CAMERA STRUCTURE

• US 3,816,842 A
• Filed: 08/16/1972
• Issued: 06/11/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: George E. Pribyl, Roland L. Hron, Theodore J. Glaros
• Original Assignee: George E. Pribyl, Roland L. Hron, Theodore J. Glaros
• Inventors: Glaros, Theodore J., Hron, Roland L., Pribyl, George E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horan, John M.
• Application Number:
  US05/281,202
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 95/44,86,31 355/64 352/172
• US Class Current: 396/396
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/06 Special arrangements of screening, diffusing, or reflecting devices, e.g. in studio
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/245 Optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/53 for automatically delivering a finished picture after a signal causing exposure has been given, e.g. by pushing a button, by inserting a coin
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/241 with means for producing composite exposures, e.g. exposing an image and a border, producing identity cards
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/243 Optical devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 13/0825 the ejection arrangement being of the push-push kind

Abstract

An automatic camera for simultaneously taking the picture of an individual and information with which the individual is identified. The camera is adapted to receive a roll of film on a supply reel, the film being threaded through a lens and shutter mechanism and received by a take up reel. Following actuation of the shutter mechanism to take the picture, the film is automatically advanced to a new exposure position. To insure that actuation of the shutter mechanism will always result in taking a usable picture, the camera includes means for determining when a sufficient length of new film has been wound on to the take up reel and for precluding camera operation before that time. Similarly, means are included for sensing the amount of film left on the supply reel, for generating an alarm when a predetermined amount of film remains, and for precluding camera operation when the end of the film roll is approached.

Claims

1. An automatic camera adapted for connection to a source of electrical power, comprising:

a. a camera housing;

b. mounting means for rotatably receiving a film supply reel and a take up reel;

c. lens means;

d. shutter means operable in association with the lens means to take a picture;

e. electrical driving means operably connected to the mounting means for advancing film from the supply reel to the take up reel relative to the lens means;

f. a rotatable control wheel disposed for essentially nonslipping engagement by the film as it moves from the supply reel to the take up reel, the control wheel including a cam portion;

g. first switching means manually operable to establish contact between the source of electrical power and the electrical driving means;

h. and second switching means engageable by said cam portion for breaking contact between the source of electrical power and the electrical Driving means after a predetermined rotation of the control wheel.

2. and electric motor means for rotating the drive wheel.

3. The automatic camera defined by claim 1, wherein the shutter means is electrically actuated, and further comprising timing circuit means operably connected to the first switching means for initially supplying power to the shutter means and for transferring the power to the electrical driving means after a predetermined period of time.

4. The automatic camera defined by claim 1, wherein:

a. the mounting means comprises

5. The automatic camera defined by claim 4, wherein the drive wheel includes a peripheral groove in which an O-ring is disposed, the O-ring constructed and arranged to frictionally engage the drive disc.

6. The automatic camera defined by claim 1, and further comprising support means for tiltably adjustably mounting the camera on a supporting surface.

7. The automatic camera defined by claim 1, wherein the support means further comprises means for rotationally adjusting the camera with respect to said supporting surface.

8. The automatic camera defined by claim 1, and further comprising control means for sensing the amount of film on the take up reel and for precluding operation of the shutter means until a predetermined amount has been wound thereon.

9. The automatic camera defined by claim 8, wherein the control means also precludes operation of the automatic film advancing means until said predetermined amount of film has been wound onto the take up reel.

10. The automatic camera defined by claim 9, wherein the shutter means is electrically actuated, and the control means comprises:

a. a sensing arm pivotally mounted on the camera housing for movement toward and away from the center of the take up reel;

b. means for normally biasing the sensing arm toward the center of the take up reel;

c. and third switching means engageable by the sensing arm for breaking contact between the shutter means and electrical driving means and said source of electrical power as a function of sensing arm position.

11. The automatic camera defined by claim 10, and further comprising warning light means controlled by said third switching means for indicating the condition of less than said predetermined amount of film wound onto the take up reel.

12. The automatic camera defined by claim 1, and further comprising alarm means for sensing the amount of film on the film supply reel and for providing an indication when the film supply decreases to a first predetermined amount.

13. The automatic camera defined by claim 12, wherein said alarm means precludes operation of the shutter means and electrical driving means when the film supply decreases to a second predetermined amount less than the first predetermined amount.

14. The automatic camera defined by claim 13, wherein the shutter means is electrically actuated, and the alarm means comprises:

a. a sensing arm pivotally mounted on the camera housing for movement toward and away from the center of the film supply reel;

b. means for normally biasing the sensing arm toward the center of the film supply reel;

c. electrical indicator means;

d. third switching means engageable by the sensing arm for establishing and breaking contact between the electrical indicator means and said source of electrical power as a function of sensing arm position;

e. and fourth switching means engageable by the sensing arm for establishing and brEaking contact between the shutter means and electrical driving means and said source of electrical power as a function of sensing arm position.

15. The automatic camera defined by claim 14, wherein the electrical indicator means comprises a warning light.

16. The automatic camera defined by claim 14, and further comprising second electrical indicator means operable by the fourth switching means for providing an indication when the film supply decreases to said second predetermined amount.

