JPH04301829A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To inform of the utilization condition of a film in a film cartridge without providing a special means for detecting the rotating position of an index part integrally rotating with a supplying spool. CONSTITUTION:An information reading means 6 is provided on a position where display means 1a and 2b can read leading position information 3b at the rotating position of the supplying spool 2 indicating 'used', and a feeding stopping means which stops the film feeding means immediately when the leading position information is read by the information reading means 6 after detecting that the leading edge of a film is rewound in the film cartridge 1.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a supply spool for supplying film to a film take-up spool of a camera, at least a display section displaying "unused" and "used" an indicator unit that rotates integrally with the supply spool and indicates that the film has been used by pointing to a “used” position on the display unit when the rotation stops, and the supply spool; - A camera that uses a film cartridge that rotates integrally with the film cartridge and has a recording disc on which information about the film and rotational position information representing the position where the indicator points to the "used" position are recorded in a symbolic form. It is related to.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art A camera is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 55-22799, in which information about the film is recorded as magnetic information on a disc that moves integrally in conjunction with the feeding of the film, and this information is read when the film is fed. It is proposed in Moreover, in Utility Model Application No. 58-183695, cassette tape
It has been proposed that information regarding the cassette tape is recorded with a bar code on the tape take-up reel.
It is also possible to record the above-mentioned film information on the disk using a bar code in this manner. By configuring the information to be read by an optical means such as a photointerrupter at the start of film feeding, film information can be automatically set.

[0003] Furthermore, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-114248 discloses a film cartridge that displays whether the film is unused or used using a display means that moves in conjunction with the rotation of a film supply spool within the film cartridge. It is proposed that

0004

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, there is a disk that rotates integrally with the film supply spool in the film cartridge, and on which information regarding the film is recorded in symbols, and a disc that rotates integrally with the film supply spool in the film cartridge. When a camera is configured that uses a film cartridge that rotates integrally with a film cartridge and a display means that indicates whether the film is unused or used by its rotational position, the information recorded on the disc is read. In addition to the reading means, the film cartridge is
rotation of a camera fork that engages said film supply spool in order to place the film supply spool in the cartridge in a position where said indicating means indicates that the film is used; There is a problem in that a rotational position detection means for detecting the position must be provided, which increases the cost of the camera.

[0005] In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to detect the position of the film in the film cartridge without providing any special means for detecting the rotational position of the indicator unit that rotates integrally with the supply spool. To provide a camera whose usage status can be notified.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides an information reading means at a position where the leading position information can be read at the rotational position of the supply spool where the indicator section of the display means indicates "used". and a feeding stop means for immediately stopping the film feeding means when it is detected that the leading position information is read by the information reading means after it is detected that the leading edge of the film has been rewound into the film cartridge. It is set up.

[0007]

[Operation] When the feeding stop means detects that the leading edge of the film is rewound into the film cartridge and then detects that the leading position information is read by the information reading means, the film feeding means immediately stops. is stopped, the rotation of the supply spool is stopped, and the index part, which rotates integrally with the supply spool, stops at a position pointing to the "used" position.

[0008]

1 to 5 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 1 and 2 are a perspective view and a plan view of a film cartridge used in this embodiment.

1 is a film cartridge; 2 is a supply spool for pushing the film out from inside the film cartridge 1; 2a is a spline that engages with the fork of the camera; 2b is an index; is a barcode disk that rotates integrally with the supply spool 2, and information about the film, such as the number of film frames, ISO sensitivity, whether it is negative or positive, etc. is recorded by an optically read barcode. has been done.

The exterior of the film cartridge 1 includes:
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, there is a display section 1a indicating "unexposed" and "exposed", and depending on the rotational position of the supply spool 2, the indicator 2b is displayed as "unexposed" or "exposed" on the display section 1a. '' to indicate to the user whether the film cartridge 1 is unused or used. In other words, before using the film, the indicator 2b is set to the "unexposed" position, and after using the film, the camera controls the stop position of the fork after rewinding the film. As shown, the indicator 2b comes to match the "exposed" position. In the past, means such as a switch or an encoder were required to detect the rotational position of the fork.

A reference signal portion 3b indicating the start of information regarding the film is recorded on the bar code disk 3. This is a method in which if a barcode part 3a that is displayed in black next to it continues to be displayed in black for example 10 times or more, it is determined that it is the reference signal part 3b, and the width of the barcode part 3a is When t1 is the width of the reference signal section 3b, and t2 is the width of the reference signal section 3b, the relationship is "10t1<t2".

