Gear drive for a camera and film cartridge

Claim 2

A camera for use with a film cartridge of the type having a film take-up compartment, a film supply compartment, means for supporting film in an exposure plane between the compartments and a take-up core located in the take-up compartment and having a cartridge gear connected thereto and rotatable about an axis to transport film along the exposure plane from the supply compartment to the take-up compartment, said camera comprising: a. means defining a camera focal plane; b. means for receiving and supporting such a cartridge in a manner such that the exposure plane of a received cartridge is located at said camera focal plane; and c. gear means, mounted for rotation in said camera at a position for engagement with the cartridge gear of a received cartridge, for rotating such received cartridge gear in a manner such that the resultant force vector effective upon such cartridge is in a direction substantially parallel to said camera focal plane.

Claim 3

A camera for receiving a film cartridge having (1) a film take-up core and (2) a gear drivingly connected to the core and having an axis of rotation, said camera having a focal plane and comprising: a drive gear for rotating a received cartridge core gear to wind film on the core, said drive gear (1) having an axis of rotation, (2) being engageable with the core gear of a received cartridge to define a pressure angle, and (3) being oriented relative to the core gear to position the axes of rotation of the gears to define a plane offset from a normal to the focal plane by an angle substantially equal to said pressure angle so that the line of force created in response to pressure between said core gear and said drive gear is substantially parallel to the focal plane; and means for rotating said drive gear.

Claim 4

A camera for receiving a film cartridge having (1) a film take-up core and (2) a gear drivingly connected to the core and having an axis of rotation, said camera having a focal plane and comprising: a drive gear for rotating a received cartridge core gear to wind film on the core, said drive gear (1) having an axis of rotation, (2) being engageable with the core gear of a received cartridge to define a pressure angle, and (3) being oriented relative to the core gear to position the axes of rotation of the gears to define a plane offset from a normal to the focal plane by an angle substantially equal to said pressure angle so that the line of force created in response to pressure between said core gear and said drive gear is substantially parallel to the focal plane; and means for rotating said drive gear.

Claim 5

For use with a film cartridge of the type having (1) a casing, (2) a film take-up core in the casing, and (3) a cartridge gear drivingly connected to the core and mounted on the casing for rotation about a first axis; a camera comprising: a housing; an optical axis; means in said housing for defining a focal plane; a drive gear mounted in said housing for rotation about a second axis; and means for positioning a received cartridge in said housing such that (1) the gear of the cartridge engages said drive gear to define a pressure angle therebetween and (2) the first and second axes define a plane offset from a normal to said focal plane in a direction away from said optical axis by an angle substantially equal to said pressure angle.

Claim 6

For use with a film cartridge of the type having (1) a casing, (2) a film take-up core in the casing, and (3) a cartridge gear drivingly connected to the core and mounted on the casing for rotation about a first axis; a camera comprising: a housing; an optical axis; means in said housing for defining a focal plane; a drive gear mounted in said housing for rotation about a second axis; and means for positioning a received cartridge in said housing such that (1) the gear of the cartridge engages said drive gear to define a pressure angle therebetween and (2) the first and second axes define a plane offset from a normal to said focal plane in a direction away from said optical axis by an angle substantially equal to said pressure angle.

Claim 7

For use with a film cartridge of the type having (1) spaced film supply and take-up compartments, (2) means for supporting film in an exposure plane between said supply compartment and said take-up compartment, (3) a core rotatably mounted in said take-up compartment, and (4) a cartridge gear drivingly connected to the core for rotation about a first axis; a camera having a focal plane and comprising: a housing which defines a supply chamber and a take-up chamber for respectively receiving the supply and take-up compartments of such a film cartridge; means on said housing between said supply and take-up chambers for positioning the exposure plane of a received cartridge at the camera''s focal plane; and a drive gear mounted in said housing for rotation about a second axis, said drive gear (1) extending at least partially into said take-up chamber for engaging the gear of a received cartridge to define a pressure angle therebetween and (2) positioned in said housing such that the first and second axes define a plane offset from a normal to focal plane in a direction away from said supply chamber by an angle substantially equal to said pressure angle.

Claim 8

For use with a film cartridge of the type having (1) spaced film supply and take-up compartments, (2) means for supporting film in an exposure plane between said supply compartment and said take-up compartment, (3) a core rotatably mounted in said take-up compartment, and (4) a cartridge gear drivingly connected to the core for rotation about a first axis; a camera having a focal plane and comprising: a housing which defines a supply chamber and a take-up chamber for respectively receiving the supply and take-up compartments of such a film cartridge; means on said housing between said supply and take-up chambers for positioning the exposure plane of a received cartridge at the camera''s focal plane; and a drive gear mounted in said housing for rotation about a second axis, said drive gear (1) extending at least partially into said take-up chamber for engaging the gear of a received cartridge to define a pressure angle therebetween and (2) positioned in said housing such that the first and second axes define a plane offset from a normal to focal plane in a direction away from said supply chamber by an angle substantially equal to said pressure angle.

Claim 9

For use with a film cartridge of the type having (1) film supply and take-up compartments, (2) means for supporting film in an exposure plane between said supply compartment and said take-up compartment, (3) a core rotatably mounted in said take-up compartment, and (4) a cartridge gear drivingly connected to the core for rotation about a first axis; a camera having a focal plane and comprising: a housing which defines a supply chamber and a take-up chamber for respectively receiving the supply and take-up compartments of such a film cartridge; a drive gear mounted in said housing for rotation about a second axis, said drive gear extending at least partially into said take-up chamber for engaging the gear of a received cartridge to define a pressure angle therebetween; and means on said housing for positioning a received cartridge such that (1) the cartridge''s exposure plane coincides with said focal plane and (2) the first and second axes define a plane offset from a normal to said focal plane in a direction away from said supply chamber by an angle substantially equal to said pressure angle.

Claim 10

For use with a film cartridge of the type having (1) film supply and take-up compartments, (2) means for supporting film in an exposure plane between said supply compartment and said take-up compartment, (3) a core rotatably mounted in said take-up compartment, and (4) a cartridge gear drivingly connected to the core for rotation about a first axis; a camera having a focal plane and comprising: a housing which defines a supply chamber and a take-up chamber for respectively receiving the supply and take-up compartments of such a film cartridge; a drive gear mounted in said housing for rotation about a second axis, said drive gear extending at least partially into said take-up chamber for engaging the gear of a received cartridge to define a pressure angle therebetween; and means on said housing for positioning a received cartridge such that (1) the cartridge''s exposure plane coincides with said focal plane and (2) the first and second axes define a plane offset from a normal to said focal plane in a direction away from said supply chamber by an angle substantially equal to said pressure angle.

Claim 11

In a camera including (1) means for receiving a film cartridge of the type having a take-up compartment, means for supporting film in an exposure plane and a cartridge gear rotatable about an axis for transporting film past the exposure plane onto a roll in the take-up compartment; (2) at least one support member for locating a received cartridge such that the exposure plane of the cartridge occupies a predetermined plane in the camera; and (3) a rotatable drive gear mounted for driving engagement with the gear of such a received cartridge to define a pressure angle therebetween; the improvement wherein said drive gear is located in the camera at a position such that the axis of rotation of said drive gear and the axis of rotation of the gear of a received cartridge define a plane offset from a normal to the exposure plane of such received cartridge by an angle substantially equal to such pressure angle, whereby the line of force created in response to pressure between said drive gear and the gear of a received cartridge is substantially parallel to the exposure plane, and there is substantially no force vector resulting from pressure between said drive geAr and the gear of a received cartridge which would tend to move the cartridge away from said support member.

