JP2000089353A - Instant film pack - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent plural sheets of an instant film unit from being simultaneously discharged from a case by forming a part of an inclined plane arranged on the inner side of a discharge port higher. SOLUTION: On the inner side of the discharge port 7 installed in the case main body, five guide projections 39a to 39e (39a and 39b are not illustrated) with an inclined plane for guiding a film cover and the film unit 4 to the discharge port 7 are installed. And three guide projections 39b to 39d (39b is not illustrated) arranged on the center part are made higher in height so as to project inside the discharge port 7. Thus, the film unit 4 is pressed by three guide projections 39b to 39d (39b is not illustrated) so as to move toward a back cover, then, the film unit 4 behind the film unit 4 positioned in the front row while facing an exposure aperture does not face the discharge port 7, then, plural film units 4 are prevented from being simultaneously discharged through the discharge port 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an instant film pack, and more particularly to an instant film pack in which defective discharge is prevented.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various instant film packs containing a plurality of mono-sheet type instant film units in a box-shaped case are sold. The case is formed of a light-blocking plastic, and is provided with an exposure opening for exposing the exposed surface of the instant film unit and a slit-shaped outlet for discharging the exposed instant film unit from the case. The instant film pack is used for an instant camera, a printer, or the like, and is loaded into a pack room provided for these devices together with a case.

[0003] Some instant film units incorporate a spacer inside to prevent the developer from leaking out during development. There is also an instant film unit in which the outer periphery of the exposure surface is covered with an outer frame sheet from the outside in place of the spacer to prevent the developer from flowing out. The instant film unit using the outer frame sheet can be thinner and more flexible than the instant film unit using the spacer, so that the developing solution can be developed easily, and the instant film unit can be used for an instant camera or the like. The load on the built-in developer developing device can be reduced.

[0004] Problems that are likely to occur in the instant film pack include defective discharge such as the instant film unit being caught in the discharge port of the case and a plurality of instant film units being discharged simultaneously. In order to solve such a problem, in the conventional instant film pack, both ends of the outlet of the case are narrowed. The reason why only both end portions are narrowed is to prevent scratches or the like from occurring on the exposed surface or the positive image forming surface of the instant film unit.

[0005]

However, the instant film unit using the outer frame sheet is thin and flexible, so that two sheets can be discharged at the same time despite the narrow portions at both ends of the discharge port. Was sometimes done. In order to solve this problem, it is conceivable to further narrow both ends of the discharge port.However, since the instant film unit has many variations in the shape and warpage of the both ends in the width direction, the both ends of the discharge port are not much. When the width is reduced, a problem occurs that the instant film unit is caught by the discharge port.

An object of the present invention is to provide an instant film pack in which a plurality of instant film units are prevented from being simultaneously discharged from a case.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an instant film pack according to the present invention is characterized in that the height of an inclined surface provided at the back of a discharge port is partially increased so that a plurality of sheets are provided. This prevents the instant film unit from being simultaneously discharged from the discharge port.

[0008]

FIG. 2 shows the appearance of an instant film pack (hereinafter abbreviated as "film pack") of the present invention and the schematic configuration of an instant camera using this film pack. The film pack 2 includes a box-shaped case 3, a plurality of instant film units 4 (hereinafter abbreviated as film units) housed in the case 3, and a film cover 5. A rectangular exposure opening 6 exposing the exposure surface of the film unit 4 is formed on the front surface of the case 3, and the film cover 5 and the exposed film unit 4 are discharged out of the case 3 on the upper surface. Outlet 7 is provided. Film pack 2 when not in use
The discharge opening 7 is closed by a light-shielding sheet 8 formed of a plastic film having a light-shielding property, and the exposure opening 6 is closed by a film cover 5 from inside the case 3.

When the film pack 2 is loaded in the pack chamber of the instant camera, a shutter unit 10 and a photographing lens 11 are disposed in front of the film pack 2, and the shutter unit 10 is opened to the exposure opening 6 every time the shutter unit 10 is released. Photographing is performed on the set film unit 4. Further, in conjunction with the release operation of the shutter unit 10, a discharge mechanism for discharging the film unit 4 out of the device operates. The discharge mechanism includes a reduction gear train 14 that transmits the rotation of the motor 13 at a reduced speed, a claw mechanism 15 that operates using the driving force transmitted from the reduction gear train 14, and a developing roller pair 16.

The claw mechanism 15 includes a reduction gear train 14.
The rotational motion of the motor 13 transmitted by the motor is converted into a vertical sliding motion, and the well-known claw member 18 is moved in the vertical direction. The claw member 18 is inserted from below into a notch 19 formed below the front surface of the case 3 so as to be continuous with the exposure opening 6, and scoops up the lower end edge of the film cover 5 or the film unit 4 in the front row, and discharges the upper part. Send it out of the case 3 from the exit 7.

