US3820148A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Motor drive devices for cameras
Assignee: Olympus Corp
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Filing: 1973-06-13
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Granted: 1974-06-25
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Expires: 1993-06-13
Abstract
Abstract A motor drive device is attached to the camera to automatically drive a film windup mechanism and shutter releasing mechanism. The device has two connected casings, one receiving a motor and the other receiving a drive unit. The motor casing is located on the front right side of the camera and used as a grip for holding the camera. The drive unit may drive both mechanisms in turn and is conveniently in a predetermined timing period.
Inventors
- 👤 A Osanai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 08:06
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/42; G03B17/425
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
A motor drive device for a camera with a film windup mechanism and a shutter releasing mechanism, comprising: a casing having a main casing and a motor casing, the main casing being attachable to the bottom surface of the camera and the motor casing being disposed on one side of the front surface of the camera and extending along the side edge of the front surface, the motor casing being adapted to be grippable with the camera by hand; a motor received in the motor casing; and a drive unit accommodated in the main casing, the drive unit including a sun gear rotated by the motor, a planet gear meshed with the sun gear to rotate about its own axis and to revolve around the sun gear, a first means temporarily associated with the planet gear during a portion of the revolution of the planet gear around the sun gear to drive the film windup mechanism of the camera, and a second means temporarily associated with the planet gear during another portion of said revolution of the planet gear to drive the shutter releasing mechanism of the camera.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
A motor drive device for a camera with a film windup mechanism and a shutter releasing mechanism, comprising: a casing having a main casing and a motor casing, the main casing being attachable to the bottom surface of the camera and the motor casing being disposed on one side of the front surface of the camera and extending along the side edge of the front surface, the motor casing being adapted to be grippable with the camera by hand; a motor received in the motor casing; and a drive unit accommodated in the main casing, the drive unit including a sun gear rotated by the motor, a planet gear meshed with the sun gear to rotate about its own axis and to revolve around the sun gear, a first means temporarily associated with the planet gear during a portion of the revolution of the planet gear around the sun gear to drive the film windup mechanism of the camera, and a second means temporarily associated with the planet gear during another portion of said revolution of the planet gear to drive the shutter releasing mechanism of the camera.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The motor drive device according to claim 1 which further includes a battery unit adapted to be connected to the drive unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The motor drive device according to claim 2 wherein the battery unit has a connecting portion at the top thereof adapted to be connected to the casing and a button switch for selectively electrically driving the motor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The motor drive device according to claim 1 wherein the motor casing has a switch for selectively driving the motor at its top portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
176 words
The motor drive device according to claim 1 wherein: the drive unit includes a connecting lever, one end of which is frictionally connected to the sun gear and the other end of which rotatably carries the planet gear, and an engaging roller mounted on the other end of the connecting lever to revolve with the planet gear; and the first means includes a first gear temporarily meshed with the planet gear to rotate therewith so as to drive the film windup mechanism and a first lever temporarily engaged with the engaging roller at its part, the planet gear rotating only around its own axis without revolving around the sun gear to rotate the first gear and to drive the film windup mechanism when the engaging roller is engaged with the first lever and when the planet gear is meshed with the first gear, the rotation of the first gear being stopped so that the planet gear is revolved around the sun gear to swing the first lever when the operation of the film windup is accomplished.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
The motor drive device according to claim 5 wherein the first means further includes escaping means for elastically supporting the first gear so that when the teeth crests of the first gear and planet gear are abutted, the first gear is shiftable in a direction opposite to the abutted position, thereby preventing damage to the teeth of the first gear and planet gear.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The motor drive device according to claim 6 wherein the escaping means includes a compression coil spring one end of which is contacted to the first gear and the other end of which is fixed so as to elastically bias the first gear in its normal position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
The motor drive device according to claim 7 wherein said first gear is mounted on a shaft with a predetermined clearance therebetween to enable said first gear to move in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of said shaft, the fixed end of said compression coil spring being fixed to said shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The motor drive device acording to claim 8 wherein said shaft has a recess therein for receiving a portion of said compression coil spring.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
92 words
The motor drive device according to claim 1 wherein the drive unit has a connecting lever one end of which is frictionally contacted to the sun gear and the other end of which rotatably carries the planet gear, and an engaging roller mounted on the other end of the connecting lever to revolve with the planet gear; and the second means has a second gear temporarily meshed with the planet gear to forcedly revolve the planet gear, and a second lever swung by the engaging roller to drive the shutter releasing mechanism.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The motor drive device according to claim 10 wherein the second gear is an arc plate with internal teeth adapted to be meshed with the planet gear, the arc plate being pivoted at its center to be swingable about the center.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
64 words
The motor drive device according to claim 11 wherein the second means further includes escaping means for elastically supporting the arc plate so that when the teeth crests of the arc plate and the planet gear are abutted, the arc plate is swingable in a direction opposite to the abutted position, thereby preventing damage to the teeth of the arc plate and planEt gear.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
The motor drive device according to claim 12 wherein the escaping means includes a tension coil spring one end of which is connected to one end of the arc plate and the other end of which is fixed so that it always urges the other end of the arc plate in the direction of the abutting position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The motor drive device according to claim 1 wherein said second means is temporarily associated with the planet gear after the operation of the film windup mechanism.
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 |