera comprising:

• means for defining a film plane at which a film unit having a photosensitive layer and a pod of processing fluid may be positioned for selective exposure;
• a shutter for selectively exposing the film unit;
• a pair of fluid spreading rollers;
• an electrical motor coupled to at least one of said pair of rollers;
• a rotatably mounted sequencing wheel arranged to be driven by said motor, said sequencing wheel including a cam surface;
• sliding means including a cam follower, disposed in operable relationship with said cam surface, and a film advancing member;
• means for guiding said sliding means along a predetermined path extending generally parallel to said film plane;
• and
• spring means for continually urging said sliding means and its film advancing member in a direction along said predetermined path away from said rollers;
• said cam surface being configured to retain said sliding means and its said film advancing member in a forward position along said predetermined path in the direction of said rollers prior to the commencement of said cycle, to permit said spring means to displace said sliding means and its film advancing member to a rearward position along said predetermined path away from said rollers wherein said film advancing member may engage the end of said film unit furthermost disposed from said rollers during the cycle, and to subsequently cause said sliding means and its said film advancing member to move forward along said predetermined path after the actuation of said shutter means and prior to the completion of the cycle to advance said film unit into operative relationship with said rollers.

A photographic apparatus comprising:

• means responsive to electrical energization for automatically performing a plurality of events in a predetermined sequence to effect a predetermined photographic cycle including the exposure of a film unit to scene light, said events performing means including at least one displaceably mounted member and means for effecting a displacement of said member from an initial position into a second position to facilitate the performance of one of said events other than the last of said events and for returning said member to its said initial position incident to the performance of said last event;
• a manually accessible normally nonconductive first switch for selectively electrically coupling said events performing means to a source of electrical energy to initiate said photographic cycle upon manual actuation by an operator, said first switch being of the type which is automatically returnable to the nonconductive state upon manual actuation and release thereof by the operator;
• a normally nonconductive second switch for selectively electrically coupling said events performing means to a source of electrical energy, said member being operative to render said second switch conductive when it moves from its said initial position into its said second position, and to render said second switch again nonconductive when it returns to its said initial position incident to the performance of said last event, said one event being sequenced to occur prior to the automatic return of said first switch to its nonconductive condition following a normally anticipated manual actuation and release of said first switch by an operator.

A photographic camera comprising:

• means for locating a film unit in position for exposure;
• a shutter mounted for displacement between a first arrangement wherein it is operative to preclude scene light from exposing the film unit and another arrangement wherein it permits scene light to expose the film unit;
• means for urging said shutter towards its said other arrangement to initiate an exposure cycle;
• electrically energizeable means for displacing said shutter from its said other arrangement into its said first arrangement against the influence of said urging means to thereby terminate an exposure cycle;
• a shutter latch;
• means for urging said shutter latch into a position where it does not latch said shutter;
• electrically energizable means for displacing said shutter latch from its said shutter unlatching position into a position wherein it serves to latch said shutter, said shutter latch displacing means being operative against the influence of said shutter latch urging means, said shutter latch displacing means comprising a slider including a cam follower, said shutter latch being mounted on said slider, means for guiding said slider along a predetermined path, an electric motor, a displaceably mounted camming surface operatively positioned with respect to said cam follower, and means for coupling said motor to said camming surface such that displacement of said camming surface under the influence of said motor controls the movement of said slider along said guiding means to effect the selective unlatching and latching of said shutter by said shutter latch;
• and
• motor control means for controlling said motor to position said slider so as to cause said shutter latch to be in its shutter latching position upon the completion of an exposure cycle and prior to the deenergization of said shutter displacing means.

A photographic camera comprising:

• means for locating a film unit in position for exposure;
• a shutter mounted for displacement between a first arrangement wherein it is operative to preclude scene light from exposing the film unit and another arrangement wherein it permits scene light to expose the film unit;
• means for continually urging said shutter towards its said other arrangement to initiate an exposure cycle;
• electrically energizable means for displacing said shutter from its said other arrangement into its said first arrangement against the influence of said urging means to thereby terminate an exposure cycle;
• a shutter latch;
• means for urging said latch into a position where it does not latch said shutter;
• and
• electrically energizeable means for displacing said latch from its said shutter unlatching position into a position wherein it serves to latch said shutter, said latch displacing means being operative against the influence of said latch urging means, said latch displacing means additionally including means for retaining said latch in its said latching position against the influence of said latch urging means when said means for displacing said shutter and said means for displacing said latch are deenergized.

A photographic camera automatically operable through a plurality of events forming a predetermined cycle, said camera comprising:

• a housing;
• a lens for directing and focusing image carrying rays from a photographic scene to a given focal plane within said housing;
• a shutter mechanism electrically operable between a blocking arrangement wherein said rays are precluded from reaching said focal plane and an unblocking arrangement wherein said rays are transmitted to said focal plane;
• film advancing means actuable for advancing photographic film material from a focal position in said focal plane;
• a latch displaceable between a latching position wherein said latch is configured for latching engagement with said shutter mechanism and an unlatch position wherein said latch is disengaged from said shutter mechanism;
• drive means energizable for automatically first actuating said film advancing means and subsequently displacing said latch from its said unlatch position to its said latching position;
• a control circuit energizable for controlling said shutter mechanism and said drive means to operate said shutter mechanism, said film advancing means, and said latch in said predetermined cycle to first expose film material located in a focal position in said focal plane and thereafter energize said drive means to advance said film material from said focal position and return said latch to its said latching position;
• a switch arrangement actuable between a first state for coupling said control means to a source of voltage, and a second state for decoupling said control means from said voltage source;
• and
• means for mounting said switch in operative relation to said latch so that movement of said latch from its said latching position to its said unlatch position alters said switch from its said first state to its said second state whereby said displacement of said latch from its said latching position initiates camera operation by energizing said controlling means through said switch to carry out said predetermined cycle including energization of said drive means to advance said film material and then return said latch to its said latching position so as to decouple said control means from said source and thereby terminate camera operation.