Film rewinder

• US RE36,246 E
• Filed: 10/18/1996
• Issued: 07/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Takemae, Mikio, Nakano, Yoshiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Perkey, W. B.
• Application Number:
  US08/733,991
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 396/404, 396/405, 396/409, 396/410, 396/390, 396/392
• US Class Current: 396/390
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/425 motor drive cameras

Abstract

A film rewinder for a camera comprising a motor and rewinding means driven by the motor and adapted to rewind a used film into a film cartridge, comprises first sensing means disposed at a specific position in the path of the film moved to the film cartridge when the film is being rewound and effective to generate an output signal when the leader portion of the film has passed the specific position; second sensing means effective to generate an output signal when the leader portion of the film is further rewound to the film cartridge beyond the specific position; means for selecting one of first and second conditions; and control means. The control means is used for de-energizing the motor when the first condition is selected by the selecting means and if the control means receives the output signal from the first sensing means and for de-energizing the motor when the second condition is selected by the selecting means and if the control means receives the output signal from the second sensing means.

Claims

1. A device for rewinding a film drawn out from a film cartridge contained in a camera into said cartridge, said film having a leader portion at an end of the film, said device comprising:

an electric motor;

rewinding means driven by said motor for transporting said drawn-out film toward said cartridge;

means for detecting said leader portion of said film said film is transported by said rewinding means;

means responsive to said detecting means for generating a first output when said leader portion of said film . .reached.!. .Iadd.reaches .Iaddend.a position that is a predetermined distance from said cartridge;

means responsive to said detecting means for generating a second output when said leader portion of said film further approaches said cartridge from said predetermined distance;

means for selecting one of first and second conditions; and

control means for deenergizing said motor in response to said first output when said first condition is selected by said selecting means and for deenergizing said motor in response to said second output when said second condition is selected by said selecting means.Iadd., wherein

said detecting means includes a pair of detectors disposed at different positions relative to each other in a transported direction of said film and adapted for sensing the passage of the end of said film, respectively, said first output generating means is responsive to one of said detectors, and said second output generating means is responsive to the other of said detectors,

said other detector includes a switch which, during transport of said film by said rewinder mechanism, is maintained in a first state until it changes to a second state in response to the passage of the end of said film;

said second output generating means includes timer means for counting a predetermined period of time in response to the change of state of said switch, and thereafter generates said second output.Iaddend.. . .2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said first output generating means is adapted to generate said first output in such a manner that said film leader portion of said film remains outside of said cartridge by a determined amount during said first condition and wherein said second output generating means is adapted to generate said second output in such a manner that said film leader portion of said film is transported into said cartridge completely during said second condition..!.. .3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said first output generating means for adapted to generate said first output in such a manner that said film leader portion of said film remain outside of said cartridge by a determined amount when said film is further transported by said motor under inertia after said motor has been deenergized during said first condition and wherein said second output generating means adapted to generate said second output in such a manner that said film leader portion of said film is completely transported into said cartridge when said film is further transported by said motor under inertia after said motor has been deenergized during said second condition..!.. .4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means includes a pair of detectors disposed at different positions relative to each other in a transported direction of said film and adapted for sensing the passage of the end of said film, respectively, said first output generating means is responsive to one of said detectors, and said second output generating means is responsive to the other of said detectors..!.. .5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said second output generating means includes timer means for counting a predetermined period of time in response to said detecting

2. means..!.6. A device . .according to claim 5, wherein.!. .Iadd.for rewinding a film drawn out from a film cartridge contained in a camera into said cartridge, said film having a leader portion at an end of the film, said device comprising:

an electric motor;

rewinding means driven by said motor for transporting said drawn-out film toward said cartridge;

means for detecting said leader portion of said film when said film is transported by said rewinding means;

means responsive to said detecting means for generating a first output when said leader portion of said film reaches a position that is a predetermined distance from said cartridge;

means responsive to said detecting means for generating a second output when said leader portion of said film further approaches said cartridge from said predetermined distance;

means for selecting one of first and second conditions; and

control means for deenergizing said motor in response to said first output when said first condition is selected by said selecting means and for deenergizing said motor in response to said second output when said second condition is selected by said selecting means, wherein

said detecting means includes a pair of detectors disposed at different positions relative to each other in a transported direction of said film and adapted for sensing the passage of the end of said film, respectively, said first output generating means is responsive to one of said detectors, and said second output generating means is responsive to the other of said detectors,

said second output generating means includes timer means for counting a predetermined period of time in response to said other detector, and thereafter generates said second output, and .Iaddend.

said timer means includes means for adjusting said predetermined period of time in accordance with the rotation speed of said motor. . .7. A device according to claim 1, wherein said second output generating means includes timer means for counting a predetermined period of time after said first output has been generated and for causing said second output generating means to generate said second output after passage of said predetermined

