Belt driven automatic reflex camera

Claim 2

In a camera, means forming a housing, motor means mounted in a first end of said housing, film processing means mounted in a second end of said housing opposite said first end and drivable to process a film unit advanced into engagement therewith, means forming a compartment in said housing between said motor means and said film processing means for receiving a supply of film units, means forming a framing aperture in said compartment to facilitate the successive exposure of film units in said compartment, mirror means, means mounting said mirror means for movement relative to said framing aperture between a first position and a second position, means comprising an endless flexible timing belt drivingly connecting said motor means to said processing means, and actuating element on said timing belt, and means operated by said actuating element for moving said mirror means from its first to its second position.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising releaseable latch means engaged by said mirror means in its second position for holding said mirror means in its second position, means biasing said mirror means toward its first position, and means for releasing said latch means.

Claim 4

In a camera, means forming a housing, motor means mounted in a first end of said housing, film processing means mounted in a second end of said housing opposite said first end and drivable to process a film unit advanced into engagement therewith, means forming a compartment in said housing between said motor means and said film processing means for receiving a supply of film units, means forming a framing aperture in said compartment to facilitate the successive exposure of film units in said compartment, mirror means, means mounting said mirror means for movement between first and second positions relative to said framing aperture, means comprising an endless flexible timing belt drivingly connecting said motor means to said processing means, an actuating element on said timing belt, means operated by said actuating element for moving said mirror means from its first to its second position, and means operated by said actuating element for advancing a film unit exposed in said framing aperture into engagement with said processing means.

Claim 5

In a camera, means forming a housing, motor means mounted in a first end of said housing, film processing means mounted in a second end of said housing opposite said first end and drivable to process a film unit advanced into engagement therewith, means forming a compartment in said housing between said motor means and said film processing means for receiving a supply of film units, means forming a framing aperture in said compartment to facilitate the successive exposure of film units in said compartment, mirror means, means mounting said mirror means for movement between first and second positions relative to said framing aperture, means comprising an endless flexible timing belt drivingly connecting said motor means to said processing means, an actuating element on said timing belt, means operated by said actuating element for moving said mirror means from its first to its second position, and means operated by said actuating element for advancing a film unit exposed in said framing aperture into engagement with said processing means.

Claim 6

In a reflex camera, the combination comprising, a housing, means forming a rectangular framing aperture in said housing, means forming a compartment in said housing confronting said framing aperture and adapted to receive a supply of film units for successive exposure in said framing aperture, mirror means mounted in said housing for movement between a first position and a second position, spring means biasing said mirror means toward its first position, detachable latch means engageable with said mirror means in its second position to releasably hold said mirror means in said second position, first shaft means mounted in said housing outside of said compartment for rotation about an axis parallel to and adjacent a first side of said framing aperture, motor means mounted in said housing adjacent said first side of said framing aperture and operable to drive said first shaft means, second shaft means mounted in said housing outside of said compartment for rotation about an axis parallel to and adjacent a second side oF said framing aperture opposite said first side, processing means located in said housing and drivable to process individual film units advanced from said compartment into engagement with said processing means, means drivably connecting said second shaft means to said processing means to drive said processing means when said second shaft means is rotated, an elongated flexible timing belt extending outside of and along a third side of said framing aperture and coupling said first shaft means to said second shaft means, switching means operable to first and second states, means controlled by said switching means in its first state for energizing said motor means to drive said first shaft means and thereby drive said timing belt and said second shaft means, actuating means mounted on said timing belt, means engaged by said actuating means over a first range of position of said timing belt for driving said mirror means from its first position to its second position, means engaged by said actuating means over a second range of position of said timing belt for advancing a film unit in said compartment and exposed in said framing aperture into engagement with said processing means, and means operated by said actuating means in a position of said timing belt beyond the position assumed when a film unit has been processed by said processing means for operating said switching means to its second state to terminate the operation of said motor means.

