Camera with device for identifying used film magazine

A camera in which is inserted a film unit having a film, a container for accommodating said film and an information recording part capable of recording information therein, comprising:

• information recording means for recording information in said information recording part;
• information detecting means for detecting information in said information recording part;
• prevention means for preventing an exposure of said film by said camera when said information detecting means detects said information;
• and
• control means for controlling said information recording means and said information detecting means in order to actuate said information detecting means before said information recording means is actuated.

A camera in which is inserted a film unit having a film, a container for accommodating said film and an information recording part provided on said container and capable of recording information therein by its outer form being changed, comprising:

• information recording means which records said information by changing the outer form of said information recording part of said film unit inserted in said camera;
• information detecting means which is capable of detecting said information from the outer form of said information recording part;
• prevention means for preventing exposure of said film by said camera when said information detecting means detects said information;
• and
• control means which controls said information recording means and said information detecting means to actuate said information detecting means before said information recording means is actuated.

A camera in which is inserted a film unit having a film, a container for accommodating said film and an information recording part capable of recording information therein, comprising:

• first transporting means for performing a first transporting operation by which an unexposed frame of said film in said container is electrically transported outside said container to bring said unexposed frame to an exposure position;
• means for performing a second transporting operation by which said film transported outside said container by said first transporting operating is electrically transported back into said container;
• information recording means, operable when said second transporting operation is performed with at least one unexposed frame remaining, for recording in said information recording part unexposed frame position information showing a position of an unexposed frame to be next exposed;
• and
• information detecting means which detects said unexposed frame position information in said information recording part when said film unit in which said unexposed frame position information is recorded in said information recording part is re-inserted into said camera.
• said first transporting operation being performed according to said unexposed frame position information detected by said information detecting means to bring said unexposed frame to be next exposed to said exposure position.

A method for operating a camera in which is inserted a film unit having a film, a container for accommodating said film and an information recording part capable of recording information therein, comprising the steps of:

• performing a first transport operation by which an unexposed frame of said film in said container is electrically fed outside said container to bring the frame to an exposure position;
• performing a second transport operation by which film transported outside said container by said first transport operation is electrically brought back into said container;
• recording in said information recording part unexposed frame position information when said second transport operation is performed with at least one unexposed frame remaining, said unexposed frame position information indicating a position of an unexposed frame to be next exposed;
• detecting said unexposed frame position information in said information recording part when said film unit having said unexposed frame position information recorded in said information recording part is re-inserted into said camera;
• and
• performing a third transport operation in response to said detecting, by which said unexposed frame to be next exposed is electrically brought to said exposure position.

A camera in which is inserted a film unit having a film, a container for accommodating said film and an information recording part in which information may be written magnetically and from which information may be read magnetically, comprising:

• drive means for electrically moving said information recording part for the reading of information therein before said camera can perform an exposure of said film and for electrically moving said information recording part for the writing of information therein preparatory to removal of said film unit from said camera;
• information writing and reading means, including writing and reading head means operatively engaging said information recording part moved by said drive means to perform information writing and reading, said information writing and reading means further including information producing means capable of producing, prior to the removal from said camera of a film unit having one or more unexposed frames remaining, unexposed frame information for writing in said information part, said unexposed frame information indicating an unexposed frame to be next exposed, said information writing and reading means causing said writing head means to write said unexposed frame information in said information recording part during movement thereof preparatory to the removal of said film unit from said camera, said information writing and reading means causing said reading head means to read said unexposed frame information in said information recording part, when said film unit is re-inserted in said camera, during movement of said information recording part before exposure of film in the last-mentioned film unit can be performed;
• and
• film feeding means for electrically feeding said film from said container of said re-inserted film unit to bring said unexposed frame to be next exposed to an exposure position, in response to reading of said unexposed frame information;
• and
• wherein said information producing means is also capable of producing completely exposed information when all of the frames of a film unit are exposed, said information writing and reading means causing said writing head means to write said completely exposed information in said information recording part during movement thereof preparatory to the removal of the last-mentioned film unit from said camera, and said information writing and reading means causing said reading head means to read said completely exposed information in said information recording part, when that film unit is re-inserted in said camera, during movement of said information recording part before said camera can perform an exposure operation, and wherein said camera further comprises prevention means for preventing re-exposure of film by said camera when said reading head means reads said completely exposed information.

