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US4223990A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Film and photographic apparatus

Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
•
Filing: 1979-03-14
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Granted: 1980-09-23
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Expires: 1999-03-14
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Abstract

Abstract A film magazine contains a roll of film having an image portion and a leader. The filmstrip is perforated at predetermined intervals with larger perforations in the image portion than in the leader. A camera mechanism is disclosed which uses the perforations to advance the filmstrip, detects the size of the perforations, and meters only when a large, image portion perforation is advanced to a predetermined position in the camera.

Inventors

  • 👤 Evan A. Edwards

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 21:29
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/26; G03B1/00; G03B1/18; G03B1/20; G03B1/22; G03B19/00; G03B19/02; G03B19/04; G03B2217/00; G03B2217/26; G03B2217/261

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 138 words
In a camera having a metering mechanism and a film transport mechanism for advancing a filmstrip having (1) a leader, (2) an image portion, (3) perforations of a given characteristic spaced at predetermined metering intervals along the image portion, and (4) perforations of another characteristic spaced along the leader; the improvement wherein said metering mechanism comprises: means for sensing the presence of a film perforation at a predetermined position in the camera and for distinguishing between perforations of said given characteristic and said other characteristic; and means for releasably disabling the film transport mechanism upon detection by said sensing means of a film perforation of only said given characteristic at said predetermined position, whereby perforations in the leader will be advanced past said predetermined position and perforations in the image portion will be stopped at said predetermined position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 138 words
In a camera having a metering mechanism and a film transport mechanism for advancing a filmstrip having (1) a leader, (2) an image portion, (3) perforations of a given characteristic spaced at predetermined metering intervals along the image portion, and (4) perforations of another characteristic spaced along the leader; the improvement wherein said metering mechanism comprises: means for sensing the presence of a film perforation at a predetermined position in the camera and for distinguishing between perforations of said given characteristic and said other characteristic; and means for releasably disabling the film transport mechanism upon detection by said sensing means of a film perforation of only said given characteristic at said predetermined position, whereby perforations in the leader will be advanced past said predetermined position and perforations in the image portion will be stopped at said predetermined position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 138 words
In a camera having a metering mechanism and a film transport mechanism for advancing a filmstrip having (1) a leader, (2) an image portion, (3) perforations of a given size spaced at predetermined metering intervals along the image portion, and (4) perforations of another size spaced along the leader; the improvement wherein said metering mechanism comprises: means for sensing the presence of a film perforation at a predetermined position in the camera and for distinguishing between perforations of said given size and said other size; and means for releasably disabling the film transport mechanism upon detection by said sensing means of a film perforation of only said given size at said predetermined position, whereby perforations in the leader will be advanced past said predetermined position and perforations in the image portion will be stopped at said predetermined position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 138 words
In a camera having a metering mechanism and a film transport mechanism for advancing a filmstrip having (1) a leader, (2) an image portion, (3) perforations of a given size spaced at predetermined metering intervals along the image portion, and (4) perforations of another size spaced along the leader; the improvement wherein said metering mechanism comprises: means for sensing the presence of a film perforation at a predetermined position in the camera and for distinguishing between perforations of said given size and said other size; and means for releasably disabling the film transport mechanism upon detection by said sensing means of a film perforation of only said given size at said predetermined position, whereby perforations in the leader will be advanced past said predetermined position and perforations in the image portion will be stopped at said predetermined position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 168 words
In a camera having a metering mechanism and a film transport mechanism for advancing a filmstrip having (1) a leader, (2) an image portion, (3) perforations of a given size spaced at predetermined metering intevals along the image portion, and (4) perforations of another size spaced along the leader; the improvement wherein said metering mechanism comprises: a member adapted to enter a film perforation to detect the presence of a perforation at a predetermined position in the camera, said member being movable to a first position in a perforation of said given size and to a second position in a perforation of said other size; and means associated with said member and the transport mechanism for releasably disabling the transport mechanism when said member is in its first position but not its second position in a perforation which is at said predetermined position, whereby perforations in the leader will be advanced past said predetermined position and perforations in the image portion will be stopped at said predetermined position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 168 words
