Patent US3603523A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3603523A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Counter mechanism in motor-driven camera
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
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Filing: 1969-08-19
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Granted: 1971-09-07
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Expires: 1989-08-19
Abstract
Abstract A switch disposed in a power supply circuit of a motor is opened by a counter which is driven relatedly with film transport when a preselected number of film frames have been wound up so as to halt winding operation. The switch is closed again upon effecting rewinding operation while at the same time the circuit is changed from the winding circuit to a rewinding circuit by a changeover switch. When the film has been rewound slightly beyond the windup initiating position while the counter is driven in the reverse direction, another switch is opened to stop the rewinding operation. The counter shaft is returned to the windup initiating position when the camera back cover is opened.
Inventors
- 👤 Kaoru Umeda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 15:49
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B1/00; G03B1/60; G03B1/66
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
263 words
A motor control mechanism for a camera in which the film advancing and rewinding operations are effected by a drive motor to which an electric power-feeding circuit is connected comprising a rotatable member which rotates in both directions in response to movement of a film being advanced and rewound, a countershaft, a transmission means interposed between the rotatable member and the countershaft to transmit the movement of the rotatable member to the countershaft, a counterdisc adapted for rotation integrally with the countershaft and mounted for angular adjustment to a start position of said counterdisc, a first switch means actuatable to an open position when the counterdisc rotates to a predetermined angular position during film advancing operation and to a closed position on initiation of the film rewinding operation, a second switch means provided with a movable first contact member mounted on the countershaft so as to be rotated integrally therewith and with a disc concentric with the countershaft but independent of the rotation of the countershaft and having a second contact member, the second switch means being adapted to be opened only when the countershaft has been rotated during the film rewinding operation to a point wherein the counterdisc is rotated slightly beyond the start position thereof, and reset means for resetting the countershaft to bring the counterdisc to the start position in response to the opening of part of the camera body for loading or unloading the film, the first and second switch means being electrically connected in series with each other in the electric power feeding circuit for the driving motor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
263 words
A motor control mechanism for a camera in which the film advancing and rewinding operations are effected by a drive motor to which an electric power-feeding circuit is connected comprising a rotatable member which rotates in both directions in response to movement of a film being advanced and rewound, a countershaft, a transmission means interposed between the rotatable member and the countershaft to transmit the movement of the rotatable member to the countershaft, a counterdisc adapted for rotation integrally with the countershaft and mounted for angular adjustment to a start position of said counterdisc, a first switch means actuatable to an open position when the counterdisc rotates to a predetermined angular position during film advancing operation and to a closed position on initiation of the film rewinding operation, a second switch means provided with a movable first contact member mounted on the countershaft so as to be rotated integrally therewith and with a disc concentric with the countershaft but independent of the rotation of the countershaft and having a second contact member, the second switch means being adapted to be opened only when the countershaft has been rotated during the film rewinding operation to a point wherein the counterdisc is rotated slightly beyond the start position thereof, and reset means for resetting the countershaft to bring the counterdisc to the start position in response to the opening of part of the camera body for loading or unloading the film, the first and second switch means being electrically connected in series with each other in the electric power feeding circuit for the driving motor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
129 words
A motor control mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein the counterdisc has a cam portion for closing the first switch means, the second contact member of the second switch means includes a partly cutout annular conducting portion, the movable first contact member of the second switch means includes a contact member slideably engaging the conducting portion and adapted to be disengaged from the conducting portion when the countershaft has been rotated beyond the start position during film rewinding operation, and the reset means includes a member for interrupting transmission of the transmission means for the countershaft in response to the opening of part of the camera body and a resilient means for returning the countershaft which has been rotated beyond the start position to the start position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
106 words
A motor control mechanism as set forth in claim 2 further comprising means for controlling the angular position of the counterdisc including a hollow shaft coaxially surrounding the countershaft for relative free rotation, a drive disc fixedly mounted on the cylindrical shaft, and an intermediate disc loaded with two springs acting thereon in opposite directions and rotatably mounted on the countershaft so as to deliver the movement of the drive disc to the counterdisc through two intermediate pins, the disc of the second switch means being mounted on the hollow shaft so as to be moved integrally with the counterdisc in changing the start position thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
92 words
A motor control mechanism as set forth in claim 3 wherein the reset means comprises a three-arm lever having a first arm in contact with a member to be moved by the part of the camera body so as to be operated by the member, a second arm supporting one of gears included in the transmission means and a third arm associated with the vertical movement of the shaft of the countersetting knob, and the resilient means included in the reset means is one of the springs acting on the intermediate disc.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
136 words
In a camera a motor driven film wind and rewind mechanism comprising a countershaft (10), first means (16- 21) for rotating said shaft in opposite directions with the advance and rewind of said film, a switch-operatiNg member (13) mounted on said countershaft and rotatable therewith, second means (1-3, 6-8, 11, 23, 25, 27) for selectively angularly adjusting said switch operating member independently of said first means, a normally closed first switch (SW1) actuatable to an open position in response to a first predetermined angular position of said switch operating member, a normally closed second switch (SW2) actuatable to an open condition in response to a second predetermined angular position of said countershaft different from said first predetermined position, and a motor (M) connected to a source of current through said first and second connected in series.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
136 words
In a camera a motor driven film wind and rewind mechanism comprising a countershaft (10), first means (16- 21) for rotating said shaft in opposite directions with the advance and rewind of said film, a switch-operatiNg member (13) mounted on said countershaft and rotatable therewith, second means (1-3, 6-8, 11, 23, 25, 27) for selectively angularly adjusting said switch operating member independently of said first means, a normally closed first switch (SW1) actuatable to an open position in response to a first predetermined angular position of said switch operating member, a normally closed second switch (SW2) actuatable to an open condition in response to a second predetermined angular position of said countershaft different from said first predetermined position, and a motor (M) connected to a source of current through said first and second connected in series.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
The mechanism of claim 5 wherein said second switch comprises a wiper arm contact element (24b) slideably engaging a split annulus contact element (9b), one of said contact elements being rotatable with said counter shaft and the other of said contact elements being relatively stationary and angularly adjustable by said second means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
102 words
The mechanism of claim 5 wherein said second means comprises a hollow shaft (7) rotatably engaging said countershaft, a knob (1), a first gear (3) rotatable with said knob, a second gear (6) secured to said hollow shaft and engaging said first gear, an eccentric first abutment element (8a) rotatable with said hollow shaft, a freely rotatable intermediate member (11) coaxial with said shaft, a windup spring engaging said first abutment element and said intermediate member, a second eccentric abutment element (11a) depending from said intermediate member and a second windup spring (14) engaging said second abutment element and said switch-operating member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The mechanism of claim 5 including means (23, 32) for disabling said first means and permitting the rotation of said countershaft independently of the movement of said film.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The mechanism of claim 5 including means (28, 30) for closing said first switch independently of the position of said switch-operating member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-06 | 1975-03-08 | 1975-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-06 | 1979-03-08 | 1979-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-06 | 1983-03-08 | 1983-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |