Film advance and metering mechanism

Claim 2

In combination with a camera including (1) means for receiving a roll film having a leader portion perforated at first metering intervals less than a predetermined value and an exposure portion perforated at second metering intervals greater than said predetermined value, (2) a picture taking aperture, (3) means defining an exposure area at a film plane, and (4) a shutter mechanism for normally closing said aperture and actuatable for selectively and momentarily opening said aperture to expose film at said film plane; a film metering mechanism comprising: film drive means for moving film across said film plane; detection means for sensing the interval between metering perforations in the portion of film at said exposure area, said detection means having a first state upon sensing a film portion perforated at intervals less than said predetermined value and a second state upon sensing a film portion perforated at intervals greater than said predetermined value; means for preventing actuation of said shutter mechanism when said detection means is in its first state; means responsive to said detection means for releasably disabling said drive means when said detection means is in its second state; and means responsive to actuation of said shutter mechanism for releasing said disabling means until the next portion of film perforated at intervals greater than said predetermined value is sensed at said exposure area by said detection means.

Claim 3

The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein: said film drive means includes (1) a member couplable to the film and movable from a first position toward a second position to advance film across said film plane, and (2) an abutment on said member facing generally toward said second position and movable with said member; said disabling means includes (1) a stop member movable between an inactive position spaced from the path of said abutment and an active position in the path of said abutment to prevent movement of said member from its first position, and (2) means for moving said stop member to Its active position when said detection means is in its second state.

Claim 4

The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for releasing said disabling means comprises cam means interconnecting said shutter mechanism and said stop member for moving said stop member from its active position to its inactive position upon actuation of said shutter mechanism.

Claim 5

The combination as defined in claim 2 further comprising means for disabling said shutter mechanism to prevent actuation thereof when said stop member is in its inactive position.

Claim 6

The combination as defined in claim 2 further comprising means for disabling said shutter mechanism to prevent actuation thereof when said member couplable to the film is in other than its first position.

Claim 7

In combination with a camera including (1) means for receiving roll film having a leader portion with perforations spaced apart less than a predetermined distance and an exposure portion with perforations spaced apart greater than said predetermined distance, (2) a picture-taking aperture, (3) a film supply chamber, (4) a film take-up chamber, (5) means for defining an exposure plane across which film may be advanced from the supply to the take-up chambers, and (6) a shutter mechanism for normally closing said aperture and actuatable for selectively and momentarily opening said aperture to expose film at said exposure plane; a film metering mechanism comprising: a pawl movable (1) in opposed directions perpendicular to the exposure plane between an extended position transversing the film when intercepting one of the film perforations and a retracted position on one side of the film, and (2) in opposed directions parallel to the exposure plane respectively toward and away from a stop position adjacent the take-up chamber; means resiliently urging said pawl toward its extended position; means for moving said pawl in said opposed directions toward and away from said stop position a distance at least as great as said predetermined distance, whereby the film is advanced by said pawl when it is in its extended position and is moved toward said stop position; means effective upon movement of said pawl away from its stop position for limiting such movement of said pawl to less than said predetermined distance upon movement of said pawl to its extended position at a distance from said stop position less than said predetermined distance; means for preventing actuation of said shutter mechanism upon movement of said pawl to its extended position at a distance from said stop position less than said predetermined distance; and means for releasably preventing movement of said pawl toward said stop position upon movement of said pawl to its extended position at a distance from said stop position greater than said predetermined distance.

Claim 8

In combination with a camera including (1) means for receiving roll film having a leader portion with perforations spaced apart less than a predetermined distance and an exposure portion with perforations spaced apart greater than said predetermined distance, (2) a picture-taking aperture, (3) a film supply chamber, (4) a film take-up chamber, (5) means for defining an exposure plane across which film may be advanced from the supply to the take-up chambers, and (6) a shutter mechanism for normally closing said aperture and actuatable for selectively and momentarily opening said aperture to expose film at said exposure plane; a film metering mechanism comprising: a pawl movable (1) in opposed directions perpendicular to the exposure plane between an extended position transversing the film when intercepting one of the film perforations and a retracted position on one side of the film, and (2) in opposed directions parallel to the exposure plane respectively toward and away from a stop position adjacent the take-up chamber; means resiliently urging said pawl toward its extended position; means for moving said pawl in said opposed directions toward and away from said stop position a distance at least as great as said predetermined distance, whereby the film is advanced by said pawl when it is in its extended position and is moved toward said stop position; means effective upon movement of said pawl away from its stop position for limiting such movement of said pawl to less than said predetermined distance upon movement of said pawl to its extended position at a distance from said stop position less than said predetermined distance; means for preventing actuation of said shutter mechanism upon movement of said pawl to its extended position at a distance from said stop position less than said predetermined distance; and means for releasably preventing movement of said pawl toward said stop position upon movement of said pawl to its extended position at a distance from said stop position greater than said predetermined distance.

Claim 9

The combination defined in claim 6 further comprising means for releasing said pawl movement preventing means upon actuation of said shutter mechanism.

Claim 10

The combination defined in claim 6 wherein: said pawl moving means includes (1) a lever, and (2) means interconnecting said lever and said pawl, said lever being movable in a first direction to move said pawl toward said stop position and a second direction to move said pawl away from said stop position; and said means for limiting movement of said pawl away from said stop position comprises (1) an abutment surface on said lever, (2) a stop member movable between an inactive position spaced from the path of said abutment and an active position in the path of said abutment to limit movement of said lever in its second direction, and (3) means for moving said stop member to its active position upon movement of said pawl to its extended position at a distance from said stop position less than said predetermined distance.

Claim 11

The combination defined in claim 8 wherein said stop member moving means comprises: a spring urging said stop member toward its active position; and abutment means on said stop member interconnected with said pawl for holding said stop member in its inactive position when said pawl is in its retracted position.

Claim 12

The combination defined by claim 8 wherein said means for preventing movement of said pawl toward said stop position comprises a second abutment surface on said lever, said second abutment surface facing said stop position and being aligned with said stop member when (1) said stop member is in its active position and (2) said pawl is spaced from said stop position by a distance greater than said predetermined distance.