US 4,057,334 AGranted

Self timer device for motion picture camera

AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha

InventorsKazuo Ishikawa, Noritsugu Hirata, Tomoshi Takigawa, Yasutsugu Yamada

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

The present invention relates to a self-timer device for a motion picture camera which presents a second motor switch connected in series with the first motor switch to be closed by means of the release means at the time of the camera release, the first timer means including a governer mechanism for actually starting photographing, closing the second motor switch after the elapse of a certain determined time from the automatic photographing setting and the second timer means for stopping the camera release after the elapse of a certain determined time from the actual starting of photographing, so as to open the first motor switch and terminate the photographing. In this manner the first timer means is driven by means of a spring means as a driving source while the second timer means is driven by means of the camera driving motor as driving source and controls the timing of the start and stop of the photographing at the time of the automatic photographing.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A self-timer device for a camera equipped with a driving motor for enabling automatic photography, comprising:

A. timer means for controlling a first time interval until the initiation of picture-taking operation, said timer means having a spring means capable of charging by manual operation and operating to control said first time interval by the force which is charged in said spring means;
B. first operation means for the initiation of the picture-taking operation, said first operating means being operatively associated with said timer means and initiating the picture-taking operation by energizing said driving motor when said first time interval elapsed;
C. manually operable means concurrently applied to the charging of said spring means and to the controlling of a second time interval until the termination of the picture-taking operation subsequent to said first time interval, said manually operable means being shiftable between a first state operatively connected with said timer means and a second state operatively connected with said driving motor and, in said first state, said manually operable means being applied to the charging of said spring means by manual operation, while in said second state, said manually operable means operating to control said second time interval by the driving force of said driving motor upon the energization of said driving motor;
said spring means being charged by manual operation to said manually operable means when said manually operable means is in said first state;
said timer means initiating the operation for controlling said first time interval by the force which is charged in said spring means when said manually operable means is shifted from said first state to said second state by manual operation under the state that said spring means is charged;
said manually operable means initiating the operation for controlling said second time interval by the driving force of said driving motor when said motor is energized by said first operating means after the lapse of said first time interval under the state wherein said manually operable means is shifted to said second state;
and
D. second operating means to stop the picture-taking operation, said second operating means being operatively associated with said manually operable means and stopping the picture-taking operation by de-energizing said driving motor when said second time interval elapsed.

5 more elements

A motion picture camera comprising:

A. a driving motor;
B. a switch circuit for controlling the starting and stopping of said driving motor, said circuit being electrically connected with the motor and having first and second switches connected in series with each other;
C. first means acting upon said first switch;
D. second means acting upon said second switch;
E. third means for determining a first time interval until the initiation of picture-taking operation, said third means having a spring means and operating by the charged force charged in the spring means so as to determine the first time interval;
F. manually operable fourth means adapted for charging said spring means in said third means as well as for determining a second time interval until the termination of the picture-taking operation, said fourth means being shiftable between a first state in which the fourth means is operatively connected with the third means and adapted for charging the spring means by manual operation from outside the camera, and a second state in which the fourth means is operatively connected with said driving motor and driven by the motor so as to determine the second time interval when the motor is started;
said spring means in the third means being charged through said fourth means by manual operation for charging the spring means from outside the camera to said fourth means when the fourth means is in said first state;
said third means starting its operation for determining the first time interval by the charged force charged in the spring means when the fourth means is shifted to the second state from the first state by the manual operation from outside the camera;
said second means being operatively associated with the third means and actuating said second switch so as to start the driving motor after the lapse of said first time interval;
said fourth means initiating its operation for determining the second time interval by the driving force of said driving motor when the driving motor is started after the lapse of said first time interval under the state that said fourth means is shifted to the second state;
said first means being operatively associated with the fourth means and actuating said first switch so as to stop the driving motor after the lapse of said second time interval;
thereby automatic picture-taking is enabled.

9 more elements

A motion picture camera comprising:

A. shutter means rotatingly operated for opening a picture-taking window intermittently;
B. a driving motor for driving said shutter means, said motor being operatively connected with the shutter means;
C. a trigger switch for controlling the starting and stopping of said driving motor, said trigger switch being electrically connected with the driving motor and operable manually from outside the camera;
D. an auxiliary switch connected in series with said trigger switch;
E. timer means for determining a first time interval until the initiation of picture-taking operation, said timer means having a spring means which is chargeable by manual operation from outside the camera, and the timer means operating by the force charged in the spring means so as to determine the first time interval;
F. manually operable means adapted for charging said spring means from outside the camera as well as for determining a second time interval until the termination of the picture-taking operation, said manually operable means being shiftable between a first state in which the manually operable means is operatively connected with said timer means and adapted for charging the spring means by the manual operation from outside the camera, and a second state in which the manually operable means is operatively connected with said driving motor and driven by the motor so as to determine the second time interval when the motor is energized;
said spring means being charged through said operable means by manual operation for charging the spring means from outside the camera to said operable means when said manually operable means is in said first state;
said timer means starting its operation for determining said first time interval by the charged force charged in the spring means when said manually operable means is shifted to said second state from said first state;
G. first actuating means acting upon said auxiliary switch, said first actuating means is operatively associated with said timer means, and after turning the auxiliary switch off upon the charging of said spring means, turning the auxiliary switch on so as to energize said driving motor when said first time interval has elapsed during the operating course of the timer means;
H. second actuating means acting upon said trigger switch, said second actuating means being operatively associated with said manually operable means and turning the trigger switch on upon manual operation to said operable means so as to charge said spring means;
and
I. locking means for locking said second actuating means at a position where said trigger switch is turned on, said locking means being operatively associated with said manually operable means, and after locking the second actuating means when said operable means is shifted to said second state, releasing said locking when said second time interval has elapsed during the course that said operable means is driven by said driving motor;
said second actuating means turning said trigger switch off so as to de-energize said driving motor when the locking due to said locking means is released.

