Photographic film package and method of making the same

• US 4,884,087 A
• Filed: 08/20/1987
• Issued: 11/28/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoshida, Toshio, Matsumoto, Yasuo, Ohmura, Hiroshi, Asano, Seiji, Sugimoto, Shigeru, Ushiro, Seimei, Mochida, Mitsuyoshi, Takei, Hisashi, Maekawa, Tokuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Gellner, Michael L.
• Application Number:
  US07/087,388
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 354/75, 354/76, 354/202, 354/212, 354/217, 354/288
• US Class Current: 396/6
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 19/04 Roll-film cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2219/045 adapted for unloading the film in the processing laboratory, e.g. disposable, reusable or recyclable cameras

Abstract

A lens-fitted photographic film package comprising a light-tight film casing having an exposure opening, a rolled film disposed on one side of the exposure opening in the light-tight casing, a removable light-tight container having a film winding spool therein disposed on the other side of the exposure opening in the light-tight film casing, and an externally operable film winding member for winding the rolled film around said film winding spool of the light-tight film container. The lens-fitted photographic film package is assembled by the steps of winding film withdrawn from a light-tight film container in a roll in a darkroom; loading the rolled film and the light-tight film container in separate respective receiving chambers formed in a main body section of the lens-fitted photographic film package; and fixing a back cover section to the main body section so as to assemble light-tightly the lens-fitted photographic film package.

Claims

1. A lens-fitted photographic film package having an externally operable member for effecting an exposure, comprising:

a light-tight film casing which must be destroyed to open the same, having an opening through which said exposure is made when said externally operable member is operated;

an unexposed rolled film disposed on one side of said opening in said light-tight casing;

a removable light-tight film container having a film winding spool therein disposed on the opposite side of said opening in said light-tight casing from said rolled film, one end of said rolled film being attached to said film winding spool;

means for winding said rolled film into said light-tight film container and around said film winding spool; and

winding control means responsive to operation of said externally operable member for allowing said film winding spool to rotate so as to enable said rolled film to be advanced by only one frame after every exposure;

said winding control means including;

a sprocket wheel driven by movement of said rolled film; and

a frame counter driven by said sprocket wheel, said frame counter being provided with indications designating a series of frame numbers and means for disabling said winding control means responsive to said frame counter indicating there remains on said unexposed film no film frame capable of being exposed.

2. A lens-fitted photographic film package as claimed in claim 1, said means for disabling said winding control means being a projections formed integrally with said frame counter on an under surface thereof.

3. A lens-fitted photographic film package as claimed in claim 2, said winding means being a wheel having teeth on its peripheral surface, said wheel being in driving relation with said winding spool of said film container.

4. A lens-fitted photographic film package as claimed in claim 3, said winding control means being a rotary member having a first portion in engagement with the teeth of said winding wheel and a second portion pressed against a cam means on a sprocket shaft, said rotary member being biased into contact with said cam means, said cam means having a recess into which said second portion can be inserted, and when said second portion is in said recess, said first portion being engaged with the teeth of said winding wheel to stop said winding wheel.

5. A lens-fitted photographic film package as claimed in claim 4, further including means causing said winding means to move in opposite direction from the biased direction of said rotary member upon actuating a shutter of a taking lens of the film package, thereby to enable winding operation.

6. A lens-fitted photographic film package as claimed in claim 5, wherein said projection is disposed in the path of movement of said rotary member when there is no film frame capable of being exposed, so that said projection prevents said first portion from engaging with the teeth on the peripheral surface of said winding wheel.

7. A lens-fitted photographic film package comprising:

a light-tight film casing which must be destroyed to open the same, having an opening through which an exposure is made;

a light-tight film container having a film winding spool therein disposed on one side of said opening in said light-tight film casing;

a rotatable spool disposed on the opposite side of said opening in said light-tight film casing from said light-tight film container;

one end of said spool being exposed outside said light-tight film casing;

a film roll of exposed film of which one end is attached to said film winding spool in said light-tight film container and which is rolled around said rotatable spool.

10. A lens-fitted photographic film package as defined in claim 7, wherein said exposed end of said spool has a recess therein of a shape to receive a tool to rotate said rotatable spool.

8. A lens-fitted photographic film package comprising a light-tight film casing which must be destroyed to open the same, and a rolled film contained in said light-tight film package, said light-tight film package comprising:

a front casing section provided with a lens opening, a finder frame opening, and engaging openings;

a middle casing section with its back open and containing said rolled film therein, said middle casing section having engaging lugs which engage with said engaging openings of said front casing section and holding a lens behind said lens opening between said front and middle casing sections; and

a rear casing section light-tightly closing said back of said middle casing section.

9. A lens-fitted photographic film package comprising:

a light-tight film casing which must be destroyed to open the same, having an opening through which an exposure is made;

a light-tight film container having a film winding spool therein disposed on one side of said opening in said light-tight film casing;

a resilient sleeve disposed on the opposite side of said opening in said light-tight film casing from said light-tight film container; and

a roll of unexposed film of which one end is attached to said film winding spool in said light-tight film container and which is rolled around said resilient sleeve;

said resilient sleeve being split lengthwise the full length thereof, the other end of said roll of unexposed film being disposed within said sleeve and passing between edges of said resilient split sleeve.

11. A lens-fitted photographic film package having an externally operable member for effecting an exposure, comprising:

a light-tight casing which must be destroyed to open the same, having an opening through which said exposure is made when said externally operable member is operated;

an unexposed rolled film disposed on one side of said opening in said light-tight casing;

a removable light-tight film container having a film winding spool therein disposed on the opposite side of said opening in said light-tight casing from said rolled film, one end of said rolled film being attached to said film winding spool;

means for winding said rolled film into said light-tight film container and around said film winding spool;

said light-tight casing comprising a main body section which is provided with a shutter member, and a back cover section, these two sections being assembled into one integral unit; and

supporting means consisting of a single resilient member attached to said back cover section, said single resilient member embracing and removably holding said light-tight film container and embracing said rolled film.

12. A lens-fitted photographic film package as claimed in claim 11, wherein said resilient member terminates in arms that contact only the ends of said light-tight film container and said rolled film.

13. A lens-fitted photographic film package having an externally operable member for effecting an exposure, comprising:

a light-tight casing which must be destroyed to open the same, having an opening through which said exposure is made when said externally operable member is operated;

an unexposed rolled film disposed on one side of said opening in said light-tight casing;

a removable light-tight film container having a film winding spool therein disposed on the opposite side of said opening in said light-tight casing from said rolled film, one end of said rolled film being attached to said film winding spool;

means for winding said rolled film into said light-tight film container and around said film winding spool;

said light-tight casing comprising a main body section which is provided with a shutter member, and a back cover section, these two sections being assembled into one integral unit; and

supporting means comprising flexible portions integrally formed of one piece with and extending from said main body section, said flexible portions embracing and removably holding said light-tight film container and embracing said rolled film.

14. A lens-fitted photographic film package as defined in claim 13, wherein the portion of said supporting means which embraces said rolled film has grooves therein facing said rolled film and extending perpendicular to the direction of movement of said rolled film.

15. A lens-fitted photographic film package comprising:

a light-tight film casing, having an opening through which an exposure is made;

a light-tight film container having a film winding spool therein disposed on one side of said opening in said light-tight film casing;

a rotatable spool disposed on the opposite side of said opening in said light-tight film casing from said light-tight film container;

one end of said spool being exposed outside said light-tight film casing;

a film roll of unexposed film of which one end is attached to said film winding spool in said light-tight film container and which is rolled around said rotatable spool.