4. film substantially enters said cartridge..!..Iadd.11. A device for rewinding a film drawn out from a film cartridge contained in a camera into said cartridge, said film having a leader portion at an end of the film, said device comprising:

an electric motor;

rewinding means driven by said motor for transporting said drawn-out film toward said cartridge;

means for detecting said leader portion of said film when said film is transported by said rewinding means;

means responsive to said detecting means for generating a first output when said leader portion of said film reaches a position that is a predetermined distance from said cartridge;

means responsive to said detecting means for generating a second output when said leader portion of said film further approaches said cartridge from said predetermined distance;

means for selecting one of first and second conditions; and

control means for deenergizing said motor in response to said first output when said first condition is selected by said selecting means and for deenergizing said motor in response to said second output when said second condition is selected by said selecting means,

wherein said second output generating means includes means for detecting rotation of said motor after said first output has been generated and means for causing said second output to be generated in response to detection of a predetermined rotation amount of said motor by said rotation detecting means. .Iaddend..Iadd.12. A device according to claim 11, wherein said rotation detecting means generates a plurality of pulses per revolution of said motor and wherein said second output generating means generates said second output in response to generation of a predetermined number of pulses by said rotation detecting means. .Iaddend..Iadd.13. A device according to claim 12, wherein said rotation detecting means includes means for generating light pulses with rotation of said motor and means for counting the light pulses. .Iaddend..Iadd.14. A device according to claim 11, wherein the camera includes an operating member and said leader portion detecting means includes a film sensing member which is normally disengaged from said film as said film is drawn out from said film cartridge and which is displaceable into engagement with said film in response to operation of said operating member when said film is to be rewound into said film cartridge. .Iaddend..Iadd.15. A device according to claim 14, wherein said film sensing member is mounted on a support which is pivotable in response to operation of said operating member to bring said sensing member into engagement with said film. .Iaddend..Iadd.16. A device according to claim 14, wherein said film sensing member includes a pin adapted to move through an aligned opening of a pressure plate upon movement of an end of said film leader portion

5. past said pin. .Iaddend..Iadd.17. A device for rewinding a film drawn out from a film cartridge contained in a camera into said cartridge, said film having a leader portion at an end of the film, said device comprising:

an electric motor;

first rewinding means driven by said motor for transporting said drawn-out film toward said cartridge until said leader portion of said film remains outside of said cartridge by a determined amount;

second rewinding means driven by said motor for transporting said drawn-out film toward said cartridge so that said leader portion of said film is transported into said cartridge completely; and

means for changing between a first mode in which said film is rewound by said first rewinding means and a second mode in which said film is rewound by said second rewinding means,

wherein the camera has a back lid member which covers said film, and said changing means includes a change-over switch having an actuating member for switching said switch to change between said first and second modes, said actuating member being disposed at a position covered by said back lid member such that said back lid member precludes operation of said

6. actuating member for switching said switch. .Iaddend..Iadd.18. A device for rewinding a film drawn out from a film cartridge contained in a camera into said cartridge, said film having a leader portion at an end of the film, said device comprising:

an electric motor;

first rewinding means driven by said motor for transporting said drawn-out film toward said cartridge until said leader portion of said film remains outside of said cartridge by a determined amount;

second rewinding means driven by said motor for transporting said drawn-out film toward said cartridge so that said leader portion of said film is transported into said cartridge completely; and

means for changing between a first mode in which said film is rewound by said first rewinding means and a second mode in which said film is rewound by said second rewinding means,

wherein the camera has a lid member having an open position and a closed position, said changing means includes a change-over switch operable to change between said first and second modes when said lid member is at said open position and not operable to change between said first and second modes when said lid member is at said closed position. .Iaddend..Iadd.19. A device for rewinding a film drawn out from a film cartridge contained in a camera into said cartridge, said film having a leader portion at an end of the film, said device comprising;

an electric motor;

rewinding means driven by said motor for transporting said drawn-out film toward said cartridge;

means for detecting said leader portion of said film when said film is transported by said rewinding means;

means responsive to said detecting means for generating a first output when said leader portion of said film reaches a position that is a predetermined distance from said cartridge;

means responsive to said detecting means for generating a second output when said leader portion of said film further approaches said cartridge from said predetermined distance;

means for selecting one of first and second conditions; and

control means for deenergizing said motor in response to said first output when said first condition is selected by said selecting means and for deenergizing said motor in response to said second output when said second condition is selected by said selecting means, wherein

said second output generating means includes timer means for counting a predetermined period of time in response to said detecting means,

the camera is provided with a film winding spool, said detecting means includes a detector which is disposed between said film cartridge and said film winding spool and which senses passage of an end of said film leader portion of said film, and

said detector includes sensing pin means disposed to engage a portion of said film during rewinding of said film and adapted to move through an aligned opening of a pressure plate upon the passage of said end of said

7. film leader portion of said film. .Iaddend..Iadd.20. A device according to claim 19, wherein the camera has an operating member and wherein said sensing pin means is supported so as to be out of engagement with said film when said film is being drawn out from said film cartridge and so as to be displaceable into engagement with said film in response to operation of said operating member when said film is to be rewound into said film

8. cartridge..Iaddend..Iadd.21. A device according to claim 20, wherein said sensing pin means is mounted on a support which is pivotable in response to operation of said operating member so as to bring said sensing pin means into engagement with said film..Iaddend.

3. period of time..!.. .8. A device for rewinding a film drawn out from a film cartridge contained in a camera into said cartridge, said film having a leader portion at an end of the film, said device comprising:

an electric motor;

first rewinding means driven by said motor for transporting said drawn-out film toward said cartridge until said leader portion of said film remains outside of said cartridge by a determined amount;

second rewinding means driven by said motor for transporting said drawn-out film toward said cartridge so that said leader portion of said film is transported into said cartridge completely; and

means for changing between a first mode in which said film is rewound by said first rewinding means and a second mode in which said film is rewound by said second rewinding means..!.. .9. A device according to claim 8, wherein said first rewinding means includes means for automatically stopping said motor when said leader portion of said film is transported to a predetermined distance from said cartridge..!.. .10. A device according to claim 9, wherein said second rewinding means includes means for automatically stopping said motor when said leader portion of said