Device for automatically effecting adjustments of the volume of light coming to an exposure meter of a camera

Claim 1

In a camera arranged for use with a film cassette containing photographic film of a preselected light sensitivity, and having an exposure meter, the camera having a taking lens on an optical axis and a diaphragm interposed in the path of light passing through the taking lens and incident upon the exposure meter to adjust the volume of light incident upon the exposure meter, the improvement comprising, in combination, said camera having a sidewall formed with a recessed housing therein to receive a cassette with a snug fit, the recessed housing having a front wall juxtaposable with the front wall of the cassette upon insertion of the cassette fully into the recessed housing; a lever mounted in said camera for pivoting about a pivot axis perpendicular to said optical axis said lever having a first arm operable to adjust said diaphragm and a second arm having a free end, constituting an abutted tip, extending through an aperture in said recessed housing front wall and into said recessed housing; and means biasing said lever to pivot in a direction projecting said abutted tip further into said recessed housing; the cassette front wall being formed with a cutout therein having an edge cooperable with said abutted tip to pivot said lever to adjust said diaphragm; said cutout edge having a preselected position correlated with the light sensitivity of the film in the cassette, whereby the adjustment of sad diaphragm by pivoting of said lever corresponds to such light sensitivity; the location of said abutted tip in said recessed housing, and the fit of the cassette into said recessed housing, being such that the cassette cannot be inserted into said recessed housing by being bodily moved perpendicular to said camera sidewall without striking said abutted tip, so that the cassette, during insertion into said recessed housing, must be initially inclined at an angle to said camera sidewall and then moved forwardly and inwardly into said recessed housing; at least that portion of said abutted tip extending into sad recessed housing being inclined outwardly toward said camera sidewall at an angle correlated to the initial inclination angle of the cassette, to facilitate smooth entry of said abutted tip into said cutout to cooperate with said cutout edge.