Camera apparatus
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorDonald M. Harvey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a photographic camera, apparatus is provided for determining when, in a film cassette, a reduced-width trailing end portion of the filmstrip has fallen off a film support which normally positions the filmstrip within range of a tooth for engaging the film leader prior to initial film advance from the cassette shell or following midroll film return to the shell. During a film loading sequence of the photographic camera, the determination that the film leader is positioned out of range of the tooth automatically prevents operation of the film transport or other means, whereby one is alerted not to use the filmstrip.
Claims5
Camera apparatus intended for use with a film cassette including (a) an internal film engageable member for engaging a leader portion of a filmstrip prior to its initial advance from the cassette shell and for re-engaging the leader portion following its return to the shell, (b) an internal film support for normally supporting the filmstrip within engaging range of the film engageable member to enable the engageable member to engage the leader portion, (c) a trailing end portion of the filmstrip configured to fall away from the film support to move the filmstrip out of engaging range of the film engageable member, when the filmstrip has been advanced sufficiently from the cassette shell to position the trailing end portion at the film support, to prevent the engageable member from re-engaging the leader portion following its return to the shell, and (d) an access opening in the cassette shell proximate the film support, said camera apparatus comprising:
- sensor means adapted during a film loading mode to enter the access opening for determining whether or not the filmstrip has fallen away from the film support to thus determine whether or not the filmstrip is positioned out of engaging range of the film engageable member;
- and
- control means adapted during said film loading mode for preventing the occurrence of a perceptible camera function relating to the filmstrip, when said sensor means determines the filmstrip has fallen away from the film support to be positioned out of engaging range of the film engageable member, whereby one will be altered not to use the filmstrip.
A photographic combination of a film cassette and camera apparatus intended for use with said film cassette, wherein said film cassette comprises:
- an internal film engageable member for engaging a leader portion of a filmstrip prior to its initial advance from the cassette shell and for re-engaging the leader portion following its return to the shell;
- an internal film support for normally supporting the filmstrip within engaging range of said film engageable member to enable the engageable member to engage the leader portion;
- a trailing end portion of the filmstrip configured to fall away from said film support to move the filmstrip out of engaging range of said film engageable member, when the filmstrip has been advanced sufficiently from the cassette shell to position said trailing end portion at the film support, to prevent the engageable member from re-engaging the leader portion following its return to the shell;
- and
- an access opening in the cassette shell proximate said film support, and wherein said camera apparatus comprises:
- sensor means adapted during a film loading mode to enter said access opening for determining whether the filmstrip is positioned out of engaging range of said film engageable member;
- and
- control means adapted during said film loading mode for preventing the occurrence of a perceptible camera function relating to the filmstrip, when said sensor means determines the filmstrip is positioned out of engaging range of said film engageable member, whereby on will be alerted not to use the filmstrip.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.