GB2196133A

GB2196133A - Photographic package

Info

Publication number: GB2196133A
Application number: GB08720836A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keiji Nakayama; Seimei Ushiro; Hiroshi Ohmura
Original assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd
Current assignee: Fujifilm Holdings Corp
Priority date: 1986-09-05
Filing date: 1987-09-04
Publication date: 1988-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 2007-09-04
Also published as: GB2196133B; GB8720836D0; DE3729755A1; DE8717178U1; DE3729755C2

Description

GB2196133A 1 SPECIFICATION a film container containing an unexposed film

disposed on one side of said exposure Photographic film package and method of frame in said light-tight film casing; making same a removable light-tight film container having 70 a spool to which one end of said film is at The present invention relates to a lens-fitted tached, said removable light-tight film con photographic film package and a method of tainer being disposed on the other side of making the same, in which an exposure said exposure frame in said light- tight film cas means is previously incorporated. ing; and It is heretofore usual to take pictures by 75 film advancing means externally operable for using a camera and a film which are sepa- rotating said spool to wind said film around rately sold. Ordinarily, it is quite seldom that said spool one frame every exposure.

amateur photographers always provide them- In use of a film package according to the selves with a camera. Therefore, there are invention, the film is withdrawn out of the many chances that one who takes no camera 80 first film container frame by frame every expo along wants to take pictures. From this point sure and wound in the second light-tight film of view, the conventional camera-film systems container. Therefore, when the exposure of all are inconvenient. frames of the film is completed, the exposed Accordingly, it is considerably convenient to film is fully wound in the second light-tight provide a lens-fitted film package provided 85 film container. The second light-tight film con with simple exposure means which can be tainer can be removed from the lens-fitted film sold at a low cost comparable to a conven- package in a daylight room, even in the open tional film and is available wherever an ordi- air, without accidentially exposing the exposed nary photographic film is sold. Such a lens- film to light. Due to the provision of the sec fitted film package, after the exposure of all 90 ond light-tight film container having a film frames of the film, is forwarded to a photo- take-up spool, the exposed film removed from shop without removing the exposed film. the lens-fitted film package can be handled in Some photographic equipments that may be the same manner as conventional films. - considered to be similar to such.a lens-fitted According to another feature of a preferred film package having exposure means are pro- 95 embodiment of the present invention, the trail posed in, for example, U.S. patent No. ing end portion of the film previously con 2,933,027 or Japanese Utility Model Publica- tained in the first film container is removably tion No. 39-33,924. attached to a spool of the second film con- However, such a lens-fitted film package tainer so as to be removed at the end of -film taught by the above-mentioned U.S. patent or 100 advancement. Due to this removable attach by the above-mentioned Japanese Utility ment of the film, the film wound in the see Model Publication has by no means been suc- ond light-tight film container cab be removed cessfully put into practical use because of a from the lens-fitted film container quite easily problem of handling an exposed film. If break- even in a daylight room or in the open air.

ing the lens-fitted film package in a daylight 105 An embodiment of the invention will now room or in the open air in order to remove an be described by way of example and with exposed film therefrom, the exposed film is reference to the accompanying drawings, in exposed to light because the exposed film is which:- not in any light shielding container, cartridge Figure 1 is a perspective view of the lens- or the like. In order to prevent the exposed 110 fitted film package of an embodiment of the film being accidentially fogged by light, the present invention; exposed film is required to be removed from Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the the lens-fitted film package in a dark room or lens-fitted film package of Fig.1 taken along a by use of a special protective device. Due to line 11-11 in Fig. 1; the problem, the exposed film in the lens115 Figure 3 is a rear view of the lens-fitted film fitted film package can not be handled for de- package of Fig. 1 wherein a rear casing sec velopment in the same manner as the conven- tion is removed; tional films in a photo-shop or a photo-labora- Figure 4(A) is a plane view showing a film tory. supplying spool and a end portion of a film; It is therefore an object of the present in- 120 Figure 4(B) is a cross sectional view of the vention to provide a lens-fitted film package film supplying spool of Fig. 4(A) taken along a and a method of making the same which is line B-B in Fig. 4(A); improved in handling an exposed film. Figure 5 is an exploded perspective illustra- Viewed from one aspect the present inven- tion showing a film take-up container; and tion provides a lens-fitted photographic film 125 Figure 6 is an illustration showing a com- package having an exposure means, compris- plete film assembly contained in the lens-fitted ing: film package of Fig. 1.