The developing roller pair 16 is provided with the reduction gear train 1.
Drive roller 21 rotated counterclockwise in FIG.
And a driven roller 22 that rotates in a direction opposite to the driving roller 21 following the driving roller 21, and the driven roller 22 is pressed against the driving roller 21 with an appropriate urging force. The unfolding roller pair 16 rotates while sandwiching the film cover 5 or the film unit 4 sent out by the claw member 18, and conveys the film toward the film outlet (not shown) of the upper instant camera. The developing roller pair 16 develops the film unit 4 while the film unit 4 is being transported. Film pack 2
A plate-shaped spread control member 24 for assisting the development of the film unit 4 is disposed between the discharge port 7 and the developing roller pair 16.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the film pack 2. The film unit 4 includes an exposure surface 4 on which an image is exposed by an instant camera, a printer, or the like.
a developer pod 4b disposed above the exposure surface 4a and filled with a developer; and a trap portion 4c disposed so as to face the developer pod 4b with the exposure surface 4a interposed therebetween.
And The film unit 4 is a mono-sheet type film unit that is handled as one sheet from when not used until after a positive image is formed. Further, a transmission type film having a different surface to be exposed and a surface to form a positive image is used. It is a unit. Therefore, on the surface opposite to the exposure surface 4a, a positive image forming surface on which a positive image is formed after the development is completed is provided.

When the exposure surface 4a is exposed, the film unit 4 is sent out of the case 3 by the above-described claw mechanism 15 and claw member 18. And
The film unit 4 sent out of the case 3 is sandwiched by the pair of developing rollers 16 and is conveyed to the outside of the apparatus. At this time, the developer pod 4b is torn by the pressing of the pair of developing rollers. A photosensitive layer and an image receiving layer including a reflective layer are provided between the exposure surface 4a and the positive image forming surface,
The developer flowing out of the developer pod 4b flows between these layers and is uniformly developed. A latent image is formed photochemically on the photosensitive layer into which the developer has been poured, and the latent image is received on the image receiving layer via the reflective layer. As a result, a positive image is formed on the positive image forming surface by inverting the image at the time of exposure.

The above-mentioned spreading control member 24 has a function of slidingly contacting the positive image forming surface of the film unit 4 and assisting the spreading of the developing solution, and spreads the developing solution uniformly on the photosensitive layer. As a result, a high-quality print can be obtained. The surplus developer is sent to the trap section 4c. The trap portion 4c contains a pad made of a material having good absorbency, and the developing solution is absorbed by the pad and solidified.

The film cover 5 is formed of a light-shielding plastic in a thin plate shape. The film cover 5 is formed to be thinner than the film unit 4, and the rigidity of the film cover 5 prevents a large load from being applied to the discharge mechanism. At the front end of the film cover 5 facing the discharge port 7 of the case 3, a front light-shielding flap 26 formed of a plastic film having a light-shielding property is attached. The leading end light-shielding flap 26 is bent toward the film unit 4 in the case 3 and closes the central portion of the discharge port 7, so that the film cover 5 and the film cover 5 are impacted when the film pack 2 is dropped on the ground. The unit 4 is prevented from jumping out of the outlet 7. A rear light-shielding flap (not shown) for closing a notch 19 into which the claw member 18 enters from inside the case 3 is attached to a corner of the rear end of the film cover 5.

The case 3 has a case body 28 formed in a box shape, and a back cover 29 attached to the case body 28 so as to cover an open surface of the case body 28.
And a first elastic plate 30 and a second elastic plate 31 attached to the inner wall surface of the back cover 29. Also,
The case body 28 is provided with the exposure opening 6, the discharge port 7, and the notch 19 as described above.

The back cover 29 is formed with two rectangular openings 29a and 29b along the left-right direction. These openings 29a and 29b are used to push up the film pack 2 provided on the inner surface of the cover member when the film pack 2 is loaded into the pack room of an apparatus such as an instant camera or a printer and the cover member for opening and closing the pack room is closed. The member is to be inserted. As described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-244336, this lifting member presses the rear side of the film unit 4 which is housed by being inserted into the case 3 and is located at a position facing the exposure opening 6. The flatness is given to the film unit 4 in the front row.

In order to prevent the film unit 4 from being inadvertently moved in the case 3 on the inner surface of the back cover 29 to form a gap between the exposure opening 6 and the film cover 5, a film is formed. A support piece 33 that pushes up the unit 4 toward the exposure opening 6 and an arc-shaped support rib 34 are provided upright. The film unit 4 includes a developer pod 4a having a thickness greater than the exposed surface at both ends and a trap portion 4c.
Is provided, when a plurality of sheets are stacked, the central portion becomes thin and both end portions become extremely thick. However, since the support ribs 34 are formed in an arc shape that matches the shape of the film unit 4 in a state where a plurality of the film ribs are stacked, the film unit 4 can be properly pushed up to keep light in the case 3. The support piece 33 supports the central portion of the film unit 4 arranged in the last row, and prevents the central portion of the film unit 4 from bending in the direction opposite to the direction in which the support rib 34 protrudes. To prevent.

