Apparatus and method of loading lens-fitted photo film unit with photo film

An apparatus for assembling a lens-fitted photo film unit comprising a main body, a cassette containing chamber preloaded with a photo film cassette, and a photo film chamber for containing unexposed photo film in a roll form drawn out of said photo film cassette, said apparatus comprising:

• a dark box comprising an outer wall which defines a light-shielded compartment;
• a plurality of cells formed on an inner periphery of said outer wall, each of said cells being defined by an inner wall;
• a plurality of outer openings formed in said outer wall, each outer opening corresponding with one of said cells respectively;
• a first shutter plate associated with each outer opening, each first shutter plate being movable from a first position in which its outer opening is covered thereby to a second position in which its outer opening is not covered thereby;
• an inner opening formed in each inner wall between a center of said compartment and said outer wall;
• a second shutter plate associated with each inner opening, each second shutter plate being movable from a first position in which its inner opening is covered thereby to a second position in which its inner opening is not covered thereby;
• first transfer means for transferring said photo film cassette through a first of said outer openings and into a first of said cells, when the first shutter plate associated with a first outer opening is in its second position and the second shutter plate associated with a first inner opening is in its first position;
• second transfer means for transferring said photo film cassette from said first cell through said first inner opening into said compartment while the first shutter plate associated with the first outer opening is in its first position and the second shutter plate associated with the first outer opening is in its second position;
• a cassette holding means in said compartment for holding said photo film cassette supplied from said first cell while a leader of photo film is protruded from said cassette;
• a rotary shaft means in said compartment on which said leader is secured while said cassette holding means holds said photo film cassette, means for rotating said rotary shaft device to wind said film on said shaft means;
• a movable shifter means on which said cassette holding means and said rotary shaft means are mounted, for shifting said cassette holding means and said rotary shaft means together toward a main body to mount said photo film cassette and said photo film into said cassette containing chamber and said photo film chamber, respectively, in said main body.

An apparatus for assembling a lens-fitted photo film unit comprising a main body, a cassette containing chamber preloaded with a photo film cassette, and a photo film chamber for containing unexposed photo film in a roll form drawn out from said photo film cassette, said apparatus comprising:

• a dark box comprising an outer wall defining an enclosed light-shielded compartment;
• a plurality of cells formed on an inner periphery of said outer wall and located within said compartment, each cell being defined by an inner wall;
• a plurality of outer openings formed in said outer wall, with each outer opening corresponding with one of said cells, respectively;
• a first shutter plate associated with each outer opening, each first shutter plate being movable from a first position in which its outer opening is covered thereby to a second position in which its outer opening is not covered thereby;
• an inner opening formed in each inner wall between a center of said compartment and said outer wall;
• a second shutter plate associated with each inner opening, each second shutter plate being movable from a first position in which its inner opening is covered thereby to a second position in which its inner opening is not covered thereby;
• first transfer means for transferring a main body through a first of said outer openings and into a first of said cells while the first shutter plate associated with said first outer opening is in its second position and the second shutter plate associated with a first of said inner openings is in its first position;
• second transfer means for transferring said main body from said first cell through said first inner opening and into said compartment while said first shutter plate associated with said first outer opening is in its first position and said second shutter plate associated with said first inner opening is in its second position;
• a conveyor means disposed in said dark box, for receiving said main body from said second transfer means and for moving said main body to each of said cells;
• third transfer means for transferring a photo film cassette through a second of said outer openings and into a second of said cells, while the first shutter plate associated with said second outer opening is in its second position and the second shutter plate associated with a second of said inner openings is in its first position;
• fourth transfer means for transferring said photo film cassette from said second cell through said second inner opening and into said compartment, while said first shutter plate associated with said second outer opening is in its first position and said second shutter plate associated with said second inner opening is in its second position;
• a cassette holding means in said compartment for holding said photo film cassette supplied from said first cell while a leader of photo film is protruded from said cassette;
• a rotary shaft means in said compartment on which said leader is secured while said cassette holding means holds said photo film cassette, means for rotating said rotary shaft device to wind said film on said shaft means;
• a movable shifter device on which said cassette holding means and said rotary shaft device are mounted, for shifting said cassette holding means and said rotary shaft means together toward a main body to mount said photo film cassette and said photo film into said cassette containing chamber and said photo film chamber, respectively, in said main body;
• and
• exit means for transferring said main body mounted with said photo film cassette and said photo film conveyor from said means through and into a third inner opening a thud of said cells while said second shutter plate associated with said third inner opening is in its second position and the first shutter plate associated with a third outer opening is in its first position, and for transferring said main body out of said third cell through the third outer opening while said second shutter plate associated with said third inner opening is in its first position and the first shutter plate associated with said third outer opening is in its second position.