Automatic coin-operated photographic apparatus utilizing self-developing film units

Claim 2

Automatic photographic apparatus comprising a camera; a magazine for cassettes, each comprising a number of selfdeveloping film units; transfer means for replacing an expended cassette at said camera by a cassette from said magazine, said transfer means comprising a conveyor extending from said magazine to said camera; and means for determining the emptiness of the cassette at the camera to initiate the operation of said transfer means.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the optical axis of said camera is vertical and said conveyor comprises a support element having an upper surface to support a cassette and drive means to reciprocate said support element beneath said magazine.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2 in which said support element has an abutment to engage the edge of a cassette remote from the camera.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 2 which includes a one-way gate preventing cassettes moved beyond said gate on a forward stroke of said support element returning on a rearward stroke.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 2 which includes a stationary track extending from the end of said support element remote from said magazine to said camera.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 2 in which said magazine includes a number of vertical chutes for cassettes, each chute except that nearest the camera including a dummy cassette, there being means to prevent said dummy cassette from being conveyed along the conveyor beyond a predetermined point.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 6 in which said preventor means comprises a projection on said dummy cassette engageable with a stop on the support element.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 2 in which said magazine comprises a vertical chute for cassettes, said chute having a ledge at the bottom facing towards said camera, and pusher means arranged to push the bottom cassette off said ledge when said support element approaches its position furthest from said camera.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 2 which includes a carrier beneath said camera located to receive a cassette from said conveyor and means to raise said carrier with a cassette towards said camera.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 9 in which said raising means are synchronised with said conveyor.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 10 in which said raising means comprises a ramp element and a ramp follower element, one of said elements being connected to the conveyor drive means and the other of said elements being connected to said carrier.

Claim 13

Photographic apparatus comprising a camera having a horizontal focal plane and an open bottom in said focal plane; a magazine compriSing a vertical chute with an open bottom end; a vertical stack of cassettes in said magazine, each cassette comprising a number of self-developing film units and said cassettes being generally flat and lying with their planes horizontal; horizontal cassette guide means extending from said bottom end to said camera; a reciprocating pusher mounted to move back and forth beneath said bottom end to push stepwise a row of cassettes lying in contact side-by-side and with their planes in a common horizontal plane towards and beyond said camera; a carrier beneath the camera located to receive a cassette in said row; and means synchronized with said pusher to raise said carrier with said received cassette to said open bottom of said camera; whereby each cassette in its turn leaves the bottom of said magazine to join one end of said row, is pushed along said guide means in steps to said carrier, is raised by said carrier to said camera, is lowered again, and is pushed beyond said camera by a succeeding cassette moving to said carrier.

Claim 14

Photographic apparatus comprising a camera having a horizontal focal plane and an open bottom in said focal plane; a magazine compriSing a vertical chute with an open bottom end; a vertical stack of cassettes in said magazine, each cassette comprising a number of self-developing film units and said cassettes being generally flat and lying with their planes horizontal; horizontal cassette guide means extending from said bottom end to said camera; a reciprocating pusher mounted to move back and forth beneath said bottom end to push stepwise a row of cassettes lying in contact side-by-side and with their planes in a common horizontal plane towards and beyond said camera; a carrier beneath the camera located to receive a cassette in said row; and means synchronized with said pusher to raise said carrier with said received cassette to said open bottom of said camera; whereby each cassette in its turn leaves the bottom of said magazine to join one end of said row, is pushed along said guide means in steps to said carrier, is raised by said carrier to said camera, is lowered again, and is pushed beyond said camera by a succeeding cassette moving to said carrier.