Flashbulb indexing mechanism

Claim 2

Apparatus for use with a flash unit, said flash unit having a plurality of lamps each lamp having an individual striking element movable from a preenergizable position to a striking position for firing said lamp, said apparatus comprising: means for receiving said flash unit, and means for sensing whether or not said unit contains at least one lamp having a striker in its preenergized position.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1, further including means responsive to said sensing means for indicating whether or not said unit contains at least one lamp having a striker in its preenergized position.

Claim 4

Apparatus for use with a flash unit, said flash unit having a plurality of lamps each lamp having an individual striking element movable from a preenergizable position to a striking position for firing said lamp, said apparatus comprising: means for receiving said flash unit, means for sensing whether or not said unit contains at least one lamp having a striker in its preenergized position, and means controlled by said sensing means and responsive to said sensing of at least one lamp having a striker in its preenergized position, for positioning one such lamp at a predetermined site.

Claim 5

Apparatus for use with a flash unit, said flash unit having a plurality of lamps each lamp having an individual striking element movable from a preenergizable position to a striking position for firing said lamp, said apparatus comprising: means for receiving said flash unit, means for sensing whether or not said unit contains at least one lamp having a striker in its preenergized position, and means controlled by said sensing means and responsive to said sensing of at least one lamp having a striker in its preenergized position, for positioning one such lamp at a predetermined site.

Claim 6

Apparatus for use with a flash unit, said flash unit having a plurality of lamps each lamp having an individual striking element movable from a preenergized position to a striking position for firing said lamp, said apparatus comprising: a rotatable socket for releasably retaining said flash unit, means for rotating said socket to bring said lamps sequentially to a sensing position, means for sensing presence or absence of a striker in its preenergized position in each lamp at said sensing position, and means for stopPing rotation of said socket in response to sensing the presence of a striker in the preenergized position.

Claim 7

Apparatus for use with a flash unit, said flash unit having a plurality of lamps each lamp having an individual striking element movable from a preenergized position to a striking position for firing said lamp, said apparatus comprising: a rotatable socket for releasably retaining said flash unit, means for rotating said socket to bring said lamps sequentially to a sensing position, means for sensing presence or absence of a striker in its preenergized position in each lamp at said sensing position, and means for stopPing rotation of said socket in response to sensing the presence of a striker in the preenergized position.

Claim 8

The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein: said sensing means comprises an elongated finger and said apparatus includes means urging said finger toward a retained flash unit, said socket includes a cam means rotatable with said socket for controlling the position of said finger as said socket is rotated to repetitively place said finger into position to sense a striker in said preenergized position for each lamp as said lamp is rotated to said sensing position, and said stopping means includes: first means responsive to movement of said sensing means to take a first position if said sensing means senses a striker and a second position if said sensing means senses the absence of a striker, and second means coupled to said socket and positioned to engage said first means when said first means is in said first position for stopping said socket.

Claim 9

The apparatus according to claim 4 further including: a plurality of pins rotatable with said socket, one for each striker in said retained unit, each of said pins being positionable in one of first and second positions when a flash unit is received by said retaining means according to presence or absence respectively of its respective striker in said strikers preenergized position, and said sensing means includes means for sensing whether or not the pin for the lamp passing said sensing position is in said first or said second position.

Claim 10

Apparatus for use with a flash unit, said flash unit having a plurality of lamps each lamp having an individual striking element movable from a preenergized position to a striking position for firing said lamp, said apparatus comprising: a rotatable socket for receiving said flash unit, spring means energizable to urge rotation of said socket in a first direction, means for releasably rotating said socket in a second direction opposite to said first direction to energize said spring to provide sufficient energy when released to rotate said socket through an angle bringing each of said lamps past a single sensing position, means for sensing the presence or absence of a striker in its preenergized position in each lamp at said sensing position, and means for stopping rotation of said socket in said first direction in response to sensing the presence of a striker in its preenergized position.

Claim 11

Apparatus for use with a flash unit, said flash unit having a plurality of lamps each lamp having an individual striking element movable from a preenergized position to a striking position for firing said lamp, said apparatus comprising: a rotatable socket for receiving said flash unit, spring means energizable to urge rotation of said socket in a first direction, means for releasably rotating said socket in a second direction opposite to said first direction to energize said spring to provide sufficient energy when released to rotate said socket through an angle bringing each of said lamps past a single sensing position, means for sensing the presence or absence of a striker in its preenergized position in each lamp at said sensing position, and means for stopping rotation of said socket in said first direction in response to sensing the presence of a striker in its preenergized position.

Claim 12

A camera for use with a flash unit, said flash unit having a plurality of lamps each lamp having an individual striking element movable from a preenergizable position to a striking position for firing said lamp, said camera comprising: means for receiving and retaining said unit, means for advancing film in said camera, spring means energizable to urge rotation of said receiving means in a first direction, means for rotating said receiving means in response to actuation of said film advance means in a second direction opposite to said first direction to energize said spring sufficiently to provide sufficient energy when released to rotate said receiving means through an angle bringing each of said lamps past a single sensing position and for releasing said receiving means allowing said receiving means to rotate in response to the force provided by said spring means, means for sensing presence or absence of a striker in its preenergized position in each lamp at its sensing position, and means for stopping rotation of said receiving means in response to sensing the presence of a striker in its preenergized position.

Claim 13

A camera for use with a flash unit, said flash unit having a plurality of lamps each lamp having an individual striking element movable from a preenergizable position to a striking position for firing said lamp, said camera comprising: means for receiving and retaining said unit, means for advancing film in said camera, spring means energizable to urge rotation of said receiving means in a first direction, means for rotating said receiving means in response to actuation of said film advance means in a second direction opposite to said first direction to energize said spring sufficiently to provide sufficient energy when released to rotate said receiving means through an angle bringing each of said lamps past a single sensing position and for releasing said receiving means allowing said receiving means to rotate in response to the force provided by said spring means, means for sensing presence or absence of a striker in its preenergized position in each lamp at its sensing position, and means for stopping rotation of said receiving means in response to sensing the presence of a striker in its preenergized position.

Claim 14

Apparatus for use with a flash unit, said flash unit having a plurality of lamps each lamp having an individual striking element movable from a preenergized position to a striking position for firing said lamp, said apparatus comprising: a socket for receiving said flash unit, means for rotating said socket through an angle sufficient to bring each of said lamps past a singlE sensing position, means for sensing presence or absence of a striker in its preenergized position in each lamp at said sensing position, means for stopping rotation of said socket in response to sensing the presence of a striker in its preenergized position, and means responsive to rotation of said socket completely through said angle for indicating that said unit contains no lamps having a striker in its preenergized position.

Claim 15

Apparatus for use with a flash unit, said flash unit having a plurality of lamps each lamp having an individual striking element movable from a preenergized position to a striking position for firing said lamp, said apparatus comprising: a socket for receiving said flash unit, means for rotating said socket through an angle sufficient to bring each of said lamps past a singlE sensing position, means for sensing presence or absence of a striker in its preenergized position in each lamp at said sensing position, means for stopping rotation of said socket in response to sensing the presence of a striker in its preenergized position, and means responsive to rotation of said socket completely through said angle for indicating that said unit contains no lamps having a striker in its preenergized position.