GB1350358A - Photographic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1350358 Folding cameras POLAROID CORP 12 Sept 1972 [4 Oct 1971] 42335/72 Heading G2A A folding camera has two housing sections 12, 14 connected by a pivot 20, a film-advancing lever 76 pivoted to housing section 14, and a prop 56 pivoted to housing section 12 to hold sections 12 and 14 in the open position, such that in the collapsed position prop 56 overlies lever 76 and hence prevents inadvertent operation of lever 76 in the collapsed position. Fig. 1 shows a camera of the folding single-lens reflex self-processing type disclosed generally in Specification 1292240 having housing sections 12, 14, 16, 18 pivoted together, and shown in the open or operative position. A cassette 40 containing a number of film units is housed in section 12 and, after exposing, the topmost film unit 41 is advanced to pass between rollers 60, 62. It is moved initially by the lever 76, whose upper end extends externally of the camera, so that it can be manually operated. Clockwise movement of lever 76 causes a flange structure at its lower end (110), Fig. 3 (not shown) to engage behind the film unit and push it forward, until its leading edge 49 engages a cam 114, pivoting it clockwise. The cam surface 117 falls, so that a spring member 118 resting on it and which is biased downwards by its own resilience eventually comes into contact with a member 120. A circuit is thus closed, energizing a motor which drives rollers 60, 62 thus continuing to advance the film unit until it has been passed out of the camera. In the position shown in Fig. 1, a tang 70 at one end of housing section 14 enters an aperture 72 near the end of prop 56 (seen more clearly in Fig. 2 not shown), so that the camera is locked open. To collapse the camera, prop 56 is pushed anticlockwise until tang 70 comes out of aperture 72, enabling section 14 to be pivoted anti-clockwise, so closing the camera. Lever 76, when not in use, is spring-biased so that it lies in the plane of section 14, its exterior end lying in a recess 74 on the exterior surface of section 14. As the camera is closed, prop 56 pivots clockwise about its hinge 58 until it also lies in the recess 74. Since it is lying on top of the upper end of lever 76, however, the latter cannot be accidentally moved.