Claim 12

In a camera including (1) means for receiving a film cartridge of the type having a take-up compartment, means for supporting film in an exposure plane and a cartridge gear rotatable about an axis for transporting film past the exposure plane onto a roll in the take-up compartment; (2) at least one support member for locating a received cartridge such that the exposure plane of the cartridge occupies a predetermined plane in the camera; and (3) a rotatable drive gear mounted for driving engagement with the gear of such a received cartridge to define a pressure angle therebetween; the improvement wherein said drive gear is located in the camera at a position such that the axis of rotation of said drive gear and the axis of rotation of the gear of a received cartridge define a plane offset from a normal to the exposure plane of such received cartridge by an angle substantially equal to such pressure angle, whereby the line of force created in response to pressure between said drive gear and the gear of a received cartridge is substantially parallel to the exposure plane, and there is substantially no force vector resulting from pressure between said drive geAr and the gear of a received cartridge which would tend to move the cartridge away from said support member.

Claim 13

In a camera including (1) means for receiving a film cartridge of the type having a take-up compartment, means for supporting film in an exposure plane and a cartridge gear rotatable about an axis for transporting film past the exposure plane onto a roll in the take-up compartment; (2) at least one support member for locating a received cartridge such that the exposure plane of the cartridge occupies a predetermined plane in the camera; and (3) a drive gear mounted for driving engagement with the gear of such a received cartridge to define a pressure angle therewith and rotatable in an angular direction to transport film past the exposure plane of a received cartridge into the take-up compartment; the improvement wherein said drive gear is located in the camera at a position such that the axis of rotation of said drive gear and the axis of rotation of the gear of a received cartridge define a plane offset from a normal to said predetermined plane in said angular direction by an angle substantially equal to such pressure angle, whereby the line of force created in response to pressure between said drive gear and the gear of a received cartridge does not have a substantial vector tending to move such received cartridge away from said support member.

Claim 14

In a camera including (1) means for receiving a film cartridge of the type having a take-up compartment, means for supporting film in an exposure plane and a cartridge gear rotatable about an axis for transporting film past the exposure plane onto a roll in the take-up compartment; (2) at least one support member for locating a received cartridge such that the exposure plane of the cartridge occupies a predetermined plane in the camera; and (3) a drive gear mounted for driving engagement with the gear of such a received cartridge to define a pressure angle therewith and rotatable in an angular direction to transport film past the exposure plane of a received cartridge into the take-up compartment; the improvement wherein said drive gear is located in the camera at a position such that the axis of rotation of said drive gear and the axis of rotation of the gear of a received cartridge define a plane offset from a normal to said predetermined plane in said angular direction by an angle substantially equal to such pressure angle, whereby the line of force created in response to pressure between said drive gear and the gear of a received cartridge does not have a substantial vector tending to move such received cartridge away from said support member.

Claim 15

In a camera including (1) means for receiving a film cartridge of the type having a film take-up compartment, a film supply compartment, means for supporting film in an exposure plane between the compartments, and a cartridge gear rotatable about an axis for transporting film along the exposure plane from the supply compartment to the take-up compartment; (2) at least one support member for locating a received cartridge such that the exposure plane of the received cartridge occupies a predetermined plane in the camera, and (3) gear means for drivingly engaging the teeth of the gear of the received cartridge to transport film in the cartridge; the improvement comprising means for rotatably mounting said gear means in the camera at a position where: the axis of rotation of said gear means and the axis of rotation of the gear of a received cartridge define a plane offset from a normal to the exposure plane of such received cartridge; and the pressure between the teeth of said gear means and the teeth of the gear of the received cartridge during film transport creates a resultant force vector in a direction substantially parallel to said predetermined plane in the camera.

