Camera with automatic film initialization responsive to film loading door sensor

• US 5,960,222 A
• Filed: 08/20/1998
• Issued: 09/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Zander, Dennis R.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLANKENSHIP, HOWARD BENNETT
• Application Number:
  US09/137,905
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• Field of Search: 396/403, 396/406-410
• US Class Current: 396/408
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 1/00 Film strip handling

Abstract

In a low cost camera, film initialization to a first exposure frame by a time constant controlled drive circuit in which the time constant circuit is reset by a door sensor switch as a consequence of unloading and/or loading of film in the camera. This ensures that newly loaded film will be automatically initialized to the first exposure position without requiring the camera user to remember to actuate a shutter release button multiple times to achieve proper initialization. A film advance sensor switch is further employed to prevent subsequent frame advance if film initialization is for any reason not properly achieved.

Claims

1. A method of initializing film loading in a camera in response to securement of a film loading door in a light tight position, the camera having a motor drive circuit comprising a resistor-capacitor time constant circuit, the method comprising:

providing a switch in circuit with said time constant circuit, said switch having first and second contact positions;

placing said switch in said first contact position to enable said time constant circuit in response to securement of said door in a light tight position; and

placing said switch in said second contact position to discharge said capacitor in response to unsecurement of said door from said light tight position to allow removal and reloading of film in the camera;

whereby said time constant circuit is reset to an initial condition to allow operation of said motor drive circuit for a sufficient time determined by said time constant circuit to ensure advancing of said film to a first exposure frame position in response to securement of said door in a light tight position after loading of film into the camera.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said switch is placed in said second contact position in response to opening of said door.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said switch is placed in said second contact position in response to actuation of a locking device for said door.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said switch is placed in said first contact position in response to closing of said door.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said switch is placed in said first contact position in response to actuation of a lock device for said door.

6. Film initialization apparatus for a motor drive camera, the camera having a film drive motor, a motor drive circuit and a film loading door adapted to be closed in a light tight position after loading of film into the camera, the apparatus comprising:

a timer circuit coupled to said motor drive circuit, said timer circuit including a resistor-capacitor time constant circuit; and

a film loading door securement sensor switch in circuit with said time constant circuit, said door securement sensor switch having first and second contacts and being set to said first contact to complete said time constant circuit in response to securement of said door in a light tight position and to said second contact to discharge said capacitor in response to unsecurement of said film loading door from said light tight position;

whereby said time constant circuit is reset by discharge of said capacitor to an initial condition to allow operation of said motor drive circuit for a sufficient time determined by said time constant circuit to ensure advancing of said film to an initial exposure position in response to securement of said film loading door in a light tight position after loading of film into the camera.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising;

a power source; and

a film initialization position sensor including a frame counter and a power supply switch coupled from said power source to said timer circuit, the power supply switch having a first contact position which supplies power to said timer circuit to actuate said motor drive circuit to advance said film to said first exposure position and a second contact responsive to said frame counter to interrupt power supply to said timer circuit to terminate operation of said motor drive circuit when said film reaches said first exposure position;

whereby said film initialization position sensor is effective to terminate said motor drive circuit when film is advanced to said first position in normal manner, and said timer circuit is effective to terminate said motor drive circuit when said film fails to reach said initial exposure position within a time set by said time constant circuit starting from a reset condition established by discharge of said capacitor by said door securement sensor switch.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising:

a film sensor switch which is closed in response to sensing of normal advance of said film to said first exposure position; and

a frame advance switch coupled in circuit with said time constant circuit, said frame advance switch having a first contact set to complete said time constant circuit at the completion of a photographic exposure cycle so as to advance said film to a next successive frame exposure position and having a second contact to which said frame advance switch is set in response to initiation of an exposure cycle to couple said film sensor switch across said capacitor;

whereby said timer circuit is reset by discharge of said capacitor through said film sensor switch to allow said timer to actuate said motor drive circuit to advance said film to said next exposure position only if said film has been properly advanced to said first exposure position during film initialization as indicated by closure of said film sensor switch.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said door securement sensor switch is responsive to closing of the film loading door to be set to said first contact.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said camera also includes a door latch device for locking the film loading door in the closed, light tight position, wherein said film loading door securement switch is responsive to said latch device upon locking of the film loading door in the light tight position to be set to said first contact.