A camera in which is inserted a film unit having a film, a container for accommodating said film and an information recording part capable of recording information therein, comprising:

• means for performing a first transporting operation by which an unexposed frame of said film in said container is electrically transported outside said container to bring said unexposed frame to an exposure position;
• means for performing a second transporting operation by which said film transported outside said container by said first transporting operation is electrically transported back into said container;
• information recording means for recording in said information recording part unexposed frame position information showing a position of an unexposed frame to be next exposed;
• and
• information detecting means which detects said unexposed frame position information in said information recording part when said film unit in which said unexposed frame position information is recorded in said information recording part is re-inserted into said camera;
• said first transporting operation being performed when said film unit is re-inserted into said camera, so as to transport said film outside said container by an amount that varies according to said unexposed frame position information, in order to bring said unexposed frame to be next exposed to said exposure position.

A camera in which is inserted a film unit having a film, a container for accommodating said film and an information recording part provided on said container and capable of recording information therein by its appearance being changed, comprising:

• information recording means which records said information by changing the appearance of said information recording part of said film unit inserted in said camera;
• information detecting means which is capable of detecting said information from said information recording part;
• prevention means for preventing exposure of said film by said camera when said information detecting means detects said information;
• and
• control means which controls said information recording means and said information detecting means to actuate said information detecting means before said information recording means is actuated.

A camera in which is inserted a film unit having a film, a container for accommodating said film and an information recording part capable of recording information therein, comprising:

• means for electrically performing a first transporting operation to transport said film out of said container in order to bring an unexposed frame of film to an exposure position;
• means for electrically performing a second transporting operation to return to said container said film transported out of said container by said first transporting operation;
• information recording means for recording at said information recording part, upon a completion of said second transporting operation, re-exposure prohibiting information for prohibiting re-exposure of said film;
• information detecting means for detecting the recorded re-exposure prohibiting information when said film unit in which said re-exposure prohibiting information is recorded at said information recording part is re-inserted in said camera;
• and
• prohibition means for prohibiting said first transporting operation when said film unit is reinserted in said camera and said information detecting means detects said re-exposure prohibiting information recorded at said information recording part.

A camera in which is inserted a film unit having a film, a container for accommodating said film and an information recording part capable of recording information therein, comprising:

• film transporting means for performing film transporting, including a first transporting operation by which said film in said container is electrically transported out of said container and a second transporting operation by which said film transported out of said container by said first transporting operation is electrically transported back into said container after exposure of one or more frames of said film at an exposure position;
• information recording means for recording in said information recording part exposed frame information;
• information detecting means for detecting exposed frame information when said film unit having said exposed frame information recorded in said information recording part is re-inserted in said camera;
• and
• means responsive to said detecting means for controlling said film transporting means according to the exposed frame information, such that when not all of the frames have been exposed, said film transporting means brings an unexposed frame to be next exposed to said exposure position.

A method for operating a camera in which is inserted a film unit having a film, a container for accommodating said film and an information recording part capable of recording information therein, comprising the steps of:

• performing film transporting, including a first transport operation by which film in said container is electrically transported out of said container and a second transport operation by which film transported out of said container is electrically transported back into said container after exposure of one or more frames of said film at an exposure position;
• recording in said information recording part exposed frame information;
• detecting exposed frame information when said film unit having said exposed frame information recorded in said information recording part is re-inserted in said camera;
• and
• controlling said performing of film transporting in response to said detecting such that when not all of the frames have been exposed, an unexposed frame to be next exposed is brought to said exposure position.