The film cartridge 1 also has a bar code.
Regardless of the content of the film-related information recorded on the barcode disk 3, the index 2b and the reference signal section 3 of the barcode disk 3
The angle α between b and the left end surface is constant as shown in FIG.

The film cartridge 1 mentioned above is of the structure proposed in US Pat. No. 4,834,306 as described below.

A film passing slit 1b, a film (described later with reference to FIG. 3) whose one end is fixed to the supply spool 2 and wound around the supply spool 2, and a film arranged coaxially with the supply spool 2. The radial expansion of the outermost periphery of the film is regulated by the regulating section, and the outermost periphery of the film is aligned with the film cartridge 1.
A holding member (described later in FIG. 3) that prevents the film from substantially contacting the inner wall of the film, and a part of the holding member is deformed to continuously release the outermost portion of the film from the radial restriction of the holding member. and a guide member (not shown) that guides the portion of the film released from the regulation to the film passing slit, and the film roll-up caused by the rotation of the supply spool 2 in the film extrusion direction. Due to the expansion of the outermost periphery due to loosening, there is no slippage between the outer periphery of the film and the holding member, and a driving force is applied to the film in the extrusion direction.
This makes it possible to extrude the film from the film cartridge 1. Hereinafter, this type of film cartridge from which the film can be ejected by rotation of the supply spool will be referred to as a thrust type film cartridge.

If this extrusion type film cartridge 1 is used, the fork of the camera (Fig. 3
(to be described later), the supply spool 2 in the film cartridge 1 is rotated, the film is ejected, and the film is pushed out until it is wound around the camera's film take-up spool (not shown). It is possible to adopt a structure in which the film is supplied by a take-up spool. An example of a film feeding system configured in this manner is Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-67535.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the film cartridge 1 loaded in the cartridge chamber of the camera.

In FIG. 3, 4 and 5 are the aforementioned holding members made of flexible material, 6 is a photoreflector, and a barco
It is attached to the inner wall of the cartridge chamber 7 to optically read out the information written on the film regarding the card disk 3 as it rotates. 8 is a flexible printed circuit board on which a photoreflector 6 is mounted, and a signal for driving the photoreflector 6 and a signal for driving the photoreflector 6.
This is for exchanging a readout signal by a control circuit, which will also be described later, via a photoreflector control circuit, which will also be described later. Reference numeral 9 denotes a cartridge lid, which is rotatably attached to the camera body at a shaft portion 9a. Reference numeral 10 denotes a cartridge pressing member made of an elastic member, which is fixed to the cartridge lid 9 and presses the film cartridge 1 upward to position it when the cartridge lid 9 is closed as shown in FIG. It is something to do.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a cartridge lid opening/closing switch, and when contact pieces 11a and 11b are electrically connected, the cartridge lid 9 is opened.
A control circuit, which will be described later, detects that the gate is closed. The 9c portion of the cartridge lid 9 can come into contact with the contact piece 11a, and when the cartridge lid 9 is closed, the 9c portion contacts the contact piece 11a.
and makes contact with 11b. When the cartridge lid 9 is open, the contact pieces 11 and 11b are not in contact with each other. 1
Reference numeral 2 denotes a cartridge lid opening/closing lever, which is configured to be slidable through dowels 13 and 14 from the camera body and elongated holes 12a and 12b. Section 12c is a manual operation section. A spring 15 is attached at one end to the camera body and at the other end to the cartridge lid opening/closing lever 12, and urges the cartridge lid opening/closing lever 12 in the direction opposite to the arrow. 16 is a stopper provided on the camera body, which is a stopper provided on the camera body, and
12 to the left. In addition, the claw portions 12e and 9
The portions b are engageable, and in the state shown in FIG. 3, they engage with each other and hold the cartridge lid 9 in the closed position.

A fork gear 17 is connected to a known film feeding gear train, and a fork gear 18 rotates integrally with the fork gear 17 and engages with the spline 2a of the supply spool 2 of the film cartridge 1. This is the fork of the camera mentioned above. 19 is a film.

