Method of controlling a production process and recycle of photo film cartridge or lens-fitted photo film unit

A method of controlling production of a lens-fitted photo film unit comprising a unit body containing a photo film cartridge therein, and an outer cover wrapping the unit body, the method comprising the steps of:

• mounting an IC memory to the photo film cartridge before being loaded in the lens-fitted photo film unit;
• writing data obtained in a production process of the photo film cartridge in the IC memory;
• writing data obtained in a production process of the lens-fitted photo film unit in the IC memory after the photo film cartridge is loaded in the lens-fitted photo film unit, through an access device provided in the unit body for allowing to access the IC memory from outside the unit body;
• and
• reading data from the IC memory at later stages of the production process of the lens-fitted photo film unit for use in controlling production of the lens-fitted photo film unit.

A method of controlling production of a lens-fitted photo film unit comprising a unit body containing a photo film cartridge therein, and an outer cover wrapping the unit body, the method comprising the steps of:

• mounting an IC memory to at least a portion of the lens-fitted photo film unit;
• writing data obtained in production process of the lens-fitted photo film unit in the IC memory;
• and
• reading data from the IC memory at later stages of the production process of the lens-fitted photo film unit for use in controlling production of the lens-fitted photo film unit.

A method of recycling a lens-fitted photo film unit having a unit body containing a photo film cartridge therein and consisting of a plurality of components, the method comprising the steps of:

• writing at least unit type data representative of a type of the lens-fitted photo film unit in an IC memory that is provided at least one of the components, during a production process of the lens-fitted photo film unit;
• providing the unit body with an access device for allowing access to the IC memory from outside the unit body;
• reading the unit type data from the IC memory after the lens-fitted photo film unit is used and collected for recycling;
• sorting the lens-fitted photo film unit according to the type shown by the unit type data;
• and
• feeding the lens-fitted photo film unit to a disassembling line provided for the type of the lens-fitted photo film unit.

A method of recycling a lens-fitted photo film unit having a unit body containing a photo film cartridge therein and consisting of a plurality of components, the method comprising the steps of:

• mounting an IC memory to each of those components which are expected to be reused during a production process of the lens-fitted photo film unit;
• inspecting each of the components to reuse, to determine whether it is reusable after the lens-fitted photo film unit is used and collected for recycling;
• and
• writing use data in the IC memory of one component as a record of reuse of the one component before reusing the one component to manufacture a second lens-fitted photo film unit, if the one component is qualified for reuse, wherein the use data is read out from the IC memory for judging whether the one component is reusable again when the second lens-fitted photo film unit is collected for recycling.