A camera in which is inserted a film unit having a film, a container for accommodating said film and an information recording part in which information may be written magnetically and from which information may be read magnetically, comprising:

• film feeding means for electrically feeding said film from said container of said film unit and for electrically feeding said film of said film unit back into said container after exposure of one or more frames of said film at an exposure position;
• drive means for electrically moving said information recording part for the reading of information therein and for electrically moving said information recording part for the writing of information therein;
• and
• information writing and reading means, including writing and reading head means operatively engaging said information recording part moved by said drive means to perform information writing and reading, said information writing and reading means further including information producing means capable of producing exposed frame information for writing in said information part, said information writing and reading means causing said writing head means to write said exposed frame information in said information recording part during movement thereof, said information writing and reading means causing said reading head means to read said exposed frame information in said information recording part, when said film unit having one or more unexposed frames remaining is re-inserted in said camera, during movement of said information recording part before exposure of film in the last-mentioned film unit can be performed;
• said film feeding means being responsive to reading of said exposed frame information to bring an unexposed frame next to be exposed to an exposure position.

A camera in which is inserted a film unit having a film, a container for accommodating said film and an information recording part capable of recording information therein, comprising:

• film transporting means for performing film transporting, including a first transporting operation by which said film in said container is electrically transported out of said container and a second transporting operation by which said film transported out of said container by said first transporting operation is electrically transported back into said container after exposure of one or more frames of said film at an exposure position;
• information recording means for recording exposed frame information in said information recording part;
• information detecting means for detecting the recorded exposed frame information when said film unit is re-inserted in said camera;
• and
• means for controlling said film transporting means according to said exposed frame information detected by said information detecting means so as to prevent an exposed frame of said film from being brought to said exposure position for further exposure.

A camera in which is inserted a film unit having a film, a container for accommodating said film and an information recording part in which information may be written magnetically and from which information may be read magnetically, said film being wound from said container and being rewound into said container after exposure of one or more frames of film, said camera comprising:

• information recording part drive means which electrically moves said information recording part;
• information producing means which produces exposed frame information indicative of an exposed frame of said film;
• a writing head which operatively engages said information recording part moved by said information recording part drive means to write exposed frame information in said information recording part;
• a reading head which operatively engages said information recording part moved by said information recording part drive means to read said exposed frame information from said information recording part;
• and
• information detecting means which prohibits exposure of an exposed frame again on the basis of said exposed frame information read from said information recording part by said reading head.

A camera in which is inserted a film unit having a film, a container for accommodating said film and an information recording part in which information may be written magnetically and from which information may be read magnetically, comprising:

• information recording part drive means which electrically moves said information recording part;
• information producing means which produces date information showing a date when said film unit is loaded into said camera;
• and
• a writing head which operatively engages said information recording part driven by said information recording part drive means to write said loading date information in said information recording part.

A camera in which is inserted a film unit having film, a container for accommodating said film and an information recording part in which information may be written magnetically and from which information may be read magnetically, comprising:

• information recording part drive means which electrically moves said information recording part;
• information producing means which produces date information showing a date when said film unit is removed from said camera;
• and
• a writing head which operatively engages said information recording part moved by said information recording part drive means to write said date information in said information recording part.

A camera in which is inserted a film unit having a film, a container for accommodating said film and an information recording part in which information may be written magnetically and from which information may be read magnetically, comprising:

• information recording part drive means which electrically moves said information recording part;
• information producing means which produces date information showing a date;
• a writing head which operatively engages said information recording part moved by said information recording part drive means to write said date information in said information recording part;
• and
• writing head drive means which causes said writing head to be in operative engagement with said information recording part before said writing by said writing head and causes said writing head to be disengaged from said information recording part after completion of said writing.

A camera in which is inserted a film unit having a film, a container for accommodating said film and an information recording part in which information may be written magnetically and from which information may be read magnetically, comprising:

• information recording part drive means which electrically moves said information recording part;
• information producing means which produces trimming information showing that a photographing operation with trimming instruction to said film is performed;
• a writing head which operatively engages said information recording part moved by said information recording part drive means to write said trimming information in said information recording part;
• and
• writing head drive means which causes said writing head to be in operative engagement with said information recording part before said writing by writing head and causes said writing head to be disengaged from said information recording part after completion of said writing.