The photoreflector 6 shown in FIG. 3 is located at the position indicated by the broken line in FIG.
When the camera detects the left end face of the reference signal section 3b, the rotation of the film feed motor or fork 18, which will be described later, is immediately stopped, and accordingly, the index 2b stops at the position indicating "exposed". It is configured as follows.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a camera showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 31 includes a control circuit that controls the overall operation of the camera, and 32 includes a distance measurement circuit and a photometry circuit that measure the distance to the subject, and controls the focusing operation of the photographic lens (not shown) and the field of view. an AF/AE control circuit that opens and closes a shutter that controls exposure to the film 19 according to brightness;
33 is a film feeding control circuit that controls the rotation of the film feeding motor 34; 35 is a film feeding control circuit that operates the photoreflector 6, and as the barcode disk 3 rotates, a barcode is printed here; This is a photoreflector control circuit for reading out information about the film recorded by the photoreflector. Reference numeral 36 denotes the cartridge lid opening/closing switch 11, which is turned on when the film cartridge 1 is loaded into the cartridge chamber 7.
A cartridge detection switch 37 is connected in series with the cartridge detection switch 37, and a release switch 37 starts the release of the camera when turned on manually.

Next, the operation of the control circuit 31 will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. "Step 100" When the film cartridge 1 is loaded into the cartridge chamber 7 and the cartridge lid 9 is closed, both the cartridge lid opening/closing switch 11 and the cartridge detection switch 36 are turned on. When these switches are turned on, the control circuit 31 assumes that the film cartridge 1 is loaded into the camera and performs step 1.
Proceed to 01. "Step 101" The internal timer is reset. "Step 102" Since the film cartridge 1 has been loaded, a winding start signal is sent to the film feeding control circuit 33 here. As a result, the film feeding motor 1 rotates the supply spool 2 with the fork 18 via the aforementioned gear train, and extrusion of the film 19 from the film cartridge 1 is started. . "Step 103" Start the timer circuit.

At step 102, the drive of the film feeding control circuit 33 is started, and the film feeding motor 34 rotates, whereby the supply spool 2 and bar of the film cartridge 1 are rotated. The code disk 3 also begins to rotate, but due to the rising characteristics of the film feeding motor 34, the inertia of the gear train, the backlash of the gear train, the spline 2a of the fork 18 and the supply spool 2. Due to engagement play, etc., a time Ta is required after the winding start signal is sent until the bar code disk 3 reaches a stable steady-state rotation. "Step 104" The internal timer starts a predetermined time T1 (
However, it is determined whether or not T1≧Ta) has elapsed, and if it has elapsed, the process proceeds to step 105; if it has not elapsed, the process returns to step 102 and film feeding continues. "Step 105" Stop the internal timer. "Step 106" At this point, barcode disk 3
Since the rotation is stable, the photoreflector control circuit 35 is driven, and the photoreflector 6 reads out the information written on the barcode disk 3 regarding the film 19, such as the film sensitivity and the specified number of frames for the film. conduct. "Step 107" Here, the film feeding amount is calculated by known means, for example, by counting the perforations (not shown) of the film 19 with a photo interrupter (not shown), or by counting the perforations (not shown) of the film 19, or by counting the perforations (not shown) of the film 19, The film feed amount is calculated by counting the number of rotations of the film feed motor 34 using a pulse plate or the like, or by calculating the film feed amount from the driving time of the film feed motor 34. It is determined whether or not the first frame of No. 19 has arrived, and film feeding is continued until the first frame reaches the corresponding portion. When it is determined that the first frame has reached the aperture portion, the process advances to step 108. "Step 108" Here, the drive of the film feed motor 34 is stopped via the film feed control circuit 33, and the winding of the film 19 is stopped.

When the above operations are completed, the flow advances to step 109. "Step 109" Here, it is determined whether the first stroke of the release button (not shown) has been made and the switch 37 has been turned on, and upon determining whether the switch 37 is ON, the process proceeds to step 110. "Step 110" Operates the AF/AE control circuit 32 to measure the brightness of the subject, calculate distance information to the subject (distance information), and focus the photographing lens (not shown) based on this information. Photographing operations such as exposure operations are performed by operating and shutter control. ``Step 111'' The number of releases, the amount of film fed, etc. are compared with the specified number of film frames read out in step 106, and it is determined whether there are any remaining frames. As a result, if there are no remaining pieces, proceed to step 115,
If so, proceed to step 112. "Step 112" The film feeding control circuit 633 is driven and the winding of the next frame is started via the film feeding motor 34. "Step 113" For example, a method of counting the perforations of the film 19 using a photo coupler (not shown), or a method of detecting the feeding amount of the film 19 by counting the number of revolutions of the roller pressed against the film mentioned above. According to
It is determined whether one frame of the film 19 has been wound. After one frame has been wound, the process advances to step 114. "Step 114" Here, the drive of the film feeding motor 34 is stopped via the film feeding control circuit 33,
Winding of the film 19 is stopped and the process returns to step 109.