a light-tight film casing provided with a tak- The photographic package according to a ing lens and an exposure frame disposed be- preferred embodiment of the present invention hind said taking lens; 130 incorporates various elements, in particular ex- 2 GB2196133A 2 posure elements, similar to those of simple frame 40 and behind the taking lens 14, a still picture cameras. Because such elements shutter assembly 42 which is simple and are well known to those skilled in the art, this cheap is disposed. As is well known in the description will be directed in particular to ele- art, the film 34 placed in an exposure position ments forming part of, or cooperating directly 70 is maintained photographically flat: For this with, the lens-fitted film package embodying purpose, the rear casing section 12B is the present invention. It is to be understood formed with raised portion or pressure mem that the first and/or second film container ber 37 which is adapted to press the film 34 themselves may take any of 35 mm-size film against the exposure frame 40 from the back patrones well-known to those skilled in the art 75 of the film 34 so as to maintain the film pho and already commercially available. tographically flat in a focal plane of the taking Referring now to Fig. 1, shown therein is a lens 14. If an extremely low cost taking lens, lens-fitted photographic film package (which is in particular a single lens, is used, it is often hereinafter referred to as a film package for effective to make the front surface concave to simplicity) of the present invention. The film 80 avoid the effect of field curvature of the taking package 10 has a rectangular box-shaped lens in its focal plane: As is shown in Fig. 3, Ught-tight film casing 12 comprising front and the spool 38 of the light- tight film container rear casing sections 12A and 12B which are 36 at its bottom is directly coupled to a fork made of thermoplastic materials such as styr- 20a provided at the top of a shaft of the ene-type plastic materials and firmly secured 85 externally operable film advancing knob 20. By to each other after the installation of first and turning the film advancing knob 20, the film second film containers which will be described 34 is withdrawn out of the film container 29 In detail later. This film casing 12, in particular until one frame length is forwarded and the front casing section 12Ajs provided with wound around the spool 38 of the light-tight a taking lens 14, a tunnel-like viewfinder 16, a 90 film container 36 every exposure. This one shutter release button 18, and a film advanc- frame advancement of film also actuates the ing knob 20 all of which are well known per self-cocking mechanism through the sprocket se. Around the taking lens 14 is a frusto- 35 simultaneously with a setting of the shut conical bore 22 with circular grooves coaxially ter.

formed-on the inner surface thereof for pre- 95 Reference is now had to Figs. 4 to 6 show- venting diffused reflected light from entering ing the detail of a film assembly comprising the film casing 12 through the taking lens 14. the first and second film containers 29, 36 There are also grooves formed on the inner and the film 34. Preferably, the first and sec surface of the tunnel-like finder 16 so as to ond film containers may be a 35mm-size film prevent diffused reflected light from entering, 100 patrone defined by International Organization thereby to provide an easy and clear observa- Standardization (ISO code 1007: 1979 edition) tion of an object to be photographed. or Japanese Industrial Standard (J1S code Referring to Fig. 2 showing an internal con- K7519: 1982 edition) and commercially avail- struction of the film package of Fig. 1, dis- able. As is shown in Figs. 4(A) and 4(13), the posed approximately at the middle of the in105 spool 31 of the film container 29 has a cylin side of the film casing 12 is an exposure drical body portion 99 provided with flanges frame 40, on one side of which, in particular 100 and 102 near both ends thereof and on the left side viewed in Fig. 2, a film supply formed with a slit 108 extending axially in the chamber 30 is provided to receive a cylindrical body portion 99. In the slit 108, a pair of film container 29 having a spool 31 wound 110 hooks 110 and a retaining lug 112 are pro with a roll film 34 therearound. On the other vided, the retaining lug 112 being disposed side of the exposure frame 40, a film take-up opposite to and between the pair of hooks chamber 32 is provided to receive a cylindrical 110 approximately at the middle of the body lighttight film container 36 which is empty. portion 99. On the other hand, in the end The leading end 34A of the film 34 is with- 115 portion 34B of the film 34, there are holes 92 drawn out of the film container 29 and at- close to the edge of the end portion 34B. A tached to a spool 38 of the light-tight film distance L between the holes 92 and the edge container 36 in such a way as described later. is small enough to make it easy to break the As is seen in Fig. 2, the film container 36 has holes 92. As is shown in Fig. 4(13), when the a film slit 36A extending lengthwise and being 120 end portion 34B of the film 34 is inserted into directed in a direction tangential to a cross the slit 108 of the spool 31 to engage the sectional circle of the cylindrical light-tight film holes 92 with the hooks 110, the retaining lug container 36. Denoted at 35 is a sprocket 112 presses the end portion 34B of the film which is driven by the film 34 and cooperates 34 so as to prevent the end portion 34B from with a self-cocking mechanism well known per 125 slipping off from the hooks 110. However, if se to those skilled in the art. if it is desirable, the film 34 is pulled a slightly strong force, the sprocket may be driven by an externally the holes 92 are relatively easily broken to operable film advancing member so as to allow the film 34 to be removed from the force the film into the iight-tight film container spool 3 1.