Claim 7

In a reflex camera, the combination comprising, a housing, means forming a rectangular framing aperture in said housing, means forming a compartment in said housing confronting said framing aperture and adapted to receive a supply of film units for successive exposure in said framing aperture, mirror means mounted in said housing for movement between a first position and a second position, spring means biasing said mirror means toward its first position, detachable latch means engageable with said mirror means in its second position to releasably hold said mirror means in said second position, first shaft means mounted in said housing outside of said compartment for rotation about an axis parallel to and adjacent a first side of said framing aperture, motor means mounted in said housing adjacent said first side of said framing aperture and operable to drive said first shaft means, second shaft means mounted in said housing outside of said compartment for rotation about an axis parallel to and adjacent a second side oF said framing aperture opposite said first side, processing means located in said housing and drivable to process individual film units advanced from said compartment into engagement with said processing means, means drivably connecting said second shaft means to said processing means to drive said processing means when said second shaft means is rotated, an elongated flexible timing belt extending outside of and along a third side of said framing aperture and coupling said first shaft means to said second shaft means, switching means operable to first and second states, means controlled by said switching means in its first state for energizing said motor means to drive said first shaft means and thereby drive said timing belt and said second shaft means, actuating means mounted on said timing belt, means engaged by said actuating means over a first range of position of said timing belt for driving said mirror means from its first position to its second position, means engaged by said actuating means over a second range of position of said timing belt for advancing a film unit in said compartment and exposed in said framing aperture into engagement with said processing means, and means operated by said actuating means in a position of said timing belt beyond the position assumed when a film unit has been processed by said processing means for operating said switching means to its second state to terminate the operation of said motor means.

Claim 8

In a reflex camera, the combination comprising means forming a housing, means forming a rectangular framing aperture in said housing, means forming a compartment confronting said framing aperture and adapted to receive a supply of film units for successive exposure through said framing aperture, mirror means mounted in said housing for rotation about a first axis parallel to a first side of said framing aperture between a first position and a second position, processing means mounted in said housing outside of said compartment adjacent a second side of said framing aperture opposite said first side and drivable to process individual film units advanced from said compartment into engagement with said processing means, film unit advancing means operable to engage a film unit in said compartment and exposed in said framing aperture and advance the film unit into engagement with said processing means, motor means mounted in said housing outside of said compartment adjacent said first side of said framing aperture, means comprising an elongated flexible endless timing belt in said housing outside of said compartment extending parallel to a third side of said framing aperture normal to said first side and drivably coupling said motor means to said processing means, an actuating element fixed to said timing belt for movement therewith over a closed path, means engaged by said actuating element over a first portion of said path for moving said mirror means from its first position to its second position, means engaged by said actuating element over a second portion of said path for operating said film unit advancing means, and means operated by said actuating element in a predetermined position along said path for terminating the operation of said motor means.

Claim 9

In a reflex camera, the combination comprising means forming a housing, means forming a rectangular framing aperture in said housing, means forming a compartment confronting said framing aperture and adapted to receive a supply of film units for successive exposure through said framing aperture, mirror means mounted in said housing for rotation about a first axis parallel to a first side of said framing aperture between a first position and a second position, processing means mounted in said housing outside of said compartment adjacent a second side of said framing aperture opposite said first side and drivable to process individual film units advanced from said compartment into engagement with said processing means, film unit advancing means operable to engage a film unit in said compartment and exposed in said framing aperture and advance the film unit into engagement with said processing means, motor means mounted in said housing outside of said compartment adjacent said first side of said framing aperture, means comprising an elongated flexible endless timing belt in said housing outside of said compartment extending parallel to a third side of said framing aperture normal to said first side and drivably coupling said motor means to said processing means, an actuating element fixed to said timing belt for movement therewith over a closed path, means engaged by said actuating element over a first portion of said path for moving said mirror means from its first position to its second position, means engaged by said actuating element over a second portion of said path for operating said film unit advancing means, and means operated by said actuating element in a predetermined position along said path for terminating the operation of said motor means.

