Exposure control mechanism with mechanical flash synchronization

Claim 2

An exposure control apparatus for a photographic camera comprising: photographic shutter means actuable to establish an exposure interval; mounting means for detachably supporting and retaining an assembly of flashlamps; firing means actuable to cause the ignition of a flashlamp within said assembly; and advancing means movable from a rest to a terminal position in response to the actuation of said shutter means for actuating said firing means during said movement, engageable with said mounting means when in said terminal position and thereafter movable from said terminal to said rest position for sequentially advancing said flashlamps from a predetermined operative position to another position.

Claim 3

The exposure control apparatus of claim 1 including: means for spring loading said firing means; and wherein said advancing means is operative to restrain said spring loaded firing means during a select portion of said movement from said rest toward said terminal position.

Claim 4

The exposure control apparatus of claim 1 in which said firing means is engageable with said shutter means for selectively delaying the initiation of said exposure interval to cause flashlamp ignition in synchronization with a select exposure orientation thereof.

Claim 5

The exposure control apparatus of claim 1 wherein said firing means comprises: an impulse actuator movable under spring bias in response to said advancing means moving to and reaching a select position between said rest and terminal position; and a flashlamp igniting probe positioned for contact with said impulse actuator and responsive to contact therewith for movement to enter into igniting engagement with a said flashlamp.

Claim 6

The exposure control apparatus of claim 4 wherein said impulse actuator is configured for accelerative movement over a select distance for providing a momentum exchanging contact with said flashlamp igniting probe.

Claim 7

An exposure control apparatus for a photographic camera comprising: photographic shutter means actuable to establish an exposure interval; mounting means configured to detachably support and retain an assembly of flashlamps and including detent means for permitting it to move in one direction providing for the sequential advancing of said flashlamps from a predetermined operative position to aNother position; firing means actuable to cause the ignition of a flashlamp within said assembly; and advancing means movable from a rest to a terminal position in response to the actuation of said shutter means for actuating said firing means and including an engaging assembly having a contact surface slidable over said mounting means in a direction opposite said one direction when said advancing means is moved from said rest to said terminal position, said engaging assembly being configured to engage said mounting means when said advancing means is at said terminal position, said advancing means being thereafter movable from said terminal to said rest position for effecting said sequential advancement of said flashlamps.

Claim 8

An exposure control apparatus for a photographic camera comprising: photographic shutter means actuable to establish an exposure interval; mounting means configured to detachably support and retain an assembly of flashlamps and including detent means for permitting it to move in one direction providing for the sequential advancing of said flashlamps from a predetermined operative position to aNother position; firing means actuable to cause the ignition of a flashlamp within said assembly; and advancing means movable from a rest to a terminal position in response to the actuation of said shutter means for actuating said firing means and including an engaging assembly having a contact surface slidable over said mounting means in a direction opposite said one direction when said advancing means is moved from said rest to said terminal position, said engaging assembly being configured to engage said mounting means when said advancing means is at said terminal position, said advancing means being thereafter movable from said terminal to said rest position for effecting said sequential advancement of said flashlamps.

Claim 9

The exposure control apparatus of claim 6 in which said advancing means is configured to flex toward said mounting means when said advancing means is at said terminal position so as to permit said engagement with said mounting means.

Claim 10

The exposure control apparatus of claim 6 including spring means coupled with said advancing means and loadable thereby during said movement from said rest toward said terminal position for urging said advancing means to return from said terminal position to said rest position.

Claim 11

The exposure control apparatus of claim 6 including loading means for causing said advancing means to move from said rest to said terminal position and for biasing said engaging assembly into engagement with said mounting means.

Claim 12

An exposure control mechanism for photographic apparatus comprising: means defining an exposure aperture; shutter blade means movable to unblock the passage of light through said aperture to initiate an exposure and movable to block said light passage to terminate an exposure; actuator means movable from a rest to a spring loaded position for engaging said shutter blade means when in said spring loaded position and moving therewith to said rest position to initiate an exposure; mounting means for detachably supporting and retaining an assembly of mechanically ignitable flashlamps; firing means actuable to move from an initial position for providing mechanical igniting engagement with a said flashlamp; and advancing means movable from a rest toward a terminal position when said actuator means is moved from said rest position for selectively causing the said actuation of said firing means, said advancing means being engageable with said mounting means when at said terminal position and movable from said terminal to said rest position following said exposure termination for sequentially advancing said flashlamps from a predetermined operative position to another position.