10 more elements

A motion picture camera comprising:

A. shutter means rotatingly operated for opening picture-taking window intermittently;
B. a driving motor for driving said shutter means, said motor being operatively connected with the shutter means;
C. a trigger switch for controlling the starting and stopping of said driving motor, said trigger switch being electrically connected with the driving motor and operable manually from outside the camera;
D. an auxiliary switch connected in series with said trigger switch;
E. timer means for determining a first time interval until the initiation of picture-taking operation, said timer means having a spring means which is chargeable by manual operation from outside the camera, and the timer means operating by the force charged in the spring means so as to determine the first time interval;
F. manually operable means adapted for charging said spring means from outside the camera as well as for determining a second time interval until the termination of the picture-taking operation, said manually operable means being shiftable between a first state in which the manually operable means is operatively connected with said timer means and adapted for charging the spring means by the manual operation from outside the camera, and a second state in which the manually operable means is operatively connected with said driving motor and driven by the motor so as to determine the second time interval when the motor is energized;
G. urging means for keeping said manually operable means in said first state, said manually operable means being kept in said first state by the urging force of said urging means, as well as being shiftable to said second state by manual operation from outside the camera against the urging force of said urging means;
H. arresting means for movably arresting said manually operable means in said second state, said arresting means being operatively associated with said manually operable means, and after arresting said operable means when said operable means is shifted from said first state to said second state, releasing said arresting when said second time interval has elapsed during the course that said operable means is driven by said driving motor;
said manually operable means being automatically restored to said first state by the urging force of said spring means when the arresting due to said arresting means is released;
said spring means being charged through said operable means by manual operation for charging the spring means from outside the camera to said operable means when said manually operable means is in said first state;
said timer means starting its operation for determining said first time interval by the force charged in the spring means when said manually operable means is shifted to said second state from said first state;
I. first output means acting upon said auxiliary switch, said first output means being operatively associated with said timer means, and after turning said auxiliary switch off upon the charging of said spring means, turning the auxiliary switch on so as to energize said driving motor as said first time interval elapsed during the operation of the timer means;
and
J. second output means acting upon said trigger switch, said second output means being operatively associated with said manually operable means and said arresting means, and after turning the trigger on upon manual operation for the manually operable means so as to charge said spring means, turning the trigger switch off so as to deenergize said driving motor in response to the operation of said arresting means when said arresting means releases the arresting of the manually operable as said second time interval has elapsed.

11 more elements

A motion picture camera comprising:

A. shutter means rotatingly operating to open a picture-taking window intermittently;
B. a driving motor for driving said shutter means, said motor being operatively coupled with the shutter means;
C. a trigger switch electrically coupled with said driving motor;
D. an auxiliary switch connected in series with said trigger switch;
E. stopper means for stopping said shutter means at a position where said shutter means closes said picture-taking window, said stopper means being manually operable from outside the camera, as well as further operatively associated with said trigger switch, so that when the shutter means is stopped at said position, the trigger switch is turned off, and when the stopping of the shutter means is released, the trigger switch is turned on;
F. timer means for determining a first time interval until the initiation of picture-taking operation, said timer means having a spring means which is chargeable by manual operation from outside the camera, the timer means operating by the force charged in the spring means so as to determine the first time interval;
G. manually operable means adapted for charging said spring means from outside the camera as well as for determining a second time interval until the termination of the picture-taking operation, said manually operable means being shiftable between a first state in which the manually operable means is operatively connected with said timer means and adapted for charging the spring means by the manual operation from outside the camera, and a second state in which the manually operable means is operatively connected with said driving motor and driven by the motor so as to determine the second time interval when the motor is energized;
H. urging means for maintaining said manually operable means in said first state;
said manually operable means being maintained in said first state by the urging force of said urging means, as well as being shiftable to said second state by manual operation from outside the camera, against the urging force of said urging means;
I. arresting means for movably arresting said manually operable means in said second state, said arresting means being operatively associated with said manually operable means, and after arresting said operable means when said operable means is shifted from said first state to said second state, releasing said arresting when said second time interval has elapsed during the course that said operable means is driven by said driving motor;
said manually operable means being automatically restored to said first state by the urging force of said urging means when the arresting due to said arresting means is released;
said spring means being charged through said operable means by manual operation for charging the spring means from outside the camera to said operable means when said manually operable means is in said first state;
said timer means starting its operation for determining said first time interval by the force charged in the spring means when said manually operable means is shifted to said second state from said first state;
J. first actuating means acting upon said auxiliary switch, said first actuating means being operatively associated with said timer means, and after making said auxiliary switch turn-off upon charging of said spring means, making the auxiliary switch turn-on so as to energize said driving motor when said first time interval has elapsed during the course of operation of the timer means;
K. second actuating means acting upon said stopper means, said second actuating means being operatively associated with said manually operable means, and releasing the stopping of said shutter due to the stopper means upon manual operation to said operable means so as to charge said spring means;
and
L. locking means for locking said second means at a position where the stopping of said shutter means by said stopper means is released, said locking means being operatively associated with said arresting means, and after locking said second actuating means in response to the operation of said arresting means when said arresting means arrests said manually operable means, releasing the locking of said second actuating means in response to the operation of said arresting means when said arresting means releases the arresting of said operable means;
said stopper means de-energizing said driving motor by stopping said shutter means as well as by making said trigger switch turn off.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.