Shutter release control mechanism

Claim 2

A photographic camera having an electrically controlled shutter mechanism comprising: a shutter opening member movable between a charged position and a rest position thereof; a biasing member for biasing said shutter opening member toward its rest position; a charging member for driving said shutter opening member to its charged position; a shutter closing member movable between a charge position and a rest position and having an armature mounted thereon; an electromagnetic member for holding said shutter closing member in its charged position; an electric timing circuit for controlling said electromagnetic member; an intermediate member having means for engaging said shutter closing member and biased in a direction to return the latter member to its rest position; operating means for drawing said shutter closing member and said intermediate member into contact with each other; said operating means moving said shutter closing member to its charged position with said shutter opening member engaging said intermediate member and moving said armature into contact with said electromagnet; said intermediate member being further moved by said shutter opening member to charge said operating means with said armature engaging said electromagnet, and said armature being pressed against said electromagnet by said charged operating means with said shutter opening member locked in its charged position.

Claim 3

A photographic camera with an electrically controlled shutter mechanism having a first member for shutter opening and a second member for shutter closing, comprising: a first retaining member for retaining said first member in a cocked position; a second retaining member for retaining said second member in a cocked position; a first lever movable between a charged position and a rest position to release said first retaining member; a biasing member for urging said first lever toward said rest position; a charging member for driving said first lever to said charged position; a locking member for locking said first lever in its charged position; a second lever movable between a charged position and a rest position to release said second retaining member; an armature mounted on said second lever; an electromagnetic member for attracting said armature and holding said second lever in its charged position; an electric timing circuit for controlling the energization of said electromagnetic member; an intermediate lever having means for engaging said second lever and biased to return said second lever to said rest position and to release said second member; operating means for drawing said second lever and said intermediate lever into contact with each other; said first operating lever engaging said intermediate lever to move said second lever to its charged position and move said armature into contact with said electromagnet; said intermediate lever being further moved by said first lever to charge said operating means with said armature contacting said electromagnet; said armAture being pressed against said electromagnet by said operating means with said first lever locked in its charged position; and a member for releasing the locking of said first lever in response to shutter release operation.

Claim 4

A photographic camera with an electrically controlled shutter mechanism having a first member for shutter opening and a second member for shutter closing, comprising: a first retaining member for retaining said first member in a cocked position; a second retaining member for retaining said second member in a cocked position; a first lever movable between a charged position and a rest position to release said first retaining member; a biasing member for urging said first lever toward said rest position; a charging member for driving said first lever to said charged position; a locking member for locking said first lever in its charged position; a second lever movable between a charged position and a rest position to release said second retaining member; an armature mounted on said second lever; an electromagnetic member for attracting said armature and holding said second lever in its charged position; an electric timing circuit for controlling the energization of said electromagnetic member; an intermediate lever having means for engaging said second lever and biased to return said second lever to said rest position and to release said second member; operating means for drawing said second lever and said intermediate lever into contact with each other; said first operating lever engaging said intermediate lever to move said second lever to its charged position and move said armature into contact with said electromagnet; said intermediate lever being further moved by said first lever to charge said operating means with said armature contacting said electromagnet; said armAture being pressed against said electromagnet by said operating means with said first lever locked in its charged position; and a member for releasing the locking of said first lever in response to shutter release operation.

Claim 5

A shutter mechanism as set forth in claim 2, further comprising: exposure time setting means movable to a plurality of different exposure time settings including a bulb exposure position; a shutter release member moved between a rest position and an operation position; a third lever movable to a position for preventing said second lever from releasing said second retaining member; interlocking means for moving said third lever to said position in response to movement of said shutter release member from said rest position to said operating position and holding said third lever in that position as said shutter release member is in said operating position; and means for permitting movement of said third lever only with said exposure time setting means set to said bulb exposure condition.

Claim 6

A shutter mechanism as set forth in claim 3, wherein: said electric timing circuit includes an RC delay circuit having a variable resistor means set by said exposure time setting means, said variable resistor means is set to a value whereby said electromagnet is continuously excited until said third lever is moved to said position.

Claim 7

A shutter mechanism as set forth in claim 2, wherein said electrical timing circuit includes a power switch and a timing switch connected to a delay circuit, and said timing switch is operated by said charging member.

Claim 8

A photographic camera as set forth in claim 2 further comprising means for winding said charging member, wherein said charging member is a rotatable gear and said first and second retaining members are mounted thereto.

Claim 9

A shutter mechanism as set forth in claim 3, wherein said third lever is engageable with said intermediate lever at said position.