Camera platen film positioning apparatus

Claim 1

A film positioning and retaining apparatus for a camera having an enclosed light-tight film exposure chamber a table-like support defining the bottom of said chamber comprising a transparent film receiving plate carried in the focal plane of said chamber within a window in said chamber bottom, a platen overlying the transparent plate, said platen having abutting front and rear pieces of substantially equal size and shape, first hinges swingably securing said pieces together at their abutting edges, second hinge means to swingably secure the rear platen piece to the table, a plurality of spaced elongated film positioning and orienting stops carried by the rear platen piece, a plurality of elongated slots in the rear platen piece to each receive one of said stops therethrough, an elongated flat bar shaped portion on each of said stops, spring means carried by the bar shaped portions to yieldably support the said bars within the slots and above the transparent plate, a plurality of "L" shaped swingable control arms at least one of which is secured to the top portion of each of said flat bars, bifurcated portions at each end of said control arms to receive at least a portion of the flat bar therebetween, said control arms being swingable from a first position beneath the front platen piece when said front platen piece is swung into a position overlying the rear platen piece to a second position in which the said control arm is disposed in the path of the front platen piece as it is swung rearwardly to overlie the rear platen piece, whereby a selected control arm is pushed down to compress the spring means to bring the flat bar into contact with the transparent plate to stop, locate, and position unexposed film being slid across the plate and beneath the platen prior to exposure.