A camera in which is inserted a film unit having a film, a container for accommodating said film and an information recording part in which information may be written magnetically and from which information may be read magnetically, comprising:

• information recording part drive means which electrically moves said information recording part;
• information producing means which produces information showing a set film speed when a film speed other than a film speed specific to said film is set to perform an exposure of said film;
• a writing head which operatively engages said information recording part moved by said information recording part drive means to write said set film speed information in said information recording part;
• and
• writing head drive means which causes said writing head to be in operative engagement with said information recording part before said writing by said writing head and causes said writing head to be disengaged from said information recording part after completion of said writing.

A camera in which is inserted a film unit having a film, a container for accommodating said film and an information recording part in which information may be written magnetically and from which information may be read magnetically, comprising:

• information recording part drive means which electrically moves said information recording part;
• information producing means which produces information for identifying a photographer;
• and
• a writing head which operative engages said information recording part moved by said information recording part drive means to write said information in said information recording part.

A camera in which is inserted a film unit having a film, a container for accommodating said film and an information recording part, comprising:

• feeding means which electrically feeds said film from said container and which electrically feeds said film back into said container after exposure of one or more frames of said film at an exposure position;
• and
• discrimination means which detects information recorded in said information recording part of said film unit when said film unit is inserted in said camera, to discriminate if said film unit is a partially used film unit previously removed from said camera with at least one unexposed frame of film remaining;
• said feeding means being responsive to said discrimination means for feeding said film from said container by an amount dependent upon the information recorded in said information recording part.

A camera in which is inserted, at a predetermined position, a film unit having a film, a container for accommodating said film and an information recording part capable of recording information therein, comprising:

• means for electrically performing a first transporting operation to transport said film out of said container in order to bring an unexposed frame of film to an exposure position;
• means for electrically performing a second transporting operation to return to said container said film transported out of said container by said first transporting operation;
• said means for electrically performing said first transporting operation and said means for electrically performing said second transporting operation being operative to perform the respective transporting operations only when said film unit is maintained at said predetermined position;
• information detecting means for detecting recorded re-exposure prohibiting information for prohibiting re-exposure of said film when said film unit in which said re-exposure prohibiting information is recorded at said information recording part is re-inserted in said camera;
• and
• means for preventing said film unit from being maintained at said predetermined position when said film unit is re-inserted in said camera and said information detecting means detects said re-exposure prohibiting information recorded at said information recording part.

A camera in which is inserted, at a predetermined position, a film unit having a film, a container for accommodating said film and an information recording part capable of recording information therein, comprising:

• means for electrically performing a first transporting operation to transport said film out of said container in order to bring an unexposed frame of film to an exposure position;
• means for electrically performing a second transporting operation to return to said container said film transported out of said container by said first transporting operation;
• said means for electrically performing said first transporting operation and said means for electrically performing said second transporting operation being operative to perform the respective transporting operations only when said film unit is maintained at said predetermined position;
• information recording means for recording at said information recording part, upon a completion of said second transporting operation, re-exposure prohibiting information for prohibiting re-exposure of said film;
• information detecting means for detecting the recorded re-exposure prohibiting information when said film unit in which said re-exposure prohibiting information is recorded at said information recording part is re-inserted in said camera;
• and
• means for preventing said film unit from being maintained at said predetermined position when said film unit is re-inserted in said camera and said information detecting means detects said re-exposure prohibiting information recorded at said information recording part.

A camera in which is inserted a film unit having a film, a container for accommodating said film and an information recording part capable of recording information by its configuration being changed, comprising:

• information recording means for recording information by changing the configuration of said information recording part of said film unit inserted in said camera, said information including already used information showing that said film is already used;
• information detecting means for detecting information from said information recording part when said film unit is inserted in said camera;
• and
• prevention means for preventing exposure of said film by said camera when said information detecting means detects said already used information.

A method of controlling a camera, comprising:

• providing a film unit having a film, a container for accommodating said film and a part distinct from the film whose configuration depends upon whether or not said film has already been used;
• inserting said film unit in said camera;
• detecting the configuration of said part of the inserted film unit;
• and
• preventing exposure of said film by said camera when the detected configuration shows that said film has already been used.