In step 111, the film 19
If it is determined that there are no remaining pieces, the process proceeds to step 115 as described above. "Step 115" In order to start rewinding the film 19 (winding it into the film cartridge 1), the film feeding motor 34 is activated via the film feeding control circuit 33.
is driven in the rewind direction. "Step 116" The film 19 is rewound into the film cartridge 1, and the fact that the film 19 has been rewound into the film cartridge 1 is determined by known means, for example, by the user's judgment (not shown). When a signal is input from the input means, when a predetermined time has elapsed for rewinding the film 19, or when the position of the film is detected by the above-described method of detecting the film position using a photocoupler, the process proceeds to step 117. “Step 117” Photoreflector control circuit 33
At the same time, the photoreflector 6 drives the barcode.
It is determined whether the left end surface of the reference signal portion 3b on the disk 3 in FIG. 2 has been detected. Then, when the left end surface of the reference signal section 3b is detected, the process proceeds to step 118. "Step 118" The drive of the film feeding motor 34 is stopped via the film feeding control circuit 33, and the operation of the entire camera is stopped. At this time, index 2 of supply spool 2
b is stopped at a position indicating "exposed".

With the above steps, the series of operations is completed.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention, and the circuit configuration etc. are the same as those of the first embodiment.

The film cartridge 1 in this embodiment has the index 2b and the barcode disk 3 regardless of the content of the film-related information recorded on the barcode disk 3.
The angle β with respect to the right end surface of the reference signal section 3b is kept constant as shown in FIG. Further, the photoreflector 6 is configured such that at a position where the right end surface of the reference signal section 3b is detected, the index 2b is at a position indicating "halfway rewinding". That is, the film cartridge 1 used in this embodiment is
Let γ be the angle formed by ``Rewind halfway through'' and ``Exposed''.
γ is configured to be equal to (β−α).

In the first embodiment, when the film 19 has been photographed up to the last frame (specified frame) and is then rewound, the index 2b is stopped at the "exposed" position.
It was designed to indicate that the film cartridge 1 has finished shooting all the frames, but the method of using the film is to shoot up to the frames in the middle, rewind the film, and then change the film speed, for example. There are cases where shooting is performed with different films loaded. In such a case, the first embodiment has the disadvantage that the index 2b is stopped at the "exposed" position even if the image has been photographed halfway. In this second embodiment, an attempt is made to provide a camera that can be used even when such a film is used.

The operation will be explained below with reference to FIG. Note that the same step numbers are given to parts that perform the same operations as in FIG. 5, and only the main parts are shown here. "Step 110" Operates the AF/AE control circuit 32 to measure the brightness of the subject, calculate distance information to the subject (distance information), and focus the photographing lens (not shown) based on this information. Photographing operations such as exposure operations are performed by operating and shutter control. "Step 201" It is determined whether or not a prewind switch (not shown) has been turned on. If it has been turned on, the process proceeds to step 115 to rewind the film halfway. O again
If it is FF, the process advances to step 111. ``Step 111'' The number of releases, the amount of film fed, etc. are compared with the specified number of film frames read out in step 106, and it is determined whether there are any remaining frames. As a result, if there are no remaining pieces, proceed to step 115,
If so, proceed to step 112.

If it is determined in step 201 that the prewind switch is ON, or if it is determined in step 111 that there are no remaining frames on the film 19, the process proceeds to step 115 as described above. "Step 115" In order to start rewinding the film 19 (winding it into the film cartridge 1), the film feeding motor 34 is activated via the film feeding control circuit 33.
is driven in the rewind direction. "Step 116" The film 19 is rewound into the film cartridge 1, and the fact that the film 19 has been rewound into the film cartridge 1 is determined by known means, for example, by the user's judgment (not shown). When a signal is input from the input means, when a predetermined time has elapsed for rewinding the film 19, or when the position of the film is detected by the method of detecting the film position using a photocoupler as described above, the process proceeds to step 202. "Step 202" It is determined whether or not a prewind switch (not shown) has been turned on. If it has been turned on, the process proceeds to step 203. If it is OFF, the process advances to step 117. “Step 117” Photoreflector control circuit 33
At the same time, the photoreflector 6 drives the barcode.
It is determined whether the left end surface of the reference signal section 3b on the disk 3 in FIG. 7 has been detected. Then, when the left end surface of the reference signal section 3b is detected, the process proceeds to step 118. "Step 118" The drive of the film feeding motor 34 is stopped via the film feeding control circuit 33, and the operation of the entire camera is stopped. At this time, index 2 of supply spool 2
b is stopped at a position indicating "exposed".

