US 5,477,291 A · Camera with plural lenses for taking consecutive exposures

Abstract

A consecutive taking camera is adapted to taking eight exposures time-sequentially in a single frame on photo film. Four shutter disks are provided with a shutter slit and rotated from an initial position upon a single releasing operation. Each shutter slit is moved past two stationary openings. A shutter-driving slide plate with a spring is moved in a releasing direction upon the releasing operation, and rotates the shutter disks. A governor mechanism is disposed in fashion couplable with the slide plate, and reduces speed of rotation of the shutter disks. The governor mechanism is coupled with, and uncoupled from, the slide plate by an intermittent toothed wheel. The intermittent toothed wheel sets the coupled state when the shutter slit is away from the stationary openings. The intermittent toothed wheel exits from the coupled state to set the uncoupled state in response to coming of the shutter slit to a predetermined angular position, which is respectively a predetermined angle short of the stationary openings. The intermittent toothed wheel keeps the uncoupled state while the shutter slit is moved past the stationary openings.

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Claims44

Dependent claims

A consecutive taking camera for taking plural exposures time-sequentially in a single frame on photo film, a shutter disk provided with a shutter slit and rotated from an initial position upon a single releasing operation, said shutter slit moved past plural stationary openings, said consecutive taking camera comprising:

a drive device, moving in a releasing direction in response to said releasing operation, for rotating said shutter disk;
a speed reducing device for reducing speed of rotation of said shutter disk if coupled with said drive device;
and
a transmitting device, associated with said drive device and/or said speed reducing device, for displacing said drive device and said speed reducing device between coupled and uncoupled states, said coupled state coupling said drive device with said speed reducing device, and said uncoupled state uncoupling said drive device from said speed reducing device;
wherein said transmitting device sets said coupled state when said shutter slit is away from said stationary openings;
said transmitting device exits from said coupled state to set said uncoupled state in response to coming of said shutter slit to a predetermined angular position, where said angular position is respectively a predetermined angle short of said stationary openings;
and said transmitting device keeps said uncoupled state while said shutter slit is moved past said stationary openings.

4 more elements

a winding wheel, externally operated to wind said film as far as said one frame;
a driven sprocket wheel, engaged with perforations in said film, and caused to make one rotation by said film wound and moved;
a retaining device, adapted to accessing said winding wheel, movable from an unretaining position to a retaining position, located in said retaining position for contacting said winding wheel to disable said winding wheel from being rotated, and located in said unretaining position for moving away from said winding wheel to enable said winding wheel to be rotated;
a regulating disk, formed co-axially with said sprocket wheel, for rotating with said sprocket wheel, said regulating disk contacting an end of said retaining device to keep said retaining device in said unretaining position;
and
a receiving hole, formed in said regulating disk, for receiving said end of said retaining device if said sprocket has a predetermined rotational position, to allow said retaining device to move to said retaining position.

3 more elements

a slide plate, slid in said releasing direction toward a released position and in said charging direction toward a charged position, said shutter disk rotated in response to slide of said slide plate;
a biasing member for biasing said slide plate in said releasing direction;
a driven sprocket wheel, engaged with perforations in said film, and caused to make one rotation by said film while wound and moved;
a charging device, connected to said sprocket wheel, for moving said slide plate in said charging direction in response to rotation of said sprocket wheel;
a mask plate device movable between an opening position where said stationary openings are open and a closing position where said stationary openings are closed;
and
a plate displacing device, associated with said charging device for moving in response to movement of said charging device, said plate displacing device locating said mask plate device in said closing position while said slide plate slides in said charging direction, and said plate displacing device locating said mask plate device in said opening position while said slide plate slides in said releasing direction.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description15,097 words

Summary2,736 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to a consecutive taking camera for taking plural consecutive exposures. More particularly, the present invention relates to a consecutive taking camera of which a shutter device is improved in compact fashion.

#2. Description Related to the Prior Art

Brief description of the drawings39 figures

#The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a lens-fitted photo film unit in accordance with the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a shutter unit in the photo film unit in FIG. 1;

Detailed description11,695 words

#In FIG. 1, a lens-fitted photo film unit 10, or single-use camera, of a consecutive taking type is constituted of a front cover 11, a consecutive taking shutter unit 12, a main body 13, and a rear cover 14. The shutter unit 12 is inserted between the front cover 11 and the main body 13.

#The main body 13 has a dark box or exposure tunnel 16 in which eight apertures 15a to 15h are formed and arranged in a matrix of 2.times.4. Outside the exposure tunnel 16, there are disposed a one-frame advance mechanism 17 and a film counter mechanism 18.

#The exposure tunnel 16 is located between a roll chamber 19 and a cassette chamber 20, both formed in the main body 13. The cassette chamber 20 contains a cassette 22, which is associated with 35 mm-wide unexposed film 21 having been contained in the cassette 22 prior to the assemblage of the photo film unit. The roll chamber 19 contains a roll 21a of the film 21 having been drawn out of the cassette 22. With the rear cover 14 secured to the main body 13, a film surface 21b is positioned on the apertures 15a to 15h defined in the rear of the main body 13 between the roll 21a and the cassette 22. A driven sprocket wheel 74, later to be described, comes in mesh with perforations 21c formed in the photo film 21. The rear of the apertures 15a to 15h constitutes the wide-vision format of 20.times.36 mm defining an aspect ratio of approximately 16/9, which is the same as used in the high definition television (HDTV).

Camera with plural lenses for taking consecutive exposures

Life of this patent

Camera with plural lenses for taking consecutive exposures

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims44

Description15,097 words

Drawings

Classification3 codes

Life of this patent

Description15,097 words