JPH08146495A - Self-photography device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a self-photographing device leaving room for the selection of a still photo, so as to cope with a requirement prevailing in each country, by installing a replaceable reference camera fitted with a row of at least two lenses having an aperture control means. CONSTITUTION: This self-photographing device has a replaceable reference camera housed in a camera box 13 laid within a booth separated into a photographing zone and a studio zone. In this case, the camera has a pair of lenses 20 and one of the lenses 20 is fitted above the other lens 20 in a vertical direction. In addition, each of the lenses 20 has a different focal distance. Also, an aperture control means 23 includes toothed belts 24 as two drive belts, each one fitted to respective toothed aperture rings 22, and has a driving wheel as a pulley related to the belts 24 and mounted on a shaft 28 extended externally from one side of the camera box 13, with external control knobs 30 formed as control elements. As a result, the aperture of each lens 20 with a different focal distance can be independently adjusted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a self-photographing apparatus of the type housed inside a booth for enjoying or for taking passport pictures found in, for example, travel centers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Self-photographing devices are well known,
In recent years, it has become complicated because it has various purposes for the use of video cameras that make it easy to record backgrounds or foregrounds and merge real-time images to make montages.

However, there remains a need for a more conventional self-photographing device that provides a relatively simple facility for people who more easily request personal photo records. Generally, self-photographing devices are designed to take pictures of the subject in succession, so that each snap presents a different pose if necessary.
We manufacture strips called four-snaps that are taken continuously.

[0004]

Different representational techniques are required in some countries, and therefore changes to self-photographers are needed to adapt to the needs of each country. For example, a passport photograph is defined as an image of one size, but a driver's license requires images of different sizes.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved self-photographing apparatus that allows the choice of photographic steel.

[0006]

A self-photographing apparatus according to the present invention has a booth internally provided with a photography area and a studio area for a user of the apparatus, and a caliber control is provided in the booth. A replaceable reference camera having at least two lens rows with means.

Aperture control means is provided to adjust the aperture of each lens independently in the first embodiment, and to adjust both lenses in common in the second embodiment. ing.

Conveniently, in the first embodiment,
The lenses have different focal lengths, and each lens is equipped with a rotatable aperture ring that can mesh with an independent drive belt to rotate the aperture ring, such as a control knob or other similar element on each belt. Is arranged to move the drive pulley for. Further, in a second embodiment, the lenses are of the same focal length, each lens is equipped with a rotatable aperture ring, and one belt is arranged to move the drive pulley for one belt. It also engages both a caliber ring with a single actuating knob or other similar element.

The drive belt or drive belts for the first and second embodiments are advantageously toothed for engaging a rotatable caliber ring which is a contour of complementary shape. Good.

The shutter mechanism for the lens comprises a pair of shutter plates adapted to open and close in synchronism across the field of view of the lens, the shutter plates being biased in a closed position. Each shutter plate is moved by an actuating arm, which is pivotally mounted on the camera box, which actuating arm is provided with an intermediate meshing element to provide the tuning movement referred to above. In particular, the intermediate meshing element is a meshing gear wheel and the actuating arms are biased towards each other by springs. Conveniently, the drive of the shutter plate comprises a lever that moves a roller that provides contact with a striking plate that moves one of the actuating arms. That is, bringing the roller into contact with the striking plate causes the opening movement of the shutter plate.

The lever is mounted on a shaft that is part of a drive mechanism that provides power to the photographic paper supply of the camera, such that the drive mechanism provides various functions of the camera simultaneously or sequentially. Has been adapted.

In the first embodiment of the photographic paper supply section of the camera, a driving roller and an idle roller are provided, and the light-sensitivity reversal paper is passed from the storage cassette to the image of the camera from the storage cassette. Pass through the frame. The idler roller has a stepped sleeve, the central portion of which has a smaller diameter than both outer edges, the outer edge being in contact with a drive roller of constant diameter along its length. . The width of the reversal sheet is overlapped with the stepped portion, and is caught in the nip between the driving roller and the outer edge portions of the sleeve which are in contact with each other, so that the reversal sheet can be transferred to the image frame. The stepped sleeve is conveniently made of an elastic material, such as natural rubber, which contacts the emulsion side of the reversal paper.

