Shutter release blocking device for foldable camera

A foldable camera adapted to effect an exposure and initiate processing of a self-processable film unit, said camera comprising:

• a. a housing having a wall portion;
• b. a cover member movable relative to said housing from an unfolded-camera position to a folded-camera position overlying said wall portion;
• c. means in said housing for supporting the film unit in position for the exposure;
• d. an externally accessible member movable from a first position to a second position to effect the exposure and returnable to said first position, said externally accessible member having an engagement portion that moves along a predetermined path as said externally accessible member moves from said first position to said second position;
• e. means drivable through an operating cycle after the exposure has been effected for transporting the film unit from said supporting means and for initiating the processing, said transporting and initiating means including a movable film-engaging member for advancing the film unit from said supporting means and a pair of juxtaposed rotatable rollers defining a nip for receiving the film unit when advanced by said film-engaging member, said operating cycle including both movement of said film-engaging member to advance the film unit from said supporting means and rotation of at least one of said rollers to move the film unit through said nip and thereby initiate the processing;
• f. an actuating member having a cam surface thereon and rotatable from an initial position, through a single revolution synchronous with said operating cycle, to said initial position again, said actuating member being initially rotatable from said initial position in response to movement of said externally accessible member from said second position to said first position and further rotatable through said single revolution as said transporting and initiating means is driven through said operating cycle;
• g. means operable for driving said transporting and initiating means through said operating cycle, said driving means including a motor drivingly associated with both said actuating member and said transporting and initiating means, said motor becoming energized in response to rotation of said actuating member from said initial position and remaining energized until said actuating member resumes said initial position, whereby said motor operates to drive said actuating member through said single revolution and said transporting and initiating means through said operating cycle in response to said movement of said externally accessible member from said second position to said first position;
• and
• h. means for preventing said externally accessible member from moving to said second position when said camera is folded and during said operating cycle, said preventing means including a blocking member having an abutment portion movable into said predetermined path in response to movement of said cover member to said folded-camera position and in response to said rotation of said actuating member from said initial position.