one frame every exposure. In the exposure 130 On the other hand, as is shown in Fig. 5, 3 GB2196133A 3 the leading portion 34A of the film 34 is also use an ultrasonic welding, a heat welding, or formed with holes 56. These holes 56 are any well known adhesive means.

located far from the forward edge of the lead- In using the film package described above, ing portion 34A, in particularly at a distance before making the first exposure, one or more greater than the distance L at which the holes 70 blind exposures are made to avoid fogged pic 92 are formed in the end portion 34B of the tures. The shutter button 18 is depressed to film. The film 34 at the leading end 34A is actuate the shutter mechanism 42 to make a fixedly attached to the spool 38 of the light- proper exposure. After every exposure, the tight container 36 through the holes 56. As is film advancing knob 20 is operated to directly shown in Fig. 5, the light-tight film container 75 turn the spool 38 in order to take up the 36, which, in this embodiment, takes the form exposed frame of the film 34 by one frame in of a 35mm-size film patrone commercially the light-light film container 36. This one available, comprises a substantially cylindrical frame advancement of the film 34, as well as body section having the film slit 36A extend- shutter cocking, is automatically controlled by ing lengthwise and the spool 38 contained in 80 the self-cocking mechanism through the film the container and rotatably supported by end driven sprocket 35. When all frames of the caps 52 and 54. The spool 38 is provided film 34 are exposed and taken up in the light with a slit 120A in which the same film re- tight film patrone 36, the end portion 34B of taining mechanism as that of the spool 31 is the film 34 is detached from the spool 31 of provided to firmly hold the film 34. Due to the 85 the film container 29 because the holes 92 greater distance between the holes 56 and are broken by a tension of the film 34 ad the edge of the leading portion 34A, the holes vanced by the film advancing knob 20. In this 56 are prevented from being torn off or way, after the exposure of all frames of the broken when forcing the spool to rotate to film 34, the film 34 is completely taken up in wind up the film 34 therearound. However, it 90 the light-tight container 36.

is apparent that the leading portion 34A can The film package 10 is forwarded to a be detached, or otherwise cut off from the photo-shop or photo-laboratory to develop the spool 38 at a photo-laboratory. It is also per- film and to make prints therefrom. At that missible to attach the leading portion 34A to place, after removing the rear casing section the spool 38 by means of a adhesive tape. 95 12B from the front casing section 12A in For making the film assembly, the leading other words breaking the film casing 12, the portion 34A is partly withdrawn out of the light-tight film container 36 is taken out. As of film container 29 and inserted into the slit the light-tight film container 36, the taking-out 120A of the spool 38 of the light-tight film of the film container 36 can take place in a container 36 which is disassembled into its 100 daylight room, even in the open air. The light parts. By the same retaining mechanism as tight film container 36 containing the exposed described regarding the spool 31 of the film film 34 is handled in a manner quite similar container 29, the film 34 is firmly held at the to, or in the same manner as if the light-tight leading portion 34A. Then, the spool is in- film container takes the form of a 35mm-size stalled in the cylindrical body section by pass- 105 film patrone now commercially available, i.e. in ing the leading portion 34A through the slit the conventional manner in which the 35mm 36A. By fixedly attaching the end caps 52 size film patrones are handled to remove the and 54 to both ends of the cylindrical body exposed film 34. The removed exposed film is section, the spool 38 is rotatably supported then subjected to processes for development by the end caps 52 and 54 and the light-tight 110 and printing as usual.

film container 36 is completed. In such a way, It is to be understood by those skilled in a double-container film assembly is provided the art that the film container 29 previously as is shown in Fig. 6. containing the film 34 need not always be The film assembly shown in Fig. 6 is loaded light-tight if the film package is assembled in a in the film package 10 upon assembling the 115 photographically dark room. However, in the same. Specifically, the film containers 29 and case of the film container which is light-tight, 36 are spaced far away from each other with the film package assembling can completely the film 34 extending therebetween and put in be effected in a daylight room, resulting in an the film supplying chamber 30 and the film quite easy assembling operation.