In the second embodiment of the photographic paper supply section of the camera, the drive roller has a diameter considerably larger than that of the idler roller. In one example, the drive roller has a diameter of 26 mm and the idler roller has a nominal diameter of 16 mm. is there. The drive roller is further formed of a solid or non-elastic material, such as brass, and the idler roller is stepped and formed of an elastic material such as natural rubber so that the elastic material contacts the non-photosensitive emulsion side of the reversal paper. . Further, the used reversal paper is fed to the nip between the drive roller and the idler roller, the width of the reversal paper is grasped by the nip,
It is intended to overlap the stepped portion for transfer to the image frame of the camera.

In a third embodiment of the photographic paper supply section of the camera, the drive roller is made of an inelastic material, for example brass,
Remove the central part so that it has a width that matches the width of the reversal paper, and use it so that the reversal paper fits in the deletion part, so that the depth of the step part of the deletion part is almost equal to the thickness of the reversal paper . The non-light sensitive emulsion side of the reversal paper contacts the drive roller.
The idler roller is formed of hard natural rubber or similar synthetic material and is spring loaded to contact the drive roller, the length of the idler roller being greater than the width of the drive roller cutout.

It is important that the photographic paper supply provides an accurate transport system for the reversal paper while at the same time providing a positive drive that does not cause any physical deformation, ie, photographic distortion or deformation.

The edging box is provided with the option of exposing the edges of the photographic paper to light prior to the main exposure, so that no black edges occur in the final photograph. It is to ensure that. The edging box is equipped with a light source, a central opaque section and an upper part,
It is provided with a plate arrangement part having a lower part and a side translucent section,
The light source used is optionally programmed to operate to expose the edges to prevent black edge formation.

The camera is arranged to capture the reflected image of the user, and a mirror or similar light-reflecting medium is provided for this purpose to direct the reflected image to a lens arranged one above the other. It is located in.

Conveniently, a filter assembly is placed between the studio area and the mirror and the filter assembly is
It sits in an angled and oriented plane to prevent any malicious reflections that can alter the sharpness and quality of the captured image. The angular alignment of the filter assembly is in the range of 5 to 10 degrees.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As an example, one embodiment of a self-photographing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Referring to the drawings, the self-photographing apparatus (see FIG. 1) is actually provided with a booth 1 divided into a photography area 2 and a studio area 4, and the studio area 4 has a stool 6 for a user 8. The stool 6 is located in front of the studio area 4. The photography area 2 is a camera box 13 having a front window 14 through which a picture is taken.
With a replaceable reference camera 12 housed inside
There is at least one filter assembly, filter 16, which is adapted to a photographic device, generally indicated at 10, and which is disposed in an angled and oriented plane with respect to a front side 18 of a camera box 13. The angulation of the filter 16 is in the range of 5 to 10 degrees and is installed to prevent any malicious reflections that adversely affect the sharpness and quality of the captured photographic image.

The camera 12 is a photosensitivity reversal paper (not shown).
With a storage cassette 15 for storing a pair of lenses, the pair of lenses 20 having the other vertically disposed above one as shown and oriented laterally with respect to the front window 14. An angled mirror 19 (see FIG. 3) is placed behind the lens 20 to reflect the user's image. Each lens 20 has a rotatable toothed aperture ring 22 whose position is controlled by aperture control means generally indicated at 23 for aperture adjustment.

In the first embodiment, the pair of lenses 2
0 has a different focal length as can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7. That is, the aperture control means 23
Each toothed caliber ring 22 includes two toothed belts 24, which are provided as one drive belt, and has an external control knob 30 which is a control element and extends outward from one side of the camera box 13. Has a drive wheel 26 which is a pulley associated with a belt mounted on a shaft 28, whereby
The aperture of each lens 20, which has a different focal length, can be adjusted individually.

In the second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the pair of lenses 20 are at the same fixed focal length, and the control knob 38 which is one control element located outside the camera box 13 is used. A toothed drive wheel 34 which is a pulley mounted on a drive shaft 36 having a toothed belt 32 which is a drive belt wound around both toothed caliber rings 22 Aperture control means are provided for adjusting the apertures of both lenses 20 in synchronism.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, there is a shutter mechanism 40 having two shutter plates 41, 42 arranged to operate across an aperture 44 which is the field of view of the camera. , Each shutter plate is moved by actuating arms 45, 46 rotatably mounted on the camera box and a spring 50 biasing each other. The operating arm 46 is
It has a striking plate 51 fixed to the front surface. Further, one support arm 47 is provided for each shutter plate. The shutter plates 41, 42 are mounted at their relatively upper ends by a stub shaft 52 having a meshing gear wheel 54 which is an intermediate meshing element, whereby the operating arms 45, 46 and the shutter plates 41, 42 open and close the opening 44. Move together to do

The drive for the shutter plates 41, 42 is by means of a shaft 60 which moves a lever 62 having a roller 64,
The shaft 60 is used so that it can be actuated by the drive mechanism 69 of the camera. Rotation of the shaft 60 used to open the shutter plates 41, 42 causes the lever 62 to rotate clockwise as shown in FIG.
4 in driving contact with the striking plate 51, whereby the actuating arm 4
6 is urged counterclockwise to open the opening 44 and the actuating arm 45 moves clockwise due to the meshing of the meshing gear wheels 54 against the biasing force of the spring 50. As the shaft 60 continues to rotate, the rollers 64 disengage from contact with the striking plate 51 and the spring bias forces the two shutter plates together into a closed position across the aperture 44.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the edging box 70 and the photographic paper supply unit 72 immediately above the image frame 71 are shown. The edging box 70 includes a light source 74 housed in a casing portion, and includes a plate arranging portion 76 having a central non-translucent section 78, upper and lower translucent sections 80, and side translucent sections (not shown). The light source 74 used is optionally programmed to operate for exposure at the edges to prevent black edge construction.

The photographic paper supply section 72 is a drive mechanism 6 for the camera.
9 is provided with a roller 82, which is a sleeve 86 made of an elastic material such as rubber.
The sleeve 86 is pressure-contacted with the idler roller 84 having a stepped portion at a central portion 87 having a diameter smaller than that of both outer edge portions 89. The drive roller 82 is formed of a suitable inelastic material, such as brass, is longer than the central portion 87 of the idler roller 84 and has a constant diameter, and thus is driven to both outer edges 89. Transmission occurs and the idler roller 84 can be used to effect the transfer of the photographic paper. The constant diameter of the drive roller 82 ensures that the transport length of the photographic paper fed to the image frame 71 is constant.

As a practical matter, the special reference shape of the camera is special in terms of the size of the photographic image to be produced, and whether one wants images of different sizes produced by each lens. Selected according to the needs of various markets. Therefore, for example, a lens 20 having a different focal length as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is adopted in Japan, while a lens 20 having a constant fixed focal length as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is adopted in Europe. It

Upon installation, the apertures of the pair of lenses 20 of the camera are adjusted by rotating the toothed aperture ring 22 using the control means 23 and optionally the control knobs 30,38.

To operate, the user 8 places himself in a stool 6 inside the studio area 4 of the booth 1 in front of the camera 12, ie in front of the camera 12, in this studio area There is an instruction / operation panel (not shown) inside the booth that contains the payment mechanism that activates the photography program. A pose light (not shown) generally alerts the user to take a picture.

When the photography program is activated, a photosensitivity reversal sheet (not shown) is supplied from the storage cassette 15 and pulled from there by the drive mechanism 69 of the camera.
The image frame 7 passes between the edging box 70 and the rollers 82, 84.
The light source 74 is turned on to expose the edge of the photographic paper to pass through 1 and interfere with the construction of the black edge. The constant length of the drive roller 82 is such that the transfer length of the photographic paper is the drive roller 8
Make sure that it becomes constant depending on the rotation of 2.

When the photographic paper is placed at a predetermined position on the image frame 71, the pose light illuminates so as to give a notice to the user because it forms the basis of the exposure. The exposure is performed by operating the shutter mechanism 40 in the manner described above, and the shutter plate 4
1, 42 open and close across an aperture 44 with an accompanying flash, transmitting light through the lens 20 from the user to the mirror 19 and from there to the reversal paper inside the image frame 71 by reflection. Once the picture is taken, the photographic paper advances, the exposed photographic paper is cut for transport to the development department (not shown) and released from the development department for recovery by the user. In an alternative mode of operation in which the user requires two sets of photographs, the exposed photographic paper proceeds uncut,
A second exposure is done with a second flash, which captures another pair of images. The exposed photographic paper then proceeds and is cut for transport to the development department. Two or four elongated prints are selected for installation of the device.

The present invention is a facility that is easy to install and allows the adoption of a desired lens array for a particular market, and in particular, a desired lens array to adjust the lens aperture.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a self-photographing apparatus showing an arrangement of reference cameras inside a booth.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a housed camera.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the camera showing a state where a shutter mechanism is opened.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the camera showing a state in which a shutter mechanism is closed.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a partially cutaway camera showing driving of a shutter mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a partially broken camera showing an array of lenses including the control means of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an end view of the row of lenses shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a side view similar to FIG. 6, showing a row of lenses provided with the control means of the second embodiment.