Claim 13

An exposure control mechanism for photographic apparatus comprising: means defining an exposure aperture; shutter blade means movable to unblock the passage of light through said aperture to initiate an exposure and movable to block said light passage to terminate an exposure; actuator means movable from a rest to a spring loaded position for engaging said shutter blade means when in said spring loaded position and moving therewith to said rest position to initiate an exposure; mounting means for detachably supporting and retaining an assembly of mechanically ignitable flashlamps; firing means actuable to move from an initial position for providing mechanical igniting engagement with a said flashlamp; and advancing means movable from a rest toward a terminal position when said actuator means is moved from said rest position for selectively causing the said actuation of said firing means, said advancing means being engageable with said mounting means when at said terminal position and movable from said terminal to said rest position following said exposure termination for sequentially advancing said flashlamps from a predetermined operative position to another position.

Claim 14

The exposure control mechanism of claim 10 wherein said actuator means is operative to engage said firing means during said movement from said spring loaded to said rest position for returning said firing means to said initial position.

Claim 15

The exposure control mechanism of claim 10 including resilient means coupled between said actuator means and said firing means for spring loading said firing means when said actuator means is moved from said rest to said spring loaded position.

Claim 16

The exposure control mechanism of claim 10 including: resilient means coupled between said actuator means and said firing means for spring loading said firing means when said actuator means is moved from said rest to said spring loaded position; and wherein said advancing means is operative to restrain said firing means in said initial position during said movement from said rest position and to selectively release said firing means for movement under said spring loading to cause said actuation thereof.

Claim 17

The exposure control mechanism of claim 10 wherein said firing means is engageable with said actuator means when in said spring loaded position for selectively regulating engagement of said shutter blade means to synchronize the ignition of a said flashlamp with the said initiation of an exposure.

Claim 18

An exposure control mechanism for photographic apparatus comprising: means defining an exposure aperture; shutter blade means movable to unblock the passage of light through said aperture to initiate an exposure and movable to block said light passage to terminate an exposure; actuator means movable from a rest to a spring loaded position for engaging said shutter blade means when in said spring loaded position and moving therewith to said rest position to initiate an exposure; mounting means for detachably supporting and retaining an assembly of mechanically ignitable flashlamps; probe means movable between retracted and extended positions for igniting a said flashlamp; impulse actuator means movable from an initial position for contacting said probe means and causing said movement between said retracted and extended positions; resilient means for urging said impulse actuator means to move from said initial position; and advancing means movable from a rest toward a terminal position when said actuator means is moved from said rest position for effecting a selectively timed said movement of said impulse actuator means from said initial position, and being engagable with said mounting means when at said terminal position and movable from said terminal position to said rest position following said exposure termination for sequentially advancing said flashlamps from a predetermined operative position to another position.

Claim 19

An exposure control mechanism for photographic apparatus comprising: means defining an exposure aperture; shutter blade means movable to unblock the passage of light through said aperture to initiate an exposure and movable to block said light passage to terminate an exposure; actuator means movable from a rest to a spring loaded position for engaging said shutter blade means when in said spring loaded position and moving therewith to said rest position to initiate an exposure; mounting means for detachably supporting and retaining an assembly of mechanically ignitable flashlamps; probe means movable between retracted and extended positions for igniting a said flashlamp; impulse actuator means movable from an initial position for contacting said probe means and causing said movement between said retracted and extended positions; resilient means for urging said impulse actuator means to move from said initial position; and advancing means movable from a rest toward a terminal position when said actuator means is moved from said rest position for effecting a selectively timed said movement of said impulse actuator means from said initial position, and being engagable with said mounting means when at said terminal position and movable from said terminal position to said rest position following said exposure termination for sequentially advancing said flashlamps from a predetermined operative position to another position.

