Abstract:
A camera has light sensitive means which furnish a signal corresponding to the light available for an exposure. The camera has a diaphragm having an adjustable aperture. Electromagnetic step switch means are coupled to the diaphragm for changing the size of the aperture a predetermined increment in response to a predetermined number of control pulses. An astable multivibrator furnishes a sequence of control pulses. A differential amplifier furnishes an output signal when the size of the aperture differs from the desired size corresponding to the exposure signal. A first gate transmits the control pulses from the astable multivibrator to the input of the electronic step switch means when the output signal of the differential amplifier is positive, while a second gate transmits control pulses from the astable multivibrator to the electromagnetic step switch means when the differential amplifier output is negative. The two gates have outputs so-connected to the step switch means that an armature which is part of the step switch means rotates in a first direction in response to pulses applied from the first gate and in the opposite direction in response to pulses applied through the second gate. The aperture is opened further for one direction of rotation of the armature and closes when the armature rotates in the opposite direction.
Abstract:
A still camera wherein the housing supports an indexible flashcube having cartridges which must be struck in order to fire the respective lamps. The housing contains a pivotable impeller which is released to the action of a torsion spring to strike against the cartridge for that lamp which faces the subject or scene when the user moves a pivotable release lever from its starting position. A resetting lever is provided to automatically return the impeller to its cocked position as soon as the impeller strikes against the adjacent cartridge. The resetting lever is then moved back to its normal position of engagement with an elastic pawl by a tensioning member which is actuated by the film transporting mechanism. The tensioning member thereby stresses the torsion spring for the impeller as well as a second spring which serves to pivot the resetting lever in a direction to return the impeller to its cocked position.
Abstract:
A still camera wherein a single multiple-purpose programming device is cocked in response to transport of photographic film and is held in the cocked position by the camera release which can be operated to allow the programming device to move to an uncocked position under the action of a strong spring whereby the programming device opens the shutter and causes an impeller to fire a percussively ignitable flash lamp during movement to its uncocked position. When a flash lamp or a holder for several flash lamps is detached from a socket in the camera body, the impeller is withdrawn from the path of movement of the programming device and is replaced by a braking lever which brakes the programming device during movement to uncocked position so that the force with which the programming device strikes against a stop which determines its uncocked position is controlled to avoid excessive camera shake. When the exposures are made with artificial illumination of the subject, the programming device is braked by the impeller.
Abstract:
A container for photographic film has a hollow web connecting a film-supplying chamber with a film-collecting chamber. The front wall of the web has a window which exposes one film frame at a time and such frame is held at a fixed distance from the picturetaking objective of the camera by locating surfaces provided on pins forming part of the rear wall of the web. The pins extend through openings of the front wall of the web and abut against a stop in the camera body.
Abstract:
A single-lens reflex camera wherein the shutter can be opened and the mirror pivoted from the light reflecting position by an actuating mechanism which is operated in response to deformation of a diaphragm forming part of the release device. The diaphragm is mounted in the cylindrical hub of a rapid film transport lever and can operate the actuating mechanism by way of a pin which is coaxial with the lever, a blocking lever and a spring biased rod. The rod can be retracted to its normal position to allow for resetting of the actuating mechanism by a spring-biased member which is cocked by the film transport lever and uncocked by a cam upon completed operation of the actuating mechanism to thereby automatically return the rod to its normal position in which the rod is held by the blocking lever.
Abstract:
An arrangement is described for automatically adjusting the shutter opening in a camera in accordance with the quantity of light incident on a photosensitive detector of the camera. A pulse generator is triggered when the excitation voltage developed by the detector and applied to the pulse generator input exceeds the latter''s threshold. An electromagnet energized by the triggered pulse generator incrementally advances a springloaded diaphragm via a modified panel and ratchet mechanism in a first direction at the pulse rate, thereby progressively decreasing the shutter opening. A light blocking member in the detector moves in synchronism with the diaphragm to progressively decrease the excitation voltage for the pulse generator as the shutter opening decreases. When such decreasing voltage falls below the pulse generator threshold, the electromagnet is disabled. The diaphragm thereupon retracts at a rate slower than the pulse rate until the corresponding movement of the light blocking member again permits the excitation voltage to exceed the pulse generator threshold, thereby establishing a stable size for the shutter opening.
Abstract:
Connected in parallel with the electromotor driving the film transport is a threshold circuit which causes an indicator lamp to light when the voltage applied thereto is too low. A single switch connects both the threshold circuit and the electromotor to the battery, causing the battery to be tested under actual operation. Contacts which are closed at the end of the film can be interconnected with the threshold circuit to cause the lamp to light at film end.
Abstract:
A still camera or motion picture camera wherein the shutter and/or the diaphragm is adjustable in response to rotation of a ring which is installed in a circumferential groove of the lens mount. The picture taking objective is movable in the direction of the optical axis by a ring-shaped, lever-shaped or rotary knob-shaped adjusting device which is mounted on the ring for movement about a second axis which is inclined with reference to the optical axis and intersects or crosses in space with the optical axis. The adjusting device also serves to rotate the ring about the optical axis. The axial position of the objective can be changed independently of or simultaneously with angular movement of the ring, depending upon whether the adjusting device is actuated to merely rotate the ring, to merely move the objective axially or to move the objective axially while rotating the ring about the optical axis.
Abstract:
A still camera for use with roll film having a row of perforations, one for each film frame, employs a planetary transmission whose planet carrier is rotatable by hand, whose internal gear rotates the takeup reel during transport of film, and whose sun gear can cock the shutter or perform another function while the internal gear is held against rotation. The sun gear is held against rotation by a lever during a first stage of rotation of the planet carrier while the internal gear rotates the takeup reel. A feeler scans the moving film and penetrates into an oncoming perforation to thereby disengage the lever from the sun gear so that the latter can rotate during a second stage of rotation of the planet carrier as soon as the internal gear is arrested due to resistance of the takeup reel to rotate in a direction to collect exposed film. The lever has a tooth which engages complementary teeth of the sun gear during the first stage of rotation of the planet carrier; such teeth constitute an overload clutch which allows the sun gear to rotate against the opposition of the lever in response to rotation of the planet carrier when the latter transmits a predetermined force while the internal gear is also held against rotation. This prevents a tearing of the film and/or damage to component parts of the camera.
Abstract:
A cassette for photographic roll film which is surrounded by a strip of opaque backing paper. The cassette has a film supplying section which receives a roll of unexposed film and backing paper, a film collecting section containing a takeup reel, and a channel-shaped intermediate section having a front wall which is provided with a light-admitting window in register with successive unexposed frames of film when the cassette is inserted into the body of a camera and the film transporting mechanism is actuated prior to the making of successive exposures. Portions of the film and backing paper extend through the intermediate section of the housing in such a way that the film is located immediately behind the window and the backing paper is located between the film and the rear wall of the intermediate section. A spring-biased pressure plate is mounted in the intermediate section between the backing paper and film so as to maintain the film behind the window in a predetermined plane. The pressure plate is biased forwardly by several resilient prongs which engage upwardly and downwardly extending projections of the pressure plate and urge such projections against abutments on the front wall of the intermediate section. The flattening action of the pressure plate upon the film is independent of the curvature and/or stiffness of backing paper in the intermediate section.