US 5,515,124 A · Image format altering camera

Abstract

A camera has an image format altering mechanism that includes at least one light buffer blade which is arranged to be inserted into and retracted from an aperture of the camera to thereby determine a picture image area. The camera also includes a camera back hinged to a body of the camera so as to be opened and closed, and an image format selecting member provided on the camera back to move the light buffer blade, the image format selecting member being movable between a position corresponding to a retracted position of the light buffer blade and a position corresponding to an inserted position of the light buffer blade. The camera is also provided with a buffer blade biasing member for biasing the light buffer blade towards one of the retracted position and the inserted position, so that the light buffer blade is located at the retracted position or at the inserted position when the camera back is opened, regardless of the position of the light buffer blade before the camera back is opened. A selecting member biasing member is provided for biasing the image format selecting member towards a linkable position at which the image format selecting member links with the image format altering mechanism, independently of the buffer blade biasing member, so that the image format altering mechanism and the image format selecting member are linked with each other when the camera back is closed.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A camera having an image format altering means that includes at least one light buffer blade which is arranged to be inserted into and retracted from an aperture of the camera to thereby determine a picture image area, a large image format and a small image format being selected by retracting and inserting the light buffer blade from and into the aperture, respectively, comprising:

a camera back hinged to a body of the camera so as to be opened and closed;
an image format selecting member provided on said camera back to move said light buffer blade, said image format selecting member being movable between a position corresponding to a retracted position of the light buffer blade and a position corresponding to an inserted position of the light buffer blade;
a buffer blade biasing member for biasing said light buffer blade towards one of said retracted position and said inserted position so that said light buffer blade is located at said retracted position or at said inserted position when said camera back is opened, regardless of the position of said light buffer blade before said camera back is opened;
and
a selecting member biasing member for biasing said image format selecting member towards a linkable position at which said image format selecting member links with the image format altering means, independent of said buffer blade biasing member, so that the image format altering means and said image format selecting member are linked with each other when said camera back is closed.

2 more elements

a camera back hinged to a body of the camera so as to be opened and closed;
an image format selecting member provided on said camera back to move said light buffer blade, said image format selecting member being linked with said image format altering means when said camera back is closed;
first light emitting means of first data imprinting means mounted on said camera back for imprinting photographing related data at an upper portion of a large image area;
second light emitting means of second data imprinting means mounted on said camera back for imprinting photographing related data at a an upper portion of a small image area;
and,
a selecting switch for selecting one of said first and second light emitting means in accordance with an image format selection by said image format selecting member.

3 more elements

A camera having image format altering means including at least one light buffer blade arranged for insertion into and retraction from an aperture of the camera to thereby determine a picture image area, large and small image area formats being selected by retraction and insertion of said at least one light buffer blade from and into the aperture, said camera comprising:

a camera back hingedly mounted to a camera body for opening and closing the camera body;
image format selecting means provided on the camera back for moving the at least one light buffer blade, said image format selecting means being coupled with the image format altering means when said camera back is closed;
first data imprinting means mounted on said camera back for imprinting photographing related data at an upper portion of a large image area, said first data imprinting means comprising first light emitting means for emitting light;
second data imprinting means mounted on said camera back for imprinting photographing related data at an upper portion of a small image area, said second data imprinting means comprising second light emitting means for emitting light;
and
light emitting selecting means for selecting one of said first light emitting means and said second light emitting means, in association with an image format selection by said image format selecting means, said light emitting selecting means and said image format selecting means comprising a single member.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Image format altering camera

Life of this patent

Image format altering camera

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19