Patent US3553519A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3820136A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3820136A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic photostudio comprising automatic film cassette changing apparatus
Assignee: Polaroid Corp
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Filing: 1973-01-08
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Granted: 1974-06-25
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Expires: 1993-01-08
Abstract
Abstract An automatic photostudio for taking self-portraits under studio lighting conditions and delivering a finished processed print to the user immediately after exposure.
Inventors
- 👤 C Kennedy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 03:31
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/48; G03B17/50; G03B17/53
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
383 words
A photostudio, comprising a first housing, wall means dividing said first housing into a studio compartment and an apparatus compartment, means forming an entrance aperture in said wall means through which a subject in said studio compartment can be seen from said apparatus compartment, a camera mounted in said apparatus compartment, said camera comprising a second housing, means forming a receptacle in said second housing adapted to receive a cassette containing a stack of film units, means forming a rectangular framing aperture in a first side of said receptacle to facilitate the exposure of a film unit in a cassette in said receptacle, means forming an opening in a second side of said receptacle opposite said first side to admit a cassette into said receptacle, bed means adapted to close said opening, means mounting said bed means adjacent said housing for movement between a first position closing said opening to hold a cassette in said receptacle and a second position removed from said opening sufficiently to allow a cassette to be inserted in or removed from said receptacle, resilient means biasing said bed means toward its first position, optical means mounted in said second housing and confronting said entrance aperture for focusing an image of a subject in said studio compartment through said framing aperture onto a film unit in a cassette in said receptacle, said optical means comprising shutter means operable to expose a film unit in a cassette in said receptacle, means mounted in said second housing and responsive to the operation of said shutter means for ejecting and processing the exposed film unit, magazine means for containing a stack of cassettes containing film units, means for detecting the absence of a film unit in a cassette in said receptacle, electromagnetic means connected to said bed means and responsive to said detecting means for moving said bed means to its second position to remove a cassette from said receptacle when the last film unit in that cassette has been exposed and ejected, and reciprocating means controlled by said detecting means for moving a cassette from said magazine means into engagement with said bed means to move said bed means toward its first position and thereby load the cassette into said receptacle when a cassette has been ejected by said electromagnetic means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
383 words
A photostudio, comprising a first housing, wall means dividing said first housing into a studio compartment and an apparatus compartment, means forming an entrance aperture in said wall means through which a subject in said studio compartment can be seen from said apparatus compartment, a camera mounted in said apparatus compartment, said camera comprising a second housing, means forming a receptacle in said second housing adapted to receive a cassette containing a stack of film units, means forming a rectangular framing aperture in a first side of said receptacle to facilitate the exposure of a film unit in a cassette in said receptacle, means forming an opening in a second side of said receptacle opposite said first side to admit a cassette into said receptacle, bed means adapted to close said opening, means mounting said bed means adjacent said housing for movement between a first position closing said opening to hold a cassette in said receptacle and a second position removed from said opening sufficiently to allow a cassette to be inserted in or removed from said receptacle, resilient means biasing said bed means toward its first position, optical means mounted in said second housing and confronting said entrance aperture for focusing an image of a subject in said studio compartment through said framing aperture onto a film unit in a cassette in said receptacle, said optical means comprising shutter means operable to expose a film unit in a cassette in said receptacle, means mounted in said second housing and responsive to the operation of said shutter means for ejecting and processing the exposed film unit, magazine means for containing a stack of cassettes containing film units, means for detecting the absence of a film unit in a cassette in said receptacle, electromagnetic means connected to said bed means and responsive to said detecting means for moving said bed means to its second position to remove a cassette from said receptacle when the last film unit in that cassette has been exposed and ejected, and reciprocating means controlled by said detecting means for moving a cassette from said magazine means into engagement with said bed means to move said bed means toward its first position and thereby load the cassette into said receptacle when a cassette has been ejected by said electromagnetic means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising illuminating means mounted in said studio compartment and responsive to an applied signal to produce light illuminating a subject in said studio compartment, and control means responsive to the operation of said shutter means for applying a signal to said illuminating means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 2, in which said illuminating means comprises a set of strobe lights each responsive to an applied trigger signal to produce an illuminating flash of light, and in which said control means comprises synchronizing means operative when a film unit is exposed by said shutter means for simultaneously applying a trigger signal to each of said strobe lights.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means forming an exit slot from said apparatus cOmpartment in said wall means, and means mounted in said apparatus compartment for conveying a film unit ejected from said second housing to said exit slot.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