In a camera having a metering mechanism and a film transport mechanism for advancing a filmstrip having (1) a leader, (2) an image portion, (3) perforations of a given size spaced at predetermined metering intevals along the image portion, and (4) perforations of another size spaced along the leader; the improvement wherein said metering mechanism comprises: a member adapted to enter a film perforation to detect the presence of a perforation at a predetermined position in the camera, said member being movable to a first position in a perforation of said given size and to a second position in a perforation of said other size; and means associated with said member and the transport mechanism for releasably disabling the transport mechanism when said member is in its first position but not its second position in a perforation which is at said predetermined position, whereby perforations in the leader will be advanced past said predetermined position and perforations in the image portion will be stopped at said predetermined position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 12 words
The improvement as defined in claim 3 wherein said member is tapered.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 148 words
In a camera for use with a filmstrip having (1) a leader, (2) an image portion, (3) perforations of a given size spaced at predetermined metering intervals along the image portion, and (4) perforations of another size spaced along the leader; the improvement comprising: transport means, including a film engaging claw enterable into the perforations and movable within said camera, for advancing film in said camera; and metering means associated with said transport means for sensing the presence of a film perforation at a predetermined position in said camera, for distinguishing between perforations of said given size and said other size, and for releasably disabling said transport means upon detection of a film perforation of only said given size at said predetermined position, whereby perforations in the leader will be advanced past said predetermined position and perforations in the image portion will be stopped at said predetermined position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 148 words
In a camera for use with a filmstrip having (1) a leader, (2) an image portion, (3) perforations of a given size spaced at predetermined metering intervals along the image portion, and (4) perforations of another size spaced along the leader; the improvement comprising: transport means, including a film engaging claw enterable into the perforations and movable within said camera, for advancing film in said camera; and metering means associated with said transport means for sensing the presence of a film perforation at a predetermined position in said camera, for distinguishing between perforations of said given size and said other size, and for releasably disabling said transport means upon detection of a film perforation of only said given size at said predetermined position, whereby perforations in the leader will be advanced past said predetermined position and perforations in the image portion will be stopped at said predetermined position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 28 words
The improvement as defined in claim 5 wherein said claw is tapered to enter further into perforations of said given size than into perforations of said other size.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 154 words
In a camera having a transport mechanism for advancing a filmstrip through a film plane, a metering mechanism for releasably disabling the transport mechanism, and a means for preventing double exposure of a filmstrip frame; the improvement wherein: said transport mechanism includes a claw advance apparatus wherein a claw enters a film perforation and is movable in a film advancing direction to draw the film through the camera's film plane until the claw reaches a predetermined position along the film plane; said metering mechanism includes a lever movable between an active position blocking movement of said claw in a film advancing direction along the film plane and an inactive position, said lever being movable to its active position when said claw reaches said predetermined position; and said double exposure preventing means includes a member movable, before an exposure can be effected, through a path blocked only when said lever is in its active position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 154 words
In a camera having a transport mechanism for advancing a filmstrip through a film plane, a metering mechanism for releasably disabling the transport mechanism, and a means for preventing double exposure of a filmstrip frame; the improvement wherein: said transport mechanism includes a claw advance apparatus wherein a claw enters a film perforation and is movable in a film advancing direction to draw the film through the camera's film plane until the claw reaches a predetermined position along the film plane; said metering mechanism includes a lever movable between an active position blocking movement of said claw in a film advancing direction along the film plane and an inactive position, said lever being movable to its active position when said claw reaches said predetermined position; and said double exposure preventing means includes a member movable, before an exposure can be effected, through a path blocked only when said lever is in its active position.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2559892A Cited
DE1156639B Cited
DE2248675A1 Cited
US3735681A Cited
US3943536A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1983-09-23 1984-03-24 1984-09-23 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1987-09-23 1988-03-24 1988-09-23 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1991-09-23 1992-03-24 1992-09-23 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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