Film unit processing mechanism

Claim 2

In a camera for effecting exposure and processing of a selfprocessable film unit, the film unit including an image-recording portion and a processing portion, the camera including a housing having means for supporting the film unit in an exposure position, a shutter operable to effect the exposure, means defining an exit slot, a reciprocable feeder member mounted for initial movement from a first position to a second position and return movement to said first position, said feeder member being engageable with the film unit to move the film unit from the exposure position toward the exit slot during one of said initial and return movements, a pair of rotatable pressure members juxtaposed to define a nip for receiving the film unit when moved thereto from the exposure position, and a rotary power-input member coupled to one of said pressure members and rotatable through moRe than one revolution during a processing cycle for rotating said one pressure member enough to move the film unit substantially completely through said nip, an improvement comprising: a. a single-revolution clutch coupled to said feeder member and having an element couplable to said power-input member for rotation thereby through a single-revolution only of said power-input member, to effect a single reciprocation only of said feeder member during the processing cycle; and b. means interconnecting said feeder member and the shutter for cocking the shutter in response to one of said initial and return movements of said feeder member.

Claim 3

In a camera for effecting an exposure and initiating processing of a self-processable film unit, the film unit including an image-recording portion and a processing portion, the camera including a housing having an end wall with an exit slot therein, a chamber within the housing defining a film unit exposure position, and a shutter operable to effect the exposure, a mechanism comprising: a. a pair of juxtaposed rotatable pressure members mounted between the chamber and the end wall and defining a nip for receiving the film unit when moved along a substantially straight path extending from the exposure position toward the exit slot; b. means rotatable through a plurality of revolutions during a processing cycle for rotating said pressure members enough to move the film unit substantially completely through said nip toward the exit slot; c. a reciprocable feeder member mounted for initial movement in a first direction extending from said pressure members toward the chamber and for return movement in a second direction substantially opposite to said first direction, said feeder member being engageable with the film unit to move the film unit along said path from the exposure position to said nip during said return movement; d. means activatable for effectuating said initial and return movements of said feeder member to move the film unit from the exposure position to said nip, said effectuating means including a motion converting device coupled to said feeder member and couplable to said rotating means for converting rotational motion of said rotating means to translational motion of said feeder member, said effectuating means further including a single-revolution clutch activatable to so couple said motion converting device to said rotating means through one only of said plurality of revolutions of said rotating means during the processing cycle; and e. means for cocking the shutter in response to one of said initial and return movements of said feeder member, whereby the film unit cannot be exposed more than once before the processing is initiated.

Claim 4

In a camera for effecting an exposure and initiating processing of a self-processable film unit, the film unit including an image-recording portion and a processing portion, the camera including a housing having an end wall with an exit slot therein, a chamber within the housing defining a film unit exposure position, and a shutter operable to effect the exposure, a mechanism comprising: a. a pair of juxtaposed rotatable pressure members mounted between the chamber and the end wall and defining a nip for receiving the film unit when moved along a substantially straight path extending from the exposure position toward the exit slot; b. means rotatable through a plurality of revolutions during a processing cycle for rotating said pressure members enough to move the film unit substantially completely through said nip toward the exit slot; c. a reciprocable feeder member mounted for initial movement in a first direction extending from said pressure members toward the chamber and for return movement in a second direction substantially opposite to said first direction, said feeder member being engageable with the film unit to move the film unit along said path from the exposure position to said nip during said return movement; d. means activatable for effectuating said initial and return movements of said feeder member to move the film unit from the exposure position to said nip, said effectuating means including a motion converting device coupled to said feeder member and couplable to said rotating means for converting rotational motion of said rotating means to translational motion of said feeder member, said effectuating means further including a single-revolution clutch activatable to so couple said motion converting device to said rotating means through one only of said plurality of revolutions of said rotating means during the processing cycle; and e. means for cocking the shutter in response to one of said initial and return movements of said feeder member, whereby the film unit cannot be exposed more than once before the processing is initiated.