Structure for preventing faulty camera operation

Claim 2

In a camera which can be operated mechanically as well as electrically, electromagnet means and armature means situated adjacent said electromagnet means to be situated thereby in an attracted position when said electromagnet means is energized and to be released for movement away from said attracted position to a rest position when said electromagnet means becomes unenergized, spring means acting on said armature means with a given force which resists movement of said armature means from said rest position to said attracted position thereof upon energizing of said electromagnet means, so that said electromagnet means when energized must exert a force at least equal to or greater than said given force to displace said armature means to said attracted position thereof, blocking means coacting with said armature means for assuming a blocking position when said armature means is in said rest position thereof and a non-blocking position when said armature means is in said attracted position thereof, and a camera element movable along a given path during normal camera operation, said blocking means when in said blocking position thereof extending across said path to prevent movement of said element along said path and thus prevent normal operation of the camera, so that unless said electromagnet means is capable of attracting said armature means to said attracted position thereof said blocking means will prevent normal operation of the camera, whereby a faulty camera condition which prevents said electromagnet means from exerting a force at least equal to or greater than said given force will prevent normal operation of the camera, selecting means for selecting between the mechanical and electrical operation, and cam means operatively connected with said selecting means and cooperating said said blocking means for automatically situating the latter in its non-blocking position when said selecting means is positioned to select mechanical operation, so that during mechanical operation the condition of the electrical structure is immaterial.

Claim 3

In a camera, electromagnet means and armature means situated adjacent said electromagnet means to be situated thereby in an attracted positiOn when said electromagnet means is energized and to be released for movement away from said attracted position to a rest position when said electromagnet means becomes unenergized, spring means acting on said armature means with a given force which resists movement of said armature means from said rest position to said attracted position thereof upon energizing of said electromagnet means, so that said electromagnet means when energized must exert a force at least equal to or greater than said given force to displace said armature means to said attracted position thereof, blocking means coacting with said armature means for assuming a blocking position when said armature means is in said rest position thereof and a non-blocking position when said armature means is in said attracted position thereof, and a camera element movable along a given path during normal camera operation, said blocking means when in said blocking position thereof extending across said path to prevent movement of said element along said path and thus prevent normal operation of the camera, so that unless said electromagnet means is capable of attracting said armature means to said attracted position thereof said blocking means will prevent normal operation of the camera, whereby a faulty camera condition which prevents said electromagnet means from exerting a force at least equal to or greater than said given force will prevent normal operation of the camera, said electromagnet means having an elongated configuration and being provided with opposed ends, said armature means including a pair of armature portions respectively situated adjacent the opposed ends of said electromagnet means to be simultaneously attracted thereto when said armature means is in its attracted position while being released for movement away from said ends when said electromagnet means is deenergized.

Claim 4

In a camera, electromagnet means and armature means situated adjacent said electromagnet means to be situated thereby in an attracted positiOn when said electromagnet means is energized and to be released for movement away from said attracted position to a rest position when said electromagnet means becomes unenergized, spring means acting on said armature means with a given force which resists movement of said armature means from said rest position to said attracted position thereof upon energizing of said electromagnet means, so that said electromagnet means when energized must exert a force at least equal to or greater than said given force to displace said armature means to said attracted position thereof, blocking means coacting with said armature means for assuming a blocking position when said armature means is in said rest position thereof and a non-blocking position when said armature means is in said attracted position thereof, and a camera element movable along a given path during normal camera operation, said blocking means when in said blocking position thereof extending across said path to prevent movement of said element along said path and thus prevent normal operation of the camera, so that unless said electromagnet means is capable of attracting said armature means to said attracted position thereof said blocking means will prevent normal operation of the camera, whereby a faulty camera condition which prevents said electromagnet means from exerting a force at least equal to or greater than said given force will prevent normal operation of the camera, said electromagnet means having an elongated configuration and being provided with opposed ends, said armature means including a pair of armature portions respectively situated adjacent the opposed ends of said electromagnet means to be simultaneously attracted thereto when said armature means is in its attracted position while being released for movement away from said ends when said electromagnet means is deenergized.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 2 and wherein said armature means includes a single armature element movable between said attracted and rest positions, said armature means when in its attracted position displacing said blocking means to said non-blocking position thereof.

Claim 6

In a camera, electromagnet means and armature means situated adjacent said electromagnet means to be situated thereby in an attracted position when said electromagnet means is energized and to be released for movement away from said attracted position to a rest position when said electromagnet means becomes unenergized, spring means acting on said armature means with a given force which resists movement of said armature means from said rest position to said attracted position thereof upon energizng of said electromagnet means, so that said electromagnet means when energized must exert a force at least equal to or greater than said given force to displace said armature means to said attracted position thereof, blocking means coacting with said armature means for assuming a blocking position when said armature means is in said rest position thereof and a non-blocking position when said armature means is in said attracted position thereof, and a camera element movable along a given path during normal camera operation, said blocking means when in said blocking position thereof extending across said path to prevent movement of said element along said path and thus prevent normal operation of the camera, so that unless said electromagnet means is capable of attracting said armature means to said attracted position thereof said blocking means will prevent normal operation of the camera, whereby a faulty camera condition which prevents said electromagnet means from exerting a force at least equal to or greater than said given force will prevent normal operation of the camera, said armature means and blocking means forming a pair of means each of which assumes one position when said electromagnet means cannot exert a force at least as great as said given force and another position when said electromagnet means can exert a force at least as great as said given force, and indiCating means operatively connected with one of said pair of means for indicating when said one of said pair of means is in said one position, so that the operator of the camera will know through said indicating means that a camera fault exists to prevent proper camera operation.

Claim 7

In a camera, electromagnet means and armature means situated adjacent said electromagnet means to be situated thereby in an attracted position when said electromagnet means is energized and to be released for movement away from said attracted position to a rest position when said electromagnet means becomes unenergized, spring means acting on said armature means with a given force which resists movement of said armature means from said rest position to said attracted position thereof upon energizng of said electromagnet means, so that said electromagnet means when energized must exert a force at least equal to or greater than said given force to displace said armature means to said attracted position thereof, blocking means coacting with said armature means for assuming a blocking position when said armature means is in said rest position thereof and a non-blocking position when said armature means is in said attracted position thereof, and a camera element movable along a given path during normal camera operation, said blocking means when in said blocking position thereof extending across said path to prevent movement of said element along said path and thus prevent normal operation of the camera, so that unless said electromagnet means is capable of attracting said armature means to said attracted position thereof said blocking means will prevent normal operation of the camera, whereby a faulty camera condition which prevents said electromagnet means from exerting a force at least equal to or greater than said given force will prevent normal operation of the camera, said armature means and blocking means forming a pair of means each of which assumes one position when said electromagnet means cannot exert a force at least as great as said given force and another position when said electromagnet means can exert a force at least as great as said given force, and indiCating means operatively connected with one of said pair of means for indicating when said one of said pair of means is in said one position, so that the operator of the camera will know through said indicating means that a camera fault exists to prevent proper camera operation.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 1 and wherein said camera has a focal plane shutter provided with leading and trailing curtains, and said armature means influencing the operation of said focal plane shutter in accordance with whether said armature means is in said attracted or rest position thereof.