9 is an end view of the row of lenses shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the partially cut camera showing the printing paper supply unit on the back side of the lens array.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the printing paper supply unit shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Booth 2 Photographing area 4 Studio area 8 User 10 Photographing device 12 Reference camera 13 Camera box 15 Storage cassette 16 Filter assembly 19 Mirror 20 Lens 22 Diameter ring 23 Diameter control means 24, 32 Toothed belt (driving belt) 26,34 Drive Wheel (Pulley) 28,36 Shaft 30,38 Control Knob (Control Element) 40 Shutter Mechanism 41,42 Shutter Plate 44 Opening (Field of View) 45,46 Operating Arm 50 Spring 51 Strike Plate 54 Meshing Gear Wheel (Middle) Meshing element) 60 axis 62 lever 64 roller 69 drive mechanism 70 edging box 71 image frame 72 photographic paper supply section 74 light source 76 plate arrangement section 78 central non-translucent section 80 upper and lower translucent section 82 drive roller 84 idle roller 86 sleeve 87 central portion 89 outer edge portion

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Nicholas Paul Watts R.H. 19.4 Day West Sussex, East Grinstead, Mill Close 8 (72) Inventor Philip David・ Johnston UK, Katie 4.8X Surrey, Worcester Park, Oaks Avenue 75

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A self-photographing apparatus having a booth internally provided with a photography area and a studio area for a user of the apparatus, which is provided in the booth (1) and has a caliber control means (23). An interchangeable reference camera (1) having a row of at least two lenses (20) with
2) A self-photographing device equipped with. 2. The lens according to claim 1, wherein the lenses (20) have different focal lengths, and the aperture control means (23) is provided for each lens in order to adjust the aperture of each lens. Self-photographing device. 3. Self-photographing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the lenses (20) have the same focal length and the aperture control means (23) are common to both lenses. 4. The lens (20) is provided with a caliber ring (22) having a constant contour associated with the caliber control means (23).
The self-photographing apparatus according to claim 3. 5. The caliber control means (23) comprises a drive belt (24) having a contour complementary to the contour of the caliber ring (22), the drive belt meshing with the caliber ring and a control element (). Self-photographing device according to claim 4, characterized in that it is drivable by a pulley (26) of a shaft (28) provided with 30). 6. The self-photographing device according to claim 1, wherein the aperture control means (23) is manually operable. 7. A pair of shutter plates (4) adapted for shutter mechanism (40) for said lens (20) to be synchronized to open and close across the field of view of said lens (20).
1, 42) and this shutter plate (41, 42)
Is urged to a closed position, the self-photographing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6. 8. An operating arm (4) having the shutter plates (41, 42) rotatably mounted on a camera box (13).
This operating arm (45,46) is moved by
Has an intermediate meshing element (5
4) is provided, The self-photographing apparatus of Claim 7 characterized by the above-mentioned. 9. The intermediate meshing element is a meshing gear wheel (54) and the actuating arms (45, 46) are biased towards each other by a spring (50). Self-photographing device described in. 10. One of the actuating arms (46) has a lever (6) actuable by a drive mechanism (69) of the camera.
Self-photographing device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that it is moved by a striking plate (51) which is capable of meshing with a roller (64) which is moved by 2). 11. The photographic paper supply section (72) of the camera comprises a drive roller (82) and an idler roller (84),
11. The photosensitivity reversal paper passes between the drive roller and the idler roller and passes from the storage cassette (15) to the image frame (71) of the camera, according to any one of claims 1 to 10. Self-photographing device described. 12. The idler roller (84) is provided with a stepped sleeve of elastic material, the central portion (87) of the sleeve having a smaller diameter than both outer edges (89). The self-photographing apparatus according to claim 11. 13. An edging box (70) is provided in the camera and comprises a casing part for housing a light source (74) and a plate arrangement part (76), which plate arrangement part is a central light-impervious section (78). ) And an upper, lower and side translucent section (80), the light source (74) used is optionally programmed to operate to expose the edge to interfere with the construction of the black edge. The self-photographing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that. 14. A filter assembly (16) is placed between said photography area (2) and said studio area (4),
This filter assembly (16) is characterized by being located in an angled and oriented plane in order to prevent any malicious reflected light which would alter the sharpness and quality of the captured image. The self-photographing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13. 15. The angle adjustment of the filter assembly includes:
2. The angle is in the range of 5 degrees to 10 degrees.
The self-photographing apparatus described in 4.