Film forwarding means

Claim 1

In a film forwarding means comprising a film engagement means which includes a first slide plate element which is reciprocally slidable between an initial position and a terminal position and a hook means which is carried on said slide plate element and may engage a film unit engagement portion, whereby said hook means may draw a film unit from an exposure station to another required location in a camera when said slide plate element is moved from said initial position to said terminal position, first spring means constantly urging said slide plate element towards said initial position, retainer means able to retain said slide plate element at said terminal position and disengageable therefrom by means actuated in cooperation with actuation of camera shutter release means, actuation means which is connected to said film engagement means and is moveable in forward and reverse directions, said actuation means being able to cause said film engagement means to move from said initial position to said terminal position during movement thereof in said forward direction, rotary drive means which is rotatable about a fixed axis to drive said actuation means in said forward direction, and power supply means for actuation of said rotary drive means, the improvement wherein: said film forwarding means further comprises second spring means which connects said film engagement means to said actuation means and exerts a constant force to maintain said engagement and actuation means in a certain positional relationship relative to one another, said engagement and actuation means being moveable from said relationship counter to force of said second spring means upon application of a counter force on said actuation means, and reverse prevention means which prevents reverse movement of said film engagement means during travel thereof between said initial and terminal positions.