If it is determined in step 202 that the prewind switch is turned on, the process proceeds to step 203 as described above. “Step 203” Photoreflector control circuit 33
At the same time, the photoreflector 6 drives the barcode.
It is determined whether the left end surface of the reference signal section 3b on the disk 3 in FIG. 7 has been detected. Then, when the left end surface of the reference signal section 3b is detected, the process proceeds to step 204. "Step 204" The film feeding motor 34 is driven in the film winding direction via the film feeding control circuit 33. “Step 205” Photoreflector control circuit 33
At the same time, the photoreflector 6 drives the barcode.
It is determined whether or not the right end surface of the reference signal section 3b on the do disk 3 has been detected (see FIG. 7). Then, when the right end surface of the reference signal section 3b is detected, the process proceeds to step 206. "Step 206" The drive of the film feeding motor 34 is stopped via the film feeding control circuit 33, and the operation of the entire camera is stopped. At this time, index 2 of supply spool 2
b is stopped at a position indicating "midway rewinding" as shown in FIG.

With the above steps, the series of operations is completed.

By doing this, even if the same film is indicated as "used", it is possible to easily know whether all frames or part of the frame has been used.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a camera showing the configuration of the main parts in a third embodiment of the present invention, and the same parts as in FIG. 3 are given the same reference numerals.

In this embodiment, the information on the film 19 is recorded on the barcode disk 3 by magnetic means rather than a barcode, and the barcode disk 3 is in sliding contact with the barcode disk 3. A magnetic head 19 is used as a means for reading magnetic information recorded on the magnetic head. 20 is a flexible printed circuit board on which the magnetic head 19 is mounted, and is connected to the control circuit 31 shown in FIG.

According to each of the above embodiments, when the film 19 is completely rewound, the indicator 2b provided on the film cartridge 1 indicates "Exposed" which is displayed on the barcode disk 3. Since it is configured to stop at the fork position (by detecting the left end face of the reference signal section 3b), conventionally a switch or encoder that detects the rotational position of the fork is used to notify the "exposed" position. However, since such a means is no longer necessary, the cost of the camera can be reduced.

Further, when the film 19 is rewound halfway, the indicator 2b provided on the film cartridge 1 stops at the ``midway rewound'' position displayed on the barcode disk 3. (by detecting the right end face of the reference signal section 3b), it is possible to determine whether the film cartridge contains a film that has been shot completely to the end or a film that has been shot halfway and still has unexposed frames. It becomes possible to tell whether the film cartridge is a stored film cartridge or not.

[0040]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention,
The information reading means is provided at a position where the leading position information can be read at the rotational position of the supply spool where the indicator part of the display means indicates "used", and the leading end of the film is rewound into the film cartridge. A feeding stop means is provided which immediately stops the film feeding means when the information reading means detects that the leading position information is read by the information reading means, and the leading position information is read by the information reading means. At the same time, the film feeding means is stopped to stop the rotation of the supply spool, and when the film is used, the indicator part that rotates integrally with the supply spool is at the "used" position. It will stop at the position you point to. Therefore, the supply spout
It becomes possible to notify the usage status of the film in the film cartridge without providing any special means for detecting the rotational position of the index part that rotates integrally with the film cartridge.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a film cartridge used in a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the film cartridge of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a camera showing the configuration of main parts in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control circuit of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of only the main parts in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a film cartridge used in a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a camera showing the configuration of main parts in a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of sign]

1 Film cartridge 1a Display section 2 Supply spool 2b Indicator 3 Barcode disk 6 Photo reflector 20 Magnetic head 31 Control circuit 33 Film feeding control circuit 34 Film feeding motor 35 Photoreflector control circuit

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A supply spool for supplying film to a film take-up spool of a camera, at least a display section indicating "unused" and "used" is integrated with the supply spool. and an indicator section that indicates that the film has been used by pointing to the "used" position of the display section when the rotation stops, and the display means is integrated with the supply spool. A film cartridge that rotates and is equipped with a recording disc on which information about the film and leading position information representing the leading position of the information is encoded and recorded is used, and is engaged with the supply spool to release the film. In a camera comprising a rotating film feeding means and an information reading means for reading encoded information from the recording disk which is rotating as the supply spool rotates, the information reading means is configured to The indicator part of the display means is provided at a position where the leading position information can be read at the rotational position of the supply spool indicating "used", and the leading end of the film is rewound into the film cartridge. When it is detected that the head position information is read by the information reading means after detecting the
A camera characterized in that it is provided with a feeding stop means for immediately stopping the film feeding means.