Claim 16

In a camera including (1) means for receiving a film cartridge of the type having a film take-up compartment, a film supply compartment, means for supporting film in an exposure plane between the compartments, and a cartridge gear rotatable about an axis for transporting film along the exposure plane from the supply compartment to the take-up compartment; (2) at least one support member for locating a received cartridge such that the exposure plane of the received cartridge occupies a predetermined plane in the camera, and (3) gear means for drivingly engaging the teeth of the gear of the received cartridge to transport film in the cartridge; the improvement comprising means for rotatably mounting said gear means in the camera at a position where: the axis of rotation of said gear means and the axis of rotation of the gear of a received cartridge define a plane offset from a normal to the exposure plane of such received cartridge; and the pressure between the teeth of said gear means and the teeth of the gear of the received cartridge during film transport creates a resultant force vector in a direction substantially parallel to said predetermined plane in the camera.

Claim 17

A camera for use with a film cartridge of the type having a cartridge take-up core and a cartridge gear drivingly coupled to such take-up core and rotatable on an axis of cartridge gear rotation, said camera comprising: means defining a camera focal plane; means for receiving and locating such a cartridge in a predetermined position in said camera; camera gear means for drivingly engaging the cartridge gear of a received cartridge in a manner defining a pressure angle between said camera gear means and such cartridge gear; and means on said camera for rotatably mounting said camera gear means at a position where the force vector, created during film advance by interaction of the cartridge gear of such a received cartridge and said camera gear means, will be substantially parallel to said focal plane.

Claim 18

A camera for use with a film cartridge of the type having a cartridge take-up core and a cartridge gear drivingly coupled to such take-up core and rotatable on an axis of cartridge gear rotation, said camera comprising: means defining a camera focal plane; means for receiving and locating such a cartridge in a predetermined position in said camera; camera gear means for drivingly engaging the cartridge gear of a received cartridge in a manner defining a pressure angle between said camera gear means and such cartridge gear; and means on said camera for rotatably mounting said camera gear means at a position where the force vector, created during film advance by interaction of the cartridge gear of such a received cartridge and said camera gear means, will be substantially parallel to said focal plane.

Claim 19

A camera for use with a film cartridge of the type having a cartridge take-up core and a cartridge gear drivingly coupled to such take-up core and rotatable on an axis of cartridge gear rotation, said camera comprising: means defining a camera focal plane; means for receiving and locating such a cartridge in operative position in said camera; a camera gear rotatably mounted in said camera on an axis of camera gear rotation and constructed for engaging the cartridge gear of an operatively positioned cartridge in a manner defining a pressure angle between said cAmera gear and such cartridge gear; and means on said camera for rotating said camera gear to effect the advance of film in an operatively positioned cartridge, said camera gear being located in said camera for cooperation with such operatively positioned cartridge gear in a manner such that the axes of rotation of said camera gear and of such cartridge gear define a plane offset from a normal to said camera focal plane by an angle substantially equal to said pressure angle, whereby the force vector, created during film advance by interaction of the cartridge gear of such an operatively positioned cartridge and said camera gear, will be substantially parallel to said focal plane.

Claim 20

A camera for use with a film cartridge of the type having a cartridge take-up core and a cartridge gear drivingly coupled to such take-up core and rotatable on an axis of cartridge gear rotation, said camera comprising: means defining a camera focal plane; means for receiving and locating such a cartridge in operative position in said camera; a camera gear rotatably mounted in said camera on an axis of camera gear rotation and constructed for engaging the cartridge gear of an operatively positioned cartridge in a manner defining a pressure angle between said cAmera gear and such cartridge gear; and means on said camera for rotating said camera gear to effect the advance of film in an operatively positioned cartridge, said camera gear being located in said camera for cooperation with such operatively positioned cartridge gear in a manner such that the axes of rotation of said camera gear and of such cartridge gear define a plane offset from a normal to said camera focal plane by an angle substantially equal to said pressure angle, whereby the force vector, created during film advance by interaction of the cartridge gear of such an operatively positioned cartridge and said camera gear, will be substantially parallel to said focal plane.