JP3835720B2 - instant camera - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improvement of an instant camera.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Various types of mono-sheet type instant film units and cameras and printers using the instant film units are on the market. The instant film unit includes a cover sheet whose front side is an exposure surface, a base sheet disposed facing the back side of the cover sheet, and a photosensitive layer and an image receiving layer provided between the cover sheet and the base sheet. And a developer pod, a trap portion and the like. The instant film unit is divided into a transmission type and a reflection type according to the method of forming a print image. In the transmission type, a latent image formed on the photosensitive layer is formed as a positive image on the inner surface of the base sheet, and an exposure surface and a positive image are formed. The formation surface is a different surface. In the reflection type, the latent image formed on the photosensitive layer is reflected by the built-in reflection layer, and the exposure surface and the positive image forming surface are the same surface.
[0003]
The instant film unit is sold as a film pack in a state where a plurality of instant film units are light-tightly contained in a box-shaped case, and the instant camera is loaded together with the film pack. In a camera using this instant film unit, the photosensitive layer of the instant film unit is exposed to subject light, and then the exposed instant film unit is sandwiched between the developing roller pair constituting the developer developing device and discharged outside the apparatus. In the middle of the development, the developer in the developer pod is spread on the photosensitive layer for development.
[0004]
Some instant cameras are provided with a spread control member that slides in contact with an instant film unit that is being conveyed by a pair of spread rollers and spreads the developer more uniformly. This spreading control member spreads the developer to every corner by squeezing the surface of the instant film unit.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the instant camera provided with the spread control member, the end of the spread control member is projected beyond the contact point of the two developing rollers in order to enhance the spread effect of the developer by the spread control member. The instant film unit being conveyed is bent into a substantially S shape so that the spread control member is strongly pressed against the instant film unit. For this reason, the tip of the instant film unit may not be properly fed between the two developing rollers, and may hit the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller and bend.
[0006]
In addition, the discharge of the instant film unit by the developing roller pair is designed to be completed during the rotation of the motor within a certain period of time, but the developing roller after the tip of the instant film unit hits the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller. When sandwiched between the pairs, there is a difference between the actual movement amount of the instant film unit and the feeding amount of the claw mechanism that feeds the instant film unit toward the developing roller pair. As a result, there may be a problem that the instant film unit is not completely discharged even though the rotation of the developing roller pair is completed.
[0007]
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to allow an instant film unit to be appropriately fed between two developing rollers.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the instant camera of the present invention is disposed between the pair of developing rollers and the spread control member and substantially facing the spread control member , and the spread control member of the instant film unit is provided. A guide member is provided that guides the tip of the instant film unit toward the developing roller pair by pressing the surface opposite to the surface in sliding contact.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an instant camera using the developing solution developing apparatus of the present invention. The instant camera 2 has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the front, and is loaded with a film pack containing a plurality of instant film units (hereinafter abbreviated as film units) from the back side. A lens barrel 4 in which a photographing lens 3 is incorporated is provided at the center of the front surface of the instant camera 2. The lens barrel 4 is movable between a position protruding from the front side with respect to the camera body 5 and a position retracted in the camera body 5, and the portability of the instant camera 2 when not in use. Has been improved. The instant camera 2 uses an infrared light active autofocus mechanism. In addition to the photographing lens 3, a light projection window 7 and a light receiving window 8 constituting a distance measuring device are provided on the front surface of the lens barrel 4. And a photometric window 9 constituting the photometric device. A light projecting element and a light receiving element are incorporated in the back of these windows 7 to 9.
[0010]
A grip 11 is integrally formed on one side surface of the instant camera 2, and a shutter button 12 is provided above the grip 11. The shutter button 12 can be pressed to a depth of two stages, and distance measurement and photometry are performed when half-pressed, and shutter release is performed by pressing it deeply.
[0011]
When the photographing range is confirmed with the finder 14 provided above the side surface of the instant camera 2 and the shutter button 12 is pressed halfway, the distance measurement and the photometry are performed through the light projection window 7, the light reception window 8, and the photometry window 9 described above. . When the shutter button 12 is pressed deeply, the shutter device incorporated in the lens barrel 4 performs a release operation based on the distance measurement value and the photometry value. When the brightness of the subject is low, strobe light is automatically emitted from the strobe light emitting unit 15 disposed above the lens barrel 4 toward the subject. After shooting, the film unit 17 under development is discharged from a slit-shaped film discharge port 16 formed on the upper surface of the instant camera 2.