Claim 20

An exposure control mechanism for photographic apparatus comprising: means defining an exposure aperture; shutter blade means movable to unblock the passage of light through said aperture to initiate an exposure and movable to block said light passage to terminate an exposure; actuator means movable from a rest to a spring loaded position for engaging said shutter blade means when in said spring loaded position and moving therewith to said rest position to initiate an exposure; mounting means for detachably supporting and retaining an assembly of mechanically ignitable flashlamps; probe means movable between retracted and extended positions for mechanically igniting a said flashlamp; impulse actuator means movable a predetermined distance from an initial position when actuated for striking said probe means and causing said movement from said retracted to said extended position; resilient means for urging said impulse actuator means to move from said initial position; and advancing means movable from a rest toward a terminal position when said actuator means is moved from said rest position for selectively causing the actuation of said impulse actuator means, said advancing means being engagable with said mounting means when at said terminal position and movable from said terminal to said rest position following said exposure termination for sequentially advancing said flashlamps from a predetermined operative position to another position.

Claim 21

An exposure control mechanism for photographic apparatus comprising: means defining an exposure aperture; shutter blade means movable to unblock the passage of light through said aperture to initiate an exposure and movable to block said light passage to terminate an exposure; actuator means movable from a rest to a spring loaded position for engaging said shutter blade means when in said spring loaded position and moving therewith to said rest position to initiate an exposure; mounting means for detachably supporting and retaining an assembly of mechanically ignitable flashlamps; probe means movable between retracted and extended positions for mechanically igniting a said flashlamp; impulse actuator means movable a predetermined distance from an initial position when actuated for striking said probe means and causing said movement from said retracted to said extended position; resilient means for urging said impulse actuator means to move from said initial position; and advancing means movable from a rest toward a terminal position when said actuator means is moved from said rest position for selectively causing the actuation of said impulse actuator means, said advancing means being engagable with said mounting means when at said terminal position and movable from said terminal to said rest position following said exposure termination for sequentially advancing said flashlamps from a predetermined operative position to another position.

Claim 22

The exposure control mechanism of claim 16 in which said resilient means is coupled between said impulse actuator means and said actuator means, and is loadable therebetween when said actuator means is moved from said rest toward said spring loaded position.

Claim 23

The exposure control mechanism of claim 16 wherein said impulse actuator means is engageable with said actuator means when said impulse actuator means is in said initial position and said actuator means is in said spring loaded position and is operative to disengage therefrom when moved from said initial position for selectively regulating engagement of saId shutter blade means to synchronize an ignition of a said flashlamp with the said initiation of an exposure.

Claim 24

An exposure control mechanism for photographic apparatus comprising: means defining an exposure aperture; shutter blade means movable to unblock the passage of light through said aperture to initiate an exposure and movable to block said light passage to terminate an exposure; actuatOr means movable from a rest to a spring loaded position for engaging said shutter blade means when in said spring loaded position and moving therewith to said rest position to initiate an exposure; mounting means for detachably supporting and retaining an assembly of mechanically ignitable flashlamps; probe means movable between retracted and extended positions for mechanically igniting a said flashlamp; impulse actuator means movable a predetermined distance from an initial position when actuated for percussively contacting said probe means and causing said movement from said retracted to said extended positions, said impulse actuator means being responsive to said actuator means during said movement from said spring loaded to said rest position for returning to said initial position and for causing a corresponding return of said probe means from said extended to said retracted position; resilient means for urging said impulse actuator means to move from said initial position; and advancing means movable from a rest toward a terminal position when said actuator means is moved from said rest position for selectively causing the actuation of said impulse actuator means, said advancing means being engagable with said mounting means when at said terminal position and movable from said terminal to said rest position following said exposure termination for sequentially advancing said flashlamps from a predetermined operative position to another position.