The first elastic plate 30 and the second elastic plate 31 are made of plastic having elasticity and light-shielding properties and are formed in a thin plate shape. The first elastic plate 30 mainly includes the openings 29a, 2
9b, which is fixed to the back cover 29 using two holes 30a formed in the center. The second elastic plate 31 is overlaid on the first elastic plate 30 and is partially bonded to the lower edge of the first elastic plate 30. First elastic plate 3
0 and the second elastic plate 31 close the openings 29a and 29b of the back cover 29 when the film pack 2 is not used. Further, when the film pack 2 is loaded into a device such as an instant camera and the push-up member is inserted into the openings 29a and 29b, the film pack 2 is pressed by the push-up member and is pressed.
Is uniformly pressed to impart flatness to the film unit 4 in the front row.

As shown in FIG. 1, on one side of both ends of the discharge port 7, regulating projections 36, 37 projecting into the discharge port 7 are provided.
Are formed. These restricting projections 36 and 37 partially narrow the discharge port 7 to prevent two film units 4 from being fed out of the discharge port 7 at the same time. The reason why the central portion of the discharge port 7 is widened is to prevent scratches on the exposure surface 4a and the positive image forming surface of the film unit 4 and to prevent the abrasion of the film cover 5 from the leading end attached to the leading end of the film cover 5. This is to make it easier to pass through the light shielding flap 26.

As shown in FIG. 3, which is an arrow A in FIG. A plurality of guide projections 39a, 39 each having a surface formed.
b, 39c, 39d, 39e are provided. Among these guide projections 39a to 39e, three guide projections 39b, 39c, and 39d arranged at the center portion are:
As shown in FIG. 5 showing a BB cross section of FIGS. 1 and 4, the height is increased so as to protrude into the discharge port 7. As a result, the film unit 4 moves the guide protrusions 39b to 39b.
d to move to the back cover 29 side.
Since the film unit 4 behind the front-most film unit 4 facing the camera cannot face the discharge port 7, a plurality of film units 4 are not sent out from the discharge port 7 at the same time.

In the conventional film pack, the developing solution pod 4b is discharged from the case 3 while the frontmost film unit 4 is being discharged, and the exposed surface 4a, which is thinner than the developing solution pod 4b, is connected to the discharge port 7a. When the film unit 4 is located inside, the rear film unit 4 faces the discharge port 7 and
In some cases, the film units 4 are sent out of the case 3 together. However, as shown in FIG. 6, since the guide projections 39b to 39d have such a height as to protrude into the discharge port 7, the film unit 4 behind the discharge port 7 is discharged together with the discharge port 7. There is nothing.

Further, instead of making the outlet 7 itself narrow, guide projections 39b to 39
Since d is made high and the passage from the inside of the case 3 to the discharge port 7 is narrowed, the discharge performance of the film unit 4 is not adversely affected, and the film unit 4 is caught by the discharge port 7. And the film unit 4 is not scratched.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the unused film pack 2
The exposure opening 6 formed on the front surface of the case 3 is closed from the inside by the film cover 5, and the discharge port 7 formed on the upper surface is closed by a light shielding sheet 8 affixed to the outside. The notch 19 connected to the exposure opening 6 is closed by a rear end light shielding flap attached to the film cover 5.

When an unused film pack 2 is loaded into the pack chamber of the instant camera, the film pack 2
It is arranged behind the shutter unit 10 and the taking lens 11. When the lid member of the instant camera that opens and closes the pack chamber is closed, as shown in FIG. 3, the push-up member enters the openings 29 a and 29 b provided in the back cover 29 constituting the case 3, and the first elastic plate 30 The film unit 4 is pressed through the second elastic plate 31 to impart flatness to the film unit 4 in the front row.

After loading the film pack 2 into the pack chamber,
When the user presses the shutter button once to release the shutter, the film cover 5 is discharged. Some cameras perform an operation of discharging the film cover 5 in conjunction with the closing of the lid member of the pack chamber.

The film cover 5 is discharged by a discharge mechanism incorporated in the instant camera. First, the motor 13 constituting the discharging mechanism starts rotating, and the rotation of the motor 13 is reduced by the reduction gear train 14 and transmitted to the claw mechanism 15. Claw mechanism 15
Converts the rotational motion of the motor 13 into a vertical sliding motion, and slides the claw member 18 upward and downward by one reciprocation.