[0012]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, which are cross-sectional views of the main part of the instant camera 2, the camera main body 5 has a pack chamber 20 in which a film pack 19 is loaded formed on the back side, and a main body to which various photographing function parts are attached. The base 21 is composed of a front cover 22 and a rear cover 23 that cover the front side and the back side of the main body base 21. A plate-shaped lid member 24 that opens and closes the pack chamber 20 is attached to the rear cover 23 via a hinge 25.
[0013]
On the front side of the main body base portion 21, a dark box portion 27 that shields the photographing optical path from the photographing lens 3 to the film pack 19 is provided. A photographing opening 28 is formed between the dark box portion 27 and the pack chamber 20.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 4, the film pack 19 includes a plastic case 30 formed in a box shape, and a film unit 17 in which a plurality of sheets are stacked and stored in the case 30. The film unit 17 includes a photosensitive layer, an image receiving layer, and a reflective layer on the inner surface side, an exposure surface 17a on which subject light is exposed, a developer pod 17b containing developer, and a developer pod 17b. It is a mono-sheet type that includes a trap portion 17c that captures and hardens surplus developer that has been poured into the photosensitive layer and can be handled as a single sheet until the end.
[0015]
An exposure opening 32 is formed on the front surface of the case 30 to expose the exposure surface 17a of the stored film unit 17. A slit-shaped film outlet 33 is provided on the upper surface of the case 30 to discharge the film unit 17 that has been photographed out of the case 30. When the film pack 19 is not used, the exposure opening 32 is shielded from the inside of the case 30 by a thin film cover 34 which is housed in the case 30 together with the plurality of film units 17, and the film outlet 33 is flexible. It is blocked by a light shielding seal 35.
[0016]
On the back inner wall of the case 30, a protruding protrusion 38 having a ridge shape is formed at the center. The push-up protrusion 38 presses the film unit 17 forward through a light shielding sheet 39 disposed behind the film unit 17 and imparts flatness to the frontmost film unit 17. Further, two holes 40 and 41 are formed on the back surface of the case 30 so as to sandwich the push-up protrusion 38. When the film pack 19 is loaded in the pack chamber 20 of the instant camera 2 and the lid member 24 is closed, the push-up members 42 and 43 provided on the inner wall surface of the lid member 24 enter the holes 40 and 41. Is for.
[0017]
As described in JP-A-7-244336, the push-up members 42 and 43 press the film unit 17 by the biasing force of the spring in the thickness direction of the film unit 17, and the frontmost film unit 17 in the case 30. Is given flatness. The holes 40 and 41 into which the push-up members 42 and 43 enter are light-tightly blocked by the light shielding sheet 45 when the film pack 19 is not used.
[0018]
A cutout 48 into which a known claw member 47 constituting a film discharge mechanism is inserted is provided below the exposure opening 32 of the case 30. The claw member 47 moves from the lower side to the upper side by the claw mechanism 51 driven by the rotation of the motor 50 transmitted through the reduction gear train 49, enters the notch 48 of the case 30, and is in the front row. It contacts the lower end of the film cover 34 or the film unit 17. Then, by moving upward as it is, the film cover 34 or the film unit 17 is pushed upward in the case 30, and the leading end of the film unit 17 is sent out from the film outlet 33 of the case 30.
[0019]
On the upper surface of the pack chamber 20, a slit-shaped film delivery port 52 for feeding the film unit 17 that has been photographed from the pack chamber 20 is formed. A developing roller pair 53 constituting a developing solution developing mechanism is disposed above the film delivery port 52. The developing roller pair 53 nips the leading ends of the film unit 17 and the film cover 34 sent out from the pack chamber 20 and conveys them toward the upper film discharge port 16. At that time, the developer pod 17c is cleaved, and the developer is poured onto the photosensitive layer so as to spread uniformly.
