US 6,606,454 B1 · Compact film transport for a photographic camera

Abstract

A card camera with a compact configuration and that may use standard 35 mm film is disclosed. The camera includes a front panel and a rear panel positioned substantially parallel and co-extensive to the front panel. A band of resilient material extends approximately from the outer edge of the front panel to the outer edge of the rear panel. The rear panel is controllably movable relative to the front panel. An outer housing sheet member includes a number of strut members extending therefrom. The outer housing sheet member is affixed to the exterior side of the front panel. The strut members engageable with the rear panel to fix the rear panel a distance away from the front panel to obtain the proper focal length. A light-sensitive medium, such as photographic film, is positioned therein. A shutter controls the light imparted to the light-sensitive medium. The light-sensitive medium is exposed to a scene through the lens. The light-sensitive medium may be separate individually stacked photographic film frames, a fan folded photographic film strip or individual film frames residing on a film carrier web. When individual frames are used, they may be assembled into a continuous strip configuration for development using standard photographic equipment.

Claims57

Dependent claims

A photographic camera, comprising:

a camera housing;
said camera housing defining a light exposure window;
said camera housing including an exposure region in front of said light exposure window and a storage region not in front of said light exposure region;
said exposure region and said storage region both being fully contained within said camera housing and lying in the same plane as one another;
a shutter positioned between a scene to be photographed and said light exposure window;
a straight film support track residing in said camera housing;
and
a stack of separate individual frames of non-instant photographic film positionable in front of said light exposure window for exposure of said separate individual frames of non-instant film;
said stack of non-instant photographic film being movable on said straight film support track between said exposure region and said storage region within said camera housing.

6 more elements

A photographic camera, comprising:

a camera housing;
said camera housing defining a light exposure window;
said camera housing including an exposure region in front of said light exposure window and a storage region;
a shutter positioned between a scene to be photographed and said light exposure window;
a film support track, residing in said camera housing;
and
a strip of fan folded units of non-instant photographic film including a flexible opaque carrier web with a plurality of unbacked non-instant photographic frames positioned thereon;
said carrier web defining a plurality of pass-through apertures respectively corresponding to and aligned with said plurality of non-instant photographic frames;
said plurality of pass-through apertures permitting exposure of said plurality of non-instant photographic frames during development thereof;
said plurality of unbacked film frames positionable in front of said light exposure window for exposure of said film;
said strip of fan folded units of non-instant film being suitable for storage within said camera housing after exposure, for development by means of non-instant photographic film processing equipment;
said units of non-instant photographic film being movable between said exposure region and said storage region on said support track;
said strip of non-instant film being positionable in a fanfolded stack within said camera housing after exposure of said non-instant photographic frames.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Compact film transport for a photographic camera

Life of this patent

Compact film transport for a photographic camera

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims57