Photographic film cassette and camera using the same

A camera into which a photographic film cassette is loaded, the photographic film cassette having a spool with a film wound thereon and a cassette shell containing the spool in a rotatable manner, wherein, when the spool rotates in a first direction, a leader of the film is let out of the cassette shell, and, when the spool rotates in a second direction, the film is rewound on the spool, said camera comprising:

• a camera body;
• and
• a cassette holder movably mounted to said camera body and which prevents a film cassette with said film leader being protruded from said cassette from being loaded, and allows a film cassette with said film leader slightly protruded from said cassette to be unloaded.
• wherein said cassette holder moves between a closed position where said cassette holder is inserted in said camera body and an open position where said cassette holder protrudes out of said camera body, and
• further wherein said cassette holder comprises:
• a cassette receiving section having a shape corresponding to said film cassette;
• a film feeding slit mounted at a position facing on said film passage mouth when said film cassette is loaded in said cassette receiving section;
• a blocking section disposed above said film feeding slit, said blocking section adapted to abut said film leader when said film cassette with said film leader being slightly protruded is loaded;
• and
• a film removing slit communicating with said film feeding slit, one end portion of said film removing slit being curved so as to be positioned at a side of said blocking section, and said curved portion allowing said film leader slightly protruded from said film cassette to be taken out from said film removing slit.

A camera comprising:

• a camera body;
• a cassette holder formed with a film cassette receiving chamber in which a film cassette is inserted in the axial direction, said cassette holder being pivotally mounted to said camera body so as to be pivotable between a closed position where said cassette holder is inserted in said camera body and an open position where said cassette holder protrudes out of said camera body;
• means for biasing said cassette holder toward said open position;
• a coupling member movable along a side of said camera body;
• and
• swing restricting means formed on one side of said cassette holder for coupling said cassette holder to said coupling member, said swing restricting means including a first arc guide section for allowing said cassette holder to swing, and first and second lock sections integrally formed with said first guide section at opposite ends thereof, said first lock section engaging with said coupling member to lock said cassette holder at said closed position against a force of said biasing means, and said second lock section locking said cassette holder at said open position.