17. The automatic camera defined by claim 16, wherein the second electrical indicator means comprises a buzzer.

18. The automatic camera defined by claim 14, wherein:

a. the camera housing comprises a compartment closable by a door member, the mounting means and sensing arm disposed within said compartment;

b. and further comprising means operable against the biasing means for moving the sensing arm away from the supply reel when the door is opened.

19. The automatic camera defined by claim 12, wherein the shutter means is electrically actuated, and the alarm means comprises:

a. a sensing arm pivotally mounted on the camera housing for movement toward and away from the center of the film supply reel;

b. means for normally biasing the sensing arm toward the center of the film supply reel;

c. electrical indicator means;

d. and third switching means engageable by the sensing arm for establishing contact between the electrical indicator means and said source of electrical power as a function of sensing arm position.

20. An automatic camera adapted for connection to a source of electrical power, comprising:

a. a camera housing;

b. mounting means for rotatably receiving a film supply reel and a take up reel;

c. lens means;

d. electrically actuated shutter means operable in association with the lens means to take a picture;

e. means for automatically advancing the film from the supply reel to the take up reel relative to the lens means following operation of the shutter means;

f. control means for sensing the amount of film on the take up reel and for precluding operation of the shutter means until a predetermined amount has been wound thereon, the control means comprising i. a first sensing arm pivotally mounted on the camera housing for movement toward and away from the center of the take up reel;

ii. means for normally biasing the first sensing arm toward the center of the take up reel;

iii. first switching means engageable by the first sensing arm for breaking contact between the shutter means and automatic film advancing means and said source of electric power as a function of first sensing arm position;

iv. and warning light means controlled by said first switching means for indicating the condition of less than said predetermined amount of film wound onto the take up reel;

g. and alarm means for sensing the amount of film on the film supply reel and for providing an indication when the film supply decreases to a first predetermined amount, the alarm means comprising i. a second sensing arm pivotally mounted on the camera housing for movement toward and away from the center of the film supply reel;

ii. means for normally biasing the second sensing arm toward the center of the film supply reel;

iii. electrical indicator means;

iv. and second switching means engageable by the second sensing arm for establishing contact between the electrical indicator means and said source of electrical power as a function of second sensing arm position.

21. An automatic camera adapted for connection to a source of electrical power, comprising:

a. a camera housing;

b. mounting means for rotatably receiving a film supply reel and a take up reel;

c. lens means;

d. electrically actuated shutter means operable in association with the lens means to take a picture;

e. means for automatically advancing the film from the supply reel to the take up reel relative To the lens means following operation of the shutter means;

f. control means for sensing the amount of film on the take up reel and for precluding operation of the shutter means until a predetermined amount has been wound thereon, the control means comprising i. a first sensing arm pivotally mounted on the camera housing for movement toward and away from the center of the take up reel;

ii. means for normally biasing the first sensing arm toward the center of the take up reel;

iii. and first switching means engageable by the first sensing arm for breaking contact between the shutter means and automatic film advancing means and said source of electric power as a function of first sensing arm position;

g. and alarm means for sensing the amount of film on the film supply reel and for providing an indication when the film supply decreases to a first predetermined amount, and for precluding operation of the shutter means and film advancing means when the film supply decreases to a second predetermined amount less than said first predetermined amount, the alarm means comprising i. a second sensing arm pivotally mounted on the camera housing for movement toward and away from the center of the film supply reel;

ii. means for normally biasing the second sensing arm toward the center of the film supply reel;

iii. electrical indicator means;

iv. second switching means engageable by the second sensing arm for establishing contact between the electrical indicator means and said source of electrical power when the second sensing arm reaches a first position relative to the center of the film supply reel;

v. and third switching means engageable by the second sensing arm for breaking electrical contact between the shutter means and film advancing means and said source of electrical power when the second sensing arm reaches a second position relative to the center of the film supply reel.

22. An automatic camera adapted for connection to a source of electrical power, comprising:

a. a camera housing;

b. lens means;

c. electrically actuated shutter means operable in association with the lens means to take a picture;

d. mounting means for receiving a film supply reel and a take up reel;

e. electrically actuated means for automatically advancing film from the supply reel to the take up reel relative to the lens means following operation of the shutter means;

f. and alarm means for sensing the amount of film on the film supply reel, for providing an indication when the film supply decreases to a first predetermined amount, and for precluding operation of the shutter means and film advancing means when the film supply decreases to a second predetermined amount less than said first predetermined amount, comprising i. a sensing arm pivotally mounted on the camera housing for movement toward and away from the center of the film supply reel;

ii. means for normally biasing the sensing arm toward the center of the film supply reel;

iii. electrical indicator means;

iv. first switching means engageable by the sensing arm for establishing and breaking contact between the electrical indicator means and said source of electrical power as a function of sensing arm position;

v. and second switching means engageable by the sensing arm for establishing and breaking contact between the shutter means and automatic film advancing means and said source of electrical power as a function of sensing arm position.

23. The automatic camera defined by claim 22, wherein the electrical indicator means comprises a warning light.

24. The automatic camera defined by claim 22, and further comprising second electrical indicator means operable by the second switching means for providing an indication when the film supply decreases to said second predetermined amount.

25. The automatic camera defined by claim 24, wherein the second electrical indicator means comprises a buzzer.