[0020]
The developing roller pair 53 includes a driving roller 55 that is rotated clockwise in the drawing by the motor 50 and a driven gear 56 a that meshes with the driving gear 55 a provided on the driving roller 55. It consists of a driven roller 56 that is driven to rotate. A reduction gear train 49 is disposed between the motor 50 and the drive roller 55, and the rotation of the motor 50 decelerated by the reduction gear train 49 is transmitted to a transmission gear 55 b provided at one end of the drive roller 55. .
[0021]
The driving roller 55 and the driven roller 56 are formed using a hard steel material in order to reduce a dimensional error in the diameter in the axial direction. The driven roller 56 is movable in the thickness direction of the film unit 17 in order to spread the developer uniformly on the photosensitive layer, and is pressed against the driving roller 55 by the bias of the spring 58.
[0022]
The motor 50 for driving the claw mechanism 51 and the developing roller pair 53 is driven in conjunction with the shutter release so that the photographed film unit 17 is automatically discharged out of the camera body 5 after photographing. Yes.
[0023]
Further, a spread control member 60 is provided between the film delivery port 52 and the developing roller pair 53 so as to form a part of the film delivery port 52. The spread control member 60 is in sliding contact with the back surface of the film unit 17 to spread the developer uniformly on the photosensitive layer. The distal end portion of the spread control member 60 has an arc shape so as not to damage the back surface of the film unit 17. In addition, in order to send the film unit 17 to the film delivery port 52 arranged so as to be shifted to the front side of the instant camera 2 with respect to the film exit 33 of the case 30, the film unit 17 is provided at the distal end of the spread control member 60. Is inclined to guide the film toward the film delivery port 52.
[0024]
The developing roller pair 53 is disposed so that the contact position between the driving roller 55 and the driven roller 56 is almost directly above the distal end portion of the spreading control member 60. As a result, the film unit 17 comes into contact with the developing roller pair 53, the spread control member 60, and the edge of the film outlet 33 of the case 30, so that the film unit 17 is bent into a gentle S-shape. Become. For this reason, the sliding contact force between the film unit 17 and the spread control member 60 increases, and the spread of the developer by the spread control member 60 is more effectively performed. Note that the contact position between the driving roller 55 and the driven roller 56 is not necessarily limited to the position just above the front end of the spread control member 60. The film unit 17 is gently bent and the back surface is spread. Any position that facilitates contact with the member 60 may be used, and similar effects can be obtained.
[0025]
Further, the film passage 62 that guides the film unit 17 that has passed through the developing roller pair 53 to the film discharge port 16 is inclined toward the front of the instant camera 2. As a result, the contact area between the developer pod 17b of the film unit 17 and the drive roller 55 increases, so that the effect of spreading the developer by the drive roller 55 is improved.
[0026]
Further, a guide member 64 is disposed in the vicinity of the film delivery port 52 of the main body base 21 so as to face the spread control member 60. The guide member 64 is formed with a width dimension so as to be able to contact the entire region of the film unit 17 in the width direction, and presses the film unit 17 sent from the film delivery port 52 from the opposite direction to the spread control member 60. Then, the leading end of the film unit 17 is appropriately fed between the driving roller 55 and the driven roller 56. The leading end of the guide member 64 is also arcuate so as not to damage the film unit 17.
[0027]
Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. When shooting with the instant camera 2 shown in FIG. 2, the film pack 19 is first loaded in the pack chamber 20 and the power is turned on. Thereafter, when the user presses the shutter button 12 once to release the shutter, the film cover 34 is discharged. Some cameras perform the discharge operation of the film cover 34 in conjunction with the closing of the lid member 24.
[0028]
After the film cover is discharged, when the photographing range is confirmed with the finder 14 and the shutter button 12 is half-pressed, distance measurement and photometry are performed through the light projection window 7, the light reception window 8, and the photometry window 9 provided on the front surface of the lens barrel 4 And done. When the shutter button 12 is pressed deeply, the shutter device incorporated in the lens barrel 4 performs a release operation based on the distance measurement value and the photometry value. When the brightness of the subject is low, strobe light is automatically emitted from the strobe light emitting unit 15 disposed above the lens barrel 4 toward the subject. The subject light transmitted through the photographic lens 3 passes through the dark box 27, the photographic aperture 28, and the exposure aperture 32 and is exposed on the exposure surface 17a of the film unit 17.