103 words
The apparatus of claim 1, in which said means for ejecting and processing film units comprises a pair of spread rolls journalled for rotation in said housing about adjacent axes and adapted to compress and advance a film unit presented between them when a first of said rolls is rotated in a predetermined sense, motor means mounted in said housing and connected to said first roll to rotate it in said predetermined sense when energized, and means responsive to the operation of said shutter means for advancing a film unit exposed by said shutter means to said rolls while energizing said motor means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
344 words
Cassette changing apparatus for a camera having a cassette receiving receptacle comprising a top wall in which a rectangular framing aperture is formed and side walls forming a guide to direct a cassette into registry with said framing aperture to facilitate the exposure of a film unit in the cassette, said receptacle being open at the bottom to admit a cassette, bed plate means adapted to close said receptacle at the bottom and hold a cassette in said receptacle in registry with said framing aperture, hinge means mounting said bed plate means adjacent said camera for movement between a first position closing said receptacle at the bottom and a second position removed from said receptacle by an amount sufficient to permit a cassette in said receptacle to fall out and slide over said bed means for disposal, spring means urging said bed means into its first position, electromagnetic means connected to said bed means and energizable to move said bed means into its second position against the force of said spring means, means forming a magazine for guiding and containing a vertical stack of cassettes adjacent said bed means, means forming opposed slots in said magazine means through which the lowermost cassette in the stack in said magazine means can be driven into engagement with said bed plate means, reciprocating means operable to enter one of said slots and drive the lowermost cassette in a stack in said magazine into engagement with said bed plate means, said bed plate means being responsive to engagement by a cassette driven by said reciprocating means to move toward said second position and admit the cassette to said receptacle when said receptacle is empty, means responsive to an applied signal for energizing said electromagnetic means to move said bed plate means to its second position and thereby cause a cassette in said receptacle to fall out for disposal, and means responsive to the movement of said bed plate means to its second position for operating said reciprocating means to load a cassette from said magazine into said receptacle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
344 words
Cassette changing apparatus for a camera having a cassette receiving receptacle comprising a top wall in which a rectangular framing aperture is formed and side walls forming a guide to direct a cassette into registry with said framing aperture to facilitate the exposure of a film unit in the cassette, said receptacle being open at the bottom to admit a cassette, bed plate means adapted to close said receptacle at the bottom and hold a cassette in said receptacle in registry with said framing aperture, hinge means mounting said bed plate means adjacent said camera for movement between a first position closing said receptacle at the bottom and a second position removed from said receptacle by an amount sufficient to permit a cassette in said receptacle to fall out and slide over said bed means for disposal, spring means urging said bed means into its first position, electromagnetic means connected to said bed means and energizable to move said bed means into its second position against the force of said spring means, means forming a magazine for guiding and containing a vertical stack of cassettes adjacent said bed means, means forming opposed slots in said magazine means through which the lowermost cassette in the stack in said magazine means can be driven into engagement with said bed plate means, reciprocating means operable to enter one of said slots and drive the lowermost cassette in a stack in said magazine into engagement with said bed plate means, said bed plate means being responsive to engagement by a cassette driven by said reciprocating means to move toward said second position and admit the cassette to said receptacle when said receptacle is empty, means responsive to an applied signal for energizing said electromagnetic means to move said bed plate means to its second position and thereby cause a cassette in said receptacle to fall out for disposal, and means responsive to the movement of said bed plate means to its second position for operating said reciprocating means to load a cassette from said magazine into said receptacle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-24 | 1977-12-24 | 1978-06-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-24 | 1981-12-24 | 1982-06-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-24 | 1985-12-24 | 1986-06-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |