Film metering mechanism

Claim 2

In a camera housing (1) means for receiving roll film perforated at predetermined metering intervals, (2) a transport mechanism for advancing received film along a camera exposure plane, (3) a metering lever movable in a first plane between an active position disabling said transport mechanism and an inactive position, (4) spring means for urging said metering lever towards its active position, (5) a film sensing member movable in a second plane spaced from and parallel to said first plane from a retracted position on one side of said exposure plane, to an extended position transversing said exposure plane when intercepting one of the film perforations and to a metering position by the trailing edge of the film perforation as the film is advanced along the exposure plane, (6) a latch member mounted for movement is said first plane and second plane between a latch position and a release positIon, (7) an abutment on said latch member in said first plane for blocking movement of said metering lever to its active position when said latch member is in its latch position, (8) an abutment on said latch member in said second plane contactable by said film sensing pawl for moving said latch member from its latch position to its release position during movement of said sensing pawl from its extended position to its metering position, and (9) spring means for urging said latch member toward its latch position; the improvement wherein said spring means is mounted to apply a resilient force to said latch member substantially in said second plane so as to minimize, during movement of said latch member to its release position, any force moment on said latch member caused by forces applied thereto by said spring means and said sensing lever.

Claim 3

The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said latch member is rotatably movable about an axis perpendicular to said first and second planes.

Claim 4

The improvement as defined in claim 2 wherein said spring means comprises a wire torsion spring having: a portion looped about said axis between said first and second planes and adjacent to said first plane; a first leg engaging an abutment in said camera; and a second leg extending laterally perpendicular to said first plane toward said second plane to engage said latch member substantially in said second plane.

Claim 5

In a camera having (1) means for receiving roll film perforated at predetermined metering intervals, (2) a transport mechanism for advancing received film along an exposure plane, (3) means defining a planar surface perpendicular to said exposure plane, (4) a metering lever movable in a first plane parallel to and adjacent said surface between an active position disabling said transport mechanism and an inactive position, (5) a post extending perpendicular to said surface, (6) a film sensing member mounted on said post for movement in a second plane spaced from and parallel to said first plane from a retracted position on one side of said exposure plane longitudinally to an extended position transversing said exposure plane when intercepting one of the film perforations and rotatably from its extended position to a metering position by the trailing edge of the film perforation as the film is advanced along the exposure plane, (7) a latch member having a first portion in said first plane mounted for rotational movement about said post between a latch position and a release position and a second portion extending from said first portion in a direction generally parallel to said post toward and through said second plane contactable by said film sensing pawl in said second plane for moving said first portion from its latch position to its release position during movement of said sensing pawl from its extended position to its metering position, (8) an abutment on said first portion of said latch member for blocking movement of said metering lever to its active position when said latch member is in its latch position; the improvement comprising spring means for urging said latch member toward its latch position, said spring means applying a resilient force to said latch member substantially in said second plane so as to minimize any force moment on said latch member during movement of said member to its release position which would tend to move said first portion into frictional engagement with said surface.

Claim 6

In a camera having (1) means for receiving roll film perforated at predetermined metering intervals, (2) a transport mechanism for advancing received film along an exposure plane, (3) means defining a planar surface perpendicular to said exposure plane, (4) a metering lever movable in a first plane parallel to and adjacent said surface between an active position disabling said transport mechanism and an inactive position, (5) a post extending perpendicular to said surface, (6) a film sensing member mounted on said post for movement in a second plane spaced from and parallel to said first plane from a retracted position on one side of said exposure plane longitudinally to an extended position transversing said exposure plane when intercepting one of the film perforations and rotatably from its extended position to a metering position by the trailing edge of the film perforation as the film is advanced along the exposure plane, (7) a latch member having a first portion in said first plane mounted for rotational movement about said post between a latch position and a release position and a second portion extending from said first portion in a direction generally parallel to said post toward and through said second plane contactable by said film sensing pawl in said second plane for moving said first portion from its latch position to its release position during movement of said sensing pawl from its extended position to its metering position, (8) an abutment on said first portion of said latch member for blocking movement of said metering lever to its active position when said latch member is in its latch position; the improvement comprising spring means for urging said latch member toward its latch position, said spring means applying a resilient force to said latch member substantially in said second plane so as to minimize any force moment on said latch member during movement of said member to its release position which would tend to move said first portion into frictional engagement with said surface.

Claim 7

The improvement as defined in claim 4 wherein said spring means comprises a wire torsion spring having: a portion looped about said post between said first and second planes and adjacent said first plane; a first leg engaging an abutment in said camera; and a leg extending generally parallel to said post toward said second plane to engage said second portion substantially in said second plane.