Claim 25

An exposure control mechanism for photographic apparatus comprising: means defining an exposure aperture; shutter blade means movable to unblock the passage of light through said aperture to initiate an exposure and movable to block said light passage to terminate an exposure; actuatOr means movable from a rest to a spring loaded position for engaging said shutter blade means when in said spring loaded position and moving therewith to said rest position to initiate an exposure; mounting means for detachably supporting and retaining an assembly of mechanically ignitable flashlamps; probe means movable between retracted and extended positions for mechanically igniting a said flashlamp; impulse actuator means movable a predetermined distance from an initial position when actuated for percussively contacting said probe means and causing said movement from said retracted to said extended positions, said impulse actuator means being responsive to said actuator means during said movement from said spring loaded to said rest position for returning to said initial position and for causing a corresponding return of said probe means from said extended to said retracted position; resilient means for urging said impulse actuator means to move from said initial position; and advancing means movable from a rest toward a terminal position when said actuator means is moved from said rest position for selectively causing the actuation of said impulse actuator means, said advancing means being engagable with said mounting means when at said terminal position and movable from said terminal to said rest position following said exposure termination for sequentially advancing said flashlamps from a predetermined operative position to another position.

Claim 26

The exposure control mechanism of claim 19 in which said resilient means is coupled between said impulse actuator means and said actuator means, operative to store energy when said actuator means is moved from said rest toward said spring loaded position, and is operative to release said energy into both said impulse actuator means and said actuator means when said impulse actuator means is actuated by said advancing means.

Claim 27

The exposure control mechanism of claim 20 including manually actuated loading means coupled with said advancing means for moving said advancing means from said rest to said terminal position.

Claim 28

An exposure control apparatus for a photographic camera comprising: shutter means actuable to establish an exposure interval; mounting means for detachably supporting and retaining an assembly of flashlamps; firing means actuable to cause the ignition of a flashlamp within said assembly; advancing means movable along a predetermined locus of travel between a rest and a terminal position for actuating said firing means only at a select position along said locus of travel; and manually movable loading means engagable with said advancing means and said shutter means for moving said advancing means from said rest position toward said terminal position and for actuating said shutter means during said manual movement by selectively disengaging therefrom.

Claim 29

An exposure control apparatus for a photographic camera comprising: shutter means actuable to establish an exposure interval; mounting means for detachably supporting and retaining an assembly of flashlamps; firing means actuable to cause the ignition of a flashlamp within said assembly; advancing means movable along a predetermined locus of travel between a rest and a terminal position for actuating said firing means only at a select position along said locus of travel; and manually movable loading means engagable with said advancing means and said shutter means for moving said advancing means from said rest position toward said terminal position and for actuating said shutter means during said manual movement by selectively disengaging therefrom.

Claim 30

The exposure control apparatus of claim 22 in which said firing means is engagable with said shutter means for selectively delaying the initiation of said exposure interval to cause flashlamp ignition in synchronization with a select exposure orientation thereof.

Claim 31

The exposure control apparatus of claim 22 including: means for spring loading said firing means; and wherein said advancing means is operative to restrain said spring loaded firing means during a select portion of said movement along said predetermined locus of travel from said rest toward said terminal position.

Claim 32

The exposure control apparatus of claim 24 wherein said firing means comprises: a spring loaded impulse actuator movable in response to said advancing means moving to and reaching said select position along said locus of travel; and a flashlamp igniting probe position for contact with said impulse actuator and responsive to contact therewith for movement to enter into igniting engagement with a said flashlamp.

Claim 33

The exposure control apparatus of claim 25 wherein said impulse actuator is confiGured for accelerative movement over a select distance for providing a momentum exchanging contact with said flashlamp igniting probe.

Claim 34

The exposure control apparatus of claim 25 in which said impulse actuator is configured to selectively engage with said shutter means to effect a predetermined retardation of the actuation thereof so as to synchronize the ignition of a said flash lamp with the said establishment of an exposure interval.

Claim 35

The exposure control apparatus of claim 22 wherein said firing means is actuable from an initial position; and said shutter means includes: shutter blade means movable to unblock the passage of light through an exposure aperture to initiate an exposure and movable to block said light passage to terminate an exposure; and actuator means movable from a rest to a spring loaded position for engaging said shutter blade means when in said spring loaded position and moving therewith to said rest position to initiate an exposure, said actuator means being operative to engage said firing means during said movement from said spring loaded to said rest position when said exposure aperture is fully unblocked for returning said firing means to said initial position.