Claim 10

In a reflex camera, means forming a housing, motor means mounted in said housing adjacent a first end thereof, film processing means mounted in said housing adjacent a second end opposite said first end, said film processing means being drivable to process a film unit advanced into engagement therewith, means forming a framing aperture in said housing between said motor means and said film processing means, means forming a receptacle in said housing confronting said framing aperture to receive a supply of film units for successive exposure in said framing aperture, film advancing means, means mounting said film advancing means in said housing for movement over a closed path in a segment of which said advancing means is adapted to engage a film unit in said receptacle and exposed In said framing aperture and advance the film unit into engagement with said film processing means, mirror means, means mounting said mirror means in said housing for movement between a first position in which said mirror means covers said framing aperture and a second position in which said mirror means is adapted to reflect light into said framing aperture, means comprising an elongated relatively inextensible flexible endless timing belt connecting said motor means to said film processing means to drive said film processing means when said motor is energized, said timing belt extending alongside said receptacle and closely adjacent thereto, means forming an actuating element on said timing belt, means engaged by said actuating element over a first range of positions of said timing belt for moving said mirror means to said first position, and means engaged by said actuating element over a second range of positions of timing belt for moving said advancing means over said path segment and thereby advance a film unit into engagement with said film processing means.

Claim 11

In a reflex camera, means forming a housing, motor means mounted in said housing adjacent a first end thereof, film processing means mounted in said housing adjacent a second end opposite said first end, said film processing means being drivable to process a film unit advanced into engagement therewith, means forming a framing aperture in said housing between said motor means and said film processing means, means forming a receptacle in said housing confronting said framing aperture to receive a supply of film units for successive exposure in said framing aperture, film advancing means, means mounting said film advancing means in said housing for movement over a closed path in a segment of which said advancing means is adapted to engage a film unit in said receptacle and exposed In said framing aperture and advance the film unit into engagement with said film processing means, mirror means, means mounting said mirror means in said housing for movement between a first position in which said mirror means covers said framing aperture and a second position in which said mirror means is adapted to reflect light into said framing aperture, means comprising an elongated relatively inextensible flexible endless timing belt connecting said motor means to said film processing means to drive said film processing means when said motor is energized, said timing belt extending alongside said receptacle and closely adjacent thereto, means forming an actuating element on said timing belt, means engaged by said actuating element over a first range of positions of said timing belt for moving said mirror means to said first position, and means engaged by said actuating element over a second range of positions of timing belt for moving said advancing means over said path segment and thereby advance a film unit into engagement with said film processing means.

Claim 12

In a reflex camera, means forming a housing, means forming a compartment in said housing to receive a supply of film units, means forming a rectangular framing aperture in said compartment to facilitate the successive exposure of film units in said compartment, an electric motor mounted in said housing adjacent a first end of said compartment and having a first output shaft rotatable about an axis parallel to a first side of said framing aperture, shaft speed reducing means connected to said first output shaft and having a second output shaft driven at a reduced speed relative to the speed of said first output shaft when said motor is energized, said second output shaft being rotatable about an axis parallel to said first side, a first gear connected to said second output shaft for rotation therewith, a third shaft, means mounting said third shaft in said housing adjacent a second end of said compartment opposite said first end for rotation about an axis parallel to said first side, a second gear connected to said third shaft for rotation therewith, a toothed endless timing belt connecting said first and second gears, said timing belt extending along a side of said compartment between said ends for movement over a closed path, a mirror, means mounting said mirror in said housing for rotation about an axis parallel to said first side for movement between a first position covering said framing aperture and a second position adapted to reflect light through said framing aperture, spring means biasing said mirror to its second position, releaseable latch means engaged by said mirror as said mirror moves into its first position for holding said mirror in said first position, means synchronized with said timing belt and effective when said mirror is in said second position for driving said mirror to said first position as said timing belt moves over a first region of said path, film processing means mounted in said housing adjacent a second end of said compartment opposite said first end and drivable to process a film unit advanced from said compartment into engagement with said film processing means, means coupled to said third shaft for driving said film processing means, film advancing means driven by said timing belt over a second range of position along said path for advancing a film unit in said compartment and exposed in said framing aperture into engagement with said processing means, a pair of terminals adapted to be connected to a source of voltage, switching means operable to connect said terminals to and disconnect said terminals from said motor to cause operation of said motor when a source is connected to said terminals, means for operating said switching means to connect said terminals to said motor, and means actuated by said timing belt in a position past said second range of positions by an amount sufficient to allow the processing of a film unit by said processing means for operating said Switching means to disconnect said terminals from said motor.

Claim 13

In a reflex camera, means forming a housing, means forming a compartment in said housing to receive a supply of film units, means forming a rectangular framing aperture in said compartment to facilitate the successive exposure of film units in said compartment, an electric motor mounted in said housing adjacent a first end of said compartment and having a first output shaft rotatable about an axis parallel to a first side of said framing aperture, shaft speed reducing means connected to said first output shaft and having a second output shaft driven at a reduced speed relative to the speed of said first output shaft when said motor is energized, said second output shaft being rotatable about an axis parallel to said first side, a first gear connected to said second output shaft for rotation therewith, a third shaft, means mounting said third shaft in said housing adjacent a second end of said compartment opposite said first end for rotation about an axis parallel to said first side, a second gear connected to said third shaft for rotation therewith, a toothed endless timing belt connecting said first and second gears, said timing belt extending along a side of said compartment between said ends for movement over a closed path, a mirror, means mounting said mirror in said housing for rotation about an axis parallel to said first side for movement between a first position covering said framing aperture and a second position adapted to reflect light through said framing aperture, spring means biasing said mirror to its second position, releaseable latch means engaged by said mirror as said mirror moves into its first position for holding said mirror in said first position, means synchronized with said timing belt and effective when said mirror is in said second position for driving said mirror to said first position as said timing belt moves over a first region of said path, film processing means mounted in said housing adjacent a second end of said compartment opposite said first end and drivable to process a film unit advanced from said compartment into engagement with said film processing means, means coupled to said third shaft for driving said film processing means, film advancing means driven by said timing belt over a second range of position along said path for advancing a film unit in said compartment and exposed in said framing aperture into engagement with said processing means, a pair of terminals adapted to be connected to a source of voltage, switching means operable to connect said terminals to and disconnect said terminals from said motor to cause operation of said motor when a source is connected to said terminals, means for operating said switching means to connect said terminals to said motor, and means actuated by said timing belt in a position past said second range of positions by an amount sufficient to allow the processing of a film unit by said processing means for operating said Switching means to disconnect said terminals from said motor.

Claim 14

In a reflex camera, means forming a housing, means forming a compartment in said housing to receive a supply of film units, means forming a rectangular framing aperture in said compartment to facilitate the successive exposure of film units in said compartment, an electric motor mounted in said housing adjacent a first end of said compartment and having a first output shaft rotatable about an axis parallel to a first side of said framing aperture, shaft speed reducing means connected to said first output shaft and having a second output shaft driven at a reduced speed relative to the speed of said first output shaft when said motor is energized, said second output shaft being rotatable about an axis parallel to said first side, a first gear connected to said second output shaft for rotation therewith, a third shaft, means mounting said third shaft in said housing adjacent a second end of said compartment opposite said first end for rotation about an axis parallel to said first side, a second gear connected to said third shaft for rotation therewith, a toothed endless timing belt connecting said first and second gears, said timing belt extending along a side of said compartment between said ends for movement over a closed path, a mirror, means mounting said mirror in said housing for rotation about an axis parallel to said first side for movement between a first position covering said framing aperture and a second position adapted to reflect light through said framing aperture, spring means biasing said mirror to its second position, releaseable latch means engaged by said mirror as said mirror moves into its first position for holding said mirror in said first position, means synchronized with said timing belt and effective when said mirror is in said second position for driving said mirror to said first position as said timing belt moves over a first region of said path, film processing means mounted in said housing adjacent said second end of said compartment opposite said first end and drivable to process a film unit advanced from said compartment into engagement with said film processing means, means coupled to said third shaft for driving said film processing means, film advancing means driven by said timing belt over a second range of positions along said path for advancing a film unit in said compartment and exposed in said framing aperture into engagement with said processing means, a pair of terminals adapted to be connected to a source of voltage, switching means operable to connect said terminals to and disconnect said terminals from said motor to cause operation of said motor when a source is connected to said terminals, lens means mounted on said housing for focusing an image of a scene on a film unit exposed in said framing aperture over an optical path including said mirror in said second position, shutter means operable between closed and open positions to block and unblock said optical path, respectively, manually operable means for producing an exposure initiating signal, means responsive to said signal for operating said shutter means to its closed position, means actuated when said shutter means is in its closed position and said mirror is in its first position for releasing said latch means to allow said mirror to move from its first to its second position, means actuated when said mirror is in its second position for sequentially operating said shutter means to its open position and then to its closed position to record an image on a film unit exposed in said framing aperture, means responsive to the operation of said shutter means to its closed position when said mirror is in its second position for operating said switching means to connect said terminals to said motor, and means actuated by said timing belt in a position past said second range of positions by an amount sufficient to allow the processing of a film unit by said processing means for operating said switching means to disconnect Said terminals from said motor.

Claim 15

In a reflex camera, means forming a housing, means forming a compartment in said housing to receive a supply of film units, means forming a rectangular framing aperture in said compartment to facilitate the successive exposure of film units in said compartment, an electric motor mounted in said housing adjacent a first end of said compartment and having a first output shaft rotatable about an axis parallel to a first side of said framing aperture, shaft speed reducing means connected to said first output shaft and having a second output shaft driven at a reduced speed relative to the speed of said first output shaft when said motor is energized, said second output shaft being rotatable about an axis parallel to said first side, a first gear connected to said second output shaft for rotation therewith, a third shaft, means mounting said third shaft in said housing adjacent a second end of said compartment opposite said first end for rotation about an axis parallel to said first side, a second gear connected to said third shaft for rotation therewith, a toothed endless timing belt connecting said first and second gears, said timing belt extending along a side of said compartment between said ends for movement over a closed path, a mirror, means mounting said mirror in said housing for rotation about an axis parallel to said first side for movement between a first position covering said framing aperture and a second position adapted to reflect light through said framing aperture, spring means biasing said mirror to its second position, releaseable latch means engaged by said mirror as said mirror moves into its first position for holding said mirror in said first position, means synchronized with said timing belt and effective when said mirror is in said second position for driving said mirror to said first position as said timing belt moves over a first region of said path, film processing means mounted in said housing adjacent said second end of said compartment opposite said first end and drivable to process a film unit advanced from said compartment into engagement with said film processing means, means coupled to said third shaft for driving said film processing means, film advancing means driven by said timing belt over a second range of positions along said path for advancing a film unit in said compartment and exposed in said framing aperture into engagement with said processing means, a pair of terminals adapted to be connected to a source of voltage, switching means operable to connect said terminals to and disconnect said terminals from said motor to cause operation of said motor when a source is connected to said terminals, lens means mounted on said housing for focusing an image of a scene on a film unit exposed in said framing aperture over an optical path including said mirror in said second position, shutter means operable between closed and open positions to block and unblock said optical path, respectively, manually operable means for producing an exposure initiating signal, means responsive to said signal for operating said shutter means to its closed position, means actuated when said shutter means is in its closed position and said mirror is in its first position for releasing said latch means to allow said mirror to move from its first to its second position, means actuated when said mirror is in its second position for sequentially operating said shutter means to its open position and then to its closed position to record an image on a film unit exposed in said framing aperture, means responsive to the operation of said shutter means to its closed position when said mirror is in its second position for operating said switching means to connect said terminals to said motor, and means actuated by said timing belt in a position past said second range of positions by an amount sufficient to allow the processing of a film unit by said processing means for operating said switching means to disconnect Said terminals from said motor.