Automatic picture taking machine

• US 5,446,515 A
• Filed: 09/28/1992
• Issued: 08/29/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Photostar Limited
• Original Assignee: Photostar Limited
• Inventors: Wolfe, Maynard F., Law, Hin Y. A., Kravit, Malcom J.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLANKENSHIP, HOWARD BENNETT
• Application Number:
  US07/915,711
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• Field of Search: 354/81, 354/290, 354/291, 354/293
• US Class Current: 396/2
• 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

Abstract

An automatic picture taking machine of the photo-booth kind has a camera within a housing and an automatic mechanism for taking the picture of a subject within a picture taking zone. For height adjustment purposes, the camera is moved bodily up and down so that a height adjustable seat within the booth is not required. The background may also be height adjustable and to achieve this the background may be provided on a sheet which is movable up and down between top and bottom rolls.

Claims

1. An automatic picture taking machine comprising a housing containing a camera and an automatic apparatus which when actuated causes the camera to take a picture of a subject located in a zone near to the housing, a viewing means for producing a display of a picture to be taken by the camera, an adjustment device for adjusting the height of the camera relative to the subject by bodily moving the camera, the camera being a video camera which acts both for picture taking purposes and as said viewing means, and lighting for illuminating said zone, wherein said adjustment device is operable for adjusting the height of the lighting together with the height of the camera.

2. An automatic picture taking machine comprising a housing containing a camera and an automatic apparatus which when activated causes the camera to take a picture of a subject located in a zone near to the housing, said zone having a back structure thereto having at least one background display region, said structure being movable upwards and downwards to adjust the height of a display region relative to the subject, said background display being linked to an adjustment device so that height adjustment of the display is effected automatically in correspondence with height adjustment of the camera.

3. A machine according to claim 2 wherein the back structure comprises a sheet movable upwards and downwards between rolls.

4. A machine according to claim 2 wherein the back structure has a plurality of background display regions and the back structure is also movable upwards and downwards for selecting individual said regions.

5. An automatic picture taking machine comprising:

a housing,

an image unit including a video camera supported on a support structure within the housing, said support structure being mounted on said housing so that the image unit is movable bodily in its entirety along a path upwards and downwards,

an automatic apparatus actuable to cause the camera to take a picture of a subject located in a zone near to the housing,

a viewing means connected to the video camera to produce a display of said picture on an electronic monitor,

a print producing means connected to the video camera and operable to produce a print of said picture, the video camera acting both for producing said display and for producing said print, and

an adjustment means operable to effect said bodily movement of the image unit to adjust the height of the video camera with the image unit relative to the subject.

6. A machine according to claim 5 wherein the adjustment means is operable for adjusting the height of the viewing means together with the camera.

7. A machine according to claim 5 wherein the viewing means is arranged to produce said display on an electronic monitor which is located outside the picture taking zone.

8. A machine according to claim 5 wherein said support structure of the image unit is movable upwards and downwards on rails or tracks.

9. A machine according to claim 5 wherein the height adjustment is effected by the adjustment device by movement of the image unit upwards and downwards in a continuous manner within a predetermined range.

10. A machine according to claim 5 wherein the height adjustment is effected by the adjustment means by movement of the image unit upwards and downwards stepwise between predetermined positions.

11. A machine according to claim 5 wherein said zone has a back structure thereto having at least one background display region, the back structure comprising a sheet movable upwards and downwards between rolls.

12. A machine according to claim 5 wherein said zone has a back structure thereto having at least one background display region, an adjustment means is provided for adjusting the height of the camera relative to the subject, and the back structure is linked to the adjustment means so that height adjustment of the display region is effected automatically in correspondence with height adjustment of the camera.

13. A machine according to claim 5 wherein user controls are provided for effecting height adjustments.

14. A machine according to claim 13 wherein said controls include a foot control inside the picture-taking zone.

15. A machine according to claim 13 wherein said controls include manual controls both inside and outside the picture-taking zone whereby height adjustments can be effected optionally from inside or outside the zone.

16. A machine according to claim 5 wherein one or more height sensors are provided within the picture-taking zone whereby one or more control functions are arranged to be effected automatically.

17. A machine according to claim 5 wherein the machine is in the form of a coin (or token) operated booth.

18. A machine according to claim 8 wherein the height adjustment is effected by the adjustment means by movement of the image unit upwards and downwards in a continuous manner within a predetermined range.

19. A machine according to claim 8 wherein the height adjustment is effected by the adjustment means by movement of the image unit upwards and downwards stepwise between predetermined positions.

20. An automatic picture taking machine comprising:

a housing,

an image unit including a video camera and an electronic monitor supported on a support structure within the housing, said support structure being mounted on said housing so that the image unit is movable bodily in its entirety along a path upwards and downwards,

an automatic apparatus actuable to cause the camera to take a picture of a subject located in a zone near to the housing,

a viewing means connected to the video camera to produce a display of said picture on said electronic monitor,

a print producing means connected to the video camera and operable to produce a print of said picture, the video camera acting both for producing said display and for producing said print, and

an adjustment means operable to effect said bodily movement of the image unit to adjust the height of the video camera and the electronic monitor with the image unit relative to the subject.

21. A machine according to claim 20 wherein the viewing means is arranged to produce said display on an electronic monitor which is located outside the picture taking zone.

22. A machine according to claim 20 wherein lighting is provided for illuminating said zone characterised in that the adjustment means is operable for adjusting the height of the lighting together with the camera.

23. A machine according to claim 20 wherein said support structure of the image unit is movable upwards and downwards on rails or tracks.

24. A machine according to claim 20 wherein the height adjustment is effected by the adjustment means by movement of the image unit upwards and downwards in a continuous manner within a predetermined range.

25. A machine according to claim 20 wherein the height adjustment is effected by the adjustment means by movement of the image unit upwards and downwards stepwise between predetermined positions.

26. A machine according to claim 20 wherein said zone has a back structure thereto having at least one background display region, an adjustment means is provided for adjusting the height of the camera relative to the subject, and the back structure is linked to the adjustment means so that height adjustment of the display region is effected automatically in correspondence with height adjustment of the camera.

27. A machine according to claim 20 wherein one or more height sensors are provided within the picture-taking zone whereby one or more control functions are arranged to be effected automatically.

28. A machine according to claim 20 wherein one or more height sensors are provided within the picture-taking zone whereby one or more control functions are arranged to be effected automatically.

29. A machine according to claim 20 wherein the machine is in the form of a coin (or token) operated booth.