[0029]
When the release operation of the shutter device is completed, the motor 50 is activated, and the known claw mechanism 51 moves the claw member 47 upward from below. The claw member 47 enters a notch 48 formed on the front surface of the case 30, abuts against the lower end of the film unit 17 in the foremost row, and moves upward to push the film unit 17 upward in the case 30. .
[0030]
The film unit 17 sent out from the film outlet 33 in the case 30 is peeled off the light shielding seal 35 and discharged from the case 30, and is guided by a slope formed on the lower surface of the front end of the spread control member 60 to be stored in the film in the pack chamber 20. Go to the delivery port 52. The film unit 17 delivered from the film delivery port 52 is pressed by the guide member 64, and the leading end is fed between the rotating driving roller 55 and the driven roller 56. Since the leading end of the film unit 17 is appropriately fed to the developing roller pair 52 by the guide member 64, the film unit 17 is bent even though the film unit 17 is bent or the rotation of the developing roller pair 53 is finished. There will be no problems such as discharge not being completed.
[0031]
The film unit 17 nipped by the developing roller pair 53 is conveyed toward the upper film discharge port 16. During this conveyance, the developer pod 17 b of the film unit 17 is torn by the pressing of the developing roller pair 53. The developer flowing out from the cleaved developer pod 17b is poured between the photosensitive layer and the image receiving layer provided inside the lower exposure surface 17a by the pressing of the developing roller pair 53. Further, the film unit 17 that has passed through the developing roller pair 53 is fed into a film passage 62 that is inclined toward the front surface of the instant camera 2. As a result, the contact area between the developer pod 17b of the film unit 17 and the drive roller 55 is widened, so that the effect of spreading the developer by the developing roller 53 is also improved.
[0032]
The developer poured on the exposure surface 17 a is uniformly spread on the photosensitive layer by the spread control member 60 slidably contacting the back surface of the film unit 17 before being spread by the developing roller pair 53. The spread control member 60 is formed integrally with the main body base 21 constituting the instant camera 2, and the driving roller 55 that presses the film unit 17 against the spread control member 60 is fixed to the main body base 21. The sliding contact state between the unit 17 and the spreading control member 60 is always constant, and a stable developing effect of the developing solution can be obtained.
[0033]
The film unit 17 that has passed through the film passage 62 is discharged out of the instant camera 2 through the film discharge port 16. Since the exposure surface 17a of the film unit 17 is developed by the developer developed by the spread control member 60 and the developing roller pair 53, a print image appears on the exposure surface 17a after a certain time. Since the developing solution is uniformly spread on the exposure surface 17a by the developing roller pair 53 and the spreading control member 60 in which the contact area of the film unit 17 with the developing solution pod 17b is increased, the print image of the film unit 17 is The image quality is improved.
[0034]
In the above embodiment, the shape of the guide member is such that the entire area in the width direction of the film unit can be pressed. However, only the central portion of the film unit may be pressed with a guide member having a small width dimension. It is also possible to provide a plurality of guide members having a small width dimension and press the film unit over the entire region in the width direction.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the instant camera of the present invention, since the guide member that presses the tip of the instant film unit and guides it toward the developing roller pair is provided substantially facing the spread control member, the developer is uniformly distributed. The instant film unit can be properly discharged while being spread.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part showing a configuration in the vicinity of a developing roller pair of an instant camera of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an instant camera.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a configuration of an instant camera.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a developer developing mechanism.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Instant camera 17 Film unit 19 Film pack 20 Pack chamber 53 Unfolding roller pair 60 Unfolding control member 64 Guide member

Claims (1)

A pair of developing rollers for sandwiching the instant film unit supplied from below and transporting it upward and developing the developer on the photosensitive layer;
An instant film unit that is provided below the developing roller pair and has a tip disposed so as to protrude from the contact point of the two developing rollers constituting the developing roller pair toward the one developing roller, and is being conveyed. In an instant camera provided with a spread control member for controlling the distribution of the developer in the photosensitive layer by sliding the tip to the bend and bending the instant film unit ,
The intermediate film is disposed between the unfolding roller pair and the spread control member and substantially opposite the spread control member, and presses the surface opposite to the surface where the spread control member of the instant film unit is in sliding contact with the instant film unit. An instant camera characterized in that a guide member is provided for guiding the tip of the unit toward a pair of developing rollers.

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