The claw member 18 driven by the claw mechanism 15 enters a notch 19 formed below the front surface of the case 3 from below, and scoops up the rear end 5b of the film cover 5. As a result, the film cover 5 is
Is moved upward, and is discharged out of the case 3 through the discharge port 7. The film cover 5 discharged out of the case 3
The sheet is nipped by the upper developing roller pair 16 and transported to the film outlet of the instant camera arranged further above.

When the discharge of the film cover 5 is completed, 1
The second film unit 4 includes the lifting member and the first elastic plate 3.
Due to the pressing by the 0 and the second elastic plate 31, it moves to the position facing the exposure opening 6. The user checks the shooting range with the viewfinder of the instant camera and presses the shutter button. Then, the shutter unit 10 performs a release operation, and the subject image via the photographing lens 11 is exposed on the exposure surface 4a of the film unit 4. Also,
In conjunction with the completion of the release operation of the shutter unit 10, the motor 13, the reduction gear train 14, the claw mechanism 1
5, a discharging mechanism including the developing roller pair 16 starts the discharging operation.

The exposed film unit 4 is discharged from the case 3 by the discharge mechanism in the same manner as when the film cover 5 is discharged. At this time, the film unit 4 is guided to the discharge port 7 by the guide projections 39a to 39e, and is pressed toward the rear film unit 4 by the guide projections 39b to 39d.
The film units 4 do not directly face the discharge port 7, and no two sheets are discharged from the discharge port 7 at the same time.

Further, when the developer pod 4b of the film unit 4 comes out of the case 3, and the exposed surface 4a, which is thinner than the developer pod 4b, is located in the discharge port 7, the conventional pod 4b may be used. In the case of a film pack, the backside film unit may be discharged together with the discharge port. However, in the film pack 2 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG.
9b to 39d, the rear film unit 4 does not directly face the discharge port 7, so that the two film units 4 are not discharged from the discharge port 7 at the same time.
Also, since the size of the outlet 7 is not narrowed,
There is no defective discharge due to the film unit 4 being caught in the discharge port 7 and no abrasion on the film unit 4.

The film unit 4 discharged from the case 3 is conveyed toward the upper film take-out port while being sandwiched between the developing roller pairs 16. At this time, the developer pod 4b of the film unit 4 is torn open, and the developing roller pair 1
6 and the spread control member 24, the photosensitive surface 4
The developer is uniformly spread between the photosensitive layer and the image receiving layer provided between a and the positive image forming surface. Then, a positive image is formed on the positive image forming surface of the film unit 4 discharged from the film outlet of the instant camera after a certain period of time.

[0033]

As shown in an enlarged manner in FIG. 7, the dimensions C to C of each part between the discharge port 7, which can discharge the film unit 4 properly, the regulating projections 36 and 37, and the guide projection are shown.
F is as follows. Symbol T1 indicates the thickness of the developer pod 4b of the film unit 4 and symbol T2
Represents the thickness of the exposed surface 4a of the film unit 4. D ≧ C> T1 E ≦ T1 / 2 + T2 F> 0

Preferred dimensions as the above-mentioned dimensions C to F are described below. D ≧ C ≒ 1.3mm E ≒ 1.2mm F = 5-10mm

In the above embodiment, a film pack loaded in a camera has been described as an example. However, the present invention can be applied to a film pack loaded in a printer. Furthermore, the transmission type film unit in which the exposure surface and the positive image forming surface are different has been described as an example, but the present invention is also applied to a film pack containing a reflection type film unit in which the exposure surface and the positive image formation surface are the same surface. The invention is applicable.

[0036]

As described above, in the instant film pack according to the present invention, the height of the inclined surface disposed at the back of the discharge port is partially increased, so that a plurality of instant film units can be simultaneously discharged. Can be effectively prevented from being exhausted. Further, since the discharge port itself does not become narrow, it is possible to prevent defective discharge caused by the instant film unit being caught by the discharge port, and occurrence of abrasion due to sliding contact between the instant film unit and the discharge port.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view of a film pack viewed from a discharge port side.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an appearance of a film pack and a schematic configuration of an instant camera.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of the film pack.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing an inner wall of a front surface of a case main body.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a main part showing a state near a discharge port of the film pack.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a state near the discharge port of the film pack when the film unit is discharged.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view for explaining the dimensions of each part at the end of the discharge port.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Instant film pack 3 Case 4 Instant film unit 5 Film cover 6 Exposure opening 7 Discharge port 36, 37 Control projection 39a-39e Guide projection

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] December 14, 1998 (1998.12.
14)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Fig. 4

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A box-shaped case in which an exposure opening and a slit-shaped outlet are formed, and a plurality of instant film units housed in the case. In the instant film pack, an inclined surface for guiding the instant film unit toward the discharge port is provided at the back of the discharge port, the height of the inclined surface is partially increased, and a plurality of instant films are provided. An instant film pack characterized in that the unit is prevented from being discharged from the discharge port at the same time.