Method and apparatus for disassembling lens-fitted photo film unit

A disassembling apparatus for a lens-fitted photo film unit, said lens-fitted photo film unit including a main body, having a cassette holder chamber, a roll holder chamber and an exposure aperture, said cassette holder chamber containing a cassette, said roll holder chamber containing a roll of photo film drawn from said cassette, said exposure aperture being formed between said cassette holder chamber and said roll holder chamber for taking an exposure on said photo film, a front cover for covering at least a front of said main body, a rear cover for covering at least a rear of said main body, a first retainer mechanism, having a retainer claw and a receiver portion engaged with each other, for connecting rear walls of said main body and said rear cover, and an opening, formed in said rear cover, for uncovering at least a portion of said retainer claw or said receiver portion, said disassembling apparatus comprising:

• a cover separating station;
• a release member, disposed to protrude upwards in said cover separating station, and inserted into said opening by setting said lens-fitted photo film unit in said cover separating station with said rear cover directed downwards;
• a release shifter for shifting said release member relative to said opening, to disengage said retainer claw from said receiver portion by flexing said retainer claw away therefrom;
• and
• a part shifter for moving one of said rear cover and said main body away from a remainder thereof after disengaging said retainer claw from said receiver portion.

A disassembling method for a lens-fitted photo film unit, said lens-fitted photo film unit includes a main body pre-loaded with photo film, a flash unit, secured to said main body in a removable manner, supplied with power with a battery, for emitting flash light, and first and second outer covers for covering said main body and said flash unit therebetween, said disassembling method comprising steps of:

• separating said first outer cover from said main body and said flash unit;
• after separating said first outer cover, spreading a portion of said second outer cover outwards to form a space;
• inserting a battery separator into said space;
• and
• ejecting said battery from said flash unit by capturing said battery in said battery separator.

A disassembling method for a lens-fitted photo film unit, said lens-fitted photo film unit including a main body pre-loaded with photo film, said method comprising the step of:

• discerning which of said flash built-in type and said flashless type said lens-fitted photo film unit is;
• and
• if said lens-fitted photo film unit is a flash built-in type, said flash built-in type having a flash unit secured to said main body in a removable manner and supplied with power with a battery for emitting flash light, and first and second outer covers for covering said main body and said flash unit therebetween, said disassembling method includes the steps of:
• separating said first outer cover from said main body and said flash unit;
• spreading a portion of said second outer cover outwards to form a space;
• and
• ejecting said battery from said flash unit by capturing said battery in said battery separator;
• wherein said portion of said second outer cover is a bottom wall, positioned outside a bottom of said main body and said battery, partially flexible, and adapted to separation of said battery;
• and
• if said lens-fitted photo film unit is said flashless type, said flashless type including a second bottom wall, formed with said second outer cover, positioned outside a bottom of said main body, and substantially entirely rigid;
• said disassembling method includes the step of;
• inhibiting said second bottom wall from being spread outwards.

A disassembling apparatus for a lens-fitted photo film unit, said lens-fitted photo film unit includes a main body pre-loaded with photo film, a flash unit, secured to said main body in a removable manner, supplied with power with a battery, for emitting flash light, and first and second outer covers for covering said main body and said flash unit therebetween, said disassembling apparatus comprising:

• a cover separator for separating said first outer cover from said main body and said flash unit;
• a spreader for spreading a portion of said second outer cover outwards after separating said first outer cover, to form a space;
• and
• a battery separator, inserted into said space, for ejecting said battery from said flash unit by capturing said battery in said battery separator.

A disassembling apparatus, for a flashless type lens-fitted photo film unit, said flashless type lens-fitted photo film unit including a main body pre-loaded with photo film, and first and second outer covers for covering said main body, said disassembling apparatus comprising:

• a cover separator for separating said first outer cover from said main body;
• a spreader for spreading a portion of said second outer cover outwards after separating said first outer cover;
• wherein a portion of said second outer cover is a bottom wall positioned outside a bottom of said main body;
• and
• wherein said flashless type lens-fitted photo film unit includes a second bottom wall, formed with said second outer cover, positioned outside a bottom of said main body, and substantially entirely rigid;
• and
• a shifter mechanism for shifting said spreader, to inhibit said spreader from contacting said second bottom wall.