Abstract A shutter assembly has a plurality of shutter blades divided in a shutter-opening blade group and a shutter-closing blade group. A shutter actuating mechanism independently actuates both groups of shutter blades to effect opening and closing of a shutter aperture and the actuating mechanism comprises a first set of generally parallel actuating levers connected to the shutter blades of the shutter-opening blade group by means of a pin-andslot connection so that pivotal movement of the first set of actuating levers effects opening of the shutter aperture. A second set of generally parallel actuating levers is connected to the shutter blades of the shutter-closing blade group in a similar manner so that pivotal movement of the second set of actuating levers effects closing of the shutter aperture. A flexible spring plate having a series of protuberances thereon is disposed along the path of travel of the shutter blades such that as each blade group nears the end of its working stroke, the shutter blades collide with selected ones of the protuberances to effect flexing of the spring plate to cause movement of other ones of the protuberances into firm frictional engagement with the shutter blades thereby pressing them together to absorb the kinetic energy of the shutter blades and effectively dampen their rapid movement.
A shutter assembly for a camera comprising: means defining a shutter aperture; a plurality of actuatable shutter blades comprising a first group of shutter-opening shutter blades actuAtable through a working stroke from an extended position wherein they close said shutter aperture to a retracted position wherein they open said shutter aperture, and a second group of shutter-closing shutter blades actuatable through a working stroke from a retracted position wherein they open said shutter aperture to an extended position wherein they close said shutter aperture; shutter actuating means for sequentially actuating the first and second shutter blade groups through their respective working strokes to effect first opening and then closing of said shutter aperture thereby defining an exposure; and damping means disposed along the path of travel of both groups of the shutter blades and having first means responsive to engagement by a leading part of each gruop of said shutter blades past a given location corresponding to when said shutter blades have parts thereof overlying each other near completion of their working stroke and having second means for engaging with a succeeding part of said shutter blades in response to said engagement of said first means and said leading part to thereby effectively dampen the motion of each group of shutter blades and press the overlying parts of said shutter blades together.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
222 words
A shutter assembly for a camera comprising: means defining a shutter aperture; a plurality of actuatable shutter blades comprising a first group of shutter-opening shutter blades actuAtable through a working stroke from an extended position wherein they close said shutter aperture to a retracted position wherein they open said shutter aperture, and a second group of shutter-closing shutter blades actuatable through a working stroke from a retracted position wherein they open said shutter aperture to an extended position wherein they close said shutter aperture; shutter actuating means for sequentially actuating the first and second shutter blade groups through their respective working strokes to effect first opening and then closing of said shutter aperture thereby defining an exposure; and damping means disposed along the path of travel of both groups of the shutter blades and having first means responsive to engagement by a leading part of each gruop of said shutter blades past a given location corresponding to when said shutter blades have parts thereof overlying each other near completion of their working stroke and having second means for engaging with a succeeding part of said shutter blades in response to said engagement of said first means and said leading part to thereby effectively dampen the motion of each group of shutter blades and press the overlying parts of said shutter blades together.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
A shutter assembly according to claim 1; wherein said damping means includes a resiliently flexible member disposed along the path of travel of said shutter blades and said first means comprises one portion thereof disposed to make sliding engagement with said leading part of said shutter blades and responsive to said sliding engagement for resiliently urging another portion comprising said second means thereof into frictional engagement with said succeeding part of said shutter blades.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A shutter assembly according to claim 2; wherein said resiliently flexible member comprises a spring plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A shutter assembly according to claim 2; wherein said one and another portions each comprise a protuberance projecting outwardly towards said shutter blades.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
208 words
A shutter assembly according to claim 2; wherein said damping means includes a stationary press plate overlying said flexible member, a stationary base plate disposed in spaced relationship from said press plate and defining therebetween a space in which said shutter blade groups are housed to undergo movement through their working strokes, said flexible member being mounted within said space and having an arcuate portion in contact with said press plate and two leg portions extending divergently outwardly from said arcuate portion, said one and another portions of said flexible member being located along respective ones of said leg portions and disposed for engaging said shutter blades during movement thereof through their working stroke, and means mounting said flexible member in said space to undergo flexure in response to movement of said leading part of said shutter blades into sliding frictional engagement with said one portion of said flexible member to effect pivotal movement of said flexible member about said arcuate portion to resiliently urge said another portion of said flexible member into sliding frictional engagement with said succeeding part of said shutter blades to thereby press said shutter blades frictionally together and frictionally against said base plate, and to improve the lighttightness of the groups of blades.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A shutter assembly according to claim 5; wherein said one and another portions of said flexible member each comprise a resilient protuberance projecting outwardly towards said shutter blades to make slideable frictional engagement therewith during movement of said shutter blades through their working stroke.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A shutter assembly according to claim 2; wherein said flexible member has arcuate portions engageable with each of said shutter blade groups to attenuate and dampen the motion of the corresponding shutter blade during both opening and closing of said shutter aperture.