take-up chamber 32 of the front casing sec- 120 Although, in the above described embodi- tion 12A, respectively. Then, the rear casing ment, the film assembly is made prior to as section 12B is placed on the back of the front sembling the film package, nevertheless it may casing section 12A in such a way to lightly be done to make the film assembly during press the film portion extending between the assembling the film package. That is, the film film containers 29 and 36 against the expo- 125 container 29 with the leading portion 34A sure frame by the pressure member 37, and withdrawn out thereof is at first put in the then firmly fixed to the front casing section film supplying chamber 30 of the front casing 12A so as to form the complete film package section 12A of the film casing 12. On the light-tightly. For fixing the front and rear cas- other hand, the light- tight film container -36 ing sections 12A and 12B, it is preferred to 130 which is empty is put in the film take-up 4 GB2196133A 4 chamber 32. Then the leading portion 34A of a film assembly installed in said light-tight the film 34 is withdrawn a little longer out of film casing comprising a first and a second the film container 29 and inserted into the light-tight film container each of which has a light-tight film container 36 through the film film winding spool, and a film of which a lead slit 36a to engage the holes 56 of the leading 70 ing end is removably attached to a spool of portion 34A with the retaining mechanism of said first film container and the other end is the spool 38. After the completion of the en- fixedly attached to a spool of said second gagement of the leading portion 34A of the container, said first and second light-tight film film 34 with the spool 38, the rear casing containers being disposed is said light-tight section 12B is welded or adhered to the front 75 film casing to place part of said film extending casing section 12A to complete the light-tight therebetween behind exposure frame; and boxshaped film package 12. means coupled to said spool of said second It is to be clearly understood that there are light-tight film container for winding said film no particular features of the foregoing specifi- around said spool of said second light-tight cation, or of any claims appended hereto, 80 film container frame by frame.

which are at present regarded as being essen- 7. A lens-fitted photographic film package tial to the performance of the present inven- as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of said tion, and that any one or more of such fea- first and second light-tight film containers is tures or combinations thereof may therefore the 35mm-size film patrone defined by ISO.

be included in, added to, omitted from or de- 85 8. A lens-fitted photographic film package leted from any of -such claims if and when as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein said light amended during the prosecution of this appli- tight film casing comprises at least two sec cation or in the filing or prosecution of any tions unopenably fixed to each other.

divisional application based thereon. 9. A lens-fitted photographic film package 90 as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of said

Claims

CLAIMS two sections of said light-tight film casing is

1. A lens-fitted photographic film package made of plastic material.

having an exposure mean s,com prising: 10. A lens-fitted photographic film package a light-tight film casing provided with a tak- as claimed in claim 9, wherein said two sec- ing lens and an exposure frame disposed betions of said light-tight film casing are fixed by hind said taking lens; means of ultrasonic welding.

a film container containing an unexposed 11. A method of assembling a lens-fitted film disposed on one side of said exposure photographic film package which includes a frame in said light-tight film casing; light-tight film casing provided with a taking a removable light-tight film container having 100 lens comprising two casing sections, a film a spool to which one end of said film is at- supplying container containing a roll of film tached, said removable light-tight film con- with one end thereof removably attached to a tainer being disposed on the other side of film supplying spool disposed in said film sup said exposure frame in said light-tight film cas- plying container, and a film take up spool to ing; and 105 which the other end of said film is fixed, said film advancing means externally operable for method comprising the steps of:

rotating said spool to wind said film around securing said other end of said film with- said spool one frame every exposure. drawn out of said film supplying container to

2. A lens-fitted photographic film package said film take up spool; as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light-tight 110 forming a light-tight film take up container film casing comprises at least front and rear including said film take-up spool; casing sections which are firmly fixed to each placing said film supplying and film take up other. containers on opposite sides of said taking

3. A lens-fitted photographic film package lens in either one of said two casing sections; as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said -film 115 and container has a spool to which the other end fixing said two casing sections together of said unexposed film is removably attached. light-tightly with said film assembly contained

4. A lens-fitted photographic film package therein.

as claimed any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said 12. A method of assembling a film package light-tight film container has the form of an 120 as claimed in claim 11, wherein said two cas existing standardized 35mm-size film patrone. ing sections are fixed unopenably.

5. A lens-fitted photographic film package 13. A method of assembling a film package as claimed any preceding claim, wherein said as claimed in claim 11 or 12, wherein each of film container has the form of an existing said film supplying and film take-up containers standardized 35mm-size film patrone. 125 has the form of 35mm-size film patrone de-

6. A lens-fitted photographic film package fined by ISO.

having an exposure means, comprising: 14. A lens-fitted photographic film package a light-tight film casing provided with a tak- substantially as hereinbefore described with ing lens and an exposure frame behind said reference to the accompanying drawings.

taking lens; 130 15. A method of assembling a lens-fitted GB2196133A 5 photographic film package, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Published 1988 at-rhe Patent Office, State House, 66/71 High Holborn, London WC 1 R 4TP. Further copies may be obtained from The PatentOffice, Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD.

Printed by Burgess & Son (Abingdon) Ltd. Con. 1/87.