Instant camera with spring-urged pressure plate

• US 4,823,155 A
• Filed: 03/25/1988
• Issued: 04/18/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Murai, Ashita, Kataoka, Hideaki, Haishi, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Gellner, Michael L.
• Application Number:
  US07/173,531
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 354/85, 354/86, 354/288
• US Class Current: 396/30
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/52 of the Land type

Abstract

An instant camera equipped with a pressure plate for pressing against a stack of instant film units contained in a film pack to press the foremost film unit against the exposure opening frame of the film pack so as to place and hold that foremost film unit flat in the focal plane of the taking lens. A pressure relieving mechanism relieves pressure from the stack of instant film units at a predetermined time, so as to allow the foremost instant film unit to be withdrawn with reduced friction force from the film pack. To do this, the pressure relieving mechanism temporarily presses rearwardly against the pressure plate.

Claims

1. An instant camera with a back cover for allowing a film pack containing a stack of instant film units to be loaded in said camera, said film pack being of the type having an exposure opening in its front wall and a bottom opening in its rear wall, said instant camera comprising:

urging means attached to said back cover of said instant camera and adapted to contact a said stack of instant film units through said opening in said back wall of a said film pack for urging said stack of film units in a direction to bring the foremost instant film unit of said stack of instant film units into contact with said front wall of a said film pack; and

pressure relieving means for moving back said urging means so as to relieve pressure on said stack of instant film units when said foremost instant film unit is being withdrawn from said film pack, thereby allowing said foremost film unit to be withdrawn with reduced friction.

2. An instant camera as defined in claim 1, wherein said urging means comprises a pressure plate and spring means attached to said back cover for pressing said pressure plate against a said stack of instant film units when said back cover is closed.

3. An instant camera as defined in claim 1, wherein said pressure relieving means comprises a pair of electromagnetic means each of which includes a solenoid and a protuberant plunger actuated by said solenoid and acting on said urging means.

4. An instant camera with a back cover for allowing a film pack containing a stack of instant film units to be loaded in said camera, said film pack being of the type having an exposure opening in its front wall and a bottom opening in its rear wall, said camera comprising:

spring means attached to said back cover;

a pressure plate supported by said spring means so as to press against said stack of instant film units in said film pack in order to bring the foremost instant film unit of said stack of instant film units into contact with said front wall of said film pack when said back cover is closed; and

pressure relieving means coacting with said spring means for relieving pressure exerted on said stack of instant film units by said pressure plate, said pressure relieving means comprising;

an abutment member bearing against said spring member;

a solenoid with a protuberant plunger attached to the inside of said camera; and

means for energizing said solenoid to extend said plunger so as to push against said abutment member in order to move said pressure plate rearwardly immediately after the exposure of said foremost instant film unit and for deenergizing said solenoid to retract said plunger so as to allow said pressure plate to press with increased force on said stack of instant film units when said foremost instant film unit has been withdrawn from said film pack.